I just wanted to take a moment to let you all know that my e-friend and crit partner, Jennifer Shirk's romantic comedy, A Role of a Lifetime came out today in print! Buy it here TODAY!
Congratulations, Jennifer, I'm so proud of you!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Snack anyone?
Yesterday after all the rain we've gotten I flushed EIGHT earthworms down our toilet that somehow managed to get inside...and most of them had burrowed down into my shag carpet in the playroom. For the record, earthworms rank about as high on the ick scale as snakes for me, so it was a long day and I still have the creeps from it.
So it only made sense when Chicken walks up to me this morning saying, "EWWWW!" and hands me something round, brown and gray, and covered in snot, that I thought it was probably a slug that he smooshed. If an earthworm can get in, surely a slug could, too?
Upon closer inspection of this snotty thing, I realized it had...well...wrinkles. And looked a little like a...grape. Suddenly everything fell into place. Chicken's sudden onset of another "cold"...waking up over an hour early from his nap and pointing to his nose while crying (I dismissed this just thinking he was upset his nose was stuffy)...unable to blow the left nostril at all (again, I thought it was just a cold)...the dark shadow up his nose that I figured was that black marker he'd been playing with and decided to color in his nose. Well...apparently my son had stored a raisin the size of my thumb (in its rehydrated state) up his nose for safe keeping.
I'm amazed he was able to get it out. I didn't hear him sneeze or anything (which was how he rid himself of the cheerios he put up there during church last Sunday) but just came walking up to me with it. I have a feeling this is going to be a looooong toddlerhood.
So it only made sense when Chicken walks up to me this morning saying, "EWWWW!" and hands me something round, brown and gray, and covered in snot, that I thought it was probably a slug that he smooshed. If an earthworm can get in, surely a slug could, too?
Upon closer inspection of this snotty thing, I realized it had...well...wrinkles. And looked a little like a...grape. Suddenly everything fell into place. Chicken's sudden onset of another "cold"...waking up over an hour early from his nap and pointing to his nose while crying (I dismissed this just thinking he was upset his nose was stuffy)...unable to blow the left nostril at all (again, I thought it was just a cold)...the dark shadow up his nose that I figured was that black marker he'd been playing with and decided to color in his nose. Well...apparently my son had stored a raisin the size of my thumb (in its rehydrated state) up his nose for safe keeping.
I'm amazed he was able to get it out. I didn't hear him sneeze or anything (which was how he rid himself of the cheerios he put up there during church last Sunday) but just came walking up to me with it. I have a feeling this is going to be a looooong toddlerhood.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Hooray!
This week has been a busy one. I started out taking food to two family's on Monday - one who had a baby, the other who had surgery. I didn't necessarily plan it that way, but it worked out just fine. I didn't mean to forget their salad's either, but I did. At least we enjoyed it on Tuesday night, when I had Hubby's family over. Last night was church and workout afterwards. Tonight, I have to get my nails done (priorities, people!) and get a few groceries and a prescription.
Speaking of that prescription, I'm so happy I got it. Let me explain.
For a month now, I've been working out for at least 3 days a week. One week I only did it once, but it's still WAY more than I was doing. I'm watching what I eat (although Hubby will indisputably prove - with photographic evidence no doubt-the empty wrappers of easter candy. But still, I haven't been eating WORSE than I normally do, and in fact am averaging about 1500 calories a day before my workouts.
I've lost ZERO pounds. Those two pounds I thought I lost was apparently due to the antibiotics I was taking and the...ahem, effects they have on me. So when I realized that I not only haven't LOST, I have in fact GAINED, I knew it wasn't necessarily me (although I admit to eating the cadbury eggs, OK!?).
My OB put me on insulin medication when I was diagnosed with PCOS almost 8 years ago. It was my miracle drug. I stopped gaining weight (was able to lose, too), all my other problems went away and everything just sort of leveled out and I felt human. I was so grateful for it. After Cupcake was born, he reduced my dose from 3 to 1 pill a day. Slowly, everything has started coming back. EVERYTHING (including the unexplained weight gain). I felt like a huge cloud was over my head because I wasn't listening when my gut told me I needed to continue taking it. I finally called yesterday to see if we could up it again to at least 2, and he went ahead and put me back on 3. I'm so happy. Seriously. I've been on cloud nine all day today.
Now, if I don't start losing weight, I really will know it's the Cadbury eggs!
Sorry, I know this is a boring post, but I'm celebrating today!
Speaking of that prescription, I'm so happy I got it. Let me explain.
For a month now, I've been working out for at least 3 days a week. One week I only did it once, but it's still WAY more than I was doing. I'm watching what I eat (although Hubby will indisputably prove - with photographic evidence no doubt-the empty wrappers of easter candy. But still, I haven't been eating WORSE than I normally do, and in fact am averaging about 1500 calories a day before my workouts.
I've lost ZERO pounds. Those two pounds I thought I lost was apparently due to the antibiotics I was taking and the...ahem, effects they have on me. So when I realized that I not only haven't LOST, I have in fact GAINED, I knew it wasn't necessarily me (although I admit to eating the cadbury eggs, OK!?).
My OB put me on insulin medication when I was diagnosed with PCOS almost 8 years ago. It was my miracle drug. I stopped gaining weight (was able to lose, too), all my other problems went away and everything just sort of leveled out and I felt human. I was so grateful for it. After Cupcake was born, he reduced my dose from 3 to 1 pill a day. Slowly, everything has started coming back. EVERYTHING (including the unexplained weight gain). I felt like a huge cloud was over my head because I wasn't listening when my gut told me I needed to continue taking it. I finally called yesterday to see if we could up it again to at least 2, and he went ahead and put me back on 3. I'm so happy. Seriously. I've been on cloud nine all day today.
Now, if I don't start losing weight, I really will know it's the Cadbury eggs!
Sorry, I know this is a boring post, but I'm celebrating today!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
WIP Wednesday - Ed.3
Want to find out how far I've gotten on my latest WIP? Visit me at www.musevswriter.blogspot.com. It's my new writing blog.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Forget food, Batman is the way to their hearts!
Since Chicken has pink eye, I didn't want to leave him at my in-laws house, so I took him with me (because after all 1 is better than 3 when you're out and about!). He got to go shopping with me.
Let me tell you, the boy is a nut about Batman. He's got a toddler sized batman in the play room. He's got several cars that are batman. And after he picked out a little matchbox car he wanted, we ran over to the baby section to grab some rice cereal for Cupcake. Low and behold there was a clearance display of backpacks. One of them was of batman and it had the little rollers and handle and everything on it. $5. The kid was so excited over it, he through down his car, and said, "DIS! NEE NEE!" (this, Batman --he calls batman by the song, you know, nene nene nene nene nene nene nene nene BATMAN!) I knew he was telling me that was his final decision.
I hadn't ever seen him so excited over something before so I couldn't say no. Especially for $5. He rolled the thing right to the check out and out of the store, all the way to the car. Then commenced pulling the handle up and down all the way home.
I picked up his sisters at the in-laws and on the way home he was mumbling something. I looked back and him and he grinned acting shy. I said, "What did you say Buddy?"
It was words I never thought I'd hear from him on his own because our relationship isn't the best these days since he requires so much discipline. I've been agonizing a lot over it, too and how to make things better for us. Just when you think all hope is lost you hear three little words uttered from those precious lips:
"Wuv you, Mommy!"
Let me tell you, the boy is a nut about Batman. He's got a toddler sized batman in the play room. He's got several cars that are batman. And after he picked out a little matchbox car he wanted, we ran over to the baby section to grab some rice cereal for Cupcake. Low and behold there was a clearance display of backpacks. One of them was of batman and it had the little rollers and handle and everything on it. $5. The kid was so excited over it, he through down his car, and said, "DIS! NEE NEE!" (this, Batman --he calls batman by the song, you know, nene nene nene nene nene nene nene nene BATMAN!) I knew he was telling me that was his final decision.
I hadn't ever seen him so excited over something before so I couldn't say no. Especially for $5. He rolled the thing right to the check out and out of the store, all the way to the car. Then commenced pulling the handle up and down all the way home.
I picked up his sisters at the in-laws and on the way home he was mumbling something. I looked back and him and he grinned acting shy. I said, "What did you say Buddy?"
It was words I never thought I'd hear from him on his own because our relationship isn't the best these days since he requires so much discipline. I've been agonizing a lot over it, too and how to make things better for us. Just when you think all hope is lost you hear three little words uttered from those precious lips:
"Wuv you, Mommy!"
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Hi, I'm Stephanie. Remember me?
The new me has emerged. For 3 years now, I've been sitting at home all day and my only company was a 3, 2 and 8 month old. They're great company, don't get me wrong. But I need social interaction with people my age at some point. I don't even have to talk, just BEING around other people makes me feel better.
So about 3 weeks ago I joined my local gym. And I LOVE it. I even conned a friend of mine into joining with me (shhhh, she doesn't know I conned her yet). I haven't lost much weight, but I'm getting there. Only about 2 pounds so far. I'm even starting to crave the physical activity. Yeah, I know. The devil is snow skiing right now.
But seriously, I love it. I'm also writing more. I'm taking time for myself...and as an added bonus, it's after the kids go to bed, so I don't have to feel bad for leaving everyday. They still get mommy time, I still get ME time. It's a win-win situation. I've noticed a huge improvement in my mood, too, not just toward life, but toward my kids and my patience level. With the kids being sick so much this year, I was starting to feel depressed and was spending too much time dwelling on things that in the long run don't really matter. Now? It's pretty much gone. I think this has been my ticket out of my 6 month long funk.
It's easy as mother's to forget we're still human. When you have to balance children, husbands, house cleaning, cooking, laundry and yourself it's a hard pill to swallow. Sometimes instead of God we can start worshipping those things and lose ourselves and our goals in life. We can take on so much more than we can handle like making sure dinner's on the table at a certain time, our husband's clothes are ironed (I still don't get this one since they're just as capable as we are, but I have friends who do it!), entertaining people in our home and all the while dealing with all our regular chores and sick kids. Being a mommy and a wife doesn't mean we lose ourselves in the process. Yes, we come last and that's ok...as long as we're actually on our to-do list.
When I think about how I was feeling and how I know some of my friends feel, I realize even more now, how important it is to get out, get some fresh air and just BE. For the first time in a long while, I feel like ME again. That doesn't mean my life is perfect or I have it all together, but I have a clearer handle on where I NEED to be and I'm working to get there. And the best part? I don't feel one bit guilty.
Hello, my name is Stephanie. Remember me? I finally do.
So about 3 weeks ago I joined my local gym. And I LOVE it. I even conned a friend of mine into joining with me (shhhh, she doesn't know I conned her yet). I haven't lost much weight, but I'm getting there. Only about 2 pounds so far. I'm even starting to crave the physical activity. Yeah, I know. The devil is snow skiing right now.
But seriously, I love it. I'm also writing more. I'm taking time for myself...and as an added bonus, it's after the kids go to bed, so I don't have to feel bad for leaving everyday. They still get mommy time, I still get ME time. It's a win-win situation. I've noticed a huge improvement in my mood, too, not just toward life, but toward my kids and my patience level. With the kids being sick so much this year, I was starting to feel depressed and was spending too much time dwelling on things that in the long run don't really matter. Now? It's pretty much gone. I think this has been my ticket out of my 6 month long funk.
It's easy as mother's to forget we're still human. When you have to balance children, husbands, house cleaning, cooking, laundry and yourself it's a hard pill to swallow. Sometimes instead of God we can start worshipping those things and lose ourselves and our goals in life. We can take on so much more than we can handle like making sure dinner's on the table at a certain time, our husband's clothes are ironed (I still don't get this one since they're just as capable as we are, but I have friends who do it!), entertaining people in our home and all the while dealing with all our regular chores and sick kids. Being a mommy and a wife doesn't mean we lose ourselves in the process. Yes, we come last and that's ok...as long as we're actually on our to-do list.
When I think about how I was feeling and how I know some of my friends feel, I realize even more now, how important it is to get out, get some fresh air and just BE. For the first time in a long while, I feel like ME again. That doesn't mean my life is perfect or I have it all together, but I have a clearer handle on where I NEED to be and I'm working to get there. And the best part? I don't feel one bit guilty.
Hello, my name is Stephanie. Remember me? I finally do.
Friday, March 6, 2009
So tired....
Apparently there's nothing like falling asleep in your jumparoo. And ear infections take a lot out of her!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
What a good hubby I have....
Have I ever mentioned what a good hubby I have? He sent me this email and I encourage everyone to go to the link and read the blog there, even if you aren't into photography. It's a great thought to start the day off with! And I keep reading it over and over again because Hubby made my day!
I thought this was a great post by a guest blogger on Scott Kelby's blog (he has a guest every wednesday).
http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2009/archives/3510
It's written for photographers but I think it has much farther reaching applications than just photography. Anyway, if you don't have the time to read the whole thing at least read the last paragraph. I'm glad you are taking the time to get your book finished and I hope you WILL finish it and market it until it either succeeds or fails and you have to write the next "winner." I know you'll get there eventually, I just hope you keep pushing and experimenting and find your voice and ultimately succeed at fulfilling your dream. I'll help as best I can. I love you.
Hubby
I thought this was a great post by a guest blogger on Scott Kelby's blog (he has a guest every wednesday).
http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2009/archives/3510
It's written for photographers but I think it has much farther reaching applications than just photography. Anyway, if you don't have the time to read the whole thing at least read the last paragraph. I'm glad you are taking the time to get your book finished and I hope you WILL finish it and market it until it either succeeds or fails and you have to write the next "winner." I know you'll get there eventually, I just hope you keep pushing and experimenting and find your voice and ultimately succeed at fulfilling your dream. I'll help as best I can. I love you.
Hubby
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
WIP Wednesday - Ed.2
My goal was to finish up Chapter 10 and start 11 last week. I'm happy to say I even FINISHED chapter 11 this week. At the end of chapter 12, I hit the black moment. I thought it would be at the end of 11, but my characters had other plans...Now I have to figure out what happens in the beginning and middle of Chapter 12 to get to the end I already have in mind. And it's going to be so sad to write it...
40000 / 75000 words. 53% done!
I even sent out a couple of e-queries to see what kind of response I would get. I only sent out 3 and got one rejection almost immediately. But hey, that's one rejection closer to an acceptance right? I know if I continue as determined as I am now, I will do it one day. I might be 70 but at least I'll be able to say I'm a published author and I'll die a happy lady.
I'm standing around 40,000 words out of what I hope to be around a 75K book. Being at the black moment by 45K words probably isn't a good sign but that's something I can go back and fix during revisions. My crit partners have already helped me immensely and I've got some great suggestions on where to lengthen, where to shorten and where to trash and write over! ;oD
My goals for this week is to write chapter 12. I'm afraid to write it at the moment because I don't really know how to get to the ending, as I mentioned earlier. So it's probably going to be like pulling teeth!
Stay tuned next week!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Greatest Show on Earth!
We took Chicken to the circus for his birthday instead of having a big party. At first he buried his face in my neck, shaking and terrified. It didn't help that he was running a 101 fever that morning (I normally NEVER take my kids out when they're sick, but the $150 we paid for tickets couldn't go to waste!) but for the record once the motrin kicked in he was fine but probably still infected half the kids around us with his coughing. I guess it was time to pay it forward since we always catch but rarely share. I finally turned him so he could still hold on to me but see what was going on. He loosened up a little at a time and finally started clapping and yelling and getting excited. The elephants did it for him. He was mesmerized.
Toward the end of the show, the lions came out. I tell ya, there was a point where I thought one of them was going to eat the tamer. It was stubborn and was clearly the problem "child" out of the lot. But they were beautiful creatures.
Punky was pretty unsure of everything, too for about the first half. She never loosened up like Chicken did but she did start talking to us again instead of just a nod or shake of the head. Here they are watching the clowns perform.
We paid good money for the Greatest Show on Earth and it was pretty spectacular. It was the first circus I've ever been to, so my kids and I got to share a first!!!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
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