Staying on top of things

Haven't kept up with my post a day, as it has been an interesting week.
What I have learned:

While I was almost counting myself out of training and running in the St. Patrick's Day marathon, listening to good advice, icing, ibuprofen, lower mileage and more rest have me back on track without an injured knee. 17.5 mile training run and no knee pain!

I can clean up a disastrous diarrhea explosion from the youngest child in 5 minutes flat so as not to miss picking up the older children from their church club.

The black lab needs some sort of Eating intervention, as I helped the youngest shower after the above mentioned incident, the lab thought it would be helpful to clean the child's dirty pants. I have never screamed so loud in my life and I gag still, just thinking about it.

The oldest is very excited about having a cat-themed birthday party with a few friends. She has started decorating by taping cat whiskers and ears all over the house. When researching for the party, looking for game ideas, I learned to type cat-themed parties and not just cat parties. Or you get websites with pictures like above.

There is so much more to the Joe Paterno story than the mass media shared, surprised?! There is no doubt that man died of a broken heart after hearing how much he did to get Sandusky fired and off of campus. My dislike for journalists and politicians grows, one in the same.

After an aggressive incident between our rescue pup and the lab, and a long talk with a behavioral specialist the rescue group set up, we understand Lucy more and how to help her. Always great to have the right tools and understanding of a situation like rescuing an older dog.

Giving up Coca Cola is hard.

One of those days

Drove 45 minutes to an interview that had to be rescheduled. Since the kids had a day off from school and were rushed out of the house to make the interview, I decided to surprise them and take them to a bouncy house that had free play. Free play was full. Came home to a dishwasher repairman informing me we are better off purchasing a new one, parts and labor to fix our current machine would be just as much. Spent the next hour washing dishes as the dishwasher decided to break the day we had company and lots of fun football food.

Just going to have days when it feels like everything that can go wrong will.

But today I also snuggled with my healthy kids, my knee wasn't in any pain, my house was warm, our bellies are full and right now the house is quiet except for a snoring pup.

Ray Finkle

Will Baltimore need the Pet Detective to solve the case of the missing Raven? Billy Cundiff may go down in history as the true life Ray Finkle.
Granted, there were multiple plays that could have won or lost the game, unfortunately the last missed field goal will be forever etched in our minds as the season ending for 2011.

The game changer

It takes time to build friendships.
Acquaintances are easy, find a hobby and you immediately have people to talk to, meet with once in awhile. But deep friendships take time and commitment and not many people make/have time for that any more nor are they willing to put themselves out there, to take chances on what may or may not come of it.

After Stephen and I married, we started attending a church in San Diego that we really liked. Thought we might find some "couple" friends there, so we attended a class for young married couples.

When asked a little bit about our backgrounds, Stephen and I, along with one other couple, were the only ones in the room that did not come from missionary families, nor did we have the Bible memorized from front to back. We felt isolated and kind of rejected, looked down upon.

The other couple felt the same way we did. We sought each other out at church (never going back to the young married group) and we started doing things together. Hockey games, seeing a movie, having dinner at one another's homes.

One night the husband knocked on our door, he was alone. They were coming over for dinner and we didn't quite understand why the wife wasn't by his side. The husband asked if I would go talk to the wife in their car, they were in the middle of a disagreement.

Wife and I sat in their car and talked for a long time. She confided in me, cried to me, that night was a game changer in our friendship. From that night forward, we knew we could count on one another, we had each other's backs. Through thick and thin, our friendship would endure.

Today I am reminded of that night that wife took a leap of faith to let her guard down and talk openly and honestly about the difficulties of marriage, to open up to an almost perfect stranger, and not in a needy way, but transparent, asking for a friendship to help her through a difficult moment and continue on that journey for years to come.

Important learning going on

I treated myself to a little pampering before Christmas. I went to get a pedicure and the nail place was having a special on gel manicures. Being that I NEVER get a manicure except when visiting my jersey-licious friends, where manicures are dirt cheap, I thought it would be great to give it a try.

My nails looked fabulous! Only after 3 weeks did my nails start to look bad, the gel began peeling, and this included two days of intense water park fun!

Well, once I peeled off the gel, I realized how much damage the gel causes. My nails are peeling, weak and so thin. I have had to cut most of my nails down so low it hurts, only because that hurts less than leaving them a little long and having them catch on things or suddenly rip off for no apparent reason. I look like I chew my nails or dip my hands in chemicals all day long.

As the skin under what is left of my thumb nail bleeds, I have learned I will never get a gel manicure again.

Oh, I was also reminded today that a night spent coughing and listening to the howling wind does not make for a happy mommy the next day.

Simoa cookies

Tonight I learned that there are people who don't love Simoa Girl Scout cookies. GASP

I don't know how it is possible to get a box and not inhale the entire thing within 10 minutes...I must be missing that gene.

The needy stage

This afternoon I counted three consecutive hours that I was not asked for something by one of the three children. And yes, they were home. Dare I say I almost found myself bored??? It was a very strange feeling. Strange enough for me to recognize.

Since 2004 I have been needed almost every minute of every day. I love having the kids so close in age, but it has made for a pretty demanding six to seven years. Just when one was learning to be more independent, another infant came along. And even as toddlers and preschoolers, there has always been a need. A drink, food, toy behind a bed, etc. While I am certainly not one to jump the minute they ask for something, I despise the pestering "did you get my drink yet?" that occurs if the task isn't accomplished within five minutes.

Today all three played together without incident for three hours. When one came down to get his own drink, I asked if they maybe wanted to sit and read some stories together. "No, we're playing," was said over the shoulder as he went back upstairs to continue the game playing.

I have longed for this moment. Some peace and quiet to call my own without jumping up every few minutes to help someone. And here it was. It was as sweet as I imagined. Perhaps this is my independence day, can you imagine my post when all three are in school for the first time next year??!!

Sauerkraut and bratwurst

If you put me on one of those game shows where two plates were placed in front of me, one containing monkey brains and the other containing brats and sauerkraut, I most definitely would choose to eat the brains. I was reminded yesterday of how much I dislike the latter, could hardly stand to have it cooking in my house.

Express my love

I learned today that someone has my American Express credit card information and tried to purchase almost $700 worth of product online.
While I do not like that my financial information has been compromised, I love that within hours of the transaction occurring I received a notification, my name has been cleared from the purchase and a new card has been issued to arrive next day.
I love when someone has my back like that.

Nursing a newborn

As I tried to keep from falling asleep numerous times today, I realized that training for a marathon is much like nursing a newborn.
I remember the advice before I had my first child, "get as much sleep as you can now."

So I knew I was in for sleep deprivation, but I had no idea how much I would eat during the period of time I nursed my children. I was hungry all of the time and I ate mass amounts of food to keep from feeling like I was starving. Not to mention it felt good to finally have room to eat, once the baby had exited!

I also remember falling asleep anywhere, the moment I sat down. A full, deep, dreamless sleep that felt wonderful and too short.

Well, here we are again. But this time it is the number of miles I put in during the week that make me ravenous and able to fall asleep instantly. The same feeling of being overcome by hunger (MUST EAT NOW!) and sleep is a bit overwhelming and kind of keeps me in a fog, and a little cranky. I can't get enough of either which makes for an interesting day.

I wish I could say all this eating and sleeping is a growth spurt!

squeaks

Charlie has a classmate and friend who also happens to be a neighbor. Charlie's friend has a little sister. Friend's mom ordered a pair of shoes for the sister that have squeaks in the soles.

I am getting old, because I NEVER like a pair of shoes that squeak! But this squeak is designed in the shoe, I guess to sound cute? To know where the child is at all times? To get a few extra laughs from the child? The mom informed me after one day in the house, the shoes are now designated outside shoes.

Anyway, I learned about these shoes today and I also learned (bonus learning today!) how much our boxer loves squeaky toys. The dog wanted to pounce on the little girl every time she moved while we were waiting for the bus drop off. I had to use two arms to restrain the dog from knocking the little girl over to find that squeaky toy she MUST have been hiding in her coat.

photo courtesy/squeakyshoestore.com

running and diving

I have learned a lot while running. So much about myself and my running partners. Running long distances gives one a lot of time to think about things and gain some perspective.

Today I learned that a great day for running is garbage day. While I do (did) not consider myself a dumpster diver, we happened upon this great Van Gogh canvas and I couldn't help myself (and yes, the thought did cross my mind to run the 1.5 miles home with the canvas in my hands, for fear the garbage men would come and take it before I made it back, but then decided better to "hide" it and return in my car).

Today I learned I can combine two passions of mine, running and decorating!

I get to

A friend of mine was telling me her discussion with a cancer survivor, how inspiring to hear this woman talk about all the things she "gets" to do everyday.
How many times do I say/whine, "I HAVE to go to the grocery store" or other such (what I think are menial) tasks that make it sound like a burden?
Today I changed my "haves" to "gets" and really saw a difference in how I perceive my daily tasks.
What do you "get" to do today?

my 'baby' wins

When I came downstairs from pulling clothes out of the dryer, J-Man had the Candyland board set up and ready to play. I thought that was pretty great. Then he proceeded to beat me at the game three times in a row. I thought that was pretty great as well. We had cool little conversations while playing, I realized he knew his colors, numbers and exactly how to play the game. I also realized he is not a baby but a very cool little man.

On a side note, I despise Candyland. It can take forever to end that game. Just when you get close to that last blue square, the gingerbread man pops up and back to the beginning you go. But after watching him have so much fun and practicing his preschool skills, I have a new found love for this game. I look forward to many more chances to lose against my favorite three year old.

God cheers for the blue and orange

Tim Tebow has been receiving a lot of press lately. Some good, but much of it making fun of the way he wears his faith on his sleeve.

I am impressed with his lack of interest in being popular, but his desire to showcase his faith whenever he gets a chance. He doesn't get caught up in the hype of being a pro football quarterback, he has tunnel vision for his end prize. Not a superbowl ring, but his place in heaven.

I truly believe God has a Broncos flag waving from his seat in heaven, but more importantly I think He feels such joy in being brought along on this journey with his faithful servant.

Today I revisited being bold in who I am. Not everyone is going to like me all of the time (or even some of the time), but I have to like who I am all of the time as well as be pleasing in the eyes of God. Trying to be truer to who I am in 2012.

two days in a row!

I really like this "what I learned today" format. I find myself thinking on a deeper level a couple times a day which is a nice change from what's for dinner? is there still a load of wash in the washer? did I shower in the last 2 days? etc.

I am guessing a lot of what I post will not always be what I learned today, but maybe more of a what I have revisited, relearned today.

What I learned today?
Everyone has a story to tell. And those stories are powerful when we take the time to sit, listen, and sooner rather than later, befriend someone who needs to tell that story.


Just finished Same Kind of Different as Me. A great story to be told. So glad I didn't put it down when it didn't feel like it was going anywhere, because it went there. A book that will make me look differently at life, at people, at circumstances. I love a good book and this is one of them.

Let's Get it Started

A fellow journalist and friend walks in very familiar footsteps as my own, writing freelance from home while taking care of her family. While keeping a blog for several years now, she has found herself "saving" her blogging for later, and as it has happened with me, means days, sometimes weeks pass before we remember to sign in and catch up.

In trying to keep creative juices flowing, she is determined to blog daily, always beginning with "what I have learned today." I love this idea and while it may not happen daily, I hope it comes close as this blog is my memory keeper, the glimpse into our daily lives.

Today I learned to keep reminding our middle child that HE is not bad, that his actions are bad. While he can be full of drama, he is also quite sensitive.

I know there are times my words sting and hurt him. While I try to apologize as soon as I realize what harm has been caused, it doesn't fully heal the hurt I have inflicted. Tonight after another battle, he kept saying how bad he was, that he is such a bad kid. Some of it dramatic, but some I think he truly believes. One of those moments when you realize, "He'll be talking about this in therapy one day." I tried to reinforce it wasn't him, but his actions, but only time will tell if those words sunk in.

I hope so, because I know his heart of gold, I know his belly laughs, I know his quick wit and sense of humor, I know his hugs and I know his ability to help his siblings or me without the blink of an eye. Not only is he not a BAD kid, he is GREAT kid.