Motherhood is a Blessing

These past two days have been really nice. Scott has off from work for the Jewish holiday, but the kids still had school. In the mornings it was just us with he girls; it is always interesting to see the different dynamics in the house. Things were quiet and peaceful. I was able to play Barbie and a few rounds of My First Uno. We had the architects come to get ready to draw up the plans for the girls' room expansion. After this, we brought Madison to school and Scott, Kennedy, and myself went to lunch at Olive Garden. Kennedy slept through most of lunch, so I actually got to eat in peace and share some quality time with Scott. Then it was back to the normal routine of picking up the kids at school, homework, dinner, and bed time.

Today we took Madison and Kennedy to the toy store while the boys were in school. She picked out a Dora game since the boys each got a Batman game the other day. After dropping Madison off at school, I took Kennedy out for a walk to get her to nap. I was able to snag some quiet computer time while she napped on the porch in the stroller. I then discovered that Kennedy was chosen as the Stinky Couture photo winner of the month. Last minute I decided to enter a picture of her that the kids and I took of her. I never thought that it would win. There is just something so exciting about seeing your baby in her cute squishies up on the computer screen. I must admit that I keep checking on the site whenever I am on the computer; I still think that I am i disbelief. The best part is that I win a free diaper. I love her diapers for Kennedy; the absorbancy, the fit, and the quality are just amazing. I also love all the attention that she pays to the smaller details; the size is stitched on the diaper wing, the snaps are hidden, the soaker has a little swatch of the fabric on it in a cute shape to make matching the soaker and diaper up easy, and they are T&T. These diapers are my new diaper addiction.

In other diaper news, my Sapo Verde chica pants are shipping out tomorrow. I can't wait to try these under a dress. I should also be getting my GN Goodmamas soon. I really wish that I would have bought the girl bundle this time as I really love the Fairy Dress Up and the Dance Class, but I really didn't like the first round of girl diapers and didn't want to go through the hassle of selling off the diapers if I didn't like them again. I have a feeling though that I made a poor choice again as the GN diapers seem to me to be too boyish for Kennedy. Well at least I will get some more money back to buy one of the ones that I really want.

Now it is off to the treadmill, empty the dishwasher, and do some more laundry.

This is way overdue, but now that the kids are back in school, hopefully I will have more time to post. Summer was really busy filled with trips to the pool, Disney World, Hershey Park, the sprayground, and lots of little day trips.

We also had a lot of birthdays. All of the kids are now one year older (well except for Madison who has her birthday this Saturday). I almost had a breakdown on Kennedy's first birthday. I cried over the fact that my baby is no longer an infant, and she is my last one. Now if she would decide to sleep, I might forget how upset I am. I still can't believe that I haven't slept in over a year. She is still waking up about every 2 hours at night, and won't nap unless she is sleeping on me. I do like the break since I just have to sit with her, but there are also things that I would like to do. Her nap schedule has allowed me a lot of stalking time, but unfortunately that sometimes means lost PayPal.

We are now back in the routine of school. Zachary started 6th grade (middle school), Dustin started Kindergarden, and Madison is in pre-school. Today was their third day, and Madison and Dustin informed me that they were not going to school anymore; I can't wait
to see how tomorrow goes for me.

Well Kennedy is up again; this is now attempt three at getting her into her crib for the night. I must find a way to get her to sleep. All the doctor offered was to let her cry it out, and this is just not an option for me. I want sleep desperately, but not at the expense of her screaming for hours. Mom, the human pacifier, must log off for now.

I am very glad to have all of my kids home with me for the summer, as I am very greedy about time with them. However, after yesterday I might be very happy when school starts. It is not like I really was alone during the day before school ended. I always have Madison and Kennedy home, and Dustin would only be gone for 2 1/2 hours, but I guess having everybody in shifts works better than an all at once deal.

There were quiet points in the day, like when we made gel worms or played in the water table, but there was also mass chaos. I never knew that getting the man that dropped behind the couch with the Swiffer was something to fight about. How come I just don't get that same excitement about using the Swiffer.

At one point there was so much fighting between the boys, that I felt that it would be better to battle with removing the toilet seat and installing the new one. Yes, touching a toilet seat looked more appealing than my children.

I have decided that I just need to relax a little and realize that our house is not going to be like the Brady Bunch all day. I am just so tired of being a referee all day long. They fight over who opens the door when we come home, who turns off the TV, which seat to sit in at the table, etc..

I am passing along to anybody reading who is thinking of having children far apart- DON'T DO IT! I think most of my problems come about due to the fact that Zachary is 6 tears apart from Dustin, 7 from Madison, and 10 from Kennedy. He has nothing in common with any of them, and therefore is really like an only child who can't get any attention from his mom. Apparently this doesn't sit well with him. I find it easier to deal with the 3 little ones than Zachary and one of the little ones.

Now to go research some things to do on line which might be appealing to all 4 of my kids; any ideas? Oh, and to deal with the child who is screaming so loudly that people walking by our house are turning their heads (and our windows are shut). This is all because a friend invited her to a ballet class and she doesn't want to wear the leotard. It is going to be another long day.

So I stalk Goodmama, get them in my cart, and lose them one at a time as I empty the cart of the sold out ones. I don't panic since I can try again later, right? NO.....I get a call from the school system saying that the schools are closing erly due to the excessive heat (it is about 100 F). This causes a problem since DH is a teacher and will be coming home early. I was able to pick up a WB so he feels that is enough. Maybe I can send him to the store or something. Wish me luck!

 I just received a call today from another mom saying that one of Zachary's classmates lost her mother yesterday. After I hung up the phone my mind instantly started racing. What would I do without my kids and what would they do without me? Who would do homework with them (daddy has NO patience)? Whose hair would Dustin play with in order to fall asleep? Whose belly would Madison squeeze and play with (yes, that is her new way to relax)? Who would come running when Kennedy cried mama (she just learned this)? It made mopping the floor while having one in tow seem so desirable. 

Why is it that somebody elses misfortune reminds us that we are so fortunate? Why can't I appreciate all of these things on a daily basis? Some of what the kids do just make me crazy, and I feel as if I just need to step back and be happy about it a little more rather than be so whiny all the time. I hope that this time I keep remembering how lucky I am without having to be reminded over and over again.

On a happier note I have been occupying any free time I have searching for Fluffy Mail. I have now managed to get 2 Mutts (an apple and a Hello Kitty) both from a lottery, a Tinkerbell Wiggle Worm Bottom cover, 2 limited edition Just Ducky Baby chocolate and pink one size AIO's and 6 snap in soakers for them (the diapers and 2 of the soakers were free from the company to replace defects),  3 GM's (spring green, baby pink, and berry), a goldfish SOS, 3 small wetbags, 2 medium wetbags, and 1 hanging pail.

On a sadder note I am having lots of trouble with my Mutts and GM's. I must have an extremely super soaker since Kennedy just pees right through them. In fact I could never even imagine going coverless in them. The other day she leaked out of her PUL cover when wearing her Mutt. I thought that the GM's would work better once they had been washed more so I was not too worried. However, today I put on her spring green (washed 5 times) and put in her super doubler (if a super doubler can help make it an overnight diaper it should allow my daughter to go coverless for an hour), and in 10-15 minutes she soaked through it. It was wet enough that when she fell onto my lap from standing, she wet my pants enough that I changed them. I am going to try washing everything more, but if they still don't work I am going to have to see about canceling my hopscotch wishbox :(

Now off to the treadmill and then to clean up the house and fold laundry (I decided to just stop and spend time with the kids today, so now to catch up). Tomorrow is the Crayola Factory :)

 You know that you are a mom when you consider a miracle something that you never thought your child would do. Today I went to take Kennedy for some pictures at Daddy's work. I, of course, dressed her in her cute little sundress with matching, bib, hat, bow, etc.. We begged for Madison to also get some pictures since the pretty little thing has not had a professional shot since she was one (yes, she has been FIGHTING the camera that long). Now that she is 3 1/2, we thought that it would be nice to replace the 1 year shots with something a little more current.
After a little bit of bribery (ie: a toy vaccuum), she agreed to try. But wait, it gets better. I actually got a skort on my daughter. This is so big since Madison REFUSES to wear anything really girly. In fact, the other day she yelled at me because her camo shirt was not real camo since it had some flowers hidden in it. I managed to pull it off by telling her that it is called a scooter, and it is really secret shorts (it also helps that it was green).
We got a great shot of each of the girls individually and together. Now to find some wall space to put up the pictures once they arrive. It was so nice to have my two girls together in some pictures. 

I am working so hard at making Kennedy my "girly" girl, but I think that the others are foiling my plan. The boys have taught her to mimic them saying poop. Just what I want her first word to be. For now it is just "pft", but she really is trying to sound like them :( In addition, whenever she farts, she follows it by blowing raspberries, as if to announce what she just did. I am just so proud of her newfound abilities; what mother wouldn't be? Some days I think that I should have had the girls first so maybe they could have been "uncorrupted". Oh well, at least we will have some help fighting off those evil boys that will one day want to date my babies.

Now to go and continue the nightly rituals of wash, dishes, clean up, and treadmill. It is always the same things, just a different day.

 I am so not the lucky type. Who else would go on a vacation to Vegas and have it rain for ALL  FIVE days. I managed to convince my sister that I did not bring along all of my bad luck since we weren't one of the people who had their rental cars get totally engulfed in water when the entire first level of the parking deck flooded. We also weren't one of the people who couldn't get their cars out of any other level of the deck since the entire first level was under water.  Of course, it was because we didn't rent  a car; but I did need to find a silver lining in the rain cloud which apparently seems to always be following me.

Anyway, that entirely too long story, was to point out how happy I am that I finally found some luck yesterday for the Mutt stocking on HC. I entered each and every lottery (as I have done in the past with both GM and Mutt), and when I checked back I had actually won the apple print FS. I was really hoping for the Tinkerbell, since I am a Disney fanatic, but I am so thrilled that I actally won something! I didn't even know about the stocking, I just happened to just stumble into it. 

In equally good news, I also managed to get excellent sales in Gymboree yesterday. Oh, happy shopping week for me. Since, I have had a credit to my credit card for 3 months now, I decided to spend it yesterday at Gymboree. So with my 20% coupon, my Gymbucks, and the credit to my card, I managed to get 7 complete outfits (including hats, socks, and tights) for only $40. I even snagged some of the clothes that were not already on sale, which I never do. That trip was such therapy to me!!! I even got to shop ALONE since Nan and Pop offered to watch the 3 little ones, and Zach was in school. I can't wait for the warmer weather so I can start putting on the adorable clothes.

Then today to top it off, Just Ducky stocked some new AIO OS. I was ready to place an order then decided to e-mail customer service for a question on soakers. When I returned, they were sold out. But lucky me (?) received an e-mail this evening saying that she had set aside 2 for me to replace the 2 I had gotten awhile back that had incorrect snaps. I can't believe the luck that I have been having. This never happens to me. It all makes up for the SOS cart crashing on me right when I had to leave to pick up the boys from school. I had 2 in my cart and then it froze. I tried as long as I could, and then had to leave. Since the kids were seeing the school talent show today, they got out 20 minutes later than usual, and I just missed the site getting back up by minutes (that is a little more like my luck). 

On a more productive note, I think that all of this good luck has given me some extra energy. I managed to dust all of the ceiling fans, cook a home-made pot of spaghetti sauce, vaccuum, wash the tub, do 4 loads of laundry, and I did it all while holding Kennedy who still thinks the world is so much better in Mom's arms. Just to make my day even more complete, Dustin has been expressing his love for me all day verbally and with random hugs, and Madison decided to tell me that she loved me because, "Mommy, I can always count on you." I am just swimming in happiness today!!!! (I think children have totally changed my definition of true happiness. I now get excited over diapers, kids clothes, and maintaining a house with a child in tow). 

Please luck DO NOT DISAPPEAR!!!!!

 Okay, Kennedy has now changed sleeping patterns yet again. I was hoping that with the next change would come more sleep; I was wrong. We have hit an all time record- we now wake just about every hour to nurse. Should I even bother to try and sleep myself? I guess I am so desiring sleep, that I can't even imagine why somebody would not even want to sleep. I do feel quite proud though that I have the power to completely relax a person to the point of contentment.

On a related matter, she has started calling me "bah-bah". I laugh because I have been feeling that the only purpose to my existance with her is to give her milk, and then she calls me "bah-bah"; the term that most bottle-fed babies use when asking for milk. What makes this even more amusing to me is that she doesn't even use bottles. I guess to her I am a large walking bottle. I am now having flasbacks to my childhood watching Looney Tunes where when the characters get really hungry they  imagine each other as food; is that how Kennedy sees me? Do I turn into a large breast when she is hungry? 

We managed to take an almost 2 hour ride into PA this weekend without Kennedy crying the entire car ride. Maybe now we can start taking day trips again :) Of course, now the price of gas is skyrocketing, so maybe not. I must sat though that it felt great to get out and do something. I just have been feeling that every day is just a continuation of the previous one`lately. I wouldn't give up staying home with the kids for anything, but some days I just get so caught up with the monotony(sp?) I have started to get really excited about food shopping since I can justify the spending of money and can actually get out of the house.

On a busier note, Dustin has now started T-ball. Since all of the weekday games are on Wednesdays, I will be responsible for dealing with it alone. This means picking up Zach at 3, coming home and helping him with homework, dinner for 5 people, changing Dustin into his uniform, packing up 4 kids into the car (with enough stuff to keep 3 of them busy while sitting around at a ball field), watching the game while dealing with the others, and then returning home just in time to bathe the 3 little ones, and continue the normal bed time routine alone. I know that Dustin deserves the oppurtunity to play, and I would never deny him of it, I just am tired thinking of all the energy it will take from me for this to happen. 

Now off to empty the dishwasher, fold and put away 2 loads of laundry, wash 2 more loads, and clean the bathrooms. At least the boys are in school and Madison likes to help. Hopefully, I can get a fair amount of this done before having to pick Dustrin up at 11.

 I haven't posted in awhile since I just seem to always be caught up in the daily routine. I spent the weekend helping Zachary with his report on Canada. Of course we bumped heads quite a bit because he wants to do the bare minimum, and being I was a teacher, I want him to put in that little extra. It took a long time since this was his first research report, but we managed to get through it without killing each other. It did help that Scott also helped. I really enjoyed having him home last week. It was so nice to have some help.

Over the week off we managed to visit his grandparents, take the kids to the truck show (Poppy and I went with the kids), got some much needed spring cleaning done (Iwas actually able to do some of it 2 handed since Scott was home), and went shopping for a loft bed for Dustin. Maybe a new bed will make his 9' x 7' bedroom seem like more than a closet.

 I also managed to score some GM wetbags. I spent all day Monday lurking the site. I thought that they were going to go really fast, but there was time to do it leisurely. I have now been spending all of my computer time hunting down some diapers. I was so excited to find the rainbow shine diaper that babycatcher33 has been looking for. Unfortunately the person only accepted funded pp. If I thought I could have figured out what that was and how to convert my account before the auction was over, I would have done it. If that was the only GM I ever got, I would be so happy. I would give up any for myself if it meant that I could find that one and give it the home it deserves. The story behind it just touches my heart so much!!! I must find that one for Abby and Charlotte.

Kennedy is still not sleeping at night. What a cruel joke giving me a few weeks of great sleep, and then never allowing me to experience it again. Although part of me will be upset when this occurs since I love the quiet trime nursing with her at night. I love feeling her so sleepy, relaxed, and comforted. What a feeling knowing that you have the ability to make somebody feel so safe and secure. Being she is the last baby for us, I don't know how willing I am to be done with any of her baby phases. Every time she reaches a new milestone I just cry. I am so sad that I will never be able to experience that again. I feel so lucky to have her, and I just want to be able to treasure her babiness forever. I feel that this is so wrong to feel, since I have been blessed with 4 children. Think of all of those people who can not even have one, and I am so greedy to be secretly wishing for more. I guess we all have our week spots in life and that is definately mine.

Right now things are so calm. Kennedy is with me in the kitchen in her exersaucer, Zachary is at school, and Dustin and Madison are playing games on the computer. I think that I will go stalk the Rainbow shine some more. Then I really need to get the sheets out of the wash and do Kennedy's laundry.

 Just lost the Goodmama. They sent the e-mail saying that they had no more. I am so disappointed. I was so excited to be able to try one. Scott finally agreed to me buying some wish boxes if they worked as well as everybody says they do. I was hoping to be able to at least try one so I could order wishboxes when they are in stock (hah, will that ever happen?). Even if they only sent me one I would be happy. I should have known that it was too good to be true! 
Oh well, back to stalking and back to waiting. I do not want to spend a bunch on ones which won't work on Thunder Thighs. Maybe they will start to stock the Just Ducky's soon. Until then just more wanting and waiting?