Day 161

So not a bad day today...just a long one.  Aladdin got a claw removed and we went from trying to get to bed around 8 pm tonight to being LUCKY to get to bed around one.  We had to RE-wrap his bandages...now this cat is special.  He is loving, adores the kids, snuggles all night, and usually a well tempered animal.  But get him ANYwhere near a medical facility and the cat goes bonkers!  He tries to EAT his way out of a cone, the vet has to wear special gloves to put him in a special box that gasses him to sleep JUST to check his general health!  So getting his claw removed today was a big deal, and then he ate the wrapping off of his paw!  So with extra thick work gloves, David and I proceeded to re-wrap the paw...only took 3 hours lol.

Work was good today.  I had a fun time with the itty bitty kiddos.  After work, we sat down around the table and had a fabulous meal that David prepared.  I LOVE Mondays when we get to eat at the dinner table.  We do this other days of the week too, but to me, starting the week around the table as a family just makes me so happy!  After dinner, I put in a batch of cranberry/orange scones and we began Family Home Evening.  Our topic was "what are good things to pray about and what are things that we should NOT pray for"  It was great to have Joel AND Connor participate.  We sang a songs, had opening and closing prayer, and then ate the most delicious scones from Stonewall Kitchen!  It was a great night and I am so happy we ended today as a loving family.

I am really happy tonight.  Really tired and hoping Aladdin feels better, but we have him snuggled down in a blankie in the laundry basket...and he is ONE happy kitty right now....mostly due to how much sedatives we had to give him to calm him down lol.

Well, off to bed and looking forward to a little sleep and hopefully my under eye cream keeping the puff and dark circles to a minimum.  Have a good night all!

Day 160

160 days of sunshine so far!  Finding the joy is fun!  Good Sabbath day today!

We started off our morning by trying to wake up and get out the door to church...we made it on time and my arm made it through all four songs today.  I have a feeling I am getting close to being done with this wonderful calling.  My left arm was never supposed to lead the music lol.  I have been left HANDED and right ARMED my whole life.  I am so proud of my left arm taking over this past year while my right arm was incapacitated.  It just doesn't feel as good and gets SO tired when leading a really long song...we shall see :)

Church was wonderful and I got to see people that I only get to see once a week and chat with them.  It was nice to catch up with some people and arrange future get togethers with others.

We came home and I put Connor down for a nap and watched a movie in my room with Joel. He REALLY likes how our bedroom is turning out.  Such a cute kid.  After the movie was over, Joel went down to hang out with David and I took a nap...SO needed it!
We did dinner with my parents and then home and baths for the boys.  As we were saying prayers tonight, Connor tried to repeat every word in the prayer that I was saying.  So I slowed down and let him follow along so he felt like HE was saying the prayer.  When we were done Joel said "wow that is really impressive how far Connor has come!"  ADORABLE!  Joel went over to Connor and hugged and kissed him and told him he did a good job praying....OH that they could be that way ALL of the time!  At least it was one of those happy moments that is seared into my mind forever...so sweet!

Well tomorrow is another Monday.  If you are reading this, pray for our little family this week.  Lots of news coming and it all BEGINS tomorrow.  We are hoping for a very SPEEDY resolution on some of our conflicts and we should find out Tuesday how it all went.  Until tomorrow, happy thoughts to all and keep finding the joy!

Day 159

My happy moments started early this morning!  First, my friend asked me if I wanted to go on a walk with her....exercising is hard because I don't like doing it alone and I can't find the time.  So this morning was the perfect time to go!  This particular friend and neighbor just happens to work for a company called Coach.  When I dropped my last 5 pounds, I told her there was a certain purse/bag I had seen that I wanted.  She was able to snag it for me at a great price!  So on top of getting to see my friend, her dogs, AND her new cute baby, I also got a bag with a box containing my new purse!  YEA!  It has SO much room in it, but looks small.  I am excited to try it out tomorrow....women....lol

So I had a lovely walk with my friend and got some much needed exercise and girl talk in.  I have been very blessed to be around wonderful people three days in a row now and getting to talk and share life with them. 

We were able to redo some of our room today.  We now have our old downstairs TV upstairs, the new TV installed downstairs, and the dresser moved around.  Next up is getting a painter and getting the bed here.  So happy to have the room looking slightly like what it is going to look like in the end!  AND when the room is finished, that means we will be celebrating our 10 yr wedding anniversary....all happy things!

We went to my parent's house and had dinner with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and niece tonight.  It was fun (other than Connor and my niece fighting over a book....2 yr olds....) and we had a nice meal and a good time visiting.

We came home and put the kids to bed.  Joel behaved SO well that we got to do kiss and song time tonight, always a pleasant treat to hear "I love you very much Mommy" at the end of my day.  So now I am off to bed.  Church in the morning and then hopefully a good long nap!  Happy Saturday and let the new week begin!

Day 158

Friday, Friday, gettin down on Friday...everybody's looking forward to the weekend....so bad I know, but I couldn't help myself!  I am so so so happy that Friday is HERE!
I started my morning at my Mothers of Preschoolers meeting where we sat at our tables, ate yummy food, and prayed for one another.  I SO SO needed this at the end of this week.  Tissues abounded today and I was grateful to be there to support other women in their time of need as well.  We had a really fun activity where we took a piece of candy out of a bag and that candy corresponded to a question on a game that was made up.  Some of the questions were faith based, and others were really hard to come up with answers!  We had a wonderful time laughing together and planning our next Mom's night out...coming to this happy blog soon!

I went home and Connor and his babysitter were still out at the park, so I had a few mommy moments to myself to pick up downstairs and make phone calls and other things I CANNOT do when my two year old is attached at my leg lol.  Connor came back home and it was lunch and then nap time for him.  I picked up Joel from school and we sat on the couch while Connor took his nap.  Joel and I read stories and played games on the tablet while snuggled up.  I even got a, "I really like this mommy."  I really liked it too....because you KNOW that isn't happening in just a few short years!  I will take the happy snuggle moments now!

After the kids went to bed, David and I did a mini date night downstairs with a television show and some chamomile tea for me.
 I am so happy to be here on this Friday night and have the next week stretched out in front of me.  It is going to be a fun time this next week with the kiddos and I am looking forward to all of the fun MAGICAL moments that are headed our way....and that's all I have to say about that.....

Thursday Day 157

Today was a good day...a really really good day to begin the end of a really really bad week.  I have been so depressed, felt so alone, and been so sad all week...and that is no way to feel when I have a HAPPY blog to type in at the END of those days! LOL

Joel and Connor were both in really good moods today...happy!
My visiting teacher texted me and we met for lunch.  I got to talk with her about her life and my life and everything in between.  Eating mexican food and letting it all out...it...was...lovely!  I didn't feel alone and I felt good at the end of the lunch.  It is nice to feel supported and loved by other people.

David came home early so I could get a nap in before I headed for the Temple.  I was so tired from everything going on this week.  He took the boys out to the pool and water play area that is walking distance to our home and I slept for 2 hours...blissfully slept and dreamed...SUCH a happy Mommy moment!

I helped David get the boys dinner and get them ready for bed and then I was off to the LDS temple!  I got there and it just happened to be the night that my old congregation was visiting!  It was so great to see so many ladies that I loved so much in my old ward.  I sat in the Celestial room and hugged and cried with them.  That is how heaven is going to be my friends.  Everyone is going to be dressed in white, in a beautiful place, and have the opportunity to see people that you loved here on earth.  It was a blessed evening and it was JUST what I needed for the end of a really bad week!  I am so thankful that I am being watched over by my Heavenly Father each day, and when I am in tears and whispering "please help me to make it through the rest of this week" he sends me angels galore to carry me through!  I am filled with joy and gratitude tonight.  May all of you be so lucky to have dear friends and loved ones to lift YOU up in your time of need.  :-)

Day 156

So I checked the stats report on my blog today.  I don't like to check too often, because not knowing how many people read my blog a day (and usually the number is around ONE) is fine with me.  This blog can be read by anyone or no one...it will still be here for me to enjoy!  I have officially reached almost EVERY single continent with my blog!  That is pretty neat!  Now if only I knew someone who lived in Australia and Antarctica...that would be cool to have every continent having someone who read my blog!  Still have some time left so we will see!
Started off my day feeding the kiddos breakfast and rushing out the door to work.  I picked up Joel from school and had a nice chat with him, got him lunch and was able to give Connor hugs and kisses before heading back TO work.  I don't see the kids too much on Wednesdays, but helping other kids is really rewarding and I am grateful that the boys are in good hands!
After work, I came home and set up the house for my Pampered Chef party.  I have a wonderful friends who has been my consultant and dear friend for many years now.  We always have a fun time when she puts together great food!  After the party, we always talk about our kids and Joel and his progress with his sensory disorder.  Nancy is a bit of an expert on the subject since her child has a sensory processing disorder and Nancy was studying to become an occupational therapist.  She always gives us great tips on how to deal with Joel and his quirks.  It was so great to see so many good friends, eat wonderful food, and talk talk talk the night away! 
I am so thankful for the dear friends that I have that have been so kind to me and thoughtful this past week.  I am so grateful that I can be there for my friends when they need me as well.  Life is not always easy, but this quote came to my mind yesterday and it has stayed all day, "be kind and friends will follow."  I know this to be true.  I am grateful for the opportunities of kindness in my life and that friends come with emotional support in phone calls, wonderful e-mails, and hugs.  I am grateful AND happy for all of it!  The happiest moment of all is that today is Wednesday and tomorrow is Thursday...this week is almost DONE!

Day 155

Today is over! I made it!  Happy!
Got up this morning and headed out to Physical Therapy...I like physical therapy!  It makes my arm feel better AND when I am flaring in the morning it helps me loosen up for the day...all good things!
I had a babysitter today so I took advantage of my boy-free time and headed to the mall for some retail therapy.  Not sure if I was HAPPY shopping or not, but I like what I got.  Emotional shopping...I don't gain weight from it AND I am already walking it off by just DOING it lol.
We had a nice family dinner at home (now, when I say NICE, don't picture some Leave it to Beaver moment)  my version of a NICE family dinner is mommy not having to scream for the thousandth time "JUST EAT IT!" No negotiations on how many MORE bites it will take before the table can be vacated, and absolutely NO "but I don't LIKE this!" tonight...so NICE dinner moment.
I got to watch one of my favorite shows after the kiddos were in bed and drink some chamomile tea as well.  I am ready to head to bed and try as hard as I can to get away from yesterday.  Many things are still looming, but it helps to have prayers said for me and it helped to take some "me" time today to clear my head and try to push past the depression.  I am really alone in both situations.  David can be with me part of the way, but it is my arm and I am the mom.  Hopefully my arm will heal, and with the other situation, well...no good is ever going to come from it.  Lives will be destroyed and all I can hope for are consequences to actions made.  Doesn't sound very happy, but maybe when this whole thing is OVER, we can feel some peace and not have it brought up every few weeks with a phone call :-)  Thanks for reading....happy Tuesday all.