Stimulus Flimulus

I am not a Democrat. I am a Republican because it's farther from Democrat and closer to how I really feel, but there's no real category for my specific collection of (political) opinions. Truth be told, I hate political discussions. (That should really be "debates" because I've never witnessed a true discussion when conversation treads in political waters.) When family members start in on political views, I recoil and watch the clock. I've found that I don't often agree with either side of the family opinions (at least the ones being offered aloud).

So now that you know how I feel in that arena, let me next say that I am about to get political. And somewhere along life's path, some people that read my blog have gotten the impression that this is an open forum discussion. Let me set the record straight...it's not. You can agree or disagree (can you be adult and respectful?), but the floor is not open for Arlyn-bashing (as some of you seem to enjoy doing). I likely won't delete your comment, because I want everyone to see that you can't follow a simple guideline. But know that your attacks are being noted. It's my blog! I'm not in the military and we don't live in China; I can say it without running it by the censors. If you don't like it, PUT IT IN YOUR OWN BLOG. You can even give us the link in a comment if you really want to get something off your chest, but stay out of my space! This doesn't just apply to this particular post. It applies to the whole blog.

You know who you are (I hope) and so do the other smattering of readers.

And now...on to what I sat down to say in the first place.

I admit that I may misunderstand some of the government programs and their actual objectives. It's not hard to do since those folks seem to have a hard time talking straight most of the time. And I really have a hard time following anything too deep for too long because I have a hard time seeing how it's helping me accomplish the most important things in life: i.e., teach my children to share, be kind, not repeat the F-word that they learned in First Grade, show them how hard work gets you the best rewards (definitely not going to the government for that lesson), be honest (again...gov't issues), pay the bills so we have a place to raise the family and food to do it with, etc, etc.

So when the Presidential Candidates started spewing forth all sorts of promises about how to lift the nation up by it's financial boot straps, I tried to listen for understanding and what they really planned to do. Then Obama gets his big day and starts signing his name to every piece of paper he could, as soon as he could. One of them was a Stimulus bill. I'm pretty good with vocabulary. I understand the meaning of "stimulate." Is there a version I haven't heard of?

Suddenly, the country is flooded with the truckloads of money that will boost the economy. Who/what is the economy? (Again, another subject I have a hard time investing too much interest in.) Isn't it the consumer and his fat wallet walking through the malls, car dealerships and large retail chains? Isn't it the restaurants, airlines and online retailers that make it so convenient to part with our hard earned pennies? Apparently, it's the (mostly) government controlled projects scattered throughout our communities. It's the small airports that only a tiny percentage of us will ever use. It's pot holes in the roads, or not. (I saw a resurfacing project on I-15 last night going over a stretch of road they'd just finished repaving earlier this year. I saw the before and after and was confused.) It's improvement on bridges that don't need improving over bridges that are death-traps because it takes too long to redesign and prepare to fix the ones that really need it, therefore causing the city/county to loose the funding. I'm referring to this article I just saw this morning. It's money for the pet projects of those in Washington D.C. who see an easy way to secure a vote come election day.

What is really being stimulated? Even these jobs that create jobs for the average man don't really help. Chad is still going from his paying job to his original job most every day. His company that he spent 4 years working very hard to nurture and establish (in the construction field) still isn't making money. No one offered him part of the stimulus. A cash back program for first time home buyers? How many people looking to buy a home are really in that category? I wonder if most people looking to buy homes have owned one before and had to sell it (probably at a great loss...if they didn't lose it outright) in order to move because they had to find a new job after the economy knocked their first one out from under their feet.

Instead of making a tiny airport look fancy and nostalgic, just make it safe and use the rest of the stimulus funds to subsidize the price of an airline ticket for the patrons. Find ways to make the necessities of life cheaper so we CAN spend some money on something extra. Help the schools instead of taking from them. Our up and coming leaders are going to be fat, stupid, boring people because everything stimulating was taken out of the education program and the parents were too tired from trying to earn pennies on the dollar to notice or make up the difference.

Obviously, I could go on and on. But since I'm not even sure I'm making enough sense to make my point, I'll quit. Bottom line: the President/Gov't talks big but seems to be a little off course when it comes to reaching the goal. Time to admit something is broken and FIX IT.

Now this opinionated pregnant lady needs to go find out who is washing their muddy feet off in the bathtub and hop into the shower herself.

Leah's Standards

I can't believe this is even something I would complain about. And I'm really glad that Leah has some high standards when it comes to the clothes she'll wear. But I'm thinking it's bordering "picky."

Leah has two tests for the clothes she tries on. If they fail either test, she won't wear them. She'd rather see me hang something back on the rack than be expected to suffer the garment to be hung upon her.

Pants: Leah puts on the pants and then squats. If she thinks you can see her underwear in the back - FAIL. We were trying on a pair at Wal-Mart today and she performed this test. I made her stand back up and pull the pants on ALL THE WAY and then do her little squat. It was hard to convince her that I didn't see underwear. Maybe she needs prettier underwear? No... I'd rather she hide her underwear than model it. I made a pair of shorts this evening and let out a mental sigh of relief when they passed the squat test.

Shirts: Leah raises both arms straight up and stretches out her torso. If you can see her tummy - FAIL. I don't know how she does it, but she seems to get taller just during this test. I have been buying shirts a size or two bigger lately so my money won't be wasted. I made her a size 6 shirt yesterday and then it failed the test. Rebekah was thrilled and wore her new shirt the rest of the night.

I warned Leah today that she wouldn't be going to school naked, so she'd better start accepting something to wear! As for shoes, everything bothers her feet. I think we'll be putting her shoes on right before the bus comes and rushing her out the door just so we won't have to hear her complain about how they feel. The bus driver will think we force her to tears every morning. It's a heinous form of abuse: wearing shoes.

I need to find some attractive patterns for jumpsuits and overalls. Those don't fall down or ride up. They'll just drag on the bathroom floor of the school every time she has to make the trip in there. YUCK. Maybe we'll make LOTS of dresses and she can wear shorts underneath. That will get us through October. I guess she can wear snow pants under dresses? Better make a size 10 dress.

Big Boy

Joseph slept in the toddler bed for the first time today. He didn't even move after we covered him up and said good-bye. He didn't get to sleep very long though because a rain/hail storm blew through town and through his window. (I thought that thing was closed!) I had quite the mess to clean up in there.

Chad put him to bed tonight and he went right to sleep. Is it really going to be that easy? I guess we'll see what happens when he wakes up in the middle of the night. (Oh...I just picked him up off the floor and put him back in bed.)

Doesn't his room look nice and clean (and purple)? We're in a transition period as we get ready for the new baby. I wish it would always be this roomy. Every room in this house seems crowded with STUFF.

HELP

I was raised by a very exacting mother and absent father. I don't know if I have a normal set of expectations for my children. Often, I feel like I expect too much of them and am harsher than I should be because I'm not getting my expectations met.

Sometimes I get so frustrated that all I can think to do is pick up a stick and put a welt across their behind or a knot on top of their head. So I just yell at them, clench my fists and leave the room (or make them leave).

This summer has been particularly hard for me, being pregnant, in the heat, with 5 kids home all day and suddenly losing the freedom to call on Chad for help whenever I needed it.

Yesterday, Daniel joyfully tormented the people around him because he was bored. He was very glib about it...he was bothering people because he was bored. But he didn't want to do anything about being bored...he just wanted to bother people. I wanted to rip his nasty personality out through his nose.

This morning, Daniel made Leah sit down in a plate of play dough. Only one person thought that was funny. I was so stinkin' mad! I had given them the job to clean up their rooms and bathroom so they could vacuum and then bring the vacuum down to me to use. Nine o'clock and Daniel is in his pajamas, standing in the computer chair...doing some kind of nonsense. I lost all sense.

This is what I found in the bathroom upstairs. Cleaning products by a wet stuffed animal. I'm not sure if there is a connection. It surely won't surprise me to learn there is. A big tupperware bowl on the counter. Having a late night left-over binge? And this is the picture that doesn't bother me too much.

This is where I lost my mind. How many tissues do they really need? And when are they going to decide that the garbage can can't hold any more? See that big plastic bag? It's a garbage bag...from the last time they filled the trash can. Do I really need to show them the connection? And of course, no one knows how it got to be that way. THEY surely didn't do it. Maybe I should make them go outside to use the toilet or blow their nose. We won't notice a lot of extra leaves all over the ground.



I've grounded everyone and it is a work day...all day. My lazy, complaining kids are going to drive me nuts. I can't work all day! Joseph is already hanging on me and whining. It's only 9:15. I can barely get up the stairs without passing out.

But I am so done with these spoiled kids. Then again, are they spoiled? I don't know if this is just normal kid behavior and I'm off the deep end trying to make them into something they can't be. My mom told me once that she handled motherhood better...that's why her kids were better behaved. She wasn't raising my kids. And I'm not willing to travel some of the roads she did.

So I'm wondering, are my kids normal? Do you have the same problems with yours? Do you think everything is going smoothly and then hear an ear-piercing scream and listen as the universe crumbles while one evil villain smiles in satisfaction?

Truly, I'm not looking for advice. I just want to know that I'm going crazy with the rest of the world. Otherwise, I'll probably end up in the county lock-up. You can google my name later and find out all the horrible details.

I need an old farmer grandpa that I can send them to live with for 3 weeks. Don't those always have positive endings? Work them to death and see if they don't appreciate what they've really got.

A few pictures and words.

It has finally warmed up enough around here to get the pool out. The kids have used up a lot of water in their quest to keep cool this year. Too bad they end up in the mud by the time they are done. I would feel better thinking that at least they were getting some kind of a bath!

Our little momma cat has done it again...become a momma. This time, she had 6 kittens in her litter and has managed to keep all of them alive; they are now 9 days old. Their eyes opened on Monday. We have two boys and 4 girls. They were initially outside in this dog carrier. When the temp started rising last week, the kittens started roasting. The momma cat was trying to make a spot for them in our closet, so Daniel and I hauled this thing into the laundry room. It took a while for it to stop radiating heat! Eventually, momma cat decided that the straw den was not acceptable for her babies.

She moved them to this space between the wall and the washer. Looks comfy, doesn't it? They are laying on a Wal-Mart bag. I had to put that little cardboard back there to keep them from wandering behind the machines. I found one dusty kitten about 8 feet away from everyone the first day. The other night, I put an old towel in a big laundry basket, moved the growing kittens from the cramped and hard bed they were in, filled that space with other things and waited for the momma to accept her new spot. She wasn't happy, but really didn't have any other choices.

Leah prays for the kittens every day and for the momma to be a good momma. I'm just looking forward to kittens old enough to go back outside and find some shade of their own to keep cool in.

The transfer of girls and sewing room is finally finished. Here is my new sewing room (before I organized anything)...right next to my bed. Does that mean we sleep in the sewing room? I'd probably have to do more sewing first to be able to say that. The blessing gown is nearly done (seen draped over the mess) and I've started sewing the slip to go underneath.

OK. That's enough blogging for me. I mopped the kitchen earlier. I wonder if the floor is dry? I feel like it's snack time.

Daniel and the Chiropractor

Not to be confused with the popular story, Daniel and the Lion's Den. The chiropractor was very nice and not at all like a ferocious, hungry lion. (I have to put that in there, he is the brother of a good friend!)

We all drove to Pocatello yesterday morning to bring Daniel to his doom. Except it didn't turn out that way at all! We got through the whole appointment and Daniel didn't even shed one tear! What am I paying for?

It turns out, Daniel does have a touch of TMJ, but it is a muscular cause. His jaw is being pulled just slightly. The Dr. slammed him against the table several times, causing loud banging noises. Joseph was very attentive during this part. (Actually, the table was made to move with the adjustment and no Daniels were harmed during the procedure.) We are to go back next week for a follow-up beating. If I don't try to figure out the gas, both of these visits combined will be cheaper than the hour of physical therapy we had last year. Maybe even with the gas figured in. It seems Daniel's neck muscles are getting a little mischievous every once in a while and giving him problems. Anyone in the family want to enter the chiropractic field and adjust him once or twice a year? We could work out some kind of deal.

Aaaahhhh......

Thanks to Craigslist, and a willing errand-given husband, I have a nicer chair to sit in at the computer. The metal folding chair was causing serious contentions in the nether regions!

It has a lingering memory of the previous owner, but I'm hoping that will dissipate over the next week or two. They must have been smokers. The chair is suffering the ill effects of second-hand smoke. Does that mean I'm getting 3rd hand trouble? Chad did wipe it down with disinfectant, so maybe it's reduced to 4th or 5th hand levels.

Regardless, I'm happy because it was only $15 and the ones at Sam's Club were over $50. Now I can linger at the computer longer. That may be a bad thing. We'll have to practice restraint.

WE are not pregnant!

Yikes! Does that mean Arlyn had the baby? huh...not quite

You know how sometimes a couple says that "they" are pregnant, when we really know that it's just ONE of them getting fatter, heavier and being kicked from within? I decided last night, about 3 AM, that "WE" are not pregnant.

WE are not losing sleep to the crazy pregnancy insomnia that keeps us tossing and turning in the middle of the night for no real reason. (Some of us are snoring quite loudly to signal that this is really not an equal partnership.)

WE are not having trouble reading half a chapter of scripture out loud without losing breath.

WE are not suffering random burp-coughs (hiccoughs and burps at the same time).

WE are not suffering maddening itchy spots over selections of our body.

WE are not being assaulted from within.

WE are not having difficulty retrieving something from the floor (and forget it if it's on the floor of the van...you have to get out first in hopes of reaching it).

WE are not getting up to use the restroom every 2 hours during the night.

WE are not having trouble breathing through a congested nose.

WE are not going to the doctor every two weeks, soon to be weekly.

WE are not experiencing the joy of peeing into a tiny cup that we can't even hope to see, before every doctor's appointment.

WE are not avoiding the section of the house with stairs because we don't have 15 minutes to recover from the exertion.

WE are not limping around on Michelin Man feet at the end of every day or feeling like we traded in 8 perfectly good fingers for a total of 10 thumbs.

WE ARE expecting a baby. But one of us is expecting a lot more to come (or not come) with it!

TV Censorship

This evening I was "channel surfing." Normally, I am not so free with the remote. The difference was that Leah was in the room with me. There is a lot of stuff I would be willing to subject myself to on TV, but there is a lot less when my kids will see it. I can't watch anything scary, suspenseful, violent or suggestive (though I don't watch that much myself).

Now don't think I've got all the bad and nasty stuff on. I was passing by an old TV movie from the 80's, a national news broadcast, some news magazine shows (Insider, etc.), and even some PBS broadcasts.

I eventually ended up on Wheel of Fortune. I rarely watch game shows. But dinner was over, we were waiting for Chad to come home and I was putting my swollen feet up. It wasn't long before all 5 kids were on the bed in front of me.

So I think it's hard to be "bad" when you have kids. They make you want to be better than you are, even if you'd rather watch the murder movie.

All that's happened - the ultra long version

Well, where have I been? It's not been a spa resort or tucked comfortably into bed, I can tell you that! But that would have been nice. We're about 7 weeks into summer. No one has been sold or murdered yet. I commend myself for great restraint in that regard. I can't claim much patience or kindness. A friend told me yesterday that she told her husband, "I think the devil just yelled at your kids." I'm thinking that the devil is in many places this summer. I may have to visit the dentist to have my jaw checked. I've been gritting my teeth so often that I'm sure I have damaged something. Being 7+ months pregnant in July isn't helping.

But speaking of the summer months, we've been really lucky. It didn't even get hot until last week or so. It rained all of June, including some really great thunderstorms. I really like the rain (as long as I'm not trying to do anything outside). We've had about 4 really uncomfortable days. That's pretty good and I've been thankful. This week is supposed to get near 100 degrees. My gratitude may suffer.

And we've discovered something unexpected from the wet month we just had. We have a lot of these. I wish I was referring to the cups or towels, but it's the little guys hanging out on them that have invaded. We have earwigs EVERYWHERE! It's gotten to the point that I just sweep them to the floor. We were setting the table for dinner earlier this week. I dropped one to the floor, then found another one about 5 minutes later. It went to the floor. The next thing we know, there is one sitting on the top of the milk cap, all the way on top of the milk jug! I showered with two of them yesterday. I came in from the garage yesterday and noticed one getting a free ride on my hand. Last night Chad got one off the ceiling of our room. I didn't even know they could travel across the ceiling. Those alien invasion movies have less creatures than we do! I've been wondering if we could get a diaper on a chicken or two and put those birds to work inside the house. (Obviously, I would rather sweep an earwig to the floor than clean up chicken poop.)

We got a few fireworks from a little stand nearby. The kids had fun throwing the snaps. Joseph didn't quite get it, but he tried anyway. We took two nights to light them all, despite the cool weather and pesky breezes. We only had one dud. I still wonder what it was supposed to do.

































Here is what we had to show for our $9 by the time it was all done.















Of course, we didn't get through the event without tears. Isn't that a sad face?














On Saturday, Chad worked on the gates to the fence. The kids were itching to help. I think they actually did...a little.
















I love this little shot of Joseph. He looks so studious. He must be working on the plans for the gates.

And if Daddy is cutting wood, there must be wood scraps. The kids made
"boats" and painted them. We've not actually tried them in the water, but we're really proud of them anyway.


The rain caused us another problem. Well, I feel part of the problem, too. We were outside on the 4th of July. It was a bit of a crazy weather week and there was rain forecast for the evening, but was supposed to clear up in time for the fireworks. As we finished up our fence work (actually, I shouldn't be taking any credit there), the storm clouds came rolling in and the thunder was repetitive. It was 6 PM. I could only think of sitting a long walk from the car with the chance of still getting rained on. And even if didn't rain, the ground would be wet, right? What do we do with the littlest ones who have waited hours for the show and are now cold and wet at dark?

So I came up with an alternative plan. Why don't we go out to eat, rent a movie and eat our firework snacks in a dry basement? It was bit of job convincing everyone to go along with the plan, but we eventually all agreed. After all, they'd been excited about going to the show ALL WEEK LONG! We couldn't find a restaurant open close by, so we ended up driving into Idaho Falls. We were on our way home at 8 PM. Guess what? The sun was shining. I was starting to feel bad. But Chad and I were both feeling we'd rather not go through the effort (for different reasons). We watched our movie and ate the snacks and were in bed sooner than we would have been otherwise. But I felt bad for causing them to miss the fireworks! And then the next morning Rebekah asks me when we're going to go to the fireworks. Aahhhh! She didn't understand. Major guilt for the mommy. I kept telling myself that they'll be fine. They'll eventually forget that we missed them this year and we'll be able to completely avoid therapy. But I still felt guilty. I'm doing a little better now...nearly 2 weeks later.

At least we got some pictures before the night totally bombed. I think this year may be the last year Daniel lets me dress him like everyone else. That's OK. I knew it wouldn't last forever. I would worry about him if he didn't speak up. But we got some cute pictures anyway. This picture of the back of the kids was actually an outtake. Joseph found Nathan's pocket and distracted everyone. I had to snap a shot and I'm glad I wasn't laughing so hard that the picture was blurred. Check out Joseph's grin in the front facing picture. :)


























My dad was up for a visit this last week. The kids had been looking forward to his visit and then they all went out to play. They still enjoyed showing off for him.














And my dad took a picture of Joseph (who didn't run off to play) next to his new little sister.




Unfortunately, the little sister isn't born yet, so you just get a really ugly side view of my very lumpy front. Sorry about the hairs going up on the back of your neck (but not sorry enough to spare you the pic)!


Daniel has been having some pain around his right ear/jaw. It started the last weekend in June, after the kids slept out in the tent with Chad. It took him until Thursday to agree to go to the doctor. The available doctor said it was TMJ. He said it would go away in about a week and to just give him ibuprofen 3 times a day. I called the dentist the next morning. (We had an appointment for Monday to pull a baby tooth and I was wondering if we should wait or try to be seen.) The dentist was unofficially in the office, but would see him if I could get there soon.


Well, we eventually made it, with some effort. The dentist said it wasn't TMJ, but might be some molars coming in - causing problems. He gave him some antibiotics and said he should be feeling better by fireworks (which were the next night). By the time we returned on Monday, nothing was improved. They did a panoramic x-ray and said whatever the problem was, it wasn't dental. He suggested visiting an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. So on the way home, I called back to the original doctors' office and left a message for our favorite/regular doctor to call.


He made room in his schedule for him the next day. It turns out, it was his neck muscles! All this and it was his neck. We were into day 10 of pain and crying and drugs. He worked on him a bit and said to continue the meds for another day or so and he should be better. Yes, he's better, but still waking up at night and asking for medicine. We've emptied 3 different containers of ibuprofen...two of which were brand new. We've started on the 4th. I tried to call the doctor back on Friday and learned he is out of the office until the 20th. Of course.


My good friend is going to be visiting her family in Pocatello next week. She comes from a family of chiropractors. We're going to combine a visit with a trip to the chiropractor. Daniel isn't thrilled, because he knows it's going to hurt. But I think he understands that a little bit of pain will help him get past the long term trouble. At least, that's what I'm hoping for!


This week I've been keeping busy with cleaning out my sewing room and getting the girls moved up there. We moved the bed up on Saturday and finally got the dresser up this morning. All that is left is Rebekah's side of the closet (dresses). I can't believe how much stuff I had crammed into that room. I don't have enough places to put it all, so Craigslist helped me get rid of a few things. I hang on to too much stuff.


Our bedroom has a lot of the stuff and is now feeling quite crowded. I need to get more organized. Six kids and a really big sewing addiction makes this house feel pretty small!


Well, that's a bit of what's been going on since I fell off the blogging wagon. I should have broken up the news, but was sure that it would take time to get back to the computer again. Thanks for making it to the end!

I'm here...sort of

I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth. But I may be teetering. The summer fighting is draining me, or at least taking from me what the pregnancy doesn't.

I know I've neglected my 3 fans out there. Sorry. I'm trying to find the motivation. I have some pictures and a guilty 4th of July story to share.

This past week in particular I feel like I'm on autopilot. Maybe I can recharge this weekend and catch you up on some things.

It's Not Fair!!

That's Leah's new motto. We hear it a lot. Usually at very high pitches and in garbled language. Her life is very tough since she was born to a regular family with lots of other kids. She really misses her true destiny...as a spoiled princess.

I hope her future husband appreciates our efforts.

I hope she lives long enough to look for a husband.

I hope I don't get committed or incarcerated.

Scripture Power

Two years ago today we started nightly family scripture reading (Book of Mormon). I can't really call it study...because we don't. Occasionally, we talk about something we read, but that's pretty rare. We each read a verse and split the really long ones in half for the girls.

We take our scriptures with us when we travel and only miss (skip) if we have a really late bedtime. If only one parent is home at bedtime, the other one leads the riot. I think that in the two years we've been doing this, we've missed a month's worth or less of reading. When we started, Nathan and Leah had their verses read for them to repeat. Rebekah wasn't talking yet. Now Nathan reads his own and Leah and Rebekah repeat theirs. (Joseph pretty much wanders the room and tries to get everyone in trouble...sometimes he's fairly successful).

So we are very good about doing it, and very bad about making it meaningful. Admittedly, we have some work to do.

You may be wondering how far you can get by only reading 4 - 6 verses a night. You can't get out of Alma. We finished Alma Chapter 35 tonight. Two years! Sheesh. I'm glad we didn't start with the Old Testament.

Sew Frustrating

Yesterday, I worked on the baby's blessing gown. I did not work alone. That was part of my stress-filled day yesterday. I got the bodice and skirt sewn together and to each other.

This morning I continued sewing. After I got the back button facings done and the collar on, I took another look at the skirt. Despite all my double checking and rechecking yesterday, I still sewed the front panel on with the wrong side of the fabric out. Not only that, it was gathered and serged. ahhhh!!!

I considered just leaving it, but I knew that it would drive me crazy every time I looked at it. I then spent the next hour unpicking, pulling off tiny threads and re-gathering, re-sewing and re-serging the darn thing (only now I'm sewing with frayed fabric and 1/4" seam allowance). I just removed the front skirt piece and eased it back into the dress. I wish it was as simple as it sounded. I had to banish the kids from the room. The stress from yesterday is back.

But the dress is repaired and it's nearly impossible to tell the difference (you have to know what to look for). So now I'm behind on my other project I'd hoped to start this morning...4th of July shorts for the kids. At least the weather is cooler today. I may be hot under the collar, but not under the waistband!

WE are going crazy

Thank you for calling the Mommy Help Me Line. We are experiencing an usually high level of stress at the moment. There may be some delay in assisting you. We apologize for the possible inconvenience. If you prefer not to hold, you could try some of these possible solutions to your problems on your own.

* If someone is hitting you, move farther away.
* If you are bored, go find something to do.
* If you are thirsty, get a cup and proceed to the easiest sink.
* If you are hungry, next time eat more lunch.
* If someone is looking at you, look back at them.
* If you have another superficial wound, wash it and waste another band-aid.
* If you feel like yelling at or striking your Mommy, be prepared for an unpleasant response.
* If you have a real emergency, hang on and you will be assisted within moments. The Mommy on duty is listening to determine if the crying is genuine.

We hope these suggestions are helpful. You will know when the Mommy Help Me Line is functioning normally again when we stop referring to ourselves as more than one person. Apparently, schizophrenia is a coping mechanism.

Mormon Terminology

I told Rebekah to get ready to go because we were going to the zoo for Family Home Evening tonight.

Five minutes later, while I was brushing her hair, she asked where we were going Visiting Teaching at the zoo.

No offense to the sisters I visit. She's only 3 1/2 and all those phrases and responsibilities are hard to sort out. I'll really worry when she starts to think she's going to Primary at the zoo. ;)

How are you feeling?

I get that question a lot lately. I think (hope) it's because people really want to know and not because I LOOK like I'm feeling miserable.

Truthfully, I'm not miserable. Any misery I'm currently experiencing comes from the kids that are already born, not the one yet to come. (I think Daniel and Leah must have some kind of magical pull toward each other. Too bad it's such an explosion of feelings when they get too close!) But I am getting more and more tired. I've stopped being able to sleep really well at night. It's a combination of heat, stuffy nose, dry throat, bathroom trips, barking dogs and a sort of "beached whale" phenomenon. The baby doesn't move enough to keep me awake, yet. Last night was actually better, but I was so tired, I don't think I could have stayed awake if I'd tried.

The only discomfort during the pregnancy (beside the pregnancy itself and the morning sickness the first 1/2) is a ligament at the front of my belly, just to the side of my naval. When this little part of me gets over-used, it feels like it's on fire and hurts like a bugger. If I try to hold it or rub it, etc., it hurts worse. Only rest and inactivity helps. I first felt this pain when I was healing from having Joseph. So I guess it can be a "coming and going" sort of deal. I expect to feel it as I heal from the delivery this time, too. And then I hope it's gone forever!

I do look forward to the end of my dry, itchy scalp. I've been suffering with that for several months. It's a miracle I haven't made myself bald. I even switched to Head and Shoulders sensitive formula. It didn't help. That's not the only itchy spot, but it's one of the worst. And I'll be glad when I only pee once each time I go to the bathroom. Currently, it's once when I'm meaning to, and once more when I stand up. Sorry for too much info. Pregnancy is not pretty.

I finally cut the baby's blessing gown out this morning. I didn't get too far into my project before the kids found me. Leah looked at the length of the dress and wanted to know just how big this baby was going to be! I had to explain to her that blessing dresses are extra long and showed here where the baby's feet would probably be inside the dress. That made more sense to her, but I think the big dress thing was still kind of weird in her mind.

I had the TV on while I was working. At that point, the only thing I could stand to hear was an old episode of "Friends." Some of you may recall the episode where "Ross" gets too hot in his leather pants and pulls them down to cool off, but then can't get them back on. Then he tries a bunch of stuff to get them to slide back up and ends up quite messy. I looked up at Nathan's face during this part and saw an expression there that I've never seen before. It was something of a bewildered, shocked and unbelieving look. Right on Nathan, I've felt that way about this and many other TV shows...MANY times!

I did get Rebekah's quilt binding sewn on last week. I only have to trim the yarn ties and it's done. I still have to tie the baby's crib blanket. I got a few sets of clothes sorted (thanks for the distraction, Kelli!) and need to get those bins finished up and into the garage. I still have the task of turning the sewing room into a bedroom looming in my mind. But that's months away, so I should just relax and worry about something more imminent!

Our ward choir had a summer picnic this Saturday. We'd originally planned to hold it the 13th, but were rained out and after postponing it twice, we succeeded in having a really good time. The choir is full of AWESOME people. I think it's the best group I've ever experienced in a ward choir. We all get along, we laugh at our mistakes, we welcome new members (and wish we'd get more...are there ever too many tenors and bases?), and just have a really good time together. These are humble, hard working people. I know some of them have joined the choir because they like to sing, but no one has joined thinking they are just what their section needs. And then there are those who don't feel very secure in their ability to sing well, but keep coming anyway. (I think those are my favorites.)

As for our summer, things are pretty much par for the course. We are still reading and doing worksheets, but the furor has died down a bit (thankfully). We haven't had any serious illnesses, but a seemingly disproportionate amount of skinned knees, legs, tummies, arms, hands, heads...considering it's still June. Daniel has been complaining of a sore cheek/ear/jaw since Sat. morning. It's a flighty little pain and has reduced him to tears at least twice. Of course, that is only at bed time and so we've just given him pain killers and sent him to bed. He's getting a tooth pulled next Monday. Can we make him suffer that long? And what if it doesn't even have anything to do with dental issues? I'm pretty sure Joseph had Roseola the first week of June. It took another baby in the ward to clue me in. And here I thought it was all ear infection! Apparently, kids can be cranky about more than one thing at a time. Who knew?

I've got some pictures of the girls on horses for you. Some very nice (and now favorite) people in the ward let them ride them at the end of the picnic Saturday. Somehow, Leah has developed a LOVE for horses. You may be able to see the sheer joy on her face in the photo. She and Rebekah have not stopped talking about the event. It's only the best thing to happen to them this year!

Shoes Optional

For the past two years, we've had a zoo membership. It's been a great $$ saver for us when we've traveled and given us something "free" to do here at home. The membership always expires at the end of May. We were late getting a new one this year but I finally decided to "bite the bullet" and pay the $75 today.

I told the kids we'd go on a picnic if they could get the downstairs cleaned. Things got really loud about then. Can they do anything without fighting? Sleeping you say? Nathan and Leah have both yelled at Daniel in their sleep. So that's a "no."

Anyway, we were FINALLY ready to go. I told everyone to go to the bathroom and get in the van. After we've been driving 10 minutes and I'm on the freeway, Leah says from the back seat, "Mommy, Nathan doesn't have any shoes on!"

!!!!

Now, I've accidentally gotten in the car with my slippers on, but never just socks. And I never actually drove away. But, I've never been a 7-year-old boy. I got off the freeway at the next exit and drove back a little ways to a store and bought him some croc-a-likes for $6. Better than wasting up to 30 minutes going back home.

The shoes are a bit too big as I didn't have much of a selection in boyish colors. Daniel was jealous. I told Nathan they weren't his. (Because I'm not rewarding him for forgetting to get dressed!) They can go in the laundry room for use when someone has to go outside for something.

We eventually made it to the zoo and had a late lunch...of which Joseph wouldn't eat once I wouldn't give him more cookie. Kids.

Current State of Random Affairs

So I walk into the living room this morning to find Daniel playing the piano with his big, fat rear end. No wonder that chord was so bad!

Joseph is walking around the house this morning saying, "rrraaahhhh!" Apparently, he doesn't want to learn English, just Tiger.

My doctor isn't the push-over I was hoping for. It looks like the earliest I'm going to be able to have this baby is the 28th or 29th of August (Fri. or Sat.). Unless I can figure out how to make labor start on my own terms. Never have figured that out so far. Any suggestions?

This little birdy has taken up a watchful post here on the fence. Do you think he's spying on us? He was there a long time yesterday, too.

My kids are fighting. Constantly. I don't know if I can be responsible for my actions if it goes on much longer. The two biggest offenders are Daniel and Leah. The two "first borns." They may be the two "first deads."

I have to sew on binding on a blanket for Rebekah's new twin bed she'll get when we shift the toddler bed and crib down to the next kids. I also have to make a blessing gown for the baby.

My house is in a serious state of disorganization. I am suffering a mental breakdown because of it (and because of all the fighting). I need to go through the clothes of at least 4 kids, shuffle through the music CD's the kids have wrecked (and then lock the cupboard), try to get the games to stay in the cupboard when we open it, and figure out HOW IN THE HECK I'm going to pack away most of my sewing room and turn it into a room for the girls.

My house is dirty, too.

The past 3 weeks I have enjoyed watching the kids work around dinner time. One sets the table, one clears, one sweeps. They aren't doing a perfect job, but they are doing something! We had to get a smaller broom and put a tiny handle on it to save the windows and glass doors to the china cupboard. I even made a wheel chart to help us keep track. I'm not sure I like them crawling all over the table to wipe it down. I guess I have to be blind to some things.

Daniel has read over 2600 pages. He needs harder books. Nathan is over 2000, too, but I don't know by how much.

I have never washed any of the windows in this house since we moved in...20 months ago. (A little confession thrown in there for you.)

I am starting to waddle and my belly button is gaining strength. The baby is starting to move in ways that are unpleasant to the mother. Leah is grateful for the baby in about every prayer she offers. Joseph will probably see the baby as an enemy that needs removal. He is a little too attached...and it was quite a literal experience this Sunday as I dropped him off in Nursery. (I'll say it again - those Nursery leaders are saints!)

Some scrapbook pages from the last week.

To My Local Readers

I have in surplus one (unused - of course) Western Family brand pregnancy test. It expires in March.

If my doctor is skilled, I won't be needing it anymore.

Do you, or "someone you know" have any need for this specialized item?

Your acceptance and pick-up will remain our little secret, until the secret become too big to hide. *wink, wink*