Just checking in

I am still here.  I have lots to tell you about that I hope to get to in the next couple of days like:

• quilting weekend (lots done!!!)
• playground work  (tons of work and lots of fun)
• A's artwork and spelling 
• E's french horn lessons (he is starting to make music!)

But right now I am feeling like I am missing a couple of spoons and do not feel up to much so I will end it there, but I will be back soon..... I hope.

But you do not look sick

I often get asked "how I am feeling" or "are you better now?"  This question throws me off.  I am not sure how I am to answer this.  I know that most of the time they (the people asking) want to hear that I am doing great and that I have never been better.  I never feel completely right saying to them " I am  doing good" because I know that my "new" good is not the same as their good.  I also know that it is hard for someone that does not have a chronic illness to understand what it is like to have one.  

I have a good friend that has MS and she sent me the this link that I think makes people kinda understand what it is like.  I am not as bad off as this woman that has Lupus (they are pretty sure that I have RA), but I know what she feels like.  Today I find that I have very few "spoons" to live with, and I have to spend them wisely.

How do I get by with this chronic illness you may ask, well there are a bunch of things that help me and that bunch of things are all wonderful people.  I have a Husband that some days cooks, cleans, takes the kids to school, does laundry all the while making me still feel like I am useful and loved.  I have two great kids that help in a million little ways everyday.  I have a great family that understand when I do not travel to see them for years and who works hard to get to see me. People in my life will pick up my kids, come to my house for play dates, and understand if I cancel at the last min. because I do not feel up to it.  In general I surround my self with people who understand how I feel and help me in little and big ways all the time.  I do not think that I could ever repay any of them, but I know that I love them all and could not get by without help.

Thank you all for listening to me and forgiving me for I can not make it out to dinner with you (night times are the hardest), have to cancel at the last min, can get a blog up (....cough/Mom  cough/Dad), have to miss an important time in your life, and all the other things that I have to miss.

Giveaway Won!!!!

I won a bag off of Polka Dot Cottage.  I tried to get a photo from her blog, but could not.  So you will have to just click here and see.  I almost never win things.  This is the so cool.  Thank you Lisa!

For the Grandparents

Got some quilting done and may even have got a big donation from Home Depot for our playground!!!:::)))) Cross fingers for me please.

Have a nice weekend.

Today

I am finally starting to figure out this whole new schedule thing down.  In my 3 hours off I got to:

1. workout for 30 mins
2. have a meeting with someone about the new playground (and give him some work:)
3. get a storage space for the play ground (for FREE!!:)
4. get my book done
5. take a nice long bath.

Since then I have had 2 more "meeting" about the new playground, and am starting to feel that everything is starting to come together.  

Oh and do not tell my Hubby (Mark stop reading now), but I have the heat on in the house.... man it feels great! 

This blog might be bad for my diet.  We have this one in the oven right now..... super easy (hardest part was going into store to get the cream cheese.

Also if you are looking for some cool artwork check out this blog or her Etsy store.  I could spent tons of money there...... I am sure that one day if I can figure out where to put one I will figure out witch one to buy:)

Dancing Princess

First day of class.... she could HARDLY wait (all summer long.... just saying.)

Best line of the day

Ada and I are walking out of the library where she HAS been crying and yelling at the TOP of her little lungs since we left the children's section and ALL the way through the check out line (where the guy at the counter thought she was 2... really 2 .... OK this guy must not see a lot of kids, right..... I mean 2!??).  I lean down to my daughter and say in a stage whisper

" Now Ada you are making all the other patents jealous they are all wishing they where me right now."

BTW she cried all the way home, and has been having at least one of these outbreaks every day for 3 days now (can anyone say having trouble adjusting to the new routine?)

BBTW I am so proud of myself for not getting mad at her and just standing proud and getting out of there with my dignity.

Here is a photo of her not crying.

 This baby little big girl had her first day of 4K today.  I did not cry (but I may have tried to turn back 1/2 there.... good thing Mark went with us or I might have just kept her home)

Man they are growing up too fast for me.  BTW Ada may or may not have had to push me away to get me to leave today (insert little tears here).  But my MIL is here and she took me out to have a treat (she sure knows how to distract me;) while my baby tiny tiny Ada was in school.

Last week

Last week Elijah started 2nd grade.  

Opps that was the week before last, I am sure I must have a photo from last week.

That is better this one was from last week.  Boy he is cute!!! I was not so fond of his hair being cut, but he wanted it and his dad wanted it so what was I to say?  I may or may not have cried when I saw him like this (of course this may have had something to do with his father saying (after seeing him for the first time with his new hair cut) "Boy I need to to take that bridge over there!" (in his best military voice) ).  All that said I love his hair now.

Next week (OK tomorrow) Ada goes to 4K for the first time at the big school.... there may or may not be more crying (if you see me on the playground tomorrow forgive me if I am crying my eyes out and do not say hi).

table runner

Made this over the weekend and I love the way it came out.  More photos of the first day of school later.

Have a great one.