The good news is I went to the doctor this morning, saw someone other than Doctor Oaf, and got some medicine for my sinus infection. Yay! I'm already breathing easier!The sad news is that my sickness scared Pa Pa (Chris' dad) out of coming to visit, so we'll have to wait to have a fun weekend with them. :( Boo.
I hope all of you have a fun weekend!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Are you kidding me?
So, I finally decided to do the responsible thing and go to the doctor to get something to treat what I'm pretty sure is a sinus infection. With my previous insurance I was able to go pretty much anywhere to be seen under coverage by my provider. I went to the Quick Care down the road from work, filled out my paperwork, only to find out that my HMO was no good there, and apparently the ONLY doctor I can see in town is the same oaf who neglected to tell me I was pregnant for two weeks after he knew, and then made me feel like an idiot when he finally got around to it. GREAT! So I have an appointment with Doctor Oaf in the morning. Joy. Hopefully I can get in and out of there and he won't have any other special surprises for me this time. Blah!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Ugh...
Once again, I am sick! For over a week now my head has been full of snot...ugh!!! It seems to me that my immune system has been down since I gave birth, which make sense I suppose since that is a lot for a body to go through. Poor little Parker got the sniffles this weekend too, but is already feeling better. He has a doctors appointment today to get more immunizations. He was a little trooper through all 4 shots and only cried for a minute. There is just nothing worse than watching your sweet little baby getting poked by big needles!!! :(
I'm excited because Chris' parents are coming this weekend to hang out with us and little P, and are also brining some leather furniture they got for a great deal from one of their friends for us. We always have lots of fun when they visit, and Parker will have fun getting lots of PaPa and BiBi love! I'm hoping my parents will come out in April so they can spread some Gramma and Granpa love, too! :)
Next week our school has Spring Break, which means I get Thursday and Friday off! Hooray! I hope the weather is nice so Parker and I can enjoy some afternoon walks on our days off. Deborah is going out of town for the whole week, so Parker will probably be coming to work with me early in the week. I'll put him to work stuffing some envelopes for me. :)
Ok, Gotta run and feed Peanut!
I'm excited because Chris' parents are coming this weekend to hang out with us and little P, and are also brining some leather furniture they got for a great deal from one of their friends for us. We always have lots of fun when they visit, and Parker will have fun getting lots of PaPa and BiBi love! I'm hoping my parents will come out in April so they can spread some Gramma and Granpa love, too! :)
Next week our school has Spring Break, which means I get Thursday and Friday off! Hooray! I hope the weather is nice so Parker and I can enjoy some afternoon walks on our days off. Deborah is going out of town for the whole week, so Parker will probably be coming to work with me early in the week. I'll put him to work stuffing some envelopes for me. :)
Ok, Gotta run and feed Peanut!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
A quick trip to SC
Parker and I headed up to South Carolina on Friday to help Chris' cousin celebrate the end of her chemotherapy treatments. Joyce is in her early 30s, has a one year old and a four year old, and was diagnosed with breast cancer about a year ago. Chris' mom, aunt, and cousins were all there and we had a nice dinner together. Parker and I stayed at the hotel with Beth and Adele and then drove home on Saturday. It was great to see Chris' mom (grandma name to be determined), who hadn't seen Parker since Christmas. She just couldn't get enough snuggles from Peanut. Chris would have been there, but he is in Virginia this weekend DJ-ing and will drive home on Monday. We already miss him lots! I'm about to post a pic that Beth took at the hotel of little Parker playing on his tummy. He's got the most beautiful brown eyes!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Hello, Hello... is there anybody out there?
No one has left a comment on my blog for months! Is anyone still reading? One of my recent magazines says that most blogs are read only by the blogger and his/her mother. Thanks, Mom and Dad! At least I know you care! Ha ha ha. Give me and the Peanut some love and say hello!!!!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Happy Valentines Day!!
We had such a nice Valentines Day yesterday!!! Chris came home with a dozen red, long stem roses and then cooked me the most delicious dinner: steak, green beans, red wine, and a fabulous salad. Parker fell asleep early and let us have date night. We ate by candle-light, chatted and laughed together, drank wine...it was so much fun!
Later (a few glasses of wine later), I convinced Chris to let me put a mud mask on his face, so we both hung out and listened to some of our favorite CD's with bright green faces truly enjoying eachother. Parker must have known we needed some special time together because he slept like a rock from 6:30pm until 11pm. It was so great to re-connect with Chris and have some fun, silly time together.
Don't think I got Chris in a mud mask without taking pictures! I will be posting one soon to share the hilarity! (Good thing Chris doesn't read my blog...ha!!)
xoxo
Laura
Later (a few glasses of wine later), I convinced Chris to let me put a mud mask on his face, so we both hung out and listened to some of our favorite CD's with bright green faces truly enjoying eachother. Parker must have known we needed some special time together because he slept like a rock from 6:30pm until 11pm. It was so great to re-connect with Chris and have some fun, silly time together.
Don't think I got Chris in a mud mask without taking pictures! I will be posting one soon to share the hilarity! (Good thing Chris doesn't read my blog...ha!!)
xoxo
Laura
Monday, February 11, 2008
Go Parker!
When I went to visit Parker today at 3:00 in the afternoon, we were playing on the rug and he rolled over for the first time!!!! Deborah, Emma, Robert and I were all there as his audience! Yay, Parker!!! He was so pleased with himself! When he first rolled over we all cheered, which startled him and his eyes got really big. Then he started smiling and screaming with delight. It was awesome! :)
A friend sent me this...
*This is an email that was forwarded to me. I thought it was sweet, so I thought I would post it. Luckily, I am surrounded by sweet people who let me know they appreciate me!!!
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour – the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour – the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Truly Inspired
I remember while I was pregnant, my friend Leah and I were talking about how becoming a parent changes people. She had a couple of friends who had had children and watched as their priorities, values, and perspectives changed, which sometimes meant falling out of touch with old friends while forming new social circles with other couples with kids. I assured Leah that becoming a parent wouldn't change me.... I had no idea what I was talking about.
The personal change that occurs when you begin the journey of parenthood is so profound there is no way to even begin to explain it. Already, I feel as though becoming a mother has made me a better person, has given me the gift of a much grander perspective on life, and has given me a confidence in my own ability and in the endless opportunities that lie in my future. When I gave birth, I was reborn. What an amazing experience.
I thought when I went back to work that I would spend my time thinking about what I would rather be doing at home with Parker. Actually, I feel more motivated than ever to be my best professional self. I feel more motivated than ever to start my masters degree program (class by class) and to become the best woman I can to show my son what is possible in life with a little hard work. I want to be someone Parker can be proud of and look up to and count on. What better incentive is there?
Maintaining my personal friendships with friends in all stages of their lives remains very important to me, but I can also understand seeking out friendships with other women with children. As amazing as parenthood is, it involves a lot of uncertainty, and having experienced moms around to lean on when needed is invaluable. It is very reassuring to share stories, fears, and questions with people who know exactly what you're talking about. I look forward to being a seasoned mom when some of my other friends have kids so they can call me when they need some mommy support. :) I have also never appreciated or understood my own mom more than I do today. I thank her for teaching me a lot of things about being a wonderful mom.
Ok, those are my deep thoughts for the day. Back to being motivated at work! :)
Sidenote: I saw a funny quote today on one of our students' pieces of art: "Don't sweat petty things and don't pet sweaty things." Don't know why, but that made me laugh out loud.
The personal change that occurs when you begin the journey of parenthood is so profound there is no way to even begin to explain it. Already, I feel as though becoming a mother has made me a better person, has given me the gift of a much grander perspective on life, and has given me a confidence in my own ability and in the endless opportunities that lie in my future. When I gave birth, I was reborn. What an amazing experience.
I thought when I went back to work that I would spend my time thinking about what I would rather be doing at home with Parker. Actually, I feel more motivated than ever to be my best professional self. I feel more motivated than ever to start my masters degree program (class by class) and to become the best woman I can to show my son what is possible in life with a little hard work. I want to be someone Parker can be proud of and look up to and count on. What better incentive is there?
Maintaining my personal friendships with friends in all stages of their lives remains very important to me, but I can also understand seeking out friendships with other women with children. As amazing as parenthood is, it involves a lot of uncertainty, and having experienced moms around to lean on when needed is invaluable. It is very reassuring to share stories, fears, and questions with people who know exactly what you're talking about. I look forward to being a seasoned mom when some of my other friends have kids so they can call me when they need some mommy support. :) I have also never appreciated or understood my own mom more than I do today. I thank her for teaching me a lot of things about being a wonderful mom.
Ok, those are my deep thoughts for the day. Back to being motivated at work! :)
Sidenote: I saw a funny quote today on one of our students' pieces of art: "Don't sweat petty things and don't pet sweaty things." Don't know why, but that made me laugh out loud.
Monday, February 4, 2008
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