Cause I promised I would....

Here are my favorite pictures from Memorial Day on the River! Our precious Harriet invited us to spend the day at her house (near my parent's home in Gadrock)....and it was an awesome day. I love the south in the summertime (well, anytime actually). It is simply amazing! Harriet has built her beautiful home on the river and she was kind enough to extend that joy to our little family.....

Mom made frozen strawberry, ginger ale slushies!

Chris took all the kids out for a spin on the waverunner...

and so did I!

I don't think Lucy expected me to be that much "fun"....

but I proved her wrong!

Mom bought a new paddleboat for everyone and Greer LOVED it!

Can you see that she is sippin' on her coke and lovin' it!?

Greer and Betty connected....

.....so did Lucy and Betty!

This one makes me laugh!

....and we'll call these "yoga at sundown"!

I really want to post more details...but I am hurting! Today I broke my tailbone (well, after much research and self evaluation, that is what I have concluded)! It is terrible, horrible, no good and very bad!!! I am h.u.r.t.i.n.g. It stinks.

Momma can't be broken. She just can't! Please pray for my "booty" to feel better soon. I have so much to do and no time to rest. Working tomorrow is going to be a challenge that I am scared to face, but I have to do it.

A whole lot of random...

...coming your way! No pictures for this first post of 2010, but I promise to dig up a few very soon....we've had a blast over the past 2 weeks! Now to catch you up and give you a giggle...

School's out till tomorrow, and it's freakin' freezin'! I mean seriously cold for these parts. We may even see the white stuff by the end of the week! I would really appreciate a snow day Friday since my kiddos probably won't make it to school before lunchtime anyway. Seems we have a rather important obligation this Thursday night! Can I hear a Rooooollllll Tide, Roll?!

My kids almost ended up at school today cause it seems I was a little confused about the actual "post holiday return date". Wouldn't it make since to start back on a Monday? Turns out that today was a teacher work day....I suppose they need to ease back in to the whole school routine, too!

So, we partied hard for 2 weeks, and I had a full "work weekend" to start the new year. Just so you know.....

....I really do love my job. If only for the entertainment value!

When I work in the maternity ER, one of our duties is to answer phone calls from the patients. Many of the calls are legitimate and straight-forward. A handful of them are little pearls meant to keep us on our toes and to give us a little chuckle during a long, hard shift! I thought you might get a kick out of a few that we got this weekend....

"How you doin'? I had my baby a couple of weeks ago.....is it OK for me to wash my hair?" Me, "Yes, honey, that's an old wives tale....PLEASE wash your hair!"

"Hey, how you doin'? I really want to have a cup of hot tea, is that OK, or will it burn my baby?" Me, "No, honey, it will NOT burn your baby. It isn't growing in your stomach!"

"Is this a nurse?" (my friend Amanda took this call), "Yes ma'am, this is a nurse, how can I help you?" Patient, "how you doin'? I have a headache. Can I put a cold cloth on my head or will it give me a seizure?" Amanda....

...."seriously?"

??????

The Unexpected....

Well, today didn't turn out exactly how I had planned....

...but, does it ever? One thing I've learned since being a parent is that you've always gotta be ready for the unexpected. Amen?

I had a long (and quite busy) weekend at work. Working 24 out of 48 hours gets harder and harder (but is more and more rewarding) as the years go by. Most of the time, Labor and Delivery is fairly slow on the weekends. NOT this time! I didn't notice if it was a full moon or not, but lots of Mamas were having babies these days. And I mean LOTS!

As my Sunday was coming to an end, I posted this on my facebook status:

"Looking forward to my "Saturday" tomorrow....it's been a busy weekend at work! I miss my own babies!"

If I believed in luck, I'd bet that this status update jinxed me for the night....what do you think?! All kidding aside, it is pretty funny, don't you think?

I had the perfect evening/day planned. I would come home from work, throw in a load of laundry, kiss my babies goodnight and pack their bags for another busy week at school! I would load them on the bus around 7 am, drop Greer off in carpool at Mother's Day Out, and enjoy a few hours to myself. A few hours to shop, organize, shower in silence. A few moments to ready myself for all the business of the week and to get my house in order.

Yeah, that didn't happen.

When I got home from work, Chris told me that Reeves had had a tumble at a birthday party earlier in the day. He was coming down an inflatable slide (head first), crashed into the end, and hyper-extended his neck. Reeves was in terrible pain (and stiffness) by the time I got home and I knew that he needed to have it checked out. After a quick call to my parents, we decided that it was best to call the after hours service....Reeves just wasn't himself.

Much to my surprise, they recommended that we call 911 and have the paramedics come out to evaluate him before heading downtown to the hospital. They said that neck injuries are nothing to mess with (go figure) and that we should make sure he didn't need a c-collar before we drove him in. May I just say.....Reeves thought it was pretty cool that the firetruck and policeman made a visit to his house! (Making lemonade, friends!) Thank you to my sweet neighbors, the Holdens and Elrods, for checking in on us. Chris was happy to snuff out any neighborhood drama by explaining that it was NOT any sort of domestic incident...

...thanks for clearing that up, Chris. I know they were worried! :) JK!

So, the good guys at the Hoover Fire Department arrived in record time, gave us the Ok and and sent us on to Children's Hospital.

Where we waited.

and waited.

and waited some more.....

...poor Reeves was passed out by the time we were finally seen (and we were in the higher priority category.....I felt sorry for all those other children waiting to be seen!). The verdict? Bad strain/hyper-extension. Heavy doses of anti-inflammatory meds, limited physical activity for a while, rest, and TLC.

I can handle that.

So, we got home around 2:30. Crashed. Slept in. Ate a good breakfast. Drank coffee and hot chocolate. Watched Elf. Followed up with our pediatrician. Skipped school. Stayed in our pajamas all day. Were all-around lazy.

So maybe the weekend was crazy, and last night was not very fun....

.....but today is what memories are made of! I love any excuse to stay at home in my pajamas with my babies!

Work....

....has kicked my booty lately!

Seriously!

I'm trying to decide if it's just because I'm getting older. ahem. I refuse to think of myself as old, but when you're working with nurses who were born in the mid to late 80's, well, you start to feel, well, oldish!

I have worked in the same high-risk Labor and Delivery unit since I graduated from nursing school. That was 12 years ago.....I can hardly believe it! Sure, I've done a few other things since then. I started graduate school right after Chris and I got married. I delivered our first baby just 5 days after graduating with my masters. I've taught for several nursing schools, practiced as a nurse expert, and coordinated prenatal education classes. I have been blessed to take care of every type patient you can think of (in the women's health realm) and I have loved almost every minute of it.

I really have!

It's interesting, and messy, and challenging, and amazing, and frustrating, and hilarious, and gross, and entertaining, and scary, and wonderful, and inspiring, and amazing. It's mostly amazing. And humbling. Yep, that too.

I have a great appreciation for what I am blessed with. Complete, utter appreciation for the life I live. Thanks be to God.

Nursing is a fabulous career....especially if you are a mother. If you are considering going back to school and you are a mom, I highly recommend nursing. You can usually find just about any sort of schedule that works for your life (believe me....I've done it all!) and you learn great skills that will totally serve you well in the adventure of raising children.

Don't believe me? Well, let me just tell you....my mother is a veteran nurse with experience in psychiatric nursing. Let me just say....her years working with mental patients served her well when my sisters and I were teenagers! Right Mom?! I betcha I'll be dusting off my psych textbooks in about 6 or 7 years.

Yep!

But lately I am soooo tired after a day at work. I do good to get out of my pj's or even get a shower. I'm fine with it though. Chris doesn't care, Greer doesn't care....shoot, she LOVES it, and I totally, completely love it! The big kids? Well, they appreciate it if I don't come to the the bus stop in the afternoon with my pajamas still on....I totally get that!

Today was an awesome day. I stayed in my pajamas till after lunch. I didn't even get in my car.

I did shower though. Just so you know.

I caught up on laundry and rolled around on the floor with Greer. We played on the porch (did I mention how amazing the weather in Alabama was today) and read gobs of books. We colored and ate popsicles. I drank a pot of coffee and talked on the phone with friends. I gave myself permission to "have a day"....

....yep, it was nice.

Just 7 Little Words....

....reminded me that it's all worth it.

"You're the best nurse I've ever had!"

Awesome!

Such accolades deserve to be rewarded, doncha think?

Punched the clock, peeled out of the parking deck, stopped by my favorite little Greek restaurant to pick up the most yummy meal, ever! (lamb gyro, tomato/cucumber/feta/basil salad, pita and cucumber dip), hurried home, threw on my pjs, poured a glass of vino, and settled in to watch the results show of Dancing with the Stars.

Don't mind if I do!

A Brief Update on My Life

Sorry for ye bloggy absence....it's been a busy few days!

Where to start? Well, the sickness found us me and Reeves, and we've been pushing through. I refuse to let it get me down, so I have tried to let every non-essential in my life go undone while I heal. It's the best rest we mothers can hope for.....it is true what they say! Nope, no rest for the weary.

I did have quite a motivator for getting well, though. Our bestest friends came in to town for a visit (remember the ones who moved to Raleigh), and we had some good times. I am dying for Amy to post the Flip Video she caught of Jake surprising Reeves at our front door. Priceless is all I'm gonna say. I promise to post it as soon as she does!

Tomorrow is a big day for me! It's my first workday (I work 2 days a week as a labor and delivery nurse in case you didn't know...) since the kids started back to school. And since Chris has to be up at the Rick and Bubba Studio bright and ridiculously early, it will be my sole responsibility to get the rest of us up and at 'em....and neatly deposited at said schools. I am a wee bit nervous about pulling it off. I have run the route a few dozen times, though, and if we can pull out of the driveway by precisely 6:53, then we should all make it on time. I'll be sure to keep you updated on how it all goes down.....

So....the bags are packed, the animals are fed, the clothes are laid neatly on the dining room table. That reminds me, I need to go set the coffee maker. The children are nestled all snug in their beds....drugged on cough medicine and hot cocoa. Pray that they don't fight me in the morning. Or have any major meltdowns concerning hair tangles, toothpaste flavors, or sock comfort. But mostly, pray for sweet Greer! She is going to be in for a rude awakening come 6:40....that girl hasn't woken up before 9 am in over a year! She's my happy girl, though, she'll be fine! Good thing she adores her school (have I mentioned that? Well, she does.....she calls the place "PLAY"! Hallelujah & Praise the Lord)!

Sweet dreams y'all!

Swirly....

I haven't really been around these parts too much the past few days.  In fact, the past few weeks have been a bit crazy.  I have so many things that are heavy on my heart....lots of little pieces of me that I want to share, but I've just been too darn busy to get my writing act together. 

I'm getting there though....stay tuned. 

The best I can do is post a few pictures of our days and some sweet commentary to go along with it.  I guess that's all well and good, and there's no going back, but I really want this to be about more than just that. 

Don't get me wrong.....

This blog is mostly just for me (and I mean that in a good way not in the totally narcissistic way it sounds).  I go back and look at what we were doing this time last year and it is so wonderful to have it all here in one place.  I know I am going to treasure this for a lifetime and that was my sole purpose for starting this blog.....

I don't scrapbook, and I am horrible at keeping my pictures organized.  Lucy's baby book is barely halfway finished, and Greer's is simply stuffed with hospital bands, footprints, photos from friends, check-up notes jotted by my pediatrician, and ultrasound pictures.  I have yet to write a single thing down.  Reeves, the typical first child, has a book that is filled to the brim with all sorts of details like "June 18th, 2003....the day I finger-painted for the first time"....Yes, it is sickening in a totally good way!

Erin, I promise to finish Greer's book.....I PROMISE!

Mom, I totally get it!  Totally!

So what have I been up to?  Well, if you really want to know....

I'm enjoying some time with my middle sister who lives far away.  I've enjoyed holding my almost brand new nephew and laughing with my nieces.  I'm snapping lots of shots of them, but not enough.   I'm leaving my cell phone in my mother's car and feeling naked without it.  Eating shaved ice and letting Lucy discover things like "Mr. Pig"....she thinks it's delicious.  I'm taking my kids to Costco and spending 3 hours discovering all sorts of awesome treasures (have you SEEN the new bandaid package?  It is amazing!!!).  Grilling steak, folding laundry, organizing toys, bathing Greer and tending to her bug bites, making Reeves and Lucy clean up their rooms, enjoying a glass of wine on the deck and talking to Chris about our day, watering my new flowers and taking out the trash....and those are only a few of the things I did today!

Other than that....

 I'm planning a going away party for my best friend.  Teaching her how to blog....since I gave her one as a going away present!  Don't worry.  She was planning on starting one anyway....I just wanted it to be gorgeous.  Danielle worked her magic!  Speaking of Danielle....I've been praying for her.  And Jen.  And Mary.  And Adrienne 

And I just found out that Sweet Stellan needs our prayers right now!

I'm diving into our new church head-on.  Singing in the choir, leading VBS on our block (later in the Summer), joining a small group, befriending new church friends on Facebook and Twitter.   Knowing that where we are is because it is where we were called to be.  ....a place that is:  Amazing.  On-fire.  Real.  and Right for us.  We have nothing but love for all the people at our old church and it will always have a special place in our heart.  We are grateful for our friends there and for all it has been to us and so many others through the years.  May it grow and prosper and bring people to Christ. 

I'm trying to keep up with all my dear old friends (not that they are old.....really, just forever friends).  Making a list of all the thank you notes I need to send and all the gifts I need to buy....but knowing that I'm really the only one who's worried about that.  Pacing myself is my new motto!  Feeling guilty about all the extended family that we need to visit, but knowing that they love us no matter how often we call or visit.  Grateful for understanding...getting away to ANYWHERE with 3 small children is a feat!

Working 2 days a week at the hospital, and trying to do better at my "paying" job every time I am there.  It's not too hard....since Nursing and Labor and Delivery are a calling for me.  I am so thankful to have a wonderful career that allows so much flexibility with amazing benefits and rewards.  God is so Good!  Not that I didn't know that already!

I'm reading to my children, praying with and for them and letting them enjoy a carefree summer.  I'm letting them stay up late and hoping they'll sleep late in return.  That isn't happening very much.  Well....except for Greer.  She is a sleeping machine.

and on the other side of the coin....I'm losing my cool more often than I'd like to admit, and doing my best to be more patient.  I'm asking my children to forgive me when I fall, and working on being more consistent in my discipline techniques.  I'm focusing on my marriage and praying every day for my precious husband.  What a blessing he is to me, and I am sooo very proud of him.

I'm trying to stay cool as the weather gets more miserable, but grateful that I have an awesome pool to go to every day.  I'm letting my kids eat ice-cream for lunch and breakfast for dinner.  I've fallen off the Weight Watchers wagon and gained 5 pounds back....Summer months are the hardest for me when it comes to dieting.....

This list could go on and on and on.  

I'll be done for now.  

Bet you'd prefer the pretty pictures and happy commentary!  Night dear friends....I feel better now!

Gotta love.....

a day that is supposed to start out with this.....

but ended up looking like this!

Yep!

Couple of crazy days in Labor and Delivery? Yep! A great day ahead at a2 church? Yep! Missing my Reeves (who is having a blast at the beach with my mom and dad)? Yep! Happy that Lucy is enjoying a sleepover at Honey's house? Yep! Looking forward to spending time with Greer tomorrow (since I haven't laid eyes on her since Thursday night.....I don't see her at all on the days I work)? Yep!

Boring you? Probably! Blogger's Block????......

Yep, that's totally it!!!

I actually have a few stories to share (and maybe some pics to go along with them), but after the past 48 hours, I'm doing good to brush my teeth before I hit the hay tonight.

I promise to do better next week! Enjoy your weekend!