Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Wasting time....

Okay sisters, repeat after me.  I will not waste my time on-line.  I will not waste my time on-line.  I will not waste my time on-line.  I will not waste my time on-line....UGH.  WHY is this such a hard lesson for me to learn?

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Potty Training

I often wonder what makes us (moms) ask other moms for advice....esp for things like potty training.  I mean, seriously?!!?  What makes a mom an expert at potty training?  But you know I suppose there is always some advice to offer, something wise to pass along, but sometimes (ESP with the issue of potty training) I just want to beg God and ask Him why?  Yes, that's right, I don't usually ask why God a lot, I understand that we live in a fallen world, a world full of sin and destruction and I get that bad things happen.  I really think my favorite saying from my days on Facebook is "Things happen for a reason, and sometimes the reason is you made a dumb decision".  LOVE IT!  But for real.  WHY did God have to send kids to us who weren't able to pee on the potty?   I really feel like that would have been something nice to throw in with the blessing of motherhood.

SO, now you are wondering why I am posting about potty training.  Well I told you I would and now I am.  And the reason is, my precious little princess will be four on Friday and she STILL has issues.  We were completely trained until about January of this year and we lost it.  The details don't really matter, but it has made me wonder why we have "normals"  what exactly is normal in the realm of potty training?  I have (or have attempted to) potty train three kids now.  And each time has been different and harder.  My first one pretty much did it himself.  Easy Peasy.  DONE.  No issues.  My second on was um, a challenge, but we mastered it a little before his third birthday, b/c I felt sure that was what we were supposed to do.  But my fourth is less than a week shy of her fourth birthday and I am hesistant to say this "out loud" but she has had dry panties for two days in a row now (thanks to a HORRID diaper rash that she got from wetting her panties SO much)!

So what makes normal?  WHY do we feel the need to be normal?  I am thinking about all my different experiences and can't help but think about my friend who has had her fair share of potty training drama, she now has an alarm to help her child learn to control things at night.  I have another friend who successfully potty trained her child at 18 months (well as successfully as an 18 month old can be potty trained).  There are all different ways and ages.....and I, for once, plan to just chill out with this number four of ours and let HIM decide when HE wants to pee in the potty.  I can't handle another dramatic experience....so could you remind me of that when it is his time?   PLEASE tell me to chill out and take my time and not worry about it!   After all you can lead a child to the toilet, but you can't make him pee.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Why I'll never be a good blogger

So, I am no longer on Facebook, I am two weeks into a new Bible study that truly digs into the Word of God and overall our days are much better.  They run smoother and I am just plain happier!  I also have to confess that we got to camp TWICE in May (which those who know me well, know that is where I am most "ME") and it is NOT my time of the month (which tends to make me a little grouchy).  But I also must tell you that we (well I-really, but for the sake of the blog I'll say the whole family) are going through a bit of a transition here.  My sweet hubby has worked crazy shifts our entire married life.  But the past couple of years he has for the most part worked from 5am-1:30pm.  Which meant that about the time of day where I was thinking about pulling my hair out and using it to tie the kids to the fans, my hero walked through the door!  Yes, I was a spoiled rotten little brat and I knew it and loved it.  But that has all changed.  He now works mostly from 9am-5:30pm.  I know most of you are laughing and saying so what?  But that is new to us and hard for me.  That's an extra 4 hours per day I get, ALONE, with my kids and without my husband.  It's been a little rough, but we're dealing with it.

Yesterday we had our inflatable pool out in the yard ready for use!  We (the kids and I) were REALLY looking forward to enjoying some time out there!  We finally got the morning chores done and got out there and we all were really enjoying the time in the sun and water.  I was beginning to think THIS is the life.  I started thinking about enjoying some sun and water solo during nap time, but wasn't really sure I could swing it.  I laughed to myself when I thought about a SWEET friend (you know who you are) and how she used to lay out in the pool, pre kids.  I missed her and wanted her to come lay out with me.  YES, those of you who know me well, I was thinking about laying out.  No, in my entire 30 years I am not sure that I have ever had this desire before, it was strange...VERY STRANGE.

I finally got the kids on the back porch for lunch and I started to explain how this was going to go down.  They would go to rest...no talking, no getting up and I would go outside to do my Bible Study with Joshua in charge.  I didn't expect much, but thought it would be worth a shot.  Everything went EXACTLY as planned.  The younger three fell asleep and Joshua rested with his books.  I enjoyed 45+ minutes outside in the sun and water with my Father.  Sisters, this was SO close to heaven on earth.  It had to be.  I loved EVERY second.  All 2,700 of them.  BLISS.  I thought about blogging to tell you about it, but I refused.  I can't stand the whole "share your best moments - hide the monstrous ones".  So I decided it was best just to not tell you.

Then today came.  We were planning to go to the park this morning, mommy needed some exercise.  I got some good workouts in this week and I am trying to keep up the momentum.  Whew. It is HARD!  Anywho, about the time we were getting ready to go the rain started.  Strike one.  (which was after the baby had SCREAMED through breakfast--still have no idea why).  Anyway, so I decided I'd work out on the wii fit while the kids played or whatever and the baby napped.  Good plan.  Baby down for nap, mommy on wii.  Yes, this will work.  The kids were SUPER encouraging to me and pushed me to work harder and do better.  It was good....and fun!  I like this.  Note to self, do this again.  The baby woke up and I was EXHAUSTED after 50+ minutes of a HARD workout.  I let the kids take over on the wii and I went to get the baby.  I opened the door and I smelled it.  I knew what had happened, I didn't need to see anything at all.  STRIKE TWO (or is this three?) anyway....there I was, worn out, starving (b/c it is noon) and the baby has taken off his diaper and pooped and peed ALL in the pack-n-play.  SERIOUSLY.  I put the baby in the tub and started cleaning up.  The girl peed in her pants, for the fourth time today-yes it is only noon (more on that in another post).  I had promised her that if she peed in her pants again I would get out the XL happy heiny diapers and she would be wearing them again.  I was TOTALLY serious.  So I did that, finished cleaning up the baby and started lunch. 

Sisters, let me tell you.  That work out.....I still haven't quite gotten over that.  Got lunch served and asked my oldest to get something out of the fridge.  I seriously was just too worn out to go get it myself....and that precious child of mine.....he managed to spill an entire gallon of SWEET (sticky) tea on our kitchen floor.  sigh.

This is just a small glimpse of the strikes that have happened in our little day (and I didn't even bother with the "little" things) and I still have THREE+ hours before my sweet husband gets home.  I promised him last night that I wouldn't let the three biggest kids sleep today b/c we want them to go to bed early so we can have a little date night....so the marathon continues.....this should be fun.

And this is why I'll never be a great blogger.  I can't just share the things that make my life look perfect.  I want to be real, but then when I do.....it looks like this.....a small dissertation.  It's okay.  Really, I blog b/c it helps to tell someone.  And, I can honestly say, this day would have been 10xs worse had I not started that new Bible study.  God has given me the grace I needed to smile and keep going.  After all these precious children are a gift from God.  God is good and gives good gifts.....and I can't help but think that He is enjoying you laughing as you read (and likely picture) how our day has been.....truth is....I am sure He is happy that I am laughing!  A few weeks ago this would NOT have been laughable at ALL!