Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

Monday, August 22, 2016

Broken Foot

I know, I know.

Not what I expected to happen either. While going down the stairs in my brother-in-laws new (old) house I missed the last step before the landing and landed on my butt. Immediately my ankle started hurting. I iced it. My first concern after my fall was not 'Am I okay?' or even 'Is anything broken?' My first thought after falling was 'Is my Mac okay?' My Macbook is my life. Not just because I enjoy keeping tabs on all my friends and the fact that they have the same struggles as I do in raising children, keeping a clean house (ha!) and dealing with spouses. But because I have clients whom I work for doing some graphic design, web design, social media and online database information. It's not much, but I enjoy working with them all and it helps pay the bills.

So you can see why I was so concerned about my Macbook. I was carrying it down the stairs, in my arms. I know. I know. Stupid.


The kids were really good when my brother in law took me to the doctors office Saturday morning in Ames. X-rays were taken - apparently I'm trying to keep up my selfie-x-ray ratio. I've had a lot of x-rays taken of my knees (mostly). I feel like it wouldn't take much for me to become an x-ray technician. 

The other thing that doesn't go well with me and my bones is a dark room - which it was semi-dark - and stairs. Back in 2007 I had a nasty fall at church when the youth we playing hide and go seek in the dark and yes, you guessed it, I fell off the stage and broke some bones in my left hand. I didn't have kids then, so it would have been a little easier if I had broken my foot instead. I had surgery on my hand then, and much like now, I wait.
The doctor will operate on my foot this Thursday, I'm talented, when I break bones - I do it very uniquely. When I was a kid I fell off a bike and broke my arm, but not the large bone (which most people break), I broke the small bone. Hehe.
This time it's a broken bone in the right foot - it's the 5th metatarsal. It's the bone that leads to my pinkie toe. It's not entirely broken clear off, but at an angle.  I did twist my ankle when I fell down the stairs, so this make sense. So the doctor will put some pins in it, so it can heal.  I still have to stay off it for 6 weeks after the surgery. It's already been a week plus.
It's been rough. My bedroom is on the second floor, good thing we just moved the guest bed down to the first floor. I'm sleeping there, for now. The kids are kids - and so the house is a complete disaster because I shouldn't be on my foot to pick up stuff (toys), or even to cook in the kitchen, much less running up and down the stairs doing laundry. For the first week or so, I hobbled around the house with a cane when I needed to. Since then, I have rented a knee scooter. While I don't have good knees and can't stay on my knees for long period of times - it's perfect for getting around the house. Getting something to eat, going to the bathroom, staying on first floor.


Maybe this is God's way of telling me to 'slow down.' Part of me wants to, and part of me says 'no.' I enjoy volunteering my time for my child's school, volunteering for my church, doing crafty things.
This will be my 6th surgery. It's local anesthesia, and the surgery itself will only take about half an hour, if all goes well.

A few days after the surgery I will hopefully be able to put some weight on it, but will- for the most part still have to stay off of it, for that bone to heal completely. It's been tough on my hubby - running a FedEx truck all last week did not allow him to take me to the doctors office or help me around the house. He was awesome - a single dad - basically by feeding all of us, putting the kids to bed every night, working a full time job, doing some of his laundry and changing oil in his trucks - and even fixing one. He's a busy guy. At least the past few weeks of working 6 day weeks will help us save a little money, since someone needs surgery. 

Prayers appreciated on Thursday early afternoon! 





Friday, June 20, 2014

Need You Now





Need You Now (How Many Times)
Plumbfrom the album Need You NowBuy on Amazon | iTunes 
Well everybody's got a story to tell And everybody's got a wound to be healed I want to believe there's beauty here Cause oh, I get so tired of holding on I can't let go, I can't move on I want to believe there's meaning here 
(Chorus) How many times have you heard me cry out "God please take this"? How many times have you given me strength to Just keep breathing? Oh I need you God, I need you now. 
Standing on a road I didn't plan Wondering how I got to where I am I'm trying to hear that still small voice I'm trying to hear above the noise 
Chorus 
Oh I walk, oh I walk through the shadows And I, I am so afraid Please stay, please stay right beside me With every single step I take 
How many times have you heard me cry out? And how many times have you given me strength? 
Chorus 
I need you now I need you now



This song. Has helped me get through the last 2 years. 
There is beauty here: 


In the past 2 years: 
My husband was laid off from a good job, that allowed me to be a stay at home mom 
(hence the name of this blog).
We were worried that we would have to put our child in public school, something neither of us wanted, but thankfully God has provided us a way to keep in the local Christian School for at least another year.  It's also not the most expensive private school: we pay about $2,000/ year, which equals about $200/ month. While it's not 'free' we believe it is a better education, and the community has been great- we pray for the teachers and I know they pray for our family.

I was offered a part time position (during school hours) for a non-profit organization. While we have to pay for my son to go to daycare this summer, because last summer dad was able to take care of him, for free, I am able to take my daughter to work with me (for now). Thankful for a good day care provider and very thankful that my job allows me to have her at work with me! 

Husband was hired as a temporary, now a full time delivery driver for FedEx 
(but the contractor doesn't pay insurance). 

Found out we were pregnant in May of 2013, only to have a miscarriage
Found out we were pregnant late in 2013, and this one was a viable pregnancy - she's beautiful! 
Our daughter was born on May 20, 2014. 

I thought my world was ending when my husband got laid off, and in my mind, it was, and in a way, it did. My world was taking care of our son, getting him to school, volunteering at the school and working on my volunteering that I did for a local non-profit organization. The thought that they wouldn't 'call' him back never occurred to me at the time (we'd been through one layoff with this company before), but that has come true, as it's been a year and a half, I first mentioned it here

It's hard to believe today marks one month of my daughter being born! Where did the time go? She's so precious, and I know, after a hard day of delivering boxes, my husband enjoys holding our soft, squishy, wiggly baby - even if she is crying. 

Some things about my daughter: 
  • She hates being bundled (unlike most newborns) she likes to have her hands free. 
  • She is a very warm baby. They say to layer baby, like whatever you are wearing and then plus 1 layer. Not this girl. She's hot! 
  • She's started turning her head when she hears mom or dad's voices. 
  • Although she's only one month old, she still fits into most newborn clothing, and probably will for another month or two! 
  • She's a snacker: she will eat, then (maybe) burp, then take a nap, wake up and want more food (repeat). My son was different, he would eat, burp, eat (switching sides), burp and then take a nap. Boys and girls are so different. But I am a snacker to, if I have sweets in the house (cookies or bars or anything) I will snack on that stuff all day long
  • Her big brother is in love with her. Adores her. Thinks he has to kiss her. Every. 5 minutes. Sometimes every 10 minutes! 
  • She spits up more than my son ever did, in fact, I'm not sure if we have a clean burp cloth in the house right now. Oy! 
  • Loves to fall asleep on mom or dads chest, we think this is because she loves to hear the sound of our heartbeats. 
  • Likes to take naps anytime I am wearing her. I have a sling at church and a Moby wrap at work. 
  • She is starting to enjoy bath time (almost).
  • She is full of grunts, and squeals, and squeaks. In fact my boss calls her 'Squeaky baby.' 
  • All in all, she really is a good baby and only wakes me up in the middle of the night a few times. 


Thursday, August 30, 2012

Women of Faith

I have been scrimping and saving for the past 6 months in order to go to this event. I've never been to a Women of Faith, and I'm so glad I went. When I left Saturday night, my heart was so full. Full of the love of God, full of the love of my sisters, friends, and family that joined me in Wells Fargo for a day and a half of marvelous worship, speakers, and a few concerts. Lots of laughs and it felt like a bucket of tears! Blessed.

My mother-in-law said I should go, and it turned out that she wasn't able to go, so it was weird without her there, but I did not miss her breathing machine Friday night. I didn't get much sleep, but that was because I forgot my earplugs. Weird hotel room, not sleeping next to the hubby and a sister-in-law who warned me she snores. LOUD. I love her, I truly do, and I'm so thankful she has joined our family. I disliked the snoring, though. I threw 2 pillows at her sometime during the night. I told myself I was doing it in love.If she would have been sleeping in my bed, I would have kicked her.Hard. But, I'm still Blessed.

Three sisters in the Lord. Vicky, Suzi and Sarah (me). 

Our group had about 80-some ladies from 4 different states. Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. I thought it was pretty cool, because in our group I could wave my one arm and two rows would all be family of some kind! Most of whom my mother-in-law invited them to come. Because she was unable to go, she was able to bless someone with a ticket, a hotel room and even a t-shirt and Saturday's lunch of someone who wouldn't been able to afford it. Blessed.



I was blessed by the speakers and bought a book for my mother-in-law, hopefully she'll enjoy the book and share it with me when she's done with it! I bought Angie Smith's book 'Broken' and even got her to sign it, and got my picture taken with her. I also bought Selah's new CD and have been listening to it (in the car, at the church) since I returned. Blessed.




Friday, August 3, 2012

Summer Movie Nights


Thanks to all the hard working Main Street Ottumwa volunteers who put this on! 
(I should know, I'm one of them)
 This summer has been hot- serving concessions has not been easy in this heat! 

 My son enjoying his flavored ice- at $0.50 a cup, you can't beat it! 

 
The movie was The Cat in the Hat, 
Click on the link to see the poster design I did.

Want to come? Afraid you missed out? One more movie showing- next Saturday night! 
The movie is a classic: E.T.
Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 8:30pm or dusk- Free
Yes, I designed the poster for that one. 




Wednesday, August 1, 2012

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday- Smokey Row



Just because sometimes you have to have nothing but ice cream for lunch in the summer! 

2 scoops- Mint Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Fudge



Thursday, July 26, 2012

4-H Expo 2012

There were a TON of things to do this year at the 4-H Expo: 

 Face Painting..... 

 A lion with sharp teeth.... 

 Roar..... 

 Train riding.... 

Dollar Dog....  

 Crafts..... 

 Shooting..... 

Down range.... 

 With a real gun.... 

 B.B. Gun reloading.... 

 Shooting again... 

 Loved the big mirror..... 

 Plus the tractors.... 

 What an exhausting day..... 

A lot of 1st this summer: 
1st time getting his face fully painted
1st time shooting a real gun (mommy was more nervous than he was)
1st time re-loading a gun
1st time in a kiddie tractor pull- (we think he was in the top 5 for his weight category)
1st time mommy let him go to the boys bathroom all by himself - although I'm still leery of doing this all the time for obvious reasons, I was at the time occupied and couldn't take my 4 year old to the girls bathroom. 
1st time doing a craft all by himself
The 4-H Expo was fun when he was 3, but it was a blast now that he was 4, old enough to do most of the stuff the big kids were doing, if he chose to. 

 He's growing up so fast!