A dear blogging friend recently posted about not sweating the small stuff, and it's all the things I think but written in a much better fashion. Please go check out Terry's insight when it comes to perspective regarding life's everyday occurrences. I promise you will gain much by reading it.
You know that song by The Fixx from the 80s? The chorus plays in my head all the time. For instance....
I will clean the bathroom, but I have to pick up the clutter first. So, I take the glass that was in the bathroom that belongs in the kitchen. When I get to the kitchen, I realize I can't put the glass in the dishwasher because it's full of clean dishes, so I empty it. Then I put the dirty dishes in the sink-- along with the glass from the bathroom-- into the empty dishwasher. I reach down to get the dishwashing soap under the cabinet and see that the trash needs to be taken out. So, after starting the dishwasher, I go and empty all the trashes in the house, which brings me to the kids' rooms which are very cluttered. So I put toys away, some of which belong in the front room, where the computer is. I quickly scan my email and see I have a few new ones in my inbox and sit down to read them. And respond. And click over to another website..... I suddenly realize that I didn't get the bathroom cleaned. Then the song begins to play, "One thing, one thing, leads to another, another!"
This also happens, this "one thing leads to another" stuff with bigger things. Like with homeschooling:
It all started when I started researching doing a few things at home with Big Sis when she was about 2. I figured that I could prepare her for preschool.
Well, then we decided to do preschool at home, so I could prepare her for kindergarten.
Well, people did kindergarten at home as well..... and first grade, and second grade, and so on.
So now we homeschool. :)
... And with health issues:
When was pregnant with the Baby, I started researching unmedicated childbirth. Which led to giving birth unmedicated for the first time. (Which wasn't all that bad. Really.) :)
This in turn led to researching other medications to which our family was exposed. Which in turn led to researching vaccines.
Well, that led to me researching Natural Family Planning. Which is where I am now.
So, here is my question: Is there anyone out there that can point me to books, websites, and other resources regarding this? I would greatly appreciate any insight any of you could give me.
And I am sorry if you now have that song rolling around in your head over and over and over. You are in good company. :)
It's funny. I have blogged more in the past two months (which says NOTHING because this is only my third post in that amount of time) than I did, well, in a long time before that. And these days, I am musing on a lot of things and do not have time to appropriately post about each one. So, guess what? You get the Reader's Digest version of my thoughts today. (By the way, that is my favorite magazine.( :)
* I quit Facebook about three weeks ago. It was taking entirely too much of my time because I don't exhibit enough self-control to NOT check it every. 10. minutes (I'm not kidding. I wish I were.) I miss keeping up with some dear friends, but we'll just have to go back to old-fashioned e-mail. (Since when did e-mail become old-fashioned anyway?!?)
* The baby is good, and she's nearly 8 weeks old!! She is a doll in every way and I love her to bits! She has fit into our family perfectly, and she even sleeps well, too! Not through the night-- yet-- but she can go eight hours (well, once she did!) Most she typically sleeps straight through for seven. I'll take it. I love nursing her in the middle of the night, just her and I, snuggling and cuddling. It's wonderful alone time together. I don't ever want her to grow up.
* Big Sis turned 6 (and Lil' Bro will tell you he's 3 1/2!) The big kids are getting TOO big, and I am trying really, really hard to enjoy every moment with them. Even the ones that make me want to pull my hair out.
* Speaking of which. Someone out there please assure me that you have days where the kids are less than, well, obedient. When I have those days, I do wonder if I'm the only one having days like that.
* I've finally started school. After a loooooong break. But, we are on Day 3 of school for this year, and so far, so good. Mostly. :)
* I've also started exercising again. And, after three days, you would think (YOU WOULD THINK!!) the pregnancy pounds would just melt away. Because that's what I'm doing. Sweating like crazy after exercising. Now, I know the pounds won't just drop that fast. But they should, I tell ya'! They should! (stomping my feet!)
* Vaccines. They are on my mind. Without starting a huge debate, I wonder what y'all think about them. The seasonal flu vaccine, the H1N1 vaccine, regular immunizations. What does your family do, if you are so inclined to share?
* I am so hungry for time in God's Word, and I have finally made time for that. And guess what? You get what you pray for if it is His will. Example: In my quiet time the other day I asked the Lord to take away my pride and allow me opportunities in which I decrease while He increases. This morning, I made a stink about needing to take a shower. It was all about me needing to take a shower before Daddy G. Even though he needs to go to work. (Sad, I know. Please let me know I'm not the only one making mountains out of molehills. Please.) Making breakfast for the family, I was a bit miffed that Daddy G got in the shower and I didn't. Then the Lord reminded me that I asked for opportunities to decrease and and this was one of them. I chuckled because a.) I love recognizing answered prayers and b.) I was being plain silly. God is good. :)
Alright, I am sure there was more to say, but my head feels a bit lighter so I will stop there for now. Blessings to you all!
Lil' Bro: Momma! Step on the scale!
Me: Uh, no bud, that's okay.
Lil' Bro: Please?! I wanna see your numbers!
Me: No, I don't want to step on the scale.
(... and here's the "funny" part)
Lil' Bro: Why? 'Cause you'll break it?
Oh man. That kid's a hoot. *ahem*
:)
[blowing dust of the keyboard...]
Wow. It has been a long time since I last posted. Don't worry, though. I won't bore you all with what has happened since June. Most of that time I was getting big and bigger, growing our little bean inside me. Our days around here consisted of the kids watching t.v., me taking naps, and an occasional trip to the grocery store. All the while trying not to sweat. That goal was in vain.
Then came the day-- my due date. Then it went. I had been having contractions, but nothing productive. On Monday, August 24th at 3:50 a.m. I woke up "feeling different." The conversation with Daddy G went something like this:
(sitting on the edge of our bed "feeling different")
Me: Honey, I don't think you'll go into work today.
Daddy G: Cool. (He rolls over for a little more shut eye.)
(A few minutes later...)
Me: Uh, honey? What do you need to do to get ready to go? You know, just in case?
Him: (in a groggy voice) Uh, brush my teeth and get dressed.
Me: Oh. Okay.
(A few minutes later...)
Me: You know honey, maybe we should get ready. You know, just in case.
Him: OH. Okay.
(A few minutes later, both of us brushing our teeth)
Me: Mmm wtmmt brrrk!
Him: Hmmm??
Me: (after spitting) My water broke!
Him: OH. OKAY!
And so began our adventure! We had a very kind friend who met us at the hospital to pick up the big kids-- at 4:15 a.m, bless her!! After the big kids were settled with our friend, we checked into the hospital. The lady asked me how far apart my contractions were and I told her I didn't know, but that my water broke. (That was the ticket to move things a bit quicker. They go faster when you say your water broke!)
The kind volunteer who would be my wheelchair chauffeur took us into the elevator that went straight up to the maternity floor. Except it didn't. When she pushed the button and nothing happened-- except the closing of the doors-- all I could think about was how I didn't want to have a baby in a stuck elevator. All the lady could say while pushing buttons was, "Hmm. That's strange. I wonder why the elevator isn't working. Hmm. Let's try the elevator next to this one."
So we did. It didn't work either. "Hmm" was all the lady could say, and buttons was all she could push. All I could think about was getting stuck having the baby in the elevator and "Hmm. Get me upstairs!" We finally found one that DID work. Praise God! :)
They get me into triage and had me dress in typical hospital attire. The contractions were more forceful and coming closer together, but when I wasn't having one, I could still talk. I thought I was hours from having this baby.
The nurse says after checking me, "You are at 7 centimeters." I wasn't hours from having our little one, I was just over an hour away!
They get me into the labor and delivery room and after more contractions, pushing, some other stuff you don't want to know about (like my yelling), and an hour, we had our sweet baby girl! Our sweet daughter was born on Monday, August 24th at 6:36 a.m. Praise be to God!
For the past month, we have been trying to find our new normal. We are all doing well, but having to juggle doing things with a new baby that needs to eat, be changed, and held is sometimes hard for the big kids to understand, although they ADORE their little sister. There are many things that are left undone at the end of the day, and we haven't even started school yet. Extending grace to myself has been the biggest adjustment during this time: grace regarding what gets done, what my body looks like, and even my mood swings (darn hormones!) However, in those moments when I sigh and tell myself, "It's okay. You are doing great," I learn so much about God's grace, a lesson I could always stand to be taught again and again.
Oh, it has been so long since I have last been here. SO long. And, what do I have to show for it? Just more of the same: laundry, dishes, vacuuming. Repeat. Oh yeah, and a larger belly. This little girl in here is doing a number to me! As each day passes, more of her gymnastics cause me some winces and "Ooo's!" Seriously, though, that's the best thing, by far, about pregnancy. Feeling the baby move inside. Nothing like it. ;)
The worst thing about pregnancy is the anticipation of sleep deprivation. Ugh. SO not looking forward to that. At all.
I swore I would "school" during the summer as my kids don't even know that most kids don't do school in the summer, and that we took so many breaks during the year for which we need to make up. But let's see, (looking back at my plan book...) we have done "school" maybe THREE times in June. It's June 23. Better get going on it today.
However, not before we get to the library to check out more books (that's kind of like school, right?) and stop by Kohl's. I got a $10 coupon for anything $10 or more. That's like getting $10 worth of free stuff. I could use some things....
Will be back on Friday for Fitness Friday, hosted by guest host JULIEMOM! Woo-hoo! That should be loads of fun!
Blessings to you all!
So, how about all y'all? How do you adapt your health and fitness routine for the changing season? And, this is usually where I point you in Brenda's direction, but since we are having the party HERE this week, post up on your blog and then come back and put your link in the Mr. Linky below. (I feel very important today!)
