Should it bug me...

that to see my doctor for an unscheduled sick visit (as in I didn't plan on getting sick) I have to call a week in advance, talk to her mean secretary, beg for an appointment that works with my schedule of schlepping kids around, pay $120-$160 (remember high deductible HSA plan here), wait 45 minutes past my appointment time to see the doctor, and get rushed out with a prescription never to hear from the office again?

'Cause it does.

Especially when I was able to drop into the Walgreen's clinic yesterday with no notice, wait 5 minutes to see a NP, get treated like a human being, pay $59, and walk away with a prescription for antibiotics (that I got for FREE at Publix!) and they called me today to see how I was feeling!

I mean, come on. I've been seeing my regular doctor for 3 years now. Don't you think I could get a little bit of love from her office? I guess that is asking a bit too much...

Total Truth Tuesday

Ever have a cough or a headache or a strange colored birthmark on your skin? Are you able to endure them without immediately thinking you have 3 months to live?

Then you're way ahead of me, people. Because I am a big fat hypochondriac.

I think I've pretty much been one all my life. I'm convinced that a brain tumor is lurking behind every headache. And, it doesn't stop there. I actually remember as a kid seeing a commercial for a horoscope/psychic hotline where they listed people's birthdates and upon seeing my sister's birthdate under the title Cancer I was sure that meant she was going to get Cancer. I became obsessed with her health. I think even as an 8-year-old I realized that there was a deep end and that I may have just gone off it.

And when I'm not pregnant? I convince myself every other month that I have gotten myself pregnant unexpectedly. If I could get back all the money I wasted by peeing on sticks I'd have enough for Kai to go to college. I just can't seem to stop myself.

But, with the internet, it has gotten worse.

First, let me say, if I haven't been posting as regularly lately it is because I have felt like death warmed over for the last 3 weeks. I have some horrible cough and cold and have been all shades of miserable for almost a month. And last week, I decided to Google "persistent cough." Word to the wise, don't do it. Ever. Especially don't move on and Google the symptoms of Tuberculosis. That is never a good idea.

Because, for about 12 hours last week I was sure I had TB. The symptoms?

• Common cough with a progressive increase in production of mucus
  
  
• Other symptoms include the following:
  
  
  • Fever
    
    
  • Loss of appetite
    
    
  • Weight loss
    

It doesn't get much more general, does it? I have a cough. And had a fever. And nothing sounds good to eat. And, I've lost 17 pounds in the last couple months. All of which are caused by a combination of a cold and being just out of my first trimester.

But, that didn't stop me from being certain that TB was the only answer. Luckily, I have a few people who are guaranteed to pull me out of this insanity. Unfortunately, it only lasts long enough for the next sneeze or suspicious freckle to manifest and send me Google-ing all the possibilities.

So, on I go trying and failing to avoid WedMD and other less reputable sites where people like me congregate to convince each other they do or do not have Bird Flu or Ebola.

What about you? Have you ever Googled medical info you wish you hadn't?

Kai-versations: Classic Prayer

I couldn’t resist sharing the prayer that she said at lunch today:

Dear God-

Thank you for this food and this family. And, God, please let Sunday be my birthday because I really, really want it to be my birthday.

Amen.


Hey, God, if you’re so inclined I’d really like it to be my birthday, too...

--
From the Land of Lovings archives. Originally published November 27, 2007.

Total Truth Tuesday

My name is Jenna. And I'm addicted to the internet.

Okay, there I said it. I know this has to be a BIG shock to everyone. Especially my husband. I hide this addiction so well. (okay, not really.)

I blog. And Twitter. And Facebook. And email. And read about a bajillion mommy blogs a day. And I even wake up in the middle of the night if I hear my BlackBerry tweet an email alert. I just can't help myself.

But, this technology obsession really hit home the other night when our family went to yet another county fair and toured this one room prairie house that had once housed a family of 13. Yep, 13. The whole house was about the size of our living room. But, I thought to myself, well, I suppose I could handle this if I had to.

And then I was showing Kai around and explained why they didn't have a bathroom in the house which she thought was the most amazing thing ever. But, then the representative from the historical society asked us whether we'd rather have a TV in the house or a bathroom and it really got my wheels spinning. Because, it occurred to me that a toilet might not be first on my list of basic "needs."

That is when I realized that given the choice between a toilet and a wi-fi connection I would probably choose the wi-fi. Because, after all, I could always Google tips for surviving without indoor plumbing and find some useful info to make it easier. And then, I'd go Twitter about what I found out. But, if all I had was the toilet then I'd just do you know, and then come back in and sit on my log floor in complete boredom. Yeah, I think wi-fi might actually rank above indoor plumbing. And, that, I know is a really sad statement to make. Oh well, maybe there's an online support group I could join for that.

So, what would you choose? Wi-fi or indoor plumbing? Am I totally alone on this?

Gone, Baby, Gone

Okay, I swear the Loving family is not as granola and green as we might sound. Not that there is anything wrong with being granola or green, but I just don't want to sound like I think I'm doing anything huge for the environment when, in fact, I don't deserve that much credit.

Anyways, that said, we made the decision to ditch my favorite kitchen appliance this weekend. It's taken me a few months to finally do it and I'm a little scared to see whether we can make it without it. But, folks, we did it. We axed the microwave.

To be honest, it always kind of creeped me out. My relationship with the microwave was always love/hate. I love the convenience. I hate the idea that I am doing some horrible damage to my family's health by microwaving every thing they eat.

And, in the end, it was some ridiculously funky smell inside that finally pushed me over the edge. I suspect I microwaved one too many bowls of spaghetti-o's and that's what accounts for the smell. Though, with my kids, there could be a million reasons for a mysterious smell to appear in my microwave.

Either way, it's gone. Well, gone to the basement (just in case I change my mind). And other than a meat thawing conundrum we had this weekend, we haven't missed it all that much.

Did you know you can heat spaghetti-o's on the stove? Amazing!

So, how about you guys? Anyone get rid of a modern household convenience that they discovered they didn't need so much after all?

How to terrify an entire room full of preschoolers the Loving Family way

Did I mention that Ivy's teacher asked me to bring in a chicken to show the class today as part of their unit on Farms and Farm Animals? She did. And for some insane reason I agreed to do it.

Yet another of those "What on Earth was I thinking?" moments I have come to know and love.

It started out fine. The chicken was tucked sweetly beneath my arm. The children were excited. Then, the teacher asked to hold it. And the chicken must have realized that this was someone she didn't know 'cause about 20 seconds into being held in the teacher's lap she bolted. The teacher tried to grab her back but only succeeded in pulling out a handful of tail feathers and freaking her out more.

Of course, the children being in a circle were pretty much well-positioned for the greatest amount of freakout potential. The chicken half-ran half-flew across the room right into Ivy's lap. Which set off a scream that terrified both the chicken and the other children who basically perceived the flight into Ivy's lap as an attack that would be targeting each of them next. The more the children ran and screamed the more terrified the poor hen was. She flew, they screamed. Then she got scared by the screaming and ran away and they got scared by her running and they screamed some more.

God help us. It was insane. There was screaming and crying and shrieking and me chasing this chicken across the room and finally grabbing it and clutching it in a death grip beneath my arm.

Afterwards, the kids were still screaming about how much they didn't like chickens and begging me to put her back in the cage and I'm pretty certain that they will all go home and tell their parents about the "Giant Chicken of Death" that Ivy's mom brought to school today.

Guess the parents can pretty much count on chicken nightmares tonight...

Guess what?

WE"RE HAVING A BOY!

Because I am terribly impatient I called today to book my gender determination ultrasound and they told me not only was I far enough along to come in at this stage of development, but they also had an appointment open tonight. And, you're crazy if you think I'm not the type of person to JUMP at the chance!

And, you could have knocked me over with a feather when the woman told me we were having a boy! I was certain it was another girl. It just felt like a girl. But, there was no mistaking the boy parts and so a boy it is. The first in my family.

Now, if only we could come up with a name that won't get him pummeled on the playground!


And, I know these pictures look a little bit like some kind of bad mashed potato sculpture, but I thought I'd share on the off chance that I'm not the only person who can make out our little man's face.

Wordless Wednesday

Yes, this really is what she wears when she goes out in public. And there is NO changing her mind! At least she'll never be accused of being a wallflower...

For more Wordless Wednesday, head over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

Winter Wardrobe Project #1

Well, we're trying to buckle down here at the Loving house and, of course, one big way to do that is in our area of clothing purchases. With two girls and winter approaching, this is the time when we spend the most on clothes. Thankfully, Ivy has Kai's old winter wardrobe which pretty much has her covered. But, Kai has outgrown alot of her clothes. Of course, there is no way I'll be able to make all her new outfits, but I thought I'd try to make some.

She specifically requested skirts and dresses this year. She's my girlie-girl so I'm gonna try and deliver. My biggest fear, is making her look like a pilgrim child in homemade crappy clothes. But, my plan is to get creative and come up with some fun stuff for her.

Project #1:

Refashioned Mermaid Skirt

I actually bought this skirt last year at a thrift store for part of a Halloween costume. It was $3 and I ended up not using it so I put it in my "someday-I'll-find-a-use-for-this-fabric" pile. And, today I found a use for it.

Before:



After:


(Notice the pose? It's freaking me out. I kept asking her to pose normal and she said "I am posing normal!" Maybe for a contestant on America's Next Top Model...)

Things we learned at the county fair

Last week we went to the good old county fair. Just another reason Fall is my favorite time of year! And, while we were there we learned a few important lessons...



1. Just because you're tall enough to get on a ride doesn't mean you're ready.

Kai made up her mind that she absolutely positively could not go one more second of her life without being on the swinging pirate ship ride. After insisting on getting on it and paying her 3 tickets to the slightly scary carnival ride technician, she was seated on the ride between her Aunt Tee Tee and Uncle Jared. And, then, she determined that this very ride might just be the end of her. And proceeded to scream bloody murder the entire time. This picture is taken just minutes after she got off the ride (and I promise her daddy was comforting her thus making it less despicable that I snapped a picture of her in her traumatic state).


2. Kiddie rides are perfect for...kids. Unlike the aforementioned grown-up rides.

After the disaster described above, we managed to talk Kai into riding on one of the kid rides and she was much happier. In fact, both of the girls loved them and managed to charm the ride operator into a free ride!

3. If you are pregnant and eat a giant turkey leg, corn dog, french fries, diet coke, funnel cake and fresh squeezed lemonade, you will throw up the next morning. Guaranteed.

Umm...enough said.

Can I get a Hallelujah?!

Well, friends, we have a tenant in our rental property and that is excellent news right now. It's a great tenant and a situation we are really happy with.

So, thanks for all your thoughts and prayers 'cause God really answered this one in a big way at the most perfect time!

Marital Mind Meld

Thomas and I have been married six and a half years. And, while that may not sound like a long time to be married, let me tell you, folks, it can be.

We got married young amidst some family turmoil (that's another post for another day), survived some serious bumps in the road and we've been through much in our 6.5 years.

We've had some low lows and some great highs. We're very different people but largely on the same page. And though it may be a silly story, I can think of one story to illustrate how often we operate on the same wavelength.

About a year ago we were at a weekend retreat with our married couples small group. During a fierce game of Cranium Pop Culture in which Thomas and I were on the same team, we reached the pinnacle of same-mindedness. It was a beautiful and glorious moment.

The category was celebrities. Thomas chose the letter cubes to convey the clue on his card. He rolled a C. And, then, he looked at me knowingly and said, "Cumin!"

And, what was the first thing out of my mouth 2 seconds later? "The Spice Girls!"

It was a total Vulcan Mind Meld moment. And, ah, sweet victory.

I don't know whether we won the game (it's doubtful) but we did win a reputation for obscure spice knowledge and the ability to read each other's mind.

Total Truth Tuesday

Have I mentioned I am a lifelong insomniac? I totally understand where Kai gets it from.

But, over the years I've come up with a creative solution for solving my insomnia troubles. It doesn't work all the time, but it is amazing how often it does work. And, it's weird and slightly embarrassing, so that is why it's this week's Total Truth Tuesday.

On nights when I can't sleep, I sleep in the opposite direction. Meaning, my feet at the headboard and my head at the footboard. Weird, I know.

My poor husband has woken up more times than he cares to admit with my feet in his face. But, if I absolutely can't sleep there is just something about switching positions that does the trick almost immediately.

In fact, it is some of the best sleep I ever get. I LOVE sleeping in the opposite direction. Have for years. And, I'm fairly certain this is not a common practice for "normal" people. Not that I have ever claimed to be normal...

Kai-versations: Short story long...

Okay, so I generally like to keep things lighthearted here. Because, I figure just like me everyone has some yucky crap going on in one or more areas of their life and no one wants to come here to be reminded of how crappy things are in our economy.

So, I write about chasing chickens and kids who use Sharpies for body modification. But, this last week has been so bad that I can't tell my Kai-versation without at least explaining a little.

I think I've mentioned most of it (or at least alluded to it) but here's the deal. It's Thomas' slow season at work. Except, this year, its a dead season. Which means, for now, we're living on maybe a quarter of his regular income. And, we're soon to be paying two mortgages because the house we couldn't sell two years ago and have since been renting no longer has a tenant (they broke their lease unexpectedly). And, oh yeah, I almost forgot, we're pregnant and have no maternity insurance. Which means we're paying cash for a c-section (that is if we still have cash once it's time for the baby to be born).

Each of these things on its own I could handle. And, if I just put on my big girl panties and shut up I could probably handle them all together. But, last week I just melted down. Bad. I'm blaming it on pregnant hormones and I dare you to argue with me...

I melted down in a "where are you, God?!" kind of way. And, actually, rather publicly, too. Which is embarrassing. The worst part is that Kai had to hear it. Well, she wouldn't have had to if her mom had acted like a grown-up, but she did hear it.

So, later in the weekend (post meltdown) we were grocery shopping and she suddenly called me over to the cart.

Kai, in a loud whisper: "Mom! Come here! I have a secret I'm supposed to tell you!"

I was kind of expecting her to tell me a secret like Deebai and Heehaw invented pickles or something equally silly, but I got this instead.

Kai, still whispering: "God is very powerful and He can do anything that you ask Him to."

Then she smiled sweetly and went back to torturing her sister in the grocery cart. She left me speechless and kind of stunned in the middle of the Kroger aisle. It's not like I'd never heard that before, but coming so unexpectedly from my 4-year-old it kind of threw me for a loop. I don't know what prompted her to say that, but I do know that it was exactly what I needed to hear at that moment and that her childlike faith did my heart more good than anything else I experienced this weekend.

That, I think, is why God gave me this girl. And, I am so thankful He did.

Mean Sister...

Here's what happens when the baby sister gets revenge!

(and on a side note, my whole house does NOT look like this playroom. i promise. the playroom is the girls' room where they can paint on walls and generally make as big a mess as they want. that way it stays in one room as opposed to the whole house...)

Just when I think I can't take it anymore...

Yesterday was beyond horrible. In fact, words can't even describe how horrible it was. But, I'll try.

I'm pregnant and hormonal and sick with some horrible respiratory infection and Thomas' job has slowed down suddenly and he got 8 hours as opposed to 40 hours (he's a contract designer) and my house is a MESS and my kids won't nap and then in the middle of it all Ivy poops on the floor and proceeds to dance in it. And I think. That's it. I'm moving away. And, I'm giving the kids to my mom.

Then I have a Diet Coke and get a really good Greek salad and things start to feel better. But, it's when I get this photo CD in the mail that I think, "awww...look at that family. they are so happy." and I realize how blessed I am.

So, I've decided to give it another try today. Wish me luck.







(BTW, these pics were taken by the AMAZING Kyle Hale here in Atlanta. Seriously, people, if you are in the ATL and you need photography done you have to call this guy. His prices are insanely good and his quality is, well, you can see. He does a beautiful job.)

How to Make a Rain Stick

Since we're studying the weather, I've been looking for some cool weather related craft ideas for Kai to do. One of the coolest ones I found was the Rain Stick craft. It was easy, fun, and not something that made a big huge mess in my dining room (not that I'm opposed to big huge messes in the name of creativity).

It didn't turn out stunningly beautiful (it's the process not the product, right?) which, of course, could be because we didn't quite follow all the instructions. But we did have a fun time making the rain stick and it lasted a whole 48 hours before being completely destroyed by my kids.

Supplies Needed:
Duct Tape, Paper Towel Roll, Scissors, Rice, Toothpicks, Paper, Stickers, Paint, Ribbons, etc. (and one super cute kiddo!)

Trace the ends of your paper towel roll (or 3 toilet paper rolls) and cut out small circle to create a cap on each end.

Seal up one end by taping the cap down onto the paper towel roll.

Insert toothpicks at various locations/angles on the rain stick.

Add rice to the tube and seal up remaining end.

Break off ends of toothpicks and wrap tube in duct tape.

Add stickers, paint, glitter, and ribbons.
Shake it up and enjoy the sounds of the rain!

Wordless Wednesday

Last year at this time...





We were hanging on the beach in Hawaii. Visiting Thomas' family. Getting tan. And soaking up the beach bum life.

What I wouldn't give to be back there right now.

(and yeah, I know this isn't technically wordless. Sorry...)

Total Truth Tuesday

Yeah, I've got nothing here, people. Either I have shared all my deep dark secrets or I'm just in denial about them. Either way, I guess I'll have to do some soul searching and muster up some dirt by next Tuesday.

So, if you're feeling it and want to bare your soul, share your own Total Truth today. If you're feeling brave, you can share it on your blog and leave a link or share it in the comments.

In the meantime, I promise to get to the bottom of both my deep-seated and really shallow issues and fess up next week!

It must be a cold day in you-know-where...

cause guess who's blogging? Yep, my husband.

Okay, so it's only a couple posts. And he hasn't finished his design yet (remember people, we're dealing with a card carrying graphic designer/design snob so this could take YEARS) but he has set up a blog and is actually promising to post.

You'll want to check it out because he's definitely funnier and smarterer* than me and he's got a great perspective on everything from everyday life to eternity.

check out www.ramblingrafifi.blogspot.com to hear what my better half has to say about life, the universe, and everything...

(and, yeah, I know. I just liked the way it sounded.)

Because I have a highly developed sense of humor...

I have been laughing at this all day.



Forgive me. It's been a crappy Monday.

Kai-versations: Great. What's next? A Pre-K Existential Dilemma?

Kai: "Mom, are we real?"

Me: "What do you mean, Kai?"

Kai: "I mean, are we real or are we just living in a book or a fairy tale or something?"

Me, thinking that's an incredibly philosophical question for a 4-year-old: "No, we're real Kai. See (showing her my hand) our bodies are really here. We aren't in a story."

Kai, thinking: "Are you sure? 'Cause we might be people in a fairy tale."

Me: "No, sweetie. We're real. Our lives aren't the same as stories. We are really here."

Kai, unconvinced: "Yeah, well how do you know for sure? The people in books probably think they're real, too."

I'm starting to doubt my intellectual qualifications for raising this girl, but I'm pretty proud of that brain of hers...

A Farmer I Am Not

Seriously, what was I thinking with these chickens? Would anyone care to enlighten me?

'Cause these stinkin' birds are driving me out of my ever-loving mind.

We've had a problem with the birds lately. They do not want to stay put in the coop/pen. At first we thought there was a predator of some sort getting in and munching on our fine feathered ladies. But, after today I'm not so sure.

It started when Kai declared forlornly that there were only 3 chickens in the pen this morning. (Yesterday there were 4.) I went out and surveyed the scene of the crime and determined that there was no wandering fowl in the yard so something mysterious must have happened again. Because I had about a million things going on and didn't feel like playing "Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Vanishing Red Hen" I decided to leave it to Thomas to deal with.

But, the chicken had other plans. 'Cause yesterday when I got home I heard a distinctive "squawk, squawk bagawk" in the carport. And, lo' and behold, when I looked into the side yard I did see our most recent escapee. And, it was at that moment that I knew it was going to be a bad day. Because, people, have you ever actually tried to catch a chicken? No? Yeah, well, it is not as easy as it sounds.

See, you think to yourself, "These are chickens. They are small and not so smart. And, really, how fast could they be, right?" But, friends, you would be underestimating the speed of such a small bird. Because these chicks can freaking run like the wind.

And that is how I ended up spending my afternoon running through the yard chasing a chicken while simultaneously yelling at begging my children to "getbackinthehousethisveryminute."

There was a moment after the full on belly flop to the ground in an attempt to catch the bird but before climbing into my neighbor's hedge to chase the hen back onto our own property that I realized just how ridiculous I looked. And, then I did the most un-farmerly thing possible.

I reached into my back pocket to get my Blackberry and Googled "how to catch a chicken." Oh yes, I did.

But, alas, the always helpful WikiHow failed me mightily and I was unable to catch that incredibly fast and wiley hen. It had great advice for how to catch a chicken, but that was assuming you actually got to catch up with the chicken.

Later, my husband did come home and save the day by chasing her out of our neighbor's yard and into her rightful home (while clad in his suit pants and dress shirt of course). And it made me wonder if our neighbors just sit around and watch us humiliate ourselves in the yard all day. They probably don't even need cable.

Have I mentioned...

what Kai thinks we should name the baby? She is quite opinionated about it.

Last month, she had names from American Gladiators. A girl, she declared, would be called Helga. A boy, The Wolf.

But, then she grew up and moved on to more, um, political names. Guess it's a sign that we've had way too much Fox News on lately.

'Cause if we have a girl she wants to name her Condoleezza. And, if it's a boy she wants to name him...Bush. Bush Loving. Think about it a moment. Bush Loving.

Stop giggling. Can you imagine? Do you realize the beatings that child would get on a playground with that name? Yeah, I'm thinking we're going to avoid that name like the plague.

Though I suppose it's better than Peter or Richard Loving. But, not by much...

What I've learned from my first homeschool month

1. Homeschooling freaking rocks! Don't make fun of me. We are really loving it!

2. Scheduling minute by minute is definitely not my thing: I tried using a lesson plan book and scheduling every single second of the day. But, freaking out because we are 2 minutes late for "snack time" is too stressful to be worth it. I'm thinking that making a list of objectives for the day is a much more productive and Loving family appropriate way to do this. We just don't do well with overscheduling.

3. I'm more organized than I thought I was: I found some awesome organizers and record keeping sites for homeschoolers/unschoolers and it has helped me to recognize and record just how much we are doing at home. It is amazing to see how much education a child unintentionally receives over the course of the day.

4. I'm definitely a homeschooling/unschooling hybrid: I don't fit into one category. **Shocking, I know!** But, I have come to think I am definitely some kind of cross between these two styles. I need a bit more structure than some of the hardcore unschoolers and yet I just can't embrace the whole single curriculum/home classroom model either.

In the end, we've ended up having a learning objective list for the week and the month with activities, worksheets, books, videos, and field trips planned throughout the month. We do alot of hands on activities and not so many work sheets. We're learning math at the park, science through art projects, and history through story books. We're learning traditionally and unconventionally and we're really enjoying every minute of it.

5. It's seems to be about finding your child's rhythm: Kai tends to pay better attention in the morning to subjects like math and science. Worksheets that are going to be done for the day need to be done then. But, afternoons she's more creative and experimental and those hands-on projects are best saved for after our "siesta" time. Any extracurricular classes that require paying lots of attention we do in the a.m., but ballet/tap/physical activities are best planned for later in the afternoon to help her work off energy and settle down for the evening. Of course, rhythm can be fickle and we are learning to be flexible to what her daily needs are.

6. I have very little figured out. As with any journey into education, I think half of the experience is realizing how little you really know. There is so much I am figuring out and I am in awe of those career homeschoolers who have been doing it for years. I don't know know how long we'll do this. I don't know whether all of our kids will be a fit. I don't know whether or not I'll ultimately be able to pull off everything that is involved. But, I do know that for now it is working and that we'll keep it up as long as it is...

Total Truth Tuesday

This one is particularly appropriate since I just got back yesterday from my Grandpa's funeral.

I think melancholy can be so delicious.

Maybe it's my love for poetry and literature, or because I am an emotional mess, but I have a tendency to experience melancholy alot. And its a big word that encompasses so many emotions, but my favorite one is the one that comes upon me after a certain song, poem, scent, or feeling and wraps me up in a memory or a possibility. I love to wade deep into that feeling.

Truly, I think melancholy gets a bad rap because good melancholy can make me want to just sit, quietly, and listen to Natalie Merchant with my windows open and the summer breeze gently stirring the house. It makes me want to lounge around drinking wine and smoking cloves (which I haven’t done since college). In fact, for whatever reason, melancholy tends to remind me so much of college.

One of my favorite poets, Li-Young Lee, wrote something about memory and reminiscence (which, for me, brings on that feeling). The poem is “Braiding” and if you haven’t read it I highly recommend picking up his book, Rose. It's a long poem, but my favorite part says,

“Last night the room was so cold
I dreamed we were in Pittsburgh again, where winter
persisted and we fell asleep in the last seat
of the 71 Negley, dark mornings going to work.
How I wish we didn’t hate those years
while we lived them.
Those were days of books,
days of silences stacked high
as the ceiling of that great, dim hall
where we studied. I remember
the thick, oak tabletops, how cool
they felt against my face
when I lay my head down and slept.”

See what I mean? Absolutely delicious.

"How I wish we didn't hate those years while we lived them" has been something that has stuck in my head since the moment I read that poem. I remember sitting in the food court at the mall with Thomas. He was on break from Starbucks and I was on break from Pottery Barn. I remember looking across the table at him knowing we were broke, fighting with my family, and trying to get married against everyone's wishes. It was a time of raw emotion and the feeling of being alone (together) against the world. And, I thought to myself, I know one day I'll agree with that line, but right now I hate these years.

8 years later, I realize how true that line is. I do wish I didn't hate challenging times while I live them. Because, there is not a moment in our difficult, wonderful, painful, emotional, beautiful history that I don't absolutely cherish.

Unvacation 2008

What do you do when your long-planned trip to your grandma's place at the beach is rained out by thunderstorms and potential hurricane weather? Well, you look for the next best free vacation option.

That option, it turns out, could be in your own city. I've already mentioned that we like the idea of mini-vacations in Atlanta just to get a break from the stress of every day life, but this time we wanted to take a break that would really feel like a vacation. So, we decided to be Atlanta tourists and see our city in a way we hadn't before.

First, we needed a change of scenery. So, we headed over to my parents' house and, to be honest, that would have been enough for my girls. Grandparents are pretty much superheros to the girls. They love spending time there. They love spending time there camped out in sleeping bags even more. But, we wanted to hit some Atlanta top spots. If you're looking for some family friendly Atlanta spots, here are a few of our recommendations:

1. Fernbank Museum - this was the perfect wrap up for our unit on dinosaurs and the girls LOVED hanging out there. We were there in the middle of a school day so it was pretty much empty and that was the best part. They had a fantastic Ends of the Earth exhibit where the girls got to explore the worlds of penguins and polar bears. They had polar bear feet, penguin costumes and slides, and other really great interactive kid-friendly exhibits. I particularly loved seeing Kai clad in a penguin costume try to move the penguin egg from foot to foot like the daddy penguins do. And, I love how Ivy is smiling while she looks like she's getting ready to get a big swipe from that big bad polar bear behind her.



2. Georgia Aquarium - Duh. I mean, it's a fantastic aquarium so of course we're gonna go, right? We've actually got an annual pass so the kids had been before but never with grandparents in tow and it never seems to get boring to them. But this time was even more exciting because Nandi the manta ray was newly added to the aquarium and we got to check her out. Not to mention, the touch tanks and other exhibits never get boring. We were also excited to hear they're adding a dolphin exhibit in 2011. I highly recommend spending some time at the Georgia Aquarium and checking out everything it has to offer. Though, I'd skip the WAY overpriced food. $30 for stale hamburgers and chicken fingers was by no means a steal.

3. The World of Coca-Cola - Again, another no-brainer. First, Atlanta = Coca-Cola, so we had to go. Second, a certain husband of mine who shall remain nameless designs for the aforementioned beverage giant so of course the girls were super pysched to see what daddy's job involved. The World of Coca-Cola is pretty cool. They have some fun opening movie, a great 4-D movie experience, the world's smallest bottling facility, and, of course, the tasting room. Over 60 different beverages from different countries. It was a great way to talk about different countries and cultures with Kai and we got to taste some delicious and disgusting beverages. And, I developed a ridiculously powerful pregnancy craving for Inca Cola. I may just have to order a ton of that from Amazon in order to keep from losing my mind.

4. Multi-cultural dining experiences - Atlanta has some great food and we set out to explore a few of those cool options. One favorite was a local Mediterranean restaurant with great food, service, and, of course, belly dancing on Thursday, Friday, & Saturday nights. The dancer when we went was fantastic and looked, according to Kai, like a "top model." The girls absolutely loved the dancing and ended up getting up to join in. The girl was so sweet she even brought out a few jingly belly dancing scarves for them to wear while they danced with her. It was an awesome experience!

5. My parents' pool - okay, so this isn't really an attraction you can come visit, but seriously my kids love them some pool time. My theory is that this is a universal kid fact and that any trip to a pool attraction is a great vacation for kids. They barely even noticed we weren't at the beach with all that swimming going on. Plus, anytime Daddy gets in the pool with them they are thrilled. Daddy time in general is pretty much their favorite time ever.


So, there you have it. Everything you never wanted to know about our family unvacation. Thrilling, no? No. You're right, but it was relaxing and fun to just chill in our own city in a way we hadn't before.

Because the most logical place to put it is in your nose...

Staying at my mom and dad's house with my kids is always an adventure. Don't get me wrong, it is wonderful to not be the "mom in charge" every once in a while, but my parents have this serious no-childproofing policy that has been in effect long enough to make me wonder how my sisters and I ever made it to adulthood. Oh, the tales of Kerosene heaters, paint thinners, and accidental nooses I could tell. But, I won't. 'Cause my mom reads my blog and I'd hate to embarrass her. (Though if I run out of things to talk about, it may very well become fair game.)

Nonetheless, it is relaxing to be at my mom and dad's house. Even if my kids ALWAYS pull something crazy. Like, well, this:

My mom loves a nice smelling home. So, potpourri and fragrances and candles abound at her place. The girls have strict orders to avoid all wonderful smelling/fragrance producing apparatuses and generally adhere to that. But, there is always the odd divergence from the norm. Always.

At dinner the night before we left, Kai started complaining that her nose hurt. She said she bumped it and since I didn't notice any dermatological disturbance I told her she was fine and to go ahead and eat. But, she started getting freaked out saying it was hurting reeeaaalllyyy bad. Which usually means one of two things: a.) it hurts reeeaalllyy bad or b.) she doesn't want to eat dinner.

Turns out this was more of an a.) situation. After tears started flowing and she said overandoverandover how she hurt it when she "bumped" it I took her seriously. I asked her about her injury. How it happened. Where it hurt. And then she said something that cleared up all my questions.

"Mom, it just hurts. Come here and smell it. Please!"

And, that is when I knew. Something had been stuck/sprayed up her nose and the "bump" story was simply to avoid telling me she had done something she wasn't supposed to.

You've seen those Reed Diffusers people have all over their house? You know the ones. Lovely nice smelling sticks sitting irresistibly in a bottle of very expensive and highly fragranced oil? Well, apparently to a 4-year-old that translates into: stick this up your nose for a bit and see what happens. At least that's how it works with my 4-year-old.

Which is exactly why I will be waiting until Kai is in high school to purchase one of those things.

In case you were wondering, having a child submerge their head in a sink filled with warm salt water to blow "nose bubbles" is a great way to get that smell off their face. Nose bubbles make kids happy and anything that keeps children's nasal passages from smelling like Jasmine and Vanilla makes moms happy.

Kai-versations: Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Me, pulling a WHITE hair out of my head and staring in disbelief: "Look at this, Kai. I'm getting white hairs. You girls are making me go gray before I even turn 30!"

Kai, distraught: "NOOO! Oh, Mom. That means your close to dying now. Like an old grandma. Please don't die yet."

Later that same day...

Me: "So, Kai, how old do you think your Daddy is?"

Kai: "31."

Me: "Very close! How old do you think Mommy is?"

Kai: "Um...I think something like 74. Right?"

I know this is the same girl who told me she didn't have to go to bed because it was only "thirty-o-clock" but, still, 74? Gee, thanks.

Total Truth Tuesday

What better way to rejoin my regularly scheduled blogging than with a Total Truth confession?

Here's my Total Truth:

My husband is the first person I ever kissed.

Truly, I am shuddering with embarrassment right now. 'Cause that's not really the kind of thing one likes to admit to. I mean, I didn't meet him when I was 16 or anything. My husband and I didn't start dating until I was 21. So...do the math. I didn't get my first kiss until I was 21. Can we say embarrassing?

But, let me explain why. Or rationalize why.

See, when I was about 14 I made this decision. I decided that I didn't really want to waste a whole lot of time kissing frogs before I found a prince. I'm not claiming this was some noble choice. I was 14. It was purely romantic. I assumed I'd meet my prince charming at the ripe old age of 16 and we'd date until college and then marry in a fairy tale wedding complete with singing woodland creatures. It's just that the fairy tale took a little longer than I expected.

At some point, though, the pact I made took on a life of its own. It was a secret. I never told anyone, but it became this defining moment of my life. I went to an all-girls' high school which meant avoiding dating wasn't too difficult. The women's college that came next made it even easier. And every guy I met was subjected to intense scrutiny. And, the next thing I knew I was 21 and had never been kissed.

Then I met this totally dreamy Hawaiian guy and, well, the rest is history. The first kiss was, um, the most awkward first kiss in history. I was shaking so hard I think he was worried I was having a seizure. But, the rest have been quite fairy tale-esque. And, while I wouldn't necessarily recommend this choice for everyone, I really am glad my first kiss got to be with the man I get to share firsts with for the rest of our lives.

P.S. I'm taking a short break...

It seems everyone in the blogosphere is taking a break lately. I guess I'm gonna jump on the bandwagon, too.

We were all set to go to the beach this weekend, but yucky hurricanes have forced us to change plans and we're opting to vacay in our own city. People come to Atlanta for vacations, right? So, we're going to play tourist for a few days.

We're packing up to go stay at my mom's house (she's a whopping 5 minutes away) and the girls are going to camp in a tent in her guest room. It's our un-vacation.

But, in an effort to spend undisturbed time with my husband and girls (and not secretly be obsessing about my next post) I'm going to take this vacation from blogging as well.

I'll be back next Tuesday (Sept. 2nd) with fantastic tales of my Rod Stewart concert adventure and fun homeschooling projects and what it's like to take a vacation in your own city. Expect amazing posts next week. Or, actually don't 'cause that's alot to live up to. Just expect posts next week. That's much less pressure.

Anyways, have a wonderful Labor Day weekend and I'll see you guys next week!

Total Truth Tuesday

Sorry this is a bit late, I've been really busy today with pregnant SAHM stuff (i.e. sleeping, eating, sleeping some more). My Total Truth this Tuesday should be embarrassing, but it's all about hormones so I refuse to be ashamed.

Here it is:

When I am pregnant I have the weirdest cravings ever.

Okay, you're probably thinking, "yeah, so?" But, seriously, I have cravings that come up just short of qualifying for that pregnant Pica thing.

With my first pregnancy, it started with Oreos and Vienna Sausages. Together. That was what I ate just before I decided it was time to take a pregnancy test. But, my second craving that pregnancy was...Vodka. I'm not a big drinker (no wisecracks, Thomas!) but all I wanted during my first pregnancy was Vodka. Vodka straight-up. On the rocks. It all sounded delicious to me. It was the one craving I could NOT indulge my entire pregnancy (which is a little like torture if you have cravings as strong as mine!) As soon as Kai was born, I didn't give Vodka another thought.

With Ivy, I craved Cabbage. I ate it all the time (much like this pregnancy) but that wasn't really the weirdest thing. The weirdest craving I experienced? Cigarettes. Which is extra weird 'cause I don't smoke. And, I never really have. I had a fling or two with clove cigarettes during college, but regular cigs? Never. And yet, every time I smelled cigarette smoke or saw a pack of Marlboros my mouth started to water. Yet another craving that absolutely could not be indulged the whole pregnancy and completely disappeared after having Ivy. To this day, I have not had a cigarette since college.

This pregnancy I've been too sick to crave anything, but I am expecting some weird cravings any day now. Though I'm a little worried what cravings will be coming my way? What's left? Meth, hand lotion, potting soil? I guess I should be thankful my willpower is stronger than these cravings otherwise you might find me digging egg shells out of the trash to eat for dinner...

BTW, I promise not all of my TTT posts will be about pregnancy related stuff for the next 9 months. I just have pregnancy brain at the moment so this is the best I could come up with...

The Lovings were here...again.

I'm not sure when I'll learn my lesson. It is just pretty much inevitable that our family's presence at a school or birthday function will bring with it chaos, embarrassment, and/or infamy. That's just the way it goes.

This weekend, of course, was no exception. Saturday we had a pool party for a friend of Kai and I managed to completely forget about a church obligation Thomas and I had that night so it meant the kids could only stay about 45 minutes at the party and wouldn't be able to swim. I explained it to them before we got there and the girls were fine with it (yeah right) so I thought everything would be fine.

We got to the party. Dropped off the present. And, prepared to have a bit of cake before the rest of the party jumped in the pool. But, as always, things did not go according to plan.

Ivy, my resident daredevil, really wanted to swim. Really badly. She kept walking around crying and trying to take off her pants (classy, no?). Finally, she "accidentally" fell headfirst into the pool. In the deep end. In front of everyone.

I did the whole shrieking/screaming for help thing 'cause (and here's where it gets embarrassing) I was fully clothed in the outfit I had to wear to church in 30 minutes and, uh, I wasn't about to jump in. Let me be clear, she popped right up to the surface and was not-so-gracefully treading water. There was no danger of drowning. Within about 15 seconds her dad came to the rescue but not before I managed to dive to the ground (prematurely big belly and all) and reach for her - breaking my sandal in the process.

I limp around the party for about 10 minutes with a broken shoe until finally giving up and going completely barefoot. But, wait, it gets better (or worse) 'cause then Kai, thinking it is unfair that her sister got to "swim," starts pouting and moping. She lays down on the ground and covers her eyes and just silently puts on a dramatic show. She looks not the least bit bratty and instead like the child of a completely cruel mom who would bring her child to a pool party and torture her with the inability to get in the water.

One of the moms (who was an angel) gave Kai a pair of her son's shorts and tshirt to swim in for a couple minutes. Kai proceeds to get just a little too far out into the deeper end and loses her confidence thus resulting in a half-drown/half-tread water move reminiscent of her sister's earlier move. She's not drowning but she's panicking. So, I have to walk down the steps a little to get a float out to her. I soak my jeans in the process. You know, the jeans I'm going to be wearing to church in about 10 minutes? Yeah, those jeans.

And, now we're all wet and guess what? We don't have towels either. Who doesn't bring towels to a pool party? The mom who assumes her kids are absolutely not going to get in the water, that's who, but it doesn't stop me from looking like a flake. I am the only mom there without a Land's End tote packed full of every single supply my children need. So, I beg and borrow towels off of moms who are more grown-up, more organized, and infinitely more together than I, all the while thinking the one thing running through their mind is, "Yeah, this girl needs another kid."

The best part? I got to go to our church's GroupLink function in a pair of soaked blue jeans and completely inappropriate sparkly dress shoes. Never a dull moment in this family. But, oh how I could use one...

You know what I'm talking about. Right? (please say yes.)

Today:

1. I woke up too late and only got out of bed because my children were begging me to save them from starvation.

2. Kai got yelled at for knocking over a plate of peanut butter toast that was sitting by the bed. It's been sitting there for a day (okay 2) and it was totally my fault it was there in the first place.

3. The kids ate leftover pizza two meals in a row which, for those of you doing the math, is actually eating pizza the last 3 meals total.

4. We had two potty training accidents in one day. One of them involved standing on the bed and peeing all over sheets.

5. The playroom went from organized to a complete and total disaster.

6. I threatened to throw toys in the trash and settled on locking up the playroom.

7. I relied way too heavily on Comcast On Demand (thank you, Dora, Diego, Backyardigans, and Blue!).

It's days like today that make me think about getting a job. I think it would be like going on vacation.

But, then I remember that I am not qualified for anything and pregnant super satisfied most days and decide to see if tomorrow is a better day.

It almost always is.

Is it just me or...

does the Baby Center picture of an 8 week fetus look a bit diabolical? It's a little scary to think that this guy is living inside me right now!

www.babycenter.com

Kai-versations: That's it. We're moving.

Kai is an extraordinarily imaginative child. The depths of her imagination sometimes scares the living crap out of me.

We have a couple of imaginary friends, Deebai and Heehaw, that moved in with us right after we moved into this house. I always attributed it to the fact that we moved in about 4 days after her sister was born (that's another post for another day) and that it was a coping mechanism of a new baby and a new house. I didn't really worry about it too much.

Even when she told me Deebai went to high school in Africa and I didn't know she even knew anything about high school or Africa.

Or when she said Deebai and Heehaw slept in the tree out in front of our house.

Or after the time they were picked up by the cops for walking down the highway in her panties. (true story.)

Or, when their friend Sally moved in because her parents died.

Or even after the last time we went to a friend's house and she was crying in their playroom because Heehaw locked her away in a room where no one else in the world could see or talk to her.

Yeah, even then I didn't worry.

But, the other night, her imaginary world got a little too scary for me.


Kai: "Hey, Mom. Do you ever hear people whispering about things and you know it's not Ivy or Me or Daddy?"

Me: "Um...no. Why?"

Kai: "Just wondering. 'Cause I think sometimes Heaven is talking to me."

Me, more than just a little freaked out: "What makes you say that?"

Kai: "Well, last night this I heard this boy's voice and he told me he was going to marry me!"

Me, completely freaked out: "Uh, who was this boy?"

Kai, laughing: "I don't know. He forgot to give me his name. Isn't that silly?"

More like terrifying. Um, what the heck do I do about that?

Total Truth Tuesday

Yeah, this one's embarrassing, but, ladies, I've decided it's time to come out of the closet.

Here's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

I looovve maternity panties. I do. They are, I think, one of the best creations of all time. I mean, I love my kids, too, but the maternity undergarments may actually be reason enough for me to procreate.

When else can you wear a pair of panties that come all the way up to rest snugly beneath your bra? Well, I mean, when else can you have a legitimate medical condition that excuses the wearing of those types of panties?

Never! In fact, during my first pregnancy when I brought my maternity underwear home Thomas was greatly dismayed. But, I would not forsake them. When he teased me mercilessly I refused to stop wearing them. In fact, when he suggested I not worry about our hotel room on the 27th floor because in case of a fire I could simply jump out of the window using them as a parachute, I remained strong.

And, so, now that I am pregnant again I have brought these sacred undergarments from out of their secret hiding place (lest Thomas find them and, you know, throw them away or burn them) and will make them a part of my wardrobe for as long as I can get away with it.

I'm thinking I should be able to justify it until the baby is at least 6 months old, don't you think?

Planning and Planting for Fall

Our summer garden is nearly tapped out. We've had an amazing bounty of tomatoes, zucchini, green beans, cucumbers, & peppers. But, our harvesting is slowing down and it's about time for us to put our Winter Garden in the ground. We started the seedlings several weeks ago and they're off to a great start.

We're pretty lucky that Georgia weather allows us to grow things well into fall/winter. Our winter garden includes: lettuce, radishes, green beans, peas, carrots, cucumbers, squash, onions, and, of course, pumpkins. The girls are so excited to grow their own Halloween pumpkins and I can't wait to see how big they get!

One of the things I've got to learn is how to can if we're going to keep growing our own food, 'cause our tomato crop was out of control and we ended up with tomatoes everywhere!

Though I can't can (yet) we did learn about freezing tomatoes (and other veggies). It's an easy and fast way to preserve tomatoes for later use in sauces and soups. These tips work for freezing a variety of veggies, though you'll probably forgo the whole skinning and squeezing seeds out for most.

1. Boil a pot of water and drop your firm red tomatoes in (they can't be too soft) for a 2-3 minutes.

2. Transfer them quickly to an ice bath and peel off the skin.

3. Cut them in halves or quarters and squeeze out excess water and seeds. (Don't worry about getting all the seeds. Just try and get as much done as possible.)

4. Place them in ziplock bag and squeeze out excess air.

5. Stick them in the freezer for quick and easy sauce!

Thomas had read something about sucking the air out of the bag through a straw to make sure you don't get freezer burn and gave it a try when freezing our first batch. He wants me to let you know that you should NEVER do that unless you feel like passing out from hyperventilating disgusting tomato air. Instead, you might opt for one of those Reynold's Handi-Vac systems from the grocery. They're cheap, easy to use and get rid of any air in the bag that could cause problems in your freezing.

So, we've now got a whole freezer of good veggies for winter and a winter garden ready to plant! Our eggs should be coming along soon or else we'll be eating some really lazy chickens (totally kidding - can you see me killing and plucking pet chickens? Not that hardcore yet!)

I'll be sure and post more when our winter garden gets productive!

My Alternate History

I got sucked into the time warp tonight (hat tip to Don't Try This At Home) over at Yearbook Yourself and thought I'd share with you what I would look like if I graduated highschool in the distant past...

1958

1960

1962

1978

I'm thinking, judging by these pics, its a good thing I didn't graduate any of those years. Though I can't honestly say mine were much better...

7 things you didn't know about me

I got tagged by P.S. He Loves You a week ago to tell 7 things about myself. And, to be honest, after doing my 100 things and Total Truth Tuesdays I am starting to wonder if there is anything about me that isn't public knowledge?

But, I'm going to give it a try, so here goes.

1. Growing up my family had tons of pets. Weird ones. A few of the most memorable? Potbelly pig (yes it slept in my bed - and no we were not hillbillies), Red & Yellow Macaws, and Wolf Hybrids.

2. I think fact number one is why we don't currently have any real pets now. I do like animals. But, mostly I like other people's animals.

3. My family is in the furniture business for over 30 years which means I have done everything from sanding, painting, and staining to moving, decorating and selling furniture. I think it is one the coolest and most challenging businesses to be in.

4. I am a super fast reader. It drives my husband crazy when we're trying to read something together. I'm ready to turn the page before he's even halfway through it. I think it is a left-over survival instinct from my days as an English major in college.

5. On more than one occasion I have had to wash and rewash and rewash again clothes that were in the washer because I seem to have a complete inability to take them out before they sour.

6. I was once the object of affection of a completely psycho stalker. He even went as far as to leave dead roses and toe nail clippings for my (now) husband. Scary.

7. In college my vision tested as "predator vision" level. I have no idea what it means, but I think it has to come in handy as a mom, right?

And, technically, I am supposed to tag 7 other people. So, here goes. If you don't want to do it, feel free to ignore my tag and if you do want to and I didn't tag you then leave me a note in the comments after you post so I can come over and learn 7 things about you!

Halie @ Keeping Up With the Sells

Katy @ My McGuffey Life

Rachel @ Something Kitschy

Heather @ Cool and Hip I Am Not

Amy @ The Rowell Crew

Eryn @ Jared and Eryn

Kelly @ Kellymac

It's a...shrimp?

Yesterday we had our big ultrasound visit. I have to say I was about as nervous as I have ever been going in to a visit like that. It took the tech a little while to actually find the baby, but once she did it was obvious that our little one was doing great.

The baby has definitely grown appropriately since last week and he/she looks exactly like it should. They said the heartbeat is strong and everything looks perfect so we are really thrilled. We're just a couple weeks behind where we thought we were which is distressing only because it means my pants are getting tight even earlier than I had previously thought!

I got a picture to keep and Kai insisted that it could not be what the baby actually looks like. I'll admit those early pictures do look like a cross between a tadpole and a gummy bear, but we'll just have to keep reassuring her that he/she won't look like that forever!

Thanks again for all your thoughts, prayers, and good wishes!

I'm putting the finishing touches on my pregnancy blog so this blog doesn't necessarily become baby central for those who'd rather keep hearing about how my kids shave their eyebrows and paint each other with permanent markers. You know, I'd hate to interrupt my documentation of my children's quest to ruin any hope for cool family pictures...

Tips for New Parents

Dear First Time Mommy-

I have a little advice I'd like to share. Something I learned the hard way.

That precious little bundle of cuddles and love all curled up in the crook of your arm may not be able to do anything more than yawn and poke her arms out of the carefully swaddled cocoon you've wrapped her into, but trust me on this.

Put up your razors know. All of them. Hide them in places no one will ever be able to find them. Because if you don't, one day, before you know it you'll find that baby at the ripe old age of 4 shaving off her eye brows.

You'll be cleaning the house (read: trying to watch Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List) and become alarmed at the eerie silence coming from the bathroom. You'll go in there to find your darling baby with eye brows that only go halfway across her brow bone. And, if you're anything like me, it will be less than one week from the family portrait session you've had planned for over 2 months.

So, do your self a favor, and hide the razors now. Before it's too late...

And then she ate the baby...

In my not-so-brilliant attempt to teach Kai about dinosaurs (that's what we're studying this month) I found Jurassic Fight Club today while flipping through channels and thought it might be cool to show her what dinosaurs look like.

I mean, it's on the History Channel, so how scary could it be, right? She wasn't really scared to see the dinosaurs fighting. She thought that was cool. And when I told her the mommy dinosaur was protecting her baby she thought that was even cooler. That mommy dinosaur kicked some serious butt and I think moms became a little cooler in her mind after seeing that.

But, perhaps I should have screened the show first, because when I told her that her mommy was like that dinosaur and would protect her just like that mommy dino did I didn't realize what was coming next.

Immediately after saying that, the big bad boy dinosaur killed the baby and was then beaten up by the mommy dinosaur. And then it happened. The mommy dinosaur ate her own baby. 'Cause, you know, she needed some food after all that fighting.

And Kai looked at me suspiciously and said, "So, if I die, will you eat me, too?"

Things I've had to say...

Do NOT take your panties off in the front yard.

Please stop trapping your sister underneath the laundry basket.

No you cannot stay up to watch Project Runway because you're only 4.

Only one little girl in the laundry basket at a time please.

That's why God gave you a tongue. To help you get food off the roof of your mouth.

Stop laughing every time your sister gets in trouble.

No, mommy's cooking does not always give you diarrhea.

Kai-versations: I guess we could order Chinese?

Kai: "Remember when I asked Jesus into my heart at Christmas?"

Me: "I sure do. Why?"

Kai: "Well, He's living there in my heart and I'm worried about it. I mean, I don't know if He's getting enough food in there. Do you think we should have something delivered?"

Hmmm...I'm wondering how I would explain that to the local Chinese delivery restaurant?

Um...gross.

So, today I'm obsessing over the fact that the average person unknowingly eats 430 bugs over the course of one year. One year, people. 430 over the course of one lifetime would be too much for me. But a year?

And that's the average. Which means some people eat more than 430 a year. I mean, you could have someone out there who eats 750 bugs a year bringing that average up. And it could be me. And I'd never know it.

I'm wondering how this happens? Do most of them ingest their daily insect diet via food or in their sleep? Are the averages higher for motorcyclists? Oh. I think I don't want to know.

I do think I might start sleeping with some kind of bug netting around my bed just in case though. Just on the off-chance I'm the one who's living on the high side of the bug eating scale.

Thank You.

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments, emails and good wishes you ladies have been sending my way.

I can't tell you how much peace I have had since posting. It is amazing to know there are so many people out there who were praying for us! For now, my plan is to return to my regularly scheduled blogging (you know, plenty of posts on the random and absurd). I'll update you all with a post about any developments or news I get next week after my ultrasound.

Thanks again for reminding me how connected blogging makes me feel!

Total Truth Tuesday

Yesterday was a really bad day. It started with my first prenatal doctor's appointment. You know, the one I was so worried about?

Yeah, it didn't go well. I mean, it went okay, but not great. Long story short, I thought I was almost 9 weeks pregnant and expecting to see the whole 9 weeks pregnant blob on the ultrasound. The one with little stubby arms and legs and a big huge head. And a strong unmistakable heartbeat.

Instead, I saw a tiny little yolk sack. And an even tinier and harder to see heartbeat. Which means one of two things. Either this little one is not growing and I am miscarrying or I am not as far along as I thought.

Obviously we are praying that it's the latter.

You're probably wondering why in the heck I'm blogging about this. After all, the doctor did tell me with my first pregnancy that the general rule is that in the First Trimester you only announce your pregnancy to people who you don't mind admitting a miscarriage to. And, you know what? I guess that's you guys.

Because, this is part of my life. And this is part of who I am. Women go through heartbreaking miscarriages and pregnancy scares where everything turns out okay and though I don't know which group I'm going to fall into right now, I do know that it is all part of who I am and who I am lately is someone who is trying to be transparent about her life.

So, if you are someone who prays, please pray for me and for this tiny little heartbeat living inside of me. This baby was created in love and though we've only known about him a short time, he would be mourned. Pray that God will give us peace and that we will trust Him to carry us through this.

Please don't get me wrong. I did not have this much peace yesterday. In fact, I acted quite terrible to my husband and my girls. I was scared and sad and I treated them horribly. I even threw a temper tantrum at McDonald's that was neither attractive nor dignified. Though, in a few days, it might end up being considered comical.

In the meantime, as I know more about our situation you'll know more about it. And, if you're in a similar place, I hope it helps to know you're not alone. And, if you've been through something similar yourself, I'd love to know I'm not alone, too. Because this is why I blog. And, to me, it's what makes this community so darn special...

Dear Friendly Neighbor,

Let's be honest here. You've heard the screaming. I'm assuming that it's probably why you say a forced "hi" and rush on your way every time we cross paths. It's quite likely (and reasonable) that you think I am a raging lunatic who tortures my kids into screaming bloody murder all day long.

But, this is just to let you know that the shrieking and screaming coming from my kids really isn't as bad as it must sound from the outside. Well, it does sound as bad as it sounds but it's just not for the reasons you might assume.

My kids, you see, love to scream. They scream when they're happy and when they're sad. They scream when they're mad and frustrated and on the brink of a sleep deprived manic state of insanity. They shriek when they hear good news, when they pretend there's a monster in their closet, and when they can't agree which of them should be the one in charge of their favorite book/doll/toy.

And, the particularly blood-curdling scream you hear midday? That's the naptime scream. It's generally accompanied by shrieks of "NOOO!! PLEASE!!! NO!!! DON'T MAKE ME!!!"

Welcome to my life.

But, I assure you my own (occasional) screaming is simply an attempt to speak their language. Can screaming be a love language? Hmmm. I smell an New York Time's Best Seller here.

I digress. Anyways, just wanted you to know it's totally safe to look me in the eyes the next time we see each other outside of our houses. I can virtually guarantee my gaze won't turn you into stone.

Things I've had to say...

Please don't put your carrots between your toes.
If I hear anymore giggling and laughing you're going to be in BIG trouble.
Quit putting your hands in your armpits and smelling them.
Please stop telling everyone that you just peed in the pool.
I promise, Daddy is definitely too big to get accidentally flushed down the potty.