Where Have They Gone?!

Where Have My Little Kids Gone?!

This summer, my kids have grown up so much-it.is.crazy.

Ashlin who is almost four can.....

Cut her own strawberries, toast her own waffle, microwave her own meals, load laundry, get her own clothes down from the closet, ride a bike, wash my wood floor, starts her own bath, and go to friends for play dates without mom.

Maddie who is six can.....

Ride the same size bike as her ten year old brother, do laundry, ride to her friends house alone, scrape up her knees without crying (they are bad falls too), plunge a toilet (LOL), make her bed, get her own breakfast, showers on her own, and can open the garage (knows the code) by herself.

Jaiden who is ten can.....

Take his sisters on a bike ride, ride to the bowling alley alone with a friend and play games, went to a movie alone with a friend, is riding my adult mountain bike, takes and picks up his sisters from play dates, can make his sisters breakfast and snacks and spends all day outside with friends (he keeps in contact with me via a cell phone).

It is amazing how they have all grown up. I am proud that my husband and I have raised independent kids who are confident in their abilities. It is nice to have help around the house and with the girls. I think it is important for kids to learn responsibility. I am preparing them to be responsible adults, better spouses and friends.

 In ten months, Jaiden will be able to babysit his siblings. I am preparing him for that now (doing dishes, cleaning up, making basic meals and so forth). We have entered an exciting time. ~S

Random Question Sunday

{1} What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Cherry Chocolate Chip :)

{2} What song/music are you currently listening to?

Foster the People-Helena Beat

{3} What was the last thing you ate?

Blueberry goat cheese and wheat thins

{4} How many keys are on your key ring?

Four: House, Glass Door, Car and Mailbox

{5} What are two habits you have?

Biting my nails and throwing my clothes on my closet floor

{6} When you have food cravings, are they sweet or salty?

SWEET!

{7} If there was an extra hour in the day, how would you spend it?

Reading a good book :)

{8} If you see a spider in your house, what do you do?

I smash it with toilet paper or vacuum it up!

{9} Have you attended a high school reunion?

No. I have no desire to. I still keep in touch with the people I care about.

{10} What size shoe are you?

I was a 9-9.5, but after kids, I am now a ten.

~S

It's Not About The Scars

This Song Speaks to Me:

I struggle with feeling desirable (in regards to my lady parts) and have a fear that at some point, my husband will no longer find me attractive. It is hard enough in today's society to feel confident without having a disease ravish the one part of a woman's body that is suppose to be pleasurable.

To me, this song is very romantic. I think all of us, despite our challenges, wishes for a person to see the beauty inside and not focus on the outside. I love the line about being a butterfly held captive. I feel that way sometimes....I know I am beautiful, but ...I'm captive in many ways with pain, itching and scarring.

I am lucky to have such a great husband. He is understanding and does things to make me feel special. I hope that he can get past what I was like down there, and be okay with how it is now, and what it will become. I know for me, this is a huge challenge. However, it is hard for me to remember when I was not in pain and when it looked "normal."


I hope, despite what happens with my disease, that he will always find me beautiful, even with my scars, and be able to see the beauty within. ~S

What a Week!!!

This week was crazy!!

We went to the Ape Caves in WA to explore the lava caves-amazing! I found out one of my friends is getting divorced-a complete shocker. I went out with a friend and our girls to a place called McMenamins at Imbrie Hall. The food was average, the atmosphere outside was pretty if you can stand the heat inside. My friend and I were sweating. I think I would go back for drinks, outside, and that is it. It was fun to get to chat with her and reconnect though. Her little girl is so dang cute!

Then....our water pipe broke.

The walls in the garage are damaged.

This is what I woke up to! Running all down the wall and Matt was at work!

After cutting the wall in the attic, we finally found the leak and repaired it. Now we are stuck with all the damage.

Our house is under five years old. I was shocked to find out a pipe busted in the middle of summer. I thought that only happened during freezing weather. Luckily, I have a handy husband who was able to fix it. We can't claim it on our homeowners insurance because the deductible would cost more than the repairs. Oh well, what do you do?! I am just glad it did not damage the inside of our house where we just laid new wood floors. Can you imagine?

It was crazy being home alone with the kids. I had to climb up in the attic to make sure it was not flooding up there, then go shut the water off to our house from the main water line. Neighbors had to bring us water, we could not use the toilets, bathe or do anything that required water for over 12 hours. It made us realize how quickly you need water especially with children in the house if there was a major disaster. Lesson learned-have tons of water on hand!!!

It was hard not being able to use my bidet or shower too with my LS. I was so grateful to be able to bathe at night once he got it fixed. I was about ready to go shower at a friend's house. Lol!

Hopefully your week is going better :) ~S

Friday Ramblings

Two Facts For Today:

{1} It hurts to sit.

{2} It hurts to walk.

But, I am determined to get out and enjoy the day! So.....I will be going out to breakfast with my hubby and kids, dropping the boy off at a friends for a sleepover, visiting a fellow spouse of the police department to drop off some flowers and a card, going into the office, then girls night with my two sweet girls and my friend and her little girl. Life.Goes.On.

What I am telling myself this week to get me through:

{1} The passage of time will not heal my wounds, but I must learn to bend with each new challenge and be brave.

{2} I cannot focus on what my life and disease will be like in the future, I must focus on the here and now.

{3} Each morning I have to get up, despite how I feel and face the day.

~S