I'm running our of steam...

Today, Sunday, I woke up with every intention to attend the 8:30 am service at our chapel - of course it was only 2 am when I woke up and 6:30 am when I finally fell asleep again. It has been quite the week and I've been stretching myself too thin. As I sit here writing I realize that next week is not exactly going to be easier so I must, must, must write down what I need to do or I will have a break down. I enrolled my toddler in a 3 day pre-school program and my 7 yo will go to all day camp 3 days a week at the gym. This way I will have time to get and keep the house ready for showing.

This past week I've gone to work, trained a few people, driven children to their destination, helped decorate for Vacation Bible School and yesterday I hosted a birthday party for my little peanut- she's now 7--Wow! I had 8 kids over for an afternoon of water fun in the back yard. Boys and girls playing together, sometimes nicely and others...well, kids play is always unpredictable. But it was obvious to me they were having a great time getting themselves wet. Then it was time for me to spray them and it was war time as they each tried to get me wet.

Thank God parties have a limited time because I would go absolutely nuts with that many kids under the age of 9 competing for water balloons, my attention, the sprinkler, slip and slide and the hose. Whew!! My daughter was in heaven and I was ready for a nap which came shortly after the kids went home. By Saturday evening I was completely exhausted. I tried to watch "Horton Hears a Who" with the kids and passed out on the floor.

Now I'm trying to re-energize myself for next week. Vacation Bible School every morning, getting the house ready for the market when I get home - have to finish a few details before showing time begins. I WILL go to the gym every morning or I will lose my mind.

I will be back with some of the following updates:

* Water play at the Birthday Party

* Cinnabon Clone Cinnamon Bun Recipe

* About Wine

* The Lee Hall Depot has been moved

* Blue Monday and Outdoor Wednesday

* Summer Reading - small steps and making progress

Have a great week everyone!

Back to school...for me

I realized this weeend that my classes resume, today.  I'm not ready, really, I'm not.  I know I'll enjoy my Astronomy class.  I don't like just wondering about what I see in the heavens so I am taking this intro class to hopefully get some basic understanding.  Plus, this is one of those subjects I'll be able to teach my kids about---oh yeepee I'll know more then them for a change.

Anyway, I was a complete vegetable this weekend.  My back has been bothering me probably from being on the computer so much.  I tend to get really tense when I'm online and I know it's because I'm having computer problems and I'm stressed about taking online classes with computers that are not 100% functional...ugh, it's so frustrating.

Aside from being a vegetable I was also my toddlers mattress, crutch, ladder, and toy.  He is so clingy and whiny lately.  So unlike him.  I hope it's just a phase.  I found myself longing for his naps.  This morning he woke up at 3:30 am and stayed awake until about 5:30 am and at this point he was just exhausted.  I'm exhausted and now I sound like I'm whining.

Well time to move on.  Everyone is off from school today which makes it a perfect day to let them all entertain the baby while I take some time to recover and psych myself up for my classes this semester.

Hmmmm what shall I do...a hot bath, a nap, go shopping "for me".  We'll see what the day brings.  

I need a massage!!

I have been taking collge classes for, well, for a long time now.  It is one of my goals to get my degree so that when hubby retires and we stopped moving and the kids are in school full time, I can hopefully get a better job than without a degree -- one would hope anyway.

Going to school online, while raising a family, having babies, moving around the country, a part time job at the gym and maintaining a home...etc...etc.. it can be very, very challenging.  Online education is not easy.  You are pretty much self educating but paying the teachers to grade your work. I want that job! 

Online classes require a lot, I mean A LOT of reading and quite a bit of writing, a lot of interpretation of what you read, excellent time mangement skills and a lot of patience.  Everything is online, the library, the conference with the teacher, the socializing and sharing with other students...etc...etc... I miss live interaction.  But, since I know that is not an option I can take right now, online education is what I have to do.

The last few weeks have been particularly stressful because my ArtHistory teacher is extremely demanding, very critical and sometimes negative.  I know she wants us to really think about what we see and she wants us to be passionate about the art pieces we discuss.  I love art, I'm just not passionate about it, at least not like she is.  Her timing with our projects have been ridiculous and would be even if the class was live.  

We have about 4 weeks left and I can't wait to see the light at the end of this tunnel.  I'm exhausted, my back hurts and I would like to read something other than a text book for a change.  Right now I only have time to read about Music of the world, Art History, and Humanities--what was I thinking?

Today I'm writing an essay for music but that will be easy since I actually enjoy this class and the teacher, then I'm cleaning my house and taking a much needed break to hang with my little bear.

I'm scheduling a massage--right now, this week I will have my massage and feel better. I deserve it!

photo by philoo 14

Fatigue? Really?

Lately I've been feeling the push and pull of a full schedule. Although I know I have it all under control, I was feeling tired, could not catch my breath and irritable to say the least. I visited my doctor, well, "a doctor in the clinic" who just laughed and said "I don't know your yawns are not "satisfying" and why you feel your breathing is shallow. Maybe you just need to take it easy and take some time off for a few days." All that, while he smiled or chuckled at my being there. How insulting!!!

I wasn't going to let it end there. After all, I have every right to get checked out when I don't feel quite right. Isn't this why women live longer, because we go see a doctor when we don't feel well? Anyway, I suggested that maybe I was fatigued or maybe I wasn't sleeping well and just didn't know it. He said, "hey, that's a good point. Maybe you are fatigued and maybe you are not sleeping all that well, lets run some tests and see what's going on." Well, I'm so glad I was able to give you reason to be here today, Doc!!!

Being a military spouse makes it hard to see the same doctor each time and I'm not in there often enough to know who's good and who isn't but I know I will avoid this one in the future. As for my lungs and my breathing issues, all is well and I'm cleared to spin, run, lift and continue drinking my occasional glass of wine. The only good thing that came out of this meeting was his suggestion that I take it easy and find the time to relax. I don't purposely avoid down time so that to me, it's just a given. I will carve out some time to just sit, relax and enjoy some well deserved "me" time this weekend. In the mean time, I will continue to exercise, eat well, drink water, laugh, love and sleep. All that's good for me and my well being :-)