Losing my touch

I think that single mothers are super heros. Work, laundry, cooking, cleaning up after cooking, helping with homework, baths, teeth brushing, diaper changing, etc, etc.....All done by one person. It's exhausting just thinking about it!
Alex will have been gone for two weeks on Saturday and will be gone for a third week. He will try to be home on the 21st for Olivia's birthday party. Understand that I am not meaning to complain, because that may be what this sounds like. I am just really......tired.
I try to think back to October of 2007 when Alex was traveling and I called him with the news that I was bringing home three little girls. He was gone for the first three weeks that I had the girls at home. And I think that I was probably in survival mode because I honestly don't have much of a memory of how I made it. I had no one here to help me. It was just me and the kids. I did have friends from work call and check in and offer to come help with things (Pam, Dedee, Angela. You are the best!) but I was afraid all of that would add to the chaos that the kids were already feeling. The kids that (might I add) had behavior issues. Abigail bit herself, threw things, screamed. She internalized a lot of her emotions and didn't know how else to express her anger and sadness. Makayla was very withdrawn and helpless. She didn't know how to do most self help skills that typical 4 year old would. And Olivia screamed, a lot. She was up almost every night wailing like she was in awful pain. She was probably scared and didn't know what was going on. And I handled it pretty well.
That's not to say that I'm not doing good now. We are doing good. I just don't rest well when Alex is gone and after almost two weeks it is catching up with me. I am also really wishing there was someone to share diaper duty with. Lol, I know that sounds ridiculous but Olivia pooped in the potty for the first time last week and since then she has decided that she needs to poop at least three times a day in a fresh diaper only. She doesn't pee and poop at the same time, so that equals like twice the amount of diapers that I used to change. And my gag reflex has been super sensitive.
And I think I just miss my friend. It is nice to have the company of other adults but it is not the same as having Alex here.
I know this all sounds like a big fat pity party, but I am seriously ok. I feel that I have handled this trip a lot better than most. Typically Alex gets several days of me flipping out that I have to do EVERYTHING myself while he is off working 14.5 hour days. Selfish of me, huh.
I think maybe our family is just meshing more every day and we are more comfortable and right for eachother all the time. I need to add that I am so thankful for a husband that is willing to work so hard and provide for us. I also realized another reason I love blogs so much. Talking myself through all of these little issues has led me to realize that I am not, indeed, "losing my touch". I am actually more in touch than ever because God is helping with patience, determination, and relationships with my family. Alex and I seem to grow stronger because we are able to take a step back when we aren't together every day and evaluate what we mean to each other. So, yay for re-evaluations!
Thanks for listening! Now time for some pictures.





This is Olivia and her (first kiss) friend, Reed at gymnastics

Check it out: I even got some love from this potato while chopping them up for supper.

I think Olivia is feeling the effects of exhaustion as well

Boo Boo

Her new big thing is telling me that she has a boo boo and showing it to me constantly. This is her pointing out the latest boo boo on her foot.


Poppa Rock, Uncle Seth, and Brent were up to visit today. It was great having adult company. We have had a good time.


But it looks like all we did was lay around....they were dropping like flies.



A good friend is having a baby shower tomorrow and I made the cake for it. I have pictures but will wait to post after the shower. Would hate to ruin the surprise!
Still missin you Alex. ...

Home Away From Home

Megan came over Friday night and spent the night so that she could watch the girls for me while I had my (super early) hair cut. She is the best! And so is Beth, the girl that does my hair. They are both blessings in this crazy mothers life!

We went in to see the family back home this weekend. We didn't get to stay long it seemed, but it was a great time. Nana cooked supper for all of us and Memaw came over to eat. A good family visit is always wonderful.
Olivia has become much more verbal and she enjoyed interupting the men leading prayers at church Sunday morning. Everytime they paused to take a breath during the prayer, she was shouting "Amen". I think that was their cue to wrap it up. Lol. So, for all of you long winded, public prayers, even the little ones notice. I'm just kidding!! There's no such thing as a prayer that lasts too long.
Olivia also noticed that Abi was laying down on the pew with Livi's blanket over her and she began to shout "Night Night". I think she was glad that it was Abi laying down for a "night night" and not her.
Speaking of Abi: she is sick now. Running fever, cough, runny nose, headache, stomache ache. She says her stomache hurts but as soon as I can get her fever to go down she is jumping around like a wild indian. I am going to try to get her in to see a doctor tomorrow, but we all know how CAPC can be.
There's not really a whole lot else to blog about tonight. Alex is still gone and may be for another two weeks. I like to try to keep updates on here for him to see the kids.
I have a few pictures of the new Minnie Mouse pj's that Nana got Livi and then some pics before church this morning.



Night Night Poppa




The Ladies

Look at the gorgeous eyes on that child.


Abi and her stinkin (literally) ladybugs! :o)

Giggles and Grins

Makayla and I went leotard shopping yesterday after we got groceries. She had so much fun. Giggling and grinning the whole time. Her and Abi have pictures coming up soon and they usually just wear work out gear. So we needed something for pictures.
It was fun.

I was watching tv today and Olivia was sitting in the floor with a remote that we have given her to play with. It was an old one that didn't work with the tv anymore. She picked up the remote and pointed it at the tv. She then pushed the buttons with her thumb(like we do), looked at me, and said "pung bob". I died laughing! She is learning too much from her sisters. She is also very interested in Abigail's fish, Miss Meriweather (the one that is really a Mr.) I moved the fish in to the kitchen and got her a new glass bowl because her other one had a crack in it and was leaking. When Olivia notices the fish swimming around she hollers "pish! pish!"
I can't even remember all of the new things that she is doing these days.

Abigail is doing well in her new gymnastics class. She moved into the big gym and out of the Tumble Stars gym. She loves it as well. Her behavior is on the upward swing at school. She has had a rough couple of weeks with her attitude and keeping her hands to herself.

Makayla is growing up too! She is much more vocal and emotional than she used to be(which is a good thing). She used to only have one emotion, oblivion. lol. She is in her room right now telling Abi, " I am so mad at you! Don't talk to her, Olivia. She's mean." I am so proud to hear them handling their own dilemmas.

We are doing well. I have been sick this week and Olivia is still not 100%, but we are making it!
Please continue to pray for my family in the loss of Tim, and all of the other families across the globe that are losing and have lost loved ones.


And this random picture of Olivia is becaue I liked her outfit. Lol. She looks like a little emo child, I know. But it's adorable on her. This was her and her waffle before we headed out to take Abi to school and get groceries.

Is it Groundhog Day or Piggie Day???

Oh, it is most definitely piggie day!!! YAY OLIVIA!!! You have made it!!

Reassurance

I am trying to go into the week with a super positive attitude! It's going to be just me and the girls again for the next two weeks while daddy is out of town. One minute I think,"This will be fine. I can handle it." and the next I am about to pull my hair out. lol.
BUT, I ventured out to church this morning with the girls. I decided to just go for church because I get so stressed and discouraged when I try to get to Sunday School that I don't even want to go. It involves numerous trips to the class rooms while praying that someone leaves us a big enough spot on a pew to sit when we get back. Anywho, I decided that God would rather me just go for church than not at all. Everything went smoothly during communion and singing. I took the girls to their classes and that went ok too, until Olivia saw me trying to leave her class. She screamed like she used to scream when she was a baby. It broke my heart. I waited in the hallway (hoping she would stop when she saw that I brought her a snack) and the teacher motioned that she would be fine. So, I went to my class. After church was what was so difficult, I was trying to get to Abi and KayKay's class and there were people in the way everywhere. I finally get to their class and their teacher had given them donuts right at the end of class. So they were covered in sticky and all hyped up (just in time to send them home to mom, huh. Nice). Then it was time to get Olivia and, as evidenced by the sugar all over her face, she had been given a donut too when I had asked the teacher not to. So, here we were, quiet humorous to watch I'm sure. Olivia on one hip, bible bag and purse on my arm, trying to corral Makayla(carrying her jacket, sunday school papers, bible, and olivia's snack cup) and Abigail (carrying the same). They kept getting in the road and then running off without me. Sunday school papers were blowing in the wind and we had to stop every couple of seconds to re-adjust. It was a nightmare! And they got a lecture when we got to the car.

You listened to all of my gripes to hear this: God showed me how worth it it all was. The girls were playing in their room after church and I heard them arguing. Arguing about who was going to get to say grace before they "ate" their pretend lunch. It was priceless. And Abi also lead the prayer in Sunday School today. That was my reassuarance that the effort pays off.


Yesterday the girls busted out Baby Alive. They put her in her high chair and fed her peas and beans ( baby alive food of course). They then gave her a bottle and hovered around her the rest of the evening waiting for her to poop. After seeing Baby Alive "spit up" her slimy green food, Abi said, "I don't want to have babies any more" This from the kid that wanted to have 6 kids when she is grown up (which she thinks is 16). I am so thankful for Baby Alive, lol.




Sunday after church: Still no poop!

Cause I'm a big girl now

Olivia is forcing me to deal with the fact that she IS a big girl. She tries to do EVERYTHING that her big sissies do.

She has decided that she no longer needs her high chair. She is ready for the big table. She climbs in and out all on her own(she has gotten stuck by climbing in the chair while it is pushed up to the table, fun stuff).


Daddy helping Abi learn how to ride the bicycle (thank you Sidney).


Makayla preparing for a spin on the bike.


Olivia plotting how she will swipe the bike from her sisters.


A quick cuddle for daddy....


And she was victorious




Abi and KayKay playing with our neighbor, Andrew, whom Abi says she loves. (oh no)


I wanna go outside.
precious




Abi coming in the house and giving Livi kisses through the door. Liv giggled.

This is the result of movie night at the Hill House. All three were sleeping beauties before the movie was over.