Things I plan to do to keep my family healthy.

Last winter we spent a LOT of time being sick. Well, I'm sick and tired of it. I've always been fairly healthy (except when I was a small child) so these past few winters have been rough on me. I can't figure out why we are always getting sick. So here is a list of things that I plan to do to help (hopefully) keep my family on the healthier side of life this winter.

These things may seem like common sense to a lot of people, but this mommy things doesn't come easy to me. On the other hand, I'm a nurse by profession and SHOULD know these things already. Well, I'm kindof a slow learner and I've been focused on being a mom, so the nurse in me is off duty. And that's a good thing, b/c when she does come around she starts freaking out about all the sickness and such. Seriously...she's not welcome here very often.


So....here's my list:

Sleep: I plan to get the girls in bed at a reasonable time every night and down for naps every day.

activities: When we are out, we will try to get back to the house to get good sleep instead of returning at 8 or 9pm and then putting them down for bed late. (see "sleep").

eating: I plan to make healthy meals every night (except maybe one) instead of eating out. This will require planning and some good recipes, but I have a new oven that I am loving so maybe I'll cook more often.

Vitamins: I bought vitamins for the girls to eat. We'll see. I don't have a lot of faith in things like that, but I should b/c I'm a nurse. sheesh!

Cleanliness: I plan to bath my girls more often. haha...that sounds funny. Their hair takes so long to dry, but that needs to be something I learn to deal with. I also plan to clean my house more often and better. I'm not much of a cleaner. My house is not gross, but it's certainly not disinfected regularly like it should be. I will also require them to wash their hands WAY more often, even when just around the house and we will use hand sanitizer when out of the house.

fresh air: since I don't plan to go places much, I will allow the girls time outside regularly. This will be difficult if James doesn't have the time to take them out b/c I can't take Miriam out, but I will allow them to put on coats and boots and run around the porch for 15 minutes.

Laughter: Since this is the best medicine, I plan to tickle my girls and wrestle with them on a regular basis. They are craving one on one time with me, especially in these past few months with Miriam requiring so much of my attention and James' schedule being so screwed up. I will give that to them daily.

Prayer: I will pray that the Great Healer will keep us all away from sickness and protect my little ones when they do get sick, b/c, let's face it....it will happen and I just need to be prepared for it.

I will do these things b/c I love them. I mean, really, who couldn't love these faces?!

Evenings are rough.

A few good things have happened recently.

My girls are healthy. Lydia's nose is still a bit runny, but not constantly.

Miriam is sleeping most of the night. She goes to sleep around 9:30pm and wakes b/w 4 and 5 am then back to sleep until 8 or 9 which gives me some time with the big girls in the morning. I'm also figuring out her daytime schedule and today got a 3 1/2 hour nap while the older girls slept for 2 hours.

2 jobs were posted that James has requested. One is M-F Days at Headquarters. The other is M-F Days at the Diesel Plant. We heard about the job at headquarters a month ago and I have been praying specifically for that job since. Please pray with me.

The girls seem to be noticing James NOT being home at times he USED to be home. They miss him. I miss consistency. We need a change.

a new life

While James was home helping me after Miriam's birth he got a call from Corning, Inc. letting him know that when he returned to work he would no longer be working day shift at the Big Flats plant. Instead he would work relief shift at the Erwin plant. I have to say...we are thankful he has a job. There have been a lot of layoffs throughout Corning as well as the other companies in the area, so I won't complain too much, but let me give you a taste of what his schedule will be like.



day, day, eve, off, off, night, night, night, night, day, eve, eve, off, off, off, off, night, day, day, eve, eve, eve, eve, off, night, night, day, day, day, day....and repeat ad nauseum.


He is checking the Corning job postings daily and has been informed of 2 positions that should be posted soon. Please pray with me that he gets the M-F Day job at headquarters by the end of the year. I am praying specifically for this. We have not b/c we ask not, right?

Until that happens, I am trying to step up and make the most of this schedule. It's currently very difficult since all 3 girls and myself are sick. Sleep is necessary in my life for me to stay healthy and 8 hours straight doesn't happen with a 2 months old (although she sleeps from 9:30 pm until 5 am most nights).

Speaking of sleep...Miriam seems to be sleeping now so I need to get to bed.

Wondering....

Why must there be tears involved in every single day?

(And if I had more time or energy I might elaborate on that.)

recent happenings..

---Catie is potty trained. she wears pull-ups for naps, bedtime and leaving home, but is usually dry (except after a full night of sleep)

---James started back to work at a new location (tonight is his first night shift. Pray for us.)

---Miriam smiled. It's so sweet when that happens. It's a bit of a reward for my work.

---Lydia peed in the potty...after telling me (in her own special way since she doesn't talk much) that she needed to pee.

---I got a new vacuum. my old one just want cutting it and I LOVE to vacuum.

---A deer ran into my little green Sentra that James drives daily. (no, he did not hit the deer...the deer actually ran into the side of the car.)

---Lydia chewed through her paci so we took it away since it was a serious choking hazard. She's been struggling the past few naps/bedtimes. She's got a strong set of lungs.

---Miriam has her first cold. She's miserable. I'm miserable. and, as they say, when Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!!! ugh!!

---MOPS started for the year.

---I'm in a friday morning Bible Study (child care provided...Praise the LORD!!!) and I love it.

---James is part of a leadership Bible Study at one of our Pastors' homes one tuesday a month.

---My friend Kiley came to visit with her 4 kids. We were friends our freshman year of college at Houghton, but lost contact when I left. Thanks to Facebook we have a friendship again and it was so nice to sit and visit with her.

I like it when things happen, but the illness and the temper tantrums I can do without. oh, and the deer. :)