Wednesday, February 25, 2009

One Mommy's story of a public bathroom


I guess this story is at the top of the list for “requests” by my friends. They really like for me to tell the story to their friends to make their friends laugh as well. So, in hopes of making everyone have a little snicker… Here goes…
A few months ago Will, Kate, Cali, and I went to eat with some friends of ours that we had not seen in a long time (funny thing, I still don’t think they have even heard this story). I was aggravated because we were eating lunch at a later time than usual (do I need to explain the food thing again?). We get our food and I go through the whole “mommy” thing, where only MOMMY can get my food ready for me to eat, only MOMMY can pass me my drink, only MOMMY can cut up my food. So, only taking a few bites of my food, Cali emphatically proclaims, “I need to doo doo.” Bless her heart (and Kate’s), the girls cannot say poo poo, they insist on saying DOO DOO. I usually follow with a “you need to poo poo?”, emphasizing the POO POO part --- to no avail.

So, since I am already upset about eating late, which not only puts me in a sore mood, but the girls as well, I say aloud, “Sure, why not? Kate, do you need to go, too?” Now, if I didn’t want her to respond with, “Yes”, then I should have never asked because of course if Mommy is going, she needs to go too (By the way I am in love with this because I know I will not always be her favorite person). So, I venture off to the public, germ infested, e.coli breeding facilities and proceed to help Kate potty first. I cover the toilet seat with half of the roll of toilet paper, pick Kate up, and place her on the toilet seat. She has this down. She knows the rules for pottying in a public bathroom. She usually rocks back and forth on her thighs, hands up in the air trying not to touch the potty, while trying to potty.

While she is pottying, I am unsnapping Cali’s jumper (one piece, snaps between the legs all the way down to the ankles). Kate finishes, I whisk her off the potty, put her to the side, give her a piece of TP to wipe, replace the TP on the potty (because most of it was pulled off when I whisked Kate away), and place Cali on the potty. Kate finishes wiping, throws her TP in the potty, which sends Cali into an uproar. She is trying to potty and Kate just through something in her potty! Now, remember, Cali does not have the rules to pottying in a public place down yet, her hands are firmly planted on the TP’d toilet seat, and she is just talking away to me. “Cali, hurry up and poo poo so we can go eat.”
“Mommy, I doo doo more.”
“Yes, I know, just hurry up.”
This conversation continues while I am trying to tuck her pants legs from her jumper under itself so that it stays out of the potty in the back. About this time I hear, “Mommy, this floor smells soooo good!” In about two seconds I thought, “She’s kidding right?” I was convinced I would not turn around and see… yes, I did turn to see my four year old on all fours sniffing the floor!
I don’t know exactly what I said, but I did explain that the nice smell was from the deodorizer that sprays about every two minutes (I think it probably sprayed ten times while we were in there). I was explaining while I stripped her shirt sleeves clear up to her shoulders and proceeded to wash her in the sink. I was so carried away by the thought of all the germs on her and trying to get them off, I totally forgot Cali’s pants legs were tucked in the back of her clothes. I noticed this as I pulled a paper towel off and handed it to Kate. I snatched her up off of the toilet, water dripping from her pants legs, and slapped her diaper back on her. I am now ranting to Kate to NOT TOUCH ANYTHING. I wash my hands and Cali’s arms and hands and carry her back to the table. (Everyone has finished eating but me by this point). I sit her across my lap with her legs dangling, so I can finish eating. Will wants me to be able to enjoy my meal, so he reaches over and picks her up. I DID NOT laugh when he asked, “Why are her pants legs wet?” . . .

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

I will lie down and sleep in peace

Since Kate was ,"awfully lonely" in her room by herself, she moved in to Cali's room (months ago now). It is totally normal to hear laughter and playing after the girls are put to bed. Cali throws her blankie and her paci over the crib, Kate retrieves it and they both giggle. They are too silly! Sometimes, after they are asleep, I go in to their room and pray for them. The other night when I got home from work, I opened the door only to see this...


She didn't even flinch when I took about five pictures! I picked her up and put her back in her bed. It's funny how kids just go to sleep when they are tired. Why can't I just go to sleep when I am tired? Instead, I worry. I think about what I need to do, what I should be doing. I worry some more. I have tried to turn my worries into prayers to let God take control of them.

"I will lie down and sleep in peace,

for you alone, O LORD,

make me dwell in safety."

~Psalm 4:8

Friday, February 20, 2009

Hurricane force winds and a bed of nails

Last Saturday we took a trip to the McWane Center with the girls, Kelly (Will's roommate from college), and his little girl, Kerrianne. The girls had a blast! I was so happy to spend some fun time with them. Notice Cali's face in the reflection of the aquarium (She's on the far right of the picture at the catfish's head)!














Well, I'm off to shower and head to work! I MISS MY GIRLS! I can't wait for tomorrow, so we can play and have fun.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Great Gates of Kiev











The Alys Stephens Center at UAB hosts the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and has family day (not sure how often). But Will's mum (pictured above with Kate)has been taking Kate about once a month to the "concert". Over the Christmas holidays, the kids were asked to "paint to music". While listening to The Great Gates of Kiev by Modest Mussorgsky, Kate painted the above picture (the top one). The bottom one she painted while listening to rap music (ok, so I made that part up). Anyway, she won an award this past weekend at the concert and we are really proud of her. She is embarassed by all of her accomplishments (I have no idea why). But, a few people had asked to see a picture of her picture. Oh, and yes, she paints for money (I'm trying to see if she can outsell her dad this year). . .
Oh, and the other two pics are just because I love my munchkins!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Putting our lives in God's hands

"Putting our lives in God's hand doesn't mean we do nothing. Instead we do all He puts in our hands." ~Pamela McQuade. I have this torn out quote hanging above my desk. I know it looks tacky, but I just need the reminder.

It gets really difficult being a wife, a mother of two very active, young children (that I would love to spend every second of every day with), a full-time graduate student that works full-time to pay the bills and does clinicals (unpaid). Sometimes I forget why I am doing this. Then, I remember it's because He has given me these tasks.

As I sit here right now (really wanting to go back to bed and take a nap before work), I am trying to get some school work done so I can spend ALL of my Saturday morning before work with the girls.


God, thank you for the blessings that you have poured out on my life. ALL of which I am totally undeserving. Thank you for my family. Thank you for the two most perfect children for me. Thank you for my husband who doesn't understand me, but loves me anyway. Thank you for my friends that comfort me and love me. Thank you for loving me and allowing Jesus to provide us a better future. Thank you for my job. Thank you for all of your provisions.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread

If you have known me for any length of time, you know that I must eat frequently. There is no medical explanation for my mood if I do not eat (my blood sugar is high enough without food--- it is NOT hypoglycemia). But I tend to get a little temperamental if I do not eat regularly. Why do I let food decide if I am going to be in a decent mood or not? I’m sure there are people who do not know me well who are thinking, “She has lost her mind; she is not fat”. Well, this is not about fat (even though my last post eluded to that). It is about the control that food has over me. If I enjoy the taste of something, I eat more. I want more. I will spend more to get more. Then, I eat more. Once I eat more, I want more, so I spend more to get more, so I can eat more (get the point yet).

I have realized recently just how many things get put before God, food being one [sleep is the other big one, but since I am quite dysfunctional without sleep (because I fall out), I have decided to save that for when I physically feel better from my recent illnesses]. With all this being said, the verse this post is based on has created a need to act.

Job 23:12 “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”

Monday, February 9, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day

Seriously. I could have three posts for Happy Valentine's Day. I wonder if I should title them all the same? Well, Happy Valentine's Day to me. . . I got an AbLounger. Yes, you heard it right. An ab lounger. My husband says he has given me two years to get this baby fat off and since I haven't done it on my own he is going to motivate me (okay, so maybe I said that). I don't know how I will fit it into my already full schedule, but, I am going to try. At least for a few days.
And not that I can consider it a Valentine's Day gift, but since that is the next closest holiday, Will and I are getting new cell phones. That's right, if you call me, you might actually get me on the phone! Well, that is in about 5 to 7 days from now. If you call me before the new cell phone, please still expect major delays. I called my cell phone provider tonight, told them I was cancelling, and now we are getting two new phones, a cheaper base plan, and internet on our phones. Glad I decided to cancel that service!
I don't start my new position until March 3rd, but beginning March 3rd, I will be back to 12 hour shifts (7a-7p). Yay!
Cali's two year check up is in the morning. I hope I can find my list of questions/paranoid mommy concerns to take with me. . .

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Happy Birthday, baby girl.


Two years. I cannot believe that my baby girl is TWO years old. Wow. Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful blessing. We had a very small birthday gathering. Cali is young and we don’t have any “regular” friends to play with that are her age (Since Tina moved Caroline away a month after Cali was born =(). So, the party was small and there were no kids her age. But she still had a blast. She wanted to go outside, but here in Alabama, we don’t like going out when it’s 20. That is not warm. At all.
Oh, and the pacifier picture? What can I say, the girl still loves her paci. . .