Gillespie Household Testosterone Count: 4 (ages 30, 5, 2 1/2, and 1). Gillespie Household Estrogen Count: 1 (age 27). I am used to being outnumbered and I am cool with it. Like it says in my header "It's okay, I have enough estrogen to balance it out." Besides, the nice thing about male hormones is that they are pretty steady and consistent. I can't imagine what our house would be like if the numbers were flip-flopped. Having said that.....I can now say that if I EVER thought I knew what true Testosterone Overload was....I was wrong. Oh, so very wrong.
Last weekend, things got a little interesting as we more than doubled the amount of Testosterone in our home. Weekend Testosterone Count: 9 (ages 33, 30, 8, 7, 5, 4, 2 1/2, 2 1/2, and 1). Weekend Estrogen Count: 2 (27 and 27).
We had some friends stay with us for a few days. They not only have three active boys of their own but they brought along their 8 year old brother/brother-in-law as well.
Crazy.....crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy. I literally thought the house would come tumbling down a few times. There was lots of wrestling, lots of yelling, lots of things being broken, and LOTS and LOTS of time enjoying the outdoors. HOORAY for good weather. What would we have done without you?
Be as it may, I did learn a few valuable things.
#1 Stop having children NOW. We can't afford to risk the possibility of ANY more boys.
#2 A room with padded walls is a NECESSITY. It must consist of four walls covered in high impact foam, straight jackets, and a pad lock on the outside. (I know what you are thinking.....but no,.....the room is not for me. It would be for the boys...although I may have to borrow it at times when Rob is traveling with work and, in order to do that,.....Rob would have to find a job. So as you can see...the room would solely be for the use of the children. At least for a while. Anyhow......). The rules would be that no one is allowed out unless they were bleeding, on the verge of dying, or already dead (in which case they would not be coming out on their own, but on a stretcher headed for the morgue).
#3 Boys are Boys are Boys. Here I thought my boys were the only one who were loud, obnoxious, mean, hyperactive, and a number of other things but....it turns out most of them are like that. Wow. I guess I won't have to send mine away to boot camp for babies after all.
EARLY Sunday morning (about 6:15AM) we found Gabe and Cael standing next to Nate and Nicole's air mattress talking their ears off (I have no idea where they get that). Nate and Nicole later told us that they would be bailing out on us a night early and going to their hotel instead. Something about "needing to catch up on sleep." I must say, I have never been more grateful for early-rising children. (that's a joke....just a joke).
All kidding aside, we did enjoy having the Carroll's with us. It has been a really long time since we have had the opportunity to enjoy their company and....enjoy it we did.
Thanks guys for giving us a glimpse into the future. I must say, I have NEVER been more frightened of what is to come.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The Pedestal Plunge.......I have fallen and never want to return
So....I have this new obsessive compulsive behavior....it's called blogging. For some reason my mind in constantly thinking about what I might write about and......here I am again, writing about some insanely nonsensical things that really has no bearing on my life or the life of my readers.......or does it?
I was marveling today at how much I am enjoying my new mad house running skills (thank you Napoleon Dynamite). I have spent far too much time, in the last few years, berating myself for not being able to keeping house like I used to. What a joke, right? Was that not a completely different life time?
"The Time of Too Much Time"
Melanie: stay at home mother of one (Does that not say enough right there?). My house was deep cleaned once a week and spotlessly maintained throughout. The laundry was ALWAYS folded, Gabe was bathed ever other day, without fail. Dishes were done after EVERY meal and the kitchen was wiped down accordingly. Toys, books, and anything else touched by ANYONE were put properly back in their place the minute they left the hands of the user (no wonder Gabe never really learned to PLAY). I was known, amongst my friends and neighbors as "The Clean One" (or "One of the clean ones." Nicole was there too). What a pedestal to be put on. I don't know about you but I HATE being put on a pedestal. Inevitably you fall off..... and fallen, I have.
Now I have three children and a husband that is home full-time. The house is deep cleaned on a as-needed basis (or should I say, was-needed-a-week-ago-and-is-now-beyond-DISGUSTING- basis), I still TRY to keep the house tidy and not too unsanitary. The laundry is ONLY folded after two or more consecutive days of Gabe saying, "Mom, there is no underwear in my drawer,"or "Mom, I don't have any clothes to wear"...then I fold what is left of it (because inevitably, at that point, the clean baskets are starting to empty out and the dirty ones are filling up again), toys are always scattered around the house (we do try to pick them up at night but sometimes getting the kids out of our hair is more important than having them pick up their toys) and the status of the kitchen only enters my mind once a day.
The shining beacon in this life of anti-perfection is that I am coming to terms with it. Life is what it is and there is just no more time left in the day to get my "chores" done like I used to (unless I were to forgo all family (and blog) time). The important things are taken care of. My husband and children are fed and loved and are not forced to live in conditions that would attract the attention of social services. The rest just takes a back burner.
Rob.....my ever SO helpful husband and I, have come up with a nightly routine that is SO GREAT. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband. Every night after dinner he takes charge of the kids. He bathes them, dresses them, medicates them, and brushes their teeth. He even helps them pick up all their toys. Meanwhile, I am left alone in the kitchen to conquer the mess. And every night, I shut the light off and turn my back to a clean kitchen. I LOVE IT and I love him for allowing me the time to do it. I don't have to think about dishes all day, which includes not mentally scolding myself for not doing them after every meal, and in the end they get done and I don't even resent having to do them. It's WONDERFUL.
For those of you who knew me when I lived at Wrigley Apt, you would die if you saw my house now. Nicole (my former pedestal mate) and her family are staying with us this weekend. I think she will probably have a heart attack (or course the house will be clean when she gets here but after a few days I think my secret will be out). These changes in me are actually quite positive, I think, and hopefully she will see that too. Maybe I can talk her into taking the plunge with me.
Sunday's Spokesman Review Classifieds:
One "CLEANEST HOUSE IN THE UNIVERSE" Pedestal is now vacant and ready for the taking. Cost: Your ever living soul. If you are interested, please contact the Devil @666-6666.
Other pedestals that may be available soon, courtesy of Melanie G:
"THE MOST CONSISTENT MOM (Even If It Means Following Through With Something That Makes Her Mother Cringe)" Pedestal and "THE SKINNY ONE" Pedestal. Inquire Above.
I was marveling today at how much I am enjoying my new mad house running skills (thank you Napoleon Dynamite). I have spent far too much time, in the last few years, berating myself for not being able to keeping house like I used to. What a joke, right? Was that not a completely different life time?
"The Time of Too Much Time"
Melanie: stay at home mother of one (Does that not say enough right there?). My house was deep cleaned once a week and spotlessly maintained throughout. The laundry was ALWAYS folded, Gabe was bathed ever other day, without fail. Dishes were done after EVERY meal and the kitchen was wiped down accordingly. Toys, books, and anything else touched by ANYONE were put properly back in their place the minute they left the hands of the user (no wonder Gabe never really learned to PLAY). I was known, amongst my friends and neighbors as "The Clean One" (or "One of the clean ones." Nicole was there too). What a pedestal to be put on. I don't know about you but I HATE being put on a pedestal. Inevitably you fall off..... and fallen, I have.
Now I have three children and a husband that is home full-time. The house is deep cleaned on a as-needed basis (or should I say, was-needed-a-week-ago-and-is-now-beyond-DISGUSTING- basis), I still TRY to keep the house tidy and not too unsanitary. The laundry is ONLY folded after two or more consecutive days of Gabe saying, "Mom, there is no underwear in my drawer,"or "Mom, I don't have any clothes to wear"...then I fold what is left of it (because inevitably, at that point, the clean baskets are starting to empty out and the dirty ones are filling up again), toys are always scattered around the house (we do try to pick them up at night but sometimes getting the kids out of our hair is more important than having them pick up their toys) and the status of the kitchen only enters my mind once a day.
The shining beacon in this life of anti-perfection is that I am coming to terms with it. Life is what it is and there is just no more time left in the day to get my "chores" done like I used to (unless I were to forgo all family (and blog) time). The important things are taken care of. My husband and children are fed and loved and are not forced to live in conditions that would attract the attention of social services. The rest just takes a back burner.
Rob.....my ever SO helpful husband and I, have come up with a nightly routine that is SO GREAT. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband. Every night after dinner he takes charge of the kids. He bathes them, dresses them, medicates them, and brushes their teeth. He even helps them pick up all their toys. Meanwhile, I am left alone in the kitchen to conquer the mess. And every night, I shut the light off and turn my back to a clean kitchen. I LOVE IT and I love him for allowing me the time to do it. I don't have to think about dishes all day, which includes not mentally scolding myself for not doing them after every meal, and in the end they get done and I don't even resent having to do them. It's WONDERFUL.
For those of you who knew me when I lived at Wrigley Apt, you would die if you saw my house now. Nicole (my former pedestal mate) and her family are staying with us this weekend. I think she will probably have a heart attack (or course the house will be clean when she gets here but after a few days I think my secret will be out). These changes in me are actually quite positive, I think, and hopefully she will see that too. Maybe I can talk her into taking the plunge with me.
Sunday's Spokesman Review Classifieds:
One "CLEANEST HOUSE IN THE UNIVERSE" Pedestal is now vacant and ready for the taking. Cost: Your ever living soul. If you are interested, please contact the Devil @666-6666.
Other pedestals that may be available soon, courtesy of Melanie G:
"THE MOST CONSISTENT MOM (Even If It Means Following Through With Something That Makes Her Mother Cringe)" Pedestal and "THE SKINNY ONE" Pedestal. Inquire Above.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Good Times on the Oregon Coast.
We just spent the last few days on the Oregon Coast and had a really good time (besides the fact that I got sick and spent most of the last two days on the couch with a fever...oh well). No....we normally do not go on vacation, especially when we don't have a job but....we had already payed for it and we could NOT pass up the opportunity to see all the Thiessen's. It had been far too long (6 years) and most of them had not met the boys. Besides, they are too much fun. So....we went and what a fun time it was.
By the way, for anyone who suffers from chronic car sickness (which I do) I have a solution. A good one too. These....
.JPG)
....are called "sea bands" and fight against motion sickness. I was soooo nauseous the last few days we were there (something to do with this bug and the twisty roads) that i wanted to hurl every time we were in the car. So, on the ride home I put them on and I felt awesome the whole time. I could even read. It was great. Rob thinks it is all in my head but to this I say......WHO CARES. He is constantly teasing me about them and thinks that if I put them in the trunk and tell myself that they will still help, then they will. Real funny, huh? Anyway, supposedly they can help with morning sickness too. I have had them for YEARS and have never tried them with pregnancy. I will have to try them next time. I'll let y'all know.
Goodbye days of summer bliss.....hello reality.
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| Make a Smilebox scrapbook |
By the way, for anyone who suffers from chronic car sickness (which I do) I have a solution. A good one too. These....
.JPG)
....are called "sea bands" and fight against motion sickness. I was soooo nauseous the last few days we were there (something to do with this bug and the twisty roads) that i wanted to hurl every time we were in the car. So, on the ride home I put them on and I felt awesome the whole time. I could even read. It was great. Rob thinks it is all in my head but to this I say......WHO CARES. He is constantly teasing me about them and thinks that if I put them in the trunk and tell myself that they will still help, then they will. Real funny, huh? Anyway, supposedly they can help with morning sickness too. I have had them for YEARS and have never tried them with pregnancy. I will have to try them next time. I'll let y'all know.
Goodbye days of summer bliss.....hello reality.
Our numero 3 has turned uno!
I can't believe that my baby is one (and I'm not pregnant. I didn't have that luxury last time.......that's right. I HAVE MY BODY BACK. IT'S MINE.....ALL MINE and I will do with it what I want and ONLY have to answer to MEEEEEE! Crappy food. Here I come. Yeah right, like that stopped me before....) anyway, back to Isaac.....
So like I said before, Isaac has turned ONE. What a sweet baby he is. He is so mild tempered (although he is beginning to voice his opinion) and he makes us laugh constantly. Could there ever be a more handsome kid, either? We think there may not be. He is pretty dang cute. He has such a sense of humor. We named him wisely (Isaac means "he who laughs"). Come with us while we enjoy a recap of his life.
Okay, so after I put this slide show together I watched it (of course) and CRIED! That's right, Melanie does have feelings. I CRIED. Wow......our family has been through a LOT this year and poor Isaac was born right in the midst of it. He has dealt with a lot of stress and worry (because of his mother) in his short little life and done it with a smile. I remember one particular day, back when Isaac was just a few weeks old, that I had lost it. I had just screamed at the older boys and was feeling pretty lousy about it (especially because Isaac didn't even flinch at the volume of my voice....he must have been too used to it). I looked at him (while feeding) and said, "Don't worry. I will yell at you too some day." I always keep my promises. Sure enough, although he does not yet receive the full brunt of my mean mommyness, he does get scolded from time to time but it is really hard to stay mad for long. He either laughs at me or pulls the "sad bottom lip" routine and starts wailing. Tooooo cute. But always, in the end, he is smiling.
Here is a short video of him in all the glory of his quirkiness. He really is quite quirky (I wonder where he gets that from?)
*(Sorry about the resolution. If we make the picture any better the sound goes all crazy and makes the picture skip. We just can win but you get the idea of his personality anyway.)
So.....I realized that I didn't add any photos of his b-day on the slide show. Hello, McFly! So, instead, I got to have more fun making another slide show. Enjoy!
Did you notice a common theme in the pictures. The puppy. Isaac actually picked it out in the store and hadn't seen it for a few days. Once he unwrapped in, though, he would not let us take it from him for anything (but cake and ice cream. The boy likes his food.) He is seriously attached.
Oh Isaac. We love you and are so glad to have you with us.
So like I said before, Isaac has turned ONE. What a sweet baby he is. He is so mild tempered (although he is beginning to voice his opinion) and he makes us laugh constantly. Could there ever be a more handsome kid, either? We think there may not be. He is pretty dang cute. He has such a sense of humor. We named him wisely (Isaac means "he who laughs"). Come with us while we enjoy a recap of his life.
 |
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| Make a Smilebox slideshow |
Okay, so after I put this slide show together I watched it (of course) and CRIED! That's right, Melanie does have feelings. I CRIED. Wow......our family has been through a LOT this year and poor Isaac was born right in the midst of it. He has dealt with a lot of stress and worry (because of his mother) in his short little life and done it with a smile. I remember one particular day, back when Isaac was just a few weeks old, that I had lost it. I had just screamed at the older boys and was feeling pretty lousy about it (especially because Isaac didn't even flinch at the volume of my voice....he must have been too used to it). I looked at him (while feeding) and said, "Don't worry. I will yell at you too some day." I always keep my promises. Sure enough, although he does not yet receive the full brunt of my mean mommyness, he does get scolded from time to time but it is really hard to stay mad for long. He either laughs at me or pulls the "sad bottom lip" routine and starts wailing. Tooooo cute. But always, in the end, he is smiling.
Here is a short video of him in all the glory of his quirkiness. He really is quite quirky (I wonder where he gets that from?)
*(Sorry about the resolution. If we make the picture any better the sound goes all crazy and makes the picture skip. We just can win but you get the idea of his personality anyway.)
So.....I realized that I didn't add any photos of his b-day on the slide show. Hello, McFly! So, instead, I got to have more fun making another slide show. Enjoy!
 |
|
| Make a Smilebox slideshow |
Did you notice a common theme in the pictures. The puppy. Isaac actually picked it out in the store and hadn't seen it for a few days. Once he unwrapped in, though, he would not let us take it from him for anything (but cake and ice cream. The boy likes his food.) He is seriously attached.
Oh Isaac. We love you and are so glad to have you with us.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Back to the blogging world
All y'all I am back to the blogging world. I have just spent the last four days on the Oregon Coast while enjoying the company of Rob's maternal connections (in other words: the Thiessen family reunion). All in all....very enjoyable. We love the Thiessen's. There is never a place that one can feel so free to be loud, really loud, and be in good company. We are so glad we got to be there.
I just wanted to thank everyone for your love and support as of late. I have posted some pretty "deep" stuff lately and have felt nothing but love seeping in. Wow. I count myself lucky to have family and friends like you. Thanks again.
Soon to come......."Tales of the Oregon Coast" and "Isaac's first birthday........not quite the disaster I pictured it to be but a glowing success"
I just wanted to thank everyone for your love and support as of late. I have posted some pretty "deep" stuff lately and have felt nothing but love seeping in. Wow. I count myself lucky to have family and friends like you. Thanks again.
Soon to come......."Tales of the Oregon Coast" and "Isaac's first birthday........not quite the disaster I pictured it to be but a glowing success"
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