Merry Christmas

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May the blessings of God the Father, the Love of Jesus Christ, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit be with you.

 

Theresa Update & Impromptu Photo Shoot

I've been rather neglectful writing regular posts about Theresa.  So here's a wrap up of the past few months.

Our little peanut weighed a whooping 14 pounds even at her 6 month checkup.  I don't think she's gained much since then.  In fact, she still fits nicely into the infant car seat.  But we finally switched her into the convertible seat over the weekend...rear-facing of course.  It's a bit roomier and therefore, easier to get her in and out of.  Thank goodness she loves riding in the van...because we're always driving here, there, and everywhere. 

Theresa might not be growing much, but gracious, she is a little pig.  Seriously.  I made every kind of homemade baby food possible and filled up 14 gallon-sized freezer bags over the summer.  Guess what?  It's gone...all gone.  And that was 3 months ago.  Nowadays, I mash up whatever we're eating and feed her that at mealtimes.  Tonight's menu was roasted tomato soup and grilled cheese...she inhaled it.  Daddy fed her pumpkin pie over Thanksgiving, and she LOVED it.  The family could help but laugh at David because he couldn't get it in her mouth fast enough. Every time he paused for just a moment, she would scream at him.  I have bought a few jars of prepared baby food...sometimes there is just not enough time to get her anything else...and we have to be somewhere to pick up somebody 20 times a day...you know what I mean? :-)

We keep waiting for Theresa to sprout some hair and cut some teeth.  Right around Thanksgiving, she finally cut one of her bottom front teeth, followed immediately by another.  She didn't cry or fuss at all while they were breaking through...whew.  The hair around the back of her head is getting longer, but around the top and sides...there has been negative growth.  I think her tiny, newborn cousin Tim has more hair than she does, lol!

Around 7 months, our wee babe figured out how to crawl.  Well...she doesn't crawl exactly.  She lurches forward on her hands, and pushes off the carpet with her toes.  All of our other kids crawled army-style on their tummies.  Theresa apparently has her own style.  It looks like that dance move from the 80's...what was it called?  The worm?  When she seems something on the floor that she wants, especially a piece of food, she shrieks after it.  Yes...our little one has become our official floor sweeper. 

Let's see, what else?  Oh, yes.  Theresa knows how to get attention.  When she fusses, one of her big sisters comes running to pick her up, hold her, or give her Cheerios.  Even Joshua will often pick her up and play with her for a few minutes.  It's sweet to see a 12-year-old comfort his baby sister.  Of course, I don't actually tell Joshua that.  He might not like it. ;-)

 Earlier tonight, Theresa found her way into the kitchen, and I had a few minutes for a photo shoot. 

I see Mommy...

She's holding a cool looking toy...
 

I WANT IT!

It looks so chewable...

Just about there...

Sure...I'll smile.  Just let me eat the camera. :-)

Five Little Pumpkins

All right, all right!  You wanna see really cute pictures of my kids Halloween night?  Fine.

Here's Joshua.  He's a Bakugan Draganoid, whatever the heck that is. 

Rebecca as Batgirl.  If you knew her, you might say, "huh?"  Really?  But that's what she wanted this year. 

Christina.  Innocent enough looking fairy, with a skirt that actually lighted up (not shown in the picture, sorry).

Gabriel.  Yes, he was a pirate last year.  No, he didn't want a new costume.  Worked for us...and saved money too. 

And the most precious little tomato you ever did see...Theresa.  Totally edible, right? ;-)  I made the costume for Rebecca when she was a baby, and it fit Theresa perfectly. 

Gotta have a group shot before hitting the streets.  I know...I really don't have five "little" pumpkins...the older three are rather big kiddos...makes me a little sad...boo hoo. 

Not to be outdone by Halloween, our church encourages kids to dress up as their favorite saint and process in for the All Saints Day Mass.  Christina was the only one who wanted to costume up, so she went as the Blessed Mother, "because Mary is my middle name."  We lucked out, borrowed the robe from a friend, and I sewed the veil. I thought she looked awesome. 

Joshua ended up trick-or-treating with his best friend on the other side of our neighborhood.  The other kids happily went from door to door with David.  We took turns carrying Theresa until she started to fuss, and I knew our little tomato was done.  So I went home early and tucked her into bed.  The rest were not far behind, and after munching on a few choice pieces of candy, and a good teeth brushing, we got them to bed.  Joshua came home relatively early, and we got him to bed by 9:00 o'clock. 

I will say this...next year, I think I may have to finally stay home and pass out candy.  In previous years, we've put a bowl of candy out on the front porch.  Well, after we started out, and passed by our house on the other side of our street, I crossed over to see how our candy was holding out.  It was gone...all of it.  One big, full bowl gone.  Greedy little hooligans...we had left our house barely 5 minutes ago.  I knew it wasn't anyone on our street, because they were all out with us, and their parents would have been watchful.  So I replenished the bowl, and caught up with the rest of my crew.  I knew it would be gone in minutes...oh well. 

Something else bothered me.  We had a lot of kids trick-or-treating that night who don't live in our neighborhood.  That's fine...except a LOT of them weren't wearing costumes.  No mask, face paint, or even a hat...nothing.  Maybe I'm thinking too much, but come on.  If you're getting free candy, at least make an effort.  And manners...well, those must be obsolete these days.  When I refilled our bowl, one little boy took a big handful...he could barely hold it all.  I told him, "Just one young man!"  He didn't listen and darted off...his momma was waiting in the street and didn't say a word.  Nice...real classy guys.  I'm not sure I feel like passing it out to kids who aren't in costume or have no manners.  But we'll see...maybe next year I will stay home.  I realize I can't police everyone, and Halloween is supposed to be fun...right?

Speaking of candy, I'll going to go get my stash and have a piece.  Or two... ;-)   

Busy Doesn't Even Describe

Well, I realize it's been over a month since my last post.  Dang..

I'm been busy people.  There should be another adjective to describe my life these days.

How about, "I've got ten million things to do, and need ten million hours...preferably uninterrupted to get it all done.  And while we're at it, I need to get away to a deserted island so I'm actually not interrupted."

Yeah...that sounds pretty good. 

Since that's not exactly realistic, I'll just list what's on my plate these days. 

1.  An on again, off again headache I've had for almost 2 weeks.  Do you think it's stress?

2.  A 3,000 envelope mail-out I volunteered to do for David's work.  There are 10 big boxes taking over my dining room right now.  I've only got one box done.  500 have to be done by next week.  Go ahead, say it with me, "What were you thinking???"

3.  The mom's group at my church is having a bake sale next weekend.  I will probably bake some, but not as much as I have in years past.  It's been a long time since I've made some cake ball lollipops, and I promised my kids I'd make some cute pumpkin ones.  I know...I'm a sucker for my kids. 

4.  In addition to the bake sale, the mom's group is having a craft night next month.  I said I'd teach some ladies how to sew those adorable pillowcase dresses.  Now I need to actually make one so I at least look like I know what I'm doing.  Thankfully, I had some leftover fabric, and finished this one today.

Cute, right?

5.  I also want to sew matching dresses for the girls for Christmas.  I saw this dress on a Pinterest board and fell in love.  I already bought charm packs to make some simple kitchen towels as teacher gifts for Christmas.  Yes...I have a LOT of sewing projects lined up!!!

6.  I'm nearly out of homemade baby food for Theresa.  She's eating some table food, but not for every meal, so I need to make more.  I feel like there's no time, but I hate the idea of spending money on jar food.  Argh...decisions, decisions!

7.  It just got cooler here...FINALLY.  I need to switch out all the kids clothes to warmer things, like long-sleeved tops and jeans.  And wash them all.  And get my children to hang them up/fold 'em into their dressers.  I'm not doing it all guys! 

8.  Last but not least, we've had some personal issues to deal with.  I can't go into details, but the budget has taken a hit, one major part being the fact that we now have 2 car payments, thanks to my accident back in August (and we had to buy a new van).  Sigh...enough said. 

9.  Theresa hasn't been sleeping well for weeks.  I wasn't able to take her into the pediatrician for a while because we didn't have insurance.  When I finally got her in last week, she got all her shots, her ears pierced, and a antibiotic for a double ear infection.  I was hoping once the medicine kicked in, she would sleep better.  After a terrible weekend (and she didn't sleep better at all!), I took her back in on Monday.  She still had a double ear infection, so Dr. T prescribed a different antibiotic.  Last night, our sweet baby girl did sleep better, so I pray we're on the right track.  This momma is TIRED! 

Did I leave anything out?  I hope not.  Now you know why I haven't posted lately on my cooking blog lately.  Next week is not looking good either.  Sorry folks. 

Sigh...

I've got the best group of friends on the planet...my Catholic Chicks.  One of the Chicks sent this out a few nights ago, just when 3 of us (including me) were doing some venting.  I liked it so much, I'm going to share it with you.

"Satan's never been terribly creative. The tools he uses today are the same tools he's always used - and no wonder, for they've been quite effective. From the Garden of Eden to Martha's kitchen to our own ever day world, Satan still plans his attacks around "Three Deadly D's of Destruction."

Distraction

- Discouragement

- Doubt

"Throughout time, Satan has resorted to these tactics to bring down God's best and brightest. The underlying strategy is fairly simple: Get people's eyes off God and on their circumstances. Make them believe that their "happiness" lies in the happenings that surround them. Or send them good news about somebody else. Then they're thoroughly discouraged, tell them God doesn't care. Then sit back and let doubt do its work."

"When Jesus met Martha that day in Bethany, she was "distracted". That's where Satan usually begins. He know if we're overly worried and bogged down by duties, chances are good our hearts will not hear the Savior's call to come. While distraction may not win the battle for our soul, getting our eyes off of what is important will certainly make us more vulnerable to attack.

"When we're distracted, discouragement is just around the corner. Weariness creeps in as life overpowers us. It causes us to say and do things we would never consider saying or doing otherwise. Discouragement breaks down our perspective and our defenses. Though we may have just completed great things for God, weary discouragement tells us we're useless, hopeless and abandoned."

"Discouragement can drain us of all hope, of all visions, of all our tomorrows and dreams. .....When we're distracted, tired and overwhelmed, there is no better place to go than our Father. He alone is what we need. Go to the Lord and let Him sweep away your discouragement. As you do, you'll find healing for your hurting heart. Even when it can't help but doubt."

A bible quote:

"Do not be anxious about anything." Paul wrote in the Philippians 4:6-7, "but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

"In other words:

1. Be anxious about nothing (not even grades - haha).

2. Be prayerful about everything (ok......especially grades).

3. Be thankful for all things (even the messy rooms- yea right?)."

I've read this several times over the past few days.  I know God is standing right beside me, steady as a rock.  I just don't feel very steady.  I feel like if one more thing is added to my plate, I'm going to drop. 

Then again, I don't want Satan to get the best of me.  I want to strive to offer God my best, even when I'm floundering.  Sometimes I know I try too hard though...finding that balance will be a life-long lesson for me. 

I like to think the Blessed Mother is with me too.  I imagine my head in her lap, listening to me pour out all my worries and frustrations.  And like any comforting mother, she would say,

"Why are you troubled?  I will place all your cares at the feet of my Son.  Entrust them to His hands, you have nothing to fear.  Don't forget to ask me to pray for you too." 

So I have to remember I shouldn't be so stressed.  Life is lived one day at a time...so I should focus on the NOW, let go of the PAST, and let the FUTURE rest with God. 

 All right Lord, here we go...I can do it!.  I want to be the kind of woman who puts her feet on the floor every morning, and Satan says, "Aw crap, she's up!" 

Texas is on Fire

Texas is experiencing one of its worst droughts in recorded history.  We are SO dry, (officially, we are in a state of "exceptional drought") and nearly the entire state is under a burn ban,  Worst of all, we are dealing with wildfires all over the place.  170 fires have erupted this past week alone.  Many of you have heard about the fires outside Austin in the Bastrop area.  The pictures circulating all over the web and on Facebook have made my heart sink.  I love Texas...and it hurts to see so much of the land burned beyond recognition.

Closer to home, there have been fires about 20 miles west of us, in Montgomery, Grimes, and Waller counties.  My hubby works in Hockley, and one very large fire, the "Riley Road" fire was burning about 5 miles north of his office.  Here's a few pictures he sent me from his cell phone.  These were all taken in the same day...you can see how the fire was burning hotter, and how the clouds of smoke grew bigger. 

This one is right outside his office, facing north. 

Here's another one...right off of FM 1488

And here's one he took at sunset on his way home. 

About 12,500 acres has burned from this fire, and an entire subdivision (about 80 homes) was destroyed.  That sounds so awful, but Bastrop has it much, much worse.   Over 1,300 homes have burned, and 4 people have died.  That fire has blacked 45 square miles (nearly 40,000 acres).  I don't have any pics of that fire, but I'm sure you've seen them on the news reports.

We desperately need rain here in Texas.  Ironically, there is a tropical storm (Nate) out in the Gulf of Mexico.  People here are actually praying it comes right at us and drenches us with tons of rain.  Isn't that crazy...we actually want a tropical storm that could potentially strengthen into a hurricane to hit us! 

This past Sunday, our pastor asked everyone to pray urgently for rain.  We have started to add that prayer request when we say prayers with the kid at bedtime.  Here's the prayer Father N. suggested: 

Prayer for Rain

Lord God,

in you we live and move and have our being.

Help us in our present time of trouble,

send us the rain we need,

and teach us to seek your lasting help

on the way to eternal life.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Please pray for us...especially anyone reading this who lives outside of Texas.  Thanks y'all. :-)

So Long Old Friend

The last time I saw my 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan, it was on top of a flat-bed trailer, and it didn't look so good. 

Yeah...it had a mishap.  With a Chevy Tahoe to be exact.  It wasn't the Chey's fault though. 

Last Tuesday, we were on our way to Social Skills Camp.  I had Joshua, Christina, and Theresa with me.  (Rebecca is an awesome babysitter, and she was at home with Gabriel).  We were stopped at a light just a mile from the house.  The light turned green, and I turned to say something to Joshua as traffic moved forward.  I turned back to the road, and realized the SUV in front of me had come to a dead stop.  I remember thinking,

"Oh, no...I'm not going to be able to stop in time!"

I know everyone says it happens so fast.  It really does.  The next thing I know, I hear a loud "BANG!" 

That would be me, plowing into the Chevy. 

I then remember opening my eyes, and seeing this funny, white ballon-looking thing in front of me.

That would be the now deflated airbag.  Amazing, even though the van was 10 years old, it still worked the way it was supposed to. 

Then the horror of the accident hit me.  Christina was crying in the seat right behind me.  Theresa was in the seat next to her, and she was screaming.  Joshua was saying, "Mom, did we have an accident?"

My brain seemed to be on pause...and then like a light switch, my adrenaline kicked into overdrive.

I called to my little girl: "Christina, it's okay sweetie, it's okay!  Are you alright?  Is Theresa okay?" 

"Yes Mommy, I think I'm okay.  Theresa is okay too!"  I could tell Joshua was fine, since he was in the front next to me. 

Thank God my children were all right.  If they had been hurt, I would have blamed myself a thousand times.  I already felt terrible that I hadn't been paying attention, and couldn't stop in time. 

I found my cell phone, and decided even though the kids appeared fine, I needed to call 911.  It took three tries, my hands were shaking so hard.  Finally, I dialed the number correctly, and told the dispatcher what had happened.  She kept me on the line long enough to get our location, determined we needed an ambulance, etc.  Then she told me I could hang up and call my husband. 

I called David.  I was trying so hard not to cry, but I did...I told him we were okay, but that the van was totaled.  He asked me where we were, and I told him the intersection.  He said,

"Honey, those 2 streets don't intersect, where are you again?" 

After telling him the same thing at least 6 more times, I realized I was wrong.  I wasn't at Louetta and Cypresswood, I was at Louetta and Ella.  Lord have mercy. 

At this point, people had stopped, and offered to help us get out.  We were right in the middle of the road, and one very kind man (whose name I can't recall now) and a woman (really an angel in disguise) named Carmen helped us across the street to a gas station.  The same 2 kind souls also got Theresa out of her car seat, and then the car seat itself out of the van.  I cannot tell you how relieved I was to hold our sweet baby girl safety in my arms.  I was able to gather my wits and take a closer look at all the kids.  They were fine...not a single scratch, bruise, or bump of any kind.

Thank you Lord.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I called David again and told him were were fine, and exactly where we were so he could find us.  I then called the dispatcher back, and aplogized for giving her the wrong address. She said, "Oh, don't worry honey, someone else called us, and the EMT's are on their way."  (I still feel terrible about that.)

The EMT's came, and asked if we were all right.  They looked over the kids, and said they looked just fine, but warned we might be sore from the impact the next day.  One EMT pointed out a big scrape on my left arm, probably from the airbag, but it was relatively minor, and I didn't need treatment for it.  After just 20 minutes or so, they left. 

At this point, David was still en route.  We made our way to the Sonic next door to the gas station so the kids would have someplace to sit in the shade.  Someone brought over a watermelon slushie for the kids...which they appreciated.  The van had been towed out of the intersection, and the tow driver was patiently waiting for me to decide what to do with it.  My heart sank to it's absolute lowest when I got a better look at it...I knew it was not salvagable, and would cost far more to repair than it was actually worth.  Oh man.

During this time, 3 constables had arrived at the scene, and taken my statement.  There were actually 4 vehicles involved.  I had hit the Chevy in front of me.  The Chevy hit the sedan in front of her because the impact from my van pushed her forward. Then another sedan hit me from behind, because she was also unable to stop in time.  So technically, we were #3 in a four car-pileup.  I still don't know why traffic had come to a stop in front of me, and we might never know, unless the police report reveals something (which should be ready in a couple more days). 

One of my neighbors just happened to be driving through the Sonic for a drink.  She saw Joshua and Christina sitting at one of the tables, and then found me.  Joshua was anxious to go to camp, (they were going to Main Event that day), and she offered to take Christina home, and then run Joshua to camp for me.  I gratefully accepted her act of kindess.  What a blessing that was! 

David finally arrived, and I nearly lost it.  My wonderful, sweet, calm husband said,

"Honey, it's okay.  It's just a van.  I'm just glad you all are okay.  Really, don't worry about it." 

Thankfully, everyone in all four vehicles were fine.  Nobody needed any medical treatment.  And everyone was rather nice, as nice as a person could be after a car accident.  (The driver of the Chevy actually goes to our church, ironically enough, and she recognized me, although I didn't know her.  So now we know each other ;-).  The one constable who finished working the scene was nice too...even when he presented me with my citation.  Yes, I got a citation for "failure to control speed."  The driver who was behind me got a citation too. 

Rats.  Defensive driving, here I come. 

Finally after having the van towed, David took me and Theresa home.  I cannot tell you the flood of emotions that hit me.  I bawled nearly the whole way home, but I could only cry for about 3 minutes (remember, we were barely a mile from the house).  I didn't want to scare the kids, and we had decisions to make.  Once home, I nursed Theresa, got her down for a late nap, and sat down with David.  I was still shaky, but I could think clearly.

We got a rental car for David, (it was cheaper than a van, plus I could use his truck for the time being) started sending out emails to a few car dealerships, and called our insurance company.  Over and over, I kept apologizing to my hubby.  He just told not to worry, brought me water, medicine, and gave me a reassuring hug.  After leaving to get the rental, I made lunch for the kids.  Once David got back, it was time to pick up Joshua.  I wasn't quite ready to get behind the wheel, so David brought him home, and then left to go back into work.

The next day, I was sore...my chest had a humdinger of a bruise, my arm was a nice shade of purple, and my neck ached.  But it was manageable.  The kids were perfectly fine...so glad for that. 

Today, after spending all day out looking a minivans, we came home with this.  "It's a Kia."

It's got way more bells and whistles on it than my old, plain Jane Dodge van.  Of course, the kids were thrilled.  I still miss my old van.  But I admit, it's kinda neat to have power sliding doors and tailgate, rear view camera, built in CD and DVD players.  Pretty sure it will take me a while to figure everything out.  It's also the first, brand-new vehicle I've ever had. :-)

So, in a nutshell, this week has been way more exciting than I wanted it to be.  But overall, I've learned that God works in interesting ways.  I mean, doesn't He always?  We had a wreck, but there were angels around us.  We lost an old friend, but gained a new one, which hopefully will be around for a long, long time.  And we are thankful nothing was really lost, and nobody was hurt.  We came home with all our treasures intact. 

Once more, we thank you Lord. 

Venting (with Love and a Smile)

So...what happens when your hubby takes the child to camp this morning instead of you?


1. Child rushes around trying to get ready—has to be told 3x what to put in his bag.
2. Child forgets his ADHD medicine
3. Child forgets his sack lunch
4. Child breaks his swim goggles and insists on getting a new pair on the way to camp

The Mother...


1. Frantically calls the Father 4x on two different cell phones once the aforsaid forgotten lunch was discovered. (He didn’t call back until it was too late to turn around and retrieve the lunch.)
2. Wishes she had taken the child to camp instead of Dad, because she always carries extra meds in her purse, just in case.
3. Is very disappointed because the Father this morning told the Mother he wished she would pick up the child from camp instead of him. Never mind the fact the Father said he would pick up the child when it was discussed earlier in the week, and only said something different minutes before walking out the door. Never mind the fact the Mother has drive the child to and from camp all this week, and has to do it again every day next week too.


Conclusion:


Mother is very frustrated, and trying very hard not to blow her stack. Praying for her anger to cool before her beloved hubby calls her. Otherwise, the hubby will probably lose his hearing in his left ear. And will almost certainly be sleeping in the guest bedroom tonight.


~Written by yours truly, a full-time wife and mother to 5 awesome kids, and one amazing hubby. She really loves them...99.9% of the time. The remaining .01% of the time is spend praying for more love to spread around.

Kids and Language

Last night, I met up with my Chicks for a Girls Night Out.  Karrie was in town from NC, so it was GREAT to see her, and catch up.  We went to one of our favorite places, Olive Garden and got a table in just 10 minutes, instead of the 30 minute wait we expected. 

Our waitress was really lovely.  It's always nice to get someone who makes conversation, but is intrusive when she needs to be.  I always appreciate servers like that.  At one point, she asked us if we would be staying awhile.

We said, "Yes, we like to close down the house, is that okay?"

"Oh, please do, that's TOTALLY fine with me.  I'm so glad you all are staying.  You're the nicest group of ladies I've had in a long time."

My friend Joan asked the waitress why she looked so relieved.

The waitress said she'd had a family in to dine before us.  There was a Mom, Dad, and their two kids, a boy and a girl.  At one point, the boy said to our waitress,

"Hey, can we get some more f___ing bread?"

WHAT!?  My friends and I were agast.

Wait...it gets better.

The waitress continued her story, saying she initially was shocked this boy (who was only about 7 or 8 years old) would say something like that to her.  Her shock turned into major disappointment because the parents, instead of disciplining their son, laughed and didn't say a word.

The parents didn't do anything...at all.

We told our sweet waitress we were sorry she was subjected to that.  She said her night was much better after we came and sat in her section.  We all agreed that if we had said something like that as a kid, our mother/father would have backhanded us right then and there.  We also concluded we would never have allowed any of our children to say that word to anyone...let alone an adult without serious consequences. 
I thought (and said aloud) it was too bad those kids (and the parents) were obviously living in a barn. 

Wow.  I'm still thinking about that waitress and her story today.  Ironically, Rebecca and I had a conversation about appropriate language earlier this week.  I revisited that topic today while driving the girls to Choir Camp at our church. 

I told the girls what happened last night.  Both of them were surprised someone their age said the f-word, and even more astonished the parents didn't punish him.

Rebecca was thinking quietly for a moment.  I watched her facial expressions briefly in my rear-view mirror...and then she spoke up.

"Mommy, tell me why again the f-word isn't a nice word." 

I explained that curse words were a poor choice of language because it displayed a lack of respect.  Using curse words would only make others look down on you, and God gave us much better, kinder words to say.  The girls also told me curse words didn't sound nice, they sounded ugly.  Funny how kids can deduce that certain words aren't nice...even when they don't know their meanings. 

Christina chimed in and said,

"Mommy, if I said a bad word, not that I EVER would, you would ground me forever and ever and ever, and ever, right?"

"Yes, honey, you know I would!"  (I like the way that girl thinks :-).

Rebecca became rather passionate at one point, saying she would have refused to serve that group, sue them, etc.  But I told her the only thing she could do was pray for this family; one day might realize they would have more respect if they chose not to use curse words.  She said that was true, but I admired her spirit.  I also reminded her it was important to think before we speak (something I'm still working on!). 

I'm thankful I had the chance to talk to the girls about this, and reflect on my own choice of words. The language we use around our children is SO important. I've been reading a book, Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches.  This not some "feel good" book, and it doesn't sugar coat motherhood. It's refreshingly honest and practial wisdom from a mother of 5 (ages 5, 4, 2, 2, and 5 months!)  I read this blog post a couple of weeks ago, saw that the author also had a book out, and decided I could use a refresher course.  I thought I was outta the trenches, but then along came Theresa, so now I'm back in the dugout, so to speak. ;-)

Anyway, halfway into the book, I though...man, I could be doing a better job speaking to my kids.  I asked myself--am I building them up, or tearing them down with my words? Since Theresa was born, I've had more moments of talking down to my kids instead of being kind.  So I really need to pray for the grace to not only seize the moments when I can talk to my kids, but build them up with more positive words.  And here's another thought.  I get frustrated easily, and it's aways over something that in hindsight, wasn't such a big deal after all.  So, when something happens, do I blame my kids for the incident or take charge and responsibility for the spilled milk on the table, the laundry waiting in the dryer, or the piles of shoes by the back door?  Honestly, I know can work harder to not vent my frustration of the day on my kids. 

Have you cringed at something one of your kids said to you lately, and realize they're starting to sound like you?  I came to that not so comfortable conclusion today.  Ouch.  I'd better watch my mouth, hold my tongue, and when I do speak, remind myself to use words of praise, comfort, and love towards my kids.  It's been a good lesson...not just for my girls, but for me too.

San Antonio

The kids are loving summer, and even though all they seem to do is sit around and eat, they're really enjoying the time off from school (so am I!). We had Vacation Bible School at the end of June, and Gabriel was able to go for the first time. He cried a bit the first day I dropped him off, but he loved it, and said, "Mommy, I go back...I had fun!  Our sweet angel is getting so big!
We made a weekend trip to San Antonio 2 weeks ago to see my grandparents. For the first time, we got two hotel rooms adjacent to each other, and I must say, it was great to have our own space with Theresa while the older kids had a whole room to themselves. We got the rooms at aloft, and it was very nice, very contemporary, and resonable thanks to Hotwire.
It was the first time my Grandparents had met Theresa. Unfortunately, Grandma fell and broke her hip about a month ago. She is recovering amazingly well (the nurse say she is such a trooper) and is able to do her physical therapy to stay as mobile as possible.  Grandpa is about the same...he cannot remember things from day to day, but can make decent conversation and knows who we are.  He looks so much better than the trip I took last summer, not long after he got out of the hospital.  I pray God will grant them a little more time.

Grandpa and Grandma's room is pretty small, so David would take the older ones out after 10-15 minutes.  That was as long as Gabriel would last.   They'd go for a walk outside or to the lounge area just outside the Health Center, where there was more room for an active toddler.  But overall, the kids behaved very well.  Sometimes I worry that seeing their great-grandparents in essentially a hospital room would scare them, but I also want them to understand that growing old doesn't mean we love people any less, and they are still beautiful souls, even though their bodies are fading. 

I got a really close look at Grandma this visit.  She is bend over to one side, and can only go from her chair to the bed, but her smile was just the same, and she still has the twinkle in her eye.   I held her hand..it seemed so frail, the skin so paper thin...I could see every vein and bone.  She also had numerous bruises all over her, in various stages of healing.  It was hard to hold back the tears at one point when she told me she was sorry I had to see her under these circumstances.  But I said she had no reason to be sorry at all, and we loved her and wanted to come see her no matter what.  She said she loved me too.  It chokes me up just remembering her words again. 

Both Grandpa and Grandma were both so glad we came to visit.  Theresa was a bit of a celebrity...every nurse stopped us and wanted to hold her.  I am sure infants are a rare sight in a nursing home.  So our baby girl was passed around like a football, and she didn't mind one bit, bless her heart.  Grandpa held her for a minute while I got the pictures, and Grandma played with her toes and said she looked just like her Daddy (which is very true).  Grandma was so frail, I was afraid Thersa would bruise her if I put her on her great-grandma's lap, so that's why in the picture she's off to the side of the chair.  We were able to talk until Theresa grew tired, and started to fuss, so we left and got lunch.  We went back to the hotel and got changed for Mass, and went back to the Health Center.  It's very fortunate they have a chapel right on the grounds and a local priest comes and says Mass for the residents.  So we met up with Grandpa for Mass.  After that, we left to get dinner, then back to the hotel...the kids hit the pool, and finally, got to bed.

The next morning, we paid my grandparents one more visit before heading to the Riverwalk and taking one of the riverboat tours.  The kids hadn't gone up until this point, and they loved it, even though it was hot. I had my hands full holding the baby, so I handed the camera to Rebecca, and she took all of these pictures.  I was really impressed...she got some great shots...check it out. :-)

 We walked by the Alamo but didn't go in; the line was a mile long, and we knew the kids wouldn't last in the heat.  We got a picture outside though, amongst a million other people (seriously...it seemed very crowded for a holiday weekend). 

Lunch was at Fundruckers (so glad I saw that place before the kids talked us into McDonalds!), and then we took the kids to El Mercado...a Mexican market David and I had been to before.  The kids talked Dad into buying them guitars (of course!), and I bought another handpainted dish from one of my favorite vendors.  I'm getting to the point where I need bigger bowls to serve dinner with...maybe because our kids are eating more than ever?

After the market, we drove back home to Houston.  Theresa did amazingly well on the drive...she barely fussed on the way to San Antonio, and only cried when we were 1/2 an hour from home, and I knew she was getting hungry.  It was a long weekend for 5 kids, but I am truly thankful we were able to spend precious time with my grandparents.  Only God knows how much longer we will have them with us. 

Envy

It's no fun to admit you've been going through a streak of jealously lately. 

Yes, that'd be me. 

I've been reading my friends' posts on Facebook, and a few have been able to go on some pretty dreamy vacations.  You know...to some really great places.  Like Rome.  Colorado.  New Mexico.  Florida.  Someplace cooler than Texas right now sounds REALLY nice.  You know what I mean?  Unfortunately, when you have 5 kids all your budget goes to them.  And in retrospect, I'm not upset that all our money seems to go to the kids.  I'm extremely thankful we have enough money to provide for them, even though they claim they'd skip meals if it meant they could go to Disneyworld.  Sorry guys..it doesn't quite work that way.  Heck, I'd like to go to Disneyworld myself. 

I've been envious of my husband, believe it or not.  David left his job at Sterling Bank a week ago and has a a new position as the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) at a company that puts the Santa and Easter Bunny photo sessions on at most of the major malls in the United States.  The CEO of this company has been friends with David for many years.  Recently, he made David an offer to come on board, and it was David's dream opportunity.  So after 15 years, David no longer has to wear a suit and tie, and is working with a relatively small team of very nice people.  I am truly happy for him.  But envious?  Yeah, some.  He has a lovely commute down country roads, but has been VERY, VERY busy working very long hours (I don’t envy that of course, I already work long hours!). He’s enjoying his new adventure... and I'd like a new adventure myself.   I wish I could have a change of scenery around here, instead of wiping up orange juice, hauling the toddler out of the pantry and the open box of crackers for the umpteenth time, yelling at the kids to stop bickering over the computer, and praying I just might get a nap when Theresa goes down in the afternoons. Sigh...

I wish I had more time to myself. One thing about breastfeeding...you're always on call.  Theresa will take a bottle, which the other kids wouldn't, so I should be thankful for that.  I can leave Theresa for a little while, and do on the weekends when she is asleep. And David is willing to watch all 5 kids so I can go out Wednesday night.   So I know I just have to bid my time, be patient, and love the nursing time I have with Theresa...which I really do.  I LOVE snuggling with her in the mornings, and I must say, she loves it too.

See?  Think she's spoiled? ;-)

Oh...my dear, darling hubby has this great idea.  He thinks we should take another 2 week road trip next summer, this time to Washington DC and Pennsylvania.  That would be really fun!  But I tend to look on the other side of the coin.  It's hard for me to think about all the great benefits of a trip with plenty of learning opportunities for the kids because I think well...Theresa would be 18 months old.  So that means instead of reading exhibit captions, and enjoying the sights, I'll be chasing a toddler, changing diapers, and picking up 1,000 Cheerios off a dirty restaurant floor.  I would MUCH rather take a week next summer and go on a vacation with David, just the 2 of us.  We've been able to get away for a long weekend every few years, but we haven't had a serious vacation since our honeymoon 13 years ago.  Would someone please tell me I'm not being too terribly selfish? I think David's idea is great...but I want to wait until Theresa is just a bit older. 

Here's one last thing.  I'm envious of those who have the time (and money) to work out and lose weight...I really need to lose more weight, but just can’t seem to. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact I’m just mostly home this summer, and eating carbs out of boredom. No...really?!  I shouldn't be bored with 5 kids right?  Well intellectually, I'm not bored.  We just don't have anything going on these days, and it's too dang hot to walk outside like I was doing back in May, unless I get up at 5 AM.  Oh yeah, that's right...I'm already up at 5:00 AM to nurse the baby.  Sigh..excuses, excuses.  I hate exercising anyway.  But I need to.  Sigh...

Anyway...this little jealous funk I've been in started on Monday, and yesterday, a friend posted this article on Facebook.   

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-is-a-calling-and-where-your-children-rank

How does God know when to send you just the right grace, right when you need it?  :-)

The author of the post has a book out, called Loving the Little Years. You bet I’m going to order a copy tonight! I think God has been trying to tell me to embrace my cross, just like Jesus did.  My cross right now happens to be jealously.  And instead of trying to avoid it, I need to face it head on, admit it, and then MOVE on.  If I have to dig my trench a little deeper, so be it! 

Thank you Lord, for reminding me not to be envious.  Mothering is NOT for wimps...and I need to stop complaining, stop being jealous, and just realize this is a great life...it's not always easy...but it's always an adventure.  I've got a crown in heaven with 5 jewels in it waiting for me.  I'd better go earn it, right? :-)