There's No Place Like Home...

The family and I spent a glorious weekend in Cincinnati with Mr. Awesome's© family.  It was a late Christmas celebration...really late!!  His parents had moved to Florida and due to sick family members they were not able to get up here during the holidays so we postponed the festivities.  

This was our first meeting with his brother's newest addition and wowey, wow, wow that kid is amazing!! I kept thanking my sister-in-law for him, she no doubt thinks I've lost my mind but little Emerson is a scrumptious baby.  He has these delicious little fat rolls on the back of his head and was so mellow.  He reminded me of the boy Oompa at that age.  If it wasn't for the whole pregnancy thing, I'd have another in a heartbeat.  

Overall, a great weekend.  Ate too much, drank too much, stayed up too late and swam till my body collapsed.  Perfect!  Even in the face of Mt. Laundry staring at me, it was perfect and I hope we can do it again soon!!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

 FOR TODAY

Outside my window...it is cloudy and gray with a trace of last night's snow still ont he ground.  It's okay because tomorrow is supposed to be int he mid 50's!!

I am thinking...about all the goodies I want to plant in my garden this year.

I am thankful...for my amazing family and the time we got to spend with them.

In the kitchen...are a few different small containers of soup/stew thawing for dinner.

I am wearing...yoga pants and a t-shirt.  I'm cold though and need to go hunt down a sweater.

I am creating...a plan for my garden.

I am going...may head down to my Mom's house...Mr. Awesome© left his cell phone in her car!!

I am wondering...what mood the oldest Oompa will be in when she gets home from school...she was VERY grumpy this morning.

I am reading...a few free e-books on the Kindle. 

I am hoping...that Mr. Awesome© gets over the cold he started yesterday.  He's the biggest baby when he's sick.

I am looking forward to...this coming Sunday.  The 38th annual Maple Syrup festival at work...it's exhausting but I want it over and DONE!!

 
I am learning...how to eat healthy without compromising taste.

Around the house...it's clean and the hum of the dryer is my background noise.

I am pondering...how much time I am going to waste once I set up my Pinterest account!!

A favorite quote for today...nothing today. 

One of my favorite things...babies with fat rolls on their perfect, tiny heads!!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Cub Scouts on Tuesday, work on Wednesday,Thursday & Saturday with the festival on Sunday!!

A peek into my day...well really my weekend!!

All the Oompas!!!

 

The Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman's Daybook

 FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the glorious sun is shining ad it looks as if the raging winds have finally died down.

I am thinking...of all the cleaning I need to accomplish today but how this cold and headache are going to make it harder.

I am thankful...for the little moments of joy.

In the kitchen...is a HEAP of dirty dishes!!

I am wearing...warm sweatpants and one of Mr. Awesome's © flannel shirts.

I am creating...I will hopefully in the near future be creating a pair of PJ pants for myself.

I am going...no where today!!!

I am wondering...what my diagnostic mammogram will show??

I am reading...nothing right now, if time allows we will head to the library today.

I am hoping...that my littlest Oompa get's over this nasty virus very soon....I hate to see my kids sick.

I am looking forward to...next weekend....Mr. Awesome's© family will be getting together in Cincinnati for a very belated Christmas celebration and we finally get to meet baby Emerson!

I am learning...how to make maple syrup at work.

Around the house...ugh, it's scary.....very scary.

I am pondering...what to make for dinner tonight???

A favorite quote for today..."he threw up in my shoe?!?!?!?!", thus said by Mr. Awesome© when he learned littlest Oompa went on a vomit spree last night!

One of my favorite things...the smell of a clean house(which mine will have shortly)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Diagnostic mammogram on Monday, work briefly on Wednesday to put order away, shopping for the final belated Christmas gifts, laundry, laundry, laundry, school work, working on ServeSafe class/certification for myself, packing and party time in Cincy on Saturday!!!

A peek into my day...

Simply Yours.............Deborah

The Simple Woman's Daybook.....make your own and enjoy the simple things in life!!!

It Ain't All Fairy Dust and Rainbow Farts...

First off, I'd like to that OFG over at Adventures in the Good Land for the oh-so-descriptive title.  Her poetic writings inspire me so!!  However, she's right folks.  Life isn't all sunshine, unicorns and pixies.  Life is dirty, sneaky, painful and often times downright SUCKS!!  The joyous fun we'd have if there were fairy godmothers with magic wands, ready to wave away our troubles.

It is in no way, shape or form my intention to be a Debbie Downer with this post....only to point out that life doesn't come with a can of Fix-A-Flat.  There is no magic pill, special elixir or Genie popping out of a bottle that can fix most of life's woes.  They can only be repaired with honest to goodness determination, grit, and a hell of a lot of hard work.  I fear people today are unfamiliar with hard work.  I'm talking the hard work where sweat stings your eyes, you feel your muscles strain and it takes every ounce of your will to not break or stop. 

Of course, sometimes the sweat can be of the metaphoric kind versus the drippy, stinky kind.  Not every problem in this great universe is solved through manual labor.  A great many conundrums must be solved with brain power.....and given the state of our society , that power appears to be dwindling at a fast pace!!!  I digress...

I've been digging deep lately into the far reaching fathoms that are my soul and finally grabbed my boot straps and pulled them up.  If I'm being honest it's been a long while since I've even wanted to walk among the living.  I was content, not happy mind you, but content in my dark little cave.  Not much was asked or expected of me and I was good with that.  I was scraping by with just enough gumption and energy to meet the basics of life and parenthood but had nothing in reserve.  No extra time spent with the kids, no extra time spent with Mr. Awesome© and absolutely no extra time spent on myself. 

It has been a struggle and I've produced a ton of both the metaphorical sweat and the real kind.  I've read, prayed, exercised, cried, yelled, contemplated, scrubbed and purged.  There have been changes, real changes.  Changes that are not temporary band-aids that will fall off in a few weeks, I'm talking lifestyle changes here folks.  I've only got one life, one body, one Mr. Awesome©, one moody teenager, one bubbly cheerleader and one exhausting boy.  They and I need me present and accounted for, now.  

Thankfully, that season of darkness is closing and would you look at that....there is light at the end of this ol' tunnel!!  Well, I'll be!  It is a slow process but now that the ball is rolling, I'm picking up speed.  I have to remind myself that I'm not, nor ever will be Super Woman, and that's okay.  As Stuart Smalley once said, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me". 

Daily Affirmations with Deborah P.

Admission I'd Rather Not Make...

As a parent, you often times view your child as having no flaws.  They seem smarter, prettier, more athletic, more well liked and generally superior to all other children.  Feeling and thinking this way can, if left unchecked, cause major problems.  Most of us remember the Texas cheerleader's mom who put a hit out on a rival's mother.  However, I think most of us have a healthy amount of this denial in our systems.  I know I do.

When the time comes and it will, that we need to recognize faults in our children it can be a crushing blow.  Bringing up thoughts of, "where did I go wrong", or, "what could I have done differently?".  Most times the short answer is that we've done nothing wrong.  Our children are who they are and as God designed creatures with free will, they have faults.  Some less troubling than others!! 

I have come to accept that my oldest, while amazingly talented with music and art is often anti-social.  She prefers the company of books and her own thoughts to parties.  I'm okay with that, well I will be.....eventually.

I have come to accept that my younger daughter is going to be a cheerleader.  I don't mean that she'll be on a cheer squad on the sidelines of a football game(although she probably will).  It's more that she'll be a cheerleader for others in her life instead of rooting for herself.  She doesn't seem to have any thing she's passionate about so she encourages others.  As a person who's done the same her entire life I know the emptiness it can bring.  Watching others enjoy and succeed in ventures and activities while you sit on the sideline.

I have come to accept that my son has attention problems.  I have come to accept that he is different in every sense of the word.  I have come to accept that he needs help that I may not be able to give him. 

The last admission is particularly hard to verbalize.  I've tried to deny it for a few years now but realize it's only setting him back farther.  He learns differently, acts differently and thinks on a whole other plane than I do.  Not saying it's either bad or good, just different and unfortunately, I'm not entirely sure what to do with him.  I've researched several herbal and natural remedies for ADD/ADHD and will start with those.  I am reluctant to bring up these issue with the school for fear of the label following him and generating an IEP.  I went through that with my middle daughter for her speech therapy and it's an aggravating process. 

We ordered the herbal blend last night and expect it to arrive by early next week.  Fingers crossed we see a change.  Watching him struggle is breaking my heart.  Either way, I love that kid with my whole heart and will sit on my bruised ego over not having perfect kids to see he gets what he needs.    After all, I'm not perfect either.

Imperfectly Yours.............Deborah

Hello Again,

Good morning dear and faithful readers!  I say this with heavy sarcasm because I'm aware that I get a whopping 1-2 hits per week!!  The intent of this blog is more a therapy tool than anything else.  I'm boring and I'm okay with that.

It's been a busy time around the homestead lately.  Doctor appointments, work, Cub Scouts, bad practice and games, oh my!!   Littlest Oompa and I are working hard on school work so he will be finished by the end of May.  The girls' last day of school is May 31st and I'd like to have a week or two of full relaxation and sleeping in before I get busy at work with summer camp.  Last year, due to switching to this school in November, he had to work into early July to complete all the coursework.  Made for a grumpy kid, mom and put a huge damper on summer break.


I thought I'd start the week off with my Simple Woman's Daybook, so here goes....................

Simple Woman's Daybook #4
FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the sun is shining making the dusting of snow on the ground blinding.  The sky is light blue that reminds me of spring.  Too bad it's only 20 degrees out!!

I am thinking...that I like myself today.

I am thankful...my near migraine from last night is gone.

In the kitchen...are dirty dishes from the girls' breakfast and I've got hot coffee in the French press.

I am wearing...pjs and an old sweater my Dad lent me years ago.  It's a cream cardigan with big wooden buttons.  I was over visiting while pregnant with my son and got really cold, he gave me the sweater to wear and insisted I wear it home.  Now, every time I put it on it's like getting a big hug from him!!

I am creating...new chore charts for the Oompas.

I am going...hopefully no where today.

I am wondering...when I started saying things my mother said to me??

I am reading...The Vampire Diaries.  They were a gift to my oldest Oompa and she left one laying out so i picked it up.  It's not my usual style but a nice diversion.

I am hoping...school work goes smoothly today.

I am looking forward to...nothing really.  There have been an increasing number of disappointments around here lately, even over simple things, so to lessen the letdown I've stopped looking forward to things unless I am the one making it happen.

I am learning...about herbal medicine.

Around the house...it's quiet, I will enjoy my coffee and peace for a few more minutes before getting the boy up for the day.  The headache from hell last night kinda wiped me out and I'm moving a little slower than usual. 

I am pondering...where to put the garden gnome my sister-in-law left as a surprise for me yesterday.  She's a sneaky little thing!!

A favorite quote for today...I really haven't heard anything yet today.

One of my favorite things...hot coffee :-)

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Middle Oompa has a doctor appointment to follow-up on her new asthma meds, I work on Wednesday and Friday and have an appointment with a new gastro on Thursday.

A peek into my day...

Start your own Simple Woman's Daybook!!

Simple Woman's Daybook #3

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the sun is working it's way up and they sky is a pale, slate blue with pink.

I am thinking...back 13 years ago...my oldest was born today.

I am thankful...I have more energy this morning...thinking it means today will be a good one.

In the kitchen...there are biscuits cooling on the counter so I can make sausage biscuits sammiches for the week.

I am wearing...yoga pants, fleece top and slippers.

I am creating...a to-do list for the day..

I am going...to get boy Oompa up in a few for breakfast and school work.

I am wondering...if I'll ever feel good enough.

I am reading...still nothing.

I am hoping...boy Oompa's online teacher evaluation goes well.

I am looking forward to...a weekend getaway with my sister-in-law(fingers crossed we can coordinate schedules)

I am learning...to push through the depression and tackle the day despite my overwhelming desire to crawl back in bed and stay there till 2014.

Around the house...it is blissfully quiet.

I am pondering...how much I can sell my kids for and if it'll be enough to buy those trained circus monkeys I've talked of??

A favorite quote for today..."I'll take being poor but jacked up", local newscaster on hearing men spend roughly $1000 on coffee drinks per year.

One of my favorite things...that potential feeling....when you come across something or a situation that has promise to be exactly what you want or need.

A few plans for the rest of the week:Online teacher eval this monring, doctor appointment for me tomorrow, and running oldest to Pep band. Pretty light compared to last week.

A peek into my day...

My beautiful teenager

Simple Woman's Daybook #2

 Simple Woman Daybook #2


FOR TODAY

Outside my window... the skies are gray and I am watching it rain.

I am thinking...about what activity/class/etc I can do that'll be just for me.

I am thankful...for this quiet moment of peace in my day.

In the kitchen...are dirty lunch dishes and the ingredients for dinner!

I am wearing...Jeans, t-shirt, and hubby's flannel shirt.

I am creating...menus for work.

I am going...to finish up the boy's school work then tidy up my chicken coop and collect eggs...if the rains lets up.

I am wondering...when I'll feel we're financially secure enough to take a vacation.

I am reading...sadly, nothing at the moment.

I am hoping...the cold weather that's coming this weekend doesn't last. I don't like cold!!

I am looking forward to...this weekend.  I will get together with my family to celebrate my oldest nephew's birthday.

I am learning...that remaining calm in a crisis is much harder to do than you might think. 

Around the house...it is quiet.  The girls are back at school, hubby back at work and the boy is taking his lunch break from home school and is back playing in his room.

I am pondering...why, when life looks like it's taking a turn for the better, we get hit with troubles and more importantly, how to overcome.

A favorite quote for today..."I don't know....maybe we win....maybe we don't. But I had to try"-my mother-in-law. Lord knows, I need to take chances more often in life!!

One of my favorite things...big hugs from my son.  He gave me one when I mentioned I had a headache.

A few plans for the rest of the week:Work tomorrow morning, running oldest daughter to Pep Band, dentist appointment on Saturday to get small cavity filled(yuck) and dinner with the family on Sunday.  

A peek into my day...

Nit-picking while Nit picking, literally...

Nit-Picking(noun)-minute and usually unjustified criticism
Nit picking(verb)-act of removing nits from one's head



 
Today's post is not one I wanted to share but felt I needed to share.  We've had an uninvited guest into our house that is, although it shouldn't be, a source of embarrassment.   My youngest daughter, the middle Oompa Loompa was sent home from school on Monday with head lice.  Head Lice!!  Us.  Her.  Really??

I can rationalize that having lice doesn't mean you're dirty or unkempt but in the back of my head I keep telling myself that she got it because I'm not the housekeeper I should be.  Once your kid has it then people start popping out the woodwork with stories about when either they or their children had it too.  Having head lice carries a stigma and people aren't as open about their struggles until you've been afflicted.  I think that sucks but know that it probably won't change.  

We left the school and headed straight to the pharmacy for the shampoo.  It smells like death and the strong odor stung baby girl's eyes.  It's a little scary to be using pesticide on your kid's head but I wasn't taking any chances with an herbal remedy that may or may not work.  I want those little suckers gone for good!!  Our biggest obstacle in all this is the sheer amount of hair my girl has.  It's not long, not quite shoulder length, but man is it thick!  It took three and a half hours to comb through the first night and right at three the second day.

I had to drive her to school today and she was checked over my the school nurse before being allowed to return to classes.  I was actually excited to show off my nit picking skills to the nurse but was dismayed when she found a few nits I had missed.  There were only two that the nurse saw and if I promised to comb through her hair again tonight, middle Oompa was cleared to go back to class.

It's been a frustrating few days filled with laundry, tons of laundry, a good amount of tears and hair combing and a tinge of embarrassment.  Our course of action will have us repeat the bug spray shampoo in a few days and another thorough washing of all her bed linens.  I am thankful that neither of the other two Oompas, Mr. Awesome© or myself ended up with lice.  I threatened to cut all my hair off if I did and boy Oompa was not thrilled at the idea of having his head shaved!!  I think we're pest free or will be my tonight's nit picking session and I can rest assured that my house keeping skills are not to blame for this incident.  I will however make a concerted effort to vacuum more than once a week!!

Nit-pickingly yours.....Deborah

Hello Rock and Hard Place.....We Meet Again!

Who else marks the beginning and ending of weeks based on payday?   Today, I am planning on heading out to take care of my weekly grocery shopping.  Normally, there is a nice, fat check direct deposited into our account during the wee hours of the morning.  Except this week.  The company Mr. Awesome© works for shut down production between Christmas and New Years.  Our dilemma is that Mr. Awesome©, despite his awesomeness, is only a contract employee.  A temp, if you will and not privy to the perks and bonuses that standard employees get.  Namely, paid vacation and holidays, sick days, and one of the best health insurance plans in the area. 

We knew it was coming and did our best to make sure there was money stashed in the savings account.  It was a challenge to save money during Christmas.  The desire to spend and buy gifts for each other to show our love and appreciation was great, but we managed all right.  Thankfully, there is only one bill that is set up for automatic withdrawal this week and aside from groceries, gas and Mr. Not So Awesome's cigarette habit, we should make it with only a small dent into the savings account. 

Financial stress has dogged us throughout our marriage.  I think back to our early days with relatively no debt and only one child and am disgusted with our spending habits.  Eating out, buying baby clothes and toys, weekly golf rounds and practice session at the range.  If only we knew then, what we know now.  The power of budgets and savings plans. Where was Dave Ramsey back then!!!  I just chalk it up to amazing lessons learned, albeit, the hard way.  Nevertheless, we made it through several lean years and I pray those days are behind us for good.  We're not rolling in cash now but needs are met and we've been able to squirrel away a few nuts.  Now, off to eat before I do my shopping.  I am not responsible for what ends up in my buggy when I'm hungry!!

Pinching Pennies.....Deborah 

The Power of the Subconscious...

Our bodies are such amazing machines and it's hard for me to understand how someone could think we evolved from fish.  Our systems are so intertwined and complex yet at times so very simple too.  The human mind is so very incredible, it controls breathing, heart rate, all organ function, blinking, you name it, with such precision.  Race cars and Swiss watches are pale in comparison to the human body.

My astonishment (well today's anyway) stems from a rather bizarre dream I had last night.  Even though I know it was only a dream, I am still embarrassed by the situation.  Please no snickering!!  In my dream, I was in a living room with many family members.  My father-in-law and husband's cousin's wife were the only 2 with faces.  I just know the room was fairly crowded with folks sitting around watching TV.  I was seated on a toilet in the front of the room, up by the TV.  Yup, doing my business!!  Weird right??  There were more details but I'll spare you.  By the end of the dream I had gotten up and walked as casually as one possibly could to the kitchen and sat down and started a conversation with the before mentioned husband's cousin's wife.  Oddly, no one said anything or acted like me relieving myself in such a manner was out of the ordinary.  I remember feeling horribly embarrassed but acted as nonchalantly as possible to help diffuse the angst. 

I used a handy dandy dream dictionary and came up with this:

To dream that you are in a public restroom with no stalls or that there are a lot of people around while you are trying to do your business signifies your frustrations about getting enough privacy. You are always putting others ahead of your own needs. As a result, you are lacking a sense of personal space. Alternatively, the dream indicates that you are having difficulties letting go of old emotions. You are afraid that if you reveal these feelings, then others around you will judge and criticize you.  

Wow!  I have been feeling a little cramped lately.  My girls were home all day for two weeks over Christmas break and Mr. Awesome© was off work for one of those weeks as well.  It was cold and rainy which meant we rarely left the house.  The noise level, constant mess and sibling bickering was overwhelming at times.  I noticed I began gritting my teeth again and looking back had near daily headaches.  I have a recorded history with Seasonal Affective Disorder so with the lack of sunlight and fresh air I tend to get a little squirrely anyway.  Guess I'm not coping as well as I thought I was.  It seems I need to make a plan to get some decent "me" time.  

What do you engage in that's just for you?  How do you connect with you?

Disconnected......Deborah  

The Simple Woman's Daybook...experiment

As you know, or maybe you don't, I'm great with ideas and concepts yet have issues with follow through.  It's one of my many character flaws and I'm working on it.  Well, I'll work on it tomorrow, or maybe next week!

I digress...I found The Simple Woman's Daybook blog and have decided to give it a whirl.  As my recent post indicated, I have been feeling a little lost and disgruntled at life.  It's become hard to see the forest for all the trees and desperately want to feel connected to life again.  I think this can help me or at least encourage me to slow down and take a look around.  I tend to get bitter when I've lost sight of the blessing in my own life.

 simple woman's daybook #1
Tuesday January 3, 2012
FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the wind is whipping the light dusting of snow around and it's frigid!!

I am thinking...that if my kids don't stop squabbling at each other I might lose my mind.

I am thankful...that my girls go back to school tomorrow.

In the kitchen...there is a pot of used frying oil I have no clue what to do with.

I am wearing...standard issue...jeans, long sleeve shirt with fleece zip vest, socks and slippers.

I am creating...nothing at the moment.

I am going...to take my son to Cub Scouts tonight.

I am wondering...why my children fight so often.

I am reading...nothing for me at the present but helping my son read Mr. Popper's Penguins.

I am hoping...to finish all the dirty laundry in my house today.

I am looking forward to...the kids' bedtime tonight and the few moment of quiet I will have.

I am learning...to have patience.

Around the house...there is much clutter and useless(to us) stuff gathering dust.

I am pondering...what God wants me to do.  What is my purpose on this Earth?

A favorite quote for today..."shhhh, Mama has a headache"

One of my favorite things...My new juicer :-)

A few plans for the rest of the week:School work with the littlest Oompa.

A peek into my day...

The never ending clutter and mess!!!

 Go and start your own daybook!!  The Simple Woman