In This Corner

Stay To The Left...This Blog is Merging

2007-01-14T14:40:00.000-05:00

I'm sure I have lost all readers since my two month hiatus from this blog. But if you're still out there (all two of you), you may be wondering why this blog has been disintegrating through the week. Because of recent changes to Blogger, our three blogs are migrating and merging.

So has time makes avail, things have been manually moved over. TOTAL PAIN. But the only way to do it at this point.

All signs now point in the direction of www.ourgoldenapples.com.

See all two of you there! :)

Speaking Each Other's Love Language

2006-02-22T16:15:00.000-05:00

About 4 months ago, Ken and I spent an evening going over the general ideas behind the book called "The 5 Love Languages". Ken and I have an excellent marriage, but everyone around us had spoken so highly of this book that it peaked our curiousity. For anyone remotely interested in improving their marriage, I highly recommend it.

However, if you want the cliff notes version, I suggest that you and your husband do one thing mentioned in the book. One thing that will radically change your lives. Take time one evening to make a mental or written list of up to five things your spouse could do that would help you to feel more loved. Be open. Be honest. No answer is stupid. You may be surprised at just how easy it is to give.

For Ken and I, we both had a really short list. Neither of us could even think of 5 things. We both ended up with about 3 things, that would really make a difference in our daily lives. We've been working on those items now for about 4 months, and it has been wonderful.

Here was an example of one of my three:

Groceries: When I would come home from an hour of shopping for groceries, Ken was already helpful in assisting me unload them from the car. However, if I also received help from him in putting everything away in the cupboards and fridge, that would be a huge demonstration of love to me.

Incidentally, Ken has taken this above and beyond my request:

Months ago, shortly after we made this list, I had come home from a very late night of AWANA with the kids and grocery shopping. I was pregnant, exhausted, and looking forward to help with the groceries and bedtime routine. When I pulled in the drive I realized that Ken was gone. There was a message on the answering machine. It was Ken apologizing profusely that he couldn't be there to "speak my love language" but had to run out for a late night business task. As exhausted and disappointed as I was, knowing he had taken the time to call and recognize that putting away groceries was important to me, softened the blow.

Last week he grocery shopped FOR me in secret after a full day of meetings and traffic. I had planned on grocery shopping that evening. That gesture of love, was almost enough to make me cry. It was exactly what I needed at the time, and I felt incredibly loved.

Here was one of Ken's:

Food: Ken works from home, but tends to head straight to the basement office in the morning. Running two businesses, he stays quite busy, sometimes skipping breakfast and lunch and getting cranky and tired as a result. His request was that I would be improving his day considerably if I provided him with something for breakfast and dinner and brought it down to him.

Just to see the smile on his face, and hearing his sly, "For Me? Alright!" when I bring him a meal is worth it. :)

Both of these requests are very easy to meet. At the same time, by simply doing them, they make a huge difference in our day. Take the challenge with your spouse. You both will have much to gain from the exercise!

When Sick...Sew

2006-01-14T19:56:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling slightly better this evening. I passed the time this afternoon sewing a baby bunting for Faith. It is basically a sleeveless fleece sack that zips up. They usually cost a good $20 at a children's store, but you can make them for about $4. I'm all for babies and comfort, so I plan on sewing a good number of these in different colors so that Faith can freely hang out sockless around the house in just a onesie and one of these snugglies.

I'm a decent seamstress when it comes to sewing anything rectangular, but throw neck holes and arm holes into the mix and I'm a mess. Poor Faith ended up with a straight jacket. Sewed right over the arms holes. Did I mention how dangerous it is to sew when you are sick? (It involves a lot of seam ripping.)

Maybe it was more of a subconscious thing...after all...she is my tiny tornado.

I'll add pictures tomorrow.

This Week Packs Another Punch

2006-01-14T02:25:00.000-05:00

Emotional drain has invited physical drain to join the party in my body. The beginning of this week was so incredibly tough. I'm still struggling. However, my immune system must have plummeted as I have taken on one heck of a virus. My voice is gone. My eyes are glued shut with gunk. It hurts to cough and swallow. My ears hurt when I do swallow. Blowing my nose feels like I'm trying to blow out an egg yolk through a pin hole in an egg shell. Thankfully, I don't have a fever. Being pregnant, there is nothing I can take, which means getting more than two hours of sleep at a time isn't happening (why I'm here).

Now my concern is that I WILL go into labor feeling as I do, and/or that this will slowly touch the other loved ones in my family over the course of the next two weeks. Worse...The last thing I want is to pass this yuck on to a tiny newborn. The acronymn "RSV" is haunting me. My Braxton Hicks has picked back up, and now I can feel my body practicing "letting down" for the nursing soon in my future. I have yet to have an internal exam, and I had to cancel my appointment for this week, so I have little to go on.

I'm praying and praying that this stays isolated, and that Faith is feeling very comfortable about her close quarters. She is in the safest place she can be right now, until Mama gets better. She's probably wondering what stranger took over her Mama's body as when I do find my voice it is not a pretty sound.

Blessed.

2006-01-12T08:39:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was probably one of the most difficult days of my life over the course of the last few years. In my previous post I had mentioned that a friend from my Bible Study was being induced. At the time, I had little information to go on, and I thought the news was primarily all good. It was not.

She and I have a unique relationship. Two years ago we were pregnant together, only weeks apart, and we shared our joys of early pregnancy. Then we lost our babies, weeks apart, and we mourned together. This year we could hardly believe our timing and blessings as we were pregnant again, one week apart. She is 10 years older than me, and her pregnancy was especially a blessing to be praised, as it defied the statistics. We all felt the hand of God was in her unexpected miracle.

We've shared our pregnancy cravings, activity, and ailments throughout the last nine months. We were thrown a lovely dual shower by our Women's group. There was to be a great rejoicing around our two little ones next month when our Bible study resumed.

Yesterday, I found my husband and myself in the NICU stroking the tiny calves and forehead of my friend's newborn son, and praying over his tiny frame with her husband. He was only three weeks early. He was 3 lbs. He should have been full term. He should have been full of health. He was not. Somebody should have known or seen these problems on an ultrasound. No one did. There were no warnings. No signs. I should have been shedding tears of joy. Instead, I was fighting the urge to hit my knees right there in the room in grief.

Despite it all, this child was a miracle who had made it so far, who had survived every odd against him. He was born alive, pink and beautiful. He responded to our touches. But short of numerous miracles, he will rejoin his loving Father soon.

I haven't cried this much since my father and I held the hands of my beloved grandmother as she passed into heaven. Not even over the loss over my own pregnancy two years ago. Embracing his mother, praying with his father and having the unexpected invitation to love on this child, just weeks away from my own pregnacy was beyond difficult.

I am ashamed of my last post. Within hours of writing it, I was regretting my words. God quickly revealed a hard truth to me. For many weeks, the mothers of the twins have been making difficult and long trips to the hospital just to be with their newborns. Many have been on bedrest. Few January pregnancies have been without their difficulties. I am the exception.

How can I issue an ounce of complaint? The Lord has protected my health and baby Faith since the day of her conception. I have had the joy of still being able to care for my family, and stand on my own two feet without a moments concern. I have learned that to stand at all, and go home with a child in my arms is a blessing that, until now, I have not fully understood.

I am blessed. Forgive me Lord.
I am blessed. I am so very blessed.

Thank you Jesus.

The Last One Standing

2006-01-10T17:09:00.000-05:00

In our church of about 400 people, 8 of us were due to have a baby in January. The big joke was that we were going to send the nursery at church into an instant overcapacity crisis. I had a feeling, (knowing my history to be late), that I would be the last woman standing. Both sets of twins went earlier than their due date, (as to be expected), one friend had her little boy last week, and one of the ladies from my Bible Study is having her little boy induced today. My Bible Study buddy, was due the same week as myself.

Who the others are at the moment, I cannot recall -- but I FEEL like the last one standing, and I still have two weeks to go, before my due date. I really thought Baby Faith would punch her way out of here on her own, but I am starting to have some doubts. I don't expect her to be punching now as she's still got at least two weeks left to primp before her big debut. But for some reason, being the last one standing two weeks before I expected to be the last one standing, is a little harder to swallow. And, chances are that I still have at least three weeks in front of me, and not two.

It's not a big deal I suppose. Just a mite bit depressing. All tasks seem to take twice as long with three times as much effort to execute. Everything from clipping my toenails to vacuuming the floor. My muscles are so loose from the relaxing hormones in my body, that I can pull a muscle just folding clothes. In addition, I've slept great the last few days. No Braxton Hicks hardly at all. And for some reason, that's depressing!! I should be rejoicing. In fact, I prayed specifically to the Lord the other night, that He would pave the way for me to have a full nights rest. He answered my prayer, and now restful sleep has me concerned. DUH!

OIY. I think this officially marks the "Hormonal" part of my pregnancy.

Practice Makes Perfect

2006-01-07T16:17:00.000-05:00

Perhaps after all that baby sewing, my body thinks I'm safe to go ahead and think about labor. Unfortuately, my Braxton Hicks has a tendency to kick up in the evening, when I finally sit down. Ken and I did a marathon viewing of the last disc for 24's last season, and sure enough, the BHs kicked in with the action on the screen.

All was uneventful until Jack woke up at 1:30 concerned about the unseen in his room. After tucking him back in bed, and starting his music again, it was back to bed. Jack was back an hour later concerned about the spooky things and monsters in his room. Open the blinds, tuck back in, reset music, and back to bed. To my disappointment, Mr. Braxton Hicks decided to climb in with me as I tried to doze back off, which set off my daily need for Tums and Pepcid tablets. Hicks was so strong this time, that it felt like a constant knot around my belly, no matter what position I shifted to. So I headed to the Dutailer rocker beside the bed thinking that a new postion might scare him off. Instead, the contractions began increasing in length and strength. My Dutalier has a history of setting me into labor (Grace), so I thought it might be wise to move elsewhere.

Hoping that more movement might chase BH away, I headed to the office. Long story - short, I finally was able to ignore the contractions, and crash on the office couch as they gradually decreased by 5:00am. My stomach still felt like a giant metal marble when I woke up, and didn't soften until a warm shower. I have never had to deal with BH contractions that kept me awake and launched their attacks under the cover of darkness. Hopefully, these boot camp sessions are almost over -- I'm ready for Operation Exit Faith.

The Cradle Will Rock

2006-01-06T15:59:00.000-05:00

SECOND HAPPY DANCE! I'm still here, just very focused on getting all of the sewing projects knocked out before D-Day. This is the baby cradle that I slept in, given to my mother by my maternal grandparents as a shower gift. My two brothers and my sister have all slept in this cradle, and it is has earned its worth as an heirloom piece in our family.

Before the arrival of my first child, I sanded down the old finish, smoothed it out, and gave it a fresh stain and satin finish. She looks brand new, and has continued to cradle a new generation in our family. I saw this fabric while shopping online for my crib fabric, and I couldn't resist ditching the gender neutral mint green cradle bumper pad I had made previously, for two yards of this totally girly fabric.

Jack is lobbying hard for the cradle to go in his room, since Grace got the crib. Here is one area mommy won't budge. As is tradition, Faith will be by my side of the bed nested in the cradle.

So what sewing projects are left? My long neglected 99 inch curtains for the green room. I'm almost done, just need to add the fringe, pleats, and buttons on the last panel and they'll be ready to go. However, I'm about to do a third happy dance, as I have given up on my dream to make a duvet cover and curtains for our room. For 6 years, the marriage bed has been the most neglected area of the house. No duvet cover, just a dirty old feather comforter and some boring white sheets. Ken's big giant pillow and my little scrap of a pillow. With Ken's full support, I announced last week that I'm just going to find something. If I face reality squarely, I'll never get the bedding and drapery for our room done.

There is one condition that Ken has made, and that is I can't put the new bedding or drapery up until the room is completely clean. No nesting piles. No small piles of junk that haven't moved in three years. And so I'm off...because my stuff has arrived, and I can hardly bear it! Our bedroom will finally have some decor.

I Finished Sewing the Baby Bedding!

2005-12-31T17:03:00.000-05:00

HAPPY DANCE! HAPPY DANCE! I can finally say that one of my three major sewing projects is complete. This is the second set of baby bedding I have sewed (first was for Grace and later used by Jack). Both times I have sewed the bumper, a quilt, and the bed skirt. It is always a labor of love and helps to pass the time as the baby grows.

Today, the Ragazzi crib was pulled out of storage and I spent the next hour decalcifying (demilking) and adding a fresh lather of furniture cream to the wood. Six years ago, I purchased the crib for a decent sale price. It was a bit of a splurge, but I had hoped that the 15 yr/3 child warranty would hold. After a light remoisturizing it looked exactly like the day I had pulled it out of the box two children and 6 years ago.

Ken and I put it all together this afternoon. After a little furniture rearranging in Grace's room, it looks like thankfully the girls will both fit. Grace, sensing impending changes ahead, commented with a smile that her room will never be the same again...

Cue Up The Music For Mr. Hicks

2005-12-27T22:20:00.000-05:00

Mr. Braxton Hicks, that is. Apparently this is the week that Mr. Braxton Hicks decided to fly into my abdomen and stay. I really don't know what to think of him though, as his contractions always get me giddy and excited, but deep down I know they are pretty meaningless. With Jack, Mr. Braxton took up residence for months, but Jack still showed no sign of giving up his 9 month residency, and stuck around for 9 days post due date, until his final eviction notice was sent via Nurse Pitocin.

So, being that my due date isn't until January 24th...I need to just enjoy them and not get my hopes up too high that Baby Faith is going to kick out of here on her own free will. That said, if any child of mine has had the strength to break my water, she wins my nomination.

Oh...there's Mr B. Hicks now...see you again in seven minutes Hicks.

Meanwhile, I have been working today on sewing those bumper pads, and removing the cobwebs from what feels like eons ago since I had a baby (only 4 yrs.) It just occured to me yesterday that I need the simplest of things like wet wipes and nursing pads. I can maybe understand forgetting to order new nursing pads, but forgetting wet wipes???

Whatever Baby Faith is making is doing wonders for my body image, and has flushed out more compliments than I have had in 10 years combined --- (I wish I could bottle it) --- but she's also frying the synapses between my neurons faster than I can create new neuron paths for perserving my memory. Apparently, she's working overtime in the portion of my brain that houses names...as that feels like it has just taken a severe hit from an EMP bomb (electro magnetic pulse bomb).

Can you tell, we're in the middle of watching season 4 of 24?

It Is Finished.

2005-12-26T17:11:00.000-05:00

The Christmas tree of 2005 is down. It is a short lived life of glory, if Christmas has past and you are a Christmas tree under the careful watch of a nesting pregnant woman with 4 weeks left to go. Alas, the chainsaw in the backyard buzzes merrily along as I write.

She was a good tree...

Tick Tock...Tick Tock

2005-12-21T23:41:00.000-05:00

I feel like I am in the middle of one three month long crescendo. It started with November and the Thanksgiving scramble, then moved into Christmas with the gift purchasing and Christmas Newsletter writing, and finally THAT is all behind me. All of this surrounded by some ridculous nesting practices going on in my house.

What's left? The Big Kahuna...BABY FAITH.

I've got one month (maybe less) and still no cradle or crib bumper pad sewed. I've got clothes, but the changing table is a wreck and there is little order or thought in the madness of it all at this point. Our bedroom has the unfinished remnants of my last nesting mania along all sides of our walls. To increase the feeling of impending changes and excitement, a few contractions have begun here and there over the last two days. I'm hoping that this will be the first little one I've had that doesn't need a shot of Pitocin to get things kick started. But I need all 30 of these next days just to feel ready and focused.

Poor Ken...he's surviving the grueling torture of listening to his wife snore throughout the night (as a result of my swollen sinuses from the pregnancy). Sometimes he finds he needs to sleep on the couch it is so bad. I am so NOT a snorer so it's pretty embarassing. Oh well...he's being a good sport. And he's been thoughtful. He pulled out the cradle and put it together with Jack a few nights ago, turning it into a Daddy/Son project. I never asked. He just did it. Wasn't that nice?

Of course, he could also be simply hoping that the sight of the cradle will trigger some maternal instinct and put me into early labor -- which might not be such a bad thing... a nice tax break and an end to the blasted snoring!

Is There Insomnia in Heaven?

2005-12-13T21:16:00.000-05:00

I love listening to my children talk about heaven. I think there is a purity present in those types of discussions between two children that is difficult to surpass. Today, I was entreated to another dissertation on the topic of Heaven.

Grace: I can't wait to get to Heaven, Jack, can you?

Jack: Yeah.

Grace: Its going to be so great. Did you know that God is building a place for us in the clouds in heaven RIGHT NOW?

Jack: *** silence ***

Grace: I bet He never stops working on it. I bet He works on it all night long and never sleeps.

Isn't it true? Our Father is longing for the day when He can gather us all unto Himself. I find myself smiling at Grace's comments. I bet she's right. If God needed sleep, He'd be missing sleep over us in anticipation for that day. I can't help but turn the question around on myself. How often do I miss sleep over the anticipation of meeting Christ face to face? As young women, we all did it as we'd lay our head down for the night, dreaming about the future and the men who are now our husbands. Why not our Christ?

A Moment In Time

2005-12-07T23:39:00.000-05:00

One of my only goals this year was to become a better picture taker. Months could go by in our family without the camera every seeing the light of day. Blogging weekly, has been a great encouragement and reminder of this goal, and it has certainly been a contributor to keeping me on task with picture taking.

Above is a picture of Grace from Jack's birthday party in October. It is my all time favorite for her this year. Ironically, I didn't take it! A friend of mine did, and she clearly has a natural eye for timing. The children all were taking delight in climbing upon a small grove of cherry trees. This picture is now hanging up in our green room.

It is one of those photgraphs, that as a mother, makes you fall in love with your child all over again, while just thinking, "That's my beautiful daughter."

Environmentalism vs. My Mail Box

2005-11-23T12:29:00.000-05:00

About a year ago, I dropped a few bucks on becoming a member of the National Wildlife Federation. Our backyard qualified as an official "Backyard Wildlife Habitat" that met certain criteria, and the membership offered some nice perks like a monthly Backyard magazine geared for children. This all came about as a result of the childrens' winter nature study for schooling. For the first month it seemed like a nice idea.

However, the tide has turned. I love the environment, but I'm about to go ballistic over all of the waste I have been receiving in my mailbox over the past year as a result of joining an organization whose sole purpose is to support and protect the environment. On a tri-weekly, if not daily basis at times, I receive unwanted solicitations to save this land or animal, contribute to this cause (or else our world will end), or use these beautiful wildlife return address labels and calendars we sent you, but so you don't feel guilty, please send us money. None of it I asked for...and all of it seems like a hard slap in the face to many of the talking points of environmentalists today.

I hear complaints from environmentalist groups about all of the paper that is wasted by various companies in the form of catalog production. About the clear cutting in the rain forests, and the thousands of acres that are irreversibly destroyed every day. However the same environmentalists seem to have no problem sending me hundreds of unwanted solicitations, stickers, glossy calendars and the like, all printed on stacks and stacks of paper. Not to mention the expenses of printing (waste of molecules), delivery (waste of gas), glue (I'm sure that goes back to the rubber trees in the rain forest), etc.

I've already taken my name off the list...but of course the 500+ organizations that now have purchased my name from The National Wildlife Federation don't know that. So ironically, by joining a cause that I thought was a small move toward supporting our environment, I have cancelled out my own contribution as a result of at least one giant tree in the rainforest who is no longer because it was sacrificed to solicit me for further donations.

How odd.

The Lost Art of Reading

2005-11-16T14:30:00.000-05:00

Today the weather outside is the kind I used to look forward to as a child. A wet, rainy, and cold fall day. On days like this, I used to bundle up, grab my banana seat bike and head out to the local library. With huge anticipation, I would dream of finding a handful of cozy chapter books to snuggle up with for the afternoon, while enjoying the steady beat of the drizzling rain outside my window.

I fear I have lost the art of reading. Not all reading, just a good solid novel. I still read a good deal of apologetics type books, the Food and Wine magazine, or National Geographic, but for years I have missed that old anticipation of a day like today, an hour of quiet in the house, and a page turning novel. Now my trips to the library revolve around two kids, a huge basket of children's books, and an equally huge library fine to match. I'm still just as giddy as the children are when we come home with a basketful of children's books looking forward to an hour of reading at least 8 books in one sitting...but, my anticipation revolves around their anticipation and excitement.

Today...I really would love to dig into a good book. Any knock out recommendations?

In Survival Mode

2005-11-15T12:45:00.000-05:00

Panic. And yet oddly calm. My mind is forcing me to focus on one day at a time.

This month was already full of activity. Yesterday, I had ten ladies over at the house for our monthly homeschooling meeting. I am not a hospitality queen by any measure so this requires more effort on my part than for the natural Martha Stewarts out there. This event by itself would have triple astricks on the calendar for November, and would have enough pull to be my main focus (even over planning for Thanksgiving).

November has also been my month to lead my women's weekly Bible study discussion. Something that again, usually requires more prep on my end than for the natural teachers and leaders in this world. Christ has been calling me into leadership over the last few years, first steering me clearly into leadership, and now actual leading responsibilities. It was not a position I ever volunteered for, however I have felt his hand on my shoulder the entire time, and finding it impossible to turn against His firm grasp, I have been obedient to His calling.

Thankfully, after some rather bold prayer requests on my part (I'll do this, but...) He has gotten rid of the butterflies that used to consume me, and helped me overcome my feelings of inexperience and youth (I am the youngest person in the entire group). But I am still working letting Christ lead through me. This month I have been able to whittle my 6+ hours of prep down to 2-3 hours, so I suppose that is a promising move in the right direction.

In addition to the above it seems like I have numerous projects that are on my plate at this time: the impending birth of our daughter..the holiday shopping...homeschooling. Not to mention the growing pressure and and now pain in my pelvis from baby Faith, that makes daily chores feel like a double the work.

To cap it off, last week I was informed by my father that everyone was coming down to MY house for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving this year was originally just going to be my brother and sister-in-law. All of a sudden it turned into a full week of managing room and board for 7 more people!!! Oh..and by the way...let's do an early Christmas gift exchange. Honestly, the visit is a grand blessing as it also includes the presence of not only my immediate family, but also my 80 year old grandfather who will be flying in from Arizona. I've always wanted to have him at our house, and it will be my honor, and a visit I will treasure always. Plus, my lovely sister-in-law will be helping greatly with the room and board aspect of it all. But I must still admit that the feeling of "Oh, Lord please help me..." floods over me daily.

Tonight I lead the last portion of my part of the Bible Study. The mother's homeschooling night is over. The ground floor of the house is immaculate after two days of intense cleaning...so I am hoping to breathe deeply over the next week and focus on the cooking, the upstairs disaster, the basement, the advertising assignments I have due before the month's end, the doctor's appointments, the early gift shopping, the grocery shopping...PANIC.

One day at a time...breathe...One day at a time...

Wishing We Were Here Again

2005-11-10T19:03:00.000-05:00

Last summer, our family took a trip up to the Cape, to spend a whole week in a beach house with all of Ken's family. We each received one free kid-less date, and this was ours - a quiet lazy afternoon kayaking around the inlets and docked sailboats.

With a husband who works from home, I know how spoiled I already am. He's only been traveling for less than 24 hours and he'll be back by tomorrow. But stumbling upon his picture tonight in my photo archives really brought home the "missing you" feeling. Sure wish we were here again hun.

Taking Stock of The Excess

2005-11-02T07:17:00.000-05:00

You know it is time to open the cupboards and do a running inventory in the kitchen when you discover that you are housing 8 bags of flour total for a 4 person family. I am finally tackling the one thing I have been meaning to do for years: Creating a number of inventory sheets in the house for food and cleaning products to help with the grocery shopping.

It is accomplishing two things: a much needed deep cleaning of the cupboards, and a few good laughs at just how many repeats of this and that I have. It never fails that I end up buying a 5th tub of sour cream because I can't quite recall if we are out, or I purchase a 3rd Dijon mustard because I can't remember if Dijon mustard is one of the many different mustards we have in fridge (whole grain, honey mustard, yellow, hot mustard, etc.)

Am I the only one who pulls these stupid stunts? NO MORE. I'm on an inventory mission.

A Strive Toward Efficiency...In a Muffin

2005-10-24T23:20:00.000-04:00

It started with making fresh muffins months ago. I love a good muffin in the morning with a cup of coffee. So the search was on for some of the best muffin recipes in existence. Then the mom in me kicked in: double the batch and freeze them. And now the super mom in me is kicking in, as I search for a way to be even more efficient with my time.

This morning, as a batch of Banana Crumb Muffins were cooking, I stared at the mess that I had left behind.

*** big sigh ***

I determined then and there to measure and place in freezer bags four more batches of the muffin ingredients to use in the future. The goal - less prep, less mess, more muffins on the fly. Now all I need to add is bananas, butter and an egg. My own little Betty Crocker mix...but fresh and without the preservatives.

I'm set on doing the same thing for at least 2 other muffins that I frequently make, and perhaps even rolls and breads. I cheated though, and I'm a little worried about it. I added the sugar to the dry mix. The sugar usually goes in with the butter and eggs. Hopefully that won't be a problem, as I REALLY like the idea of pre-prepping.

Quick Shine - A Miracle Revealed

2005-10-24T09:03:00.000-04:00

Very few products impress me. Often it seems like a lot of work for mediocre results. Or your results look beautiful on Day 1 but come back full force by Day 10. But Quick Shine for flooring, I have got to brag on.

We have two children and one 80lb dog. We've lived in our house for almost six years and we've had to have the floors refinished after only three years. They looked beautiful, until six months later when the dog and traffic seemed to nullify all of the refinishing we had sunk our money into. Depressed, I vowed to never refinish the floors again, and deal with the ugly dull finish.

Last week, I saw a product on the shelves at Wal-mart called Quick Shine. It boldly stated its polymer technology would make my floors look like a brand new floor. I was really looking to just spiffy things up a bit...just a normal clean feeling...and the price wasn't that expensive, so I placed it in the basket. I did take note, that I had to literally dig for one of the very last bottles. Did someone know something I didn't??

I really was half afraid it would ruin the floors. It seems too good to be true: Just squirt on the floor, mop it around and let dry for 15-30 minutes. You can apparently layer on the shine up to six coats. I remember thinking, "You probably need to do it 6 times just to see any results."

So yesterday, I cleaned the floor with a good ol' fashion sponge mop and water, took a deep breath, and cringed as I squirted the stuff on the floor. To be safe, I just did the entry way of our hall first. After sponging it over the entire floor, I sat down with Ken for some football, keeping one eye glued to the floor. As time passed, I started to realize, I really couldn't be sure if the floor was dry or wet...it was still glossy after 15 minutes. I felt the floor. Completely dry. I had a glossy finish with one single coat. Excited, I placed one more layer on the entry way (a girl can never have too much of a good thing). And then in pure joy I did the neighboring dining room.

All I can say girls, is this works. My floor (aside from scratches) looks AND feels like a brand new floor. Ken and I are still gazing at it talking about how we can't believe the floors. For more information, you can visit their website at www.quickshine.net. It is worth an $8.00 purchase. TRUST ME.

Two Way Radios: An Edge On Safety

2005-10-20T14:18:00.000-04:00

For his birthday, Jack received a nice pair of two way radios. I thought it might be fun to take them to the park this morning so that the children could play hide and seek on a whole new level. Both of them are still growing accustom to talking while pressing the buttons, and taking turns, but they are quickly getting the hang of it.

I don't know about you, but some parks these days are enormous. Unless I have only one child with me, I can feel like my eyes are being pulled in two different directions, and the maternal instinct in me starts to get ruffled. I don't like not being able to see my children. I also know, parks are not as safe as they might seem.

I've considered having us all wear whistles around our necks...but that seemed a little too..well..loud and lame. Carrying a clip-on two way radio is one idea I really like. You can now purchase two way radios that have up to a 5 mile range. I'm not saying you should let your kids out of your sight up to 5 miles, but there is a comfort in knowing that in smaller distances you still have a connection to them, and a means of communication.

I've decided to make it a point to teach the children how to correctly use the radios, as this is one relatively inexpensive safety precaution that is worth utilizing when in public places.

An Answer To The New Cell Phone Law

2005-10-20T14:07:00.000-04:00

My brother sent this e-mail to me this morning. It gave me a good belly laugh (with a sputtering coughing fit following):

According to a proposed new law that would go into effect Jan 1, 2006 you will no longer be able to use a cell phone while driving unless you have a "hands free" adapter. I went to Circuit City and they wanted $50 for a headset with a microphone for my cell phone. Having a friend in the cell phone business, I talked with him and was able to come up with an alternative, working through Office Depot.

These kits are compatible with any mobile phone and one size fits all. I paid him $0.08 each because he bought in quantity. Then we tried it with Motorola, Sprint, Verizon and Nokia units and they worked perfectly.

Take a look and let me know if you want one. Also, forward this to anyone you know, who has a cell phone, and who may want one!
(This is not my brother BTW).

Attack Of The Dreaded Fruit Flies

2005-10-17T13:23:00.000-04:00

What IS IT with fruit flies?? I can't think of anything smaller in this world that is MORE annoying. They are impossible to kill with a quick swat. And there is usually some mystery behind their presence, as I can never locate the reason why they suddenly take up house in my house.

So, as you may have guessed, we have been batting at the air for two weeks now. They are not only in the kitchen, but finding their way into the bathrooms and other rooms now too. I've been trying my best to keep food and fruit absent from the open. What is the deal?

I have a very strong stomach, but it wants to turn when I recall having to take care and breed fruit flies for weeks during college for my Genetics class. (I never have been able to erase from my mind that yeasty smell of the goo I had to give them for food).

What do they want from me?????

Parents...Spank Your Kids.

2005-10-08T09:14:00.000-04:00

I'm going to be brief. Just like every solid spanking should be. There is no reason to dwell on it. But the conservative is coming out in full force this morning, after a night of watching ten 5 year olds for 3 hours. Maybe I still need my coffee this morning.

Time outs only tow the line so far. Parents...SPANK your kids. It is not enjoyable, but everyone else who has to occupy the same room with them while you are away WILL have an enjoyable experience.

For those of you who do spank. Start spanking harder. I'm kidding.

Ok off for coffee.(I know I'll get in trouble for this one.)

A 4lb. Vacuum Worth Its Weight In Gold

2005-09-26T20:47:00.000-04:00

Ken must think I am crazy to keep talking about a vacuum cleaner, but I can't help it. This thing is a mother's dream. I'm not talking about every mother's heavy mega vacuum, and I'm also not taking about a little hand vac you have to stoop down to pick anything up with.

What I'm talking about is a chargeable, cordless, 2-4 pound, vacuum with a long handle. Specifically: The Dirt Devil Dual Brush Rechargeable Sweeper. This thing is awesome! In seconds flat my house is crumbless, on hardwoods and on substantial carpet. It even has the look of vacuuming on the carpet. And for a pregnant woman who is really beginning to hate bending down, it is a head rush saver. The kids even love it because now they can take turns vacuuming the playroom.

This thing really motors too as it will pick up things you didn't even expect it to pick up - it is powerful for a lightweight. And because it is so lightweight, you almost have to be careful that you don't slam the thing into walls while you carry it with two fingers up the stairs.

I purchased ours for $49 at Home Depot and it has been worth every single cent, keeping the house spotless until I haul out the mega vacuum.

When You're A Mom...You Don't Waste Time

2005-09-19T14:12:00.000-04:00

I can't stand to waste time. I love to cook, but I hate wasting time on a dish that comes out crummy. Shopping is ok, but if I could have it my way, I would do almost all of it online. (When Webvan.com left our city, I almost cried --- it was the best time saver in the world!). So when I find something that works, it seems selfish to keep it to myself, and I want to tell every mom out there not to waste time on this and that, but instead do this...

So I have to share the timesavers that I discovered this past week:

Allrecipes.com: Last week I put this site to the test. I lined up a 5 star menu for the entire week, used their automated online shopping list, shopped for the week, and set to work on their 5 star recipes. So far, so wonderfully good. I finally have got myself out of a boring cooking rutt. This week we have enjoyed two different fruit salads and lamb stew. And they were all great! Still up is a new meatloaf and pot roast. I highly recommend this site for opening new cooking horizons. Let other people cook the duds and rate them dudly --- instead pick the recipes everyone has already highly rated, and stop wasting your time!!!

Finazzle (Finazzle.com): This weekend I fell in love with a grout cleaner. I have tried everything on our white grout/white tile bathroom floor. Ken and I even discussed regrouting the floor for a second time. On my last shopping run, I caught site of a product called Finazzle, and reasoned that what was a few bucks over regrouting...it was worth a last ditch shot. This stuff has almost zero fumes (great during pregnancy), and works amazingly awesome. The floor looks like we regrouted.

Bad Doggy Mommy

2005-08-28T13:25:00.000-04:00

Ok....someone else please admit they have resorted to doing this, so I don't feel like the only bad doggy mommy out there.

Moms are busy...they just are.
Our grocery lists aren't perfect...they just aren't.
Sometimes necessities don't make the list...they just don't.
Our furred friends are last on the totem pole...they just are.

So today, (and it isn't the first time), I go to give our Golden Retriever, Maggie, her breakfast. Her ears are all perked up, and she's hungry. There is a rolled bag of dog food right next to her bowl, and I lift the suspiciously light bag to pour her food. Nothing. Nada. The bag is bone dry. There aren't even a few morsels caught between the folds in the bag.

Now I've been just as much to blame in these situations as Ken. However, yesterday Ken must of fed the dog and left the rolled up bag in the same place, but used up all of the dog food. I'm sure he thought there was a new bag around some place. There wasn't.

So here's the dirty deed: Your dog is looking at you, and already salivating expecting another Purina breakfast. You can't let her down. You can't walk away empty handed from those hungry puppy dog eyes. So desperately, you try to find the closest thing to dog food you can in the pantry. What is the closest thing to dog food in any Mom's pantry? --> CEREAL.

Looking at your expectant dog, you pull the Rice Krispies off the shelf. You rationalize as you glance at the ingredients that, after all, it is close to Lamb & Rice Formula (without the Lamb). The vet did say Maggie's allergies might be better with a Rice diet.

You pour the People Food into the dog bowl, bracing yourself for the havoc it will probably cause to your dog's sensitive digestive system. Imagining that you may both suffer the long drawn out smelly consequences in a stuffy room in about 3 hours. You wait expectantly as your dog looks at the big bowl of Krispies, and glances back at you with a look you can't quite discern. In your mind, the translation could go two ways:

Either she's saying "You mean I can really eat this whole bowl of People Food?"
Or she's looking at you with a "You forgot me again didn't you?" look.
Bad doggy mommy.

So tell me. How many of you are willing to admit you have fed your dog from a cereal box (or worse) when times were tough? Take this skeleton out of the closet, and let it swing out in the open. Bad doggy mommies, stand up and be counted!

The Rise of Traditions

2005-08-25T21:31:00.000-04:00

I can remember when I was carrying Grace feeling a twinge of worry. There is something in everyone that wants to leave a legacy for their children. And it helps to have part of the legacy started in the form of traditions. My problem was that I couldn't think of any traditions my family had that I could pass on.

It has been almost six years now, and we are beginning to see traditions arise in the house. Brace yourself as these are not your classic traditions, but they are traditions in the sense that if you ever didn't do them, it would be a form of punishment. I have only a couple that I can think of, but more I'm sure will come to mind later:

Tickle Hugs: I can't even recall how this tradition started. Obviously hugs that turned into tickle fights. But these are a requirement now before putting the kids to bed. And there are rules to tickle hugs. You get only one at nap time, two tickle hugs at night time (AFTER prayers), three tickle hugs on Christmas, and four tickle hugs on Easter.

Prayers: The kids may only say The Lord's Prayer on Thursday and Sunday nights. All other nights need to be personal or special prayers. This tradition was instituted since we noticed that the children started saying The Lord's Prayer every night as their choice of prayer because it required little thought. The rule worked too. It took a couple of weeks for the children to actually remember how to pray, but their personal prayers became much more meaningful again.

Now the problem with our 2 traditions is that they are juxtaposed. So when the kids are praying you get something like this:

"...and thank you for the library, and going to the pool. You are my hero. And I love you. In Jeeee....sssuussss....naaaaameee"(child is tensing up to bolt across the bed)".....AMEN!!!" (shouted with a flurry of legs and arms trying desperately to get out of reach before the first tickle hug).

The Butterfly Whisperer

2005-08-18T21:09:00.000-04:00

Occasionally you have those moments. I had one today walking on our treadmill that faces out into our backyard. The children where outside literally chasing butterflies that fluttered by.

Grace, my "Butterfly Whisperer" had her pointer finger and arm extended. Her mouth, singing a song that I couldn't hear from indoors, as she watched the butterflies flying closely around her. Her hope being that a butterfly would be soothed by her siren song and come and land on her finger. She never gives up. I watched her as she persisted for 10 minutes with constant song trying to attract her fluttering friends.

It is just that small moment that makes you smile, and admire a little 5 year old. A free spirit, trying patiently to capture another free spirit.

What is the Protocol of Disposal?

2005-08-09T21:41:00.000-04:00

I think all mothers with little artists can relate to this one. I caught myself with the same yucky but familiar feeling as I quickly stashed more coloring pages into the trash, before the kids came around the kitchen corner.

When our children are little, we save every little scrap of genius...their first scribble with Crayolas, their first painting. We encourage them, and cheer them on. And then one day, they come to us with a work of art. Something they've made, and we show such joy that they decide to give it to us. And from that day on, they live for the expressions on your face they trust they'll find, every time they bring you a love offering of glitter and glue. This becomes and almost daily cycle of coloring gifts and affirmations.

And then, one day, you do it. You have to. The fridge is covered with masterpieces, the counter is covered with masterpieces still drying. The playroom has no more locations. There are stacks of coloring pages everywhere. So as "wrong" as it feels, you force yourself to throw the weaker items away.

And then it happens. Your daughter or son, notices their drawings crumpled in the trash. They call you on it - staring at you in disbelief and hurt by the trash bag with their crumpled artwork. And you're crushed that they've discovered it. How could Mom throw away their love offerings? And it makes you wonder...what did Mom do with my clay squirrel salt shaker I made back in 4th grade?

But still they forgive and continue to give...even after they know that sometimes Moms throw them away.

There Is No Doubt

2005-08-05T11:29:00.000-04:00

This morning I laid on my back in bed and mourned over my new head cold. I was greeted with a warm hello by a few wild kicks from the baby that were surprisingly noticable. Over the last week, I have laid my hand on my belly to see if movement could be detected by someone else. Today...it was unmistakeable!

It seems too early to be feeling that kind of defined movement. Perhaps it is the daily cup of coffee this little one has shared with me since conception? The closest Grace or Jack ever came to sharing coffee, was coffee flavored ice cream.

You Know You're A Mother When...

2005-08-05T01:28:00.000-04:00

...you find your bathroom hand towels being used by your children to clean up rubber cement spills on a carpeted floor.

...your dog's water dish sparkles in the sunlight because of a film of glitter on the surface.

...you find that today's incoming mail brought in by the children, is really today's outgoing mail.

...you realize as you place your child in the carseat for church, he's "going commando" to church, and you don't run inside for a pair of underwear.

I Love Sundays

2005-07-31T16:00:00.000-04:00

The chili is simmering on the stove. Butter roll dough is mixing in the breadmaker. Ken is crashed on the bed. The kids are upstairs playing Jumpstart computer games. And my faithful dog is at my feet. :)

opUQUIWREQh

2005-07-31T14:39:00.000-04:00

Word of warning: Sitting next to your 3 year old with a laptop can be dangerous to your laptop computer. (Especially when they are painting).

Lesson #1 Learned: Don't move the old paint water over the top of your laptop.

Lesson #2 Learned: Water under your keypad reveals all sorts of new short cut keys and allows you to type 10 letters at a time with one key stroke!

Lesson #3 already noted: I'm the messy one. It was my spill.

I Think I'm Beginning to Feel The Baby Move

2005-07-29T16:33:00.000-04:00

I should be a pro at this now. But those first little muffled taps are always so light that your doubt lingers for a little while. I am finding that I get better at discerning a true baby movement from everything else moving in there with each pregnancy. These taps have been low and consistent over the last few days.

At 14-15 weeks...the baby moves. Now the real fun begins.