Pink Chicks - Trying to Keep It Real

Gallstones

Yep!  That's the diagnosis and on Thursday at 2:15 p.m. my gallbladder will be coming out.  I have been so sick and tired this past year.  I thought it was the whole newborn thing, but my baby will be one on the 5th and has been sleeping through the night pretty much since day one.  I had my thyroid tested because that can go nuts after having a baby, but it wasn't that.  Then I thought it was the acid reflux kicking back in, but it wasn't that heart/stomach burning feeling that I have had in the past.  I finally went to the doctor again and found out that it was gallstones.  I wasn't having the typical symptoms that most people have of feeling they were going to have a heart attack.  Mine was mostly back and stomach pain along with nausea and vomiting.  Oh so joyous!  But, it could be worse, so I am NOT going to complain.  All it takes it 3 little incisions in the upper belly and one in my belly button, they go in snip, snip, snip and pull my gallbladder out through my belly button.

After I recover from the surgery (I am told it will take anywhere from 1-3 weeks to fully recover) I am going to have another task, and that is losing 60 pounds.  I have already lost 10, so I feel pretty good about that.  By Christmas, I should be 1/2 way there.  Get ready to see my transformation.  I won't be "high school skinny," but I will be much healthier when all is said and done. 

A Kindergartner and a 2nd Grader

Not only to I have an 11 month old, but I also have a 5 year old and a 7 year old.  This year we will have two in school.  Wow!  Where does the time go?! 

I love spending time with my girls and we have a lot of fun together!  My seven year old is the sweetest little girl. 

She loves to take pictures with her Mommy!

We both love flowers and butterflies.  Here we are outside in the gardens at the Indy childrens zoo.

She does really well in school and she was chosen for honors art classes this summer!  Yes, I am a proud Mommy!! 

She is really good at helping to take care of her baby sister while Mommy sews.   Do you see the fabric on the floor?   I like the fact that they like to just hang out in the room with me.

She is a cheerleader!  Here she is after riding a float in the county fair parade in the blazing heat for over 2 hours. 

Now on to my kindergartner....

First of all let me say, she usually hides when the camera comes out.  Or she runs to find a book, pencil, paper, etc.  Anything to get away from Mommy the insane picture taker.  Here we all are on the 3rd of July and I am trying to get a good shot of all three of us.  Can you say "CHEESE!"  LOL!

Solana is the best helper, I can always count on her to empty the dishwasher, set the table and figure out what drinks everyone would like to have with any given meal.   She is so smart and really pushes herself to get things done.  I call her my mini, but don't let that fool you, because she is small, but mighty.

The girl loves playing with bubbles out in the yard.  I found this bottle of bubbles at the grocercy store.  $1.99 for hours of fun!

The other day she asked me why there are so many pictures of Selene and not of her.  I tried to gently explain that she was the one running away from the camera when Mommy wanted to take pictures of her.  She then decided that she wanted to take a picture right then and there so I ran to get the camera and took these shots.  They aren't the best though because the lighting in the hallway is terrible.  But, at least I have a couple of them.  Doesn't she have the sweetest smile and the most beautiful eyes?

I can't believe that my baby is going to be in kindergarten starting tomorrow.  It seems just like yesterday that we brought our tiny bundle home from the hospital.   This girl is more than ready for kindergarten.  She has been writing everyones name and her ABCs and numbers and "reading" from books forever!  We went blueberry picking and she was counting the berries.  She kept telling me that we were only going to pick 100 more berries and then go home. LOL!  I think she just wanted to get home so she could throw off her shoes and run barefoot through the yard.

Look out world, here comes my mini!  She is going to take kindergarten by storm!!

Trying to Keep It Real - Update

One of the reasons I decided to call my blog "Trying to Keep it Real" is because I am one of those women with totally UNREALISTIC ideas of what I can accomplish in a day.  Especially since I work outside the home full-time, run the girls to various activities during the evenings, try to run a household and take of everyone including myself.  I knew that adding a blog to my list, would be just one more thing to do, but it has turned out to be a lot of fun, I have met a lot of great people and I have learned that I am not the only nutty one out there.  LOL!

Just to let you know how crazy I can be at times, this is my "to do" list for the upcoming weekend.  Now mind you these are in no particular order, they are just things that are running through my mind that I would like to accomplish.

1.  Go to scrapbooking party - Just a couple hours to attend a CM openhouse to touch base with old friends.

This was easy enough to accomplish, just hop in the car and go.  I am proud of myself though, because I didn't spend a dime!  Wahoooooo!!

2.  Crochet 5 face towels - 2 down and 3 to go

I finished one last night.  I didn't bring my darn crochet needle to choreography and ended up just chatting for 2 1/2 hours while watching Solana become the next hip-hop princess.  She is so cute shaking her teeny tiny "groove thang!"  LOL!!

3.  Clean - This is NEVER ENDING!  The house is in pretty good order thanks to teamwork.  Thanks honey!

4.  Do laundry - Only three more loads to go!

More team work helped us get the laundry done.  Bill and the girls will be putting it all away and picking out school clothing for the week this morning.

5.  Piece together 5 year olds quilt - I cut all 144 squares already.  They have been on the floor in the living room waiting to be sewn together.  I didn't even attempt to work on this.  I just kept passing by the living room and looking at it.  Oh well!

6.  Get hair done - My fro is seriously in need of some taming!

My hair is now nice and smooth and cute!  LOL!  I think I am going to have to consider covering the grey soon.  YUCK! :(

7.  Work in the yard  no

8.  Make 12 fabric pieced coasters no

9.  Make a table runner no

10. Take daughter to dance team choreography for two days at 2 1/2 hours a pop

She is doing such a good job!  She and the other little girls look so cute!

11.  Clean out car - What a gooey mess it is inside right now!  YUCK!

Heidi, the girls and I worked on this Saturday afternoon. 

12.  Hang out with Heidi and Eric

Heidi came over to hang out and we chatted while Bill and the girls napped.  I did laundry, cleaned up a bit and watched Heidi finish the afghan she was crocheting just for me.

Both Heidi and Eric came over for dinner on Sunday evening.  It is our last Sunday evening cookout until they come back home next summer.  They are returning to Africa on Friday.  I am soooooooo SAD!  I am trying not to think about it.

13.  Spend time with hubby & kids

We had a fun time together doing this and that.  Bill took Solana to choreography Saturday morning while I was getting my hair done and I think he knows all the latest moves.  LOL!  He made us some yummy steaks for dinner Saturday night. 

14. Learn to knit - Heidi is heading back to Africa in a week and we have never taken the time for my lesson!  Ahhhhh!  I MUST LEARN TO KNIT!!

I have the yarn and the needles, but still haven't had a lesson. 

15.  Take family pictures in the yard  - #7 must be done so Eric can take pictures

This will definitely happen this week by Wednesday!

16.  Plan and purchase supplies for Ella's first b-day party

I purchased a cute pink t-shirt for her to wear and a bib.  The rest of the plan must be put in to action this week since the invites need to go out Saturday.

17.  Call Sheree

Will do on the way home from work tonight

18. Call my Grandma -  She is my paternal Granny and she will be 90 next month!

My granny is a hoot!  When you ask her she is doing, she says "Welllllll, I thank the Lord for as well as it is!"  and when it is time to hang up, she refuses to say good-bye, so long or anything of the sort, she just says "Alright now," in her sweet Southern accent. LOL!

19. Call my sister - Her baby was due on the 8th and is keeping her waiting

The baby girl still is waiting to make her grand entrance.  I think my sister will end up having the have a c-section tomorrow.

20.  Pick up pictures I had developed - Yes, in the digital era, I am STILL addicted to film!

Picked up the 7 packs of photos.  There are some cute shots.  I will have to scan them and show them off soon.  I'll just add that to my list of things to do.  ROFLOL!!

I am sure there is more, I just haven't thought of it yet.  Wait until you see the list of things I would like to accomplish before we have people over for Ella's first birthday party.

Hey!  I am a NUT what can I say?  I need help because I am still in a state of denial over the fact that I will NEVER be able to accomplish as much in a day as my Mother did.  How did she teach school and take care of all four of us girls and my Dad too?  And still look as fresh as a daisy?  Let me in on the secret Mom!  I beg you!!  ROFLOL!!

Okay, maybe I am getting a bit carried away!  My Mom is just the best organizer in the world.  If I would follow her steps to organization, I would be much better off.  I try, but something always gets me off track.  But, not to worry, I am well on my way thanks to Heidi and Eric!   My Mom is the best and I admire all of her kindness and talents as a good Christian woman. 

Rain

Don't you just love it when it rains?  I do! 

This was the view outside my front door this morning.  Giant drops of rain falling from the sky making everything nice and green.

I love flowers and my garden! I can take pictures of the same flowers year after year and still not get tired of them.  Flower gardening is another love that I inherited from my Grandmother Ella.

 

Have a good day everyone!  I am off to grab a cup of tea and then head to work!! 

My Best Friend Heidi

Heidi and I have known each other since we were freshman in college.  We roomed together for two years and have been friends ever since.   Heidi and I been through it all together.   She has been home for the past month and a half from Africa.  She and her husband Eric have been teaching at the International School in Ougadougou for the past five years.  I will miss her when she returns to Africa in a couple of weeks.  I will be so sad!!  We have had a lot of fun together over the past 22 years and I can't wait to see what the next 22 years hold for us.  Thank goodness for blogs and email so we can keep up with each other on a day to day basis.  It takes a little of the sting of your best friend living in another country.

Heidi is the best, here are a few of my favorite pics from this summer...

Olive Garden Soup and Salad Lunch.  Our favorite! 

Scrapbooking!  We love shopping at Pages In Time!!

Being a good God Mommy and painting the girls toes!! 

Helping me sort through mounds of clothing that was exploding from my closet.  You can't see Heidi because she is underneath the pile waiting to be rescued!! LOL!

Coming to spend my lunch hour with me.....

....and taking silly pictures.  Are we silly or what?  Who says you can't have fun at 40?

**NOTE:  I will be spotlighting some of my other good friends in the weeks to come....

11 Months Old

My baby girl turned 11 months old yesterday.  Here she is reaching for the camera while I am taking her picture.

Hey Mommy this really is fun!! 

Sure, why not one more Mommy.

Okay, I think I am about finished with this ribbon and this photo shoot Mom!

Let's get back to the laundry Mom!! LOL!

Finished Doll Quilt for DQSII

I am finally getting a chance to post pictures of the doll quilt I sent to Susan my swap partner.  I feel really good about how it turned out. 

Tak a look at the cllose up of triangles that almost drove me nuts!  I must say, I think they turned out really well.  The points are right on!!  It took a while for me to get them just right.  Actually, I decided at the last minute to start over.  I started the quilt from the beginning.  Cutting and strip piecing and sewing and cutting some more.  I'll have to post those pictures at another time. 

Susan likes circles, so I used a pretty tone on tone blue with circles on it for the binding.  I started out thinking I would sew the binding by hand and then after 15 minutes I decided that if Susan was ever going to get the quilt, I had better get back to the sewing machine.  LOL!

Take a look at the back of the quilt.  I like the look of the triangles and the other quilting from the back.  I am glad I chose white to go with the pink, blue and green, it looks really fresh and crisp.

Overall I am proud of my quilt and will make another at some point.  It was a learning experience.  It is funny how something so small could be such a big learning experience.  The girlies are feeling a little left out when Mommy sends pretty things to other people in the mail so I am sure I will be making another doll quilt soon!!!