Mindless Musings & Random Reflection

movin'

i've debated about keeping up with both blogs but who the heck am i kidding? i have 3 kids and undiagnosed ADD there is no way i'm going to be able to post on two blogs....so i'll be updating from now on over at the photography blog.  of course, it's still hosted with typepad and my accounts are linked so as long as that one is up this one will be up as well and hold all my archives from the past 2.5 years.....so update your bookmarks and come visit me! :)

sleep little baby and shrinkage..that's monday

i hate well baby visits.  not that i prefer sick baby visits. i just hate any visit to the dr. where pain is purposely inflicted onto my children...which let's face it...well or sick ...is pretty much every time you go to the dr. 

today was parker's 6month well baby check.  i knew going into it what it was going to be.  worse for me than for him.  something about pinning your writhing little bundle of joy to a cold exam table as some young male nurse who has no children comes at him like a mad scientist with 5 needles.  yes, i said 5.  we got the flu shot too. which i don't normally do. never have. brooklyn & hudson nor mark and i have ever voluntarily gotten the flu shot. however, i opted for it this year considering i now have 2 children in the germ invested public school system. 

parker doesn't react well to his immunizations.  he is cranky and runs a temp a full 24 hours afterwards each and every time he gets them.  something else that is new to me because neither of the other two ever had problems with them.  so i loaded him up w/ tylonal beforehand and schlepped him off for his baby torture bright and early this a.m.

he cried the entire 4 miles back home which somehow seemed like i had driven from san antonio to el paso with 8 hungry children, no dvd player and no air conditioning.  by the time we got home his eyes were swollen and his face was blotchy and when i sat down to rock him to sleep he just laid his little head on my shoulder and suckd his thumb.  at this point i had convinced myself that i'd just take my chances on him contracting polio, the measles and the chicken pox because my heart couldn't take this anymore.  and then he slept.

and has been sleeping since...going on 3 hours.  (he's still breathing...i keep checking)

poor little dude.

so while he was napping i ran out to barnes & noble to pick up a book and when i got home brooklyn was wearing my brand new cardigan i bought from j.crew.  and here's the kicker...it fit her.  yes, today is laundry day and my sweet, sweet, sweet, dear, amazing housekeeper had washed it....and dried it.  and now, it fits my 6 year old.  so, i smiled and choked back my tears and said it was ok because, well, it is...and it's partially my fault because i put it in with all the washable clothes not thinking to tell her otherwise. 

so today...i hate baby drs. and dryers. they are evil and should be banished for all eternity.....

until next time.

new beginnings....

just a quick post before i jaunt out the door to start my day...woohoo...shopping & lunch w/ jana! :) always good!

lots of new things happening around here.  as i mentioned, mom is moving here. i am getting increasingly excited each day when i talk to her and she has told me she's packed another box or made another trip to the storage unit.  it will be so awesome to have family here. i've been in san antonio for 13 years and i've never had any family...with the exception of my SIL who was here for 4 years. i can't wait to just hang out with mom....shop, have coffee, go to church....and so much more.

another new adventure is the launch of my new photography business. this came together rather quickly....well, i worked the whole summer on it.  my love for photography is not new.  6 years ago i became very interested and took the steps at that point to pursue my passion. i began working as a photography assistant for a local photographer and loved it.  shorty there after i got pregnant with hudson and had to put it on hold. facing the idea of having two children 13 months apart was a bit much and beginning a new career on top of that was ....not a priority.  fastforward 6 years...and we have chasity furse photography.  it's exciting and scary all wrapped into one.  it's early and there's alot to learn but i'm having so much fun learning and just doing something i love so much.  i've been lucky to have so many great friend and family get behind me and support me on this. i also have a new photography blog. for now i will continue to blog my personal stuff here....but i imagine eventually i won't be able to keep both up and will eventually use my photo blog only keeping my archives here since i've been here for 2 years. 

so that's it.  it's out there.  and here's to new beginnings.  :)   

the little rewards

each morning i wake up and before i get out of bed i pray. well, most days....almost everyday. but i will admit i've missed a few when i've skyrocketed out of bed because i've hit snooze one too many times and realize i have 30 minutes to get 2 children up, dressed, fed and out the door all the while maintaining that peaceful glow i usually radiate in the a.m. 

i look forward to this time...(the prayer time not the mad rush time).  somedays when i'm especially distraught, confused, bitter, angry or otherwise in turmoil i find myself asking alot of questions and pleading for the answers.  but more times than not i will proudly say that i start this time in a thankful blesesd state always amazed that i have been granted another day to prove myself worthy of the ultimate price that has been paid for the air that i breathe and the life that fills me....and most nights when i go to sleep at night i realize how i have fallen short yet again....but nonetheless i am thankful for the opportunity.

tonight i am again, thankful as i reflect on the little rewards i have been given all week.

monday-for the first time in over a month my entire family was healthy.  mark's foot has healed. hudson's croup is but a faint memory and parker's smile can light up a room. 

tuesday-brooklyn's parent/teacher conference had me beaming.  her teacher is amazing! she had the nicest things to say about brooklyn. she  had a list of strengths....many i already knew....but one was especially pleasing to hear.  compassion.  this is a biggie and one i've been praying for ....well, for as long as i can remember.  i know she is only 6 but already in her short 6 years i have experienced a few occassions where i was convinced the compassion gene had skipped right over that girl.  compassion.....i relished that more than any of the other "strengths" her teacher mentioned.  just..compassion.

wednesday-hudson's parent/teacher conference.  hudson is my baby....even if he's not anymore. he was my baby for 5 years and he loves his mama.  the bond we have is amazingly strong and i feel safe when he is with me.  he is my comfort and my joy.  he's my sensitive little dude.  and i was worried about kinder.  but he is shining.  his teacher said he is THE role model for the entire class...boys and girls alike. 

it's hard to walk away from these parent/teacher conferences and not think you've really done something right. you've really figured this parenting thing out!  but i know better. i know that my ability and strength comes only from my own Father...the one who blessed me with the priveldge of being a mother.   yea, tuesday and wednesday pretty much rocked.

today/tonight-my neurologist finally called and the CT scan was normal.  so now...we just play with medications to see if we can curb these headaches.  today i played with parker ....alot.  we just layed in the floor most of the day exploring every toy and piece of fuzz on the carpet.  i'm pretty sure i coud weave a small rug with the amount he ingested....all the while smiling from ear to ear.  and tonight was bunko night.  and for the 2nd (or maybe even 3rd) month in a row i came home with $.  :) tonight i won the role off and got my $5 back. so today....good day.

friday-tomorrow i get to eat lunch and go shopping with jana.....that's bound to be a good day. :)

a great week.  little rewards.  lots to be thankful for.  good stuff.

juicy baby ruth

before i get to the fun stuff thanks to everyone who is praying for me and emailing me.  i haven't heard anything from my neurologist yet regarding the results....mark said it's because they're stumped and still looking for my brain....oh, he's so original.... :)

so i stole this from jana's site today cuz it made me laugh....hard.  :)

YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)   choo choo mini-van

YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie), mint chocolate chip peanut butta

YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name), C-Fur

YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal), Green birdie

YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first), Furch

STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy), Juicy Baby Ruth

WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ), Sue James

TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter), Rigsby Raleigh

SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower). Fall Iris

CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Kiwi Sweatshirty

HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree), Coffee Willow

YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”), The Photography Rainstorm Tour

well, that was just fun.....fun...fun.....

this is your brain....

that old school drug commercial keeps going through my head.  the whole eggs frying in the pan talking about this is your brain on drugs thing.  this is the kind of thing i think of when i think of people looking at my brain tomorrow.  NO, they will not discover my brain is corroded due to years of drug use.....unless you count caffeine and cigarettes (yes, i was a smoker before i was a mom...scandalous i know) but it's just WEIRD that people will be taking pictures of my brain.  i just kind of think, well, what the heck are they looking for anyway? the dr. never explained it...and like a true woman, concerned only with getting the heck out of the office and over to the mall for the killer sale at the gap, i didn't ask questions. i just nodded and said "ok, sure...who do i make this check out to?"  so i'm kinda sitting here thinking maybe i should've asked more questions. but i've never been the one to ask the hard questions. i only ask when i really want to know, and even though i'm just having constant excruciating headaches, day in and day out for the last 6 months....i'm sure it's nothing.  i mean, i have 3 kids....that's enough to give anyone a constant headache right???

so, i'm wondering if i'll get to see the pictures??? kinda cool to see your own brain.  :)

SOOOOOOO, 

i'm going to veer off of the fascinating topic of my brain scan and move into my AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!!!

i'm super excited and minorly nervous about this...but my mom is moving here in november! :) woohoo! she has talked about moving here for 6 years but always had the responsibility of taking care of my grandmother. but after grannie passed away last year she's been super lonely and just ready to make a change. sooo, after 6 years she's finally going to be a Texan! :) i fly up to MO, in November for one of my best friend's wedding in St. Louis and I'm going to go home that weekend and help mom load up and we're going to drive back to SA together.  She should be here right before Thanksgiving and my birthday so i'm super excited.  The kids are stoked too.  They've never had any of their grandparents close by so it will be awesome for them.

so, good news. good news.  :)  and if they discover some massive brain tumor in my head tomorrow she'll be able to be here to cook me some mean biscuits and gravy.  :) woohoo! can't beat that!

escape from the black abyss

i swear, i'm still alive.  we are all still recovering over here from CA-RAY-ZEEEE-NESS.  in just one week we had a torn tendon, an ear infection, croup and chronic headaches, and two visits from the toothfairy (ok, brooklyn's toothfairy fun doesn't quite fit w/ the rest of the family distress but what kind of mother would i be if i left her out?) i am happy to report that we are all on the mend.  parker's ear infection....gone.  hudson's croup....adios.  mark's torn tendon...well, he's still nursing this thing...going on week 4!  and me...yea, i'm the chronic headache girl.  i've had one everyday since giving birth to parker.  6 solid months.  at first we thought it was hormonal......(when can i stop using that excuse?) but after 6 weeks they didn't go away.  my OB referred me out to a neurologist who then prescribed high blood pressure meds for me....not for high blood pressure but to soley treat the headaches....apparently these days high blood pressure meds, epilepsy meds and anit depressants are all used to treat tension headaches.....i found it odd but whatever, i'm not the dr.  after 2 weeks on the meds i quickly realized they weren't doing squat for me and called to let them know. they insisted i wait 2 months and then i could call back and complain....2 months....60 headaches later...i went back and complained. well, not so much complained as just nicely let the kind man know that i was still miserable.  so, he switched the meds and now i go for a CT scan on friday. i'm minorly freaked out by that....like i picture all sorts of bad things....and lots of doctors in sterile white lab coats sitting around staring at pictures of my brain and wondering if they'll be able to read my mind and realize i really am a little "quirky"? 

at any rate....we are making it around here. 

stay tuned tomorrow for two big announcements (i say tomorrow but it very well could be friday....) just keep checking. :) good stuff!

when it rains....

you got it...

it pours.

we landed in the ER last night....2nd time since june. little hudson. poor dude. he has croup.  which is the worse sounding illness ever, i swear.  i had no idea what it really was. i basically had heard of it before but never encountered it first hand. scary stuff. hudson was FINE yesterday.  we were out all day w/ friends, at soccer games, playing, eating.  we came home around 9pm. everyone got settled into bed and around 11:30 hudson woke up (luckily he was in our room on a pallet in the floor having a sleepover) and he just had a little cough and then suddenly freaked out and was screaming and crying and said he couldn't breathe as he was gasping for air.  i rushed him into ER and they immediately took him back and said he had croup and gave him a steriod treatment.  we had to stay for a couple hours afterwards to watch his progress which didn't improve.  at that point they were going to admit him but then tried another steriod treatment. waited another 2 hours and then they said he had improved enough to go home.  they told us though that the 2nd night is actually the worse though and that if he had any problems we were to bring him back in immediately and they would admit him.  so we are praying HARD right now that he will make it through the night w/out incident. i have a bag packed and ready however, just in case we do need to head in i wanted to have some stuff prepped.  i just hope i get to wake up with it all still by the front door. 

sooo, between hudson's croup, parker's ear infection and mark's bum foot we are a sorry little clan these days.  i am hoping we are able to recover and get healthy around here soon!

so here's to a restful, uneventful evening at casa de furse.  :) 

i'm a slacker

i'm neglecting the blog. i'm a slacker. i admit it.  the days seem to be flying by and i get in bed at night and am convinced that someone is playing a cruel joke on me and while everyone else still has 24 hours in their day i've only been granted about 2!  back on the fall/school schedule i thought i'd have MORE time.  i'm waking up 3 hours earlier than i was during the summer and i've been diligent about not climbing back into bed once the kids get on the bus! i even stopped walking them to the bus stop in my pajammas! i've been making myelf get dressed and at least throw my hair in a pony-tail before walking them up because if i don't i know i'll just come home and sit on my butt!  by getting dressed i feel like i've at least accomplished something!!!!  i'm coming to realize that my squishy little newborn is no more and my little guy is requiring much more attention these days.  he gets bored easily with his toys...really i can't blame him...there's only so much of a stuffed winnie the pooh one can take ya know? so we go from bouncy seat, to bumbo seat, to excersaucer, to floor, to blocks, to links, to swing and then we make the rotation over again.  poor kid.  i'd get bored too! :)  on top of that he's recovering from an ear infection so we're trying to get back on track with our scheduled naps and feeding times.  it's been a wee crazy.  but we're adjusting.  we had a good day yesterday.  i went up to surprise the kids at school and had lunch with them.  well, in kindergarden it's actually brunch.  hudson eats at 10:30!  when i got there yesterday he was already in the lunch room.  he was so surprised to see me and he hugged me and wouldn't let go!  he told me at least 5 times during the 30 minute lunch break that he loved me. i ate with brooklyn at noon.  i had to eat the school lunch since i attempted to go grab whataburger in between and the traffic was horrendous!  we had a nice visit.  i loved being in brooklyn's class with her! what a HUGE change from kinder last year! the kids were so much more laid back and quiet and respectful. it was amazing to see.  when i got home parker and i went for a little walk and then when the kids got home from school we went to the pool for a while.  i've been busy with some other fun stuff too and so the blog has been neglected.  i'm hoping things will settle back into a routine soon.  but for now.. ...such is life. :)

btw-is anyone else LOVIN' that fall is right around the corner???? OMheck! i know we still have temps in the 80's around here but i can SMELL fall in the air!  it's a beautiful beautiful thing!!!!  pure heavenly bliss!!!  makes my heart soar! ahhhhhhh

enjoy!!!!

tuesday? already?

i feel like i've been asleep for a week! where did the days go??? the first week of school...done.  we made it through.  the kids are doing fabulously.  mom....doing fabulously. :) the school buses are a sweet sweet thing.  lovin' that the kids are riding it to and from school now. hudson is still a bit apprehensive about the whole get on the big giant yellow box with wheels but he's getting use to it. he was rather alarmed when he realized there were no seat belts and has given m several lectures regarding the utter disregard these "adults" seem to have for his safety, but otherwise, all is well. my innocent sweet, moldable little newborn is vanishing before my eyes as well. he is now sitting up on his own...though a bit of the weeble wobble butt creeps up occasionally.  he is also very interested in reaching for anything that could possibly cause harm to him....or a headache for me.  a few nights ago he managed to grab the bowl of carrots i was feeding him and toss it onto the floor...but not before slinging it across my face.  he's also far more interested in playing with his food than eating it..which is still a skill we are trying to master.  he finds it amusing to eat a spoonful of food but then blow raspberries with it....which of course...ends up on me...again.  last night i was talking to mark while feeding him and he decided to play this game with the prunes we were attempting to force down him.  i got a good portion of it in my mouth. and for the record...yea, not a fan of prunes.  so adios are the days sweet little wrinkly baby who slept 15 hours a day....hello....sweet little pudgy baby who sleeps ...well, let's just say not as much. 

in other happenings, mark had a major accident this weekend. yes, he was cleaning out the refrigerator in the garage (making room for more beer no doubt) and he stepped back and tripped over an extension cord ...because we all know how big and cumbersome those things can be....anyway, he snapped something in his foot. he was convinced he had broken every bone in his foot and that it might even need to be amputated and he writhed in pain the entire way to the dr. i offered to take him to the labor and delivery wing so he could get an epidural but he didn't think he'd live long enough for it to be administered.  instead we opted for the Texas Med Clinic where after a series of xrays it was determined he tore a tendon...which i'm sure IS semi painful however, the blood curdling screams of my recent birthing experience still trumps his sprain...i've been working on my compassion can you tell? nonetheless, he did hobble out w/ an air cast and some crutches and a ticket to sit on his ass and enjoy a few good flicks for the next week.  (i was wondering why she didn't give him a little bell to ring as well???)  in all seriousness, i did feel horrible for him.  it's always hard to realize your husband is, in fact human, and not from the planet krypton after all.

lots of other big things happening at casa de furse....but for now, i must sign out and prep for kinder orientation tonight...which is always a great way to realize how lousy of a parent you really are because you didn't sign up to be in the PTA or make homemade brownies for the entire school staff.....

hasta amigos!