Shots and Christmas!

What an odd title you might think. After the day I've had, it makes perfect sense.

The day started out normally, for us. Hope woke up, wandered into our room, and bugged us to take her potty. Matt groggily walked her into the bathroom, where she of course wouldn't pee. Took her back to bed only to have her appear at our bedside again to go potty. A more reasonable time too quickly arrived and she finally went pee on the potty. Matt decided he needed to stay home because of a bad cold.

We got the kids up, dressed, and fed. Then came the fun of dragging all four of them to the doctor's. I should have woken Matt up and left Hope home. The kids are forever trying to convince us to get a puppy. Often they play at one or more being puppies. This morning they all were puppies, except Amelia. I walked out the door to the accompaniment of barking "puppies." This set off every dog on our street, because everyone's windows were open.

The examine rooms in the pediatrician's office echo. My children know this and thus our stay is pierced by high pitched, loud noises. A normal visit for us. Amelia had her 9 month check up. Samuel and Elizabeth had their school physicals. Then came the shots. Samuel received one. He took it well, although he gave the nurse a disgruntled look. Amelia started screaming when the nurse wiped her leg with the alcohol wipe. She calmed down shortly. Elizabeth I had to hold down and she did not calm down for a long time.

It is a terrible thing to hold your screaming child. While the whole time they are begging you not to do something to them. It almost broke my resolve. I couldn't let her see me cry and I couldn't back down. I've seen how horrible viruses can be if you are not vaccinated. While I may hate myself still for causing her pain, she's forgotten all about it and proudly showed her sparkly band aids to Daddy.

To de-stress I started working on a Christmas present. I've found that playing the piano or working on needle work is relaxing for me. Playing the piano used to be, now I play a quartet, not relaxing. I'm making most of my Christmas presents this year, which I've found I enjoy. It's not necessarily cheaper, but more rewarding.

Now onto something currently stressful, writing. I feel immense pressure to get everything out, but it does not come very well. I equate it with giving birth, at least the horror stories of giving birth. I've never been in labor longer than 8 hours from first contraction to holding the baby. There is something inside of me that is wonderful and it needs to come out. I'm built to get it out, but it's not very easy.

What's crazier than taking 4 kids to the store?

Why taking 5 and your mother of course! Headed over to the Mall today to pick up a few birthday presents and try and find sneakers for Sammy and Elizabeth. Both of them have very narrow feet so it's hard to find shoes that fit them. My mother came along to help, and brought my niece as well. I think some of the kids had a good time. Elizabeth was just one major hysterical moment after another. I should have picked a different day. I picked up almost everything we needed to start school! Yeah!

Dropped my mother and niece off at her house and stayed a bit. We were only going to stay a few minutes, but then a thunderstorm hit. I had forgotten how much I love watching thunderstorms out in the country. It was beautiful! So powerful. Amazing. The kids enjoyed watching it with us. A perfect way to take a moment to rest, relax, and be amazed at Creation.

Victory! Sort of...

The Camp laundry is all washed, but only half way folded. Now I just need to catch up with this weeks. I've decided I don't like the Third Law of Thermodynamics...or the Chaos Theory.

The week has turned rather busy for me. I thought I would have a nice quiet, get the kids ready for school week. I do have that, but now I'm shopping for birthday presents, a new mattress, writing, putting together a sample church newsletter, have at least one sick kid, and try to deal with kids who don't react well to the heat. At least I'm not bored.

I'm very excited about the whole church newsletter. I'll have to post the sample one when I finish it. I'm trying to keep it short, but good ideas for articles keep coming up and I don't know which ones to include. So far I'm keeping - Calendar of Events, Birthdays/Anniversaries, Meet the Teen, Xample Sample, Recipes, Meditation Moments, and various columns on current goings on at the church. I only have a little more than a week to prepare it for the Pastor and deacons, so I'll be having some late nights writing that and my book.

In sad news...Matt's softball team lost the playoffs tonight. I quote - "It was the most anti climatic championship game played.

Mounds of Multiplying Laundry

I'm still working on finishing the laundry we generated from going to camp. I believe I have one load left. Then I need to move on to the laundry that we generated this weekend and the laundry that apparently multiplied while we were gone. I thought I had washed the majority of the laundry before we left for camp. The only laundry that wasn't clean were the close we had worn the day before. We we arrived home, I noticed that there was a lot more laundry than when we left. Hmmmm. Very mysterious!

In other news...Amelia has decided that it is no longer fun being a bump on a log. She is now exploring her options of mobility. She has mastered the art of laying on her stomach and spinning in circles and pushing herself backwards. She is working on scooting backwards while sitting up. This evening she managed to work her way forward while sitting up, albeit very slowly. She was quite proud of herself when she worked her way to where I had a stack of paper. Rewarding herself by eating one of the pieces, she grinned and chatted at me. Looks like life will be more interesting after this.

My Alternate History story continues to develop, slowly. At least I'm still writing it and haven't run out of ideas. I'm still working on what the world looks like and how I want it to be played out, but I do have the final chapter written...

Family Camp

What a busy week we had. Camp was a blast! The kids loved it. Elizabeth and Sammy made new friends and were able to do lots on their own this year. Hope wasn't quite sure what she thought of the whole thing, but she did love the swings. "I go wing." was her favorite phrase of the week. Amelia loved watching all the people, especially the kids. She even met a little boy her age and had fun talking with him.

Matt and I enjoyed the speaker, Dr. Dave Crandall from Answers In Genesis. We learned a lot from him. He also had a great sense of humor. We didn't get to spend a lot of time together, but it was relaxing for both of us. Reconnected with friends from last year and made some new ones. I know we both wished Rob and Gwen lived closer. We did get to spend tons of time with the kids, in groups and individually. We look forward to getting back there next year.

Our Summer of Adventure continues. This week we'll be home, getting ready for school to start - shopping and physicals. We'll also be spending a lot of time trying to stay cool! Summer's finally hit. My brother and his family will be up next week. We're also trying to plan a trip down into PA to see friends, family, and trains.

After that, summer will be over. Elizabeth starts school on September 2. I guess that means the fun is really about to start for us. I hope I can hold on and make it through.

Packing and Camp

Matt always wonders why it takes me so long to pack when we go places. I think I've got him convinced that I actually pack for 5 people, all four kids and myself. It can be a daunting task, so I make a detailed list for each person a few days before. I'm usually not harried, so I'm thinking clearly. That also leaves me time to add or remove things. As of now I'm all packed up, except for morning items. We have a huge pile of stuff in our living room that will need to be packed into our car.

Tomorrow our Summer of Adventure continues. We'll be heading off to family camp at Camp BaYoCa for the week. The kids are excited to see friends they made last year, have swim lessons with Miss Bethany, and paint rocks. I'm still not sure if I like this whole idea.

Last year was our first year, and I was hugely pregnant with Amelia. Not a very comfortable time to go camping, even in a cabin. Being a very grouchy, hot, pregnant lady you don't make many friends. Hopefully this year will be better...

This year AIG (Answers In Genesis) will be there. I'm looking forward to learning lots of things and bugging them. The current story I'm working on involves their area of expertise. I plan on asking lots of questions and trying to make contacts for specific research I'm looking for.

But, we will be at camp, so no internet for the week. You'll have to sweat it out to see what happens. Until then, wish me luck!

The Sweetest Thing!

What a wonderful week I've had. It wasn't without it's 'difficulties' though - whiny kids, lack of sleep, miss communication, etc., etc. I have felt such peace this week, despite the 'difficulties.' I know where my story is going for the next 10,000 words. The house is relatively clean. I got to see Matt's sister and her family. My Grandmother is home from the hospital and relatively healthy. I weeded most of my garden's. Matt's car is fixed. Most of the tree is gone, the rest will be gone tom. I have a whole collection of Apologetics to listen to. Even Matt has had less stress this week. I feel wonderful.

Then I started to worry. Who wouldn't? In this Current Life things generally take a turn for the worse after a week like this. Which is very true. Just as I started to stress over what the next trouble would be I ended up with a sleep baby. My youngest was getting sleepy. Normally she's cranky when she gets sleepy. Tonight she just melted into my arms, put her head down, and fell to sleep. There is nothing sweeter than snuggling your baby to sleep and watching her sleep. She has no cares, no worries, no stress. She has complete faith and trust in me. That allows her to fall asleep in my arms and sleep deeply.

What a wonderful picture that is. I should be that way. Why don't I relax like that into God's arms? Knowing He will protect me and keep me safe. After all He tells me He has plans to prosper me and keep me from harm. To be more child like with God, that is my goal tonight. And to keep reading His Love Letter to Me, even if I don't understand it. It is like a soothing balm to my soul.

I can't wait to snuggle my baby again, The Sweetest Thing!