Feeling just blah

I have been feeling seriously blah this past week or so. The weather has gotten incredibly warmer, from the teens to the upper 40's, which is awesome, but I can't shake the yucky feeling of exhaustion and just blah. I have been trying hard to get motivated to do anything besides sitting on the couch with some knitting or crochet. I get the kids into bed and just want to be an enormous couch potato. I have got to shake this soon or I'll be tempted to stay in bed and not get up.

We are really busy this next few months with activities for the kids, school for Mark, and the many church activities I am engaged and involved with. They are all great things, but it can wear me down too. So hopefully I'll have a picture or two to post soon. I don't think I've touched my camera in over a week. I did take a few pictures of Liam's room with his big boy bed. No more crib in the Meadows' house at all!

Hibernating

This time of year I feel the incredible need to hibernate, to drink lots of warm beverages, to wear sweaters and thick socks, and to eat lots of soups and stews. We had gorgeous weather this weekend, sunny and warm. Today it is raining and only about 45 degrees. I had to brave the weather this morning to drop Liam at preschool and run into the bank. I have to go back out in a bit and pick up the boy and get some groceries, a few things to tide us over until Wednesday. There are about six other things I should go and do, but I think I'm going to come home after the grocery store, make us lunch, sit on the couch and cuddle my boy, and then maybe take a nap. I have no desire to rush today, just to take it easy. I will just postpone the rushing until tomorrow and hopefully the sun will be out by then!

I started taking an antibiotic on Thursday and am feeling much better. I still have remnants of a cough, but feel so much better than I did last week. I'm still hopeful that I'll be 100% recovered in time to eat and appreciate a great Thanksgiving meal!

Happy Thanksgiving

The kindergarten class at Peyton's elementary school is required to learn about Thanksgiving for the SOLs. They put on a program that also included the 3rd and 4th grade chorus and the ukulele club. Peyton was a Native American and her costume was made from a paper bag and rigatoni pasta. Some of the other children were Pilgrims and they also had paper costumes. They sang songs about Pocahontas and about turkeys. They played some traditional Native American games too. It was funny and cute. I had heard her singing the songs for weeks and was proud of her when she sang on stage.

I have been sick for almost two weeks. I finally went to the doctor and was prescribed antibiotics for a bronchial/ sinus infection. He also prescribed a cough medicine with codeine to help me sleep. It definitely helped me sleep, but it knocked me on my back the next day. I was nauseated and dry heaving and so sick to my stomach. I ended up sleeping most of the day. Mark called the doctor's office and they prescribed something else that does not include a narcotic. I told Mark I would be a horrible drug addict! I just can't tolerate narcotics at all. I am slowly starting to feel better, but I'm still not 100% yet. I'm hoping to be completely recovered in time to eat some delicious turkey with my family this week!

Quiet time for Mama

I am relishing in this time while Liam is in preschool. Three mornings a week I have about 3 hours to myself! Most of that time is spent running errands, grocery shopping, etc, but I am trying to fit in some down time. I spend a lot of time with the kids, because that's my job, and as much as I adore them, sometimes I need to have an hour or so to do nothing. Today I'm at a local coffee shop, Greenberry's, using the free wi-fi and just enjoying the quiet. I wrote some letters and updated my concert band spreadsheet and surfed the blogs I like to read. I do have to run soon and pick up a gift card on my way to get Liam, but that's the biggest errand I have to do today! Ahhhh peace and quiet! I am one of those people who loves to be around others, but I also really crave alone time, time to read, or sit with a crochet project, or to listen to my ipod. If I get some time to do that each week, it really refreshes me and helps me get through the more busy times!

We have a ton of stuff scheduled for the rest of September and October. Every weekend has some family function or a scheduled event. I enjoy visiting with family and having guests in our home, but it can also be a bit stressful to know that we're going to be traveling so many weekends in a row. November looks good so far, but I'm sure it will fill soon. I think we'll probably do nothing that month except T-giving travel. Mark needs to have time to work on his schoolwork and the kids need time to rest from school, so hopefully we'll be able to stay put in November and December!

"Beat your family up"

"Beat your family up" is a quote from Elizabeth George. I am currently doing a 10 week Bible study that is based on her book, "A Woman After God's Own Heart." She suggests spending early time in prayer and Bible study. I am NOT a morning person, not at all. In fact, I have been known to be incredibly cranky and ugly first thing in the morning. I heard her suggestion and promptly ignored it. I figured as long as I was doing my Bible study sometime during the day, well that was good enough. I had been spending the kid's rest time reading and praying, but one ear was always listening for the kids.

SO after feeling convicted and thinking a lot about "beating my family up" in the morning, I decided to give it a try. I got up early Friday and spent some time in prayer and Bible study and it was great. Yes, I was tired and yes, I wasn't particularly thrilled when my alarm went off, but it was such a peaceful and calm way to start my day and I noticed that the day went better. So as much as I hate getting up, I am going to try to make this a daily appointment that I can't miss. I don't think I'll beat myself up if I miss once in a while, but if I can focus on going to bed a bit earlier than 11 or midnight, then I think I can make this last!