De’Etta’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

8 September 2005

I went to sleep with a baby in my arms and woke up shaped like a pretzel with cramps in my neck and shoulder. I stumbled into the bedroom at 5 a.m. hoping to catch a few winks and stubbed my toe on my antique hope chest. I gave up and took a shower...I hung my one pair of jeans that currently fit (my fat jeans) beside the shower, climbed in and didn't notice I'd left the curtain cracked open. Water sprayed all over my jeans and the floor. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

At breakfast I was reminded that I had to take Krista to get 4 wisdom teeth pulled. I would not be able to make Jamin's football game (and I've been on bed rest and not made any) because I needed to observe Krista's recovery. Need I say more? It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I think I'll move to Australia.

I went to get a straw for Krista to sip fluid and we were OUT of straws. I went to make Jello and we were OUT of Jello. I went to make pudding and we were OUT of pudding. I had to go to Wal-mart. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

As I pulled away from the curb I realized I needed to get gas before the boys drove to Garden City for the football game. I passed two gas stations selling gas at 2.89 because Wal-mart's gas is ALWAYS cheaper. Wal-mart was NOT cheaper today. The line was long, and the day was hot. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I wonder what the price of gas is in Australia?

I arrived back home to discover that Krista's teeth had continued to bleed and she was now vomiting. Ugh. I hate vomit. Alex deleted the entry I was working on for the blog...all those lovely pictures GONE. At dinner time I burned the french fries.....a nice crispy charcoal state. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I checked the prices for tickets to Australia and then I realized....it's all in your perspective. I'd not known I was having a bad day until one of the children informed me of this. Really, it had been a great day!

A friend that I'd known a couple of moves ago called...and what a treat it was to laugh together again. Email just doesn't quite fill the need on some days.

Being on modified bed rest, I was able to get up and go on an early morning walk. The stars were still out, Stacia enjoyed the stroller, it was a great time for prayer and exercise.

I've got a healthy three week old daughter. My blood pressure has stablilzed enough to allow me to be up and out of the house.

I got my china out of hawk - off of layaway and it is as pretty as I remembered. What a deal it was! I look forward to making enough friends in SA to be able to have a tea party with real CHINA by Christmas time.

I made Rice Krispy treats with Arielle and Nolan - thus becoming "mom of the year" in their eyes. They were so impressed this summer that Grandma Jan can MAKE Rice Krispy treats. I informed them that we could make them at home too....but trying to unpack etc I'd taken to buying them. You should have seen their eyes when I came home with cereal and marshmallows and told them we were going to MAKE some treats. It was even better when we got to send some to friends far away.

We were able to mail three packages to friends that are sure to bring a smile to THEIR faces.

When Bre accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake, we didn't zoom into anything or anyone.

I was able to check out three current, hot of the press, latest volumes in three different cozy mystery series that I'm following.

Josiah melted my heart when he asked for Stacia and proceeded to feed, cuddle and chat with her. They've reached some interesting conclusions about life together.

The last of our school books arrived today.

We had an awesome family night tonight....

When you think of it - I don't think there is any place I'd rather be than West TX with this group of people.

It was an amazing, wonderful, awesome, very good day...and I think I'll stay right here where the Shepherd has led. (Phil 4:8; Ps 23)

Josiah’s Clean Bill of Health

Today, Sept 12, 2005, Josiah has FINALLY received a clean bill of health. He broke his wrist back in May while rough housing with his brother. This turned into quite an ordeal and we are all thrilled that he is finally completely released from the orthopedics’ care.

We celebrated by having his dinner of choice: Shepherd’s Pie, Garlic Bread, Salad, Pudding and Brownies/Cookies. Krista has taken to making homemade ice cream so we enjoyed that as well. We couldn’t find the celebration plate but will look for that before the next big shindig…..

Our Weekend in Brief

Saturday was the Parish Volunteer Appreciation/Kick off Picnic. It was a lot of fun. Krista was signed up to help with all the kids’ games, but had her wisdom teeth pulled on Thursday and so was not able to attend. Breanne and Jared went early to help set up with Mike and the rest of us followed. We had a rough start on this, Stacia’s first family outing. We ended up having to drive to our storage unit and pay for a month because they are near impossible to reach. When we got out to the lake I realized I’d packed the bottle, water, formula, Stacia’s diapers, a spare outfit…but I’d forgotten diapers for Zander. I dropped the kids off with Mike and headed back home to pick up diapers. I’d kept Stacia with me and she decided it was time to eat. I pulled up to the picnic a full hour late. They were into the “preaching” as Nolan calls it but they were really just talking about all the various volunteers from the services and the Crossroads Student Center. There was still a lot of good food left.

Stacia was a hit and made the rounds from woman to woman. The kids enjoyed the face painting and games…complete with a water fight that left no one suffering from hyperthermia….there are certainly some nice benefits to living in TX.

Sundays are always full. This one was especially full as it was the kick off of the Religious Education year. Military chapels almost always (I’ve never seen it differently) take off the summer from Sunday School. It’s always exciting to begin up again. Our program is fairly small as this isn’t a family centered base/mission….this worked out nice for our kids, who are the new kids on the block. There were two of them in each class. I’m not sure Zander is really ready for Sunday School but they take him anyway.

Mike and the kids had discovered Golden Coral during my bed rest and took me there after church. Wow. That place does a brisk business. Bre has been scoping out a set of elderly twins that come each week…..matching clothes, hair and make up…she’s very impressed.

The girls have been busy packing and organizing for their upcoming trip to Spokane. It’s been strange to watch them prepare to leave….they’ve never even been to camp (though they have gone on quite a few youth retreats) . I already shared about our shopping trip under “Ariellisms”. Today we plan to go to the storage unit and pull out the boxes that they had planned to take to Spokane. Now that they can see the size of the trunk they have to work with, they’ll have to make a few more cut backs.

Mike and I are keeping busy and trying not to think too much about the upcoming goodbyes….knowing that it is good thing but finding it to be our least favorite part of parenting to date.