Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did NOT get pulled over by a police man for "failing to maintain my lane". Said police man also did NOT ask me if I'd been drinking.

I did NOT forget to include a pair of underwear with Jordan's change of clothes when we went to play at my sister's house. He is completely potty trained (except for at night) and did NOT have an accident while we were there. I totally did NOT simply put a pair of my niece's Dora the Explorer panties on him, reasoning that they were sort of manly because they were blue. And I did NOT take poor Jordan to church that way, since we didn't have time to go home for new underwear. Not Me!

I did NOT order my salad with fried chicken while at Chick-fil-a today with my kids, my sister, and her girls. My children are wheat sensitive and can only have grilled nuggets, so that's totally what I eat, too.

Afterward at Target, I let the boys each pick a treat from the "dollar aisle". Of course Shaun wanted to open his, and of course I let him. Five minutes later, he did NOT change his mind about the toy and want to pick another one. I'm all for maintaining discipline in my family, so I did NOT let him make the switch and leave the discarded toy and wrapper right there in the dollar aisle. No way, NOT ME!

The stress continues

I woke up this morning wondering why Chris hadn't called to let me know his plane landed alright. When I looked at my cellphone, it was off. And it wouldn't turn back on. My phone died. I'll miss it. I called my mom and asked if I could get a new phone, since I'm on her family plan. She said she'd order one for me, but I'm phone-less for now. That terrifies me. My biggest fear is to be out somewhere with the kids and have the van break down. The way my car used to do all the time. No one can fully understand this fear unless you've driven a lemon yourself.

Our internet service is also having issues. I called ATT and was told that our service was interrupted due to nonpayment of our account. What?! Our account is only 11 days overdue. And since I always pay our phone bill at least 3 weeks late, that couldn't be the issue. The rep finally realized that its a technical issue and transfers me. The minute I get upstairs to the computer the children go nuts. The tech support lady sure found my little family humorous! We were "unable to resolve this issue over the phone", so the repair man will be out tomorrow. That is if I don't reschedule the appointment. I have so much to do to get ready for our trip on Friday. And seeing as how we actually DO now have internet service (just a really s l o w connection), I don't see why it can't wait until we get back next week. So yes, that's what I'm going to do. Reschedule that appointment.

I'm waiting on my sister to get here now. We're all going to take Shaun to karate and then run some errands. Because its always so much fun to run errands with all 5 of our children in tow. I'm curious to see how things go tonight.

On a more positive note, when Chris called me last night from OC, he told me that he rode to the airport with Isreal Houghton. How cool is that?!

Stressful Weekend Recap

And it really has been. Stressful, that is. And I'm glad its over.

Friday: Boys were on edge. Most-likely because of the weather (its sooo hot). Went swimming with my sister, her girls, and my friend and HER kids. Had a good time at the pool, but stayed so long that I didn't get any housework done. Again. Came home and got the kids bathed because Chris and Shaun had movie plans with another father and son from church. Chris obviously didn't plan on having to work late, but he did. Work late, that is. So late that he was still working at 9:20 when I took Shaun to meet him at the hospital. The guys had revamped their movie plans to attend the 10:00 show of Transformers at the Mall of GA. I dropped Shaun off and headed back home, excited because Jordan had fallen asleep in the van on the way home and I just knew I was gonna get some ME time in.

Wrong! Jordan woke up and didn't go back to sleep until 12:23. Yes, I did say 12:30. But I did get to spend some one-on-one time with him, which was nice. Anyway. While we were watching OUR movie (Nacho Libre) Chris called and informed me that the 10:00 show was sold out and they were going to wait it out until the 11:20 show. Yes, I said 11:20. They had over an hour to wait, he said, so they were going to eat at Ruby Tuesdays. And Shaun wanted a grilled cheese. I convinced him to please not give Shaun the evil wheat-and-MSG-laced grilled cheese. Everyone enjoyed the movie and the boys didn't get home until 3:00 in the morning.

Saturday: We all slept in. I finally woke everyone up at 11:00. Chris was one big grouch. I didn't have much sympathy. I mean, he knew he was tired when he went to the middle-of-the-night movie. He made a CHOICE to stay out late when he knew he had lots to do at home the next day. Such as cutting our grass, which is getting so tall that I will not let the boys play outside because for fear of stepping on a Copper Head. The grass did NOT get cut. Neither did anything else. How on earth could we get any chores completed when we were all busy squabbling with each other all day?

Everyone managed to make up with each other before Daddy left for California. I decided that the boys and I had been cooped up in the house for too long and invited myself over to my sister's. We made plans to make dinner. Only our plans hit some road bumps and we didn't eat until 9:30. Yes, I said 9:30. And yes, all of the children had low blood sugar by then and it definitely showed! Our make-shift dinner turned out pretty tasty.

Got the boys back home around 10:00. Put them in bed and waited until 12:30 for them to fall asleep. Yes, 12:30. Then could't fall asleep myself for worrying about having to get everyone up at 7:00 am. Finally fell asleep.

Sunday: Woke up with the alarm at 7:00. Managed to get kids dressed and fed and out to the van by 8:00 despite their late bed-time hour. Entered church and had a powerful service. Went to teach my little three year olds. They were pretty well-behaved for once. Picked up the boys and carted them out to the van, to the tune of both of them whining that they wanted to go out to eat. Tried to appease them by taking them to McDonalds for sweet teas to drink on the way home. It worked for awhile. Got home. Moved everyone inside. Jordan had a meltdown because he didn't want a sandwich for lunch. Sent him to his room until he calmed down. He came back out a changed baby and had lunch while he calmly watched a movie. While the movie was on, I managed to clean the kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Sweet! Gathered all of our stuff together to go swimming again. We swam/played/read/watched tv/talked at my mom's for 3 hours. Came back home at 8:00. Got the kids in the tub while I whipped up some dinner. Had to punish Shaun for his smart mouth. Put them to bed at 9:00. Jumped for joy at 9:15 when they were both asleep.

So there you have it. My super-stressful weekend. I think PMS has an awful lot to do with my stress level. Now I'm off to get some much-needed rest myself.

So Simply Satisfied

That's been Jordan today. Not always, mind you. But today, my drama king has been easy-going and good-humored. Take, for example this scene that just took place at my house:

The kids were eating lunch (salad, rice casserole, and cheese slices) and watching movies (Scooby Doo for Shaun and TMNT for Jordan). I was upstairs paying bills, checking emails, and updating my Facebook status. I hear Jordan's little feet running up the stairs as he calls out "Erin (yes, he calls me Erin sometimes) Erin. I need some more cheese please!" I go downstairs and put a new slice of cheese on his lunch plate that he's brought me. To which he replies "Oh no, no no. I need TWO cheeses. Please!" I reach down and break his cheese slice into TWO pieces and set them back on his plate. To which he replies sweetly "Oh thank you, Erin!" He then turns and gallops back to the table, where he is still sitting and eating contentedly.

Why can't all of our problems be solved that easily?

Bragging

I thought I'd brag on Shaun a little bit tonight. He's so awesome. Every day I'm amazed at what he's accomplished.

He tested (and received!) his recommended Blue belt in Taekwondo today. I don't usually get emotional at those things, but today I did. Because of his learning disability, memorization is sometimes hard for him. I always get nervous during testing because he can have trouble remembering each step of the form he's working on (there's usually 30-40 steps in each form). He practiced hard and did great today. He got a little lost once but didn't panic...just worked it out in his head and finished with flying colors. He also kicked butt during the sparring portion...even though I had a brain fart and forgot his head gear at home. He was great.

Like I said, I usually don't get teary-eyed at the karate studio. But I've been dwelling on things lately. Meditating on our lives, the way things work out (or don't work out), always seeing God's hand in every situation. Today, watching Shaun receive his new belt with a proud smile stretched across his face, I couldn't help remembering where he came from. All that he's overcome. He always has to work at least twice as hard as every kid there, and he still did it. I love that he has such a determined spirit and that he will at least TRY to do almost anything, no matter how hard it may look to do single-handedly.

But aside from all that, I'm proud of his tender heart. That he shows such compassion for special needs children that have problems so much worse than his. That one year ago he came to me with tears in his eyes during a church service and whispered, "Get Dad, I need to get saved right now". I'm proud that he shares his testimony to anyone who will listen. And today, during a birthday party at church, when I couldn't find him, and then finally located him in the children's auditorium, standing on stage by himselft, when he said to me, "I hope I get to be a preacher when I grow up", I was so so proud. That he would have that desire at 9 years old just blows me away. My mom just reminded me that when he was born, an old family preacher friend stated this very fact when Shaun was so sick in the hospital. Wouldn't it be something if he turned out to be right?

Shaun- you're awesome. God's given you so many gifts. I know He's going to use you for great things. Stay strong, and always keep your eyes on Jesus. I love you to the moon and back. Mom.

Sometimes it takes a child...

Or maybe a lot of children. At church camp. To knock some sense into me.

Summer Xtreme has been wonderful so far. Not just the excursions. But the worship. Full-hearted, untethered, broken, downright worship. It took being witness to children being broken before God to make me aware of my life's "slow fade". I've been slipping in so many areas. I'd lost sight of the big picture. But now I'm back. Full blown surrender is just around the corner. I can feel it. More to come later.

"A Kidpak Party Don't Stop"

I had a major laughing fit today in church. I know, I know...I'm supposed to be mature enough, now that I'm 28 years old, to contain myself in serious surroundings. But I didn't. Here's what happened:

Shaun and I were sitting upstairs at the "big service". (As opposed to the children's service, which is downstairs). Anyway, the 411 video came on. You know, "News You Can Use" about the goings on in our church. The video people start talking about the Summer Blow Out at Kidpak that's happening Wednesday night. They show a few fun pictures of our awesome children's ministry and then quote a song from the Kidpak CD : "There ain't no party like a Kidpak party". That's when Shaun piped up in his best rapper's voice with the next line in the song: "Cause a Kidpak party don't stop".

Right after he said it, he froze...so embarrassed. He didn't really mean to say it, he just wasn't paying that much attention and he heard a familier line, so out of habit, he finished it. His eyes were as big as saucers. He looked at me and I laughed right out loud. Maybe it was my exhaustion (Jordan didn't sleep AGAIN last night) or maybe I just needed a release from my stress-filled morning. But I laughed. In church. We both did. And then we both had to struggle to gain control over ourselves. And it was fun. And then we settled down to be ministered to. And all was well.

I love to laugh. And I'm glad God gave me that moment with my first-born.

What we've been eating lately

My, how our appetites have changed! Seriously, we're different people.

We changed our food choices this past Monday to comply with Shaun's new found food allergies. What an adventure its been. Because we live in G'ville, our choices were severely limited. So, mom and I made the trek to Natural Foods Warehouse last weekend. My new favorite store! We had planned to also visit Whole Foods Market, but we ran out of time. Plus we really really REALLY wanted to eat dinner at the Mellow Mushroom that's in the same complex as the Warehouse. Ahem. Anyway. Here's what we've been eating:

I knew I was in for a challenge. Shaun is a snacker. He doesn't care for sweets, but he could eat salty goodies such as chips, dip, peanuts, etc all day long. I knew I had to find a replacement for potato chips first thing, since they're his favorite food and potatos are one of the worst foods for him. The solution? If you can believe it, dried sugar snap peas. Really! They taste just like potato chips, and they're so healthy. A huge thanks for Wendy for telling me about them. I paired these up with milk-free french onion flavored cream cheese by Toffutti, and viola-- chips and dip. Snack crisis solved. We also found some delicious sweet potato chips that were a big hit.

Rice is also now a big thing with us. And, mind you, that's white rice, since he's allergic to the brown. We're now big fans of rice bread, rice crackers, rice spaghetti, rice flour- who knew you could make so many things out of rice? Its true- rice products are a dream come true to a boy with wheat allergies...and to his mom, too! They're actually pretty tasty, once you get used to it.

Almond milk. I'm not a huge fan of this, but the kids love it. They'll happily guzzle glass after glass at the same rate they guzzled plain old cow's milk. I can't do it. Not sure why. Its not that almond milk has a bad taste. Its just different, but I can't tell a difference when I cook with it.

Grilled chicken nuggets from Chick fil a. A big hit with everyone. They're so good. Thanks Amanda, for telling me about this. I had no idea that you could request your nuggets to be grilled instead of fried. All the taste without the what breading. And we can still eat out, which we have to do several times a week.

Fruit. Lots and lots of fruit. And vegetables. Absolutely no MSG and high fructose corn syrup.

And I've lost 4 pounds, just from not eating junky, chemical laden food. Life's good.

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did NOT pitch an unnecessary temper-tantrum today that put Jordan's tantrums to shame.

Chris and I are NOT getting to take a free mini-vacation in July WITHOUT our kids.

My two glorious children did NOT stay awake until 3:00 am this morning. This did NOT prompt me to spend an hour and a half today cleaning Jordan's room so that he'd be able to sleep by himself tonight.

I totally did NOT just admit how bad a housekeeper I am just now.

I did NOT change my mind again regarding home schooling. Not about whether or not to do it, just about which avenue to take.

I did NOT just realize that its 6:34 pm and I haven't started making dinner yet.