Is It Naptime Yet

Over a year ago I had gastritis.

It was terrible and one of the worst things I’ve had to go through.

Ever since that’s happened I’ve been paranoid. If I get a stomach ache I take some Tums and pray that I don’t get sick again. I haven’t had it again, but I’m still very sensitive to any stomach pain.

I also worry about being too stressed. When I signed up to do costumes for the Wizard of Oz, since I got the gastritis after a a week of sewing, I worried that I would get sick and be in utter pain once more if I did too much. Everything turned out fine, but the nagging worry is still in the back of my mind.

Which leads me to this week.

Tuesday night I started having a stomach ache, so I took some Tums and fell asleep on the couch around 11:30 pm. I woke up around 12:30 am and was awake with stomach problems till 3:30 am. It wasn’t fun. I know it was food poisoning of some sort. I’m the only one who was sick and it lasted for less than 24 hours, even though I was still getting better and regaining my strength for the last 12, and we had eaten some fast food Monday night. But in my mind, even though I know what caused it, I now wonder and have the worry about what will get me sick. Every food could be the next culprit to giving me unbearable stomach pain, and keeping me up at night. Now a weekend of pain isn’t that bad, but this weekend I’m going to LA with Anna, so it would really stink to be sick.

I don’t like to think of myself as a worrier, but I don’t want my weekend to be ruined. I really want to enjoy my time with my friend, alone, shopping, and eating out. (We’re shopping for fabric for the play, so it’s not all fun and games.) It’s the thought of eating I don’t like. What if I get sick and my poor pregnant friend has to carry bolts and bolts of tulle and satin to my car, while I stay huddled in the fetal position in the passenger seat, or in a public bathroom? Ick. It could happen, the chances are slim, but I was just sick.

I think I’ll pack some extra tums just in case.

My sister Andrea made some blankets for the girls for Christmas, she had our family. We got them in March. 🙂 For the full story you can read her blog post.

Here are the girls with their blankets. They sleep with them every night.

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Here is Jon in his suit. It was after he came home so he had to put the tie back on, he didn’t wear it all day just for the interview, and so it’s a little crooked, and the shoes are his regular ones, since he didn’t want to wear his nice ones all day either or put them on for the picture.

I don’t think this picture does justice. He’s so much hotter in person when he’s wearing the suit. I wish he needed to wear suits all the time I think he looks so nice in them.

A month ago her husband told her about a new position he wanted to apply for. It seemed wonderful as they discussed the different reasons why he wanted this position and the benefits to it both professionally and personally.

It seemed perfect, so he submitted his application just before the final deadline.

After submitting the application it was decided he needed a new suit. He hadn’t bought a suit in over 12 years, and the last one was for his mission.

It was time for a new suit.

They saw it as an investment. An investment for the new position he was applying for. An investment for his future. An investment for their family’s future.

The whole family went. A family of four must have been a sight in this men’s suit store, but it’s what they had to do. They picked out a nice suit, shirt, 2 ties, shoes and a belt. They wanted him to look his best.

It was a large investment, but he looked so good and it fit him just right.

The phone interview came first. But instead of being a phone interview it was an in-person interview since he worked with the institution already.

What do you wear to a phone interview?

They decided the suit would be a little much, so he just wore his regular business casual attire, and they hoped a final interview was on the horizon.

Within two days he had been asked back for a final interview.

She was really happy because it meant that he was still in the running for the job and because he’d get to wear his suit.

The final interview came and went. He wore his suit and looked like a million bucks, but was a little less sure of this interview.

They waited to hear about the position, but over a week went by and no news.

She knew he hadn’t gotten it. They must have offered it to the other interviewee. She tried to contain her sadness since she was so hopeful for the new possibilities this job could provide for her family.

Her hopes faded for the future she had envisioned and seemed so close at hand, but still so distant.

Then she saw his instant message pop onto her screen.

Him: So do you want me to call you or should we talk over IM?
Her: whichever you want.

She just wanted to know, yes or no, yes or no, and her heart raced in anticipation of the answer that she knew he had received and was waiting to share.

Him: It’s easier over IM. 🙂
Her: I figured, with calling other people hear too.

Please, just tell me if you got the job or not.

Him: I could use the cell outside.
Her: Just get on with it man!
Him: You sure?
Her: sigh

His teasing was a good sign, even if she wanted to jump through the computer screen and just shake the answer she new was coming out of him.

Him: Blank left a message and made me an offer. We’re meeting later to talk details. Now I wish I had shaved this morning.
Her: lol Yay!
Him: 🙂
Her: sigh

This time it was a sigh of relief, not annoyance.

Him: What do you think: should I accept?
Her: Yes Yes Yes
Him: 🙂 I guess I’ll accept then.
Her: Lets celebrate by going to Disneyland.
Him : 🙂

So that’s it. Jon will begin a new position on April 19th. I’m so happy for him and I look forward to our future with anticipation.

Good things are happening.

When I was at Old Navy with Lilah I saw these shirts and I had to buy them for the girls. Lilah choose “Daddy’s Pot Of Gold” and Eden got “Mom’s Lucky Charm.” They’re both in 5 T since they didn’t have them in girl sizes, but luckily Lilah can still wear it… kinda.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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Lilah was not wanting to take pictures.
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Eden is looking older as she lets her hair grow out.
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The girls being goofy….Lilah was happy to take this picture.

After modeling the shirts we ate lunch at Subway then went to the Springs Preserve. It was a beautiful day and we mostly stayed in the Origin Area, where they have animals, a sand box, stuff to build with and this giant granite slab that rotates on another rock because of water. The girls spent a lot of time on the rock just hopping on and off and spinning.

Spinning around
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Enjoying the beautiful day.

For dinner we had a green salad, asparagus, and fish. For desert I made a Thin Mint milkshake and added green food coloring for fun.

Um, can you look a little happier please?

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No smiles…I guess this one of you eating the milkshake will have to do.

We had a fun St Patrick’s Day and hope you did too.

Today I’m grumpy so I’m trying to be thankful for things that are annoying me today.

I’m grateful for….

1. Dishes to eat and cook off of.
2. A home to live in.
3. Toys for my children.
4. A husband who has a job to go to.
5. Being a stay at home mom.

The truth….

1. My dirty dishes have been piling up a lot.
2. My house is dirty and chaotic.
3. My children’s toys have not been getting picked up lately.
4. My husband was annoying me by leaving a little late this morning when I had so much to do, when usually it doesn’t bother me what time he leaves. He’s also been working a lot and it’s starting to get to my sanity
5. I’ve been with the girls 24/7 without any time alone lately. Play rehearsals are time alone, but since I’m not accomplishing anything or relaxing, they sometimes don’t count, it depends on my mood.

The up side….I get to leave the house for a couple hours tonight to go pick out fabric and be ALONE! Also, all the things on my truth list are things I can change and have control over how I feel and react to.

It’s been a while since I’ve listed anything I’m thankful for. This posts is about two of my very dear friends. I’ve become close to both of them over the past few years and it’s funny because they’ve never met, but as one gets ready to be a stay-at-home mom I know their paths will soon cross.

1. I’m grateful for a friend who will bring me milk when I am all out and don’t want to leave my house.
2. I’m grateful for a two friends who always have listening ears when I need someone to talk too, or in some cases willing to read since I instant message with one throughout the week.
3. I’m grateful for a friend who loves my girls so much and loves to go to the park with us during her lunch hour.
4. I’m grateful for a friend who lets me hang out at her house for no reason at all.
5. I’m grateful for a friend who comes to me with pregnancy questions, even if it’s been nearly five years since I was pregnant.

Thank you for being my friends, you both enrich my life and help me to be a better mom, woman and I hope a better friend too.

My blogging has been very few and far between lately. There are a lot of different reasons for that.

One reason is Facebook. I spend a lot of time on there, and it’s easier to do quick little updates than to write a long blog. Something I hate that I’ve begun doing. I need to make more time for my blog, since I do see it more as my journal.

Another reason is we’ve been so busy. I don’t have time to sit and type out what’s been happening because we’ve been gone all day doing things, and then I come home to catch up on other blogs and Facebook, and then it’s dinner time and then I don’t want to do anything after dinner. On my days home, like today, I just want to clean, except I don’t want to clean at this moment, and get my house back into a more comfortable place, since it’s just been pretty chaotic lately with all we’ve been doing.

The final reason is I think I was a very grumpy mom for a very long time and since I was so grumpy and snappy, writing a blog about our life was one of the last things I wanted to do. I was unhappy and easily irritable. The girls were doing everything in their power to bother me, at least it felt that way, and I was always upset about something.

It wasn’t fun for anyone around here.

I’ve been more happy and less grumpy lately, but I honestly don’t know when or why I started being a more even tempered person. I don’t remember if it was a conscious choice, or if it was an unconscious choice that I’ve just consciously realized. I partially don’t remember because it was a while ago that I feel I became a more bearable person to live with.

I know my family was on pins and needles, wondering when and what would set me off that day. I know Jon tried to help make it so I was less stressed, and when he saw the chaos was getting to me, he would try to help and encourage the girls to also help. I also know that he never tried to interfere, or contradict me and my very strict parenting ways in front of the girls. We always talked about it later, which was hard since I have a hard time talking about parenting because I feel I am the dominant parent. ( It’s difficult when you’re with the children 24/7 and you might feel like your parenting techniques are better and should take precedent over the other parent who only has to deal with it on a more part time basis. )

I can be pretty stubborn.

So I’m not sure why I changed, or really why I was even so upset, but now things are a little better in the house. We still have our hard moments and I still get really upset, but it’s not as regular or frequent. I’m trying to deal with our disagreements with a more even temperament, but I’m still at a lost plenty of times at what to do to improve a certain behavior with the girls. We try to have more natural consequences, but sometimes their is no natural consequence and I don’t like to punish with chores or other things that I feel are just a part of being in the family.

Being a parent is hard, but I’m happy I have Jon as a companion to help me. As we navigate this road together he tries to support me and help me be better, and when I’m being stubborn and don’t want to change, he waits patiently. When he’s being stubborn I also try to wait patiently, since we both have our bad days.

I love you dear and am happy to be on this road with you.

I’m trying to grow my hair out, but there are a few things I don’t like.

1. Having to do my hair every day. With short hair I could get away more easily with only doing it every other day if I slept on it the right way. Now I have to have a ponytail and I just don’t like how I look in a ponytail.

2. I go through a lot more shampoo. This is because I have more hair and because I have to clean it more often.

3. Spit Ends. I get them and my hair is long enough that I pick at them. Ick.

4. Knots. I get them and they hurt to comb out.

5. Long hair in food. Really my hair doesn’t fall in the food I’m cooking, at least not often or any time recently, but picking a long hair out seems worse than a shorter one.

6. Our shower drain gets clogged more quickly. I’m just happy I have a husband willing to snake it, because I find it utterly revolting.

So those are the cons.

Here are the pros.

1. I have long hair to do something with in the play. Not sure if this is a pro since I’m not good at doing my hair.

2. I look younger with long hair. Since I turn the ripe old age of 27 I need all the help I can get. 😉

3. When people see me with long hair that I knew a long time ago they think I look exactly the same. I think this is a pro, but at the same time I do not want to be known as being exactly like I was in high school, or as if I haven’t changed. I have changed… just not much.

4. Long hair feels nicer when it’s played with, as long as I’ve combed out the knots first.

5. I can tickle my girls with my long hair and Eden loves to play with it, though she loved to play with my short hair too.

6. I’m going to give it to charity, and help someone feel a little more beautiful, or handsome in a couple of years.

I’m enjoying having my hair long, but it’s hard at the same time. I want it to be short and a little less maintenance. It’s the last pro that keeps me from cutting off 4 inches and being Carolyn’s twin again.

The time cannot pass quickly enough for me to cut off my hair, but then again I want time to stop for a whole other reason.

Rehearsals have begun for the play.

And I am so excited.

Instead of being third girl we’ve switched me to second girl, but only because I cannot comfortably hit the notes of third girl.

I really like being second girl, now I just need to learn the notes I sing since I was only vaguely paying attention when the previous girl sang because I was worried about hitting my high notes as third girl.

I’m really happy the director let me switch parts.

I’m assisting Anna on costumes this year. She is our costume designer, and I am really excited and nervous. Nervous, because I wonder what we’ll be sewing. Excited, because I love sewing for the plays, even if it is a lot and tedious at times, and at times frustrating…. but doing it and having people look nice is so wonderful and rewarding.

Hopefully what I make will look nice and contribute to the total look of the play.

I’m also so excited for our director. I’ve only had one other experience with a director, but this year, both the director and assistant director are very involved in even the small parts. They want us to develop who we are and bring it to the play. They want us to have purpose in where we move on stage, not just move because the choreographer told us to.

I’m loving it.

I’m suppose to be overly flirty, as are girl one and three, but I feel I need to work on a little. I feel rather silly since I am a mom of two girls, but I am an attractive woman, so I can be flirty, right? I like that I have more to my character this year, and I really am loving the play.

The dates are June 16th- 26th, except Sunday the 20th.

Be there to hear me sing and watch me be flirty. The girls will be in the opening scene and will no doubt be so cute, though we won’t find out what they’re doing till May.

I’m so excited for what’s to come!

Today in the mail I saw that we had received something from the 2010 Census and I was a little excited.

This would be the first year I’d be the one filling out the information and noting myself and my family on the Census and I thought it was exciting.

We would be a part of those White Caucasian statics, who are married, with children, have a college education, make x amount of money, own a home, are not veterans, are employed, and whatever other information the Census takes note of.

Then I opened the envelope and it was just a letter telling me to look for the upcoming packet.

What a buzz kill.

But we will be one of those White Caucasian statics, who are married, with children, have a college education, make x amount of money, own a home, are not veterans, are employed and whatever other information the Census takes note of.

I feel like I’m a full fledged adult, that is once I fill out my Census, I’ll be a full fledged adult.

I look forward to that packet and the dull uninteresting questions that count me as a person in my city, in my country.

Bring on the 2010 Census!