I Think I Hear A Baby Crying...

When my mother needed extra time to finish up something on which she was working, she would tell me "I think I hear one of your babies crying". Each time I would run to check and then no doubt get sidetracked with something along the way and give her the time she needed to finish up. Well, amazingly this trick survives the test of time and works amazingly well (except I ended up stopping what I was doing to take pictures.)

And by the way, if you don't like the way something looks, change the way you look at it. Once I convinenced myself to change my outlook on things, all is so much better.

Dear Me

I'm writing this letter to try and tell myself it is time for me to feel better. While the last two weeks have been less than ideal I'm always the positive person. I can see the good in anything.

All of sudden, without warning I went from enjoying my career, the work I do and the people with whom I work to pure discontent. I don't hate it. I just don't enjoy it. At times there is more work to do than probably two people can handle and by the end of the day my stress level has maxed out. Then I go home to three amazing, yet stressful children (and two kittens who keep thinking they need to help me type).

Two days after my work life exploded everything at The Shoe seems out of sorts without A/C. The Old Man and I moved into our guest room/playroom to escape the scorching heat in our upstairs Master Bedroom but moved in right across the hall from all those children. (Yes I do realize there are only three of them, however, they seem to multiply by tens when I have a headache.)

I had to move my office up to the 20th floor of The Firm. Couldn't bring myself to unpack 5 years worth of family photos, odd gifts and desk toys. So, everything has been uncomfortable at the office and at home. Most disturbing is everything has been uncomfortable in my head. I'm such a planner and right now there is nothing in my life that is under my control. I seem to be battling issue after issue in my head for which there are no black and white answers.

So, as I said in the beginning it is time for me to feel better! I now have cool and dry air circulating through out the Shoe (the humidity has been almost as bad as the heat). I can sleep in my own bed snuggled up with The Old Man with no little bodies sneaking across the hall to disturb my slumber. Most importantly, in just Two Days, while Lynilu starts her new journey, I'll be headed for the BEACH! While there is a little stress trying to coordinate the journey for three families, I REFUSE to be stress about this trip. We will all get there when we are meant to get there and eat whatever is available. Even if it rains and is cold the entire time we are there,

all 8 kids (ages 6 and under) will enjoy just being away from home!

I keep telling myself I will feel better after a break, but now I've decided it's time for me to feel better NOW. My home is comfortable and somewhat orderly again. I have a "team meeting" with one of my new teams today. My departed co-workers have been on a business trip all week so they have seemed so distant. They come back tomorrow and one will come by to visit and pick up some remaining files.

So, it is time for me to feel better!

-- The Old Lady

DAY 9 WITH NO A/C

A Parting Wish

Today is the last official day of working along side my crew. For the past four years I've taken care of them or most importantly they have taken care of me. They've seen me through two pregnancies (however they will tell you I'm always pregnant and my excuse for EVERYTHING is that I was on maternity leave), the loss of a friend's child and another friend's mother.

They understood when I needed the time to say farewell to Kosmo.

They allowed me to travel to Conroe, Texas in August to review documents kept in a barn on a golf course, while five months pregnant but more importantly one went with me on that adventure just to be safe.

One has taught me the fine art of wines and one has taught me that God has His hand in everything.

We've shared numerous victories and defeats and learned so much from both.

So, to my crew...

I hope each road leads you where you want to go.
I hope your dreams stay big and your worries are small.
I hope you never look back but you never forget.
I hope you make all the choices that feel right, weather or not they turn out to be right.
I hope that you will always have someone to take care of you, and someone for which to take care.
My wish for you is that all your dreams come true.

She's Like A Squirrel Hiding Acorns!

As you may recall, Doddlebug said farewell to pacifers awhile back. So, how is it that randomly I find this! Where is she hiding these things!!!!

Given that The Shoe is a million degrees inside and the humidity is literally dripping off the furniture, I can't really make her give this up! And there is the fact that she took a 3 hour nap today!!!!! God really does know when He has pushed you to the limit and you are considering jumping off a cliff.

When life gives you lemons.....

make lemonaide!


Along with everything else going on, our A/C at The Shoe died on Thrusday afternoon. It will be Tuesday before it can be replaced (yes replaced for mucho $$$$$). So, we took an adventure outside The Shoe to Fossil Rim wildlife park.

Life Ain't Always Beautiful....

But the struggles make you stronger, and the changes make you wise. Life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride! -- Gary Allen


Tuesday I went to The Firm in a funk. I realized I could not, nor did I really want to, compete in the billable hours race with my peers. I realized I was having to work with other attorneys in order to get enough work to keep me busy. I've worked pretty much exclusively for the same two attorneys for over three years. I didn't like the idea of having to branch out.

When I returned from lunch those two attorneys told me they were leaving The Firm. Now would not be an appropriate to discuss if I could go with them. I like to think I am a pretty smart girl and I know they do not have the volume of business to justify my expense.

While I have already began work on my next adventure, security doesn't make me less sad. I think this is the closest to a divorce I hope I will ever experience. Five days a week (and sometimes seven) I spend a majority of my waking hours with them. I worry when they are sick and rejoice in their victories. I know their families and what is going on in their lives. While I have no doubt we will continue to have a working relationship of some sort, there is just no way it will be the same.

I guess this goes along with things happen for a reason.

I hear tell....

the road to Hell is paved with good intensions.

While I had planned to stop by and visit the neighbors this weekend, it did not happen. Saturday morning the stomach bug that has been creeping around The Shoe found me. While I want to check in the on neighbors (see previous post) I didn't think it would do much good to check in on them and then make them all sick. My In-Laws arrived Saturday afternoon in time for the crew to watch my first Texas High School football game. My neice was playing her first home game in her high school band. So family took up the rest of the weekend. I'll try to visit this evening and let you know how it goes.

Things Happen for a Reason

One evening I was taking the little two on a walk. Monster was riding his tri-cycle and Doodlebug was in her stroller. We crossed the alley behind our house and when we turned in front of the house behind our house (separated by the alley) there was water everywhere. While we were attempting to maneuver the minor flood, the home owner came up and stated "feel free to cut across the yard. We are a calling this lake Armstong." The city water main had broken in front of their house.

The homeowner introduced himself and we remarked about the fact that they had lived there for four years and we had never met. He did the proper ohhing & ahhing over Doodlebug and Monster and stated he and his wife had four boys. (I would guess he is in his late 50s early 60s.) He then tells me that he and his wife are going through a very hard time. Seven weeks ago they lost one of their boys. He says he is still in denial and minor shock but his wife is having the worst time.

I find it incredibly odd that this set of circumstances just happened to be. We talked for as long as the Monster could be patient, then I asked if he thought it would be okay if I stopped by to visit with his wife. He claimed "It couldn't hurt."

As most cannot, I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child. The closest I have been to that pain is 2 years ago standing by our college friends while they buried their two year old son who had downed in their pool. While that was the hardest thing I have ever done in life, it was also the most inspirational. P&B have an amazingly strong faith that has carried them through the last 2 1/2 years. Even when P called the Old Man to tell him what had happened, he stated that his son had had a greater purpose in life that we may never know. If it hadn't been the pool, it would have been a car in the road. P&B's faith even touched the emergency workers who responded to the scene and despite proper protocol, many of them stopped by to check on them after the incident.

So, I have to believe there is a great purpose to my walk with Monster and Doodlebug. I feel called to go visit these people. I was thinking about having the Boss make a card (she is, among so many things, an amazing artist) and baking some cookies. The Boss and I could just stop by and see what happens. What do you think?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!

Happy 6th Birthday to The Boss!

Those Cute Kiddos!

Maybe Blogger is behaving now and we can get back to pictues of my amazingly beautiful children!

You can see in Monster's face how he has impulse control issues. Grandma said it best about the Doodlebug "I've never known any other child who got some much out of life." That is her! Despite being in her church dress, she jumped into our backyard pool and had a blast. The Boss tries to reason with her, but no such luck.

Here is the Boss on the first day of first grade. She turns 6 on Wednesday. Where does the time go! I'll no longer be able to say I have three children under the age of six and get the "you are crazy" glares from people.

And we can't forget the kittens!