Thursday, December 26, 2013

The Best Christmas Gift Ever

Christmas Eve was pretty routine over here. We went to 4:00 PM Mass, and Rebecca cantored with Vienna.  I was so proud of her.  

 One sweet little girl had refused to take a nap earlier that day, so she feel asleep for about 45 minutes. I can't remember the last time that happened!  

Back home afterwards, the kids are allowed to open one present. Squeals of delight and cries of happiness...music to a Mother's ears. 

Can I just say what the best Christmas gift was this year for us?  

David's new job.

I didn't need anything else this year.  Period.  Just the fact David is employed again...I was grateful at Thanksgiving, but even more so yesterday.  I was thankful we had presents under the tree for the kids.  I was grateful we were able to put all the kids' favorite food out in the afternoon to nibble on.  Even though Rebecca came down with a stomach bug...we still had a beautiful, happy Christmas.  

Because were were up most of Christmas Eve with a sick child (thank goodness 11 year olds know how to aim!), David and I were in bed before 9:00 PM on Christmas Day!  LOL...we were exhausted! I offered up my usual prayers of gratitude, but asked God to please bless all those who:

Didn't have a job

Didn't have presents under the tree, especially those children who didn't get anything

Didn't have a warm home and a soft bed to sleep in

Didn't get the day off and had to work

Didn't have anyone to spend the holidays with

Didn't have any food to eat on Christmas Day

Didn't do anything except struggle to stay alive yesterday. 

I kept thinking how different yesterday might have been if David hadn't gotten his job. I know we would have been blessed, no matter what.  But...being unemployed is stressful...I haven't forgotten how that feels just yet. And my heart truly hurts for those who were laid off before Christmas...or will be by the end of the year.  It's never a good time to lose your job! 

Father...thank you.  Thank you once again for your gift of employment.  We didn't deserve all the graces and blessings we were given over this past year, but I pray we will be able to pay it forward some day. 

I wanted to leave you all with my favorite gift I received yesterday.  Theresa made this for me at school...and I will cherish it forever...her little hand prints in the shape of angel's wings. :-)


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Merry Christmas 2013

Another year has come and gone for the Reisingers.  It's been eventful to say the least!   
I'll give you the run down on the kids first...going in birthday order instead of birth order, just for the heck of it. :-) 
We started the year off with Rebecca turning 11.  She requested the same cake as the previous 3 years, strawberry with strawberry cream cheese frosting.  Only one more year before she officially becomes a teenager (since she'll be 12 in January)...yikes!  Rebecca started cantoring last year during the Children's Liturgy, and graduated to the "big church" in October.  Plus, she's an Explorer in American Heritage Girls (earning 4 badges on her own), taking private tennis lessons, and is a straight A student at Regina Caeli Academy.  We're seeing a young lady growing up right before our eyes, let me tell you.  Look out world, here she comes. 
Next up, Theresa.  She turned 2 on Feb 14, our sweet Valentine gift we will always treasure.  She's tiny, but man...she sure became a mess and a half this past year.  I dare anyone to try homeschooling with a toddler!  We have to keep finding ways for her to have fun without destroying the house or the bigger kids' schoolwork.  She also had the privilege of getting ear tubes in March, and having surgery again in November to replace one of them...bless her heart.  Her one saving grace was being the easiest child to potty-train ever.  Theresa was fully trained, day and night in less than a month!  Woo hoo!  She loves giving hugs and "sugar" to anyone, including the dog and being in the nursery 2x a week while Mommy works.   
Gabriel turned 6 in February.  \ He's become a Lego fanatic (big brother got him hooked and taught him well!), and spends hours endless making different configurations of Geo-track rail for his trains.  Gabriel and Theresa do butt heads, but he's quite the little gentleman otherwise...he always runs ahead to open the door or the back yard gate for Mommy. :-)  On Monday nights, he runs to get his Cub Scout uniform on and says, "Come on Daddy, let's go...hurry up!"  He loves going to Regina Caeli and is happy to have Mommy assisting in his first grade class. 
Joshua is our lanky and lean 14-year-old.  It's hard to believe he will start high school next year!  He is still doing track at school, and we were so proud of his advancement to the Symphonic Band this fall.  Joshua continues to earn merit badges in Boy Scouts (5 so far this year), and would probably spend all day on the computer if we let him.  He gamely does his own laundry, start to finish, and is on lawn duty with Rebecca.  Oh, and he was inducted in the the National Junior Honor Society back in May.  Yeah...he's a total nerd.  It's all David's fault. ;-)  More on that later...
Sweet Christina is now 9.  I don't know what I'd do without her.  She wakes Theresa up every morning (well... okay...Theresa wakes Christina up!), serves her breakfast, gets her dressed, and fixes her hair with a cute clip or bow.  Honestly, she's the best mother's helper I could ever hope for.  Christina loves her gymnastics class, crafting, braiding her hair, and is a bit of a nerd herself, making straight A's herself at school; even though she'll sneak candy and thinks we don't know about it.  We loved watching her come into her own this past year.  So you want her?  Nope...not happening. ;-)  We need her too much!
David was laid off from his job at Trend Concepts in April.  After one initial round of interviews, he decided he needed more initials after his name.  So he hit the books (and Lone Star Community College) and is working towards his CPA certification.  He's still a nerd after all these years...he made A's in his first 5 classes.  He's already passed both tests for the CMA (Certified Managerial Accounting), and ultimately hopes to get an Executive MBA.  It was a stressful time for our family, but with the love and support of our family, friends, and a truly wonderful church community, we had the faith and strength to hang on until David was finally offered a job with Strategic CFO in October.  He really enjoys the consulting aspect of his new job.  He will travel around the city depending on where he is assigned, but the first client he was placed with is only 10-15 minutes from the house.  Kimberly isn't complaining about the short commute at all!  
Kimberly started working at the kids' home school hybrid program, Regina Caeli Academy in August.  It's been quite the transition, going back to work after 14 years of being a SAHM. But she loves being with the kids and teaching music and drama.  She went along with the 6th graders to the Houston Museum of Natural Science to see the Hall of Ancient Egypt and was just as enthralled as the kids, if not more so.  There isn't much time for sewing, blogging, crocheting, or crafting, but the household is humming along fairly well, thanks to the kids pitching in just a little more on school nights.  As long as the dishwasher is emptied and everyone has clean underwear...that's what matters, right? ;-)  
She traveled to Austin in July to stand for life, met plenty of amazing pro-life advocates, and attended the pep rally...what a rush!  On the urging of friends, she also went on an ACTS retreat last summer...a real spiritual oasis in the middle of David's job search.  God is good...all the time!  
So...what else?  We visited the San Jacinto Monument and the Battleship Texas last May with family, and welcomed home Kimberly's brother Chris after a 9 month deployment to Afghanistan.  We meet up with him at a rented house on Lake Austin over Labor Day weekend, where Uncle Chris took the kids out on the water for swimming, boating, and tubing.  Funniest thing he said? 

"I had no idea girls could scream so loud!" 

Ha ha, welcome to my world brother!  

David won tickets to Moody Garden's "Dino's Alive" exhibit and the water park (Palm Beach) over the radio, so we were able to enjoy one fun day in the sun!  The older three kids have now been to Midnight Yell Practice at Texas A&M University 3x (WHOOP!) and we're pretty sure they're as indoctrinated as any future Aggies could possibly be.  Game days are a total joy in this house...cheering for Johnny Football has never been more exciting.  A day with the football team back in February for The Aggie Experience sealed the deal.  These kids bleed maroon ya'll. Gig 'em Aggies! 
We made 2 trips to Dallas for a reunion with David's old St. Mark's youth group and Steve Angrisano came to help break open a time capsule and reminisce.  Imagine this artist singing and playing guitar for us...just a small, intimate group where the kids could run around freely.  It was awesome. We helped surprise Grandma Reisinger with a 70th birthday party in October, and got our picture taken by a family friend the same day.  We clean up good, don't we?  
David and Kimberly celebrated 15 years of marriage in June.  Wow...just wow.  Time flies when you've got five kids, a minivan, the house with the picket fence, and a dog!  But man...are we blessed.  We really are.  We weathered quite the storm this year with David's period of unemployment, but are so thankful for all the graces God sent us.  
We truly hope 2013 has been good to you and wish everyone a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year! 































Friday, November 8, 2013

When God Finally Says Yes

I am happy to share more than one piece of good news with you all. 

First, David was able to order a new hard drive for my laptop and get it running again.  I don't know how he does it, between working, taking 2 online college courses, helping me with the kids, and studying for the CMA...seriously...he's amazing.  So my dumb Dell is on it's THIRD (yes..3rd!) hard drive. We'll see how long it lasts. 

Secondly...

DAVID GOT A JOB!  PRAISE GOD!

David has been working for a financial consulting/headhunter company for 3 weeks now.  It's a pay cut from his previous job, but the upward mobility in this company is excellent.  His hours are not as strenuous as his last job, so he can keep taking classes towards his CPA.  And...the first client they put him with is only 10-5 minutes from the house.  Now that will only be temporary, but since David's had at least a 45 minute commute since we were married 15 years ago, I'll take it!  

Thank you Lord...thank you, thank you, thank you.  And thank you to our family and friends who held us and lifted us up in prayer.  I'll never be able to tell you how grateful we are to have so many people who love us. :-)

Other than that...life is going along as usual.  I took Joshua to the dentist today.  His x-rays showed he only has 3 wisdom teeth.  And...he had 3 tiny cavities.  We always knew Joshua was the most unique among our kids.  Besides that little quirk, he STILL has 8 baby teeth we are waiting on.  Get this...he's 14.  Yes...14.  With 8 baby teeth still hanging on.  Sheesh kid!  I only hope he doesn't have to get the wisdom teeth removed until he's well into adulthood.  He will need a lot of work with braces to align his jaws and straighten his teeth. I'm thinking he can pay to get his wisdom teeth taken out himself, right? ;-)

Theresa's has some medical issues of her own.  She got an ear infection 2 weeks ago.  It took some phone calls and frantic paperwork to get a referral for an ENT in Conroe.  The tube in her right ear is already out (she had surgery back in March) and the left one is "on it's way out."  Sigh....

So we are on meds, and go back in next week for a recheck.  If the infection hasn't cleared up, we are likely looking at a second set of tubes.  Boo hoo.  Poor girl!  She did fine during her first surgery, but boy...she didn't wake up well from the anesthesia at all.  The only good thing about being on CHIPS...they'll probably cover nearly the entire cost of the surgery.  We paid nearly $1600 out of pocket (after billing private insurance) for her first set of tubes.  I was in disbelief that putting a child under for barely 15 minutes would cost than much.  Oh well.  Have to appreciate the silver lining in the clouds!

Okay, that's it for now.  I really hope to start posting recipes on my cooking blog again.  It will really be a challenge between homeschooling and working 2 days a week now.  But maybe I can squeeze in a few before the end of the year.  

Back to the laundry, dishes, and the dust bunnies!

Sunday, August 4, 2013

How to Survive When Your Hubby is Unemployed

So...the reason why I've hardly touched this blog in 3+ months is because David has been unemployed since Easter Monday.

I realize that's really not the best excuse.  My laptop has also died twice in that time period.  There's not the time or money to fix it properly.  And I've simply been too lazy and unmotivated to go upstairs to our main computer in the study nook and blog from there.  Not to mention it's pretty hard to watch a very active 2 year old who is in that "seek and destroy" phase and has discovered the joys of markers.  Thank God they're washable.  Oh, and we started potty training 3 weeks ago too. Enough said.

Sigh...

You wanna know how I'm really doing?  

Okay...you asked for it.  If you want a happy, pick me up post...stop now.  Get off and go find something else to do.  I'm not sayin' it's going to get ugly, but it's definitely about to get real.

Ready?

Okay...here goes.

Some days, I'm okay.  Other days, I'm pretty good.  I'm bored because I like to run errands, go to the grocery store and spend money.  Not a lot of money of course, but you know...there are things a family of 7 needs.  And it's fun to go to the fabric store and buy fabric...just because it's so cute and eventually you'll find some project to use it in.  Ha.

But if the bacon ain't comin' in...you don't have bucks to spend.  So I've been very careful to not to buy anything unnecessary...so only a very little bit sewing/crafting/hobbying, etc.  Which means I'm sitting on my butt not doing much of anything except keep 5 kids from killing each over while we survive yet another hot Texas summer. And drive them to this camp or that camp, VBS etc...ah...the joys of being a chauffeur!

There have been a few times when I've just hidden in my closet and bawled.  David has been networking, filling out job applications and chasing leads like crazy, but he didn't get any interviews for 2 months.  He finally made it to a final interview for one position. It sounded perfect for him, and we were so hopeful.  But the headhunter called one night right before dinner to say they'd given the job to another candidate.  I choked down my plate and helped put the kids to bed.  David went for a walk late that night with the dog, and I cried myself to sleep.  I was so sad...and yet I didn't let David see my disappointment.  He's interviewed for another position with the city...but it's been 6 weeks, and they still haven't told him if he has the job.  Are you kidding me people?  Don't you realize this waiting crap is pure torture?!

Ugh.

On the flip side, we have had numerous graces and blessings.  A friend insisted on paying the girls' fees and membership dues for their American Heritage Girl troop.  I was so overcome with emotion, that it made me cry...and I humbly said yes because I knew if I said no, I'm not allowing God to work through other people. There really isn't any pride left when your hubby is out of work and you're applying for CHIPS benefits for the kids, food stamps, and putting 2 outstanding bills on a payment plan.  Yeah...I told you I'd be keeping this real.

David also won 4 tickets to Galveston's Moody Garden's Dino's Alive exhibit AND the Palm Beach (a water amusement park).  Unfortunately we hit a curb at the hotel and the van sustained about $1,000 worth of damage.  It was not fun in that regard...at all.  We were excited to have a nearly free family outing, only to shell out big bucks to have our van towed and repaired, plus the cost of a rental so we could drive back home.  Thankfully the van was fixed in just one day, and David was able to drive back down to Galveston (about 1.5 hours away) to bring our van home.  But the kids had a blast...praise God. I went into super mom mode that afternoon.  I refused to let the accident get us down and took the kids through the water park all by myself for the first 2 hours so David could take care of the van (he was able join us later).  Later on...my hubby said the sweetest words to me.

"Honey, I'm so proud of the way you handled the kids...you really stepped up, didn't lose your temper, and the kids had fun because you were amazing."

Wow...it made me cry ya'll...really it did.  See...I'm not well known for handing stressful situations...my confession of the year here.  I'm trying so hard to be even tempered these days...not so easy when your hubby is out of work.  I honestly feel like I have to be super mom, cheerleader, support staff...basically everything I'm normally not.  So those words were like the best gift ever.  Better than 1 carat diamond earrings for sure. :-)

Other friends have been very considerate and supportive.  One friend in particular calls/texts me at least once a week.  Her hubby was unemployed for a year...so she can really relate.  In times like this, you need friends who really get it...and she GETS it.  Know what I mean?  Yet another friend also touches base with me frequently.  Both have dropped everything and have taken me out...just to get out of the house so I feel like I can talk without the fear of being judged.  I am one lucky girl...let me tell you.  When you have friends like that...who say, "I'm praying for you," and you know they really mean it...that's all a woman needs, right?

More friends have offered job leads, contacts, and prayers.  David has gamely followed as many leads as possible.  At one point he realized he might be getting passed over because he lacked certain credentials.  So he decided in May to take summer classes at Lone Star Community College to earn his CMA and eventually his CPA.  So he's back in college, taking 3 classes and frankly acing them.  He's such a nerd. ;-)

Just yesterday, someone left a $50 gift card to Kroger on my van's windshield.  The envelope said, "Happy Monday from a friend."  No name...and it's not necessary.  As far as I'm concerned...it was an angel in disguise sent by God.  Thank you...whoever you are. :-)

Yet another major event happened over the past 4 months.  I finally was able to go on an ACTS retreat through our church, St. Ignatius.  I really didn't want to go.  I'm usually a happy, social person, who loves spending time with other godly women.  But...when I'm stressed...the LAST THING I want to do is leave my comfort zone (home), be around other women (40 of them), talk about my life (ugh...no thanks...I'm already a basket-case), and essentially admit to God I'm tough on the outside, but inside...I'm just ready to come unglued at a moment's notice.  So a retreat?  NO WAY.  If someone offered me a ticket to Tahiti and a mojito for my free hand...you bet I would have gone in a heartbeat.  I kid you not.

When we pulled up to Circle Lake Retreat Center...I didn't want to get off the bus...I really didn't.  I had to walk to the dining hall, greeting ladies all the way there...they wanted to hug me...I was like, "Ah...yeah...can I just go home?  I REALLY want to go home.  NOW."  I wasn't feeling it ya'll. Nope. Not at all.

Did I mention I really wanted to go home?

But slowly, over the weekend, I was able to open up.  I knew God wanted me there for a reason.  When it comes to God's will, resistance is futile, right?  I mean...do you really want God to hit you over the head with a 2x4 to knock some grace and sense back into you?

Nope.  Not me...seriously.  I've had spiritual 2x4's over the head...and if God is doing the swinging...it hurts.  Like, REALLY hurts.

So I prayed...constantly.  I told God to please just help me be open.  To please show me what He wanted from me.  To just please take stubborn, strong-willed me and mold me into whatever He wanted.

By the end of the retreat weekend. I'd had a major light.  It wasn't necessarily earth-shattering...but it put David's unemployment in a completely different perspective.  Up until this point, I'd viewed David's layoff as  a big, heavy cross.  I didn't want help carrying it, even though people offered to help.  I keep seeing the darkness...not the light.  I carried on like I thought I was supposed to...not out of pride or vanity, but because I just didn't see how else I was supposed to carry it.  I tried to carry a part of David's cross.  I always smiled and told people, "I'm fine," when deep down, I wanted to cry out, throw down that cross and just walk away.  Okay...RUN AWAY.  As fast as I could.  And not come back anytime soon.  Maybe never.

I finally realized I was focusing on the wrong part of the cross.  I realized it really was okay to cry.  It was okay to admit I was afraid. It was okay to share that with others.  It was okay to pray that God would just help me get through life one day at a time.  God showed me that instead of focusing on how awful the cross was...I needed to see how much Jesus was doing to help me carry that cross. 


Did you get that???

Why didn't I see that before?

I'm just glad it didn't take a 2x4 over my head to finally get it.  Whew.

Enough of the deep stuff now.

I guess you want to know how I'm doing nowadays.

I'm hoping.  And praying.  And praying.  And hoping.  I started a 30 day novena to St. Joseph a week ago. I'm trying to stay busy.  I try to do the normal things, like make dinner and run the laundry...but constantly think about how the Blessed Mother would do those motherly things.  I'm trying to do them with love instead of just getting them done for the sake of getting them done.  I try not to have a pity-party for more than 5 minutes.  I try to imagine Jesus and I together...he's right behind me...carrying this cross.  I might fall down, but until I can get back up, He's right there...holding the cross for me, even though I'm begging God to please take this cross from me.  He gets it...he asked God the same thing...at the Mount of Olives...but he knew God's will for him.  I know God's will for me...at least...I'm trying to understand it.  There are so many people who know us, love us, and are helping us carry this cross, just like Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry His.  So much love has been given to us...it's truly overwhelming, and frankly, it's made me cry tears of joy and humility.  So many prayers are making this cross a little lighter, a little more bearable every day.  

In another week, I'll be back in the classroom on Mondays and Thursdays for the first time in 14 years.  I'll be an assistant teacher in 1st grade and the lead music teacher for grades 1-6 at the kids' homeschool hybrid program, Regina Caeli.  I'm actually looking forward to it.  I need something to sink my teeth into and keep my mind off the unemployment business here at home.  That's a blessing in disguise, don't you think?

So there you are.  I'm okay.  Not fabulous.  Not bad.  Just okay.  I'm happier than I was before.  I'm still a little sad.  But I'm here.  I'm still carrying my cross.  Only I know Jesus is present.  He loves me.  He is helping me carry my cross, for as long as I need Him to.  I don't know how much longer that will be.  Only God knows.  But that's okay.

I told you I'd be keeping this real.  Please pray for us.  Thanks. :-)



Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Finally Up and Running...and a Prayer Request

Hello!  I'm so sorry it's been forever since I posted.  My hard drive on my laptop crashed just after Christmas.  So we found an old drive and limped along for a little bit.  My hubby was so busy at work he just didn't have time to get it up to 100%.  Then that old drive crashed...ack!  Luckily the original drive was still under the 1 year warranty.  I know, I know, it didn't even last a year...what is UP with that anyway DELL!? 
 
So...we sent the corrupt drive off, and finally got the new one last week.  My techie spouse worked for hours to get my laptop set up again, so now I can finally blog again.  I could have gone upstairs and used the kids' computer, but loading pics from their old CPU is not fun...that's all I'm going to say. 
 
And...David was laid off the day after Easter.  Good news...he's had lots of time at home, and the kids LOVE having Daddy around.  But of course, my hubby would rather be out of the house working.  In the meantime, he's been working on plenty of projects inside and outside the house.  The garden is thriving, and it's nice to have him be able to stay behind with the younger kids so I can take one of the older kids somewhere. 
 
Everyone keeps asking me if I'm okay.  Truthfully, yes...I'm fine.  I'm determined not to think about all the "what if's."  I'm eating healthy and working out 3-5 times a week.  That 30 minutes on the treadmill or on the walking path outside gives me time to pray and think.  Sure...there have been moments...I've cried once...only because at one point I felt trapped.  A long phone call to a dear friend whose husband was unemployed for a year really helped bring me back down to earth.  After all, God is in control.  And Jesus is driving...I don't know where we're going.  But wherever we end up, God is STILL THERE. 
 
Please keep us in your prayers as we await God's plan for us!  Thank you!

Monday, April 1, 2013

Lenten Happenings

So much has happened over the past six weeks.  Here's my Lenten diary!

Every Lent, I try to approach it with the attitude of, "I'm not giving up something without gaining from God in return."  It's not about what I sacrifice so much as it is what graces I receive for giving something up.  Make sense? 

Therefore...during Lent, I prayed to St. Joseph for a special intention.  We prayed a decade of the rosary and the "Come Holy Spirit" during bedtime prayers.  The rosary is for our family, and the Holy Spirit prayer was for the election of our new pope.  It's rather exciting that my kids got to witness the election of a pope, especially since the younger ones are being homeschooled now.

Theresa turned 2 on February 14...sniff sniff!  She was 21 pounds, 12 ounces, and 31 3/4 inches tall at her checkup.  And she just got new, size 5 shoes.  Still our teeny little girl!


And Gabriel turned 6...my sweet little man!  We got to tour the Ponderosa Fire Station #42 on his special day...and he had so much fun with his buddy Caleb.  "Mr. Daniel" treated the boys to the VIP treatment.  They saw everything, the control room, bunk rooms, kitchen, and all the equipment.  He even let them hold (very carefully) a hand-held thermal imaging camera.  My...they thought it was TOO COOL. :-)








Daddy escorted his two older girls to a Father-Daughter Dance sponsored by the American Heritage Girl Troop at Prince of Peace.  I did their hair and nails...and they had a blast.  I even got corsages made by Theresa's godmother, thank you LZ Floral Design!



 David turned 39 on March 26th...thank you darlin' for being 5 months older than me. ;-)

I gave up sweets, desserts, Facebook, and Pinterest...but not Downtown Abby.  Oh man...why did Matthew have to go?  Boo hoo.  I promised I'd only be upset one night...and not think about it again until season 4 starts...10 long months from now.  :-(  But seriously...he was dreamy, wasn't he?

Joshua had a stellar progress report his 3rd, nine weeks.  His 3rd nine week period...straight A's.  And...he was invited to join the National Junior Honor Society.  Wow.   It's a relief to know my son is smarter than I was at his age.  (Ahem...I was not in the NJHS in middle school).

I lost one of my most-loved gold earrings.  They meant a great deal to me.  My favorite Aunt (great-Aunt Mary) bought them for me when I graduated from Texas A&M.  They weren't valuable...but still...I mourned a little.  Still am.  Boo hoo.

Update:  I FOUND IT!  Rather, someone else found it in the choir practice room and I saw it on the work counter. I must have lost it when dropped off the kids one time.  I'm so happy! 

We make it a point to go to Reconciliation during Lent, and we did one bright, cold Saturday. It never fails to amaze me, how great the love our God has for us, and the graces he bestows with the Sacrament!


My brother is still over in Afghanistan.  I was able to chat with him on Facebook for about 1/2 an hour back in February.  He asked if I could send him some healthy food.  This was quite a challenge, because he wanted low-sodium meals you can heat in the microwave.  And...convenience food are definitely more expensive too.  But I really wanted to try, since he told me they're down to one hot meal a day.  Ugh!  He's in the mountains...it's snowing, and therefore COLD...and they only get hot chow once a day!  So...I asked my local Kroger if they would donate some healthy, microwavable, and other non-perishable foods.  They really came through...a big THANK YOU to Justin, the manager at Kroger, who told me to go get whatever I wanted.  Look at all the great meals I was able to get, plus oatmeal, rice, dried fruit, almond milk, popcorn...WHOO HOO!  I was so happy!

If only I could send him some of the homemade beef stew and cheese grits that I had made that night for dinner.

I started teaching a sewing class in January, and it's been fun.  Exhausting, but fun.  I couldn't afford a sitter, so I had to work around a busy 2-year-old.  Oh the joy!

But look at what the girls made in 8 weeks.  Not bad, heh?  Tomato pincushions, reversible headbands, gathered skirts.  They said "this is really fun!"  So happy I finally made the time to teach my older girls how to sew.


I've been sewing things here and there too, like these cute little nightgowns for Theresa.  It is a real challenge to find clothes that fit her.  Bottoms (like shorts, pants, jeans, skirts) are always too big.  I had to take in all her 2-piece pajamas last year.  So I remembered this tutorial for a peasant dress, and instead of making long sleeves, I made the sleeves short and used soft cotton flannel (which was 50% off at Joann's!).  So each nightgown cost only $3.50 to make.  Sweet and cheap! :-)  And...they FIT!



Rebecca has been busy sewing too.  Now that she can thread the machine and even refill the bobbin all by herself, she whipped out three more headbands all by herself.  Dang...such an overachiever!  ;-)

One thing we were hopping NOT to do over Lent was get ear tubes place for Theresa.  She's had so many ear infections though...poor baby...and all of them have been double ear infections.  We'd had her on so many different antibiotics, I lost count.  And she'd been getting back-to-back infections since October of last year.  After 3 round of antibiotics failed to clear her last infection in February, and three trips to the ENT, we finally threw in the towel and Theresa had the surgery on March 13.

We had to get up at the crack of dawn to get to the surgical center by 6:45 AM.  The surgery was scheduled for 7:30, and she was done by 8:00.  Thankfully it went without a wrinkle, and our sweet girl was chowing down on cereal and juice in the van on the way home.  After all, she'd had to fast since midnight, so she was hungry!

Here is she with Daddy pre-op...he entertained her with his phone.

The only dismaying this about this whole ordeal was the cost.  Sure...I knew it wasn't going to be peanuts, but I was frankly shocked when the surgical center called and told me how much the surgery would be.  For your reading pleasure, here's a breakdown.

4 Trips to the ENT at $55/visit = $210
2 prescriptions for antibiotics (that didn't work), $40 and $10 respectively = $50
Doctor's surgical fee = $285
Little plastic ear plugs to keep water out post-surgery = $10
Surgical center fee (brace yourself) = $1,008.00

Grand total:  $1,563.00

Yep.  $1,563.00 to get our little one checked out 3 times pre-surgery, once post-op, meds, the surgery itself and ear plugs.  Lord have mercy.  I can't believe it cost $1,008 for the surgery alone.  I mean, I know they had to put her under general anesthesia, but really?  I bet those darn tubes cost $2 bucks to manufacture.  Sigh.  Oh well.  I am grateful, believe me...that only one of our kids has needed ear tubes.  And we do have medical insurance to cover most of the cost.  I don't wanna even think about how much it would be otherwise!

Theresa really did great though...what a brave little girl she was.  I handed her over to the nurse, and she didn't fuss one bit.  We only waited barely 20 minutes before she was in, out and in recovery.  She did cry a good 5 minutes  while coming out of the anesthesia, but we held her, and after some juice, she seemed to come around.  And gracious, she was hungry.  I filled a container with cheerios for her, and had to refill it twice on the way home (no wonder, since she hadn't eaten but a very small dinner the night before).  Once home, she was off running around playing with her toys like nothing had ever happened.  Praise be to God.

Update:  One of the ear tubes (the left one) became clogged with dried blood.  So we're on antibiotic eardrops.  Only I don't think they're working.  Sigh...will this ear saga ever end?!

That same day, we had EWTN turned on nearly all day to watch the announcement of our new pope.  Even Joshua was able to watch it live because he was home for Spring Break!  Already, I deeply admire and respect our new "papa."  He took the name of a poor saint, who was the humblest of men, who listened to God when He said, "Frances, rebuild my church!" The first time he spoke, it was with great humility and he asked the people to pray for him with a moving moment of silence. Wow...I cried tears of joy!  The kids were in awe too...how wonderful they were able to listen to our new pope's first words of greeting!

2 days later my gorgeous cousin and I went together to the Penatonix concert at House of Blues. Y'all...it was ridiculously good. Seriously...I can't remember the last time I went to a concert. I feel old, especially next to Joyce who is only 17 years younger than me. ;-) But we both loved it. We hit Mia's afterwards... I was starving. I can't remember the last time I went out on the town and ate a late dinner either. So glad I was able to go, and happy Joyce could go with me. Hopefully we can hang out some more together!



Image courtesy of music.yahoo.com

We took all the kids to College Station 2 weeks ago for the Aggie Youth Experience with the Texas A&M football team. We had a blast...and it's a whole post of it's own.  Read about it here!  

David's brother Matt, my SIL Toni, and their kids came into town for a day, and we went to the San Jacinto Monument and the Battleship Texas.  The kids loved roaming all around the battleship.  Of course, one little boy had to go to the restroom...and we were in the lowest level of the hull!  I got a nice, 15 minute trek to and from the bathroom, since the closest one was back on shore!







And that's all folks.  We had a busy Lent...and this week should be nice and relaxing.  The girls and Gabriel are on Easter break all week.  Joshua is back at school.  We have a fridge full of ham and other yummy Easter leftovers, so no cooking for at least a couple of days...yeah!  

There's never a dull moment at our house!  I hope your Lent was just as eventful as ours.  Or not. ;-)