Monthly Archives: September 2008

work out diary

Today I felt really out of it most of the day. I’m not sure why unless it’s just the really busy weekend finally catching up with me. But I even forgot it was Wednesday. Almost every Wednesday for the past five or six months Paige (Anthony’s girlfriend) spends the day with us. Since school has started I’ve been picking them up from school. Every Wednesday. Today, for some reason, it wasn’t even on my radar. Anthony called to see why I wasn’t there, I was like, Oh yea, this is Wednesday. I’ve managed to get a few things done today, but it seemed as though everything took much more effort than normal.

So this evening I figured I needed to get some fresh air to shake the cobwebs from my sluggish brain. Anthony had less than no desire to go, but I didn’t give him an option. So once again the big kids and I took the little kids, and the dog, for a walk around the neighborhood. Zale is teaching a class on Wednesday nights, so he’s not able to come with us.

The girls and I made it twice around, we were quite a bit ahead of Paige, Anthony, and Gracie, so when I came within sight of the house I found the big kids sitting on the porch with the dog. I guess once around the block was enough for them :)

But it worked, I finally felt more like myself. Don’t know that I’ll get to walk again this week but at least I’ve got racquetball to look forward to on Saturday!

after the zoo

Sunday after we got home from the zoo I was torn between the desire to get stuff done around the house and the desire to collapse. For once, getting stuff done prevailed.

Hannah has been sleeping in a toddler bed since she turned one. Lately I’ve found her hanging off of it or sleeping in the floor, I assumed it was because she was outgrowing it.

Reagan hasn’t ever really slept in her crib. It started out as a changing table and ended up storing dolls. Why hasn’t she ever slept in her bed? Partly because she’s always nursed and hasn’t ever slept through the night. Partly because I enjoy sleeping with my kids while they’re babies. They’re only this little for so long. And maybe partly because I’m a bit lazy to train her to sleep in the crib and then have to get up myself three times a night. So she and I have slept in the living room. Don’t get me wrong, many times I tried to put her down in her crib. I think she took a nap in there half a dozen times, that’s probably it. I swear she has an invisible button on her back that immediately wakes her up as soon as I would put her in her crib. (Hannah was like that too.)

Anthony has been begging for us to let him get rid of his bed and use a big oversized chair and ottomen from the living room to sleep on (I’ve slept on it many nights, it is very comfy). I balked on this for a long time, but our living room had too much furniture in it, Hannah needed a twin mattress for a bed frame we already had, which would free up the toddler bed for Reagan.

All that leads up to what we did when we got home from the zoo. We went to WalMart and Hannah picked out a Dora comforter for her new big bed, Anthony cleaned up his room after we took his bed out and made room for the big chair, I took down the crib and rearranged the girls room to make room for Hannah’s new Dora bed. It was pretty cool that we got to make Anthony and Hannah happy at the same time. Reagan seemed to enjoy the new arrangement in their room too.

Since that night Reagan has slept in their room in the toddler bed for the first few hours of the night. When she wakes up I try to get her back to sleep in the toddler bed, but then I risk waking Hannah up. So I usually end up taking her back to the living room and falling asleep with her while she nurses. I know over the next few months she’ll be weaned and probably within a few nights after that they’ll both be sleeping in their room and I can go back to my bed full time. I haven’t slept in my bed full time since I was pregnant with Hannah. That will be so nice!

And, Hannah has been so excited about having a Dora bed that she’s been ready to go to bed at night. I know the new will wear off sometime, but we’re enjoying it while it lasts!!

Racquetball / work out diary

Yesterday Zale and I had a rare opportunity to go “play” racquetball. Thanks to our wonderful neighbor who watched the girls for us, we were able to go ALONE. It’s so rare that we are actually alone, that in itself was fun. We spent an hour trying to keep the ball in play, but not really playing. I realized very quickly that I needed my coach! But it was a lot of fun to spend that time with Zale, and I got a really good work out. Can’t wait to do it again!

most comfortable chair ever….

Okay, second to my recliner…more on the title in a minute.

Saturday was a very busy day for us and started earlier than usual for me. But I think that’s going to become the norm. Which is probably a good thing. It started with a game of racquetball with Dad (lots of fun by the way!), then I picked up Paige and Jake on my way home. Once I got home I blogged a bit, took a shower, picked up the clutter, did laundry, cooked some Mexican Chili / Taco Soup, whatever, gave the girls a bath, did the bills (yuck), got myself ready and off we went to church. After church the kids wanted to go to the mall, so we did.

Zale and I walked around with the girls while the kids shopped. I was fading pretty quickly when Anthony called saying they wanted more time to shop. I reluctantly gave them 10 more minutes and Zale and I went in search of a place to sit down before we fell down. We found two of these….

I know, they don’t look like much, but when you sit in them they adjust to your body. Within a couple of minutes I actually felt my body start to relax. It was pretty amazing! For display chairs they looked pretty good. We could tell they had been used a lot and were showing some wear, but I think that just adds character to good leather. I was really impressed.

Trip to the Zoo

Sunday Zale and I took the girls, Anthony, Paige, and Anthony’s best friend Jake to the Zoo. On Friday we thought we were going to have to cancel the trip due to gas shortages, but we able to get both vehicles filled up so went ahead and made the trip.

Hannah’s favorite animals were the giraffes. I couldn’t believe how long their tongues were!

She also liked the elephants.

My favorite were the baby camels in the petting zoo. The tops of their heads felt like cotton.

And the baby goats……

And the meerkats……

I was a bit disappointed that they didn’t have any lions or bears (they did have tigers). But it was still fun. I know Paige and Jake enjoyed it, Anthony would have rather been home playing his video games, but he didn’t make too big of a deal about it. I guess he’s outgrown it. I may have to find a video game convention or something to take him to :)

Hannah did really well during her first trip to the Zoo. She didn’t start fussing until we were ready to leave anyway. Then it was over a struggle to put her back in her stroller. I think Reagan just enjoyed the long walk in her stroller. She was layed back taking it all in. I do wish it had been a little bit cooler, but it was still a really good trip. It’s pretty awesome to see God’s creativity!

I’m also counting that trip as my work out for the day!!!!!

Racquetball lesson #2

This morning was my second racquetball lesson with Dad. I remembered to take Motrin before I went to play, so hopefully I won’t hurt as much tomorrow.

We did stretch, but I was spared the whole spitting in my hand and wiping it on my shoes thing. :)

I learned there are three basic shots when hitting the ball. The serve, the pinch, and hitting the ceiling. None of them are as easy as they would seem. I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t do as well at target practice this time (hitting Dad’s racket that leaned up against the front wall), but over all I got a very good work out (sweat pouring from every pore) and a few good shots.

I’m hoping I’ll have a chance to go do some target practice one day this week. That evil little racket has become a challenge!

Thank you Dad / Coach, for another lesson. I look forward to next Saturday!!! And I’ll try to work on my hand eye coordination between now and then….

The glider

My Dad is a pretty sentimental person, and I really like that about him. The things that he keeps for sentimental reasons always have a great story. For example, Dad has an old wooden filing cabinet (painted a weird shade of blue) that’s probably 40 years old, maybe even older. He got it from a yard sale that Miss Vivian was having many years ago. He remembered it being in Aunt Jean’s Dad’s office, it’s now in Dad’s office, and has been since he got it. Dad never repainted it because he wants to keep it just like it was in Mr. Clyde’s office. When Aunt Jean was in town a couple months or so ago, she saw it and remembered it. I think she was touched that Dad has it and for the reasons he has it.

Miss Vivian and Mr Clyde were my Dad’s parent’s closest friends. Through their family, Dad and I feel a deeper connection to our family. At least I do.

When Dad and I were at Miss Vivian’s funeral last week, Anna Bella (the true Southern Belle) mentioned having THE glider (like a porch swing, but it’s on a glider instead of hanging by a chain) that use to be on Miss Vivan and Mr Clyde’s porch when Dad and Jean were teenagers. They spent many hours hanging out together on that glider and it holds special memories for Dad. Anna Bella offered Dad the glider if he wanted to get it. I think Dad’s eyes literally lit up when he realized she was serious.

I do look forward to seeing the famous glider that I’ve heard so much about and seeing it at Dad’s house. I know even though it’s just an old a hunk of metal, it’s still a treasure for our family.

Ha Ha Ha, I married a comedian

I’m going to start off painting a picture of my day. Not complaining, just giving background to the title of this blog.

For some reason the girls, mostly Reagan, were not happy today. Therefore, I wasn’t very happy today. Reagan is teething and doesn’t handle it very well. I think she would have glued herself to my hip if it had been possible. And I think she cried more today and was more restless today than what she has ever been in her life. I should have timed it, but I think she cried an average of every 10 minutes or so. The naps (my relief) were few and short, but the quiet was bliss while it lasted.

When Reagan was awake she was biting me, pinching me, pulling my hair, crawling up me, kicking me, trying to shove her hand in my mouth and squeeze my nose closed, all at the same time. I swear she grew arms and legs today. Wish I could do that! When I was holding her she wanted down, when I put her down she screamed. By the end of the day I was ready to run away.

Of course when I was holding her, Hannah thought we were playing a game and wanted to join in the fun. I became their jungle gym as they climbed over me using only their bony knees and elbows. Even though I TRY to treasure every moment with my wonderful, beautiful, little girls, today it wasn’t easy.

Zale had a very busy day and wasn’t able to be home much. He was able to give me a little brake while he took time for lunch and I got a shower. (Thank God or today would have been completely miserable!) Other than that he was just in and out a couple of times. Anthony is usually a really big help too, but he was home less than Zale was today. He did try to occupy Reagan for me while I ate dinner, but it lasted all of a minute. I couldn’t stand the screaming any longer than that. Reagan’s, not Anthony’s. He was singing to her and everything trying to give me a rest. He’s the best son ever!

So, as I sat in my recliner, anchored down by the girls (thank you Dad, it’s still the most comfortable thing I’ve ever sat, or slept in), around 8:45 tonight, I watched through the glass door as Zale walked up the sidewalk… Tonight was the first time he’s played softball since he pulled a hamstring a month or so ago. Can you guess what Zale was doing as he was walking up the sidewalk? Yep, he was walking with the cane he had to buy after the last injury to get around court. I thought he was full of it since he was grinning a bit, but that could mean anything with him, so I wasn’t sure. But when he came in the door I said/yelled, “YOU’RE LYING!!!”, and he busted out laughing.

I was not amused! Okay, maybe I was amused a little, but not much!!!!! If I had had just a bit more energy I think I would have gotten up and hit him with that cane!

work out diary

Tonight the girls were getting very cranky and I figured they needed a change of scenery. Since Anthony’s girlfriend was over I figured it would be a good group outing to walk around the neighborhood. He wasn’t too happy about it, but I think he had fun anyway. We even took Gracie (our crazy boxer). She was so excited to go that it was hard for Anthony to hold onto her. So about a quarter of the way through Anthony took the stroller and I took Gracie.

I was trying to give Anthony and Paige a little distance so they wouldn’t think I was crowding them, but I didn’t want to get out of the girls sight so they wouldn’t go crazy. As it turns out Hannah loved Anthony pushing the stroller, she laughed and yelled “Antony, Antony, go faster, go faster!”, all around the block. It was so cute. Reagan got into it a little too.

We only went around once, but it was a good walk, the girls were happy, the teens enjoyed it (even if they won’t admit it), and Gracie is passed out! :)