Today was spent having fun. Not that we don't have fun every day, but this day was particularly fun. Paul and I got up a little late (8am) and as soon as we had eaten breakfast we put on swimsuits and packed up and headed out to Waxhaw to visit our good family friends, the Coles. We had a super time visiting. Paul is good friends with the two older kids, Teresa and Daniel and I am good friends with Kathleen. So moms talked to moms and kids played with kids. It was so nice to be able to let Paul be free with the other two kids and not have to worry about what would happen next.
The Coles' neighborhood has a pool, so we took full advantage of slightly cooler (or at least lower humidity) to go swimming together. Teresa is definately the most confident in the water. Paul seems to have forgotten everything about a school year's worth of swim lessons. I think being in an outdoor pool without a life jacket or float support just leaves him baffled. Once he had a swim noodle to hang on to, he was a lot more comfortable in the water. I just wish I could count on him to tread water without panicing. At least I know I can't trust that to happen yet, so I am hyper-vigilant with him in the pool.
After lunch, we made ice cream in zip lock bags.... soft serve, easy to do. And interesting discovery / experiment - if you buy flavored coffee creamer (real dairy, not non-dairy) - you can make flavored ice cream! It's probably not the cheapest option, but it is delicious!
Also discovered that fruit smoothies when there is extra, can go into a popsicle mold to be eaten later as a frozen treat.... Note to self: frozen fruit should be used quickly - being left in the freezer for a year leads to freezer burn. Oh well, its used now and I'll know to be more careful about using it quickly next time.
Have to get a schedule together for getting the house in order before July 21. Mary, John and the kids are coming - my house is the staging ground. I think I can have a neat house before they come. I think I can, I think I can.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Not today, really...
I hit the wall. Week 4, run 1: Run 4 min, walk 1 min, repeat for a total of five cycles....
I don't want to run. I didn't drink enough water yesterday and today my body is screaming at me to not run.... must fix this before I run again.
I attempted the run - made it through warm up and two run cycles before my body revolted and my mind listened.
Will attempt running again later this week.
I don't want to run. I didn't drink enough water yesterday and today my body is screaming at me to not run.... must fix this before I run again.
I attempted the run - made it through warm up and two run cycles before my body revolted and my mind listened.
Will attempt running again later this week.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Week 3, Run 2
I am still running..... and getting better at it. This week I ran the last run of week 2 on Sunday, then it was Thursday before week 3, run 1, and today I was put on low census (ie no babies - no work!) So I was able to go running again. I am feeling pretty good about the running, and I hope to run my first 5k in July.
Yesterday was spent goofing off. 10am found us at the neighborhood pool with friends, 12noon - adoration chapel (OK we didn't goof off ALL day) then lunch at BK.... and then the 1:30 showing of CARS 2. I think I liked the movie more than Paul did. We got home and played on the Wii - Mario and StarWars. Dinner was out. Then Mark played Zelda until it was almost 10pm. I called in and requested low census and the 5:20 phone call was a welcome relief. I didn't sleep particularly well, and was glad to stay in bed until 8.
Now, I have to get myself outside to work on the yard - weeding flowerbeds and dead-heading the butterfly bushes. Also need to figure out how to contain my watermelon vines.
I may dance tonight, too.....
Yesterday was spent goofing off. 10am found us at the neighborhood pool with friends, 12noon - adoration chapel (OK we didn't goof off ALL day) then lunch at BK.... and then the 1:30 showing of CARS 2. I think I liked the movie more than Paul did. We got home and played on the Wii - Mario and StarWars. Dinner was out. Then Mark played Zelda until it was almost 10pm. I called in and requested low census and the 5:20 phone call was a welcome relief. I didn't sleep particularly well, and was glad to stay in bed until 8.
Now, I have to get myself outside to work on the yard - weeding flowerbeds and dead-heading the butterfly bushes. Also need to figure out how to contain my watermelon vines.
I may dance tonight, too.....
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Numbering the Days
OK, I have to say that Discovery Place Kids is my son's favorite museum to date.
And it is growing on me.
But I don't love it.
Sensory overload. There is lots to do.... it feels like too much at times, and it is all fun.
Today, there were too many kids there. The museum had at least two bus loads of summer camp kids arrive at about the same time we did. Note to self: go really early OR go after lunch. Summer campers arrived at 10:30 - museum opens at 9am - and they left around lunch time (12:30). So our afternoon - 1:30 - 4:45 was much easier.
Paul's favorite thing at the museum is the two story 'brick factory'. Foam bricks are transported by kid powered conveyor belt from the first to the second floor where a crane carries them across to a drop zone that brings them back down to the first floor. In theory a static sytem where no bricks are lost. Reality - bricks get lost in the gear works & on the floor of the crane loading area - overzealous kids overload the crane. And we got to see the brick factory opened up today to retrieve a large bin that somehow managed to get thrown in to the works! That was a alot of fun to watch adults scramble to fix what children had managed to mangle! Even Paul enjoyed watching adults work through the problem solving to fix the brick works.
The other perrenial favorite for Paul is the 'Apple Tree' a kid powered auger moves red balls(apples) up to a chute that delivers apples to a tree where kids pick the apples and place them back into the chute to be augered up to the top. Paul loves this thing. Every time. Unfortunately, he doesn't share his love with other children very well. He always wants to turn the crank. Or if he picks apples, he doesn't want other children to pick with him. Lots of competetive angst over this area. Ugh. Oh well, it's part of the age and the stage..... Side note, we also witnessed the apple tree auger being disassembled to retrieve random other items that gummed up the workes including plastic oranges, eggs and apples from the miniature marketplace next to the apple tree.
Today, we played at the water table for probably close to two hours...... Paul was drenched by the time we finished. He was building plumbing systems to turn a paddle wheel, directing sprayers to turn whirlygigs and generally having fun playing with water. I ended up grabbing a floor squeegie and cleaning up water as Paul played. I didn't care, it gave me something to do.
Cool thing: for the first time I can remember, a mom I cared for at the maternity center recognized me in real life outside the hospital and stopped to say hello. It was a positive experience. Thank goodness. I would have been really bummed if she had been unhappy with her maternity center experience (or my nursing care!).
At the end of the day, we played upstairs with the build a roller coaster toy and with the build your own race car sections.... Then it was downstairs for the end of the day sing a long. Paul looks forward to that sing along more than I understand. It's great, though, because at the end of the sing along, they announce that the museum is closed and Paul leaves without a struggle.
We drove to Chic-fil-A and bought ice cream cones on the way home - dessert first! And then I insisted on watching the news (why?) before any video games could be played. Mark came in at 7:10 and as soon as I finish this post, I am putting together leftovers for dinner (it's 7:30).....
All in all, it was a fun day. I am glad that I can spend time with Paul doing something NOT video-game related, and that he enjoys. I hope we can visit the museum again and enjoy a not so crowded day. Unfortunately, once school is in, I expect that every day will be crowded. Oh well.
Why do I feel like these Halcyon days of summer and small childhood are slipping through my fingers like sand? I don't feel like I am ready to have a school age child in my house, but it cannot be avoided. These days are numbered. There will be more fun ahead, but these carefree days are numbered.
And it is growing on me.
But I don't love it.
Sensory overload. There is lots to do.... it feels like too much at times, and it is all fun.
Today, there were too many kids there. The museum had at least two bus loads of summer camp kids arrive at about the same time we did. Note to self: go really early OR go after lunch. Summer campers arrived at 10:30 - museum opens at 9am - and they left around lunch time (12:30). So our afternoon - 1:30 - 4:45 was much easier.
Paul's favorite thing at the museum is the two story 'brick factory'. Foam bricks are transported by kid powered conveyor belt from the first to the second floor where a crane carries them across to a drop zone that brings them back down to the first floor. In theory a static sytem where no bricks are lost. Reality - bricks get lost in the gear works & on the floor of the crane loading area - overzealous kids overload the crane. And we got to see the brick factory opened up today to retrieve a large bin that somehow managed to get thrown in to the works! That was a alot of fun to watch adults scramble to fix what children had managed to mangle! Even Paul enjoyed watching adults work through the problem solving to fix the brick works.
The other perrenial favorite for Paul is the 'Apple Tree' a kid powered auger moves red balls(apples) up to a chute that delivers apples to a tree where kids pick the apples and place them back into the chute to be augered up to the top. Paul loves this thing. Every time. Unfortunately, he doesn't share his love with other children very well. He always wants to turn the crank. Or if he picks apples, he doesn't want other children to pick with him. Lots of competetive angst over this area. Ugh. Oh well, it's part of the age and the stage..... Side note, we also witnessed the apple tree auger being disassembled to retrieve random other items that gummed up the workes including plastic oranges, eggs and apples from the miniature marketplace next to the apple tree.
Today, we played at the water table for probably close to two hours...... Paul was drenched by the time we finished. He was building plumbing systems to turn a paddle wheel, directing sprayers to turn whirlygigs and generally having fun playing with water. I ended up grabbing a floor squeegie and cleaning up water as Paul played. I didn't care, it gave me something to do.
Cool thing: for the first time I can remember, a mom I cared for at the maternity center recognized me in real life outside the hospital and stopped to say hello. It was a positive experience. Thank goodness. I would have been really bummed if she had been unhappy with her maternity center experience (or my nursing care!).
At the end of the day, we played upstairs with the build a roller coaster toy and with the build your own race car sections.... Then it was downstairs for the end of the day sing a long. Paul looks forward to that sing along more than I understand. It's great, though, because at the end of the sing along, they announce that the museum is closed and Paul leaves without a struggle.
We drove to Chic-fil-A and bought ice cream cones on the way home - dessert first! And then I insisted on watching the news (why?) before any video games could be played. Mark came in at 7:10 and as soon as I finish this post, I am putting together leftovers for dinner (it's 7:30).....
All in all, it was a fun day. I am glad that I can spend time with Paul doing something NOT video-game related, and that he enjoys. I hope we can visit the museum again and enjoy a not so crowded day. Unfortunately, once school is in, I expect that every day will be crowded. Oh well.
Why do I feel like these Halcyon days of summer and small childhood are slipping through my fingers like sand? I don't feel like I am ready to have a school age child in my house, but it cannot be avoided. These days are numbered. There will be more fun ahead, but these carefree days are numbered.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Work - Life Balance
Today was a lovely day of work and play....
I worked from 7a-3p today at the Maternity Center. It was a lovely day with only 2 couplets that were both up for discharge. Both moms were super nice and the babies were good breastfeeders, so it was an easy breezy day. Except for the fact that we were waiting for peds to round and then it was a race to get out and I couldn't get them out quickly enough. Oh well, that is all part of life at times - hurry up and wait.
After work, I had a really good conversation with one of my mentors and shared my perception of lactation and recieved feedback as well. Looking forward to our staff meeting next week.
This evening was the first practice of the season for T-ball. Paul did well at the 6:30 practice, then we realized our practice time was 7:15. oops. So we stayed for the second practice. He had a good time, but two practices back to back took the stuffing out of him. Note to self: We need to practice hitting the ball again - methinks we will buy a tee to practice with.
Now we are trying to get showered and to bed... .I need sleep.
I worked from 7a-3p today at the Maternity Center. It was a lovely day with only 2 couplets that were both up for discharge. Both moms were super nice and the babies were good breastfeeders, so it was an easy breezy day. Except for the fact that we were waiting for peds to round and then it was a race to get out and I couldn't get them out quickly enough. Oh well, that is all part of life at times - hurry up and wait.
After work, I had a really good conversation with one of my mentors and shared my perception of lactation and recieved feedback as well. Looking forward to our staff meeting next week.
This evening was the first practice of the season for T-ball. Paul did well at the 6:30 practice, then we realized our practice time was 7:15. oops. So we stayed for the second practice. He had a good time, but two practices back to back took the stuffing out of him. Note to self: We need to practice hitting the ball again - methinks we will buy a tee to practice with.
Now we are trying to get showered and to bed... .I need sleep.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
video chat
Really, I love technology.
This evening I had my first video chat with my sister, Mary. It wasn't the greatest picture - Mary looked like she was a living flip book.... and she was pixilated, but the sound was good, and we could see each others' general expressions.
I also loathe technology.
Especially the type that lures you in and then makes you want to part with your money. As in, here is a free sample - with ads... if you want an ad-free version, pay money. Well, I am cheap. However, I have a five year old who believes that all ads are personally directed to him. If a Burger King ad comes on and says, "come to BK today to get soaked with your own Super Soaker" then he is going to pester me to go to BK TODAY, Not tomorrow, or next week, or sometime in the distant future. It has to be today! The advertising people have studied him carefully.
Mathblaster is the lastest conflict of this nature. It is a math based learning video game. Fun, cool graphics. Free. Until you want to play a game more than once on any given day. And then you have to become a member. Mark is busy asking Paul how he will put the money into the computer..... Paul is perplexed. I will only laugh until Paul tries to feed a silver dollar into the CD reader.
I think Paul realizes it will require a credit card, but he doesn't understand the value of what he is asking for.
How do I teach him not to be a gimmie gimmie gimmie sort of kid?
Well, I'd best run, I need to be awake for some more video chats tomorrow - hopefully with my cousin from Japan, or perhaps Sandra in Italy.... the possibilities are endless.
:)
S
This evening I had my first video chat with my sister, Mary. It wasn't the greatest picture - Mary looked like she was a living flip book.... and she was pixilated, but the sound was good, and we could see each others' general expressions.
I also loathe technology.
Especially the type that lures you in and then makes you want to part with your money. As in, here is a free sample - with ads... if you want an ad-free version, pay money. Well, I am cheap. However, I have a five year old who believes that all ads are personally directed to him. If a Burger King ad comes on and says, "come to BK today to get soaked with your own Super Soaker" then he is going to pester me to go to BK TODAY, Not tomorrow, or next week, or sometime in the distant future. It has to be today! The advertising people have studied him carefully.
Mathblaster is the lastest conflict of this nature. It is a math based learning video game. Fun, cool graphics. Free. Until you want to play a game more than once on any given day. And then you have to become a member. Mark is busy asking Paul how he will put the money into the computer..... Paul is perplexed. I will only laugh until Paul tries to feed a silver dollar into the CD reader.
I think Paul realizes it will require a credit card, but he doesn't understand the value of what he is asking for.
How do I teach him not to be a gimmie gimmie gimmie sort of kid?
Well, I'd best run, I need to be awake for some more video chats tomorrow - hopefully with my cousin from Japan, or perhaps Sandra in Italy.... the possibilities are endless.
:)
S
Back to daylight
I slept like a rock last night.
Yesterday, I slept from 9am until 11:40am when I got up to go to the adoration chapel. I have an hour on friday every week to sit and pray and think. I know I could get someone to cover the hour for me when I work on Thursday night, but I don't like to do that. I like to get up, to go to the chapel and sit for that hour in prayer. I am deliberate about it. Yesterday was spent praying for my co-worker Jeanne whose daughter has just been diagnosed with cancer. I also reviewed the daily mass readings for Friday and the mass readings for this upcoming Sunday. John 3:16 is coming up this weekend - one of the shortest, best, gospels of the year.
After being in the chapel for an hour, I drove home, chatted with one of my sisters for a few minutes and was back in bed by 1:30. Up at 3:35 to go get Paul. Not really awake. Functioning, but not on all cylinders. Succumbed to the voice of temptation for something cold and sweet.... I don't really want to know how many calories are in a McD's Mango Pineapple Smoothie..... I should have made my own at home. Collected Paul from the Paluszaks and came home to watch Paul fiddle around with the Star Wars on the Wii. Mark was late getting home, we ate Mexican food and then I was SO TIRED that I just collapsed as soon as we got home.
This morning Mark and I were up at 6:25 - oops, I forgot to turn off my daily alarm clock!
Paul joined me to snuggle at 8:40. We read some from Grimm's fairytales. Now battling getting dressed, going running? and doing laundry. So far, blogging has won out. May go to a handwork meeting today to knit. May go to a Charlotte Knights baseball game with fireworks afterwards. Unclear what today holds. But I do know I am awake for it, and that is a good thing!
Yesterday, I slept from 9am until 11:40am when I got up to go to the adoration chapel. I have an hour on friday every week to sit and pray and think. I know I could get someone to cover the hour for me when I work on Thursday night, but I don't like to do that. I like to get up, to go to the chapel and sit for that hour in prayer. I am deliberate about it. Yesterday was spent praying for my co-worker Jeanne whose daughter has just been diagnosed with cancer. I also reviewed the daily mass readings for Friday and the mass readings for this upcoming Sunday. John 3:16 is coming up this weekend - one of the shortest, best, gospels of the year.
After being in the chapel for an hour, I drove home, chatted with one of my sisters for a few minutes and was back in bed by 1:30. Up at 3:35 to go get Paul. Not really awake. Functioning, but not on all cylinders. Succumbed to the voice of temptation for something cold and sweet.... I don't really want to know how many calories are in a McD's Mango Pineapple Smoothie..... I should have made my own at home. Collected Paul from the Paluszaks and came home to watch Paul fiddle around with the Star Wars on the Wii. Mark was late getting home, we ate Mexican food and then I was SO TIRED that I just collapsed as soon as we got home.
This morning Mark and I were up at 6:25 - oops, I forgot to turn off my daily alarm clock!
Paul joined me to snuggle at 8:40. We read some from Grimm's fairytales. Now battling getting dressed, going running? and doing laundry. So far, blogging has won out. May go to a handwork meeting today to knit. May go to a Charlotte Knights baseball game with fireworks afterwards. Unclear what today holds. But I do know I am awake for it, and that is a good thing!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Happiness Is.....
Being able to help a patient feel better quickly.
Sweet patient had a headache, I taught her husband how to do healing touch and her headache was relieved within minutes! And it stayed away the rest of the night. Hooray!
And it's nice when technology makes life easy - inflatable bottom support was too firm for a newly delivered bottom..... let the air out of the support - patient instantly felt relief! No meds required! I love being in a modern hospital with gadgets, gizmos and technology to make life easier!
Now, I need sleep!
Adoration time coming, too quickly....
Sweet patient had a headache, I taught her husband how to do healing touch and her headache was relieved within minutes! And it stayed away the rest of the night. Hooray!
And it's nice when technology makes life easy - inflatable bottom support was too firm for a newly delivered bottom..... let the air out of the support - patient instantly felt relief! No meds required! I love being in a modern hospital with gadgets, gizmos and technology to make life easier!
Now, I need sleep!
Adoration time coming, too quickly....
Thursday, June 16, 2011
work and sleep
Today, I will sleep. Tonight I will work.
Really?
Do people actually do this?
Somehow, I find that I am actually someone who DOES this. And even though my body screams at me for hours before, and for a day or two afterwards, I actually LOVE what I do enough that I still do it!
I enjoy working with new moms and babies in a maternity center. I love teaching moms how to care for themselves and their new babies. I love coaching the couplet through the beginning of the dance of breastfeeding. I love being present to moms in the wee small hours of the morning, when the rest of the world is quiet and yet the baby is awake.
My hope is always that I am where God needs me to be. And if I am at work, that God would make my sleepless night productive.
Here's to being nocturnal. At least tonight.
Really?
Do people actually do this?
Somehow, I find that I am actually someone who DOES this. And even though my body screams at me for hours before, and for a day or two afterwards, I actually LOVE what I do enough that I still do it!
I enjoy working with new moms and babies in a maternity center. I love teaching moms how to care for themselves and their new babies. I love coaching the couplet through the beginning of the dance of breastfeeding. I love being present to moms in the wee small hours of the morning, when the rest of the world is quiet and yet the baby is awake.
My hope is always that I am where God needs me to be. And if I am at work, that God would make my sleepless night productive.
Here's to being nocturnal. At least tonight.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Week 2, run 2
This morning I ran the second run for Week 2 again. It was a beautiful morning, not too hot, not too humid and I was able to run a little bit farther than I ran on Monday.... in the same amount of time. Goal 5K on August 7th.... I am one run closer.
The other cool thing about today - 9 years ago, I married Mark. It still sticks out in my mind as being a really great day. And these 9 years we have been blest with relatively good health and of course, with Paul. We celebrated our 9 years together by eating Pizza at lunch and seafood at dinner. No big celebration this year - but for our 10th, we are hoping to do something big....
Today, Paul and I finished reading Ralph S. Mouse. Paul and I both enjoyed the book. I read aloud, Paul listened, and we talked about it together. Next book: Runaway Ralph.
More soon.
The other cool thing about today - 9 years ago, I married Mark. It still sticks out in my mind as being a really great day. And these 9 years we have been blest with relatively good health and of course, with Paul. We celebrated our 9 years together by eating Pizza at lunch and seafood at dinner. No big celebration this year - but for our 10th, we are hoping to do something big....
Today, Paul and I finished reading Ralph S. Mouse. Paul and I both enjoyed the book. I read aloud, Paul listened, and we talked about it together. Next book: Runaway Ralph.
More soon.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Who needss to run?
When you have a new laptop! My DH got me a laptop as an anniversary present! Hooray for us! And there's a prize if you know how many years we have been married.... Well, there's not really a prize, but I'll know you're reading if you post a guess.
At any rate, we are doing well, and we are not really celebrating this anniversary in any particular way. I have to work, unless I get low census, and Mark has to work, so methinks we are not doing anything in particular. This year.
Summer reading started at the library yesterday. And while Paul and I did read together yesterday, today was a bust. Partially because we were fussing at each other over following directions and partially because I became a lump in a chair as soon as I had my hands on this keyboard. Also, I was obsessed with figuring out video chat with my sister, Mary, and was unsuccessful. Ugh. Perhaps tomorrow will yield better results.
Currently, I am reading Robinson Crusoe.
Paul is reading Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
Mark is reading Sharpe's Devil
And I am planning to run early tomorrow, so I'd best get to bed or I won't be able to run!
At any rate, we are doing well, and we are not really celebrating this anniversary in any particular way. I have to work, unless I get low census, and Mark has to work, so methinks we are not doing anything in particular. This year.
Summer reading started at the library yesterday. And while Paul and I did read together yesterday, today was a bust. Partially because we were fussing at each other over following directions and partially because I became a lump in a chair as soon as I had my hands on this keyboard. Also, I was obsessed with figuring out video chat with my sister, Mary, and was unsuccessful. Ugh. Perhaps tomorrow will yield better results.
Currently, I am reading Robinson Crusoe.
Paul is reading Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
Mark is reading Sharpe's Devil
And I am planning to run early tomorrow, so I'd best get to bed or I won't be able to run!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Running
summer is here.... and i have decided to try to run a 5k on august 7th. if it comes together, i will run it in nyc with my sister mary.
also, i want to write more, and more often.
running, prayer, lactation, life in general will be on tap.
s
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