Two sick Babies Today

My two oldest babies are sick today, Andrew and Kate. Not totally sick, just sniffle /cough sick. I secretly love it. Last night when Andrew announced that his chest hurt and and his throat hurt I knew there would be no school today. I for one enjoy no school days. I was pulling Kate's hair out of her face and I felt her forehead and it was warm. After taking her temperature I realized she had a slight fever. When I said "Kate you have a fever" She said "Oh good fevers mean PJs and cartoons!" Exactly. No one wishes illness on their kids. There are different levels of illness. Clearly I would be in the utter depths of hell if the two of them were puking, but a little lethargy and fever means snuggling, eating Popsicles, watching cartoons, plus they are a little too under the weather to fight so they just contentedly lay together in Popsicle heaven. Yes I am weird. I love caring for people, I love my kids all together, and I love lazy snugly days. They are feeling OK medicated and are in no real discomfort so I feel less guilty uttering this bizarre confession. Please don't call CPS, LOL. I will not be so thrilled if I then catch this bug and am caring for three healthy kids while feeling under the weather. There will be no cartoon watching popsicle heaven for me.

Settling down a little

Well, I still have not actually talked to anyone about this little bun in the oven other than my hubby. I find it amazing that in our least amorous month in our marriage a baby was conceived, amazing. My husband has taken good care of me because my back went out the very day we realized we are expecting. He has been so good to me. He is faking excitement perfectly, LOL. He was very enthusiastic when I told him. He says he is excited and I partially believe him. He never in his wildest dreams thought he would be he father of four. It is not such a stretch for me as I grew up with three sisters. He grew up in a divorced family with one sister. Very quiet, very boring. Our house is anything but boring. I pray for strength to do what I know the Lord is asking of me. I know he has given me this beautiful job of bringing up these children so that they add more to this world than they take. I can do it, I will do it and God will provide.

Most Shocking Fiday of my Life!

#4?????????

Oh Dear God!!

So Many Changes around here!

Boy, life has really changed around our house! My husband and I have been working hard at becoming reconnected. With three small kids, a demanding job, the holidays, some health problems, it can really do a number on a relationship! I am happy to report that we are finding our way back to one another. Without giving too much info, because no one wants to know THAT much about our relationship, last night I rediscovered that my husband is a fabulous kisser. I have not given him the opportunity to show me in the last month or so. Last night he suggested that we just turn in early to snuggle in bed and watch TV and I let him kiss me and it was fabulous! That is all I will say so anyone reading does not lose their lunch :)

Another change is the fore mentioned shrinking of thine butt. That is going OK. I have been doing some cardio. Well, I have used my elliptical twice this week and started using the Wii fit for about thirty minutes the last two days. It is fun, not sure it does a whole lot. According to the scale on there I have gained 7 lbs since I was on it last August. Crap. Nothing I did not know though. I can feel it. I am not going to pretend that I am going to be some skinny mini but I am going to increase my activity level and see what happens. I also am going to try eating like three treats a week, not three treats a day. Food is a drug for me. It just makes me happy :) So I am in drug withdrawals right now. Maybe I will try making out with my hubby every night instead of indulging in a brownie or cookie, or whatever.

We are also on a spending freeze of sorts. The Target store is my other drug of choice so I am avoiding my frivolous spending there in order to not spend every month more than we make. Makes sense, right? Well that logic is simple but it is HARD. For instance last night I wanted so badly to just run to Jimmy John's for subs for convenience sake but I made dinner instead. I made sloppy joes (not from the can) which do not help shrink the butt, however, it does save us some $$$. Too many changes at once. I cannot try saving money, give up snacking, plus cooking low fat dinners every night. I am going to try starting small and when this gets easier than add the healthier eating thing.

Resolving to Shrink my Butt

I am going to shrink this year. That is my resolution. I told my six year old I was going to start exercising and he said "Because you're chubby mom?" I said "oh am I?" He replied "Ya, but you know, chubby is cute!" He will make a good husband someday. My two year old loves grabbing the muffin top thing that sticks out of the top of my pants when my sweater rides up. As if I needed it actually physically manipulated to draw attention to it. But on the other hand, these little reminders keep me from living in a world of make believe. You see, I have the opposite of what many anorexics have. You know that body dismorphic disorder that makes an eighty pound anorexic woman see a fat woman when she looks in the mirror? When I look in the mirror and there is a 158 lb woman staring back I actually see a 130 lb woman. I am like "Damn, I should go eat another brownie before I waste away!" So my kids are allowing me to see what everyone else sees :) I have started using the elliptical 12 minutes a day, doing twenty four push ups a day, and some core strengthening excersises. I could go longer on the elliptical but I get ADD and get insanely bored and ready to move on to something else. It has to be better than nothing, right?

Christpher and I

I have taken a hiatus from my marrital bliss. I have checked out a little this last month and need to find my way back to my love. I know now that every marriage has a series of highs and lows. I remember being shocked by this when I was first married. I was 23 and thought it was a constant romantic, sexy marathon. Boy was I wrong. It is WORK. It is committment. Sometimes you are alone in your committment because your partner is not on board. I am that partner this month. I have worn a sign that says "stay far away" around my neck. Not literally but if you asked my husband he would say he can read it, LOL. How do you find your way back? I know the obvious, take a long weekend away. Well, that is not going to happen. I guess it has to start small. I will allow him within inches of me and we will start there. I know it is some wierd hormonal thing going on. This is unusual for us as we are rather, ahem, rather fond of one another. Hmmm...we shall see

January

January, I do not like you. I dont like waking up to your cold dark mornings. I don't like having to pack all three kids up in the cold car in their footed jammies while in my slippers to bring Andrew to school two blocks away because it is too cold for Andrew to walk to school. You do this to us. The kids fuss, the car is cold, the parking lot is icy. Not to mention it is dark at 4:30. Your late afternoon sun is spectacular and does leave a beautiful glow throughout the western side of my house but 4:30? What's the hurry? Your sun drops beneath the horizon as soon as I realize it is setting. Barely enough time to enjoy the way my bedroom feels cozy and romantic. Besides, my lover is working that hour and he is not here to revel in the way the light casts a flattering glow on my face so what is the point?

Not a plant can grow, there are no fresh veggies or herbs so my passion for fresh fragrant food is dashed. My window boxes are only there to collect snow and are barron of my bright coleus and begonias. Where have my neighbors gone? What have you done with them? My front yard was a great social destination for all of them and now it is too cold to get the mail let alone stand and gossip. I see the glow from their living room lights so I know they are in there but where?

Don't even get me started on the porch. Here I stare at a gorgeous, screened in porch that hosted wine gatherings, evening talks with my lover, lunches with my three best little people, sunsets, cool breezes. Now it is an empty, lonely, icy storage place for some furniture, and a step ladder. It is a tease to say the least.

I know I have to get through the next coming weeks and then your cousin February will be here. At least she brings chocolate hearts and a birthday celebration for our soon to be five year old Kate. But do not fret, she too will be hearing from me.