Controlling My Offspring

Last night I managed to get the aquarium almost emptied. I tried something new to clean out all the gunk, and it worked. I put in some oxiclean powder, and mixed some oxiclean powder with hot water into it too. It took all the gunk off the bottom, and made it float to the foamy top. It was amazing! So, I've got one more night of work to do to get it finished. Then I'll be able to setup our old computer on that table, and (hopefully) access our old files. I'm not sure if I'll finish that tonight or in the morning - we will see. I just can't wait to get those old pictures onto our new computer!
Hubby didn't have to be at work until 4pm today, so the kids got some good outside time in with him. I got to spend a little while sitting in bed with hubby this morning watching Airplane! Hubby gave me $20 to get gas or whatever I need - thanks hubby! He has been very pleasant and helpful lately!
I feel like I've been somewhat on top of things today. I've done several loads of laundry. I did the dishes. I ate 400 calories for breakfast (fruit bar & tomato sandwich). I ate cheese ravioli for lunch. I ate a Big & Tasty burger with cheese and 4 chicken nuggets for dinner. I ate a bunch of whitehouse cherry vanilla ice cream for snack. I ate a banana to attempt to prevent leg cramps. I rewound about 10 VHS tapes from my parent's house. I had some funny looking "discharge" earlier that makes me think - mucous plug?
The twins shared colored pencils and paper. They raced together on Super Mario Kart, and T won. Other than being very aggressive to get attention from their father, the twins were pretty good today. Oh, yeah, J wrote his name backwards on the nursery door in crayon - that kind of sucks, but I've seen worse.
After hubby went to work, I took the twins out. They each bought happy meals (with their own money). We listened to the CD of If Roast Beef Could Fly while J tried to follow along in the book all the way down to the river, where we had a lovely picnic dinner. The river was flowing high and loud; the wind was blowing just right. When we finished eating J read I Love Cats to us; we dropped that book off at the library and then played/raced/took pictures on the big bridge just down the river.
Tonight hubby will be home late (after 10pm) and I'm going to get an awesome shower! I thought about taking a bath, but not tonight. I've been breaking out so bad lately; in response to my mass pimple problem, I'm using my proactiv more. I see nothing good comes on TV tonight, so I might as well stay busy...or see if netflix has any funny watch instantly movies. Maybe I'll just empty my cameras, edit pictures, and listen to music. I need to charge my camera batteries too - can't forget that! I also really need to fold comforters (since I have 3 clean and bundled up) and change my sheets (it's been a while). Here's to a great weekend! Stay positive!

I went to the doctor for my 32 week check-up today. My fundal height was still a week big - that's good since I lost a pound. My blood pressure was peachy keen at 100/58. Baby's heart rate was 144 like usual. The doctor told me not to worry about nutritional content - just calories. She said I would feel much better if I gained some weight. She also suggested wearing the maternity belt to decrease pain of fetal movement....we'll see if that works.

It has been a decent day with the twins. We've had our down moments: crazy behavior at my parents house, not keeping hands and feet to themselves, repeatedly breaking other rules, and not listening. I'll admit my immense frustration has driven me to both scream (which the fetus hates) and spank (again, fetus no likey). But, I understand the twins hyperness - we've only had maybe 5 minutes outside today. Also, I banned them from the Wii today; on top of being banned from the Xbox as of yesterday (for breaking ANOTHER controller), my little gamers are "bored". Hubby is at work 10am-8pm today, so the twins only saw him for a minute this morning to say goodbye. They have been helpful when I ask, but if I don't keep them busy, they stray and break rules. I don't expect perfection from 5 year-olds, but I do expect RESPECT. Really, I think the biggest problem with their behavior has to do with them being twins - "he told me to do it" and "she made me do it" are frequent excuses for misbehavior. I would give ANYTHING to be able to put them in separate bedrooms!

I've had a rough one today. I'm worrying about money, the baby, the doctor, the bills, etc. The day started out super gloomy and dark with heavy rain. Since the sun has come out, my mood has improved a little. I'd like to give my husband credit for trying to help me so much today. He took out the trash, played outside with the kids, gave the kids baths, ran the dishwasher, and even offered to setup the bathtub for me! He also gave me his last $3 to pay for parking at the doctor's office tomorrow.
I am tired. I have had a BUNCH of contractions. I've been crying. I'm having trouble getting food in my system - there is just not enough room for it. I'm having to take lots of breaks to rest, but then I have to get up to readjust and try to get comfortable again.
Despite all my aches and woes, I have managed to get some chores done. I did more laundry (comforters and twins' clothes). I fed the kids breakfast & lunch (hubby did dessert after lunch for me). I folded some towels and clothes. I deposited my rolled change. I checked the mail. And I got a free pizza all to myself (thanks to hubby remembering that handy coupon).
As far as this afternoon and tonight, I'm planning on staying home. It is too hot and muggy outside for me to want to go out. Plus the kids are so fresh and clean, I'd hate to dirty them back up. I have a mile-long to-do list around the house, and I know if I don't do what I can now it'll take years for it to get done. So, tonight will be book reading to the kids, watching movies in bed with the kids, making a quick dinner for the kids, and doing some minimal chores around here. And I've only got a couple of days to do my hospital pre-registration...I'll save that for the morning. My doctor's appointment is at 9:45 tomorrow, and I hope it goes fast! I'll be leaving the kids with my parents at 9:00, and I'd like to pick them back up before lunch. I don't know what we'll do then...I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Hubby and I have set Friday as our tentative day to take stuff to storage; I think it will be 2 loads, so we may only take half of the stuff Friday, and save the other half for next week.

Ways I'm trying to stay positive - watching Duggar family webisodes, listening to the Beatles and Billy Joel, taking time for myself (I got a nap this morning and watched my second favorite show Weeds).
Today is going well. J's finger is looking a little better, and we are trying to keep his glove on ALL day. He'll get a new glove tonight after cleaning and medicine.
I've emptied the dryer of towels, and washed and dried sheets. Now I'm washing a comforter while a load of my clothes dry. Next up will be twins clothes! Then another comforter.
I got those quarters, dimes, and pennies rolled; the deposit slip is half-filled out. Hubby gave me money for cokes and milk, so we searched for a good deal on milk and took it ($2.79/gallon). I've checked and read the mail. The kids have had breakfast and lunch. T and I read a book ("I Love Cats") together. The twins got a treat - strawberry milk - just because I'm the coolest mom ever. I cleared the old messages off the voicemail. I've cleaned 1/2 of my desk. I'm almost done with the dishes too.
My grandmother called from Maine to tell us she is sending a box of clothes and cookies. She is sad today - her son (my uncle John) would have turned 49 today. She had a headstone put in the family cemetery for him so she can have a place to put flowers (his wife has his ashes and lives in Florida).
And for tonight? Hubby gets off work at 4, and should be coming straight home. Unless the weather gets bad, I'm sure he'll amuse the kids in the yard, while I clean more (or shower or nap). Hopefully hubby will agree to the twins going to bed at normal bedtime (7:00). Then he and I can watch the new Hell's Kitchen at 7 and the new Duggars at 8.

Sunday:
We hung out as a family. We played soccer - the twins won. With the exception of J hitting T with a disc golf disc thrown from a few feet away, everything was great. Inside time was filled with coloring with markers, and a brief attempt at Pixos. Hubby had built a playhouse out of blankets and mats, and the twins played on the floor inside. They were FILTHY by bedtime, and they didn't finish dinner till 8pm. I skipped the bath - after all, they had dragged their comforters and pillows ALL over that nasty floor in the playhouse.
Monday:
Very odd waking up on a Monday and not having to be anywhere. We did go to work for 2 hours to finish up training. We went to the library to turn in those pesky DVDs; of course we picked up some cool books and another DVD. The DVD is on money and making change, and most of the books are picture books. "If Roast Beef Could Fly" and "My Hippie Grandmother" were some of the first I picked up. I also grabbed "Harry The Dirty Dog" for upcoming school (I've got a lapbook to do with that book). T did the train alphabet floor puzzle today, and J tried to socialize some.
We went on a 15 minute hike; half on flat land, half up and down hills. I was pooped (and sick of contractions) by the end of it, and I gave the kids an opportunity to watch the money DVD while I just sat in the van's air conditioning trying to recover. It was a good hike - no bug bites - cool dog on the trail. But mommy is OUT of shape! I'm 23 pounds heavier than I used to be, and I am far more clumsy and careful now.
I didn't go to storage at the husband's request. He doesn't want me hiking or lifting stuff for storage. Waaa! I feel so useless.
The eczema is just horrible lately; a girl at the library asked about it today - she was afraid he could "give it to her." I noticed J's fingernail is even screwed up on his bad finger. After all of our adventures I gave T a bath. Next I gave J a bleach bath; then I scrubbed him and rinsed him, and I treated his finger with steroid cream and Vaseline. The rest of his body got Vaseline in bad spots. I put him in his long sleeve cotton pajamas with a glove on the bad hand and a sock on the other.
I didn't manage to get a shower, but I did get some laundry done. And I did change the twins nasty sheets. I got some clean clothes put away. I even folded a towel or two. Hubby got off work at 8 and came home to fix the toilet. Oh, and my hubby took the trash out again - it's beginning to feel like a vacation :)

I need to re-invigorate myself with a mood-changing moment. I've been getting down on the kids today...since about 7 this morning. I'm in a sort of rotten mood, and I've got to snap out of it. I need to think of the good things I've done - not the bad.
Things I can do today to feel more accomplished today:

• Finish scanning that stack of papers
• Refill J's inhaler
• Clean off our desk
• Work on the aquarium
• Water the tomato plants
• Setup the video camera for the kids
• Copy the scanned ultrasounds to my computer
• Empty the trash
• Fold the towels
• Roll some change
• Fill out a deposit slip

Wish me luck in thinking positive!

We had a fairly full day today.
First thing this morning I took J outside while T and hubby slept. J drew with chalk, rode his bike, and kicked the ball around; I cleaned the trash out of the van and took pictures.
Next, after T woke up, me and the twins went to Lowe's and built a helicopter - Lowe's really thought about the design on this project - they even included foam washers to keep our rotors spinning.
After Lowe's we went to Target and got that 100 pack of size 1 pampers. I had a nice conversation with a mom of a learning disabled child - who also has food allergies.
Next we ran by storage and I dropped of 7 book tubs. I still have lots to take from home, but at least I made a little progress.
When we got home I fixed cheddar brats and baked beans for the kids. Since they ate it all, they each got a parfait cup with strawberry ice cream and strawberry syrup - mmm.
After hubby went to work, me and the kids took off again. This time to the library to return a Thurdercats DVD and check out more books. I also bought 4 books about animals for T. The twins built puzzles almost the whole time.
We then went to the playground next door. J fell off the monkey bars (without me to catch him) for the first time - he landed on his side and said his ribs hurt, but he is fine now. T got hot and cranky; she stood at the gate of the playground, by our van, screaming "GET IN THE VAN NOW MOM!" She was ready for cold water and going home.
We also stopped by the river; it is still a little too high to cross. I tried to get some pictures of the twins, and J cooperated briefly. T urged us again to go home, and we did.
We had a yummy dinner of roast, carrots, onions, creamed potatoes, corn, spiced apples, biscuits, pinto beans, and fresh grapes and bananas (thanks hubby's mom!). And after the twins ate their food, they each got a Popsicle.
I finally scanned in ultrasounds. I got my second shower in two days. I remembered to charge the jeep batteries. My tomato plants are doing great. J's eczema is getting even worse, and I'm very frustrated with it.

My last official day of work is behind me! I'm still going back for a little while Monday to file some papers and walk my replacement through invoicing. Also, I'm sure I left something there...perhaps many things.

Other good news - our Internet is back ON at home! So, I can update more often now. Go hubby - thanks for getting that taken care of! Also, hubby took out the trash AND used drain cleaner in our 3 clogged drains!

I've sure been having a lot of back pain the last 3 days. It feels like I'm on my period...lol. Popping it doesn't seem to help. Hubby gave me a back rub that helped a little last night. I just hope this isn't a sign of impending labor - it's too soon, and I'm not ready! I need Tylenol.

I am really hoping to get to my sewing soon! I've been looking for my curved needles - need to fix the old Boppy and several pillows and stuffed animals. I also have several garments to mend - nothing too hard, just little fixes. Hubby suggested T learn how to sew since she is the one who tears the seams out of everything. So, maybe I can teach her some basic hand sewing during home school this fall.

I'm hoping to roll some change this weekend for deposit Monday. I'm about $10 short of what I owe my doctor; I'm going to the doctor Thursday and HAVE to finish paying my birth co-pay. I'll also have to afford parking ($2-$4). I feel certain I can roll both pennies and dimes. Perhaps quarters too - we'll see. Worst case scenario - I'll have to borrow from hubby or the kids.

Plans for this weekend are few and far between. Other than housework and normal goings on, here's what I'm thinking...

Saturday:

• Lowe's Build and Grow Helicopter
• Library - got to return some DVDs before Tuesday
• Storage - still need to take tubs back

Sunday:

• Tennessee Aquarium? Maybe? Our membership ends July 31st, so this is our last chance on a weekend. But, hey, I don't have to work Tuesday-Friday, so maybe I'll make it during next week?
• Playground - aquarium or not, the twins need playground time

We bought masks to color from Michael's Arts & Crafts store. The kids colored them. Of course, since the markers they used were washable, the colors are coming off on faces and hands. It's kind of cute!
We checked out the diaper deals in Target. Some were good, but I passed them up. I probably should go back and buy that 100 pack of size 1's for $17.99. I just wish I had more coupons! I also hope this baby will be huge so I can buy fewer newborn size diapers - those deals are rotten compared to size 1's.
I've got the crayon out of all but 4 garments...make that 8 if you include the maternity clothes I never worked on. All of the kids clothes came out fine - it's just my stuff that retained crayon. Oh well.
I'm still trying to find money for a car seat, cover school enrollment, printer ink, sibling classes, and diapers. We'll work it out - I'll stay positive, and we'll make this work! I can always use cloth diapers...I've got enough to use if I have to. I can skip the sibling classes if I have to, though I don't want to skip them. If need be I can declare my home as my church and therefore our cover school; that would be free instead of the $110 I was planning on paying someone else. I found a good convertible car seat for about $60 - I think it was at Walmart. And printer ink...best buy has some but not all of the colors; I mostly need black (for worksheets, forms, etc). Eventually I'll need to get all 6 colors to print pictures for family.

Well, the Internet is down at our house, so updating will be sporadic at best. We're making the best of it, but hope it will be back on early next week.
The twins got some dad time yesterday in the front yard. They drove jeeps, threw discs, kicked balls, and colored with sidewalk chalk. J got hubby to help on the Incredibles xbox game a little. T spent most of the day on her My Little Pony PC game. She loves decorating cakes on that game! J built a huge train set, then had to move it so I could vacuum.
I got some laundry done. I vacuumed some. I took out the trash. I never tackled the aquarium, but there is always today. I have felt like I'm physically overdoing it, so I've been resting with the kids and watching movies more. I got a decent nap last night, but then stayed up past midnight. I ate plenty of food too...tuna salad with bread and crackers, all-bran strawberry medley cereal, tropical fruit sherbet with strawberry syrup, cinnamon toast crunch, mozzarella bites, and a touch of strawberry applesauce. I never got out of my pajamas or left the house yesterday - it kind of felt good.

Thursday:
When the twins wake up in the morning, they each have a plan. T always makes her bed before ANYTHING else. J always opens his curtain and pops out of his room to tell me good morning. Then T draws on her magnetic board and plays pretend with her princesses and unicorns. J prefers to read and write. This morning he opted to write in his monthly planner; he marked today' date, colored Alabama & Florida in the map, marked my due date "Baby" with streamers and squiggles too, and he circled his birthday on the yearly calendars in the back.
Now I'm at work copying off personal data to a external hard drive at work. I've got a full day ahead of me including, but not limited to: work - clearing off computer and desk, storage - I've got 6 small tubs of books to put in storage (and I could easily go home and get more), Michael's - I told the twins I will get them some of those blank masks to color (with my 40% off coupon), target - diapers (if they have what I need; I've got a $20 gift card), and somewhere fun for the kids - library or playground or riding bikes or hiking.
Tomorrow I'll try to update again. It will be my last update until our Internet gets turned on at home. Also, since our Internet is out, our phone is out too. And, assuming tomorrow is my last day of work, I'll be giving my cell phone back too. So, please don't call the cell phone after tomorrow morning.

Eating: In an effort to better take care of my growing fetus, I'm going to look around the house for foods I normally really enjoy. I've got sweet peas, chick peas, mac & cheese, tilapia, and those fresh grapes from my parent's yard. I think I've still got sherbet in the deep freeze, and we have tomatoes and bread for tomato sandwiches - yum!
Laundry: I've got a load for the twins in the dryer, and a load for myself in the wash. After that I'll start a load of crayon clothes...thank the heavens for OxiClean Free! If all goes well, I'll defeat the black crayon and be able to move on to sheets and blankets.

We were a little late for work today, but I made good use of my time while there. I worked more on cleaning off my work computer and desk. I work from home tomorrow. Then on Thursday, if I maintain my current pace, I should finish clearing and preparing the computer. Friday I will train my replacement, and if everything works as planned, that will be my last day. Of course, I'm only a phone call away if they need anything. I may be re-hired in the future, but it would likely take till next year at the earliest. I feel things happen for a reason, and this is what needs to happen. It will take getting used to - especially for the twins. But, overall, this will be great for all of us.
I've been getting more accomplished around home. I seem to feel much better when I stay positive, and I do a lot more when I feel better. I've paid our credit card bills through the middle of August. I've been watering the tomato plants I transplanted this weekend, and they are doing fine. I haven't lost my temper much today...the kids have been behaving well. I never got that shower last night, but I will tonight. I have lost a pound since yesterday, and I haven't had much of an appetite today. I ate some fries and a Cajun chicken club for dinner tonight. I'm going to try to eat again before bed. I didn't fall asleep till midnight last night (the fetus was kicking my sides out from 10:30-11)...hopefully I'll sleep like a baby tonight.
The twins have been singing some song all day - "Daddy had a pork chop belly." T was in an exceptionally good mood today! She spent quite a while playing her keyboard and singing "HELLO WORLD!" over and over. J's eczema is getting out of hand. I can see it popping up on 3 more fingers. His face is dry, he is constantly itchy, and we can't keep him moisturized enough. He is still having a flare-up behind his knees, inside the bends of his arms, his right wrist, his face around his lips (a little), and his right middle finger (where it is severe). I'm terrified he'll get staph or other harmful infection through his finger - it is ALWAYS cracked open. You can imagine how hard it is to keep medicine, Vaseline, gloves, or anything on the hand of a 5 year-old boy. Everything burns that finger except Vaseline. Poor kid. Oh, my parents had some grapes ready for harvest today - mmmm sweet. I'm saving the seeds just in case my thumb turns green enough to plant them one day.
I need to get dinner made for these kids, empty the dryer, fold the clothes, refill the dryer, and get the kids in bed by 8. I don't want to miss "The Duggars meet Dolly"! The husband works late tonight, so I'll have time for Duggars, a shower, and a nap before he gets home.
Tomorrow we have no where to go; I'll be working from home. Hubby doesn't go to work until 4 tomorrow, so he'll be here with the kids. I hope they don't drive each other crazy - the weather looks bad, and they'll probably be stuck in the house all day. Hubby will likely sleep late then play Nerf guns, play-doh, video games, or something with the kids. I'll get an entire day to soak and scrub black crayon out of a load of dried clothes; I've been saving that chore for a day like tomorrow. Since the black crayon got in the wash, I've decided to wash my clothes alone. No more nice shirts and maternity khakis in with the kids play clothes. I should also be able to almost catch-up laundry in general tomorrow - IF I can stay positive!

We made it to work on time today - that is rare. At work I got a lot accomplished; I'm currently in the process of clearing out my computer for my replacement. I have over 30 GB of personal data I'm having to archive to home and delete. This may be my last week of work; I've worked there for 5 years. I'm happy though - as happy as I can be for losing my job to a crumbling economy. It really will be a blessing to get to stay home with my children and focus on them more. Also, it will help the company greatly to not have to pay me anymore. It will work out for everyone.
After work we came home to see the husband for a few minutes before he left for work. Then we packed up our overdue library books and headed out. First we stopped at some picnic tables by the river so my son J could read the overdue books to us. He read 4 out of 7 books aloud before his sister's boredom took over. Then we checked the river to see if we could cross; it was lower than 2 days ago, but not low enough to cross. We saw several golf balls and tons of baby fish. We went on a nature hunt...basically we walked around by the river looking for cool leaves, flowers, bark, shells, and rocks to put in our jars. Really it is just an activity to make the kids slow down and really look around at nature. Instead of running past all the details, they can get down and dirty exploring. Next we dropped off our books and opted to skip going in the library; the playground next to the library was close to deserted, so we took advantage and hopped in. We met some cute kids with a cool dad. I begged for my kids to stop throwing rocks to no avail. J did the zip line thingy by himself for the first time. Shocked me to death - he never could reach it before. He successfully went back and forth - over and over. Then he did the monkey bars alone - normally I stand under him to catch him, but this time he was just too fast. Neither of the twins got hurt - just terribly dirty. J started wheezing, and I gave him his inhaler. T needed to pee...so she pulled her pants down in public. No one seemed to notice but me - then I reminded her she can't pee standing up or outside. She envies that aspect of boys - they can just pee anywhere. Then we went home. And no, she didn't have to pee that bad - she held it.
Now I've got to get them fed, and make a bath for T. It is her turn tonight. J's doctors have always recommended he get bathed every other night, so we are on a rotating bath schedule. Doing baths KILLS my back, but I can manage to get one done a night. I have no clue how the new baby will factor into that...we'll see.
Hopefully the twins will be in bed by 8, leaving me to my own shower. I've got loads of laundry to do and tomato plants to water. I need to eat too...first I have to figure out what I want...appetite is slim. I'd like to be in bed by 10...asleep by 11. So, goodnight. Enjoy the happiest thoughts possible. I'll be back tomorrow for another day in the life of pseudo-super-mom.

Welcome to my new blog. My goal here is to journal my family's life through good and bad. Let's face it...there is more and more negativity and sadness everyday in this world. I've decided to lift my spirits and focus on what little good remains.
I'll admit that in the last year I've been less fun than I would like. I let my depression get the best of me; I've always got an excuse to not have fun or be happy. All it takes to shut me down is a little attitude from my husband or kids - then I become useless and sad. These kids deserve better.
So now - let's do this right! Time to cook, clean, and care more than ever. My focus is my family - time to get over myself. I figure I can have a ton of fun in the hours I used to waste moping around. Imagine how many more books we'll read now that I'm trying NOT to cry all day?!We've got many adventures ahead of us: home school, new baby, future prosperity? I'm learning to take each day one at a time and live more for the moment. Enjoy the sun, summer, and stars.