A blog about our family
Lame Instant-Messaging and Saving Money
Wed May 14, 2008 by Amy
Mike and I 'IM' each other during the day sometimes. Today I shared a "thread" with him from
lafayettemoms.com (a local moms forum) about ways that moms try to save money, which is something we're constantly trying to get better about (we've come a long way). He read through the different comments and this was our exchange afterwards. It's lame, but I think he's funny. Back story...apparently Mike reads the local moms forum, which I think is cute. And there were mentions on this thread about how some of the moms make inexpensive homemade potpies.
mikeATwork: yeah. i've been reading that. We must be behind the times in the pot pie dept.
Amy: what are you talking about? i made it last week
mikeATwork: oh, right. i stand corrected. i thought i saw pot pies mentioned twice in that thread.
mikeATwork: Bunch of pot pie eatin' mothas.
I did make a WW friendly pot pie from scratch last week....it tasted like butt.
We are currently reading the book, America's Cheapest Family. It's very interesting. I'll probably share more about it when I'm done reading. Oh, and I prefer the terms "frugal" or "cost-conscious," but you can call me cheap!
Off the top of my head, here are a few things we do to save money:
Mike currently takes the CityBus to work at least a few times a week. It saves us a ton on gas money. It is free for him as a Purdue employee. In addition, he gets a great calorie-burning walk in on the way to and from the bus stop. On the days when he takes the bus, I then drive the Saturn, which is much better on gas mileage than the Jeep.
We utilize the library often. We rarely BUY a book anymore and go to many of the programs they offer. The library is such a great resource. Ooh...I've gotta get that book read because I'm sure it's due back soon.
We either shop at Aldi or shop the ads at a regular grocery store. We typically shop at Meijer, if not at Aldi. I love their sales/prices and the Meijer brand of products are good.
Mike keeps this house way too cool in the winter/hot in the summer. I can't stand it, but I know we're saving money. We definitely have thermostat wars in this house.
We quit subscribing to the newspaper because just about everything can be found on their website.
We have cut back on eating out big time. It's one of those expenses that you have nothing to show for except for a fatter you-know-what. We love going out to eat on occasion, but it's much more special now when we do.
When milk or bread are on sale, we buy extra and freeze. Just pour a little milk off the top before freezing. Take out and put in the fridge at least a couple of days before you need. Shake it up each time....you can't taste a difference.
When we rent a movie, we ALWAYS rent from Redbox. We only rent on nights we know we will watch it and just keep for 1 night. You cannot beat $1/night (on Mondays only you can get a free movie with a coupon code!). We will never pay $4 at a Blockbuster or Hollywood video again. It's so convenient at the McDonald's down the street.
Neighborhood garage sales are fun. I used to have more luck there for clothes for Alex when he was younger, but not so much anymore. Otherwise, I try to shop end-of-season sales in the stores and buy for next year.
Don't laugh...but we started washing our sandwich baggies. We go through those things fast. Not only is this better for the environment, but also on our wallet, heehee.
I know there's so much more we do, but that's all I've got tonight. I'll post more once I finish the book.
Another thing we're grappling with...canceling the cable. Kara, I know this has worked well for your family. We really need to still research how much we'd be saving and if it would be worth it for us. It would probably be a shock to our tv-watching systems at first, but I think we'd get used to only having a few channels?! Aaah!!!
Oh, and we're also in the process of coming up with a much more strict budget, or I should say, A budget, period. I always hear that creating a budget and sticking to it (limiting yourself to only spend a certain amount/month in various categories is actually MORE financially-freeing than not having anything in place at all.) I believe it. We need to come up with something that is strict, yet effective and do-able for us.
So, my whole 5 readers (prove me wrong!), what are some things that you do to save money/cut costs? Please share. We can all improve in this area!
Oh, and Amy Clark, you are exempt from answering this question, as you have an entire website and blog almost entirely dedicated to this topic. If you have not checked out my friend's site, you need to! She's brilliant :-)
P.S. Just like has been the case lately, this was just going to be a post about Mike's funny line from "IM"ing today, but has turned into so much more. I'm looking forward to reading your comments and heeding your financial tips!
Wed May 14, 2008 by Amy
Mike and I 'IM' each other during the day sometimes. Today I shared a "thread" with him from
lafayettemoms.com (a local moms forum) about ways that moms try to save money, which is something we're constantly trying to get better about (we've come a long way). He read through the different comments and this was our exchange afterwards. It's lame, but I think he's funny. Back story...apparently Mike reads the local moms forum, which I think is cute. And there were mentions on this thread about how some of the moms make inexpensive homemade potpies.
mikeATwork: yeah. i've been reading that. We must be behind the times in the pot pie dept.
Amy: what are you talking about? i made it last week
mikeATwork: oh, right. i stand corrected. i thought i saw pot pies mentioned twice in that thread.
mikeATwork: Bunch of pot pie eatin' mothas.
I did make a WW friendly pot pie from scratch last week....it tasted like butt.
We are currently reading the book, America's Cheapest Family. It's very interesting. I'll probably share more about it when I'm done reading. Oh, and I prefer the terms "frugal" or "cost-conscious," but you can call me cheap!
Off the top of my head, here are a few things we do to save money:
Mike currently takes the CityBus to work at least a few times a week. It saves us a ton on gas money. It is free for him as a Purdue employee. In addition, he gets a great calorie-burning walk in on the way to and from the bus stop. On the days when he takes the bus, I then drive the Saturn, which is much better on gas mileage than the Jeep.
We utilize the library often. We rarely BUY a book anymore and go to many of the programs they offer. The library is such a great resource. Ooh...I've gotta get that book read because I'm sure it's due back soon.
We either shop at Aldi or shop the ads at a regular grocery store. We typically shop at Meijer, if not at Aldi. I love their sales/prices and the Meijer brand of products are good.
Mike keeps this house way too cool in the winter/hot in the summer. I can't stand it, but I know we're saving money. We definitely have thermostat wars in this house.
We quit subscribing to the newspaper because just about everything can be found on their website.
We have cut back on eating out big time. It's one of those expenses that you have nothing to show for except for a fatter you-know-what. We love going out to eat on occasion, but it's much more special now when we do.
When milk or bread are on sale, we buy extra and freeze. Just pour a little milk off the top before freezing. Take out and put in the fridge at least a couple of days before you need. Shake it up each time....you can't taste a difference.
When we rent a movie, we ALWAYS rent from Redbox. We only rent on nights we know we will watch it and just keep for 1 night. You cannot beat $1/night (on Mondays only you can get a free movie with a coupon code!). We will never pay $4 at a Blockbuster or Hollywood video again. It's so convenient at the McDonald's down the street.
Neighborhood garage sales are fun. I used to have more luck there for clothes for Alex when he was younger, but not so much anymore. Otherwise, I try to shop end-of-season sales in the stores and buy for next year.
Don't laugh...but we started washing our sandwich baggies. We go through those things fast. Not only is this better for the environment, but also on our wallet, heehee.
I know there's so much more we do, but that's all I've got tonight. I'll post more once I finish the book.
Another thing we're grappling with...canceling the cable. Kara, I know this has worked well for your family. We really need to still research how much we'd be saving and if it would be worth it for us. It would probably be a shock to our tv-watching systems at first, but I think we'd get used to only having a few channels?! Aaah!!!
Oh, and we're also in the process of coming up with a much more strict budget, or I should say, A budget, period. I always hear that creating a budget and sticking to it (limiting yourself to only spend a certain amount/month in various categories is actually MORE financially-freeing than not having anything in place at all.) I believe it. We need to come up with something that is strict, yet effective and do-able for us.
So, my whole 5 readers (prove me wrong!), what are some things that you do to save money/cut costs? Please share. We can all improve in this area!
Oh, and Amy Clark, you are exempt from answering this question, as you have an entire website and blog almost entirely dedicated to this topic. If you have not checked out my friend's site, you need to! She's brilliant :-)
P.S. Just like has been the case lately, this was just going to be a post about Mike's funny line from "IM"ing today, but has turned into so much more. I'm looking forward to reading your comments and heeding your financial tips!
Amazing Love
Tue May 13, 2008 by Amy
I love Chris Tomlin's version of the song, "Amazing Love." I can't stop singing it! I wanted to share so you, too, can sing the beautiful words!
Tue May 13, 2008 by Amy
I love Chris Tomlin's version of the song, "Amazing Love." I can't stop singing it! I wanted to share so you, too, can sing the beautiful words!
A good night's sleep
Mon May 12, 2008 by Amy
Thank God we all slept soundly last night. Alex complained until about 9:00, or so, and then he was very ready for bed. Didn't even want a book, which is unheard of. He and Mike camped out on the floor in his room. He woke up happy and ready to play as if nothing had been wrong!! Very similar to how the morning went in the hospital yesterday. Let's hope he keeps his breakfast down and the rest of our day goes well, rather than downhill like the past couple of days!
Here is a sweet Mother's Day gift from Mike. I love it. The writing appears as a darker pink on the screen, but is actually a softer pink.
And speaking of Lydia...I was very excited to see a full-page "thank you" from the local March for Babies in Sunday's newspaper. The sponsors and donors were thanked AND the top 12 teams in the area were congratulated. Remember, this was a huge event with MANY teams. I didn't even know our team, Lydia's Grace, was in the top 12 until I saw this!! Woo hoo! Right in there among corporate teams including Eli Lilly, Purdue, Alcoa, and a few other corporate and family teams. That is SO awesome!!!
I hope everyone has a great day and that the rest of ours is a healthy one!
Mon May 12, 2008 by Amy
Thank God we all slept soundly last night. Alex complained until about 9:00, or so, and then he was very ready for bed. Didn't even want a book, which is unheard of. He and Mike camped out on the floor in his room. He woke up happy and ready to play as if nothing had been wrong!! Very similar to how the morning went in the hospital yesterday. Let's hope he keeps his breakfast down and the rest of our day goes well, rather than downhill like the past couple of days!
Here is a sweet Mother's Day gift from Mike. I love it. The writing appears as a darker pink on the screen, but is actually a softer pink.
And speaking of Lydia...I was very excited to see a full-page "thank you" from the local March for Babies in Sunday's newspaper. The sponsors and donors were thanked AND the top 12 teams in the area were congratulated. Remember, this was a huge event with MANY teams. I didn't even know our team, Lydia's Grace, was in the top 12 until I saw this!! Woo hoo! Right in there among corporate teams including Eli Lilly, Purdue, Alcoa, and a few other corporate and family teams. That is SO awesome!!!
I hope everyone has a great day and that the rest of ours is a healthy one!
An Update
Sun May 11, 2008 by Amy
I really thought it was going to turn out to be a good day, but....
Alex was doing just fine this morning at the hospital and the first hour, or two, after getting home. But it's all gone downhill since about 1:00 (which happens to be the same time he was really hurting yesterday). We saw him getting lethargic around then while playing with Legos. He kept laying on the floor and was obviously in some pain, but was not admitting it (seriously I think he was denying it at first because he didn't want to go back to the hospital). He vomited around 2:00 (this is the first time during this saga that he's done that). Ate some crackers/drank some water around 2:30. Then, he was screaming and crying about his legs hurting him. What? Now the legs?! He was inconsolable, I tell ya. I talked to the pediatrician on call at that time and we didn't get anywhere. The fact that he didn't have a fever was good, blah, blah, blah. Finally, Alex submitted to the idea of using a heating pad on his legs and slept for about 45 minutes. He then woke up and vomited the crackers and water. He fought us to no end about taking yummy cherry Tylenol, aargh! He started complaining then about his tummy hurting again. I've heard so many screams of "Ow" today. It's so hard. He's just been tired and out of it the rest of the night amidst the pains. We hope and pray he has a good night's sleep. The last place I want to be is in the ER tonight but, of course, we'll do what is best for Alex.
Thank you for your kind comments and prayers. We really appreciate all of the support.
Sun May 11, 2008 by Amy
I really thought it was going to turn out to be a good day, but....
Alex was doing just fine this morning at the hospital and the first hour, or two, after getting home. But it's all gone downhill since about 1:00 (which happens to be the same time he was really hurting yesterday). We saw him getting lethargic around then while playing with Legos. He kept laying on the floor and was obviously in some pain, but was not admitting it (seriously I think he was denying it at first because he didn't want to go back to the hospital). He vomited around 2:00 (this is the first time during this saga that he's done that). Ate some crackers/drank some water around 2:30. Then, he was screaming and crying about his legs hurting him. What? Now the legs?! He was inconsolable, I tell ya. I talked to the pediatrician on call at that time and we didn't get anywhere. The fact that he didn't have a fever was good, blah, blah, blah. Finally, Alex submitted to the idea of using a heating pad on his legs and slept for about 45 minutes. He then woke up and vomited the crackers and water. He fought us to no end about taking yummy cherry Tylenol, aargh! He started complaining then about his tummy hurting again. I've heard so many screams of "Ow" today. It's so hard. He's just been tired and out of it the rest of the night amidst the pains. We hope and pray he has a good night's sleep. The last place I want to be is in the ER tonight but, of course, we'll do what is best for Alex.
Thank you for your kind comments and prayers. We really appreciate all of the support.
Quite the weekend...
Sun May 11, 2008 by Amy
and it's not even over yet.
I was gone Friday-Saturday evening for an awesome women's retreat at Camp Tecumseh through Elston Family Church. I went a little over a year ago and it was life-changing for me then. Although it was not as monumental for me this year, it was amazing and perfect in every way...the worship led by my beautiful friend Lindsay, the speakers, messages, the atmosphere... the many other phenomenal women surrounding me. God was in that place. He made His presence in our ordinary lives and love for each and every ordinary woman known. Many grew closer to Him over the weekend. I only got about 4 hours of sleep, but that was okay. I attempted to get more, but it just wasn't happening. I used ear plugs for the first time and they helped :-)
So, while I had a girls' weekend, my boys had a guys' weekend. They rented a movie, had pizza, walked around the farmers' market, and watched a baseball game (those boys know how to have fun together). I talked to Mike briefly when I got up Saturday morning and he said Alex was complaining of his tummy hurting a little bit. I really didn't think much of it because he sometimes gets "gas pains" and they pass fairly quickly. My phone was off the rest of the day. When I got home Saturday around 5, no one was here. I called Mike and he said they were at Urgent Care--that Alex's tummy hurt him off and on throughout the day and around 1:00 it was full force for a couple of hours. He was crying and screaming and could not get comfortable, so Mike took him to the doctor since it persisted for so long and he didn't know what to do for him. Urine sample came back that he was somewhat dehydrated and strep was ruled out. They ATTEMPTED (aargh!) to draw blood there, but did not hit the vein and was (so I heard) an unnecessary nightmare for Alex since they were not successful. By the time I got there, Mike and Alex were sitting in the waiting area after the attempt. He was pretty calmed down by then.
The doctor sent us to the hospital to Pediatrics for the blood draw (and mentioned a numbing agent would probably be helpful there). They also called in a Radiologist to do an ultrasound on his abdomen to rule out appendicitis, or anything else. The blood draw was an AWFUL experience. My poor baby was so scared following the other episode. He was thrashing, crying, screaming, hot and sweaty, kicking, you name it. It took 3 nurses and me and Mike to hold him down and get the job done. And took maybe 10 minutes? Seriously? The longest 10 minutes of my life. I was sweating, too. They left the "thingie" (don't know the name of it) in just in case he needed to be admitted to the hospital so they wouldn't have to go through all of this again and taped him up REALLY good so he wouldn't mess with it. He was so mad and said in the ugliest voice afterwards, "I WANT THIS THING OFF." Also, before and after the blood draw, he was VERY lethargic.
We went down and had the ultrasound and everything appeared normal to the Radiologist. We had to hang around for a while until the blood results were in. We then talked to the doc from Urgent Care who told us that in speaking with the pediatrician they want to admit Alex overnight just for monitoring/observation. Ugh! He was pretty sad that he didn't get to go home (and so was I). The pediatrician did a thorough exam and history. Alex crashed immediately after the exam. They ended up hooking him to the IV to get some fluids going and well hydrated again. My big water and milk-drinker has not been drinking much the past couple of weeks since he had viral/tummy issues (diarrhea and vomiting). To make a long story short...his tummy did not bother him throughout the night, he really had his appetite this morning and seemed more like himself (ornery as ever). He was getting restless to go home and thankfully the doc discharged us around 10:00 this morning. We'll keep a good eye on him. He does need to go back to the doctor later this week to get his blood sugar checked again. His blood sugar was a little high last night and this morning. So, we will be praying that everything is okay there and that if he does have more going on, he will get diagnosed and treated soon. Please pray that with us!
Other crazy things about the weekend: At the hospital last night around 10:00 an Amber Alert was frantically announced over the loud speaker. It freaked me (and others) out. Especially since it was for the 5th floor...Postpartum nursery. A newborn was missing. Thankfully, they canceled the alert about 5 minutes later, whew! Praise God for that. A peds nurse said she had not heard an Amber Alert called in the 7 years she had been working there. Also, Mike and I had separate vehicles at the hospital parking garage. He went home late last night to get some of our things, shower, etc. and noticed (on the vehicle I had been driving--the Jeep) that there was something stuck on the back windshield (while in the parking garage). It was the police blotter from the local newspaper and had written on it, "Your next." A poor grammar threat. It scared us a little even though was most likely some random prank. Security had to walk us out this morning because of it. The security guard then discovered a note on another vehicle at that time. This one said, "You next." Don't know if the perp was getting lazier (by leaving off the "r") or more intimidating with that one.
So, we're all very glad to be home. The boys gave me some Mother's Day gifts when we arrived including cards, a handmade memory box that they built at Lowe's, a little chocolate, and an 8x10 of our family. I'll have to post a pic of a gift that Mike got me a little later. I've got the best husband. He drew me a lovely hot bath a couple of hours ago, complete with bubbles, music, and candles. I had some time to concentrate on Lydia while soaking in the tub. I shed some tears and sure do miss her today.
And Happy Mother's Day to my BEAUTIFUL mommy friends. I love you all dearly. God chose YOU to be moms to your precious children. No one else could love and adore them like you do.
Please pray for our precious Alex.
P.S. I know this is really long, sorry. I just thought of something cute Alex said at the hospital. After the ultrasound, he said, "Did you see the fish swimming around in my belly?"
Sun May 11, 2008 by Amy
and it's not even over yet.
I was gone Friday-Saturday evening for an awesome women's retreat at Camp Tecumseh through Elston Family Church. I went a little over a year ago and it was life-changing for me then. Although it was not as monumental for me this year, it was amazing and perfect in every way...the worship led by my beautiful friend Lindsay, the speakers, messages, the atmosphere... the many other phenomenal women surrounding me. God was in that place. He made His presence in our ordinary lives and love for each and every ordinary woman known. Many grew closer to Him over the weekend. I only got about 4 hours of sleep, but that was okay. I attempted to get more, but it just wasn't happening. I used ear plugs for the first time and they helped :-)
So, while I had a girls' weekend, my boys had a guys' weekend. They rented a movie, had pizza, walked around the farmers' market, and watched a baseball game (those boys know how to have fun together). I talked to Mike briefly when I got up Saturday morning and he said Alex was complaining of his tummy hurting a little bit. I really didn't think much of it because he sometimes gets "gas pains" and they pass fairly quickly. My phone was off the rest of the day. When I got home Saturday around 5, no one was here. I called Mike and he said they were at Urgent Care--that Alex's tummy hurt him off and on throughout the day and around 1:00 it was full force for a couple of hours. He was crying and screaming and could not get comfortable, so Mike took him to the doctor since it persisted for so long and he didn't know what to do for him. Urine sample came back that he was somewhat dehydrated and strep was ruled out. They ATTEMPTED (aargh!) to draw blood there, but did not hit the vein and was (so I heard) an unnecessary nightmare for Alex since they were not successful. By the time I got there, Mike and Alex were sitting in the waiting area after the attempt. He was pretty calmed down by then.
The doctor sent us to the hospital to Pediatrics for the blood draw (and mentioned a numbing agent would probably be helpful there). They also called in a Radiologist to do an ultrasound on his abdomen to rule out appendicitis, or anything else. The blood draw was an AWFUL experience. My poor baby was so scared following the other episode. He was thrashing, crying, screaming, hot and sweaty, kicking, you name it. It took 3 nurses and me and Mike to hold him down and get the job done. And took maybe 10 minutes? Seriously? The longest 10 minutes of my life. I was sweating, too. They left the "thingie" (don't know the name of it) in just in case he needed to be admitted to the hospital so they wouldn't have to go through all of this again and taped him up REALLY good so he wouldn't mess with it. He was so mad and said in the ugliest voice afterwards, "I WANT THIS THING OFF." Also, before and after the blood draw, he was VERY lethargic.
We went down and had the ultrasound and everything appeared normal to the Radiologist. We had to hang around for a while until the blood results were in. We then talked to the doc from Urgent Care who told us that in speaking with the pediatrician they want to admit Alex overnight just for monitoring/observation. Ugh! He was pretty sad that he didn't get to go home (and so was I). The pediatrician did a thorough exam and history. Alex crashed immediately after the exam. They ended up hooking him to the IV to get some fluids going and well hydrated again. My big water and milk-drinker has not been drinking much the past couple of weeks since he had viral/tummy issues (diarrhea and vomiting). To make a long story short...his tummy did not bother him throughout the night, he really had his appetite this morning and seemed more like himself (ornery as ever). He was getting restless to go home and thankfully the doc discharged us around 10:00 this morning. We'll keep a good eye on him. He does need to go back to the doctor later this week to get his blood sugar checked again. His blood sugar was a little high last night and this morning. So, we will be praying that everything is okay there and that if he does have more going on, he will get diagnosed and treated soon. Please pray that with us!
Other crazy things about the weekend: At the hospital last night around 10:00 an Amber Alert was frantically announced over the loud speaker. It freaked me (and others) out. Especially since it was for the 5th floor...Postpartum nursery. A newborn was missing. Thankfully, they canceled the alert about 5 minutes later, whew! Praise God for that. A peds nurse said she had not heard an Amber Alert called in the 7 years she had been working there. Also, Mike and I had separate vehicles at the hospital parking garage. He went home late last night to get some of our things, shower, etc. and noticed (on the vehicle I had been driving--the Jeep) that there was something stuck on the back windshield (while in the parking garage). It was the police blotter from the local newspaper and had written on it, "Your next." A poor grammar threat. It scared us a little even though was most likely some random prank. Security had to walk us out this morning because of it. The security guard then discovered a note on another vehicle at that time. This one said, "You next." Don't know if the perp was getting lazier (by leaving off the "r") or more intimidating with that one.
So, we're all very glad to be home. The boys gave me some Mother's Day gifts when we arrived including cards, a handmade memory box that they built at Lowe's, a little chocolate, and an 8x10 of our family. I'll have to post a pic of a gift that Mike got me a little later. I've got the best husband. He drew me a lovely hot bath a couple of hours ago, complete with bubbles, music, and candles. I had some time to concentrate on Lydia while soaking in the tub. I shed some tears and sure do miss her today.
And Happy Mother's Day to my BEAUTIFUL mommy friends. I love you all dearly. God chose YOU to be moms to your precious children. No one else could love and adore them like you do.
Please pray for our precious Alex.
P.S. I know this is really long, sorry. I just thought of something cute Alex said at the hospital. After the ultrasound, he said, "Did you see the fish swimming around in my belly?"
Realizations
Thu May 8, 2008 by Amy
Today was a first for me.
My messy/dirty house was driving me insane and I wanted it cleaned before going to a women's retreat this weekend. Today I spent 4 1/2 hours cleaning the house top to bottom with Alex alongside me. The end result was not as thorough of a cleaning job as I would have liked and it certainly took me longer than usual with Alex "helping, " but I felt proud accomplishing this WITHOUT turning the tv on for him. That is a really big deal. There were times when he was playing on his own, but he was often right in the cleaning throes with me.
I say I have never done this before because I never clean my house, just kidding. I do, but not as often as I would like. Typically when I do a whole-house cleaning, Mike and I do it together while Alex is occupied and then gets done much quicker, Mike is playing or out with Alex while I tackle things, or Alex is away at grandparents.
I have to admit something. Accomplishing any kind of project or semi-involved household task (or let's face it...anything!) is very difficult for me to do on a daily basis when it is just me home with Alex. And I only have 1 kid! I think that's the problem. There are SO many days that I wish Alex had a sibling with whom to play. SO many days. And not just to keep him occupied while I get things done...to have that relationship and to have that live-in playmate. Sure there are struggles that come along with having multiple children, such as the squabbles and managing them all, or what not. But when I look at Alex trying to play a board game by himself or playing catch with himself, it breaks my heart. It really does sadden me.
Now, please don't get me wrong. I play with Alex a LOT. But there are times throughout the day when I really try to encourage him to play independently for my sake (such as needing to take a simple shower) and his (he needs to be able to do this as he is an only child currently). And please know that I am not in any way criticizing those who choose to only have one child (that is YOUR choice). But, Mike and I intended to have at least one more child at this stage in our life. We never pictured Alex at 3 1/2 or 4 as being the only one. We dreamed of at least 2 children in our family--a sibling for Alex, another son or daughter. The dream is definitely still alive and we WILL have another child someday who WILL grow up with Alex. There will just be more of a gap between them than we had hoped. Okay, I am crying now as I write this. I don't know how this post about cleaning turned into this...but it has been on my heart for the past few months.
Anyway, one thing that I know for sure is that I really need to cherish this time I have with Alex, and only Alex, at home...before he goes to school full-time. I cannot have this time back with my firstborn. Even though I may find myself feeling some frustrations on a daily basis about what needs to be done, how dirty my house is, or feeling like we need a break from each other....I truly know that stuff doesn't matter. We need to keep creating memories. I want him to remember the quality time that we shared with each other. How his mom took him to the park often, played cars, drew with chalk on the sidewalk, played games and even army guys.
I do have to say that my mood is MUCH better since getting the house cleaned, but I am so thankful we spent that time together!
**The original title of this post was "Accomplishing the Impossible" (as this was really just going to be a post about cleaning), but then changed as I saw fit to "Realizations."
Thu May 8, 2008 by Amy
Today was a first for me.
My messy/dirty house was driving me insane and I wanted it cleaned before going to a women's retreat this weekend. Today I spent 4 1/2 hours cleaning the house top to bottom with Alex alongside me. The end result was not as thorough of a cleaning job as I would have liked and it certainly took me longer than usual with Alex "helping, " but I felt proud accomplishing this WITHOUT turning the tv on for him. That is a really big deal. There were times when he was playing on his own, but he was often right in the cleaning throes with me.
I say I have never done this before because I never clean my house, just kidding. I do, but not as often as I would like. Typically when I do a whole-house cleaning, Mike and I do it together while Alex is occupied and then gets done much quicker, Mike is playing or out with Alex while I tackle things, or Alex is away at grandparents.
I have to admit something. Accomplishing any kind of project or semi-involved household task (or let's face it...anything!) is very difficult for me to do on a daily basis when it is just me home with Alex. And I only have 1 kid! I think that's the problem. There are SO many days that I wish Alex had a sibling with whom to play. SO many days. And not just to keep him occupied while I get things done...to have that relationship and to have that live-in playmate. Sure there are struggles that come along with having multiple children, such as the squabbles and managing them all, or what not. But when I look at Alex trying to play a board game by himself or playing catch with himself, it breaks my heart. It really does sadden me.
Now, please don't get me wrong. I play with Alex a LOT. But there are times throughout the day when I really try to encourage him to play independently for my sake (such as needing to take a simple shower) and his (he needs to be able to do this as he is an only child currently). And please know that I am not in any way criticizing those who choose to only have one child (that is YOUR choice). But, Mike and I intended to have at least one more child at this stage in our life. We never pictured Alex at 3 1/2 or 4 as being the only one. We dreamed of at least 2 children in our family--a sibling for Alex, another son or daughter. The dream is definitely still alive and we WILL have another child someday who WILL grow up with Alex. There will just be more of a gap between them than we had hoped. Okay, I am crying now as I write this. I don't know how this post about cleaning turned into this...but it has been on my heart for the past few months.
Anyway, one thing that I know for sure is that I really need to cherish this time I have with Alex, and only Alex, at home...before he goes to school full-time. I cannot have this time back with my firstborn. Even though I may find myself feeling some frustrations on a daily basis about what needs to be done, how dirty my house is, or feeling like we need a break from each other....I truly know that stuff doesn't matter. We need to keep creating memories. I want him to remember the quality time that we shared with each other. How his mom took him to the park often, played cars, drew with chalk on the sidewalk, played games and even army guys.
I do have to say that my mood is MUCH better since getting the house cleaned, but I am so thankful we spent that time together!
**The original title of this post was "Accomplishing the Impossible" (as this was really just going to be a post about cleaning), but then changed as I saw fit to "Realizations."
'Dem Bones
Tue May 6, 2008 by Amy
Well, Mike has lost 16 pounds in the past month. He's done an amazing job! I'm jealous, but I'm very proud of him. He's wasting away before my eyes.
Tonight I touched Mike's shirt around his shoulder area to point out a spot. He thought my attention was drawn to something else...now it's all I can see. He said that when he's skinny his shoulder bones really protrude. He's not kidding. He's like becoming a skeleton, or something. Those things are really sticking out and if I'm not careful I could poke my eye out on them when accidentally bumping into him. If he was a superhero, he could fight the bad guys with those shoulders...ouch!
I joke, kinda. I just got a good laugh out of 'dem bones of his. Anyway, speaking of superheroes, Mike is mine. I love you very much, hon!
Tue May 6, 2008 by Amy
Well, Mike has lost 16 pounds in the past month. He's done an amazing job! I'm jealous, but I'm very proud of him. He's wasting away before my eyes.
Tonight I touched Mike's shirt around his shoulder area to point out a spot. He thought my attention was drawn to something else...now it's all I can see. He said that when he's skinny his shoulder bones really protrude. He's not kidding. He's like becoming a skeleton, or something. Those things are really sticking out and if I'm not careful I could poke my eye out on them when accidentally bumping into him. If he was a superhero, he could fight the bad guys with those shoulders...ouch!
I joke, kinda. I just got a good laugh out of 'dem bones of his. Anyway, speaking of superheroes, Mike is mine. I love you very much, hon!
A Meme
Tue April 29, 2008 by Amy
My friends, Beth and Emily, posted this meme on their blogs today. Let me know if you play along :-)
Where is your cell phone? In my pursue on our island in the kitchen.
Your significant other? Mike is very patient and funny, much more kind than I tend to be, pretty shy around people he doesn't know well, is generally a homebody. He's the BEST daddy to Alex. Very book/current events smart and quite the history buff (which I am NOT). He is quite handy around the house and knows everything there is to know about computers. My Scrabble partner for life.
Your hair? It's pretty long right now. I like it okay, but wish it was more straight and not so messy looking. I don't have the patience to straighten my thick head of hair. I am in need of a trim.
Your mother? She is the one I often go to for advice and just really helps me work through issues, life :-) She adores Alex and takes care of him the way I would. She is VERY project-oriented and doesn't like to sit down for long at all. She likes to ask a lot of questions, which is kind of a running joke. When Mike and I were engaged she once asked, "Where do you guys sit when you're at home together?" She genuinely wanted to know Huh??? She LOVES Paris and thinks she is French. She is getting married to her boyfriend of 22 years (something like that) in July. She has been there for me in endless ways and I love her dearly.
Your father? My dad is very hardworking and has overcome a lot in his life. We have not always gotten along the best, but are closer now than ever. I am proud of who he has become. He is an avid coin collector.
Your favorite thing? My family and friends, books (I just started reading the "R" series by Karen Kingsbury...I'm very into it), step classes, McDonald's french fries, 70 degree weather, Women's Bible Study, a clean house (just not the process of getting it there).
Your dream last night? I generally don't have vivid recollections of dreams and definitely don't remember one from last night.
Your favorite drink? Sweet tea from McAlister's, McDonald's Diet Coke. I'm learning to enjoy water more.
Your dream/goal? To find my passion and something I love doing for a living...once my kids are in school full time. For my kids to turn into happy, healthy, respected, well-rounded adults.
The room you are in? Bonus room upstairs.
Your ex? Not sure what he is doing now.
Your fear? Losing another child.
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Have at least one more child, be financially secure and closer to God.
Where were you last night? Stayed home...talked about going to Wal-Mart, but then was getting late and started raining. Mike and I took turns on the treadmill and just spent time with Alex.
What you are not? Patient, skinny, close-minded
Muffins? Yum. I need to find the recipe I have someplace for some really moist (for lack of a better word...many of you know I HATE that word) and not too bad for you. I want to say it's mainly a brownie mix, All Bran cereal, and water? 2 points each.
One of your wish list items? I don't really feel like we need anything big right now...a new mattress and a dining room table would be nice.
Where you grew up? Michigan City, Indiana
The last thing you did? Made cookies with Alex and read him a Scooby Doo book.
What are you wearing? Dark jeans and a long sleeve Ball State t-shirt.
Your TV? I love it, but do not watch it as much as I used to. We should just get rid of cable...aah. It would free my mind for other, more meaningful, things, but how would I watch Jon and Kate plus 8?
Your pets? I miss Jane Beagle a great deal. Alex brought her up today. So, we have none right now.
Your computer? I have no idea honestly and don't really care...that's Mike's area. I know he built it?
Your life? Is much quieter and more relaxed since the March for Babies is over.
Your mood? I have my moments of being down and somewhat negative, but I am feeling better as the weather has been getting nice and sunny...it seriously helps my mood!
Missing someone? Yes
Your car? 2001 Saturn and Jeep Cherokee. Can't pick just one because we're constantly switching vehicles. The Saturn was originally mine and I love that car. They both need to be cleaned out badly.
Something you are not wearing? Leg warmers, sweatbands, a bodysuit (remember those? I worked hard to snap those things especially after several washings) I remember wearing them in high school, oh my...
Favorite store? Barnes and Noble, Half Price Books, Kohl's, I want to get back to Ikea so bad.
Your summer? Mike and I want to go someplace just the two of us, but we haven't decided where yet. I also hear we may go camping (ugh!). Probably go to Indiana Beach at least once.
Like someone? Most people I meet.
Your favorite color? Pink
When is the last time you laughed? Last night when I was on the treadmill, walking fairly fast. Mike was "running" alongside of me pretending to fall behind. Alex got in on it. I could not stop laughing and seriously thought I was going to hurt myself/fall off of the treadmill.
Last time you cried? Saturday when saying a prayer with my team prior to the March for Babies.
Tue April 29, 2008 by Amy
My friends, Beth and Emily, posted this meme on their blogs today. Let me know if you play along :-)
Where is your cell phone? In my pursue on our island in the kitchen.
Your significant other? Mike is very patient and funny, much more kind than I tend to be, pretty shy around people he doesn't know well, is generally a homebody. He's the BEST daddy to Alex. Very book/current events smart and quite the history buff (which I am NOT). He is quite handy around the house and knows everything there is to know about computers. My Scrabble partner for life.
Your hair? It's pretty long right now. I like it okay, but wish it was more straight and not so messy looking. I don't have the patience to straighten my thick head of hair. I am in need of a trim.
Your mother? She is the one I often go to for advice and just really helps me work through issues, life :-) She adores Alex and takes care of him the way I would. She is VERY project-oriented and doesn't like to sit down for long at all. She likes to ask a lot of questions, which is kind of a running joke. When Mike and I were engaged she once asked, "Where do you guys sit when you're at home together?" She genuinely wanted to know Huh??? She LOVES Paris and thinks she is French. She is getting married to her boyfriend of 22 years (something like that) in July. She has been there for me in endless ways and I love her dearly.
Your father? My dad is very hardworking and has overcome a lot in his life. We have not always gotten along the best, but are closer now than ever. I am proud of who he has become. He is an avid coin collector.
Your favorite thing? My family and friends, books (I just started reading the "R" series by Karen Kingsbury...I'm very into it), step classes, McDonald's french fries, 70 degree weather, Women's Bible Study, a clean house (just not the process of getting it there).
Your dream last night? I generally don't have vivid recollections of dreams and definitely don't remember one from last night.
Your favorite drink? Sweet tea from McAlister's, McDonald's Diet Coke. I'm learning to enjoy water more.
Your dream/goal? To find my passion and something I love doing for a living...once my kids are in school full time. For my kids to turn into happy, healthy, respected, well-rounded adults.
The room you are in? Bonus room upstairs.
Your ex? Not sure what he is doing now.
Your fear? Losing another child.
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Have at least one more child, be financially secure and closer to God.
Where were you last night? Stayed home...talked about going to Wal-Mart, but then was getting late and started raining. Mike and I took turns on the treadmill and just spent time with Alex.
What you are not? Patient, skinny, close-minded
Muffins? Yum. I need to find the recipe I have someplace for some really moist (for lack of a better word...many of you know I HATE that word) and not too bad for you. I want to say it's mainly a brownie mix, All Bran cereal, and water? 2 points each.
One of your wish list items? I don't really feel like we need anything big right now...a new mattress and a dining room table would be nice.
Where you grew up? Michigan City, Indiana
The last thing you did? Made cookies with Alex and read him a Scooby Doo book.
What are you wearing? Dark jeans and a long sleeve Ball State t-shirt.
Your TV? I love it, but do not watch it as much as I used to. We should just get rid of cable...aah. It would free my mind for other, more meaningful, things, but how would I watch Jon and Kate plus 8?
Your pets? I miss Jane Beagle a great deal. Alex brought her up today. So, we have none right now.
Your computer? I have no idea honestly and don't really care...that's Mike's area. I know he built it?
Your life? Is much quieter and more relaxed since the March for Babies is over.
Your mood? I have my moments of being down and somewhat negative, but I am feeling better as the weather has been getting nice and sunny...it seriously helps my mood!
Missing someone? Yes
Your car? 2001 Saturn and Jeep Cherokee. Can't pick just one because we're constantly switching vehicles. The Saturn was originally mine and I love that car. They both need to be cleaned out badly.
Something you are not wearing? Leg warmers, sweatbands, a bodysuit (remember those? I worked hard to snap those things especially after several washings) I remember wearing them in high school, oh my...
Favorite store? Barnes and Noble, Half Price Books, Kohl's, I want to get back to Ikea so bad.
Your summer? Mike and I want to go someplace just the two of us, but we haven't decided where yet. I also hear we may go camping (ugh!). Probably go to Indiana Beach at least once.
Like someone? Most people I meet.
Your favorite color? Pink
When is the last time you laughed? Last night when I was on the treadmill, walking fairly fast. Mike was "running" alongside of me pretending to fall behind. Alex got in on it. I could not stop laughing and seriously thought I was going to hurt myself/fall off of the treadmill.
Last time you cried? Saturday when saying a prayer with my team prior to the March for Babies.
On TV
Sun April 27, 2008 by Amy
Not me...but my friend, Dana, was randomly stopped for a short interview yesterday during the March for Babies. We thought it was pretty neat. And to hear the anchor say Lydia's name on the news was special, too. Dana, you did great! You can (but not really) also see Mike's head bobbing in the crowd (wearing a navy blue baseball cap). It was such a huge turnout yesterday, as you can tell.
Oh, and an update as to our total money raised...$5902. :-)
Segment on wlfi.com
Sun April 27, 2008 by Amy
Not me...but my friend, Dana, was randomly stopped for a short interview yesterday during the March for Babies. We thought it was pretty neat. And to hear the anchor say Lydia's name on the news was special, too. Dana, you did great! You can (but not really) also see Mike's head bobbing in the crowd (wearing a navy blue baseball cap). It was such a huge turnout yesterday, as you can tell.
Oh, and an update as to our total money raised...$5902. :-)
Segment on wlfi.com
March for Babies 2008
Sat April 26, 2008 by Mike & Amy
It was an early and cold morning for the walk today, but SO gratifying. It was very special and such a testament to Lydia's legacy. We had 75 friends and family walking on Team Lydia's Grace. What a beautiful thing. We raised over $5600!! Praise God! I still don't know exactly how much since people were giving me money left and right this morning. Thank you to every, single one of you...who donated, fundraised, or participated and supported us and the March of Dimes in any capacity. You are all so amazing and we love you dearly!
Enjoy the photo album. We'll post our official team picture when I can access it.
Sat April 26, 2008 by Mike & Amy
It was an early and cold morning for the walk today, but SO gratifying. It was very special and such a testament to Lydia's legacy. We had 75 friends and family walking on Team Lydia's Grace. What a beautiful thing. We raised over $5600!! Praise God! I still don't know exactly how much since people were giving me money left and right this morning. Thank you to every, single one of you...who donated, fundraised, or participated and supported us and the March of Dimes in any capacity. You are all so amazing and we love you dearly!
Enjoy the photo album. We'll post our official team picture when I can access it.
"S" is for Shark
Thu April 24, 2008 by Amy
Okay, this is a pet peeve that maybe a lot of you don't get, but with my Speech Pathology background and knowing a lot about phonology (speech sounds), this kind of stuff drives me crazy. Alex has a set of magnet letters that is a letter paired with a corresponding picture of something that begins with that letter. A for apple, B for bird, C for cow, etc...those are all good. But S for shark, not so much. The picture should begin with that SOUND...S for sun, soda, soap would be perfect. To me, it's like saying K is for knife. Spellings and pairing certain letters together in words changes their sounds, such as when S is paired with an H, we get the "sh" sound, duh. The makers of these educational products should be um...educated enough to know this stuff.
Anyway, just a silly pet peeve that I felt compelled to post on the blog that no one else would maybe think twice about. But when I'm trying to teach my kid phonics, S for shark is not an appropriate example.
Thu April 24, 2008 by Amy
Okay, this is a pet peeve that maybe a lot of you don't get, but with my Speech Pathology background and knowing a lot about phonology (speech sounds), this kind of stuff drives me crazy. Alex has a set of magnet letters that is a letter paired with a corresponding picture of something that begins with that letter. A for apple, B for bird, C for cow, etc...those are all good. But S for shark, not so much. The picture should begin with that SOUND...S for sun, soda, soap would be perfect. To me, it's like saying K is for knife. Spellings and pairing certain letters together in words changes their sounds, such as when S is paired with an H, we get the "sh" sound, duh. The makers of these educational products should be um...educated enough to know this stuff.
Anyway, just a silly pet peeve that I felt compelled to post on the blog that no one else would maybe think twice about. But when I'm trying to teach my kid phonics, S for shark is not an appropriate example.
Overheard at our house
Mon April 21, 2008 by Amy
Alex constantly says the cutest stuff. I've always intended to document the funny things he says, but well, I haven't done a great job of that. So, maybe I'll start doing this as a weekly installment on the blog.
While I was dancing/being silly the other day...
Mommy, don't shake your booty...it will make my room stinky.
While Alex was playing basketball...
Mommy, you be the cheerleader.
Why?
Because I like cheerleaders.
Why?
Because I like girls.
After I put together 4 cooties from the Cootie game...Alex was tearing them apart.
I'm a breaker and you're a maker. (this is typically true!)
We are on day 3 of being stuck inside :-( Alex got sick a couple of times late Saturday night, did not throw up Sunday, but had a fever. Woke up seeming better this morning, so we let him have a pop tart, but he threw up after a few bites.
God said, "Always not eat a pop tart."
Why?
Because it will make you sick.
Me--Tonight, I have to cook dinner for my friend, Gretchen, and her family.
Why?
Because they have a new baby and it's hard to cook meals when you have a new, little baby.
Yeah...babies don't like dinners.
This was overheard at the playground a few days ago by a tween-age girl who was swinging (she was talking to a friend of hers). Alex had already been down the slide several times.
Don't go down the slide! "Susie" peed on it yesterday.
Nice!
Update: Okay, he just said something that isn't so funny. I wondered where he was and found him in his room playing with his door closed (which is unusual). He looked sad and said, "I don't want you to die and go to heaven. I want you to stay home with me." I don't know where this came from as we had not recently talked about this...although we talk about Jane (the dog), Lydia, Great Grandpa in heaven sometimes. I think he's starting to think that if someone gets sick they die. Oh, I am no good at explaining the difference...or when it is God's time...to a 3 year old!
Mon April 21, 2008 by Amy
Alex constantly says the cutest stuff. I've always intended to document the funny things he says, but well, I haven't done a great job of that. So, maybe I'll start doing this as a weekly installment on the blog.
While I was dancing/being silly the other day...
Mommy, don't shake your booty...it will make my room stinky.
While Alex was playing basketball...
Mommy, you be the cheerleader.
Why?
Because I like cheerleaders.
Why?
Because I like girls.
After I put together 4 cooties from the Cootie game...Alex was tearing them apart.
I'm a breaker and you're a maker. (this is typically true!)
We are on day 3 of being stuck inside :-( Alex got sick a couple of times late Saturday night, did not throw up Sunday, but had a fever. Woke up seeming better this morning, so we let him have a pop tart, but he threw up after a few bites.
God said, "Always not eat a pop tart."
Why?
Because it will make you sick.
Me--Tonight, I have to cook dinner for my friend, Gretchen, and her family.
Why?
Because they have a new baby and it's hard to cook meals when you have a new, little baby.
Yeah...babies don't like dinners.
This was overheard at the playground a few days ago by a tween-age girl who was swinging (she was talking to a friend of hers). Alex had already been down the slide several times.
Don't go down the slide! "Susie" peed on it yesterday.
Nice!
Update: Okay, he just said something that isn't so funny. I wondered where he was and found him in his room playing with his door closed (which is unusual). He looked sad and said, "I don't want you to die and go to heaven. I want you to stay home with me." I don't know where this came from as we had not recently talked about this...although we talk about Jane (the dog), Lydia, Great Grandpa in heaven sometimes. I think he's starting to think that if someone gets sick they die. Oh, I am no good at explaining the difference...or when it is God's time...to a 3 year old!
Earthquake!
Fri April 18, 2008 by Mike
...Or tremors. Amy and I awoke this morning to something that shook the whole house for a few seconds. It was around 5:30am. Before it happened I was awake in bed. I swear I heard something outside in the distance that just didn't seem right. It was a warm night upstairs so we had some windows open. We don't think it was a close flying plane because there was no loud engine noise. We thought maybe it was wind but it didn't feel windy or sound windy. Nothing in the house fell. It felt like a mild shaking.
Update: There was an earthquake reported in southeastern Illinois about the same time:
http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NEWS09/80418001
http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/cus/
Fri April 18, 2008 by Mike
...Or tremors. Amy and I awoke this morning to something that shook the whole house for a few seconds. It was around 5:30am. Before it happened I was awake in bed. I swear I heard something outside in the distance that just didn't seem right. It was a warm night upstairs so we had some windows open. We don't think it was a close flying plane because there was no loud engine noise. We thought maybe it was wind but it didn't feel windy or sound windy. Nothing in the house fell. It felt like a mild shaking.
Update: There was an earthquake reported in southeastern Illinois about the same time:
http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NEWS09/80418001
JCOnline.com: The U.S. Geologic Survey reports that an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.4 has struck the midwest.
...The earthquake was felt as far away as South Bend and Fort Wayne. It shook tall buildings in downtown Indianapolis.
http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/cus/
Too Much Fiber....
Wed April 16, 2008 by Amy
Oh Lord, is NOT a good thing. Anybody else ever consume an excess of fiber in their diet? And can relate? I've been trying to incorporate more, but did not realize I had gone overboard. Um, yeah...that's all I will say about that.
So, Mike and I started doing Weight Watchers together a little over a week ago. It's been good to have accountability partners in each other (not to mention I am not buying as much junk for him that would typically tempt me). We're not paying any money for meetings, or anything. I have many materials from when I was a member previously and the internet is full of information. Mike was clueless to the "points" aspect in the beginning and (jokingly) would say that he'll score higher than me at the end of the day...will get more points, which is not a good thing, ha! It's been an adjustment for him, but he's not as much of a snacker as I am, anyway. Early on he complained about being able to see his ribs and feeling like he's wasting away...can you say DRAMATIC?!
So, when we weighed in on Monday morning after the 1st week, Mike had lost 7 pounds and I was down 4.5 (Hey, that 1/2 pound counts!!). We're not comparing weight loss...his metabolism is much higher than mine and well, just can't compare men-women in this area. Wish us luck! We need all of the motivation and support we can get. Although doing it together is truly helping me be more successful than when I attempted on my own. I have poor self-control!!
Wed April 16, 2008 by Amy
Oh Lord, is NOT a good thing. Anybody else ever consume an excess of fiber in their diet? And can relate? I've been trying to incorporate more, but did not realize I had gone overboard. Um, yeah...that's all I will say about that.
So, Mike and I started doing Weight Watchers together a little over a week ago. It's been good to have accountability partners in each other (not to mention I am not buying as much junk for him that would typically tempt me). We're not paying any money for meetings, or anything. I have many materials from when I was a member previously and the internet is full of information. Mike was clueless to the "points" aspect in the beginning and (jokingly) would say that he'll score higher than me at the end of the day...will get more points, which is not a good thing, ha! It's been an adjustment for him, but he's not as much of a snacker as I am, anyway. Early on he complained about being able to see his ribs and feeling like he's wasting away...can you say DRAMATIC?!
So, when we weighed in on Monday morning after the 1st week, Mike had lost 7 pounds and I was down 4.5 (Hey, that 1/2 pound counts!!). We're not comparing weight loss...his metabolism is much higher than mine and well, just can't compare men-women in this area. Wish us luck! We need all of the motivation and support we can get. Although doing it together is truly helping me be more successful than when I attempted on my own. I have poor self-control!!
Look at that!
Mon April 14, 2008 by Amy
Do you see my March for Babies progress bar up above? I am up to $2,070 in donations, which is SO amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has donated. I am forever grateful (and so are all of the families you are helping with your donations). Can you believe I started out at a goal of $500 and just kept on raising it as your donations kept coming?! So exciting! The walk is next week and I am really looking forward to it. If you feel led to donate, you still have time!
So, our team has raised over $3,600 so far online, but is really over $4,000 total. I'll let you know the end result after the walk. So, several people on my team are helping me raise money by fundraising, but the majority of my team members are just donating to the cause and walking (which, in the March of Dimes fundraising event world is a little uncouth, but it's how we're doing it this time around!). So, can you guess how many people are on Team Lydia's Grace???? At last count, 65. Oh yeah. It's crazy! And that' s just adults (there will be plenty of the little ones tagging along). It's proven quite challenging to organize and manage (as I was originally anticipating just a small family team of close friends/family), but it gives me goosebumps to think of all of us walking together that day in memory of Lydia, James, Jake and in honor of ALL of our precious babies!!
To Him be the glory!!!
Mon April 14, 2008 by Amy
Do you see my March for Babies progress bar up above? I am up to $2,070 in donations, which is SO amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has donated. I am forever grateful (and so are all of the families you are helping with your donations). Can you believe I started out at a goal of $500 and just kept on raising it as your donations kept coming?! So exciting! The walk is next week and I am really looking forward to it. If you feel led to donate, you still have time!
So, our team has raised over $3,600 so far online, but is really over $4,000 total. I'll let you know the end result after the walk. So, several people on my team are helping me raise money by fundraising, but the majority of my team members are just donating to the cause and walking (which, in the March of Dimes fundraising event world is a little uncouth, but it's how we're doing it this time around!). So, can you guess how many people are on Team Lydia's Grace???? At last count, 65. Oh yeah. It's crazy! And that' s just adults (there will be plenty of the little ones tagging along). It's proven quite challenging to organize and manage (as I was originally anticipating just a small family team of close friends/family), but it gives me goosebumps to think of all of us walking together that day in memory of Lydia, James, Jake and in honor of ALL of our precious babies!!
To Him be the glory!!!
Barack Obama in Lafayette
Thu April 10, 2008 by Mike
Barack Obama was in town today. I stood in line yesterday with my friends, Ed and Ed, to get two tickets for Amy and myself. The event was at Lafayette Jefferson High School. It was a cold and rainy/windy evening.
The event was held in the gym. By the time we made our way through security (metal detectors and you had to leave your umbrellas in a pile outside) most of the seats were taken and the bleachers were full. Our only choice was to stand up on the 2nd level balcony. It was a great view but just a lot of standing for two and a half hours. We felt bad for any late arriving short people that were standing behind us.
Our camera isn't that great so this is the best shot I snapped from that distance:
As everybody says, Obama is indeed a great orator. There wasn't anything new or that I haven't heard him say since I've been following his campaign. He touched on health care, energy, education and the war in Iraq. He spoke for about 30 minutes then took questions from the audience.
Amy and I were glad that we got the chance to see him. It's not that often that you get to see a possible future President of the United States (crosses fingers).
A special thanks to our good friends Lindsay and Mike who graciously offered to watch Alex for us while we attended the event. They even made us dinner that was ready when we got back! They're the best.
Links
Interview with Obama on WLFI.com
Obama Holds Rally at Jefferson High School
Thu April 10, 2008 by Mike
Barack Obama was in town today. I stood in line yesterday with my friends, Ed and Ed, to get two tickets for Amy and myself. The event was at Lafayette Jefferson High School. It was a cold and rainy/windy evening.
The event was held in the gym. By the time we made our way through security (metal detectors and you had to leave your umbrellas in a pile outside) most of the seats were taken and the bleachers were full. Our only choice was to stand up on the 2nd level balcony. It was a great view but just a lot of standing for two and a half hours. We felt bad for any late arriving short people that were standing behind us.
Our camera isn't that great so this is the best shot I snapped from that distance:
As everybody says, Obama is indeed a great orator. There wasn't anything new or that I haven't heard him say since I've been following his campaign. He touched on health care, energy, education and the war in Iraq. He spoke for about 30 minutes then took questions from the audience.
Amy and I were glad that we got the chance to see him. It's not that often that you get to see a possible future President of the United States (crosses fingers).
A special thanks to our good friends Lindsay and Mike who graciously offered to watch Alex for us while we attended the event. They even made us dinner that was ready when we got back! They're the best.
Links
Interview with Obama on WLFI.com
Obama Holds Rally at Jefferson High School
10 Random Facts
Mon March 31, 2008 by Amy
A couple of my friends, Emily and Renay, shared random facts on their blogs recently and I thought I would join in. I know I've shared some on here in the past and don't want to repeat myself, but there are only so many things to know about me :-)
1) My middle name is Nicole. I especially like it because I don't think I've ever met another Amy Nicole although I know they're out there. But also because my mom's maiden name is Nicolini (Italian) and I feel like my middle name may stem from it, but I don't know for sure...probably no correlation. Is there one, mom???
2) I have never had any broken bones and don't have much of a medical history, really. I have had 2 surgeries in my life. One that I mentioned here. And the other was a muscle correction surgery on my left eye when I was in 3rd grade. It didn't do the trick, but I wore a patch for a short period of time, aargh (in pirate voice). Oh wait, I had all of my wisdom teeth out at once, too, so I guess I've had 3 surgeries, oops. Just remembered that one.
3) Speaking of eyes, I've worn glasses since 3rd grade. Early on I wore tinted glasses...normal indoors, tinted in the sunlight, aah, so classy, right? Ha...embarrassing. I do squint terribly in the sunlight to this day. Don't get me started on how big they made those plastic framed glasses back then and in such a plethora of colors. I have some BAD pictures to prove it...they took up my whole face. Mike LOVES to tease me about them. I got hit many times in the face with balls during recess in elementary school...typically I wasn't even playing the game!! One time I was standing around with friends not even paying attention to a game of kickball going on only to get blindsided in the face. The glasses broke and cut my cheek, fun stuff.
4) I used to sing in a small women's choir in junior high and some of high school at our church with my mom. We were the youngest by far...all of the other ladies had white hair :-) The choir robes were (still are?) maroon and mauve, eww.
5) I don't have a good memory when it comes to my childhood, I wish I did. No vivid memories, only vague recollections. It's kinda sad :-(
6) I cannot wink, curl my tongue, or whistle. Other things Mike makes fun of me about...and now Alex does as well. Since Mike has taught him to wink and give a thumbs up when he likes something. It's the cutest thing and he constantly tries to teach me how to wink.
7) I am a very competitive Scrabble player. So is Mike. It's pretty intense when we play together. A lot of strategy involved, blocking each other, etc. We take FOREVER to put a word down. We are not very fun to play with!
8) Speaking of spelling, I was the top speller in my elementary school in 4th, 5th, AND 6th grades, which meant I went to the city-wide spelling bee. I did okay when I was in 4th, but I was a baby compared to those 6th graders. I didn't feel like going in 5th so I let this kid who was the alternate go. And I WON the city-wide bee in 6th grade. Exciting stuff. Picture in the paper with my big glasses and all. Just think, if I would have actually gone to it in 5th I could have been a two-time champion, haha. I bombed at the county spelling bee, oh well. My mom used to practice spelling words with me (we had a HUGE book of words to study) on the other side of the curtain while I took my baths.
9) My parents divorced when I was in kindergarten.
10) Mike and I are celebrating 5 years of marriage in June. Where should we go for a short getaway for a few days? Needs to be within a day's drive.
Sorry I couldn't stick to 10 random statements...I'm too wordy!!!
Mon March 31, 2008 by Amy
A couple of my friends, Emily and Renay, shared random facts on their blogs recently and I thought I would join in. I know I've shared some on here in the past and don't want to repeat myself, but there are only so many things to know about me :-)
1) My middle name is Nicole. I especially like it because I don't think I've ever met another Amy Nicole although I know they're out there. But also because my mom's maiden name is Nicolini (Italian) and I feel like my middle name may stem from it, but I don't know for sure...probably no correlation. Is there one, mom???
2) I have never had any broken bones and don't have much of a medical history, really. I have had 2 surgeries in my life. One that I mentioned here. And the other was a muscle correction surgery on my left eye when I was in 3rd grade. It didn't do the trick, but I wore a patch for a short period of time, aargh (in pirate voice). Oh wait, I had all of my wisdom teeth out at once, too, so I guess I've had 3 surgeries, oops. Just remembered that one.
3) Speaking of eyes, I've worn glasses since 3rd grade. Early on I wore tinted glasses...normal indoors, tinted in the sunlight, aah, so classy, right? Ha...embarrassing. I do squint terribly in the sunlight to this day. Don't get me started on how big they made those plastic framed glasses back then and in such a plethora of colors. I have some BAD pictures to prove it...they took up my whole face. Mike LOVES to tease me about them. I got hit many times in the face with balls during recess in elementary school...typically I wasn't even playing the game!! One time I was standing around with friends not even paying attention to a game of kickball going on only to get blindsided in the face. The glasses broke and cut my cheek, fun stuff.
4) I used to sing in a small women's choir in junior high and some of high school at our church with my mom. We were the youngest by far...all of the other ladies had white hair :-) The choir robes were (still are?) maroon and mauve, eww.
5) I don't have a good memory when it comes to my childhood, I wish I did. No vivid memories, only vague recollections. It's kinda sad :-(
6) I cannot wink, curl my tongue, or whistle. Other things Mike makes fun of me about...and now Alex does as well. Since Mike has taught him to wink and give a thumbs up when he likes something. It's the cutest thing and he constantly tries to teach me how to wink.
7) I am a very competitive Scrabble player. So is Mike. It's pretty intense when we play together. A lot of strategy involved, blocking each other, etc. We take FOREVER to put a word down. We are not very fun to play with!
8) Speaking of spelling, I was the top speller in my elementary school in 4th, 5th, AND 6th grades, which meant I went to the city-wide spelling bee. I did okay when I was in 4th, but I was a baby compared to those 6th graders. I didn't feel like going in 5th so I let this kid who was the alternate go. And I WON the city-wide bee in 6th grade. Exciting stuff. Picture in the paper with my big glasses and all. Just think, if I would have actually gone to it in 5th I could have been a two-time champion, haha. I bombed at the county spelling bee, oh well. My mom used to practice spelling words with me (we had a HUGE book of words to study) on the other side of the curtain while I took my baths.
9) My parents divorced when I was in kindergarten.
10) Mike and I are celebrating 5 years of marriage in June. Where should we go for a short getaway for a few days? Needs to be within a day's drive.
Sorry I couldn't stick to 10 random statements...I'm too wordy!!!
My Grandpa
Mon March 24, 2008 by Amy
My grandpa turned 83 on March 15th. He passed away Sunday night, March 23rd, after a difficult year of being between the hospital, nursing home, and his own home. He was surrounded by my aunt and cousins last night in his bed at home when he passed and for that I am grateful.
I just wanted to publicly let the world know I had an awesome grandpa. He raised my dad, aunt, and uncle in Chesterton, IN. He fought in WWII, started what is now Able Disposal (solid waste hauling company) in NW Indiana, drove a school bus, and had his own lawn care business. My grandparents separated when I was in elementary school. My grandpa then moved to the Muncie area to be closer to his family and take care of his aging/dying parents. During those years, I fondly remember the four grandkids staying with him for weeks in the summer. What I loved most about my grandpa was how present he was in our lives. He always called us and made an effort to see us whenever he could. He was a very thoughtful, kind man who often had a twinkle in his eye and a sly grin. He spent the last 15 years, or so, in Michigan City.
Here are some pictures to share of Wayne Dietz. I realize there's a huge gap...my mom has most of our childhood pictures. I love you, Gramps. You loved the Lord and I know you are with Him and our sweet Lydia in Heaven.
By the way, I have to say that I realize our blog has become like an online obituary the past several months, starting with our dog, Jane, I sure hope our lives are filled with more sunshine and cheer soon because this all has been a lot for our little family to handle!!
Mon March 24, 2008 by Amy
My grandpa turned 83 on March 15th. He passed away Sunday night, March 23rd, after a difficult year of being between the hospital, nursing home, and his own home. He was surrounded by my aunt and cousins last night in his bed at home when he passed and for that I am grateful.
I just wanted to publicly let the world know I had an awesome grandpa. He raised my dad, aunt, and uncle in Chesterton, IN. He fought in WWII, started what is now Able Disposal (solid waste hauling company) in NW Indiana, drove a school bus, and had his own lawn care business. My grandparents separated when I was in elementary school. My grandpa then moved to the Muncie area to be closer to his family and take care of his aging/dying parents. During those years, I fondly remember the four grandkids staying with him for weeks in the summer. What I loved most about my grandpa was how present he was in our lives. He always called us and made an effort to see us whenever he could. He was a very thoughtful, kind man who often had a twinkle in his eye and a sly grin. He spent the last 15 years, or so, in Michigan City.
Here are some pictures to share of Wayne Dietz. I realize there's a huge gap...my mom has most of our childhood pictures. I love you, Gramps. You loved the Lord and I know you are with Him and our sweet Lydia in Heaven.
By the way, I have to say that I realize our blog has become like an online obituary the past several months, starting with our dog, Jane, I sure hope our lives are filled with more sunshine and cheer soon because this all has been a lot for our little family to handle!!
Alex says the darndest things!
Thu March 20, 2008 by Amy
I need to start carrying around a notebook with me and write things down immediately because I forget easily! Today, out of nowhere, we heard him say, "Duh!," a couple of times, somewhat appropriately in response to something, but not a desirable response. This is not something we say. I asked him where he heard that. The culprit, of course, Scooby Doo!! This is probably only the beginning.
A few minutes ago I said, "Alex, do you know how funny you are?" He said, "No, I'm not funny, I'm DIFFICULT!" Ha! Mike's response, "You got that right." I thought that was pretty cute, and very true.
Thu March 20, 2008 by Amy
I need to start carrying around a notebook with me and write things down immediately because I forget easily! Today, out of nowhere, we heard him say, "Duh!," a couple of times, somewhat appropriately in response to something, but not a desirable response. This is not something we say. I asked him where he heard that. The culprit, of course, Scooby Doo!! This is probably only the beginning.
A few minutes ago I said, "Alex, do you know how funny you are?" He said, "No, I'm not funny, I'm DIFFICULT!" Ha! Mike's response, "You got that right." I thought that was pretty cute, and very true.
Stanky Hearts
Tue March 18, 2008 by Amy
I smelled Mike tonight....and felt the need to blog. Okay, that sounds bad. He got a new deodorant a while back and I noticed the scent (all around him) immediately and I let him know that I really did not like the smell of that particular deodorant. It bothered me and made me want to steer clear of him...which is not good for the relationship, haha. So, he quit wearing it. Well, I smelled it on him today (a couple of months later). Just so you know, he has always used Old Spice deodorant, which I have never minded, but this particular kind is called Red Zone Pure Sport. I have been trying to place the smell...why I don't like it, and I have finally figured it out. The deodorant on his skin reminds me of TOBACCO, blah.
When talking to Mike about posting this, he stated "You don't like the smell of a REAL man." Ha :-) More like an old man....he'll be 33 on Monday :-)
On a totally unrelated note, last Friday I went with a group of 10 women, mostly from Elston Family Church, to the national Hearts at Home conference in Bloomington, IL. It was a Christ-centered event for moms (of kids of ALL ages) with many workshops offered related to parenting, marriage, and personal/spiritual growth. We worshiped a lot, especially with Cheri Keaggy. I had never heard her music before Friday, but she was amazing. I think the highlight of the full day was having the pleasure of seeing Ken Davis for the first time (don't judge him by his website, which is nothing special). He's a Christian comedian and he is HILARIOUS! A lot of his humor has to do with marriage and being a grandparent. If you ever have a chance to see him, you won't regret it! For my northern Indiana friends, I noticed he is coming to Syracuse, IN on April 19th...get tickets!!
I highly recommend attending a Hearts at Home conference. It's a great thing to do with girlfriends and I came back feeling rejuvenated and ready to implement some things in our home/family. The next conference is in Grand Rapids, MI on October 3rd and 4th.
Here is the ONLY photo that was taken with my camera. Sadly, we can't see Lisa (on the far right). We joked that we were a younger version of the Red Hats Society with our pink boas :-) This picture was taken after 2 nights of very little sleep for all of us!
Tue March 18, 2008 by Amy
I smelled Mike tonight....and felt the need to blog. Okay, that sounds bad. He got a new deodorant a while back and I noticed the scent (all around him) immediately and I let him know that I really did not like the smell of that particular deodorant. It bothered me and made me want to steer clear of him...which is not good for the relationship, haha. So, he quit wearing it. Well, I smelled it on him today (a couple of months later). Just so you know, he has always used Old Spice deodorant, which I have never minded, but this particular kind is called Red Zone Pure Sport. I have been trying to place the smell...why I don't like it, and I have finally figured it out. The deodorant on his skin reminds me of TOBACCO, blah.
When talking to Mike about posting this, he stated "You don't like the smell of a REAL man." Ha :-) More like an old man....he'll be 33 on Monday :-)
On a totally unrelated note, last Friday I went with a group of 10 women, mostly from Elston Family Church, to the national Hearts at Home conference in Bloomington, IL. It was a Christ-centered event for moms (of kids of ALL ages) with many workshops offered related to parenting, marriage, and personal/spiritual growth. We worshiped a lot, especially with Cheri Keaggy. I had never heard her music before Friday, but she was amazing. I think the highlight of the full day was having the pleasure of seeing Ken Davis for the first time (don't judge him by his website, which is nothing special). He's a Christian comedian and he is HILARIOUS! A lot of his humor has to do with marriage and being a grandparent. If you ever have a chance to see him, you won't regret it! For my northern Indiana friends, I noticed he is coming to Syracuse, IN on April 19th...get tickets!!
I highly recommend attending a Hearts at Home conference. It's a great thing to do with girlfriends and I came back feeling rejuvenated and ready to implement some things in our home/family. The next conference is in Grand Rapids, MI on October 3rd and 4th.
Here is the ONLY photo that was taken with my camera. Sadly, we can't see Lisa (on the far right). We joked that we were a younger version of the Red Hats Society with our pink boas :-) This picture was taken after 2 nights of very little sleep for all of us!
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