Merry Christmas

Today we celebrate the miracle of the incarnation. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. How amazing! May we cling to him with all that we are.

Last night, the church service was amazing and beautiful. And the children were amazingly well behaved. For most of the time Abby sat in rapt attention. It filled my heart with joy to see her learning to love the miracle.

May all of you also love the miracle that is Christmas.


P.S. Another neat thing about not doing Santa is that I get a lot more sleep on Christmas Eve.

Laundry Blues

Tomorrow morning the children are singing at church. I am excited about it. (More than they are, I think).

Anyway, as usual, I didn't really think about laundry today until it was time to set clothes out for tomorrow morning. I've got one more load to switch over, then I can go to bed.

Today Paul went to the store for groceries. He was just going to go to George's (the little International store). But George's was closed due to a lack of electricity. So he went to Kroger. So he decided to try and get everything we need. He managed to get most of it. But I'll still have to make another shopping trip before Christmas.

The best part is, though, that he bought me a flower. One single yellow carnation. Which is nice and cheerful and makes me feel wonderful. I just feel so very loved. I think I appreciate my little flower even more than I would a dozen roses. And I think Paul knows that too.

We got another cold that we're passing around. So I am praying that we are all healthy enough to get to church tomorrow.

Having too much fun!

This is the picture I was working on yesterday. For those of you coming for New Years. I will show you what initially inspired me for this project. I think I have a pretty good grasp of it now. What do you think?

More success

So I explained to Paul what I had been trying to do with the sketch thing. And he said "why don't you just google "gimp - photo to sketch. And so I did. And this is the result.

By the way Omi had a good Birthday party last night. She loved the cake. And the boxes. Actually she really liked her presents too.

There was a nasty ice storm here last night. All the schools were closed (except the Catholic high schools which had a four hour delay). My parents are without power. And the power company said it make take several days to get back on. So this morning they had to disable the garage door opener so my mom could get the car out to go to work.

I am hope it warms up and the roads clear up soon. But as it is we are having a nice day playing inside.

Watching the Puppy

So, with my new found free time, I volunteered to take the puppy off Don's hands for today and tomorrow (he'll pick her up tomorrow evening).

So, of course, I have an interview scheduled for tomorrow. I am interested in the position. It looks like it would make use of my degree/concentration, and work experience from both of my previous jobs. And it is closer to where I'll be moving this summer : )

Well, the puppy has been growing, so an updated picture has been included.

She has had her good moments and bad moments. I've been gating her in the kitchen when she acts up (were the weather better, I'd throw her outside but thankfully she has learned the gate is not for jumping). As I am writing this, she is in time-out.

So, time to end the post, prepare a little more for the interview tomorrow, and see to the puppy.

Sketchy Characters

I've been playing around with gimp. My objective was to try to make a photograph of a person look like a sketch. As well as to learn how to use the tools better, so I don't have to ask Paul for help so much.

Paul doesn't like for me to post pictures of the family. But I figured he wouldn't mind me posting this picture of somebody else. I didn't do that good of a job making them look "sketchy" but it is kind of a neat graphic.



In more important news. Naomi turned one yesterday. She is still not quite walking on her own. And she still likes to nurse. So I think she's really a baby. I have noticed that people have started to ask (aren't you almost done nursing her?).

My children have made a huge mess in the bedroom. They have been told to clean it up. I suppose I had better go to check on them.

Science Experiment

I love kindergarten science. Our lesson today was lighting a candle and putting it in water to see what would happen. Listening to the predictions and explanations was quite fun. The candle is still burning now, about seven hours later. Which of course is not what was predicted by my children.

They thought that when the candle burned down the water would come up over it and put out the light.

New Years Party

New Years Eve ringing in on GMT

New Years Day celebrating Paul's 30th

Please email or comment to let me know your plans.

(i.e. when you plan to arrive and how long you plan to stay).

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

Or so describes last week.

We'll go in reverse chronological order, so as to go from the bad to the good. Because, why on earth should we mope over bad news when there is good news?

Anyways, Friday morning I went into work to find out that I was one of 11 individuals (from a company of 33) who were getting fired, and I had to clean out my desk and leave. I kept hearing the "you're a young [female] mechanical engineer with FEA experience, you'll get a job in no time" speech. Lord willing, it is true, but getting jobs has never been easy. As a friend later pointed out, my experience level has about doubled since last I was looking, so maybe that will help.

Funny story from leaving. I am staring at this box of textbooks and I muttered to myself "I don't know how I'm going to do this." Unbeknownst to me, a fellow former employee had been walking by at the same time and said "Don't worry, you'll be fine." I looked up and laughed "Oh, I know that. I mean I have no idea how to get this box down to my car." He grabbed his coat and carried the box for me. We had to prop the outside door open with a chair so the other guy could get back in (he was beyond caring whether or not that would set off an alarm).

Saturday I met with a recruiter, and so I am looking. Right now I am thinking of this as an extended vacation. It will make it easier for me to get to Ft. Wayne for New Year's (especially since Don has agreed I can make the trip myself so he doesn't have to fuss with figuring out how to take time off around the holidays when his job is programming for a department store.) And as my mother pointed out, maybe this is a blessing. Maybe it means I can get a job closer to the near west side. Maybe this will be a good time to start cleaning up my house before I have to move at the end of the summer.

Which brings me to my good news -- on the evening of Dec. 7, I got engaged! It was a surprise when he proposed, but not 100% surprising. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is Dec. 8. Don told me early in November that we should do something for that day because it is his favorite feast day. This whole planning that far in advance is not typical to our relationship, so it had me wondering. Well, we changed plans a little -- instead of going to the Latin Mass on the feast day, we went to the English Mass for the Vigil at the Immaculate Conception Church in Cleveland. My parents were married at the Mac. I hadn't been there since my grandmother's funeral, but when I was younger I attended there more regularly than my own parish. After Mass we started to pray a rosary, but they turned off the lights on us part way through and we had to leave before we got locked in. Then we went to the parish spaghetti dinner. During dinner Don made some comment about how some days he thinks he should give up on planning things because they never work out right. I failed to realize the significance of his statement. After dinner, we went to St. Williams for Eucharistic Adoration. But, as a perpetual Adoration chapel, there was always someone else there, so we prayed silently. After St. Williams we went back to my house and finished the rosary. After the rosary is when he proposed. Then, Don decided he couldn't give me the ring in my living room, so we drove to another church that had a nice nativity painting outside. He said some nice words there that I was already too happy to remember, and then gave me the ring.

We're still obviously in the early planning stages. We are looking at one of the middle Saturdays in July.

Of mice and children

We had a confirmed mouse sighting yesterday morning. Actually several sightings of the same mouse. Abby, Isaac and I were sitting on the recliner reading "The Christmas Day Kitten" by James Herriot. When all of the sudden I wished I had a kitten.

A rather large, fat mouse snuck out from under the sofa. He moved about a foot. Then he darted back under the sofa. Then he peaked his nose out. Back in. Head out. Back in. Nose out. Back in.

I had Abby fetch the still sick Paul from bed. He sat with a plastic container and a shoe. The mouse kept repeating the feat of sneaking out a few inches and then hiding again.

We tried blocking off the exit to the the living room and moving the sofa. No dice.

We haven't seen little Mickey since then. But we did call terminix. And Rusty came out to day. He put to poison traps out. Plus he left me a huge stack of sticky traps.

I hate mice.

Plus it brings back memories of a year ago. But at least I'm not nine months pregnant this time.

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On other notes. I really am loving being a mommy. We have been having a blast getting ready for Christmas. It is so neat to see the wonder and amazement that children have.

It's sad really that so much of that wonder often is wasted on Santa.

My kiddoes know about Santa. But they know he is pretend. That frees us to focus on the baby in the manger. And on showing love to one another.

God is so good.

A somewhat surreal day

I woke up this morning to a cranky two-year-old climbing into bed. I didn't feel too good. Mommy's don't get sick days, but I figured I could take it easy today.

Then Omi woke up, like she had several times through the night. So I stumbled out of bed followed by a screaming Isaac. The other children woke up soon. And we feasted on a breakfast of oranges, cheese, and pretzels.

After eating, Abby wanted to play downstairs, but the boys did not. A screaming fit ensued. Then all of the children went into the boys bedroom to play house. I decided to join them since I didn't feel up to housework. Isaac was playing daddy snd was sitting on Sammy's bed, pretending it was the van. Well I guess he was pretty excited about driving because he started bouncing. And by the time I could yell "STOP" there was blood gushing everywhere.

I scooped up Isaac and had Abby run to get a washcloth. As I wiped the blood, I saw that Isaac had bitten his tongue. There was a pretty large gash. I asked Abby to get an ice cube. But since she couldn't reach them, she went to get Paul.

Did I mention that Paul was in bed sick? He hardly ever gets sick, but he was sick today.

I put a tea bag on Isaacs tongue to slow the bleeding. Unfortunately he bit the tea bag open. So after that I used washcloths soaked in tea and pressure against his tongue.

Paul went to go and buy popsicles from the Oxford One Stop. At the exorbitant price of $1.25 per popsicle. He took Sammy with him.

Abby helped me by bring tea bags and making tea. And also taking care of Omi. It was really amazing to see how concerned she was for her little brother. She was such a big help. I am really proud of her.

I called Papa to come and help out. And I continued to hold Isaac with pressure against the gash. It bled for about 45 minutes.

I called the doctors office. They said to keep pressure on it. Then he is only supposed to eat cold soft foods (like ice cream) for the next couple of days. And I am supposed to try and keep him playing quietly so he doesn't risk making it worse (Isaac, quiet?)

Isaac fell asleep on my lap with my finger in his mouth. I noticed he was wheezing pretty badly. Normally I'd give him a breathing treatment. But I couldn't really use the nebulizer, what with the bleeding and all.

When Isaac woke he was happy to have the popsicles.

I made a list for Papa. And sent Abby to the store with him to buy ice cream and such. They went shopping. Then Papa called. He had forgotten his wallet. One of us would have to come get the groceries. But they would keep them out for us.

Papa brought Abby home, with candy. Then he went on his way. And Paul went to the store with Abby.

Around about this point in time Sammy began to scream. He was hungry but wouldn't eat his lunch. And he was cold. And he didn't want to take a nap. He continued to scream for most of the rest of the day.

Paul arrived at the store only to discover that they had already reshelved the groceries. He did not have the list. But the cashier kindly attempted to help him get all the things that Papa had tried to purchase. She still had the receipt from the non-sale. It worked out well, since Paul got all the things we needed. He also got some extra things. Including shrimp that Papa must have been trying to buy, but I certainly wouldn't have (since Paul is allergic). And he bought candy for Abby, not realizing Papa had already bought her some.

When they got home I put the groceries away. And Paul went back to sleep. Omi was waking up from nap. And I made Sammy take a nap. But I didn't put the other two down. I gave Isaac some pudding. And Abby had some corn chips. Then Abby shouted. Isaac's eating a corn chip. And the next thing I know Isaac is screaming and bleeding again. Ugh!

So by the time things were settled down again. It was almost time to fix dinner. I made tacos, using the meat from last nights pot roast.

Paul continued to sleep. And Abby fell asleep on the chair.

Sammy awoke, and commenced screaming again. I finally got the kids settled by playing videos.

And finally bedtime came.

So Paul and I sat down to watch a Numb3rs dvd.

Then the phone rang.

It was Kathy.

I'd tell you why she called. But she might want to tell you herself.