Rapunzal's Castle

Breathing--it's that important

2011-11-06T18:39:00.000-08:00

If you walk into my therapy gym and ask if I tell corny jokes, I'll be the first person to raise my hand. I admit it, I'm no stand-up comedian. Additionally, my sense of humor is somewhat (ok, very) black and dry. Quite unlike the coffee I drink, but that's a whole other blog post... I blame it on my dad the engineer, his time in the military (even though he was out long before I was born, cynicism CAN be inherited), and an entire childhood of both watching M*A*S*H and listening to Aggie jokes. Seriously, there needs to be a support group for people who have been forced to listen to Aggie jokes... So it's really no surprise that my collection of professional humor is really just corny, recycled one-liners designed to get a quick grin. Many times they contain a point that I'm trying to make to my patient while not sounding nagging. Several that get recycled more than others are "Don't stop breathing on me, bad things happen when you stop breathing" and "Breathing is beneficial. I highly recommend it to all my patients." They usually get the desired effect--the patient who has been holding his breath under the strain of whatever exercise laughs a bit and resumes breathing. This is an important step as I have a record of 10+ years CPR certification that has never been used on anything that can in fact breathe. I do not want to break this record.

Breathing is something I've been thinking about a lot this last week, primarily because it's been such a struggle secondary to a severe sinus infection. One day my O2 saturation level was even below that of one of my patient's that I was walking down the hall! After several sleepless nights filled with coughing and labored breathing, I desperately called my doctor and begged for the soonest possible appointment. And, yay for the strong antibiotics and prescription cough medicine, I'm actually sleeping. With the help of Afrin, I'm breathing again too! (and my husband is also glad that I'm no longer tossing and turning as it kept him awake as well.) Breathing is beneficial. In modern medicine we tend to think of the heart and it's importance to life, but it was actually breath that was chronicled as the start of human life.

Genesis 2:7 "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Job affirms his belief of the divine origins of life: "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life." Job 33:4 Two chapters earlier one of Job's friends addresses not only the physical, but also the spiritual design of God, "But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding." Job 32:8 (emphasis added on all verses.)

Breathing. Spiritually, how are you breathing? Are you taking deep breaths and enjoying the sweetness of a God who loves you? Are you free and unrestricted with Him? Or, do you have something obstructing your spiritual lifeline, stopping you from filling your lungs? I'll confess that many times I let the stress of my life interfere and I forget to breathe. I find myself perplexedly gasping for breath and wondering why I feel so winded and weak. Bad things happen when you stop breathing. Instead of running to the Creator and letting Him fill me, I continue with the same, inefficient way of managing even when I know it isn't working.

Question: which is the more important part of breathing, inspiring or expiring? (breathing in or breathing out) The answer may surprise you. It's actually breathing out. When you expel the old, stale air from your lungs your body will automatically take in a nice, deep breath full of fresh air. What are you getting rid of, expelling from your life? Are you holding onto things that are slowly strangling you and preventing an influx of that which is good? For me, there are many things that I hold onto and stubbornly refuse to do what is best. It's not that I don't want to breathe, I just don't place a high priority on it when the truth is that time with my Savior is the most important. Without breath there is no life.

Breathing. It's that important.

The Deaf One

2011-10-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

Recently I've started seeing a patient who was born deaf. We'll call her Jane. (You'll probably notice that all of my female patients are named 'Jane Doe.' If the story requires naming another one, you'll find Janet, Janine, and Jinny... along with their spouses John, Jim, and James. Just making sure Im observing HIPPA.) She'll tell you that fact and shrug her shoulders, saying in the blurred pronunciations of one who cannot hear her own voice, "I don't know why." For her, communication is obviously something that she has struggled to achieve. She speaks sign language, but few do so she has adapted other skills as well. She reads lips incredibly well as long as the speaker looks directly at her. Imagine trying to learn to speak if never heard a sound, yet she has achieved the ability to make herself understood however cumbersome it may be. She has endured this her entire life and is not bitter or questioning about it at this stage in her life. She is one of the sweetest and happiest residents in the entire facility. Or maybe I'm just biased, but I'm really enjoying working with her.

Today she showed me again what an amazing attitude she has. The facility I work in recruits various types of talents and performers to visit and entertain the residents. Today it was an elderly man armed with a slightly out-of-tune guitar and a repertoire full of comical ballads popular when our residents were much younger. I looked through the crowd and there sat my deaf one, smiling and obviously enjoying herself. A common view from people blessed enough to live in their own homes and take care of themselves is that "I'm not going to a nursing home. Nursing homes are for people who are waiting to die." Jane certainly isn't sitting around waiting to die, she's getting as much as she can from life. Most people won't go to something that they can't fully benefit from, but she participated the best she was able and enjoyed all that she could. And I was humbled.

Ride and a Personality

2011-10-27T05:27:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago MSN had a feature on what your car says about you. Originally I wasn't going to put it on the blog, but after re-reading it, I just had to! Maybe I'm clinging to this personna since the death of George and the realization that I probably won't find another BMW in an affordable price range again. My hubby is currently sitting next to me with his laptop researching minivans. Minivans!!! After an agile, fast, fun, performance vehicle! So yes, I think I need to post this and remember the good times before I start crying or something else... Really, I'll be ok.

BMW 3-Series

"In an era when we define ourselves by the type of personal computer we use — we're either a Mac or a PC — those who own a 3-Series are Macs. Like an Apple, the BMW has style, a cultlike following and stellar performance. "They make you feel like you're smart and with it," McManus says. "It's a very well-executed vehicle." By that reasoning, we'd have to consider the owner to be a smart, considerate, yet style-conscious individual."

And the irony is that I'm reading this on a Mac. :)

Farewell George

2011-10-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

The Shelton family was sad to learn that a member of their family passed away suddenly. George the Monkey, named by Nathan, was a 1996 BMW 328i who gave out with a rusted frame. This experience is yet another reason why his owners wish the state of Indiana would quit using salt to clear the roads. He is survived by his owners, their children, and their other vehicle, a 1998 truck that Landon named Blacky Wacky. It is hard to tell who will miss him more, his mistress, Kat, or the children who rode safely buckled in back. Kat was very happy with "her baby" and loved the agile, powerful but yet smooth driving experience. She also loved the feel of the standard transmission and it brought a grin to her face. George handled like a dream and made driving fun again. (Especially after years of driving a Buick Century.) Interstate driving, traffic, and snow were all handled with ease from the precision machine. The boys loved having a "fast car" and constantly begged for the driver to hit the accelerator (of which George would happily do!) Nathan could constantly be heard making shifting noises in the backseat. It was the first time the Shelton family had a vehicle in which the boys would rather ride in instead of the truck. The next vehicle will never be the same as driving George.

1996-2011

RIP George the Monkey, you will be dearly missed.

A Tribute to the Night Before Christmas--Shelton Style

2011-09-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

'Twas the night we bought the bunk beds and all through the house,
Our two little creatures were stirring and I looked for help at my spouse.
Sheets were purchased and placed on the bed
But little boys were too excited to lay down their heads.

Visions of them accidentally rolling out and hitting the floor danced in my head,
Most horrendous thoughts filled me with dread!
My husband, somewhat chuckling over my womanly fear,
Did at least put an arm out and draw me near.

Sounds of jumping and giggling filled the whole bed time,
If you turned for but a second little feet the bed would climb.
We added to our prayers, "Lord, let them not break a bone,"
and when I left the room I closed the door with a groan.

When out from the room their arose such a clatter,
We both jumped from the couch to see what was the matter.
On the floor were a toy car, a teddy bear, a flashlight, and ball,
And two faces grinning from the top said they were enthralled.

With time the newness has worn off and my children survived,
Although there is no way I can say we have arrived,
Now with confidence I can say as I shut off the light,
A peaceful night to all, and to all a good night!

Such were my fears when we purchased the bunk beds for Landon's room! Yes, I know. Paranoid mother. In my defense, I've heard plenty of stories, from everything from broken arms to stitches from "Superman" hitting the ceiling fan when he started flying... Overall, I've gone from "why did I do this?" to "It's great to have an extra bed for company!" And the boys have learned the main rules of "no playing on the bed," "no playing on the bed," and last but not least, "No playing on the bed." Throwing toys off the top bunk qualifies under "no playing on the bed." Landon had to earn the right to sleep on the top bunk, and has learned how to safely, but even with the railing we still wedge some bumpers up there. We're (probably more of the "I" than the "we") grateful that he's usually content to sleep on the bottom. :) Bedtime as a whole is much quieter now that the boys have separate rooms. :)

A Letter from Camp

2011-09-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

A Letter from Camp

Dear Mom,
Our scout master told us all write to our parents in case you saw the flood on TV and worried. We are OK. Only 1 of our tents and 2 sleeping bags got washed away. Luckily, none of us got drowned because we were all up on the mountain looking for Chad when it happened. Oh yes, please call Chad's mother and tell her he is OK. He can't write because of the cast. I got to ride in one of the search & rescue jeeps. It was neat. We never would have found him in the dark if it hadn't been for the lightning.

Scoutmaster Webb got mad at Chad for going on a hike alone without telling anyone. Chad said he did tell him, but it was during the fire so he probably didn't hear him. Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas can will blow up? The wet wood still didn't burn, but one of our tents did. Also some of our clothes. John is going to look weird until his hair grows back.

We will be home on Saturday if Scoutmaster Webb gets the car fixed. It wasn't his fault about the wreck. The brakes worked OK when we left. Scoutmaster Webb said that a car that old you have to expect something to break down; that's probably why he can't get insurance on it. We think it's a neat car. He doesn't care if we get it dirty, and if it's hot, sometimes he lets us ride on the tailgate. It gets pretty hot with 10 people in a car. He let us take turns riding in the trailer until the highway patrolman stopped and talked to us.
Scoutmaster Webb is a neat guy. Don't worry, he is a good driver. In fact, he is teaching Terry how to drive. But he only lets him drive on the mountain roads where there isn't any traffic. All we ever see up there are logging trucks.

This morning all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming out in the lake. Scoutmaster Webb wouldn't let me because I can't swim and Chad was afraid he would sink because of his cast, so he let us take the canoe across the lake. It was great. You can still see some of the trees under the water from the flood. Scoutmaster Webb isn't crabby like some scoutmasters. He didn't even get mad about the life jackets.

He has to spend a lot of time working on the car so we are trying not to cause him any trouble. Guess what? We have all passed our first aid merit badges. When Dave dove in the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works. Also Wade and I threw up. Scoutmaster Webb said it probably was just food poisoning from the leftover chicken, he said they got sick that way with the food they ate in prison. I'm so glad he got out and become our scoutmaster. He said he sure figured out how to get things done better while he was doing his time.

I have to go now. We are going into town to mail our letters and buy bullets. Don't worry about anything. We are fine.

Love,
Cole

http://www.joke-archives.com/outdoors/campletter.html

This joke is something that my family has laughed about from years. A running joke is, "We're just going into town to buy bullets. Everything's fine!" I wish I could have written something like this. I'm not even halfway creative enough. And while the entire story is far-fetched, I bet we've all known boys to whom this would be a tremendous adventure and wouldn't fathom why their father is taking their mother to the ER with a heart attack.

How many times in our lives do we not see the danger, whether physical or spiritual, in our lives? Like the time my rifle quite literally exploded in my face while I shot it, I am so grateful for a sovereign God who cares enough for His children to protect them. Spiritually, what's your warning system? Who do you have in your life to warn you when you're sitting on the tailgate? Sometimes, just like this letter, we are either too immature to realize the danger we're in, or our caretaker isn't so good at his job, or both. God is never asleep at His post! Thank you, Father!

the backpack

2011-07-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

There's a backpack in my basement. I dont like it. It was on a tremendous after-season sale. It's nice looking: black with gray and red trim, a few pickets to hide things in, and those neat-looking but pointless bungee cords on the front. (Seriously, I've never seen anyone use that feature. Ever.) If I were a kid I would love it. I'm pretty sure that my kid will love it. Therein lies the problem. It's for him to pack his books, crayons, and the like and go to school. I know that Nathan will enjoy both the backpack and going to school. And I'm having a hard time dealing with it.

My friend talked me into buying the backpack on Black Friday because it was only two dollars. She bought the other three for her two children because, apparently, children are pretty tough on backpacks and they break in the middle of the year forcing desperate parents to pay full price for a new one. Not having prior experience in this area, I took her word for it. This will be my first year to send a child to school. Forget him being ready, I don't think that I am.

Thousands of parents across the country are counting the days until school starts again and I act as though I'm sending him to a concentration camp. My sentiments are being very unreasonable, I know that. And it's fun to see them grow and learn new things. But I'm sad that this innocent phase in his life is soon to be over. Soon he'll have homework and after-school activities. His time will be scheduled more by his school day than by family activities. I love coming home for lunch and seeing my boys. I dread not having him there.

Starting school is the end of a wonderful phase of his life but also the beginning of another wonderful one. Truthfully, I wouldn't want him to stay home forever. This is the beginning of his really really growing up, and there's actually a part (small!) that's excited to see what will happen next.

There's a backpack in the basement. I'm dealing with it.

What's in an attitude?

2011-05-31T04:41:00.000-07:00

It was just one of those days where nothing was going right. I was ok, but scurrying to get things accomplished. She wasn't helping... Her negativity had increased to the point where the only thing to do was be very blunt with her. She usually chose to ignore me and complain anyway, but at least I had done what I could... As I came all but sprinting into the gym, I looked up to see her being pushed out of the doors. Before I could even form an apology for keeping her waiting, she spat out, "well, it's about time!" I grabbed the handles to her wheelchair, leaned over and asked, "do you think you could say something nice? Anything?" behind me I heard a combination of a gasp and a giggle from a coworker.

What is in an attitude? Can you control it? That day I remembered the words of a book I had read, called The Hiding Place. Corrie Ten Boom and her family had been captured by the Nazis for the "crime" of helping the Jews escape from Holland. Let's repeat this, she was captured by the Gestapo for saving the lives of people who's only crime was to be born the wrong race. She had been separated from all but her sister. The two of them were placed in the notorious Ravensbruck death camp in Germany. Yet the two of them decided to maintain a good attitude despite their surroundings. Living in bug-infested straw, malnutrition, inadequate clothing against the winter, and daily beatings, the two women chose to maintain positivity rather than complaining about their circumstances. In her biography, Corrie describes that she arrived at her decision realizing that the Nazis had taken away everything and controlled everything about her life at that point. They could not, however, control her relationship with God and her attitude. She could choose to be content and there was nothing that her tormentors could do about it. She even chose forgiveness against her tormentors. Shortly before her death, Betsie stated, "There is no pit so deep that God's love is deeper still."

No matter what, my Father calls me to have a positive attitude. He asks me to choose to trust in Him instead of getting mired in with my circumstances. Happy back to work after a nice holiday weekend everyone, here's a thought to start out your day:

"Happiness isn't something that depends on our surroundings...It's something we make inside ourselves."
— Corrie Ten Boom

Heads Up

2011-05-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

Don't you love how God created the world to echo His spiritual truths? I was with several friends and we were discussing some of the pitfalls that we were encountering with in our walk with Christ. One woman stated how God reminds her to get her eyes off the problem and onto Him, to hold her head up and follow God. Then it hit me.We walk better spiritually when we keep our heads up in the same manner as when we quit watching the floor while we physically walk.

This is a truth that I tell my patients every day. Every. Single. Day. I quip with lame jokes like, "You don't need to give your nose a head-start to the floor." and "You're not a gorilla, you're a human." Dance instructors will tell you that watching your feet does not help you with your dance steps, instead it hinders and confuses. Keep your head up to improve your balance and safety. Keep your head up to communicate with your Savior.

Lift Up Your Face.

The Treasure

2011-05-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

Take that, Coronado! Ponce de Leon, you got nothin' on me!!! Forget the fountain of youth and the city of gold. I have something worth way more than their treasures, and longer lasting. I have an amazing God. A God who does not give us unreachable dreams, empty hopes, or wild goose chases. He does not ask us to find some amazing discovery to be remember in eternity. He sent His Son to be the most amazing treasure the world has ever known. To be remembering, all we have to do is choose to follow Him.

On May 7, I was reminded again of just how incredible He is. That morning I got up at 4:45 am. (Yep, that's in the morning!) My dear, long-suffering husband even slept in Landon's room so that I would have the best night's sleep possible. Also, my alarm not waking him up might have played sightly into the situation... I downed 2 Aleve, a potassium/calcium tablet, and choked down a protein bar for breakfast while I unsuccessfully tried to drink a G3. (Grabbed by accident instead of a G2. Do NOT make this same mistake! Ever. Nasty. Still shudder when I think about it.) I vaselined every skin surface that I remotely thought might rub against other skin, fabric, headphone wires, etc. Pinned my bib on my T-shirt and made certain to grab the medicine kit as well as my iPhone, armband, and headphones. Necessities, you know!

I met the other ladies and climbed into the back seat of the vehicle we were carpooling in. Massaging and taping the sudden shin-splints of one of my friends helped relieve my nervousness, but I couldn't get out of the back of my mind what I was about to try to accomplish. The closer the car came to Indianapolis, the faster my butterflies flew until I was glad that I was unable to finish the entire power bar. A gargantuan task of 13.1 miles loomed ahead of me. We parked the cars and split up with our partners to head to the corrals. And suddenly it happened, my nervousness melted away into excitement. The old feeling I used to get before a volleyball game reappeared. With the help of my friends I had trained and felt ready.

That wonderful feeling lasted until about mile 8. My combination of walking and running had worked pretty well and my partner and I had been keeping a decently steady pace of 13-minute miles. Then came the Brickyard. The race brochures makes sure to emphasize that runners get to race on the actual track that the Indianapolis is run on. True. How historical it is. True. How it's wonderful and the highlight of the race. FALSE!!! They lie like dogs!!! It was dreadful. Now I know why humans run on a 400m track, because 2 1/2 miles is way too long. I kept running and running and felt like I wasn't getting anywhere. Also, due to the bowl shape, there is no breeze whatsoever. The only good part was the 12 or so high-school cheerleading teams dressed up in different themes supporting the runners. The worst part was that I lost my partner somewhere between miles 6 and 8. Alone in a crowd of 30,000. After exiting the track, the next mile marker seemed like it never came. I didn't want to give up, but I was having a hard time starting to run after every walk. So I prayed. My prayer wasn't to finish in under 3 hours, I'd stopped caring so much about that. First, I thanked Him for this opportunity and the chance to push myself, thanking Him for my friends that were with me somewhere on the course. I thanked Him for helping me make the journey to start towards a healthier lifestyle and the chance to teach my children about the principle of stewardship. I even thanked Him for the cheering strangers on the sideline that came out in the rain. The crowd, by the way, was amazing. Then my prayers moved on into claiming promises, for I know He keeps His. Like crazy I asked for the strength to finish what He had asked me to start. He kept my legs moving and I was able to run the last mile. 3:11. This is literally the longest that I have ever run. For that matter, it's the longest I've ever run without a rest break!!!

People that overly-spiritualize things drive me crazy. I mean, really, dinner mints with praying hands on them aren't any better than those that you buy at Kroger. It certainly doesn't make your candy any healthier! But this journey was way more than physical, it was a spiritual, faith-building, bruising, and uplifting journey. Along the way I rediscovered that the God that I serve sometimes uses physical illustrations for spiritual purposes. I learned that, with His strength, I can do so much more than I think I can. With Him, I can silence the voices that run inside my head, seeking to distract me. With Him, I can keep on trucking long after the point where I would have quit. And a bonus: once upon a time there was an extremely competitive blond girl who never gave up and attacked problems. Somewhere in the University of Real Life her drive and determination got shifted from sports to academics and career and family, and she started using the deadly phrase, "I can't." Worst was the fact that she felt that getting in shape again and taking care of herself was hopeless. At the end of the race I found myself planning for next year's race and setting a goal time. 2:45. There, I've said it out loud. Then I found myself on the internet researching others to run. It was then that I realized that the competitive blond girl was back, more mature, darker hair, and happier than ever to be running. God restores. He's amazing. He's my treasure.

He is Faithful

2011-04-16T07:10:00.000-07:00

Back in December I had a difficult choice to make. I had been offered a job at my PRN (part time as needed) and wasn't sure whether or not I should accept it. The health insurance is literally double. Not kidding. Sure it came with a slight pay raise, but was it enough to even out double the insurance? Also, it was my PRN. It was convenient being a 5 minute walk from my house. I could work 6 hours on saturday and still be home before the kids got up from their naps. But if I worked there, where would I go if caseload were low or we had unexpected expenses and I needed extra hours? Having the responsibility of providing for my family sometimes really stresses me out.

I prayed a lot and talked with my husband, family, friends, and coworkers. I really wanted to work close to home and regain those ten lost hours I wasted weekly in the car. Ryan and I crunched and crunched the budget numbers and came to the conclusion that we didn't know if it would work. He particularly was a little nervous of what would happen if I gave up my PRN. The cry of my heart was to have more time with my boys. I miss them and they're growing up so quickly. Finally, Ryan and I made the decision to accept the position in my hometown. How could I not with two little sets of arms (and a big set) waiting to hug me sooner every evening?

I am happy to report that most of the weeks since I have accepted my new position I have gotten my full 40 hours at a minimum. Many weeks I even have all the overtime I can handle or have to turn it down to spend time with my family. Now that the price of gas has skyrocketed, a 5 minute walk is a definite bonus! The icing on the cake is that I have been able to lose 10 pounds. I walk home for lunch 3-4 days a week and get so many more hugs and kisses from my boys! When talking to a former coworker, she rejoiced with me when I reported all of this. "You choose to honor God by putting your family before your job. He took care of the rest." He has!!! Ryan and I didn't know the outcome, but we stepped out on faith and knew that the Father would provide for us. And I still have a PRN job. My former boss has asked me to do work a couple hours a week at a facility close by. It's so amazing what a wonderful God we serve! When the numbers don't add up, He makes it work anyway.

P.S. For those of you out there who are geeks, PRN is short for pro re nata, "as the circumstance arises."

What a Mess!

2011-04-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Discovered this post that I had started and never posted from last August. Here goes.

Last weekend we visited one of my favorite stores--IKEA. I was delighted to find that one of the main items on my list, rugs for the doors leading to the outside, were on clearance. The last rug wore out sometime before the birth of my three-year-old and I hadn't been able to find one that I liked in my price range. Consequently, I'm not even sure if my children know what rugs truly are. With joy I laid them on the floor and imagined the dirt clods and leaves being somewhat restricted in access to my home.

The rugs were placed on the floor after the children went to bed. The boys didn't seem to notice them until halfway through breakfast. Landon looked over with spoon in hand and pointed to the door, "Daddy, what spilled?" My husband looked around in vain for the offending liquid on the floor. Landon insisted, despite assurances to the contrary, that there was indeed something spilled on the floor. "But there's a towel on the floor!"

so you think your patient can dance

2011-03-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I danced with a patient in therapy. It started out as simply as great opportunity to work with a patient. I had finished with one and noticed the next patient on my list in the main room in the dance sponsored by activities. Great! I don't have to chase her down and it shouldn't be too difficult to get some movement out of her. What that time turned into was more than I had anticipated.

She agreed eagerly. As I knelt beside her to remove her foot pedals, she reached for my hand. "Did I ever tell you about the time that I danced with Fred Astaire?" Apparently she was a background dancer in one of his movies when she was a teenager. Her eyes shining, she took several minutes to tell me about the perfection that he expected and how much she learned from the experience. It was obvious how much she treasured that opportunity. As I reached for her hands, she stood up and eagerly started tapping her feet. I'll be brutally honest and say that both of my feet are left. It's true--I can't dance. That sad fact, however, doesn't stop me from trying and I was more than willing to make a fool of myself for the sake of... well... her, the experience, the therapy. It didn't matter that I have never been able to dance and that she is no longer able to fly about the room. (although she still has really good timing!)
She looked up at me, eyes gleaming. The only time her eyes left mine were to smile at other people. For a few minutes she was reconnected to the person she used to be and the life she used to have. I'm definitely no Fred Astaire, but dancing with me brought those memories to life. For that short time the reality of living in a nursing facility rolled back a bit and she was again doing something that she dearly loved. I don't have any idea how long it had been since she had danced.

I had no clue that the afternoon meant so much to her until today when I talked to the OT who treated her afterwards. Apparently that was all she talked about yesterday. Who knew the Hokie Pokie and a couple of slow dances could mean so much? These are the moments that make me internally shout, "I LOVE MY JOB!!!" Therapy that gives a person back their life.

And so we danced.

Solutions for narrow heels

2011-03-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

Runners know the importance of a well-fitting shoe. In preparing for the mini I was excited when my crazy running friend, Zest, scheduled a trip to the store with the salesman she's worked with for the past eight years. I have terrible ankles and one not-so-great knee so I was hoping that he could help me find the right fit.
In the store I was debating between two final selections. Pair A fit great with the exception that the heel was a little bit loose. Pair B was tight across my instep and toes, but the heel stayed in place. A common shoe dilemma for me since my midfoot is wide but my heel is narrow. My wonderful and knowledgeable salesman solved the issue. This specific lacing pattern basically pulls the back of the shoe forward so that the heel doesn't slip and the shoe is tight without the lace cutting into the top of your foot. It sounds confusing the first time but is actually quite simple and comfortable while wearing. I'm grateful he shared this little tip with me.

1. Lace up shoes while leaving the top hole open.

2. Take the lace and thread it through the hole in top on the same side so that it forms a loop.

3. Now cross the end of the lace through the contralateral loop. (The lace from the right goes through the loop on the left.)

4. Repeat with the opposite side

5. Tie normally.

Pair A. My first pair of Brooks. Cinderella size 7, and definitely not leaving them behind!

A Simple and Needed Hug

2011-03-14T18:38:00.000-07:00

She has global aphasia. It's a language problem she developed after a stroke. The portion of the brain that controls speech is not working correctly. She can process her own thoughts, but the mechanism for transferring those thoughts to speech just doesn't cut it. Additionally, most of what she hears from other people is Greek to her. Basically she's trapped in her own brain. She's more there than most people give her credit for. Usually she will start a sentence with garble, the middle will be intelligible to those that care to try. The sad thing is that most people write her off as crazy simply because they cannot understand her. Cognitively she's still very much with us.

This evening, though, her speech was far easier for me to comprehend. During our walk we stood and had a conversation while looking out a window. I always thank my patients for working with me at the end of the session. Most of them will thank me in return for taking the time to work with them as well. When I helped her into her wheelchair and reset her alarm, her face lit up and she spread both arms out wide. As I leaned forward to wrap my arms around her shoulders, my eyes teared up and I wished I could tell her what that meant to me.

Rewind three years. I didn't start out wanting to work in geriatrics. I work with patients and get close to them, hold their hands when they're in pain, hold the bucket while they throw up, hand them Kleenex when they're crying. Sometimes, despite the best that they and I can do, they can't go home. Many times they go back to the hospital, or bounce between the ER and the rehab unit like a yo-yo. I've lost patients to ALS, pneumonia, cancer. I've helped families guide their way through the maze of decision-making for their loved one. That's not even counting the advanced dementia and the way it steals a person right in front of your eyes. It's like ripping your heart our every day. But some days your patients can reach right back to your heart and mend it with a smile and a hug.

From here to the Mini

2011-03-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

Several months ago one at a get-together, one of my friends was talking about the mini marathon that she runs every year. (I'll call her Zest since she is enthusiastic about everything she does and has more energy than any woman over the age of 3 has a right to.) Apparently it's her goal to introduce a new runner to the mini each time. Also apparent is that my friends are way too healthy because several of them chimed in about their past experiences running the race. I must be insane because I started getting excited as they talked about it. (really need to look into getting that "sucker" tattoo removed from my forehead...) I don't know why, but the thought of running 13 miles and spending months training for a race that I have no possibility of winning sounded like a good idea, so I agreed to run with them. And no, my glass was filled with iced tea, not alcohol. That night found me on the laptop registering before I could change my mind. Now that I'm financially committed I cannot back out!

And now it's time to actually train. Running shoes have been fitted and purchased. Tunes have been loaded onto the iphone and earbuds located. The thought of running for almost three solid hours still scares this sprinter. Truly, the longest race I ever ran in my younger and in-shape days was the 400m dash. My main sports were basketball and volleyball, again filled with sprinting. This will be a new experience that I am somewhat looking forward to. Mainly I'm looking forward to the challenge. I've stopped pushing myself physically. When I work out I tend to stop at the point of pain and listen to the "I can't" voice inside my head. Running the mini I must learn to put a chokehold on that insipid voice.

In addition to running because of the challenge, I'm running because of the way I've been treating myself. Excuses and laziness have led the way to me becoming horribly out of shape. This is not the example that I need to be setting for my children. It is certainly not being a good steward of the body that God has given me. I haven't had the discipline that I need in either my spiritual or spiritual life. In my role of physical therapy, I see the results every day of people who have neglected their bodies. There is no pill the doctor can prescribe to combat overeating and disuse. I constantly find myself telling my patients that it's not too late to start moving and they can improve their own lives but they have to take that responsibility. So do I.

I need to run. For myself. For my family. For my patients. For my faith.

Another Poe day

2011-02-03T04:30:00.001-08:00

The story begins like a Poe tale "there I was again, waiting, waiting. Waiting in the breeze waiting for a fleeting glimpse. A glimpse of this man. Waiting while the dirt swirled, waiting while the clock counted down. Waiting cameras ready To not miss a moment.

And while I waited I remembered. The hours of waiting I've spent. Waiting on a wall, waiting in the stands, waiting for a phone call. Watching intently while I waited.Watching him pursue his dreams. Watching him fight to succeed. Waiting for him to walk across stage for diplomas, to receive butter bars and wings. Trinkets that have no intrinsic value yet are full of significance representing hours of studying, sacrificing, and hard work.

Finally the roar of a powerful engine signalled the end of today's wait. Today I would catch no sight of his face, but instead snapped pictures of the plane he piloted. I stood with pride as he thundered overhead and yelled to my sons, "there's your uncle!" if this memory of waiting is remembered in their minds and inspires them I will be even more proud. For today, as always, those long moments of waiting were overshadowed by the short moments of greatness.

Sleep Talking

2010-09-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

The common phrase for people joking about their own short attention span used to be something along the lines of "Look, there goes something shiny!" (or bright, if the jokester is a male.) Disney/Pixar updated that phrase with the advent of their movie, Up. All you have to do is watch the commercials to see the lovable dog interrupting himself by yelling "Squirrel" every time he saw one of the rodents to burst out laughing. Turns out that golden retrievers aren't the only ones to induce laughter through such a comical utterance.

Ryan was waking up the boys to get ready for church this morning and started with Nathan. Landon started mulbling in his sleep. Suddenly, still asleep, Landon called out, "Squirrel!" After Ryan finished laughing, he asked Landon if he was calling himself a squirrel like Daddy does. The reply came back in the negative; evidentally our son indicated that he was trying to catch a squirrel. And the funny part of it all is that we haven't watched "Up" recently. Maybe he's been hanging out with a golden retriever? :)

Cakes by Katherine

2010-07-21T04:12:00.000-07:00

This post is for the progression of my cake decorating skills. I am fortunate to have an extremely talented mother-in-law who was willing last year to teach me a little bit. I still have tons more to learn, but it's so much fun! Now I don't have to go to Walmart to get fun birthday cakes for my boys!!! :)

I figured 30 candles on a cake would pose a serious fire hazard, so I brought out the fire extinguisher as well. He didn't laugh nearly as hard as I did... :)

So yes, this cake was for the surprise "funeral" that I threw for a 30th birthday party for my husband. The hardest part was getting him out of the house while I made, decorated, hid the cake, and then cleaned the kitchen. The second-hardest part was getting the kids to keep a secret.

The grass turned out to be problematic as the green icing coloring was somewhat clumpy and wouldn't 100% blend in, so the grass tip kept getting clogged. Very time consuming to clean! I wanted more of a marbled look for the tombstone, but overall I am pleased with the results.

One of my OT's at work was a little disappointed when another co-worker found another job. The day before the birthday was also Staci's last day at work, so I was asked to contribute to the going away party. And no, I did NOT come up with the idea, it was all Heather's!!! Not my favorite cake that I've made, but definitely has gotten the most comments. We had people from all over the facility coming in to check it out, take pictures, and debate over whether they really wanted a piece of it. Despite the looks, it was very tasty.

My darling hubby helped me design the camouflage initially, but when I asked him to help me, he decided the patterns he had drawn were way too small! Our hands were cramped by the time we finished all those little stars, but it was fun to add the texture. I was also happy to be able to add in the A-10, which is what my brother flies.

My boys like their boy toys!

Thomas the Train. I used a train that we already had and copied the pattern off the internet. I love google images for ideas!

I think my favorite part are the fluffy clouds. Partially because I think they're cute and definitely because they were extremely easy... After doing all that grass with an icing bag that was breaking, my hand was definitely crying for a rest.

To be added later: the Clifford cake that my MIL helped me extensively with. I think that pic is on the external hard drive...

Sept 11 Remembrance--God in the Stairwell

2009-09-11T18:19:00.001-07:00

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK . . . I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken . . . I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan, and Afghanistan. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

- God

Written by Stacey Randall

PTA school

2009-08-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

"PTA school is not a journey to graduation with the intention of arriving safely with a calm and well preserved mind, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out and yelling 'WOW, what a ride!'"

Get through to a real person!

2009-05-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

Tired of waiting on the phone for 45 minutes while arguing with an automated service? And then you get disconnected? Get Human finally gives you that option! This wonderful free website gives you numbers and instructions on how to get through to a REAL LIVE PERSON. Wow, novel concept, right? They have a couple hundred businesses and corporations listed on their website that they have personally verified. Many of these numbers are ones that are hard to get hold of. You are allowed to submit numbers and instructions for a company that is not listed, they will just note that it has not been verified by them. Customer service made easier. Good luck!

No I haven't fallen off the face of the planet

2009-05-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

Many people have sent me graduation wishes and asked what I've been up to. So while I haven't fallen off the face of the planet, it's been a busy last two weeks.

May 2 was my graduation walk. I received an empty diploma cover with a note saying I'd get my diploma once I complete my degree requirements. Said requirements are two summer clinical rotations (internships) that last a total of 14 weeks. So August 10 I will be officially DONE!!! YIPPEE! In the meantime I've been enjoying my first rotation, which is at St. Francis Hospital. I'm working in acute inpatient rehab, mostly heart surgery patients and the like. Acute rehab is unpredictable from day to day and I'm learning tons. Since we start rounding at 7am, my days actually start at 4:30 am. I'm a night owl anyway, and the past two years in the PTA program our classes have been at night so this is HUGE change for me. There are no "no-makeup days" since I don't want to scare my patients into another heart attack what with my tired, puffy eyes... It is nice to have the afternoons free with the children. :)

Please pray that I'll learn what I need to from this rotation, figure out a way to start studying for the licensing exam, and for my time with my family. Oh yeah, and I guess I need a job! :)

Snapfish savings-two weeks only!

2009-05-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

Two weeks only! $10 Off $30 or More! 6/14-6/31 Use Coupon Code SAVETODAY

Snapfish is one of my favorite places to print out my digital photos. Their quality is good and their turnaround time is very quick. Perfect chance to print out your Mother's Day memories and save while doing so!

If you have any more great suggstions, feel free to comment or email me. Look for Punzey on twitter and don't forget to sign up to get posts delivered right to your inbox.

How to fail chemistry and math tests with HUMOR!!!

2009-04-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

Below are student test examples. So even if you don’t teach either of these two subjects, this is very funny!!! And lets face it…we could all use some humor in our day.

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

Stress

2009-04-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

Stress

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked
'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued,

'And that's the way it is with stress management.

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,

As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,

We won't be able to carry on. '

'As with the glass of water,

You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.

When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'

'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down.

Don't carry it home.

You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now,

Let them down for a moment if you can.'

So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now...

Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon,
And some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet,
Just in case you have to eat them.

* Always wear stuff that will make you look good
If you die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be
Recalled by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,
It was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
Because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.

* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When everything's coming your way,
You're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you.
The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world,
But you may also be the world to one person...

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons..... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today...I did .

Hopefully you enjoyed reading this, I am certainly glad that my friend sent it to me. Feel free to comment, and don't forget to enter your email in the RSS feed so you won't miss more posts. I'd love

to see you on Twitter-look for Punzey!

Can you dry jeans with a blow dryer in a bathroom?

2009-04-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

It was one of those days. Actually, it had been one of those weekends. Saturday and Sunday I'd been at school all day for a licensing review course. Monday I had two study groups to meet to study for final exams. The instructor for the WSI (American Red Cross' Water Safety Instructor) told us to bring jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt to practice survival techniques. Of course that means that you need an extra pair of clothes to wear after class because your clothes will be soaked, right? Monday dawned to find my trudging out to the Jeep with two diaper bags, a backpack, another book bag, my swim bag, and a lunch box. With all of that gear to pack (plus sleep deprivation and high stress levels), two children to dress, and a dog to take care of, it's always the question of the day as to what item(s) that I forgot to include. Still, I was completely certain that I had brought the required items to my swim class.

Class went well, although I think I have decided that it takes more work to blow up a shirt into a flotation device than it does to tread water. After showering I reached into the bag to grab my dry clothes and found only the t-shirt. What?! Where are my pants??? Drat. After debating what my options were for several moments, I spied the hand dryers mounted on the wall. I wasn't even hoping to completely dry the pants,but I was hoping that I could knock the water out a step or two. After wringing out the jeans as much as possible I positioned them over the outlet and started the dryer. Eight cycles and two very tired arms later, my jeans were still on the wet side of the damp spectrum. Or they were on the dry side of soaking. Take your pick, but you get the picture! Tired and wanting to go home, I decided that my only option was to go ahead and wear the wet pants and just be a bit chilly. Fortunately it was a warmish evening. As I wrapped up my swimsuit in the towel and went to stick it into my bag, what did my hands touch but my spare pair of pants? Wow! Ok, so now I feel like a dork. But at least I'm now a dry dork!

Friend sent me: Common Sense's Obituary

2009-04-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense , who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; - Life isn't always fair; - and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust,
by his wife, Discretion,
by his daughter, Responsibility,
and by his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights,
I Want It Now,
Someone Else Is To Blame,
and I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Willing wethead

2009-04-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

Neither one of my sons likes for his hair to be washed. It's not the shampoo, but the water pouring over their heads. Ryan can't figure out how to hold both his eyes and his ears at the same time. At least he has stopped shrieking at the top of his lungs. William doesn't go in for the hysterics, but he does cling to me tighter than melted chocolate on upholstery all the wihle gasping anxiously for breath. Some days I feel as though I'm dressing for war when I bathe them--hair in a ponytail, contacts must be in, and remove any long sleeves.

None of this makes sense to their befuddled mother as I've always been a fish out of water. Out of water I'm a complete klutz, but in the water I feel graceful and strong. My parents had to teach me to swim before I was two years old because I would run and jump in anytime I saw water. Since both my brothers were in competitive swimming, this kept my mom quite busy. Having two sons afraid to let a little water drip over their eyes leaves me wondering what to do.

They both absolutely love taking baths and playing in the water, it's just the wet heads they can't deal with. Obviously skipping hair washing is not an option, so we've dealt with it--both the sobbing children and the soaked clothes. Ryan is finally getting to the point where he will cover his face with a washcloth and allow me to wash his hair. The big surprise of the day was when William, picked up the green cup and handed it to me. Then he even leaned forward for me to dump the water on his head! I can't tell you how astounded I was that this little guy was asking me to wash his hair! YAAAY! No matter what else happens today, this day goes down as a good one. :) I now have a willing wethead!

Cute Easter photos

2009-04-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

The Easter photo shoot didn't go as planned. The boys would NOT sit still. But it doesn't matter--they were still so cute all dressed up. Ryan loved wearing a tie and William wouldn't take off his hat in Sunday school. A few tips for getting at least some decent shots of your children on special days...

1. Don't get dead set that the pictures HAVE to be done a certain way. Children are masters of picking up stress and will react (usually negatively) to it. Just relax and realize that you can only get kids to do so much.

2. Be snappy. Two ways. First, if at all possible, use an autofocus camera. Yes, my 35mm Minolta takes superb pictures, but it's a dinosaur and doesn't autofocus. No toddler is going to sit still long enough for you to focus manually! Also, take a lot of pictures. Just keep shooting. You never know when a good one is going to come out.

3. Take candid shots as well as posed portraits. This way at least something will turn out. Some days they end up being better than the posed "everybody sitting and smiling in the same direction" pictures anyway. I didn't get a good photo of the boys in their easter outfits (hopefully one of the grandparents' turned out). But I'm happy with the egg hunt photos, so I've included two of them. Remember, the point of taking pictures is to preserve memories. So don't stress yourself out trying to get "the" perfect shot.

And take advantage of Snapfish's generosity and save money printing your Easter memories. :) 50 Free Prints plus a choice of either 20% Off Photo Cards OR 20% Off Photo Books Exp 4/30

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YouData pays you

2009-04-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

Introducing YouData, Inc., the company that actually PAYS you to see advertisements! Annoyed with all those popups that keep bombarding you? With YouData, you actually get paid to view advertisements. You choose when and how many to see, and they tell you ahead of time how much each ad is worth. Earnings are depositied into your PayPal account every Friday. You won't get rich off this network, but who can complain about a few extra dollars every week for a few minutes of "work?" The company is pretty new and will only keep attracting more advertisers, which will mean more money for you! And who knows, you might actually see something useful in one of the ads? After the first week YouData deposited $4.15 into my PayPal account. That's my ebay fund right there! :) If you're interested in free money, here's the steps to take.

1) Create your YouData Account.
You will enter some basic information. They don't ask for your mailing address, but they do require your cell phone number to send 1 confirmation text. After that, they don't bother you. They do this as a double opt-in feature to prevent spammers from entering falst accounts and to enforce the one account per person rule. And all they need to pay you is for you to enter the email address you have registered on PayPal. (Create a PayPal account if you don't already have one.) And the great thing is that, unlike many online work-from-home type programs, there is NO MINIMUM payment to deposit!!!

2) Fill out optional surveys in your MeFile. YouData gives optional surveys that help target ads specifically to you. Just click the tab that says "MeFile" and then click "surveys." It's that easy!

3) Come back to Rapunzal's Castle and look for the adstacker on the right hand of the page. It'll look like this Login using your YouData ID. Click on the lower right hand corner where it says "get ads" Then look at the top where you see a slider bar. This sort of works as a tip jar, and it's set to 50/50%. Slide all the way to the left ot keep 100% of the money that you earn. (you can only see the slider bar when you have ads to view) Then click "reveal ads" and you can then click on the ads individually. You get paid for paying attention for a few seconds. Cool, right?

That's all there is to it. I hope this was helpful. Enjoy your fun money from YouData. Thanks to Freebies4Mom for getting me started on this idea. I'm off to check my ads. Friday I'm buying the jogging case for my MP3 player!

Thank you for reading. Don't forget to sign up for more from Rapunzal's Castle, or follow Punzey on Twitter. Leave a comment, I'd love to hear your success stories with YouData.

Just a few more?

2009-04-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

The last two and a half years that I have spent at the university have been both enjoyable and interminable. Time has passed both quickly and achingly slow. I find myself within three weeks of finals bouncing up and down at the prospect of being done with classwork. Summer clinicals will be difficult but enjoyable. To say that I am eagerly anticipating graduating in August and being able to find a job in a clinic is an understatement. I'm ready to be out of school and re-enter the real world!

Somehow, though, when I look at the years that I've spent on campus, it seems as though I didn't get half of what I wanted accomplished. The instructor for my voice class asked if I wanted to take private lessons next year. My voice carried both excitement and regret that I couldn't because I have graduated by then. There are so many courses, so many subjects that I wanted to study, but I just ran out of time. While registering for this last semester I felt like Cinderella at the ball, begging the clock to allow just one more dance. I wanted to take another art course, to study more music. My brain has been stuffed full of physics, anatomy, and chemistry, and it is happy for the challenge. But my spirit feels satisfied when the expression when I am bent over a drawing or my fingers are flying over the keyboard.

At times I look jealously at my younger, single classmates who seem to have the world open. They complain that they can't find anything interesting to fill out their elective hours, while I bring myself back to reality that, no, I can't take the 22 hours of the courses I really am interested in.

But then, when I start the ignition to my Jeep and begin the long drive home, the miles weigh on me. I do not wish to make this drive any longer. The miles weigh on me because they separate me from my children. What science can be more challenging than teaching my oldest son to read? Is there an art course in the world more fun than making dolphins and elephants shape out of playdough and then squishing them with two giggling children? Is there a human relationship more confounding and yet comforting as the marriage relationship? I may miss out on a few college experiences, but what I have more than makes up for it. My life is full, it is rewarding. It is different than that of my classmates. And crazy. :)

Maybe it is for the best that I will leave the university feeling unfinished. I have not lost my desire to learn. My mind still contains many dreams and other goals to accomplish. I will never be bored. There is always something else to discover.

50 Free prints from Snapfish plus 20% off

2009-04-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

Special April savings at Snapfish! One of my favorite online stores, Snapfish is providing a wonderful, money saving promotion for the entire month. Get your Easter memories printed off for FREE. Or, if you're like me and still haven't gotten all of your Christmas shots printed, here's your opportunity! Or you can take the year's best pictures and turn them into a photo book, just in time for Mother's Day. 50 Free Prints plus a choice of either 20% Off Photo Cards OR 20% Off Photo Books Exp 4/30

Don't forget to sign up for email alerts for more great ideas, follow me on Twitter, or "tweet" this post with the widget on the right. Feel free to add comments of your great ideas, too!

Update on Victoria's Secret Freebie - good until April 6

2009-04-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

For those of you who read my earlier post about VS giving away a $10 minimum (could be up to $500) gift card with any $10 purchase-- you have four more days. I contacted Victoria's Secret customer service and found out that the offer is ending on April 6 because the gift card is valid starting April 7. Didn't want anyone to go into the store a few days late and be disappointed.

5 Tips for Flying with Preschoolers

2009-03-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I had a madcap trip scheduled to see family during spring break. My excitement over seeing my brother who had returned from being stationed overseas was tempered with a little bit of terror over flying alone with a 20 month-old and a 3 1/2 year-old. Whether you are a new reader or an old friend, it only takes reading one post to realize that my sons are high-octane, nitro-charged, 100% BOYS! (they're very well behaved, but they're still boys...) I lost track of the times at school friends and teachers would say "You're flying with them alone?? Are you nuts???" Certifiably. but that's another story. :)

The traveling ended up being mostly pretty fun. The trip with family was a blast, and we made it home in one piece and both children present. :) To help other adventurous parents with their travel, since that season is almost upon us, here are several of the tools and tips I used.

1) Liquids 3-1-1. To make it easy, liquids 3 oz. or smaller, 1 qt. plastic ziplick, 1 bag per passenger placed in tray during security. There are, however, exceptions when traveling with children. From the TSA official site "Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint." They will not ask you to taste the items, but they will be insepcted. They still won't let you take water through, so either plan on buying water for formula powder or buy the premixed stuff. ALso, if you have frozen breast milk or medication that needs to stay cooled, you are allowed those little refreezable packs. As a precaution, I always print out the offical rules from the TSA site in case I happen to come across a security agent who's not aware of the exceptions.

2) Going through security with children. First, they will not ask or do anything to separate you from your children! Still, keep your eyes on them... If the child is capable of walking they will ask if the child would walk through on his own. (Which they did the first time. On the way home, William wouldn't be parted from Mommy's arms). Be aware that all shoes, even sandals, must be removed. I dressed the boys in easy-to-tie shoes, and wore clogs for greater ease. I even had a compassionate TSA agent help me fold up the stroller, get the Ziplock out of the backpack, and round up the shoes! If you have more questions, check out TSA's site about traveling with children.

3) Luggage and car seats. Since most airlines have started charging for even the first suitcase (except my beloved Southwest), check with your airline's website for their policy. The several that I checked with, (Delta, United, American) do NOT charge for car seats and strollers (or you can use the stroller throughout the airport and gate check it to pick it up immediately after the flight). So you do not have to worry about paying extra to protect your child at your destination. :)

4) Medical Emergencies. The first flight of the day coming home, I looked down as we were boarding to notice my youngest son's right knee looking red. I thought it was odd, but continued with the boarding. By the time we were loaded on the plane, both knees were red with hives, as were both elbows. By the time I dug through the bag to look for medicine, they had spread to cover most of his legs and arms. Not having benadryl with me, I called for the flight attendant. They don't carry medicine on board, but she called for the airport EMTs. We did have to disembark from the plane, but it was nice to know there were people available to help. They checked out his lungs, which were thankfully clear. But now I know that airports carry medical personnel who respond very quickly, and the service is free. (unless you require an ambulance to transport you to a hospital). Airline agents were also very helpful in rebooking my flights to get me home only a few hours later. They did not charge to rebook. The moral of this story is, don't take chances, especially with your child's health. There are people available to help if you have serious concerns. I did not want to delay my trip, especially since I was taking care of two tired children, but the alternatives were to have my child's airways swell up at 20,000 feet.

5) Medical kit. Bring the essentials with you. Benadryl is now one of them... Infant Tylenol is small, and you can use with an older child, it just takes a little but more. An anti-itch cream. A few band-aids. Diaper rash cream. Your pediatrician's phone number. Orajel. You know your child and what you normally do to prepare for possible emergencies away from home, just double-check the contents and pop it into your bag. There are stores in airports, but they don't cater to children and infant needs. Just don't forget to take the nail scissors OUT of the bag...

Don't forget to come back next week when I post more tips for traveling with preschoolers!

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Freebies from Victoria's Secret

2009-03-19T12:57:00.001-07:00

I was just in the store to claim the free PINK bag that I had a coupon for. (See freebies4mom post) and was talking to the saleslady trying to find out how I had to use the coupon. By the way, when you sign up at Pink Nation for you bag, you also get a coupon to $10 off a $35 purchase. Well, they have a sale going on for the all the underwear collections in the store, buy X and pay $X off the price. For instance, the PINK underwear that I liked was going for $10 a pair, but were on sale 5 for $25. Not a bad deal. What most people do not realize about Victoria's Secret (and her sister, Bath and Body Works) is that any deal like that, you have to buy the minimum number, but you can keep going! So 5/$25 goes to 6/$30, 7/$35, etc. So I bought 7 pairs of underwear for a store price of $35, then applied my $10 coupon and paid $25. Quite a saving to go from $70 worth of merchandise down to $25!!!

Back to the main point... I'm not sure for how long, but whenever you make a $10 purchase in store you receive a FREE gift card/coupon worth a minimum of $10!!! What happens is after checkout they hand you a small envelop with a coupon inside, which is valid starting April 3(?) You won't know how much the card is worth until that time, but each card is guaranteed to have at least $10 on it, and some go up to $500! In the very least, you're getting your money back and at the most you might win some!!!

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Fireproof and the Love Dare

2009-03-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

My husband works nights, and I'm in school during the day. The constant comings and goings and never see each other tend to take a toll on our relationship, which is way we were both thrilled when his sister and her husband gave us a copy of the book "The Love Dare" for Christmas. I had another book I was reading at the time and in the end of January, excitedly picked up the copy and prepared for 40 days to strengthening my marriage. I knew that the book went along with the movie "Fireproof," which I had yet to see, but I didn't know much else.

Day 1 starts out with 1 Corinthians 13, "Love is patient." The few short, easy-to-read paragraphs talked about being patient with your spouse as a way of loving. I've been actively trying to follow Jesus for about 20 years now, so I know enough to not ask for patience when I pray. Somehow, whenever you pray for patience, it seems like there is a trial around the corner to give you a chance to practice it! Instead, I prayed that God would help me to show more patience with my darling Erik. Apparently I didn't work things clearly enough, or maybe God just knows my heart and what I need...

That was a Monday, which is a school day with late classes. I arrived home after Erik had left for work, put the kids to bed, took the dog out, unpacked the lunch box and backpack, repacked the backpack, and finally sat, exhausted in the recliner to check for an email about the presentation assignment from my group. About 10:15 I heard the familiar strains of "Winnie the Pooh" from my Blackberry, signaling that my DH was calling me. The first words I heard were, "Honey, you're going to hate me, but I forgot something very important and I need you to please bring it to me." Several seconds of dead air time passed before I broke the stunned silence to say "You've gotta be kidding me. You mean I have to get the kids away, drive all the way there and home, and I have classes in the morning!?!" Realize that his work is almost 50 miles away, so round trip is going to be almost two hours. He profusely apologized but insisted that he needed the item. Honestly, I don't even remember what it was. The words I had read earlier that day, "Love is patient" played like a broken record through my brain, managing to hold my tongue still from angry comments.

Reluctantly I packed up the kids, made a Starbucks run, and arrived home dreading the next day. Still, the Love Dare had prepared me for the journey and I managed to arrive home without saying anything that I would regret. And I was able to serve my husband and demonstrate love to him. Nevertheless, that was several weeks ago and I am still gathering the courage to read Day 2. Who knows what will happen afterwards? :)

P.S. Some great resources for you are at Fire Proof Your Marriage

Camoflauge Christmas Bells and Valentine's Day... Airplanes?

2009-02-16T09:29:00.000-08:00

Having brothers was one of the best preparations for having sons. My mom still tells a story from when my oldest brother was in the neighborhood of fourth or fifth grade. (Keep in mind that this was in the 1980's, during the heyday of G.I. Joe action toys.) Apparently one day in Sunday school, the teacher thought that it would be a great idea to help the boys make a Christmas present for their mothers. Good idea, right? The boys were provided with those little wooden shape that you can purchase at Michael's or Hobby Lobby, paints, and brushes. The boys were allowed to choose between shapes of Christmas wreaths or bells, paint them as desired, and string a ribbon on them to make an ornament. I don't think she even bothered with glitter or anything, knowing that young boys would refuse such "girly" ideas... At the end of the session more than one boy proudly presented their mother with a Christmas bell ornament--painted camouflage style, so the ornaments could "hide" in the trees! Just what every Mom wants, right? :)

Valentine's Day rolled around this year and I was excited about the idea of making cookies with Ryan. He loves to cook and help. I also thought it would be a fun idea to make cookies as valentine's gifts for grandparents and aunts. Perhaps I should have remembered the whole camouflage Christmas bells a little more clearly...
Not having a sugar cookie recipe that I'm pleased with and not having time to look around for another one, I simply bought a log of pre-made sugar cookie dough. Ryan was so excited to help me and bounced with excitement as I pulled out the stepladder for him. We opened the box with cookie cutters in it and I started to reach for the heart shaped ones. One thought that crossed my mind was to grab the hand-shaped cookie cutter and use the idea of hand-shaped sugar cookies made my Ryan's little hands. But it was not to be. Ryan picked that shape up, unceremoniously tossed it back into the box, and grabbed the airplane and dinosaur shapes! With a little pleading I managed to retain a few heart shapes.

So I had anticipated a lovely, mommy and son bonding time of making red valentine's day cookies. What I ended up with was a loud, raucous, messy, thrilling experience full of giggling and laughing making blue airplanes, green dinosaurs, and a few pink hearts. And it was even more fun than I had originally planned on. And you know what? The grandparents certainly didn't care whether they had a heart or an airplane. The cookies were so yummy that they didn't stay around long enough for me to take a picture.

Snow Much Fun

2009-01-30T11:53:00.000-08:00

Two days ago I awoke to the sound of little feet pattering their way into my bedroom. As I was still recovering from a sinus infection and on decongestants, the sound was somewhat akin to the stampeding of elephants. Nevertheless, it was a welcome sound. Ryan scrambled his way up into the bed to give me a hug and kiss, sitting still for approximately 1/1000 of a second before scampering away while yelling "come on, Mommy. Get up!" He then ran to the front window in the living room, ducked underneath the blinds to peer out the window, and realized how much the world had changed while he was asleep. He danced his way back, shouting his excitement, "Mommy, it's snowing. It's snowing! It's a BIG snow!"
Later that afternoon, amid squeals of excitement from both children and dog, I proceeded to get everyone ready to go outside. Being the dutiful (read into it overprotective if you want) mother that I am, I of course layered them in turtlenecks, snow bibs, hats, scarves, and the hoods on the coats. By the time I had crammed squirmy children into those layers, I was sweating. But talk about being worth the wait. The sled was difficult since the amount of snow meant it tipped whenever the children were off balance. And a 3 y.o. and a 1 y.o. don't keep their balance very well... But we got some good laughs.
This was William's first true experience in the snow and he loved it. I wasn't sure what to expect from the child who didn't like grass the first time around. Poor little guy had difficulty walking as the snow was up to his little thighs, but he made do with crawling. And tasting. And eating the snow until his little face was red and I had to take him inside, much to his disappointment. He kept wanting to go everywhere big brother went.
Ryan's activity seemed to be making snow angels. Or exploring. He was never still the entire time we were outside. His big scientific discovery for the day was the fact that it is hard to slide down a slide covered in ten inches of snow. And that snow blowers are loud, which he pointed out to me numerous times.
I had to drag both children inside to get warm, both under great protest. As we regaled Daddy with tales of the day Ryan leaned forward and said "That was fun. Can we go in the snow again, Please?"

More Freebies and cost-saving sites

2009-01-28T10:12:00.000-08:00

You are allowed to view your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus for free. Annual credit reports help you to ensure that your credit has not been stolen.

Freecycle is established in different communities. Members of the group offer items that they own that they no longer want. Other users can then arrange to take the items of they want. Money is not allowed to change hands, the items must be free. The goal of the group is to help people save money, clean out their attics, and keep the landfills from further filling up.

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization whose goal is to contribute to food relief throughout the United States. Go to the website, enter your ZIP code to find the nearest distribution center and order through them. You are able to purchase for a very small price (significant savings) a box of groceries full of canned items, fresh fruit and veggies, fresh meat, and dessert.

Debt Proof Living is a website chock full of money-saving, and debt-managing resources. Who doesn't need this in the current economy???

The Grocery Game. This website scours the sales in your community and helps you find all the money saving grocery deals--even the ones that aren't in the store circulars! Start off with a four-week trial for just $1.

At The Organized Christmas website you'll find a Christmas countdown, simple craft ideas, and tons of free ideas to simplify the holidays. Sorry that I didn't list this before Christmas...

Second time around

2009-01-20T20:25:00.000-08:00

My son has a shoe fetish. I'm not concerned--not because I'm unconcerned about what other children will think about him, or how he'll grow up, or any of those reasons. I'm actually kind of proud of him and happy for the photo opportunities. He's 16 months and he has just learned that shoes can easily be placed on and taken off feet. He has even figured out that someone other than Mommy is capable of doing such a feat (no pun intended.) Consequently, he has been trying on anyone's shoes that happened to be left outside of the closet. He has not mastered and gets quite frustrated by Daddy's cowboy boots. Once his legs grow longer than the boots he might have a bit more success. He likes mommy's shoes ok, but he really has taken a shine to his big brother's. Little William is capable of placing one of big brother's shoes on his feet, and since they're not enormously big like clown shoes, can actually walk quite well in them. They even fit over his footed pj's. I looked down this morning and he had my right tennis shoe on his left foot and Ryan's right shoe on his right foot. I found my other tennis shoe under his crib, but Ryan's other shoe is still in hiding.

I always wonder if things like trying on shoes are developmental milestones. I remember things that my oldest did and wonder whether the youngest will do that too. And if so, how will his personality change the same actions? Even though the exploratory stages are repeated, it's far from being a Groundhog Day scenario. William gets a little bit more frustrated than his older brother did when he can't get a shoe on. But he's more determined, possibly because he wants to be like the rest of the shoe-wearing household. I'm proud of him for noticing those strange contraptions that go on the feet, and prouder still that he sometimes says "sssooes" to go along with it. Ryan rarely displays such interest in shoes other than his own anymore, which is fine as he was starting to do dangerous tricks like jump in my heels. He's on to bigger and newer things like wondering snow is and why his carved pumpkin turned mushy before it disappeared. So I'm enjoying watching the curiosity of a little one exploring his shoe world. Now to find Ryan's missing shoe. Oh yeah, and hide my high heels.

Coupon sites

2009-01-15T07:06:00.000-08:00

My aunt sent me this list of websites featured on the Today show. They're all designed to help you save money! Take some time, and you can probably find a coupon or deal on just about anything. :)
http://www.coupons.com/
http://www.couponmom.com/
http://www.couponmountain.com/
http://www.dealtaker.com/
http://www.retailmenot.com/
http://www.restraunt.com/
http://www.wow-coupon.com/
http://www.redplum.com/ (fun site)
http://www.proceprotector.com/
http://www.walletpop.com/
http://www.cybermonday.com/ (online Monday after Thanksgiving)

Feel free to leave your own sites that you've found.

Calming the anxiety

2009-01-10T08:19:00.000-08:00

This was originally posted on my Myspace blog, but since I bare use that anymore, I decided to repost so that I don't forget it.

The day could have actually been a lot worse, I suppose. I got some of the laundry done, managed to get Ryan to his grandmother's house without forgetting anything, I had actually made it to work on time (and without getting a ticket).We met all our selling goals at work, got all of shipment finished, and nobody called in sick, Somehow I still felt more stressed after I clocked out than when I had started the day this morning. The drive home is actually a pretty nice drive and the deep rumble of the truck is usually soothing. Tonight, though, the rumble was irritating as it meant that I had to sit in an empty parking lot for 10 minutes to wait while the diesel warmed to a safe driving temperature.

Wait, while my son sat in his aunt's arms instead of mine. Wait, while the dishes sat in the sink. Wait, while my dog thinks that I've forgotten him and I can't even remember the last time I had half an hour to spend with my husband. Wait, and with all that time to think, I still can't figure out how to change any of the problems in my life. Wait, while I sit and calculate how much sleep I'm actually going to get after rocking Ryan to sleep and then waking up early to take him to his grandmother's so that I can open the store the next day.

The engine raised its pitch, signalling that it was ready for action. I greeted the change in tone much like a child greets the bell at the end of a school day, eagerly putting it into gear. It was dark and I had the lonely country roads all to myself. The speaker system in the truck is quite nice and was blaring all sorts of jarring commercials with quality. Do the radio stations program commercials in sync? Tired of flipping uselessly, I settled on a station to wait (again) until music came on. The drive was definitely not soothing my nerves.

Then cutting through the background noise with a commanding quietness, I heard these words sung softly"I'm finding myself at a loss for words /And the funny thing is it's okay. The last thing I need is to be heard /But to hear what You would say." The spinning in my head slowed a bit. "Word of God speak/ Would You pour down like rain /Washing my eyes to see Your majesty"

After rounding a corner, I leftt behind the knots of trees planted by the road. With not a cloud in sight, the entire sky opened up to reveal the stars displayed in a deep, velvet darkness. It was breathtaking, humbling, and inspiring at the same time. "To be still and know /That You're in this place /Please let me stay and rest In Your holiness"To be still, soul and all. To calm my frazzled emotions. To rest in my Savior and Sustainer. "I'm finding myself in the midst of You Beyond the music, beyond the noise" My grip on the steering wheel had relaxed by now, as had my shoulders and jaw. "All that I need is to be with You /And in the quiet hear Your voice" If I can just learn to be still and listen to His voice... I know that's possible... For tonight, for a few moments, I relaxed in His love, thanked Him for what He's provided and let go of my expectations. Tomorrow, as I have been reminded, I have someone to help me through it all.

Are you kidding me???

2008-12-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

Erik's family celebrated Christmas together on December 21 this year since that was when everybody was off work. Ryan ran into my mother-in-law's living room, grabbed the biggest present and proceded to start opening it! We had to remind him to wait and that the present wasn't even his anyway... It was a great family time, but it got the kids in the mood to open gifts. Since we had four days left until Christmas, I spent a considerable amount of time telling the kids that it wasn't time yet to open the presents under our tree! I seemed to constantly be finding a bow that William would have stripped off a gift and be returning it to the rightful box. I finally started returning errant bows to the rubbermaid storage container.

Christmas Eve Ryan and I had a conversation where he kept asking why we couldn't open the presents and I had to remind him that Christmas wasn't until tomorrow. Christmas morning Erik went into the boys' bedroom to wake them up. Ryan snuggled into Erik's lap and when greeted with "Merry Christmas" responded "No, Daddy. Mommy said Christmas is not until tomorrow." Erik laughed and replied that it was indded Christmas morning and time to open presents. The wonderful little three-year-old started to get hopeful, but almost couldn't believe it and out came "Are you kidding me?!?"

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! What a wonderful time of year! Yes, I have to admit, I love presents. I love shopping for them, wrapping them, watching my loved ones open them, and yes, opening mine! Christmas decorating, spending time with family, and eating fudge all top my list of favorite things. Best of all, is the reminder of the most wonderful gift of all: God's son Jesus. This year was very special because I was able to do advent activities daily with the boys. Ok, so confession: Ryan and I frequently did them while William was taking a nap because it was easier with the tornado out of the way... We have a wonderful advent wreath with miniatur nativity characters and each day one is revealed and hung on the calender. Ryan thorougly enjoyed opening the little doors and would ask "What is it" when something new appeared. And each day we reviewed the story and he even learned that angels say "Glory to God!" Then we would light the advent candles and read the Christmas story from the Bible with the Little People nativity set helping to tell the story. (BTW, that was one of the best gifts ever--they're practicly indestructible, and this way the children have some Christmas item that they're actually allowed to play with). We have tried very hard to teach the children that Christmas is about Jesus and not about being greedy and getting presents. I hope that they found the special times of learning together just as special as I did.

Family Decorating

2008-12-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

Some people despise traditions because they disdain doing the same thing in the same way. Some people love traditions because they find comfort in turning occasions into special events. I happen to be one of the latter. Growing up, we knew what putting up the Christmas tree was going to be like. My mom and I would bake chocolate chip cookies and defend the dough against encroaching brothers and dad with wooden spoons if necessary. The smell of cookies would fill the air while the guys got all the decorations down from the attic. Lights would be strung out to check and see which bulbs were missing. My dad, an engineer, would string the lighs around the tree, methodically placing strands on every branch. Then mom would sit in the wingback chair and pass out ornaments for us to hang on the tree. To some people, it would be monotonous, but to us it was special. There was comfort, familiarity, and we looked forward to it every year just after Thanksgiving.

When I married my husband and I had a discussion about traditions. He's not exactly huge on them, but nor does he despise them. He didn't object to the chocolate chip cookies, though! :) we looked forward to starting our family, blending our traditions, and creating some new ones. We don't push the "perfect" traditions, but go with the flow. The last couple of years we have decorated the tree while children were asleep. Last week when we decorated we decided to allow Ryan to help out. We did, however, decorate the tree when William was in bed. Erik and I carefully separated the glass ornaments from the wooden and plastic ones and asked Ryan to help. It was so much fun to watch! He would take one and carefully eyeball and circle the tree, looking for just the perfect spot. He even told me so! The real laughter came when Erik and I realized that all the ornaments had gone on the exact same spot anyway! All of that effort and 5 ornaments hung from the same branch. To not ruin the child's joy, DH went quietly behind our son and redistributed.

Another thing that I really enjoyed was watching his excitement as I opened the large box containing the Christmas decorations. "What is that, Mommy?" and "Wow!" were frequently heard. I showed him pictures of his daddy of his "Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament, and the wooden bear that I had painted about 6 different colors when I was 4. We enjoyed being together. Ryan's childish giggles and amazement made me certain that this is one tradition I always want to continue.

Martha, Martha

2008-12-17T08:35:00.000-08:00

Shakespeare called it "the witching hour." Although I do not believe in magic, just about every mother can testify that there is a certain time in the evening in which her children borrow a few pages from the Tasmanian Devil's playbook. This unruly, whiny time always seems to occur in the evening rather than earlier in the day when Mommy is tired and least capable of dealing with it in a rational manner.

This evening was no such exception. William had already been pulled off the kitchen table three times, out of two different cabinets, out of the dog's water bowl twice, and was now attempting to climb my legs and screaming his frustration at his lack of success. I knew that he was hungry, he had already downed a full cup of milk, and I was desperately trying to finish supper (ever notice how it takes an hour to cook a 15-minute dish when kids are present?). Ryan was clamboring on the other side of me trying to get my attention. The dog ran in and out between us just to complete the mayhem and make William's frustration increase another several decibals whenever the giant pink tongue appeared. All of this was happening as I stood in front of a hot stove and tried to ensure that nobody got burned. The third time in 2 seconds that Ryan had called "Mommy," I looked at him and said "Ryan, could you..." my voice trailed off as my frazzled brain couldn't even suggest what toy or activity for him to pursue. That was all right as the smart little guy finished for me with, "Go somewhere else?" I laughed, felt guilty, but was grateful for at least one set of hands to not try to keep away from the hot burner.

William was still trying to turn my legs into a ladder and was getting louder and louder. Obviously, my level of frustration increased and my patience evaporated. Erik heard the clamor and came in to rescue his youngest son and take him to the bath. Instantly the set of eyes fresh to the situation noticed that not only was William hungry, but he was also suffering from the molar that's just coming in. Erik commenting on his way out "William was in pain, and you were to busy to notice." Ouch. True, but Ouch. Brings to mind the story of Martha and Mary in the Bible (Luke 10:38-42). In that moment, trying to provide for my family, I had missed being with my family. I had missed out on the important thing. Yes, my children needed food, but I shouldn't have been so preoccupied that I didn't even notice that my son needed some Tylenol. *note to sef: by more Orajel next time you run to town...* How would the situation have changed had I taken two minutes to take care of William's gums? Today, I decide that I will be Mary instead of Martha.

"B" Happy

2008-12-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

Final grades are due to the registrar today, which means that I can view all my grades tomorrow. It's lovely to be able to see them immediately instead of waiting for the grades to be sent in the mail. Just another invention from our impatient society. :) Although I'm most likely going to be on the honor roll again, I thought it was time to reflect on a lesson I learned right after William was born and I had just started the PTA program.

"B" Happy So there it was in my hands, another graded exam. It wasn't bleeding red too badly, but just enough life had been drained from several of the problems that the score dropped to a B. Yet more proof that I'm a failure. B's are unacceptable when I'm capable of coming home with A's. Or at least that's what the perfectionistic and somewhat self-destroying internal voice whispers quietly. That insidious whisper intones "are you crazy? Who did you think you were kidding to be trying to go to school, commute a long distance, and be a wife and mother to two small children? You're nothing." Suddenly that voice's logic implodes on itself as I realize that the voice was right about the facts and wrong in the conclusion. I am overwhelmed, overloaded, and any other "over" that you can think of. Yet I am not a failure. The fact that I am able to accomplish this much and even pass my classes, much less ahead of class average, proves my success.

At times the voice is capable of being motivating, of pushing me to achieve all that I am capable of doing. Yet the voice is also stuck slightly behind the times, not realizing that priorities change and the 4.0 grade-point average and another certificate of being on the dean's list are not the only measurements that I judge anymore. Much more important are these: have I read to my children today, prayed for my family, have I done housekeeping basics,packed a lunch for my husband??? Have I tried my best with my limited time to learn that study material? I will admit that it is humbling to see anything less than a ninety on a paper, to worry that the teachers think I am not trying. But in the end life about more than grades and will it really matter to my future employers or patients that my diploma says "with highest honors?" The grades that I truly want are of more lasting significance; a good relationship with my Savior, my husband, children, and my friends. So I'm going to take that exam and be proud of that grade instead of ashamed. I'm going to be thankful that God is allowing me to do this well period and praise Him for providing for my family. Tomorrow when another grade is handed back, it might still sting if I don't receive an A, but I will not be devestated. I'm going to thank God for all the people praying me through this.

Max Lucado books for children

2008-12-12T09:13:00.000-08:00

Max Lucado's Wemmicks collection. Punchinello is a wooden Wemmick who lives in Wemmicksville. He often has escapades of trying to be like the other silly Wemmicks and is left sad and wondering why he isn't happy. Only when he goes to the woodship of Eli, the Wemmick-maker, is he able to solve his problems and receive joy. Wonderful books centered around being who you were created to be and not trying to fit in with others. They are delightfully illustrated as well. I own these two books and read them frequently to my children. The rest of the books in the collection are on birthday and Christmas wish lists.

You Are Mine and If Only I Had a Green Nose (Max Lucado's Wemmicks)

In "You are Mine," Punchinello learns a lesson that having the most stuff is a never-ending, joyless race. He learns that he is special because Eli created him that way. In "If Only I had a Green Nose," Punchinello and his friends succomb to peer pressure to paint their noses. They discover, though, that the fitting in doesn't bring them happiness. (And the rules of what is "in" change frequently!) Being the way their maker designed them is what makes them happy.

Best of All

In this book a famous Wemmick comes to town and sorts the Wemmicks into groups of "good" or "bad" based on what wood they were carved from. Punchinello that Eli created variety for a reason and he is special because he was carved by the master.

Some things are free

2008-12-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

Below is a list of things that I've seen either in Women's Day Magazine or on the Today Show, or wherever else I've collected them. Who says you can't get anything for free? All of these sites are either places that I have personally used (which is most of them) or have seen recommended by somplace reliable like Women's Day.

One of my favorites. Like most moms, I am constantly snapping photos of my children. Snapfish makes it easy to download the pictures, send them to relatives, order the prints and have them delivered to my door. You also have the option of having them sent to local places like CVS or Walgreens. You don't pay the shipping then, but you also can't pay online. Just for joining, Snapfish gives you 20 free prints.

How I pay for some of those prints is also really fun. I recently ordered 300 free prints from Snapfish by way of My Coke Rewards. For every coke product (extensive list including Coke, Sprite, Minute Maid, Vault, Fanta, Barq's, Pibb, Powerade, and a few others) you receive points that can be redeemed for merchandise, not only from Coca-cola, but from numerous other retailers. A bottle cap receives 3 points, a 12-pack receives 10 points, and a 24-pack receives 20 points. And yes, this does require a purchase, but not necessarily by you. I have relatives who are almost addicted to diet Coke and are very happy to collect the bottle caps and box ends for me. Due to their generosity I'll have enough prints to order my prints after Christmas! There are numerous other prizes as well from the website, including electronics, music, travel sweepstakes, and the like. I just happen to be a photo nut. And my snapfish deal? 64 points=50 free prints. One Thanksgiving weekend can pay for the prints to document the occasion. Not a bad deal. If people are going to drink it anyway, why not be rewarded?

For all of those music lovers out there, you know how expensive buying sheet music can be. At the Mutopia Project they have free, printable versions of thousands of classical and contemporary pieces. This is legal because the editions are ones that are classified as public domain works.

Walmart offers about 8-10 different free samples every week. All you have to do is select which ones you want, enter name and address. No shipping fees, and samples generally arrive within 4 weeks. I've received everything from shampoo samples, feminine hygiene samples, coffe, trash bags, to pull-ups. You may only get three tampax in one sample, but that's still three that you didn't have to buy. Plus you get to try out some stuff that you may have never purchased before. Also look on the Walmart page for the free music download of the week.

Sign up at for a free 6 free issues of the American Baby magazine! I never failed to have the magazine address certain things that were coming up, like preventing babies from getting overwhelmed during a family Christmas party, or potty training tips. Additionally, while you're signing up, there are several newsletters that can get sent straight to your email address that are customizable to your child's developmental stage. Also check out their free offers page.

Many people are hesitant about trying the online survey gig, but I found one that really works. Lightspeed Panel doesn't pay you in cash, but surveys are rewarded with points which can be redeemed for everything from DVD's to gift certificates. I've been a member less than a year and didn't put much time into it at first, but I've earned enough to trade in on $30 worth of PayPal certificates (which went to buy new rechargable batteries for the camera so I can take the pictures that I need the Coke reward points to prints...)

Listing of free Wifi spots.

Free Sterling Silver Jewelry. You do have to pay shipping on the items, but it's only $6.99. I bought a lovely pendant with two london blue topaz set in it that I wear constantly. All jewelery comes stamped with ".925," the symbol of sterling silver. I consider the deal a bargain! great birthday ideas, presents, Christmas, etc. Thanks to Women's Day for this wonderful website!

Protonic. In their own words, "Got a headache with your computer and no budget to fix it ..... protonic.com is here to help. We are a free service manned by volunteers all over the planet, helping people fix technology problems. We enjoy the challenge of solving your problem, we are up to date and work as a team. Our standards are assured by Quality Assurance sampling .... we do our best to put the smile back on your face."

PC world rated this on their list of 101 fantastic freebies in May 2007. It's an spam filter for your e-mail program. Unfortunately, from what I read, it won't work with my hotmail account...

Well, that's probably enough for tonight. Enjoy the offerings here. I'll post more freebies as I find them. I would love to hear what you all have discovered out there!

Toddler speak

2008-12-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Before I had children, I was a little nervous about having a toddler as I've never been very good at interpreting "toddler speak." However, with a little practice and paying attention to my sons, I've learned to understand much more. It is, however, a little confusing when Ryan (3)substitutes a "w" for both the "l" and the "r". Poor little guy was getting a little frustrated last night when I thought he was referring to the light and he was trying to tell me I was right. Maybe I should've gotten that on a recording as I probably won't hear that too many times in the upcoming years. It's so much fun to hear him learning to actually use full sentences and expressing concepts.

On the other end, sometimes it's mildly sad when they actually learn to speak correctly. William (16 months) has been saying "Duck do" for months as "thank you." He is a very grateful little boy and enjoys telling people thank you. I would sit there and tell him "you're welcome" just to hear him say "duck do." In the last couple of days he's been pronouncing things much more correctly and the words actually sound closer to the real thing than his toddler speak. I'm a bit nostalgic but still happy that my kiddo is growing up.

Babies don't keep

2008-12-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is a poem that my mom relayed to me when my oldest was a newborn. It really helped me get over the "I have to be supermom" mentality. I am a mother to two high-energy boys, a wife, a full-time student (healthcare--not easy stuff), and a commuter. It took a while, but I finnally realized it was ok to quit worrying about having a perfect house and do what I can physically do, and that's a tremendous job. My kids will not remember (or care) if they had meals served on a plate that I washed a mere 30 seconds before I put the food on it, but they will remember the times that I spent reading to them, rocking them, and playing in the yard with them. As I now jokingly tell my husband, I AM Supermom, but even she has her kryptonite!

BABIES DON'T KEEP
Mother, oh Mother,
come shake out your cloth,
empty the dustpan,
poison the moth,
hang out the washing
and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house
is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery,
blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little
Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done
and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing
will wait till tomorrow,
for Children grow up,
as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep......
~Author Unknown ~

Snow Wish

2008-12-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

The flurries were falling when I opened the blinds this morning. Out of the entire midwest, I think I'm one of the few who was excited and hoping for several inches to accumulate. My youngest, 16 months, has never gotten to play in the snow and big brother (3) and I were excited about the possibilities. The flurries have just stopped and it's hard to tell whether my children or I are the most disappointed. I love the sight of children in their little winter hats. Sparkling eyes peeking out from underneath and little cherub cheeks grinning. Granted, getting the hats to stay on the head can be a bit of a problem, but it's a rewarding sight nevertheless. I guess it also helps make up for the slight sadness that I feel when I pack up their summertime clothes. Not only do I love little bare feet and chubby knees, it's always sad to see my favorite little cotton outfits packed away that will be too small to wear the next time the temperature goes up. So bring on the hats and the sweaters, it's winter time!