Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Life is Crazy

Things have been hairy around here at times lately. Firstly, like I mentioned earlier we are expecting a little one in the next several months, to come and join the ranks. I definitely haven't felt 100% and would rank this pregnancy #2 on the hardest pregnancy scale. Luckily, things have gotten significantly better. It is so crazy how a little speck can throw off your groove so wildly!! Gratefully now I can cook meat--almost, I'm not quite there with beef yet, I can clean the toilet, I can change a diaper without throwing up, I actually have started planning menus again, I can now make a grocery list and no longer have to buy what "almost" looks good enough to eat, I can handle smells now, I can help my kids with their homework standing up...and not from the couch, I actually planned and carried out a b-day party for Madelyn--poor Hannah just got a cake that I could barely make for her b-day, I'm not always wishing that someone else would come and make me dinner--but it would have to be potatoes because that is pretty much the only thing that constantly sounded good, and I don't have to take a nap every day, but almost! So things are definitely looking up!!
We've been potty training Hannah. It hasn't been pretty. My older two kids pretty much potty trained themselves at this age, and had maybe 3 accidents--if that. This one, however, has been much much much more difficult. We reverted back to diapers for a time, it got that bad. I had had enough constant laundering, cleaning, and scrubbing. It all climaxed as I was at an exercise class one day, and near the end I look over and see Hannah and her friend's bare bottoms. That was not all. They both decided to go potty on the floor! I about died. After that, it was back to diapers. Yesterday was the first day that Hannah stayed clean in her underwear and then today 3 accidents again. I am potty trained out.... One other crazy/funny story: there was one day we were in thick of potty training and we had stomach flu going around too. Needless to say the potty training wasn't happening and I had several messes on account of the flu as well. I was pretty much laundering and scrubbing and disinfecting all day long. Jed got home from work and was on the phone doing church stuff in the other room all night long. So I was finally getting everything wound up around the house and getting our scripture study done with the kids-the last thing on our list. I was laying on the couch reading, when Hannah ran up to me and threw up right on my face, neck, and shoulder. I just started laughing/crying....it was funny but also, I was definitely at the end of my rope. Jed walked out just then from doing his phone calls, and I just said "Where have you been?" I wasn't upset, it was more just a funny scene to walk in on and I just had to say it. I was very grateful that Hannah missed my mouth, only by a couple inches....
Jed is now serving in our bishopric which has brought some change to our family as well. It has been a good experience and I know it will continue to be a good experience. We've definitely had a learning curve, learning what works in sacrament mtg all over again, not setting out breakfast for Jed on fast sunday mornings, remembering to bring him a lunch to have for after church, and making sure his white shirts aren't still in the wash come sunday mornings! We're catching on though. I'm so lucky that I serve in YW still because almost every sunday, one of them will come and help me. I really am so grateful for everyone's help. We have to get babysitters every mutual night, and whenever we have to be at the same meeting, etc. My parents and neighbors have helped so very much. I'm very grateful.
Life is crazy and good at the same time. I hope I don't sound like I am ranting and raving, but I had to record real life. When my girls grow up and have children of their own and ask me, "did you ever have days like this?!" I will say, "YES!!!! Just hang in there and take it one day at a time....one day at a time." :)

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

This month as a family, we've tried harder to focus on being grateful for the entire month of November. I can't say that I have been perfect at it, let's just say a potty training experience gone awry has put my nerves a little more on edge than usual, but I am so grateful for how blessed our family truly is. I truly believe that there is real power in gratitude, and I hope I can better develop a constant spirit of gratitude in my life.
A few things I am grateful for:
*A warm house, food to eat, clothes to wear, and so many comforts that usually I take for granted.
* A loving family. A good husband who works very hard to support our family. Fun, good, and healthy children.
* Wonderful extended family on both Jed and I's side of the family.
* So many "little" things my children do and say that truly bring me joy.
* A new baby coming to our family in May. I'm grateful to see our family grow and see our children excited for a new baby.
*Good friends and wonderful neighbors.
* The gospel in my life, I love it.
* Life in general. I'm so grateful to be able to learn and grow and to become better.
* A loving Heavenly Father and Savior who know me better than I know myself, my weaknesses and my potential. I'm grateful that I can receive guidance and direction in my life from One who knows better than I.
* I'm grateful that Thanksgiving comes just before Christmas. A grateful heart is the perfect start to a season that focuses on the birth of our Savior.

Happy Thanksgiving!!