I just spent the last hour lying in bed looking around the dark bedroom. I decided to stop wasting time and get up and do something.
So here I am!
Tonight I finished Life, the Universe, and Everything in The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I can't remember how many I've read now. That might be book #16. I have to look at my list.
Next, I think I'll try to finish Shepherding a Child's Heart and then send Keith to China with it. He says he can't read books on family and childrearing like I can, but I'd really like for him to read this one. He'll have plenty of time on the plane. When it comes to my kids, I just want to get it right. You know how two people can read the exact same thing and come away with two totally different interpretations? I'd like for him to read this one with me.
Tomorrow Josiah is 15 months old!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Where We've Been
Well, we've basically just spent the entire month of August being sick. That's all. One thing I guess I wasn't prepared for when having children is that when someone gets sick in the household, by the time in circulates through every member living in the household and re-infects the person it started with, initiating the cycle all over again, it's been about a full month.
Keith started it. He suffered with a bronchitis-like cough for three weeks. He refused to go to the doctor, which is just as well. Weeks after Keith got all better, I got it. Bad. After a week I decided to go to the doctor because I wasn't sure about doing Albuterol breathing treatments and taking Robitussin every four hours around the clock while pregnant. Doctor said the breathing treatments were ok, and he gave me zithromax. While the Albuterol always helped, the antibiotics did nothing. I suffered with it for a full two more weeks. In the meantime, the boys both got it. Isaac had these symptoms last year, and his pediatrician mentioned asthma, so I didn't waste any time giving him Albuterol and getting him to the doctor. Turns out, she didn't prescribe anything for him except more Albuterol, which is fine. Josiah got it too, and is still recovering two weeks later. However, at the same time, the boys both got colds, fevers, and diarrhea. The fevers and diarrhea lasted one solid week in the midst of all the runny noses and coughs. The colds they were kind enough to pass on to me and Keith, so all four of us had that to deal with on top of everything.
Finally, though, three full weeks after getting sick, I'm beginning to feel better! So is Isaac. Keith seems to be fine. Josiah is the only one still dealing with a really productive cough and a very runny nose.
Being sick has put my reading on hold. I'm still working on Life, the Universe, and Everything. I also bought Shepherding a Child's Heart and Bringing up Boys. I think I read the first two chapters of Shepherding a Child's Heart, but that's it.
Keith leaves for China soon. I'm already having bad dreams about it and wondering what in the world I'm going to do without him for two weeks.
Isaac and Josiah are as sweet, and as bad, as ever! They love doing puzzles. Josiah is learning new words all the time. I think his latest is "all done." Isaac "reads" certain books to himself, which is adorable. He is such a helper too. He loves to help me with everything. Both of the boys have been given the chore of putting their own dirty clothes in the hamper, which they both love. Josiah has also gotten the knack of throwing things in the garbage, whether they belong there or not. It's such a tremendous blessing and privilege to raise these kids.
I am 33 weeks along in my pregnancy. I am big and uncomfortable, but doing well. It feels like the baby is running out of room in there for sure. I can't wait to have it so I know if it's a boy or a girl. I think Keith and I finally settled on our name choices, but we aren't telling anyone. Also, last time I blogged I think we were working on Josiah's new room. Everything is all done and looks great. I wish we had hardwood floors everywhere. I think that's one of those things I'd have to go back to work to save up for. Not going to happen anytime soon. Now I think I'm going to wait and see if I have a boy or girl to do anything with the nursery because if it's a boy, I don't need to do anything. If it's a girl, I will have to do some painting, but only beneath the chairrail.
Keith started it. He suffered with a bronchitis-like cough for three weeks. He refused to go to the doctor, which is just as well. Weeks after Keith got all better, I got it. Bad. After a week I decided to go to the doctor because I wasn't sure about doing Albuterol breathing treatments and taking Robitussin every four hours around the clock while pregnant. Doctor said the breathing treatments were ok, and he gave me zithromax. While the Albuterol always helped, the antibiotics did nothing. I suffered with it for a full two more weeks. In the meantime, the boys both got it. Isaac had these symptoms last year, and his pediatrician mentioned asthma, so I didn't waste any time giving him Albuterol and getting him to the doctor. Turns out, she didn't prescribe anything for him except more Albuterol, which is fine. Josiah got it too, and is still recovering two weeks later. However, at the same time, the boys both got colds, fevers, and diarrhea. The fevers and diarrhea lasted one solid week in the midst of all the runny noses and coughs. The colds they were kind enough to pass on to me and Keith, so all four of us had that to deal with on top of everything.
Finally, though, three full weeks after getting sick, I'm beginning to feel better! So is Isaac. Keith seems to be fine. Josiah is the only one still dealing with a really productive cough and a very runny nose.
Being sick has put my reading on hold. I'm still working on Life, the Universe, and Everything. I also bought Shepherding a Child's Heart and Bringing up Boys. I think I read the first two chapters of Shepherding a Child's Heart, but that's it.
Keith leaves for China soon. I'm already having bad dreams about it and wondering what in the world I'm going to do without him for two weeks.
Isaac and Josiah are as sweet, and as bad, as ever! They love doing puzzles. Josiah is learning new words all the time. I think his latest is "all done." Isaac "reads" certain books to himself, which is adorable. He is such a helper too. He loves to help me with everything. Both of the boys have been given the chore of putting their own dirty clothes in the hamper, which they both love. Josiah has also gotten the knack of throwing things in the garbage, whether they belong there or not. It's such a tremendous blessing and privilege to raise these kids.
I am 33 weeks along in my pregnancy. I am big and uncomfortable, but doing well. It feels like the baby is running out of room in there for sure. I can't wait to have it so I know if it's a boy or a girl. I think Keith and I finally settled on our name choices, but we aren't telling anyone. Also, last time I blogged I think we were working on Josiah's new room. Everything is all done and looks great. I wish we had hardwood floors everywhere. I think that's one of those things I'd have to go back to work to save up for. Not going to happen anytime soon. Now I think I'm going to wait and see if I have a boy or girl to do anything with the nursery because if it's a boy, I don't need to do anything. If it's a girl, I will have to do some painting, but only beneath the chairrail.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The Week So Far
Home improvements are moving right along! The spare bedroom (Josiah's new room) was painted Sunday, as I think I mentioned before. On Monday, I was pretty sore and tired in the morning. We stayed home all day and played outside a lot in the morning and afternoon. That evening I began painting the upstairs hallway and stairway as soon as Keith was done with his workout. I needed Keith's help cutting in the ceiling in the stairway as there's absolutely no way I could reach it, nor could I see how I could use a chair or ladder on the steps even if I weren't pregnant. He also helped me with the second coat just to make things go faster. I absolutely love the color I picked!
On Tuesday we had some trouble with our electricity going out during the day. Normally this wouldn't be that big of a deal, but I was making a roast in the crockpot. I had the roast all seared and the pan deglazed (sp?), etc., and then the power went out so I couldn't turn the crockpot on! It came back after about 45 min., but went back out again twice that day. I was able to cook the roast, and it turned out delicious. My laundry was held up a bit, had to restart the dishwasher, and since I'm great with child I don't do that well without air conditioning. But I made it! Tuesday evening we went to Lowe's right after dinner to buy all of the trim, baseboard, and hardwood flooring for the upstairs. We chose and engineered, lock & fold hardwood flooring over solid hardwood. I greatly preferred the solid hardwood, but Keith was unwilling to do the extra work of having to nail it down, nor was he willing to pay the extra fifty cents per sq ft. It is the upstairs we're talking about, so it's part of the house that really he and I only see. When we do hardwood floors on the first floor, I will insist on solid hardwood, 'cause that's just the way I am.
On Wednesday I had my 30-week prenatal appointment with my midwife. My good friend Sarah so graciously watched Isaac and Josiah for me, as my parents were not home. All went well. When she checked the baby's heartbeat it had hiccups! I never heard that before! It was kind of cute. After picking up the boys, we stopped at Wendy's drive-thru for lunch (something I NEVER do, but it was tasty), ate lunch at home, and then it was naptime. When Keith came home he immediately began installing the hardwood flooring upstairs, and I was on my own with the boys all night. We had dinner, cleaned up, took a very long walk, and then I put both of them to bed. I was very exhausted by then, so even though I told Keith I would start painting the trim last night, I didn't. He did finish installing the floors though, and it looks great!
This morning we dropped Maggie off at the groomer's for a bath and a manicure. The farm is right next door to the groomer, so we stopped for some peaches, zucchini, and onions. From there we went to the post-office, and then to my parents' to pick tomatoes out of her garden. There weren't as many tomatoes as I thought there would be though. I got a few. I did get about 5 good-looking green peppers, so I may make quinoa-stuffed green peppers soon. I've never had much luck with regular ground beef stuffed green peppers. The quinoa stuffed ones I made a while ago turned out great so I think I'll try those again. We do have an excellent hot sausage stuffed banana pepper recipe. Hmmm...maybe I'll do a stuffed pepper blog soon.
The boys are napping now. I did begin painting the trim as soon as I laid them down. I only got 5 pieces done because that's all I can reasonably fit on the saw horses. I'm going to go check if they need a second coat, or if I can take them off and paint 5 more before Keith gets home.
Gotta love home improvements!
I haven't started any new books yet. I haven't made it to the bookstore or the library, so I'm likely going to just start the next book in the Hitchhiker's Guide.
On Tuesday we had some trouble with our electricity going out during the day. Normally this wouldn't be that big of a deal, but I was making a roast in the crockpot. I had the roast all seared and the pan deglazed (sp?), etc., and then the power went out so I couldn't turn the crockpot on! It came back after about 45 min., but went back out again twice that day. I was able to cook the roast, and it turned out delicious. My laundry was held up a bit, had to restart the dishwasher, and since I'm great with child I don't do that well without air conditioning. But I made it! Tuesday evening we went to Lowe's right after dinner to buy all of the trim, baseboard, and hardwood flooring for the upstairs. We chose and engineered, lock & fold hardwood flooring over solid hardwood. I greatly preferred the solid hardwood, but Keith was unwilling to do the extra work of having to nail it down, nor was he willing to pay the extra fifty cents per sq ft. It is the upstairs we're talking about, so it's part of the house that really he and I only see. When we do hardwood floors on the first floor, I will insist on solid hardwood, 'cause that's just the way I am.
On Wednesday I had my 30-week prenatal appointment with my midwife. My good friend Sarah so graciously watched Isaac and Josiah for me, as my parents were not home. All went well. When she checked the baby's heartbeat it had hiccups! I never heard that before! It was kind of cute. After picking up the boys, we stopped at Wendy's drive-thru for lunch (something I NEVER do, but it was tasty), ate lunch at home, and then it was naptime. When Keith came home he immediately began installing the hardwood flooring upstairs, and I was on my own with the boys all night. We had dinner, cleaned up, took a very long walk, and then I put both of them to bed. I was very exhausted by then, so even though I told Keith I would start painting the trim last night, I didn't. He did finish installing the floors though, and it looks great!
This morning we dropped Maggie off at the groomer's for a bath and a manicure. The farm is right next door to the groomer, so we stopped for some peaches, zucchini, and onions. From there we went to the post-office, and then to my parents' to pick tomatoes out of her garden. There weren't as many tomatoes as I thought there would be though. I got a few. I did get about 5 good-looking green peppers, so I may make quinoa-stuffed green peppers soon. I've never had much luck with regular ground beef stuffed green peppers. The quinoa stuffed ones I made a while ago turned out great so I think I'll try those again. We do have an excellent hot sausage stuffed banana pepper recipe. Hmmm...maybe I'll do a stuffed pepper blog soon.
The boys are napping now. I did begin painting the trim as soon as I laid them down. I only got 5 pieces done because that's all I can reasonably fit on the saw horses. I'm going to go check if they need a second coat, or if I can take them off and paint 5 more before Keith gets home.
Gotta love home improvements!
I haven't started any new books yet. I haven't made it to the bookstore or the library, so I'm likely going to just start the next book in the Hitchhiker's Guide.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Book #15 and The Baking Day
Just finished book no. 2 in The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, entitled The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. There were a few parts in this book that had me almost rolling on the floor in laughter. I'm looking forward to finishing the remaining books in the Guide, but I'm going to put a non-fiction in between each of them. The problem is, I have to go buy one! Or get one from the library. I'm interested in reading either Shepharding a Child's Heart or Bringing Up Boys next. I did go to Borders over the weekend, but I bought The Reader, which I'd planned on reading at a later time. Shouldn't be too much trouble to go to the library tomorrow.
Last Thursday, the day we had our friends over for dinner for Omaha steaks, I had a baking day. After my zucchini blog, I was inspired to try that chocolate chip orange zucchini bread recipe again. I have to say, after baking it this time, that I think the chocolate chips are totally out of place in this recipe. I also made an orange glaze to drizzle over top of the loaves, but I made too much of it and it made the loaves way too sweet. I was not impressed. I also made chocolate chip banana bread (always a crowd-pleaser), and homemade brownies, not from a boxed mix. They were great! By the way...Omaha steaks...totally overrated!
Remodeling has begun on the spare bedroom, which will be Josiah's new room. Keith also decided to do the hallway upstairs as well. Keith ripped out all of the baseboard and trim, closet doors, etc. He puttied (sp?) all of the holes, built bulkheads to install new, shorter closet doors in both the spareroom and the closet, and tore up all of the carpeting and padding in the hallway right down to the plywood. I have to say, I already think the plywood is an improvement over the carpeting that was there.
Yesterday I spent the majority of the day after church painting the spare bedroom. I chose a light tan/beige color called Lynhurst Gallery Beige. I admit, it's a bit darker than I would have liked for a toddler's room, but once it all dried it really looked great. For the hallway, which I am painting this evening, I chose Lynhurst Timber, which is darker than the color in Josiah's new room.
Tomorrow we will head on out to Home Depot for hardwood flooring, trim, and closet doors. The trim and closet doors will be painted an ultra-white semi-gloss. I'm excited to pick out the hardwood flooring, but discouraged at how expensive it is! We're also toying around with the idea of installing hardwood on the steps, with a carpet runner down the middle. I hesitate only because we have such small children who are or will be just learning to go down steps. Isaac has already taken one spill down the steps, top to bottom, and while he didn't get hurt, it was still upsetting. I can't imagine how bad it would be falling down hardwood steps. But can we install a carpet runner ourselves? Or do we have to pay a professional? Bottom line is, in the end, it will look ridiculous to have a nice, freshly painted hallway and stairwell, nice new hardwood floors in the hallway, and the old crappy carpet running down the steps. We shall see. We shall see.
Last Thursday, the day we had our friends over for dinner for Omaha steaks, I had a baking day. After my zucchini blog, I was inspired to try that chocolate chip orange zucchini bread recipe again. I have to say, after baking it this time, that I think the chocolate chips are totally out of place in this recipe. I also made an orange glaze to drizzle over top of the loaves, but I made too much of it and it made the loaves way too sweet. I was not impressed. I also made chocolate chip banana bread (always a crowd-pleaser), and homemade brownies, not from a boxed mix. They were great! By the way...Omaha steaks...totally overrated!
Remodeling has begun on the spare bedroom, which will be Josiah's new room. Keith also decided to do the hallway upstairs as well. Keith ripped out all of the baseboard and trim, closet doors, etc. He puttied (sp?) all of the holes, built bulkheads to install new, shorter closet doors in both the spareroom and the closet, and tore up all of the carpeting and padding in the hallway right down to the plywood. I have to say, I already think the plywood is an improvement over the carpeting that was there.
Yesterday I spent the majority of the day after church painting the spare bedroom. I chose a light tan/beige color called Lynhurst Gallery Beige. I admit, it's a bit darker than I would have liked for a toddler's room, but once it all dried it really looked great. For the hallway, which I am painting this evening, I chose Lynhurst Timber, which is darker than the color in Josiah's new room.
Tomorrow we will head on out to Home Depot for hardwood flooring, trim, and closet doors. The trim and closet doors will be painted an ultra-white semi-gloss. I'm excited to pick out the hardwood flooring, but discouraged at how expensive it is! We're also toying around with the idea of installing hardwood on the steps, with a carpet runner down the middle. I hesitate only because we have such small children who are or will be just learning to go down steps. Isaac has already taken one spill down the steps, top to bottom, and while he didn't get hurt, it was still upsetting. I can't imagine how bad it would be falling down hardwood steps. But can we install a carpet runner ourselves? Or do we have to pay a professional? Bottom line is, in the end, it will look ridiculous to have a nice, freshly painted hallway and stairwell, nice new hardwood floors in the hallway, and the old crappy carpet running down the steps. We shall see. We shall see.
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