A moment to think..eh. write

My house is quiet - but only because Mike and the kids are at church and I've come back home.

I've been reading this book - Raising Your Spirited Child - and today I read the section about extroverts and introverts. Not speaking really about personality or social skills - but about how you recharge your energy.

I'm definitely an introvert - I need personal space and alone, quiet time to recharge and refresh.

With two toddlers - it's not something I get a whole lot of these days. So when I'm grumpy and sullen - it probably means I haven't gotten any time to myself.

So I asked Mike if he would lead the class and take over all the "Mommy" duties of church and I would come home for some much needed quiet.

Mike is leaving to go out of town in about a week - he'll be gone through the end of the month - so my quiet time is even more important knowing I won't get a break while he's gone!

We're back from our trip to Birmingham. We didn't really get any answers but still I feel a little bit better. The doctor would like to do another CT scan - but this time with Wyatt sedated - and do more views of his sinuses and tonsils and adenoids. We had blood drawn for more immunoglobulin panels - this time also checking the subclasses. He said that Wyatt's tonsils are huge, but it was up to us if we wanted to remove them. Basically he said we could be as aggressive or conservative as we'd like - but that if it was his child he'd err on the side of conservative. We agree - although it's still frustrating having a child who just can't breathe out of his nose because it's so impacted with crud all the time. 

As a small act of mercy - Wyatt slept all night last night - it was the first time in more than 6 months.

So we're waiting for the blood work to come back and we'll see what that says. Right now we're scheduled to return to Birmingham for the CT scan on April 14th, but we have to find out how much money it's going to cost first...deductible's suck!

I'm relieved to say that I'm now officially a La Leche League leader :) It has been a long time coming and I'm happy!

I still need to write Maddie's letter - and I'll get to it soon - I hope.

My garden is starting to take off - I am so excited! My seeds are all sprouted and growing well - I just put little tomato seedlings in the ground this weekend and transplanted some melons and cucumbers. My spinach and chard are up and the peas are starting to climb the fencing!

Even though my intentions were pure - I know I'm still going to buy a few of the "genetically modified" vegetable plants - just to jump start some of our harvesting... I want to try growing sweet potatoes again and I can't start those from seeds!

I'll post pictures one of these days.. another thing on my to-do list.

More Kohlrabi Please Mommy!

Kohlra- what?

Kohlrabi (coal robbie)

I've seen this veggie before, but always avoided it because I wasn't quite sure what to do with it. My recent Organic Gardening magazine had a feature on this tasty veggie and when I saw it at Publix this weekend I bought some!

Yesterday at lunch I decided to give it a try. I peeled one bulb and sliced it into matchsticks. I served it to Maddie with some carrots and ranch dressing. 

She wouldn't touch it.

"I don't like it," she said.

"Have you tried it?" I asked.

"No, I don't like it." she answered.

We go through this a lot - I know things that we eat will appeal to her taste-wise - but she outright refuses them based on appearance and the fact that she just wants to eat what she wants to eat and never change.

The nice thing about her being older now - though - is that I can make her try at least a bite - and low and behold - half the stuff she says she doesn't like - she actually does like! I'm waiting for Wyatt to get to this stage so I can get past "chocolate sammiches."

But I digress.

Maddie had eaten most of the items on her plate save the kohlrabi.

I informed her that she was going to taste it - and dipped a slice in the ranch. She loves crunchy stuff right now and I knew that she'd like the sweet, crunch of the kohlrabi. 

Her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "More kohlrabi please, mommy!"

She ate all that was on her plate, Wyatt's plate and almost all of mine as well. I even sent some to school with her today.

I read that it's easy to grow - so I'm going to pick up some seeds this week and plant it in my garden - with high hopes that it will do well. Odd veggies seem to cost a bit more at the store - but it was worth the splurge.

Remember Me?

I'm sure I'm just a figment of your imagination these days - that used-to-be-blogging momma who used to update with little stories and insights daily - and pictures even!

Obviously I'm just a shadow of that woman these days - for oh-so-many reasons.

First of all - I used to love the freedom of my Macbook - but after the unfortunate New Year's accident I am now tied to a plug and no longer have the run of the house (unless I want to unplug and move to a different plug). I also have to be very careful because if the little charger gets disconnected the computer dies in about 20 seconds. Here's thanking the cat and the glass of Banana Crush.

For the past year I have been working towards accreditation as a La Leche League leader - and I'm happy to say that all I'm waiting for now is to sign my statement of commitment and send in my leader dues tomorrow! Whew - I am glad to be done with it!

Wyatt is still fighting those nasty infections in his sinuses and next Monday we are driving to see a pediatric ENT in Birmingham to see what to do about it all. A CT scan showed that one of his sinuses is completely blocked and the other is nearly as bad. I'm certain there is surgery in his future.

There are so many other things going on - part of it is that I'm just plain busy. I'm singing most weeks in the contemporary band at church - which I love. This means that I'm usually gone on Tuesday nights for rehearsal and gone early on Sunday mornings for rehearsal and then the services. I've also committed to the Palm Sunday performance called "Yahweh." So in addition to leading the Truth Project on Wednesday nights at 6 - I'm running to choir practice at 7ish so I don't miss the songs we're doing for that performance.

Mike is getting ready to leave for about 2 weeks - I think this will be the longest he's been gone from me - I'm sure that when he walks in the door when he gets back - I'll be walking out for a much needed break!

So that's it for the moment. I'm going to do a small separate blog about a funny veggie now..

The rest of the story

Every day I start with the intention of writing something - anything! - but it hasn't happened. The more days that go by the more upset I get with myself for not writing - about the kids, our life right now, the garden, birth stuff, etc.

So I'm going back to making lists - because that has always worked in the past to get me back into writing. If you see something of particular interest - leave me a comment and let me know you'd like the rest of the story and I'll make an effort to write it out.

Maddie's 4th Birthday party - the birthday garden

Wyatt's naked romp at my parents house - "I spit it out mommy," as he pointed to the puddle of pee on the floor.

Gardening adventures - what's growing, seeds, etc.

Doula certification on hold...

Wyatt's upcoming trip to see a pediatric ENT at UAB (University of Alabama-Birmingham)

La Leche League Leader accreditation

The drama in the birth community and other petty onslaughts (might only be available through LJ).

Grandma Grace is back - and oh so happy to visit with Wyatt on Mardi Gras.

"No- I not take a nap!" and other dramatics by the two-year old in the house.

"Excuse me, you don't talk to your mother that way!" and other interesting things Maddie says to her brother and others - but doesn't practice herself.

Dear Madeleine - on your 4th Birthday (this will be written in the next week).

Busy season for Mike coming up - lots of away time from us - starting in mid-march (gone for 2+weeks then)

Giving up on prayers

Yes, you read it right - My daughter, Madeleine is giving up on prayers - or so she says.

I don't think she means it in the profound way that I received the statement. I think she's just content to let someone else say prayers at meals and at bedtime - like me or her brother Wyatt.

Wyatt - is all about praying right now. I remember when Maddie loved to pray - sadly those days are absent for the moment.

Here's Wyatt's prayer: (with his arms folded across his chest like his role models Todd and Ryan Wendel..)

"Heavenly Father... Mimi.. Papa. Bless this food...strong and healthy...outside... play outside (cold or dark outside depending on the state of the weather outside). Amen"

My mom heard him pray last night and she got a little teary - I can say I feel the same way.

So I'm hoping my daughter won't "give up on prayers" for very long - even if she does - God still loves her.

"You never change, your love remains - Oh God I'm holding onto you!"

Just a little Ramble

I know I know - no excuses.

So in the attempt to start blogging again I thought I'd give a play by play of the crazy antics of our evening.

After 5 years of living in this house my husband finally sanded and started to prime the walls of our laundry room today! It was almost a year ago that I taped and mudded the walls - and it's been patiently waiting to be sanded and painted.

I've almost settled on a soft tangerine for the walls in there. I HAVE to have color.

Maddie is running around the house in her undies and at times some sunglasses. I am wearing a tiara and Wyatt is in mismatched jammies. They have been watching My Little Ponies the movie - the old one -

Maddie just spilled water all over the kitchen floor - did I mention I'm wearing a tiara? It's quite heavy.

She dragged my soft, fuzzy lime green blanket into the hallway just a few minutes ago - saying that we needed some grass in the hallway...

Before I could do any laundry tonight I had to vacuum the washer and dryer. My darling husband, whom I love dearly, did not move or cover up anything in the laundry room when he started sanding. I'm not going to say any more because it won't be nice and after all he was trying to do something nice for me. However I will have to remove EVERYTHING and wash either by hand or in the machine - If you know me - you understand that I am now having a panic attack when I walk into my laundry room.

Wyatt is screaming STOP at Maddie and saying all kinds of terrible things to her in his toddler speak. She is holding the bag of goldfish hostage.

I weeded my in-ground garden today and was happy to discover that my carrots are actually growing finally - it's about time - I planted them in October!

The onions I planted last week are starting to send up green shoots and I'm antsy to get my other seeds started like yesterday! Alas they haven't come in the mail yet and probably won't show up tomorrow seeing it's a federal holiday.

The paint fumes have gone to my head - the one wearing a tiara - so I'm going to stop writing now and you'll breathe a sigh of relief.

"Mama, I'm all naked and furry!" Maddie just told me.

That's what every mother wants to hear, I tell you!

On Worship

I wanted to share the devotion I wrote and presented to parents and participants at an Upward Basketball Game this morning.

On Worship-

"Psalm 9:2 says "I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing praise to your name."

Since I was a little girl I've felt like my connection to God is through singing. Other's may feel closer to him during prayer or reading their Bible, but I'm closest to Him when I'm praising him through song. I'm privileged to be a member of the Creative Arts Ministry - Contemporary Band here at FUMC. It's possible that you have seen me on stage at the 940 or the 942/1102 services.

When we come to church to worship God - no matter if we're sitting in the congregation, preaching the sermon or singing in the band - we often come with our minds and hearts concentrating on things other than worshipping God. Maybe we argued with the kids or our spouse, are worried about bills or something else is keeping us from really losing ourselves in the worship.

When you're up on stage it's easy to become distracted - you see people that you know - or maybe your little girl is waving at you non-stop like mine does. Sometimes it's hard to stay focused that you're singing for God and not for yourself or someone else.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:15 that "through Jesus, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name."

We talk about this a lot in the early mornings before we sing - that sometimes we just have to make a sacrifice of praise to God and put aside our own thoughts and submit ourselves wholly to praising his name. Some weeks it's harder than others, but when we do this - individually and as a group - the difference is felt throughout the congregation.

So I encourage you to make a sacrifice of praise as you worship God- every day of your life. Don't let the little things keep you from a total worship experience. When we do make that sacrifice of praise God will bless us beyond our expectations."