We're ALMOST There...

School is almost is over!!! We have almost survived the first year of actual school! My youngest finished with preschool a couple of weeks ago.  While I am over here doing my happy dance because in a few short days I will no longer have to get up and make a pb&j while I am still half asleep or drop him off wearing yoga pants, unshaven legs and a Johnny Depp t-shirt, I'm also a little terrifed.  I mean they are going to be home ALL.DAY.LONG.  And this isn't just spring break people...its for ALL OF SUMMER.  My husband is excited...he can take the boys to breakfast. *yay* I'm left here all day to entertain them.  It's easy at first..a few trips to the park and bounce house place.  But after about 2 weeks the excitement wears off and I'm too tired to even think about loading them up and heading out somewhere. Let's just stay home and watch Spongebob today...we'll call it Chill Out Thursday!!

But seriously, summer is exciting! I get to sleep in...the kids get to wake up at 6am every day sleep in. We get to go swimming and play outside! I can't wait. But right now we are struggling to make it through this last week!  Yesterday I got an email because my dear sweet child spit on another kid that was teasing him.  I calmly looked him in the eyes and just said 'buddy, we are in the homestretch...we are ALMOST there.  Let's just hold it together this last week. I know the kid was making fun of you, but you still can't spit on him...use our words.'  He got the message. I'm just as exhausted with these kids as he is.  The ones who are nice to him when he brings a cool toy, but never let him play with them on the playground.  The ones who tease him because he isn't as big as they are, or punch him then deny it when the teacher confronts them.  I'm tired of them too.  So I am excited that my kiddo gets however many weeks it is without these kids tormenting him.

He has had a good Kindergarten year.  It hasn't been perfect. I have gotten a few phone calls, emails and letters home.  But for the most part....it's been a really great year.  I wish I could say that I was that super over achiever mom who went to every party and school function.  I'm so not.  I missed the open house for his class, therefore missing ALL the information about the parties. Open house was before school even started and all the parties were already planned and people signed up then to bring food and all. So I heard about the parties in the monthly letter home...after they already happened. <supermom> I also only attended a few school functions.  I barely made it to the Mother's Day Tea, because my invitation somehow was sent to Jeff Gordon.  I'm serious.  The entire class made these over the top elaborate invites to their moms for this tea party thing.  My sweet child never brought mine home. He didn't write 'Mommy' on the outside of the envelope...nope he didn't invite the one person who carried him for 9 long months and let him bounce on my bladder.  He wrote Jeff Gordon on the outside. I still have no idea where that invite went. For all I know he stuck it in the mail box and the mail lady got a good laugh! I found out via text message from one of the moms who DID attend the open house, asking if I was going.  Apparently this Mothers Day thing is a BIG DEAL! So I went...and when I realized all these sweet kids wrote books about their moms and they were going to be read aloud...sheer panic.  I'm not kidding I started sweating. What had he wrote about me?!  He was so excited that I was there, he didn't even notice that Jeff Gordon was absent.  All the other kids wrote these adorable books about how their moms tuck them in every night, read them a story or my personal favorite 'My mom is OSOME.'  <----Yep that's some awesome 6 year old spelling. Dude, it sounds like that...it should be spelled like it. If not for spell checker most of my words would be like that! The teacher had Eli read like at the very end...you know to add to the suspense of what he had put in that book about me. I mean I am sure I was like pale and shaking when he stepped up the microphone. It started out innocent enough.  He said I liked purple....and pink and red.  And that I liked to eat pickles...and then...My mommy LOVES to lay in the bed!  I am sure my face turned 1,000 shades of red. Because what he neglected to add was that 'My mommy has been puking her guts out for 5 months because she is pregnant with my baby brother.'  That would have went nicely after that sentence.

So, we are nearing the end and I kept getting these little green papers home in his folder asking for volunteers for field day. One of the jobs was to pull around a cart full of water for the duration of the day. Um...let me think about that...NO THANKS.  I didn't sign up for anything. And then Eli started talking about field day.  It started out as 'I don't want to go to field day.'  It then quickly escalated to 'I'm NOT GOING to field day!" I asked him why he didn't want to go and he looked at me like I was an idiot, "It's an ENTIRE day of PE, mommy!  It is going to be AWFUL."  I mean I couldn't really argue with him, staying outside in the hot sun running and sweating...it's not my cup of tea either.  But I tried to make it sound fun, there was going to be inflatables! That didn't really appeal to him, all he kept saying  was 'there's a race they are MAKING ME DO!'  This is where my therapy training kicks in, all the therapists are always giving me tips for him. So, I took a deep breath and told him that we all have to do things that we don't really want to do. It's part of life...and that just sends him into hysterics.  He starts 'PLEASE don't make me go!!! Can't you pick me up!?!'  Well, technically I could after 11:46, but your class is doing the very first half of the day so it wouldn't help.  Lucky for him, he spiked a fever this evening. Field day is tomorrow! He was so excited to be sick, until he actually started feeling really bad once his fever escalated to 101.3.  But he still remained optimistic muttering 'at least I get to miss field day!'  I have to admit I am relieved too.

Bring it on Summer....

It's Spring....FINALLY!

Yeah...I know spring actually started back in March.  But it actually FEELS like Spring now!  I have gotten sunburned at the park and spent evenings sitting outside while my boys play.  It's AHHHH-Mazing.  Oh how I have missed the kids playing outside.  We have spent the entire winter cooped up in this house and passing germs, from whatever virus is circulating, back and forth. We were in dire need of some fresh air!   I am loving this weather and so are my boys.

 We found out a couple of weeks ago that we will be adding another little boy to our family! If your on my fb then you probably already knew ;) I am so excited about having a house full of boys!  My hubby really wanted a little girl and both the boys wanted a sister.  But God has blessed us with this amazing little boy and I couldn't be happier.  The ultrasound was so amazing.  It wasn't a medical one, so they didn't do any measurements or tell me he looked perfect or anything along those lines.  But seeing him just melted my heart.  Even at 15 weeks, when he looks a little alien-ish, he was just so perfect to me.

So now I get to start planning everything for this little guy.  We have a lot of organizing and moving of furniture to get done before September.

Pink or Blue?!

No...I don't know the gender of this baby yet. I just wanted you to open this and read it.  I have been asked so many times during this pregnancy if I want a boy or girl.  I always hesitate on answering.  Is there a part of me that secretly longs for dance classes and gymnastics? Is there a feeling that I am missing out on something great by not purchasing head bands with flowers the size of a basketball? I would lie if I said no.  There is a part of me that longs to have a little girl...I mean who doesn't LOVE the disney princess movies? But (there's always a but) I don't want to 'hope' for one gender over the other.

The baby that is growing inside of me is perfect.  It doesn't matter what gender it is.  It's my baby and I already love it for whatever it turns out to be.  I have said many times that I never want to feel disappointed in the gender of my kids.  I never want to hear 'It's a....' and feel disappointment.  God is blessing me with this amazing little life to watch grow and love on.  Boy or girl...it doesn't matter to me.  The only thing I pray for is the health of this baby.  Every day that I am allowed to carry this little life is a blessing.

'Be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead.' 

1 Peter 1:6

Bidding Farewell to the 1st Trimester...

I am still here. My blogging life has taken a hiatus as I have been either puking or lying in the bed whining about feeling like I may puke at any moment.  In between those wonderful activities I have been going to school and driving my 2 crazies to all their appointments.  Exhausted isn't even a word that can describe how I have felt lately.  But alas, all of this is paying off.  I am in my 12th week of pregnancy and I am nearing the end of this dreadful first trimester.  I really don't want to complain about it too much, because I am thankful to still be carrying this little baby.  With every bout of morning sickness comes a bit of relief because in the back of my mind I hear 'your still pregnant...puking is a good sign.'

With my first pregnancy I didn't understand the gratefulness for pregnancy symptoms.  I just knew I felt bad.  It wasn't until I lost our baby that I missed waking up sick.  So, for all the times I have felt horrible this time around...I am very very thankful.  We had our last ultrasound at 8wks 5days.  The baby had a wonderful heartbeat at 174.  I am going back to the dr this thursday for my 13wk checkup.  Nothing too exciting though.  If I remember right, it's just to hear the heartbeat on the doppler :)  I am looking forward to hearing it though, as it always eases my mind a bit.  This is a scary time for me during a pregnancy. I wasn't much further along than this when I started to miscarry our first baby.  Most people will say your 'out of the woods' once you hit 13 weeks, but I don't ever feel that way until I can feel the baby moving pretty regularly.  I try not to stress too much tho and just put my trust in my Father's hand.


Enough about the pregnancy.  We took the boys to the wilderness over spring break, and had a great time together. Eli tried a lot of new things and that always makes me happy.  Getting him to try new things can be very challenging but he is doing so well.  I also signed Eli up for an art class that meets on Wednesdays after school.  I took him 2 weeks ago. I just sent him in and took Zack outside to play.  When it was time I went in and got him and we left.  A week later the teacher called me to tell me that if I wanted to continue to bring him that I would have to stay in there with him.  FIRST...I understand her point of view. I really really do.  But it also felt like someone punched me in the stomach at first.  Eli has not been able to play any sports or do any kinds of 'normal' activities.  He is not in any school programs.  He does not go to VBS because he can't handle the craziness of it all without melting down.  I thought an Art class would be perfect for him because he loves to draw and do crafts.  But he is also hard to get to focus, especially when he is excited.  So I do see where the teacher is coming from. But it didn't keep me from bawling.  It's just one more reminder that he does not fit in.  There are times that I feel like we are doing well and we a completely normal family.  Then something happens and I am reminded that we can't always do 'normal' activities with him.  And it isn't a great feeling.  I haven't decided whether or not I want to take him back.

Pregnancy Week # ?????

I am so confused on what week of pregnancy I am on. According to all the cute little tickers I should be on my 7th week. But my last ultrasound was iffy on the dates. So I won't really know until my next appointment. It's a little frustrating to say the least. But this post is not about that. It is more about how miserable I feel right now. I know .... I shouldn't complain.  All of these hellish I mean wonderful symptoms are a good sign of a healthy pregnancy.  But I feel absolutely horrible. I feel like a wimp. I mean this isn't my first pregnancy. I have done this before...several times before. This is my 5th pregnancy....FIVE.  I should not be this phased by these crazy hormones.  But I am.  I am so sick. I am so emotional...I find myself getting absolutely furious over the craziest things.  I am in a constant annoyed state of my messy house, but I feel too bad to actually do anything about it.

Here are my symptoms listed in the order in which they suck:

1. Nausea...this is not your normal morning sickness. I am sick from the time my feet hit the floor in the morning until I pass out at night time.

2. Bloated.  I look like I'm 6 months pregnant....my baby is the size of a sunflower seed. NOT amused.

3. Emotional.  Don't get me started *sniff*

4. My boobs HURT.  I believe they may just fall off.

5. My hair is FALLING OUT. What is that all about?

6. Acne.....on my back. Last I checked I wasn't 15. So what gives?!



I don't think I am 'glowing' just yet LOL I pretty much look like death every day! But really...I am so happy to feeling this crappy. I know that if I wasn't having these symptoms I'd be worried to death that something was wrong.  I am still worried about it, just because I'm so early and so many things can happen.  But the nausea is keeping me distracted from letting my mind wander to all those scary thoughts! I can't wait to see how much this baby has grown. My next appt is on the 18th, and I am hoping this next week flies by.

I'm Trusting.

It has been such a roller coaster of a day. I have been so nauseated all day.  I had my first ultrasound for this pregnancy.  I should be elated.  And I am happy. I got to get a glimpse at the little life that is growing inside of me. I was so blessed to see a tiny little flickering heartbeat.  It was tiny, but gives me so much hope.  With each pregnancy I worry about the very real possibility of miscarriage.  Once you have been down that path it's hard not to worry.  It's even harder when you have done it twice.  Seeing the heartbeat does ease my mind a lot. I am trying my hardest not to let my mind wander.  My baby is tiny. Much smaller than I thought it would be. I should have been 6 weeks and 1 day but the computer wouldn't even give an estimate.  I am hoping that I am just earlier than I thought.  I get to go back in a couple of weeks and have another ultrasound. I know my God is able to do mighty things.

Here on the potter's wheel, 
I find myself once more, 
My faults and frailties Bring me here just like before, 
With strong and loving hands The pressure is applied, 
Oft times I tremble as He puts me thru the fire
 I'll trust the potter's hands, He knows what's best for me, 
He has a perfect plan These human eyes can't see, 
He's the potter; I'm the clay, 
He knows just how much I can take,
 When I face the fire again I'll trust the potter's hands 


http://christiansongoftheday.blogspot.com/2012/07/ill-trust-potters-hands.html#sthash.4VSu5Z4B.dpuf

Big News.

So we are expecting #3!!! We are so excited to be having another baby.  Our boys are getting so big and it will be so much fun to have a little one again.  I have had blood work done and we are going on the 30th for an ultrasound.  So much excitement going on here.  But also lots of things to think about. We are starting to figure out about bedrooms and where to put everyone to sleep.  I also am doing an mental inventory of the baby items that I still have.  Just a lot of thinking of what we may need.  All of this I expected. What I didn't expect was the reaction from people that I have gotten.

I kind of expected people to be a little more candid about their shock/disapproval. LOL Most of the people who know us are happy, or at least can pretend to be.  I get it...3 kids is probably more than other people think we should have. I know I just have to get tougher skin and I am. It's a slow process.  But it started growing over the last 2 years while dealing with Eli's issues.    

But I am happy.  I cannot wait to have another newborn to love on. I have always wanted a 3rd child.  I have said in the past that I was done having kids. But I blame a lot of that on how I let other people's opinions affect me.  It is easy to say 'ignore them' but to actually do it is much harder. It's hard to ignore the stares and shaking heads.  For the first 5 years of my parenting experience I got to hear everyone's opinion on what I was doing wrong with Eli.  How I should stop his behaviors.  I let the stares and whispers of others make me feel like less of a parent.  Once I stopped letting the stares bother me I started to feel more confident as a mother. Once I learned to pull Eli aside and zone out the rest of the world while I dealt with his meltdowns, I learned how to listen to my child's needs.  I was not always able to fix whatever was bothering him. But I learned from them.  I started to notice when and what triggered them.  I stopped caring what other people thought of us.  And it was amazing how much higher I was able to hold my head when we would walk out of a movie theater that he had previously freaked out in.

I also started accepting help.  I realize that I am only one person. And sometimes it's okay to ask someone for help when nothing I have done has worked.  Sometimes people will surprise you.  I have to mention having a great support system helps as well.  My strongest support has came from therapists, teachers, counselors and doctors...who all hold a special place in my heart.  These are the people who sat with me while I cried and begged for their guidance.  They are the ones who told me there is some hope and that my situation was not hopeless.  Sometimes I look back and think of how crazy I must have looked at an initial intake with mascara running down my face and puffy eyes. But I was blessed with amazing therapists and all.  They didn't call me crazy.  They didn't patronize me.  They took my concerns seriously and gave me ideas of how to cope with what we were dealing with.  For that I am so thankful. They didn't look down on me or call me a bad parent.  They saw me, a mom who was desperately trying to figure out how to help her child.

And friends who see past the meltdowns and quirkiness of my Eli.  Instead they see him...they see a kid who just experiences this world a little differently and they see me, a mom who is trying just like them to raise her child the best that I know how.  I am so thankful for the amazing friends who keep having play dates with us even when the last one didn't go so well.  The friends who I can call and just rant to about anything. These friendships keep me sane.

*sigh* I am not perfect. I lose my cool pretty much everyday.  I don't always keep my patience with my boys. My husband is witness to that.  But I love them with everything in me.  And we are so happy and thankful for this pregnancy.  We cannot wait to meet the child that God has blessed us with.  So YAY...another little person to celebrate and love. Who wouldn't be happy about that?!