a-MAZE-ing Fun....

A few weeks ago the hospital sponsored a family night for residents at a nearby pumpkin patch. There was a huge corn maze that was enticing to my older kids. It was nearly dusk when we entered. If it weren't for the other families we were with, we'd still be in there today. Shawn was actually able to attend this event with us, miracle of all miracles. I had to take pictures to document his attendance. The kids ran around, while Presley stayed snuggled up in her cozy stroller. We ended the night with a hayride. Perfect evening with the fun little family we've created.

A Letter....

Dear Body,

I realize the last year has been hard on you. For 4 months everything I put in you I purged out. I know you suffered dehydration. I understand you must have felt un-used when I quit exercising you regularly. Or at all. The next 3 months I wasn't too hard on you. Though, I did fill you with various sugary substances. Mostly containing chocolate. The next 3 months I did nothing but stretch you to proportions you had no idea you were capable of expanding too. I moved you around like you were a slug, and made you carry quite the heavy load in your belly region. Then I put you through excruciating pain for a few hours and completely exhausted every ounce of energy you allowed. I guess I understand why you feel like failing me at this point in our relationship. For the past few weeks I've tried really hard to only fill you with food that would benefit you. I'm trying my best to exercise you. I know you aren't resting like you should, but that is beyond my control. So, now that I've somewhat apologized, would you be willing to let go of this weight that you seem to want to hold on to? I would be able to run you faster and farther if you would drop some of this poundage. I'm willing to overlook the saggy skin if you would let me fit into my pants once again. Could you do this soon? I'm doing my best not to criticize and hate you for what you look like today, simply because of what I've put you through. But it's hard. Especially the clothing issue. Really hard. Let's work together now. Okay?

Sincerely,
Me (the one that has to be contained inside of you)

FYI...

Just a little FYI. If your new baby gets a goopy eye, and you pick at it with your fingernails, you are likely to get the goopy eye yourself. And it actually hurts. And really accentuates the bags you already have from lack of sleep. Lovely.

Outed...

Today we were sitting on the sidelines of the High School Homecoming parade. Jack and I marched in the parade with his preschool but finished early so we joined the rest of the family. Near the end of the parade a boy was walking alongside a float and pointed at Kennedy with a huge smile on his face. "Hey, that is Alek's girlfriend!" Shawn and I bust up laughing because she was outed. She turned around to face us and said, "I don't like him! He is in love with me but I really don't like him." Sure Kennedy. You were outed by the boy next to the float.

Easy #5....

I keep telling people that baby #5 has been the easiest to add to our family. It's true. Only, I don't think people hear what I really mean when I say that. It doesn't mean that life is easy. It doesn't mean that my sleep hasn't been completely interrupted, or that my schedule is smooth as silk. It doesn't mean that I can up and go whenever I please without having to contend with a person that likes to frequently eat and then conveniently poop as I'm walking out the door already late to an appointment. What it does mean is that my other children have taken to this baby with ease and had very little outbursts because of this addition. It seems like adding every other child into our family has come with various forms of acting out to get attention. A lot of acting out. This time everyone seems to be fine. Landon does like to be with me a little more than he used to. And Jack sometimes talks baby talk to see my reaction. But those are minor. So, when I say #5 has been a breeze to bring into our family unit, you all now understand the context in which I say it.

Cry Me A River....

With every baby I birth comes one day that I am hormone-charged, sleep deprived, and all I do is cry. I cry about everything, anything, and nothing. All day long. This usually happens after 2 weeks when my Mom is still in town. This time I didn't have that day. I even mentioned it to my Mom how unusual it was. That day came. Today. It was lurking behind two more weeks of sleep deprivation. I woke up crying. My poor kids thought I'd blown a gasket. I cried because we were going to be late for the homecoming parade. I cried because we made it to the parade on time. I cried non-stop all day long. The worst was when I burst into tears as I walked into my friends living room to pick up Jack from her sons birthday party. These tears were compounded by the fact that Shawn was working today when I thought he'd be home. My poor friend took pity on me and invited all 4 of my kids over for pizza and to play for a few hours. My other friend brought me dinner and offered to take Presley for the night. (I couldn't part with the babe!) I must have seemed pretty pathetic. Thanks girls. I got some much needed sleep and a good dinner in my belly (that still seems to want to continue to look pregnant). The crying has finally subsided. I can now speak a coherent sentence without choking up. Now my eyes are burning from all the sobbing, and my lips are extremely dry due to losing all that moisture. Nothing a little sleep and carmex can't fix. Tomorrow is a new day. I'm sure my kids are hoping that it won't be a repeat of today. It won't. The "cry it out" day only happens once. Weird. I should have known I wouldn't be able to bypass it this time.

Stupid Lady....

This lady called today. Again. And again. And then again tonight. And again. And again. She is a recruiter for a small town hospital that needs a doctor to cover a 24 hour ER shift this weekend. Shawns only weekend free until December. His only weekend home with us. I said no. No, no, no. Then I threw this huge number out saying he could do it only if she'd pay it. I knew she wouldn't. Only she said she would. Now he's working that stupid shift for that stupid lady. Stupid me for even throwing that number out there and for thinking she wouldn't pay it. And then for pretending it's okay when she did. Sometimes I don't think making a huge sum of money is worth what it costs to make it.