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Just cleaning house and cleaning up the blog today. I hope you are having a wonderful Saturday!

Stay tuned Monday for some REALLY BIG NEWS!

I will give you a hint.

GIRL or BOY...

And Jen, if you say TWINS one more time, I may have to hurt ya!

I may be eating crow tomorrow.

A certain blonde, curly-headed girl has slept in her own bed for several nights in a row.

Also, a certain freckle-faced boy has been really good and fast in his morning routine.

I am keeping my fingers crossed. Or not.

Mommy Math

For those of you that know me, math is one of my strongest interests. I strive to figure out any problem that comes my way no matter how long it takes me. I love numbers and can compute quickly and accurately in my head. I am a Math Whiz, a human computer.

What? Why are you laughing?

Oh, you don't believe a word of that?

You want the truth? OK, I stink at math. There. Are you happy now?

I can't add without my fingers and I certainly can't compute in my head without getting dizzy. But I can do Mommy Math.

For example,

LEGOs + soft music = 45 minutes of peace and quiet so Mommy can lay on couch undisturbed.

1 intense craving for Nestle Crunch Ice Cream Bar + 2 kids + a good 3 minutes before they find me = Mommy having to shove the whole thing in her mouth while hiding in the garage.

Nasty smell from laundry room + forgotten towels in the washer = break time is over for Mommy.

Children's bedtime - daddy + frazzled & cranky mommy = DRAMA times infinity!!

Mommy Math is simple and fun. Anyone lacking sleep and personal privacy for long periods of time can master this.

What is your equation?

Books Aplenty, a meme

I was tagged by Alana for this book meme. I love to read but like other hobbies in my life, it has fallen to the wayside. Blog reading has really replaced my book reading time. I hope to get back into a good book or two this winter. It really does relax me.

Just a word of advertisement for our local library. I just love this place. You order your books online and then drive thru the window to pick them up. You can also request that the library purchase a book for their collection. If they choose the book you recommended they will hold it for you to be the first. I love that!

OK. On to the business at hand. BOOKS!!

BOOK(s) THAT I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER (edited from Books That Changed My Life)
--Honeymoon with My Brother by Franz Wisner. Excellent read!! Very touching.
--Night by Ellie Wiesel. Unforgettable
--The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. This will stay with you long after you read it.
--To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Classic read!
--My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult. Absolutely the best book. Very heart wrenching.

BOOK(s) I'VE READ MORE THAN ONCE
--I tend to be a book snob on reading multiple times. I can't think of anything that I have re-read. Once I know the ending I just can't do it. Now that it not true for movies. I can watch my favorite movies again and again.

BOOK(s) I WANT ON A DESERTED ISLAND
--The Bible. Hands down. I could finally read it without distractions!

BOOK(s) THAT MADE ME LAUGH
--Anything by Jennifer Weiner

BOOK(s) THAT MADE ME CRY
--Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. Story of great loss and heartbreak and survival.
--Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Edgy but sweet.
--The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

BOOK(s) I WISH HAD BEEN WRITTEN
--The Secret to Understanding Skip
--The Secret to Understanding Z-man
--The Secret to Understanding Loulabelle
--The Secret to Understanding Lil'Poppy

BOOK(s) THAT YOU WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN
I have books I didn't like, but I can't think of one that I wish hadn't been written. I just am careful about which books I choose to read. If they are too violent or graphic I don't read them. I also don't read romance novels. I just don't have time. But I am sure someone is grateful that they have been written.

BOOK(s) CURRENTLY READING
--The Power of a Positive Mom by Karol Ladd
--How to Make Your Kids Mind w/o Losing Yours by Dr. Kevin Lehman
--Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel.
(Are you sensing a pattern?)

BOOK(S) I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO READ
--Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
--Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
--Sisterhood of Traveling Pants (series) by Ann Brashears


If you are a reader, consider yourself tagged. I love book recommendations!

I've got good news and bad news.

Which do you want first? The good news or the bad news?

Personally, I prefer the bad news first. I like to know that there is hope in any situation so I save the good for last. So here is the bad news. I am sick again. YUCK!!

Yesterday and today have been awful for me. Just like before...nausea, horrible taste in my mouth and some rushing to the restroom. I am feeling so discouraged by this. I want to cry, but I think I am too tired for that. I really hope this wave doesn't last long.

The good news is that my friends don't let me suffer alone. This friend begged to take Lou off my hands. At first I said no. I don't know why I do that. Probably because I don't want to inconvenience anybody. But she persisted. She is like that and I love that about her. Not only did she take Loulabelle, but she also picked Z up from school.

What a tremendous gift that was. After 4 hours of sleep, I feel somewhat better. Good enough to retrieve my children and pretend that I am a good mom.

Oh, and some more good news. There might be a slight chance that I have felt the baby's movements. It always takes a few days to register the fluttering sensation, but I think it is there. That puts a HUGE smile on my face!

What have I learned today? If you are in a position to bless or help someone. Just DO IT. Don't take NO for an answer. Thank you, Alana, for not taking me seriously! It made such a difference today!

If only I could pretend this didn't happen to me.

Mom, are you older?

Older? Older than what?

Just older? Are you?

Well, I am older than some people. I am older than daddy. Why?

Daddy said that older people have hair in their nose. And you do.

I have no title for this random mess of information.

Hi everyone! I have been away far too long and I would love to catch up with all of you. First let me explain why I have been away. It is weird and you might not believe me. Being that I have been so sick with this pregnancy, one of the side effects for me is an aversion to Wal-Mart and computers.

Now I know you are all shaking your heads in disbelief. But it is true. I haven't been able to tolerate our local Wal-Marts, or spend any length of time on the computer without getting really sick. I can't explain it but it has held true with all three of my pregnancies.

The good news is that I am feeling 100% better. The dark days of the first trimester have cleared and I enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and family vacation without the dreaded and frequent trips to the bathroom. I am so thankful that it is behind me and I am enjoying my newly formed BUMP.

Today, I am tackling Wal-Mart. I think I can do it.

Anyway, December flew by for us probably like it did for all of you. It was a magical month filled with anniversaries, birthdays, gingerbread houses, hot cocoa, weddings, gift exchanges, Santa sightings, movie nights, and cookie making. Honestly I don't know how we managed to do it all based on how sick I was. It was all a blur, but I know memories were made.

Right after Christmas, Skip's dad plans a Mystery Trip for the whole family. He plans it and is the only one who knows where we are going. This was our 14th year and what a blast! We went on a Rambling Road trip through the South and ended up in Disney World. Watching my kids enjoy the wonder of it all with their cousins was really special. Zman was brave enough to ride the biggest and fastest thrill rides. It really made it fun to watch him overcome his fears. Loulabelle and I met every character and decided that Belle was pretty but not her favorite. I think she thought the Beast was lurking somewhere in her midst ready to scare her.

Since returning home I have been buried by laundry and dishes and the clutter of toys. Thankfully our house was de-Christmased while we were gone so I didn't have to mess with that. I am almost through getting organized. I still don't know where to put some of the new toys. It is time to get serious on Mission Organization!

Last night our area had a MAJOR storm. At around 3am, the Tornado siren in our neighborhood started to shriek. I felt for Skip and couldn't find him in bed. I got up to look for him and figure out what to do. I couldn't find him in the kid's rooms. I looked in the garage. I couldn't find him. I made one more walk through and see him coming in the front door from outside. FROM OUTSIDE. What was he thinking?? He said he heard a really loud noise like a snow plow and had to go check it out. Hello! The tornado siren was going off so there is only one thing that could sound that loud...WIND. I think he wants to be a weather chaser in his next life!

Little Poppy had a doctor's appointment today. I have lost 10 pounds since October and the Dr. was a little concerned. I need to start making up ground. I find it hard to believe that I am still losing because I am starting to waddle. Anyway, she said the baby was active and the heart beat was really healthy. I love hearing that sweet noise of the heart. It is so reassuring to me to know that our baby is safe and sound inside me

As you can see, we are still here. Healthy and safe. I can't wait to start blogging again and reading all your terrific and encouraging words. I have missed my computer time. Now that it won't make me vomit, I should be spending more time right here with you!

I will leave you with our sweet Christmas card picture. I still have my cards to mail so if you live in B-town I will get you a real copy!