Ditching Debbie Downer.

Reading through my last few blogs was distressing at best, so I have decided in the spirit of hope at Christmastime to ponder positive things.

1. My dad has been having 'firestorms' in his foot and leg. This could indicate that the nerve that the surgeon thought he accidentally severed was not really damaged but only crimped by swelling. That is a praise the Lord for sure.


2. My kids, although not completely well, are far better than yesterday. I anticipate a full night's sleep. That is something to shout about.


3. I have the most beautiful Christmas tree ever - but that is just one opinion. Since I am writing this blog, it is the only opinion that matters. :)


4. Even though my sister could not be home for Christmas, she had a wonderful family to spend her day with. If you can't be with your own family, that is the family to hang out with for sure.


5. My brother has a girlfriend. A great girlfriend with a great family. He spent today with them. I am so proud of him and the way things are going for him.


6. For the first time since we have been married, there is enough money in our bank account after Christmas for groceries. That either means I am getting better at managing money or that God has met our every need and then some. I'd like to think it's a little of the former mixed with a hefty dose of the latter.

This is me trying.

Tomorrow will hold many more positives.

Alex, I'll take 'Miracles' for $1200, please...

Tomorrow is Christmas.
My Dad is in the hospital... still. He has gotten various less-than-good reports.
We are going to need some intervention of the Divine variety.
I am glad I know Who to go to.

We knew our holiday plans would be limited based on Chris's work schedule, my Dad's surgery, and Shannon's location issues.
We had planned on having a get-together for those of us who, for whatever reason, end up looking like red-headed step-children with no place to go on Christmas.
We were planning the Guitar Heroes Rock-Out session to end all rock-out sessions.
We will not be doing any of the aforementioned activities tomorrow.

We spent most of today at the Emergency room with J.
He had a fever above 102 all day yesterday. Along with that fever came the dry cough. The one where he has such a coughing fit that he nearly vomits... Poor baby.
And, true to form, today he tried to one-up yesterday's fever.
At around 3pm today, his fever crested 104 degrees and held steady for over an hour after all the Ibuprofen I could give him, I began to have thoughts about taking him into the ER on Christmas Eve.

After an hour of over 104, he began to quiver and shake and his eyes were swollen. The right eye got huge. It became so inflamed so quickly, I contacted the Doctor on call and she said to get him to the ER immediately - stating he could be having an allergic reaction or a febrile seizure.

When we got there, he still looked awful with his eyes pooched out all crazy, and his fever was holding steady at just below 104.
They ran a bunch of tests. They did X-rays. They took blood, snot, whatever they could test...
My little man was so brave.
His fever finally got down to below 102 around 6pm.

They gave him antibiotic through an IV and decided not to keep him overnight. He'll finish with an oral Antibiotic for the next few days.

We were released around 8pm? I think.
I have to keep a close eye on him through the night and hopefully Christmas Day will be uneventful.

I am glad I know a God Who is bigger than all this drama.
I am beginning to tire beyond my own strength.
I need You.
Divine Healer, Father, Friend- be with my family.
Work miracles on my daddy's leg and foot.
I ask that You would reconnect what has been severed and mend what man cannot.
I pray that You will breathe through my sweet son tonight. Sweep through his body and make it whole.
We are so reliant on You for our salvation, healing, our life.
I thank You for Your ever-present interest in our lives.
I praise You for being all-powerful - so far above our capacity to comprehend.
You are the answer for all that ails us. Not only in our mortal bodies, but also in our spirits and minds.
So whatever our state, whether broken or whole - I choose to praise the One who gives us breath.
I am grateful for the miracle of Your birth. That moment when all of Heaven came to earth to inhabit the very world that could not understand Your worth. You are worthy of all the adoration we can give. Thank you for the gift of You.

Backseat Blogger.

So much is going on.

Sooooo. sooooo much.

Wednesday was our family Christmas. It worked out better that way for everyone.
So Shan was here for a whirlwind and is already gone.

Thursday was black Thursday at my brother's workplace. I was so worried for him. He was so stressed out and sad to see all the people that were losing their jobs. He made the cut though, so his job is secure for now.

Today, my dad is getting his knee replaced. Right now, more than likely, he is being worked on.
That is stressing me out more than I expected. Yesterday, he called me and we had the "If anything were to happen to me" talk. I understand why he felt like it needed to happen - but gracious me! I am a wreck!

Heavenly Father, you are the master architect. I pray that the puzzle pieces fit together perfectly and that my Daddy is ready to get up and walk in no time. I love him so - he's my hero.

Little A. is still sick-ish. We are sleeping at night. That is a major step in the right direction. I thought I would cry if I lost one more night of sleep. You poor, poor mommas of brand new babies - As my good friend kdp would say, been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. I don't need to be staying up all night, that phase of my life is over, right?

Somehow my entire profile on our computer got deleted. I never knew how attached I am to this silly thing - but I nearly cried at the thought of losing all the computer stuff I have acquired. Useful websites, all my favorites, my work for school, EVERYTHING.
I nearly cried.
But hunny, was able to retrieve it somehow and thank heavens for that!
He was unable to retrieve all of it so I am still missing my personal settings and my favorites. I am working to reset them. So if I don't comment on your blog for a while, you may be in the abyss. Don't worry - I'll find you!!

Today is the last day of school before Winter Break. We will most likely party all day!
Whew! What fun!

Somebody call and remind me that I am taking dinner to Crys and Jerry tonight.

Tomorrow is rehearsal for the Church Christmas Program.
Kim, Did you get the manger? If not, I can probably get one - just let me know.
Then Sunday is the big day. It is going to be, well, over on Sunday afternoon. hehehe
It'll be fine.

Please pray for my daddy.

So now you all know why blogging has taken a backseat.

Update.

We were up for 4 solid hours with little girl last night. She would just tug on her ear and whimper and cry. Her fever never got too high, just mild with a lot of pain.
Why is it that some kids can have an ear infection and it never seems to bother them - while others can inflict horrible consequences on their entire family over an ear infection?

I would not make light of the intense amount of pain she was in - but my goodness - no one was allowed to rest while her ear hurt. Even her big brother came out around 4:30am to see what all the hubbub was about.

Chris took her in to Shamrock Clinic while I was at work today. Poor thing! He sat up there with A. for at least 3 hours before he saw a Dr.
And, mystery of all mysteries, I wasn't there to hear what the Dr. said, so I cannot be entirely certain of the diagnosis. Chris said he couldn't remember what exactly the Dr. said, but that after he looked in her ear, he prescribed antibiotics. So I'm guessin.... ear infection!

Anyway, tonight must be a better night. I can't imagine it being any worse!
I don't think it matters how much you love your kid, after 4 hours of wailing, (as sorry as I felt for her) I didn't think I could listen to it anymore. Thank the good Lord for Benadryl!

And uninterrupted rest.
My fingers are crossed.

my little girl

Little doll is so sick.
Momma is hanging in there.
Please Jesus, Let us both get some rest tonight.
I guess Chris is going to keep her tomorrow because she can't go to school.
My parents just hung out with us tonight, I hope they don't get sick.
Daddy's got to be well for his surgery and my momma so she can take care of him...
This exhausted Momma and her baby girl need a touch from the Father tonight.


Sorry for the sentence fragments and the whiny tone - that's just where I am right now.
Tomorrow will be better.

tony knew...

i am so sorry for the huge let-down today.
the cowboys didn't win.
i was so busy, i couldn't even sit down to watch one down of the game.
tony knew.
he called me at half-time and asked where i was...
i was just waaaaaaaaay too busy today.
and they lost.
to a loser team.
my. my. my.
i still cannot absorb the tragedy in all its multi-faceted-ness. (isn't that a great word?)
next time, i'll get my popcorn and watch.
alas, i am needed.

holiday mayhem

I have been trying to get to my blog all weekend and this is the best I can do for now.

We went all day long on Saturday with the kids. Chris and I were both off - that never happens...
We went to Gatti's and to see Alvin and the Chipmunks.
We also finished up our Christmas shopping. So far, I have been able to keep my personal goal of not overspending. I was worried that I would begin to feel like a cheapo schmuck, but to the contrary, it's been liberating!!
I don't feel like I'm jeopardizing my kids' college education.
My credit card has seen the light a few times though. TSK!TSK!

Other than that, I am about to embark on a legendary week. If there is light at the end of the tunnel, I cannot see it.
Overwhelmed does not begin to describe...
Two separate Christmas programs - for which I am solely responsible...
You're thinking - hmmm... well, that's something to stress about, but not heart-attack worthy.
Now I'll remind you that I have 3, 4, and 5-year olds singing 45 minutes worth of music - add in instruments, choreography, a live manger scene, a foreign language (Spanish), and sign language.
Now there's your heart-attack.

We are doing our family Christmas this week on Wednesday and Thursday.
My dad will be having his knee replaced on Friday and we wanted to be able to get the holiday festivities out of the way beforehand.

Friday, we will be released from school!! YAY!
I would love to try to get a playdate together sometime during our Winter Break.
Get back to me on when is best for you, if you are interested.
We will be returning to school on January 7, 2008.
2008? Yeah.
Weird huh?

Ummmm.... So I didn't go.

All things/plans with small children are subject to change.
That is one thing I have learned as a mom.
We did not end up going to church tonight.
Large Marge won out, I'm afraid.
Or maybe she lost...

I made the impossibly stupid mistake of compulsive gambling with my children.
Their poker face has proven to be so much more determined than mine.
I said to them, "If you don't... then you won't be going to church tonight."
It was foolproof.
Chris was getting off work at 6pm.
Either way, I was going to get to go to church.
Except that they did not do what I asked them to do, and Chris did NOT get off at 6pm.
It's 8:20 and he's still not home...

I hate having to follow through with those unpleasant things.
So here I sit, wishing I had not been a compulsive gambler - missing my friends.
WAHHHH!!!!


Seph - I am going to get that cd to you, come hell or highwater.

Who's in Control here?

Enter Large Marge in Charge:
So I have come to the realization that the devil himself decided to condone Wednesday night church beginning at 7PM, instead of 6PM.
Who in the working world, who also parents young children, can make this impossible scenario work with their day? Let alone their week...
My kids' bedtime is 7:30PM. If church starts at 7, I am sunk.
It sets us up for disaster on Thursday if we are up til 9PM on Wednesday night.

Enter Soft-hearted Momma:
My kids absolutely LOVE Wednesday night church, and not for the ornery reasons you might think, such as getting to stay up past their usual bedtime - they love learning about God and Jesus and the Bible. They sop it up like sponges!
Everytime we leave church on Wednesday night, I can tell that they not only had a great time, but also that they learned something.
I don't want to take that away from them...

Enter Dilemma:
How do Large Marge in Charge and Soft-Hearted Momma live together in one body?

Enter Solution:
We, Large Marge and Softy, make our kids take a nap on Wednesday afternoon.
They go to their rooms and 'sleep'. (CRASH!)
Right now they are fast asleep in their beds. (WHISPER, WHISPER, Giggle)
I just know that after this restful afternoon - (BANG, "BUZZ LIGHTYEAR TO THE RESCUE>>>")
They will behave perfectly at Rainbows tonight and all day tomorrow.
All because of the genius of compromise. (BOOM!)

Enter Reality:
What's a mom to do?
I mean, it's win/win.
I, after all, am here blogging and they are ASLEEP...

See ya tonight!

Never say never.

I remember a particular moment in history around the holidays when I was a teenager.
My mom had a friend who was fashionably unacceptable in my opinion.
One could easily characterize her by her out of control shoes which were often metallic in color and bedazzled beyond belief.
One afternoon after school, my mom was unloading her holiday shop fest finds before my sister and me.
She had found various great deals. She was looking to buy herself a pair of holiday shoes.
Holiday shoes she found. And my were they festive!!
They were so gaudy. They were very similar to some that her friend, the bedazzled shoe lady, would own.
I made fun of them relentlessly.
So much fun was made at the expense of my mom and her holiday shoes that I don't really remember her wearing them with much gusto.
I don't remember her ever wearing them at all.
Sorry Mom.

Here lies the confession of a girl who has grown up to be way too much like her momma.
And if that is any indication of the way I've turned out, I'll take it! My mom is fantasticness defined. I could not be more proud when people compare me to her, because what's not to love? She's wonderful through and through.
I often find myself saying things just the way I remember her saying them. And in the next moment, I remember swearing to myself that I would never (enter scenario here...) And there I go, without even a thought, I have become her!
I AM my mother's daughter, and as of yesterday, I bought the gaudy holiday shoes to prove it!
Yes, momma, you have unlimited right to make fun of me in my glamorous holiday shoes!
I love you!