I love naps!

A quick blog before a nap.

This week was a back to normal routine, followed by a wonderful visit by my in laws who were able to come for Luke's Grandparents Day, YIPPEE for living close enough to do this!) But I am tired.... I'm sure some of that is recovery from the excitement from Princess' birth on Monday.

Today after church, I announced a nap was necessary as I work everyday next week. Ed justified it to the kids that the Dr. said it would be up to 6 weeks before I felt normal. Luke jumps in to add "But normal is being tired!" I had a good chuckle and Ed tried to explain anemia and tummy pain causes fatigue too. He didn't add overweight and out of shape, but he sure could have!

Meme

A is for your age: 39
B is for your burger of choice: Veggie Black Bean. And I have to be very careful that the Midwest's version of "veggie burger" isn't just lettuce and tomato on a real hamburger.
C is for the car that you drive: 1999 red Taurus
D is for dog's name: "My children's greatest wish, that I hope doesn't come to realization"
E is for an essential item you use each day: DR PEPPER
F is for your favorite television show: Dancing with the stars
G is for favorite games: Brickmaster
H is for hometown: 29 days until I know!
I is for instruments played: Clarinet, but never very good! (doing leftover Algebra during rests didn't help!)
J is for favorite juice: pineapple
K is for what you'd like to kick: The Dr Pepper habit
L is for last restaurant you dined at: Mc Donald's fries
M is for your favorite Muppet: Big Bird
N is for number of piercings you have: 2 - one in each ear
O is for overnight hospital stays: 2 (Tonsils and recent hysterectomy)
P is for people you were with today: My favorite student, his teachers and all of his schoolmates on a cold Iowa playground. Ed, Luke and Leah. My student took me into the playground fort and up 3 levels to help him slide down. Wow, I was TIRED tonight!
Q is for what you do in quiet times: READ, sleep
R is for regrets: Not finishing my degree before I became a mother.
S is for status: Tired! But very happy I am uterusless.
T is for time you woke up today: 6:45 am
U is for what you consider unique: Not wanting to be unique.
V is for favorite vegetables: zucchini
W is for your worst habit: not listening all the time
X is for x-rays you have had: teeth, bone scan, chest, abdomen
Y is for yummy food you ate today: Raisin Bran, Lean cuisine, applesauce, Pizza Hut, Z is for favorite zoo animal: Elephants

A new niece

My very strong and brave sister made me an aunt again. Welcome to the world Princess!! And her middle name is Ann... for Patricia Ann. I was so blessed to be able to be there for her arrival and take lots of pictures!

DWTS addiction

Move over Kristi Yamaguchi. Leah has a new star.... who is a gymnast like her. We are having fun watching and many of our Iowa family members are catching the DWTS bug, now that a local girl is in it. Everyone had better learn to like it.... Leah says it is what she is going to grow up to be! We are signing up to try win the free trip to watch the finale from the Hyvee stores. Oh, how happy Leah would be!!

I am so proud of young Shawn, but I am really hoping they remember she is only 17 and keep her dressed! We are watching tonight and I showed her costume to Ed. He agreed they could do better.

Look Mom... no training wheels!

Wow!! Leah can ride her bike really fast.... all my herself!!! My baby is growing too fast! But what fun! The best part is her brother took off the training wheels and taught her! (Do you think that he is tired of hearing her yell "wait for me Luke!") Whatever the reason --- I am so proud of both of them!

I will add video as soon as the family computer with the Kodak program returns from the computer hospital. YUCK for computer virus' (caught through facebook and attacked our house printer). It should return home tomorrow. So stay tuned!

Differences of opinion

I LOVE OUR CONGREGATION!! Every night a hot wonderful delicious supper comes to our door by 6. Most of the women are older and all of them KNOW HOW TO COOK!
WE ARE BLESSED!!!

Leah doesn't agree.

Last night driving home from the sitter...

Leah: What is for supper tonight?
Me: I don't know, some nice grandma from church is bringing us supper.
Leah: (all too common lately, hysterical fit with tears) I don't want a grandma supper.
Me: But it's such GOOD FOOD!
Leah: I don't want GOOD food...... I want OUR food!

Boy, doesn't that speak volumes on my cooking!

EXTRA, EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT ---

My surgery has kinda upset our family. Or at least our egos. Last night, Luke told me....

Luke: The "small city journal" called for you.
Me: Oh..... (with some admitted indifference).
Luke: "I asked her if she wanted to write a story about my flu or your surgery"
Me: (attention gathered) What did she say?
Luke: Well she didn't say anything for a minute, then she said she'd call back when you could talk to her.
Me: Lukey... all she wanted was to sell us a subscription. The flu and a hysterectomy is not news.
Luke: Are you sure......

The next day a young women called from the "small city journal" to sell a subscription. I thought about telling her all about the flu and my surgery.... for an instance before politely declining. But if they continue to call and call and call like the "Seminary city newspapers", I'm more than willing to share details.

Quarantined

THE. LITTLE. ONES. HAVE. THE. STOMACH. FLU. I found out last night when my son leaned over me to tell me he was going to throw up and then used my soft fleshy belly to push all his weight up! OUCH! My stitches came out today and prayers would be appreciated that Mom doesn't get the flu next! The Lysol can came back out in force!

BEDREST

Ed gave me Kate*Gosslin's book for Christmas. She had a section on bedrest,turns out she always imagined a mother on bedrest getting a perfect breakfast in bed, bluebirds out her windows and a perfect manicure. Turns out bedrest was nothing like that for her.. or me! I was most looking forward to recovering at home..... nothing fancy. Basically sleep when desired and watching some TV.

My first day started with a ice storm and 2 hour delay. Good thing school was actually cancelled as my 5 year old was dressed in Tasha's cowboy dance costume. She did have pink tights with florescent hearts on them. They were perfect, because the cowboy print skirt had slits up to her hips! Sleep was interrupted by "JUST WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR FUN??" "I WANT TO DO GIRL STUFF!" "I WANT MY TOES PAINTED!" "I can't find my Mermaid movie!"

I chose my best parenting tool to keep the fights on the low end.... separate televisions in separate rooms. I know ---- ingenious!! But that means no Mommy TV shows. Turns out today, Leah is a big fan of the Wiggles! In fact, she watched the same show 3 times in succession! The third time, Luke (but he'd never admit it) came in to watch as well. Of course that sends Leah into hysteria, because my bedroom is only for girls! GOOD TIMES!

After Ed came home, everything was much better!! Lots of birthday cards in the mail, presents, cake and a homemade dinner not home made by ME! Turns out meals will be coming in for the next 10 days! YIPPEE!!! There's no ice predicted for tomorrow... so I get to try the recuperating thing at home again. Today was actually a wonderful day with wonderful phone calls! Thanks ladies, you made my day much better!!!!

Surgery is DONE!

Back now at "home" (my mother in law's house, in DSM.) I wouldn't say I'm in any much more discomfort than I was before the hysterectomy. However, I was allergic to one of the beautiful flowers I received and ouch, sneezing did hurt. Ibuprofen takes the pain to a manageable level. All in all, I highly recommend a robotic surgery! Well off to rest before the kiddos return from their playdates! Thanks for all of the prayers! Will update more later!

Update

My Checkers is still doing better. No cartwheels, but plenty sassy to young Skittles and lots of coming around for attention and no throwing up!

Melissa, the jury is still out on catnip. The vet said he had no specific opinion in that it doesn't seem to hurt MOST cats. There have been some cases of overdose he said.... but with my official RN research (that would be "google"), I feel it is safe enough. It makes my kitties so happy too! But take that recommendation with knowing that I google human conditions too!! Well actually I webmd mostly! Quite official, I know!