Attention All Moms!

Plese take a moment to think of yourself and what you need. I know how hard it is to take the time to care for you, but it truly is a gift you give to your family with interest.

I have been literally sick since Thanksgiving, we have all had it around here and for some reason what is a runny nose and cough the kids is much harder for me. Case in point on Thursday night I started to feel horrible again, soar throat, chills, aches and extrememe pain in my upper back and left ribs - it was awful. I finally told G to call 911 and they came out and checked out my blood pressure, temp, heart rate etc. which were elevated. They offered to take me to the ER, but I politely declind and then went on to spend the longest and most painful night of my life alone in a chair. There was no relief for even a moment, and I started to get panicky since it was so hard to breathe.

The next day I had thought I would go my regular Dr. to find out what the problems was when I was racked with coughing which felt like getting hit with a sledgehammer and noticed the sink was filled with blood.

I knew this was serious, so and I decided to go directly to the ER and after being there for many hours, 7 SEVEN sticks to start an IV, tests, two bags of IV antibiotics and wonderful pain medicine I was diagnosed with Pneumonia. They chose to let me recuperate at home, becuase apparently people do better at home with oral antibiotics. I don't know about that, today was more of the same pain and any coughing is excruciating and I am so scared the babies will get this too. If I'm not feeling any better by tomorrow they want me to come back for more IV meds and both of my arms are covered in bruises and sore from all of the sticks.

I encourage everyone who is so used to trying to do it all to invest some time in your own health and well being, you and your family will thank you for it.

V

Splish - Splash

Hey, is this a tushy shot?

A day at the spa (sort of)

Nobody pull the plug, I'm tellin' ya for the last time.

Hey, they pulled the plug!


What is that camera doing in here? I'm not ready for my close-up.

I was talking to my sister on the phone the other night and telling her another bath-tub story about the kids, when I heard her say (for what must have been the 20th time) "you should take a picture of that". It occurred to me, I didn't have any bathtub photos of the kids together.

With Lil Dude, we had nothing but photos of him in water; you would have thought he was

a member of Jacques Cousteau's lead diving team.

When Aubriana arrived on the scene, suddenly our wash load doubled and who had time to capture water frolicking on a memory stick when there were twice as many everythings to be cleaned and scrubbed?

Then it dawned on me, flash forward to the future when the kids are bickering and yelling some

nonsense about cooties and "no boys/girls allowed" yadda yadda yadda and I could pull out one of these gems and say,

"Do you remember when you loved and adored each other; when every night you would come to me pulling at your clothes wanting them off so you could get in the tub together?

Do you remember when brother would push you down and get put in time out and while he was crying, you would go and sit with him and put your hand on his shoulder and share his timeout with him?

Do you remember that whenever I got brother up from sleeping he would race me to your door so he could be the one to wake you up with a scream of joy and a smile?

Do you remember how the two of you would jump on our bed in diapers and roll over each other squealing and laughing as if it was the best thing in the world?

Do you remember when you couldn't walk yet and brother could and he would go to the staircase and call to you in a language only the two of you understood until you crawled over to him and you would ascend together?

Do you remember? I do..."

How did THIS get in my Family Room????

I have stated in the past how I have struggled to adjust (with grace and understanding) the accrual of so many toys which come with the co-habitation of children.

We have transitioned through the freestanding swing, exersaucers, rainbow rubber mat/rug, changing tables (up and downstairs), diaper champs, blow up pool with hundreds of plastic balls in the foyer, and even the 10 foot long club house which was allowed in the game room while we eagerly waited for cooler weather to free up that space, I knew this phase would eventually pass and be replaced by different styles and shapes of toys.

In fact with the arrival of Santa, we now have re-arranged and welcomed a deluxe walk-in kitchen in our real kitchen, two tricycles in the entry way and more toys than were ever needed, requiring the purchase of two more plastic bins to contain them; and I was basically at peace with this.

Then we had the arrival of something I never thought would be near my home, let alone IN it...

The dreaded ~ bounce house!!!!!

Whoa, the floor is sagging like an overnight diaper.

Stand absolutely still, I think this thing is broken.

Exhausted, strangely satisfied and ready to go again.

For those of you unfamiliar with my "Bounce House Bias" and perfectly legitimate phobia of all things inflated please read this before thou doest cast judgement.

Happy New Year

The "cool" kids on the block.

Eat your heart out Nicole Richey.

"Happy New Year" my diaper, this is apple juice!


Looking good and ready to meet the ladies at the playground.


Mom and Lil Dude got inked for Christmas!

I don't know about you, but I'm shocked and dismayed that the calendar reflects the year 2009.

Wasn't it just yesterday that we were all trying to understand how we would deal with the challenge of writing and saying 2000? How would we pronounce "2001", twenty oh one or two thousand and one? Would Y2K be the end of life as we knew it? Well, we somehow adjusted and figured it out, but the curve balls of life seem to be getting faster and harder to adjust to.

This whole motherhood thing is really a challenge to one's sense of self and priorities, in other words you have no sense of self and your only priorities are the children.

I have found myself thanking and embracing every mother I encounter with a new found respect for ever having raised any human being to adult-hood; even so-so mothers whose, children were given more free passes than Cloris Leachman on Dancing With The Stars, it is a major accomplishment noteworthy of praise on the grandest of scales.

The days seem to be endless yet the weeks and months fly by. The precious moments of certain looks, sounds and images are as fleeting as a beautiful cloud floating by, another like it will not be seen again, but others just as unique and lovely will brighten your day again soon.

I hate to make new years resolutions every year (as they are promises seldom kept) but this year I resolve to:

1) Worry less about how my house looks when I could be playing with the kids.

2) Not get upset about material things that get broken by little hands who will soon have interests beyond this home.

3) Not doubt my mothering techniques and believe I am a GREAT mom and giving my babies all the best of me .

4) Forgiving myself if I trip once in a while knowing they are judging me as children do, with honesty and love.

5) To take nothing for granted, and create happy memories which will last them and me a lifetime.

6) To give them all my love every-day without conditions placed upon it and to accept theirs in return and know that this is the gift and reward for being a mom.

A toast to all the mother's out there, you are amazing and wonderful people and I am humbled and proud to be counted amongst you.

Another Family United...

I'm so happy to announce that my dear friend Jodi and her husband, Bryan have been united with their 5th child (their second from China). She is adorable and doing great with her new mommy and daddy. I can't wait to meet her and welcome her home to Texas. Jodi, you are an amazing woman and friend, and I'm so blessed to know you.

Love V