Getting Ready for Easter

Ahh, its finally spring and warmer weather has been showing up lately. Its wonderful to now see the sun and the grass on the ground. Its nice to not be freezing all of the time either.
We've had much to do last month. The girls spent some time with their Agora friends getting those cute little caricature pictures done. Then they also had a chance to spend a day at school! The girls will be attending St. Thomas this year. This was by their own asking so in the spirit of life Tim and I feel that we can not deny them a chance to see what it is like to go to school. So off they will go in September and I on the other hand will be busy finishing my degree. I am both excited and sad all at the same time. Excited for them because they will be having a new experience, and isnt' that what life is about? Trying new things? Sad because I just don't feel ready to give up my homeschool mom status either.
Of course I'm sure I will try to fit in afterschooling in there somehow.
The girls visited St. Thomas on March 29th and they had a great day and really enjoyed it.


Maggie was sort of okay with it. The moment we step foot in the classroom and I took off her coat she began to cry. So I sat in with her for some time until I was able to slip away. She did well for the most part. Her teacher Mrs. Buell said she only cried when she realized when I was gone but she settled herself down, then looked a little teary eyed in the afternoon and then she finally had enough and cried around 1:30 ish beause she pooped her pants. Of course I had to come and change her diaper because she wouldn't let anyone change it except for me. So I stayed the rest of school because school was almost over anyways and she went back and stayed right until the end. I was very proud of her because that made for a long day. I'm sure we'll have to go through this again when school starts but I think she will do just fine. I really do.

Marilyn, Katie and Hannah really enjoyed their time. Hannah's favorite part was that one of the children in the class had a birthday and they all got Dairy Queen for desert ( lucky Hannah). Katie had fun and all of the girls asked if she was coming back the next day (which she wasn't). Of course one little boy had to pipe up and act like an idiot but she was fine with it and was more interested in what the girls thought of her. LOL. Marilyn said she had fun with her friend Abby and she talked to a few other girls and there were a couple of boys who thought she was pretty neat,, ;>) That's my Marilyn! In the end I think this will be a good experience for them.
Hopefully with the time I have I can finish my degree. Work on getting better with my health and maybe the 'funness' of the school will wear off and I can go back to doing what I do best,,, homeschooling. This definitely will be another season in our life. One that we will all get through with flying colors. That's for sure.

Oh yes, before I forget I ran across a pretty neat blog called Homeschool Creations. There was a really cute Easter Bunny game and thought you all would enjoy!

Cartoon Caricatures.....

Today we had an awesome fun day. The girls went to their PSSA party for Agora and we were surprised with an artist that drew caricatures. So of course the girls each wanted their very own cartoon version of themselves and they turned out so cute! Of course I took some photos of the drawings and this is what they looked like!

Aren't they funny? I plan on going to Walmart or someplace that sells frames and get these all frammed. They definitely are something that the girls will look back upon with some fond memories!

The never ending winter

I'll have to start off by saying I'm sorry I haven't posted pictures in a while. Our trusty Kodak camera's flash is not working so I'm not getting very good pictures off of it. At least none that would look any good on the computer. So I'm in picture withdrawl at the moment.

We've still be pretty busy with school work. Trying to get this year done and overwith. I am still looking forward to going back to traditional homeschooling. I think I was happier when I did it that way. No, I know I was happier when I just homeschooled on my own.

The girls are getting ready for Thinking Day at Girl Scouts. They've also been busy with working on earing patches for their vests. They love earning badges. Silly girls.
We've also been busy with more physical activity. This winter has left us pretty sedintary and I don't like that. I like for the girls to be active and that is what they need. So Marilyn, Katie, Hannah and Maggie have taken up karate at the YMCA. The older girls like it, Maggie isn't so sure. But there isn't much you can do with a three year old and karate. LOL. She'll learn to like it though. Maggie has also found she really likes gymnastics instead though. She is a little monkey girl, and its good getting her out and about around other kids about her age. She really needs that because my 3 yr old thinks she's either 6,10 or 12 instead of 3.
Marilyn, Katie and Hannah are continuing on with swimming and they are enjoying that.

Me, I've been working out at the Y at least 3 times a week. I'd like to do it everyday but well being a mom that isn't always possible. So far I have lost 12 pounds and I seem like I am at a standstill with my weight again. Grrr. I'm hoping that I can lose some more here. I'd like to lose about 50lbs if I can. That would be very good for me if I could. I am glad to say these days I am feeling better. I'm not sure what had been ailing me in January. Just that I really was not feeling well at all. It could of been a number of things, my thyroid, stress, the winter weather, not getting enough exercise, not enough vitamin D or B , or heck maybe all of the above. All I know is I've been feeling much better than I had been last month. I still don't feel 100% yet, but its a work in progress. I still think I'm having hormonal issues but its so hard to find a doctor that is willing to work with me and get to the bottom of things so I can get to my old self.


Other then that we are just having a never ending winter. The snow wont' stop. It just won't get warm and just looking at the tundra of snow is getting really old. I want warmth and sunshine. I want to walk outside without a coat, hat , boots and gloves on. I'm just so glad that Feburary is almost over with. Thank goodness its such a short month.

Wishing it was Spring

I think I am pretty much done with winter. I am so longing for some warm air and looking around at green grass and leaves on the tree. I long for walking outside without a coat, boots and hat on that's for certain. I am also longing for this school year to be overwith as well. I am so ready to end cyberschooling. Not because its a bad thing, its not at all. Just because I'm one worn out momma from it all.

I love having the girls home and I love teaching them more than anything in the world. I just am finding with me having health issues that I need to use something more mom friendly if that makes any sense. I just have enough on my plate right now.

Dealing this whatever is going on in my body wether it be thyroid related or not has really taken a toll on me. It has taken a toll on me both physically and emotionally. So its definitely time to beging to prioritize what needs to be done for the upcoming school year so things aren't so stressful.

Horray for Spelling!

I'll have to admit I am impressed with my girls today. I had signed them up to participate in their cyberschool's National Spelling Bee. Yes, the National Spelling Bee that you see on television. This was the school's first try at it this year. They won't always be able to participate at the national level but the school will always hold a Spelling Bee. Which is great because it really encouraged my girls to really try hard at improving their spelling.

I had fun creating a spelling file folder for them ( which I don't have a picture of at the moment because the flash on my camera went and it won't take good pictures) so they could study their spelling words. We worked on this for an entire month, and today was the day!

Marilyn impressed me by getting first place , with two other first place kids in her 6th grade class, and Katie was a runner up for the 4th grade class. Hannah gave it a try and she tried her hardest but couldn't spell egg and macaroni. I told her at least she tried her very best and she did.
Now they have this under their belt and can someday tell their children that they participated in the National Spelling Bee.

Way to go girls!

Life still goes on

Well since I last wrote I began having issues with my blood pressure going up and it just woulnd't go down. The monday before Marilyn's birthday I had to go in and have them check my blood pressure because I felt so sick. I felt weak and tired and just like my heart was pounding in my chest. It was very scary for me to feel that way.
I went in and my blood pressure reading was 152/98! Those are some scary numbers that's for sure. I've seen people walking around with worse numbers but that made me feel mighty icky. So they've started me on a low dose of high blood pressure meds.

I will admit that stress is just one of those ugly factors in my life. The past three years since Maggie was born has been nothing but doctors, traveling , more doctors and more traveling. Dealing with doctors have no clue, some clue and a clue. But the trick was finding which one. The stresses of basically jumping up and down to get them to listen to me that my baby wasn't feeling good has taken a toll on me. Which it really, really stinks. At 33 years old I shouldn't be worrying about these sort of things. I should be enjoying life right now , enjoying my children and my husband. Not worrying about things like my thyroid and all its many components.

Today luckily my blood pressure went down to 122/98. The bottom number is still a bit high but I've only been on the med for one whole day and I was told it could take 2 weeks for it to really take effect. So not so shabby there. My doctor did go over the results of my sono and said I have a couple of cysts on the right side of my thyroid but I have a "blob" a mass of some sort on my left side. I would lie if I said I wasn't scared. I am very scared. I just wish there was a quick fix to this . You know kind of like your appendix. Oops its inflammed lets just get it out of there. Unfortunately its not that easy. They need to figure out what is up , and what that blob is. I'm not looking forward to someone messing with my neck. What a sensitive area!! I am hoping that this is just hormonal issues causing it and it can be something 'fixed' with medication. But I have a feeling its not going to be that simple. Nothing for me ever seems to be that way for some reason. Its been the theme of my life.
I will admit that I'm tired of doctors, tired of medical stuff. I would just like a break and have some enjoyment in life.

All I know I can do is that is to just pray. Pray to God that he can at least help me heal myself. He doesn't even need to heal me , but if he can at least throw me an anchor and help me heal myself I would be so appreciative. I need to be here for my girls.

My crazy life....

Just when things begin to stablize with Maggie of course it has to be my turn. I've had to deal with hypothyroidism for at least 6yrs now. I believe I've had it all of my life. But that's another story.
I guess when one medical journey ends with one family member another one starts with someone else, and that's me. I mean why not? I'm only responsible for caring for four children, and schooling them , and taking them to activities which we all love to do.

My problem is that I have a few cysts on my thyroid and trust me I'm not happy to hear that. Not at all. I believe whole heartedly that its because my thyroid has not been managed very well by my doctors, and at times it makes me angry to think about it. I'm just praying that I won't have to have surgery but then I guess what are they going to do to deal with the cysts? I'll admit my 3yr old is a much braver person than I am. She has had 5 surgeries so far in her first 3yrs of life and numerous procedures that I've lost count on. Yet she bounces back like a ball. Me on the other hand I am a wimp. Or at least over the years I've become one. I think with a combination of having surgeries myself, the older I get the harder it is to recover, and the fact I have dealt with so many doctors and seen so much with Maggie I think that I've just about had enough with it all.

I know my friends have extended their concern but I think the worse piece of 'caring' I've gotten was when a friend of mine said to me " God is doing this because he wants you to slow down." I don't think so. Why would God cause me to have something wrong with me to make me slow down? Why would he want me to slow down? He blessed me with the responsibilty of four beautiful little girls. How can you slow down? Isn't that what happens when the kids grow up and leave the nest? Then you can slow down a little? God certainly doesn't need to make me ill to tell me to slow down that's for sure. He could tell me in other ways if He really wanted me to. I believe that Satan has his hand in it and truely and honestly I want him gone, out of here and to leave me the heck alone. We've been through enough and I just feel like I'm at my wits end. I just want some happiness for a little while. A break. Maggie is finally 'stable' at the moment and now I have to deal with myself? Come on.

I am even just about half way done with my college work too. I have always wanted to finish college and get my degree. I tried twice after getting married. In the beginning I was having some marriage issues so I dropped out.Then surely enough the next attempt I ended up pregnant with Marilyn and very sick and couldn't even concentrate so I dropped out again. Waited for a long time and here I am finally doing something with my life so I can make it much better and Wham! Really I am learning to hate the saying " God doesn't give you what you can't handle." I think that is a load of bull. He has given me way more then a normal person's share of hard times. My life has been nothing but hard since my childhood and beyond.

I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, but how much can one person take?
I guess all I can do is keep my chin up and pray for the best. Hoping and praying that I can continue to homeschool my children and that its nothing major.