Goin' to the zoo...(reprieve from the stomach flu!)

Life in a Nutshell

With everyone feeling fine *fingers crossed* we decided to try an outing today.

Although sometimes I feel as if we are the zoo, DH and I plucked up our courage and herded our tribe out to the Dallas zoo this morning.

It's quite an ordeal to get ourselves ready. On 'stay-at-home' days, I could care less what the kids are wearing, since it will only get muddied and torn. But when we must be seen in public, I scrutinize their outfits, making the necessary changes and adjustments....

"No, (DD#1) that is an undershirt, to be worn underneath another shirt - not on it's own!"

"(DS#1) that shirt has stains all over it - please put it in the wash!"

"I know red and red match, (DS#2), but you cannot wear your bright red sweats with that maroon Colorado Avalanche t-shirt...not today!"

And so on.

Well, we were finally presentable. All outfits co-ordinating, all hair done....well, most. I think DS#1 ducked under the brush on his way to the car. But the overall appearance was acceptable.

And we had fun! It is beautiful today...high of 80 (F) and sunny. We left early enough so that we weren't battling any crowds. The kids had the run of the place, and took full advantage...

Eventually, though, we had to rein them in, since DD#2 decided that being a part of an exhibit would be more fun...

Here's how it went.

DD#2 wanted to go up these stone steps that go above a certain exhibit, around, and back down. DH and the kids had already done it once, so I sent DS#1 up with her to do it again, and then casually mentioned to DH that maybe he should check on them, since they should have been back by now.

And so , DH went to check and discovered DD#2 peering down at him a full 6 feet higher than where he was standing. In effect, she was now on top of the exhibit! My wonderfully agile DH scaled the rocks and brought her down to safety. And DD#2 was forbidden from climbing for the rest of the morning.

Of course, that didn't stop her; we just kept whisking her off the boulders as we walked down the paths.

And then we took them to McDonalds to the "jungle play area" where she could climb to her hearts content.

Extra "Gift"

Life in a Nutshell

A little "treat" was belatedly bestowed on us....er, more precisely on DS#2, right after our delectable Christmas dinner last night:

Dear Family,

Hope you had a Merry Christmas. Thanks for letting me drop in.

Love,
The Stomach Flu


(sigh)


Here we go again.....

Sing from your heart! He is born!

Merry Christmas to all! 


DS#1 will be making his First Communion Christmas Eve...we are so excited for him!

Since we at the nuthouse will be insanely busy this weekend...like no on else will? We'd like to take a moment and wish you all a wonderful Christmas filled with many happy and holy memories.

Another...

Life in a Nutshell

"Link to" post....sorry!

I just can't help it. Danielle Bean is hilarious.

I especially like the
"Candy canes found stuck to the dog’s rear end: 1 ½ "


Interested?


Thought so.


:)

Unwanted Mothers....

Life in a Nutshell

Just a thought I had after reading this article.

It would seem that one of the reasons for abortion has really nothing to do with an unwanted baby, but with unwanted mothers.

Heaven forbid society should have to help support these women who have a child out of wedlock and have no means to support themselves, or just need a helping hand , especially around the holidays. How much more convenient to send them to an abortion clinic so we as a society don't have to deal with the 'problem!'

Regarding the Christmas tree placed at the gym.... one could argue that maybe Birthright should have toned down the "pro-life" message by not offering the videos, and not having the pre-born babes as part of the decorations. However, most charities include some information about their work..... and quite a few people are very uneducated when it comes to the development of a baby in the womb.

The bottom line is, the people at this gym had a fundraising tree removed that was supposed to help mothers and babies this Christmas. Regardless of one's stance on abortion, I would hope we could at least agree that these little ones and their moms deserve some help!

"Comfort and Joy" ??

Life in a Nutshell


Great post over at First Things about the Holidays. Mr. Bottum is in rare form.

Go have a laugh.

Another Gem....

Life in a Nutshell

from my Father-in-law....


Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?

Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

Cleanliness....

Life in a Nutshell
is overrated.

In fact, a perpetually messy Master Bedroom has it's advantages.

Like when St. Nicholas delivers his packages via UPS and Mom and Dad have run out of closet space...

Just shove it under that pile of clothes over there!

And the children are none the wiser.

The Dark Side....

Life in a Nutshell
We let the kids watch the first battle scene of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith the other night. DD#1 fell in love with Annakin, and was very upset to learn that by the end of the movie, he "goes to the dark side" and becomes Darth Vader.

Little did I realize the lack of her comprehension of that fact.

For, later on in the day, as she and DS#2 were playing Star Wars, building space fighters out of Lego and having a variety of different 'characters' on their ships....(since their knowledge of Star Wars is limited, they began 'making up' names like....Stinky and Twisty...) She asked me if there was anyone else in the "Dark Side" when Annakin 'went'...or did he 'go' by himself?

And then she informed me that Annakin's wife told him not to go to the Dark Side....so he turned around and came home.

CHRISTmas

Life in a Nutshell
Just went to the Parent Center website and took a poll about how much I spend on presents at Christmas. Luckily, I'm about the norm for the amount of money I spend, but not for the amount of children I have! Ah...what else is new!

I clicked on the 'view all comments' page, and of course had to add my own two-cents after this Mom wrote in that she gets her children everything on their list, no matter what, since "Chirstmas is now all about material items"...

Just what old Sam Walton (think Walmart/Sam's Club) wants to hear!

How utterly sad.

Visit to the optometrist....thoughts on children

Life in a Nutshell
Bear with me on this one......... :)

I had to get my vision checked since it hadn't been done in almost two years. Not bad for most people, but I think I may be legally blind without my contacts, and I really need to make sure my prescription is up to date, since my eyesight keeps deteriorating. It's a slow process, and my lack of sight seems to be plateau-ing out....thank goodness.

Anyhoo. I went to the local 'froofy-trendy' optometrist place up the street, not in the mood to deal with the inanities of an over-done moviestar receptionist filing her nails and staring me down with her bored puppydog eyes.... oh, wait a minute that's my dentist office. Nonetheless, I was expecting pretty much the same treatment.

I was in for a pleasant surprise. Eveyone was genuinely friendly, and went out of their way to explain extra charges for extra tests, (no, thank you) and allowing me to 'beat out' the insurance company by ordering the contacts now (get the insurance to pay for part) but picking them up after the New Year (using the money from our flexible spending account).

And it was funny, how unoffended I was when the nurse asked where I work, and I said 'at home'. And the doctor, trying to make small talk, asked if I went to work today or if I'm on vacation, and I said I work everyday at home...I have five children! He was properly astonished and said he guesses I don't get much time off. Funny, I found out later from DH (who read the dr's profile) that this guy is "married and has two large dogs".

And that's how we come to my thoughts on children. Whenever I leave the cocoon of my own home, or the comfort of my own friends, I am amazed at how anti-child this society is. My DH runs into this more often at work. And he has decided to tell the next 'childless' person (one who has decided not to have children....people will tell him outright!) that as wierd as they think he is, he thinks they are just as wierd for making such a decision!

I'm trying to envision Christmas in these childless homes. Give the dogs big bones wrapped in ribbon and then take off for Aspen? I know that if DH and I were childless, we'd be headed home to family! I couldn't imagine the two of us sitting around staring at each other all day. Family is the most important thing on this earth. To deliberately choose not to have a family is one of the biggest tragedies.

Now, (big disclaimer) I know a lot of women who are heartbroken over their infertility, and so I am obviously not including them in my diatribe over childless Christmases.

"Chirstmas is about the children" my Grandmother says to me as she pops in the mail our means to make Christmas absolutely magical for our children. And she's right. Sure, I love getting things, but I love the anticipation of the giving even more. I love searching for gifts that will bring joy and excitement, and hours of fun. I love the busy-ness of the year...the shopping, the baking, the parties. Even though my week is planned out to the minute, I love every minute of it. And I love imparting the mystery of the Holy Babe to my own little ones. It's the most beautiful, love-filled story ever told.

And there would be none of this without the children. I read a great article today in Catholic Exchange about how fast children grow up. Mrs. Belinski posits that it all goes by way too quickly. I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I'm going to miss the babble and the noise, the pudgy fingers and the lisps, the sweet curly hair and the innocent play. I know there are many more exciting milestones to come, but I have a feeling that we will look at our gangly teenagers, as they assert their independence and individuality, and only see them as the chubby-cheeked two-year-olds they were just yesterday.



Christmas is for the children, because it's about a Child.

In print...

Life in a Nutshell
My latest article (read: once-a-year-contribution) is now up at the Catholic Mother website.

Catholic Mother is a newsletter for Catholic moms that is published 5 times a year. My sister-in-law started it up along with a good friend of hers. It's a quick, enjoyable read, and the articles are both inspiring and instructive. The subscription price is very affordable too!

Check it out!

Pancakes....

Life in a Nutshell
....are just a vehicle for the maple syrup, I'm convinced as I try to sop up as much of the sweet stuff onto my pancake (mid-morning snack) this morning!

And so, the maple syrup must be the high quality real maple syrup....none of that "Aunt Jemima" stuff.


Not to say that that vehicle could be as random as those which taste like pre-fab pieces of cardboard. I personally prefer the buttermilk-made-from-scratch variety.



Just thought I'd share.

Snow!

Life in a Nutshell
Last night the news reports were full of the anticipation of the "Winter Blast" that was expected to hit sometime today. Many pictures of the de-icing agents being spread on bridges and overpasses, the dump trucks being filled with sand and salt, and interviews with the city workers:

Channel 5: And so, what are you doing to prepare for the possible hazadous road conditions?

Supervisor: We-eell, our main goal is to be sure the guys know what route they need to cover, and how to operate the equipment.
(*since this only happens once a year!*)

This morning, DS#1 was packed off to school, DH returning home after receiving a call that his work was open only to those who absolutely needed to come in. An hour later we got an e-mail from the school saying that they will be closing early and we need to come collect our kids.

Now the kiddos are standing at the windows, nosed pressed up against the glass, watching the dozen or so flakes fall amidst the driving sleet.

Yessir....snow in Texas!

Feast of St. Andrew

Life in a Nutshell
Happy Feast Day to my DH! There's a novena that starts today and ends Christmas Day. My friend Holly reminded me of this today (like she does every year....without fail!) Thanks Holly!



Christmas Novena
To be said 15 times daily from the feast of St Andrew (Nov. 30) until Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
"Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary at midnight in Bethlehem in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, oh my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother."





I know it seems a lot, to say it 15 times a day...but once you have it memorized, it's easy. I think it's a beautiful prayer, captures the imagination of how it must have been that night. Incredible.

Modern Medicine

Life in a Nutshell
Is a wonderful thing when you are the Mama of 5 rambunctious little hobbits and have been battling a sinus infection for 5 days, losing your voice in the process. Said hobbits think it is hilarious when you attempt to yell, since your voice reaches a pitch that renders it silent, and your face turns beet red with the effort.

I phoned my doctor and got a prescription for anti-biotics.

Dragged myself and 4 of the little dears to the store to get it.

Popped one in my mouth and swallowed it down with my much-needed cup of coffee.

Now, I wait.



Watch out, you hobbitses!

Kyrie Eleison

Life in a Nutshell
Lord, have mercy on this culture of death!




This one brought tears to my eyes...........

Fireworks in November?

Life in a Nutshell
I was scrubbing a few potatoes yesterday for dinner, when the track lighting in our kitchen suddenly dimmed, making that awful electric humming noise. It happened a few more times, when suddenly DD#1 came running in from the back yard....

"Fireworks! Fireworks!"

?????!!!!!?????

I dashed out, knowing that it was most likely a transformer bursting, and wanting to make sure that it was not the one directly behind our house.

It wasn't, so we breathed a sigh of relief, which was almost immediately sucked in again as we watched transformer after transformer systematically explode, one after the other, all the way down the alley towards the one located behind us.

And then....

Fireworks indeed! Our transformer exploded, showering the alley and back fence with a waterfall of sparks. I hustled the kids inside, and gave one glance back...........and saw smoke.

Jogging back, I saw that a spark had ignited a small pile of leaves and dry grass near our back (chain-link) fence! I yelled to DH and he grabbed the hose, while I dialed 9-1-1.

Turns out, the guy two doors down had already called, because his 'brush fire' had been a bit more threatening.

Needless to say, we were without power for most of the night, and so all plans for dinner were scrapped (yay, take out!) and homework was done and stories read by the light of a great camping lantern DH had bought awhile back.

We retired early (all except DH), and the power was restored sometime around 11pm. Very nice to wake up to a full-functioning house again.

How much I depend upon that electricity to make my day run as smoothly as possible!!

Advent Blessings

Here's another great Elizabeth Foss article about preparing for Advent. I went to the links she posted, and found some great resources! I think this year we will actually have a Jesse Tree and an Advent wreath!



And hopefully, all the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas won't get in the way of the real "reason for the season".....

Surprise.... Surprise.... Surprise....!!!

Well!


We had an absolutely marvelous time here this Thanksgiving week! My parents drove down from Colorado with my three youngest siblings who live at home. They arrived Wednesday afternoon.

But! Portia had arrived Tuesday evening to be "installment #1" on the surprise-o-meter...and to help bake pies and clean up. So, when Mom and Dad and younger siblings rolled in, she was there to welcome them!

And then! We sat around chatting, whilst I was sneaking around on the phone co-ordinating the arrival of Sephora, whose plane got in that afternoon. Suddenly, in she walks through the side door, after being dropped off behind the house by DH who picked her up at the airport on his way home from work. Hence the arrival of "installment #2" on the surprise-o-meter.

We had a lovely dinner and dessert with much chatting and joking (and presents!) and retired to bed to rest up for the festivities in the morning.

Next morning, DH stayed home with DS#1 (up coughing all night) and DD#3 (maniac in mass) while I took the rest of the crew to mass with my family. It was so wonderful to introduce them to our parish priest, and to go to mass all together.

When we arrived home, a huge Dallas Cowboys blow-up football player had been planted right in front of our house to greet my Bronco-maniac Father and brother. (good ol' DH!) My father rushed out of the car and promptly tackled it. And so, much ribbing was done throughout the game as the Broncos defeated the Cowboys in overtime....

Meanwhile, Mom was amazing in the kitchen. She co-ordinated the whole dinner, working deftly around my severe lack of pots, pans and serving dishes. (I'm not used to cooking for so many!) After a last-minute run to the store (a must on Thanksgiving Day!), we were rolling. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato pie, beans and corn, and rolls, all systematically cooked and prepared at just the right time....and it was all delicious!

But! Surprise #3! We had a guest for dinner, an M. Austin, a college friend of Sephora's, along with his girlfriend....or so we told Portia. Mr. Austin picked up Portia's LH at the airport and arrived just in time for the game...and so, our family was complete! (installment #3 on the surprise-o-meter) It was the first time we had thanksgiving all together since I left to go to That Amazing College some 14 years ago! Very awesome.

After Sephora's arrival, Mom kept asking if that was "it"...or was there still a chance she might have a heart-attack?? It was so fun to do all the surprises...family means a lot to us, and to be together is a wonderful thing!

Friday morning, we all got up and pulled on our sweats and t-shirts to have a rousing post-Thanksgiving soccer game with some very good friends of ours down here! I thought it was great....I haven't moved around like that in a loooonnnnggg time......and am very sore today because of it! But it was fantastic to play with my younger siblings, and show my kiddos that I can do more than wash dishes and do laundry! (well, for a little while, anyway...)


We crashed when we got home and had leftover turkey/stuffing/cranberry sauce sandwiches and watched a movie.

One more amazing dinner and leftover desserts and then....they were gone! Portia and LH had to fly (literally) after dinner, so Sephora and I drove them to the airport...and then Mom and Dad and younger siblings left to sleep at their hotel and then left early this a.m. to hike it back home! (they are still on the road...I'm praing for safe travel!) Ditto for Sephora, who left later this a.m. but is still flying....so we are still praying!

It went by so quickly! But it was so wonderful.....we were very grateful for the huge effort it took for everyone to come to us. We love going up to the Rockies for our vacations....so much for the kids to do and see! But we also like it when the kids can be on their own turf and show Grandma and Grandpa and Aunts and Uncle all their little treasures and favorites down here in the balmy south. But, don't worry...we'll be heading up north for some skiing sometime in the New Year.


And we can't wait!





*many thanks to Portia and her LH for bringing some truly delectable wines for our enjoyment.....

**now re-read Sephora's "Family Traditions" post....she is very proud that she did not tell a single un-truth! Heh heh heh

Books.....the new accessory in Hollywood?

Life in a Nutshell

Read this great post over at First Things. And we thought Hollywood could not stoop any lower.....


BTW....I think I read Kant by osmosis......

Another lesson that every moment is precious....

Life in a Nutshell
OK. This could not go unlinked. I love Elizabeth Foss' articles!

Unexpected visitor.....thoughts on aging

At 7:45pm last night, our elderly next door neighbor knocked on our door. I was home with DD#3; DH had taken the rest of the tribe to the Library to appease the overdue book monster, who keeps calling, irritating us with his/her automated, monotone voice....

Miss Ginny must be about 80-something years old. She has lived in the house next door, since it was first built....since there was nothing north of the major intersection north of us (now it's an urban sprawl, teeming with yuppie-ville condos and apartments)....she bought her house sight-unseen, moving down from the northeast to a warmer climate.

I know all of this because she told me, numerous times...in fact, she re-told it to me many times last night.

I think she has Alzheimers.

Which is scary enough for any older person. But for Miss Ginny, it is very scary, since she lives alone. And she may be prone to do things that are not very safe, or rational....like calling up her electric company, enraged at the hike in prices, and cancelling her service.....the day before our first freeze is expected.

So, she came over, huddled in her fur coat, explaining what she had done....not realizing (but now knowing) that by cancelling her service, she had disabled her fridge, tv, phone, and furnace.

I tried to figure out what company she had had, but couldn't. So, we waited for DH and the kids, chatting amicably.

When DH came home, we explained the sitaution to him, and he hit the phone lines, trying to figure out who she had her electric service with. Miss Ginny sat there, wrapped in her coat, reading to the children, or petting the cat (he's always up for a good patting session...especially if soemone sits down with 'nothing' to do....a rare occurrence), completely oblivious to Andrew's frusterated attempts to track down her electricity provider. At one point, he sat down by her and asked if she had a recent bill, so we could find out who to call. She said she had one somewhere...and when DH asked if they could go look for it, she replied, 'not right now'... He was sooo patient. He sat there for a few more minutes, chatting with her, and then eventually asked if he could go look by himself. She said sure, and so he went, and came back empty-handed. After a few more phone calls, he found out who her provider was, and called them. They said she hadn't been with them since 2004. So, he persuaded Miss Ginny to come with him back to her house to find the bill. They found it and he called them.

It turns out she hadn't paid her bill since June...

So, DH paid it and tried to expedite the re-connect, but to no avail. Miss Ginny would have to wait until morning. DH called the contractors, pleading our elderly neighbor's case. No dice. So, we asked Miss Ginny if we could call her daughter and son-in-law who live in the city. She said, 'nah'....

DH went back over to her house and tried the furnace...nope. So, he rummaged around and found a home phone and a cell phone # for her relatives, and left messages.

Meanwhile, I was trying to get the kiddos their dessert, read their stories, wrestle them into pj's, and get them into bed. They were excited at the unexpected company, constantly relating stories to her, asking her to read to them, and showing her their various treasures. It was good for both her and them!

Miss Ginny sat, unaware of the worry that surrounded her...where is she going to sleep tonight? Here? Will she stay, or wander off?

Eventually, her son-in-law calls and says that he is on his way. She is not happy about that, but it can't be helped. We just aren't equipped to make sure she is safe, although I'm sure we would have made do if we had to.

After she left, I pondered her situation. She was very child-like sitting there, petting the cat and watching the children. And it struck me that she has the 'right' to expect others to care for her. She has 'done her time', and now old-age and a disease are taking over. She is now society's responsibility. And if family bonds were as strong as they should be, then her family should take over. I'm sure her daughter has tried...Miss Ginny is a stubborn woman!

I'm glad we are here for her, and that she knows that.

Here is a bit of a poem I composed last night, trying to capture my thoughts:


You have fought your fight,
You have won your place,
In the hearts and minds
of the whole Human Race.
You have won your land,
You have worked the plow.
Now sit and rest
It's our turn now.

Pain. In. The. Back.

Life in a Nutshell

And so. Part of our "girlie day" Saturday consisted in being very manly and helping DH play musical rooms with all the beds.

You see. We decided to actively promote the virtue of a good night's sleep by re-arranging the sleeping arrangements in our deranged houshold. :)

And so. All of the kiddos, (sans DD#3) are now sleeping in the master bedroom....two sets of bunkbeds set up on opposite sides of the room. DH and I are now in the boys room....complete with sports themed border and blue checked curtains. And DD#3 has been relagated to the girls' now abandoned room, to wail and grind her teeth at all hours of the night.... heh heh

OK. Not really. We do go and see her when she cries. But once we have ascertained that indeed, no-one is chopping her head off, and her pamper is (relatively) clean, and she doesn't need another bottle, we close the door and go back to our own room, and go back to sleep.

Very sad. No more camping on the floor, couch or futon to wait out the hysterical wails of a little will being deprived of her way. No more late night tv, nor anxious peeking into the room to see if the little monster, er, cutie, has fallen to sleep yet. We can chat in bed, and read with the light on!!! Amazing.

Anyway...back to the title. I pulled some sort of muscle (lumbar-something?)in my back and was really unable to get around for 3 days now. DH had to stay home from work Monday and Tuesday. I'm on advil and a muscle relaxant, and lots of ice for my back. And, I must say, it's really annoying!! I hate not being able to do everything, to have to rely on someone else.

I have a profound admiration for all the people who deal with this sort of pain (and worse!) on a daily basis. God must give them a special grace to handle it! It definitely is one of the hardest crosses....

Girls' day

Life in a Nutshell
Today is a girlie day.

No, I'm not dressed in a ruffled dress with pig tails in my hair! It's been at least 27 years since my Mom successfully wrangled me into one of those outfits!

Today, DH is spending the majority of the day with the boys..... first, it's off to the roller hockey rink where DS#1 will receive some instruction on how to play roller hockey, the techniques and some basics. DH and DS#2 will watch, to see if DS#2 will want to do it next week. (do I see $$$$$$??) Then, for dinner, DS's and DS#1's friend will be treated to McDonalds and a minor league hockey game in honor of DS#1's 8th birthday! He turns 8 on Monday.... whole other post on Monday....I can't believe he's 8 already!!!

And so, DD's and I get to hang out today. DD#1 says that it's "no fun" that we don't get to go to Mc Donalds...but we did do some shopping this morning, and she got a gumball, which she admitted was a "treat". And then for dinner, we will have a picnic in the livingroom and watch their new tigger movie together. She thought that would be pretty exciting. And then who knows, maybe we'll break out the glow sticks and have a rousing game of 'glow-in-the-dark frisbee'!! This latter has become a family favorite, and so, watch out Grandma and Grandpa G, hone your frisbee skills Aunties M and K, and Uncle T... it's a 'must' this Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

Update on Ben

Life in a Nutshell
Who's Ben? He's our adorable medium-haired cat. The kind of cat who is very tolerant of noisy, rambuctious children....even to the point of allowing our 13 month old to drag him down the hall by the tail (usually stopped short by me with a firm 'no!' which causes much mirth in the said 13 month old) Ben is the kind of cat that inspires no allergic reaction in even the worst of our 'cat-allergic' friends. He is also extremely emotionally needy, and therefore subject to urinary tract infections.


Yes, he seems to be on the verge of another one.


How do I know this?


Well, I was digging through DD#3's clothes box yesterday (the poor child doesn't have a dresser yet, just a big rubbermaid box) and I encountered a lot of wet clothes...a lot.

They were pretty soaked.



I called DH.

"Did you spill a glass of water in Mae's clothes?"

"Um. No, why?"

Then I remembered........



Ben likes to sleep in Mae's clothes box. It's so nice and comfy and squishy.....



EWWWWW.




I just finished washing all of DD#3's clothes and disinfecting the rubbermaid box.

The lid is firmly on.

And Ben's diet has been permanently changed to 'Purina's special diet for urinary tract health'.

Outdoor musings

Life in a Nutshell
88 degrees Fahrenheit inspires one to many outdoor activities.

Trust me, raking leaves is not one of them.....


DC (dear children) chose to watch Superfriends, thus further facilitating my enjoyment of this endeavor alone.

Thus giving me the rare opportunity to undertake a completely mindless task. (Housework is not mindless. Cooking, cleaning, folding laundry...all have their own level of thought that is required. Unless, of course, you want dinners that are burnt, or with half the ingredients missing....toilets half cleaned....and screams from the bedrooms, 'Mom! You gave me Beth's underwear again!!!')

But, I digress.

Whilst thoroughly enjoying my mindless task, I was musing on the recent happenings amongst the people in my own little community down here. It seems that there have been a few feelings hurt, a few injustices committed, and an overall lack of charity and understanding. Nonetheless, I consider myself very lucky to live here. There is a huge Catholic community (loosely speaking) of families with children the same age as my own, with Moms roughly the same age as I am, with roughly the same interests. We all seem to be quite tolerant and charitable whether one chooses to homeschool, or not, or send ones kids to public or private school, or whether one is still working on one's family or not....


The big meanie downstairs does not like that.


That's the only explanation I have for these recent outbursts of uncharitable comments. I mean, it's not even March yet! (March tends to be my down month...not sure why...maybe I'll figure it out this March)


It makes me want to make a general announcement along these lines....


Not that these women I know are undergoing major loss or trauma. But we never do know the real struggles behind the smile. It could be emotional or hormonal or just feeling uncertain about things. It could also be a very real pain that needs to be worked through. I think that we don't necessarily need to know... we can practice charity without knowing the 'why'.


And the women I know are real troopers. For example, I just found out that a friend of mine has gone without hot water or a washing machine for 2 weeks now b/c both appliances broke simultaneously and they don't have the money to get new ones right now. She never said a word to me.

Another woman had to wait for years before she could try to have another baby, (b/c of back problems and surgery and such). She finally gets pregnant, and she just lost the little one at 9 weeks.

Another woman lost 5 pregnancies, has two children, and just gave birth to #3... a beautiful, healthy little boy.

Another woman is 44 years old, and just found out she is pregnant with #9. She hemorrhaged during her last delivery and had to have an emergency c-section. All she can do is trust that God will take care of her....



There is no end to the amount of inspiration I can draw from down here.



And I must admit, I am a tiny bit ashamed for allowing DH to turn on the A/C for today....

Remember.........Hell is hotter than this!

Life in a Nutshell
It is 86 degrees right now.


It is 83 degrees inside the house ( I refuse to turn on the A/C in November!)


It is supposed to be 88 degrees tomorrow.


I personally love warm weather, and am most resistant to DH's occasional threats to move Northwest to the land of rain rain rain...


However, (said in a TX accent) we could use a good ol' Nor'wester raht now wi' plenty of preee-cip.

Anyone able to send one down here?

Food for thought

Life in a Nutshell
I really like what this Catholic Mom has been saying on her blog. It helps to remember that all of our little actions mean so much, especially if they are done well, with the right spirit. No matter what your state in life, her words of wisdom can be applied.

It's so hard to just breathe, concentrate, and do things for the glory of God, and not just to get it done. To be fully "engaged", and not constantly distracted. To not have an agenda over and above the duties of the day, including being present to your little ones. My mother once told me that the most convicting thing my littlest sister said to her (at the tender age of 4, I believe) was "Mom, listen to me with your eyes!"

Suzanne Baars' dad, Conrad Baars, was a pioneer in this type of active listening....afffirmation therapy. It's not that pop-psychology feel good affirmation of "you're ok. I'm ok" stuff. It's the real deal. And it's awesome, a true weapon to keep our kids our own in the world today. It's a well-known fact that sex offenders and cults prey on children who feel distant from their parents. It's the easiest, yet hardest thing to do, to just listen. And be. For our kids.

I need to be reminded of this constantly. I am so glad someone is!!

Too bad, So sad....

Life in a Nutshell
In the great big grandiose scheme of things, it's no big deal that on the same day I find out that we need over two grand worth of work done on our house foundation, that the house that I have prayed for and planned for, is now gone....snatched up by another buyer.

No. It's not earth-shattering.


But it really really stinks.

Healthy Livin'....

Life in a Nutshell
Check out Jimmy Akin's blog.......hilarious!

Daylight Savings Time

Life in a Nutshell
I love Daylight Savings Time. And it's not for the "extra hour of sleep"....those with young children know that we will never experience that until the kiddos are in college! No. I love it for the "extra hour of being awake"!

It is now 8:37am and we are all breakfasted, dressed, dishwasher dumped and loaded...and I with my morning coffee at the computer while the kids tidy their rooms. I have never felt so organized!

It's really quite a feeling.


Makes me want to get up at 6:30 every morning!


Well, let's not get carried away......

Story sentence

Life in a Nutshell
I challenged Matt Lickona to tell a story in a sentence. His post runs as follows:


"Over at the First Things blog, Father Neuhaus has noted the following:

Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in six words, which he did. (I’ll get to what he wrote.) Black Book magazine issued the same challenge to a slew of well-known contemporary authors. Norman Mailer wrote this: “Satan – Jehovah – fifteen rounds. A draw.” John Updike: “Forgive me!’ ‘What for?’ ‘Never mind.’” None of them come close to what Hemingway wrote: “For sale: baby shoes, never used.”


Now, Nutmeg has gone and challenged me to reel in my powers of prolixity and take up Mr. Hemingway's six-fingered gauntlet. Short story, six words. First attempt:

"Now, it's too heavy to drop."

I know, I know. I'll keep thinking. How 'bout y'all?"



Well...I'm not much of a writer, just a blogger, but here goes:

"Go slower....we are almost there."

or, how about:

"Watch out, boys....she's gonna blow!"

heh heh




Anyone else?

Been tagged

Life in a Nutshell
OK, I've seen this making the rounds, so here goes. I must:

1. Go into your archives.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Post the fifth sentence (or closest to it).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five other people to do the same thing.

So, here's what my sentence is:

...I KNOW we were picking!

lovely. given my many little ones, one can only imagine what that might mean ;)

but actually, it is referring to our blueberry picking trip awhile back.

And so.... I tag:

studeo
Mrs. Bear
Wanda

and that's all the bloggers I know! how sad for me!

Actually, it's not sad. I have too much to do and am too addicted to checking out other people's blogs!

Have fun y'all!

So, I lied...

Life in a Nutshell
There is no way I'm going to have time to look up everything about NFP in Catholic teaching and write a coherent post about it....... so I'm not going to!

It is so hard for me to put my thoughts down these days, with regard to anything philosophical or theological, you'd think I'd never spent 4 years discussing such things!

And so.... I rounded up my troops and we baked chocolate chip cookies instead.

Yum.


But, just to wrap up the previous post and comments....

I think that it is necessary to use one's intellectual faculties when having a family. To not use what God gave you, yet expect Him to take care of You, is presumptuous....reminds me of the joke about the man stranded on a rooftop, praying for God to rescue him, denying all sorts of help along the way, and dies. He chastises God for not helping him, and God says, "I sent a helicopter, a boat and a raft...what more did you want?"

However, not knowing the hearts and minds of other families, I also think it presumptuous to judge them. "Anon" said that she/he is not judging, or naming a particular ideal # of children per family, then goes about doing just that, by saying that 'once a couple starts to have 10 or so, that seems a bit ridiculous'. That seems a rather harsh judgement to me. Then "Anon II", after repeatedly saying that there is no magic number, kept saying that this certain number he/she suggested is 'obviously' wrong (Example, 16 children in 17 years) hmmmm.....

I agree that the Quiverfull philosophy is not in line with Catholic Church teaching. And that should be the end of the discussion. Naming numbers, going through 'how many hours in a day' versus 'how many kids' and 'you do the math' is passing judgement on actual numbers of children, and what is acceptable and what is not. The Church doesn't do that, neither should we.

There is a whole other aspect of the quiverfull philosophy that I read about in their "testimony" section that horrified me, and that is about a mom who had VBAC's after 3 sections, and another VBAC after a uterine rupture! Her 11 year-old daughter attended this highly risky birth, and the Mom did all of this because "She wanted to have that (VBAC) experience again" (!!!!!!) Thank God her daughter didn't have to have the experience of watching her mother die while giving birth! I don't have to say what I think about this, I think it speaks for itself......

Did I say chocolate chip cookies??

"Are all these yours?" Part II

Life in a Nutshell
Got a comment on this post, which I only realized last night. I wanted to open it up for any to comment on, since I thought it was an intersting observation.

Here is the belated comment from "Anon" :

I agree with you that most people are selfish when it comes to children -- they don't want to be bothered and think of kids as a nuisance. A big Grrr to them!! (And wow, I can't believe what that silly woman said to you!)

However, I know that there are others out there (I'm one of them) who believe that there *is* such a thing as having too many, and it's not for selfish reasons at all. It seems to me that I'd be doing my kids a disservice if I had "too many", because I wouldn't have enough time to give them the one-on-one attention they deserve. They'd start to become lost in the crowd and would lose their own precious identity. I'm sure you've heard this before and disagree with me completely, but I thought I'd throw it out there. And BTW, I'm not talking about 6, 7 or 8 kids... but once a couple starts to have 10 or so, that seems to be a bit ridiculous. It then seems to become sort of a personal contest, kinda like, "Am I gonna get to hit #13??"

My mother had 6 and my DH's mother had 7. Each of my parents came from families with 10 kids. In other words, I know what big families are and I love being a part of them. I just think that there is a point where it starts to become not about the children anymore, but rather having children just for the sake of having them. (Sorry for rambling.)

Whaddaya think?



I have a few opinions...
My first thought was, are there really people who have kids for the notoriety? Then I remembered an encounter I had with a woman at my son's t-ball game, and she only had 4 kids! Her attitude was a kind of "yay me" and she proceeded to talk about her little charges as if they were possessions, not people. She was trying to develop this comraderie with me in our "crazy lives" of having all of these kids, yada yada. I just remember being totally horrified at the way she was depicting our (respective) lives, while noticing how utterly miserable her kids looked. Now, maybe the little guys were tired, but I was not impressed, and wanted no part in her world of big families. Again, and she only had 4, not 13!


I always wonder, how do you know when enough is enough? We're trying to do God's will, using NFP, being open to life, trusting Him to give us the grace to raise our children....but knowing we have limitations! When do we say, ok, I've reached the limit, without feeling selfish for calling it quits? I haven't reached that point yet, but I do have a friend who has 4, and they have reached that decision. And I'm dying to ask her, how do you know, but I guess that it's up to each family. I just hope that God makes it abundantly clear to me. The last thing I want to do is put my selfishness above His will for me.

Well, that was rather tangential. OK, anon, it's hard enough to make that decision for my own family; how could you even begin to point to another family and say that they have too many kids? Which child would you say should not exist? I'm not trying to be harsh, just wondering how one could form that opinion, unless you have an experience of dealing with a family that has "too many" children...

Anyone else?

Punkim' Patch

Life in a Nutshell
Took the kiddos to the Pumpkin Patch today. What a wild time!

I really thought it was going to be fairly quiet, with it being Friday and most parents working and their kids in school.

Well, I was right about the parents working, but forgot about where the kids are while the parents work....daycare.

And, where are the daycare's, 10 days before Halloween?...the Pumpkin Patch!

Ah well. It was chaos, but it was lovely. My kids bypassed the massive jump houses to have a real-life obstacle course/chase through the patch of pumpkins. Even DD#3 waddled around, trying to pick up pumpkins that were as big as she was!

Then we ambled over to the jump houses, and settled on a huge blow-up slide thingy, which the kids loved, and expended much energy clambering up and bouncing down numerous times.

We finally met up with our playgroup and went on a hayride. DD#2 kept saying, "Dis is FUN Mama!" Then they each picked out a mini pumpkin while I paid for a haystack. (Those out in the country will laugh at anyone paying for a haystack, but they're all the rage in suburbia for Autumn decor!)

Lunch was eaten at a playgroup member's house, just around the corner, and the kids had a great time playing and eating while the Moms chatted.

The weather was gorgeous, a cool and crisp 72 degrees. It was great to just be with the kids and not have to worry about schedules and schooling.

We needed the break.

My Father-in-law forwards some real gems...here's one of them! 

Is there a Patron Saint of....

Life in a Nutshell
Oxy Clean?

No, seriously. I am trying desperately to save money by getting stains out of a bunch of hand-me-downs for DD#1. They are great quality clothes (Gap, Gymboree, etc) but just stained.

And so, I buy the Oxy Clean, dilute it properly, dump all the clothes in the bucket, swish it around, and pray....

But to whom?

Maybe the patron saint of frugality.....

'Find my house up in arms'....

Life in a Nutshell
Reading this er... book. (was going to say 'great', but it's actually very cumbersome to get through)

I have come across enough charming anecdotes to make this worth reading, but only if you are in the mood for a slow, crawling, sprawling, very daily and mundane history of times long past. It takes awhile to get into the story and there are definitely long dry periods, but there are many gems along the way.

"Find my house up in arms" is the chapter I just finished, and it describes the long nights spent away from home, coupled with the domestic duties that have piled up since this midwife left her home a few days before. When she finally returns, she pens the phrase, "find my house in arms". The author describes it this way:

"The image is a curious one, as though the floorboards, pothooks, and bedsteads had risen up against her. The phrase is idiomatic, of course, yet it suggests an attitude. A house could be an adversary. Turn your back, and it rippled into disorder. Chairs tipped. Candles slumped. Egg yolks hardened in cold skillets. Dust settled like snow. Only by constant effort could a woman conquer her possessions."

And it goes on, brilliantly written, transcending any age! I can definitely relate...especially these days.

On the same topic, Danielle Bean has a post today about what happens when the kids aren't at home!

So, we love our kids dearly, and our houses remain "up in arms"......

The Answer

Life in a Nutshell
At least for now, is "NO" on the house we want to buy. We're not sure if that is final. There are a few issues that we found out about after the owner refused our counter-offer. It seems there are "neighbor issues"...pretty bad ones, too. We'd like to double-check this before we abandon the idea altogether...but maybe it's a good thing that this isn't going through right now.

Our house remains on the market. We'll see what we're supposed to do!


In other news, our cat chased a rat up into the siding of our house, and so DH made an unplanned trip to Home Depot yesterday and replaced all the boards along that side of the house. He worked through dinner just to make sure no nasty rats could get in while we slept.

My hero!

Johnny Appleseed

Life in a Nutshell
Yesterday morning, I heard some melodious morning grunts from the room of DD#2. Pausing at her door, I made out the words from her favorite song, "The Johnny Appleseed Song": (sung with the cute little 3 year old's lisp)



O! The Lor' is dood to me
And so I fank da Lor'
for divving me da dings I need
da sun an' da wain an' dee apple twee
da Lor' is dood to me....



what a nice way to start the morning!

Are all these yours?!?

Life in a Nutshell

I know everyone has a story (or two or three..) about this subject. The uniqueness of this one is that I was in a Christian homeschooling bookstore, where people are at least used to larger families....


And so...I went to the local Christian bookstore to buy DS#2's Math curriculum. (The one I bought earlier was more suited for DD#1...we've been working out of it though, to fill in some gaps) Fortunately, they have a Thomas the Tank Engine table and a small tv that plays Veggietales so that the kids can play while the parents shop. We hang out at the play area for the entire time.

Another Mom showed up with her little boy, and all the kids were playing nicely, when she turns to me and says (incredulously):

"Are these all yours?!?"

I smiled and said, "Yes."

And she says (her eyes wide in disbelief), "You have four children???"

I said, "Actually, I have five...my oldest is at school."

Her jaw drops.
She is speechless.
I wish she had remained that way.
Because then she says, "Did you plan it that way?"

I was shocked and said nothing.

Then she said lamely, "I guess that's a bit of a personal question...."

I said pointedly, "Yes, that is a personal question, and yes we planned it that way, and we plan to have more!"

And then we go down the usual lane of 'I don't know how you do it, I only have one and it's so hard'. And I assure her that #1 is the hardest, and yada yada yada.

The thing that got my dander up was her genuine disbelief that anyone in their right mind would have so many kids. She was truly looking at me as if I was from Mars! And she was saying all of these things within earshot of her own son (who she kept calling "boy"...that bothered me, but maybe it's a Texas thing) and my children, and if they truly understood what lay behind her statements...it would be hurtful!

Why does society today regard children as such a nuisance and a bother, and why do people have the attitude of why-on-Gods-green-earth would anyone put up with more than one child????

I know, selfishness. Pure unadulterated selfishness.


ARGH

Evening reading

Life in a Nutshell
Grab a cup of tea and read this gem from Fr. Neuhaus. He's hilarious!


*I especially enjoyed the 1st, 3rd and 4th paragraphs, so you can scroll through them if #2 is too dry for you*

Our Lady of Guadalupe....

Life in a Nutshell
Pray for us!

O Mother Mary! You know the importance of the family home, of the kitchen and the hearth, of a safe place for the little ones. Please grant our request and aid us in the purchase of our home! May we always look to you as our guide and inspiration!

Mary, Mother of all mothers...pray for us!








**a little prayer since we just put a purchase offer on the house we want to buy, even though we have not sold our own house yet!**

Morning "pick-me-up"

Life in a Nutshell
Read this with your morning coffee, while your beautiful wee blessings run and play around you!

Montesssori-n-Such

Life in a Nutshell
There are two interesting posts here about the Montessori method of education. I have a lot of opinions about it (ok, who's surprised?) and would like to continue the discussion if any of y'all are interested. Also, great website (click title of post) for awesome Montessori materials!




Also, what about Halloween? Oooooh, I can hear the keyboards burning up. ;) I read an interesting article about that here. I totally adhere to Ms. Andes' requirements for costumes...nothing gory or scary. I really like her idea of "prayers for treats". What a great way to inspire the kids to pray for your neighbors and the souls of the departed!

Thoughts? Floggings?

Happy Thanksgiving, eh?

Life in a Nutshell
While it may be Columbus Day here in the States, it's Thanksgiving for our neighbours to the north. So, Happy Thanksgiving all you Canucks!

My DH is Canandian. And so, our first few years of marriage, I'd go the whole nine yards and buy a turkey, make stuffing and mashed potatoes, pumpkin and apple pie, and invite a whole mess of friends over to enjoy the feast.

As the years went by and a few kids were added to the mix, I'd buy a whole chicken and do the stuffing, mashed potatoes and pies.

Then it was just the chicken and stuffing...kids don't eat mashed potatoes.

Then it was just the chicken.


Tonight we are having homemade pizza.



But, the Canadian flag is flying proudly out front!

Dinosaur Valley

Life in a Nutshell
There is a really neat state park just southwest of us called Dinosaur Valley State Park. It's a series of Dinosaur footprints found in huge rocks along the edge of the Paluxy River:

"...some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world."

to quote the website...


And since the weather was supposed to be gorgeous....not humid, high 83, sunny....we decided to go!


The kids absolutely love it, b/c unlike other fossil exhibits, this one encourages the kids to go down (and sometimes in!) the river to explore. We went to three different track sites. The first one is a steep climb down, with many huge boulders to climb over, right along the river's edge. DD#3 and I hiked down, and then stayed put between two boulders where there was a patch of soft dirt for her to stand in. The other kids climbed all over the boulders, and the DS's hooked on to a Father/son fishing team, chatting and watching them fish. DS#1 even brought his own homemade fishing rod....I sense a birthday present idea...

Track site #2 was in a shallow part of the river with the shoreline being sand and mud. The kids immediately kicked off their shoes and splashed into the water. Even DD#3 waded into the water and then plopped down in it and examined the rocks around her. I took off her outfit right before she plopped in, realizing that I hadn't brought a change of clothes for her!

At the third track sight, the river was shallow and full of huge flat rocks. DD#3 had had it by this point and chose to snuggle into Papa and take a nap. The rest of us navigated our way downstream, jumping from rock to rock, or wading through the mushy riverbed. All the kids landed on their bottoms at least once (I'm happy to report that I maintained my dignity and remained upright). And were all soaked by the time we got back to the car ready to go home.

All the kids agreed that they had a great time.

Except for DD#2 who complained, "I didn't get to hold a dinosaur!"

Perspective

Life in a Nutshell
Just to expand on my lovely post from yesterday...

I know miscarriage is a hard topic, mostly because people don't know how to deal with it. They (usually) understand that there has been a loss, but don't know what to say to the Mom. "I'm sorry for your loss" is a good one. Just don't ever ignore it, no matter how strong the Mom might appear. I had a good friend who never mentioned anything to me, and as a result, we drifted apart. I was so hurt by her (seeming) disregard for what I was going through..... I was literally a walking tomb for a week, since my body hadn't actually started the process of miscarrying until a week after I found out that Gianna had died.... I thought my friend was being pretty insensitive, especially since I saw her the day after I found out! As it turns out, she was just trying to take her cue from me. And I'm of the old "suck it up" school, and don't let people in on your feelings.

I remember I actually told a friend I had miscarried, and when she said, "Oh, I'm sorry" I said, "that's ok" and she (rightly so) said "no, it's not!" and gave me a big hug, and I burst into tears...

I remember when I returned from that o.b. appointment, and I picked up DD#2 from my friend's house; my little 14 month old looked so huge, and all of a sudden, my family of four seemed so small. Even my husband remarked that he couldn't imagine having only four kids...he definitely wanted more!

I know women who have gone through many miscarriages, and some of those being very late in the pregnancy. I know of women who have had cesareans to deliver a little angel who is stillborn. And even after having gone through that heart break once or twice, or even more, they still actively try to conceive and have more babies. They are true heroes, true saints. They are some of the strongest people I know....

I admire them so much.

Gianna

Life in a Nutshell
Exactly 2 years ago, I went to my ob/gyn's office for a routine check-up on my in-utero 9 week old angel. As we chatted, Dr. McDonald searched my belly for a heartbeat.

None.

I wasn't too concerned, since this would be the first time I would hear the heartbeat. (outside of the professional sonogram I had done a week earler...which showed everything to be normal) So, we went to the next exam room to check things out on his sono. He looked grim as he said he couldn't see too well, could we do an internal sono? Sure, I said, trying not to panic. He said, "Gee, I hope nothing is wrong..."

His nurse came in and we proceeded with the internal sono. I looked at his face and said, "No?"

He shook his head grimly.

I started sobbing. He turned the monitor towards me and I saw her...

Perfectly formed little one, head, leg and arm buds, and her heart...totally still.

I named her Gianna Francis, not knowing for sure if she was a boy or girl. But knowing the legacy that (now) St. Gianna had left behind. She had to die so another may live. Two months later we conceived Mae, and she is perfect...

I came across this poem during my grieving:

Do you know yet,
Mother mine,
Why I came and why I left?

I came to fill you with Joy,
I left to fill you with emptiness
which only our Jesus can fill.

Where you are,
Mother mine,
grief opens you to seek Him.

Where I am,
there is only joy.
We do not have to seek Him.

And He has prepared a place for you,
Mother mine. Seek Him.
And do not be afraid.
-C. DeVet



I pray today for all mothers who have known the pain of miscarriage.

Pandora's Box II

Life in a Nutshell

And so, (see comments from #1) there are other issues I deal with in my stay-at-home-mom homeschooling world. It's an amazing world, filled with many different parenting styles and philosphies that, for the most part, remain unspoken. I am grateful that amongst my friends, these differences are accepted and not questioned. In fact, most of these topics are "taboo" and I think they should stay that way. However, for those of you new to this world, it may be interesting to see what goes on behind closed doors....

I will only relate my own struggles. Todays topic will be breastfeeding, a very volatile one, given the chapter in CCL by Sheila Kippley that makes it seem sinful if one decides not to breastfeed.

And so it begins with the birth of my first born, a little boy, who decided that being colicky (crying excessively) was his mission in life. I tried desperately to nurse him, even staying in bed with him for 3 days trying to build up my milk supply...but to no avail. Disheartened, I gave up, and desperate to stop the colic, ended up feeding him formula that cost $20 a can. Ouch. By the way, it didn't work. He screamed for 3 months straight.

Baby #2 came along, a roly-poly curly blond hair, blue-eyed cherub. He was huge! I nursed him for 2 months and again, couldn't keep up with the demand. I tried all kinds of supplements, read and re-read "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" and just couldn't seem to get it down. I gave up and then a month later found out I was pregnant with DD#1.

Shell-shocked, I tried nursing DD#1, deciding to supplement whenever I thought it necessary. What a relief! I was able to continue nursing for 5 months until my supply gave out. I was thrilled.

DD#2 came along 2 years later, and I nursed her exclusively for 7 months! Amazing! No supplements, just lots of water and rest. I really think that the cesarean forced me to rest more, and aided in my milk production being adequate.

A year later, I miscarried.... I was 9 weeks along, and devastated at the loss.

2 months later, I found out I was pregnant with DD#3. And my cesarean was scheduled 9 months later. I was able to nurse her exclusively for 8 months. Another victory in my books!

Unfortunately, not everyone can master the "breastfeeding beast". A dear friend of mine cannot get her babies to gain weight and always has to supplement. It's like her milk has no fat content at all. She even went so far as to purchase breast milk from a friend who had too much! My friend knew the benefits of breast milk and was willing to do this to ensure that her son had all the "right" food! Amazing.

And so... what? I know that breastfeeding is the best for baby. I've tried my darndest to accomplish the one year mark that is recommended, but can't seem to make it. Most of my friends nurse for at least a year, and, thank goodness, are not judgemental about my "failure" to do so. They know the effort I put into it, and they honor that. Those who don't know my whole story, I hope they give me the benefit of the doubt. But, whenever I feel like a generalization is being made about "those women who choose not to breastfeed" I jump in, defending those seemingly ignorant women by telling my own story....

all may not be as it looks from the outside....

Anonymity

Life in a Nutshell
You might have noticed (comments from previous post) that I am now allowing anonymous comments. Given the amount of traffic I get and the number of comments I don't get...I figured letting people comment even if they don't have a blogger account may make things more interesting for me. Sometimes I feel like I'm blogging into a black hole...

Hello?

Anyone out there?

I know that my little trials and travails may be trivial to some. But there may actually be something you want to comment on, or say, or correct me on! So, bring it on!

A word of warning, though. If I get too many nasty comments (my sisters warned me of this) I will shut 'er down.

So, be nice. :)


***[Also, you have to type in the "word verification" after the comment in order to get your comment published. It guards against blogger spam (when a blog is set up to automatically send a comment whenever a blog updates...in order to sell something...amazing how resourceful spammers are!).]***

Opening Pandora's Box

Life in a Nutshell
Why is it that (some) Mom's who go through natural childbirth have amazing theories about the pain they go through at the outset, and how it speeds up their recovery? I have even heard priests say that a Mom is going to go through pain raising children, and it might as well be during labor, and not when the child is a teenager! What?!?

I am all for women going through the pain of childbirth, drug free, by choice. I don't understand it, but I would never try to force them out of their decision. I would also expect them to be respectful of the choices I have made for myself and my babies. Now, it is even harder for me, because I have to have cesarean sections! In my world, it's almost like a mortal sin...the eyebrows go up, a little smug, "I see" from the lips of whomever I am speaking to...and then I feel like I have to defend myself!

I actually hate c-sections. Scared to death of surgery. It took all of my willpower last time to remain in the pre-op room, and not pull all the needles out and high tail it back home! I was a wreck all through the surgery. So, why have them? Because my doctor, who is a Catholic, pro-life, NFP ob/gyn, said so. "OH!" says my listener...and I'm forgiven. ARGH. It annoys me.

But, of course, I cannot leave it at that level. How many times have I judged others and their decisions without knowing the whole story? We all need a dose of tolerance and compassion.

Runny Babbit

Life in a Nutshell
Here are two poems by Shel Silverstein's book, "Runny Babbit"

RUNNY HETS GANDSOME

Runny bought a wirly cig
And tuck it on with star.
Runny thought, "Now I look like
A handsome stovie mar."
But the tair it got all hangled
In the twicket and the thigs.
Runny said, "I guess some folks
Just don't look wood in gigs."




RUNNY THE FICKIN CHARMER

Runny worked on a fickin charm
To make some extra pay,
With romin' croosters and huckin' clens
Layin' enty tweggs a day.
But he forgot to cheed the fickins,
And he wouldn't pean up the cloop,
So the hoosters, rens and chittle licks
They all just.....clew the foop.

Peacemaking and New blogs

Life in a Nutshell
Just had the Patriarch down for a visit this weekend.....aka.. "tammm-pa" as my 3 year-old says. My Dad came down as part of his ongoing training with the "Peacemakers Ministry" organization. It's an organization that trains people to handle conflict using Biblical principles. And since my Dad does conflict/resolution for the diocese of Colorado Springs...it makes sense that he would follow in the footsteps of these professionals. And, he's taken it one step further by writing a book that takes the methods outlined in the Peacemakers Ministry's program, and turns it into a Catholic method. Pretty amazing read, I must say.

My Dad has always been a peacemaker. And not in a wishy-washy kind of way. He's never backed down from the truth and what is right. He has always been an excellent example of being "in the world but not of it". And he has always made it desirable for me to follow my conscience, cultivating a healthy guilt whenever I went awry. Our relationship was very close throughout high school especially. He is the reason I made it through those tulmultuous years. And now that I am older, and a parent; I remember his patience and wisdom, and I am in awe...

My kids love the "grands". It is always fun seeing family. We get to see my Dad twice in as many months! My whole family is coming for Thanksgiving next month. We are all excited! It's been 7 years since they've all been down. We usually see my Mom down here every other year....whenever the next little pumpkin is added to our patch. :) She's an amazing help. We also make the trip to Colorado twice a year, on average. My kids are seasoned travelers.


In other news, here's a great new blog I found out about, thanks to Redeem the Time, a TAC grad's blog.

Which leads me to wonder, like Fr. Neuhaus, what's with all the blogging? I enjoy it, and Jimmy Akin says it's good for developing one's writing skills....but it's not like I'll be writing a book anytime soon. Joseph Bottum wonders if one should blog excessively about one point, or airily about many? Interesting to think about.

As for me and my blogging, we won't be so intellectual. I'm mostly of the "mama" genre...relating tidbits about family life to my family and friends...

Enjoy!

On Selling Your House

Life in a Nutshell
Matt Lickona writes in "Swimming with Scapulars":

"For three months, it felt like finding and buying a house was all we were doing. Other people were getting married, having children, reading books, living life. We were buying a house."

Amen, brother. Our house has been on the market since August 19(?). It has been shown about 6 times, one of those an impromptu by me, since the guy was peering into our enormous front windows, much to the alarm of my little ones watching tv. (don't worry, he was an older man, very grandfatherly, with a lovely wife....I think I'm a pretty good judge of character) We're so desperate to sell our house that I feel like flagging down every car that drives by and giving them the grand tour!

There's a cycle with selling your house. In the initial phase, you and your husband are running around like maniacs cleaning, painting, and fixing every little broken, cracked, or chipped surface you can see. You pack all of those "unnecessary" items into boxes, and store them in the storage closet. You clean the house everyday, waiting with bated breath for the phone to ring and that "special family" to walk through your house and fall in love with it just like you did when you first saw it and decided to buy it. Of course, they will also appreciate all the work you have put into it, seeing the garage conversion as a benefit (more space for kiddos) not a detraction (no garage) from the appeal of the house. You are a nazi-mama about keeping the house clean. I remember actually gloating with a friend who lives in Atlanta about how great it is that we "have" to keep our house clean...I love a clean house!

Weeks go by.

4 showings in a month.

You continuously "slip" in your resolution of keeping the house immaculate.

The boxes you packed are slowly being unpacked as you discover that those "unnecessaries" are becoming necessary.

The chips on the walls are mysteriously re-appearing, along with all the junk you cleared off the kitchen counters and stashed in the cupboards.

You actually begin to fall in love with your house all over again, what with the new carpets and fresh paint...and wonder if maybe you could squeeze 7 people into a 1700 sq. ft. home for just one more year.

And then the call comes....."can we show your house in 2 hours?".....

Hope springs eternal.

Laundry at 1 am?

Life in a Nutshell

You betcha, especially if one has just realized that DS#1 had spilled orange jello on his other uniform (shirt and pants) just the day before, thus eliminating the "spare" that should have been hanging in his closet.

Funny how one views a 5am wake up call from DD#3 as "Divine Providence" in aiding in the switching of the load, and the assurance that DS wil have dry, as well as clean clothes to wear to school today.

The moral of the story is: I need to buy DS another set of clothes.

Recent Read

Just finished reading "Swimming with Scapulars" written by a fellow TAC alum. Great read...at times, uncomfortably so. At one point Matt writes about the familiarity one feels with actors (or rather, their characters) on-screen, and why this makes sexual scenes so uncomfortable for him...too much familiarity. This is the way I felt about the book. This is why I purposely did not read it before the reunion. I knew Matt the best freshman year, and then our friendship kind of fell to the wayside as the years went by. So, I never really knew him, and did not keep in touch with him after graduation. And now, to have his "sins" and failings laid bare for all the world to see, and then to see him in person would have been too personal for me. Btw...how unbelievably courageous of him to be so personal, just to get his points across. Very admirable. Anyway, I tend to shy away from intensely personal conversations. But, after having read his book, it seems he almost forces one to be personal about it.


Did the book affect me? Yes.

Can I relate to what he writes? Most definitely yes.

Would I care to divulge what parts? Hell no.


And so, in the interest of preserving my pride, I did not want to be brought into a conversation with him regarding my own personal lackings. I wonder if that is what he wants from his readers. If that is how we could all move closer to God and zoom along our paths to holiness. Matt ends with:


"Let's be open and clean. Let's drag this out into the light and discuss. Let's not be shocked and resentful; let's love the lonely. Perhaps, coming from a fanatic, the message of God's love will regain some of its wonderful outrageousness. 'Listen, I have a secret. I eat God, and I have His life in me. It's the best thing in the world; It leads to everlasting life. But first, you have to die to yourself.'"


So many times in my life, how I wanted to stand up in the middle of the (high school) cafeteria, or the commons (college) and just yell out, "Stop the posturing! We are all sinners! Let's help each other! Please...tell me how to live the truth! Do you have the answers I am looking for?!" But instead, I join the actors onstage and posture away...virtue starts with habitual actions, no?

Even now, as a Mama of 5, amongst virtuous women trying to live out their vocation to the fullest, there is a bit of posturing. I resist it with all of my might. I am too old, and too busy to care what people think of me, my philosophies, my approach to my vocation. Yet, I still sometimes feel the pull and want to cry out against it, and expose it. We are all struggling with our hand-picked-specially-chosen-by-God crosses. Even if it is only by this fact, that we are all the same.

The exhortation at the end of this book is intended, I think, to encourage the reader to be forthright in his/her proclamation of the Faith. To love, and in this way, to show the world what we are about. Befriend, love, support, don't judge, be upright, love, be humble, encourage, love, be generous, listen, and above all, love.





one last thing....it was wonderful to read another "story of a soul" so similar to my own experience....and I know I am not alone in this. I'm sure that many felt as I did...."wow, you too? I thought I was the only one!"

(ok, literary buffs, who said that? minus the wow)

You said it!

Read this article from Danielle Bean, one of my daily "blog stops" (see link at right). She's a young Catholic mother of 7 and has written a book, "My Cup of Tea". I hope to read it someday....hint hint.

Anyway, about the article.... She's so right! (take a minute and read it, so I don't have to paraphrase it) As a mother of (only) 5, I always have younger Mom's marvel at my ability to keep my sanity and get things done, with so many kids at home. Usually, it's the "new Mom of one" that just gazes at me in amazement and awe. heh heh.

Instead of basking in her praise and awe...so tempting....I assure her that it is a lot harder to be a new parent of one, than a parent of 3 or more. The kids at least entertain each other at home and are a really big help when it comes to hauling things in and out of the car, and keeping track of the littler ones in the store. I can't count the number of times the baby has been crying and my 5 year old will come to her rescue before I can, and keep her happy while I finish whatever task I have to complete.

The lesson in the article is one of hope and trust that God will provide, and a real gratefulness for one's vocation. I wholeheartedly agree with Danielle on that point. Motherhood is very challenging and exhausting, but what a glorious path to God, full of many many joys as well.

Mae-love

DD#3 turns 1 today! Our youngest lill'un, Mae, (named after my grandma) is already a year old! Wow. Time sure does fly!

I wish I could post a picture...sorry Grandparents and godparents and aunties and whomever else cares... :) She is such a cutie! She walks around all the time now, preferring it to crawling. She loves being around her older sisters (although sometimes the feeling is not mutual) and she loves being outside! I especially love it when she "talks".... she makes the funniest sounds, trying out all the consonants she can manage with wierd sounding vowels intermixed. Hilarious.

And so my baby is 1..... and so now I must try to get my life back in order! No more "baby" excuses.

"Oh, I have to feed the baby..."

"Oh, the baby is crying...."

"Oh, the baby needs her nap now....zzzzzz"

"I had a rough night with the baby...."

Ahhh, one of the perks of Motherhood. That early morning nursing snuggle in bed with the baby, letting DH shoo the other rough-and-tumbles out to the breakfast table and get them started on their day. Now it's me, sneaking around in the morning making pancakes, or shushing the little one with a bottle....

And so the ebb and flow of the home continues...another cycle completed.

Clarification

Lest someone thinks that all I blog about is bad news.... the previous post was meant to be humorous! Yes, it's frusterating to have everything fall around you as soon as you pick it up...but blogging about it in a humorous way is supposed to help us to lighten up and remember that this is our sancitifcation. We don't live in paradise, although we hope to obtain it someday. But the point is is that this is earth...not heaven. And that is exactly what is wrong with society today. Everyone bitches and moans about the inadequacies of [insert here: whatever organization or malady or irritation that has beset one] because they expect this life to be perfect! Well, unless you live in a dream world...it ain't. And it won't ever be.

So, what to do? Sit in bed and give up? No.....that is the beauty of the Faith. We have a reason to persevere! There is a higher purpose to the chaos of my life. The formation of my children's souls, my own path to heaven, the suffering of the faithful....many prayers needed! And of course the simple joys of living faithful to the vocation God has chosen for me...knowing that I do not carry this alone. What a comfort! And to know that there is a place where dirty laundry doesn't pile up endlessly, and the stomach flu doesn't exist..... that is a true reward.





BTW....DS#2 came down with the bug early this a.m.

We won't be eating Mexican for a loooooonnnggg time.

Slip slidin' away...

That has been the theme of our progress this weekend. It seems the more we fix and clean the house, the worse it gets. I really don't think it has to do with the house itself, but the inhabitants....

Example.

Previous post...DD#3 is still recouperating from the stomach flu. And so the laundry is piling up as she takes aim at various and sundry parts of the house...clothes, floor, walls, beds, cat...oh, wait a minute, not the cat. That was something else....

Another example.

The cat is being very high maintenance, still getting back at us for our time in Wisconsin. I think we've successfully avoided an $80 vet bill for a bladder infection by changing his diet. But, it was close. I've had to do a few of his clean ups in the bathroom. At least he does his business in the correct room! Our cat is very emotionally needy (and therefore very susceptible to bladder infections)....perfect in house of many irrational emotionally needy beings!

Another example.

DH bought the boys a cool, remote-controlled sub that can actually go in the pool....it goes up, down, right, left, forward, and backward. They could make it dive all the way to the bottom of our 4' pool. Could, that is, for about 4 hours, until DD#2 climbed up the ladder and plunked the remote right into the water. DH grabbed it quickly, but not quick enough. The sub now acts possessed, sometimes working, sometimes not. And when it does work, all the propellers are going at once..... And so, DH and I are desperately trying to get the thing to work as the kids keep scaling the ladder, threatening a trip to the ER, or to smudge the newly painted wall...

Another example.

And so DD#1 and I head out to *shudder* Wal-mart to find another sub (sold out, of course) and do the grocery shopping. How convenient that they have a *shudder* McDonalds right as you get into the store! So, DD and I get a soft drink as a treat. Mistake. I spent the next hour racing through the aisles b/c of the sudden smallness of DD's bladder, necessitating many trips to *shudder* Wal-mart's bathroom.

Another example.

We have spent all weekend drilling it into the kids heads that we need to keep the house clean, clean, CLEAN! I come home from my shopping trip to find everyone in the pool and the house an utter disaster. Lord help us if someone calls, wanting to show the house...

The reprieve.

DH, upon my return home, sensing my aversion to preparing dinner, offered to get take out. Mexican. Yummy.

And so here I am, cleaning the house again....

Oh the nearer your destination the more you're slip slidin' away.....

Murphy's Law

**with apologies to the Murphy's of Huntington Beach, CA who are the godparents of DD#3...of whom this post is about**

It is Murphy's Law that the stomach virus is not allowed to rear it's ugly head during waking hours, like 2pm. Instead, it may only appear 2 hours after exhausted parents fall into a blissful sleep....like at 2 AM. And it is absolutely necessary that it befall the most irrational of the irrational...the almost 1 year old...DD#3. The poor child has been tossing and turning all night, as well as tossing and turning out her dinner and a bottle (dumb move on my part) I tried to feed her in desperation at 6am.

It could be worse, I thought this morning at 7:30 while I held her and she snuggled into me. At least she just has the stomach flu...not cancer or a brain injury or anything major. At least we are home.... not travelling or evacuated in some sports complex. At least DH can work from home today...and run to the store and cart the other kids where they need to go.

And so...this is my sanctification? I'll take it. Lord knows I've got it easy.

Thanks to Smokee for the pics

Here are all the alumni that made it! (plus spouses...) 

Here are some of my closest girl friends....oh, and Canisius too! 

These glasses made the rounds... 

Me and Cecilia's 2 littlest, Liam and Anna (can't see Anna, she's in her "cage".....) 

The night before everyone (else) left.... 

New link!

Life in a Nutshell

Another blog about our Wisconsin experience is here. Matt has written a book which I have not read, but plan to, and apparently it has received excellent reviews!

Anyway, just to get another perspective of our reunion, especially seen through the eyes of a "professional writer"...check out his blog. Very enjoyable.

"To 'sconsin, to 'sconsin, to roast a fat pig....

home again, home again, jiggity jig."

The second verse would be about a fat hog, and I think that would sum up the amount of food I consumed on a daily basis, thus tipping the scale a little further than I like. But, it was well worth it! Cecilia's cooking, Joe's gin and tonics, the variety of wines available (courtesy of Trader Joe's...a classmate manages one) and great company made for an amazing weekend.

We arrived Thurs afternoon, after enduring our usual ungodly wake-up call to get to the airport, plus a 2 hour plane ride, and a 5 hour drive to the farm. On the way, we found out that Cecilia's sister went into the hospital early that morning, severely hemorrhaging. Now she was in the same position as her older sister, also in the hospital on bedrest due to bleeding episodes, pregnant with twins! And Cecilia is left on the farm with her 6 kids, plus 2 more from each sister, totaling 10 children all in her care..... and at least 30 people expected for the weekend! Wow. I would have cried. Cecilia just laughed. And of course everything went smoothly.

I didn't realize how entertaining it is for children to be out in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but God's bounteous nature before them to explore! I think I saw my children 3 times a day....breakfast, lunch, and dinner (the latter being coupled with bedtime due to the lateness of the hour and their exhaustion!) At the end of each day, I could barely recognize them, what with all the dirt and scraggly hair flying everywhere! So off to the tub they would go, and snug in their pj's and asleep in 2 seconds, so that DH and I had ample opportunity to visit with old classmates for as long as we could hold up.

The best night for that was the actual pig roasting night, Saturday. The pig was delicious, the best roast I have ever tasted! After we had stuffed ourselves and the kids were in bed, we all gathered around one table (just like the old lunch days senior year in St. Joseph's commons when our entire class would eat lunch at one table...seems like we knew our time together was coming to a close) and started to reminisce. The stories that were told!! I was laughing so hard I had tears running down my cheeks. Examples? Well, the best was when a classmate (now a priest!) wanted to take a fellow classmate (now married!) out on a date, and asked her in a round-about way, to "see" if there was such a thing as "casual dating". Well, the night he went to her dorm, her roommate came out instead, saying that she was sick and couldn't go. So this guy took the roommate out instead, and never did get a date with the one he liked. And when we asked where this girl was, (in the farmhouse at the time) he said, "don't get her, 'so-and-so' will come out instead." Hilarious. There were many other "true confessions" type stories, but not too many to make things uncomfortable.

It was wonderful to see everyone doing so well. All are "fighting the good fight, and keeping the Faith". Very inspiring and encouraging.

And we will be returning to the farm soon. The kids made me promise.....and it's a promise I'm happy to keep!



ps. the sister that had gone in to the hospital Thurs morning came home Mon afternoon after having had a c-section Thurs. She delivered a 4lb 5oz little boy, James. He will be in the NICU for a few weeks, but is doing very well!

Reunions

Well....it's been 10 years since I've graduated from college. So DH and I are bringing the whole fam up to Wisconsin for our college reunion! We went to school in California, amongst the mountains and sandy beaches, the wine valleys and trendy cities. And that is why we are all tromping to the upper mid-west to rough it out on a farm and roast a pig. This didn't seem so bizarre to me until I had to explain it to some friends here at home. It's very indicative of the type of education we received and the kind of people who go to this college. None of us had given it a second thought. "Ooooh, that would be fun!" And so, we make our plans.

It will be fun, that's for sure. Our kids will love hiking through the woods and exploring around the farm. It will be great to see our classmates....some whom I haven't seen once in the past 10 years! And the wonderful family that owns the farm are like family to me. They made us feel so welcome here Texas, inviting us over for many late-night dinner parties, and Joe's gin and tonics were the perfect ending to a busy teaching week! Those days helped us make the transition between college and the real world. Joe and Cecilia had one kid and were working like crazy to make ends meet. They had their family in the nearby apartments (sisters and brother) and always had a full house for dinner! Andrew and I felt like we were "going home" when we went over there. After they moved back to the family farm, it was tough. We really missed them, and still do! Now Joe and Cecilia have 6 kids, and we have 5. But when we get together, it's like old times again. They've been making the drive down every few years, and finally we are getting up there to see them! I've never known people who are more generous or welcoming...
And so, off we go... this reunion will be a many-faceted reunion. I will see old classmates, old friends, and old old friends (like my roommate that I've known since I was 9!!) She and I went to college together and roomed together for the first 2 years. She move to DC and married this great guy and has 3 beautiful girls. It will be so good to see her again!
I guess there won't be pictures (camera still broken) but there will be many stories, I'm sure!
We leave early tomorrow....prayers appreciated!