Sunday, February 27, 2011

Names

Josh and I have always kept our baby names somewhat secret because, for one, we didn't want others passing judgement, and two, we just didn't tell because we didn't feel like it. Well, for baby number three, things get a little more challenging in the name department, as I hope you can imagine. (Especially since we are both teachers, and also since we have come up with two other kids' names thus far.) It gets harder as you go along.

We have four names picked out. Two girl names and two boy names. We have been tossing these name ideas back and forth for quite some time and we are having a hard time narrowing it down. I jokingly suggested that I should blog about it and see what my "readers" think. Since only a handful of people actually read this, we hope to get a little input on our impending name decision.

If you would be so kind, please vote for ONE boy name, and ONE girl name. If you have any specific suggestions, you know where to find me.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Beware: Angry, bitter tirade follows

Writing has been my way to relieve stress for as long as I can remember, that, and running, but since I can hardly waddle myself along, I think the running is out of the question, which makes this post even more of a necessity for my own sanity. If you are not in the mood to be brought down by my tirade, then please, exit out of this screen right now, because I can assure you, I have nothing positive to say right now.

The past month of my life has been the most trying ever. It seems like it is just one thing after the other. I thought life was busy enough being a mom of two, who works full time while pursuing a second degree, but then when you throw in things like being uncomfortably pregnant, trying to sell a house, preparing for maternity leave, and doing most of this as a "single mom" isn't easy when your husband is not home many nights and weekends. Juggling kids' appointments and my own were challenging enough and then came Jackson's diagnosis. I think I was slightly in denial, but I never expected something so huge. With that news has come so much emotion and fear and uncertainty; I hate that.

To top things off, my body has decided to be uncooperative and give me blood clots in my leg, springing on extra trips to the doctor. Now, with the fact that I am a "genetic mutation carrier" I am evidently at risk for cardiomyopathy, which is a heart condition; I now need to be screened with an echocardiogram and an EKG ever year/ or few years. I am already starting to feel like a lab rat. Just when you are stupid enough to think that you can't take any more stress, your daycare tells you that they do not have a place for your new baby in the fall. This leaves us with two options. Option 1: Find a completely new daycare for all three children--yeah, good luck with that! Option 2: Find a place for new baby alone and have to split the kids up between two daycares, meaning they won't see each other and play together during the first year of new baby's life. That makes me really sad for all of them.

During all of this, I am evidently supposed to be keeping up on the 9 papers that are due in about a month for my one class that is completely worthless and a total waste of my time and money, and I am supposed to be finishing my action research paper and adding onto my, already 50+ page paper, in order to graduate on time, which I am dead set on doing. I just have no idea how I will accomplish this. I am so distracted that I can't focus on the things that I need to.

Instead of sitting down to do some necessary school writing, I am looking into daycares, calling insurance companies, signing up for research sites, scheduling doctor appointments, researching therapy treatments, signing up for cord blood (stem cell) kits and information, cleaning the house and taking "sell worthy pictures" and searching for the best mobility devices that I can. Somehow I still need to manage to stay caught up with my planning and grading and all my every day job duties. I have to juggle my teacher hat, student hat, mom and wife hat and somehow make it all come together. I could really use spring break right now.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Scrub-a-dub-dub, two munchkins in the tub



The munchkins like to help hold each other while they get their hair washed. Tonight's pics were especially cute.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Black Teeth




Are these not the cutest kids with black teeth that you've ever seen? It's amazing how funny Oreos can be.

More of a cute thing




I uploaded some pictures of Jackson the other day because they were super cute, yet the only ones I had figured out how to upload from my new camera to computer at the time. Since then I have figured it out and felt bad that I didn't show how cute Joslynn is too. So, here are some of both of them on New Year's Eve.

Friday, January 7, 2011

My new toy



Just before the new year, we made a pretty hefty purchase on a new camera. We wanted to find something that would take clearer, faster pictures. I have always had a love of photography and love to dabble with it, but, of course, you need a decent camera for the pictures to have the effect that does them any justice. So, my new toy is a Canon EOS Rebel Ti1. So far, I love it. I am still relearning how to use a "real" camera. I have been playing with the settings and taking different pictures of the kids since it is way too cold for me to go outside. Tonight was the first night I actually uploaded any to the computer.

Jackson is always the more photogenic of the two rascals, so here are a few shots of my little man.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Tai Chi

I have always had a huge interest in Tai Chi. For anyone who doesn't know what Tai Chi is, it is is a Chinese martial art and you have probably seen it in movies with very slow, fluid movements. When I was overseas, my sister sent me a book about it, but it is hard to learn by reading a book. I tried it on my own and it faded out of my workout repertoire after a few months. I really became interested again and thought that a video would help, since I am such a visual person. Josh actually listened to my request and found a great beginner video for me and I tried it out this morning. I am so excited for my new workout adventure! It is great for me while I am pregnant because of all the breathing and slow movements. I finished today feeling invigorated and energized. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something new!