Out of Sorts

Things have been a bit wacky around here lately. I have not been able to settle into my normal schedule. It's making my cranky. (Poor Jon. Poor Liam. Poor Maggie. Not Sam so much. He lives entirely in his bedroom these days...hiding works in this case.) Consequently, I am looking forward to tomorrow. I have a normal schedule tomorrow. What's normally on the Friday schedule?, you ask?? Scrubbing toilets. Toilets and tubs and cleaning the kids rooms and emptying all the trash cans. Are you questioning my sanity? It's true, I am looking forward to it. On Fridays, I crank Pandora and dance around the house, scrubbing and dusting and sweeping as I go. I occasionally stop to play a Scrabble word...or let the dog out (or in). I often stop to answer Jon's texts. But mostly, I exist in my own little world.  And my world is clean. Until the kids get home...all told it usually lasts (from finish until they arrive) for about 1 glorious hour. Then, all my hard work is undone. In 3 minutes flat. 

But, that's ok, I think I'll do it anyhow. 

I love you all! 

Waz Up!!!???!!!???

Wow! I just checked my blog and could NOT BELIEVE how long it's been since I posted. I think with the advent of Google+ I just let it go. So, here's "waz up" ...

We had a great visit to North Carolina for Easter weekend. It was wonderful to see family and especially sweet baby Alex. Sweet baby, Alex, who is loving and generous...generous with his cold. He gave it to his mama. He gave it to his Poppy. And he gave it to me. It was worth every little sniffle to see him though. He's positively yummy! 

While on vacation, I ate like I was on vacation. Whew, I enjoyed not thinking and analyzing my every bite,  BUT....I was really happy to get back to my fruits and veggies too. The "not dieting" did a real number on my salt intake. My ankles were swollen on the way home. One day of eating right and I managed to pee all that out. Things are back to normal, but out of pure self-defense I have NO INTENTION of weighing myself this week. ;)

Today, I'm taking a friend to some Dr's appointments in Columbus. The friend is Angie, or some of you may recall her as "The Cooley Daily News". She is the one who had a stroke last August and was responsible mostly for my new healthy eating habits, Easter weekend notwithstanding, of course. 

Liam has baseball practice tonight, Maggie's first practice is scheduled for next Tuesday. And it's cold...now. Now it's cold. It's been warm all winter...now, when we have to sit outside a couple times a week in the evening...now it's cold. Sigh. So cold in fact, that we had flurries yesterday...enough for Sam's track meet to be cancelled. Which was a blessing, because I was freezing, developing a cold and scheduled to work the concession stand. 

I will try real hard to do a better job keeping y'all posted. 

I love you all!!! 

An Angel Attachment

Had some running around to do today. The pneumonia is receding, but due to some unsightly stuff I am still coughing up occasionally, the doctor wanted me to tack 5 days onto my antibiotic regimen. They had the good stuff in the office so all I had to do is run in and pick it up. Thank God for doctors who care...

While I was down that way I planned to stop in and do our monthly Costco shopping. Which was an exhausting ordeal, and not really my best idea ever... when you're healthy and you have normal energy levels, you don't really give any thought to how much "work" is involved in buying bulk foods. By the time I pushed the 576lb cart thru the warehouse, loaded it all into the van, got it home and made a dozen trips between the van and the house...then put it all away, which included at least half a dozen trips to the basement pantry and freezer I fell onto the couch in a near coma. 

The entirety of this post thus far, was to tell you that while I was right in the area, I stopped into Hobby Lobby. I do dearly love Hobby Lobby. My goal was twofold...I wanted to check out their Valentine's Day decorations, and I wanted to see just how clearanced they have their Christmas decorations. Because, God knows, I NEED more Christmas decorations. (Rolling my eyes). It's an illness I think, because this year I actually decided to weed through the decorations I already have. Nearly 10 rubbermaid tubs full of garlands and santa's and I don't even know what all. Half of which I didn't pick out, some of which I display out of habit and NOT because I lovingly chose it...or even like it. Every year there are things I do not display...things I just never get out. 2012 is the year of the purge in the Garrett house...if I don't use it, it's GONE. So, I have been assessing each decoration as I pack it away...Do I love it? Is it tradition? Will my kids fight over it when I'm dead? And if I don't love it...it goes in a box for goodwill. So, despite the fact that the last damn thing I need is more Christmas decorations I went in and headed straight for the clearance. And was immediately drawn to the angels...80% off...lovely elaborate angels. Angels with white puffy gowns and boa feathers... our angel, is old. Old and broken. Her lights quit working a couple years ago and last year, in an effort to make do, I cut all the light cords off. She was holding two gold lights in her hands, and after I cut off the lights she held her hands out to us...imploring...as if to say...stop, take in the glory of this tree. Or, perhaps, Please help me. help me find my lights. She's kind of small, not really proportionate to our tree. And she has blue eyeshadow. But somehow, in Hobby Lobby, I just couldn't replace her. 

She has always been there, on the tree Jon and I share...and she has watched over our Christmas seasons faithfully. And when it came right down to it, I got all sentimental and couldn't replace her. So, she stays, with her blue eyeshadow. Because I love her... 

Pneumonia Sucks!

the energy right out of you. I am finally, really on the mend. Avelox is a wondrous drug. It could, possibly, make you poop your pants. BUT, it will kick out any infection in your bod post haste. Thank God!!

January approaches and we all know what that means…

January is get healthy month. We all know it’s supposed to be a new beginning and it is. But, never long term. I told Jon last night we need to go to the grocery to get all of our fruits and veggies and lean meats. Because January is coming and we have to pretend we are going to change. We can eat healthy for a month then go back to normal in February. Just being a realist here…

Lord Help Me…

What on God’s Green Earth have I gotten myself into now?? Yesterday, I agreed to head up the 4th-6th grade youth group at church. Which is a new group…traditionally youth group is for teenagers. At our church we have a LARGE crop of 10-12 year olds that are extremely interested in participating. In an effort to NOT turn away kids who want to go to church for a couple hours on Sunday night we are expanding. Accommodating. Experiencing growing pains even. It’s going to be a challenge. To say the least. Of course, more than half these kids used to attend childrens church with me every Sunday morning, years ago…which actually is how I know that burn out can happen quickly.

Last night was the Christmas party and the first time I attended a youth group. It made me proud. Sam is turning into a fine young man. Crazy, but true. He had one shining moment…when he yelled at them all to “SHUT UP” but other than that really, he was a leader. Impressive. And to be fair, he told them to listen several times before he turned ugly. He and Austin, at 14, are the 2 oldest…and they will be good influences for the younger set.

I look forward to watching it unfold and would appreciate any and all prayers for patience…

Love you all!