Olivia turned ONE!

It's so hard to believe that it's been an entire year since "thing 5" was born. This past year has been both the most amazing year filled with blessings beyond belief combined with sleepless nights and the many trials that come with caring for a very unsettled baby. BUT, she has officially hit "toddler" stage and is walking (trying to run when she doesn't want to be caught) everywhere and curious about everything! Nic, Kaelyn, Anna and Ben have all done so amazing with her. They have all become "mini-moms and dads". Something I'm sure Livi won't love as much 5 yrs from now as she does now. Lol

As if our lives aren't crazy enough, God decided to make it just a slight bit crazier and added a "thing 6". Due date is mid Oct. I'm thinking Dr. Suesd didn't account for this many "things" b/c there are no matching "thing" shirts for 6. Bummer!

Happy Birthday my sweet Olivia!

A Distracted Mom's Lip Gloss

Wow! Things in our household have been a wee bit crazy the last few weeks. (Okay, 'crazier'.)
Benjamin had some tummy issues for a couple days, Nic was home feeling crappy for one day and Livi tested positive for having mono. Let's just say there have been LOTS of "stay home" days for me lately.

Most of you know that, for me, running to the store can be therapeutic as it allows me to step away from the monotony and gets me out of the constant need for household chores... just a long enough reprieve to once again be ready to conquer the loads of laundry, the piles of dishes and the strewn toys once again.

Having prefaced my story adequately, I'll tell you about my total "Mom" moment tonight. Tonight was my Women's Ministry "dinner group" that meets once a month. I wasn't able to attend last month b/c of sick kid's, so I was excited to have and hour and a half to eat sloooowly, chat and listen to the gals in my group tonight.... with NO kids. As I was driving myself there, thinking about a million things and praying a little too, a thought popped into my head... "I didn't even look in the mirror before leaving. I wonder if I look presentable." Not really being able to do that while driving, I thought I could at least put on a little lip gloss... that always seems to make me feel a wee bit fancified, even if my hair was sticking straight up... oh, wait, it aways sticks up now... or if there was snot and/or food staining the shoulders of my shirt. Yes, Mom's you know exactly what I mean. So, I reached for the lip gloss that I ALWAYS keep in the handle of my drivers side door. My fingers found it and my brain just went into "autopilot" .... seeing that Iv'e put lip gloss on a time or two. As I spread the lip gloss over my lips, in between the many thoughts racing through my mind, I thought, 'this lip gloss feels sort of grainy... wonder if it froze? ' Then I thought, ' wait, it taste sort of funny.... WHOA.... what is this?'. Wouldn't you know... I had somehow forgotten that I threw a special something, in that same little nook, for Livi... Orajel! My lips now felt about 10x the size they should be!  I was only about 2 mins from my meeting place and my lips were now completely NUMB! Lol....  A total distracted "Mom" moment.

I was able to laugh about my mishap and still enjoy time with some beautiful women... both inside and out.

On my way home, in the stillness of my van, I was even able to thank God that I had reason for the Orajel smothering my lips. I have 5 beautiful children... all unique and all precious to me. For them, I choose to open the door to many more "Mom" moments with joy and with a smile in my heart.

Today I am Thankful...

Today, I am thankful for my oldest who graciously offered to put Livi to bed. She has had a really rough day. :( Praying for a better night. I think that God knows that without the help of my other children, I might be totally insane.... b/c they already know I am slightly crazy! Lol

It's hard to believe that it is actually 2012..... Not only because Christmas and New Years has passed but because usually, the start of a new year is cold, wet and white. NONE of which has been the case this year. Yesterday, I think we hit a new record... 64 degrees on Jan 4th. CrAZy!

I will admit, as much as I would love to see a little white stuff on the ground and brighten the drab brown of the trees, I have loved being able to not bundle Livi up in a dozen layers in order to keep her warm as I run errands.

I thought in this post, I would share some of my anticipations for this year and also some of the challenges I pray to overcome. Let's start on a positive note....

1. I am so excited to see what God brings our way this next year. Often times, I think about what "I" want to see happen or what "I" am going to achieve, but in reality, it truly is ALL out of my control.... the end results, I mean. I can try my best to do what I desire or even what I think God is calling me to, but in the end, it is He alone that chooses the outcome. (Unless, its a sin issue in my life... then it the consequences of that sin that tend to play my outcome. But even in my sin, I pray God uses me to glorify Himself and keep my humble.)

2. I am excited to get away to Colorado for a long weekend at the end of January with some great friends. It's always such a blessing to have a little "recharge" time for Dave and I. Now, this year, the question will be whether or not we do that with or without Livi....

3. I am super excited to see how God works in my hubby's life as our church added a new pastor for "leadership develpoment".

4. I am so looking forward to our Spring Break trip to Florida this year as last year we skipped it because Livi had just been born.

5. I am really looking forward to using the awesome family Christmas gift my parents gave to our family this year.... SEASON passes to Adventure Land! Whohooooooo! Let's pray Livi likes it too.

6. I am blessed to look forward to my 17th wedding anniversary this next June. God is so amazing!

7. I am excited to anticipate all that God has in store for our family and how He will show Himself through the blessings and through the trials we face.

Now, onto the challenges I hope to overcome. Honestly, I can only speak of the ones that are currently in my life. My greatest challenges are...

1. Finding a way to help Livi peacefully sleep for more that 3 hrs at a time.

Did you know that Einstein only slept about 45 -60 mins each night and then took many 10 min naps throughout each day. That was the only amount of sleep he got!

Ever since she was born, she has struggled to sleep restfully and for extended lengths of time. I remember Kaelyn being very similar, as an infant, so I have pushed through the months, getting up 3-4 times a night, with the hope that her pattern would change over time. Unfortunately, things have only seem to get more challenging. I have tried EVERYTHING I can think of that hasn't included medicines and nothing seems to have worked. Yesterday, I finally took her to our doctor - who I completely trust and who is amazingly open to options outside medicine - and found out that she has a very similar condition to "restless leg syndrome". Except, she has it all over her body. :( The biggest reason she doesn't sleep for long lengths of time is simply because her body is so restless and her brain is sort of "mis-firing" causing her to never settle enough to allow her to get into the REM level of sleep. SHE has adapted and learned to live - pretty happily- on very little sleep.... I have not. Lol. I am at the point where I NEED to find a solution. So, for now... for the next month... despite my not wanting to use meds... we have decided to try a med every night before bed to help force her into a deeper sleep. Last night was our first night.... it didn't go so well. I praying that each day might get a little better as her body adjusts to being forced to sleep. At the same time, our doctor is reaching out to his friends who specialize in pediatric sleep disorders to see if we can maybe find some other long term options. For now, I would like sleep... NOT an Einstein!

2. I would find a way to get my house organized and uncluttered... SOON!

I have always kept a family motto : "If you want to come see me, come anytime. If you want to come see my house, please make an appointment". Over the last 10 months, my house seems to be growing it's own identity. Stuff in corners with no home, piles of unclean clothes - begging to be cleaned, "stuff" just calling out to be put away. This year, I am hoping to find the time I need to simply un-clutter and simplify our household.

I pray that each of you who reads this have had an amazing start to your New Year and that you are also looking forward to what God has in store for you!

Baby is calling... gotta close for now. :)