Friday, November 28, 2008

The Lucky 7 Post....Thanks Terri!!

7 things I can do...

1. I can ride horses
2. I can read....pretty fast too
3. I can eat massive amount of junk in one sitting
4. I can scratch any place on my back with one arm or the other
5. I can sing all the words to Vanilla Ice (ya know, "ice, ice baby")
6. I can tie a bow
7. I can sleep virtually anywhere and under most any condition so long as it is after 10pm


7 things I can't do...

1. I can't walk without tripping
2. I can't eat without spilling food on myself
3. I can't do a cart wheel
4. I can't speak French
5. I can't stand the smell of seafood
6. I can't touch my nose with my tongue
7. I can't look at blood

7 things that attract me to Mike...

1. His hotness
2. His hotness....okay, sorry, i get distracted....his kindness
3. His love for the gospel
4. His love for me and the kids
5. His generosity
6. His work ethic and willingness to sacrifice for his family
7. His....oh dang, HE IS HOT!!!!!

7 things I say most often...

1. What do you want sweetie??
2. Boys, that's enough!
3. 1...2...3... (so there with you Terri)
4. Holy Smokes, Holy Crow, Holy Moly, Gee Willikers....other such things
5. I love you ____.
6. Are you serious??
7. Are you okay???


7 Celebrity Admiration's...

1. Reese Witherspoon
2. Entire cast of Twilight
3. Martina McBride
4. Morgan Freeman
5. Stephenie Meyer (I think she has handled fame so well)
6. Andrew Lloyd Weber
7. The late Heath Ledger


7 favorite foods...

1. Chocolate
2. Cookies
3. Ice Cream
4. Broccoli (i know, seems so out of place doesn't it?)
5. Mini corn dogs (i love em)
6. most anything italian
7. vinegar

7 people I tag...

No one reads my blog anymore so whoever reads this...I tag you!!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thankful

I wanted to take a minute to express my gratitude for my many blessings. I am so thankful for my family. I have been so blessed to be married to the only man who was designed to tolerate me and my overwhelmingly long list of flaws. While I don't necessarily believe in soul mates for everyone, I certainly believe that Mike is mine.
My kids!!! Oh how I love them. They bring such....color? Flare? Pizazz?? They keep things interesting and they keep me on my knees...........scrubbing things out of carpets, picking up toys, playing games and praying constantly for guidance and patience and forgiveness for my imperfections in the realm of motherhood.
I am thankful for extended family and loved ones who teach us so much, give us advice and support us in all times. I truly feel that we are placed into our families for a reason and I know that I have learned so much through my life thanks, in overwhelmingly large part, to my family. I am thankful for Mike's family for being there for me and , of course, for raising the most awesome man alive!
I love, love, love my friends. What would I do without them? There is not enough to say. My friends are angels on Earth, answering my prayers daily with their love, support and sometimes their sarcasm and irreverence. :)
Home, warmth, clothes, food, car, pink pajamas, my sheets, "Twilight", chocolate, movies, dishwashers, flowers, animals, paint, music...I said "Twilight" didn't I? I did? Are you sure?? Better be safe..."TWILIGHT"!!!!!
Most importantly, I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful to know that I am a daughter of God. I am thankful to know that He lives and He knows my name and He hears my prayers and knows my needs. I am thankful for a gospel that teaches love, tolerance and salvation for ALL people, everywhere regardless of beliefs, color, gender, age, etc. A gospel that understands that we are ALL children of a loving and compassionate and merciful Father in Heaven.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope we can all feel the warmth of gratitude in our hearts for the blessings we share.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Prayer Request

Well, the news in the Ramsey family this week is probably not the news I would be most anxious to share.
Many of you know that my Grandmother, Grandma McKenna (my mother's mother) is battling cancer and has recently had surgery. She is doing very well but still has much to overcome and I have so much confidence in her. I know of no stronger person.
We also just learned last night that Mike's Grandmother, Grandma Rich (his mother's mother) has suffered a heart attack and in still undergoing evaluation.
It is very hard for us to be so far away and not to be able to help our families in this time.
I would just love it if my friends could please keep these two amazing women, and their families in your prayers.
Mike and I truly feel blessed to come from two very great heritages. We know that these two women are so remarkable and so loved by our Father in Heaven.
Thanks everyone!!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Happy Birthday Caeden!!




Happy 4th Birthday to our sweet and wonderful little boy! We love you so much Caeden!

Monday, November 17, 2008

My Kids

A little something about my kids.

G- Going to be an awesome missionary!
A- Amazingly clever and sweet!
V- Voices his opiniong....readily!
I- Invents new ways to get into mischief on a regular basis :)
N- Never a dull moment with this boy. He is such a wonderful child!

C- Cute as can be!
A- Affectionate and loving!
E- Emotional! He is my sweet, sensitive soul!
D- Deeply attached to any animal related objects (especially plastic snakes, dinosaurs, crocodiles or really any other animal)
E- Entertaining! He always has something funny to say or do!
N- Next to perfection! He is a blessing beyond measure!

S- Sweet as a pit viper...ooops, I mean, sweet as sugar!!!
U- Unconditional love! Suzy is such a love bug and she gives it freely.
Z- Zesty! My girl has more pep than a Mexican hot wing!
Y- Yes, she IS a challenge but my daughter is such a joy in my life!

I love my children so much. Every day I am amazed at how much they change and develop in their personalities. There is no woman in life more blessed. :)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I Do Wish I Didn't Cry So Much

Just like Alice floating in a sea of her own tears...."I do wish I hadn't cried so much!" You know, people say a lot of positive things about "criers"...those prone to emotional response, like myself.

Myth #1- They are more sensitive.
While this may be true to some extent, it isn't really the sensitivity that is measured...it's the control. It's not that I am more compassionate, loving, etc. than anyone else...it's that I totally lack any control over my emotions. I feel it coming and am simply powerless to stop it in its tracks....this is why I wasn't made a bug. The first time someone cut their lawn I'd be a goner...I'd sit there and stare at it and then just cry as it chopped me into bits.

Myth #2- Crying removes impurities from your body.
If this were REALLY true.....I would never have to go to the bathroom.....EVER.

Myth #3- It's cute when you cry.
There really is no getting around this one...it's just a lie! At the very least, it is a lie when it comes to yours truly. I shrivel up, turn beat red and splotchy and my eyes puff up like mangos.

Myth #4- You can cry yourself out.
I never run out of tears. I never dry up. I will eventually cut myself off or I will force myself to sleep to end the onslaught of flooding but I can quickly resume upon waking. If you don't believe me...ask Mike. I cry when I'm happy, sad, mad, frustrated, worried, PMS, DMS, AMS....I never stop.

So all that can be deducted from this is that crying serves no good purpose to those who cannot contain themselves. I am so out of luck.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Five Favorites

So this is a tag. I will tag 5 people and then you should tag 5...or 3 or 17, whatever makes you happy.
The theme is music.

5 groups you listened to in High School:
1. Collective Soul
2. Letters to Cleo
3. Weezer
4. Vertical Horizon
5. Radiohead

5 songs that ALWAYS make you cry:
1. "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" - Collin Raye
2. "My Daughters Eyes"- Martina McBride
3. "The Eleventh Commandment"- Collin Raye (darn him)
4. "How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye"- Patty Loveless
5. Pretty much ANY Church music....at all...oh yeah and that "Christmas Shoes" song...ugh, open the flood gates!

5 groups/albums you listen to now:
1. Muse
2. Coldplay
3. Carrie Underwood
4. Death Cab for Cutie
5. Collective Soul

5 FAVORITE songs:
1. "The World I Know"- Collective Soul
2. "Music of the Night"- Phantom of the Opera
3. "A Long December"- Counting Crows
4. "Your Guardian Angel"- Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
5. "She's Got a Way"- Billy Joel

and I tag: Kelli, Katie, Tenille, Terri and Jen C. oh, and everyone really...I love music and would be so interested to see what everyone says!! :)

Halloween Photos Part 2



King Koopa and Toad in their blogging debut!!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Our Family Vacation!!!!


Boy oh boy do we need it! Even the kids are feeling the pressure these days. Who can blame them? These are troubling times! Nothing solves the burdens of life like a little R&R!
Since it was a gorgeous day yesterday the kids and I were out playing in the yard until dark. Just before the sun went down my boys came running up to ask me and Mike if we could go on a trip.
Oh here we go.....how do you explain being broke to a 5 and 3 (almost 4...sniffle, sniffle) year old?
"Yes, we can go on a trip someday." There we go, that should appease them for now. Will they allow me to escape with that oh-so-vague answer?
To my utter astonishment, the grins emerge and the giggles and squeals of delight erupt. My jaw drops, eyes bulge from my head and these two little blondies have my full and undivided attention. What exactly is going on in those little heads?
"Can we go up to the clouds?!?!?" Smiling as if they are tree sloths at Mattress King they repeat themselves....."Can we go? Can we go to the clouds?"
My first thoughts turn to an airplane. They want to go on an airplane? Oh great, more to explain!!!
But they look so excited so we just have to ask, "What are you talking about boys??"
They turn and grab something off the railing on our deck and come running back to us.
"Daddy, Mommy, if this grows into a giant beanstalk can we pleeeeeeeeeeeeease go up to the clouds? Will you please, please, please go with us?!?"
"Oh believe me boys.....as soon as that grows into a giant beanstalk we will most definitely go with you to the clouds!!"

Happy Halloween!!






I know I've been awful about getting these up but here they are! PICTURES!! Some of the kids picking out pumpkins, some from the house and some from Halloween. I haven't managed to get pictures of me or Mike from Halloween but I promise to work on that.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

This is Why Flamingos Don't Hunt

For those of you who are fans of "Twilight" this will be easy. I want you to visualize Bella in gym class.
For those of you who are not fans....what is wrong with you?
Only joking...there is room for everyone in this world. :) But let me try to paint this picture for you....a girl who can't hit the broad side of a barn, who trips over everything including her own feet, who runs into walls and who, when armed with any type of athletic equipment is considered a hazard.
Have you go the picture going???? If not let me unveil the face of this girl.....it's ME!
I am quite possibly the most clumsy and athletically disinclined person you have ever met....really. Once in high school gym class I tried to play volley ball...I ended up getting my lip busted by the ball. As soon as I tasted the blood I hit the floor.
On Halloween my husband had some rare time off and he decided he wanted to do something together for fun....
Okay, I'm game, what are we doing?
Why don't we go play racket ball?
Say what now?
Racket ball!
............ummmm............
Come on, it will be so fun!
........k...........
Off we go. We arrive at the gym...drop off the kids to play in the kid zone and head over to the racket ball court, which is synonymous, by the way, with chamber of despair.
But really, how bad could it be? I drag my feet along, dread building inside of me. The racket might as well have been a deadly serpent or an oozy nine millimeter. I feel dizzy and a little nauseated. There is just no possible scenario that involves me and Mike and racket ball that ends well.
I turn the corner and see it for the first time and the dread dissolves into pure terror. The front wall is glass....completely clear. You might as well have dragged me into the OBGYN to do a documentary for TLC...this would be every bit as humiliating.
I could feel every set of eyes in the entire gym (also the entire state of Virginia) boring into me and my face was every shade of red known.
And it began. If you can picture a flamingo trying to hunt on the African plains, you might have a good idea of what it was like watching me play racket ball. I spent most of my time plastered against the wall and the rest trying to avoid being hit. The few times I did swing for the ball, I missed, blushed and returned to the wall. If the ball did come towards me I would tuck my neck down, turn pink and lift one leg...classic flamingo position....as the ball/lion comes straight for me.
Then it happened....the perfect time for me to make a change...to no longer be that girl who had once been the joke of her gym class...the ball was in perfect motion, at just the right speed and headed right for my racket. I looked at Mike who smiled at me and I swung with all my might, feeling the racket connect with the ball and watching...as it went entirely the wrong way and hit my husband right in the face. I gave him a fat lip....and a bloody nose.
I guess next time we'll go out for ice cream?

Tulips


Allow me to preface this with an apology to all the ladies out there reading this blog. I am sincerely and whole heartedly sorry.....I stole the very best man out there for myself.
In general Tuesdays are my hard days. It's pretty much a guarantee that I will cry at some point and there are usually at least three times in the twenty-four-hour span where I utter the words, "I hate Tuesdays". This last Tuesday was particularly challenging. I had been battling a little head cold, not feeling my finest. The stresses of finishing up Halloween costumes, in combination with the stresses of pulling together "Night of Excellence" for our Young Women's program, were heavy on my mind. Mike works until 10pm on Tuesdays. It is also the day when Gavin has gymnastics so it means I am taking all three children to the gym and then coming home to do dinner, baths, bedtime, etc. alone. On this particular Tuesday I was scheduled to have a friend over to help with the YW project (she is a leader also).
All seemed to go okay until about 7:15 when my power went out. Mmmhmmmm.
Three children, bedtime, no power, no husband, five candles, one flashlight....and a partridge in a pear tree.
Initially I did not panic. After all, power goes out all the time...usually for a minute or two. An hour later, I was getting a little disgruntled.
I finally got Suzy in bed and the boys fell asleep on the couch next to me. I had to call off the project for YW's and miss a much anticipated episode of "House". Instead I curled up with the cat and finished off the book I was reading.
Around 9:15 or so the power is back on. YAY!!
While the return of our heat and lighting had me in a substantially better mood, I was still a little sullen. It had been a long day and I was tired and a little sad. It just seemed like one more thing that had not worked out the way I thought that I needed it to. I was feeling a little discouraged....which led to feeling very discouraged. By the time Mike called to say he was on his way home from work I was in tears. According to my stressed out and sleep deprived self I would never get my YW's things finished, I would never catch up on the house work, we'd never be out of debt and I would never be able to have another baby......anxiety does not do pretty with Jen.
Here comes the happy part of the story....you're so ready for it to aren't you? Me too! So here it is: Mike walks in the door with a small bouquet of yellow (my favorite) tulips. As he gives them to me he pulls me into a hug and tells me that even though it's raining, cold, dark and windy outside something beautiful can still exist here in our home, where it is warm and bright and full of love. Even when things seem impossible, miracles happen every day.
He is so right. Even when life seems impossible....miracles happen every day!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

My quotes of the day from my fabulous children:

Gavin (upon seeing his pancake that I made for dinner): "Wow, look at this baby!"

Caeden (while attempting to sneak his torn up pancake to the counter to exchange it for another one): "Mommy, don't look at me."

As Mike walks in the door Suzy rushes into his arms, their conversation was as follows:
Mike- "Oh, have you been abused today Suzy?"
Suzy- "Sniffle, sniffle, yes Daddy."

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Fall is Here!!!

Thank goodness!! I have no more use for summer and it's cheery, sunshiney attitude. Bring on the cold and the rain and the gloom....BAH HUMBUG!!!!! What? Not convinced? Me neither but it was worth the shot!
I am truly a warm weather person, however, I feel a little betrayed by Summer 08. I had high hopes and let's face it, this wasn't my greatest summer...in fact, this has not been the greatest year. So here we go....while I am not usually a fan of cold or dark or wet...at all....let's give fall and winter the old college try huh? After all, I have absolutely no control in the matter...or any matter...as I am starting to find.
I thought I would give a few little updates on our family this fall. I'll start with the most important..and what everyone wants to hear about...the kids!!
Gavin is loving Kindergarten! He has really done so well and we are so proud of him. It's hard to believe how grown up he is! He is getting so excited for Halloween and for all the festivities of fall...this is one thing that has helped make the end of summer a bit more bearable.
Caeden is looking forward to his 4th birthday coming up in a few weeks! He is getting to be such a big boy and I really enjoy the time we have together every day. With Gavin in school and Suzy's blessed nap time, Caeden and I have had a little more time. It is very rewarding to sit down in the quiet and eat a pb&j with my adorable little boy. He too is looking forward to Halloween. It's going to be so fun!
Suzy is doing great. She is growing up so fast! Some of her latest and greatest things would have to be her new found LOVE...the Care Bears!! Remember them? Yeah, they are still mesmerizing children after all these years! I love it and she is just so cute singing along to the songs...."I wanna be a Care Bear! Oh I can't wait to be a Care Bear!" and so forth. My mother used to sing that song to me when I was little and loved Care Bears. She even made me a pink Care Bear costume to wear and we'd sit and sing the song. She even did the fun voices....I am sure she would have loved to make Suzy a costume and sing that song with her but I hope that my efforts to indulge Suzy's obsession are noted! :)
Along with Care Bears her favorite new phrase (well my favorite that she uses anyway) is "Can I hold you?" She says this when she wants to be carried somewhere (usually up or down stairs). Smart cookie! She realizes that "I'm lazy and want you to lug my beastly body around" is not a good seller. Her little plea to be loved is nothing if not endearing and convincing!
Mike is doing fine, working hard. He is looking forward to taking me to Disney World this year....no really, he is.....well, he definitely WILL be when he finds out that's what he is doing! :)
And last, least and certainly less interesting is ME!! Me, me, me!!! I guess my news is that we got all our lab work back and apparently there is nothing wrong with me?? :) So while we are thrilled that there are no health concerns, it is also difficult to know what to do next. I was definitely happy not to have anything like Lupus, but I did somewhat hope for a nice blood clotting disorder; sweet, simple, easy to fix. We have been given the clear to start trying whenever we are ready but how do you do that? Do you just go for it and play the Russian Baby Roulette? I have a 50% success rate now. Three healthy babies, three losses. So what do we do now? Time will tell I suppose.
For now I am enjoying preparing for Halloween and oh...how could I forget?? We added a new member to the family!!! Yep, I am filling the baby void and have added a cat! She is the perfect cat for our family. She was two years old, litter trained, vaccinated, spayed, de-clawed and super friendly (oh and free to boot). I have named her Alice...well, more fully, Alice Cullen Ramsey, The Twilight Cat. Hey, my void, my cat, my name okay?
Well I better run. Apparently the fact that my kids had dinner last night does not mean they don't want to have breakfast this morning??? Okay, this morning is a little general....NOW would be a more appropriate time frame. There you have it, that's what we are up to. I'll try and get pictures up sometime soon.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness


Hello Everyone! I wanted to take a minute to send out this message. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. October 15th is a special day of remembrance to those who have lost a baby either through miscarriage, still birth or loss after birth. There are an astounding number of losses every year, MANY of those could have been prevented.

As most of you know Mike and I have miscarried three times now. According to standard procedure, testing to locate a cause of repeated miscarriages is not conducted until you have had three or more consecutive losses. Bear in mind that not all practitioners follow this but it is widely accepted as "routine". Many times a woman is diagnosed with a problem such as a progesterone deficiency, like my friend who lost two pregnancies before being diagnosed. Once diagnosed she was treated with progesterone and is now enjoying her last trimester. Likewise many women are suffering from something like an infection or a blood clotting disorder. These are treated with antibiotics and blood thinners. Yes you heard me correctly. An astonishing number of recurring miscarriages were due to things that could have easily been fixed with a pill or an injection. Because of the common acceptance that miscarriages are standard and the bodies way of correcting a problem, many women suffer repeated heart ache when the solution is simple.

In my mind, another form of loss is infertility. Infertility is an increasing problem that faces thousands of couples every day. The frustration and pain caused by infertility are enormous. Again, standard practices that are currently in place have couples "trying" for 12 months before any testing will be done. For most of us, 12 months seems a small window. For a couple who is desperately wanting a baby, 12 months can feel like eternity. One dear friend of mine struggled to get pregnant for 18 months when she was finally seen and prescribed clomid to help her ovulate. She conceived the first month and delivered three (yes, three) healthy babies. She spent 18 long months trying to overcome a problem over which she had no control but which was easily corrected with a simple supply of pills. While the solution is not always so easy, any trying to conceive couple will tell you that each day is a month and the more proactive our doctors are, the better chances of conceiving and having children quickly!

I feel strongly that raising awareness of this issue could help to encourage doctors to take a new look at their course of action. If a woman suffers a miscarriage a simple run of tests can determine the cause in almost 70% of cases. Another widely accepted theory is that a majority of first trimester miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities, some doctors claim up to 85%. While there is absolutely merit in that, one thing that is not noted is that this is largely due to the number of miscarriages taking place after the mother is 35 years old. Miscarriages in women under 35 are LARGELY due to immune and hormonal issues.

I would ask each of you to look at the website link below about pregnancy and infant loss awareness. Raising awareness does not require money it only requires TALKING! Talk to your friends, neighbors, parents, siblings, DOCTORS! Many doctors will test you after a first miscarriage but only at your request/demand. :) We need to be encouraging the practice of testing immediately at a couple's request. Testing is always optional but this would give those couples wanting to conceive the benefit of knowing what caused their loss and possibly preventing future ones.

Thank you all for your support and your prayers, as well as for indulging me on my little tirade. We appreciate it so much!
Love,
The Ramsey's
Mike, Jenny, Gavin, Caeden and Suzy


http://www.rememberingourbabies.net/store/Default.asp

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Top Five Tuesday---well, sort of

I am actually posting this on Wednesday because Tuesday turned out to be a bit more than I could chew. I loved this idea that I saw on my friend's blog....if you want to see a master blogger at work check out her site at www.writingthewavesmama.blogspot.com . She is amazing times five!

I am amending it to my top 7...hey I'm already going to heck in a hand basket (I know but I just can't bring myself to actually type it..laugh if you will, I'm sensitive to it)for this blog since it's on Wednesday instead of Tuesday so here we go....Top 7 Wednesday!! :)

This week the theme was Top 5 (top 7 Jen Ramsey style) most influential people in your life.

1. My Grandmother. This woman is the most amazing person you will ever meet. She is so full of life and experiences, which she can recall at the drop of a hat even in her 90th year! :) She has lived such a wonderful life and traveled all over the world. She was married for 72 years and raised 5 children including one set of twins. Of those five, two have passed away. She is a pillar of strength and the ultimate example of commitment and positivity. She refuses to let life or the trials therein bring her down. I have so many wonderful memories of spending time with her and my Grandpa throughout my life. There aren't enough words to encompass the fantastic qualities that she posses and the effect she has had on my life.

2. My Mother. I miss her every single day. She was intelligent, strong, creative and various other attributes besides. She was so incredibly strong, enduring an 11 year battle with cancer without ever complaining to her only child. She reserved her fears and sadness to give me a better and less worrisome existence. I would have gladly been her shoulder to cry on but she knew that the mother is the backbone of the entire family and so she remained that backbone no matter what she was going through. She was always there for me, no matter what or when or where. I hope to be that for my children. I hope I will demonstrate just the smallest pinch of her amazing strength at some point in my life.

3. My Husband. Duh. I could fill a book with all of the marvelous ways that he has influenced my life. I think one of the greatest things he has done for me is that he has helped me to be a better person. He helps me to feel more confident about myself. He keeps me honest and helps me to overcome all the fears and worries that come at me. He's my rock AND my hard place...no matter what decisions I make and which way I lean, he is there to support and sustain me. He is also really good at handling my OCD, which is a blessing. He is so patient with me and allows me my hysterical moments...however plentiful they may be!

4. Suzy Wassum. She is pretty much what I want to be when I grow up. Suzy is always cute, her home is adorable and it smells divine...no really, it does. Also, her laundry smells soooo good. I have tried to duplicate the scents by using laundry detergents, fabric softeners and many combinations of the two. The efforts have been futile...you can't re-create the Wassum smell. Seriously, her sheets are softer than anyone else's and she is one of the best cooks I know. She has six kids (and one due any day). She home schools all of them, has an amazing singing voice and she is super creative. All these things make her someone to admire but what makes her an influential person in my life is her commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She has such a strong testimony and the Spirit in her home is so AMAZINGLY strong. Being with her and her family brings such a great peace into my life.

5. The Prophet. Obviously in matters of influence I have to list the President of our Church. I feel so blessed to live in a time where we have a living prophet to guide and direct us so that we can live better lives. I am always thankful for the counsel given because I know that it comes from our Heavenly Father. While sometimes the things asked of us are hard to do, I have found peace and happiness in my life when I have followed the admonitions of our Prophet and other leaders.

6. My Friends. I couldn't possibly name you all but you know who you are!! My friends are the ones who are there to support and love me. I have been so blessed to have great friends. This year has been an especially difficult one for me and my family. I have felt many arms around me, received many a head scratch (thanks daynie), gotten phone calls, messages, cards, trips to brusters, flowers and prayers. I could not possibly list all the wonderful things that my sweet friends have done for me. I would be lost without each and every one of you. I am truly a blessed woman.

7. While the previous 6 are in no particular order I DID save the best for last. My number 7, and the very top of my list, are my children. I could fill a book...possibly several with the things that my children have taught me. I have learned that apple juice can travel to fill any space available...and it sticks there too. I have learned that you cannot get tree sap out of clothes save for cutting the infected area off completely. I have learned that you can laugh, cry and yell all at the same time. I have learned that pregnancy, in spite of its challenges, is a beautiful and miraculous thing that I have taken for granted for far too long. I have learned that your greatest sense of accomplishment can come from the achievements of your children. Their success becomes yours, their tears, their smiles, their fears...those are all yours too! My children have taught me responsibility, patience, creativity, fear, worry, anxiety, strength, balance, happiness, the power of prayer, the importance of the gospel, the beauty of life around me and a greater love than I ever thought possible.

Monday, September 29, 2008

I'm Afraid I'll Forget

Alright everyone, hang in there with me....crisis blogging is not in anyone's best interest...of that I am completely convinced. That having been said, I'm blogging in a crisis....at least I warned you first!

So, my current conundrum is dealing with the CONSTANT and un-yielding emotions of having three miscarriages in a row. This has become what feels like a never ending ordeal. Sometimes it truly feels like my heart will not ever mend. I am not sure that I will ever feel like me again...perhaps it is unreasonable to expect that I would. No matter what the outcome I suppose I will never be the same person. This exeperience has changed me.

One of my greatest fears is forgettnig. I know it sounds a bit absurd but I am afraid to forget them. Likewise I want to forget them. I want to think about something, ANYTHIGN else. I wish I could wake up and realize that none of it really happened. True as that is it does not diminish my NEED to hang on to what little I have of these little tummy tots who I never got to hold.

So this is my little memorial of sorts. I appologize for being so horridly depressing. I just want it out there. I want my little ones to be a part of this family somehow other than in my head. We loved them, wanted them, STILL want them! I just want to remember. I want to remember. I want to remember.

I want to remember "Tummy Buff"- conceived in July 2007- due April 18th, delivered a little boy at 20 weeks on December 10th 2007

I want to remember "Cakester"- conceived in May 2008- due February 28th, d&c at 7 weeks on July 9th 2008

I want to remember "3PO"- conceived in August 2008- due May 26th, miscarried at 4 weeks and 2 days on September 18th

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Information

I wanted to post a few links to some good articles about Chemical Pregnancy. I did not explain it very well and thought some might be curious.

http://miscarriage.about.com/od/onetimemiscarriages/p/chemicalpreg.htm

http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/chemical-pregnancy.html

Friday, September 19, 2008

Third Time Not the Charm

Some of you knew, some did not but we found out last weekend that we were pregnant again. Yesterday I started bleeding. My beta test was neg. Talked a good deal with my dr today, this was actually a "chemical pregnancy", which is a term used for a miscarriage before the 5th week of pregnancy. Basically the fertilized egg never progresses and ends up not implanting correctly into the uterine lining. It's terribly common and most women never even know they are pregnant, as it really feels like a period that was a few days late. While she AGAIN does not think this is necessarily related to the other two miscarriages, she will be running tests in a few weeks to determine if there are any immunological, hormonal or chromosomal problems. She will also be checking me for a luteal phase defect as she believes that it is possible that I am not producing the right amount of progesterone. She said that if and when we decide to get pregnant again, she will be putting me on progesterone from the start as a precaution.
We so appreciate all the love and support we have received during what has been a very difficult year for our little family. We will keep everyone updated on the goings on. For now we are just taking one day at a time. I will be sure to update when the results come back from the tests, which will be probably 6-8 weeks from now.
Again, we appreciate the many prayers and politely and very respectably BEG for you to keep them coming our way. :)
Love,
The Ramsey Clan

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Need Some Good Tips Part 2




So, aside from needing help with relaxing....I also need some help from you creative geniuses out there!! My kids informed me that they want to be the Mario Brothers for Halloween. After gently pleading with them to wear last years costumes (my kids don't grow)they presented me with the following compromise......they will be going as the Mario Brothers.
Here is their list:
Gavin- Luigi
Caeden- Mario
Suzy- Princess Peach
Mike- King Koopa (Bowser)
Jen- Mushroom....yes, I get to be a fungus

So, the Mario and Luigi are not too hard, I think I have that pretty under control as well as the princess. I am totally at a loss with Koopa and Mushroom. I would LOVE some help from you wonderful creative ones out there. Impart to me your wisdom!! I beg of you!!!!!!

Need Some Good Tips

Anyone have any good suggestions for relaxing? I can be as high strung as a chihuahua and I really want to start living a life with less anxiety and fear. I worry too much. Any of you have some tips for how to CHILL OUT?!?!

Monday, September 15, 2008

My Handbag...Thank You Kelli!!




What Your Handbag Says About You



You tend to be relaxed throughout the day. You are naturally at peace.



You are a high maintenance person. You feel lost outside of your normal environment.



You are open and comfortable with who you are. You don't hide anything.



You are practical and down to earth. You tend to be a rather reserved and quiet person.

Friday, September 5, 2008

"There Goes My Life"


Kenny....you've said it all. Most of you are probably familiar with this song...it's one of my favorites. I took the liberty of changing up a few of the lyrics...Kelli Perkin's "Shoe Shopping Blues" style. Obviously, I made a plan to have children young, with the exception of 1, all of our pregnancies have been planned. Still, things had to be sacrificed in order to that. There have been times when it's been challenging to be a 25 year old living a 40 year old life. But still, I never could have anticipated how quickly this would all go by and how much I would miss every second of the last 5 years. Need less to say, the start of Kindergarten has been a HUGE adjustment for me. Gavin loves it and I'm happy for that but seriously, this growing up thing has GOT to stop. Kenny says it better...so I'll let him do the talking (with a little help from me of course..to keep the story real).


All she could think about was I'm too young for this.
Got my whole life ahead.
Wow I'm just a kid myself.
How'm I gonna raise one.

All she could see were her dreams goin' up in smoke.
So much for graduating and showing horses on the coast.
Oh well, those plans are long gone.

[Chorus:]
And she said,
There goes my life.
There goes my future, my everything.
Might as well kiss it all good-bye.
There goes my life.......

A couple years of up all night and a few thousand diapers later.
That sacrifice she thought she made covers up the refrigerator.
Oh yeah..........she loves that little boy.

Daddy's waiting to tuck him in,
As he fumbles up those stairs.
He smiles back at her dragging that "Boog" bear.
Sleep tight, blue eyes and dimples too.

[Chorus:]
She smiles.....
There goes my life.
There goes my future, my everything.
I love you, mommy good-night.
There goes my life.

He had that backpack loaded down.
With folder, snack and 15 pencils and his lunch box too.
She tied his shoes and kissed his cheek, said you're good to go.
He hugged them both and headed off to the School Bus.

[Chorus:]
And she cried,
There goes my life.
There goes my future, my everything.
I love you.
Baby good-bye.

There goes my life.
There goes my life.
Baby good-bye.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Mike the Magnificant

I just had to brag on him....just a little. I relish in every opportunity to do such, though I rarely take advantage. How could I possibly find time in the days to blog about everything wonderful that he does?

Today was very special though. I was a chaperone on our youth float trip on the James river. I was up bright and early and on my way to a day full of fun with the teenagers, floating down the river. A few more rocks than I would prefer and the seaweed was in plentiful splendor, but all in all it was a really fun trip. The sun and I didn't get into too much trouble so that was nice too.
The real excitement came when I got home! I walked in the door expecting to feel wonderful seeing my sweet husband and my happy kids but I got even more! There was my cute family waiting to hug and kiss me but all around was the evidence of their love. My house was spotless! The dishes were done, counters wiped down. The toys were picked up and the floor was vaccumed. Everything was neat and tidy. I almost couldn't hold back the tears.
After getting a nice hot shower and rinsing the remnants of river goopey off of me, Mike kissed me goodbye and rushed out to pick up dinner so I wouldn't have to cook. Truly a day off!!!
I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband. What I ever did to deserve him, I will never know!! My version is that Heavenly Father was afraid to send me knowing I wouldn't be able to find a husband so Mike accepted the job as a service.
He is truly the most wonderful man. He is so selfless and kind, the perfect father and husband. He's hot too...which helps. :) I am such a lucky woman!! Everyone always says that I will outgrow that newlywed phase. Newsflash...they've been saying that for about 7 years now....and I still get all weak in the knees when I see him. You can tell me it will wear off but you will be wrong. He is my true love....die-hard, hopeless romantic that I am, I have no problem admitting that he is my whole heart.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Yay Me

http://www.richmondparents.com/RPM_featurefocus1_04_08.htm

I actually got interviewed and quoted in an article. Check it out...my name in print. I was so pumped.

The Husband Post

Here you go Kelli....furnished upon request.


What is his name? Mike

Who said, “I love you” first? He did

Who is taller? He is, but not by much :)

Who drives most when you are together? me actually....i have control issues and his driving scares me

Who’s more sensitive? hahahahaha.....that would be me

Who does the laundry? me also

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? well, that depends on the perspective i suppose....if we are lying in bed, i am on the right, if you are standing facing the bed, i am on the left

Who pays the bills? usually auto-pay....other than that it's just usually whoever gets to it first

Who cooks more? we both really enjoy cooking and mike is actually an excellent cook so i'd say it's a darn near close to even split, with maybe a small tilt in my direction

Who is more stubborn? oh please, all he has to do is flash his smile and i am a useless pile of goo so he ALWAYS gets his way

Who is the first to admit they are wrong? me....mike would say that's because he is always right

Who has more siblings? he does, not hard to beat an only child though :)

Who wears the pants? suzy

What do you like to do together? um, this is a family blog ;)

Who eats more sweets? me for sure!

How did you meet? at college, i was watching a movie in the common room with some friends when he came in from soccer practice and we were together pretty much every spare second after that

Who asked whom out first? well, i guess he did. we just would hang out in a group but the day after we met we were holding hands so it was not a long process..hahaha, Little eager beavers!! :)

Who kissed who? funny story.....we had been dating a lot and i was actually starting to think he didn't want to kiss me because he just would never make a move! i finally kissed him on the cheek as a hint...he got it. later he told me that he didn't want to kiss me right away because he always wanted me to know that i was special to him and that he respected me.

Who proposed? he did, another funny story. i actually thought he was going to dump me. he asked if we could go on a walk because "we needed to talk". gulp. he was saying all the things that made me think he was going to end it and then, when i was totally crying thinking we were breaking up, he got down on his knee and asked me to marry him.

His best features & qualities? he's hot
okay, okay...aside from his overwhelming good looks he is also the most wonderful person i've ever known. he is so devoted to his family and to our heavenly father. he loves the gospel and he is the best husband and father ever! also, he's very hot!

*alright Kelli, you promised me a comment...get to it, it had better be a good one. :)

Monday, August 11, 2008

My Daughter


I am so behind on my blogging...so here goes blog number two of the day. I had such a great experience this weekend.
Mike took the boys to see the Richmond Kickers (semi-pro soccer team) and so Suzy and I got to have a girls night.
We decided to dress up and have a night on the town....well, a walk around the block at least. :) After getting cleaned up Suzy dressed in her cute ballerina jammies, a pink tutu skirt and her necklace, oh and her butterfly sandals...of course.
It was so adorable watching her strut her stuff around the neighborhood. She is in the awesome, "whas dis mommy?" stage. Everything we would walk by...."yes Suzy, that is another tree, mailbox, house, grass, fill in the blank....." She loved the moon and of was so excited when she got to show her care bear to the moon. "Hi moon...dis a my bear!"
After our walk we propped ourselves on the couch and watched sing a long songs and had a snack. I am truly amazed at how smart and vibrant she is. While her temper leaves something to be desired, she is so full of herself...it's so adorable!! She loves to dance and sing and you just can't help but want to do it along with her.
I am so thankful for my kids and the great experience I had with my sweet little girl.

Twilight ParTay






In celebration of the long awaited fourth book in the Twilight saga, I, devoted die-hard fanpire that I am....threw a party.

After an evening of feasting, listening to Muse and gathering with other expectant twilighters....it was finally here!!!! BREAKING DAWN!!!!

After about 15 hours of intense reading, the journey was over. 754 pages of vampire greatness....oooooooooooh thank you Stephenie Meyer!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Lessons from Lambs Ears




Several weeks ago I had the unpleasant task of having to cut back my lamb's ears. They had pretty much taken over my garden, were as tall as my azaleas and they were actually so large that they were starting to die. After consulting with a master gardener, I was told that they were probably too big for the root system to support them, I would have to cut them back, removing all those tall and glorious flowers and any part of the plant that was dead.


As I got going into this project I was horrified to discover just how much of the plant needed to go. There was an entire section in the middle that was decaying...."the heart" of my lamb's ear was dead and had to go.


It seriously broke my heart to have to cut and up-root my poor lamb's ear. I have watched these plants grow from small little potted plants to a muscle man of a plant, covering over half my garden floor now.


It was so difficult to go and essentially UNDO everything that had been worked for, all that time and effort growing, only for me to come along and chop it. As hard as it would have been for that plant, it was EXCRUCIATING for me, who loved and cared for this plant.


It got me thinking and wondering, is this how our Heavenly Father feels when He gives us trials? Does he sometimes have to "cut back" a little of us so that we can thrive and grow? How it must hurt Him to see us work so hard and then have to take away what we have worked for, knowing all along that we need that in order to be healthy and become the best we can be, but also knowing that we don't understand that.


What I really have learned though, comes from the results. My lamb's ears, who looked pretty pitiful for a while after their pruning, didn't just give up and decide it wasn't worth it anymore. They didn't just lay there and wither. They have started over. Where they were cut, new buds are forming. They are having to start over from the beginning but that's just what they do. They somehow, someway, just keep going. Not only that, but they have spread, planting new seeds in other places, I have little tiny lamb's ears EVERYWHERE! The plants are healthy again, now that they don't have those beautiful things weighing them down.


I guess, sometimes it has to hurt a little, we have to lose something in order to be the best we can be. I guess we just pick up where we left off and keep trying, even though we have to start over again....we just keep growing.


Sunday, July 13, 2008

"Not Goodbye, See You Later"

I wanted to give a little update on things in the Ramsey Family.

It has been 4 days since our miscarriage. Hearts still mending, tears still flowing, moments of calm and moments of complete hysteria. :)
More than anything else that I have felt, much more than grief, sorrow and pain, is the love of my Heavenly Father and His hand in my life. I love the scripture from the Book of Mormon in 1Nephi 11:16-17 : "And he said unto me, Knowest thou the condescension of God? And I said unto him, I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."
I likewise do not know all the answers. I don't know why sometimes God delivers us and sometimes allows us to suffer. I don't know what purpose is served through the trials that our little family is going through. But I do know that God loves me. Because I know this, I know that His plan for me is real and that it is just.

On the medical side, our doctor believes that the two miscarriages are not related. She thinks that our chances of conceiving again quickly and carrying to term are excellent. In her words, she is "supremely confident that we will be able to have more children and soon. " While this might not always be the case, Mike and I have both felt strongly that this spirit is still coming to our family. I love the movie John Q with the little boy who will never say goodbye because he "hates goodbyes" so he always says, "see you later." For me, this miscarriage was not a goodbye but a "see you later" (and might I add soon...HOPEFULLY).

The d&c went well. I am thankful for modern medicine. I don't remember anything and have felt very little pain, physically.

We have also been so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family members. We have felt the love and prayers of many fall upon our shoulders, bringing relief to the burdens and renewing our strength. We love you all and are thankful for all you do for our family.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

A Sad Day

We found out today that our little "cakester" is not quite ready to come to our family.

I will be going in either tomorrow or Thursday to have a D&C done.

We are all so heartbroken and sad. There are no words. It is so hard to understand these things. We love our children, we wanted this baby for so long. It had been such a struggle to bring our fourth child and now to face and second loss is so devastating.

We are all doing our best to press on, trying to have faith in the Lord and His plan. Thank you all for your prayers. We will all be okay sometime, just not right now. :*(

Monday, July 7, 2008

Prayer Request

I wanted to ask you all if you would please keep our little family in your prayers.
This morning I started spotting, it has been increasing throughout the day. I also heard from the dr's office reguarding my recent lab work and my beta levels were lower than they should be at this point.
It seems we may be headed for another heartbreak.
This has been such a challenge for our little family, especially for me. The thought of facing another devestating miscarriage is so frightening and my heart truly breaks. We are trying very hard to hope for the best but unfortunately, it's just so hard to not fear, and even expect, the worst.
We would appreciate your prayers. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me, for my family, for our baby. Somehow, I know we will make it.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Mother's Words

I was riding down the road with Mike and the kids and he mentioned to me that he had seen the culprit behind my damaged flower beds....a chipmunk who has been living in one of my azaleas. He was caught red handed.
As soon as Mike told me this I turned to him and said, "did you scold him thoroughly and tell him to stay out of my flowers?!"
He laughed but I was immediately struck at what I had said. It's almost like it came out of my mother's mouth. That is something she would have said and she would have said it just that way too.
I try very hard not to think about what things would be like if she were here right now but I couldn't help but feel a little sad (and maybe just a tiny bit sorry for myself as well) that I couldn't call her up and tell her my chipmunk story. I'll bet she would have said exactly what I did. I am glad that I have some of her in me. I wish I had more.
I think the hardest thing about losing my mom is all the things I never asked her, all the things I didn't take the chance to learn! My mother could do it all. She was so talented in so many areas. There are so, so, SO many things she could have taught me: how to sew, read music, crochet, garden...just to name a few, make Christmas ornaments and peanut brittle.
The main things I didn't learn were how to be a strong, self-less woman and mother. Eleven years battling cancer and I really don't think I ever heard her complain about it.....ever! She got up every day, washed dishes, fed animals, got me off to school, got to work late so that she could drop me off instead of me having to ride the bus, worked all day, waited in the parking lot for me to finish cross country, cheer leading, theatre and then took me home, took care of the house, attended all my games and performances. I'll never forget in my senior year, it was my final performance for a play I was soloing in. She had been in the hospital with a failing liver, knowing, I'm sure, that her time was coming close. She forced them to release her from the hospital so that she could come to see my play. Immediately after the play she had to return to the hospital, hardly able to walk.
I wish I had have absorbed more of that strength. I don't think I'll ever be half the woman she was.
In my weakness, I start to think about the things I hate about her being gone. Mostly, I hate that my children and my husband won't know her in this life. I hate that I can't just have lunch with my mother, go visit for the weekend, call her up when I'm having a bad day, all the things that I miss so, so much!
I am so thankful that I had her as a mother. She was the greatest woman I've ever known. I would like to hope that I've inherited more from her than just silly things to say about chipmunks (or any garden pests). If I could have just one of her many positive traits, I would consider that to be an accomplishment.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

My Almost 5 Year Old

So, I'm having Gavin's 5th birthday party today. Technically he won't be five until Monday but still, I am hit with the fact that my BABY is turning 5. It's such a milestone.

I went out to dinner and Kohl's last night with Kelli and we were talking about how hard it is to let our babies go and grow up. We also talked about how quickly time goes by. On our way home we listened to one of my favorite songs called "I Wish I Could" by Collin Raye. We were both a bit on the emotional side and both agreed that this song was definitely blog worthy!

When I woke up this morning I couldn't help but feel just a little heavy hearted. I know you can't keep your kids little forever, and I really shouldn't want to. I want them to grow up and have families so they can experience the same happiness that I feel. Still, I wish I could have just one more do-over sometimes. Like I could start over with Gavin and have him as a newborn baby and a one year old, watch his first steps, re-live the excitement of his first words....just one more time.

"I know I can't.....but I wish I could."


Thought I would share the lyrics to the song, for any of you parents, it's well worth the download. :)

"I Wish I could"- Collin Raye


Looking out my window See you playing in the leaves
It's amazing how a little girl Means all the world to me
When I tell you that I love you I love you more than words can say
Smile, say cheese pretty-please I wanna take your picture
How'd you ever get so big I gotta take your picture
Hold on to the memory before the whole thing slips away

I wish I could save these moments And put 'em in a jar
I wish I could stop the world from turning Keep things just the way they are
I wish I could shelter you from everything Not pure and sweet and good
I know I can't, I know I can't But I wish I could

When you kiss me for no reason It goes straight to my heart
When I feel your arms around me I almost fall apart
It's time for bed you whisper Daddy, we forgot to pray

I wish I could save these moments And put 'em in a jar
I wish I could stop the world from turning Keep things just the way they are
I wish I could shelter you from everything Not pure and sweet and good
I know I can't, I know I can't But I wish I could

And when I watch you sleeping All my worries fade away
A little bit of heaven glows on your angelic face

I wish I could save these moments And put 'em in a jar
I wish I could stop the world from turning Keep things just the way they are
I wish I could shelter you from everything Not pure and sweet and good
I know I can't, I know I can't I know I can't But I wish I could

Thursday, June 19, 2008

I was Tagged

Darn you Kelli, I had to figure out cutting and pasting...you are determined to make me a good blogger aren't you.
ABC TAG
A- Attached or single: Attached - are you kidding? have you seen my husband? yummmm!!
B- Best Friend: i have so many friends who i love to pieces. mike is my very best though.
C-Cake or Pie: i am no respecter of desserts, however, given a choice...i would say cake
D-Day: well, i looooove holidays and my kid's birthdays i am reeeeeally looking forward to Aug. 2nd and the release of "breaking dawn"
E- Essential Item: clorox
F-Favorite Color: pink and pink with sparkles
G-Gummi Bears or Worms: nada, they hurt my teeth but once upon a time before children i would have said bears, hands down
H-Home town: callaway, va
Indulgences: all things pertaining to "twilight"
J- January or July?: July! although my anniversary is in january so that's good too but i don't like cold
K-Kids: gavin- crazy monkey head who is almost 5! caeden- sweet handsome nut brain who is 3, suzy-adorable beyond imagination but absolutely impossible who will be 2 at the end of the month.......aaaaaaaaaaand....little ramsey bean due in feb.
L-Life is incomplete without: twilight.....just kidding kelli....my family, the gospel, my friends- one a more superficial level- chocolate, suzy's pink sparkly shoes, books, ice cream, music
M- Marriage Date: january 31st- 2002- don't worry kelli, mike robbed it too
N-Number of Siblings: nada but i have three sister in laws and three brother in laws
O- Oranges or Apples: yummy....both but i guess apples!
P- Phobias or Fears: hahahaha..okay, you asked, um, germs, plagues, vomit, blood, needles, elevators, escalators, stairs, heights in general, quick sand, jelly fish, spiders, snakes and insects, the dark.....i'll stop now
Q-Quote: it's long...."On a very superficial level, let us assume that man lives in two worlds: one of God and nature, and the other of his own making. To live entirely in the first and to be satisfied therein is perfectly adequate. Indeed, it is a kind of paradise and without resort to it in some fashion man is nothing more than a machine of his own design. But whereas to live entirely in the world of man is intolerable, to live entirely without it is in some senses equally so. The world of man may be imperfection built upon imperfection, but that is what makes it so beguiling- all the accidents and missteps."-Swan Lake
R-Reason To Smile: my kids
S- Season: Summer
T- Tag Four: ummm, Katie, Kim, Dollie, Rebecca
U- Unknown fact about me: everyone pretty much knows everything about me because i never stop talking but ummmmm, i actually used to be one rocking horse back rider
V- Very Favorite Store: target
W- Worst Habit: talking too much
X-Rays or Ultrasounds: ultrasounds....well, GOOD ultrasounds i should say
Y-Your favorite food: Chocolate...does that count? yes kelli, i think it does!! :) also currently lime tortilla chips and salsa
Z: Zodiac Sign: gemini
TAG! You're it!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Every once in a while, I think it's vital to a mother's mental health to vent a bit....or a lot, as the case may be.
I am sitting here, it's 7pm. I've been on the go since 6am. I am doing bedtime alone for the third night in a row.
I have a sink full of spontaneously appearing dishes that poofed themselves into existence while my dishwasher, filled to the brim, is purring happily in the background.
I am drying a load of laundry containing the sheets that must go onto Suzy's crib because she soaked them through when her diaper leaked during nap time.
I have filled the sippy cups, brushed the teeth, read scriptures, said prayers, picked up the toys, distributed kisses and hugs and threatened capital punishment if anyone so much as sets one toe out of bed.
I have Lysol wiped counters and toilets and emptied trash cans.
I am alone, which I hate. Mike won't be home until tomorrow. I am exhausted beyond belief and all I want is to crawl into bed while my husband stands guard to keep me safe all night.
Instead I will probably be up waging the battle of the bedtime until at least 9:30 at which point I will claim a half-hearted victory over my opponents who will have finally pooped themselves out enough to sleep. After this point I'll have some alone time to work on the birthday favors for Gavin's party on Saturday and then enjoy a fretful night where I wake up to every small sound in fear that it is actually a burglar, the boogey man, etc.
I am tired and I am lonely and just plain needing some rest.
Venting completed. I feel better.

Monday, May 12, 2008

AEBLESKIVERS!!!!

For those of you who are saying...."what?" Allow me to introduce you to the most fantastic breakfast food ever.....the aebleskiver (Able-Skee-ver).....it's a Danish pancake that is made in a special pan and filled with jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. They are divine and my most favorite thing growing up. My mother used to make them in this fabulous pan that had been handed down. It was so great.
For Mother's Day my wonderful husband bought for me, a "pancake puff" maker. This title, though absolutely inaccurate, lays claim to none other than a real aebleskiver pan! As I have, up to this point, not been able to get my mother's...long story....I now have my very own. I was so excited and can't wait to try it out for my family.
Aebleskivers for everyone!!!!

Monday, May 5, 2008

New Spring Pictures











There are some from the garden, some from Gavin's soccer game and some from Abby's pirate and princess birthday party. Hope ya'll enjoy em!!!

The Magnet of Race Tracks

Let me preface this by saying that few people on this Earth hate car racing more than I do. For the following reasons I believe it quite possibly one of the worst examples of money and time wasted...completely wasted:
1. The nature of the activity. We pay money to sit and watch cars go around in a circle......for HOURS!!! The only time we get a break from the sheer monotony is when there is a crash...oh good, we get excited to see someone get into a CAR ACCIDENT! What in the heck is wrong with this picture?? On any other occasion a car wreck would be a disaster, a tragedy but at the races it's entertainment....why? Because even the dumbest people I know would get bored watching these cars go in a circle and nothing else.
2. The alcohol. If you are going to spend all that money and effort getting drunk why not just do it at home? Seriously, people spend money renting RV's and camping gear so that they can drive up and "camp" out in their motor homes....and drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Why not rent the RV and drive to Food Lion and then sit in the parking lot...you will accomplish the same thing and in half the time, not to mention the fact that you will be one less drunk driver circling the raceway parking lot. Why do you think it takes traffic so long to clear out? It's not the number of people...it's the number of INTOXICATED people trying to operate vehicles that are difficult enough to manuvere sober. Coming from someone who is always sober let me just send a message.....when you are drunk (and I don't care who you are) you are annoying, ridiculous and somewhat frightening to the rest of us. I say this with all the love in the world because I know many a fine person who enjoys the occasional (or more frequent) state of inebriation.....YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME, MONEY AND LIVER...QUIT IT!!!
3. The way I can never escape it. I grew up in the smallest town ever. Seriously, we didn't even have a stop light. We had one or two stop signs but that's about it. We had a little super market that still had dirt floors and a majority of the canned goods expired twenty years ago. The one thing this town did have (of course) is a race track. Three and a half miles from my house there it was. Every Saturday night, while in my bed trying to sleep you could hear it. I finally escaped from that only to move to Richmond, VA and less than 10 miles from the Richmond International Speedway. As a resident of Mechanicsville I am not only subject to the chaos of race weekends (forget going anywhere because all you will find are no parking spaces, as they are all occupied by poorly parked RV's, food shortages, and long lines of people buying my mortgage payments worth of alcohol) I am also subject to the noise from the comfort of my own home. That's right...I can hear that dag-blasted car racing in my bedroom...it's like being twelve again.
There is no escape.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008






This weekend our family planted some flower beds for the kids. They had so much fun. It is so neat to watch them and how much they love their flowers. Every day they want to water them, of course it has been raining since we planted them so it hasn't been needed. I know they can't wait for that magic day when the flowers actually need to be watered.

I love sharing this experience with my kids. Gardening is something that runs in my family. My mother and grandmother and great grandmother (not to mention, aunts and unlces galore) have all been master gardeners. I feel blessed to share the tradition with my beautiful kids.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Oh My Yoga and Good Gracious Pilates

Somebody bring in the body bag and a few pounds of russell stover's.....QUICK!

I had this fantastic idea that I would start eating better, avoiding all my usual junk food and that I would start trying to do some excercise videos. It's easier than loading the kids and go to the gym right??

My first attempts at this were completely demolished when someone brought over an ENTIRE cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory (which by the way, they make cheesecake....and it's good) and oh please....contain myself? Then I had also made a butter pecan cake with cream cheese frosting (as I had no idea they were bringing the aforementioned cheesecake) and so my fridge has had to play host to an overload of scrumptious goodies...sent from the firey pits of hades. I pawned as much as I possibly could off on my skinny little buddy and hoped that would help. After days of trying to avoid the temptations I was quite ready to throw in the towel and eat myself stupid.

Next enter the excercise. I went to the Goodwill, really where else would you buy work out videos? If you think about it, I am paying for what obviously wasn't working for someone else.
So, I purchased three fabulous tapes (the only ones that weren't jazz-or-cise with cindy including pink headbands and leg warmers). One was a pilates video that I actually had before, loaned it out and never did see again, one was a yoga and the other is a toning one.

Yesterday I did pilates. Oh mylanta. My abs are ticked off. They have been yelling at me all day. "Jenny, what in the name of all that is reasonable were you thinking" they say to me. Honestly my abs, I just don't know. Let's not even go into what my thighs and buns are saying...they are not nearly so polite.

Today I decided to go with yoga, it's relaxing and not so tough right? I got through about 15 mintues of the 47 minute video, considered throwing myself off of a tall building and into a man eating lion hole, just because it would be less painful than trying to continue with yoga.

I need Brusters.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Out-foxed by my four year old....but why am I not surprised?

Oh me in all my cleverness....it never ceases to amaze me what a dumby I can be sometimes. I had this brilliant plan of how to get my kids to eat some new foods. This theory dates back to last summer when I was able to convince my boys to eat broccoli by calling it "tree stars" like from the Land Before Time. They thought that was pretty cool.....who doesn't want to be a prehistoric singing reptile right?
So here I am thinking, ooooooohkay, I know how to get Gavin to eat corn off the cob...I will tell them that it is not corn, but "magical tickle bugs".....oh wait, this gets better. I decide to convince them by taking a bite myself and then laughing like crazy pretending that it was tickling my stomach. They laughed....who wouldn't, a grown woman squirming around for no good reason that you can tell. So they ask me to take another bite......being the genius that I am I think, "it's working" and in goes another bite. I finally caught on to their game after five or so bites. Brilliant. And in todays headlines a Mechanicsville woman's brains were found lost among a bag of jelly beans....unfortunately scientists were unable to determine the difference between her brain and the cherry limeade.
So, I told Gavin he needed to eat his magical tickle bugs, to which he replies, "mommy I don't eat bugs" and I told him he was just using his imagination.
So a bit later he starts builing a "castle" with his cheese cubes. I tell him to stop and eat his cheese cubes....he then says to me, "mommy I can't eat these, they're bricks. I don't eat bricks."
"Gavin, those aren't bricks, they're cheese cubes....eat them."
"Mommy, I'm using my imagination."
Final score:
Gavin 2, Mommy 0

Oh I love being an idiot.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Blogging Expedition: Take 2

Apparantly, though I created a blog, it was not on the site that my friends were wanting...because they couldn't leave comments.......so here we are.

I just knew I would be so good at this.

So here is our newer of new blogs. I'll try to do you proud guys.