Working from Home

So I am a stay at home mother and I've never regretted the decision to stay home with my kids. I'm glad that around my sophomore year of college it finally sunk in that I really did want to be home with my future children and that maybe the prophet knew what he was talking about with the whole proclamation on the family. So I said goodbye to med school dreams and now plan to get my doctorate once my kids are older. I can always go back and get an advanced degree, no problem. I have a great example in my mother who just finished her law degree and is currently completing her masters in tax law (she's a nerd!).

Anyway, because we are a one income family in a two income world, sometimes finances are a little tight. Both Brett and I go, "if only we could buy....", but in the end we have everything we need, well really more than we need, and we are fine. But lately I have felt like I needed to do something to earn a little more cash, mostly so we can pay off our expensive little reflux man. I mean we are lucky to have good health insurance; I can't even imagine how much we would have to pay without it, but it would be nice to have Corban payed for. So when a friend of mine, a realtor, asked if I would like to do some writing for her, I jumped at the chance.

In the past week, I have gained a new respect for working mothers. For both, those who work from home and those who work outside of the home. I am not writing/working much and I can't seem to keep everything together. First, there is this whole having a deadline or responsibility for completing work thing. I have not been accountable for completing things in a timely manner to anyone but me, for three years. I'm not sure I'm a big fan of it. If I don't get my self imposed list of things to do done, no one cares! Brett would never come home and say, "Woman, why didn't you get the laundry done?" More likely he would just go put whatever he needed washed in and that would be normal. He is an amazing and accepting husband, but that is another post.

Okay so second, how do working mothers manage to keep the house clean, laundry done, kids fed and not screaming, and the floor swept? Our kitchen floor is gross! I really should be sweeping it instead of writing about it. Really all you working mothers are amazing. You non-working mothers are amazing too, its really just about different skills I guess. I think I have the basic none-working mother skills down, its the other more organized work from home skills that I need to get.

I have really enjoyed writing about my community and learning all these random facts about where I live. I wouldn't mind doing more. I really love to research and write, even college papers (I'm a nerd, too! Its genetic!) I just have to learn to manage my time better and maybe I will have to stick to the Fly Lady's schedule better!

So to all you mothers, especially you work from home mothers, you are amazing and I envy your organization and time management skills. Please, share some of them with me!

Pet Peeve

So I only have one pair of jeans without holes, and I tend to wear them a lot, meaning several days of wearing them without washing them. Well they ended up actually getting washed this week, and what happens? The first time I wear them, straight out of the dryer, Corby walks right up and smears baked beans all over them.

Basketball

So, (wait a minute, just wanted to comment that apparently I use the word "so" a lot. Every time I go to post something I start to write "so" and then I change it. but not anymore). So....the women at church have started getting together to play basketball and for the last 4 weeks they have played on Tuesday nights instead of Wednesdays, so I've been able to go while Brett watches the kids. Well last night, Brett decided he really wanted to see me play so he packed up the kids and went with me. I had a lot of fun, felt less like having a heart attack (each week gets progressively better), and actually scored some points (who knows how many, but I think I'm getting better, those who have played with me feel free to contradict that statement). Well, when it was all over and we were in the car on the way home, Brett told me that if I ever wanted to hear it, he had a few pointers. He said it very nice and was really supportive, and I think a little afraid that I might get mad at him. I told him I would get back to him.

Later I did ask for suggestions, but reserved the right to get all defensive and mad. He agreed and everything he said was pretty nice and helpful. But really, I think he was just trying to be good and encourage me to keep playing so maybe, just maybe I might gain some sports skills and be an asset to our sons' future sports abilities/knowledge. I'm not sure it will help though, I come from a long line of zero coordination. For example, as a child my mother was so uncoordinated she crashed her tricycle through her school window and broke her arm. The last time I played catch I missed the ball and it whacked me in the shin. But I guess practice can only help.

Vacation

So we got back from vacation a little over a week ago, and I MISS it! I am ready for it to be warm again. I am done bundling up the kids in coats, it takes so much longer to get in the car. I also miss having someone cook for me. For those who don't know, we were on a cruise, and oh my gosh its hard to come back and try to feel motivated to cook something. A week of five course meals is a little difficult to match, especially coming back to a house with no food. We did finally grocery shop today so maybe I will be a little more motivated to cook when I don't have to be so creative. I also miss the sun. You know that happy warm feeling that just makes you smile...well the gray days need to end. Ian has a little people music CD with a song call "Mr. Golden Sun" I keep singing the line, "Mr. sun, please come out and play with me". So on that note, here are some beautiful pictures to remind me of happy, well fed days. Oh, one more thing, I ate the last of my girl scout cookies and now I want to cry. :(

Brett's dad with a remarkably happy Corban (a rare occurance)

Ian playing in the "dirt" as he calls it in Grand Caymen

Brett, Corban, and I at the Tulum Ruins outside of Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Ian and Brett at sunset in Key West, FL

No ENT!!!!

This morning the boys both had doctor's appointments to recheck their ears. We have been doing this at least once a month since October, it usually turns out to be about every two weeks though, and this was the final check before heading to the ENT for a two for one ear tube special. Well, drumroll please..............THEY BOTH PASSED! Well passed isn't really the right word, but I couldn't think of a better one. So, Ian's ears are finally okay, he even really did "pass", well had normal scores, for both tympanograms (really don't know how to spell that). The doctor and I did a happy dance together. Corban's tympanograms were not yet in the normal range, but good enough that she is positive that they are on the way to being there. Still, I am so excited that I put the print outs of the tests on my refrigerator! (Laura, this is my version of a 100+ spelling test). We are, however, not done with the every other week doctor's visits. Corban has a really weird diaper rash that won't go away, and the doctor couldn't stop staring at it with a confused look. So now we are treating him for both ringworm and an eczema related rash. What is it with my boys and weirdo rashes?!

Bragging About Me!

Okay I have to brag because I am so proud of myself. We have been home less than 48 hours and... all of my laundry is done AND put away! YAY!!!! Even better, the suitcases are already in the garage where they belong. Usually in our family this doesn't happen until 2 months after we return and then they just get packed again.

Time Out

I found out this morning that maybe, just maybe, the concept of time out is becoming clear to Ian. Whether or not its actually changing his behavior is another story. I walked into the living room and he came running toward me and said, "Mommy, Mommy, cars are on time out." And sure enough, he had turned all of his Cars movie cars over with their faces into the ottoman, so they couldn't see him. (Brett started the whole face to the floor for time out and I really like it, it makes it so Ian can't see all the action going on around him). We will have to see if Ian's cars are learning anything from their time spent on time out.