I’ve been a bit emotional today. Today is October 10th — exactly six months since my post pregnancy scare. I think about that on the 10th of every month. How it has been one month, two months, now six months since it happened. It’s strange. Now that I’m totally feeling like myself healthwise and life is pretty normal again, in some ways it feels like it didn’t even happen. But it did happen, and in other ways I’m different. I think one of the main things that whole experience taught me was how much I love the mundane, sometimes boring, every day aspects of my life. While I was recovering and my husband, mom, and sister were basically being me for a spell I can’t even tell you how hard that was. How much I longed to be in my normal routine. I wanted to bathe my girls and wash their hair, to clean up their toys, to drive Addison to pre-school and sit with her during singing time, to do laundry, to run errands, to sweep the kitchen floor, to cuddle my new baby and tuck all of my kids in bed. Those are the things I missed. I missed feeling needed. I missed feeling productive. I missed feeling like a mom and a wife.

I think about that a lot day to day while I’m cleaning and taking care of my kids. How grateful I am to be doing the little things that I used to take for granted or even complain about. How grateful I am to be here. It helps me to be more patient with my kids. It’s hard to be upset over the little things — kids fighting, messes, household chores when you know how close you came to not being around to stop your kids from fighting, and clean up their messes and do all of the household chores.

I’m also emotional today because this weekend a close friend of mine suddenly lost her dad due to a heart attack. That makes three of mine and Kenny’s close friends who have lost a parent this year. And we just feel way too young to have friends losing their parents. My heart aches for my friends and their families and everything they are going through. Life really is so short and you never know what’s going to happen. And we hear that ALL the time. But it’s so true. And I’m thankful for what I went through six months ago because now I start each day with so much gratitude. I’m so grateful for my life. I’m so grateful for my Heavenly Father whose love I feel every day. I’m so grateful for my health and the health of my family. Those are the things that matter.

Ok. I’m really rambling, aren’t I?! Sorry about that. This blog is such a journal for me and sometimes I get carried away writing whatever is currently in my head and I forget that people are actually reading this. Maybe by now you’ve all stopped reading and are clicking on other blogs that are much more fun for a Monday morning. Except my mom. I know my mom is still reading because moms love their kids unconditionally. Even when they ramble. Hi mom. :)

On a lighter note…

The girls had a great time this weekend turning my living room upside down to create their “fort.”

Somehow they managed to not only squeeze themselves into this mini fort, but to also fit an army of my little ponies, stuffed animals, and polly pockets. I didn’t mind only because it kept them quite entertained all afternoon.

Saturday morning Kenny took the girls to Princesses on Ice. We go every time the princesses come to town because my princesses love it so much. Addison decided to be Snow White for the show and then had so much fun posing and modeling the dress that she also decided she wants to wear this dress up we’ve had for years for Halloween.

Makes life easy for mom! While they were gone, Kole and I did a little scrapbooking. He’s wild about my latest supplies. I’ll share his favorite layouts soon. :)

After the show Kenny and I hit the road and spent the rest of the day in minivan heaven and I think we’ve made a decision! We knew we wanted the 2011 Limited Toyota Sienna or the 2011 Touring Elite Honda. If you’re going to do the minivan thing, you might as well go all out and do it right! Right!? Both vans were cute on the outside (for a minivan) – and both vans were amazing on the inside. These things are so tricked out! The seats all pull out making all kinds of formations, kids push a button and doors open, a mini cooler fridge in the front, a dual screen TV so you can play two movies at once to appease all children, the list goes on and on. I got in the Honda after the sales lady had told us about all of the new features they’ve added this year and was surprised I had to buckle my own seat belt! I see why so many of you are saying you love your minivans! They really think of every convenience for moms. I loved different things about both vans, but right now we’re leaning towards the Honda only because it has the option to hold 8 passengers. The middle row has room for three where the Sienna middle row only holds two. I don’t think we’ll use all of the seats that often, but I like that we could fit all three kids in the middle row and lay down the back seats and have TONS of room if needed. What if I was shopping and saw a piece of furniture I loved and had to have? Or what if I wanted to take all three kids somewhere and let each of them bring a friend? I figure if it’s time to bite the bullet and go big we might as well go BIG. Right!?

The new Honda Touring Elites are just coming out so we’ll have to wait a few weeks for the color we want, but it feels good to have the decision made. Thanks so much for all of your encouraging comments last Friday! You made me much more excited about our little adventure and helped me to foucs on the very positive side of the minivan! :)

Now I’m rambling again.

Have a great Monday everyone!

My day started at 5:30 a.m. when my girls woke me up. They didn’t feel well the day before so they went to bed super early…which always results in a super early wake up time. I rolled out of bed and turned the TV on for them. We have a no TV in the morning during the week rule, but a 5:30 wake up time immediately banishes all pre-made rules. Then I got back in bed. I laid there thinking about how completely awake I felt and how I should just get up and start the day. So many things I could do! Get on the treadmill and have my workout done early, get a jump start on laundry/housework, read something uplifting to start my day off on the right track, edit pictures and do a little blogging, finish the scrapbook layout I started yesterday….so many options.

Ended up going with option D – none of the above. It was a cold morning and the covers were so comfy and warm. I laid in bed awake thinking of all I should be doing for one hour until my alarm told me it was time to get out of bed – for real. (alarm being my baby boy “talking” from his crib – I have to say that a happy talking baby is my all time favorite alarm) Got Kole fed and Ellie ready for school —

She wore one of my favorites – her “Recycle” shirt.

Got Ellie and Kenny out the door and then I made this mess –
I am working on my “Mind Organization for Moms.” It’s the organization system we learned about at the Power of Moms Retreat. I’m taking everything I learned and tweaking it a bit to fit my needs. Very cool. I’m excited to share it when I’m done! But all this paper organizing takes time and I ran out of time before I could finish today so for now my living room is covered in piles of paper.

Ad played with Kole while I got ready, changed her outfit three times until she felt ready, and we were off!

(random building on our way into town – I just love seeing Palm Tree reflections in all of the office buildings around here)

Addison, Kole and I met Kenny for lunch. Such a treat! He is usually way too busy schmoozing clients at fancy restaurants during lunch while the kids and I dine on mac-n-cheese and turkey. It was a cool, cloudy day and I ordered chili. Not much fancier than turkey, but it tasted so good because of the weather. I was wearing my favorite green turtleneck (short sleeved turtleneck – this is San Diego) and the whole scene felt so fallish.

Ran a few errands with the kids, picked up Ellie at school, and then went to the church we attend to put up the Activity board I’m now in charge of.

I have to say that this board looked a lot better when I envisioned it in my head. The tree is looking a little weird to me. What’s up with the top of it? Dead stump? The thing is, I can’t even begin to tell you what a joke it was trying to get this thing thrown up with my kids all in tow. Kole was nap deprived and getting fussy, Addison needed help in the potty clear down the hall, Ellie was trying to “help” me a little too much. My ‘perfectionist side’ would have wanted to come back later to fix the tree but it was quickly ruled out by my ‘new mother of three side’ who shrugged and thought at least it’s one thing I can check off my to-do list!

My helpers

Came home and hung the cloud Addie made while I was making my clouds. Changed the girls into gymnastic clothes, fed them a quick snack, and drove them to Kenny’s office. He took them to their first gymnastics class at a new location. I headed home with Kole. Yea. Love being home.

(Waiting to head to class — they were so excited)

I unloaded the car and then cleaned the mess from unloading the car. Then I turned on Oprah while I cleaned the kitchen. Martha Stewart was on and it was a fun one. She showed lots of her scrapbooking supplies and I decided I immediately need to go buy her circle cutter. How have I lived this long without it?

Fed Kole Sweet Potatoes for the first time and he loved them! Needless to say, a bath quickly followed.This picture made me laugh. It’s blurry because he is in his bouncer and man does he ever get that thing bouncing!

The girls came home and were so excited about their first gymnastic class. I asked them what they learned and Addison said, “all about a Halloween party and we got stamps!” Good to know our money is being well spent. :)

Got the kids in bed. Watched a show with Kenny who is now snoring on the couch while I stay up way too late blogging. In fact it’s so late that it’s almost tomorrow instead of today.

Today was a good day.