Yea!! A new blog!

     It's not completely ready.... see new blog.  BUT, I couldn't wait any longer.  So, here it is!!

The address:

http://oneloadatatime.blogspot.com

The title of the blog:

Dirty Laundry.... airing it out... one load at a time

Do you like it??

When you visit the new one will you leave a comment?  Even you lurkers!  If you don't, I'll find you!  And, when I do... you'll be sorry!

New blog.... COMING SOON!!

     It's coming REALLY soon!  Check back for the new address!

Conversation between 5 year old boys

     I think my little Jackson is the coolest boy EVER!:-)  And, he is ALL boy... as you will witness when you read the conversation in this post.  The conversation took place on Tuesday when I was putting Emme to bed.  Darja, the girl who lives with us, witnessed the conversation.  I actually copied the conversation from her blog.

     But first, a few pictures:

   

     This picture is from his birthday last year.  Only a boy, at least in this house, would purposefully smash a cupcake in his own face before eating it!
     Jackson was in a wedding in May of this year. We knew he felt so cool all dressed up.  But, it became all the more clear when just the other day he said, 

     "Mom, tomorrow when I go to school, I want to wear that wedding outfit."

     "What wedding outfit?"

     "You know, the black one?"

     Me and my high self-monitoring skills..... busted into laughter.  "You mean the tux?"

     He ran to the coach buried his face and cried.

     Chalk another one up for mom of the year!

     What mom makes her son feel like a jerk for wanting to dress up?  Oops!  I gotta learn to control myself....geesh!


The following is from Darja's blog.

Jackson is very excited because he knows his friend Andrew's phone number. And what better way to celebrate learning a new phone number than to call the person! So this is what I listened to while eating breakfast this morning.

J: Can I talk to andrew?

J: Hey Andrew, what are you doing?

J: Cool! What TV show are you watching?

J: oh, i like that show!

J: well I just wanted to call and talk to you

J: was that a real fart?!?!

and then for the next 10 minutes, jackson made fart noises into the phone and laughed hysterically.

Behave.... so your children do too!

     My blogophobic child.  And, no she is not 235.  Her extremely organized mother didn't have a 1 and a 0.  So, don't laugh!  We made due!  2+3+5=10.  I actually thought it was ingenious.  
      

     A long time ago, I read a book by Tony Campolo called Who Switched the Price Tags.  In his book, he relays a story told by Gilda Radner.  This story has always stuck with me.... and made me laugh

     When I was little, Dibby's cousin had a dog, just a mutt, and the dog was pregnant.  She was due to have her puppies in about a week. She was out in the yard one day and got in the way of the lawn mower, and her two hind legs got cut off. They rushed her to the vet and he said, "I can sew her up, or you can put her to sleep if you want, but the puppies are okay. She'll be able to deliver the puppies."

     Dibby's cousin said, "Keep her alive."

     So the vet sewed up her backside and over the next week the dog learned to walk. She didn't spend any time worrying, she just learned to walk by taking two steps in the front and flipping up her backside, and then taking two steps in front and flipping up her backside again. She gave birth to six little puppies, all in perfect health. She nursed them and then weaned them. And when they learned to walk, they all walked like her.

     I love that story!!  Although, I confess that at times it has done little to change the way that I parent.  Sometimes I hear my voice, complete with tone and all, screeching out of the mouths of one of my little ones.  I cringe when that happens.

     But, every once in awhile they pick up something I say that sounds really funny coming out of their mouths (all clean, don't worry!)  Or sometimes they pick up something family said or a friend said and use it months later... it the right context and that's even funnier.

     

     I was listening to Shelby the other day.  She had written a story for one of her assignments.  She wasn't reading it to anyone in particular, but she was reading it loud enough for the entire block to hear her.  If you know Shelby, this is not a surprise.  (Poor thing is being mentioned in the blog again.)

     When I heard the name of the character in her book, I doubled over in laughter.

     Her story went like this:

     "And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for, I will announce the rules for the contest", said Mr. Lemonjello.  (Please read the name quickly and it won't sound like it is spelled.)

     Now the reason this is so funny is because this summer we went to visit Greenville, South Carolina.  We were visiting friends. And,  since we were also at the home of B*b Jones University, we decided to pay a visit and introduce the kids to Paul's alma mater.  

     If you are not familiar with B*b Jones University, allow me to explain.  This  well- intentioned university values uniformity at the expense of religious freedom and image over substance. They have many rules and are very strict about implementing them.  Despite this, they are a university that strives for excellence and they provide an education of the highest quality.  I was able to appreciate the school this summer having sat through a presentation about all the school has to offer.

     Growing up, I had heard of this school.  I heard they had  pink and blue sidewalks all over campus in order to maintain a healthy distance between boys and girls.  While this is not true, these rules are true:

       -quiet hour in the dorms in strictly enforced between the 7-10 pm.  Lights out at 11 pm.

      - dating was to take place in the dating parlor

       - dating off campus is only allowed in groups of 3 or 5 or 7 etc...

      - drinking, smoking etc... is cause for expulsion

     

     These rules are well- intentioned.  As a matter of fact, every year I get under my belt makes them sound better and better as I think about my own going off to college one day.  The downside- they make being a Christian sound like a bunch of rules.

     Anyway, I think the students at this university enjoyed getting away with "things".  It also seems they never grow out of it.

     So, this summer when we wanted to enter the campus at night with our friends, we had to stop at a little guard station and give our last name before we were allowed in.  (Why?  Why ask the last name?  What name could possibly be given to not allow one past that gate?  Bin Laden!) (Can you see why students at the school would want to try to get by with things?)

     When we pulled up to the guard, she asked our last name.  Our friend who was driving said, "Lemonjello."

     The girl said, "Excuse me." 

     Again, our friend said, "Lemonjello."

     With a little smile on her face, she let us pass through the gate.  Then, we (4 adults and 5 children) all burst into laughter.

     To hear  her use that name again... months later is a loud reminder that my children model what I do and they model things from people we hang out with.

1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

Blogophobia

     Some Halloween pictures... better late than never, huh?  FYI.... My girls either look like they've gone to the dark side or they are gearing up for walking the streets (and not for candy).  Neither is true.  Shelby's a rocker girl and Gracie is a spider fairy.  Jackson is a Power Ranger minus the mask.  The skeleton from Pirates of the Caribbean is our friend, Justin.  

     I hate this picture of that skeleton standing in the background.  Doesn't it give you the creeps?




     Blogophobia will be added to the list of phobias.  

     I think it will read something like this:

     Blogophobia- the fear of being mentioned in a blog post.

     I read a long list of phobia's.  I think there should also be a phobia about reading phobia list.  Geesh!  Who knew there were so many??  I was getting stressed out just reading them all.  As I was reading all the phobias, I started wondering, "What if I get one of these phobias?"  What if I start being afraid of the left side of my body or the color yellow or wooden objects?"  And, then I read this one:

Phobophobia- the fear of phobias

     I think I have this one!  I hate that list. 

 There were some worth mentioning.  I apologize in advance if you have one of these phobias:

Bolshephobia- Fear of Bolsheviks WHAT IN THE WORLD???!

Chorophobia- Fear of dancing-  I may have this one!  I am afraid I look like one of the Peanuts characters when I dance.  I just feel really silly.

Cibophobia- Fear of food- I wish I had this one.

Dextrophobia- Fear of objects at the right side of the body- Does this poor person look like a dog chasing it's tail trying to get away from the right side of their own body?  

That's horrible!  Oh, Lord, don't strike me with a phobia for making fun of phobias.  Forgive me!

Dishabiliophobia- Fear of undressing in front of someone- Who doesn't have this fear?

Dutchphobia- Fear of the Dutch - I think it's probably more like a fear of those ugly wooden shoes.

Ephebiphobia- Fear of teenagers- I think I'll have this one in a few years.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia- Fear of long words- How fair is this one? The poor people who have the fear of long words goes to look up a word for this fear and then they get scared to death looking at the word!

Koniophobia- Fear of dust. (Amathophobia) I definitely do not have this fear. Dust is my friend. And, it's a good thing or I'd have to stay out of my own house!

Ommetaphobia or Ommatophobia- Fear of eyes- How do you ever talk to someone?

Eladophobia- Fear of bald people- What if I had this one?  I'd have to get a divorce or make him get some hair plugs.

Pteronophobia- Fear of being tickled by feathers-  COME ON!!

Walloonphobia- Fear of the Walloons- I looked it up.  Too boring to even tell you about it.

Zemmiphobia- Fear of the great mole rat- What about just a regular mole rat? What is the great mole rat?

     I was very perplexed that there could be a phobia about a great mole rat.  So, I did a little research.  I could not believe that I found an entire site dedicated to helping people overcome this fear.  The good news is:  immediate help is available.

     But, let me ask you?  Have you even ever seen at mole rat?  I am pretty sure they are naked, blind and live underground.  So, how on earth do you develop a fear that is so intense that there is a treatment program readily available for it?

     Yes, I do think it's funny.  But, coming from someone who has struggled with anxiety and many fears of her own, I am really sad for those so afraid of this harmless and very ugly creature.

Enough of that....

    

     My daughter has blogophobia.

    Poor thing!  She lives in constant fear that something she says is going to make it onto this blog. She obviously doesn't know that the more she protests, the more I want to put things on.  I am kinda mean like that.

     We were reading some science the other day and it went something like this:

     There are many different species.....

     She read species as spices.  So, when she said spices, I said, "Or species."

     She laughed.  Then she started reading again.  She read about 2 more words and then she stopped and looked at me with fear in her eyes, "You're not gonna put that on your blog, are you?"

     Then, when we were trick or treating, as we were walking she said, "When I get married, I want to have twins and name them Noreen and Doreen."

     So, I started laughing.  By the way, for better or for worse, I have a difficult time hiding my emotions.

    She said, "What?"

    Then, she stopped dead in her tracks and said, "You're not going to put that on your blog, are you?"

   Tonight, the same daughter started her own blog... more on that later.  I wanted to read it to Paul so she handed me the computer and then went up to get ready for bed.  As she was walking up the stairs, she stopped and turned around and said, "Are you going to write about that on your blog?"

     

     If she only knew, poor kid!

     So while blogophobia may not be an official phobia, I am afraid my daughter may be the one to add it to the list.

**********Emme Update***********Emme Update***********Emme Update***************

     Emme is doing better since implementing the new eating plan.  We also switched her to soy formula.  I can still hear the gurgling sometimes and she still coughs and gags occasionally.  She has spit up two times, I think.  She is also sleeping better, but still getting up to eat.  I remembered when the other 3 were really little I was reading a book about getting kids to sleep.  The book said sleep begats sleep.  So, I have started giving her two naps a day and she sleeps much better on the nights she has two naps during the day.  One would think the opposite to be true... keep them awake and wear them out and they'll sleep better.  NOPE!   With kids, logic does not always work.

     One other note about the eating.... I think it's just going to take time.  I have never seen anyone in my life choke and gag on a very soupy mixture of white rice, coconut milk and sugar.  Even though she liked it, I quit feeding it to her.  I was sure I was going to have to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on a single piece of rice!  Good night!

     These (poor quality phone) pictures sum up why it has taken me a week to do a post.   (Beautiful pictures of me, huh?)  (I am looking HOT!!)

     Yes, it's in my hair. 

     Yes, she is pitching a fit.  She hates to throw up!

     Poor little Emme has really been struggling.  She has been up a lot at night.  She has been spitting up lots of formula, coughing, gagging, strangling, etc...  She seems miserable... at night.  During the day, she is as happy as a little clam.  (How do we know clams are happy?)  (Who came up with these sayings anyway?)

     After being up most of Monday night, wearing the contents of Emme's belly at 9 pm, 1:30am, and again at 7am, I wildly began waving the white flag.  I surrendered and called the doctor.  I had been playing doctor and it just wasn't workin' for me... or Emme.

     Before you think this is another case of neglect from the mother of the year, let me set the record straight.

     After my $5,000 appointment at International Adoption Clinic in the area, I decided going to the doctor was going to be a luxury.  Don't get me wrong, I'd pay any amount of money to see a doc if my children needed it.  I was just having a very difficult time going to the pediatrician, so the pediatrician could send me to a gastro doc sothe gastro doc would order every test under the sun all so they could tell me she had reflux and prescribe her some Zantac.  I am a glass half-full kind of person, can you tell?

     I spent all day Monday praying for things.  One being the fate of this country... which I'd rather not talk about.  One of the other things was that God would give me wisdom to know what to do with this little girl.

     So, Tuesday morning, we took up an offer from a doctor in the area who has been helping with our ministry.  He contacted a doctor friend of his and the friend said he would see Emme without charging us.  I really wasn't looking for a hand out.  I was  looking to skip the pediatrician and go straight to the gastro guy.  I thought that our doctor friend was going to get us into a specialist without having to wait the normal month or two.  But, the doctor friend goes on missions trips and really has a heart for adoption.  So, who was I to argue with a God's provision?  So I went.

     The doctor, who I will now refer to as Dr. H, took one look at her and said, "I am afraid this little girl is going to cost you some money.  I think she is going to need a gastro doctor, an upper GI, and probably a scope."

     For about 5 seconds, I wanted to rip his head off his neck.

     See, why I try to play doctor?  I think he was scared to death of seeing this 14 month old who  looks like a 3 month old.

     We began talking about Emme.  Her behavior and her diet.  I also told him that the $5000 doctor told me to give her formula only for the next 3 months.  He is very familiar with Dr. $5000, had nice things to say about her, said she was a great doctor, yada,  yada, yada but then concluded by saying,  "I totally disagree with her on the feeding."

     Dr. H went on to say that there is a window of time to teach a child how to eat.  That window is from 9 months to 13 months.  Of course, Emme is a month past the window.  He said a belly, especially hers, can only hold so much liquid.  In other words, maybe the formula only, was causing her problems.

     So, he came up with a plan.  The plan is that for the next 2 weeks to feed her first and give her lots less formula after the feeding.  Dr. H went on to say that since she may not eat much, we were going to pack every bit full of calories.

     For example, she likes oatmeal, so I am to make it with heavy cream and sugar.  Make eggs with olive oil and heavy cream.  Whatever healthy fat I can add to something, I need to add.  I make smoothies all the time so today, when I made mine, I left some in the blender and I added cream and avocado.  She ate it like a champ.

     So, how's it working?  

     My first attempt at the food was after the late afternoon doctor appointment yesterday.  But, last night before bed, we didn't have any coughing or gagging or spitting up.  She did get up to eat twice in the middle of the night, but she went right back to sleep.  

     Today, we have had very minimal coughing and none of the other issues.  She has eaten really well all day!

     I feel really good about the plan.  If makes perfect sense to me.

     He told me to come back in two weeks and roll her in in a wheelbarrow.  :-)

     Hopefully, my posting hiatus is over.  Hopefully soon,  I will begin sleeping through the night, having sweet dreams about who is running this country.... not. 

 I'll settle for sleeping through the night:-)

P.S.  I am done with the negative comments about the newly elected President of this country.  I am not a bit happy about the outcome.  However, I do not trust in horses or chariots or the leader of this country, I trust in the Lord, my God.  Furthermore, I will be obedient to God's word and I will pray for him and our country... often.

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

I Timothy 2:1-4

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Romans 13:1
 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

I'm it!!!

          I guess I have been tagged.  And, while I normally do not participate in these type of things (sometimes, I just want to rebel)  But, this one sounded fun, plus Sharla tagged me and I wouldn't say no to her.

Seven interesting or weird facts about me.... should be VERY easy.

1.  I don't have an official diagnosis but Paul and most certainly a few other friends have labeled me obsessive.  

      

     I am not exactly sure why.  Maybe it's because sometimes I start doing something, and I can't stop.  

     For example, when I was teaching, I started taking Raisins & Spice oatmeal for lunch, EVERYDAY.  I was newly married and one day I said to Paul, "I am really tired of oatmeal for lunch."  He looked at me like I was crazy and said, "You're the one who packs your lunch everyday."  

     That's when it dawned on me.  I guess I could take something else.  Duh!

     My obsessions usually have to do with food.  For those of you who followed me to China, I know this comes as a big surprise to you.  

      About a year ago, when Gina visited the last time, we started making this green stuff:  cottage cheese, pineapple and pistachio pudding.  I ate so much of it for a month that I can hardly stand to look at it now.

     Lately, it is smoothies.  Paul swears I puree all my food these days.  

     I have or am also obsessed with blogs,  the internet in general, Chinese adoptions, an internet game called Poppit....   

     See, the list is long and that was just off the top of my head.

2.      I was engaged before I married Paul and called it off 3 weeks before the  wedding date.

      Long story... maybe I'll share it sometime. It was either call it off or end up in jail or the looney bin.   Hard, but one of the best decisions I have ever made.

     As our (mine and Paul's) wedding date got closer and closer, I think Paul was a little nervous.  Two weeks before the wedding, he let out a cheer, "Yes!!  I made it farther than the other guy!"  

       Haha!

3.  I love rainy days and snow days.  Another thing I am or have been obsessed with... school closings.  It made sense when I was teaching, but the desire to get up and look at the closings when I had nary a child in school??  I think I just like an excuse to slow down.

4.   I am still upset that I don't have a sister.  I desperately wanted girls when I began thinking about having children.  I wanted 2 of them.  (I remind myself of those prayers when I want to hurt them... bad.)  Now, I have 3.  

     Somehow this is supposed to make up for the lack of a sister.  We'll see how it plays out!

5.    Food again.  I bet you don't eat cheeseburgers the way I do.  I  eat  my cheeseburger with mustard, ketchup and APPLESAUCE.  Yes, applesauce.  I love it on my cheeseburger.  Actually, I just put a spoonful on the bite I am about to take.  

     I think it is because, when I was little, my family used to eat at a restaurant called Jeds on Tuesday nights- Kids eat free night.  I think my applesauce used to run into my hamburger and I guess I liked it. 

      A lot! 

      Because, I am 37 years old and I still do it!!  

     Now, if that's not random!

6.       I love to watch fishing shows.  I don't know why.  But, if I am channel surfing and I run across a show where someone is casting that pole... I will stop every time... and twice on Sunday.

7.       I hate dogs.  Really, I don't care for any animal.  They all smell.  They make messes and destroy things.  They cost a lot of money.  They have hair that ends up all over the place.  They have things on their bodies that need squeezed.... like anal glands.  I can't believe I even just wrote that!!  Parts of their bodies show that I shouldn't have to see i.e.  cats b---holes, monkeys' butts, the male parts of circus bears,etc...

     I had a dog this past year.......... for about 4 months.  

     Her name was Lulu.  

     They named her at the pound.  We thought it was cute so we kept it. 

     But, no one at the pound told me Lulu was short for LUCIFER!! 

      That dog was the biggest pain.  She barked incessantly.  She chewed everything in sight.  If she wasn't chewing, she was digging.  Sometimes, I would stay in bed a really long time so I didn't have to get up to deal with her.  I NEVER got up before Paul.

     Yep, we got rid of her.

      Some other idiot... I mean person, agreed to take her.  Never mind that Lulu was a Christmas present to the kids.  I told them that it was ok to be mad at me, to be sad, or cry.  I explained to them that I could not live the next 10 years or more, miserable.  Shelby hated Lulu too.  But, for Gracie and Jackson, who cried, I told them it was like making Gracie play ice hockey and Jackson take ballet... for as long as that forsaken mutt was alive.  They'd be miserable doing either of those things.

     So, go ahead, tell me I am worse than the Wicked Witch of the West.  Leave nasty comments, throw eggs at my house... you can't make me bring another dog into this house or make me like animals.

      8.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it said 7 things.  I told you I like to rebel.

           I adhere to Old Testament food laws.  If it says not to eat it in the OT, I don't.  On a rare, rare occasion, I will eat bacon... in a salad or something like that.

       I know that in the NT all food was declared clean but I am sure we are misinterpreting that.

  

     Because, let me ask you this, what has changed about the anatomy of the pig? 

     NOTHING!  It has ONE stomach and it eats garbage or anything else you put in front of it.

       Why do you think Jesus drove those demons into the pigs and sent those pigs flying over a cliff to their death??   Because they are nasty little creatures that should not be used for human consumption and that's how highly he thinks of pigs.

      And, do you know that God calls anything from the sea w/o gills an abomination.  That's a pretty harsh word.  Why an abomination (now I feel like Grace, my guide from China)?  Because they eat the poop that is on the bottom of the ocean.  Did you know if you put shrimp in a filthy pond it would be cleaned up in no time?  

     Now, before you start cursing the day of my birth, I have some planks to get out of my own eye.  I need a verse about eating sugar.  Then maybe I could stop.  I also eat too much.  So there!

     I was tagged and I was supposed to tell interesting or weird facts about myself.

     Now, I am supposed to tag seven people, but I am not sure if I know 7 bloggers.  

     Oh, I read more than seven blogs, but most of those people don't know it.  

     I am a lurker.  I hate lurkers on my blog but.... legalist never live by their own rules, ya know.  I want comments ... lots of them! 

      And, there are a few people who leave me comments on my blog and then I go to look at their blogs, and they tell me I am not invited.  

     That hurts!  

     It takes me back to junior high when I didn't get invited to a party.

Anyway, I am tagging these people:

     

                Darja-Morning by morning new mercies I see

                Pam- Our Family News

                Margie-Mississippizen

                Sophie-Boomama

                              see comment for Pioneer Woman

                Sharon-Chloe in China

                Ree-Pioneer Woman

                        Because out of the 50,000 hits she gets on her blog everyday, she'll read my        

                        comment and respond....LOL!

                Cindi- Of Paths and Errands

     Lots of Love to all my animal loving friends!:-)