Desires

And no, this post isn't about those desires. Get your head out of the gutter.

I've always had the desire to be a mother. It was always the strongest desire that I held. In fact, when Carl and I got married, we didn't get the usual "Wait a while!" speech from any family member, because I think they knew it would fall on deaf ears. We both desired children SO much.

Now I have my girls (well, almost the plural), and I couldn't be happier. But I've noticed some other desires creeping up in my life.

1. I want to write a book. This is a desire I've had for a while, but it's really been surfacing recently. I have SO many story ideas, from science fiction to chick lit. I have a hard time sitting down to write though, even when I WANT to write. I had a professor in college named Dr. Starr, and he always said that when the story was right, you wouldn't be able to ignore it. Maybe my story just isn't there yet.

2. I want to have a restaurant. This one has been popping up in my head even more, especially when I'm out in town and hear people lament how they wish we had a good, sit down restaurant where they could get GOOD country cooking. That's exactly what I want to do! Make country food, from scratch. Seasonal food that changes with what's fresh. Home-made pastries and desserts, hand breaded chicken fingers, hand cut french fries.... I'd be open five days a week with a limited lunch menu, and two-three days a week with a dinner menu. Can you tell I've thought this out? I have a lot of issues cooking when I'm pregnant, so I haven't been in the kitchen a lot recently, but I'm starting to itch to get back in. Food calms me, and I don't mean that EATING food calms me. I mean that cooking it calms me. It mellows me. It makes me happy. I love coming up with recipes and cooking for crowds. I hate dishes though, so that might be a problem. I know nothing can happen on this desire until my girls are older though!

3. I want to be a doula. This is something I've held close to me for a while. I LOVE the idea of helping someone through this amazing time in their life. I LOVE the idea of using my knowledge to make someones journey easier. I LOVE the idea of being there to see beautiful babies enter this world. I didn't use a doula with either of my pregnancies, but if we had lived far away from family, I probably would have. My momma acted as my doula (in addition to my wonderful hubby) as far as being supportive and being my advocate. Before I determined that nursing was not a career choice for me, I wanted to go as far as becoming a midwife. Now I'd be more than happy to settle for being a doula!

4. I want a farm. This is one that could be achievable in the next few years with a little investment. We have the land for it, and my mother shares my desires. I would love have a cow,  a few goats, and chickens. I'm so very intrigued by the idea of raw milk and would LOVE to serve it to my entire family, but we have no dairy producers anywhere near us. I'd also love to make my own cheese (see desire #2!), both cows milk and goats milk. I would ADORE to be as self-reliant as possible. It may be something we try and achieve (especially as the economy continues to tank) in the next few years.

I have desires, but I have my biggest desire already. I'm the Mommy to an adorable, hilarious, loving little two year old, and soon-to-be Mommy to another darling little lady. I think it's good to have desires, or dreams, that keep you learning. Education isn't about academia, it's about learning. I want to continue to learn as much as I can about each of my desires and implement them as I go.

What are your desires?

Oh! And if you leave a comment, PLEASE make sure your email address is listed in your profile or list it in your comment. I want to respond to you, but if I don't have an email address, I can't! I need to make the switch to Wordpress....

Summer!

I don't know what it is about this time of the year. The month of April/May... but there's something about it that leads to me not blogging. Like, at all.

This past month... I don't even know how to describe it. I've struggled with chiropractic issues and hormonal issues. I've taken numerous (negative) pregnancy tests. I've had a baby who had surgery, then had 10 days of heckish recovery with a movable drain in her leg. I now have a baby who is teething 4 molars at once and has turned from a loving, sweet, patient natured kiddo to a demanding, temper-tantrum throwing, extremely touchy terror. I've moved my baby from a crib to a toddler bed. I've had my house spotless and then let it go back to disorganized mess. I've lost four pounds, gained three back, and then lost two more (hint: I'm still down three pounds). I've been slightly obsessed with reading about vaccinations, ways to boost your fertility and researching Wii games. I've congratulated numerous people on their pregnancy announcements on facebook. I've cried in the car after buying a pregnancy test at Wal-mart (just making sure my Amazon tests were accurate) and having the Wal-Mart clerk checking me out tell me she'd taken one a few hours earlier and got a positive, only to find out mine was still negative. I've started working out 30-60 minutes a day. I'm becoming a grilling queen. I managed to get Rows for Remembrance up to date.

I've been busy. And I've neglected this space. I didn't write when I needed to... I've held back feelings and emotions because I didn't want to make people feel bad, or anger people who don't agree with me. But I need to write FOR ME. And I'm going to start. So there may be some changes around here.... I may touch on some more controversial issues... but I also hope to blog more about my little princess and her daily escapades.

So Hi... again. Welcome back Shaina, welcome back.

Promotion!

Carl signed the papers on a promotion we have been praying about for months. Right now we're very hectic with him working long, long hours and getting very little sleep. I literally see him long enough for him to eat dinner and kiss me goodnight. He got home at 9pm tonight and has to go in at 5am. It won't be like this for long, but these next few weeks are going to be hairy!

We're so very thankful though! After this initial phase is over and things calm down, I think he's going to be much, much happier. He's already happier and he's worn out! It disrupts my schedule quite a bit, but I think it may actually HELP me eat less if I fix two dinners. One for me and Keevia (small portions) and then one for Carl (where I tend to fix fattier foods... if I've already eaten healthy with Keevia, I won't be tempted! Score!).

Keevia is doing well... she had been acting like a....pleasure* recently, and two Fridays ago I finally took her to chiropractor for a check-up. The last time she'd been so pleasant* I'd taken her in and absolutely nothing was out, so I had held off taking her in this time. Yeah, well, her pelvis was out. That and the fact that she began wearing an amber teething necklace led to a MUCH happier baby. This weekend threw her schedule for a loop though (lots of company and fun times!) and she went to bed at 8 PM tonight. She's also been cutting her afternoon nap from 2-3 hours down to 1 hour and I don't know why. It makes her so super cranky in the afternoons.

I had the super-fun time of sitting in a car-mechanics waiting room for three hours today. We had some pretty gnarly storms go through this afternoon/evening, and I went out around noon-thirty for the proverbial milk & egg run. As I headed to town (I'd thankfully left Keevs with Mamaw in case I got caught in the downpour) I noticed that Mom's 1998 van was making a loud & annoying squeaky sound. I called her and she asked me to run it in. So, after stopping by the library (I didn't have anything to read or do in the waiting room, I'd been planning a grocery trip!) I headed over to the mechanic. I dropped the van off, and made my way next-door to the gas station for some food. I was starved, and made the mistake of getting greasy chicken strips and potato chips. My heartburn has reminded me since then why I don't eat at gas stations. I headed back to the mechanics and sat there for three hours. I finally went and ASKED about the car and it had been done for a while. AND when I got back in to drive to the grocery, the squeaking was gone...only to be replaced  by a louder, higher pitched squeaking. Mom's taking it back in on Wednesday.

None of my antics would have bothered me that badly except that I am on day 57 (YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT) of my cycle(thanks PCOS), and I think AF may be in my near future. Today is the day that the song "Witchy Woman" could be sang about me, only with a B there instead of the W. I can tell I'm in a craptastic mood and have been trying very hard not to lash out. I'm also highly emotional, which just adds to my charm.

But now I'm sitting in my silent house, with the window beside me open, listening to the gentle rain-fall outside, and I'm beginning to feel peaceful. God has answered so many prayers recently, how can I not be joyful?

*pleasant & pleasure should be interchanged with "pain in the patootie" and "royal drama queen" as needed.

The bane of my existence

I hate laundry. Okay, that's not true. The actual gathering up, separating, and washing of laundry I don't mind. In fact, I find it therapeutic. I just hate PUTTING UP laundry.

So, I don't do it. I mean to, but I do a lot of laundry during naptimes and after bedtimes, so it just piles up in laundry baskets because I don't want to wake up my hubby or my baby.

So, after dumping all those laundry baskets on my bed today... this is what it looked like.

Scary, isn't it? After about an hour it was all organized and put away, but GOODNESS I DISLIKE DOING IT!

So, I recently took a step to make this not be a common occurance at my house. I purchased 4 (because we would like 2 kids soon!) laundry basket thingies to put beside my dryer. As clothes come out, they get separated into Carl, Me, or Keevia. Then, I simply take that individual basket and put it away. GENIUS I SAY.

Aren't they cute? I love them.
Now, if I could only concur these...

One step at a time, eh?

Pillow Mattress Talking

This past weekend my husband, daughter, and I went to the closest big city to do some shopping. We really did a lot of looking, but, you know. We scouted out some places that carry mattresses, as we're currently on the market for a new one.

Keevia likes to sleep with Mommy sometimes. When her teeth hurt, or she's had a bad day, or she's sick... she comes in bed with us. The only problem is that in our current queen bed, she kicks Daddy to the couch (or the guest bed) to do so. Oh, we all fit (barely), but she likes her sprawl room, so she kicks and whines and cries until Daddy gets up, then she rolls to his side of the bed and goes to sleep.

See why this is called "The Divas Mom"?

On another note though, we're also in the market for a new mattress, because for some strange reason, after 3 years, our mattress is NOT holding up. After research, we found out that when my Mom purchased it as a wedding present, she unknowingly purchased the lowest quality that our brand makes.

So, we went looking. First, we went to a place called "Overflow". VERY nice customer service. The guy personally showed us all the mattresses and described each one to us. Very reasonable prices as well.

Then we went to a store called "Overstock" (not to be confused with the online business!). There was a mattress there that Carl LOVED and desperately wanted. It was the last one they had, a king, and on HUGE clearance because of a "cosmetic blemish". We laid down on it, then looked around for an employee to help us. There were numerous employees milling around. We flagged one down and asked "What exactly is the cosmetic blemish?" Without even SLOWING down his walk, he said "It's on the floor. You have to find it."

Well then, okay. I looked it over, and couldn't find anything. We still wanted to ask some more questions though. We flagged down someone else "Just a minute" was there reply. Now, from my super-awesome eavesdropping skills, I knew that they were in the process of selling a $2000+ couch to a family on the other side of the room. But really, does that take FIVE employees?

We waited another 15 or so minutes for someone to "help" us, and no one even offered. When we left Carl was MAD. I wasn't surprised.

You see, we fit into a stereotype. A stereotype that means we obviously have no means of purchasing anything, so why bother to talk to us? Carl had on khaki shorts, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes, he currently has a scruffy beard. I had on flip-flops, jeans, a 'dressy' shirt, and a fleece jacket, my hair (which is always crazy) was down and in my face. We had a toddler running around. We're in our twenties.

The people in the next room who were purchasing the couch? They all had on designer clothes, impeccable hair & makeup, and big huge Coach purses. And they were financing the couch. Obviously we don't fit the mold that they normally see. But you know what? I could have written a check for that mattress that day if we'd wanted it. We have saved up and planned and decided we need a new mattress. I wouldn't have had to have financed it.

That's okay though, the Overflow people will likely get my money. The customer is always right sometimes holds true. As does "Don't judge a book by its (albeit harried) cover.

Woah, It's FRIDAY?

Don't you just hate daysweeks where you don't really have anything to show, but you feel like you've done nothing but be on the run?

Yeah, me too.

I may have mentioned it before... Mom and I both suffer from fibromyalgia. This was a tough week. We've noticed that when the weather is changing, or a front is coming in, that our pain goes up dramatically. Monday or Tuesday (I don't remember) was one of the worst days I've had in a while. I get the "fibrobrain" which is our term for fuzzy-headedness, and being unable to think of words. When this happens, I have a hard time doing things... like cooking, or trying to write freelance.

As the week went on, I was slowly more aware, ha! But it was a struggle. And I hate that. I hate that Mom and I have to struggle on a daily basis to perform activities that most people don't find daunting. A trip to the grocery store can be devastating if they have the air-conditioning too high (getting chilled makes the symptoms worse). A handful of errands causes the whole day to be lost because of the recovery period after the errands! It's ridiculous!

Both Mom and I need to exercise more frequently. For me, it's reaching a critical point. I refuse to buy clothes in a larger size than what I have now, but I'm beginning to run out of clothes. Exercise is SO hard with fibro. If you do too much, you can't exercise the next day. Exercising makes the fibro better, but you have to walk a fine line.

It's such a frustrating disease (disorder?). Everyone expects you to just take a pill and move on, but I'm sorry. A pill does not cure all ills. I would rather suffer pain than be on something that changes my personality, or becomes addictive. So I stick with ibuprofen.

One plus, when it came time to have my baby girl, everyone thought I was crazy for going all natural, and few people thought I'd do it. I knew I would. I know pain. Fibromyalgia, ovarian cysts, two knee operations, back problems... and you think labor's difficult?

This post has no point. It's merely musings about a difficulty that rules my life some weeks, and some weeks I rule it. Lets hope next week is one of those weeks.

Stangers in the Night...

If you open up my back door, this is the view you get. Lovely, isn't it? Winter is pretty bleak in these parts, but that wood you see is the GLORIOUS deck my in-laws gave us for Christmas! But anyway, that's the hill behind our house.

This is just slightly to the left of that picture:

See anything odd in this picture? It's very hard to spot. Go to the top of the post, and go right about an inch. See that? That's a pop can.

Now, when we first moved in, I suddenly noticed a couple of pop cans on the hill (it is EXTREMELY steep, and will be very difficult to get to them to remove them), I figured that the guys that put my house in had thrown them up there while they were installing the house, and didn't really think anything of it.

Over the months, the popcans began to fade in color, and I never paid that close of attention to them. Then suddenly this winter, when there was snow on the ground, I noticed a NEW pop can, on TOP of the snow.

I thought it was odd, and mentally took stock of the cans when the snow melted off. There were three that I could see.

A few weeks ago, I noticed a couple more. I counted again, and sure enough, there were five. I began to pay MUCH closer attention. I asked my husband, just to be safe, and he said he had never tossed a can up there. I watched it like a HAWK when I went out in the mornings. Two weeks ago a sixth one showed up.

Now, I have to admit this little secret. I believe in bigfoot. Sasquatch. Whatever you want to call him. Over the past 3 months, I'd been joking that a Bigfoot was leaving me presents. Suddenly, I wasn't joking anymore. What in the WORLD was doing this? We have two dogs, but the incline was too great for them to get up there.

Fast-forward to last week. I was attempting to find our liquid children's benadryl in the house, to no avail. I knew I kept some in the diaper bag in the car, so I sent Carl out to look for it. He couldn't find it, so I gave up on it. The next day *I* looked for it, still no dice! A day or so later, we were backing out of the driveway and I glanced up on the hill. There, about 10-15 feet up the hill, was the bottle of benadryl. NO way for me to get it down. NO way for the dog to have gotten it up there. I was SO confused.

That night (or sometime very close) I was sitting in my chair, which is directly beside a window that leads to our deck. I kept hearing scratching noises, and little thumps. I made my husband (who was clad only in his underwear) get up and look (with a lot of whining and cajoling on my part).

Want to know what our culprit was?

One of these guys.
Yeah, that explains it.

(P.S. I'm assuming that the benadryl fell out of the car, and it got a hold of it that way. Otherwise we have a super, duper smart raccoon that can open car doors. Then I'm REALLY in trouble).

Lets name him Doug, shall we?

Panicked.

Our internet went out yesterday. I know, it was horrific. I don't know how I survived.

No, really. I bout went crazy. I have never been that dependent on the internet! I was constantly trying to check my email. I had emails I needed to respond to, bills I needed to pay, and freelance I needed to do.

But instead, I got to snuggle with a very, very gassy 16 month old. Crochet some for Rows For Remembrance, and watch Glee! with my husband.

Maybe that panicked feeling was more of a blessing than anything else!

(p.s..... This is my 300th post. How cool is that????)

Accomplished!

I actually have gotten quite a few things done the last two days. More than seems normal for me! Ha!

I got all my paperwork in to work at the school. I'm excited that this means more income, and I'm so depressed because I have to leave my girl. THANKFULLY we live beside my parents and Mamaw can watch her. I know she'll be in excellent hands!

I got my taxes filed! Dear Government... Please hold off on all "Stops" until they go through. Then you may continue as needed. Thank you.

Ordered new checks. My pretty checks of the past are no more... I ordered plain ugly blue ones. :(

Nothing REAL exciting. I've been reading a little more. We may make a trip to try on Kelty Baby Carriers for Carl tomorrow or Saturday. We'd planned on going to Carl's parents, but 2 out of 3 children there have the flu. So...

Pointless post. Just me saying I'm excited to have paperwork done!

A Whole Blog About Nothing

It has been a crazy weekend. Like, mondo crazy. My mind is blown by how tired I am, but I wanted to beseech all my readers (49 official followers! WOW!) to please be in prayer over the situation.

On Thursday, I received a scary phone call from my sister-in-law. My father-in-law was headed to a hospital in Kingsport, TN after having some tests done. He has pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in his lungs) and needed to receive medication and have further tests done. He's having his biggest (and scariest) test done tomorrow. Due to the families wishes, I won't go into details, but I would love it if you would all pray many, many prayers over him. And, at 9 in the morning, if you think about it, I'd love for you to pray for him then! That's when the test is scheduled to take place.

It was around 1 or 2 in the afternoon when we received the phone call that he was heading to the hospital. My husband left work (with permission) and came on home. We were unsure about if we'd be traveling to Kingsport (a 3 hour trip) that evening or the next day... or what really. I ran to town, dropped off some books with Amazon's Buy Back program, and attempted to get my TB test for my school physical read. Then I came home and packed. After talking with the in-laws, we played the "wait-and-see" approach. I ended up cooking around 4-5 pm, and while doing so, ended up giving myself and Carl 2nd degree burns on our faces. I was frying a steak in olive oil and butter (too much butter...) and I accidentally DROPPED the steak in, causing the BURNING HOT OIL to splatter both me and Carl. He has one burn RIGHT in the corner of his eye. I have one on my nose, one in between my eye brows, and one over top of my right eyebrow. I can't look any worse than I did in July though, when I had poison oak, so I don't sweat it.

We finally headed out around noon on Friday. Later than I would have liked to have left, but we were trying to see what the doctors said. We got to the hospital around 3:30 (after a few mis-directions... but we made it just fine!), and spent some time with Nudder'Papaw. We tried to keep Keevia up off the floor as much as possible to limit her germ exposure, but she had fun climbing all over Mamaw and Papaw, and being doted on as the only available grandchild (she normally vies for their attention against her three first cousins). We went out to eat with my mother-in-law that evening around 6-7 (I don't remember) so she could show us how to get to the street with the eats (since we didn't come in the right way, lol). We had Pratt's Barbeque, which was pretty decent! Once we dropped her back off at the hospital at 9, we trekked 2 hours back to Carl's grandparents house. I got to cross Black Mountain (the highest mountain in Kentucky!) at 11 pm at night!

It became quickly apparent, during that night-time trip, that a portable DVD player must be acquired soon. Keevia does FINE in the car during the day. She naps well, she coos and talks to us (she's still rear-facing). She "reads" her books. She does fine. But when the darkness falls across the land... yeah, not so much. She does NOT want to go to sleep usually (no matter her level of tiredness). If she does go to sleep, she doesn't stay asleep. And if she's awake, she's screaming bloody murder. Even if someone sits in the back with her... UNLESS you have the iPod touch with Wiggles podcasts. Then she's fine. But those podcasts are only about 4 minutes long. And I can only watch the same one 50 times before I'm begging for another option. So, with some of that Amazon Buyback credit, I have a feeling Keevs is going to get a DVD player.

We stayed the night at the inlaws (finishing season six of Greys Anatomy on Netflix that we started LAST weekend there...), and then got up and went back to the hospital. We stayed an hour or so, and then, in an effort to distract her, I got my mother-in-law out of the hospital and went shopping at TJ Maxx and K-mart. I got a pair of dress pants at TJ Maxx for $5. I could not be happier. I desperately needed them for when I start subbing. I seriously have no clothes that fit right now, and as I plan on not being this size much longer, I don't want to buy an extensive wardrobe to fit my size *gulp* 18/20 frame. But I can fit $5 in my budget. I also scored a pair of $5 pants at K-Mart! But these are lounge pants, not dress ones.

Nudder'Mamaw also got Keevia the CUTEST TUTU IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. It's a size 6, so it should fit for a while. I put her in it in the store to just see what it looked like, and she was ADORABLE toddling around in it.

Keevs fell asleep on the ride back to the hospital, so I called Carl down to the van, and we started home around 6pm. We ate at Zaxby's (yuuuuuuum) before heading out, and I was stupid and didn't get a coffee at Starbucks. I regretted that the eeeeeentire way to Norton when Carl had me take over driving just out of the Kingsport city limits!

We went for very, very depressing reasons, but Carl and I still had an enjoyable weekend. We love spending time with our family, I just wish it hadn't been in a hospital room. We discovered "Pal's" restaurant, and drank way too many Route 44's.

We stopped at the Wise/Norton Wal-mart on our way back home, and changed Keevia's poopy diaper. I went ahead and put her in PJ's on the (very) off chance that she'd fall asleep and stay asleep. I changed her in the family restroom, and somehow, I left her totally adorable pink penguin Robeez there. I called this morning, but no luck. Y'all, I cannot begin to describe how upset I am over this. I have NO idea how I did it. It literally makes my heart hurt, because I planned on daughter #2 wearing them as well. I love Robeez.

This is a big post of nothing, I know. Please be in prayer for my father-in-law, and for our entire family. Pray for peace through whatever the test holds tomorrow. Pray for guidance, and pray for wisdom for all of us. But mainly, pray that the test comes back clean, and that the blood clots dissolve quickly and safely!

So I have this friend...

who makes underwear.

Who would have thought I was going THERE with that post?

My best friend, Jewels, (and maid of honor!) is seriously the most ambitious person I know. I mean, what else do you call it when she single-handedly sold over 10,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies? Or when she was DETERMINED to go to an Ivy League college from our little podunk town? She has triumphed over Organic Chemistry, and used it (and her entrepreneurship skills) to co-create her own company.

Lets go back to how we met.

To be honest, I'm not real sure of our first official meeting. I think we were 5 or 6 years old, and it was probably when I joined the Brownies group that her mother was the leader of. I remember a play-date not too much later where she and I played in the yard while her Mom sat on my grandparents porch and carefully observed the girl who was playing with her daughter. Now, as a mom, I totally respect her mother for doing this!

I don't know when we became best friends either, but 99.9% of my childhood memories encompass her. We were in Girl Scouts together, in the same Home School support group, did gymnastics together, and went to the same church/in the same youth group. We were literally inseparable.

Like most girls, we had our ups and our downs. Especially when it came to boys. We had big, huge fights, and then would make up not to long afterward. I can really only remember what one fight was about now, and I remember how we cried together when it was resolved.

When we entered into high school, she decided to take the plunge and entered into public school, while I stayed being home schooled. It never phased her though, and she continued to invite me to anything she did. It was at one of her sleepovers that my (now) sister-in-law basically whacked me upside the head and went "HEY STUPID! My brother is in love with you!" Her house still feels like a second home to me, even though I haven't spent much time in it these last few years.

She took on all the "big" classes in high school, fighting hard for her grades. She was the co-valedictorian of our class, and went on to attend Brown University. Although I've never really forgiven her for moving so very, very far away... I could not be prouder of her. I have been promising her a visit for oh, 6 years now? And I promise to some day make that visit come true!

Her senior year of college, she took an entrepreneurship class. She and some other lovely people came up the idea of period underwear. She's always been rather concerned with cute undies, as I can attest because we went shopping together 3,534 times. So it makes sense that this would be her niche! After the class, she and her friend Eunice began looking into the idea more heavily, and low and behold, Eulie was formed.

This past week they launched the internet pre-sale of their ADORABLE panties. Now, I haven't tried them yet, but I know that if Jewels endorses them, that they have to be fabulous. To be honest, for me, a stay-at-home mom on a VERY fixed budget, they're a little high price-wise. But, you have to remember that they are BOUTIQUE undies! And the purpose of them is really spot-on (haha). They have 3 layers of wicking/absorbent material that is also stain resistant. Then they have a final layer that acts as a leak-resistant layer, keeping all of the, ahem, accidents from showing up on your white jeans (really, who would wear such a thing?).

I think that they are adorable. And I really, really could not be prouder of her for all of this! I'm anxiously awaiting a phone call so we can catch up in the upcoming days!

There are still 157 pairs of "Preview Sale" undies available, so be sure to check them out!

P.S. If you watch the video, that's my girl right there!

Woo!

This has been a rough week. Trying to freelance with a 15 month old is not recommended.

We're chilling out at the Nudder Mamaw's tonight, and possibly going to Keevia's Great-Great Grandma's birthday party tomorrow (how many people can say THAT?).

I have some awesome posts coming up for you, you know, once I have a chance to breathe.

- Recession Proof Your Pantry
- D-I-V-O-R-C-E
- The Dilemma of the SAHM
- "Relaxed" Parenting

That's just a preview!

Apparently, I could be a good criminal.

I'm in the process of becoming a Substitute teacher at the school I graduated from. I was home-schooled from birth until I was a Junior in high school. In order to be able to take free college classes, and to make getting into college a little easier (diploma vs. a home made diploma), I decided to go to a small local school for the last two years. We'll touch more on that experience later. :)

In order to become a sub, I have to undergo an FBI back ground check. You know, because it's not like I haven't lived in the same town for 23 years (minus college). It's not like everyone doesn't know me, my mom, or my grandfather. But whatever, I understand it's the rules.

So I paid the hefty little fee, and went down to the police office to get my fingers printed. After some kind bad twisty finger pain (it sucks to be tall. Very much sucks), I took the prints back to the school office and went on my merry way.

I get a phone call a few days later saying I need to be re-printed. Okay. No problem.

On Friday Mom kept Keevia so I could clean Doc's office and once it was done, I went to run more errands. So I went up to the office and got another card, then went back to get printed.

Half way through the first hand, it becomes apparent that I'm not leaving good prints. The entire middle part of each finger is blank. So, they tell me to go get another card. Nay, two more cards "just in case".

So I do so. Then I was my hands as SOON as I get in there, so they're all clean.

Card #2 of the day, #3 overall... And my fingers are still smudging. By this time I'm on my 3rd cop.

All in all, it took both cards to get decent prints. But the prints aren't on the same card. So we sent both cards, and I'm crossing my fingers they accept one of them.

Apparently I have oily finger tips (which, included with how much paper I handle from reading) means I leave really craptastic finger prints.

I'd be the perfect criminal!

All The Single Ladies People

I have a heart for singles. I know, I know... It's not like I was Kelly from http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/, going years and years praying for THE ONE. I met my hubby in high school, we dated on and off, and then I got married at 20. I'm not trying to be condescending or anything... I really feel for singles!

I have quite a few single friends in my life, and oh how I wish they would find someone. The hardest part about being married is how crappy I feel that I found my soulmate, and they're still looking.

A good girl friend is going through a hard break up right now. We're physically not in the same place right now, so I can't wrap my arms around her in love and protection. I know how hard those break ups are. And I know how hard they are right before Valentines day (WHY. Why do boys do that? I realize it's probably because they have NO idea that there is such a thing as Valentines day coming up, but, I digress). I know what it's like to talk wedding plans and have all that ripped out from under you in one fell swoop.

Even in my most stressful days, when that tiiiiiny little voice goes "What if you were just single and only had to worry about yourself?" I never really want to go back to being single. I know how the loneliness feels. I know how painful it is. How it kills your confidence.

So today I'm praying for all my single friends. For all the girls and guys I know who haven't found their ONE yet. May God grant you peace. May he show you His love in a greater way. May he smile blessings upon your life, and point you to the right person in His time, and in His way.

Who do you know that I can pray for?

P.S. This is one of Keevia's all time favorite songs. I do not understand my daughters obsession with Beyonce.

One of "those" posts

So...

I've been having some....ahem... female issues. Among other symptoms. Enough to have me convinced I was pregnant. Even though three pregnancy tests stretched along a 2 week period would tell me otherwise.

What symptoms you may ask?

Well, I didn't get my first post-partum period until Keevia was 9 months old (TO THE DAY folks). Not unusual. I'm a nursing Momma. So I had one in July, then I had one in September, October, and December. Not exactly what you would call every 28 days (or even 31, or 35...). But I kind of just went with it (like I do with most things).

My last period was December 12th. I have this handy little app on my iPod called Pink Pad that lets me keep track of periods, *ahem* maritals, and symptoms. It also tells you, according to it, when you're most fertile. Although I think that's a rather crapshoot for me, as my periods are never the same length. I digress.

So, I had severe nausea. A feeling that every time I ate something, it got stuck right above my diaphragm. I was exhausted (still am), and my sense of smell was slowly beginning to rise. Oh, and my face looked like a 15 year olds. I haven't had acne that bad in YEARS.

I took the first test when I was like a day late, according to Pink Pad. Then about 10 days later, I still had no period, so I took another one. Then, I took the third 2 weeks from the first test. All negative.

I went to the chiropractor yesterday, hopeful that she would just find SOMETHING to be causing this. I want to be pregnant (although I don't necessarily want to be pregnant right this minute), but was frustrated that my body was driving me crazy if I wasn't.

Low and behold, my 3rd Lumbar vertebrae was subluxated. What does the 3rd Lumbar Vertebrae go to you may ask? Your ovaries and other sex organs. Of course it does!

Then, my loving chiropractor, whom is a wonderful, wonderful woman, decided to try and kill me. She adjusted my diaphragm and stomach to make sure they were in the right alignment.

O
W
C
H

However, I really wish she had done this when I was in college and a singer. I can now breath SO MUCH better.

So, I still haven't started my period... But the nausea is better. I'm crossing my fingers that I start soon, and, as my beautiful baby is weaning, they become more regular. I think my emotions need a break!

Busy, Busy Bee!

I have been busy. Like, super busy. I've been desperately trying to get my business up and running. We did a local festival Labor Day weekend, and it went WONDERFULLY. I'm getting into 2-3 more festivals in the coming months! If you have kids, or have friends who have kids, PLEASE "Like" The Divas Mom Boutique on Facebook! We do giveaways and give coupon codes and such!

Anyway. K's 10 month post is going up today... SUPER late, but its going up none the less.

I refuse to acknowledge the fact that in a little over a month, I will have a 1 year old.

I had a wonderful birthday this past weekend, and I am really looking forward to the next few weeks!

We are battling fleas in our house right now, and they are about to drive me CRAZY.

I think that this is the most random post ever.

Oh, HI NEW FOLLOWERS!! I promise, give me a bit, and I'll follow you back!

Oh, and PRAISE GOD for these two(Erm, three) blessings! Both Abbie and Mattie have been SO blessed, and I start crying everytime I think about it. Seriously, big fat tears.

Did you know Corn Nuts are about the yummiest things in the world?

Ummm... I think thats all. 10 month post coming soon!

The Great Poop of 2010

This may not be the greatest poop of the year, but it's been the greatest one so far!

Keevia had a chiropractic appointment at 10:45 this morning. She's going through a developmental phase right now (jabbering/babbling CONSTANTLY), so she was awake from about 3:30-5 something, just babbling away, rubbing on Daddy, and nursing. I crawled out of bed around 8 and boxed her in...I finally woke her up around 9:15 so we could eat breakfast.

We had oatmeal (baby for her, regular for me!), and shared a yogurt, changed clothes (she was SO CUTE in this little seersucker dress and black shorts (because I have no bloomers for half her dresses)), and headed out.

While driving the 10 minute drive, I heard her making her poop noises, so I figured I would have to change her once we got in to Docs.

So, got in, checked her, and sure enough! She'd done the dirty. So, I headed back to one of the patient rooms which has a bed. I unfolded her changing pad (which I hardly EVER use), and pulled off the shorts. I noticed on the inside of the shorts at the top, the poop had leaked through. Not unusual when she's in the carseat... it happens all the time, she poops up. So, I peeled back the diaper...

WORST. POOP. EVER.

Oh, it didn't smell. In fact, it barely had any odor. It was just... EVERYWHERE. It had went up (and out) the front, out both sides, and up (and out) the back. There was about an inch of poop in the diaper, and another inch stuck to her.

I open up my wipes case, and prepare to do battle.

I have two wipes. TWO. 2. DOS. FOR THE BIGGEST POOP OF MY LIFE.

I was at a loss at this point... I couldn't leave her on the bench to go out to the car to get more wipes. There was NO going back. If I had tried to put the diaper back on her, the poop would have exploded more. I couldn't very well pick her up and carry her to the car without getting it everywhere. I was at a complete loss.

Finally, I rummaged in the diaper bag and came up with a bib. I wiped the majority of the excess poop off of her with it, and then put a clean diaper on her. I went out to the car, got the wipes, came back, and cleaned her off fully (then cleaned the diaper...). It took an additional 4 wipes to clean her!

THEN I had all these dirty wipes, a dirty changing pad, dirty shorts, and a dirty bib. Plus her dress had a LITTLE bit on it (on the edge). So I dig in to get her extra onesie and change her.

Guess what?

IT'S COVERED IN POOP AS WELL.

SOMEHOW one of her diapers from yesterday had leaked all over it. No clue how. NONE.

So. She stayed in her slightly dirty dress. I got two plastic bags from Doc, and then tied up the offending materials.

Big shocker, but when she was adjusted, the vertebrae going to her stomach was out. Who would have thought?

And with that, I'm all pooped out.