I'm Freakin' Out.

Wow. I am normally a fairly calm person. I can usually let things roll off me and not be too worse for wear. Not this past week. I pretty much lost my mind. I couldn't stop crying, worrying about the future with this new baby. I stopped answering when my family called. I just didn't want to talk to anyone. I just wanted to wallow in my fears.

Finally on Friday, my mom called and I fessed up to her how much I was freaking out! You gotta love my mom. She said "That's because this baby is making you crazy!" She does have a point. My hormones have been sooo out of whack. With P and O, I was fine, not many crazy outbursts or crying fits (except for the time my MIL and I were playing cards and I got super mad...haha oops), but this time, I am crying at commercials. I'm crying for other people. I'm crying for myself. Basically I'm just a mess.

Thankfully, my mom invited me to come for a few days before Christmas down to Memphis so that her and my dad could take care of me and the kids. It was an offer I couldn't refuse! So, Saturday morning I packed up the kids and we headed South. I'm so glad we did. I was in desperate need of a change of scenery! And having my parents here to help with the kids has been priceless. So, now I can go into Christmas feeling a bit calmer than I was a few days ago.

Why am I freaking out about this new baby? Well, it's probably not due to the baby himself. It's due to his wonderful brothers. They are wearing me down. Here's a few examples:

1. Preston has been coming into our room for the past few months and sleeping on the floor at random times in the middle of the night. You never know when he's going to show up. At least we have it down to the point where he will come in and just lay down instead of staring down Wes until he woke up! Haha. Loss of sleep is never cool.

2. Preston has regressed in his potty-training. I know. I can't believe it. He has started having accidents almost everyday!! I mean....really???? He is 4 years old! This one has thrown Wes and I for a loop. We have tried all sorts of things to put an end to this and nothing seems to be working. I feel like we are potty-training all over again. Again...so not cool.

3. General mischief. Here is a common example of how things can go from in control at our house to quickly out of control. I was talking to Sara on the phone so Preston used that opportunity to get out a marker (thankfully washable) and colored all over doors, cabinents, tables, generally anything he could reach. He even wrote his name on the coffee table. Uncle Chuck said that I can be proud that he can write his name. For some reason, that brought me little solace.

At this point, I hope you can see why I might be freakin' out just a wee bit. Because Preston is my behaved child!!! I haven't even told you about naughty Owen.

4. I already shared with you about Owen's toilet flushing excursions. There's nothing like having to check before you pee to make sure you're not peeing on one of your prized possessions!

5. Owen took a nightlight and somehow burned out the bulb and then made the holder somehow start smoking. Thankfully I caught him before he burned the house down.

6. Owen has started hitting and pushing people. Especially if he doesn't get his way. Add on top of that his lovely scream I've told you about and you just have a wonderful bundle of joy to be around. It was so funny because we had a playdate with another little boy Owen's age and the boy started calling Owen "Baby Monkey" because of his shrieking.

Alas, these are the reasons I'm beginning to think I'm not cut out to have another child to care for. I can't even take care of the ones I have!! As Wes lovingly told me.."Stace, it's a little too late to back out." Yeah, tell me about it.

So, if you think of me, say a prayer for my sanity. That I can keep it!

As a parting gift, I will show you a picture of the aftermath of Preston and Owen getting into chocolate cupcakes while I was writing this blog. I don't make this stuff up, peeps. I was able to get him contained while I picked up the cupcake off the floor and the couch. Sorry Mom!

This just says it all in a nutshell.
If you have any words of encouragement for me...please leave them in the comment section. I will be eternally grateful!!

Going Home.

I am so happy for Chuck and Sara today! They are finally getting to go home to Tampa for at least a week break. I am not sure how long it has been but I know it's been months. I can't even imagine being away from my house for that long, let alone my dogs! I know they are eager to get back. I'm not sure if Chuck is going to try and get out on the boat, but I hope he is able to!

The latest they have heard is that they are going to be participating in a clinical trial starting either 5 days before Christmas (Boooo) or 5 days after Christmas (yeah!). They will be injecting chemo drugs straight into Chuck's liver. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? I am sure they would still appreciate your thoughts and prayers for them during this time!

Have a great time Chuck and Sara!!

Our world in black and white!

This is Preston at his Thanksgiving Luncheon at school. They do such cute things at the school. He has loved it. In his hand is a picture frame that says what he's thankful for. Wes and I were glad that we made the list along with not just dogs, but also puppies!! And then he made sure to tell the teacher he was thankful for watching tv and playing video games. Sigh. I was trying to hide that!! ;)

Here's a snapshot of me and the big 'ol belly. Tuesday I will be 30 weeks. I feel like I've been pregnant forever, but for also a very short time. How is this possible? I have no idea. I will be glad to get my old body back though. I am sick of getting stuck in tight spaces!

Yes, this is our Owie. His new job around the house is flushing toilets non-stop and now he has decided it's more fun when you put stuff in there and then flush it! He has dumped a whole trash can full of trash in the toilet (luckily, he got distracted before he tried to flush it!), a teddy bear, Preston's shoes and then today his own shoes! Wes has already had to take a part the toilet once to dig stuff out of it, I don't know how many more times he will do it for this kid. His dimples are the only reason he still has a roof over his head.

Now, you just can't get any cuter than brother bonding time!! They fight a lot but they also like to play together too. This was one of those moments.