roses have thorns

The last two weeks have been a bit overwhelming and quite exhausting.

Last Sunday I woke up with a headache. I didn’t have time to eat before church so I thought I was just dehydrated. Long story short, ended up being a migraine or something similar. I have never experienced one before, and it sucked! It was so painful. I was nauseated and the intensity wouldn’t subside. I had to go to bed because I was worthless. My sweet husband took the reigns for the night and allowed me to try and heal. He stayed and worked from home the next day to make sure I was functional. I got better, and hope to not have to experience that EVER again!

Then a few nights later I mentioned to my hubs, I would LOVE to just have a full nights rest without interruption. I truly wasn’t insinuating anything to him but he quickly jumped with a response, “Okay, switch me sides of the bed!” I was dumbfounded. I mean not really, because yes my husband IS that amazing, but dumbfounded he really would do it, and do it THAT night! So that was a fabulous night if you can imagine (minus the disturbance from my three year old). Of course it couldn’t have been a perfect night ;) lol.

So yay for one good day in the mix, because it goes downhill after that. The next week is seriously a blur. Between my insane injury and Landon’s insane work hours, I’m ready to just completely forget it all anyways!

Landon has been called into work almost every night this past week. And TWO of them he didn’t even return! With growth comes chaos. He is exhausted and I feel so bad for him. His absence leaves me playing single mom which makes me exhausted! I’m also dealing with a random excruciating painful injury. I stretched. Yep, I did the typical morning arm stretch and became paralyzed. I thought I might have ripped a muscle but now I think it’s nerve damage. I get these rocket blasts of pain shooting up my neck, or down my arm, or in my shoulder. It has been so awful and so painful. Once again, hubby was to the rescue and took another day to work at home and help with Bryelle because I couldn’t even hold her. He forced me to take some Vicodin we had in the cupboard, and that SAVED my life (besides my superhero husbands help). Anyways, there are still residual effects, and to top it off, we’ve had FOUR SNOW DAYS in the mix too.

So, whiney pants me is sitting here thinking of all the negative and stressful things happening because they are apparent and abundant. Today was loooong. Trying to entertain the kids all day, cleaning up mess after mess, stopping the bickering, making meals, holding the fussing baby, and maintaining sanity through it all knowing dad wasn't returning home from work, just wasn’t happening. I was on empty and as hard as I tried to self talk my mind into FINDING JOY in the moment, or just “letting go” of the serious pig sty of a house…it was too much to ask.  It just wasn’t my day.

But the kids are in bed now, the house is quiet, and I’m trying to reboot my head and find another gear because I don’t like the one I’m in. I hate the negativity and the pressure I feel in this gear. I know it’s up to me to make the switch and so I’ll self talk myself a little more, remember perspective, get on my knees and thank my Heavenly Father once again that I’m so thankful these hoodlums are in my life because I couldn’t image my life any other way, and then plop my head on the pillow and pray for a good nights rest. At least for another hour before Bryelle wants to eat :)

So before I go dig my pillow case out of the mountain of laundry, here are some cute pics of the day to remind me to focus on the good and remind me why I am so blessed!!  There is always always something to be thankful for!

Smiles inbetween the cries...

 



 

 

Creativity among the messes...

 

 

 

Quiet moments amidst the chaos...

 

Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.

TIME

Where does my time go as a mom...well, here is a little glimpse. It's a little of this, and a little of that!

My time goes to...

 watching Kambrie show me that out of the blue she needs to start gymnastics because she knows how to do a back bend!!

I'm so proud!

Or my time goes to making sure I cuddle this adorable teddy bear!!

A lot of my time goes to preventative measures in keeping us all alive.  Like for instance, taking the time to let Kambrie blow out this candle and pretend to have an un-birthday, so she is satisfied and doesn't try to light the candle herself!!

I love taking time to document Bryelle's growth.  Three month old pics here.  She is growing so fast.  I am so in love with my baby!!

oops...tiiiimber!

Sometimes it's hard to take time to stop and savor the moment, but this is some of my favorite time.  I love watching my budding artist create.  Tanner has a brilliant mind.  He likes to play with duct tape, steals my sharpies, and is obsessed with notebooks.  Good thing my stash of clearanced out 10 cent notebooks have come in handy!!!

Or time is spent watching this sweet girl create a cute line up of Minnie Mouse accessories, which somehow always get left for me to clean up!

We all LOVE the time when daddy gets home and that is precious time spent together.  I love using my time watching these two laugh and give kisses...nose kisses, butterfly kisses, elephant kisses, daddy kisses...

There is never enough time to take enough pictures 

of this adorable face. 

I love watching her grow, like watching the new discovery of her hands unfold!!

I spend time watching these guys cuddle and enjoy their reading time together.

I spend a lot of time trying to get this one to SLEEP and STAY asleep!!

I always have to spend time watching the kids with Bryelle.  They love and adore her, but sometimes they think they are bigger than they are!!  (especially Kam)

Tanner can handle her pretty good for a few minutes.

I love taking time doing things for the kids, like when I made this homemade play dough and then watched this creation transpire from Tanner.

So cool!!

I take time to go grocery shopping so we can all live.  

And during this particular trip I laughed my guts out!  Kambrie kept complaining that something was itching her and poking her down below.  I stopped in the isle and peeked down her pants to see what was bothering her, only to discover this sweet rearrangement of panties on her body!  She had them placed through all the wrong holes.  It was the cutest site to see her little cheeks and I couldn't stop myself from literally laughing OUT LOUD!!  Such a fun memory :)

More time is spent as I watch these two giggle as they read this series of funny books "Diary of a Wimpy Kid."  We've had movie marathons after each book.  Such a fun bonding experience!

I always spend time bathing and cleaning the kids.  I spend a lot of time doing laundry...especially with a newborn that likes to spit up a lot.  Now my sweet angel can have clean blankets to lay on as we watch her engage and learn to grab and reach for her toys.

I spend more time getting my nails painted than I like!  lol.  Kambrie wants to do nails EVERYDAY!  She wants to paint my finger nails, my toe nails, her finger nails, her toe nails...oh what a fun and messy experience!

I spend time at every holiday going to my kids class parties.  I love helping out and being there to watch their interactions and be a part of the experience.  I want to be where my kids are whenever I can!!

I love spending time just being silly with my kids, giving cuddles and making them laugh.  I spend a lot of time breaking up fights, trying to stop whines, disciplining, comforting a crying baby, fixing a hurting body part or a hurting heart...so the good moments are fabulous!!

We spend time together as a family and try to do lots of fun activities.  Like this day when we took the kids to Springfield and played at the Discovery Center and ate lunch at Chick Fil A.

We love family time together.  Best time spent!

I spend a lot of time trying to keep little miss attitude here, from having an attitude!!

I spend way too much time away from my husband.  He works so hard and has long draining hours.  So when we get a little weekend get-away in Branson with the CALO leadership team I am one happy momma!!

 

I spend time at play dates and trying to find fun and entertaining things to do in this one horse sleepy town.  EVERY SINGLE morning Kambrie walks into my bedroom after she wakes up and asks "where we going!?"  

She wants to go somewhere or do something every day!!

 I spend a lot of time being entertained by these adorable girls as I watch them transform from pop stars, to mermaids, to princesses and more!!

Alexa and Kambrie are so dang cute.

 

I spend time battling these two out for the beaters!

 I LOVE cake and brownies and baked goods, so it's never a waste of my time making and eating them!!  I always make time for cake.  Our bowls never have to be washed...they get licked clean ;)

This is where my time goes...

BEST TIME OF MY LIFE!