Flashback Friday! The Un4gettable Labors and Deliveries Part I.

Tomorrow marks the date of the longest Ben and I have gone without having a new baby--Two years and two months.  Who would have thought I would have even cared about such a date.  It is kind of bittersweet.  I mean, I like babies and all.  I love their smell, their cuddles, their little whimper-y cries that are sometimes just too sweet to console immediately.  I love how they grow and begin a lifetime of first.  It all begins with a little push from mom, or maybe a big one.  I do not miss the labor after the delivery though.  With that we begin.
First of all there was Riggs.  Benjamin Riggs Evans, that is.  My due date was May 22, 2003 and he decided that he couldn't wait another day!  At 6:00 that morning I felt a strange sensation while I was laying on the couch.  I had been sleeping on the couch for several weeks, maybe months.  Still technically being newlyweds (remember we were pregnant after being married two months), Ben didn't want to leave me by myself and had rearranged the couches so that the front of our love seat and sofa faced each other.  It made what I called the Utah couch because that was kind of what it looked like.  Anyway, I got up and left Ben sleeping on his side of the sofa and decided to go take a shower.  I wasn't sure what was going on, but I was sure a long hot shower would be good for me.  I discovered that my water was slowly leaking, but not really breaking.  So, I finished up, dressed myself, prepared for more leaking, woke up Ben with a "Honey, my water is breaking, but it's not really broken".  He got up, sort of bewildered, but then again, he always wakes up like that.  He got a shower, too while I paid a few bills that needed to be taken care of before we left.  We were surprisingly calm for first time parents wouldn't you say?  Ben called my parents and his while we drove the long 1 mile trek to Natchitoches Parish Hospital.  They started me on pitocin because of the water leakage.  I felt a few contractions while I watched Regis and Kelly, then I got an epidural and didn't really feel much more until they told me push.  The doctor came in, Dr. Avalez,  and he had me push one more time.  Then the last time he used that suction cup thing and performed an Episiotomy and Riggs was here.  What a handsome barrel chested and strong 8lb 6oz baby that was!

You could tell we had cleared out Boudions pizza buffet a few times. Okay, okay, well actually he was about five months old in this picture. Ben had a friend that was an art major at our local university and we didn't have to take our own camera to the hospital that day...now I can't find our very artistic renditions of nothing.  We were very calm that day, did I mention that?  Tomorrow I'll talk about L&D #2.

Exercise is a must!

I used to measure my running in miles.  Now I measure it in feet--the eight little feet that I am running after.  About a year ago, I thought I'd do a triathlon.  Key word being thought.  I was fired up about it, but training is so over rated.  Then, I more realistically thought I'd do a 5K.  That involves some intensity as well.  I hate to admit it, but  it has been so stinkin' long since I ran that I just don't have enough stamina for that.  It's not even about losing weight--I still wear the same size I did when I got married--It's just that I've shifted, so I'd like to shift it back.  It's not even that I don't like to exercise, but finding time to fit it in between homeschooling, laundry, cooking, cleaning, drop-off, pick-up, dressing myself and 2 or more other people, brushing that many teeth, rallying the troops for clean-up duty and getting dinner on the table at a decent hour... let's just take a deep breath...
inhale all that oxygen = energy
..exhale
...Ahhhhh.
I feel better, you?
I've started a new plan.  Obviously thinking BIG didn't work.  So I'm thinking smaller.  Here it is:
1) I have to get up at 5 am.  Yep that was a 5.  So it has to be something I can get up and do without too much coordination involved.
2) It has to be fast--no 60 min. work outs, the kids will be up soon.
3) It has to be effective.  If I don't see or feel something soon, I'm gonna get bored and feel like I'm wasting my time.
What I'm thinking is: Home workout videos.  Not just any work out video, because the TaeBo I did in college is kickin'. my. tail.  No no.  My new favorite is...Denise Austin.  Yes, her BIG blues are kind of creepy (My three year old is freaked out by them, and she asked that I go back to Billy), but she is definitely catering to the busy mom.  Can I get a twist for the waist-line?
She's got the Daily Dozen--a 12 minute daily work out!  Very Efficient.
The 20 min. Boot Camp Video!  Very Effective
The 20 min shrink your fat zones pilates!  Perfect for swimsuit season!
Now zip up those abs and do great things for your hips, thighs and BUTT!  *ding* (that's what happens when DA smiles)
And lot's more. Each one for the cost of about 1 Zumba class.  That, my busy mom friends,  is AMAZING.
              
      

If I can do this, anyone can!

I am transforming my bedroom into a relaxing French country style.  I needed something to go in the blank spot above my bed, but haven't had enough time to go shopping for anything.  During one of my internet searches, I discovered the burlap wreath.  Characteristics: Easy, Fast, Cheap, Beautiful...PERFECT!
Here's how you make one:
First, you'll need a wire hanger. 

Then you'll need 1-3 yards of burlap depending on how full you want it to be.  I used about 2 and 1/3 yds.  

Then you cut the burlap into 4" strips, or have your little helper do it with the kitchen shears he's enthusiastically located.    

Finally, fold the burlap accordion style and push it onto the hanger.  At the end, I bent the wire into hooks and hooked them to each other. With the leftover wire, I made a little loop to hang it on the wall.  

I also, got some satin ribbon and saftey pinned a little bow onto it.  
voilà--a nice shabby chic decoration for any room or door.   

We moved a house!

When we moved here 4 years ago, the builder gave us this little playhouse.  Actually, when he gave it to us, it looked more like an outhouse.  So we painted it.  It was so cute to look at from my kitchen window.  I had grandiose dreams of turning it into a child's wonderland...but I didn't.   

Instead, the kids played in it, on it, around it, through it-- everything but hang upside down from it.  They turned it into this: 

I didn't want to tear it down, because they still enjoy it, but we had to move it.  We have other plans for that spot.  Unfortunately, we didn't think to put forklift on our wedding registry...but, have no fear Mr. Incredible lives here! (And his trusty sidekick:) 
He jacked it up,  

  Put it on these pipes,

 Then puuuushed it across the yard.  

Well, he had to do a little digging to get it in just the right spot.  I was the leverage a couple of times, and that house is heavy!

After an entire morning of pushing, digging, rolling, and wedging, it was in place.  

Now, isn't that better?  

Flashback Friday!

We did a lot of painting in February.  When I see what our house looks like now, it always makes me reminisce about the old days.  

First, we moved into an attic apartment, but only for two months.  Then I was excited because a house became available and we got...

THIS!

The house was 60 years old in 2001.  

What I loved was

1) It had a huge pantry.

2) The space heater was the best wipe warmer ever invented. 

3) The front porch.  We did a lot of swingin' on that porch.

4) The rent was $350/ mo.   

What I did not like was:
1)  The crack in the floor in the hallway.  My "crack house".  You could see the ground through that crack.  Not to worry...the landlord covered it with carpet.  What a guy...    
2)  During the winter, the temperature in that house would be the same as that inside my refrigerator.  Ironically, it came with a refrigerator that worked really well.  
3)  Not the most ideal place to bring my firstborn home to.  When Riggs was learning to walk he would have to climb to the middle of the house and roll down the other side.  (The infamous crack was in the middle of the "mountian") 
The picture above was taken on move out day.  What a glorious day that was! 

Then we moved to this house in Bentonville, Ar.  We found it via the internet and figured it had to be a step up.  It was only 7 years old at the time.  You could huff and you could puff, but you weren't going to blow it down.  It had 1200 square feet of flat, carpeted, centrally heated and cooled coziness.  We were glad to have it.  We brought our sweet Anne-Claire home to that house. 

What I loved about that house was: 

1) All the above mentioned! They had become luxuries we could now afford!

2) The dishwasher!  

3) The circular floor plan--It had a galley kitchen on one side, a bathroom in the middle and a hallway on the other side.  We played chase constantly! 

What I did not like:

1) The carpet was in the bathroom.  Not that I was really complaining, but it discouraged me from potty training. 

2) The hot water lasted long enough for one person to shower, one load of dishes, or one load of laundry.  I had two very young children.  There was more than one of all of those things quite frequently.     

If you look past the 3 musketeers, you can see our Fayetteville house.  That was a GREAT house.  

What I liked about it:

1) Big yard

2) Two living areas, huge bathroom. 1800 square feet of 1970's charm.  

What I didn't like:

1) The grass to mow in the summer and the leaves to rake in the fall. 

2) It wasn't mine    

And now, here we are.  A home of our very own.  It's nothing ostentatious.  It is FULL of love and laughter.  We were living here when Dez and Bethany were born.      

What I like:

1)  The yard is not too big--it doesn't take ALL of Saturday to mow.  

2)  The house is not  too big--I can thoroughly clean it in a few hours.  

3)  I can paint it.  

4) We've lived here longer than any other place.  It's starting to feel like home and my oldest two have told me that it's our old house.  I love that.  

What I don't like:

1) Nothing really.  If something bothers me, I change it.            

Strong and Contagious

I read Joshua 1:9, my all time favorite verse, to my kids this week.  It says "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and Courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed (some versions say be terrified or discouraged), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  I was reading it for myself because at this very last semester of  the school year, I get a little spring fever.  At this point, we need some encouragement to press on.  So, I read the whole chapter to them and asked them what God said over and over in that chapter.  They shouted, with enthusiasm "Be strong and contagious!"  If I had only known that it was a prophesy--Riggs was already not feeling well on Sunday night.  He then bestowed this illness on Dez.  Bethany woke up at three this morning with a stomach problem that required washing clothes and towels at that horrid hour.

Do not tremble or be dismayed!

We are surviving!

We are strong!

We are Contagious!        

Let's try and remember to not forget.

Sunday was my 29th birthday.  It was one of the best birthdays I have had EVER! I cannot imagine that 30 could be any better.  I believe that as you get older you tend to reminisce more often.  It is true for me.  Maybe it's because things have slowed down a little bit and I haven't had too many life altering events in the past year.  I know that the past 10 years has been full of them.  Here's the rundown:
at 19 Met my husband, got engaged.
at 20 Got married in June, found out I was pregnant in August
at 21 had my first child in May and first anniversary in June.
at 22 Found out I was pregnant again and moved from Louisiana to Northwest Arkansas.
at 23 I had my second child.
at 24 Started homeschooling  and went on my dream vacation to NYC at Christmastime
at 25 bought a house and had my third child
at 26 found out I was pregnant after my oldest's fifth birthday party.  
at 27 had my 4th child
at 28 I was recovering
at 29 I finally caught my breath enough to start a blog.  

Now I have a lot of material to work with and maybe, just maybe, a little time to write down a few moments, memories, tips and tricks that I have learned.  Now, I just have to try and remember to not forget all of the little things that have happened in the past 9 years.  When I am looking through pictures, or cleaning out closets, I plan to share all of the little memories that have been jogged by those things.  This is my online, ongoing scrapbook of sorts.  I hope it's as much fun for you as I plan on it being for me.