06 Jan 2010
by mipennsn
in enjoying your children
Yesterday my in-laws stopped by for a short visit. They actually got to our house before we did as Tyler had been at school and Russ and I had been gone for the morning. Russ got out to be with his parents while I backed the van in the garage. Tyler noticed that they all had canes. “Mommy, why do they all have canes? Is it because Daddy broke his back and they are just old?”. He said it so innocently, I was laughing. He has hit that age that I never know when something funny is going to come out of his mouth.
23 Nov 2009
by mipennsn
in enjoying your children, faith, family, holidays, thoughts
Yesterday afternoon I was in one my my funks I get into being tired and the kids not doing what I want them to do. Frankly I was getting angry and discouraged. (Ok they needed to take naps, and eventually all of us did even mom and dad.)
So instead of getting angry I got remembering that I should be thankful. Boy did that get rid of the anger fast.
Here is a list of some of the thing I am thankful for
- I have kids that I can get mad at, when others may just be wishing for one kid of their own
- I have a bed with blankets to sleep in. Russ and I do need a new bed, but I am thankful for the one I have. It is better than sleeping on the floor with or without blankets.
- I have a secure job. While I may not always like the shifts I am assigned, I have a good job. So many these days are looking for one.
- We have a variety of foods to eat. So just have a choice of 1 or 2 foods.
- We have the option and can afford to send our son to a private school. Others are just looking for a way to get an education. It is a stretch each month to pay the bill, but we can.
- We have a vehicle to drive. It may not be the exact one we want to have, and we would like to have another. We still have one and it gets me faithfully to work, 30 miles away and has space to transport the entire family.
- We have a roof over our heads and heat. Yes we would like to own our own home, but we are thankful for what we have. With the way the economy is we can be thankful to have a house to live in a heat.
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?
09 Jun 2009
by mipennsn
in enjoying your children, Russ' Fall & Recovery
Until I just logged in to post this update I didn’t realize that it had been over a month since I sent an update. May was a very busy month as you can imagine with Russ just having come home from the hospital and all his doctor appointments, William’s birthday and his doctor appointments, Daniel even through in his own doctor appointment (well check), and end of the school year for Tyler. My May calendar was crazy, it was bad before Russ’ accident then got exponentially worse after.
Russ is doing well now. On his follow up appointment last week he was able to get rid of his hard brace. The doctor told him to wear it if he was doing anything strenuous that could cause pain, I haven’t seen it on him since he took it off on the way home. We are still struggling with getting his blood levels good on the blood thinner related to his blood clot, so he is till having weekly blood draws.
The older boys have been home for about 2 weeks now while I am at work. Daniel has been home for the last week. It was too hard for Russ to take care of him with the hard brace. I think they still have their moments, but it is getting better. Russ still has a lifting restriction and isn’t to be lifting the older boys, Daniel he has permission to lift. We have hired our neighbor’s 15 year old grandson to help with the kids, housework, and yard work. Tyler is loving having a “big brother” to play with. I think it is going well, though I would like to see more of the to do list done when I get home from work. Yes, I am being a task master from work and would like to see the things done.
08 Mar 2009
by mipennsn
in enjoying your children, family, housework, orginization
I can’t believe my maternity leave is over and I have already been back to work for 2 weeks, though I have only worked 4 of the 6 shifts I was scheduled.
I think we have settled in pretty well being a family of 5. I really enjoyed my maternity leave this time, I didn’t have near the same money concerns this time (though money is really tight right now) and the transition wasn’t that bad.
Russ and I were able to work out a lot of routines while I was off, now to translate them to going back to work. It didn’t help that the first week back to work I ended up calling in twice because the whole family got sick. The doctor thought William might have menigitis so we were sent to the ER. It turns out he just had a high fever that was making him look bad. Two days later Tyler wakes me up with “My ear hurts” so back to the doctor with him and Daniel who wasn’t feeding well. Tyler had a double ear infection and she thought Daniel might have RSV. He tested negative for RSV, but still was a goobery mess of several days.
10 Sep 2008
by mipennsn
in enjoying your children, family, knitting, pregnancy
Yesterday I had my 25 week OB appointment with the midwife at my OB office. I really like the midwife there. We discussed some concerns that had crept up over the last couple of weeks, a little pea-sized tender lump right below my knee – probably a lymph node, palpitations after benedryl to help me sleep for work and a couple of other things.
I am thinking about most likely skipping rhogam this time during pregnancy. I read a great book on the topic that gave a balanced perspective on the subject Anti-D in Midwifery: Pancea or Paradox by Sara Wickham. This link gives a synopsis of the book, that I found just now. The new PA at the OB office was training with the midwife, so she came in first and gave me the reasons why I should take it, which I do understand the risks for me and any future pregnancies. The midwife’s comment about the during pregnancy rhogam “It is old school thinking.” My thoughts after doing my research that it was old school, new school thinking. The OB office does do titers for senitization before the rhogam is given during pregnacy which I was glad to see. So if my titer is positive I will take it, if it is negative I will not.
We also talked about my plans for a home birth. My mom had been concerned about the OB office knowing about it, since I need to see them to get my paperwork done for my maternity leave at work. The midwife is fine with the home delivery with the homebirth midwife, as long as the placenta has moved. I was diagnosed with a low-lying placenta at my 21 week ultrasound. I did tell her that it could be a deciding factor in home vs hospital, which she was relieved about. I have another ultrasound scheduled in 5 weeks to see if the placenta has moved. Planning a homebirth also plays a big part in my plans to skip the rhogam – less risk of intervention during birth that could precipitate a sensitization.
It is interesting to me to how my thoughts about pregnancy and birth have changed over the years since I was pregnant with my first. I have become more educated. I was still very much anti-intervention with all my pregnancies, but I have learned more about interventions and more about birth in general over the years. I think some of it has to do with the friend I have collected over my parenting years and the information that is out there that I didn’t know much about.
We have been busy – working on decluttering the house (don’t expect to see a lot of progress, but there is progress), spending time with the boys, work, and general life. We were in Lansing Labor Day weekend for a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese for my oldest niece birthday. Tyler loved the roller coaster ride (a moving seat with a video screen with the view from the front car of the ride.) He was screaming like he was on the actual ride, it was so funny. He loves to pretend that the overpass near our house is a roller coaster. It was a nice relaxing time. My mother in law and I got a lot of knitting done on Sunday. Here are the socks I was working on that weekend. I almost have the 2nd one done.
Recent Tyler-ism “The mystery of the missing green.” Referring to our van that needed to be washed, right before we got it washed. Made me think of something from Scooby D*o.
04 Aug 2008
by mipennsn
in Boyne, cleaning, enjoying your children, Flylady, housework
I know I haven’t posted in a while, between going out of town, working, and really working on cleaning my house and decluttering (a lot more of that to go) I haven’t spent much time on the computer.
Last weekend we went up to my dad’s condo at Boyne Mountain for a very short trip – I worked Friday night shift and Monday night shift, but we made the most of the time. I wasn’t sure where I had put the camera so I didn’t get any pictures of the boys playing with their aunts. Kelly (16), who usually doesn’t get much time because she is not as fun as Aunt Brittany, was the only one of my sisters there when we arrived Saturday morning. Tyler and William both had fun playing with her and her friend, Kacey, who also has younger nephews that she is used to playing with.
Brittany (13), (yes my sisters are that much younger than me!) arrived later in the afternoon with Grandpa Sandy (really Grandma Sandy, Tyler started calling her Grandpa Sandy since we refer to her and my dad as Grandpa and Grandma Sandy). After that pair arrived Kelly was no longer interesting and she could go back to what “she” wanted to do — chase boys or look for boys. Brittany got almost tortured. Brittany and Tyler ended up making a “leash” so they could play doggie. Brit even ended up crawling down the stairs facing forward at one point. They spent a good part of the time playing doggie, but they also read books and did a fair amount of TV watching.
We did go to Avalanche Bay at Boyne. I doubt we as a family will go again until after the baby is born. I was so thankful that my dad paid for our tickets to get in, because in my eyes it was expensive. The boys did well, they both loved going on the one water side that the whole family could go on. I couldn’t do the “big” slides because of the pregnancy and Russ wasn’t feeling well so he didn’t feel up to taking Tyler down the slides. We went down the one slide we could several times. William and Tyler both loved it. Tyler even learned to go running when the “Avalanche” comes to go get dumped on by the water.
Monday before we left we went to Deer Lake and let the boys play in the sand. Tyler even walked out to one of the buoys with Brittany. When we go up in the summer we will definitely hit the lake since it is one of the few “free” activities we have found at Boyne along with ridding the ski lift up and down the mountain which both boys loved.
The house has been driving me nuts, it is so messy and dirty. Since we got back from Boyne we have really been working on cleaning the house. I was working at it before we left, but have really been working at it since we got home. I got off tract with being gone and not having enough sleep over the weekend. I have gotten some areas started well, but there is a lot more work to do. Alot of decluttering to do.
21 Jun 2008
by mipennsn
in enjoying your children, family
Tyler caught his first fish today. We wanted to go have some fun today, so went to a Stratford Woods Park that has a fully stocked fishing pond. The dock we used you could see the little fish right up at the dock.
I was able to sit a little bit away with William. I didn’t get to knit like I wanted too, but that was OK. Tyler was so excited.
11 Jun 2008
by mipennsn
in cleaning, enjoying your children, family, Flylady, housework, job search, money woes, saving money
That is what I am doing right now, typing with one hand. They are both sitting on my lap, watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, drinking chocolate milk from their sippies. I enjoy these cuddle times.
I originally wasn’t going to say much about trying to Fly again, but I enjoying the process. Check out the link if you don’t understand the terms I am about to use. I can tell I am getting “flywashed.” I’m not keeping the sink shiny, still haven’t figured out how to do that on the days I work since when I get home I usually want to fall into bed. I definitely don’t have any routines yet, though I think without thinking about it I am creating/changing routines. I am slowly working on the decluttering. What a job.
Since the weather was so warm last week, I finally got the boys drawers switched over from winter to summer clothes. Which anyone who has little kids knows that not only are you changing wardrobes, but that quite often is when I change sizes since it is an easy time to change. So I was into my tubs of clothes that I have kept from Tyler for William, I was sorting through and seeing which clothes I wanted to put out and what ones I wanted to get rid of. I am not sure if this is perfectly Flylady, but these are the questions I was asking myself while I was going through the clothes – Do I love them? Will I dress the boys in these outfits? I got rid of several things. We even made a trip to Goodwill last week to get rid of clothes. I know that I have been slow in changing the clothes. I need to go through the closet still and the adult dresser to sort out the winter clothes to put away or give away and figure out what summer clothes I want to get rid of. I have so many things I have had for years that I have fallen out of love for. I have another box of clothes already started with stuff to donate. If anyone wants any 18 month boys clothes let me know, I have several almost new outfits in my give away box that I don’t love. I need to go though the 24 month/2T tub still, but I am sure I will have several things out of those as well.
Yesterday as I was picking up the house I kept repeating to myself, “Cleaning done imperfectly still blesses.” I wasn’t striving for perfection just cleaner and picked up. I have a full garbage can and recyling bin out to the road for garbage day. Definitely progress in the decluttering and getting the house cleaner. Reading the flylady’s emails have helped me change my thinking in regards to housework and I would say also my attitude.
I was very happy this the dinner I made last night. Last week to help with our finances I made a main dish menu and a shopping list. It has been nice this last week to look at the list and make the decision if we want to have the main dish that night and figuring out what we want to have with it. We haven’t perfectly followed the menu I wrote out, I sure has helped. I plan on doing the same thing again before we go shopping on Thursday or Friday. Since we have to go the Saginaw for doctors appointment on Friday, maybe we will go to Alddi’s and see if there is anything on my list that will be cheaper there.
I still don’t have a new job, but it seems to be getting closer. The manager wanted to talk to some others from Ingham (where I used to work) before she offers me the job. It was nice to talk to some old co-workers yesterday to verify their phone numbers and get their permission to pass on their phone numbers. I really need to talk to them more often.
Well, both the boys are on to other things, so I should probably get some stuff done before I go to work today (fold a load of clothes and empty the dishwasher) and fix some breakfast for my hungry boys.
17 Apr 2008
by mipennsn
in cleaning, elder care, enjoying your children, health, housework, illness, knitting
Well I just am finishing and 8 day stretch off work. It wasn’t supposed to be 8 days. It should have been 3 days off, work the weekend (2 days), 3 days off, but William got pneumonia and I got bronchitis. We are both done with out antibiotics, thankfully, just 5 days for both of us and are both feeling much better. Tyler is still not feeling the best, he had a fever over the weekend, but not other symptoms that I was going to run him to the doctor for.
The next 2 – 3 weeks are going to be very busy. I work the next 2 days. Saturday has nothing scheduled, but we need to go grocery shopping badly and the kids will want mommy time. Sunday my grandma as an MRI that she has requested that my dad, sister and I take her to. Then I work again for 3 days. Then 3 appointments — well checks for my boys and a consultation with my grandmas doctor for my dad, sister and me. Then I get to go to my first ladies retreat with my mom and sister overnight!! First time I will be away from William overnight. Then Sunday off except the normal Sunday church. Then back for 2 more days of work. I think I will be very glad when May 1 rolls around.
I did get some things accomplished even though I was sick – laundry, kept the kitchen up for the most part. I even did a knitting project from start to finish (just needs a button). One day we had a sewing bee at my moms and I got 3 pairs of sleep pants completed with my mom’s help and have 1 more that just needs the waistband and hems done and 2 more that need the inner leg, crotch, hems and waistband done. Hopefully after May 1 I will have time to get them finished.
03 Feb 2008
by mipennsn
in elder care, enjoying your children, family
Yesterday could have been a tough day for an almost 4 year old, but he did very well. My dad, sister, Tyler, & I went up to my grandma’s. My dad had some business to do with her and just wanted to see how she was doing. (I think the last 6 weeks, if I have been off on Saturday I have been up to see my grandma, so 4 of the last 6 weeks). When we go, we also do any “job” that needs to be done around her apartment.
Russ was tired and asked if I could take a boy with me. I’ll admit I wasn’t all that thrilled with the idea, but made plans to make it work. I was going to take a coloring book and crayons and maybe a few cars for Tyler to play with. When my dad arrived he brought Tyler’s birthday presents, one of which was a “toy” computer with learning games from V-Tech. Well that went with us to my grandma’s.
Tyler spent almost the entire time we were at my grandma’s playing with his computer. He did play with her cat a little bit and was very curious when I cleaned out the litter box, since we only have fish and never paid attention to the litter box at my mom’s. Even when he got hungry he didn’t go “crazy” like he can. He politely asked for food most of the time until he knew what he could have then he helped himself. He was content with the Ritz and Oreo’s my grandma had in her kitchen until we went to the store and Subway (the only fast food in the town my grandma lives).
When we got home it was past nap time, so we gave up trying to take a nap. Shortly after one of the kids my mom watched last week called, “Can Tyler come sledding with us?” I warned them he hadn’t had a nap, but it was ok for him to go. When he got home we fixed a fast dinner, bath-time, and bed. We made it though all of that without any major melt-downs. He was so good all day. Today has been a little rougher, though still pretty good.
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