Year In Review

It only seems appropriate to talk about the last year. Maybe next week I'll talk about the new year and what i want/expect/hope for, etc.
I had another post prior to this one and deleted it. I talked about the ups and downs of this year and realized boy it actually sounded like we had more downs then ups!? Why is it the bad news surpasses the good stuff!? Why can't i remember all the great things that happened like I do the bad.
For instance....the passing of DH's aunt in February. Very sad indeed. She fought a heck of a battle with cancer. She was such a pillar for the family. She is missed greatly, no doubt. But I know death is inevitable. We need to hang on to the memories and that we have plenty of. I'm so thankful C'man got to spend 3 years with her and i know he'll never forget them. We talk about her often and when we get balloons we will release them up to heaven for Maxine.

Then there was the miscarriages. Still so fresh in my memory. I questioned if I was ready to be pregnant, or could even handle another child. Was that what took that little baby away from us to soon? Why after 5 IVF cycles and years prior of trying for a child was it becoming so easy for me to get pregnant? But then remembering those years are what make me who I am today. I think of all the babies that will greet me in heaven. There are many and many.

The frustrations with raising a strong willed 2 year old. Will I ever figure her out!? Doubtful. But what can we do not to make life manageable for us all. Will reading all the books help me? Do I need to turn to professional help? Don't laugh. I'm seriously considering it.

How is C'man's BM doing? We think of her often and really would like to reach out to her. But how and should we?

There's more, but no need to go any further b/c I want to think of the great things that happened this year. The accomplishments of not only myself, but our family.
We got to be a part of an election year! That was one heck of a way to start off the new year with the Iowa Caucuses. I still like Huckabee and probably always will. I don't think Obama is the right man for the job but then I'm not 100% sure who that would be. I'm excited to see the change he keeps talking about and for everyone's sake, I hope he can do just that. We need change, agree, but i worry about some of the changes he'll bring. But lets pray for the best!

This summer we had a great vacation to NJ. It was such a nice time for our family and so very kind of L & M to open there home and lives to us. We enjoyed ourselves so much. Went to our first Broadway show in NYC and spent a day at the ocean. I love the Atlantic ocean and I miss everything about it. The warm sand b/w my toes, the hot sun on my back, the crashing waves, the seagulls, the smell and yes even the taste of salt water. Love it!!

Planting and harvesting was safe for DH and his brother. Altho it took a long time to get harvest out, every one was safe. Farming is such a dangerous job. Crop prices are/were great this year and that afforded us a little better lifestyle this year. Our garage got sheet rocked, newer van, and here soon the trim work put up on our kitchen. While we know the prices won't stay that good, they already aren't, we are thankful for a good year for once! I really think the farmers deserved it. Well at least us small family farmers. Not many of us around anymore.

The kids have stayed relatively healthy. Can't complain really at all. Just the flu and minor colds. We are so blessed there!! Aside from my stinking root canal I had we are OK over on that side of things.

I'm content to be home. It took me at least 6-9 months to adjust to being home full time. I have adjusted, even tho i was so sad to see summer go. I seriously was depressed for 2 weeks when the weather turned colder and I knew Fall was on the way. I feel it's the best place for the kids for me to be home. I have the rest of my life to make a career and quite frankly i feel i had a career for 8 years and now it's time for a family. Can't have both!

I worked out a lot this past year and need to get back on track. I'm happy with my body image, accept for my stomach LOL!

So yeah, i think i found enough good in all the bad! Really it's been a good year. No major happenings, or at least what i would consider major. I have my family, my DH's family, all doing well. I have been blessed with great friends and continue to be blessed by meeting new friends. Isn't facebook great!!

Can I just add how hard it is to blog with 2 kids running around and fighting. I hope this makes sense:)

Christmas Recap

What an original title eh?? Lets see....Christmas Eve-my parents came to our house where we all attended church together. Church was at 4, very early, but nice. I played the piano and my dad and I sang Silent Night. We thought it was 'fine'. Everyone else?? You'd thought we were going to be on the next 'America's Got Talent'. The kids were wild. During the children sermon, C'man knew baby Jesus was born 'in da hay' but he continued on about tractors!? During communion he couldn't wait and had to run up and take it not once, but twice! The 2nd time he was jumping up and down so the man with the juice would see him so he could dip his bread. My mother tried to tell him to stay put and the Pastor replied 'There's plenty of God's love to go around'. My mom promptly sat down. We chuckled about that comment later and i have again in typing that.
Miss A!? She was there too. While Dad and I were singing she scooted under the pew and was at my feet while we sang. DH knew better then to pick her up b/c she'd add ear piercing screams to our duet. Needless to say, 3 verses of Silent Night was a VERY LONG SONG for us.
After church we came home, opened presents and then ate. Of course the kids got way to many presents however, i felt like i shopped and shopped and the UPS guy came like every day and within 20 min it was all over and it didn't look like that much!?
C'man was happy with his Hungry Hippo game and a play chainsaw. We could have stopped there and he'd been fine. Miss A liked whatever C'man had.

Christmas Day was spent at my in laws. It actually was a very nice day. Our kids are the youngest by 12 years so they were the entertainment. My SIL is just AMAZING with C'man and my niece Meg's was there too from Florida. Her and C'man are so cute together. She read books to him when they weren't playing hide the dog. Miss A couldn't take all the excitement and she fell asleep on me in the chair. We opened presents late afternoon and the kids had a blast delivering the gifts and offering to help open them. Any present that had a bow on, C'man would pull off and toss on the ground. Then he'd say 'need help opening that?' then he'd be so excited with whatever was in the box, for that person. He'd ask 'you like it?'

My in laws are all very relaxed anything goes. I often don't operate like that. I like to have ideas of what and how things are going to go. I'm learning to go with the flow and things are much more enjoyable when you go with the flow.

Then on Friday we headed up to my family. My brother, SIL and nephew are home from DC and my sister, BIL and niece were home too. It was horribly foggy driving home. We should have stayed home not only b/c of the weather but b/c it was just a little much being around family that long. My sister promptly decided to not talk to me!? not sure what i did, said, or whatever, but it was a long weekend of her leaving the room when I'd come in. I think it was our kids driving everyone nuts. I felt every time i said something or left the room, eyes were rolling and comments were being said.

We all got a lot of great gifts and as predicted my brother spent WAY to much money on our kids. Nothing like spending $25 on them to only have $100/child spent on us. Gotta love that eh!? anyone else relate?

I couldn't wait to get home last night. I just wanted to be in the comfort of my own home with the kids. We ended the evening/weekend with swimming at a local hotel pool.

It now looks like Santa vomited in our house. Toys everywhere and I'm trying to figure out what size storage totes i need for what toys. I'm happy to be home doing laundry, cleaning and ready to put Christmas stuff away.

I'm going to end here and continue on another day......tell me about your holiday festivities? Were they relaxing? Exhausting?

Birthday Post

I realized I haven't done the birthday boy post yet! I think with all the drama going on it totally got over looked. But it can't be b/c this special little boy turned FOUR on the 13th. I'm not sure how to post back to a previous post, (anyone??) but if you look back on last years posts' i posted about the day he was born!

We had his party with his g'parents and one uncle and his God mother, on Sunday. On Saturday he got to open his presents from us and Miss A. I made rolls and put a candle in them for him. Here he is thanking Jesus for another year!!

Here are the pics of the big party. It was a John Deere themed party, special request by the little man!

Here he is opening up some of the many gifts:

This was from Miss A

Let It Snow, Let It Snow.....

Make is STOP!! We are knee deep in snow here in Iowa. There is a winter weather watch out for tomorrow (Saturday) too. That will more then likely be a Warning here by midnight. The bad part of that all? Our neighbor girl is getting married!! Can you imagine getting married knowing that there is going to be a blizzard warning?? What would you do? I'd be freaking out! Not like I could do anything about it, but still. I'd be calling all the farmers and snow plows begging them to get the guests here!! Will have to wait and see. I really want to go but yeah, it's going to be bitter cold, Jeff has to work, and I can't take the kids out if it's really nasty. Stay tuned for updates on that.
This AM I did bundle the kids up and sent them outside to play. C'man loves it but Miss A isn't to sure. She gets cold quickly and it didn't help that i couldn't find a good pair of mittens. Darn dogs keep running off with mitten, boot, etc (note single, not plural). So anyway out we went and well I'll let the pictures speak:

Then the dogs decided to get goofy and as a result they knocked Miss A flat into a snow pile. This was her reaction. She was ready to go in the house after that.

I hope the weather is OK by you all. I know many of you live in FL and TX and are enjoying much warmer weather then we are. The joys of living in Iowa:)

Thanks.....

Appreciate all the kind emails, thoughts, prayers, etc from many of you. It really means a lot and I would appreciate any advice on what to expect, or hearing from anyone, that has experienced a miscarriage. And don't these kind of situations just suck in wondering what to say to someone? Just like infertility you have to be careful what you say b/c yeah God knows, you don't want to offend or further hurt the person. Don't need to worry so much about that with me. So far just the hugs and friends nearby, helping out when needed. Or the daily calls from FF-S to see how I'm doing.
I did go in Monday for a Rogam work up. That's because my blood is O- and while that doesn't cause a miscarriage it is a shot you have to get after a miscarriage or at so many weeks in to a pregnancy. If someone else out there can better explain this to me, and DH, that would be greatly appreciated. So ANYWAY, here comes the humor in this. The nurse comes to give me the shot and tells me she's giving it to me in the arm. She's getting it ready and I tell her shots don't seem to bother me that much b/c of all the IVF treatments I did. Blah blah....then i swear to God she wound up and jammed a 10inch needle in to my arm muscle and BAM shot me up with 'stuff'. I was waiting for the needle to come out the other side of my arm. kid you not. I just about fainted.
When it was done I grabbed my coat, found DH and said let's get the hell outta here!!!!! Fresh air was needed ASAP!

Last night I just felt horrible, headache, stomach felt weird, etc and then this AM started bleeding really heavy. I called the doc and they asked me to come in ASAP. I ended up taking the kids to a fellow MOPS Mom, Sarah. She met me in the clinic parking lot and took the kids. Praise God for her!!! We talked about having a D&C but decided to continue to wait things out. My HSG levels are down to 120 and my hemoglobin is normal. Must continue to carry on and let nature work it's course. I think it's generally best to avoid a D&C but at the same time I'd like closure to this all and if that would make it that way then it might be worth it. Can anyone relate?? Has anyone had one?

That's the latest. I continue to wonder if it was the fall i had, or the stressful night with Miss A, or the thoughts of me wondering how can i do this? that caused this all to happen. But then i also remember, I'm not the first, and I'm certainly not going to be the last. I'd just like to all to be over by Christmas so i can enjoy the holiday with my family.

Well this isn't the topic i was hoping to blog about today. I was hoping I'd be blogging about C'mans 4th b-day, which was yesterday! I can't believe he's been a part of our lives for 4 years! Amazing little man he is. Which is strengthend even more when I realize how valuable life is. Over 4 weeks ago I found out I was pregnant. Remember me blogging about keeping surprises!? Well that was it. Thursday I went in for an ultrasound and we saw a baby and a heartbeat. I was measuring about 2 weeks behind what I thought I should be.
I know for sure the first day of my last period so I just knew I couldn't be only 5-6 weeks along. There also was a heartbeat, but not very strong. Strong if i was 6 weeks but not if I was closer to 8. But i left feeling good just seeing the HB. After all, Miss A had a real slow HB and she came too after a couple more weeks.
Friday I started spotting and then yesterday was worse. We went to the ER b/c i just really wanted an ultrasound, or a LBC (Live Baby Check). We didn't get that far. I had a pelvic and discussed options with the doc. He gave us a couple options. Go ahead and have the u/s and see if the baby was alive, if not go in for surgery that night and have a D&C or go home and come back Monday and see where we're at. What wasn't helping us either is that my HCG was 1287? I knew w/o even seeing 'the chart' that was low. It actually isn't low if I was 5-6 weeks, but yes, I know I'm further along then that.
DH and I decided to just come home and wait it out. The doc thought that was a good idea. I have to say, he was the kindest, most gentle man. Much like my dad, when he saw me cry, his heart and soul melted. I could tell he felt as bad as my own dad did.
So there you go folks. That's my news and I'm sorry to BFF-E, and other close friends, for not telling you. I'd been hesitant from the get go to 'spread the word' for this fear alone. It's much easier to type then to speak to others.

I'm coping pretty good. I cried hard last night and today was C'mans B-day party. I wanted to have it. After all, it wasn't his fault i miscarried. It was a nice party and he is loving his toys.

I can't help tho but think back to Thursday night when DH and I were having another battle with Miss A about going back to sleep. I remember sitting on the toilet thinking 'Dear God, how am I going to handle 3 kids, I just don't know how I'm going to do it.' Then I started spotting Friday. I told my pastor this and she said that's the spiritual 'side' of me coming out. I remember too the doc looking me in the eye and saying there are 2 things you need to know: 1. you did nothing to cause this and honestly i can't remember #2.

DH seems to be fine. I always feel bad for men. Expressing emotions is no easy task. I think his main concern right now is me and my emotional and physical well being. I hope he can deal with it. I'm able to manage knowing that I'm not the first one to deal with this and I'm certainly not the last. I think of my dear niece who miscarried in to her 4th month and had to go thru labor and delivery. How can ANYONE get thru that.

This is another walk in my journey of Faith in God that helps me get thru this. It reminds me how blessed we truly are with C'man and the miracle birth of Miss A.

I'm going to go ahead and request testing to be done. I'm not sure will actively try for another child, we weren't this time around either. But I'm certainly not going to put myself thru this without knowing if this is going to continue to happen. My FF-S said that's how she knew they were done having kids. She had repeated, and i mean at least 3 miscarriages, and then on to 2 C-sections, and mentally she just couldn't deal with it anymore. I understand that now!!

I'm not sure if I'm going to blog anymore this upcoming week or not. Don't be surprised if i never blog about this again, but know I may too. Not sure what coping mechanism I'll use, if any. I'm going to go build trains with my two little blessings and thank God for them!!

Tagged

Catching up on reading blogs and noticed I've been tagged by Wendi. I must first say that I 'know' Wendi via Hannah's Prayers which is a Christian Infertility Support group online. I followed her blog for I think a couple years now!? We have a lot in common, Infertility, adoption, pregnancy, TALL, toddler boys, you get the idea. So she tagged me and I'm so honored:) By the way Wendi, I got the clothes back:) I haven't gone thru them but I'm sure everythings there.

The Rules: go to Your Pictures file go to the 5th folder open up the 5th picture and post it then tag 5 people when you are done.

This Miss A and I messing around.

So i will tag: 1BFF-E,

2Mel-Bosom Buddies,

3Faith-Absolutely Normal Chaos,

4Angela

5-Sometimes We Do

OK now I need to go let these people know I tagged them!

Sadness

My heart is filled with sadness today, and probably for some time. My niece just started her 2nd trimester and miscarried yesterday. A beautiful baby boy named William. Her and her DH have been trying for years to get pregnant and then here of recently it was trying to STAY pregnant. This is the furthest she made it and things were looking good, till yesterday. She went to the bathroom and knew then. By the time she got to the hospital she was in full labor and there was nothing they could do. She delivered him @ 630PM and he was fully formed and alive. So very very sad. I just get tears in my eyes again.
So if you are a happy clapper kind of person, would you mind saying a prayer for 'Jill' that she would be able to grieve the loss of her baby and find the strength to carry one.
God be with you Jill and hubby!!

Better Then Sex Cake

How many of you have heard of this before? I was actually quite surprised my FF-La hadn't!? But maybe they call it something different. Anyway, it's a baked devils food cake, then you poke holes in it with a wooden spoon handle and pour:
Sweet & Condensed Milk
Miss Richardson Carmel
Spread with whip cream and top it off with crunched up Heath Bars.
OH MY GOSH DELICIOUS!! I have now made 4 cakes in the last 3 weeks. BUT only 2 have stayed here and the LAST one, well i think i ate over HALF of it and it's all on my rear. I told myself yesterday 'I really really REALLY shouldn't but i just have to, have to, HAVE TO!!' and darn it, it was DELICIOUS!!

The best part is the longer it sits, the better it gets. It sits in that Carmel and Sweet & Condensed Milk and just gets gooey yummy. I really should have taken a picture of it with a piece out.
So here's some pictures and if you'd like more detailed recipe, let me know! (wow that picture doesn't do it justice. Especially my attempt at putting chocolate on top?! Skip that part or do it better then i did:)
Now go make one, you'll love every bite of it!!

Oh and here we are @ Thanksgiving. Sorry for the untrimmed window and deck doors, in the back ground. That will all be changing in the months to come as we have hired a contractor to trim out the kitchen, put new storms in the only 2 remaining original windows AND sheet rock the entire garage! Oh happy day!!

y

The Advent Conspiracy

A video for your watching! The Advent Conspiracy
Hmm just got home from some power shopping with FF-S. I did put money in the bell ringers pot!!

Sorry for being absent. Thanksgiving kind of threw me for a loop. We had my family (sister, BIL, niece, my parents, my g'father, and then DH's parents) here. It went considerably well. Late that afternoon the kids and I headed up to my hometown where we went to my G'parents for supper. DH stayed behind b/c they are still harvesting corn and he had to work the next day.

I did not partake in any early AM shopping the day after Thanksgiving. The only thing I did was run to Bomgaars and picked up a couple things there. My mom stayed with the kids at there place. Did any of you go shopping early? Divulge your finds and what it was like?

I had a purse sale on Saturday that didn't go well at all. So disappointing when you work so hard and it fizzles on you. I would really like to have very little inventory heading in to Christmas and the New Year. I've emailed a couple people about hosting a BOGO sale so hopefully one of them will do it.

My secret/surprise has leaked to a couple people. See I'm so horrible at it. But i must wait just a couple more days before sharing b/c then I'll want to play and imagine even more.

Oh Miss A has been doing better with the sleeping and fits. I'm telling you all, 2 weeks ago was truly one of the worst weeks for me. I can't remember having that bad of a week in like ages!? Maybe since IVF? But even that was just days, not weeks. OK maybe it was years. Things are looking better and I've found a couple things that have worked. Like last night when she woke up and wanted the light on and I told her no. Since I hadn't gotten in bed yet, I was ready to battle. I told her she was going to sleep in the basement if she was going to keep screaming. She did. So i took her downstairs, thru the entire house (it's a long ways to the basement) and by the time we got 1/2 way down the stairs she told me she wouldn't fuss anymore.

And guess what?? I laid her back in her bed and didn't hear a peep out of her till 630AM. So yeah, it may have worked this time and next time it may not, who knows.

C'man is done with his binkies it would appear. On T'giving I gave them a Thomas Ball Pit thing to play in. All THREE kids (mine and niece JoJo) and we said no more binky now. I had been telling him no more binky when he turned 4, but now he tells me he is 4. (not till 12-13) So I guess he wants to be 4. The other day I sat here at the computer listening to him and Miss A play and I heard him say 'you want to go to school 'A'? I'll have to talk to mommy'

He came and asked me and I told him what I'd been telling him. You have to be 4 and no more binkies.

He went back and said 'Mommy say you have to be 4 and no binkies, just like me.' There ended that conversation.

Pre Thanksgiving

Just a quick post as I'm busy preparing for T'giving. My parents, DH's parents, my sister and her family and my grandfather are all coming over tomorrow. My sister is supposed to be coming down this evening but JoJo has hockey till 530!! That would put them here @ the kids bed time. I told her I'd have them in bed before she came. I don't think she was to found of that idea but if i kept them up till 830/9 that means they'd be up till 10! I don't want that right before a big day on Thursday. So will see.

No I'm not cooking the turkey, leaving that to my parents. I think just getting this house ready is enough for me. I am making a pie, green bean casserole, corn from our sweet corn patch and a salad. I'm sure there's more but that's all my weary mind can think of.

C'man is running around the house while i type this, with a string and Sally Bellie chasing it. Cute listening to him squeal. That cat is the most easy going cat one could ask for. Doesn't come in very often but when she does she is just great with the kids. Letting them lay on her, drag her by the tail, and just purrs and purrs.

Here's a picture of the 3 of them. This was actually taken by our lovely babysitter.

In other news the kitchen table is up and functioning. I went to pick up just the chairs yesterday and DH would get the table later. I casually asked the guy if i could hire him to put it all together. By the time I got home he'd left a message on our answering machine and said he'd do it for $100 and then he'd just bring the table with him. HIRED!!

So he was out last night putting that together, DH was glad we paid him to do it. He even asked if $100 was enough. I whispered, just write the check:)

Must go C'man just had a run in with some toys I've told him to pick up, he tripped AND now Miss A is awake. Grrrrrr

Surprises-Like 'Em??

I think I should take a poll. Although in the past people aren't voting, so this time you really should. I'll see if I can get that working.
Me? NOPE. When it comes to surprises such as the Christmas gifts we've been getting for the kids, I can not tell you how hard it is to keep it hidden till Christmas. This is why I can't shop till the last minute b/c then everyone would have there gifts with in a day of me buying them!
Or if you say 'I know a surprise, or know something' I'll beat you up till you disclose. OK well not literally. DH has learned he can torment the crap out of me by saying 'I got you a surprise!'
Don't tell me if you're preparing a surprise party for someone, unless I won't be seeing them till the party. I can also detect surprises. If I think a surprise is coming I'll work my darnest to figure it out. Aren't I just a lot of fun.
OH but NJ-LA got me. She surprised me by showing up for a baby shower. EVERYONE knew accept DH and I! They did so good keeping it. WOW. I wish I could surprise someone like that but I just wouldn't be able to contain my excitement.
Last night we had our annual harvest festival which included supper and then an auction of goods. For instance, I brought my canned peaches, cinnamon pears, apples and apple butter. My peaches and pears brought $17! EACH!! Where I'm going with this is there were a couple mystery packages up there. I just had to have it and not only did i get one, but I had to open it right then and there!!
Now I have another surprise too, but I'm going to keep this one till I can't anymore. I don't think it should be hard to keep and I'm going to see how you all handle surprises. Probably harder via the computer world vs in real life (IRL).

Momma Said....

There'd be days like this!
Boy she wasn't lying, but what about weeks??
This week has been HELL!! I'm going to just start within the last 5 hours. Miss A has been CRABBY! She cries all the time, screams, fights with brother, and is just a HUGE PITA!! I finally thru my arms up at 915AM and called the doc. She's had a cold all week i thought maybe her ears are bothering her. They wanted me to come in one hour. No problem we're coming. WELL NOTHING other then a cold is wrong with her. Ears fine, throat fine, drainage yes but she'll get over it. I talked to the Ped. about how frustrated I am with her. Nothing works. She has such a temper, she throws everything when she's mad. You can rationalize with her (OK i know what 2 year old CAN you rationalize with!?) She's been up most the night this last week and I'm just up to here with it.
I asked about OT (occupational therapy), ADHD, Autism, psychologist, whatever just something to help me with her. The response was can't test for ADHD and Autism till they are 6, why do you want a psychologist? and have you read any books. I have researched ADHD and not really seeing it in her!?
I was prepared for this response and i proceeded with I'm just so frustrated and I'm looking for answers/solutions. Maybe she's just strong willed but i need to talk with someone how to handle it. I have the books, great ones but I'm totally lost right now and am on the verge of a mental breakdown!
She concluded with I think shes just strong willed and you had an easy 2 year old with your son you'll weather thru it.
Now please pay $95 and no we don't give discounts for private pay.
Am i shocked, no. I knew they wouldn't do anything for her cold. I was just praying that maybe her ears hurt resulting in the very crabby behavior.
Oh i guess she did suggest getting her in a playgroup, needs more social interaction. Well I'm beginning to think i need to take her somewhere once a week for the AM.
On the way home she screamed the last 20 min b/c i took her glass away which was filled with water. She even peed in her car seat. I cried. No i bawled.
DH has been gone every night this week, even all day. The last 3 days he's gone before the kids get up and home after they are in bed. I get them up, feed them 3 meals, bath, put them to bed and try to keep things orderly around here. Of WHICH my dryer is still not fixed. I got in there and did as much cleaning of lent as I could and am now waiting for a repair man to come look at it. I think it's going to be fine after cleaning it out, but i just need it fixed.
Finally just called someone to do it b/c there's no telling when DH would get to it. His solution is to take it to his parents. Oh yes doesn't THAT sound like fun to haul wet laundry, 2 cross kids and an even crabbier mother to dry laundry b/c he is to busy to fix it.
NADA!!!
So there you have it. I'm just going to stop here as I'll just get more worked up. If you have any words of wisdom please pass it on. Don't be harsh with me, I'm not in the mood to deal with it. Any other parents out there that can relate to this???

Was God trying to tell us something? We bought that new kitchen table and couch and in a matter of 24 hours my dryer literally starts smoking and DH finds out he has to come up with a LARGE amount of money, by the end of the month ,for taxes on an estate. LOVELY!! This happens every time. When we bought our van something happened too, can't remember what, but it did.
The stupid dryer sometimes smells smoky but not for long. Well last night it smelled HORRIBLE. I opened it and a poof of smoke came out and the place smelled like a burning building. I called FIL to come figure out what to do. He came right over but proceeded to tell me over and over about the time there dryer wasn't drying and he took the entire thing a part. Couldn't find anything wrong, heating element was fine, etc. So he puts it back together only to find out as he was screwing in the LAST SCREW, that one of the g'daughters had put it on air fluff!!! I laughed. That was good!
So yes, DH thought it would be OK after i cleaned out the lent hose that goes from the dryer outside!? but i just looked inside the dryer again and it reeks. Needless to say the clothes that were in there I've had to wash 3 times to get that awful smell out. It's done for, now i have no dryer.
What to do, buy a cheap one? But a new one that I'd really like? Do we buy a washing machine too? Sometimes the deals are better!? What do you all recommend?
Oh and did i mention too that we hired a contractor to put in storms over the only 2 original windows in the house, trim out the kitchen AND sheet rock the garage ceiling??? Yeah, lovely! Sheet rock is being delivered Friday. I cleaned the garage out as good as i could stand too this afternoon. It sucked. The kids have to many toys, the cats have made havoc in there, and recycling has over taken our garage. I made a pile of 'free' stuff and have listed it on websites in attempt to get it out. I don't care if i get nothing for it, i want it out!!

I think my MIL may never....

Watch the kids again! Remember how yesterday I posted about the kitchen table we were getting. Well DH and I went to go pick it out, and look at couches, so MIL watched the kids while we made a quick trip.

Once at the store and having found our table, and a new couch,

we called G'ma to see how it was going. DH did, and all I heard was oh, ohhhh, hmmmm, and i thought oh boy they are being dirty little rascals. That was an understatement. My MIL said they were HORRIBLE. I called back later as the paying, picking up, details was taking FOREVER, and she told me that Miss A had the worst fit she'd ever seen. (i thought yeah, now you see what i deal with) It started by C'man throwing her toy over the gate, then her kicking, screaming, hitting, and that would be all the way upstairs as g'ma put her up there to cool off. Then she started destroying the room. I had to just chuckle b/c when we got home MIL was upstairs with the kids (this was at 910PM) and the crib was in the middle of the room and MIL said I had to do that or who knows she'd had pulled the curtains down and I'm surprised the crib is still standing.

I said she her name up on the wall?? Notice the 'S' is missing, well it got broke in one of her fits of rage.

WE told them how disappointed we were in there behavior and they said sorry and gave g'ma all sorts of hugs. She really just wanted to get home. I could hardly blame her. She left exhausted and defeated. Poor lady. I felt so bad and was so cross with my kids. there behavior was 100% unacceptable and I don't think G'ma will be wanting to babysit/watch these kids for a very long time.

Which One?

We are getting a new kitchen table. Need help on deciding on which one. They are the same color even tho the picture makes it look like they are not. OK nevermind. DH

and I decided on this one. Now i'm on the phone working with the sales lady on the phone right now!

While I Wait

Sorry no deep thought behind that title. Just waiting for my FIL to bring back my boy. C'man is hanging out with daddy and papa at the farm. One would not believe the love my FIL has for C'man and Miss A. It really moves me to tears to see this man who really didn't have a lot to do with his own kids, till they were old enough to work, enjoy our kids so much. Don't read to far in to that last statement. I know without a doubt he loves his boys, just was, still isn't, big in to the saying I love you, hugs, holding, etc. But if you saw C'man and Papa interact with one another you'd be amazed. I think one of the coolest things to date, that Papa and C'man did was this late Summer, early Fall, they put up a new fence together. I'm sure C'man told papa how to do it as I've been told in great depth how to build a fence by him. But i bet the dialogue was flowing b/w the two them at a very rapid and hilarious pace.
But i think back to what my FIL said. He remembers decades ago building that same fence with his father and now C'man helped him build the new one. They both are very proud of this tender moment they got to share. I can hear it in 10+ years' riding by that fence and saying 'remember when you helped papa build that fence?' Those are the kind of memories i want to create b/w my kids and there g'parents.
Oh and recently papa has started pulling on Miss A's hair, or when she has piggies in he gives them a whirl. All little actions he does to express his love for those kids. Miss A loves hanging out with papa too b/c he gives her whatever food she wants to keep her quite LOL.
Well since starting this Papa has dropped off a very crabby C'man. DH just came home as it has started to rain. Further delaying harvesting. VERY frustrating for the farmer.
So share your kids, or your own, relationship with G'parents! Any fond memories?

Have You??

I'm editing this b/c when i looked at it the things i've done didn't show up in bold!!

I found this on another blog and thought it would be fun. I do like to do these kind of things, when time allows. So here's how it works. Copy and paste this and then bold the things you've done. Leave a comment here a long with a link to your blog for us to see your answers. (plus get more people on your blog)
If you do not have a blog, post your responses in the comments or email me them!

Here it is:
Have you?
Bold the things you’ve done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower-the night C'man was born there was one on the way home from the hospitol
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (both)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang/played a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty-Im not sure if we ever made it to the top but been there many of times
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping-Lake Michigan with my friends when we nannied. What memories. Especially when the cops showed up:) My friend amy had her underwear on backwards lol
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run-i kicked on in kick ball:)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma-once but i passed out
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check-oops
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating-no Sarah Palin here!
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club-i have the intentions of doing this!!
93. Lost a loved one
94. Make a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

ok now it's your turn!!! Remember to link to your blog!!

Farm Life In The Fall

I realized I haven't given any posts to harvesting. Tis that time of the year here, where the farmers are busy busy! Here is pictures of DH's 'life' the last couple weeks and the next couple weeks. Luckily this combine has a buddy seat where C'man, Miss A, or myself can comfortably sit!

I did manage a quick ride this past Sunday before a purse party I had. Here are some shots of that. Note the 'dress' clothes and not my regular hanging out going no where clothing:) C'man just LOVES playing farmer or rather being daddy's assistance. He has the answers for everything/ He can not wait to ride with daddy however after just a couple 'rounds' he usually is falling asleep. Me on the other hand, I had to get out after 15 min. I was getting sick from all the jerking, turning around, bumps, etc. Just the other day i rode again on longer rows and was much better.

Here we are waiting for daddy to come back. I was in here all of .5 seconds and we picked up a rock causing DH to fix something?? We were left to entertain ourselves:)

Here then is a video of the process. Sorry for my annoying voice:) But it does give you an idea of how it works. The beeping horn noise is caused when the head goes down to go thru the corn. Lots of alarms, horns, bells and well whistles on this combine. All sorts of gadgets that register moisture, yield and who knows what else!

Miss A does like to ride too. She often is napping when C'man gets to do most of his riding. But this past week all 4 of us got to go for a ride. Here she is in all her glory.

I think that about sums it up:) Questions? comments? Thoughts?

Really? No Comments

OK so i have this tracker thing on here and my 'hits' today is about triple then normal. But no comments. Not sure if that means you'd rather not waste your energy by responding or just as soon keep your thoughts to yourself. Not that I want a war of words/posts, but I'm curious what brought you over here? Was is a comment I left on another blog? Do you stop in from time to time b/c either you know me or happened upon my blog?

In weather news, isn't it just amazing how I can jump from one subject to another!?, we had a Tornado Warning right here by me!! Yes it's November and we had tornado warnings! Doppler indicated, but none the less. It was when the kids and I were sitting down to eat supper. It was so dark out it was hard to see what was going on. Had to look when the sky would light up. Called DH who was feverishly putting farm equipment away, wondering what we should do. Well I would have went to the basement but you know, I didn't want our supper to get cold:) just kidding. Here's the forecast for here! Check out the temp for today (wednesday) to Thursday!!
Wednesday: Hi 75 FLo 60 F Strong storms possible
Thursday:Hi 45 FLo 45 F Chilly showers
Friday: Hi 35 FLo 31 F Light snow possible
Saturday: Hi 36 FLo 25 Flurries?
Sunday: Hi 37 FLo 24 Flurries?
Monday: Hi 40 FLo 24


Full circle here, back to election results. I've gotten many great emails from people in response to what we're up against. I ask people like 'Doc' to comment. Or BFF-E who is a teacher that voted for McCain and sent an email very concerned about our future. What about you out there? I know there are readers out there that voted McCain (Karon) tell me what's on your mind right now.

Mommy Are We In Trouble?

That was the question C'man asked me today while eating lunch and listening to the news. Of course all over the news is the news of Obama becoming our new President. God help us all. I can see that I'm getting lots of 'hits' today and I'm assuming everyone is waiting for my response to this all. I'm not going to go on and on, you all know how i feel.
I can't say I'm shocked by the news, really I'm not. I'd like to see a birth certificate first and then bring the change on I guess. Us Christians out there need to be on our knees! Especially when it comes to abortion. I'm shocked by the number of 'Christians' that are so pro life but yet vote Dem. How in the WORLD does that work?? Or all the families out there unable to have kids and want to adopt. You think that's going to get any easier now?
OK I'm going on and on and I said i wouldn't. I'd better go stand at my mailbox waiting for my $$ to come! I think I can make money now being a stay at home mom!!
Get on your knees those who believe in prayer. We're going to need it!! (regardless of who won. we'd need prayers, but when it comes to abortion and gay marriage, this president is going to go all out!)

Election Day 2008

It's here!! If you had to read my blog to realize that, well then you've been living under a rock! I hope each and every one of you who can vote, have voted. I went this AM @ 9. I dropped the kids off at my FF-S's house and headed to town. I drove 18 miles to vote! I can't believe the 2 towns closest to me are 4 miles and I had to drive 18 miles. But yeah, we are on the way end of our township. No ID was required. I'm sorry I don't care if you know me, ID should still be required!

I was in and out in 15 min, max! If I'd voted straight Republican I'd had been done in one min. But nope, I wanted to fill in each bubble for each of the people running for office that i wanted.

I then ran some errands before coming back to FF-S house and watching all the kids so she could vote. While she was gone, I carved 2 pumpkins. HUGE pumpkins. The kids were supposed to help, note the 'supposed' to. I ended up doing it myself and now i have a bowl full of seeds that I'll be roasting. here's the recipe I'm going to use to roast pumpkin seeds. And just like the little hen who did all the work to bake the bread, well the same will hold true for the pumpkin seeds. LOL! Ok I'll share....

Windy as all heck can be around here. I walk outside and darn near get slapped in the face with cornstalks! It's dangerous. BUT it's beautiful as far as temp. The last couple days have been mid to upper 70's!!!! so NOT November.

Alright my friends. Get out there and vote! John McCain/Sara Palin too!! I'm off to an election party tonight for our Congressman. It doesn't start till 730pm and FF-S is coming with me. I'm really looking forward to it. Four years ago when I went it was a very late night!

I hope the next time i write I'm not saying our new President is Obama but I'm fearful that could happen. I'm fearful even more so, what's going to become of this country! i hope we're ready to fight war on our own grounds b/c that's what's going to happen!

Oh lets end this on a fun note, pictures of the kids from Halloween!

The lion trying to

kids the unicorn:)

Lame Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday (Thursday) i decided after nap time, to take the kids to a pumpkin patch. We were just going to go to one near by and meet up with my parents for supper. Well it was a complete bust. Actually the kids really didn't care but i didn't even feel safe there. Granted the corn maze was all blown over after the hurricane gusts winds we had a couple days ago, it just was not enjoyable.

Both kids are scared of anything and everything. Aside from the pumpkins, which some can scare C'man, they just don't like it. C'man is totally freaked out and Miss A is too b/c he is. Here's a video clip of us in the corn maze.






Today we will go trick or treating. I don't like Halloween either, but it's what kids do. Miss A will have a blast. Here she is trying on her costume this AM:

C'man is 'supposed' to be a lion, the same one he was last year. But i truly don't think he'll get near the thing. I suspect he'll stay in the car while Miss A and I go around. No amount of candy will get him going I'm afraid. Poor child.

And then, at the risk of loosing whatever i can loose by doing this, and at the request of umm..a certain SOMEONE, no names, TIM, I'm posting the video of the afternoon we had a mouse in the house. But first let me say, a mouse in the house, on a farm, is not an unheard of occurrence. They get in thru the tinest holes. I don't set traps (DH's job) b/c if they go off I'll scream so loud you'll hear me where ever you're reading this. BUT i will use a sticky trap. Taren't the best of options b/c the mouse can still get away with that thing stuck to them. With the help of Kdee 'aka' Fat Dog, we caught the damn thing. C'man was no help. There he stood on the chair telling me to get it. After i caught it it was still alive and hanging by its tail, i showed C'man. Now you can watch the video. Now seriously you all HAVE to leave a comment after this. I'm baring my messy house, the rodent in my house, and me freaking out. That ought to warrant something, besides my arrest, right?? Happy watching!!

I'm sorry i can't get this video downloaded. I already had it downloaded prior to trying here. So here's the url and you'll just need to copy and past it into your browser. Trust me it'll be worth it.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5941121039314279266&hl=en

Why I'm Voting....

McCain/Palin. Yeah i know, should come as no surprise and took little, no no thought, at all. And here's why you should: (if you don't care to read this scroll down to the bottom, kid talk there)
Are you pro-life? do you believe and unborn child should not be at the mercy of his mother who made a choice to have unprotected sex. Yes i realize there is the rape/incest side of this too and that is just horrible. Makes me just want to vomit right here. I'd like to see percentages of abortions that are a result of incest vs just not wanting a child. Of course those % could be totally off b/c saying you were raped is an easy way out of a poor decision.
Gay Marriage. I don't care what anyone says God did not plan to have marriage b/w a man and a man, women and women, and on and on. Marriage is b/w a man and women PERIOD! I could go in to great depth on this one, but lets leave it at that.
Supreme Court Justice appointments. Do you want more liberal judges appointed to the courts? This country was found on the constitution. Don't want that anymore? Well here come in liberal judges to change that. I'm not saying we need all of them to be conservative, but we need to level out the playing field here.
Ahh yes the war. Who likes war? There is know one else I'd rather have as commander and chief then JMC. He has walked the walk. We leave this war in a couple months and we are opening up our country to an all out war. And I'm not talking on someone else's turf. Right here in our country will be war. Our national security will be compromised more then will ever be able to imagine. It's sad enough that our kids will grow up not remembering the 'good ol' days' when you could board a plane with a nail clipper, or pocket knife. But what will be coming there way if we walk/quit now. Frightening. I'm not sure what the answers are, i leave that to others far more knowledgeable then me, but we need to fight this fight. Finish what we started. We lost far to many lives to walk out now.
And one final thought if O'bama thinks he won this election, WHY on earth did he spend millions and millions on TV last night!? REALLY? you think this is right Mr Obama? Our economy is where it is and you think it's ok to pour money in to TV ads? IF you get elected why don't you take that money and put in to the economy? Put it in there now!

My disclaimer, if any comments (HAHA) should result from this i do have the right to delete them. I welcome your opinions and thought, JMC or O'bama but remember this i my blog:) hehehe got to go get my coffee now. I did this with NO caffeine even.

OH and politics aside. FINALLY taking the kids to a pumpkin patch today. Nothing great but they don't know any better so it'll be wonderful for them. DH is harvesting to it'll just be the kids and I. We are then meeting my parents and going out for supper. the kids get there Halloween presents. May be the only thing C'man gets as he is still deathly scared. Went to story hour at our local library and mid thru the book there was a ghost, witch, or something and he screamed and hid behind me. Actually everyone jumped after that incident.
I'm also happy to note that bedtime has been going better. May i tell you why?? DH isn't helping. I swear those kids have him wrapped on round his finger! You have to go potty? ok come on. You need a drink you say? OK lets get one! You want another book? Why I'd LOVE to!
Get out get out!!! I said. I'm in charge again. They've been going to bed much calmer. No 45 min of screaming from Miss A. IF C'man gets out of bed, i walk him back to his bed saying not a word. He even takes my hand. He knows! It's working quite well.
ACCEPT last night when Miss A nicely went to sleep and woke up when we went up to bed. DH went in there to see her. WRONG WRONG!! Needless to say we were up till 11-1130 with her. I was not happy one bit. In fact I'm not even sure what time she fell asleep. DH went in her room and sat in the rocking chair not saying a word. This was after she spent 30+min in bed with us.
Anyway, beautiful weather here. I got the garage cleaned out yesterday and it looks better, still needs so much done to it. I'm in contact with some kid that is looking for jobs during breaks at college. Hoping he'll insulate our ceiling and if he knows how to sheet rock, he can do that too. We have this beautiful garage with heated floors and it looks like crap in there.
I'm off now to get my cup(s) of Jo! Farewell my blog reader friends! Do drop in an leave comments. I see people coming over and getting more comments. Keep them coming!!
Peace out and VOTE JMC/PALIN!!!!!!!!!

Calling Nanny Stella.....

Do any of you watch this show? I do! And I'm trying to put what i learn to the test. AND IT'S NOT WORKING!!! I'm about to send in a video, call, whatever to get on the dang show. My kids used to be so good going to bed at night. Miss A you'd just lay down, with the light, fan and some music on, and before you'd hit the bottom step she'd be out. Mr. C'man-brush teeth, potty, pray & and book and a couple more minutes of the light on and he'd be out. He has struggled a little more with the bed time but Miss A, OH MY GOSH!

She screams now, she yells 'POTTY', and throws things out of her crib, oh wait she HUCK'S things out. I found a sippy across the room last night. Last night I decided (DH is asleep on in the chair and hears none of it-that selective hearing thing, any men out there want to tell me how I can get that??) to let her cry it out. Scream all you want child. Throw everything out go right on ahead. This is going to get nipped in the butt (is it bud??) right now. It was 45 min. of screaming! I finally went in there, gave her binky back, saying not a word, and left. She was exhausted i think.

With C'man the other night I caught him out of bed and i simply went up there, took him by the arm placed him back in bed and left. Careful to not say a word. IT WORKED! I think he was like hmm wonder why she's not talking or looking at me??

With both of them I'm trying the chart where they get a smiley face for going to bed good, and when they get 5 of them they get a prize. C'man doesn't want a smiley face, he wants a sad face!? I think on this one I'm going to have to actually get the 'prize' and show it to them letting them know they don't get it till they get 5 faces, whatever face they have.

So yes I'm thinking i need to buy a book or there help. I'll keep working at it and from watching the shows, it seems the crying fits usually get shorter each night. I hope so, like by 15 min increments please!

Remember to get out and vote! If you're undecided?? Get the information you need to educate yourself on the candidates and do it quick!

BFF's HEART McCain/Palin

Yes that was a sign I made today when BFF-S and I went to see Gov Palin speak. We couldn't be there at the butt crack of dawn to get really good seats. BUT we did get there by 945?? and there were 100's of people in line already. But we stood there and waited. We ended up sitting in over flow which was a school auditorium. While standing in line a gentleman selling bumper stickers said that in Omaha she came in and talked to the over flow. Well she did!! it was worth every minute waiting for her. Especially since there were only @ 250-300 of us there, maybe not even that many. WE could have shook hands with her if we wanted to. I was more focused on getting a good picture of her. Of which i had NO freakin luck. I HATE this camera I have. Please, if you have a really good camera, that's small, tell me what it is. I've had it. Can ya tell I'm pretty cross with it.

So yeah, it was great listening to her although i think her speech wasn't as polished as past ones I've heard on TV. She seemed like maybe she just got a new stump speech, or new information added to it?? just seemed a little off on a couple parts. Of course i don't know how she does what she does. I'd probably forget what I was running for. While I don't mind speaking in front of people i do have a tendency to forget things if they aren't written down:) But at any rate, she is just as amazing in person as she is on TV. Little Piper was with her and she couldn't wait to speak in to the mic. Here's video of it

So yeah we got to hear her in person and it was great. It would have been nice to be in the gym where all the action was, on stage maybe?! but we just couldn't get there any earlier with 5 kids we had to find sitters for.

Altho when Bush was in town 4 years ago I got to be on stage and shook his hand and Laura's. That was pretty neat and got some great pictures.

BFF-S and I got t-shirts and wearing them proudly. We had 6 hours of alone time with one another that was greatly appreciated. Afterwards we ate at a favorite Mexican Restaurant of mine and ended up giving 2 of the workers something to think about when they told me 'Obama'. I got a picture of C'man out and said let me quickly tell you how he came in to my life. His BM was going to abort. O'bama has made no attempts at even stopping partial birth abortions. Think my friend (sound like JMC saying that) of that unborn child when you go to vote. Think of that chance that they will never have to partake in such an honor (voting) if there mother chooses abortion.

The one worker looked like he was about to cry and the other said 'ya know I never thought of the abortion side of this election' YEAH think about the judges that will be appointed if O'bama gets in. Put the economy aside and think of where this nation will go. Forget about CHANGE for gosh sakes. We're going to get change regardless of who's in office. But change is all you'll have left for working as hard as you are if you vote O'bama. Wanna keep working your bum off so you can spread your wealth for those that don't want to work??