Ophelia_Crow's Xanga

Letting in the Light

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:34:20 GMT

Opening the blinds has become a morning ritual at my house because the natural light does so much to improve my mood. Music is another major lift, so we usually turn on the radio as well. (I say “we” because the kids and I enjoy these things together. Ethan is fascinated by the movement of the curtains and the brightening of each room, and Aidan loves to sing to the radio. Of course, their enjoyment enhances mine!) Especially when I’m running low on sleep, I need these little things to help me get through the day without tearing my hair out.

Other mood boosters:

Taking a nap
Using my imagination
Walking or running
Creating something
Dancing with my children
A change of scenery
Doing something nice for someone else, especially if it’s sneaky
Hugs
Solving a problem
Finishing a project, no matter how small
Exercising
A good story
Being outdoors
Looking at photographs
Pondering God's grace (thank you, Lindsey)
A quiet drive to a serene setting (Lindsey again )

I can’t really say that prayer and Bible reading bring instant joy, but they definitely give me strength and peace (sometimes just a little, sometimes a lot) throughout the day that I wouldn’t have otherwise. And in the long run, they’re a must for my contentment. A few other things I’ve found to have a long-term effect on my happiness are humility, acceptance, trust, forgiveness, and an eternal perspective on my problems (they seem silly, sometimes, in thinking of the bigger picture). Humility was a particular eye-opener for me.

Anything else I should add to either list? What kinds of things have you found to be pick-me-ups?

Update - Juggling Time

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:19:28 GMT

I am still alive, and doing well, but life is quite busy. I am working part-time for the same organization as before, but now I am able to do it from home. I am very grateful to have this opportunity, but I'll tell you honestly that it's a lot harder than I ever thought possible. Sometimes I feel like I am juggling time itself! Somehow, though, things always work out (though I might have to settle for more chaos than I'd like, ha!) and God has been very good to me and my family.

Some other good news: My baby is colic free! We actually discovered that chocolate bothers him immensely, so I stay away from that, and now he is a very happy little guy. He smiles and plays and does all the things a little baby should do. It's so different than the first few months with my first child. The two of them together are a joy to watch (even if they do require a ton of work!).

I did finally succumb to the pressure to get a FaceBook page, so look me up if you like. I miss posting here, but it's so much easier to write a quick status update and leave it at that. I don't plan to abandon Xanga completely, but it may be a while before I get my schedule under my control enough to post regularly. Until then, don't forget me! And enjoy the little things in life as much as possible.

Celebrating

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:28:19 GMT

I'm 30 now, but I don't mind. In fact, I want to do something special to celebrate. So...between now and summertime, I'm going to save my money so I can go SKYDIVING! I'm very much looking forward to that. More than gifts or dinners out, I love to DO things - I celebrate by making memories.

How do you celebrate?

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:56:12 GMT

I got sick Monday night and still felt pretty beat all day yesterday - and I think it was the best thing that could have happened to me right then. Instead of behaving like my usual tightly-wound self, I was forced to slow down and take it easy. I still had to care for the kids by myself until Tadd got home from work, but it turned out okay. I watched movies with my 3-year-old and snuggled on the couch with him. While the laundry sat on the floor, the dishes refused to move, and all the mess surrounding us tried to taunt me, we put together puzzles and talked and played games that required very little movement. It turned out to be a lovely morning. (Of course, there were a few moments when my head was pounding, the baby was screaming, and Aidan was yelling, "I need this! I need that!" that weren't so glorious, but those moments were in the minority.)

I don't want to be too busy for my kids. I can't always ignore the housework or open a can of something for dinner, but once in a while, it's nice to take a break. Even if it does come with a bit of puke.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:37:43 GMT

Some photos from the past month or so:

Crashing Day

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:57:12 GMT

You know how it feels when you take down the Christmas tree and all your decorations, and the places they just occupied seem kind of...empty? And everything seems out of place and a bit less cheerful? That's how I feel after someone leaves when they have visited for a while.

My mom spent the week with us and we had a great time. (Visits like this are especially rejuvenating for those of us who have no family nearby.) It was soooo very nice to have an extra adult on hand to help with the kids and housework! But more than that, just having her here gave me more energy and joy. That makes today - the day we said goodbye - crashing day, when things feel just a little bit sad and lonely. But that doesn't diminish the effect of her time here. It was great - and I'm so grateful for her.

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I still don't know what to tell you about the colic. If Ethan does have it, it's a lot milder than Aidan's ever was. But I suspect it's not that at all, but maybe some kind of digestive issue that seems to be gradually getting better (thank God!). Some days he gets really fussy, and other days it doesn't seem so bad. Whatever it is, I think we're going to make it through okay. Thanks for your hugs and prayers!

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I love this movie! I think it's absolutely brilliant. :)

Midnight Madness

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:41:04 GMT

Ethan has started showing signs of colic. Aidan's appeared at 2 weeks, so I was hoping we had avoided it this time. I'm going to stop eating dairy completely and pray that will take care of it. Tadd and I have survived a colicky baby before - it was absolutely the worst experience of my life - but what worries me the most this time is the thought of how it will affect Aidan. It's one thing for 2 adults to handle, and a totally different thing for a 3-year-old. And I really don't want Aidan to see us the way we were before. I'm going to try my best not to go there again.

But, then, maybe the change of diet will improve things and there will be nothing to worry about after all. *sigh* I hate not knowing what will happen or how to fix things. But maybe that's good for me; maybe it will help me lean more on God and rely on His plans rather than my own.

Baby Pic

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:05:17 GMT

The night before I actually went into labor, I had a dream about it. I went to the hospital but decided to take a walk to look around first. When I got back to my room, there was Ethan, hanging on a hook on the door like a coat. Somehow he had arrived while I was out!

Reality didn't happen quite like that.

But I DO now have in my possession a brand-new baby boy, as you can see.

It's all been ups and downs, but we're all doing fine and are grateful for God's blessings.

How are all of you? I've missed reading your posts!!

The New Arrival

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:49:16 GMT

I have a new baby boy! Average size and lots of dark hair. And so far very quiet! He just came this afternoon, and I'll hopefully be posting a pic or two soon. I'm here in the hospital, feeling pretty well, and keeping my laptop company. :) Just wanted to share the news!

A Last Look

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:51:18 GMT

I look around the house and realize that I am only days away from change. I see it there in the corner, and watch it materialize behind the door. Every nook and cranny will likely be affected. It’s almost like moving away. After 3 years of struggling to gain each of the following things back, I am once again saying goodbye to:

A good night’s sleep most nights
Feeling like I have a handle on the housework
A regular daily schedule I like
The flexibility to step outside the house on a whim
A reliable period of quietness and calm
The ability to commit to events
Time with my husband
Time with friends
Time to do anything for myself
Meals I can actually enjoy

I take a few more minutes to glance around my clean, peaceful house in the moments before going to bed. My eye catches a single stuffed animal lying on his side on the kitchen floor: it’s the tiger I bought for Aidan when I first found out I was pregnant with him. I go to pick him up, but decide to leave him there instead. Somehow seeing it there is comforting to me. So I say goodnight to him and head for the stairs. And I smile.