Routine and To-Do's

Routine and To-Do's. I'm lacking the perfect routine (perfect for me anyways) and have way too many to-do's (who doesn't). I was just getting an awesome daily routine and then baby no. 2 came along throwing that out the window. A new daily routine then had to be developed, but that is not a constant with one daughter in school and the other daughter in the baby stages of constant development, growing and learning with little independence. If that isn't enough in itself, the 3 of us girls have been sick since the weekend, which I never desire to be a constant in any of my routines. I think I can get the routine down once school starts up again. Ella is starting kindergarten. That's what I'm striving for, but I can already see some obstacles that may slow it down. Kindergarten = all day, every day with no naps. She hasn't been to school 5 days in a row yet. She's done 4, but not 5, and last year she only did 3 days a week and not in a row. Now throw in no naps. Ella loves her naps. Still. At age 5. She's a crab without one. She's always loved her naps since birth. Now getting to bed at a decent hour at night, not so much. That has been an issue since the first night we brought her home. She's a night owl (Dr. N. warned me she would be in one of my regular OB exams). I'm a night owl. Two night owls in one house doesn't work too well. I look at it as my "downtime," which is non-existent at the present time. A time I can get work done for the dr. uninterrupted (part of my routine) and tackle items on the big long list of to-do's.

 

Now the to-do's. Oh the list goes on and on and on. It's never ending. And it goes hand-in-hand with routine. That's why I can't either part done. They're not in sync. The to-do's range from everyday chores to larger household tasks. The biggest one I'm trying to tackle is having a garage sale to get rid of clutter and get this house organized. It's driving me crazy. I've been doing a little bit each day to prepare for it, but can't help but ask myself is it all worth all of the work and effort. We've lived in our house for almost 13 years come November 7 and have never had a garage sale of any sort. That means a LOT of stuff. I've done a lot of donating and throwing out, but it's hardly made a dent. It just can't be put off any longer. With 2 kids and all of the clothes and toys and then 2 adults with all of the clothes, household items, etc., 2300 sq. feet seems like 23 sq. feet. There's so many other to-do's I would like to get done too: get caught up on the girls' and my blogs, get caught up on scrapbook projects, especially for the girls, finish the quilt I started for Madeline a month before she was born (all it needs is the back and edging sewn on), update pics of us and family members throughout our house before all of the kids start graduating high school, tackling the flower beds around our house that have been neglected for the past 2 summers, read a huge pile of books I've been wanting to read so that they can be put in storage or donated/sold, and not to mention an entire list of things I would like to do/try on my many, many Pinterest pins. Oh, the list goes on and on and on. I could blog about it all year long and then some. It's overwhelming for me. It's constantly on my mind and I get frustrated when something hampers my efforts, like being sick. I just have to keep telling myself to do a little here and there and it will eventually get done; otherwise, I will go bonkers.

 

Well, here's to school starting in 3 weeks so I can get a routine down and my to-do's done. It's gonna be a busy 2nd half to 2013.

Back From Blogcation

It's been well over a year since I've blogged. There's been so much going on too since I last visited my page. I survived the job change working in the doctor's office and had to change again after finding out that we were having our second child 2 weeks after my work start date. Now I'm back to working at home with 2 beautiful girls to love up, although working at home was much easier when there was only one constantly grabbing my attention. It's just an adjustment curve, which seems to happen every couple of months in our house. I'm currently proofing dictations for the same doctor I've worked for the last 7 years. It's great working at home, but I miss my co-workers quite a bit. Hoping for another work change in the next 3 years when our 2nd child starts school. That's a future blog post all on it's own. 

So, about that 2nd child? That would be our daughter, Madeline Evelyn. Born Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 8:36 a.m. weighing in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. She couldn't be more opposite personality wise compared to our oldest daughter, Ella. Not surprising, as they are 2 separate beings I suppose. Just thought they would be a little more similar in nature. That being said, we couldn't love them more and consider ourselves so blessed.

With all that has been going on, it has been nearly impossible to do any extracurricular activities when chasing a 5-year-old and 15-month-old; but, I'm back from my "blogcation" and hope to be able to write more. It's my journaling outlet to keep track of my life's happenings. I'm hoping to be able to post some of my other creative outlets like scrapbooking and photography to see how I improve/grow/change in these areas. And now that daughter no. 2 is here, I hope to start a blog like I did for her big sis to record their milestones. I have a lot to catch up on. I better get to it.

Changing Times

Originally Written July 13, 2011

These are changing times. Not only for me, but also for Ella V. and my husband. It was almost inevitable. I just did not know exactly when or even how the changes would occur. For the last 4 years, I have worked at home as a medical transcriptionist. It was intentionally planned when my husband and I were trying to have a family  We just did not want our child to spend their first years in daycare and miss out on the many milestones he or she would be making. I have nothing against childcare. I know it is necessary for the majority of the working class people in this country in particular. We just did not see any reasoning to place our child in daycare if I was working at home.  We have been so blessed that I have had a job that has allowed us to do this. 

Unfortunately, these are changing times. Computers are inevitably taking over jobs that many people hold in the medical field.  My profession just happens to be one of them. Approximately 2 months ago, I was informed that the position I've held for the last 4 years would no longer be needed since the doctor's office I work for would be switching to the new EMR (electronic medical records) program that all the doctors in the area are switching to.

Not all news is bad news though. I've been offered a new position in office checking the patients out. It entails working Monday through Thursday full days, but is considered part time. It's a hard decision that we will have to make, but I know in the end it will all work out for the best. Ella will be starting school in the fall and I will need to be doing something during that time. A new doctor will be joining the practice, so I know it will definitely keep me busy. I've also known everyone who works there for the last 4 years, so that will make a little easier. The hardest part is just going to be apart from my little peanut-nut so much. It is quite draining to even think about. I would start the new position near the end of July, so I would have to find someone to watch Ella during that time until school starts. That's even more draining to think about. Big decisions are ahead of us and I'm just hoping we make the right ones. It's the inevitable. After all, these are changing times.

Listography: My Can't Stands

Can't Stands

There are a lot of things I can't stand. Some things I can brush off, but this is a list of the ones I can't:

• Dirty dishes in the sink, especially when preparing a meal. I have to put them in the dishwasher as I work along.
• Being woken up just as I fall asleep. I can't get back to sleep for hours.
• Dirty laundry on the floor. Just does not need to happen, but there are times where I just can't keep up.
• Constant pessimism. Someone close to me is constantly in a pessimistic mood and, frankly, it gets to be a downer. Don't mind the occasional complaining/venting, but not all the time.
• People who call for "fun" at 2 a.m. Hasn't happened in 2 years, because I ripped them a new you-know-what. Not funny. Grow up!
• Wrinkles. On my cloths and my face. I'm tempted to Botox the "scowl" crease between my eyes. It's so ugly.
• Boom-boom music. My term for the base speakers people put in their cars and blare 'em full blast. We always know when our neighbor's son comes home because he has one.
• Rising gas prices. No explanation needed.
• Mobile texting addicts. I use texting when necessary, but could live without it.
• Aisle hogs at the grocery store.  As if they're the only ones shopping.

Hot Mess

Hot mess. I'm borrowing that terminology from my sis-in-law because it seems to perfectly describe exactly how I've been feeling lately (like the last 4-1/2 months).  Losing weight has been, well, a losing battle. I'm really not trying to lose a lot of weight, but I know I would feel better if I could lose anywhere between 15 and 20 pounds.  The problem is the scale keeps going up instead of down.  I know I've cheated and had an occasional soda here and there, and yes I've had a few pieces of Easter candy out of Ella's basket and could probably stand to change my diet a little more drastically, but I have been exercising and I have changed my diet to where I am eating better without starving myself. I like to eat 3 meals per day. I feel worse if I skip a meal or eat hardly anything at all.  I've tried more smaller meals throughout the day, but struggle even more with that.  As far as exercising goes, the only thing I enjoy doing is walking, which really worked well for me last time I wanted to lose weight, the body ball and my free weights. I use the elliptical we have, but that is rather boring to be honest, and we only spent $50 on it, so you really do get what you pay for. I still try to use it when I can't get around to doing something other form of exercise, but would prefer not to.

I had an appointment for a small run-in with a wine bottle to the eye and for my lateral epicondylitis last week.  During that appointment the doctor asked how my thyroid was doing. I explained to him how my back and face have been breaking out really bad and how my menses are really off schedule. I told him I thought it was hormones and he seemed to agree that it was hormones and not my thyroid levels. But now it has me wondering. The thyroid does control certain hormones and with knowing that, it had me wondering how my thyroid was really doing; so I hopped onto Mayo Clinic to read up on hypothyroidism once again. I filled out a profiler to evaluate the symptoms I am experiencing and how it may be related to my thyroid problems. After doing this, it tells me that it sounds like my dosage is too low. So now I feel like I should have maybe discussed more of the symptoms with my doctor to see if I needed to have my blood tested again. I do have an appointment with my other doctor next week and may bring it up to him.

I just can't help but feeling blah, which in turn makes me grouchy, which in turn makes me feel guilty when I get short with my husband and my daughter. I'm really just tired of having to take the thyroid medication on top of 3 others I have to take, which can get complicated because you can only take them within a certain time frame of each other or they don't work properly. I'm always fatigued/tired, anxious, can't get to sleep no matter how tired I am, keep gaining weight instead of losing, no longer have a regular cycle,  have a hard time remembering things unless I write them down, always cold, have joint pains and aches and can't concentrate. I'm back to square one prior to my diagnosis. I'm a hot mess.

Listography: My Elementary School Teachers

Cannot believe I still remember my elementary school teachers. Can't remember any of my college professor's names, but I can remember elementary. Go figure. If you took me to each school, I could even point out the classrooms, that is, if they even exist anymore.

 

My Elementary School Teachers

• Preschool: Ms. Goose
• Preschool: Mrs. Travis (yes, I repeated preschool. Parents started me too early).
• Kindergarten: Mrs. Nickerson
• First Grade: Mrs. Travis
• Second Grade: Mrs. Stenman
• Third Grade: Ms. Lewis
• Fourth Grade: Mr. Rothwell
• Fifth Grade: Mrs. Fisher
• Six Grade: Mrs. Jefferson

 Wonder what they're all doing now...

My Listography

It has been quite a while since I've posted anything. Not much has been going on really other than work, work and more work. So with that, I really have not had anything too exciting to post. I am starting another little scrapbook project...Listography. Another approach to a biography utilizing short lists of random things to tell others a little bit about yourself. There's actually a website, and books/journals, that give ideas on different topics for creating these lists (www.listography.com) So on top of doing Project Life, I am going to add this to the list.

Here's the start to my listography:

Memories from Childhood

• Living on a farm the first 7 years of my life with cattle, chickens and pigs (Can you say: pee-you?)
• Using the corn crib topper as a fort (until it was installed).
• Collecting eggs and having my legs pecked to death in the process by the crazy chickens.
• Going to Logan's Landing to feed the swans and ducks with my grandma and mom.
• My Raggedy Ann and Andy swimming pool.
• Being chased through the cornfield by the 2 neighbor dogs all the way from great grandma's and grandpa's and emerging covered head-to-toe with sand burrs.
• Having huge veggie gardens (something I miss a lot).
• Building forts with my brother and making "mushroom stew." (and no, we never ate it).
• Spending many summer days/nights at my aunt's and uncle's on Spider Lake.
• Being hit by a fire rescue truck after being dropped off for school. A bus driver waved an okay for me cross the street in front of the school and Whack!. Smacked by a fire rescue truck driven by Mr. Pickard. All for the entire school population to see. If my mom hadn't yelled at me to stop, he would have literally run me over. Instead, just the corner and driver's side panel hit me.

So that is the start to my listography. Just odds and ends about me.

Feeding the swans at Logan's Landing.

Not sure I would ever get that close to one now.