House Pictures

The end of a season of my life.

Jeff and I had decided that we were done having birth children. He had begun the process of a series of consultations to make the final surgical commitment. I was *willing* to be done, but I still really *wanted* one more baby. Then I began to feel all the signs that told me I was pregnant--insomnia, weepiness, etc. I felt a mixture of emotions: elation, peace, dread, fear. I began to realize I really *was* done with the whole "up all night", "being a whole world to another being for at least 3 years", being in pain and being fat. I truly didn't want to be pregnant--and I truly didn't want to go through another c-section and another 2 years of breastfeeding and sleepless nights. Ten days after my period was due, it began--and I celebrated. I am really ready to close that door now--and concentrate on the beautiful children who are already in my life.

I can now do a mile in 12 1/2 minutes--and I can do a whole push up--and 12 sit ups. I put my *real* wedding ring back on today--and will be able to wear it as I continue to lose my extra weight. (218 this week. Goal weight 150.)



Counting my blessings.

Beautiful Sascha

Busy, but good.

BB deployed to Iraq Friday. We got a text from his girlfriend "A" ,and he is doing well. I look forward to spending more time with her and her kids over this next year.

Taj got in a fight with a neighborhood boy and the kid threw a rock at him--hit the bridge of his nose--lots of blood. Jeff took him into the emergency room to make sure nothing was broken. They told Taj they were going to do a "cat scan" and Tajir said, "I'm allergic to cats. And rabbits."

We got pictures taken of the three youngest a few days back--I'll share when we pick them up. Walmart is even getting expensive!

Jeff and I picked up a movie last night and watched it out in the garage--kinda like a real date! Unfortunately, the movie sucked. A real downer--Kabluey.

Blonde Chick is studying for the ASVAB / GED. Her English skills need a lot of work. Probably math, too.... And a few days ago she borrowed the car and got pulled over for not coming to a complete stop at the Stop sign right in front of our house. $135! She's looking for a job right now.

I've been walking 15 rounds of our park a week--3 rounds 5 days a week. (I think a round is about 1/2 a mile.) Aria is my walking buddy and she is *awesome* at making sure I don't slack off! I've decided to get a job as a gate guard ($100 a night!) But I have to be able to do a mile in 12 min, and do 12 push ups, and 26 sit ups. I'm working on it.

Jeff is studying for the Board--they have an informal one--a CEO one--on Tues--and he hopes to go before the Board for E-6 in the next month or so.

Sascha was eating dinner naked the other night (spaghetti) and after dinner, I was cleaning LB up and she came up to me FREAKING OUT--whining and spazzing. She started saying "Stinky" and pointing and then I realized she had pooped in her chair and was acting like the poop had descended from the sky and attacked her! I laughed so hard I cried. A few nights later, Jeff put the girls to bed and Sascha was awake and happy and downstairs waiting for me when I got home from my walk. She told me "Daddy 'Night". (Daddy went to sleep!) She was very proud of herself.

LB is in a big boy bed, now. And he's starting to give up bottles. He is a character--and VERY verbal.

The cops brought Zadina home one night last week. We were all home and didn't realize she had gone outside and was in the street. We just got a verbal warning, though. She hasn't done it again.

I love our new teen's (Non-Blonde?) sense of humour! She and BC are acting like sisters--they get along, but also like to give each other a hard time. I told NB I wanted to lose weight. She suggested I just let BC cook. And apparently, NB played a trick on BC when BC was in Topeka last week. She told her we were going to do a UA on her and BC got really angry thinking we didn't trust her. She was *fuming* by the time NB told her she was kidding.

We are spending a little over an hour a day on schoolwork, but the kids' math skills are improving (we mostly do facts) and both of their reading has improved just in the last month or so. I'm looking forward to adding Chemistry.

Our weeks are falling into a rhythm--Scouts on Monday, Dance and Groceries on Tues, Family movie night on Fridays, and Church and Family Game Night on Sundays.

Children are stirring, so it's time to get some breakfast on the table.