T.G.I.F.!

Can I just say that I have never been so glad to have a week over and done with? This week has been exhausting....and all of my kids aren't even involved in things! Whew! This week Meghan had tryouts/conditioning for the track team EVERYDAY after school until 5:30....not such a big deal, really, until you add in Daniel's small group, Bunco, staff meeting at school, clarinet lessons, consignment sale drop off, band concert, church, Girl Scouts, and an ARC after school on the day I needed to pick up Meghan for clarinet at 4:30!.....today was the only day I didn't have anything to do other than pick up Meg after practice. With Daniel's new promotion and since he is the boss...he has worked more overtime than usual, which leaves me to do most of the running around. I don't like pressure and I absolutely HATE being late...which I was to two things this week and both involved Meghan and her clarinet! Just one more week and then spring break is here, thank goodness! I need a break....and I really need to sleep in!!! I am hoping that next week is somewhat calmer, even though we will still have track everyday. At least clarinet lessons will be at school! Here are a few updates from our week:

-Lily read her first chapter book last week...all by herself!!! She read a Junie B. Jones and read it to herself, which is a first with such a long book! She is reading all the time....especially to Trey. Everyday when we get home, she asks him if he wants her to read him a story. They are too sweet together!

-Trey has a "girlfriend", Abigail, at daycare. His teacher tells me when she gets there in the mornings, they are usually at snack and he will pull out her chair for her and say "sit here, Abbygail (that is exactly how he pronounces her name)!" It is so cute! Today when I picked him up, she was saying bye to him and then said "Trey, give me a hug!" and he marched all the way back across the room to give her one...awwwww! When I asked him who his girlfriend was, he said "Abbygail!"

-Meghan is loving track...which kind of surprised me, since she has never shown an interest in any type of running. I am sure some of it is the socialization part too! We have been having a blast going to Bunco together too....a couple of the other mom's have daughters around Meghan's age and they come too. It is nice to have some mommy-daughter time together every month!

-The same is going on with Daniel and I.....work, work, work. We are looking forward to warmer weather.....it's a shame we couldn't enjoy it more this week! I hope we have some for spring break!!

Mom's Retreat

Today I went to a Mom's Retreat at our church. I hate taking a day I have at home away from my kids, but I needed this time. It was soooo relaxing! I had a massage (which my shoulders and neck desperately needed!) and some fun girl talk. The focus was on the stressors we, as moms, put on ourselves and allow to be put on us. I think the biggest thing I took away from today was that moms can sometimes have unrealistic expectations and that we don't always take time to care for ourselves, which I tend to do. I have to stop and let the little things go, like how the house looks and what laundry didn't get done. My kids won't remember any of that....they will remember what time I spent with them. As they all three are in different stages of their lives, I am finding it sometimes difficult to be able to be what they need me to be....or at least what I think they need me to be. This is where the unrealistic expectations comes in. I know Meghan loves to talk, Lily loves to snuggle, and Trey loves to play. Taking time to do those things shows my kids how much I love them and I need to make doing those little things a priority. I also loved the idea of keeping a journal of the good things and celebrating those with family and friends. I have always thought that "bragging" on your kids was not what God wanted, but it is good to say hey...look what my kid did. I can be proud and share that without being boastful. I also know that I need to take time for myself, either going out with Daniel on a date or just getting out to go shopping or get a pedicure....something that is refreshing for me. I feel renewed and have some new ideas of things I want to try with Meghan, Lily, and Trey. I also know exactly how blessed I really am.

35 Isn't Old, right?

I thought I was fine....until about 2 days before. Then I realized I didn't want to turn 35. Meghan made me feel better yesterday though....she said "Mommy, you have been 5 years old 7 times". Wow....that seems so young! I will go with that. Yesterday was a very nice birthday. My team teacher and our assistants got me desserts from a local italian restuarant, yummy! Daniel brought me flowers to school along with a cookie monster dessert from Cheddar's. Needless to say, I think I gained 5 pounds just at lunch! Last night we went out to eat at Logan's which was so nice not to cook on my birthday! All in all it was a pretty great day, especially with beautiful weather! You can't beat that in March! Thanks to all you who sent me Happy Birthday wishes....they made me smile!

Mad About Pottery

Last night some friends and I went out for my birthday to a local pottery shop where you could paint whatever your heart desired. I chose a plate to put in our kitchen. It was a lot of fun....I know I will have to take the girls back. We had great conversation and just laughed and hung out. I highly recommend it! Great for stress relief! Afterwards, we met up with Alyssa at a restaurant for dessert and more talking! It was a lot of fun and a great way to spend my birthday with my friends. I am so blessed!

SICK update

I am sure you noticed I didn't post again yesterday with an update. Well...I could not get into the doctor. They were booked solid! They wouldn't even attempt to squeeze me in (the receptionist asked). She called me back and told me and I pretty much started crying....begging her to help me. LOL. Looking back, I realize how I must have sounded, but I don't really care. I felt miserable. She got the doctor to call me in something and so I started the Z-pac yesterday and this morning, even though I was still stuffed up and coughing, I felt more like myself. YEA drugs!!!! However, I had to take another day off b/c I had a doctor appointment this morning (he would only prescribe the meds if I came in today), so it turns out I have an upper respiratory infection...which in turn, aggravates my asthma. He gave me samples to clear up all the gunk in my head (YEA free stuff!!!) and another prescription for cough medicine. Thank goodness! Maybe I will actually sleep tonight.......
I am keeping Trey at home again b/c he had three diarrhea diapers yesterday and Meghan stayed home as well b/c she wasn't feeling well. So...needless to say....I need to clean the house so this sick stuff is gone!!!

S-I-C-K

Sick. That has been my weekend in a nutshell. Lily started this horrible cough Thursday into Friday. She went to school Friday, but when she got home, she went straight to bed and pretty much stayed there. I woke her up for supper, but she didn't feel like eating. Poor baby...it was no wonder with a temperature of 102.9...could you blame her? I took her to the doctor on Saturday and she has her first sinus infection. It had gone down into her chest and was causing her to wheeze, so she is on an antibiotic and her nebulizer. Her antibiotic is working and she was able to go to school today. However, I also woke up feeling really crappy on Saturday. I have run a fever about 100 or 101...can't seem to get the tylenol to help me out. I am blowing my nose like crazy and I have this horrible cough that makes my lungs hurt everytime I cough. I have battled chills (wearing sweats/sweatshirt w/ three blankets piled on top of me and still shivering) and then sweating. I hate fevers! I am hoping to go to the doctor today, but they haven't called back yet. They are booked and the receptionist is trying to squeeze me in. I need medicine!!!! I am very rarely sick. In fact, it has been over a year since I have been to my doctor. Just pray they squeeze me in....I am miserable!!!