Potty Training

Well, Yesterday we started potty training. To be blunt, it is A LOT of work and is not very fun. Much to my surprise Natalie has totally taken to it and has only had 1 accident. I am very surprised at this because Maddie is the one that tells me when she is wet or has gone number 2. Natalie never talks about it, but she has done great. Each time she goes in the potty we praise her and she gets up and cheers and claps and does a little dance. It is pretty darn cute. Right now our reward system is: one chocolate chip for sitting on the potty, two for actually going and three if a poo is made. We haven't had that accomplishment yet, but hey you gotta start somewhere. I am hoping Maddie will catch the excitement and she will start to follow Natalie. I have no advice or wisdom to offer as we are only in day two and we are just doing what seems to work for our family. So, here's to hoping that this process doesn't drag out and both girls catch on and we are diaper free soon!

VomitLand

Today I was faced with possibly the grossest event of parenthood I have experienced to date. Little Natalie got sick. Now this was not a little puke, it was full blown vomit, all over herself in her carseat, all over both of us in ballet and again all over both of us after I had just cleaned us up at ballet. The smell was horrific and I can usually tolerate such things, but this was almost to gross. So now the girls are safely home and they have had toast for lunch, a nice warm bath and I am in the process of cleaning the clothes and carseats that were victims of the morning's events...ahhh well. I am hoping she is better tomorrow for Thanksgiving, but what can you do? Just love your children really! So Happy Thanksgiving to all and sorry to be so gross :-)

We're Still Here

Yes, we are still here, just way to busy. The girls have been sick for what seems like forever, I think in reality it has been two weeks. Maddie has another ear infection, we will probably be headed to see an ENT at some point this winter. She also has bronchitis, which has been making it a little difficult for her to breath at night, so the sleeping has been touch and go. Natalie has what appears to be a general col, at least that is what the doctor said, but she has also had it for two weeks.
Other than that we have taken a week off from all of our activities in order to keep the germ exposure to a minimum which has also lead to a little cabin fever on the girl's part, but we are surviving as usual...I mean we know what it is like to be on "house" arrest medically speaking, so we will be doing lots of coloring and other crafts...at least the girls love doing that.
I have been busy trying to get back into shape, no easy task and the holidays are not helping and getting things ready for the upcoming holiday season.
Tomorrow Tom turns 29, not sure how he feels about that :-) But he can take comfort in the fact that I am only a few months behind.
So that is what is going on here, nothing really new to report or exciting, but yes we are still here.

Happy Birthday Babies

To my little angels,
Today you turned two and I cannot believe how fast the last two years have gone by. It seems like yesterday you were born and oh how tiny you were and so sweet and innocent and unknowing. Now you can talk and boy do you ever. There seems to be a constant conversation or song going on in our house now and it is the cutest thing in the world. You can say each other's names and you are almost always loving and polite with each other. Natalie you call Maddie by her name and Maddie calls you Nat. A lot of us do, but it is the cutest Nat ever. You already love to help mommy cook and you like being my little helper, getting your shoes or your jacket and helping each other out. Natalie, you always like to wear your jacket. It is the first thing you ask for when you wake up and you never want to take it off, even for your naps. Luckily for your birthday you got a lot of new sweatshirts that we can let you wear as jackets! Maddie, your one true love is still your blue monkey. He does everything with us, including ballet. Today we got Monkey a shirt and you were so proud of that shirt, you couldn't wait to get home and show Daddy. You kissed him and hugged that little monkey and it is too sweet. I never would have imagined all of the fun you would be at this age or your capabilities. You two are so amazing and you bring so much joy to our lives. I cannot imagine life without you and I am so glad we have you to hug and kiss us. You are the sweetest little girls ever. Happy Birthday Babies, I Love You, Mama

Still Here

So I realize it has been like a month since I last posted. I'm still here, crazy busy, but here none the less. A few weeks ago, I had a migraine for about three days, then Maddie got sick and of course had an ear infection. We then headed to Wisconsin for my grandma's 80th Birthday. Where of course Natalie got an ear infection...yes minute clinic time it was! Then back here and a week of trying to get the girls back on schedule, when my mom and grandparents came to visit, then the girl's second birthday party...can you believe they will be two on Thursday? Then this week we have been trying to get back into the saddle and back into our routine. I have also realized that I blog a lot more during the winter when the weather is not good and I am looking for more ways of entertainment. So maybe the blogging will increase, who knows though. Those little girls of mine are keeping me VERY busy and it is more fun that I ever could have imagined. They are talking up a storm, I never could have imagined they would be talking as much as they are, but they mimic everything and are putting together sentences and all sorts of crazy things. So that is what is going on here, busy, busy, busy. More later gators.

Same day and everything?

Over the last two years we have gotten a lot of, "Are they twins?" Which at times we answer calmly, "yes." Well, we always answer calmly, but then we go off into little tiraids when we are alone. I mean seriously, how many children look exactly alike, are the same height and weight, etc? Well, this week and last week have been no exception, only Wednesday was a cake topper. The girls and I are taking a "mommy and me" ballet class in Southport. It is really cute and Maddie at least loves it. Well, last week the teacher asked if they were sisters. I answered yes. Then this week when she came in, she checked us off and said, "they are sister's right?" Yes, I answered. Then she asked, "are they twins?" Once again I respond yes. She then looks at them and was like, "oh yeah I guess if I had looked hard enough I would have noticed they are the same size." Yup, I wanted to say, but I just smiled. Later we were at Kohls and this guy walked by and says, "are they twins?" Yes, I answer. He then, get ready for this one...asks, "Same day and everything?" Seriously? I just said yup and kept walking. I mean, yes I realize that they could have been born on different days, but seriously, the odds of that happening are extremely slim and I just could not believe that...Same day and everything? Come on, what is this world coming to? I hope to instill in my children some common sense and the ability to mind their own business when they grow up and first and foremost, to think before they ask questions!

Ignorance Is Not Bliss

Today I found out that for about a year we have been using our car seats incorrectly. How can that be one might say? Well, who would have thought that two college educated individuals would not fully read they manual and realize that if you use your LATCH system you have to use all THREE tethers and latches. I had always known there was another tether on the back of the car seat, but I did not realize that the LATCH is supposed to form a triangle and that the three are actually supposed to be used together. Yes, that elusive third tether is supposed to be latched to a third latch that can either be located on the ceiling, floor, or in my case the back of the seat that the girl's car seat is on. Soooo, if you are a parent and your child's seat uses the LATCH system, make sure you are using all three tethers!

I CAN'T Wait

Okay, seriously, I cannot wait until real tv comes back. I just saw a promo for "Grey's Anatomy" and I am soooo excited. I am hoping that this season will be better than last season, but the promos sure made it look exciting. I am also eager for Private Practice, Eli Stone, Desperate Housewives...not sure really about this one anymore. The Big Bang Theory and I hate to admit it, but so far I have enjoyed the new 90210. Oh, and I must not forget Ellen!
Just a few more weeks, I CANNOT Wait!

The benefits

I have decided that while exercising in a group or with other people can be possibly one of the most embarrassing and humbling experiences ever it is the best thing for me. I have discovered that when I am held more accountable and I have encouragement from others I push myself harder, I am more apt to actually begin the workout process and I actually have fun. I was introduced to the Stroller conditioning class, which should be named Stroller boot camp, by Jeanelle. The first time I participated I was pretty sure I would not be going back, it was ridiculously hard and I felt so out of shape. But I have been going back and now I LOVE it. It is great to be able to work out with the girls and other moms who are in the same place that I am. Most of the mothers have children right around the girls age and it is just a great bonding thing. The instructor is fabulous. She is hilarious and is such a motivation. Now this class is not just walk and push your stroller and chat. Oh no, it is sprinting and lunges, squats, push-up, tricep dips and much more. It truly is a boot camp, but with a free babysitter because the instructor entertains the kids while have our booties whipped into shape. Jeanelle and I have also been attending a Pilate's class, which I love as well. The instructor has to be in her 60's and she is in the best shape. The class is 60 minutes, which is in itself a challenge sometimes and my legs feel like jelly when I am done, but I know that I am getting toned and more flexible. I like this class because there is no jarring on my body parts and while it is a strenuous workout for me, it is also at the same time relaxing as well. I like these two classes because I have people to talk too. I am making friends, but most of all I feel like I really need to work and not slack because there are other people there who will encourage me and keep me going. So if you are lacking motivation go and start a group class somewhere and you will find that the benefits far out way the temporary embarrassment that you may feel in the beginning.

What's that puddle?

This afternoon has been a little rough. Maddie feel off the couch and bite her lip, it of course started bleeding and getting plump so I gave both the girls some ice to suck on. Well, a while later I went into the kitchen to start dinner and there was a puddle on the floor by the fridge. Natalie was standing there and I asked Tom how the floor had gotten all wet, while Natalie proceeded to slip and fall. Tom told me it was probably from the ice. Once Natalie was back on her feet she kept looking down and saying "oh no." At this point I realized it was not water, but that her swim diaper was leaking and it was dripping all of the floor, Natalie and now me. Ugh I said and started to take it off of her, at which point a huge puddle of pee came flying out, all over my hand and the rest of the floor. At least she didn't run, but it was pretty gross to know that she had gone slipping and sliding in a puddle of urine and not plain old ice water....gross, I am ready for the potty training to take effect.

One, TWO...

I always knew the day would come, I mean it is a milestone...Right? Counting that is, or mock counting. Our discipline method is 1,2,3 magic and it works great. I love it and wouldn't change it and would do it over again, but now that the girls are learning to count, Natalie especially mocks me. If I say One, she automatically says, TWO and smiles. It really is hard to not laugh or say good girl when I am trying to get her to stop doing some "bad" behavior, because I mean seriously it is pretty cute. So for now I am trying not to laugh at her in the middle of the discipline process, but I am pretty proud of the little one, I mean soon we will be able to ask her how old she is and she will be able to say, Two!

Fall is a comin

Over the last few days I have started to notice suttle changes in the leaves around our house and our walking path. Each day the colors seem to be changing and there have already been some leaves on the ground. I can't say that I mind too much, I love fall. The ability to wear jeans and a sweatshirt, (I HATE shorts and hot weather). Sipping warm drinks and not over heating and eating Carmel apples. The girls have already discovered that they enjoy crunching leaves under their feet. They will step, step, step and then stop and listen and say, ohhhhhh. Pretty cute. I just hope this year we have a fall and we don't dive into winter, the cold doesn't bother me, but the messy snow. Pretty snow is okay,but the messy kind is not cool. So I hope the leaves take their time changing and we can enjoy lots of beautiful colors and some cool nights and days. I am just thankful that I can sit in my nice house and actually see the trees this year and will be able to see all the prettiness around me as mother nature paints her next picture.

Speak out: The r-word

Well, I had this big long blog all set complaining about how annoyed I was at our eye doctor and our hour and 45 minute wait today, but something more important has arisen, so I will share that instead!
As some of you know, I used to work at Special Olympics Indiana. It was a great organization and the athletes are amazing. This evening I received an e-mail from one of my friends who still works there telling me about the new Ben Stiller/Jack Black movie and how it uses the "r-word." Here is some of her e-mail:

Lots of you may have heard about the controversy surrounding the new Ben Stiller/Jack Black movie Tropic Thunder, and its depiction of people with intellectual disabilities.

Without going into too many details, the gist is that the movie completely makes fun of and demeans people with intellectual disabilities. The “r-word”, retard (it makes me cringe to even type that word!) is used over 20 times in the film. I find it shocking and appalling that this is considered funny. I love a good joke as much as the next person, but to make fun of the most vulnerable population in the most callous way, in a format that will reach hundreds of thousands of people, is simply mean. And in no way funny.

Special Olympics, Best Buddies, Down’s Syndrome Association and many other disability advocacy group are strongly protesting this film. One of the ways in which Special Olympics is doing that is through the petition “Change the Conversation…Stop using the r-word.” You can visit http://www.r-word.org/ and sign an online petition to not use that word and to help erase it from the popular vernacular.

I agree with her and many, many others and cannot believe that this word is still being used. So if you get a chance visit the the above site and Speak out against the use of the "r-word."

Oh the Noise

I am not sure why, but for some reason our neighborhood is unusually LOUD this morning. It has not been like this all summer and today it is nuts. Cement trucks and the community people mowing the community grass and big dump trucks driving around and around. Of course today would be the day that I decided to go cold turkey on the coffee and to try to start potty training the girls. What was I thinking? I am so sick of changing diapers that I may be a little crazy in thinking they are ready, but when they go they tell me, after the fact, so I know they know what they are doing. We will see though I hope to last through the week, not many plans or outings so it should go okay. I mean really, is it a big deal if they have an accident in the sand box or on the grass?! As for the coffee thing, I was hoping to have kicked that habit while we were on vacation, but I think it only became worse so here I am trying to go cold turkey, which I have an immense feeling will be horrible and won't work. So here I sit, wishing for one of those nice quiet days were we can hear the birds chirping and the occasional airplane fly over instead of the cement trucking be cleaned across the street. Oh well, it could be worse, and at least it is sunny and the temp. is awesome!

Dear Allison

Dear Allison,
You are now among the angels, but will never be forgotten here on earth. I was fortunate enough to be a part of your life in the blogging world and I wish that I had had the opportunity to meet you in person. Your strength, courage, love for life and for you husband, family and friends was truly amazing. I have learned so much from you over the last few years and you will be missed. You are a woman who walked through this life with grace, style and a beauty that is unbelievably hard to find. I am so blessed to have stumbled across your blog and you and Tom have taught me more about being loved and loving another. The love you two shared was a special love, a rare love. So as the sun sets on this chapter I want to thank you for all that you have done to teach people about loving, being loved and about fighting cancer and know that your lessons will continue and that you have touched more people, more strangers, than anyone I have ever known. Allison, for now I say good bye and thank you, thank you for being strong and inspirational, thank you for sharing your story with so many and for letting us into your life. And as they say, you may be gone but you will never be forgotten.

Bite, Bite, Bite

It seems like not only have we entered the terrible two's, times two, but Maddie has entered a biting phase. Let me tell you, I will take the terrible two's over this biting thing, because it is painful. Yesterday, we were out for our usual walk and all of a sudden Natalie was screaming. I looked at her arm and she had a very fresh and deep bite mark laid into her arm. I couldn't believe it. They had not been fighting or anything, actually there hadn't been any noise at all until she started screaming. I was none to pleased. Then last night I was laying on my bed and Maddie was trying to climb up and I guess I wasn't helping her fast enough because she bite my leg. Into time out she went, laughing the whole way there! Once her time out was over I was having her say she was sorry and she bite me AGAIN. AHHHHHH, back into time out she goes, once again laughing. Thankfully it stopped there, but I could not believe this. She has bitten me a few times before, but it has gotten serious now. I guess I will have to enforce that it is not allowed at all and hope that this phase passes quickly, because it is a pretty painful phase and I am sure even more painful for the little sister!

Life Can Be Sad

Last night I experienced a sad moment. There wasn't anything that directly affected me that was sad, but none the less it impacted me none the less. See my grandma was on the phone and you could tell it was one of those conversations that wasn't going well. Later we were all outside and someone asked if she was crying. Indeed she was and none of us really knew what to do, including my aunt, her daughter. We all sat there for a while and let her compose herself and then finally I journed up to the porch to see what was wrong. Both she and my grandfather were sitting there very sullen. It turns out that one of their long time friends had suddenly passed away of either a stroke or a heart attack. She said the news was very shocking because out of most of their friends the one that passed seemed to have been the healthiest. To me it was one of those moments where you are just kind of like, okay what do I do now. This is one of the rocks in my life and her she is down and needing me, but how do you comfort one of those people you are so used to looking up to and going to in your own times of need. It was some what distressing, but at the same time it was an eye opening event, because once we were all together on the porch my grandma started talking about life and she was like, "see you never know what is going to happen in an hour or tomorrow so that is why I am living this moment to its fullest, here with my family." It was just another one of those times, where you have to remember how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken and to always be grateful for what you have and the people who are in your life, no matter how long or short they are with you, because you do really never know when it might end. So to all of you, I am grateful that you are in my life and I hope we have years of memories ahead of us!

I still can't believe it

As many of you know I have a huge addiction to Starbuck's frappacinos. You also know that I am trying to lose weight and usually these two do not go hand and hand. Well, wouldn't you know it, but I actually found a diet plan that INCLUDES Starbucks. That is right. It is the snack all day diet. Similar to the eat all day diet, the theory is that you eat about 200 calories every two hours from 8 to 8, totally around 1400 for the day. Well one of the snack sections is actually a frappacino. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that it would be possible to really lose weight and feed my addiction, but now I can!

One Long Weekend

This weekend was exceptionally long. I know, usually one is excited for the weekend and they always go by to fast, but this weekend was a long one. Around 11:00 am on Friday Natalie came down with a fever of 103.8. I started medicating her and called the dr. They said to just treat the fever, so I did. At 4:00 it still was really high so I called again, this was after Natalie literally laid on the couch all afternoon. Wouldn't eat, drink and her eyes kept rolling back in her head because she was so tired. They once again said to alternate Tylenol and Motrin. Saturday morning the fever was still high so we were off to the dr. to find out that she had an ear infection. Who knew?! She hasn't had a cold, runny nose and wasn't pulling her ears. That afternoon when she woke up from her nap her fever had risen to 105. Off to the ER we went. Let me tell you, there are some very interesting/weird people at the ER on a Saturday afternoon. After a little over an hour of waiting, we were called back and what I saw was truly shocking. It was like a movie with beds and people laying in the hallway. Very different if you ask me. So there we sat on one of those beds in the hall. The dr. finally came over and said she was fine and to just keep treating the fever. UGH!
Well, yesterday she was doing better, still on the tylenol and motrin but getting better. Then yesterday around 11 or so, Maddie starts the same fever. How can this be possible? Ear infections are not supposed to be contagious. So again today I was back at the dr. to find out that Maddie does indeed have an ear infection as well. We maybe going to see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist because this is the 5th ear infection they have had in less that a year so if they get one more they may have to have tubes. Once again though it was ironic to me that they managed to get ear infections at the same time without sharing a cold. But needless to say all the trips to the dr. and the ER made for an interesting weekend.

The Great Debate

For the last several months Tom and I, but mostly me, have been going back and forth and back and forth on whether we want to have another child. Tom has said several times he doesn't care either way, but that he might like to have a boy. I thought this was funny, because after the girls were born he said he was fine with all girls. I on the other hand don't know, at all. It feels like there is so much that has to go into the decision. I sit and wonder, literally for hours, whether we are being selfish in having another child. For financial reasons, for economic reasons, world temperament, but mostly will it be fair to all the kids. The girls already have to share time with us, what will it be like if there is a third? We have a great family dynamic at the moment, and it is hard to picture that family if there was another child added to it. Also, the girls get along so well, what would it do to them to add another? I wish there was some button you could push that could give you the answers and that there weren't so many uncertainities. I fear that we could have twins again and I don't think we could do it, well we would, but I don't know if I could carry them and wow 4 kids would be a lot for us. I don't want that surgery again, but it would be a for sure thing we if decide to have another. I know that a lot of these questions all parents ask themselves when they decide to expand their families, but I feel like it is a huge weight that is sitting on my shoulders ready to drop at any moment. It may even be years until we truly decide, but then again there in lies more problems, because if we do have another we don't a huge age gap, so once again we are forced to think carefully about what we are doing. I guess I don't want to look down the road in years and say I wish we had had another child and we didn't, but I am sure in the end the decision we make will be right for our family, all of us, because that is what is most important our nice little family and making sure the girls are happy, safe and secure. Ahhhh well, so here is to my great debate...if you have anything to say I would love to hear it, it really is a hard decision, one that we know can only be answered by us and hopefully will some day.

Even when its hard

I have decided that even on days like today when it is hard being a mom, I wouldn't change a thing and I am the luckiest person alive that I get to stay home with my girls. Today would have been a day where Maddie got a time out for throwing things down the stairs. Natalie got one for throwing her good shoes into the pool. I had to give Maddie one in the grocery store for screaming and throwing items out of the cart. Okay, how do you give a child a time out at the store, well, let me share that with you. I had to take her out of the cart, put her in a corner, near the trash can at the end of an aisle and turn my back to her while she had her time out. Crazy I know, but the behavior was not acceptable. So one would think that time outs would have been the last of it to make it a bad day, but oh it gets gross, so hold on. Maddie made a mess in her diaper while we were outside playing after dinner, so I thought why waste a diaper and just let her run around with her body suit on, thinking nothing more could come out. I was wrong. By the time we got up to take a bath she had managed to go again and it had been ground into the body suit and pieces fell out all over the floor. So while I was trying not to rub it into her anymore, there was little Nat, walking around and almost stepping on the pieces....GROSS!
But we managed and laughed about it and while I am tired today, I am so thankful that tomorrow I get to wake up and their smiling little faces will greet me in the morning. That they will tell me they love me and give me hugs and kisses and to think, that is my job. My job is to love them and hug them, and play with them. Can I ask for more in life? I think not, I think that even though it can be hard there is no other place on earth I would rather be.

While Mommy is away:

The other day I left the girls home with Tom for a little while so I could run some errands. When I was almost home Tom called me and asked me where I was. I told him I was almost home. He said, "good because Maddie has something to show." Okay, I thought this is interesting. Well, when I walked Maddie ran up to me and had pen all over her legs and her feet. Natalie had a little pen on her also. I laughed and asked her what happened. She just hugged me, too cute. I asked Tom how long they had had the pen and he said he didn't know, less than 5 minutes and that it wasn't on the walls. I laughed again and said okay. Later that night as I was cleaning things up, I saw that there was pen all over one of their babies, all over the box pictured above and then worst was on our green foot stool. Of course I just kept laughing. Tom was really upset, but ah, kids will be kids right?

The Great Sunscreen Debacle

So it is obvious to most that Sunscreen is not to be applied to one's eyes. It is also very clearly marked as such on each package. Today, however, we had our first really big sunscreen in the eye adventure. Typically I will use the tear proof stuff made by Banana Boat. Today, however, I used water babies, one would think that something made for babies would be tear proof, but this turned out not to be the case. As both the girls started rubbing their faces the sunscreen that had just been generously applied to their arms, hand, legs and face made its way directly into their eyes. I thought for sure this wouldn't set them back and out to the pool we went. Maddie played for a little while, but Natalie just sat in my lap and kept her eyes closed. So after about 5 minutes inside we went to the sink. Now let me tell you hold an almost two year old under the sink so you can drench their eyes with water is a task, times that by two and by the time I was done I couldn't here myself think. I thought that the water drenching would do the trick so we sat down for a snack. Of course the water bath didn't do any good so we had to go upstairs to the shower, where the girls could let the water beat down on them and rinse their eyes out throughly. After about twenty minutes in the shower the girls seem to be able to see now. Both their eyes are all red and swollen, but I don't think there will be any permanent damage, but I can assure you I will NEVER use any sunscreen on or near the face that doesn't say "Tear proof."

All It Takes Is A Picture

I have heard people say before that all it took for them to finally lose the weight was to see a picture of themselves and they knew they had to do something. Today, I had one of those moments and saw one of this pictures. I had been doing really well, losing weight and keeping up with my running for the Mini. After the mini, like always I stopped running. Yes, I had my infected toe and was actually told by my doctor to take some time off, but I haven't gone back. In all I lost about 15 pounds from Thanksgiving to the beginning of May. I have now gained probably half of that back. I walk everyday and I am trying to make sure to get 10,000 steps in, but my eating is out of control. While I was training I was diligent about tracking what I eat and keeping my calories under control. Now, not only am I not tracking what I am eating, I eat everything in sight and I am not running there fore I am not burning what I need to be. I have a friend who said, "why do we always put things off?" Which, who really has the answer to that, but I am no longer putting this off. It is time for me to make a life change, not only for myself, but for Tom and the girls as well. I need to set a good example and eat healthy so that the girls eat well. I also need to have a positive body image so the girls have a positive role model. I do not want them to be 4 or 5 and thinking they are fat or need to lose weight. I don't know how much I will write about my struggles and triumphs, but if it keeps me accountable or I find great ideas or recipes I will share. I know a lot of you want my pumpkin bar recipe, so I will get that out one of these days!
So wish me luck on my life changing endeavor and if you have positive advice or things that have worked for you, I am all ears!

Still Here and Tagged

Awhile back, okay a very, very, very, long while back I was tagged by Jeanelle and here I am finally getting back to her tag and answering some questions.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago:
I was 18 and just graduating High School. I cannot believe my 10 year reunion is in July. Not to excited about that to be honest with you. Anyway, I was headed to DePauw for college.

2. 5 snacks I enjoy:
Anything with chocolate, pretzels, especially the big ones, gold fish crackers...this can be dangerous now that we have kids and they are always around. Triscuits and apples with peanut butter.

3. 5 things on today's to do list:
Get Maddie's glasses fitted so they actually stay on her little face.
Play date at Jeanelle's, can't wait for that one
Take a nap when the girls do, Maddie woke up at 4 this morning, ugh
Run errands
Make dinner

4. 5 Things I would do if I was a billionaire:
Pay off our house and cars
Put money away for the girl's college and their future
Help my parent's with my sister's college
Pay off my bro's mortgage
Go shopping and save the rest

5. 5 jobs I have had: I am going to give you 6, so enjoy :-)
Administrative assistant at Innovative, not a very good job, but at least I met Tom there!
Wardrobe assistant for the Indianapolis Ballet, before it went bankrupt
Administrative assistant for University of Indianapolis
Development Assistant for Special Olympics
Client Coordinator at Scofield Editorial
Mother, best job in the world. It may be hard at times, but I LOVE it, every single part of it and I am so glad I get to stay home with the girls and do it....thanks Tom!

6. 5 Bad Habits:
I have a little OCD and need things organized
Biting my nails
Speeding
Talking on my phone in the car
Eating junk food

7. 5 Places I've lived:
Fort Collins, Colorado, ahhhhh Colorado, some day again in the future.
Medina, Ohio
Colchester, England: Study abroad for 6 months, awesome, awesome, awesome
Greencastle, Indiana
Avon/Indianapolis, Indiana

8. 5 people that also need to be tagged?
I am actually going to pass on this one, so all you readers out there, you luck out and you don't have to participate!

Well, I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about me....and I promise to write more soon. We were out of internet for a week and I feel like I had a ton to write about, but now that it is back, I can't think of anything good, so anyway, Happy Wednesday.

Time Better Spent

Today, I have spent most of the girls nap time trying to figure out why our satalite isn't working correctly. It is highly annoying, not that we need to be inside on this gorgeous day, but it is nice to have music and stuff on when we are eating lunch. I have tried everything that the DirectTv website suggests and called to speak to a representative and at least now we have channels, before about every other channel wouldn't come in, but now our DVR is not working. I am guessing something happened during that huge storm we had last night. Seriously, I cannot believe how bad it was here. At one point there was such a huge crack of lightening that one of the girls toys that plays music when it hears noise or vibrations actually went off. I jumped so high I could have been a high jumper. But I digress and my frustration is still seething. The wonderfully intelligent representative on the phone told me that there wasn't anything else he could do was send a technician out, NEXT Tuesday and that it will cost us $79.00. UGH. come on people, give me a break please. I am hoping Tom can fix whatever is going on when he gets home, if not out the door flies more money we weren't prepared to spend, I love unexpected costs!

They May Be Identical, But They Are Not The Same!

As a parent of multiple children one always strives to treat each child as an individual. As a mother of identical twins it is especially important to remember that the girls may have the same DNA, but that they are different. I have always thought that Tom and I have done a good job of treating the girls as individuals. I mean, to us they look nothing alike and they never have and boy do they have different personalities. But when it comes to the girls health it has been hard to look at them differently. Of course they go to all their appointments together, they do everything together, but it has really been hard lately to remember that even physically and health wise the girls are different. You may be wondering where this is coming from so I will tell you. A few weeks ago I noticed that Maddie's eyes seemed to be going crossed eyed when she was eating. Then it appeared like she had a lazy eye, especially when concentrating, so I asked Tom if he had noticed it. He did so I called our Dr. and got a referral to an eye Dr. Today we took little Mad's and found out she is far sighted. All her crazy cross eyedness and lazy eye finally made sense and luckily she won't have to have surgery, just some super cute pink glasses. She will probably always wear glasses or contacts, but that is okay and we are glad we caught it early. While we were at the Dr. I asked him if we should be concerned about Natalie and he said to just watch her like we had with Maddie and since we already know the symptoms if we see them in Natalie to make her an appointment as well. He said she is at higher risk, but not to expect it to happen. After the appointment I started researching identical twins and health issues and I found it most interesting that even though the girls share the same DNA, during gestation and even after birth that same DNA can have slight differences that make the girls different physically, emotionally and mentally. I found this fascinating and somewhat relieved as well. Lately I have been thinking a lot about how, heaven forbid, one of the girls got seriously sick, would the other one as well. The articles I read put my mind to ease a little since the girls are really starting to show physical differences. Mad's eyes, Natalie has the "Knauer" gap in her teeth and of course their personalities. This is definitely something I am going to do more research on and I am excited to learn more. Also, as it has been said before and I am sure you have heard it, not only should you treat all of your children as individuals, but you should also trust your gut and don't wait when it comes to your own health or your child's. We very well could have waited 6 months until they went back to the Dr. but I am soooooo glad we know what we are dealing with and that in a week she will be able to see better and we don't have to worry any more. So never doubt your feelings no matter what people say, I mean really what is a co-pay even if it wasn't needed if it can save someone unnecessary pain.

I Did It!

Before
After
Today, after months and months of debate I finally did it. I cut 9.5 inches off my hair to donate to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths. I only needed 8 inches to donate to their program, but I still am not sure if I like how short my hair is, 9 inches is A LOT. But it is just hair and it will grow back, and I know that I have helped someone else have the chance to have hair and that means and says a lot, or at least it should. So here are the before and after pictures. Please pay no attention to my very wide shoulders and back!

"Welcome???"

Apparently we have a sign on our house that says, "Welcome" to ants...we must send out some secret sent that allows them to follow us. I am not sure what it is, but ugh it annoys and disgusts me for sure. Don't get me wrong it is now were near as bad as last summer in that dreaded apartment, just in our kitchen and a rough ant on the wall going up the stairs to the second floor...I know right, how the heck does an ant make it across the kitchen, living room and up the stairs? I am not sure, but they do. But, in all honesty the girls did turn on this welcome sign. Tom and I have been trying for days to figure out how they are getting in the house and what they could possibly be after, I sweep after every meal and snack that is eaten inside, so 3-5 times a day and we vacuum about everyday as well. So today after dinner there seemed to be more than normal so I got out the vacuum and started going to town on everything. I then looked under the stove...ohhhhhh YUCK. There was an old rice cake, not sure how old, but it was back under the stove and it was covered! It was so gross. So I had to pull out the drawer, vacuum really well, even got out the flashlight to see better and then mopped. After the girls went to bed I set up some ant traps also, I am hoping this will help eradicate the problem and we can go on living ant free. Ahhhhhh, gotta love nature and all the wonderful things it brings with it. Hope none of you are having this problem, but if you are and you have kids, just look under your stove!

Before and After

Before
This past weekend we decided, even though it was nice out, to paint our office. I have been going insane because everything in our house is white. I mean don't get me wrong, i enjoy all the brand new paint and cleanliness, but it is contractor's white that if you touch or walk by it leaves a mark. So we added a little color, just one room at a time, but I love it!
So here are some before and after!

After

Support the Fight

Today, I was going to post before and after pictures of our office that we painted, but as I was doing my blog lap I found something much more important to write about. It is that time of year again for Relay for life and it is such a great cause to support. While I have never met her, Ali, is such a brave person and I admire her for her positive outlooks and strength. Her family has formed a Relay for life team called Ali's Allies which needs your support. You can go to this page to support Ali and her battle as well as to support others. Hopefully one day cancer in all its evil forms will be eradicated, but it can't be done without your help!

Calling all readers

Last night one of my friends and I went and saw "Made of Honor" it was a very good "chick" flick, and it had Patrick Dempsey in it...need I really say more! Anyway, before we went to the movie we were walking around Target and ended up in the book section talking about all the books we liked to read when we realized we both wished we were part of a book club. We then decided to start our own! So if you like to read and want to join us let me know, we will probably get together once a month or every 6 weeks or so for fun, food and laughter!

There are people made to run, then there is me

The Mini is over, my months of training have come to an end and I honestly do not know what to think. I am a little disappointed with myself. I was about 8 minutes off of my goal time...after you take off the 5 minutes I wasted using the restroom. (This was a first for me and I was very angry that I had to stop) A note for the future and to any other runners out there. I racked my brain trying to figure out what I could have eaten to upset my stomach and there wasn't anything out of the ordinary until I looked in the pantry yesterday afternoon and noticed the reduced fat Oreos. At this point it hit me...I had eaten a few more than I should have the day before while making a dessert that required them. I then hobbled out to the garage and told Tom I had figured it out and that the Oreos had ruined the race for me. A lesson learned I reckon...and it WILL NOT happen in the future. Do I see more races in my future...I think so. I am pretty sore today, my knees and my toe nails are all bruised, I guess my shoes weren't big enough even though they are a full size larger than I normally wear...I guess I still need to go up. So I think in a week or two when I am healed I will really start thinking about more longer distance races.
So that is my story and now for my thanks. Thank you to my girls for putting up with my training. They went on many a run in the jogging stroller, most 3-4 miles and didn't fuss to much or they played in their pen while I ran on the treadmill. Thank you to Sheri who pushed me more than I would have pushed myself and for doubling back after you finished yesterday and for finishing AGAIN with me. That really says a lot about your character, you as a person, friend and a competitor. I am so glad you have been my running partner and I am glad you say you will still run with me! So Thank you! Finally, thank you to Tom, who helped me watch the girls so I could run on the weekends and at night and for always supporting me. I love you and couldn't have done it or much else without your support.
I will be posting a few more posts about running gear and some things I really found helpful, so if you care look for those later this week! Finally, I hope the rest of you who did the mini had a great race as well and that you enjoyed yourself and are not too sore today! Congrats!

Anticipation is Building

The official countdown clock is 2 days 23:05:45 while I sit and write this to the Mini Marathon. While I have run this race 3 or 4 times prior to this year, for some reason I am really getting excited for this race. I think it is because I am in the best shape of my life, even better than before the girls were born and I have shaved 2 minutes off my usual pace. I have gone from 12 minute miles to 10 minute miles. I attribute this achievement to two things. The first is pushing the double jogging stroller and the additional 45 pounds of the girls and to my great running partner, Sheri! It is great when you find a good running match and she is mine. She pushes me when I want to quit and her pace naturally is faster than mine, but she slows down when I need to and has really helped me excel this year. My goal is to finish the race in 2:15 or under, that is my best ever time that I achieved my first time running the mini. So look for the results on Saturday or Sunday! Also, good luck to all you other runners out there that are attempting this great race!

It's Done!

We didn't let the wind get us down and by Sunday afternoon the girls were able to play on the play set. They love it and I am glad. We will be spending a lot of time out there this summer. I have figured out that I can place a chair in between the swings and sit and push them. Now I just have to figure out how to push two swings and read a book or magazine at the same time :-) Here are a few pictures of it. We still have a few cosmetic pieces to fix and install, but the structure is secure and safe and ready for playing!

There's Good Luck And Then There's Our Luck

Tom and I have always wondered if we just breed bad karma, or if we have natural disasters flags on us, because it seems like we cannot have anything nice. We get a new car and within a year we are in an accident. 5 out of about 7 over our cars in our lives have been in accidents, none our fault. We build a new house and it is flooded. We spend around 12-15 hours putting together that swing set for the girls and a huge gust of wind comes along and knocks what we have done over, splintering pieces and breaking other things. It was heart wrenching I tell you. Tom has been spending a few hours each evening working on it and then I put in about 4.5 hours today, mostly while the girls napped, and then with one gust over it goes. We cannot believe it and needless to say we are pissed and saddened. It isn't like it is ours, it is for the girls. Couldn't they have something nice or have we passed our bad luck onto them...I REALLY hope not. Don't get me wrong we have very blessed lives, but we have faced a lot of disappointments to. Anyway, back to the swing set. We purchased it at Toys-R-Us...our first mistake. We should have gone with the one from Lowes, but it was more expensive, so we thought we would get the one we did, which also had more features. I guess you get what you pay for. Our second mistake was trying to put it up ourselves. We should have just shelled out the cash and had someone do it, then it would have been finished and maybe the wind wouldn't have been able to pick it up and toss it like a rag doll. We are now in the process of piecing things back together and trying to jerry rig things so they are sturdy and the girls will have a safe place to play!

When is it worth it to hire an installer?

Lots of wood that WAS NOT Labeled AT ALL
Swings etc


Yesterday we purchased a play set for the girls. In an attempt to save money, so we can build a fence, we decided to install it ourselves. Today when I was unloading all the wood and Tom came home to a mess in the garage we looked at each other and I asked him when it was worth it to pay someone to install the thing for us. He laughed and said right now. From the pictures you can see that the garage is taken over at the moment with wood and piece, but hopefully by the end of next weekend we will have swings and a slide for the girls. Look for more pictures throughout the week, and probably some complaining too!

18 month update

Today the girls turned 18 months old. I cannot believe how fast time is flying and that in a few short months they will be two years old already. It is really amazing how time flies and how fast they grow and change. They had their 18 month check-up last week and they are as healthy as can be. Maddie is now 30 and 1/4 inches and 23 pounds and Little Natalie has surprisingly surpassed her sister in height and is 30 and 3/4 inches and 21 pounds. We were finally able to turn their car seats around and they love it...they were in complete awe and kept smiling because they can finally see where they are going instead of where they have been. Other than that it seems like they are learning a new word daily and are up to about 30 or more words. Natalie's favorite word at the moment is "No" and it is the cutest no in the world, although I am sure this will change when she becomes more defiant. Maddie likes to say "mamma" and to take your hand and hold it while she leads you to whatever it is she wants. Today the overwhelmed me with pride when they were able to put together "more, please" during lunch when they wanted more crackers. While this was just sign language I was so happy that they put the two together. We just started working on the please and they have really caught on, between the sign language and their ever developing speech, communicating with them has gotten much easier. Other than that all is going well and we are waiting for spring to unpack the warm weather to stay and to get approval from our Home Owners Association so we can put up our swing set. This summer will be a busy one for us, but I am looking forward to some travel and keeping the girls busy and out of the house. So that is all for now, but look for more some day down the road.

Disappointment

Today, I had a moment of great disappointment. What could cause such disappointment you ask? Well, earlier this week Ellen announced that she would be filming her show in Chicago sometime in May. I couldn't believe it, I was so excited. I had asked Tom if someday if we were ever in an area where she was taping if I could go and of course he said yes. So I immediately e-mailed him asking him if he could take the day off to watch the girls if I was able to get tickets to the Chicago show. At this time I didn't know when the taping would be. Today, they had the Chicago taping up on her ticket section and wouldn't you know it...it is the day of the Indianapolis Mini Marathon. I cannot even begin to explain to you how disappointed this made me. I will admit, that even though I have put months of effort and training into this race for a split second I thought about not doing it and still trying to get tickets. I then realized I couldn't do this to myself, or to Sheri, who has been the BEST training partner ever and who has trained even harder than I have. So I guess it wasn't meant to be and hopefully someday in the future, the near future, I will have another opportunity to see a taping of the show. For now though I will have to be content with watching it from the comfort of my own home!

Tag I'm It

A few days ago I was "tagged" by Chantelle so I guess I will oblige and tell you seven things about me. I will then pass along this nice tag and make a few others "it" :-)

1. I was born in Fort Collins Colorado, where I lived for fourteen years. I was then uprooted and moved to the great land of Medina Ohio. I lived there for five years at which point I moved to Indiana for college and have lived here since.

2. I have travelled to over 18 countries including: England, France, Switzerland (my favorite), Spain, Greece, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Trinidad, Tobago, St. Lucia and I won't name anymore!

3. Maine is one of my favorite states in all of America and I especially love Camden, where both myself and my Aunt Kim were married and Friendship, where I have been going since before birth.

4. Tom and I meet at my first job out of college and we were the "office" romance...tisk, tisk...my how that worked out. I guess I should also add for those who care or are keeping tabs...he was just supposed to be a rebound from a long time boyfriend whom i had just broken up with, but here we are happily married almost 6 years later!

5. 99% of the time I will delete any sort of forward that is sent to me, even if it is from my Grandmother...I just find that not much useful information can be found continually forwarding messages on, especially chain letters.

6. I never used to believe in Self Tanner, but I simply cannot stand the thought of being pale and I do not want to age myself anymore or risk cancer so I won't go to tanning beds anymore.

7. Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite authors and I always pre-order his books and read them within a few days of receiving them, I mean what more is there to do since Harry Potter is finished :-)

I now "tag" Tom, Sheri, Kelly , Maya, and Jeanelle. I look forward to reading seven new things about you all and sorry if you have been tagged before!

Warning to all Moms who wear makeup

As promised I am back with something actually important to say. I was reading an article/letter in a new magazine, Green Guide I found at borders. One section was called Just Ask! and a mother had written in about her worries for her three year old twins having lead in their play makeup. Well the answer was that if you are going to let your child play with make up you should let them use yours, but that it should be made with plant-based dyes and petroleum-free. Why you might be asking, because there is actually lead, yes dangerous levels of lead in makeup. As much as 47% lead has been found in some products. I was very shocked to hear this, especially with all of the lead concerns and children. The article made a very valid point, that a child could actually eat makeup, such as a tube of lipstick and become very ill. So, if you do not want to buy the recommended make-up you should treat it like any other poison or medicine and make sure that your child cannot get their little hands on it, this is something I am going to take to heart and make sure the girls do not have access to my stuff for sure!

What a week

Well, this has been a week for sure. Maddie as mentioned before went to the dr. on Tuesday for an ear infection. Yesterday I got to take little Natalie, who also has a double ear infection. Thankfully we are still 2-3 ear infection away from having to see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. When I went to pick up the prescription at Target for Natalie, they were like do you have any questions and do you know how to use our new syringes? I just laughed and said, yes this is the third time this week we have been here and I have the same meds for the other one. I understand she was being polite, but I wish we could get a direct line from our house the pharmacy at the rate we have been going. Oh well, hopefully the warm weather will help us all heal and we can move on. Speaking of weather, all of us are anxiously awaiting better days. The girls love being outside and even when it is chilly or drizzling, like yesterday, Natalie never wants to go in and will say no and shake her head and then proceed into a tantrum when you try to get her to go in. I can't wait to fence in the yard and put up a swing set for them so can play in the yard instead of walking up and down the sidewalk!
Anyway, hope everyone has a great weekend and hopefully next week I will have some inspiring words or great advice to write about!

Why it is important to teach your children proper hand washing

I want to start this post by saying, my family is a clean family. I am obsessive about hand washing and hand sanitizer and cleanliness in general! For this reason I was very surprised today when I took Maddie to the doctor because she has been sick on and off for a couple of weeks. It all started one night with a fever of 101.1, which was 101.8 by the next morning. The doctor told me that as long as Motrin or Tylenol was breaking it and causing it to go down then she was okay. A few days after the fever she developed a hive like rash on her hands, feet and her nether regions...concerned once again I called the doctor and was told it probably was something viral and not to worry and to give her Benadryl. Then this weekend we had the green snot issue, always a concern and ear pulling. I hate jumping the gun and running to the doctor, but after over 2 hours of inconsolable crying this morning I broke down and took her and come to find out she has an ear infection. So where does the hand washing come in you ask? Well, I also found out that she has had, hand, foot and mouth disease. It is viral, so there isn't any medication to cure it and it goes away on its own, but it is spread from improper hand washing. A shock to me to say the very least. She must have picked it up off of a shopping cart or something like that and I can assure you I will be more vigilant in sanitizing the entire cart, the girls hands prior to going into a store and post trip, as well as ensuring we practice proper hand washing as soon as we walk in the door, before and after meals and if they for some reason don't have a bath before bed, hand washing before bed as well. So help keep yourself and your child safe and always wash your hands!

Playing Catch up

So I once again have been MIA. It seems like time just flies by and then I realize I haven't posted anything in a while. The girls are really keeping me busy, which is a good thing and we are having a lot more fun. They are saying more words each day and we are probably up to 20+. The newest words are Thank You, Ducky, Doggy and Uh Oh. They prefer to use longer words instead of short, it is always "Kitty Cat" instead of cat, Doggy, instead of Dog, etc. It is really cute and I love when they bring me something and say "Mama" it melts my heart. They are taking to eating on their own with utensils, a messy, messy endeavor, but cute at the same time, especially when they lift up their bowls full of yogurt and try to lick them :-) Other than that I was able to spend a wonderful long lunch out last Sunday with my friend Sheri. We went to one of her favorite places Tea's Me and it was really good, and this is coming from a coffee lover! We talked for over 3 hours and it was funny because I couldn't believe how fast time flew by. I was gone so long that Tom was actually worried and kept calling my phone because he couldn't believe I still was at lunch. It was really nice to catch up and to talk about running and I am excited to be running the mini with her in May. So for now that is really all there is to report. Maybe spring will be here soon and I will have some fun outdoor stories to share.

Peace

Afternoons like this one are what I cherish. The girls and I had a wonderful morning together, even though Maddie did get her fingers stuck in the bathroom door, that was quite unpleasant, but now they are taking a good long nap, it is 2:30 and they have been in bed since 12:00! I am sitting at the kitchen table paying bills and catching up on things, watching the white world outside. The snow is really beautiful and it is coming down very fast. I hope that Tom gets home safely, but with the woods as a background and the white falling it is amazing. The birds have also found our bird feeder, FINALLY, and they keep coming and going. They are so pretty and I can't wait for the girls to be able to see them. They love animals so much, even though they call them all Kitty Cat! Right now my cat is sitting at the door chirping at the birds, but it is a very peaceful moment. Moments like this are the ones I dreamed about and wished for when we were stuck in that apartment, but now I can have them for many years to come. I hope you all enjoy the snow and have a save and peaceful weekend as well!

Will your favorite return?

Well, it looks like the Writer's Strike may actually be coming to a close...finally, and a lot of my favorite shows will be returning in April for a few more episodes before summer break. I am so excited. Some of the shows coming back that I can't wait for, are CSI, both Miami and the original, Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. You can find more information on other shows here. I hope your favorite(s) come back and we can all enjoy a little more television before the summer break.

Reliance

I realize my posts have become few and far between lately and I thank my few faithful readers for sticking with me. I have come to realize lately that for me my blog and those of my friends were my saving grace during our whole house building challenges. I don't think I would have gotten through those 9 months without the blog world and for that I am so thankful. I have also realized that now that we are settled, my blog and that world has fallen to the wayside for me...not sure whether this is a good or a bad thing. Maybe just honesty shinning through. Before I didn't think I could survive without all the blogging, but now I know I couldn't survive without my girls. As they grow and change and challenge me everyday I am now more and more thankful for them and all the smiles and laughter they bring me. So don't worry I am not going away for good, but I am going to be focusing more of my energy and creativity on the girls, but I will continue to post enlightening comments and updates here, but probably not every day :-)

My New Job

Okay, so I don't really have a new job, outside of the house, but I have decided that my new job needs to be as budget savvy as possible and to save as much money as I can. I have started cutting coupons and looking online and in store fliers in order to see what is on sale, but it is still very difficult. I find that I spend way to much money on groceries each month and I honestly do not know where to cut back, but I need to. I also have started to explore making things from scratch. I know that I spend way to much on packaged foods, like special K bars and quaker mini's, but I don't know how to stop. I guess one route would be to truly start eating more fruits and veggies as snacks instead of all of that packaged stuff. So my question to you all out there is: How do you save money each month at home and at the grocery store? Any and all advice is welcome and appreciated!

Wildlife

Since moving into our new house we have been able to enjoy many freedoms and luxuries we did not have at the apartment. I love being able to run out to the mailbox or have packages left on my doorstep. Having a garage again has been amazing and being able to just walk out the door and take a walk is great. Then there is the wonderfulness, is that a word?, of nature. The sun shines in the windows and I have been able to put up my rainbow maker in the living room. It is a glass ball thing that when the sun strikes it, it creates rainbows, the girls and I all love it. We have put up a bird feeder and we hope that soon the birds will find it, because the girls will love it if they do and we have witnessed not only a fox trotting down the path behind our house and into our yard, but also a coyote. Yes, a coyote, we were very surprised, but it is so cool and I love hearing the girls running to the window saying Kitty Cat, it is pretty darn cute. Above all else though it is nice to see trees again and not other houses, cars or buildings. Ah wildlife and nature, need I say more?!

The Joys of getting Older

Sunday was my 28th birthday. Really just another day. I spent a lot of it shopping on my own, which was great and gave me time to just think about the last 28 years and about the future. We celebrated a little with Tom's Mom and Dad on Saturday, dinner out which was really nice and then Tom made me dinner on Sunday. I have joined a new weight loss group, this one is free and I like it a lot more than the Biggest Loser Club to be honest, it has really helped me a lot more, but one thing I found extra great was the e-mail I received from them on my birthday. Here is what it said:




Sorry it isn't easier to read, but it really just made me think and I really hope that I can make this next year count instead of just letting it pass by!

A Child Called "It"

This past weekend I read a book that I think all parents should have to read, A Child Called "It." It is the story of a little boy who was mentally, physically and emotionally abused by his mother and treated like a slave and animal for years. I know you are probably thinking that this would be a horrible read, but it truly opens your eyes and heart into a little boys world. Thankfully this little boy was a survivor who has gone on to not only write this book so that others can learn from his life, but he is out there helping other children who are in the situation he was once in. I think I read the whole book in a matter of 4 or 5 hours, it was that fast of a read and that good and it really has made me think of what kind of parent I am and want to be in the future to the girls and any other children we have down the road. Obviously the mother in this book went way beyond extreme but it leads one to ponder where punishment ends and abuse starts. I am one to not even want to spank our children so I would never really have an issue with physical abuse or any abuse for that matter, but this book has made me think of how I want to handle any form of punishment, even yelling or raising my voice. It has also lead me to think about what I will say in the future to the girls and see how they might take something, I mean even telling one of them that something they are wearing doesn't look good on them could lead them down an unhealthy path. I would highly recommend this book to anyone out there who hasn't read it and if you have I would love to hear your thoughts on the story.

What a way to start the new year

Today has been a day, lets just say I wish it had happened in 2007 so we could move on, but this is how we started the new year. Maddie woke up at 5:15, she has had a cold for about 3 weeks and has been sleeping really weird, sometime sleeping in until 10:00 other times waking between 2 and 6 in the morning, today being an early day. So I brought her into bed and we laid around until 6:30, at this point I was wondering why Tom hadn't come up to shower yet, he usually is showered by this time. So Maddie and I got up and went into our bathroom. I went to turn on the cold water, nothing, Tom's sink, nothing, shower NOTHING...blast our pipes were frozen. So I hauled downstairs to tell Tom, who was having work issues, he is on call this week. So when he was done with that he tried to figure out what was going on. I guess Arbor didn't insulate anything in the garage or where the pipes are in our bathroom...LOVELY. Then I decide I need to take Maddie to the dr. since she has a weird cough and as an afterthought I have them check Natalie. Well, go figure but both girls have ear infections and it is freezing out so we have to run to Target and get them medicine. Finally around 1:00 this afternoon after Tom's dad brought us a heater for the garage the pipes break up and we have water again. Now Tom and his dad have to insulate the garage tonight so it doesn't happen again. Ah, to say the least we are glad it is 2008 but this was not a pleasant way to start the year off. My continual fear all day has been that the pipes will burst and we will be flooded again...I couldn't relive that!

Happy New Year/What Motivates You!?

Happy New Year to all and may this next year bring you everything you have set out to attain and want to achieve! This year I am making no resolutions, I never achieve them so I am not setting any. I am still looking to shed the left over baby weight and the added pounds and to finish the mini, but really I am just looking to have fun and spend time together as a family. With that said, I am looking for help. The other night I spent a couple hours surfing iTunes looking for good music to load on the iPod that would help get motivated and keep running even when I don't want to. I put on the typical Timbaland, Kanye, Missy Elliott and a few others, but I am looking to hear what motivates others and what you have on your iPod or you listen to when you are working out! Happy New Year and I hope those of you that have made resolutions achieve them this year and that you all have a great year.