Blogger's Block

Here I am, sitting all by myself, with a free minute while the kids are playing nicely by themselves in their bedroom. It's eerily quiet, and I am fighting to suppress that urge to get up and check on them because I know once I do, I will discover that the two little ones have pooed in their diapers, that it's leaked all over their pants, and that they're beating up on each other. Every morning lately, they go take care of their "babies," their menagerie of stuffed animals. They line them up in the crib, feed them, and play mommy & daddy or something. Until daddy starts chasing and wrestling them. Then they all come running out screaming.

So I thought I should take this rare opportunity to catch up on my blog, because I must admit I have been very remiss in my blogging. I started this thing hoping to let interested people see what we're up to, but lately it's been nothing but other people's birthdays. Actually, you should be thankful that there were all these birthdays, because otherwise I probably wouldn't have blogged at all. I've been feeling...blah for awhile now. I used to be capable of decently humorous conversation but not anymore. These days, I sound and feel like the most boring person on the planet. This is what it must feel like to go senile.

Well, after two paragraphs, I still have nothing really to say, except that I'm still here, the kids are good, and life is busy. Ah, I just heard the first cry signalling the end of peacetime. And...here they come and so I must go. Till the next birthday, which is in May.

Poor Me

This past week when they were hanging out, my uncle told my parents that it was a shame that I had so many kids, that I was to be pitied. I get that reaction a lot from my relatives. Another uncle asks me every time he sees me why in the world I got my master's degree. The general concensus is that I am wasting my education (and therefore my entire life) by staying at home and changing poopy diapers.

I guess they think being a stay-at-home mother is the lowest of the low, something no one would do unless they had to, like if they had no education, no other opportunities, no birth control. One or two kids would have been acceptable for me so that I could get on with my career, if you call what I had before the kids a career.

Of course I get offended because my education is very valuable to me. Not necessarily in bringing in the dough (although it does a little bit) but in shaping who I am today. I've learned so many things from my college education I don't know where to begin. The best lessons I've learned are the non-book stuff. Like thanks to my master's research, I now have the good sense to doubt all those crazy research findings that seem to pop up every week. Plus, I met most of my best friends and husband in college. And I had fun growing into myself. I don't know how anyone can consider all that a waste.

As for raising kids, it's the best investment any way you look at it. Hopefully, by the end of these 18 years, I will have raised 3 productive adults who will not only benefit other people but whom I can mooch off of till I die (not just for money but also for rides and cantankerous demands). In the process, I get to learn worthwhile things for myself like how to be patient, how to be humble, and how to appreciate little things more.

But I won't be telling my uncles all this. I'll just accept their pity, misplaced though it is. Their pity means more sympathy and leniency with me which translates to more freebies, more food, more exceptions for me at family functions. Somehow I can live with that.

Sick again

Somethin's going around again. My baby girl's been running a temperature for the last two days. A regular cold or a small cut doesn't really phase me anymore, but a fever makes me worry like nothing else. Maybe it's because it can cause brain damage, as it did for my cousin a long time ago. Or maybe because nothing debilitates kids faster. They turn into lethargic little zombies within minutes and just slump there with ooze coming out of the eyes and nose. I know it must be really bad if they're not running around being mischievous.

My angel is okay for the next 3 hours thanks to medication but after it wears off, it'll start all over again. Even with the medication, though, she can't eat normal things because the fever's caused her to vomit and diarrhea. Poor baby. In the meantime, we are all spoiling her something awful. Even her brother knows not to mess with her. I just hope it goes away soon. And that it doesn't spread to the other two. That would be the worst.

TGIM

Thank goodness the weekend is over. For most, weekends are time of relaxation but not me. I started off the weekend teaching, and by the time I was done on Saturday afternoon, I came home and crashed in bed. Then I had to do some shopping, which I only do while Kevin's home to watch the kids because it's just too hard to lug 3 kids around. Sunday morning, we went to church, and then early in the evening I went out with a friend. After that, I had to meet up with the rest of the family at my in-laws' for dinner with a visiting aunt. For a homebody like me, that's a lot of activity. Which is why I'm so relieved it's Monday, when I can just rest at home with the kids. Since it's supposed to rain tomorrow, we'll probably stay in again. Thank goodness.

Questions for Hubby

Last time, I answered a series of questions. This time, Kevin gives his opinions...

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30 a.m.
2. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
3. What is your favorite TV show? Teen Titans if it's still on
4. What did you have for breakfast? oatmeal
5. What is your favorite cuisine? all
6. What foods do you dislike? peas
7. Your favorite Potato chip? sweet potato chips
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Rebecca St. James
9. What kind of car do you drive? Nissan Maxima
10. Favorite sandwich? roast turkey with cranberry sauce
11. What characteristics do you despise? people who say without trying "i don't know how to do it"
12. What are your favorite clothes? cargo pants with hooded sweatshirt
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation,where WOULDN'T you go? Iraq
14. Where would you want to retire to? my private estate
15. Favorite time of day? early evening after work before dark when I take the kids to the park
16. Where were you born? London, England
17. What is your favorite sport to watch? Ultimate Fighting
18. Pepsi or Coke? Coke
19. Are you a morning person or night owl? night owl
20. What did you want to be when you were little? doctor, as brainwashed by my parents
21. What is your best childhood memory? None

I'm Back

Okay, wallowing time over. Not that it wasn't a lot of fun, but it's kinda difficult to do and still keep up with the laundry, diaper changes, and basically running a household. Kids are good that way; they force you to get on with things. Anyway, it's not as if I'm dying or something (I apologize if that's how it sounded). It ain't the end of the world.

Meanwhile, my stubborness is kicking in. It's one of my biggest faults but sometimes an asset. I'm determined not to let this latest development ruin all my good plans. I'm not one of those people who thrives on constant challenges, but every once in awhile, a good one is worth it.

Mindlessly Numb

I'm all blogged out for the time being. Just not sure what to blog about. I'm facing a major upheaval, and it's consumed all my thoughts and emotions lately. I vacillate between depression, anger, and acceptance. Hopefully the depression and anger part will wane while the acceptance will get stronger. I will reveal more later, when I have things under better control. For now, I am comforted by God's promises.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11