This is an older blog post, but it was shared recently by a friend and hit home (and admittedly, stung a bit too):  How to Miss a Childhood by HandsFreeMama.

What do I want my children to have as memories?  Of course some of the same things I remember... Weren't we all Wonder Woman or SuperMan at some point?  Jumping off buildings (swing sets) in a single bound?  -- okay sorry Mom and Dad, but we did jump off the barn roof too, among other things that will not be admitted to you or my children.

I just don't know where to find the time...  With 5 kids and working full time, our schedules are jam packed. And this is without extra activities, like soccer or girl scouts.  I am reluctant to even add those to my schedule.  But I am missing out on their childhood... and so are they.  I have even taken to pacifying and bribing them with video game play (the current favorite is Smurfs Dance Party for Wii), just to get other things done.

Here is a list of some favorite memories from my childhood:

• roaming free 
• building forts
• blanket forts
• playing board games
• learning how to shuffle a deck of cards
• getting my nails done (by my mom -- which first involved soaking them in warm water and soap)
• riding my bike
• a sick day of Sonic video game play (my brother and I beat it -- I can't even tell you what we were sick from)
• Disney Movie night (on TV)

What I am afraid my children will remember:

• me being on my cell phone
• me placating them with video games
• being sent outside to play on the swing set so I could clean the house

Although, reading my list of memories.. I am *now* sure that some of those items were my parents shooing us away to get things done.

So how do I accomplish "Not missing out on Childhood" from their end and mine?  

I don't get home from work till about 6pm or 6:30pm...  I make dinner.. we eat dinner.. and then its off to bed at 8:30pm.  Not much time in there.  In the morning its getting everyone ready, making lunches, and then out the door and off to daycare/school/work.

13 weeks and...

Countdown:  Full Day 11 of a 14 day Respite Placement

Everytime Aarron looks at me I swear this is what he is thinking.. he even has the "Happy Bunny" grin and all!!  We've had quite a few restless nights the past few days.  He has decided that the best place to be at all times and even to sleep is in my arms.  Yah, basically not the most comfortable place for me! 

Tonight, I tried something a bit different... I downloaded an MP3 of a heartbeat (the CD also has a washing machine, hair dryer, and a few other "soothing sounds" -- okay.. an electric razor will not soothe me, but infants have an odd sense of what is "soothing").  So as I type I can hear the heartbeat on the baby monitor.  And I even put him to bed while he was awake... GASP!! (he was nodding off in my arms before I laid him down) He got a bit cranky after spitting out his pacifier.. so I went back up to his bedroom, gave him his pacifier back.  And turned up the volume on the CD player. -- knock on wood -- after an hour he is soundly sleeping.  Stay Tuned for how the night actually goes....

Procrastination and Postponing

Confession:

I am a PRO(fessional)CRASTINATOR!!

This week I had intended (keyword) to have the house cleaned and my homework done (eek.. I have a 12 page paper due on Sunday), so that the Home Study would go smoothly on Saturday and that we could fun stuff this weekend (rather than housework and homework).  Yah, that so didn't happen. 

Are you ready for my list of reasons... er um.. excuses?

the lovely weather has caused me pain...

=

I have a migraine for the past few days, my shoulder is tense (which I assume is the contributing factor for the migraine), and my knee (that I had surgery on, back in 2006) is really sore too! Basically, I feel like I am ancient.

i am mentally exhausted from work...

Recently I switched over to a different practice group for the law firm (normally I deal with real estate and corporate junk) to help out temporarily for the month.  I am doing things I haven't done in a long time, in a new state, with different laws and regulations.  Format of documents is pretty much consistent across the board, because most states use the federal guidelines... but procedural differences are numerous!  So I get home and I am drained, but the process and the area of law.  ughhhh... It's interesting stuff.. and I am happy to help out, but until I completely get it and know what I am doing without reaching for help... I will feel like I am swimming upstream all day.. so when I get home all I want to do is NOTHING!

So there it is why I haven't checked off anything on my list.. and no my house isn't a disaster, but it isn't exactly up to par for the KGB's inspection.  Which, is actually postponed.  Bummer!! Well, maybe not, I could use the extra time to do what I was supposed to do all week!  Clean my bedroom, Clean the T's room, Clean the dog cages, Clean the bathrooms, Clean the laundry room, Organize the garage, Tidy up the guest rooms, and Tidy up the kitchen.  Yeah, that list is long.. but it shouldn't take long.  I really need to set a cleaning/organizing schedule for myself.  So.. we are rescheduled for Monday, April 5th at 5:00pm. 

Share and Tell

There are a few blogs that I frequent, most are about adoption, infertility, pregnancy, families, and even just life.  Today I wanted to "share and tell" about an blog dedicated to not for profit "Parenthood For Me".  E. started her non-profit after her own battles with infertility and writes the blog to help with that effort (she is an amazing women, whom I may never meet IRL, but am blessed to follow her journey, share her moments, and support her efforts through the connection of the web).

This morning I read her blog and had to share, because the struggles of infertility/conception shouldn't be kept in the dark.  So, please take a few minutes out of this gloomy, rainy Saturday and head on over to E.'s latest blog post "Our Fertility Is Not A Guarantee".  Also, please check out her non-profit at ParenthoodForMe.org and another amazing non-profit Resolve.org.

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As for my weekend.... I'll be busy with some homework, exams, reading, housework, a little shopping, and of course finishing up the T's Room!!  Might as well do something productive and fun when being outside isn't possible!

blah.. blah.. and yada.. yada

"Oh, no she didn't!! She didn't just 'Yada.. Yada' her blog title!!"



Oh, yes.. oh yes I did!! I totally 'Yada.. Yada'd' my blog title!!
And you know what.. I LOVE it!! :D

In all seriousness I don't have much to say, nothing all that new exciting in the lives of "M & P" (hmmm.. What kind of celebrity name could we have? "Paudie" "Padison" "Maul" -- eww no not that one, got to stick with the "P" in front -- "Paddie" idk. What can you come up with?)

We both started our online courses for school. I don't know what I am thinking taking 5 online courses and working full time and starting the foster/adopt stuff plus continuing to TTC. I just keep telling myself.. It'll all be worth it! Oh, I got a new 'do (I updated my profile pic with it)!! I totally stole it from my not so baby sister. I have to admit its nice to have someone look like you. She can try out a hairstyle and I can say "Hey, if it looks good on her... it will definitely look good on me!" And one more final thought... Orienation for Foster Care is on Thursday! I am kind of excited and a bit nervous... we don't really have lots of questions because as I've mentioned before my parents are foster parents, but I am really interested in what the process will be like here and if they have any reccomendations for age groups and number of kids we should take on. More to come on that topic on Friday... I am soo ready for Friday.

Oh and on a TTC note.. I took an OPK (ovulation test) today and totally forgot to look at it! I don't know how I managed to remember to pee on the stick, but then leave it sitting on my bathroom counter without actually checking the results. So I had to text P. and let him know that there was a pee-stick on the counter and to not touch it (well, first of all because there is dried pee on it and secondly..) because I hadn't looked at it to know if it was positive or negative. I really am not a good morning person!

So yes.. I have "peas on my counter".