A Lesson I Hope I Learn...

...but probably haven't. Don't buy the Costco size box of Oreos, even if it is more convenient than hitting another grocery store. Your rear-end will thank you.

Some how all the Oreos have disappeared and I have a feeling that I have eaten the majority. Okay, I know that I have. I don't share and I never let my kids know that I am eating them. I have the box hidden in my extra food storage place (my armoire). I keep thinking that someone should have shot the person who created these tasty morsels, but then I would be extremely sad not to have them. I have always loved these cookies. In fact, when I was little my best friend's dad gave me a package of double-stuff for my birthday.

I keep telling myself they are almost gone and I should share to get rid of them. One problem with getting rid of them is that in a couple of weeks my thin mint girl scout cookies will arrive and I am just as bad with those. Brian told me to only order 2 boxes, but I couldn't help it and I ordered 3. What am I to do? Maybe eat just one more cookie.

The Good and Bad of Life

I am going to make this quick because I have already wasted too much on the computer and I haven't even got to my original goal.

So I have finally hit the "bruised hips" phase of pregnancy. Every morning I hate waking up because I am still tired from turning over every hour because my hips start to feel as if they are bruising. However, I like to get up because I am tired of having my hips feel bruised. I don't know if anyone else experiences this, but I hate it. I just want to sleep. I have also hit the point where I feel that either an advancement in age or a third pregnancy is taking it's toll on me. I feel a lot more worn out at the end of the day and after an hour of picking up the house I am breathing heavy. There could be other factors that play in to this problem such as I have two kids that can create ginormous messes and it requires a lot of squatting and bending over to clean. I do a lot of crawling these days to minimize such actions. My hips are also ache a lot more. I am only five years older than when I was pregnant with my first, but I feel like an old woman some days. It makes me dread getting older. With Kelsey I taught water aerobics almost every night and maybe that is why I didn't notice the hips as much then. I am also at the point where I don't think there is much more room for baby boy. It seems that he pokes out every where. The only solution my body has is to get bigger. Not that exciting if you ask me.

So this is turning into not so quick, but I have to remember this stuff. Last night Macy gave her first family home evening lesson. She was so excited to prepare and give it. She did get upset when I wouldn't let her type on the computer to prepare. (We were out of time and she doesn't know how to spell anyways. I will make time for that another day.) She colored and cut out pictures of the story of the Good Samaritan. She then told us the story and asked us how we could show kindness to others. I think she liked doing it and maybe it will help give her courage to give talks in primary.

Last but not least, an update about our future. Sometimes I should keep my mouth shut before things are finalized. If anyone knows me, I am sure you never know if my plans are for sure. We have hit a huge obstacle in our original plans to move closer to family. It might even be bigger than actually finding a job (maybe not). The stumbling block is our home. Of course we purchased it at the height of the market. This has created problems in every scenario we have played out. We can't rent it because of the huge losses we will take over the years. We can't sell it because nobody will give us what we owe on it. So we are stuck. How come trials have to be so difficult? The silver lining to losing Brian's job was we could just go back home. Well that silver lining has faded a little because it has become so difficult to do. It feels awful to feel imprisoned by your home (one that seems to depreciate every day). It is even difficult to take a job in another state not occupied by our family because of the burden of our home. The worst part is we feel like we have done everything we could possibly do right. We purchased a home we could afford. We did a conventional loan. We saved money for a rainy day. We put money down when purchasing. We don't even qualify for a loan modification because we are current in our payments (and maybe because he isn't unemployed yet). In April they still might not do it because we do have some money saved up. So for the time being we are going to stay put, and look for a job anywhere and everywhere. Don't forget that my plans always change and evolve so next week you could see the for sale sign out in front of our house and we could be moving to a tent in the woods.

Since networking can be key, Brian is looking for something in high tech, health care, or real estate/construction. His background has been in finance, operations, and project management. If he reads this, he might have to correct me on this.

Media

I am stuck on hold on the phone so I thought I would clarify. I am worried that my last post could be misinterpreted. It was not to diminish the new president. I am hoping that he and the rest of the government can turn things around and make it all work.

My complaint is with the over board media. Sometimes I wish it would just implode. There are times when our country may be better off without the media prying, judging, theorizing, predicting, giving opinions, pushing their ideas of social norms and over reporting stories. They drive me insane. I have had to stop watching the evening news because the majority of it is pointless or the same thing every five minutes.

What Do You Do

What do you do when you go to the gym at 9:30 AM and you need to do cardio, but your MP3 player is broken (I should never be allowed near these devices. I think this is the 2nd one I have broken and I have lost one.) and ever TV station has the same thing on. Well I watched the inauguration of our 44th president.

I guess I should mention that he is our first African American president because the media and many people make a big reaction to this. I am glad that Americans can accept this given our history, but I feel that the bigger deal we make of this the longer a barrier will exist. Yes it will come down eventually, but I think it would make it come down faster if we didn't have to hear media theories on how a black family will be different living in the White House. Hello, they are normal people and will live how any other family would live. We are all humans and will make our own decisions and these decisions shouldn't be affected because of the color of our skin. Although some people allow this criteria to affect their decisions which is why there has to be such frenzy. I will now get off my soapbox and get on track.

Anyways, it was a nice ceremony with a good speech. I think he should be a minister or something with the way he gives his speeches. It wasn't a show I would recommend running to. It didn't really motivate me to keep moving, but what was I to do. I did go for the length time I wanted to and I was able to watch history.

Besides watching history the girls and I got out to enjoy the beautiful weather. We went with a friend to the Riparian Preserve and then to the library. Nothing amazing happened, but it was extremely pleasant. I also felt like a great mom because that is 2 days in a row that we have gone to the park. The amazing thing is that when I put my kids first everything else seems to have fallen into place. I have been able to accomplish everything I have really wanted to each day (while keeping the house semi-picked up) and have been able to maintain a more peaceful and happy spirit. Now I just have to stick with this children first thing. If I can do this I think our home might be a more peaceful place.

New Adventure

Well the our little family has entered a new journey in this little lifetime of ours. It isn't a route that we would have chosen because it will be difficult and we prefer to take the paths of least resistance if possible.

On Friday the Grimm Reaper was back at Centex and Brian was on his list. They were kind enough to keep him working until the end of March, which works out well since this baby is due at the beginning of April. They are also giving us some money towards COBRA which will really help.

We have survived 12 rounds of lay-offs so we had already done some thinking, planning and preparing. We lean heavily towards moving back near family (This would be the plus side of things). It is not set in stone but that is the course we are walking for the time being. So we are thinking about renting our home instead of selling. That way maybe we can sell it at a better time. So if you know anyone that is looking to rent, our home may be available.

Also, if you hear of any jobs in Utah (or in Arizona) we might be interested.

Don't worry about us. Everyone has trials of some sort and this is just ours and will pass. We are not extremely concerned because Heavenly Father will look after us. As long as we do our part and listen to the whisperings of the Spirit we will make it and will gain something from it.

My Big Baby

So I am pulling my hair out with Kelsey. Last evening I became fed up and put her back in a diaper. Of course she cried and was a little humiliated. She peed in her pants again. The day before she did it 2 times. The day before that 2 times. On Sunday she peed twice in her pants. I can't remember the in between days.

I am at a loss of what to do. She will go through long periods of no accidents. Over Christmas and in the car, no accidents. At stores and at the gym, no accidents. I thought it was because she can get constipated, but I am not sure any more. She tends to get distracted easily. Often I will see her dancing around and I have to sternly tell her to go to the bathroom. On the way sometimes she sees a toy or becomes concerned about something and stops making her way to the bathroom. Sometimes I think she has the urge then gets distracted, loses the urge so keeps going and then the urge comes on fast and strong and it is too late.

We have done the chart thing with a reward for staying dry 5 days in a row (2 times). Each time she accomplishes this with hardly any trouble. I tried ignoring it (not so well). I have made her sit in wet pants for a length of time. I have praised her for going in the toilet. And finally yesterday I told her if she was going to wet her pants like a baby then she was going to be a baby and wear a diaper. I even threatened to go buy baby food and put her in the baby chair for dinner. Brian said he wanted to see me feed her baby food. Well when she had to go to the bathroom she took off the diaper and went in the toilet so I let her have her underpants back. I had also regained composure.

I don't know what to do. I don't want to have to do laundry 3 times a week to keep her clothed. Could it be a medical problem which means I am doing some damage mentally?

The Sketches

Here is a picture of one of my Christmas presents. I don't have them on the wall yet. I am still debating where to hang them.