RazNoggle

Yesterday I got some much needed ME time. Having some “time out” for mommy is important to keep the family sane and running smoothly. As a friend of mine reminded me recently, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t NOBODY happy.” I can usually snatch my “me” time in little bits here and there, and I don’t expect it to happen every day. Yesterday though I got a big ol’ whopping dose of me time, and it felt DELICIOUS! I used the excuse of picking up Myles infant pics to go into town. I used to use driving as a way to just chill out and “get away” without really going away, but with gas as expensive as it’s been, it seems like a waste to drive just for the sake of driving. However, I got in a good drive yesterday and filled up for only $2.69!! Seems silly that we’d actually think that’s a good deal! I started out heading for the interstate as usual to get to town, but I could see from the top of the hill very black smoke billowing up over the road and lots and lots of trucks backed up forever! So I opted to go the “scenic” route, which actually isn’t too much longer, AND it really is scenic! I so enjoyed the drive, it was just what I needed. Stuart was so good to just let me go and happily hang out with the lads even though he had to change several icky diapers!! We “catched” the kittens and the cat and I dropped them off at the shelter yesterday too. It was a fun excursion. I did some Wally-World shopping, picked up the very cute pics of my baby, and ate lunch at Wendy’s. I got to drive home on the interstate because it was only the one side that was blocked. There had been a wreck involving at least 2 semi trucks and 3 trailers. Two of the trailers were nothing but charred hulls, so that explains the smoke. Looks like it was pretty bad, and in fact had shut down the road for quite a few hours. Scary out there. But it was nice to get home and be greeted by my 3 wonderful men. I felt refreshed and recharged even though I hadn’t slept an extra wink. Yes, it’s great to be a mommy, and great to be a home maker, but once in a while, not often but now and then, it’s important to get away and just be a person for a bit. Hope you all have had a great weekend! I bought some bread flour yesterday and am going to give my new (early Christmas present) bread machine a whirl! Can’t wait!!!
Oh yeah, and I also got a magazine with an awesome recipe for chi tea latte in it. I made it last night for desert (it’s really simple) and it was soooo yummy!! I’m not a huge chi fan, but this one was just mild enough that I really really liked it! So stop on by sometime for a chat and I’ll make you a latte.

So last night Stu once again went to church solo. I was debating about going, but he had to go early for a meeting, and I didn’t think that wrangling two lads into the vehicle by myself was such a great idea, plus I was really tired, so that in a large nutshell is why I skipped prayer meeting last night. I guess we’ll wait till Sunday for Myles debut at church.
Anyway, when Stu got home I went to the back door and tried to find the cat, who had snuck out for the night, and noticed something looked “funny” with Cisco. When he came up to the door I discovered what the funny thing was. He had porcupine quills sticking out of his nose and mouth. Not good! This is the second time in less than a week that he has been “hit” by a porcupine, you’d think he’d learn. Oh no, not this brilliant dog. The first time it happened, he only had a few and they were on the side of his face and easy for Stuart to remove. This time, however, they were in a much more sensitive area and he was NOT happy to be helped. On top of which, he kept licking his jaws and driving the quills in deeper. We had to wrap him in a blanket to control his legs and sit on top of him holding his head down as we tried to pull the quills out with pliars. We took turns pulling them out, Stu had his hands full, most of the time just trying to control the dog. It took FOREVER to get them all out, and one that I pulled out of his nose started gushing blood as soon as it was out. The dog was totally stressed out, his eyes were bulging and red, and his tongue was lolling out. It was not a fun hour and a half for sure. I think by the end he started to realize that fighting it was just not working, and he cooperated better. At least that’s what I’d like to think… knowing his “mentality” though, it’s more likely he was just totally worn out. Today he seems hunky-dory and seems to have no ill effects from his encounter. I’m just hoping that he took away a little lesson about trying to play with porcupines.
On a different note, our “little monster” is doing much better! Qade has been listening and responding better to instructions from mom and dad. It was so cute yesterday when Stuart came home. He had actually been home for a little while but Qade hadn’t seen him. Qade was playing with “his” dishes in the kitchen and Stu kind of crept in, and when Qade looked up he said, “Hi, Dad.” just as plain as that! He has still had a few “moments” but they are becoming fewer and farther between which makes this mamma happy! Myles is doing great! He has had goopy eyes, but hopefully the ointment will clear that up soon. It’s a challenge to get it into those tiny eyes though, let me tell ya!
Well, hope you’ve all had a marvelous week, and will have an even better weekend! Ta ta

Okay so in our attempts to guide Qade into the paths of happy obedience these days I’ve decided to go back to a much more regulated schedule. I had been keeping him up in the AM so that he would nap in the afternoon. However he won’t sleep longer than an hour and half to 2 hrs anyway, which leaves him a terrible grump before bedtime. SO we are going back to a 2 nap a day schedule, even if he doesn’t sleep for one of them. At least he’ll have rest time in his bed, and Mommy will have a break.
I am SO thankful for Stuart these days. I know I should appreciate him so much more. He does SO much for me and our kids! Since we’ve been home with Myles there’s just no way I could cope with it all if I didn’t have him! Not only is he totally involved, especially when it comes to disciplining Qade, but he is also my biggest support and help. He always lets me know that he thinks I’m doing a great job, even when I’m down because the house is a wreck and I feel like a flop as a mom. He has been getting up once a night with Myles just to let me get a little more sleep. On top of all that he still has been diligently working on stuff for camp and just our regular family upkeep. He is an amazing and wonderful man, and every day I’m reminded in so many ways that I married the best guy in the universe!
So between the 2 of us, Qade is getting a lot of structure and instruction. I sometimes get discouraged because it seems like overnight we lost our happy lad and he was replaced by some kind of monster child. But I believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I know he is learning some valuable lessons. Parenting is not all fun and games, but even so, I’d never change it, and as much as I loved the happy lad and want him to come back, I love the little monster just as much!

So my goal for this post was to put some pictures up too, but for some reason the picture program won’t let me drag stuff to the desktop and I’m not going to waste any more time trying to figure it out. So you’ll have to do without pics today, sorry.
Things are going well with the munchkins. We’re all learning to adjust to our new family size and needs. Qade loves “baby” and will sit by his pack n play and look in at him while he’s sleeping. We went to town on Thursday for check ups, and Qade has this very concerned look on his face while he watched the Dr. examine Myles. I wonder if he was just thinking his turn was coming or something. Myles did swell and was already back up to 6-12, only an oz shy of his birth weight. I knew he was packing it on with as much as he’d been eating! Qade had his 18 month check the same day, just a tad early, he won’t be 18 months till the 23rd, but we wanted to save ourselves an extra trip to town if possible. Qade was 23 pounds even. Seems light for his age, but when I go to pick him up now, it feels like he weighs a ton!
Bubba has been going through adjustments too. I’m not sure that it’s all over baby either. Probably some if it has to do with being around family and grandparents for nearly a week with minimal parental intervention. Plus, like I’ve said, I think the “terrible two’s” actually starts around 18 months when they really start to flex their tiny “independence muscles.” He’s been doing that for sure. He has learned the word “no” and uses it regularly. We’re working on some of these issues, and he has earned himself “time outs” for touching all the “no-no’s” he can find, but I’m confident that it will all pass and I’ll get my happy boy back again soon. I think that it’s important for me to spend time playing with him in a nondiscipline type situation. Of course those can arise anywhere, but I’m really trying to make an effort to just do stuff with him rather than be constantly telling him to stop things.
Myles is doing great! He eats like a champ, and sleeps awesome too! Of course he’s no where near sleeping as long as I’d like to at night, but he does sleep so well between feedings that I’m sure he’ll do great as he gets bigger. He’s had a couple tummy time work-outs after big bro has gone to bed. Qade still doesn’t understand that he’s big enough to klobber the baby if he’s not careful, but he is learning to be “gentle” around baby.
I’m doing good too. Had some “blue” moments, but they were mild… more azure than true blue. Stu’s been home all this week, and it’s been such a help! I love having him around!! He’s been getting up with Myles at his 3-4am feeding, and that is such an amazing help to me. Just that one break makes the biggest difference, it’s hard to describe. The housework and such I’m trying not to get bogged down in. I set at least 1 goal for myself each day and then feel good when that gets done. Yesterday it was laundry. Today I need to sweep, and I’m hoping to add on organize our bedroom a little better. Right now with all the baby stuff everywhere, it’s a little haphazard, but it would help me mentally to know where stuff is and where it needs to go.
So that’s it, I suppose. A little boring to read probably, but it’s what’s going on with us. I’ll try to post again soon when I can put up some pics. Ta ta for now!