So I'm sure you're wondering how we relax in this crazy household. Truth be told it's difficult at times, I can't think of a time recently where we sat and watched a movie (or even a show we had on DVR) without interuption from children who were sleeping. We do our best to set aside a little time to relax at the end of the evenings but lately it's been crazy. Too many chores and a little boy who just won't sleep make for long evenings and long days. (Ever notice that I write these posts late in the evening?)
So we took this weekend and went camping with our wonderful church group. While camping can be stressful sometimes for this family just leaving the confines of our house is relaxing, at least for me anyway. We spent the days swimming & hiking and letting the kids just play outside. It was wonderful! Of course I now have massive laundry to do, including my sleeping bags, but the weekend was great and the kids are asking to camp again. That's what it's all about, making memories and enjoying my kiddos while they are still little.
So how do you all relax with your family?
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Four kids
I have started and restarted this post a number of times over the past 24 hours. I don't know how best to describe my kids to the outside world. They are funny and loveable and crazy and MINE!
I can't put into words how I feel about my kids. I love them dearly, and they amaze me frequently. And sometimes they frustrate me to no ends. Currently DJ (20 months) is holding the prize for most annoying child. He refuses to eat pretty much anything offered to him except cheese and milk, can't sleep through the night anymore unless you are sleeping with him or in his room and is in that oh so lovely NO! phase. But my little DJ found my laying on the futon this morning while S (4 years) and I played house (I was having "rest time") and he climbed up, popped his thumb in his mouth and said "Mama snuggle". Who can resist that?
I try to remember that this time is so short and I only have to reflect that my baby S was only a little baby just 4 years earlier. To think when little B (almost 4 months) will be 4 my S will be 8. That scares me so much.
And between those darling girls are my two boys Al (2.5 years) and DJ. Are you confused yet? Yes I am that mom that goes through a list of names frequently (including the cats) when I am calling on somebody sometimes, but that's what happens! My boys are so different from one another. DJ has this really strong personality and I think is just trying to really stand out and hold his own against his siblings. Sounds a bit like his grandfather from what I have heard. My Al gets lost amind the chaos frequently. He is a sweet boy who gets picked on by his older sibling and his younger. He does so well at his preschool and we see it carryover at home sometimes, but days like today he goes back to hitting when he's frustrated. Poor guy.
See it's just a jumble, like our life. As many times as I have restarted this post I can't seem to find any true flow or cohesion, but I guess that's what life's about some days. We are having our first family of 6 adventure this weekend: CAMPING! We love to camp and I am super excited about taking them. The older 2 have been asking to go camping for months and are ready. I'm nervous about DJ staying in his sleeping bag and not crawling all over everyone, especially little B. I'll let you all know how it all turns out after Monday.
So amidst the chaos of 4 kids and my one wonderful husband I am still working on this PhD. This week has been updating a methods chapter and IRB forms to make changes from my pilot work (another story for another day). See even in chaos you can be productive!
I want to close out this non-cohesive post today with an incident from last evening: as I'm leaving S's room at bedtime
S: "Mommy? I forgot to tell you something"
Me: "Yes? What is it?" in exasperation
S: "I love you Mommy!"
Me: "Love you too!"
This just reminds me that among everything else I have great kids.
I can't put into words how I feel about my kids. I love them dearly, and they amaze me frequently. And sometimes they frustrate me to no ends. Currently DJ (20 months) is holding the prize for most annoying child. He refuses to eat pretty much anything offered to him except cheese and milk, can't sleep through the night anymore unless you are sleeping with him or in his room and is in that oh so lovely NO! phase. But my little DJ found my laying on the futon this morning while S (4 years) and I played house (I was having "rest time") and he climbed up, popped his thumb in his mouth and said "Mama snuggle". Who can resist that?
I try to remember that this time is so short and I only have to reflect that my baby S was only a little baby just 4 years earlier. To think when little B (almost 4 months) will be 4 my S will be 8. That scares me so much.
And between those darling girls are my two boys Al (2.5 years) and DJ. Are you confused yet? Yes I am that mom that goes through a list of names frequently (including the cats) when I am calling on somebody sometimes, but that's what happens! My boys are so different from one another. DJ has this really strong personality and I think is just trying to really stand out and hold his own against his siblings. Sounds a bit like his grandfather from what I have heard. My Al gets lost amind the chaos frequently. He is a sweet boy who gets picked on by his older sibling and his younger. He does so well at his preschool and we see it carryover at home sometimes, but days like today he goes back to hitting when he's frustrated. Poor guy.
See it's just a jumble, like our life. As many times as I have restarted this post I can't seem to find any true flow or cohesion, but I guess that's what life's about some days. We are having our first family of 6 adventure this weekend: CAMPING! We love to camp and I am super excited about taking them. The older 2 have been asking to go camping for months and are ready. I'm nervous about DJ staying in his sleeping bag and not crawling all over everyone, especially little B. I'll let you all know how it all turns out after Monday.
So amidst the chaos of 4 kids and my one wonderful husband I am still working on this PhD. This week has been updating a methods chapter and IRB forms to make changes from my pilot work (another story for another day). See even in chaos you can be productive!
I want to close out this non-cohesive post today with an incident from last evening: as I'm leaving S's room at bedtime
S: "Mommy? I forgot to tell you something"
Me: "Yes? What is it?" in exasperation
S: "I love you Mommy!"
Me: "Love you too!"
This just reminds me that among everything else I have great kids.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
One husband.....
I want to introduce the "one husband". My husband and I have been married for 7, almost 8 years. We met in high school through the internet after I moved to a new area my senior year. He was born an raised in the midwest in the same town constantly around his family, so different from my experiences. He graduated high school and while I went the traditional route and went off to college he joined the United States Marines Corps.
We had a long distance courtship, including him being stationed in Okinawa for a year. We survived it all and I think we are stronger for it. He is an amazing man who agreed to this PhD journey, even though he had not yet finished his bachelor's degree (and still hasn't- again because of me). My wonderful husband agreed to pack up and move to another state knowing I was pregnant with our first baby and begin a new adventure........ I think, well I know, he's crazy. But he loves me, and I love him so we make it work. This is his constant phrase "we'll make it work" or "do what you need to do, we'll manage"
Now I don't know about you, but I haven't met many men who say those things are really mean them to their wives. Especially knowing that it means you may be tackling 3-4 kids by yourself, laundry, dinner, preschool, etc. by yourself all so your wife can fulfill her dream of a PhD. Did I mention that I LOVE my husband?! I can only hope that I can be as supportive to him when he finishes school as he has been to me the past 5 years.
We had a long distance courtship, including him being stationed in Okinawa for a year. We survived it all and I think we are stronger for it. He is an amazing man who agreed to this PhD journey, even though he had not yet finished his bachelor's degree (and still hasn't- again because of me). My wonderful husband agreed to pack up and move to another state knowing I was pregnant with our first baby and begin a new adventure........ I think, well I know, he's crazy. But he loves me, and I love him so we make it work. This is his constant phrase "we'll make it work" or "do what you need to do, we'll manage"
Now I don't know about you, but I haven't met many men who say those things are really mean them to their wives. Especially knowing that it means you may be tackling 3-4 kids by yourself, laundry, dinner, preschool, etc. by yourself all so your wife can fulfill her dream of a PhD. Did I mention that I LOVE my husband?! I can only hope that I can be as supportive to him when he finishes school as he has been to me the past 5 years.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Welcome to the craziness
Welcome all the to the crazy world that is my life. My hubby and I hear all the time "how do you do it?", so this blog is for you. I'll give you a little background information on myself and my family for the next few posts.
Me.... where to begin? I'm an only child to two wonderful and loving parents who always wanted more than just me. That being said I helped them out a bit by giving them 4 beautiful grandkids. Don't ask where I'm from, that question confuses me. Do you mean where was I born? Where did I grow-up? I was born in the midwest and moved a lot as a child. I thought it was perfectly normal to move every few years (and no, I'm not a military brat), but all-in-all it had made me who I am today and I thank my parents for the experiences they gave me living in different states and regions.
By professional occupation I am pediatric physical therapist, though I am not practicing at the moment. For the past 5+ years I have been pursuing my PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences with a focus on pediatric physical therapy. I love working with kids and I love research, I only hope that when I finish this PhD journey I can find a job that lets me work with kids and do research (crazy I know). It has been my goal and dream since I began college to earn my PhD and Lord help me, but I will finish in 2012.
My PhD journey began with looking at programs and I settled on a wonderful program that I felt suited me. When I started this journey I had been married 3 years and had 2 cats, no kids. When we moved here I was pregnant with #1. Well here we are 4 years later and I now have 4 (yes four!) kids. Baby #1 was born in 01/2007 (girl), #2 07/2008 (boy), #3 09/2009 (boy) and #4 01/2011(girl). Yes my kids are really close, and yes I was pregnant for about 4 years straight, but I love my kids and they are worth it. They may drive my completely crazy some days, but many times they are my light when this journey really brings me down.
Me.... where to begin? I'm an only child to two wonderful and loving parents who always wanted more than just me. That being said I helped them out a bit by giving them 4 beautiful grandkids. Don't ask where I'm from, that question confuses me. Do you mean where was I born? Where did I grow-up? I was born in the midwest and moved a lot as a child. I thought it was perfectly normal to move every few years (and no, I'm not a military brat), but all-in-all it had made me who I am today and I thank my parents for the experiences they gave me living in different states and regions.
By professional occupation I am pediatric physical therapist, though I am not practicing at the moment. For the past 5+ years I have been pursuing my PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences with a focus on pediatric physical therapy. I love working with kids and I love research, I only hope that when I finish this PhD journey I can find a job that lets me work with kids and do research (crazy I know). It has been my goal and dream since I began college to earn my PhD and Lord help me, but I will finish in 2012.
My PhD journey began with looking at programs and I settled on a wonderful program that I felt suited me. When I started this journey I had been married 3 years and had 2 cats, no kids. When we moved here I was pregnant with #1. Well here we are 4 years later and I now have 4 (yes four!) kids. Baby #1 was born in 01/2007 (girl), #2 07/2008 (boy), #3 09/2009 (boy) and #4 01/2011(girl). Yes my kids are really close, and yes I was pregnant for about 4 years straight, but I love my kids and they are worth it. They may drive my completely crazy some days, but many times they are my light when this journey really brings me down.
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