Tooth Fairy

Soo... I may or may not be a terrible mother who forgot for like a month... or more (I've honestly lost track it's been so long) to "tooth fairy" Ira's last tooth he lost.  He has for several months known that I am the tooth fairy (He even told Andy, "Dad, did you know Mom is the Tooth Fairy?!")  but, just like with Santa Claus (who he bluntly told RUBY was fake this year... thanks a lot...) confuses me with how exactly that works out in his big honkin' brain.  He does this thing where he still acts like he believes.  And he's good at it.  Too good.  So much so that I don't really think he's acting.  Because I'll unapologetically admit the kid can't lie to save his life so I don't think he could  so convincingly pull off "fake believing."  Does that make any sense?   Because it doesn't for me.... I don't know what reality he has created for himself where he knows, in fact, that his parents are aforementioned mythical figures, but then still wholeheartedly lives as though they are real... I don't know... it boggles my mind.

Sooooooo...... anyway... He finally decided last night (after he had to have a tooth pulled at the dentist yesterday) that he was going to write a note to the tooth fairy.

And the tooth fairy, having an affinity for imaginary worlds herself, left him this note back:

He was ecstatic.  And said not one word about it being from me... mind. blown.

Then tonight when he went to bed, he wrote her another note:

Oh... My HEART!!!  What a doll!  I'm rather enjoying this fun little conversation with my sweet son!  

To be continued...

Sick of Shopping?

We needed groceries today... in the worst way... the kind where you have no cheese and no bananas and no produce left.  Luckily, I was cognizant of that fact last night, so I made a meal plan and grocery list based off some awesome recipes I found on the Skinny Miss website.  My cousin had shared recipes from this website numerous times on Facebook, but I'd never really poked around on it much.  I am really excited to have found it because all the recipes I looked at were incredibly clean, healthy, well-balanced meals that also didn't cost an arm-and-a-leg to make.  I'll have to share what we think of the recipes.

So first thing this morning, we headed in to do our grocery shopping.  It was a relatively quick trip for us (only 4 stores, only gone from home for 4.5 hours.)  The kids were well behaved and helpful, and as usual, a riot.  (Ruby told the guy at the automotive desk that if the lift crashed down on them, they would get dead - which he found funny enough to go out and share with all the other techs working in the automotive bay.)  And then there's our buddy, Denise, at Aldi.  She always takes the time to talk to the kids.  And then she says to me, "You must drink a lot."  LOL.  I should laugh at that, right?

By the time we were almost home though, I was feeling worse than sick - like someone had stabbed me in the stomach.  Andy'd had the flu the Friday after Christmas, and I'm still not sure whether I have a light touch of that or whether I ate a bad banana (on the way home.)  The kids were dolls and took care of themselves when we got home.  Ira made he and Ruby scrambled eggs for lunch.  And he even came running with an emesis bag when he heard me get sick (we had some left from post-surgery in March that have come in handy...)  They would usually watch movies when I'm sick, but they lost that privilege the other day, so they read and played together quite peacefully until Andy got home.

Ira found a recipe in his Highlights Magazine (a Christmas gift from my parents) that he wanted to make for dinner, so he and Andy tackled it together.  It was delicious and very soothing to my unsettled stomach.  While Andy was finishing up dinner, I snuck out of our room to see what all the ruckus was.  Turns out boredom and a bunch of plastic shopping bags (why can I never remember my reusable ones at Walmart?) are highly entertaining.

Ira said to title this "Let it Snow!"

Then we got the treat of the year when Jimmy's new CD showed up in our email inbox to download as part of our Love Good Music patronage.  He is such a talented guy and a good friend!  We are so thrilled for him to be releasing this CD!  And... it's positively wonderful.  Pain, suffering, redemption, hope, joy... it's all in there, beautifully orchestrated.  For a very limited time, you can get $5 off of the $15 monthly patronage by signing up through our campaign here.  Obviously, I would highly recommend it!

Whew, two days in a row, surely I can't keep this up...

Journey to Omaha I

So it's been awhile.  I've been pondering exactly what I want to say about my trip(s) to Omaha, but I do feel a little compelled to update everyone.  The week leading up to my trip was surely one of the most stressful weeks I've had in I couldn't tell you how long.  In fact, I'm not sure I've ever been so mentally, physically, and emotionally stressed.  I'm going to document it here for "posterity's sake" but if you don't want to read through it all (it's very long) I totally understand.  Otherwise, pull up a chair and a gallon of coffee - you're going to need it!

The original plan (we'll call it Plan A) was for Andy & I to go to Omaha on February 22nd for a baseline ultrasound.  Consult with Dr. Hilgers on Tuesday, Feb. 26th; surgery Feb 27th, Laparoscopy review on Feb 28th, stay for daily sonograms until I ovulated.  We were going to drive our car, stay in a hotel, mom was going to watch the kids.  Simple enough.

Then it became apparent throughout January that my cycle was not going to cooperate with said timeline and I would be ovulating in early to mid February, thus necessitating a trip to Omaha early in the month.  So we had to come up with Plan B: Michelle will drive her car to Omaha by herself (so that Andy doesn't have to take off of as much work) and stay in a hotel.

Then I called on January 31st to schedule the ultrasound series and they said they wanted me to come for my baseline ultrasound on Friday February 8th.  Okay, no problem says I.  It wasn't until I got off the phone that I realized that Feb 8th was just over a week away.  Whoa!  Lot to get ready in a week.  We happily decided that Andy could take one day off of work to go to at least the Friday, Saturday, & Sunday ultrasounds.  Hooray!  We would get to experience the PPVI Institute for the first time together as we had originally hoped!  What a blessed surprise!  Plan C

Monday, February 4th, I had to throw papers (our route of 800 that we do once a month) and do some grocery shopping  and get my oil changed in my car.  Walmart (where we usually get our oil changed) had a 2 hour wait, so I decided to wait until Tuesday or Wednesday to get it changed.  I also called to get in at the Dentist's office to have them look over my crown/jaw that are still hurting immensely.  Not great news there: either my body will just take a long time to heal from the crown, or my nerve might be dying and I'll need a root canal.  Not exactly the simple fix to the pain that I was hoping to be done with before going to Omaha.  Time will tell on that one.  That night as I finished up the laundry in the washer that occasionally leaks increasing amounts of water and went to get it out of the dryer that takes 2-3 cycles to actually get things dry, I said to Andy, "I think we need a new washer and dryer."

Tuesday, February 5th I took my car to the mechanic because it was doing this weird thing where the dome lights just randomly turn on and off after opening a door.  Also, the glove box light randomly goes on and off while I'm driving.  The "service engine soon" light was on as well as the "change engine oil" which had come on shortly after they changed the oil last time.  I figured it was all related and just a weird electrical short.  The car also does this "cutting out" thing like one time every 2-3 weeks where I push on the gas and it hesitates before going.  I thought maybe a plug was fouled.  So Tuesday morning I take the car to the mechanic thinking that they'll run the diagnostic scan, maybe change a fuse and a plug, and I'll be on my way.  Instead, they couldn't look at my car right away so I called my mom to come pick Ruby and I up and we went to Rosary Group with her.  On the way we call my sister (who was 6 days overdue at that point and whom my mom is "on call" for for childcare) to tell her that if she needs mom to call my cell phone.  While at Rosary Group, the mechanic calls on my car.  "Great" thought I - that didn't take long!  And then it was one of those situations where what you're hearing doesn't match up with what you thought you'd hear and it takes your brain a little time to catch up.  "Wait, what?  14 codes... diagnostics alone would cost hundreds... wires... transmission... You mean my car's not fixed?... I'm going to have Andy call you so you can explain all of this to him."  Andy's call back to me confirmed what I suspected.  The car is not worth fixing, we need a new car, and in the words of our mechanic "I wouldn't take it on any trips."  Ohhhhhh.....kay.  So mom & I go pick up my car and decide that it would be wise to rent a car to drive to Omaha.  Scoured the interwebs and a number of coupon sources, found a good deal on a car and secured a rental for our trip for a week with the option to extend.  Plan D  Looks like we'll be adding purchasing a car to our list of things to do after we get back...

Wednesday, February 6th was a blessed surprise - Mandy had her baby!  A girl - Clara Elisabeth. Ruby and I went to the hospital in the early afternoon and planned to go back with Ira & Andy later in the afternoon/evening.  I had a good talk with my older sister about the emotions I was feeling in advance of going to Omaha.  I had initially thought I would be just so excited and elated and happy to be going.  But I was feeling surprisingly sad and upset about going.  I had not anticipated how much I would miss my kids.  my husband.  my daily life and duties of keeping up our lives and house.  And for anywhere from 5-10+ days!  Although I was kind of looking forward to a relaxing "retreat" I was so going to miss my life.  We went back up to the hospital to see baby Clara again in the evening.  Ira loved holding her and smothering her with kisses.  We got home from the hospital after bedtime.  Both kids were asleep.  As Andy was putting Ira's jammies on him, I noticed some purple marker across the back of his shoulder.  "Silly child.  Thought I.  How do you get purple marker across the back of your shoulder when you wear a sweatshirt and a uniform shirt all day at school?  Sheesh."

Thursday morning (February 7th), I hear Ruby come into our room at around 6:15.  She wants her monkey.  I found the monkey and we headed back to she and Ira's room when Ira appears in the doorway and says "I don't feel very BBBBLBLLLELAAAAARRFFFF"  Oh my goodness... Ira is sick and barfing... We're supposed to leave tomorrow morning... Ira kissed all over brand-new-baby Clara last night... Just swell.  I called Andy immediately and he said if need be, he would stay home with Ira and I would just go to Omaha by myself.  I called the school around 7:45.  I called my mom around 9.  She said nonsense, Andy should go, we'll watch the kids even if Ira is still sick. I put on a movie for Ira and went about trying to pack myself while being quite unsure whether to pack stuff for Andy or for the kids for the weekend.  Andy and I talked at one point about how it seemed like the devil was trying to make it difficult for us to go to Omaha.  In our conversations throughout the morning, we decided to wait until afternoon to make a decision about whether Andy would go depending on how Ira felt/acted.  Plan D 1/2

Ira slept on an off throughout the morning but about 12:30 I went downstairs to find that he had woken up and barfed all over himself, his pillow, blanket, the couch, the carpet & the ottoman and just a little bit in the trashcan.  I bundled everything up and stuck it in the utility room sink to deal with after I'd gotten Ira & the rest of the stuff cleaned up.  When I took fresh jammies down to him, I again noticed the purple marker on his shoulder.  Only I noticed that it wasn't purple marker.  It was bubbled up reddish/purple and veiny looking.  I touched it and Ira said "ouch."  I said, "did you scratch your shoulder on something?"  "Umm... I was scratching my back on the wall outside at school..."  Enter full-panic-mind-spinning-a-million-miles-per-hour-mode..."what is that thing?  It looks like some kind of bloody vein... is this related to the sickness and fever and confusion from last week... the throwing up today... what is that...I need to get a hold of the nurse!"  While sitting on hold for the nurse, I called Andy's aunt who is a nurse to see if she could come look at it, but got her answering machine.  So I sat on hold until the "on-call nurse" talked to the receptionist and she said we should take him to the minor emergency room to have it evaluated.  Ohhhhhhh kayyyy.  I called my mom crying and asked her if they could watch Ruby (b/c I didn't want to expose her to all the crud going around at the doctor's office.)  I called Andy who said he would meet me at the doctor's office.  For the second time in 10 days, I made the trip into town fearful for my son's health.  Wondering what was wrong... why does it take so long to get to town?...  what if they need to biopsy it... Ira is terrified of needles... would they do an MRI...would they even be able to do that this late in the afternoon... I'm supposed to drive to Omaha tomorrow...should I even go... do I keep my rental car & hotel reservations...

My dad met us at the immediate care office to get Ruby.  Andy pulled up shortly after.  I told the receptionist what was going on and they said they'd get him right in.  Andy sat down next to Ira and I said, "Look at the thing on his shoulder."  So he did.  And he says, "Is it... gum?"  "Say what....???"  And he peeled on it (as Ira's saying ow!) and sure enough - it has a little stretch to it.  Oh. my. goodness.  Ihaveneverfeltsodumbinmylife.  Wow. just. wow.  Waves of relief would have been crashing over me had I not been so overcome with utter and complete feelings of stupidity.  I. am an idiot.

I told Andy to go back to work.  We decided to go ahead and still have him seen since we were already there just in case they could give him tamiflu.  While we're sitting back in the exam room waiting for the doctor, Ira says, "That is gum on my shoulder."  And you're telling me this now? I think to myself.  "When I was chewing gum sometime last week I pulled it out of my mouth and stuck it to my shoulder and I tried pulling on it and couldn't get it off." Of course, that makes perfect sense?... I think to myself.  "Well, thank you for telling me the truth now.  I do wish you'd told me sooner though."  "Well, I kind of forgot."  And I am the worst mother ever for not even noticing it... for a week...more....less??  who knows... Epic. Fail.

The doctor said to push fluids, call back if he still isn't keeping anything down by tomorrow afternoon, and go easy on the gum removal - skin will probably come with it at this point.

I picked up some Pedialyte and Sierra Mist for Ira and then picked Ruby up and we headed home.  Andy came home from work and we decided that we would see how Ira felt through the evening.  If he acted better, Andy would still go.  If he threw up again, Andy would stay home.  Plan D 3/4.  I went down around 7:30 to check on Ira and he was running a fever.  So we made the difficult decision that Andy would stay home with the kids and I would go to Omaha by myself.  Seriously devil?  You suck.  Plan E.  I put Ruby to bed & couldn't kiss her and hug her enough.  Ira fell asleep on the couch.  We let him sleep there until we were ready for bed.  I couldn't kiss and hug Ira enough.

Friday morning, February 8th, I got up around 5:30 after I'd woken up around 4 and couldn't go back to sleep.  Andy fixed breakfast and coffee and we ate breakfast together before my mom came at 6:45 to take me to get the rental car.  Ira and Ruby woke up before I left so I got to kiss and hug them a couple more times.  Ira still had a fever, but he wasn't throwing up at least.  It was so hard to say goodbye to Andy.  We've never been apart more than a couple days in our "whole" (7.5 years) of married life.  But we both felt like we were making the right decision albeit hard.  I picked up my rental car around 7:30 and was on the road around 7:50.   I had some time to make the trip, so I stopped as "the spirit led me" to take pictures of various things along the way.

Around 10:30, I got a call from Andy.  He said that Ira's fever had broken and that he was acting like he felt just fine.  He'd looked up taking a train to Omaha before talking to my mom who asked if he'd considered a rental car.  He wanted to check with me to make sure I thought it'd be okay to leave Ira with my parents.  I trusted his assessment of the situation, so he made plans to rent a car and drive to Omaha and spend the weekend here.  He wouldn't make it in time for my appointment at 2:45, but he would be here for the Saturday and Sunday scans after all!  Plan F.

I got to Omaha just shortly before my appointment.  I had just enough time to check into the hotel and unload my stuff before heading to the Pope Paul VI Institute!  It was highly surreal pulling into the driveway and walking into this building that I'd dreamed of going to for so long.  I was surprised by how humble and unassuming the building was.  The block-long, glass-walled, State-of-the-Art institute that I was picturing was in reality a 3 story brown brick building with shake shingles and humble furnishings.  Of course it was.  It is a profoundly beautiful place in the most humble and unassuming way.

As the scan got underway, there were all kinds of measurements and screen shots being taken.  Both ovaries showed "strings of pearls" (many follicles in a line around the ovary) which can be indicative of Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS.)  They were looking for a dominant follicle - one that was 1.5 cm or larger.  None of the follicles were that big (the largest were around 1.1 cm)  So they said I could wait to come back until Monday.  Hmmmm....what?... I just checked into my hotel... my husband is halfway here... are you serious?!

I called Andy and called my mom and we decided that Andy would still come and we would just enjoy a weekend away together.  Plan G.

Andy got here Friday evening and we enjoyed a nice dinner out, slept in on Saturday morning, went to the Holy Family Shrine, ate lunch, went shopping, totally food-geeked out at the Whole Foods Market, went to a wonderful Mexican restaurant downtown for dinner and went to bed early because we were both completely and totally exhausted.  Sunday morning we went to mass, went to lunch, and then Andy headed back home.  After he left, I decided to unpack since I was going to be here for awhile.  I hung up my shirts, filled the dresser with the rest, unpacked my bathroom bag, and got all settled in for a nice retreat.  My sister called and asked Andy & I to be Clara's godparents.  We discussed when they could do the baptism (preferably as soon as possible - maybe the weekend of the 16th if I was done with my scans.)  I prayed and relaxed.  Watched TV.  Talked to Andy.  Talked to my mom & my kiddos. Set my clothes out for the next day.

Monday the 11th, my appointment was at 9 am.  Jeannine did my scan and said that there was still not a dominant follicle.  She said I could wait until Thursday afternoon to come back.  Seriously?!  Good grief.  I called my my mom.  Called Andy.  We decided I would go home and come back on Thursday.  Plan H.  So I went back to the hotel and repacked everything I'd unpacked.  I checked out and made tentative reservations for Thursday night.  I called Mandy to let her know of the latest developments.  We decided to see what Thursday's appointment showed before we made any decisions about Clara's baptism.  On the drive back, I decided to see if I could continue renting a car (it was the same price for 5 days at the daily rate as it was for one weekly rate) but switch to one with cruise control.  They said I could bring it in on Tuesday or Wednesday and switch it out - no problem.  I picked Ruby up and headed to meet my father in law who was going to pick Ira up from school (I was going to get back home about 10 minutes after Ira got out of school.)

It was so nice to see the kids and Andy when he got home from work.  I had a hormonal meltdown about the condition of the house (welcome back to reality!)  But we got everything cleaned up (including the still-smelled-like-barf couch and carpet in the basement.)

Tuesday the 12th was spent in the kitchen making cinnamon rolls and cookies for a fundraiser on Saturday that I didn't think I was going to get to help with.  It was such a nice, normal day in the midst of crazy times.

Wednesday the 13th I got to take Ruby to Ash Wednesday Mass and help Ira begin his Lenten Sacrifices (something I didn't think I was going to get to do.) I got to see some cousins that were in town (from Alaska) that I didn't think I was going to get to see.  I got to take newborn pictures of my god daughter that I didn't think I was going to get to take.  Andy got to go to evening Mass which he didn't think he was going to get to do.  Ruby was going to stay the night at my parents' so that I didn't have to take her there in the morning.  She had been okay with the idea, but at bedtime, really did not want to.  (She - unlike Ira ever has been - actually missed me while I was gone.  So it made it really hard to leave her.  At one point (trying to cheer her up) I said "What are you going to say to Grandma when you wake up?" (kind of a "tradition" she says "Grraaaaaaaaammmma I'm aaaawaaaaaaaakke.")  And she said as she starts bawling, "I misssssss myyyyyy moommmmmmmyyyyy."  Broke. my. heart.  I put her to bed and she was mildly okay with staying there overnight.

Thursday morning (February 14th - Valentines Day)  I got up before Andy left to tell him goodbye (not knowing whether I would be home later that night maybe or not for a few days or even a week Hypothetical plans I, J, & K made.)  Ira woke up on his own and kept thinking that Ruby was still asleep in her bed.  (Seriously, like 3 times he said something about "not waking Ruby" or "aren't we going to get Ruby up?")  I took him to school and headed back to Omaha for the 2nd time.

At my appointment on Thursday, there was finally a dominant follicle (just barely) so they put me on the "daily plan" for sonograms.  I called Andy.  I called my Mom.  I called the rental car company.  Plan L  I called Mandy and told her that obviously they could schedule the baptism for whenever they wanted to, knowing that they wanted to get it done as soon as possible.  I completely understand wanting to get your child baptized as soon as possible - been there, done that.  I told her that if need be, I would drive there for the baptism and back here.  She said she'd talk to her hubby and get back with me.  I checked into the hotel and extended my reservation until Monday morning (not without difficulty - some big Volleyball thing was going on in town, so I had to switch rooms Friday morning and switch back to another room for Saturday and Sunday nights.)

Friday (the 15th) the follicle had grown.  Mandy called back to see if 3 o'clock on Saturday (pending the priest's approval) would allow me enough time to get there and back for my Sunday scan.  I said that would be an excellent time.  Plan M  I went to 11:15 mass at St. Cecilia's Cathedral.  I prayed there afterwards. I went to a great diner for lunch/dinner called Petrow's.  They had a old-fashioned soda fountain and a bakery as well.  I got tilapia and a piece of coconut cream pie and both were outstanding.

Saturday the 16th, the follicle had grown some more (it was around 1.7 cm - they look for them to rupture - ovulate - at or above 1.9 cm.)  I got out of my appointment, got gas, and got on the road and didn't stop until I was running out of fuel about 7 miles from the church.  Clara Elisabeth was welcomed to the Catholic Church at a beautiful ceremony with dozens of family and friends there to celebrate.  The church was full of LIFE!  Afterwards, Mandy & Damien hosted a party and meal.  I was able to stay for a couple hours before I headed back to Omaha around 6:30.  By the grace of God (and some grody coffee from McDonalds), I (who struggles many days to stay awake - while driving  - from town to home) was wide awake and had no trouble driving back to Omaha.  I got back right before midnight.

Sunday morning's (February 17th) scan revealed a 2.1 cm follicle.  Jeannine gave me 50/50 odds of ovulating before my scan on Monday morning.  I went to mass at St. Cecilia's Cathedral - just an absolutely magnificent church.  As I was walking out, an elderly gentleman (and one of the ushers) asked if I was a visitor.  I said, "Well, yes I am," and told him where I was from.  He asked if I'd like a tour of the Cathedral.  Having absolutely nothing planned for the rest of the day, I heartily accepted his offer.  He introduced me to everyone we passed (everyone seemed to know him) including several priests, a former senator, and someone who went to my parent's parish back home before moving here in the mid nineties.  He spent two and a half hours showing me through the Cathedral building (including the art gallery behind the iron gates in the apsial ambulatory and the museum which is only open the third Sunday of the month) sharing history, facts, stories and trivia about the century old building, the saints represented in art and statue, and Omaha in general.  He commented throughout our time that it was so nice to show the building to someone who wasn't in a hurry.  All the while I was thinking it was so nice to be shown by someone with such obvious love for the Church and her story.  We parted ways and I treated myself to some lunch/dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.  After that, I went shopping and found a pair of orange khaki pants at GAP - in my size (!!!) - for five dollars (!!!!!), and a pair of jeans - again - in my weird tall size - for thirty dollars.  What a DAY!  I went to bed feeling a little wistful and sad that my relaxing "retreat" to Omaha was far from relaxing or retreat-like (although there have been some wonderful hours in there!) while at the same time being realistic enough to acknowledge that what needed to get done - the ultrasounds - got done.

This morning (February 18th), I went in for my scan, ready to jet outta here and head back home (I even wore nice clothes, did my hair and put on makeup for seeing my hubby again.)  Except the follicle was still there. 2.13 cm.  Not "ovulated" yet.  Wow.  I should just learn to not be surprised by anything anymore.  Disappointed, I called Andy, called my mom, called the rental car company, and checked back into the hotel.  Plan N  Apparently, I should learn to stop making plans too. And then I thought maybe just maybe (with the prospect of nothing better to do all day) I should write this all down so that I can look back at it fondly some day.  That was five and a half hours ago.  Holy moly.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude that I could even make this crazy journey.  Grateful that there is a place where women and their bodies are respected and healed.  Grateful that it was a feasible option for us.  Grateful that our insurance is covering it.  Grateful that we could afford it.  Grateful that we made it to this point.  Grateful for a Doctor who has dedicated his life to revolutionizing Women's Health care in moral and ethical ways.  Grateful for our loving, helpful family who is there for us through the craziness; willing to do whatever needs done to help out.  We are so, so blessed.

Journal: February 3

Outside my window: Whaddaya know, grey and cold again.  blah.

Clothing myself in: yoga pants, brown t-shirt - lazy Sunday hurrah!

Around the house: Finally finally scrubbed the kitchen floor, Cinderella style.  It is a pain, but it seems to be the only thing that really gets it clean.  The linoleum has grooves that get dirty and need to be really scrubbed, and the only way I've found to do it effectively is on my hands and knees - thus why I procrastinate doing it endlessly.  Andy got one wall in the bedroom downstairs built (studs, drywall hung)
Got garden plans tentatively made for this Spring.  We don't need to buy very many plants/seeds because of propagating them from last years crops, but I do think we'll be buying two grafted tomato varieties just b/c we haven't found roma or sandwich tomato varieties that we just love yet.  (For those who care, we're looking at a grafted San Marzano and a grafted Mortgage Lifter from Gardens Alive.)

Ira: 
-Got to go to the ER last Sunday night with a high fever and confusion/lethargy.  It was really scary to see him so incapable of understanding things (didn't know/understand how to take the tylenol tablets out of my hand and chew them, didn't know how to get his shirt on, had to be carried out of bed and to the car.)  I don't think I've ever been as fearful for my child's health as I was that night.  They checked him for pneumonia and meningitis at the ER and said that it must have just been the high fever possibly combined with dehydration causing it.  He missed the first two days of Catholic School's Week due to the fever.
-Is getting better at spontaneous jokes.  We were at the dinner table this past week and Andy was talking about someone he works with named Kevin and Ira chimed in "Henno!" (Like Kevin from 3-2-1 Penguins.)  It took Andy and I a second to catch it, but it was SO FUNNY!
-Had a particularly rough time with him Friday evening and Saturday morning as he's developed a "rude-dude-attitude."  He spent over an hour in our room (he just distracts himself with reading in his own room) adjusting his attitude and wow, the rest of the day was really nice.  Andy and I sat down with him after his "room time" and had a great talk with him about  pride, sin, having a contrite heart, etc.  It was good.
-Had his school's winter carnival last night.  Came home with a couple handfuls of junk treasures and the book "The Squire and the Scroll."  I was thrilled as I've wanted to buy the book for him each time I've visited the Catholic Bookstore, but haven't ever been able to justify the brand-new cost.  

Ruby:
-Was sick last weekend just like Ira, but her fever never got as high.  Pretty sure she inherited Andy's immune system & Ira inherited mine (lucky girl, poor guy.)   She still has the cough, but it doesn't seem to bother her too much.
-Still concerned about whose turn it is to talk, although not quite as intensely as last week.
-Has been successfully keeping her underwear dry at naptime (and bedtime most nights, although she wears a diaper then.)
-Had a very fun time at the Winter Carnival last night.  Got her hair sprayed red and orange, had quite the arm on the bean bag toss, and won the big prize (a giant pixie stick) at Plinko.
-Had to throw her last two binkies away this week because they were totally, totally torn up/disintegrating.  She threw the last one away today before her nap and no tears were shed and she slept great.  Could it really be that simple?  We shall see!

In the Kitchen:
Bobby's Goulash with Green Beans (this btw is an absolute favorite, easy, delicious, healthy - I can't wait!); Chicken Quesadillas with Black Beans; Hamburger Vegetable Stew with Foccacia

Hobbies:
Made some homemade mama cloth for my sister who should have her baby any day now.  It was the project I referred to in my post last week.  I think I'm finally pleased with my design.  I'm hoping to make some for my own stash before maybe setting up an Etsy shop to sell them.

Bringing me Joy:  This is the month!!!  We get to go to PPVI Institute this month.  I am so anxious/excited/nervous/thrilled/hopeful about finally getting some concrete answers about our difficulties.

Thinking about: Everything I have to get done/ready/packed/talked about in anticipation of aforementioned trip.  Feeling a little overwhelmed and like I just want to retreat to bed and not deal with it at all.  I'm sure that'll help.

Pictures to share:

Fun hair from Winter Carnival.

Sissy got her hair did too!
This is what she did when I said "Let's take a picture of you!" Such spunk!

Keepin' it Real

No folks, you're not looking at the latest "My home is better than yours" Home from Better Homes and Gardens.  This is what my house looks like today.  Ruby is puking from the overabundance of mucus that has accompanied her bout with "Flu B."  So I'm letting go of the house to take care of what matters most: the people in my life.

Thankfully, Ruby is napping peacefully right now, and in the time it's taken me to upload the pictures, I've gotten the kitchen cleaned up and a load of laundry started.  Nonetheless, I wanted to share a glimpse of raw, unedited "life"  Real life.

The extra snuggling time I've had today has given me time to think about just how grateful I am for my life today:  That I am married to a man who is my world, my love, my best friend, my better half.  That he works hard so that I can live my dream of staying home with our kids.  That I have been blessed twice with new souls to love and nurture here on earth.  That I have a warm home with beautiful Christmas decorations that make my heart glad.  That my family has enough clothes to make that mountain of laundry above.  That we have dishes and food and helping hands to create a dirty kitchen with.  That even on the messiest, most unproductive days I am SO ABUNDANTLY BLESSED.

Sometimes life is so messy and so beautiful all at the same time.

Journal: Dec 4

Outside my window: sunny, 50s/low 60s.  We've had beautiful weather lately, just wishing it would rain for the farmers' sakes.  And wishing it would freeze for awhile so the bugs/spiders would go away.  This coming from the person who loathes winter.

Clothing myself in: Boots, skinny jeans, thermal t-shirt, brown short-sleeved sweater.

Around the house: Well, the house got cleaned in a whirlwind last Monday because I decided (that morning) to host around 20 people for a surprise birthday party for Andy.  We also decorated for Christmas this past weekend.  Ira was really excited about decorating this year (which was good, because I needed some motivation to actually do it.)  We don't do a ton of decorating, but what we do, I really love.

Ruby: Is still insisting that she is (or is going to be) a football player.  Everyone who comments on what a cute little girl she is gets the same response, "No, I'n a football player."  It cracks me up!  She is clinging to her binkies for now.  She loves having the Fisher Price Nativity scene out to play with.  She also loves the ornaments on the tree that make music - so far she's been good about being gentle with the tree/ornaments.  Has been copying her brother's attitude at times.  Replete with door slamming and yelling.  Oh joy!

Ira: Has had an attitude lately.  Last week was kind of a crazy week as far as after-school time went, which really seems to affect him negatively.  We tried to spend good, quality time with him this weekend, which helped some, but still he was doing this entitled/attitud-ey thing, so he had some consequences to face for that.  He really really needs the boundaries and consequences that a good routine provides, so we're trying to stick to it better this week.  Earned computer time for practicing piano ever day last week.

In the kitchen: Crockpot chili, Brown bag burritos, Homemade Chicken & Noodles, Tomato-Mushroom Soup with Grilled Cheese, and maybe Sweet & Sour pork.

Hobbies: I've been editing photos like crazy lately and am so pleased with how easy it has become now that I "know what I'm doing."  I just wish our computer was a little faster.  Maybe someday...

Bringing me joy: Hubby's 30th Birthday party was tons of fun.  Went to the zoo as a family this weekend and then went running at the park afterwards.  A new-found peace that God is asking us to wait for Him in a couple areas of our lives.  I am not usually good at being patient, but I am feeling a certain peace in waiting on God right now.   Started my complete hormone panel for Dr. Hilgers.  Curious to see what  all can be determined from it.

Thinking about: This article that a friend shared with me.  What a weird position it is to feel called to have a big family and physically not be able to (at least for now.)  Again though, I'm waiting on Him, and His plans for my life.

Pictures to share:

The big 30 year old!

I know it's blurry, but I LOVE the emotion is this picture!

Silly kiddos at the zoo!

  

Journal: Nov. 19

Outside my window:  Blogging from the basement - no windows here.  But if there were, I wouldn't be able to see anything anyways.  It's dark outside.  Beautiful day today though - 60s, sunny.

Clothing myself in: Jeans and Black short sleeved shirt.  Like I said - it was a gorgeous day.

Around the house: I cleaned the OVEN yesterday!!  It had been awhile since I last scrubbed it down.  That is such a project!  Lots and lots of elbow grease to complete that task.  (It's 28 years old - no self-cleaning burnination here.)  Also, went through the kids' toys and chucked the junky ones (you know, the stuff that sinks to the bottom of the toybox and NEVER gets played with... happy-meal type stuff (although we don't really eat happy meals here much.)

Ruby: Super attached to her "YMCA" jersey.  I never thought I would have one of those kids that always HAD to wear a certain article of clothing, but I am telling you, if we let her, she would wear that jersey (a hand-me-down from her cousin) ALL THE TIME.  It's really funny to me.

Ira: Has been a bit of a pickle lately.  And by pickle I mean really, really hard to deal with.  Just being disrespectful and rude and physically confrontational.  And I haven't handled it well at all.  AT ALL.  Edited when I remembered this: On an upside, we had a humorous conversation today that I had to share:

"Mom, is there still slavery in the U.S.?"
"No, not anymore."
"But there is other places in the world?"
"Yes."
"Like where?"
"Hmmm, not really sure."
"Egypt?"
"I don't know maybe."
"And probably Nineveh.  Did Jonah really get swallowed by a whale?"
"That's the story."
"And do the people in Nineveh really slap each other in the face with fishes?"

Seriously - where does he get this stuff... is that in the Jonah Veggie Tales movie?  I don't remember it, but I'm guessing that's where he got that... And does anyone know where is Nineveh?  By that I mean, what present day country is where Nineveh was?  There isn't still a Nineveh right?

In the Kitchen: Don't really have a lot planned with the holiday this week.  And I just didn't sit down and plan it last night, so I'm flying by the seat of my pants for now.  I don't really like doing that though, so I'll probably have to plan something for tomorrow and Wednesday.

Bringing me Joy: Watching the squirrels in our yard.  I wish I could put a camera on their necks - I would love to see where all they go and where they nest.  Got my hair cut a couple weeks ago and it feels so much softer and more manageable now.  Watching a new episode of Castle.

Thinking about: Focusing my attention on the people in my life not the things.  It seems like my priorities have been a little off kilter lately - keeping my house/internet life up, but not really keeping up with my kids and their lives.  So I've taken to repeating to myself throughout the day, "people first."

Picture to share:

The only picture I took this week is of my oven... Hello my name is Michelle and I have a problem...

Journal: Nov. 5

Today

Outside my window: Mid 50s, gorgeous autumn-colored trees.  Our maples out front are especially beautiful right now.  One is a shade of reddish orange that could only have come from the mind of the Master Painter.  Seriously, even Crayola couldn't come up with a name that is worthy of the color of this tree.  It makes me happy each year to watch it turn.

Clothing myself in: Black long sleeved shirt, jeans with a belt.

Around the house: I did actually clean a lot of the house on Friday.  Still haven't cleaned the swamp aquarium.  I scrubbed the floor last night.  That made the house feel a lot cleaner.  It's odd, but if the kitchen isn't clean, I don't feel like the rest of the house is (even if it is.)  Andy replaced the light pull switch in the kids' fan.  It'd been dark in their room for a couple weeks!

Ruby: Still not potty trained at naps/night - on my mind b/c I had to buy diapers today - I was hoping I wouldn't have to buy them again.  Speaking of naps - she's at that point where taking a nap during the day makes bedtime a total circus.  So we're trying to figure out exactly what we want to do about that.  She was a total riot trick-or-treating.  Totally got into it this year and struck up conversations with everyone who answered the door.  Someone asked her who she was (dressed up as) and she answered with her first, middle, and last name.  She was also really good at getting extra candy by asking "What's that pink one right there?"  "Oh this one, here you can have it too!" Latest phrases: "Dad do you know what's in there? (her cup) It's chem-i-lade!"

Ira: Is all too content to pay me to do his chores.  Something must be done about this...  Was a scuba diver for Halloween.  Did an awesome report on St. Joseph for All Saints day.  Asked what "circumcision" was (part of the research on St. Joseph had about when St. Joseph named Jesus on the 8th day after his birth, the day he first shed his blood for us.  And of course, Andy is not home for this conversation, so I get to answer it.)  There was lots of wincing and grimacing involved when I answered.  LOL.  Still has his very very loose tooth.  Would not allow Grandpa to pull it - even for $10.

In the Kitchen: Spaghetti & Meatballs with green beans; Pumpkin Pancakes with eggs, bacon, and fresh apples; Chop Suey American with california medley; Cheese Pizza with lettuce salad and fresh fruit.

My Hobbies: Well, the gallon and a half of yogurt that I made last Tuesday is totally gone!  As is the granola!  Looks like I'll be making some more of each this week.  Edited some more photos.  In editing, I'm realizing that I need to pay more attention to exactly which of the 9 focus points is/are focusing, and/or changing them to suit my needs.

Bringing me Joy: After never really having a jacket that fit (other than hoodies) I found a Columbia jacket for half price at Marshalls today.  The sleeves are long enough and it fits perfectly - and it's a women's jacket to boot (I may or may not end up in men's jackets/coats most of the time.)  Getting the ball rolling on going to PPVI.  It will still a number of months before we go there, but I am so glad to be getting started.  Having a "clean soul" after going to confession.  Celestial Seasonings "Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride" Tea.  It is SO good!

Thinking About: The election.  And praying so hard for the future of our country.  Also, I'm reading a book about pathogens (bacteria, infections, etc.) affecting fertility.  It is incredibly compelling and I also found out (happily, because some of the stuff in it really hits close to home) that Dr. Hilgers has studied under this doctor and applies his theories in his own practice.  Hooray!  I am so hopeful that we will get solid answers at PPVI.

Pictures to share:

What I Loved About Last Week 12th & 13th Ed.

So I realize, I'm still a week behind, but no more!  I'll catch you up on the last two weeks around here. (Don't mind the highlighting, blogger is being dumb...)

Week of June 4-June 10:
1. Picked dozens of cups of snap peas and started digging up potatoes.  This new method of gardening is rocking our socks off so far.  We are digging up red potatoes that are 4 and 5 inches across.  I've never  seen red potatoes that big before.  They are also mighty tasty!

2. Celebrated 7 years of marriage to my wonderful hubby.  He surprised me with flowers and dinner out sans kids.  We ate sushi at our favorite place and took my ruby ring to get it fixed (I lost the ruby on vacation.)  We also browsed through a kitchen store and found lots of cool gizmos and gadgets.  It was a just our style of date.  Love that guy more and more with each passing year!

3. Took the kids out to harvest wheat with Grandpa Bill.  We all got to ride and eat lunch out at the field.  We took lots of pictures at Bill's request because this was apparently the best wheat they'd ever had at that particular field (and probably the best they ever will.)

4. Washed my car.  We borrowed the power washer from the farm to wash the dune buggy (it's for sale by the way, so if you know anyone...) and decided to wash my car as well.  It was a fun family project with everyone scrubbing and spraying.

5. Got new tires on the car.  One of those things that you love to hate spending money on.  I always get a dorky satisfaction from taking care of things like that though...

6. Along the dorky lines.  I got new laundry baskets and I could not be more excited.  They are red and sturdy and so much nicer than the falling apart ones that we were using from when Andy was in college.  It's the little things, really.

7. Probably the biggest news of the week (at least in Ira's books) is that he finally got all of his toys back.  Not sure if I ever shared that story on here, but about 6 weeks ago, Andy and I were so disgusted with how Ira had acted at church the last 2-3 weeks, that we took every single toy he'd ever gotten and put them away until he could behave as we thought he could at Mass.  He improved little by little each week and finally on the 10th, he was good enough to earn them back.  It was like Christmas morning at our house seeing all the long-lost toys.  I must say, I didn't really miss them much, and quite honestly, the kids didn't seem to either.  I foresee a toy-clearing-out-athon in our future (if the hubs and I can agree on what to keep and what to let go of.)

There you have it for that week, now onto this past week - June 11-17:

1. Legos.  One day during Ruby's nap, Ira and I spent some time building with his newly-returned Legos.  It was really, really cool.  I built a fire truck.  I don't think I'd ever really built anything with Legos in my life, so it was a lot of fun to share that experience with Ira.

2. Laundry.  When Ira ran out of shorts (I know, I'm a terrible mother), I finally decided it was time to do the laundry from vacation and the week following.  It was a TON of laundry, and my washer ran pretty much the entire day nonstop, but it sure felt good to get it all done!

3. "Blunk beds."  Well I thought I would just be bragging about the fact that I finally ordered bunk beds for the kids, but the company we ordered them from is awesome and after ordering them on Monday afternoon, they were delivered on Thursday afternoon (for free no less!)  Andy got them set up that same night and both kids were sleeping in them by Friday (when Ruby's mattress came in.)  The kids have done excellent in their new beds.  I think all they really needed was their own spaces, because the circus that is bed time has calmed down significantly and I think everyone is sleeping better!  If you are ever in need of bunk beds, I would highly recommend Bunk Bed King.  The service was excellent, the shipping was free, the prices were great, and the bunk beds are S.O.L.I.D.  No fake wood here.  We could not be more pleased with our purchase. (And no, I am not receiving anything for this review, just a satisfied customer.)

4. Ira has figured out how to snap (for the most part) and it is so cute because he does it whenever his hands are free (like when he's waiting for his turn in a game or when he's in between steps on building legos.)

5. Swimming.  We've been spend a lot of time at the pool lately.  I can't believe how much more confident Ira is in the water.  I also cannot believe how comfortable Ruby is with it.  She'll wear just her floaties and float around the 4-5 ft. range just kicking and splashing and having a jolly good time.  Going to the pool this summer is so much more fun than last summer when all she'd do was stay on the step!

6. Celebrated my nephew's 6th birthday.  He had a swimming party and all the kids had fun swimming and "slip & sliding"  - even Ruby!

7. Climbed a silo.  Now that was pretty awesome.  After the birthday party, Andy's parents watched our kids so that we could climb the silo at the dairy farm.  I picked the tallest one (figured if I was going to do it, I might as well do it right) and up we went.  It was kind of grueling climbing it (but that could be because I'm an out-of-shape-lame-ozoid) but boy was the view at the top worth it all!  Just amazing.  Such a fun mini-date with my hubs!

We climbed the one on the right. About 85 feet tall.

If you look real close (or click on the picture to make it bigger,) you can our town on the horizon. It's about 6 or 6.5 miles away in this picture.

And if you look real close (or click on the picture to make it bigger,) in this picture, you can see the town I grew up in on the horizon.  It's about 13.3 miles away in this picture.

Although the sunset surely would have been beautiful to watch from on top the silo, there was no way I wanted to climb down in the dark!  So this was as close as we got to a "sunset" picture. Ad n by-the-by, you can see Andy's parents' house in this picture (the two silos in the middle of the photo are theirs.)  We were going to climb them, but decided to climb the taller ones at the farm.

8. Father's Day.  The kids and I got Andy a new smoker for Father's Day (along with all the fixins - wood chips, charcoal, a cover, ribs.)  We decided to have both of our dads (and moms too of course!) down for dinner on Sunday night.  Andy smoked ribs and potatoes and we had a delicious meal together.  Ruby thought it was pretty fun having two grandmas and two grandpas in the same place.

9. Rubyism - "Ira give me my stink eye back!" (She was referring to a pirate eye patch.)

10. Iraism - "Mom, I know you want the house clean, but that won't happen until nobody lives here and they demolish it."  Thanks Ira, thanks a lot.

Hope you have a great week!!

What I Loved About Last Week 6th Edition

Lots of things to love about last week (April 23rd-29th)!

1. Ruby. doing. puzzles.  65 piece puzzle.  Perhaps 2 pieces? connected together that actually go together.  So funny!

2. Ira's Baptism Anniversary.  We celebrated with cookies and one of his favorite meals (fried chicken with mashed potatoes) as well as a Renewal of Baptismal Promises.  It was the first year he seemed to really understand what was going on with the renewal and that was cool!

3. Spring Music Program.  Ira's school held their second concert of the year.  His class sang 5 great songs.  One of which I cannot get out of my head! ("Never Polka with a Porcupine.")  The whole concert was very well done.  I am so impressed with the way that their music teach has them singing (enunciating, breathing, holding notes, and dancing.)  It was a very enjoyable program.

4. Cleaning.  Got my car washed/vacuumed, cleaned our disgustingly dusty/sheetrock-muddy oscillating fans, and cleaned out closets and cabinets throughout the house.  Not fun tasks, but definitely feels good to have them done!

5. Confession.  Needed it.  Did it.  Got grace.  'Nuff said!

6. Date night!  Sweet Andy surprised me with a much needed date night on Friday night.  We ate dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant that we hadn't been to in probably 5 years, then went out for ice cream and coffee after that.  It was so nice to spend some time together away from the crazies kids.

7. Visitors.  Ira got to meet with a very special lady on Saturday who sends him postcards from all over the world.  It was wonderful to get to meet her and have her meet Ira.  She is traveling to Hungary/Austria/Slovakia in July and we are excited to see the postcards and stamps from those countries!

8. Garden.  We FINISHED the 6th and 7th beds.  All told, we moved between 35-42 tons of dirt by shovel over the course of 3 weekends.  I. am. SO. DONE! with that!  

9. Professional Pictures.  We got 2 and 6 year pictures of the kiddos taken as well as family pictures.  Although I've had better experiences, I think Portrait Innovations still did a great job on the photos.

Look at that Farmer's Tan!!!

9. Sleeping kiddos.  The circus that is "going to bed in the same bed at the same time" is mildly improving.  They both slept in the big bed all night twice this week.  We have a "zero-tolerance" policy on Ruby getting out of bed/goofing off too much.  That's really seemed to help her understand the boundaries and to be successful twice!  Hooray!

10. Shout out.  A  dear friend of mine started doing her own "What I Loved" posts.  I always enjoy her perspective on things.  Can't wait to see more posts from this beautiful woman!

Have a GREAT week!