January 30, 2011

I got my visiting teaching done this week and I'm teaching sunday school for the first time today. It's nice to get back into things in church. And hopefully we can keep sickness away for a while so I can consistently go to church.

We are being so blessed financially. I love doing the budget lately because it always turns out well. Our tax return is going to be really good this year, and I've gotten some big website projects lately that should bring in a good amount too. I just started working with Bob on the website at his side job in Henderson. It's kind of fun to have a project together.

All the extra website work is adding a lot of stress for me, though, because Ruby still doesn't have any kind of schedule (although she did sleep for a solid eight hours last night!)so it's really hard to find time to work on websites. I've been thinking I wanted to find someone to babysit for me so I can go to the swim class I used to go to. And then this week I found out that BJ Lecates, in our ward, wants to babysit. She's the mom of 6 kids and her youngest is 9, so she's just what I was hoping for. And her husband's business isn't doing well so she was looking for some work to make a little money. So it'll be perfect for me because I think I'll use her so I can go swimming and so I can work on websites. It relieves a lot of stress for me. Hopefully Seth will adjust quickly. He still cries through nursery. It'll also be helpful when we're moving and I need to pack.

January 23, 2011

I got set apart for my calling several months ago. I got called as a sunday school teacher for the 12-13 year olds when Bob was called to the Bishopric. I haven't taught yet because I've only been to church about three times since then. I'll teach my first lesson next Sunday. But here's the notes from when I was set apart:

• I'll find ways to communicate with the kids
• Organize my time to prepare lessons
• Balance church and motherly duties
• Have the Spirit in my life to help and guide me
• My pregnancy will go smoothly (which it did)

I also had a blessing from Bob a couple of weeks ago because I was still bleeding at eight weeks after Ruby and I wanted some comfort and guidance about what to do. I didn't get any notes written right after, but I remember two main things.

1. That I should follow advice and help from doctors. (I talked to a nurse who said it was just hormonal and would probably be fine in a few days--it was)
2. I would be blessed and happy through service. I thought that was a wonderful confirmation that my new years resolution for service was something that I needed to be working on.

We are slowly getting healthy here (again). Seth had a really bad ear infection last week. He's still congested, but he's back to his usual disposition. It was so hard having him be so sad and clingy and not be able to take care of him all the time because Ruby still needs me. Bob also got sick and is barely getting better. I really hate sickness. I'm ready for cold weather and germs to be done.

I had lunch dates with all three big kids this week. It was really nice. I plan on getting back to doing that once a month with each kid. Aaron picked Mcdonalds. Rachel picked KFC and Danny did KFC and shoe shopping because he already outgrew his tennis shoes I bought him four months ago. He's a size 5 now.

I went swimming yesterday. I'm so excited to get back in shape and feeling good.

January 16, 2011

Life is crazy! I feel like we're going a mile a minute and never stopping. Most of the time I feel like I can make it, but some days I just get a little too much added to things like a sick kid or more website work and it feels like I can't make it. Then I cry a little and maybe have a small pity party, then I pray and remember the Savior and my Heavenly Father know I can do it. Then I get things under control and get going again. But it never feels easy. I'm hoping that once Ruby is sleeping on a regular schedule, and I can get enough sleep, that five kids won't always be this much work.

Ruby had her 2 month checkup this week. She's in the 75th percentile. She's doing great. She loves it when we talk to her and she coos back at us. Her reflux is getting much better. It doesn't seem to burn her so much and she doesn't make quite as much of a mess, although she still does spit up a lot. I've realized that I think the best part of Ruby's reflux, though, is that she lets me hug her to sleep all the time. I try to keep her vertical whenever I can, so I hold her so her head can rest on my chest and she falls asleep so easily that way and I love it too because she cuddles with me the whole time.

Bob and I were sick last weekend. I was still sick on Monday. That morning I kept trying to get something to eat to see if it would give me more energy, but kids kept needing things. So finally I thought I had Ruby asleep and got some oatmeal, but as soon as I started eating, she started crying. So I just let her cry for a few minutes so I could finish. But then Seth started crying. I thought he was crying about a toy or something. So I finished up and went to find him. He was on his knees crying at my bedroom door. Ruby was in my room crying and for some reason Seth wasn't able to open the door to go in to comfort her (he always tells her "don't cy Uby"--he can't say r's yet). So when I realized what was happening I started crying and we were all a mess! But it was so wonderfully sweet at the same time. These babies of mine are so precious.

We found out this week that our house now won't be ready until the end of March at the earliest. The banks are taking a long time to approve everything. I'm so hoping everything will work out in the end, but the longer things take, the more nervous I get. And I'm feeling more cramped in our house. But week keep praying about it and I'm sure things will work out how they should. It does give us more time to save up money, though, so we can feel more comfortable when we do move.

I have two big website conversions I need to get done before we move, and having more time before having to pack will be helpful. I should also be able to make quite a bit from them so that will be good too. I just have to find the time to do them. Between Seth and Ruby and then the bigger kids needing things now and then, I am so lucky when I find one spare hour a day to do any kind of work. But I really need to figure it out soon. I might have to get Bob to come help me on Fridays or something.

I signed the boys up for baseball yesterday. And tennis signups are this week. So, soon we will be right back in the thick of sports and practices and even busier than we are now! It sure has been nice to not have had any sports for a couple of months.

January 2, 2011

We just got back from Ryan's house. My mom and dad and Kristal, Dustin and Grandma Donna all came. We got there on Thursday. The boys went paintballing on Friday and we went to the park. Then on Saturday the girls went shopping at the mall. We watched movies and football and just hung out at Ryan's new big house. We had a good time.

I had a great birthday going out to dinner with friends on Tuesday and then with Bob on Wednesday. Bob and I went to look at furniture and then went to the mall and to dinner at Maggianos.

I don't like doing resolutions just to do them because I usually fail at them. But it is a good reminder to see if I need to be working on anything. So I have two goals:

1 - I'm going to lose my baby weight by Valentine's day and be able to wear my normal clothes again.

2 - I'm going to do better at serving others. I've gotten a little selfish and focused on myself with being pregnant and then having a newborn. So I'm going to pray regularly to recognize needs and make sure I do at least one act of service I feel impressed to do every week. It doesn't have to be anything huge, I don't have the capacity for a lot and I don't want too much stress or to take the focus away from my family, but I want to do something more and be a better example for my kids.