Let me reiterate

I AM SICK OF SICK KIDS!

Currently on the sick list:

• Kayley~ high fever & ear infection
• Kristen~ high fever & ear infection
• Joey~ fever (for now) plus cough

Will my house ever be well again?

I'm sore

I was at Walmart today, and I totally fell. Yep, I did. BIG TIME! NOT PRETTY!! :-(

• wrote out an accident report
• waiting for Walmart to call
• contacted my attorney for legal advice
  

Elder Ballard's talk, for those who didn't get to hear it @ conference

Daughters of God
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood.

Brothers and sisters, recently my wife, Barbara, had back surgery and could not lift, twist, or bend. Consequently, I have done more lifting, twisting, and bending than ever before—and it has made me more appreciative of what women, and especially you mothers, do every day in our homes.
While women live in homes under many different circumstances—married, single, widowed, or divorced, some with children and some without—all are beloved of God, and He has a plan for His righteous daughters to receive the highest blessings of eternity.
This afternoon I want to focus my remarks primarily on mothers, particularly on young mothers.
As a young father, I learned the demanding role of motherhood. I served as a counselor and then as bishop for a period of 10 years. During that time we were blessed with six of our seven children. Barbara was often worn-out by the time I got home Sunday evening. She tried to explain what it was like to sit on the back row in sacrament meeting with our young family. Then the day came that I was released. After sitting on the stand for 10 years, I was now sitting with my family on the back row.
The ward’s singing mothers’ chorus was providing the music, and I found myself sitting alone with our six children. I have never been so busy in my whole life. I had the hand puppets going on both hands, and that wasn’t working too well. The Cheerios got away from me, and that was embarrassing. The coloring books didn’t seem to entertain as well as they should.
As I struggled with the children through the meeting, I looked up at Barbara, and she was watching me and smiling. I learned for myself to more fully appreciate what all of you dear mothers do so well and so faithfully!
A generation later, as a grandfather, I have watched the sacrifices my daughters have made in rearing their children. And now, still another generation later, I am watching with awe the pressures on my granddaughters as they guide their children in this busy and demanding world.
After observing and empathizing with three generations of mothers and thinking of my own dear mother, I surely know that there is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood.
There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else.
I am impressed by countless mothers who have learned how important it is to focus on the things that can only be done in a particular season of life. If a child lives with parents for 18 or 19 years, that span is only one-fourth of a parent’s life. And the most formative time of all, the early years in a child’s life, represents less than one-tenth of a parent’s normal life. It is crucial to focus on our children for the short time we have them with us and to seek, with the help of the Lord, to teach them all we can before they leave our homes. This eternally important work falls to mothers and fathers as equal partners. I am grateful that today many fathers are more involved in the lives of their children. But I believe that the instincts and the intense nurturing involvement of mothers with their children will always be a major key to their well-being. In the words of the proclamation on the family, “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Liahona, Oct. 2004, 49; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).
We need to remember that the full commitment of motherhood and of putting children first can be difficult. Through my own four-generation experience in our family, and through discussions with mothers of young children throughout the Church, I know something of a mother’s emotions that accompany her commitment to be at home with young children. There are moments of great joy and incredible fulfillment, but there are also moments of a sense of inadequacy, monotony, and frustration. Mothers may feel they receive little or no appreciation for the choice they have made. Sometimes even husbands seem to have no idea of the demands upon their wives.
As a Church, we have enormous respect and gratitude to you mothers of young children. We want you to be happy and successful in your families and to have the validation and support you need and deserve. So today, let me ask and briefly answer four questions. While my answers may seem extremely simple, if the simple things are being tended to, a mother’s life can be most rewarding.
The first question: What can you do, as a young mother, to reduce the pressure and enjoy your family more?
First, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.
Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She said: “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less”(Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11).
Second, don’t overschedule yourselves or your children. We live in a world that is filled with options. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed with social events, classes, exercise time, book clubs, scrapbooking, Church callings, music, sports, the Internet, and our favorite TV shows. One mother told me of a time that her children had 29 scheduled commitments every week: music lessons, Scouts, dance, Little League, day camps, soccer, art, and so forth. She felt like a taxi driver. Finally, she called a family meeting and announced, “Something has to go; we have no time to ourselves and no time for each other.” Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together.
Third, even as you try to cut out the extra commitments, sisters, find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them. Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others, even to your children. Avoid any kind of substance abuse, mistakenly thinking that it will help you accomplish more. And don’t allow yourself to be caught up in the time-wasting, mind-numbing things like television soap operas or surfing the Internet. Turn to the Lord in faith, and you will know what to do and how to do it.
Fourth, pray, study, and teach the gospel. Pray deeply about your children and about your role as a mother. Parents can offer a unique and wonderful kind of prayer because they are praying to the Eternal Parent of us all. There is great power in a prayer that essentially says, “We are steward-parents over Thy children, Father; please help us to raise them as Thou wouldst want them raised.”
The second question: What more can a husband do to support his wife, the mother of their children?
First, show extra appreciation and give more validation for what your wife does every day. Notice things and say thank you—often. Schedule some evenings together, just the two of you.
Second, have a regular time to talk with your wife about each child’s needs and what you can do to help.
Third, give your wife a “day away” now and then. Just take over the household and give your wife a break from her daily responsibilities. Taking over for a while will greatly enhance your appreciation of what your wife does. You may do a lot of lifting, twisting, and bending!
Fourth, come home from work and take an active role with your family. Don’t put work, friends, or sports ahead of listening to, playing with, and teaching your children.
The third question: What can children, even young children, do? Now, you children, please listen to me because there are some simple things you can do to help your mother.
You can pick up your toys when you are finished playing with them, and when you get a little older, you can make your bed, help with the dishes, and do other chores—without being asked.
You can say thank you more often when you finish a nice meal, when a story is read to you at bedtime, or when clean clothes are put in your drawers.
Most of all, you can put your arms around your mother often and tell her you love her.
The last question: What can the Church do?
There are many things the Church offers to mothers and families, but for my purpose today may I suggest that the bishopric and the ward council members be especially watchful and considerate of the time and resource demands on young mothers and their families. Know them and be wise in what you ask them to do at this time in their lives. Alma’s counsel to his son Helaman applies to us today: “Behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6).
I hope all of you dear sisters, married or single, never wonder if you have worth in the sight of the Lord and to the leaders of the Church. We love you. We respect you and appreciate your influence in preserving the family and assisting with the growth and the spiritual vitality of the Church. Let us remember that “the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World”). The scriptures and the teachings of the prophets and apostles help all family members to prepare together now to be together through all eternity. I pray that God will continually bless the women of the Church to find joy and happiness in their sacred roles as daughters of God.
Now, in closing, I want to add my witness of President Monson’s prophetic call. I have known him since he was 22 and I was 21. That’s 58 years. I have watched the hand of the Lord prepare him for this day to preside over the Church as the prophet and President. And I add my testimony, along with all of the other testimonies that have been borne through this conference, of his special calling as President of the Church, and add my testimony, along with all of the others, that Jesus is the Christ and this is His Church. We are doing His work, to which I testify in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

My house is very quiet

I love it! Especially after these past few weeks!

I'm upset

Really I am. I'm upset about this whole polygamist thing down there in Texas. I feel CPS did not have a right to take away all those children from their mothers, especially the breastfeeding babies! How dare they? I called my brother, who is an attorney (ok, really his wife). He (she) feels the same. I emailed a letter to about every email I could find under (google) Tom Green Co. Offices. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Evaluating my life

Which really... how much evaluating do I need to do? I was talking to my friend today, about homeschool and about Elder Ballard's talk, and about anything else we could think of, and you know, my life is good. Really it is. And then I watched Cheaper by the Dozen again. That is one of Lindsey's favorite movies BTW. As I am laying on the bed trying to keep Joey asleep, which for the past 3 weeks has not been easy, I was thinking about how great my life is. I complain to much sometimes (to my mom) about Shawn, and you know what? He is an awesome husband, a great dad, and my best friend. Sure, we have had our problems (what marriage doesn't have them?), but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Even if:

• I'm up all night with a baby, sleeping on the recliner (BTW... we brought the nice recliner downstairs) or on the couch, starting at 12:30am...
• Only to be awaken by "MOM, does dad work today?" What time is it, Josh? "Oh, it's 3:30". (FYI: he's already showered & dress to go to Seminary) Go back to bed Josh...
• Joey is now up again. Can't figure out where he wants to sleep. I'm on the couch, he is heading towards my room. I put him in my bed, where he promptly goes back to sleep
• Of course, now I can't go back to sleep because my back is killing me (thanks Shawn... I hate the "sidewalk" you built!)
• Get up at 6:15, shower, get dressed, make-up on, hair done, all the while getting onto Lauren for not getting up & doing what she is suppose to be doing (you've lost your breakfast young lady! "I'll eat at school!" Fine, you do that then!) kids out the door at 7:10, change a nasty diaper, feed Joey cereal, and leave my house at 7:40
• And go sit in one of Josh's classes until 10am because some high school kids do not know how to behave, and so therefore all parents get a call to come sit in the classroom for the next 3 weeks. Like I have nothing else to do! (BTW... it's not my son, so why do I have to come?)
• Come home, walk down the hallway, and there is Lindsey butt naked. Yep, everything off! Mom: What are you doing? Lindsey: Cleaning the bathroom. So, there you have it! Cleaning the bathroom in her birthday suit!

Joey is barely nursing anymore. I offer it to him 2 times a day, and he barely nurses. I think it's more for comfort than anything, because this child was a marathon nurser for hours if I let him! I nursed him at 12:30am (1st time today), and even though he has "asked" for it again, he isn't getting it until tonight before bed. I just so need my body back. I'm tired of sharing now.

Big question now is: What's for dinner?

Games always a mess!

DI

I need a DI. Closest for me to getting to Utah is Benson, AZ this summer. Is there a DI there? Does DI have a website so I can buy things from it? LOL!!!!!!

Today is the day!

Apparently my friends Rebecca & Suzanne need to diet (don't know where, but I guess anything is possible!), so they were starting today. Rebecca told me to join with them in this weight-loss venture, so I started...

by eating some white Texas toast w/sugar & cinnamon (my weakness whenever I do French toast for my kids), and getting a Sonic. At least it's diet. The diet drink cancels out all the carbs of the white bread & sugar, right? Maybe tomorrow will be better.

The school system has failed us

We are very disappointed with our school system. When we first moved here, I really had doubts how this school system could deliver as well as Bryan ISD, and now 3 years later, Shawn and I have finally realized that it hasn't. I want to say we are 99% sure we will be homeschooling our children, but I don't want to say yes yet. After years of saying *I WOULD NEVER* homeschool, it looks like it's going to have to be. Many, many issues of why we have decided to do this. I don't want to go into it yet. I've been searching for programs on-line about how we should do this, and how we should approach it with such a wide variety of grades. I have the support of my husband, my in-laws and my parents, which is all I need.

As for Joey & nursing. He nursed a little bit before bedtime, slept the whole night, and a little bit this morning. He's still been cranky some, but not as bad. He's actually been tolerable. My mom thought it may be his new teeth coming in (he's has a mouthful coming in!), and I told her I thought so too, and have been giving him Tylenol.

So much for not nursing anymore...

After 2 weeks of listening to a baby cry almost 24/7, and no way consoling him, I have decided to nurse him 1-2x a day, but not during the night. Because I am so large in everyway, I still had enough milk to nurse all those babies in Africa, so he was quite happy to be able to nurse this afternoon. Even the mother-in-law, or Kayley could not even get him to stop crying. So I tried nursing him around 5:30pm, and he just smiled and smiled. Has been pretty good since. He is almost 16 months old, and to me, I am done, but apparently he was not. I did nurse Josh until he was 22 months, and Krissy to 21 months, 2 others to 18 months, and 2 stopped at 14 months. I am so not happy that he just can't accept not nursing, but I guess he still needs it. Shawn is glad that I am nursing him again... he just is tired of his crying as much as I am.

But on a happier note... I made a pork roast tonight, and it turned out perfect! Last 3-4 roasts I have done, have turned out horrible (meaning, not done after 4 hrs of roasting!). What I forgot (I am sure) with the last ones, is to put my rack on a lower setting, and I had it on 325, and not 350. It was very good, and everyone loved it.

Nuf said...

she had a rough night!

Sleeping is not an option anymore...

I've pretty much decided that I will never get a good nights sleep again. Nope! Never! How sad is that? You think that since Joey now sleeps the whole night (he is doing awesome!), I can get some good sleep. Yeah, right! As most of you remember, I have to be getting up sometime between 2-3a to check Jacob's blood sugars. I've been really slacking. I've been doing it maybe 2 times a week. Yesterday though, he's had some low checks, so I decided to set my alarm at 2:15a to go check it. It was high. :-( So I gave him a correction, and then he was low when he woke up. :-( Can't win! Let me give you a recap of my night last night:

• was in my bed by 10p
• watched Star Wars (only because I had too... not much I can do when Shawn wants to watch some before he goes to bed) until about 11:30p
• slept good until 2:15a... checked Jacob
• heard a little voice "mommy, I want to sleep by you" before 3a
• at 3:30a, heard the same voice again, "I need to throw-up." I tell Lindsey to go throw-up in the bathroom as I am taking her off my bed. I go back to sleep.
• before 4a, I see a flashlight shining in the dining room. I ask who it is, and it's Lindsey trying to move a towel. She is using my flashlight, so she *was* quiet when she came in my room again (good girl!). I go see what she is doing... cleaning up throw-up in the storage room. Don't ask me why she is throwing up in there! I guess if I got up with her to begin with!
• take her PJ shirt off, and put her in bed with me with the throw-up bowl. Kept smelling throw-up. Nice!
• alarm for Josh goes off at 5:25a. No sign of him. I only set it at this time, because sometimes, but not alot, he isn't up yet. If I don't see the upstairs light on in my bedroom, then I call his cell (why get up?). He gets up and leaves for Seminary.
• still have Lindsey in bed, and still smelling it!
• my alarm goes off at 6:01a to get other kids up. I can't move. It goes off again, and again, and finally at 6:27a, I get my booty out of bed. Go to Jacob's room first.
• the stinch hits me as I open the door.
• vomit everywhere in the crib (wasn't there at 2:15a), and poor Joey is awake, but doesn't know what has happen, or even what he is suppose to do (it's all over him).
• get him in the tub, and get Lindsey in too.
• get the other kids out the door at 7:10a to catch the bus
• clean & wash kids up, and get new clothes/jammies back on
• Lindsey goes back on the toilet about 7:35a, and throws-up again all over the floor, her clean jammies & has diarrhea coming out the other end! Which I should add, Joey has had that for the past 2 days too (Kristen was sick last Friday with all this too!).
• at 8:09a, all is well so far.

I AM SO SICK OF SICK KIDS! STAY WELL, DANG IT!

I should have told my friend Rebecca that "YES, I AM GOING!" to Time Out For Women in Oklahoma City with her and a few other sisters from church. Oh, wait, that's tomorrow! Maybe my kids will be better by then! Oh, just remember... Shawn traded days, so he is working all weekend (just found that out last night!). He was suppose to work today and tomorrow, but he will get extra pay if he worked (and they asked him to because they need extra people) Sat, & Sun. He said yes. I said BUMMER! I hate having to do church myself (but I do have the in-laws, so it'll be okay). Next time TOFW comes to Dallas, my sister-in-law, Cindy & me, and our older daughters are going to go. I heard one is coming to Shreveport this fall. Cindy can't go then because she is due around Sep. 6th (she's having a boy~ Ethan Ryan!).

Besides Lauren & Josh have a stake activity on Saturday, and I have to take them, plus Victoria and Tylor to the church so they can get a ride. We are leaving at 10a even though they don't have to be at the church until noon because Josh needs to go to Home Depot & Lowes to check on some supplies for his Eagle Project.

April Parties!

(Before I go on, the post below should have read in it: I've been nursing and/or pregnant for 13 yrs! I've nursed a baby/toddler while pregnant with the next one a few times. It can be done. So, see why I needed to be done? 13 yrs is a bit to long!)

Today is Shane's birthday. He is 41, and he's Shawn's brother (just in case some didn't know). He had to work today, as most of the others, so we celebrated it last night. After church we headed over to Walmart so I could pick up the camo cake (so redneck, but so good!) that Mary (Shane's wife) had ordered. She didn't have room for it in her frige, and she knew we go to church in Texarkana, so asked if I could get it. Of course I said yes. She bought it, not me! I didn't sin! LOL!! We then got home, and quickly cleaned the kitchen & living rooms, and I made some deviled eggs. I did 2 dozen, and only 5 eggs didn't turn out. They were soooooo good! We grilled some burgers. We also had a chocolate cake that Shawn's mom had made. Shane's 2 sons, Andrew & Todd, both came. His daughter, MaKayla, couldn't make it because she had come the weekend before. Todd hadn't been to our house in years, so it was good seeing him. He is so tall! Probably 6'2. Weird since both his parents are short! He seemed like a good kid with a lot of plans in his life. He is working 2 jobs, been accepted into 2 colleges, and seems to have a lot more common sense then Andrew, who wants everything handed to him on a silver platter. Andrew works only because he has too, and does as little as possible. Andrew finally passed (after 2 times) the Navy test, and has been commissioned, but doesn't know if he can change his MOS since he can't pass the diving test. He wants to be a Navy diver, but never learned to swim well. Hmmmmmmmmm, maybe he needed to think about something else? Andrew doesn't think, that's half his problem. But, it was good to see them, and glad that they could be here at Shane's birthday.

Other birthdays that I need to take note of for this month: Camryn, Jileen, Austin, Colby, Hilary & Rebecca! My friend, Laura had one on the 6th, and I already posted about Kayley's. Wow! Busy month! We have quite a few in May too. May is already a full month for me. Don't even ask me to do anything for that month! I'm already broke, and I haven't done anything yet!

Josh has decided not to go to college before his mission. He is going to work and earn as much as he can, so when he gets off his mission, then he can have money saved to go to college in Texas. If that's what he wants to do, then fine. I wish he would get out of Texarkana area, but I feel he'll be okay. He's got family here to support him, and who is strong & active in church, so I don't think I need to worry about him. He'll leave on his mission in July 09.

Oh, goodness, it had to be done!

And my baby is not liking it. But if I give in and let him nurse, then I'll never be done! My mom thinks I shouldn't have done it so quickly, but I had too. I am loosing my mind. I've had a few months here and there during the past (almost) 13 years, when I haven't nursed! Did you read that? 13 years! See why I am ready to quit? Joey is sleeping well at night now, but refuses to lie down at naptime. So he sits. He doesn't cry. He just sits in the corner of his crib and sleeps. If you move him he wakes up, so he sits and sleeps (takes after his Grampa!). But at the same time, he has been very cranky. Is it because he wants to nurse? Is it because he is "mourning" the time spent with his mom close? I've tried holding him, and most of the time he will allow me to, unless he sees Lauren or Kayley. He then cries for them. I feel bad, yes, but to keep my sanity, something had to give.

I can't believe it!

Joey slept the whole night!!!!!! In his crib even!!!!!! Without waking up at all!!!!!! And he hasn't nursed in over 24 hrs!!!!!! When I put him to bed last night around 8pm, he cried for all about 2 minutes, and then was quiet. I heard him fuss for a second here and there, but he never did cry. Woke up crying at 5:30am when I am sure Josh went into his room to get a shirt for Seminary, and so I took him to my bed where he immediately fell back to sleep. I do have a sippy in his bed, and he did drink some before falling back to sleep. As I type this, he is still sleeping. I was so happy that he went to bed not crying that I:

• went to Walmart at 9:45pm for 30 minutes
• couldn't go to sleep until midnight (I just knew he was going to wake up)
• woke up around 2am, and couldn't go back to sleep until almost 4am;
• which was okay I guess, because Krissy started throwing up

We LOVE our cousins!

These were taken during the March/April visit of the McCourt, Nouhan & Pritchard cousins! We had a fun time hanging out with our cousins!

Things I did while Joey was napping

Can you believe it? He actually quit crying, and fell asleep! Granted he was sitting up sleeping, holding on to the rails, head resting on the bumper. BUT he was asleep! And he woke up in a great mood! YEA!!!! Anyway, this is what I did while he was sleeping:
*figured out slide.com
*ordered Josh's graduation pictures
*ordered Lindsey's & Joey's pictures from last summer; plus an 8x10 of the kids
*started planning Josh's graduation party
*got clothes washed, but not folded much to my mom's dismay
*got dishes done
*planned some dinner
*killed a roach in the dishwasher (ewwwww!)
*took a small nap until kids got home from school
And for some reason I cannot get my blog to work right in some of the composing. It's starting to make me mad! Grrrrrrrrr! :-s

We are trying this again

I am bound and determined that I am done with nursing Joey. I am also fed up with him sleeping in my bed when he has his own nice bed, with Pottery Barn bedding even! LOL!! So, here I am on here, while he is crying in his bed. I don't think he's ever had a nap in his crib. I haven't nursed him since 2am this morning. He certainly doesn't need it for nutrition. He's eating well, even though I can't get him to drink from a sippy good yet. I've tried different kinds, and he hasn't really liked any of them. Can't get him to drink juice. Trying though. Krissy was the same way. She refused to eat for almost 3 days after I quit nursing her at 21 months! She is still a picky eater, but is getting better. I am just so not enjoying doing this anymore. I think I have been nursed and touched out.

The curse of the crocs!

Only 3 people in this house do not have crocs. That's Shawn, Josh & me. Rest of the kids have pairs and pairs of them. I will say that living on the farm, this has been the best shoe ever invented! Except they do melt in fire... ask Jacob. Almost burned his foot off last fall playing with the fire in them. DUH! Anyway, Joey now owns a pair. Didn't know they came in this size. Thought they were so cute!