December 6, 2011

A Much Over Due Update

My last few weeks of school are wrapping up for this semester.  I’m just ready to be done.  Like yesterday.  I will have completed three of four semesters at before the end of the month and I am starting to panic about graduating next May.  I know I can do this, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It’s just that I worry about strange things happening – things beyond my control – like getting in a car accident and being in a coma for five months.  Irrational.  Yes, I know.

I think this is just a combination of my natural tendency to worry (a lot) and lack of sleep.  I haven’t been in bed before 10 p.m. in many long weeks.  I’m tired of it.  Pun intended.

Okay, and I’m just too busy.  I’m still learning the ins and outs of my new position at work.  Training is an ongoing process.  There is so much to know about the insurance industry.  Even applying my years of insurance experience isn’t enough to breeze through this training.  Also, worker’s compensation insurance is complex.  Each state follows it’s own rules on what is defined as a covered employee and I’m constantly learning all the “tricky situations” and exceptions to the rule.  It’s no wonder I crash on the couch for 10 minutes the second I walk through the front door.  I have to give my brain a break.

Lately I have had zero ambition to do anything other than go to work, get my homework and studying done each night, and try (oh, do I try) to spend quality time with the boys.  My poor kids.  I have slowly realized they are beginning to prefer Daddy over Mommy.  Mommy is always busy.  Mommy is burning the candle at both ends.

I’m learning to let go of some of the Mommy Guilt, however.  Tonight after work I rushed to Dawson’s school to watch him in wrestling practice.  Then he had a Cub Scout meeting at the Lutheran church down the street (we’re Catholic, but all of Dawson’s classmates are in this particular pack and the meetings are within walking distance of our house – it’s like killing two birds with one stone because I squeeze in some much needed exercise).  Our den leader is the mom of Dawson’s best friend and their family attends the same church we do.  It’s nice to have friends I can commiserate with.  It’s a win-win.

This is Dawson’s first year in wrestling.  When the registration form came home from school I asked him what he thought about it.  He said, “Yeah, Mom.  I think I might like to try it.”

I was a little nervous the first night (which was yesterday) because he really had no experience with the sport, but thankfully his coach was a wrestler in high school and college so he had lots of experience.  I think I may have gone to high school with him, actually, as he looks very familiar.  I keep meaning to ask him his name, but I’m get sidetracked and forget.

Tonight, Dawson won a “take down” against a second grader and he was super pumped.  It makes me happy to see him having fun and learning so many different things.  Plus, he likes to be active.  It’s good for him.

Owen is growing like a weed.  I bought him some pants a few weeks ago and I realized tonight they are getting to tight in the legs.  My little guy isn’t so little.  He’s got a strong build and I can definitely picture him as a tackle on the football team.  He loves to do everything Dawson does and this evening they played a mini game of  ”wrestle mania.”  Thank goodness Dawson knows that he has to be gentle with Owen.  But little brother is definitely a brute.  He didn’t hesitate to charge at his big brother and take him down.  Good times.

Overall, things are good.  Crazy chaotic, but I can’t really complain.  Life is….good!

August 8, 2011

I’m Calling You to Read This Post

Yesterday, I was doing some much needed blog hopping and when I read this post I found myself nodding in agreement.  I agree with Jaci when she says, “When God talks about calling?  He’s talking about HIS WORK.  He’s talking about adopting someone as His child and then working through them.  His Calling is all about calling you to Him.  It’s not about being a pastor…or a mother…or a janitor.  It’s about being a Christian. ”

You really must read the post because it’s that good.

June 29, 2011

We Interrupt This Studying to Blog

I’m taking a break from reading my Microeconomics text book to do some blogging.  I’ve been busting my ass trying to get through this semester and I really feel like summer is passing me by because I spend most of my time working, studying, parenting and cramming a whole lot of other crap into my days.  Frankly, I’m exhausted.  But I have to say I have twice the energy I did a month ago and that’s mostly because I’ve made some changes to my diet and exercise regime.

Flashback to last summer/fall when I successfully completed the Couch to 5K program and lost 25 pounds — I was feeling fit and healthy and then flippin’ winter threw me off.  I had never run in winter with snow and ice on the roads and was terrified to try it.  Being an amateur runner I didn’t know if I needed special winter running shoes/gear/gadgets so I just stopped running. I attempted to continue running on the treadmill but then I started school and switched jobs and basically got busy and lazy.  Life happens.

Now we’re in the last days of June and I finally got my act together enough to run and lift some weights at the gym.  That is when Owen isn’t crying his head off in Adventure Alley.  This afternoon I dropped the boys off and after changing into my workout attire and hopping on the bike for exactly 7 minutes, the YMCA child care worker hunted me down and told me that Owey Pie had been inconsolable for the last twenty minutes.  Let’s just say I didn’t get my work out today and no exercise makes for a very grouchy mama.  (Grouchy, because I need to shed those 25 pounds that magically reappeared – and the 10 extra that came with them! Ugh.)

So then we hit the grocery store, which is NEVER a good idea when I’m crabby and somewhat hungry.  I spent $112 and barely remember what I bought.  I know that most families spend double that on groceries but, people, I bought HUMMUS.  I don’t even know if I like hummus.  I tried it on a multigrain cracker.  The stuff is bland.  I know chickpeas (or garbanzo beans as some call them) are a pretty bland food, but this was the roasted garlic version and it was not very garlicky.  It didn’t spark my taste buds.  Perhaps I’ll doctor it up with more garlic and a touch of lemon.  Or salt!  Maybe it needs salt?

I’ve been spending more time on Twitter and I realized tonight that I’m shitty blogger.  I’ve missed a lot in between my blogging hiatuses (Is that a word? It looks weird.)  Take for example the fact that I HAD NO CLUE that CityMama had a beautiful baby 3 months ago.  Like, seriously.  I suck.  I clicked on her tweet about these brownies and then went to her blog and saw the most adorable boy with cheekers that remind of me of Owen’s at that age:

Oh, the cheeks.  Hard to believe “the baby” is going to be 2 in October!  When did he grow up into this cute little boy:

So, what was I saying?  Oh yeah, I’m a shitty blogging friend.  Dearest City Mama, I felt so awful for not knowing so I promptly attacked your archives.   Your bundle is just so precious! Congratulations! (I know…three months late.)

Just goes to show I need to revisit my old blog loves….

….

I know.  I’m procrastinating.  That damn Econ book is staring me down.  Here’s hoping I pass this test!

March 12, 2010

Checking In

Has it really been over a week since my last post?  I swear the Earth has opened up and swallowed me whole.  I’ve been so busy job searching, raising my babies, and trying to cross the million tasks off my to-do list.

I’ve got cabin fever, too.  The snow is melting, temperatures have risen to the 40s and we are so eager to get outside.  After many long winter months, I long for warmth, sunshine and walks to the park.

And I confess, Bravo TV is so awesome right now.  I’m a Real Housewives fan.  I can’t help it.  Train wrecks.  Can’t. Tear. Myself. Away.  Thank goodness for my DVR.  After Dawson and Owen go to bed I turn on and press play.

Next Wednesday I turn 21.  Err, okay, 31.  I’m going to be 31!  I’m not really big on birthdays now that I’m in my thirties.  I still cringe when I think about it.  Why?  I don’t know.  But I do know turning 40 will kill me!  It’s only 9 years away! Yikes!

I really suck as a blogger these days.  I just don’t have the time to blog like I once did.  I want to blog.  I have posts running through my mind all the time.  Truthfully, I’m feeling the need for privacy, so instead of blogging I write in a journal.  That’s just how I feel.

Share your ideas with me.  What motivates you to blog?