"This and That"

I don't know what to write today.  This will be very "stream of consciousness" if you don't mind.

I have been uber-busy the past couple of weeks.  I've had numerous appointments--PT, the dentist, and ministry-type things.  I'm thankful because our friend, Christine, went out of town and let us borrow her car for 3 weeks!  She comes back on Sunday.  It has been great because I started doing physical therapy during this time period, and I've been able to go to my appointments.  I found out today that I will have one more appointment, and then they'll discharge me!  I've been a good patient, and my pain has decreased significantly.  Praise God!  He knew we would need the extra vehicle so I could get this relief for my joint.

I've been able to take the kids swimming a few times, and they are loving it.  It wears all of us out!  Maryn even let me hold her while she kicked her legs.  This is a huge improvement!  Their fear of the water is lessening.  I'm so happy for them!  At the beginning of the summer, the whole time we were in the pool, Maryn would say, "I don't like it!" over and over and over.  Not anymore!  They're both gaining confidence.  I'm glad.

I'm sleepy today, and I need to run some errands.  I need to buy a part for our toilet.  The handle broke.  I don't know why.  Old and cheap is my guess.  I also need to pick up a few random things at the store.  Peaches are one thing I want to get.  So far this summer, I've made strawberry jam, mixed berry jam, and blueberry jam.  The strawberry jam is gone.  I want to make some peach preserves, and then I think I'll be done for the year.  I think we'll have enough.  I've loved doing this.  I know I'm saving a little money (not tons), but I just love the fact that my kids get to eat something that I made versus a manufacturing plant.  It's one of the small things I hope they'll remember. 

Cloth diapers are going great!  Maryn did go poo in one the other day.  I was at my friend's house.  It was gross, but we survived!  It wasn't too hard to deal with actually.  I bought a wet bag for my purse/diaper bag to put the soiled diapers in.  I couldn't even smell the diaper when it was in the bag.  Amazing.  I'm going to buy a big one for my house.  The diaper genies will be a thing of the past!  We are going to Kansas City next week for a medical conference, and I haven't decided what I'll do for that.  I won't be able to wash while we're there (that I know of), and I don't know if I want the diapers to sit for four days.  Anyone dealt with this before?  I could just try to anticipate Maryn's poopies and use disposable during those times.  Or I could just not worry about it and take disposables with me.

Well, I'm off to figure out all I need to accomplish today.  I hope you're all well.  I have a video I want to put on here, but I haven't been able to get it off my camera for some reason.  Soon, I hope.  Take care.

Currently Reading An Assembly Such as This: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman (Fitzwilliam Darcy Gentleman) By Pamela Aidan see related

Diapers, Cars, and Names, Oh My!!!

The cloth diapers have arrived!  I got them the other day (the Bum Genius), and I'm so excited.  I decided I would be putting Maryn in them as well.  It made sense because then I wouldn't have to keep buying disposable, AND by the time Maryn pottytrains, I'll be ready to use them on the baby.

I have this way-nice friend, Jamie, who has cloth-diapered her son, Angel, and daughter, Rhiannon.  She was able to get a good deal on some Chinese prefolds (36 infant-sized!), and she is even embellishing them to make them girly-cute.  What an awesome friend!  I also bought some Dappi Diaper Covers to go with the prefolds.  HEB's sister uses them and has had good success with them.  I only ordered a couple so I could try them out on Maryn and see how well they work.  I did buy Maryn some large Chinese prefolds to try that out.  And, I will be buying a few things from another friend who decided not to cloth diaper.  I think total, unless I have to change my plan, I have spent $280.

I'll use the infant prefolds and covers on the baby until she's too big for them (about 4-6 months), and then she'll predominantly wear the Bum Genius and large prefolds.  Hopefully, by then, Maryn will be pottytrained (she'll be nearly three or three at that point).  I feel a need to experiment with them to get a feel for what works for us.  If I decide I don't like something, I can always sell on Craig's List or Diaper Swappers.  This is a really wonderful thing!!!

Maryn likes the diapers so far.  I haven't really made a big deal about it to her, and just acted like normal.  The nice thing is that the Bum Genius are SOOO cute on her little tush, and on top of that, they're easy-peasy.  She hasn't gone #2 in them yet...I'll let you know how that goes.

• Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."
• Our car may not be dependable, and many people, including Christians, consider a dependable car to be a necessity, even a right that we have.  I'm becoming more convinced that it is neither.  What I do have is a dependable God, and He is enough for me.

Meet Lucy Claire. 

Lucy means "Light" and Claire means "Clear and bright".  She's going to be a "Bright and Clear Light".  And yes, we also chose "Lucy" because of "The Chronicles of Narnia".  We might be some of the biggest nerds you know.

I wish our scanner worked...but this one will have to do (I just had to photograph it).  It's a face and tummy shot, in case you can't tell.  I think she has my nose and lips...we'll see soon enough!!!

Found

The remotes have been recovered, unharmed.

They were stuck inside of a camping chair bag in Sam's closet.  I don't know how I didn't see them before.  I'm glad they're back...I'm tired of trying to figure out which buttons to push on the TV (they're on the side and quite difficult to see).

I am SO tired today.

I had my first appointment with a physical therapist today for my SI joint pain (this is NOT sciatica pain).  I've had this pain with each pregnancy, and it has increasingly gotten worse with each pregnancy (not more intense, just the duration is longer with each baby). 

The guy asked me if I had ever been a gymnast.

I laughed...and laughed.  No, I'm not that kind of girl.  Books, yes.  Music, yes.  Anything remotely athletic, no way.

Evidently, I'm hypermobile.  I am ultra-flexible--to a fault.  I'm SO flexible that my joints are at a greater risk for instability (which happens to be the problem with SI joint pain...during pregnancy, ligaments relax even more which allows the joint to move more, become inflamed, and to lose stability).

I'm unstable.  :)

Thankfully, I am fixable.  I'll be doing several strengthening exercises and absolutely NO stretching!!!!  I'm also getting back in the pool.  I did prenatal water aerobics with Sam and Maryn, and although I can't swing that this time around, my friend, Shelley, is letting me come use her pool to exercise.  Danielle, I wish you lived nearby; I need someone to talk to as I walk back and forth across the pool.  :)  Good times.

Hopefully, I'll regain some strength, stabilize my SI joint, and have pain relief.  I'm looking so forward to that.

A gymnast?  For real???

Remotes?

My kids have hidden the remotes.  I can't find them.  ANYWHERE.

Grrrr....

Currently Reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth By Ina May Gaskin see related

Round and Round the Mulberry Bush

I've been feeling a little under the weather the past couple of days.  But, I'm fine.  I honestly think I experienced some stress/anxiety-induced illness.  It was funny because that is exactly what the sermon was about last week and today, and it happened to be exactly what I struggled with this week.

I'm comforted to know that my Father knows what I need.  I don't have to sit around, worry about it, or try to manipulate and micro-manage my situation to make it work out the way I think it should.  This scripture came to mind this week:

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31

In my time of crying out to God, I remembered this verse.  I pleaded my case. 

"But I have been waiting on You for a long time!  I don't feel strong; I feel weak!  I AM weary and I feel faint."

I sensed Him saying, "No, you're not waiting on Me, or these things would be true for you."

It was then that I realized I wasn't waiting on Him.  I was waiting on Dave, on circumstances, and on my own strength to see things happen.  I was doubting His presence and doubting that He was truly going to come through when I needed Him to.  I was so worked up over it all that I think I actually made myself sick!!!

Today's sermon was comforting and reassuring that I can trust Him.  I can wait on Him.  He knows what I need, and He will come through in His own timing.  He is good.