So Much to Learn!!

As many of you may or may not know - I am sometimes scatterbrained. For a long time I had lost my password - couldn't get on the blog - life was mundane so I didn't much care - no, I am not blonde (anymore :) ) The password came to me the other night - so here I am.

It has been a very crazy few weeks in our household. Boo has been sick - as well as Poodleduck. Moo Moo has been great - after struggling with the decision to address her ADD - we took her to a doctor and after filling out the questionaires and getting the teacher feedback she is now taking Concerta (so we don't have to have the school involved) and doing GREAT!!! She thanked me about two weeks of being on it - she said her "focus medicine" is really helping her to listen and not to fidget in class - I was saddened and thrilled at the same time. Sad that my ego got in the way of medicine to begin with and that she even needs it - but also thrilled that she spontaneously could tell a difference. I completely give total praise to God for the peace he has given this decision. We don't advertise to people about her taking it, but it is always so interesting to hear the comments on the changes in her - all for the good - like wow, Moo has completed her homework without being asked, Moo sure is being quiet (as opposed to being the loudest mind you), and her teacher commented to her that she is doing a great job focusing lately - Moo shared about the "focus doctor" and her medicine. I love this child - she is kind, creative, giving, and sure of what she wants. She is a fabulous mix of me and my husband with plenty of her own personality mixed in. Her sister and brother are loved just as much, but have such different personalities - Boo is intellectual, shy, sometimes unsure, very maternal, still figuring out what she likes - it is great watching her grow - she just turned ten. Poodleduck is all boy and four years old - loving life, bugs, guts, and all things gross, but soooo loving and caring. I could not ask for a more wonderful family.

My husband and I have now been married 11 years. No - it hasn't all been fun and games - but at this point I am very much in love, sometimes a little frustrated, and more blessed than you can imagine by God with a fabulous husband and wonderful children. Everything he and I have been through these past years builds us up and helps us appreciate the good, and get through the bad. He has grown so much in his relationship with Christ - I have been so amazed and appreciative. I still struggle with submission, but daily give my life again to submitting first to Christ, second to my husband, and third to bosses, leaders, etc. I am not perfect - probably will never be. I try to go a little easier on myself, love what I have, be thankful for my friends and family and when I get out of order confess it and move on. I truly believe this is the reason God has allowed me to be a good employee, working on being a good friend, sister, daughter, mother, and wife. I will let you know how it goes.

About a month ago my sister called to let me know that my grandfather (mother's dad) had been taken to the hospital the night before - doctors thought it was a heart attack. It was. You would have to know my grandfather to understand what a shock this was. He has only been in a hospital one other time in his life overnight - eight years ago for a heart valve replacement, but otherwise healthy. He has just turned 89, can be demanding, but loves us deeply. Because I was having surgery the next week and would not be able to help out any after that for six weeks, I volunteered to stay the first night with him in the hospital. It was fabulous to be able to spend precious time with him. Listening to him talk about growing up in the depression, meeting my grandmother, and what his specific prayers are for my family. See, he and my grandmother (she went on to be with the Lord in '99) have been my leading examples of how to spend time with God. My mom loves God, but did not have time to lead us in devotions nightly or teach us to pray - God provided my grandparents for that. They instilled memorizing verses, turning to God for everything, spending time daily with God in Bible reading and prayer. Going to church with them opened up new ways to praise God since they are Pentecostal and I attended a Baptist church. I was very well rounded in my religious upbringing to say the least. I did not always appreciate my grandparents, even resented them at times, but as with anything else in life got to a point where looking back made me appreciate them even more. Thankfully God opened my eyes in time to tell my grandmother when I was a first year college student - I wrote to her and thanked her for guiding me and loving me even when I was a brat!! This past month I spent time with grandaddy and made sure he knew how much he has meant to me and how much I thank God for putting him in my life. He came through open heart surgery great - is home now - and quite demanding from what I hear :), but even if he is taken tomorrow I am glad I took the time to go over and spend some much needed time with him. He will never be forgotten since God has allowed me to have children to pass the teachings on to. That is all we really have anyway - How we live. By the way - check out the new song by Point of Grace -"how we live (turn up the music)" Truly my favorite!!!

Go hug your children, kiss your husband (wife), and get on your knees to thank God for all He has blessed you with and brought you through. Focus on Christ and you can't go wrong!!!

I wish you all the best this Christmas season and beyond!!

Update

For the past few weeks I have been living life "90 to Nothing!!" Our family has had some great days and some other not so great days. We have gone to an amusement park that is located nearby, we have gone to a family reunion - I have learned to shoot a .22 pistol and I have realized that I am still an insecure parent.

My middle child - Moo Moo - is in the gifted program, but struggling in every other area. I am at a loss. She has asked to be home schooled, but we can't do that ( I work full time and my husband works full time with overtime). I am not sure that is what she needs anyway. She is having trouble staying focused - on anything - she even has trouble doing things on a list. On the flip side she is extremely creative - loves to flip instead of walk - and loves those around her. Maybe I am focused on the wrong things. Maybe I should focus on her heart instead of the numbers - I just do not want her unable to function in high school and in life.

I wonder everyday if it is because I am supposed to be at home with her - or at least waiting on her to get home so we can have a little more time to get things done. She is in a dance class that I have considered taking her out of after this month, but my husband disagrees - I don't know how to simplify anything.

They have all been sick too - This is week number three for my oldest and two weeks for my other two and my husband. I am tired of going to the doctor and them not getting any better - so this time we are not going. I think they will survive - no fever, just coughing and runny noses and hoarse throats. Again - does this make me a bad parent?

I hope you have a great day - I know that there is a plan in all of this - I just have to persevere.

Today

Today I mastered the F: drive on the computer!!!
Today my goal is more than 7210 steps.
Today I prepared for next week (such a difficulty for a Saturday).
Today I realized that I am doing okay on my Lifestyle change (yeah me!!)
Today my children (well two) slept until 10:20 am - I finally had to wake them up.
Today I taught Moosa how to read the biscuit label - and she cooked them!!! (she is 8)
Today I am reminded how precious life is and how I need to stay focused on my blessings.
Today I am loving my children (even when they are irritable) and loving my family.

"For this is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

Friends

Do you have the kind of friends in your life that no matter where, what time, or what is going on in their own lives - they will stop and help you out?

I have been blessed. I have at the minimum of four that I can name. Some I have only known a few years - others I have known all my life. I feel at times very bad that I am not the same kind of friend to them that they are to me, but I get the feeling that is what keeps us balanced. God has been so good to me all my life - especially through the not good times, but even the good ones when I tend not to pay attention.

Friends are the gifts God gives to fill in the gaps, encourage less stupidity of you, and just generally someone who will love you even when you don't have time to call.

To all my friends - thank you! ( I said a minimum of four - not Maximum :) )

I will do better to try and keep in touch.

Diets vs. Lifestyle

So a constant struggle for this mom of three is food. I love sweets!! Unfortunately my body also shows this - so I went on the American quest for 'figure resolution' - (thin is not politically correct).



Anyway - Jenny was not for me, I truly "watched" my weight with Weight Watchers - only it went the wrong way - Nutrisystem required adding food from your kitchen - so not cost effective for this budget conscious mom. So - I have now joined a group of people that are also struggling to EatRight. We meet weekly with a nutritionist and learn something new almost every week - some we already know simply because we have tried to rest :)



I am nine weeks into this - others are losing weekly - guess who has only lost one and a half pounds the whole nine weeks?



I know - such a shock - so I went to an individual meeting with the doctor of the program. I am thrilled to announce I now have an enhanced and live-able plan to coordinate with what I have already been doing - he showed me how to respond to what is going on within my body - those crazy hormones!!



So he adjusted the medication my gyno had me on - and I will see him again in a month!!



The question on my profile is one that applies to me, my children, and almost everyone else I know - I am determined to get the two in line!! This is going to take a combination of God, family, medicine, and plain old self denial (my flesh screams out too much!!). I look forward to updating you on my successes and setbacks.

poodleduck

To all the moms in the world that feel two steps behind their children - this one is for you!!

We have a small boy that is constantly moving and exploring - He is resilient to the point of almost being "damageproof" - in our house we call him Poodleduck.
Poodleduck began life about four and a half years ago - at four months of age he became very ill - throwing up, passing out, constant difficulty breathing and chronic diarrhea - What fun!!

He took his time becoming mobile due to the sickness he was suffering from - but oh how he has more than made up for our concern!! At 16 months he got into his diaper bag and AMAZINGLY figured out the complicated process of the implement needed to save his life - the EPIPEN!
Not only did Poodleduck figure the thing out - he also proceeded to inject himself with it as I was coming back down the stairs. OH MY STARS!! into his stomach he stuck the needle - right under his heart. Needless to say we took a fun ride in the ambulance to children's hospital to see that Poodleduck would be just fine - minus the unreal shaking and vomiting that occurred :)

Poodleduck is on special formula for his disorder and a thickener to help him not to aspirate. Poodleduck LOVES his "cuppy". So much so that Poodleduck's next foray was at about 28mths old (I truly believe that God does NOT give you any more than you can handle at any one time when you depend on him) - getting the chair, pushing it over to the counter and climbing up into the cabinet to get the cans - the first time he did this he ate his formula. A couple of weeks later I found him in his thickener - YUCK!! - he was loving it!!

Poodleduck kept us all hopping - his sisters (Boo and Moosa) were constantly calling - "mom, he's..." "MOM!! Now He's..." Whew I didn't know what to do - Thank God for blessing him with such ability to bounce back despite his limitations - or ask God to please SLOW HIM DOWN. Such a quandary!

There have been the amazing tricks of getting out of any buckle - falling headfirst onto the concete floor of Target - he was fine, not even a bruise - just minor heart failure for mom and the man walking by on the cell phone:) - and numerous others.

Life moved along - poodleduck kept exploring - the next event was also solely for mom (did I mention dad was working a second job and poodleduck NEVER tried anything unusual when he was home - oh the added guilt to my already tender 'mommy failed' heart) - poodleduck climbed on the bathroom counter and proceeded to paint the mirror, himself, the sink and the counter with liquid hand soap. Does anyone know how many suds can come out of one SoftSoap pump? I do. That day poodleduck learned that soap did not taste good at all!! That one left us all laughing hysterically as Poodleduck sat covered and trying to figure out why he could not get away from the taste.

These are our highlights of Poodleduck in action - never feel bad when your children get hurt or make messes or put a hole in your leather seat or get inside the closet to color (only there was conveniently no paper - only walls to beautify) - kids need the exploration and experimentation as well as the natural consequences of their actions. Just love them, guide them, treasure them, and know we only have them for a short time so give them all you can - but teach them materials are not what matters - THEY are. Jobs are important, but not more important than their made up dance just for you, and know that exhaustion is just part of knowing you are doing good!!

God Bless and keep going
Romans 8:28