A new post! It's been a while.

On Tuesday, C was putting up dishes and accidentally removed the tray from the bottom of the oven where we keep our baking pans. So he let me know, and I went to put it back in. And noticed how dirty it was under my oven. I pull the tray to the side, and notice a VERY LARGE BUG under my stove. Not any regular bug, it was the length of my palm! It appeared dead, so I got brave and swept it out. Yep. Dead. But wait! Not a bug... 6 legged, but no, it's the crawdad that escaped from our fish tank over Easter break. Laughter brings the children to the kitchen. They think it's a scorpion. Yeah, kinda looks like one. Hmm... apparently I should clean out from under my stove more often. Threw the thing away, then went "EW EW EW!" and did the freak out dance. Now the kids think I'm really nuts. Apparently my big girl underwear only lasted so long.

Forward to Wednesday. My loving husband wakes me up with a kiss and says "You need to clean out the refrigerator when you get up." What? The fridge? Must have been a dream. I've been having some weird ones lately. Like my teeth crumbling and falling out. Ew. ANYWAY. Get up and... in the sink is an exploded soda can. Ugh. NOT a dream. Reluctantly, I open the fridge. Yep. Soda ALLL over. Close the fridge. Make coffee, eat some breakfast, finish a game of Monopoly with my daughter. OK, NOW tackle the fridge. Every shelf, every wall, even behind the light, has been "blessed" by this can of soda.

While I am doing this, my 9 y/o son is making boiled eggs. It's his first time, and I am talking him through it. Well, one of the things I do is add a little oil so it doesn't boil over. I didn't know he had almost overflowed the pot already with water. He added the oil, way too much oil, and it spilled over. Onto the eye (burner). Which then caught fire. And went back out. Whew. Get it off the eye. Pour out some water/oil in the sink. Change eyes. Finish the eggs. Whew.

Decided that I should probably mow the yard. (Never mind the fact that I'm apparently mildly to moderately allergic to grass.) But it's been hot lately. I should check the temperature. It IS 2:00 PM. Figured if it was less than 90 degrees F, then I would mow. Check the temp gauge. 89.4... What? Ugh. God sure has a sense of humor. Check the computer. Uh oh. Storms moving in. Can't mow after all. Should have time to plant my flowers though, before it rains. Plant the flowers, and come in as the sky gets really gray... Go back to my computer. Get a text from hubby. He says to mow. I say "storms moving in". His reply? "Hurry." lol. Guess I'll mow anyway. Go out into the blazing sunshine... blazing sunshine? really? And mow. the whole yard. no rain. Stupid blower doesn't want to work (yeah, I don't remember the steps.) Push the mower into the garage. Sit down and relax a few.

Oops! Time for church, gotta leave in 1/2 hr? Haven't showered. I am SUPER woman. Shower, dress, push the kids to get ready. NOT those shorts, except under a dress. Get a dress for the girl. All ready to go? NO, son is NOT ready. Get him off the Wii. Finish a quick nursery schedule. Head to church. Just in time. Awesome song. Pray together. Great lesson! God is good. All the time. and... what's that saying? Tomorrow is another day. :)

ASL and sign name

I have a long standing interest and desire to learn ASL (American Sign Language) and have had classes and etc. BUT the only way to really learn a language is to use it. Frequently. So, at my new job there is a little boy who is Deaf. I have certainly been making use of all I know, and also looking up words fairly frequently. I was so proud the other day to ask him his lunch choices and be confident of his understanding (fish, chicken, or peanut butter and jelly sandwich). Well, the only way to "say" your name is to spell it. UNLESS you have a "sign name". Sign names can only be given by a deaf person, and are yours alone (for example two people named Joe would not necessarily have the same sign name). Our main teacher is an "S" shaken along the side of your head like curly hair (yeah, she has curly hair. Her name is Suzanne). A girl with a C name has chubby cheeks, so her sign name is a "C" by your cheek. I used to have one, a "P" at the shoulder (Proctor, and shoulder is medical sign, since I was studying speech therapy). I didn't like it though, and it was mostly just for a class I was taking (like I was Alejandra in Spanish class). Well, this week, my little boy was talking to his interpreter and told her my name is "Z". She confirmed that was what he meant for my name, since my name is Deena, and there is not a "z" in it. He grinned and signed back "Yes, she's 'Z'". So I'm "Z". With the rest of my name it sounds like Xena (warrior princess), and that's cool too. yo.

Borrowed children

The other Sunday, I was teaching about Hannah and Samuel. She asked God fervently for a son, and promised she would give him to serve in the temple if God would give her the child. He lived with her only until he was weaned, then she took him to the temple to live. My lesson text said this: “Therefore have I lent him to the Lord;” Hannah said, “as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” One of the discussion points was that really God just "lends" us our children, until they are needed to do His work.

A friend and I were discussing surrogate mothers. She asked if I could carry a baby for her. (hypothetically, I believe.) I said "yes". As I thought about it though, I realized that I would expect to have access to this child that I had carried. That I would feel more of a bond with this child than with the one she has now. That I would expect her to be... not just a good mother, but a good mother "like me", for this child. Then I realized that God trusts us to take care of His children. That He would have every right to expect me, not just to be a good mother the way I see it, but to be a mother like He would want me to be.

Now that I have had these revelations, though, I am scared. Why does God want me to know this?? How am I supposed to use this information? Obviously as a reminder to be a godly mother, as much as is humanly possible. But what if He's preparing me? "My" kids aren't mine. If He has need of them, I want them to be ready. They are both Christians, my brother and sister (they think that's funny, that Mommy is their sister); what if it would serve God for one of them to suffer? to die? Life is full of the unexpected. I hope that I will remember to praise God no matter how He uses my children (or me, or my husband). I am thankful for my church family and the support I've seen for others who have needed it. I know they would be there for me as well. And my family and in-law family. I'm not feeling morose, lest anyone be worried, just contemplative. (sorry if I've gotten anyone else down.) Thanks for reading.

Mother's job

Our job as mothers and fathers is to raise our children to eventually not need us. Right? So why do all the little steps they take away from us hurt so much??

Tomorrow, C goes for his first sleep-away church camp. Sunday through Friday. I've got him all packed with toiletries, clothes, Bible, swim trunks. I've got him psyched up and excited and ready to go. Now I just have to let him go. Just. Just. Just let him go. That's all. I'm ready. I think.

This August, my baby girl starts school. I am definitely conflicted on this one. But I just have to let her go. She's ready. She can write her alphabet, mostly. Can read some words. She's psyched up, excited and ready to go. I'll just have to let her go. Just. Just. Let. Her. Go. Ugh.

On WAY FM today, there was a commercial for their college finder website. They said "It's never too early to think about college." So I thought about it. Yikes. I have to let them go for THAT long?? No, wait. I have to let them go forever? Just let them go???? At least I have a while to think about this one.

I wonder how hard it was for God to let Jesus become man. Knowing that he would suffer and die. Knowing the hardships of human life, the sins that He would bear for people who definitely don't deserve it. To just let Him go. Knowing that was the best thing to do. Knowing that it was the right thing to do. Knowing He would come back, someday. Surely it was hard to let go.

Unearthed Treasure

We were cleaning out closets on Saturday. We keep all sorts of things, and I came across some cards from when my daughter was born. She just turned 5. Well, inside one of the greeting cards was a gift card from J.C. Penny's for $25. So I called then number on the back, knowing that a 5 year old gift card wasn't going to be any good. Sure enough, it had a zero balance, from non-use fees over time. BUT J.C. Penny's operator offered to send me a new $25 gift card!! I couldn't believe it! I haven't gotten it in the mail yet, but what awesome customer service!!!!

Teenager Repellant

Created by Train Horn

Weird. Unfortunately, I can hear it, too. So, I guess I won't be loitering wherever these are in use either. :D

Time passes by

I sent a picture of my kids to my aunt and cousins for Christmas as I do each year.

When I was younger, I got to go to FL every year to see my Dad. This is also where my aunt and cousins live (other side of the family though), so I would visit them. I was about 10 when the oldest (a girl, J) was born, then there was a boy a couple years later (P), and another boy a few more years later (D). I got to spend time with them when they were small. At age 16, I no longer went to FL each summer. So the "kids" stayed that age in my mind (about 6, 4, and 2). Of course, they grew up when I wasn't looking. It still astounds me that 2 of them are in college already.

So, I sent this picture to them. P wrote me the other day and said he just couldn't believe how big my kids are getting, that he still expects the older (7 now) to be a baby, because that was when they saw him. lol. I told him that now he kinda knows how *I* feel. They've seen them one other time, when they were 3 and less than 1, but it wasn't for a long period of time. 12 hours is a long way to travel to see each other, but worth it. We need to make a trip. :)

Christmas

We've done the cantata and the play. We've done the family dinners. We've done the traveling. We've done the gifts, giving and receiving. God has blessed us tremendously, even in the midst of our own self-made chaos.

We've also ALL done the stomach virus, one way or the other (or both. lol. ugh)

We got oodles of things that we wanted. We got things we didn't even know we wanted until we got them. :)

We have one more Christmas tradition left to do. Dad is coming to visit. He lives in FL, so he only comes once a year, like Santa. And like Santa, he gives gifts. Actually, he usually takes us shopping so we can pick our own gifts. It's fun. The kids love spending time with Papaw. We all have a lovely visit.

Celebration of ME

WOW! I'm super excited about all the winning I've been doing lately!

(Disney video is a spoof, but LOTS of fun. You can make your own. :) )

The winners are....

I assigned numbers....

I used random.org to draw two....

and the winners are....

Patty and Denise!!

I will be contacting you for your mailing information soon!!

Mother's Bracelets

http://braceletstories.com/

As I was entering contests for the Holiday Giveaway, I came across these cute mother's bracelets!

Holiday Expo Giveaway at Internet Cafe Devotions

My friend Crystal (Bricck) is part of Internet Cafe Devotions and posted on her blog that she's giving something away. Went to the Cafe link (as above) and have spent at least 2 days entering other people's giveaways. And I've been thinking... could I give something away too? Well, I can't be as generous as some of the others, but I am offering some of my own creations! I use Sculpey clay to make these American Sign Language "I love you" hands, as well as other small sculptures. The light one has a magnet on the back, the dark one has a pin.

To enter to win one of these (I'm giving away two), just comment on this blog entry and tell me what is your favorite gift you've ever GIVEN. Mine was tickets to Phantom of the Opera to my sister, who LOVES the play. Be sure to leave your email address if you aren't part of Blogger (if you are, I will likely get your e-mail when you comment.) Due to cost, I will not be able to ship overseas, so US only, please. Random draw of names leaving appropriate comments on or about Dec 12.

Thanks for reading. I don't blog often, but always appreciate comments! :)

Surgical Procedure

Yeah, so I finally did it! On November 5th, I went from a size 38L bra to about a 38DD. The inset is the "new me". I'm not all healed, so probably still a bit swollen, etc.

I've had my ups and downs with this healing process. I had my mom here for the first week & a half, so I had to start doing a bit more after she left. Like taking C to school and picking him up. So I have to drive. Not to mention more childcare, food prep, etc. So I've been more sore this week. I have mostly been sore, or uncomfortable, not in pain. That's been very nice. I'm back on antibiotics, and am taking pain medication when I can (not driving, etc.), and tylenol when I can't.

I'm still getting used to how I look in the mirror. :) I have to learn to hold in my stomach. lol

Definitely Fall

You know it's Fall in middle TN, when they start "firing" tobacco. To my understanding: They do this by hanging the large tobacco leaves on a long stick, then hanging the stick inside a barn. Then they start kind of a smouldery fire in the bottom of the barn. This causes smoke to fill the barn, and leak out ALL over the place. There is definitely a particular smell to it, which folks that grew up here enjoy as a herald to Fall. (Makes me think of how my former pastor used to put down the windows when we came into Decatur to smell. I think soybean processing? It stunk to me, but it meant home to him.)

For some reason, my 4 year old decided "tobacco" was just too big of a word. So they've now been labeled "taco barns". I told her that "taco" means something else, but she's very stubborn and insists that "taco" should be an acceptable short version of "tobacco".

Oh, since this seems to be a location specific industry, I had never seen a tobacco barn before I moved here for college. Yes, I thought there was a fire when I saw smoke billowing out of a barn. Yes, hubby got a really good laugh out of my ignorance. To be honest, I sometimes startle a bit when I see barns smoking even now. It's not normal.

Gatlinburg 2008

We just returned from a family trip to Gatlinburg. Our family of 4 went, along with hubby's parents and brother. So 7 people all together. For some reason, my mother-in-law thought it would be sufficient to get a two bedroom, one bath "chalet", which turned out to be more of a basement apartment. It was somewhat challenging. On the plus side, we stayed out as much as we could. And when we were in, there were no exploded bladders from waiting for the bathroom (nor accidents). Between us, we went to Blackwood Breakfast Show, Dixie Stampede, Black Bear Jamboree Dinner Show, Tony Romas, Calhouns, the Old Mill, TGIFridays, Flapjacks Pancake House, Wonder Works, Ripley's Aquarium, Ripley's Mirror Maze, Lost Treasure Golf, go karts, and some outlet stores and souvenir shops. We also did a driving tour in the National Park (Roaring Fork). (I'm sure I missed something.) We were there from Saturday night through Wednesday morning. So, I need a t-shirt that says "I survived..." I'm still winding down, catching up, switching back over, and generally trying to get into the swing of things.

Potty trained!

The moms in my audience will appreciate this: At 4 years and 4+ months, my daughter is now potty trained. She wears pull-ups when she sleeps, but has not had an accident in weeks (and is usually dry overnight). We even went on vacation for a couple days with NO accidents!

As a reward for "dry days" (20 of them, not in a row), she got a trip to the "beauty parlor", where she got a nice little hair cut. It's sort of a bob, but her hair is so thin that it doesn't really look like much. Just more even at the bottom.

I am SO mean.

I was reading a friend's blog and it reminded me of an incident from a while back.

The kids and I were shopping at Wally World. Shane had asked me to pick up a For Sale sign for the lawnmower he had fixed up. We were nearly finished and I remembered, so I said "OH, I forgot to get a For Sale sign for your Dad." B says "You're going to sale Dad??" So of course I say, "Well, I've had him for a long time..." We went back and forth for a bit, when it finally came out from C "If we're going to sell someone, it should be YOU." Huh? "Daddy is teaching me to play chess, and he plays hide and seek with us." Oh, well, sure, that makes him indispensable.

Labor Day

In honor of Labor Day, some questions about MY labors. :)

How long were your labors?

C: 7 AM- 1:45 AM the following day. So... 18:45?

B: is a bit more subjective. I was IN LABOR for sure at about 3 AM, we got to the hospital about 4 AM, and she was born at 7:28 AM. But I was pretty sure she'd be coming that weekend at about noon the previous day. I just wasn't sure how quickly.

How did you know you were in labor?

C: They induced at 7AM, but I wouldn't say I "labored" until early afternoon, 2 PM or so? That's when it got bad enough that I needed an epidural.

B: See previous. We went to bed at midnight, after sending C to grandmother's house. I woke up at 3-ish with contractions that were about 5 minutes apart.

Where did you deliver?

Dr. Shali Scott delivered both of them at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. It was a great experience both times. The delivery nurses were superb, and the genuine caring for the patients was obvious in just about everyone. And I got an upgraded room with B, because they ran out of space in the regular rooms! (My doctor has since left practice, at least for now, to be a stay at home Mom. How cool is that?)

Drugs?

Yes, with both. C, I waited until it hurt too badly for me to do anything but cry. B, I had an epidural right away because we knew she was coming. They bumped a C-section anesthesia to get me first. :)

C-section?

Nope. They both had some heart rate dropping issues, that caused a C-section to be considered, but it was not necessary in either case.

Baby Weights?

C: 9lb 1/2 oz

B: 8lb even.

Cheap Birthday Fun!

The kids and I went to town today for C's birthday. He's 7. :) We went to Sonic (free wacky pack), Chuck E. Cheese (20 birthday tokens and buy 60 get 40 free coupon, also a free ice cream) to play, then Toys R Us (free birthday paper crown, we've gotten a free balloon, but got a sash today, since they were out of balloons. they announce his name & play a song on the intercom, and I had a $3 off card for his birthday), then O'Charley's (split an entree 3 ways, had a coupon for a dessert, and a birthday dessert). Overall, ended up spending under $30, and $5 of birthday money since he wanted a transformer that was $8.

Most of these things I got from being signed up with their online clubs. Also, I have a Coldstone Creamery free ice cream for C, but we didn't make it there.

Accomplishments

My son figured out how to snap, and whistle! Not to be left out, daughter figured out how to snap also. (but still isn't potty trained. grr)

I made a blanket! A friend has given me TONS of clothes from her son for C. So, I took 12 of the t-shirts, chopped them up, added some back and edging, and made them a blanket. In progress...
And finished product. Not bad for my first try at a blanket!!