My dream job

Here's another thing that has kept us busy the last few weeks......potty training!She's doing pretty good. It's been hard, since there are so many other distractions with three older siblings. She's in the car a lot and that makes it really hard to be consistent!

My favorite part is trying to get her underwear down and figure out how to still hold on to the dollies. She loves her baby dolls! Notice one of them is "potty training " also!

While my sister, Anna, was here, we were doing a delivery for instruments and ended up eating lunch somewhere in Maryland. We were late and lost and the kids were hungry. We were tired and hungry from so many sleepless nights.

While we were there, there were these two women watching the girls. They commented on how cute they were. We exchanged pleasantries and got on the subject of what we were doing. I explained our home-based business. I made the comment that the business was not my "dream job" but it paid the bills and my husband was good at what he did. I added, "This is my dream job." and pointed to my little Savannah.

We finished our lunch and said our good-byes. Life went on, but I kept thinking about my comment. I actually said it in passing, not really thinking about it. But ever since I uttered the words, my mind has been racing.

Being a mother really is my dream job. I always wanted to be a mom. I loved being an older sister. I loved learning domestic skills (even if I did fight you on them, mom!) and when I dreamed about my future, it always involved being a mom.

Lately, I have been doing a lot of self-reflection. My life is wonderful, but I need focus. I need to concentrate and really be a full-time mom to my kids. I need to keep saying "no" to things that take me away from time with my children. I've gotten much better about it and I have actually said "no" about 5 times this month alone!!!!

I only have a few more years with Xander and then he is gone....and then Garrett will leave....and so I am making an effort to be present in my children's lives. I may not go down in history as the greatest mother to ever live, but my children will know I love them and I will be able to look back on my life and have no regrets!

I wish I could say that this is what I have been doing the last few weeks of inactivity.......Sittin' around with my sunglasses on, with nothing to do......

I am almost back! I at least got my pictures downloaded, so that is a start!

Keep checking back! There's a lot to catch up on!

I've caught up to last Thursday. That's only a week behind. I will catch up! I promise!

These last two months have killed me off!

It's very quiet here.

The house seems empty.

We took Auntie Anna and Maddie and Bella to the airport last night that took them home to Germany.

It was a wild two weeks.

More on that when I catch my breath....

We miss them like crazy!

We are trying to get back to normal...

Whatever normal is!

April 11, 2011 is a very busy day this year. Very busy.

• For one, it is my amazing husband's birthday.
• It's also my cousin's birthday.
• And Xander has play rehearsal and volleyball practice.
• And we found out yesterday that there is a big meeting for all the teachers in Loudon county. I will be giving a big presentation and hopefully generating A LOT of business from this meeting.
• And.....if everything works out.......my sister, Anna, and her two adorable girls will be coming to visit for a week!

I love it when I get to see my family!

It's such a great boost for me!

Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to see you sissy!

The Four Page Diet

So, my health has been giving me some troubles lately. I can't seem to shake some issues and I am feeling the effects of this and the stress we have been under the last several months.

I am not a fan of traditional medicine, as it usually involves a prescription with a list of side effects thirty miles long. So, I have opted for holistic or homeopathic routes.

It saved my life four years ago, so I know it works.

Now, before you think I am chanting and doing funky voodoo stuff, I will say that I do believe in doctors. One saved my life twelve and a half years ago when Xander was born. I just struggle with so much medication being prescribed. And I also am a firm believer in the awesome power of our bodies. We are amazing machines and as long as we are taking care of them, then they will work.

So, anyway, back to the subject....

I was miserable. I was in pain and I was not feeling well. I did a detox yesterday and was told I would be feeling "off" afterwards. I sure did! Really yucky and tired and just blah! But a good nights sleep made me feel so much better and some of my symptoms have diminished today.

I was also given the suggestion to follow what they call "the four page diet." So, I go to get the copy of the diet at the front desk and there are only three pages......yep! I am in trouble all ready! The magic answer must be on the missing page!

Anyway, it is a diet for those sensitive to yeast and molds and those suffering from some of the things I am suffering from right now.

It's a no carbohydrate diet with little or no fruit. Basically just protein and veggies.

I started last night. Today I made it through. One day down.

One thing I realized. I eat a lot of carbohydrates and a lot of fruit! The carbs weren't as bad as the fruit. I keep telling myself it is a mindset. It is a lifestyle change. It will make you feel better. It will be worth it.

Then I made the mistake of checking one of my favorite blogs and she had a recipe for chocolate chip cookies with an oreo stuffed inside....with pictures.....aaarrrgh!

Anyway, next step is walking again. It's been a long, cold winter and I need to get moving. No more excuses!

So, I will let you know how the "four page diet" works out.....and if you ask, I might even send you the recipe for the stuffed oreo cookies so you can try them and let me know how they taste!

Sigh!

So, we started spring break at 3:00pm yesterday. (The boys loved saying that, so I had to put the exact time!) Last night we had a two year old throwing up. What a great way to start spring break! Sigh! It seems to never end at our house right now.

I have been thinking a lot about spring break and what I want to do. Since we have tightened our belts a lot the last couple of years, Hilton Head, South Carolina is out. (insert sad face)

Now, mind you, we live in the nation's capitol, so entertainment is not scarce. It's just that the beach is my favorite spot to just unwind. Growing up, we would bundle up and explore tide pools for hours, swim in the sub-zero Oregon coast temps until our lips were blue and we couldn't feel our toes and then build the most awesome sand castles. And then when we could feel our toes again, we would run and body surf the waves again.

And every year we went to Hilton Head, we would spend the entire week just enjoying the beauty of the sunrises, get excited when we saw dolphins and running and jumping in the waves. I would just be there, in the moment, and just enjoy everything that was going on around me. It was heaven!

I think I have convinced Jason to take a day trip to the beach. It won't be the same as a week of sand in my toes and wind in my hair, but enough to let me breathe the salty air and feel the foamy water on my legs. The kids will love it and we will build an awesome sand castle and I will be happy. I need to have a moment to just close my eyes and breathe in and out and wiggle my toes in the sand.

It's been a frustrating few months. It's been taxing on my health and my ability to deal with added stress (like a barfy two year old) and my perspective on life. I need a moment to just be. To just enjoy. To just relax and take a deep breath. To re-group and re-focus. To re-commit to myself and my God that I have the faith to make it through all of this.

I can already smell that salty air and feel the wind and hear the waves....as soon as the two year old is healthy!!!