Ten Years

There's nothing like a high school reunion announcement to inspire feelings of inadequacy in a person. What have I been up to for the past ten years?

I have married the wrong man. I have divorced him. I have dropped out of college. I have been an exotic dancer. I have had a falling out with my mother. I have moved eight times.

I have given birth to three beautiful children. I have married the right man. He and I have bought a home together. I have found Jesus. I have found joy in faith, wife-hood, and motherhood. I have learned who I am.

None of this sounds very impressive next to someone who has x number of degrees and a salary with six zeros. But I've sure done some living, and I've found peace within. I don't know yet if I'll go to that reunion. But I will send some emails to old friends to say hi. I hope they're doing as well as I am.

Good news!

Answering phone calls and checking mail are two things that have always made me feel slightly nervous. These are the ways that bad news gets communicated, and usually when least expected. Lately, however, I've been pleasantly surprised.

First there was the phone call from my mother. This bears repeating; my mother called me! When I looked at the caller id before answering, my heart skipped a beat and my stomach jumped into my throat. I was so sure that the only reason she would willingly call me was if someone had died. I'm so happy that I was wrong. It seems she has made a little progress toward forgiving me, as she was calling to get my address for graduation announcements from my baby brother.

Then the phone call from my midwife. I wasn't really expecting bad news but it's strange to me to have finally found a health care provider who cares enough to call with test results, even late at night if it'll ease my mind. ( I ok'd the late night phone call, actually prefer them to when the kids are clamoring for my attention.) The ovarian cancer screen came back negative. We also talked about PCOS, and possibly checking for it if I don't "normalize" in the next three months.

And last, when I checked the mail yesterday, there was a big, fat envelope from the government. That can definitely go either good or bad, now, can't it? But, once again, good news. The state of Colorado sent paperwork for me to sign, if it's all right with me if they almost double (!) the child support that they take out of my ex's checks when they add Kat to the order. Hmmm, let me think about that one.... Heck yeah!

What kind of news have you gotten lately?

Contest

If you go here you might win a digital photo frame. Pretty cool, huh?

Drink more water....

My husband is insanely healthy. I'm not sure if it's because he's got such a great immune system, which he does, or if it's because his stubborn streak is such that even germs just give up and pick on someone else.

Like me. Now I don't get sick very often, and then just the occasional cold. However, it never fails that when I do fall ill, I can count on my caring and oh-so-helpful husband to dispense this doctorly advice: "Have you tried drinking more water?" So I knew it was serious when he told me that he was worried and would I please see a doctor?

At first I resisted, feeling very much like I had taken up too much screen time in a Twilight Zone episode involving doctor's offices that are impossible to escape. But I went, and wound up with a not so confident diagnosis of Bronchitis.

At least he didn't tell me to drink more water this time....

A Pint Sized Rebellion

I have a mutiny on my hands. If I serve leftovers again anytime soon the kids are going to tie me to the swingset with their jumpropes and leave me there. I'm a total loss for my meal planning this week. I need to make meals that are quick and easy, and small enough for no leftovers. Any ideas?

Real Moms Meme

I love this one, and found it over at It Coulda' Been Worse. So, in my own experience....

1. Real Moms are the ones who smile nostalgically when they see a first time pregnant woman. Real Moms can tell, by the way.

2. Real Moms will be sympathetic when your toddler has a meltdown in the checkout isle.

3. Real Moms usually have more items belonging to others than themselves in their purses.

4. Real Moms know the value of a well timed bribe.

5. Real Moms also know the value of a well timed nap. (For the kids, or themself)

6. Real Moms can sprint like an Olympic medalist even when pregnant or injured if they believe their child to be in danger.

7. Real Moms get more excited about sales on fruit snacks than new clothes for themselves.

8. Real Moms never stop trying to be a better parent each day.

9. Real Moms grieve and hug their own little ones a bit tighter whenever another mother loses her child- whatever the reason, it's heartbreaking.

mysteries....

Well, I thought I was done being poked and prodded by medical types. I was wrong. After about a week of playing phone tag with the midwife (who I really like by the way) finally got a hold of me while I was getting the kids ready for bed. She wants me to go get blood drawn to check for ovarian cancer, just in case- because of my family history. That what if was scarier to me than being told I definitely had precancerous cells on my cervix years ago. My Oma had ovarian cancer, skin cancer, and a cancerous tumor in her stomach. I'm not sure which was the cause of her death, but she was in a lot of pain for a long time fighting it.

I also have to have my cysts monitored, and go see a specialist about the lump in my left breast- again, just in case. I'm glad they care so much, I just wish it wasn't so scary.

So.... How bout them Yankees?

Hmmm. I really feel the need to write something, but I doubt it will be anything all that clever. Life is back to normal- dagnabit!

Hubs had to travel for work again. It was so nice having him home for so long this time, but we knew it couldn't last forever. At least he took down the hornet's nest from the tree in the front yard. And safely, too, I should add.

Bug is grounded until I'm not mad/hurt/disappointed anymore. He took my calendar to school for a school project without asking permission, and never returned it. I missed Monkey-boy's checkup and immunizations and don't have a clue what else is coming up because of that. To top it off, Bug can't find the calendar, and doesn't seem the least bit remorseful about the whole thing. I'd welcome any and all suggestions on how to handle this one.

Kat thinks cleaning her room means getting everything off the floor. I think it's time for extreme measures. All three kids have TOO. MUCH. STUFF. I'll be going through their rooms one at a time with a trash bag and a donate box sometime in the next week.

Monkey-boy has learned how to pair the word "MINE" with a temper tantrum worthy of my first stepmother- that's one impressive headache, lemme tell ya! Oh, and he has also started to, very clearly, with hands on hips, say "no." At least that one comes clearly enunciated and calmly, if defiantly.

And I've got to say, for the record, using an IUD was one of the worst decisions I've ever made regarding my health. Possibly the worst. The mystery illness was a ruptured cyst, in addition to (as the kind dr.'s put it) my body attempting to normalize after the removal. No hint as to how long this should last, but I was told to add 2-3 extra servings of protein to my diet the week before my period is due in order to control the P.M.D.D. symptoms. That would be fine and dandy- if I knew when my freaking period is due! I also was told that until I have my next kid, pms will definitely be replaced by pmdd, and the periods themselves should be inordinately painful- physically and emotionally. My poor husband has no idea how lucky he is to be away from home right now. :) Here's to hoping that this gets better soon.

Easter Exclamations!

"Wow, Thanks Mom!" (followed by, "What're you thanking me for? The Easter Bunny left that for you!)

"OH! THE CHOCOLATE!!!" (are we surprised that it was the girl that uttered that one?)

"Mama? Mama!"

(whispered)"Oh, crap, the Easter Bunny forgot to hide the eggs we dyed!"

All in all, it's been a good Easter morning. It would've been better if Hubs and I hadn't had to have our own hunt for puppy presents before letting the kids up for the festivities. Yeeeuck!

The kids look so cute in their Easter clothes, too! Hubs helped dress them for church before leaving for work. He's working in town this week! Yay! He's a driller for an exploratory drilling company, so he has to go wherever the next site is assigned. Last job they put him on was in California, and we didn't get to see him much, so it's nice to have him working near home.

Happy Easter, everyone, we're off to church, and more egg hunts!

Jeans

The hunt for jeans is over, in a most unexpected way. Apparently, Hubs accidentally grabbed three pairs of jeans that are the wrong size- for him, anyway. He suggested that I try them on, and they fit. They aren't very stylish, but they're durable, they fit, and they cost about $2 each if I remember correctly. And I'm really beginning to appreciate function over form lately, anyway.