So What Wednesday

I'm linking up again for So What Wednesday


This week I'm saying SO what to..

• I let the kids destroy the house and around 5:30 every day, I run though here like a maniac trying to get their messes picked up.
• I haven't done laundry in about a week. We all still have clothes to wear and my sitter (who will gladly do the laundry for me) is coming tomorrow. I might be saving it for her.
• I have a sitter every Thursday after the kids are in school...whatever I need time to work. 
• All I want to do is buy shoes. They always fit.
• I may get very huge this pregnancy. VERY. I can not stomach the clean foods right now. I'm praying that I can soon though. I'm over this nausea all the time.
• I put carnation instant breakfast in my kid's milk every morning. They are refusing to eat breakfast and they have to have something. It's way easy for me too.
• I came home from dropping the kids off Monday and only mopped the floors. I could have done a lot more but I sat on the couch.
• My face is all broken out. I have NO clue what to do. I remember it breaking out when I was KU with Conner too.
• I'm crazy stupid excited that I will be getting a mini van (hello Mommy mobile). I will miss my altima though. I love that car.

What are you saying So What to? 

Gluten Free

Gluten free...WHAT?! no way!! That's what I'm saying. Josh has been having some ailments for a while now and after testing everything, including a muscle biopsy, the drs have no diagnosis. They have no label to give us for all of his problems and the reason he feels crappy most days. Gluten intolerance has been in the back of my mind for a while and I've done research on it a few times. Everytime I mention it, he writes it off...until NOW. See, his mother has decided that FIL has a gluten intolerance and they are all gluten free (not 100% I've seen their pantry). I guess now since she thinks that might be the problem it could be. Now, I'm not going to say anything to my precious husband b/c that's not nice but DUDE...sometimes I know things too. I digress. Symptoms...oh yea, let me get back on track. Symptoms of people that have an intolerace to gluten include:

• Weight loss or weight gain
• Nutritional deficiencies due to malabsorbtion e.g. low iron levels
• Gastro-intestinal problems (bloating, pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea)
• Fat in the stools (due to poor digestion)
• Aching joints
• Depression
• Eczema
• Head aches
• Exhaustion
• Irritability and behavioural changes
• Infertility, irregular menstrual cycle and miscarriage
• Cramps, tingling and numbness
• Slow infant and child growth
• Decline in dental health

The ones that are in bold are things that Josh deal with daily...and more so on days when he consumes lots of grain products (sandwiches, pizza, spaghetti...you get the idea). He is on medication for severe acid reflux b/c of the gastro-intestinal issues. He's had muscle biopsies for the aches in joints/muscles. One of the first things I told him (a year ago) when he started showing an interest in medical help was that maybe he had a gluten intolerance. I guess he really likes his bread :)

Let me be honest, I am NOT afraid of going gluten free. Many, many of the foods that I ate (I won't say eat b/c I just can't stomach good foods right now and I know eating is better than not so I eat and even if it's junk, I'm eating) were gluten free. Clean eating doesn't involve a lot of whole grain products (carbs). It does include complex carbs though. Me, I'm not scared and we could totally do it. Josh, on the other hand, will have a hard time with it. I cook with little to no grains. Rice...yea, already gluten free. Potatoes...gluten free, veggies...gluten free, lean proteins...gluten free, fresh fruits...gluten free. I think the only thing that may have contained gluten was my oats but I got those from Trader Joe's so they might be the GF variety.

We don't eat a lot of baked goods around here (I eat them all b/c Josh doesn't like them, weirdo) so I don't bake often (poor kids). He will have a hard time w/snack-y foods (cheez-its, crackers, chips) but he will have to get over it....if he wants to really try it. I'm going to talk to him more in depth tonight and if he's up for it, he has to do it for 30 days, otherwise how will we ever know if it will work?

I went to my FAV place for clean eating recipes and look at these...all GF!

Salmon, Radish, & Shallot Roast

 

Honey-Cranberry Chicken with Orange-Paprika Rice

Classic Tacos

 

Creole Chicken & Okra

Alright, now I have a small start...I'm off to get on Pinterest (where else) and get some GF recipes and visit some sites.

Stay tuned :)

Sweet crafts

One of the things that the kids get to do at school is make crafts. They both really LOVE to paint, color, play with play-doh so school is great! They have already come home with some adorable crafts. I can honestly say that they LOVE it. Yesterday when I picked them up, Parker was SO excited to see me. He gave me a HUGE hug and kept saying "mommy, miss you". I die. I mean, seriously, he's precious. Conner is happy to see me too but he isn't lovey dovey like Park. Neither of them cry when I drop them off, in fact, they don't even tell me 'bye'...break my heart!

Parker's theme in is class is owls. Here's the owl he made.

Conner is in a class where crafts and Science are HUGE to the teacher. It's no surprise that he came home with this on the first day!

When it Rains...

we go outside. Yesterday, after Parker had pitched fit after fit (like he's doing now) the kids decided they needed to go outside. No lie, 30 seconds after the door closed, it started raining. It's not cold here yet so they played in the rain. Why not? They loved it!!

Josh also changed the battery in the small power wheels 4 wheeler. It does wheelies now. What 3 year old wouldn't love that?!

Sometimes the joys are just the opposite of JOY.

As the boys grow and develop their own personalities, the challenges are greater and I don't know what to do when those challenges arise. Often times, Conner bothers Parker until Parker loses it. Right now, Parker is laying on the floor screaming at the top of his lungs and kicking his feet (on the hardwood floors). He has been doing that for the past 10 minutes or so. This is the third time today that he has had one of these terrible fits. There is absolutely nothing I can do to calm him down. He gets snot all over his face and is a hott mess. But when he's done, he's done. He returns to his sweet little self.

In other news, this morning we went to IHOP (yum) and then we headed to Dick's Sporting Goods to get Conner some cleats, shin guards and a size 3 ball. He's playing soccer this year and I'm so excited about it; he's pretty excited too. His little shoes are the cutest cleats ever. Everything is just soooo small and so super cute! I can't wait until he gets his uniform next weekend. You know I'll have my camera ready!We picked up this set and saved about $20!

Third times a charm...

I've been writing this post in my head over and over again. I can't seem to find exactly the right words but when I realized that there's only (shamefully) 4 people really reading this blog, I decided that I might need my safe haven again. I won't know until next Wed (as in Aug 29) but if I do, I don't want to excite you just to break your heart. I'll just let the photos tell you :)

 

How do I feel? Blessed, excited, terrified, nervous, excited, nauseous, tired, excited.  Why next Wed? That's my first ultrasound. They offered to do one earlier and I declined. Why? I can't change the outcome either way so why stress myself out? As the date gets closer I am more terrified and more nervous. I don't want to go through the same experience I had in 2007 but if that's what is going to happen, then I know I'll need a place for my thoughts/feelings. If all is well, I'm going to need a place for my thoughts/feelings and updates.

I have not posted anything on FB (nor will I for a while, so please don't you either) and have not told any of my friends. I can't find the right words and maybe I'm just not ready. Maybe I'm just too afraid that I may have to un-tell. Maybe I'm worried that people will think "omg, another one" as if I have 6 kids already. I don't want to face judgement this time. Let's face it, for Conner's pregnancy I was so afraid I was going to lose him. Then once I thought I was in the clear, I went into pre-term labor and was scared again. With Parker...well I was just freaking out. I think I spent a lot of his pregnancy in denial. I already had a baby (for real). This time, I'm EXCITED. I don't want to tarnish that by telling or having people judge me (as if it's any of their business anyway). I don't want to let anyone down if this pregnancy doesn't end with a baby. I know what you're thinking "what a terrible mentality". Maybe but I already told everyone once and went to that ultrasound appt to find out that the pregnancy was not viable; that baby had no heartbeat. Devastation. that's what it was/is. I'm sure your first thought is OMG (mine too!) and your second...wonder if she wants a girl. Nope, don't care; I just want a healthy baby, because really, that's all that matters.

To my boys...

Often times, we have rough days in our house and I don't always use the hard moments as teaching moments (even though I should). I lose it, they lose it; it's not pretty. But at the end of the day, there are some things that I just want to teach them. Things I hope that through out their lives I DO teach them.

Boys:
Use your manners. Please and Thank You will get you so much farther in life than never acknowledging someone giving you something. Manners will make you a kinder person.

Pray and pray hard. Pray for others before you pray for yourself. It will keep you humble and thoughtful.

Chilvary is NOT dead. Open doors for ladies...your friends that are girls, your girlfriends, the old lady at the grocery store, your mom. It's the nice thing to do. When you start dating, you can pull out her chair too.

I want you to know that I love YOU. I love you for the little person you are and the big person you will become. I will love and cherish your wife b/c you do. Your happiness is very important. Do what makes you happy.

Dream big...then follow those dreams. Don't waste your dreams, go out and achieve them.

When people doubt you, work harder. Prove them wrong and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. You can do anything you put your mind to.

Go to college and go away to college. It will break my heart the day the 2 of you decide you are leaving this house. I will cry my eyes out and worry about you and miss you more than you will ever know. BUT, I will be proud of you. Get the college experience. You will never regret that.

Make your decisions slowly and without haste. Learn from every experience. It will make you the man you become. Don't have any regrets about the choices you make.

Be thankful..always. Be thankful. There is someone out there that will have it worse than you.

Be a good listener not a good talker. Actually hear what people say to you, don't just listen half halfheartedly.

You are each other's BEST friend. You have a friend in one another for life. Don't take that for granted. Trust in each other, lean on one another and always stand up for one another.

I would NEVER

So, Jennifer posted this and it got me thinking...how many times have I said NEVER and it came back to bite me in the butt?!

• I will never let my kids eat fast food. pfff. when your kid won't eat but then will eat McDonalds...you do it. um they have TOYS in their meals. score!
• I hate crocs..HATE them. Never will my kids wear them. Their fav shoes? Crocs. Yep. joke's on me. 
• I hate mini vans...never. buy me a surburban. Guess what we looked at last weekend and I fell in love...yep a mini van. Dare I say I'm excited. they are amazing for moms/small kids
• I will never bribe my kids. LMAO. ask my kids that one. they love chocolate and gum.
• My kids won't drink coke...they drink sprite...often. whatevs.
• My kids will only eat healthy foods. I will never let them have junk. Who was I kidding? Don't get me wrong, they eat healthy foods but they love hot dogs, pizza and junk. 

What are some things that you said NEVER to? aren't they funny? 

First Day

Today was the boys' first day of school. Both kids walked right in and didn't even care that I was leaving.I won't lie; I cried a little when I got in the car. It didn't last long b/c my phone started ringing! I had to put my big girl panties on and suck it up. Now that I'm home though, I am ok. I did take a few photos this morning before we left. Of course, Parker didn't want to participate! 

 

I love them. 

School Days

**discliamer**there are no photos in this post. if you don't like words come back tomorrow for 'first day of school' photos.

Tomorrow the boys start school. Am I excited, YES. Very. Conner is also very excited to go back to school and play w/his friends. Parent orientation was last week; Josh stayed here to keep the kids and off I went. alone. heaven. Parker lucked out and got Conner's teachers from last year. They are nurturing and wonderful. I'm very happy he will be with them this year. He has 6 little kids in his class; 3 boys, 3 girls. Perfect. He's going to LOVE it. Conner's teacher...O.M.G. amazing! Seriously. She holds a degree in Anthropology; LOVES science, all things bugs and nature and loves to blow things up (age appropriately of course). As soon as she started talking, I loved her and am SO SO excited for him this year. The other moms in his class are equally wonderful and he has a few friends from last year joining him. I'm thrilled. While I was at parent orientation, I signed up to be a sub. Let's face it, teaching is part of me and I really miss the classroom. I don't miss it enough to put my kids in daycare and go back but I do miss it.

The boys had meet and greet yesterday and (bad mom me) I forgot the camera. Oh well I guess. We spent an hour in each of their classrooms with the teachers and some of their peers. Parker is sooooo sweet. He listened to his teachers and played nicely with the other kids. There was one time when he and another child both wanted the same toy and he was distracted very easily. When Josh asked him questions about what he did last night, little dude remembered some stuff. Smart little boy. Conner's classroom is SO fun. There's a campfire (not a real one), a huge pirate ship, lots of dinosaurs; it's like a little boy's paradise! He also played very nicely with the other kids that were there. He was SO precious talking to one of his teachers. When he's really thinking about something, he cocks his head to the side and kind of squints...I caught him doing that when they were having a conversation. I don't know what the were talking about; I was talking to another mom about where she got her cardigan.

The best part, Conner is going three days every single week (M,T,W). That means I will have 2 mornings where I will be all alone in our house (for now). I can clean, go back to bed, eat on the couch, eat cake and not share...basically do whatever I want. On Tuesdays, it will just be Parker and I. It will be nice because there will be no screaming out of Parker. No sibling fighting. I know I will miss them but 6 quiet hours a week will definitely be nice. I will admit that I'm a little worried about how Parker will do when he realized I'm not there and neither is Conner. He's very used to his brother being by his side and this will be a new thing for Park. Even yesterday, Conner was there with him. I know he'll adjust but I nope it's not a hard adjustment for him.
I promise that I will take some photos tomorrow morning before we head out and maybe even once they get there but probably not. The school kind of frowns upon any parent loitering. Some of the kids get pretty upset. Stay tuned for some first day of school photos. I have to go fill out some paperwork and figure out what they are going to wear!