I am posting a second post today out of shock, disbelief, anger and fear.
One of my dearest friends just called me to tell me that her family is going through something unimaginable. I am not going to give details or name names, but I am begging for your prayers that she and her family will find a swift and satisfactory resolution to this problem that they are facing. If you can find it in your heart to do so, please pray this prayer for them:
Dear Lord,
I come to you today not knowing anything about what is going on in the lives of JJ's friend, but I ask you to guide her and her family through this, to give them strength and courage and to make it through each step of this journey and to help them to resolve the issue quickly, peacefully and justly. Amen.
The more prayers we lift, the better. Thank You.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
MELTDOWN
No, it wasn't me.
It was Lula Belle.
The other day I let her watch a movie on HBO called "Little Princess". For those of you not familiar with it, it is a remake of an old Shirley Temple movie. It is about a little girl whose very wealthy father is sent off to fight in WWII and sends her to boarding school with a headmistress who is jealous of her privileged life. The father goes missing and is presumed dead, so the girl is forced to become a servant at the school. An unknown wounded soldier (actually her father) moves in next door with a case of amnesia and eventually, the two are reunited and he regains his memory.
Nice story, right? Sure it is. To anyone but a four year old who misses her own daddy. I happened to be on the phone with CJ when the movie cam to an end and we had quite a struggle calming her down after that.
I should have learned my lesson.
Last evening Lula asked if she could watch that movie again. I said no because I felt that it would upset her. She promised me every way till Tuesday that it would not. She assured me that she knew what was going to happen this time and she was ready for it.
Why did I listen to a four year old regarding her ability to maintain her composure about such a sensitive subject????
Maybe I just wanted to believe she could do it. Maybe I wanted to help build her character by allowing her to experience feelings of empathy for the girl and not to think about her own situation. Maybe I was tired and feeling really crappy physically and wanted to plant her in front of the TV for 90 minutes.
Well, she couldn't do it. She did feel empathy for the girl, but certainly wasn't able to remove herself from the equation. The 90 minutes of relative peace that I gained was followed by 40 minutes of uncontrollable sobbing, screaming and pleading-mostly be me- for her to stop crying.
I handled it all well for in those situations, I have pretty much unlimited patience because the child was clearly hurting in a terrible way that is no fault of her own and it was not a result of poor behavior. She just missed her dad in much the same way that I was missing my own father several weeks back. I would have loved to have had the kind of meltdown that she had. To just let it all out and have someone there to hold me and reassure me that I'd see my daddy soon. Oh, that I could take her sadness away.
Finally I could think of nothing else to do but to call daddy. When I called he had been sleeping, but he woke up immediately when he heard what was going on and he did his very best to comfort her and calm her. I could tell it was very difficult for him to be so far away and hear that kind of anguish in his young daughter's voice.
All in all, I guess it is a good thing for CJ to know that his baby girl loves him that deeply and it is good for her to realize that daddy would do anything-including work 1200 miles away to make sure she has a good life. But that doesn't make the separation any easier or the pain any less real.
10. More. Days.
It was Lula Belle.
The other day I let her watch a movie on HBO called "Little Princess". For those of you not familiar with it, it is a remake of an old Shirley Temple movie. It is about a little girl whose very wealthy father is sent off to fight in WWII and sends her to boarding school with a headmistress who is jealous of her privileged life. The father goes missing and is presumed dead, so the girl is forced to become a servant at the school. An unknown wounded soldier (actually her father) moves in next door with a case of amnesia and eventually, the two are reunited and he regains his memory.
Nice story, right? Sure it is. To anyone but a four year old who misses her own daddy. I happened to be on the phone with CJ when the movie cam to an end and we had quite a struggle calming her down after that.
I should have learned my lesson.
Last evening Lula asked if she could watch that movie again. I said no because I felt that it would upset her. She promised me every way till Tuesday that it would not. She assured me that she knew what was going to happen this time and she was ready for it.
Why did I listen to a four year old regarding her ability to maintain her composure about such a sensitive subject????
Maybe I just wanted to believe she could do it. Maybe I wanted to help build her character by allowing her to experience feelings of empathy for the girl and not to think about her own situation. Maybe I was tired and feeling really crappy physically and wanted to plant her in front of the TV for 90 minutes.
Well, she couldn't do it. She did feel empathy for the girl, but certainly wasn't able to remove herself from the equation. The 90 minutes of relative peace that I gained was followed by 40 minutes of uncontrollable sobbing, screaming and pleading-mostly be me- for her to stop crying.
I handled it all well for in those situations, I have pretty much unlimited patience because the child was clearly hurting in a terrible way that is no fault of her own and it was not a result of poor behavior. She just missed her dad in much the same way that I was missing my own father several weeks back. I would have loved to have had the kind of meltdown that she had. To just let it all out and have someone there to hold me and reassure me that I'd see my daddy soon. Oh, that I could take her sadness away.
Finally I could think of nothing else to do but to call daddy. When I called he had been sleeping, but he woke up immediately when he heard what was going on and he did his very best to comfort her and calm her. I could tell it was very difficult for him to be so far away and hear that kind of anguish in his young daughter's voice.
All in all, I guess it is a good thing for CJ to know that his baby girl loves him that deeply and it is good for her to realize that daddy would do anything-including work 1200 miles away to make sure she has a good life. But that doesn't make the separation any easier or the pain any less real.
10. More. Days.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Shout Out to the Poke Princess
I feel just awful! Have you ever missed an improtant person's birthday and instead of just owning up to it as soon as you remember, you procrastinate that phone call? Every day that goes by, it gets harder to make that call because you grow more and more embarrassed; at first for missing said birthday, but then for not calling.
Well, I did it lately. I missed the Poke Princess's birthday early this month and even though I have had a lot going on, I did think about it and her so many times and had no excuse for not calling her sooner. I am truly sorry, P.P.
So, here I am trying to make amends by sending it out to the whole world that I have been a rotten sister-in-law and I will try harder! I know I am already forgiven because Poke Princess is probably the best-hearted person that I know. And she was probably never even upset by it at all due to the fact she gave me every benefit of the doubt in existence. Still, I was rotten so here's my cheesy happy birthday poem...
Happy Birthday Princess of Pokes
You are special and it's no joke.
I am a jerk for letting your day go by
I'll make it up to you, or at least I'll try.
Let's go out for some fun
just you and me
Leave the kids with somone
Sisters wild and free.
We'll shop all day,
have pedicures and coffee too.
I'll give you big hugs and say
"I'm sorry and I love you"!
Hey, I said it was cheesy. It's the thought that counts, right?
Well, I did it lately. I missed the Poke Princess's birthday early this month and even though I have had a lot going on, I did think about it and her so many times and had no excuse for not calling her sooner. I am truly sorry, P.P.
So, here I am trying to make amends by sending it out to the whole world that I have been a rotten sister-in-law and I will try harder! I know I am already forgiven because Poke Princess is probably the best-hearted person that I know. And she was probably never even upset by it at all due to the fact she gave me every benefit of the doubt in existence. Still, I was rotten so here's my cheesy happy birthday poem...
Happy Birthday Princess of Pokes
You are special and it's no joke.
I am a jerk for letting your day go by
I'll make it up to you, or at least I'll try.
Let's go out for some fun
just you and me
Leave the kids with somone
Sisters wild and free.
We'll shop all day,
have pedicures and coffee too.
I'll give you big hugs and say
"I'm sorry and I love you"!
Hey, I said it was cheesy. It's the thought that counts, right?
Saturday, September 22, 2007
FYI
Children's NyQuil does not work for adults.
I know this should be common sense, but I was willing to try anything at 3 am when I woke up with a stuffy nose, dry scratchy throat and a pounding headache!
Note to self: Please consider Mommy's needs more often.
When packing to leave Montana, it never occurred to me that I myself may actually become sick or have an allergy flare up. My children have every OTC drug imaginable in the hall closet right now, but is there even one medication fit for adult consumption? NO. There is not. As soon as the kids get up, off to Walgreen's we go for some much needed Tylenol and allergy relief!
I do also have to thank God for small favors. Sometimes they are not so small. Given my midnight allergy attack, I really was in no shape (or mood) to attend to a crying baby. Thankfully, LG helped me out and slept all night for only the second time in his 13 1/2 months of life! I didn't say anything about it yesterday for fear of jinxing it, but he did it again!!! I put him down at 7:30 last night and he is still not up yet! I cannot say how excited I am about this! Lula slept 5 hours at a time from birth and all night, every night by 6 months. I was dumb enough to believe that maybe #2 would do the same. Riiiight.
The other favor I am grateful for is the later sunrise. That means Lula wakes up later also. The sun begins to come up at 4 am in the summer in Montana, so we struggled to get her to sleep past 5-6 am for a long time. I finally implemented a rule that she had to stay in bed (or bedroom) until 7 am. I bought her a digital clock and taught her where to look for the right "7", and she did a great job for the most part. This morning she came down at 7:35, albeit dressed and hair brushed, so I don't know how long she has been up; but she didn't come down until she saw the "7". Did I mention that her clock is deviously set 30 minutes slow so as to give me a little extra time to sleep/have a cup of coffee/blog? BAD MOMMY, BAD, BAD!!!
I know this should be common sense, but I was willing to try anything at 3 am when I woke up with a stuffy nose, dry scratchy throat and a pounding headache!
Note to self: Please consider Mommy's needs more often.
When packing to leave Montana, it never occurred to me that I myself may actually become sick or have an allergy flare up. My children have every OTC drug imaginable in the hall closet right now, but is there even one medication fit for adult consumption? NO. There is not. As soon as the kids get up, off to Walgreen's we go for some much needed Tylenol and allergy relief!
I do also have to thank God for small favors. Sometimes they are not so small. Given my midnight allergy attack, I really was in no shape (or mood) to attend to a crying baby. Thankfully, LG helped me out and slept all night for only the second time in his 13 1/2 months of life! I didn't say anything about it yesterday for fear of jinxing it, but he did it again!!! I put him down at 7:30 last night and he is still not up yet! I cannot say how excited I am about this! Lula slept 5 hours at a time from birth and all night, every night by 6 months. I was dumb enough to believe that maybe #2 would do the same. Riiiight.
The other favor I am grateful for is the later sunrise. That means Lula wakes up later also. The sun begins to come up at 4 am in the summer in Montana, so we struggled to get her to sleep past 5-6 am for a long time. I finally implemented a rule that she had to stay in bed (or bedroom) until 7 am. I bought her a digital clock and taught her where to look for the right "7", and she did a great job for the most part. This morning she came down at 7:35, albeit dressed and hair brushed, so I don't know how long she has been up; but she didn't come down until she saw the "7". Did I mention that her clock is deviously set 30 minutes slow so as to give me a little extra time to sleep/have a cup of coffee/blog? BAD MOMMY, BAD, BAD!!!
Friday, September 21, 2007
O.K.
Ok, so I have decided hat a long and detailed explanation of the last 3 weeks would be not only hard to compose, but torturous for you all to read. So, I will just begin from today and go forward. I will cover anything missed as needed. OK?
The biggest happening of the day is that LG is beginning to walk! He is starting to become brave and take 2 or 3 steps at a time to get from one piece of furniture to the other. Ok, so really it is just a lunge where he remembers to move his feet a little bit, but a mother can call it whatever she wants. OK.
I did also speak with Sarah Jean today (She is my best friend from Michigan). It was really good to hear from her. I had called her last night to tell her that I missed her terribly and also the group of ladies (all high school friends that have stayed in touch these last 16 years) that used to get together for "Survivor Night" every Thursday. I was feeling particularly lonesome and I am sure that had something to do with it. Well, she tells me that they disbanded the group, so I shouldn't feel bad. Ok. That helps for next week, but last night really stunk!
Anyway, Sarah Jean is back on the market. She has had an on-again, off-again boyfriend for quite a while now, but has decided to kick him to the curb for good. I am so proud of her courage! It is hard to let someone go even if you know they are not good for you and Sarah Jean is feeling the pressure to find someone to settle down with. I keep telling her that she is still young, beautiful, vibrant and successful, so "don't worry", but I fear that she does worry she will run out of time to have a family. Please pray for her that she finds the perfect man for her and that they fall madly in love....soon,OK?
OK.
The biggest happening of the day is that LG is beginning to walk! He is starting to become brave and take 2 or 3 steps at a time to get from one piece of furniture to the other. Ok, so really it is just a lunge where he remembers to move his feet a little bit, but a mother can call it whatever she wants. OK.
I did also speak with Sarah Jean today (She is my best friend from Michigan). It was really good to hear from her. I had called her last night to tell her that I missed her terribly and also the group of ladies (all high school friends that have stayed in touch these last 16 years) that used to get together for "Survivor Night" every Thursday. I was feeling particularly lonesome and I am sure that had something to do with it. Well, she tells me that they disbanded the group, so I shouldn't feel bad. Ok. That helps for next week, but last night really stunk!
Anyway, Sarah Jean is back on the market. She has had an on-again, off-again boyfriend for quite a while now, but has decided to kick him to the curb for good. I am so proud of her courage! It is hard to let someone go even if you know they are not good for you and Sarah Jean is feeling the pressure to find someone to settle down with. I keep telling her that she is still young, beautiful, vibrant and successful, so "don't worry", but I fear that she does worry she will run out of time to have a family. Please pray for her that she finds the perfect man for her and that they fall madly in love....soon,OK?
OK.
The Best of Intentions
Well, I have had the best of intentions to get a post up about the past two weeks.
I have failed.
Between painting, running back and forth to school twice a day, trying to catch up with old friends, knitting my Christmas gifts, church on Sundays and Wednesday nights and single handedly caring for the two little ones, I have barely had time to sleep, let alone blog. I vow to try harder.
I apologize to all of you and hope you will return another day to see what is going on in the World of Mum.
I have failed.
Between painting, running back and forth to school twice a day, trying to catch up with old friends, knitting my Christmas gifts, church on Sundays and Wednesday nights and single handedly caring for the two little ones, I have barely had time to sleep, let alone blog. I vow to try harder.
I apologize to all of you and hope you will return another day to see what is going on in the World of Mum.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
I'm Baaaaaaack!
Hello, all!!!
I finally have Internet access again! I will try to get on tonight and write a post that explains all that we have been through in the last two weeks succinctly, but forewarning...it may be a doosey of a long post!
For now, suffice to say that it has been an eventful but entertaining adventure!
Glad to be back!
One more thing...for those of you that read Trixie's Stix, please be patient. She has been going through some difficulties of her own and still has not gotten a keyboard ( a small obstacle that CJ plans to remedy himself today by ordering one and having it sent directly to her because he is missing lurking around her blog)so hopefully she will be able to post again soon.
I finally have Internet access again! I will try to get on tonight and write a post that explains all that we have been through in the last two weeks succinctly, but forewarning...it may be a doosey of a long post!
For now, suffice to say that it has been an eventful but entertaining adventure!
Glad to be back!
One more thing...for those of you that read Trixie's Stix, please be patient. She has been going through some difficulties of her own and still has not gotten a keyboard ( a small obstacle that CJ plans to remedy himself today by ordering one and having it sent directly to her because he is missing lurking around her blog)so hopefully she will be able to post again soon.
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