What I learned in 2008

10.  I can deliver my third child in as many years (who, last year, made the list for my accomplishment in being the 0.01% of women who get pregnant on birth control).

9.  I can lose weight (gaining it back doesn't count now, see my last post!).

8.  I can become a part of something, namely the Passionate Critter's online critique group.  This above all else has motivated more than anything has in years to become what I've always dreamed of - a writer.  You're awesome, girls!

7.  I can stay mostly sane while raising three kids under three...well, a little anyway.

6.  I can move into a new house while 7 months pregnant.  It gave a whole new meaning to nesting!

5.  I can fall even more in love with Hubby.  I love to see him smile.

4.  I won't die if I puke.  My brain still thinks I can but last week proved that's not always the case.

3.  I can live without a gallbladder.

2.  I have an amazing network of friends and family who, despite my protests and contradictions love me.  Maybe just part of me, but they love me nonetheless.

1.  I have, quite simply, a great life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

At least I lost weight

During the holidays, I stressed because out of the 6 pounds it took me 4 months to lose, I had gained 5 back.  I was seriously contemplating a temporary life of anorexia (because, let's just face it, with a phobia of puking, bulimia is out of the question).  I was quite angry with myself for letting it happened, began stressing over the fact that if I finally did get the 15-20 pounds off that I've been working for, it would just come right back. But now....oh, now I know the secret.

You just get a stomach virus followed by a cold.  Snot might not have much nutritional value, but it sure does curb the appetite.

6 pounds in 14 days is a number I will certainly take!  I even, at one point, saw a 1-3-8 together again for the first time since right after Punky was born.  It was a happy reunion.  Of course, that was when my colon decided it was on strike and hubby confirmed his theory:

I really was full of crap.

The Christmas that never really was

I have to say, this could quite possibly have been the worst Christmas I've ever had.  It even rivals the Christmas I had chicken pox and I didn't think that was possible.

Let's see, where to begin?  You all know I had surgery on the 17th.  I was healing up really well when I made my last post.  Low and behold, that night I went to get my nails done, I started feeling really bad.  I had a horrible headache all day and it was getting worse and I was also getting REALLY nauseous.  By 11 pm I was puking and by 1 am I was running a fever.  All day Christmas Eve was spent in bed feeling gross and trying not to do more than breathe.  Thanks to me, Hubby had to take yet another day off work to take care of the kids.

Christmas Day was relatively ok.  Cupcake threw up that morning but I think now it's because we forgot her reflux medicine instead of her getting the virus.  The kids enjoyed their presents but because of the large crowd at my in-law's house with some 15+ children and the contamination I was sure they had, we stayed home and Hubby went over to eat Christmas dinner.  I was by myself and still feeling pretty rotten although better.

Thankfully, no one else got sick overnight.  We spent the day with my side of the family on the 26th.  It was a crazy day but by that night, my sinus's started bothering me.  I thought at first maybe it was something in my parent's house as they're always burning candles or incense.  Nope.  By the time we left the house I was in a full blown sinus attack: sneezing, coughing, watery and itchy eyes.  UGH.  I'm still plagued with it and it doesn't seem to be getting any better to be quite honest.

There's more to it - the lack of eating during all this has left me ridiculously weak, needing to take some antibiotics that upset my stomach, etc., that I have just felt like BUTT for a week and a half now.  I'm so ready to just feel like myself again.  And I'm definitely ready for my immune system to get back to where it needs to be.  I don't really feel like I'm ready for Hubby to go back to work yet, but he's got to go back at some point and all this has left him negative on leave.  I'm praying the new toys will occupy them so I don't have to do too much tomorrow.

The important thing during all of this is we enjoyed plenty of together time (probably not quite what Hubby had in mind given my absence, however), and we all had a great Christmas gift wise.  Let's just hope New Year's is better for me!

Sour much?

It's no secret, I don't allow my kids to be picky eaters.  It's as simple as that.  They eat a reasonable amount of food on their plate (I don't make them clean it, I don't think that's healthy, either), but they either eat their veggies, throw up, or go to bed hungry.  I was never made to eat when I was little and my kids won't be unhealthy.

It's also not a secret that I waited as long as possible to start Cupcake on solids.  I don't know why it's such a burden to me to feed them solids, but it is.  I guess it's just one more thing on my endless to-do list that must get done.  I've started seeing signs that Cupcake was ready for solids and hungry even after formula, so I bit the bullet this morning and decided to start her on pears.  I've started all of my kiddos on pears.  Punky loved them, Chicken hated them and threw up for a week every time I gave them to him, and Cupcake...well the above picture pretty much speaks for itself.  She wasn't a fan.

And she promptly threw up right after this picture was taken.

Time waits for no one

I'm pretty much healed from my surgery.  My incisions are still sore so it hurts to lift my rather large children, but as the title says...time waits for no one.  Today was hubby's first day back to work since my surgery.  I had to hit the ground running.  I woke up at 7 and folded a weeks worth of laundry.  I fed my kiddos.  I did dishes.  I'm doing more laundry.  I still have to squeeze in some Christmas crafts with the kids because after tomorrow, we're going to have three days of Christmas celebrations with our families.  The 24th and 25th with Hubby's family, and the 26th with my family.

*Sigh*  Punky is getting so big and has an even bigger heart.  She found out accidentally that my favorite thing in the world is to have someone brush my hair, so every night since my surgery, she has gotten her brush after her bath and stood behind me on the couch and brushed my hair.  Occasionally, she'll lean around and smile at me and say, "Does this make you feel all better, Mommy?"  The hair brushing goes a long way, sweetheart, but that smile of yours makes Mommy's boo boo's all better.

Chicken is obsessed with looking at my bandaged stomach.  He loves to grab my shirt and pull it up and exclaim loudly, "BAH BOO!" (roughly translated to boo boo).  He's not big on physical affection but there's nothing in the world that compares to the moment I walk into a room and he yells, "Mommy!" and comes running to me to hug my knees.  The day will come I will want to change my name, but right now, I cherish his sweet declarations and know that time is fleeting.  Before I know it, another woman will replace me and his trademark smile won't be here every day, lighting up the room.

Cupcake is growing by leaps and bounds.  She's only perfected rolling from her stomach to her back but she wants to do so much more.  We got her a bumbo seat for Christmas and I know she's going to love sitting up like her brother and sister.  She's such a mama's girl and can only tolerate Daddy and others in short increments before she wants me again.  I'm ok with that as long as she stays little a little longer.  Just this morning when I was burping her, she laid her little (ok, big) head on my shoulder and snuggled with me.  Her fuzzy hair tickled my cheek and when she raised up to look at me, she smiled that innocent baby smile - the purest form of happiness on earth.

Punky is most excited about Christmas.  She's spotted her wrapped presents and will gently touch them and look up at me, "What's under there, Mommy?"  I grin because I know Christmas is going to be wonderful for her this year because she finally gets it.  She's gotten everything she wanted on her list so far except moon sand and I'm not budging an inch on that one.  I don't think Chicken understands the anticipation of christmas this year, but I know when he gets to open his gifts, he's going to be in heaven.  

So, merry christmas to you!  May each of you get everything you wanted and spend these special times with family and friends!

If Thy Gallbladder offends thee...

...pluck it out!

I'm back with one less organ.  I had surgery this morning and everything was very textbook and mechanical.  Surgery lasted a total of 38 minutes and I was in recovery, albeit a little sore from the gas and intubation.  The doc said I had a lot of small (1/8 of an inch) gallstones.  Those are probably the kind that are just small enough to get wedged in the ducts and cause problems later on, so I'm glad I had it done.  He also said it was really easy to get my gallbladder out (only 2 incisions instead of the normal 3 or 4!) because I had good anatomy and was so skinny.

Did I mention I'm marrying him?

And all that sleep and such I was looking forward to?  It ain't happenin'.  I slept a total of 15 minutes today aside from the surgery and have only needed one pain killer all stinkin' day.  I'm glad I'm not in any pain, but I'm certainly disappointed I can't sleep more.  I don't know if it's just the fact that the last time I had surgery I didn't have kids or what, but I can't seem to settle down enough to rest.  I've been up doing minimal parenting and feeding Cupcake but otherwise taking it easy.

My biggest complaint is I feel like they shoved the arm of a cactus down my throat!

Only one funny story to relate.  I just went to a surgery center, so it was very "numberish."  You get put in a cube with a curtain for a door and wait.  And wait.  And wait some more.  Then one by one you watch as the nurses move closer to your cube to take you.

And let me just tell you, the "happy" shot was good enough to make me contemplate becoming an addict...

Recovery was sort of the same way as pre-op only there was just curtains for walls instead of cubes.  Two people down from me was a fairly large aged man that I'm assuming had just had a colonoscopy.  The nurse kept saying really loud, "Bear down and push out the gas, sir!  Bear down like you're having a baby."

Even in my groggy, doped up state I was thinking:  Number one, he's a man.  Number two, he's never had a baby.  Number three, I'm REALLY glad he's not next to me.

Just give him a TV, a remote and rest will take care of itself.

I came home to one of my best friends bringing me some beautiful flowers.  My mother in law got us dinner.  And a few of my friends from church are bringing me dinner through Monday night.

It's times like this you realize how very blessed you are! (and not just because the fat man wasn't next to me!)

Gallbladder

It's official.  That little organ in my body that I'm sure serves SOME sort of vital importance (despite what the docs say) is getting removed.  On Wednesday.  The 17th.

Yes, that's 8 days before Christmas.  I hope the doc is right and my down time really will be 3-5 days.  It also gave me an awesome excuse to NOT have to do much during Christmas.  I'll probably only make a cheese ball and a few other things to take to my moms and otherwise claim maimed.

So, I ask that you say a prayer for me for a successful surgery and a speedy, painless recovery.  I'm quite a bit nervous...not about the surgery itself, but for those who know me and about my puking phobia....

As long as they keep me from puking afterwards, I can deal with anything!  (Funny how that works, huh?)

Nature? I think not...

When Punky was born, I rushed to her side every time she made a whimper.  I was terrified of her not breathing during the night.  I changed her bib every time she spit up (which was a LOT, let me just tell you.).  I changed her diaper when she passed gas.  After all, something must have come out with that, right?  Crying it out was out of the question (and still is), because she gets so upset she throws up.  I was tough with discipline and was so consistent, I scared myself (or impressed I'm not sure which).  She got exactly 8 ounces of whole milk precisely at 7, 11, 3 and 7.  She slept from 7 pm to 7 am.  Bedtime has never, is never and will never be up for discussion with any of my kids.

Punky is my most demanding child but the easiest to mold.

When Chicken was born, he got thrown in the swing while Punky had toddled off to get into mischief (after all, she was only 13 months old when he was born).  I checked on him during the night when I got up to pee to make sure he was still breathing.  I change his diaper only when it's sagging between his knees.  I had three kids in diapers earlier this year, I know the value of a dollar these days.  He gets to cry it out (within reason) when he's going to bed or being left in Bible class.  The discipline was dropped to only the worst offenses and only if I wasn't feeding Cupcake (but I'm getting better and so is he).  When he decides he's ready to do something he does it (like potty training, he's doing great!) He gets approximately 8 ounces of milk 3 or 4 times a day.  He sleeps from 7 pm to 8 am.

Chicken gets his feelings hurt easily but is my most independent child.

When Cupcake was born, I hit the ground running.  She gets thrown in the bouncy seat to entertain herself because the swing no longer works.  I slept like a rock after she was born - I don't even get up to pee.  I change her diaper MAYBE 4 times a day and usually only if she's poopy.  She has been left to cry it out when there has been no other option, but has proven to me that she's more stubborn than I am in this regard.  She's a thumbsucker and usually doesn't require much soothing unless she's overtired.  She gets a 6 ounce bottle at 8, 12, 4 and 7.  She might or might not drink it all.  She sleeps from 7 pm to 8 am.

Cupcake is my most content baby but also my most vocal.

Every day I realized more and more how every decision I make molds my children into the adults they will one day become.  God has bestowed a huge responsibility and blessing on me to give me that opportunity.  Raising my voice to get my kids attention will ultimately teach them to be bossy and yell (Punky is a mini-me and we're both having to work through this).  Saying NO, CHICKEN all the time results in Chicken's first sentence of "No Pobby!"  (No potty) after telling him he couldn't go potty for the 103rd time in an hour.  EVERYTHING affects our children.  I'm not saying there isn't nature.  Disposition is nature but that doesn't mean it's not our responsibility to mold their disposition once they're here.  It's scary yet exhilarating all at the same time.  I look forward to seeing who my children are in 20 years.

You do the math...do you think it's nature or nurture?  

Feeling sorry for myself...again.

I've been away for awhile,  haven't I?  I did the blog giveaway last week to allow me to NOT blog for a week so I could get caught up.  What happened?  I got further behind.  Christmas threw up in my house.  Chicken keeps slicing his finger open on some unknown Christmas object he finds fascinating.  He refuses to tell me what it is.

Chicken has also discovered he's ready to "bobby."  That means "Potty" for those of you who don't speak Chicken.  He tells me when he needs to go although it's not every time.  Toddler underwear in his stocking, there will be.

I'm also a week late for my cycle.  Don't get all excited.  Hubby's been neutered, so I should be in the clear.  But I'm figuring my PCOS is back.  It explains the "funk" I've been in (hormones going crazy), the horrific sweet cravings (not a new thing there, but it's almost impossible to resist these days), my hair falling out, irritability, and the list goes on.  It's depressing (did I mention the depression?).  Between each of my pregnancies and my last three cycles, I've had perfect 28 cycles.  I felt great.  And now, everything is out of whack again.  I mean, what else could go wrong?  I'm losing track of all my medical problems.  This week alone, I have a urologist appointment and my surgeon appointment for the gallbladder surgery.  I'm so weepy it's pathetic.  

Everyone tells me, "Oh, I never had a problem with my cycles after I had kids, they were perfect."  Coming from women who had problems like I did before they had kids.  My mom, my mother in law, several of my friends...I was convinced when they came back normal that I was going to be like them.  Apparently not.

I've got a call into my OB/GYN to ask his advice on what to do.  We decreased my medication for PCOS and I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it.  Or the fact I didn't lactate longer (apparently that helps PCOS).  I'm so thoroughly disgusted with my body I could puke.

I guess never eating vegetables is catching up with me.

And the winner is....

....DysFUNctional Mom!  Please email me with your preference - you can choose between the first book in the series or two tickets to see the movie.  If you choose the book, please email me your  address.

If I don't hear from you by Monday at noon, another winner will be chosen!  So hurry it up!  ;oD

Stay tuned...

Punky and I are about to announce the winners...they should be up no later than noon central time...