On Loving Caleb

I am grateful for Caleb.  Even though sometimes it doesn't seem like it, he is incredibly tenderhearted.  He is also an amazing athlete and very intelligent.  He draws and reads all the time, loves the out-of-doors, exercising, and cooking.  He knows how to be a gentleman (and actually does it sometimes, too).  He gets up with Sam every morning (they both should have been born on the farm since they get up before the sun does) and feeds him and entertains him.  I told you Lizzi and Rex had stretched me as a parent--Caleb has, too, in different ways, maybe because he is so much like me at different levels, and yet I marvel at how much better than me he is in ways.  He's getting better every day.

Weighing In

It's been awhile since I've blogged about my weight-loss adventure.  That's because it's not going particularly well.  It's not going particularly bad either.  It's just ... not going.  I'm still holding steady at a 15 pound loss, which is nothing to sniff at.  I am down a pants size, down 2 dress sizes.

I tell myself that I've hit a plateau, which might be true.  Or it could be that I haven't really been tracking what I eat.  I do still weight in at WW each week, which keeps me in line, but I need to get back in the habit of attending the meetings.  There are always lots of ideas and help and support at those.

The good news is that I am still exercising--walking the dogs a couple of miles in the morning (or whenever I get around to it) and using the Wii 3 times a week.

I have been doing a lot of emotional eating because of stress.  I need to get a handle on that.  I have an especially hard time during the fall and winter because I start craving comfort foods like sweets (when don't I crave those?), creamy soups, and bread, bread, bread.  They aren't bad in moderation ... but I'm not good at moderating.

My goal for the holiday season is to not gain weight.  Maintain or lose, but not gain.  Somebody told me the average American gains from 5-15 lbs between Halloween and New Year's.  I thought that sounded like a bit much; I don't think I've ever gained more than 5 pounds at the holidays (just 30 over the course of a year, lol).  But I don't want to join the crowd.  And my secret perfectionist self really, really wants to lose.  But I don't want to give up the yummy holiday food.  Anyone else see a problem here?

Still, I am planning what I eat on Thanksgiving Day.  I have been really good the last few years about not eating until I'm gorged.  Still, I want to stay within my points this year.  Fortunately, I'm in charge of the relish tray, which means I can stack it with dill pickles and veggies and low-fat dip, which I can eat to my heart's content.

I think I need to go on a hunt for my self-discipline, though.

Bob (Doesn't that just say everything?)

I am so thankful for my husband.  I am not always good at showing my gratitude.  Okay, in all honesty, I'm not always good at being grateful for him.  However, today I realized (again) some of the reasons that he is so amazing, the chief reason being that he can love me in spite of my obnoxious flaws.  Flaws can be tolerated, but not so much the obnoxious ones.  He is also an incredibly hard worker, and frequently shows compassion in unexpected quarters.  He is patient with my insecurities.  When we disagree about things, he can be downright stubborn, but I never doubt that he is trying to stick to his guns and do what he thinks is best.  I love that I can trust him to provide for me and our family.  I love that I can trust him to work to work things out (I like Micheal Buble, I can't help it).  I love that he loves the Lord and wants to do what is right.  I love that he loves me.

On Loving Rex

My thanks today are for Rex.  I could list his nicknames in here, like I did for Sam, but I think Rex might freak out (what's wrong with Rexie-Pooh, I ask you?).

Oops.

I can't tell you how much admiration I have for this kid.  He doesn't have them so much anymore, but he used to have some really difficult sensory integration issues, but he has worked and worked to overcome the limitations his body has tried to place on him.  He gets up every morning or every time there is a bump in the road and keeps on trying.

He is super smart--and he has an amazing teacher this year who sees that and works with him to help him be his best self at so many levels.  At school right now, he is trying to beat the school record for the most Accelerated Reader points accumulated over the course of the year.  He is about 1/3 of the way there.  He reads everything from Big Nate to Captain Underpants to Harry Potter to Percy Jackson.  It does a mother's heart good to watch him (AND it has motivated big brother to get on the reading bandwagon, bonus!).

He loves swimming and super heroes and video games and walking the dogs.  He is growing his hair out (and keeping it combed, which was the stipulation).  He is always telling me things like, "I am glad you're my mom, because I actually like you" (where do they get these things? lol).  He is a unique thinker, and makes me rethink the things I say and do.  He has taught me so much, in so many ways, about patience and perseverance as well as loving the way that Christ would love.  I can't wait to see what Rex does with his life.  Cuz I'm pretty sure it'll be big.

A Little More Drawl

One of my favorite discoveries about Georgia is this:

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, sir.

No, ma'am.

No, sir.

My kids say it all the time now.  And rarely with attitude.  Because that is what they are expected to say here.  Without attitude.  And without question.  Lizzi started it first in our family, but her math teacher has high expectations for her students and isn't afraid to tell them how it is (have I mentioned we love Lizzi's math teacher?).  But now even the boys and Sariah do it, too.  There was a family in our ward in Norman whose kids said these very politely, even to Mom and Dad (yes, they lived in Georgia), and we wanted our kids to learn how to do it, but it just never came together.  Maybe it's that whole "it takes a village" thing, because now our kids know what is expected of them.  It's completely awesome.

It was also awesome in Wal-Mart when the checker told one of the kids, in a very Southern drawl, to get busy loading her mama's cart.  Yeah, that was awesome, too.

I know we need to be expecting and fostering this respect from our kids regularly, but sometimes I get so tired of ... the endless battle.  It's nice to be backed up.  And a whole heck of a lot easier to return respect for respect.

On Loving Lizzi

My thankful heart is for Lizzi today.  She is amazingly beautiful, intelligent, and talented.  She has been working so hard these last few weeks at getting herself in shape and catching up in swim team at the Y.  She has gone 4 times a week and worked hard without complaint.  She looks dang good going back and forth in the pool.  I'm super excited she's chosen to pursue this.  She's also been singing with the chorus at school, as well as living up to her mother's reading tradition--I actually am pretty sure she can outread me now and me at that age.  She volunteered to watch the little ones this morning when the rest of us all had places to be.  She's been working on her Personal Progress for Young Women's at church.  Lizzi is witty and direct, growing into a passionate young woman.  She stretches me as a mother, makes us earn our victories.  She is amazing, and I am eagerly watching her grow into the woman Heavenly Father sees in her, even as I miss the smiling little imp who undid my housework when she was a baby, even as I still see the enterprising, adventurous girl in this beautiful almost teenager.

Don't Laugh

Tonight I'm thankful for Date Night, and for a husband who goes to gory movies with me--have I mentioned he doesn't do gory very well?  It's one of my favorite things about him.  Ok, well, I don't usually go to gory movies (I don't do gory very well either), but how could I possibly skip Breaking Dawn?  And I got a peaceful meal with a chocolate shake.  AND when I got home, the 4 youngest were in bed asleep, the living room was clean, and the dishes were done.  Awesomeness.

ADD?

Yes, I changed my background again.  I get bored easily.  Yes, it's early for Christmas.  But they're already playing Christmas music so I'm in the mood.  :)

On Loving Sam

My heart is full of thanks today (and every day!) for Sam, a.k.a. Sam-sam or Squirt or My Little Man or Big Man (yes, his nicknames are contradictory, so sue me).  He's just a good, good little guy.  Today we went on an hour-long walk, and he never fought or screamed or cried; he was just content to roll along in his stroller, waving his hands, pointing at birds and cats and cars, and patting the dogs when they got close enough.  He's easy to make smile, and he's so dang cute when he says, "Mommy" or "Daddy" or "doggie."  He loves his older brothers and sisters, and looks forward to when they come home from school.  He loves his Daddy; when Daddy is home, no one else will do.  He loves getting in the car and going places.He loves suckers, binkies, fruit pouches, baths, blocks, and stacking cups.  He gives hugs, and he rides Pillow Pets.  He makes me smile.  He makes me glad to be a mom.

Thankful

Sooner or later I'll get back to posting seriously thankful posts.

In the meantime, rest assured that today I am sincerely thankful that all of my school-aged children returned to school today.  May the force be with them.

Because I'm considering laying around with Sam all day, reading books, watching TV, eating goldfish and drinking chocolate milk from a sippy cup.  I don't think we'll need the force with us.  Just sayin'.

On My Radio Silence

I had one of those weekends, starting on Thursday, where I just didn't feel up to doing anything.  Anything.  And boy, can I tell it today.  The husband and the kids helped while I shut down temporarily.  But now it's Monday morning.  Time to get back to the grind.  And my week's plans are already in an uproar with two sick babies at home.  Time to take a deep breath, get flexible, and press forward.  I can do it, I can do it, nothin' to it, right?  Right?

Thank You, New Ward

Tonight I am so thankful for our new ward (a.k.a. congregation) at church here in Georgia.

Earlier this week, I had a friend check in on me because I looked sad at church on Sunday.  I didn't really need anything that she could give me, but it was so nice to have someone say, "Let me know what I can do to help you."

There is another family here who remind me of home and loan their grandmas to my kids and their brand new grandbaby to me to cuddle.

This evening was the Young Women in Excellence program for the youth-aged girls at church.  That would be Hannah and Lizzi's scene.  Although Hannah earned her Personal Progress award and medallion in our ward in Norman right before we moved, her new Young Women's Presidency elected to honor her at tonight's YWIE program the same way they honored the girls who earned theirs here.  That means Hannah was recognized again and given a beautiful pearl necklace.  It was something that they didn't have to do for her but did anyway.

To top that off, Hannah was a little sad tonight, missing her old friends, I think, among other things.  It was a beautiful sight to see her new friends put their arms around her shoulders and make her smile.  I watched as they checked on her and with her and kept her with them.

It does my heart good to feel the Lord's blessings and to know His hands have made this path for us.

Sweet Girls

 
These are my high maintenance girls.  I thought Lizzi was diva-ish.  Until, that is, The Diva showed up on the scene.  Sometimes Sariah makes Lizzi look like a pacifist.  And that's saying somethin'.

Last week, Lizzi and Hannah built a fort between their beds for Sam and Sariah to play in.  It was the most amusing thing Sam had done in ages.  There are no pictures of him with the fort because he wouldn't come out.

Sariah and Lizzi hung out in there for awhile, too.  These pictures make my heart smile.  As crazy as my kids make me sometimes, I love that the older ones take time to play with the little ones (even when they fight at the end...really? you're picking a fight with someone 8 years younger than you??).  I love that the little ones can count on their older sibs to entertain them from time to time.  I love that they have each other for comfort and kindness and giggles and goodness.

Thankful for Antibiotics

I know, I know I said the evil word "antibiotics," a double-edged sword in the parenting world today.  No antibiotics, and your kids can die.  Too many antibiotics, and your kids can die.  Or their teeth change colors.  Or the flora in their happy little guts get all messed around.  Whatever.

Even so, I am especially thankful for them these last few weeks.  They will help with Lizzi's ears ... we made her wait 3 days before we took her to the doc, hoping for a miraculous resolution, but alas, 'twas not to be.  So antibiotics, come to me, my friend!!

And, I am even more grateful for antibiotics for my Dumb Mutt.  Ok, ok, we know he's really not that dumb.  But he did have a little potty problem a week or so ago (which became a big problem for me as I had to consider buying him Depends, like I haven't already changed enough diapers), and antibiotics were the solution to his little problem ... and my sanity (minor detail, that).

Antibiotics are a good thing around here right now.  'Nuf said.

Unplugged ... Not

So much for going unplugged today.

Lizzi has had an earache, so today we went to the doctor and then to the pharmacy.  She has not one but two inner ear infections.  That would be as opposed to outer ear infections which the doctor informs us are extremely common here, because just like all sorts of extra things grow in toilets and sinks because of the humidity (I think?), all sorts of extra things grow in your ears, especially if you are swimming 4 times a week like Lizzi now is because of swim team.  Oh the joys that are ours!

I feel kinda sorry for Lizzi.  She was my ear infection free infant.  Maybe not entirely free but relatively so--three of her sibs had tubes put in, and Hannah probably should have but we were on student insurance at the time.  Anywho, ear infections for Lizzi were few and far between ... probably because she was on antibiotics all the time for sinus infections.  As she has gotten older, she tends to get ear infections once or twice a year.  Really?  Regularly scheduled ear infections at 12?  That just doesn't sound pleasant to me.

Meanwhile, the laundry is going, but not like I planned.  Ah well.  I will have to make a laundry date on my calendar.

Hahahahahahahahahahah!

Graffiti

 Right before Halloween, the neighbors had some hair spray paint, so of course, our kids needed to try it out. Thought Rex's wound up pretty stylin'.  And Caleb sported the Tonks look (that's from Harry Potter for the uninitiated).

 Meanwhile, Sariah was most enchanted with how her ears got turned pink.  Please admire to your heart's content.

I'm Thankful for Laundry?

Oddly enough, I am thankful for the laundry today.  I know, right?  Everyone knows that I despise laundry, and that generally there are several unfolded baskets of clean clothes located strategically throughout my house.  Not to mention all the dirty clothes, but you don't really want to know all the places you could find those.

Normally, I don't do all of our laundry at one time in one place on one day.  It's ... a little ... just a smidge ... overwhelming.  In this picture, there are 8 baskets of dirty laundry, probably about 12 loads.  And I had a load in the washer.  And one in the dryer.  And about 3 in my bedroom on the bed waiting to be folded.  And all the sheets and towels were still on the beds and the towel racks.  Argh!

Have I ever mentioned that sometimes tween boys change clothes about 300% more than teenage girls do?  I don't get it.

Anyway, laundry.  Not my favorite thing.

Still, after a long and emotional day today, I find myself looking forward to hanging out at home ALL DAY with my laundry, doing some mindless folding and ironing while watching another good BBC Jane Austen drama.  Again, as Bob would say.  I think I may take a computer hiatus, and (gulp!) ignore my email and FB and Words With Friends (I know! how can that be?!).  Maybe.  Hopefully.

Turning off the social networks might require some chocolate consumption.  While watching Jane Austen flicks.  Oh dear.  The laundry really is dreadful, isn't it?

Halloween 2011

Presenting the giraffe, Red Riding Hood, the zombie-ish football player, Dark Red Riding Hood, and Elvis.  Hannah was out and about with her friends, so no pictures got taken of her--surprise, surprise, surprise....

Sam's Halloween

 For Halloween this year, Sam was both an elephant and a giraffe.  But I had the camera the most when he was an elephant, and since I was playing with my camera AND Sam was so cute, I took a lot of pictures.  We hung out here at the apartment on the 31st while the older kids went to a party.  Sam sat out on the sidewalk, blatantly removing candy from my bowl, placing it in his bucket, and then dumping the bucket over his head.  Then he would patiently put it all back... and take more candy from my bowl.  We had fun.

 The tail was one of my favorite parts.  Teehee!

 Check out the lashes, ladies.  Isn't that just unfair?

What Do You Take for Granted?

I had thought, in my thankful posts, not to resort to this so early on in the game. However, after having finished reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls tonight, it is time for me to say how grateful I am for a more or less "functional" family, both growing up and now, for running water, for food in my cabinets, for an education, for shoes on my feet, for the selflessness of those who have loved me throughout my life.

If you want to know more about this book, read the reviews, and know that your expectations will not be disappointed.  The reviews aren't merely hype.  This is the memoir of a woman who grew up in unthinkably poor and dysfunctional circumstances, and went on to rise above it, and yet still manages to embrace the positives that have shaped who she is.  Perhaps the story's early setting in the deserts of the Southwest really spoke to me, since that's where I grew up initially.  Or perhaps it's Walls's triumph in NYC, which I learned to love just a few years ago.  My captivation with the book is further increased because I see some of the people I have known in the characters of this autobiography.  Or there's the fact that Jeannette Walls is only a few years older than I, and yet she really lived without running water or electricity.  I didn't even know that was still possible!

In any case, read the book.  It will teach you about people you didn't know before.  And it will remind you what incredible blessings you have in your life but take for granted on most days.  A worthy read, absolutely.

Look What Sariah Can Do Now

When Sariah started pre-K in September, I suspected she knew what most of her alphabet letters looked like but I wasn't sure.  Then she started talking about how her teachers were excited she knew her letters.  By early October, she and I had worked on drawing the letter S like a snake.  Somewhere in there she improved upon and started drawing S like a snake with a circle around it ... and she wrote it everywhere, including on the walls of the apartment and the upholstery of my truck.  Then we learned the letter A.  And then on Halloween, she came home from school and said, "Look what I can do!"  I'm so proud of her.

November Is Thankful Month

You may have seen on Facebook all the thankful posts this month.  I see that is finally time for me to join the bandwagon.  But I can't do it on FB, because I need time to get a grip and back off from FB for awhile.  It's been my lifesaver these last few months, yes, but I think I need to more fully immerse myself where Heavenly Father has planted me right now.  Sorry for all the mixed metaphors.

I promise I will get to the thankful part.

So, I took myself on a very long walk tonight.  I needed some thinking time.

Have you ever had one of those Emma moments, where you think you are going along all fine and dandy and then you do something really stupid, and suddenly you find the love of your life saying, "Badly done, Emma.  Badly done!"?  Yeah, well, I had one of those moments today.  Actually, it stretched into hours where I became distracted, fidgety, and really disgusted with myself.

For the record, Bob did not see fit to chastise me.  But I am referring to my Heavenly Father, who saw fit to send me a message.  And that's what I'm thankful for today: a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to correct me when I need it.  Sometimes He is able to do it gently.  And sometimes I need to be thwacked over the head with a 2X4.  Good thing He knows what's best.

So now I have the opportunity to evaluate and re-evaluate my thoughts, feelings, words, and actions, and then determine what I need to change and do and be.  Painful, yes.   Worth it, definitely!  I am thankful for a gospel that preaches repentance, that teaches us that Heavenly Father is a loving Father and when we make mistakes, he gives us room to improve and prove ourselves (again ... and again), to grow and progress, even when we screw up.

I am thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which fills the gap between me and heaven that I can't fill myself because I am a human being and perfection isn't my strong suit.  And I'm grateful that by that same power, He can heal the hurts I've inflicted on others when I've done all I can do to fix my mistakes and still can't repair the damage.  I pray that this is the case, since heaven knows I've hurt too many people in this life.

Now to do better in the immediate future....