Week #3 - All The Support I Need

I ran and ran and ran yesterday. I ran so far, I completed my very first half marathon. Yep, I did London's Run. I am proud to say that I ran the entire way without stopping. Sure, there were times - several times - I wanted to stop and not finish one more step.

But I kept seeing all of those encouraging signs along the route with pictures of kids with terrible cancer diseases and illnesses. I think my most favorite "encouragement" of the day was "Chafe Now. Brag Later." Boy, isn't that the truth!

Just when I didn't think I could carry on one more step, mile marker 10 came along. It was like a pillar of light from Heaven was shining down on it and a chorus of angels were singing "Hallelujah!"

Yippppeeee! It was there at that glorious mile marker that I got my own personal cheering squad. My sister, Jenny, her husband and kids were there volunteering at that water station. Jenny screamed, "Go Janet Go!" several times and even announced...ahem...yelled to the other volunteers there "This is my sister! I'm so proud of her. Go Janet Go!" I needed that at that precise moment.

No, it didn't make the remaining 3 miles any easier to run, but I kept playing her encouragement over and over and over in my head. That and my mother's words of "pick 'em up and put 'em down." Then, and at last, the finish line was in sight. I was so close, I couldn't give up. I wasn't going to!

I scanned the rope line of the onlookers and cheerers of many to see if I could find my own moral support. There they were! With Adam looking like a one-eyed minion from behind the camera lens, Howie in the jogging stroller, Owen and Caroline jumping up and down and screaming (yes, I could still hear them ABOVE the volume in my ears from the iPod) cheering me on, I began to really realize how much love and support I get from my family for every endeavor I take on.

Adam is quiet in his support, but gives it 100% - ALWAYS. He never questions about the time away from the family, but instead carries on with running the household while I'm gone. Whether it's going back to school, running a race, or being a mom, he is the first one to tell me how proud he is of me, what a great job I'm doing, and how I can do whatever I set my mind to. He gives me the time to run or the time to study and only has positive words for me.

Owen and Caroline ask me, each time they see me lace up the shoes or lug the backpack onto my shoulder, if I'm going running or to class. With each answer of yes, they are the first ones to say, "have a good run" or "have fun at class".

Howie willingly, for the most part, climbs into the jogging stroller each Monday and Wednesday morning when the kids have gone to preschool and he sees my running shoes laced up and ready to go. He still cries when the sun gets in his eyes - who wouldn't though, right? - but give that kid a bag of cereal and a sippy cup of milk and he's good to go. I could run a good 6-7 miles with him in the stroller and he's happy to let me push him the entire time.

I started out going to class for me - I had to afterall to completely change career goals. I started out running for me - I had to get back into some sort of shape (other than round) after having those babes of mine close together. I wanted to to teach the kids by example that we need to take care of our bodies, and that means exercising. (At least that is one example I am good for). We don't/won't live a sedatary lifestyle and need to stay active.

In the end, it is them who are the examples for me. I'm slowly but surely learning that while I may be doing all of this for me, I couldn't do any of it without them. It is their sacrifice and their love that give me all the support I need. For that, I'm appreciative and extremely grateful. Thank you My Love, Owen, Caroline & Howie -I love you and the support you give to me.

This is just moments (literally) after I crossed the finish line -which is why I look the way I do.

Week #2 - A Song in My Heart

I haven't liked this week very much. Not at all, as a matter of fact. It's been one of those weeks. No matter what I did or didn't do all of me was never enough or good enough. And, frankly, by the looks of me on most days, the week didn't like me. At all.

I've struggled through one of the hardest and most challenging weeks emotionally I've had in a really long time. Frustration brought on a whole new meaning for me. I haven't felt that frustrated with my kids for that length of time ever. Sure, I've been frustrated by them and even angry with them. But, really, NEVER for 5 days in a row.....all day.....everyday.

I went to chruch begrudgingly today. I had no desire whatsoever to go. While there, I kept thinking I wasn't getting anything out of meeting and really wasn't worth it for me to be there. I sent Adam home with Howie who has been sick. I really wanted to be the one to take Howie home. But somewhere in the bottom of my emotional well, the very one I thought was bone dry, it told me to stay and let Adam take him home. So I did.

Finally, the closing song. I opened the hymn book to Hymn 274 - Iron Rod. I was singing along, not very "into it" but doing it so my kids could see the example. Some example, huh? Then, I got to the third verse.

And when temptation's pow'r is nigh,

Our pathway clouded o'er

Upon the rod we can rely

And heaven's aid implore.

I nearly completely broke down in tears. It took the simplest of words to remind me that my Savior is waiting, begging, pleading for me to come to Him with my heavy heart. He will lighten my load and lighten my heart.

THAT was my reason for going to church today. And, for that, I am grateful. The hymn refilled my well and made it possible for me to carry on for the rest of the day. If I have to replay this song in my mind at the beginning of each new day in order for my well to get refilled. I'm grateful that it can be refilled and that I know where I can go to have it refilled.

Getting a Grip - Or Trying To Anyway

I've been a really crappy mom lately. Really, really, really crappy. I've felt sorry for myself, I've taken my stress, anger, frustration, tears and sadness out on my kids. One to be exact.


Owen.


It's always Owen. I don't quite understand why he gets the brunt of my sorrow or self-loathing or pity parties, where I'm the only one invited. I don't know if it's because I've always expected more out of him, if it's because he is the oldest, or because he is a he.


I really should stop. No really. I'm tired of the guilt that I feel afterwards for doing this. I've been such a crappy mom this week that when things came to a head, it was like Mt. St. Helens had exploded in our house.


Not a pretty sight.


Tonight, while doing one of the most frustrating things for me, Owen turned to me and in between sobs, looked at me and said, "Mom, do you still love me?"


I melted.....with guilt, tears and sorrow. How can I behave so badly that my innocent 5 year old looks at me and asks if I still love him, as if it's his fault that his mother is an emotional mess.

One week in Relief Society the comment was made by a sister after this sister's mom defended her daughter's parenting to yet a third person. This mother wisely told the third person that "she may not be a perfect mother but, she is the perfect mother for those kids."

Really, if I'm the perfect mother for my kids I would not want to see the imperfect mothers. I am hoping that I don't have another week like this past one for a really long time, if ever again. This family can't handle it. I can't handle it. My emotions can't handle it. My mental stability can't handle it.

A Few Weeks Late & Week #1

I may be a few weeks late or behind in this project, but I think I'm ready for the challenge of this new project which will also help me with my own personal recommitment project.

So, let this week by my week #1 and we'll count my 52 weeks from this point forward. This week is easy. I am grateful for this little boy who makes my days full of help and sunshine. Sometimes the help really isn't "help", but he is an absolute joy to have in my life and our family!

Dexter's Laboratory

I've created my own "Dexter's Laboratory" in my kitchen. It's all in the name of education - MY education. I'm taking a Chemistry class online, so as to eliminate the extra time on campus for this class. Besides, I have the greatest Chemistry tutor I know, my brother, Scott. He's ultra patient and kind and explains things to the "enth" degree to make sure I understand what is happening.

I do the classroom portion online and then do the labs in my kitchen and write it up. I submit everything by e-mail. The professor grades my work and sends back the e-mail with my grade. I don't think I would recommend taking Chemistry online if one doesn't have access to such a great tutor. In fact, even with this access, at one point in time I was registered to take the class on campus but then, well this happened and I dropped the class. In hindsight, I should have stuck it out and just taken and finished the class. I think things would have been so much better if only. But, things are plugging along and I'm doing well in school, this time around.

I have only 1 more class to take in the fall of this year, Microbiology 205, and then I will be waiting to get "the call" or "the letter" telling me when I start the nursing program. I hope I won't have to wait too long since the waiting period is anywhere between 24 and 30 months. But, if I do, then I do. Everything will happen for a reason. If I get in before then, great. Otherwise, I'll enjoy the time I have with my little chicks and watch them grow before my very eyes knowing that they won't be this small ever again.

In the meantime, I continue on in my laboratory and continue to study like mad, stay up way too late all in an effort of getting another education.

Owen Turns 5!

Happy birthday to the best, not so little, 5 years old boy that I know....my "baby" Owen. Holy moly I can't believe he's 5 already. I remember being pregnant with him and how miserable I was for the first 20 weeks of that pregnancy. Then, I remember being induced and things not going to MY plan and ending with a c-section, the first of three.

Truly though, he has been such a joy to our family. He's like our family "policeman" and keeps the other two kids right in line with the goings on around here. Sometimes he gets a little too carried away and tries to scold the other two kids for their wrong doings. But, he is the very first person to help me when I need it, with whatever I need help with at the moment. He's the first reason I became a mom and will always hold a very special place in my heart. All of my children will, but there's something special about a firstborn that never really goes away.

I decided this year instead of "doing" a party I was going to "take" him to a party. He chose 5 of his friends and we took them to see the movie Yogi Bear. It was the perfect party for our family. We bought the tickets, popcorn, drinks, the whole shootin' match, but had NONE of the clean-up. The theater employees had that responsibility. We came back to our house had cupcakes and opened presents and by that time, it was time for the parents to come get their kids. It worked perfectly and I will be all too HAPPY to do that again.

Happy birthday, Owen. We love you and are so grateful and happy to have you in our family!!!

Recommitment

It's been a while, it's true, since I've last blogged. Several months as a matter of fact. In that time there's been Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, quizzes, exams, finals, study sessions, picking up kids and dropping them off at school, breaking up fights between the kids, a ton of kisses and hugs, family dinners and priceless moments that will forever be in my heart.

But, it's a new year and I've decided to recommit myself to keeping my blog more up-to-date than I have most recently.

There are some new adventures for us this year, namely Adam will be traveling about 60% of the time for his job. It's not going anywhere exciting, necessarily, he's going to Olathe, Kansas. This will leave me home with the three kids by myself from Sunday night to late Thursday night. It's going to be tough and I'm sure I'm not going to like it some times that he is leaving. And, others, I'm sure I'm going to be wishing it was ME who was leaving for a few days to get some time to myself. Although, I do know that as much as I hate having him away from our family, he hates being away, too. That is what keeps us going from the time he leaves 'til the time he gets back.

This coming week I start back to school - I haven't really left school as I am still in school, just doing my Chemistry class online rather than on campus. The second half of Anatomy & Physiology is what I will be going to campus for twice a week at night. I am really, really, really looking forward to this class. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half, and can hardly wait for the second half.

Owen and Caroline are both doing well in preschool. Owen and I will start his reading lessons this week, too. Caroline is doing well learning her numbers, we are working on 1-10, and she knows her letters already. Howie, well he just cracks me up almost everyday, several times a day. He's such a little stinker! I've found that kid on top of the desk, the kitchen table, and my bed. He's learned where I keep my highlighters for class and has used them on everything from the kitchen table chairs, the screen on my laptop and the porcelain kitchen tile. Lovely, I know. He's just at that age that curiosity is truly getting the best of him.

I can't and won't guarantee a post everyday or even every other day. But, I will recommit myself to post a weekly post of the happenings on Penrose Dr.

Visions From a Generation Ago

When I was a little girl, my mom would pack the 5 of us kids into the station wagon, drive to Arizona one day and then the very next day continue on that with that journey and drive down to Colonia Dublan, Mexico. My Dad was born there and, to this day, we still have lots and lots of family down there. That place is very special to me and our family.


One of my most fond memories of going to Mexico, were not the broken arms, stitches, tetanus shots, stepped on rusty nails, family reunions, or the fabulous thunderstorms that would inevitably knock out the power. But rather, seeing my Grandmother, Mom, and Flora (my aunts housekeeper) bottling peaches. My uncle, Darryl Wagner, owned huge peach orchards down in Mexico. My brothers would go pick peaches from these orchards. Within 24 hours, they were going straight from the orchard to the bottles.


I can vividly remember going down the stairs into the basement of my aunt's house and walking into the "cellar". In there was shelving that contained rows and rows and more rows of bottled peaches, apples, pears, and a whole plethora of other fruit. As I got older, I had hoped that I would learn how to bottle peaches and other fruit.


So, as if I didn't have enough going on with school, kids in school, and every other chore to do to keep the house running, I decided to tackle the process of canning fruit....again this year. Unlike last year, this year the fruit turned out ah-may-zingly well. I did approximately 76 lbs. of peaches 38 lbs. of apples and 38 lbs. of pears. In total, it came out to be 30 quarts of peaches, 14 quarts each of apples and pears, 2 1/2 quarts of peach freezer jam, 6 quarts of cooked peach jam, and, finally, 7 quarts each of pearsauce and applesauce.

(Apples & pears oh my!)

(The peels, & cores from the apples & pears)

There's no way that I could have canned all of this myself in a timely manner. So, my sister-in-law, Karina, was gracious enough to come and help me do the apples and pears. (A bribe of lunch at El Rey's in Globe didn't hurt either.) She's even patient enough (really, who isn't more patient than me in this world?) to let the ever-present, wanting-to-help-at-every-turn Owen, take a shot at working the gadget that does the coring, peeling, and slicing of the fruit.

(Proof that I really do this myself - I'm making the cooked peach jam here)

I'm never really sure why or how the fruit turns out looking so pretty when it is bottled and preserved (or, commonly called "put up"), but it really is, especially the peaches. It's almost a shame to open the bottles and use the fruit because it does look so pretty. Not to mention the work involved in preserving the fruit and bottling it. Countless hours on my feet, a few Advil and Tylenol for the backache, more than a few dishes done, dishwasher ran a couple few times to clean, sanitize and heat the bottles, just about all of my pots and pans out to accomplish this feat and the floors mopped and mopped because they are extremely sticky from all of the fruit juice dripping onto the floor.

(from this.......)

(to that......)

I always pictured myself doing exactly what my mom had done in Mexico while we were there to visit my Aunt and cousins. So, when I pictured myself being a "sahm", I KNEW that I wanted to learn how to bottle fruit. And now, I've done just that. As simple as a "dream" as this may be, it really is exactly what I had envisioned. It's strange, when I'm doing this, I feel as though I am "in my own element". I am comfortable doing this type of work and really enjoy doing it.


I am hopeful that Caroline will remember this and have the desire to do the same thing. It's not complicated, and is actually quite simple. Time consuming, yes. Difficult, no. Not to mention the money that is saved. Maybe she, too, will have the some of the same visions I did as a little girl and she'll bottle her own fruit to provide for her family all winter long.

He's Cruising!!!!

He has finally done it!!! Not all the time or everywhere, but HOWIE IS WALKING!!!! He looks so incredibly proud of himself when he's walking and it's so dang cute, to boot. He looks back at me or Adam and just has the cheesiest grin on his face that we really can't help but to laugh and think he is even more adorable than ever.

Howie is also saying more and more words these days. He loves to say "ball", "Daaaaaaa-yeee" (daddy), "bear", "more" "kiiii-yee" (kitty) and the list goes on. He's not nearly as verbose as Caroline was at this age, but has many more words than Owen. Again, this kid just seems to be smack in the middle of just about everything he does - except for walking. I love this little boy. He is such a joy to me and is a bright spot in my day, everyday, all day!

Where Has September Gone?

I can't believe that September has all but escaped past me in the blink of an eye. We haven't gone anywhere or done anything really exciting, yet I can't believe the month is over!

Between school for both of the kiddos, school for me, soccer for Owen, dance for Caroline, getting ready for the Savvy Sale, canning pounds and pounds and pounds of fruit, the month is gone.
One tradition that we started this year was to take the children to Constitution Week here in Gilbert. I think it is never to early to start teaching the children how wonderful this country truly is, how this nation was started by Divine inspiration, how there have been many people throughout the decades and centuries of this country that have died to defend the privileges, freedoms and opportunities we enjoy today.

(Owen & Caroline standing near the "Liberty Bell".)

This year, Governor Jan Brewer was there to give a speech about the importance of our Constitution, Country and the freedoms we enjoy. Even though in the picture Owen does look happy to have met her, he really was happy to have met her. He shook her hand and, then, she was gracious enough to let us take a picture of her and Owen together.

(Owen & "The Gov.")

I took this opportunity to tell the "Gov" that even though I wholeheartedly stood in opposition to her on Prop 100 (when is any tax "temporary" after the government gets their hands on that kind of money - NEVER) I supported her with that much enthusiasm on SB 1070. She thanked me for the support of her in SB 1070 and assured me that people from all over the nation have called her, e-mailed her, written letter to her, donated money for the defense of the Bill, all in support of this Bill.

(Cute little Howsie B waiting for the fireworks to start.)

It wasn't much longer have we returned to our seats on the grass that the music started and we were entertained with patriotic music. Then, the real fun started - FIREWORKS!!!! Owen and Caroline and not get enough of the fireworks. Howie, on the other hand, has a love/hate relationship for those things. He doesn't like the loud booms, but loved seeing the colors and patterns. As long as I was holding him and sushing him, he did fine. Whew!!!!

Howie - 15 months

Howie hit the whopping 15 month mark not too long ago. This means a trip to the pediatrician for shots, checks, and suckers!

Weight: 25 lbs. 15.5 oz (really won't you just write down 26 lbs.?) - 50-75%
Height: 33 inches - 95th%
Head 19 inches - 75-90%

Once again, I don't have to wonder for a half second where the genes are coming from on this little boy. He is getting around much better, but still refuses to walk on his feet. Instead, he walks on his knees. I'm tired of black knees, shins and tops of feet. I wish he would just stand up already and take off. All in due time I suppose.

School Begins....Times Two This Year

All last school year, Caroline would whine and cry when it was time to go pick Owen up from preschool. Not because she didn't want to go get him, but because SHE wasn't the one being picked up from school. When it came time to register Owen for 3 day/week preschool I devated seriously about whether or not to put Caroline in preschool. I knew she would absolutely LOVE it, but wasn't so sure we could afford it.

After himming and hawing, we bit the bullet and put Caroline in 2 days per week. And, just like I thought she would, she absolutely, unequivically LOVES it! Everyday she asks if she can go to school. Her preschool teacher even supplies the kiddos with backpacks (they get returned to her at the end of the school year). When it came time for Caroline to leave the "meet the teacher" day and she didn't have her backpack, she burst into tears. Her teacher felt so guilty about it, she gave the backpack to her a day early. From day one, she hasn't cried or worried about going. She can't wait to go. Caroline only looks back to yell to me "Goodbye, Mom!"

Owen is off to preschool 3 days per week and is loving this too. I am absolutely impressed with his preschool teacher. She knows the cirriculum of the school district where I plan to send Owen next year (already?!?!?!) for kindergarten. She follows that cirriculum for her preschool class. Owen has known for a while know his letters and numbers. His teacher is teaching him the alphabet in sign language, beginning sight words, and simple addition. And, just like Caroline, he ran for her home on the first day of class. The Friday before, we had his "meet the teacher" and he picked out his own cubby to put his crayon/pencil bucket and his backpack. He was quite shy and didn't want to do much this day. On Monday of the following week, he literally ran to her door and NEVER looked back, not even to say goodbye. I was speed walking in order to keep up with him and he never looked back. He LOVES his class and really loves that he has a friend from church in his class and his cousin. I love this too!

I think one of the best things about having 2 kids in preschool is they are going on the same days during the same two hours each day. This has opened up all kinds of time for me to get to the gym, run errands, do chores around the house, or, when I start school, get a few more study hours in for my class!

Like the rest of the parental population, I took a few pics of the kiddos on the first day of class they both had for the first week. They loved it and so did I. It's just hard to believe that I have 2 kiddos who are in preschool. I didn't think it would ever get here and now that it has, I'm not so sure I'm ready for it.