2-year old with water hose.
Pre-schooler defends herself.
Pre-schooler flees.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Gracefully staying alive with #5
Surviving summer while pregnant:
Drink water.
Drink water.
Drink more water.
And the mildly inconvenient results:
Bathroom trip.
Bathroom trip.
Bathroom trip.
Today has been unseasonably hot. I had a quick (unaccompanied) trip to make to church to get something. I had a great idea! Rather than refill my huge mug with water and ice (that always seems to fall on the floor, which I have to bend down to retrieve to avoid the puddles), I'd just stay cool on the short drive with a popsicle and eat it....shhh, don't tell any of the girls...IN THE CAR. So I headed out to the van.
Within a minute, no joke, my homemade popsicle on this little plastic holder was streaming white grape juice all down my arm. DO YOU KNOW HOW STICKY WHITE GRAPE JUICE IS???? Luckily, I had come to the end of my road, and could stop. I had been eating it with my right hand. So I had to put my pospicle in my left hand to put the van into park and unbuckle...which got stickiness on the shift bar and seatbelt. Meanwhile, I tried eating it faster as it continued to melt and at the same time lean sideways back to my right to get the wipes out of the diaper bag. Thinking I'm a pretty good multi-tasker at this point, I suddenly lose my balance (pregnancy perk #74) and so have to grab the steering wheel immediately with my left hand. Do you remember which hand was holding my popsicle? I spent some time at the stop sign at the end of my road finishing my slush, and wiping down my arms, fingers, chin, the steering wheel, seatbelt, and shift bar. Then I drove to church.
Drink water.
Drink water.
Drink more water.
And the mildly inconvenient results:
Bathroom trip.
Bathroom trip.
Bathroom trip.
Today has been unseasonably hot. I had a quick (unaccompanied) trip to make to church to get something. I had a great idea! Rather than refill my huge mug with water and ice (that always seems to fall on the floor, which I have to bend down to retrieve to avoid the puddles), I'd just stay cool on the short drive with a popsicle and eat it....shhh, don't tell any of the girls...IN THE CAR. So I headed out to the van.
Within a minute, no joke, my homemade popsicle on this little plastic holder was streaming white grape juice all down my arm. DO YOU KNOW HOW STICKY WHITE GRAPE JUICE IS???? Luckily, I had come to the end of my road, and could stop. I had been eating it with my right hand. So I had to put my pospicle in my left hand to put the van into park and unbuckle...which got stickiness on the shift bar and seatbelt. Meanwhile, I tried eating it faster as it continued to melt and at the same time lean sideways back to my right to get the wipes out of the diaper bag. Thinking I'm a pretty good multi-tasker at this point, I suddenly lose my balance (pregnancy perk #74) and so have to grab the steering wheel immediately with my left hand. Do you remember which hand was holding my popsicle? I spent some time at the stop sign at the end of my road finishing my slush, and wiping down my arms, fingers, chin, the steering wheel, seatbelt, and shift bar. Then I drove to church.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be mean childbirth instructors
Before one can achieve the parenting status of "veteran", "seasoned", or "old pro", (I'm really none of those, honestly, but when I was pregnant with Abigail, I looked at friends of mine who had older children as such) you are a newby, AKA first-timer. When I was expecting Abigail, we, like most other newbies, attended childbirth classes. Ours were held one night a week for about 4 weeks.
During those 4 weeks, Ms. I'm-Here-To-Educate-All-You-First-Timers-Who Don't-Know-Anything, Meanie Childbirth Instructor did her job inscaring educating all the couples. Each week, we covered all the topics from Labor, Lamaze breathing, to Delivery.
As newbies, Ms. Meanie had us SCARED TO DEATH as we were in class. She threatened, "Don't come in here with your make-up on, a big smile on your face, and say you're in labor". I will send your happy self home!" And she meant it. I had no idea WHAT a contraction would feel like. Her only description was, "True, active labor, is when you are having contractions you can't walk or talk through. You should not be able to stand up straight when you arrive to Labor & Delivery". Then she added that if our (remember, we are in childbirth classes) water broke, then we are to come to Labor & Delivery and we'd have our baby before being sent home. I'm glad she covered that, because I wouldn't DARE ask Ms. Meanie any questions on my own.
So Louis and I just prayed that my water would break so we wouldn't have to face her for an evaluation. I knew if I had any twinge that could be thought of as a contraction, that make-up was coming off and I would NOT be smiling when I reported to Labor & Delivery!!!
We soon graduated from Childbirth Class, and went on with our lives with the small thought in the back of our minds of maybe changing hospitals at that point or maybe opting to hold out as long as possible even if it meant delivering at home or en route to the hospital. We just couldn't bear the thought of having to face her and being scolded for arriving too soon.
Father's Day came and I gave Louis his first Father's Day gift...a baby blue polo shirt. That afternoon after church we went to some church friends' for dinner. Our good friend Henry had grilled some polish sausages and hot sausages. Somehow a hot sausage got mixed in with the poilsh sausages and who but me, would discover that?
My mouth was on fire and I had heartburn the rest of the day.
The next morning, around 5 a.m. my water broke. Hallelujah for a possible easy excuse to go on in to Labor & Delivery!!! I didn't know for sure though, because when I stood up out of bed, it stopped.
So we called the birthing ceneter and they told me to make an appointment with my O.B. doctor as soon as I could. So, around 8:30, we went on to our appointment and the nurse practitioner explained that I could be leaking urine as I discussed what was going on. So after the test strip results came in, we heard an "Ah, yes". Louis and I exchanged glances and the same "What?" came out of our mouths. "Was it urine or was it amniotic fluid?"
This was the moment that would make or break us!!!! A deep sigh of relief came over us as she said, "Oh yes, it's amniotic fluid! You need to go on to the birthing center". We almost skipped as we walked out of there. Yes, we were excited about meeting Abigail 15 days earlier than expected, but I think I was just as eager to walk in to L&D with a big smile on my face, standing up straight sporting some make-up to say to Ms. Meanie, "My water broke" followed by my best "Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah" playground schoolgirl voice!
Around 12 hours later this happened:
And I'm gonna raise her to be nice to first time moms who have no idea what labor will be like, especially if she's ever a childbirth instructor!
This happened 9 years ago, and I remember it as if it happened yesterday!!! She's worth every feeling of insecurity I had as a newby. I still feel like I don't know what I'm doing sometimes.
During those 4 weeks, Ms. I'm-Here-To-Educate-All-You-First-Timers-Who Don't-Know-Anything, Meanie Childbirth Instructor did her job in
As newbies, Ms. Meanie had us SCARED TO DEATH as we were in class. She threatened, "Don't come in here with your make-up on, a big smile on your face, and say you're in labor". I will send your happy self home!" And she meant it. I had no idea WHAT a contraction would feel like. Her only description was, "True, active labor, is when you are having contractions you can't walk or talk through. You should not be able to stand up straight when you arrive to Labor & Delivery". Then she added that if our (remember, we are in childbirth classes) water broke, then we are to come to Labor & Delivery and we'd have our baby before being sent home. I'm glad she covered that, because I wouldn't DARE ask Ms. Meanie any questions on my own.
So Louis and I just prayed that my water would break so we wouldn't have to face her for an evaluation. I knew if I had any twinge that could be thought of as a contraction, that make-up was coming off and I would NOT be smiling when I reported to Labor & Delivery!!!
We soon graduated from Childbirth Class, and went on with our lives with the small thought in the back of our minds of maybe changing hospitals at that point or maybe opting to hold out as long as possible even if it meant delivering at home or en route to the hospital. We just couldn't bear the thought of having to face her and being scolded for arriving too soon.
Father's Day came and I gave Louis his first Father's Day gift...a baby blue polo shirt. That afternoon after church we went to some church friends' for dinner. Our good friend Henry had grilled some polish sausages and hot sausages. Somehow a hot sausage got mixed in with the poilsh sausages and who but me, would discover that?
My mouth was on fire and I had heartburn the rest of the day.
The next morning, around 5 a.m. my water broke. Hallelujah for a possible easy excuse to go on in to Labor & Delivery!!! I didn't know for sure though, because when I stood up out of bed, it stopped.
So we called the birthing ceneter and they told me to make an appointment with my O.B. doctor as soon as I could. So, around 8:30, we went on to our appointment and the nurse practitioner explained that I could be leaking urine as I discussed what was going on. So after the test strip results came in, we heard an "Ah, yes". Louis and I exchanged glances and the same "What?" came out of our mouths. "Was it urine or was it amniotic fluid?"
This was the moment that would make or break us!!!! A deep sigh of relief came over us as she said, "Oh yes, it's amniotic fluid! You need to go on to the birthing center". We almost skipped as we walked out of there. Yes, we were excited about meeting Abigail 15 days earlier than expected, but I think I was just as eager to walk in to L&D with a big smile on my face, standing up straight sporting some make-up to say to Ms. Meanie, "My water broke" followed by my best "Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah" playground schoolgirl voice!
Around 12 hours later this happened:
This happened 9 years ago, and I remember it as if it happened yesterday!!! She's worth every feeling of insecurity I had as a newby. I still feel like I don't know what I'm doing sometimes.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Taking requests
Our older 3 girls tend to disagree about which cd to listen to in the van or if the back a.c. should be on high or off altogether. Tonight as we were leaving the grocery store, Aliza asked me to turn the mood lights on and after we turned them on, Adalyn said "Lights off?" I turned around and asked her why she wanted them off. "Cuz", she said.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Eeeeeeeeewwww.
Yesterday was a rough day. I've been tired this week, and crankiness goes with tired. A lack of patience goes with crankiness. I didn't say to the person taking my order in the morning, "Yes, I'd like a lack of patience, and some exhaustion. Can you add crankiness to that, please?". And they didn't say, "Would you like 4 girls to go with that?" But that's what it felt like. It was the combo you just wouldn't order for yourself.
The girls had been at each other alot, and they hadn't followed any directions without complaining.
Last night, after we loaded up into the car, I asked one to buckle up her sister. She huffed, got up, stomped to the back and did it. I said, "You know, your attitudes today just stink".
Adalyn breaks the tension immediately by saying, "Eeeeeeewwwwwwww." We all laugh and head home. She probably knew mine stunk too! Isn't it neat how God uses the smallest people (or things) to change our attitudes? He's just great like that!
The girls had been at each other alot, and they hadn't followed any directions without complaining.
Last night, after we loaded up into the car, I asked one to buckle up her sister. She huffed, got up, stomped to the back and did it. I said, "You know, your attitudes today just stink".
Adalyn breaks the tension immediately by saying, "Eeeeeeewwwwwwww." We all laugh and head home. She probably knew mine stunk too! Isn't it neat how God uses the smallest people (or things) to change our attitudes? He's just great like that!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Sunday's Sermon
First I'll tell you about coming home. Then later, I'll fill you in on being there.
Louis had to preach this past Sunday, so we got up at 3 a.m. (our time) in Pigeon Forge to load 4 sleeping girls, their blankets, Pillow Pets, our cooler and food basket. The rest of our luggage and stuff was loaded the night before.
I put the cold stuff in the cooler, and do the final run around upstairs in our part of the cabin ( you know, the last check for a sock under the bed, etc.) Meanwhile, I hear him start the van. My confiscated loot included Louis' wallet, my cell phone charger, his tablet charger and our huge trash bag of dirty clothes. Goodness, I'm GLAD I made that "last check".
By the time I haul down the goods and take them out to the van, it's not running. Louis denied turning off the van. We knew we had a problem.
The problem actually began the night before. As we were leaving Dollywood (more on that later), the van started acting funny and the gas gauge was registering empty where it had just been 1/4 of a tank. We thought maybe the gas gauge had messed up and we were on the last drop of gas when we thought we had more. We stopped at Walgreens so I COULD ASK FOR DIRECTIONS to the nearest gas station and then to a Sam's Club so we could fill up with gas. We love our Sam's Card and cheap gas! Louis turned off the van as I walked in. Strike 1. There's ONE person working with a line of about 7 tourists. Not getting help anytime soon there. Strike 2. So I walk over to an Italian restaurant next door with a pit stop by the van to pick up Aliza who by this point needs to use the restroom. Nearest Sam's is in Knoxville. Strike 3. At least I know where the nearest gas station is though. The van s-p-p-p-u-u-u-ttttters and won't start. 3 strikes, we're out. Thank goodness for Redbox on the Walgreens sidewalk. Louis walks up to the couple checking out movies to see if they can jump start the van. Score. We make it to the gas station and fill up. We make it back to the cabin while the van still acts kind of funky.
Back to Sunday morning, it's nearly 4 a.m. and the van has shut off. I have to go wake up my poor sister to get her keys so we can jump off the van. It works, so I run the keys back in, hop in the van and off we go up this huge hill to get out of the cul de sac where the cabin sits.
Halfway up, the van dies. So Louis and I exchange opinions. He's rational, I'm not. I adamantly threw a tantrum saying something like, "We are leaving this van here, taking our girls back to bed and you can steal Julie's car and drive it to Byrdstown. Dad and I can get the van looked at and drive Julie to Cookeville to meet you to get her car back". Those may not have been my exact words, but the tantrum was accurate. It's a wonder they let pregnant women out at all!
Louis reminded me that the van was parked (love those emergency brakes) halfway up a hill in the middle of the road. "They can drive around it" I said. I WASN'T GETTING BACK IN THAT VAN!! Louis pleaded with me to try to jump it off again. I walk down the hill (highly put out that my idea of leaving the van sit where it was didn't win out.) I mean who is going to hit a huge red van, nor care if it's sitting in the middle of the road parked up a hill? I'd just say, "Hey, it died, and we had 4 kids in the van". Easy as that.
I got Julie's car, drove it up the hill and Louis tried jumping off the van again. Nothing. It's still dark. We can hardly see and we are trying NOT to disturb the cabin that we are in front of. So his plan? He coasts it backwards down the hill to our cabin while I drive Julie's car down. I couldn't have ridden with him, nor coasted backwards like he did. He did, and I'm thankful God knew what He was doing when he paired us together. He knew how big of a chicken I was!!! We thanked God that the brakes worked!
So, Louis drove Julie's car to Wal-Mart to buy a new battery. I'm thankful that when Sam Walton's crew sat around that big table to discuss being open for 24 hours, they thought of people like us- preachers needing to get back for church who have car troubles the morning they leave. I'm also thankful for all the people who don't say to us, "Why in the world did you wait to leave Sunday morning?" Thank you and I call you people friends!
While Louis was gone, I sat in the car with my sleeping kiddos researching the van manual on how to remove a battery/install a new one and how to idle your vehicle in different ways so the computers, for lack of a better word, get rebooted. Louis returned within 45 minutes and started the process of putting in the new battery. He started the van, we waited a bit, and off we went. Finally! We were so glad we woke at 3!!!
We drive with NO problems until we get off the bypass in Livingston and turn onto 111 towards Byrdstown. At this point, we have about a 20- minute drive ahead of us to get to church. The gauges start going haywire, the automatic door locks start showing off all by themselves and the speedometer reads "0" mph_ and we are in motion. We press on until the engine finally shuts off as we approach the bridge over the lake at the entrance to Sunset Marina. We coast into the gravel on the side of the road. We are 2 minutes (by vehicle) from church. We basically got from Pigeon Forge to this point 2 minutes from church on the new battery and what power it had been given at the time it was manufactured. We later realized the alternator had gone out and so wasn't charging this new battery up at all. Talk about feeling like the Lord was with you!
A good Samaritan couple stop and jump us off and we got to church....by 8:30!!!! 30 minutes later than we planned to get there, but 30 minutes before Worship started. Louis got so many comments on how nice he looked that day. He did later tell them during the service that he actually got dressed on the side of the road as we waited with our dead van while Louis called a friends from church to come help us.
Louis was able to use the whole experience for his Children's Message. "You must be connected to the power source...and that's Jesus Christ. You can't rely on your own strength." Anyone who says that God doesn't give ministers the words they preach on sure hasn't left Pigeon Forge on a Sunday morning and had car trouble on the way to church! God gives the Word, and LEADS the way, caring for his children the whole time!
Louis had to preach this past Sunday, so we got up at 3 a.m. (our time) in Pigeon Forge to load 4 sleeping girls, their blankets, Pillow Pets, our cooler and food basket. The rest of our luggage and stuff was loaded the night before.
I put the cold stuff in the cooler, and do the final run around upstairs in our part of the cabin ( you know, the last check for a sock under the bed, etc.) Meanwhile, I hear him start the van. My confiscated loot included Louis' wallet, my cell phone charger, his tablet charger and our huge trash bag of dirty clothes. Goodness, I'm GLAD I made that "last check".
By the time I haul down the goods and take them out to the van, it's not running. Louis denied turning off the van. We knew we had a problem.
The problem actually began the night before. As we were leaving Dollywood (more on that later), the van started acting funny and the gas gauge was registering empty where it had just been 1/4 of a tank. We thought maybe the gas gauge had messed up and we were on the last drop of gas when we thought we had more. We stopped at Walgreens so I COULD ASK FOR DIRECTIONS to the nearest gas station and then to a Sam's Club so we could fill up with gas. We love our Sam's Card and cheap gas! Louis turned off the van as I walked in. Strike 1. There's ONE person working with a line of about 7 tourists. Not getting help anytime soon there. Strike 2. So I walk over to an Italian restaurant next door with a pit stop by the van to pick up Aliza who by this point needs to use the restroom. Nearest Sam's is in Knoxville. Strike 3. At least I know where the nearest gas station is though. The van s-p-p-p-u-u-u-ttttters and won't start. 3 strikes, we're out. Thank goodness for Redbox on the Walgreens sidewalk. Louis walks up to the couple checking out movies to see if they can jump start the van. Score. We make it to the gas station and fill up. We make it back to the cabin while the van still acts kind of funky.
Back to Sunday morning, it's nearly 4 a.m. and the van has shut off. I have to go wake up my poor sister to get her keys so we can jump off the van. It works, so I run the keys back in, hop in the van and off we go up this huge hill to get out of the cul de sac where the cabin sits.
Halfway up, the van dies. So Louis and I exchange opinions. He's rational, I'm not. I adamantly threw a tantrum saying something like, "We are leaving this van here, taking our girls back to bed and you can steal Julie's car and drive it to Byrdstown. Dad and I can get the van looked at and drive Julie to Cookeville to meet you to get her car back". Those may not have been my exact words, but the tantrum was accurate. It's a wonder they let pregnant women out at all!
Louis reminded me that the van was parked (love those emergency brakes) halfway up a hill in the middle of the road. "They can drive around it" I said. I WASN'T GETTING BACK IN THAT VAN!! Louis pleaded with me to try to jump it off again. I walk down the hill (highly put out that my idea of leaving the van sit where it was didn't win out.) I mean who is going to hit a huge red van, nor care if it's sitting in the middle of the road parked up a hill? I'd just say, "Hey, it died, and we had 4 kids in the van". Easy as that.
I got Julie's car, drove it up the hill and Louis tried jumping off the van again. Nothing. It's still dark. We can hardly see and we are trying NOT to disturb the cabin that we are in front of. So his plan? He coasts it backwards down the hill to our cabin while I drive Julie's car down. I couldn't have ridden with him, nor coasted backwards like he did. He did, and I'm thankful God knew what He was doing when he paired us together. He knew how big of a chicken I was!!! We thanked God that the brakes worked!
So, Louis drove Julie's car to Wal-Mart to buy a new battery. I'm thankful that when Sam Walton's crew sat around that big table to discuss being open for 24 hours, they thought of people like us- preachers needing to get back for church who have car troubles the morning they leave. I'm also thankful for all the people who don't say to us, "Why in the world did you wait to leave Sunday morning?" Thank you and I call you people friends!
While Louis was gone, I sat in the car with my sleeping kiddos researching the van manual on how to remove a battery/install a new one and how to idle your vehicle in different ways so the computers, for lack of a better word, get rebooted. Louis returned within 45 minutes and started the process of putting in the new battery. He started the van, we waited a bit, and off we went. Finally! We were so glad we woke at 3!!!
We drive with NO problems until we get off the bypass in Livingston and turn onto 111 towards Byrdstown. At this point, we have about a 20- minute drive ahead of us to get to church. The gauges start going haywire, the automatic door locks start showing off all by themselves and the speedometer reads "0" mph_ and we are in motion. We press on until the engine finally shuts off as we approach the bridge over the lake at the entrance to Sunset Marina. We coast into the gravel on the side of the road. We are 2 minutes (by vehicle) from church. We basically got from Pigeon Forge to this point 2 minutes from church on the new battery and what power it had been given at the time it was manufactured. We later realized the alternator had gone out and so wasn't charging this new battery up at all. Talk about feeling like the Lord was with you!
A good Samaritan couple stop and jump us off and we got to church....by 8:30!!!! 30 minutes later than we planned to get there, but 30 minutes before Worship started. Louis got so many comments on how nice he looked that day. He did later tell them during the service that he actually got dressed on the side of the road as we waited with our dead van while Louis called a friends from church to come help us.
Louis was able to use the whole experience for his Children's Message. "You must be connected to the power source...and that's Jesus Christ. You can't rely on your own strength." Anyone who says that God doesn't give ministers the words they preach on sure hasn't left Pigeon Forge on a Sunday morning and had car trouble on the way to church! God gives the Word, and LEADS the way, caring for his children the whole time!
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