the end of 2013 is drawing near

It's almost the start of a new year.  Last week my little girl took a big step and did a solo in church.  I was so proud of her.  This was all her.  She wanted to do it and it made this momma's heart very proud.  I think I was more nervous than she was.  Josh also did a reading of scripture, and surprisingly  he was nervous (he usually handles this pretty well).  He wanted a credit for youth group for taking part in a service.  I'm glad the youth group does this and helps the kids get more involved.

I wanted to try to set monthly goals instead of yearly goals this year.  My goal for January is to lose 5 pounds and to run twice a week.  Since my kidney stone in September, I have gained a few pounds and I haven't really been able to run.  I did run a mile yesterday for the first time in a long time, so even if I just concentrate on mile runs for January, I would like to get more comfortable running the mile.  I would really like to do 3 races this year and my dream is to actually place in the top 5 of my category.

santa

I think this was the last year for santa.  My kids didn't want to go this year, but we went with friends and it's funny to go.  Josh begged me not to take this picture, knowing that I could post it on FB, so I will just use it as blackmail in case I ever need it!!!  I'm always amazed by this house in Apex.  The decorate so well and let you go through their back yard.  The man dresses like santa for 4 nights and sits on his porch.  His wife dresses as an elf and they give little gifts and candy canes to the children.  They are getting old so this is the last year they are doing it, but we have enjoyed it for several years.

Christmas Program

I was SO happy that Jenna and Jacob got asked to sing in this small group.  They both like to do things like this but because they are a little shy like mommy, don't always get asked to do so.

quiet but busy

Things in our house have been quiet but busy.  Thanksgiving was SO quiet with just us plus my dad.  I cooked my second turkey ever.  It turned out fine, but not as good as so many others make theirs.  My dad stayed a few hours and then left so we spent the day watching football and looking through the ads.  I did most of my black Friday shopping on line.  I'm not really liking this holiday (thanksgiving) as much as I used to.
It's been a busy week, but quiet.  I didn't have any kids in the morning on Tue/Wed, so I was able to get a few errands done (groceries mainly).  Still have some shopping to do, but although it's been quiet around here, it has been so busy.  Monday was play practice/and Josh has a basketball game, Tuesday basketball practice and Jake's lesson, Wednesday Jenna had a lesson, Thursday Southside Christmas program, tonight is the ladies event plus another basketball game and tomorrow is Jack's company dinner.I'm thankful for the all the craziness of running my kids around.  I wouldn't want it any other way.  I love every minute of it even though sometimes I lose my sanity or wonder how I will get from point A to point B.  It also takes my mind off some of personal things that I seem to struggle with inside.I can't believe Christmas is 19 days away.  I'm like a child....I just can't wait!!

turkey week/my family

this week was turkey week at our house.  we made the classic handprint turkey on Monday.  On Wednesday we make a turkey using a toilet paper roll and paint samples from Lowes.  Today we made handprint and footprint turkeys.

Last week we had family pictures done.  Loved the way they turned out. These are just a few of my favorites.  This year we went to the NC State Arboretum.

basketball and pilgrims

Basketball season has hit the McLean house.  I love nothing more than to watch my kids play sports.  Last night we went to Greenville for our first basketball game.  Last year we got blown out every game, but had fun.  Last night was actually a nail biter.  Although we lost, we played hard and was with the team the entire time.  At one time we actually pulled ahead. I'm excited that this year we actually have "home" games played at First Baptist in Garner.
     This week is pilgrim week for Jack and Kara.  Today we made handprint pilgrims.  I think on Friday we will make pilgrim hats using black cups.

Give Thanks

This week is "give thanks" week at the McLean preschool (ha).  What a timely theme.  Things have been hitting me and getting me down, especially today and here I'm teaching the kids "oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good".  Even in my down days, when Satan discourages me and things start piling on me, God is still good and he deserves our thanks.  So we made these tissue tea light candles out of old baby food jars that I had (do they still make those?) and we made thankful leaves today.  They are still young to tell me what they are thankful for, but we still talk about it.  Hoping to make some sort of thankful tree for Friday. Jenna and I made some jello candy corn desserts too.

Last week we talked about how the leaves were changing colors.  I traced their hands for the tree and then we dot painted colors.  Both kids were out on different days last week, so the only other leaf project we did was a "leaf man" and then on Friday Kara and I did some leaf rubbings with the crayon.  I love these two kids so much!!  They are fantastic to work with!!

Last Halloween

This picture was taken last Halloween.  Notice Joshua.  You would think that he was mad or irritated or something, but that wasn't the case.  This was him last year on his medication.  He was so much like a zombie.  So much so that one of his closest friends thought there was something seriously wrong with him.  This was the point that we decided to take him off his medication.  That was the day that we got our child back!!  I would much rather him struggle and be happy and have a personality, than to dope him up only to have him like a zombie.  Not sure what the boys will wear for costumes, but will try to have pictures posted soon.

October Fun

Last week was candy corn week.  I painted their hands one day and forgot to get a picture.  We also made this candy corn picture.  We celebrated Jack's birthday a few weeks ago and I also took them to the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago.  I'm lovin the fall!!
     In other news Jack and Jacob went and camped out at the coast and went fishing.  They were very successful.  Jack's best friend went and they caught over 100 fish.  We also went to the fair Friday.  Golden Corral gave their employees the day off and free tickets, so we took full advantage of it.  It was so much fun.  Jacob's class took a field trip there Monday.  I wasn't looking forward to going back, but it was youth day and we had a scavenger hunt through the exhibits.  I actually saw a few places that I never knew existed, so it was fun to go back.

Pumpkins and such....

This week was pumpkin week in our house.  We did a "five little pumpkins sitting on a fence book" and then yesterday we were supposed to go to the pumpkin patch.  Instead, we did a "5 little pumpkins on a fence craft" and they also wanted to do some painting, so I painted their hands to make pumpkins.  I hope it clears up tomorrow so we can go, because I have nothing else planned for the day.
It's been a discouraging few days.  I think it just may be the rainy blah days.  I feel like this dark cloud hangs over us lately with things.  Jack's doctor is not helping him the way he needs to be helped, my medical bills are still coming in, the unexpected goof last week that caused  me $160 last week, some other personal trials that are going on, the car battery died this morning (I am hoping that is all it is), and I think someone was trying to accuse my two younger kids of something this morning of something I KNOW they didn't do.  Even through all of this the last little while, I can't get the thoughts that none of this took place without God knowing about it ahead of time, and without him allowing it to happen.  We've been blessed so much that I can't dwell on the "black cloud" that has been over us.  I know there are other people who are much worse off than I am, and this stuff is just minor.  I think of the words of one of the songs that says "This is the stuff that drives me crazy, this is the stuff that's getting to me lately, in the middle of my little mess, I forget how much I'm blessed".  Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday and thank goodness God is in control.

Feeling horrible

I'm feeling horrible right now, but at the same time grateful for a husband that doesn't get upset with me.  Just when we got cleared of all his medical bills (which weren't too bad) I come along and have some doozie medical bills.  So far I am about 27k and counting!!  Just when I think we are done paying, I check the website only to find more bills are coming in.  We don't have to pay the $27k or anything close to it, but we are still paying a pretty penny on things...too much!  The stress of it all is driving me nuts.  Then last night I did something stupid.  Well, maybe not stupid, but an honest mistake.  It was an honest mistake that cost me $161.  Yep, this dark cloud hanging over the McLean household just won't go away and most of it is because of me.  I should be happy on this Friday, but right now I'm wishing we had a money tree in the backyard.....not to be rich, just to pay off these BIG unexpected bills that have occurred all because of me.  Thank you my love for not getting angry at me, but for loving me and telling me we will get through it.!!

Apple week

I tried to unload my phone pictures, but I made a mistake and now they won't unload.  This has been apple week at our house.  Yesterday we made these apples and we are going to do another apple project tomorrow.  I guess I should have done this a week earlier since we are not in October.  It's been keeping me on my toes having a "theme" week this year.  I can't just wing it any more.  Jack's mom took him out of preschool to be with me (and also because their schedule was changed due to her new job) so I want to keep her happy.
Everything else at the McLean household has been pretty quiet.  I think we may be back to "normal" if that is possible!!

Daniel and Misc.

Can you believe that something as little as 7mm can cost more than $23k and the bills keep coming in?  Thank goodness for insurance and them covering the majority of this, but even what we had to pay was in my opinion too much for something too little.  The good news is that the stent is now out!!  I feel great!!  I didn't feel well the night it came out, but now I'm slowly back to normal.  I went to zumba last night and am thinking about going to boot camp tomorrow at 5:15 am.
     This week we have been talking about Daniel and the Lions Den.  Monday and Wednesday we made lions and I hope to make some praying hands on Friday.  I am so attached to Kara and Jack.  They are both such sweet little kids.

Magnificent Mile and Street lights

So Sunday the family was supposed to run the Magnificent Mile race after church.  Everyone did except me.  I hated being on the sidelines.  I wanted to do this one so bad.  Jack put in a great time, Josh was like 8 1/2 minutes and Jake was right under 9.  All of them would have beat me.  This was Jenna's first race and she did it in 11, which is great.  I missed her coming across the finish line.  I can't wait to go back to the gym starting Tuesday.  How I have missed working out!!
Other news.....Josh worked the dunk tank at our family fun fest and this week we have been making stop signs and traffic light snacks!!

7mm

7mm....the size of approx an m&m.  Yep, that was inside of me, but this was jagged, like a rock.  It all started the day before our church picnic (August 31st).  I woke up in a middle of the night with bad side pain and felt sick on my stomach.  I thought it was a kidney stone.  I took some medicine that I had from a few years ago for something else and the pain eased up and I was able to sleep a little bit.  I woke up Sunday and didn't have any side pain, but I didn't feel well.  After church I decided to run by urgent care before our church picnic.  I explained my side pain, but they said I definatley had blood in my urine, so it was a UTI.  They put me on antibiotics and I was able to go to the picnic.  That week I felt pretty good, but I would have some bad moments.  About Thursday I told Jack that the antibiotics didn't seem to be doing the trick.  I felt fabulous on Friday and Jack came home Friday night and I started to feel bad again.  We went shopping and then to get ice cream  and I went to bed.  As soon as I went to bed, my side pain came back.  I was up the entire night....running to the bath tub to take away the pain, doubled over on the couch, putting heating pads on, throwing up etc.  I wanted to go to the ER but I didn't want to leave the kids home alone in the middle of the night and I didn't want to take them.  About 7-8 am I woke Jack up and told him I needed to go somewhere.  We decided not to go back to urgent care because they would probably not help me, so we went up to the ER on 42.  They were wonderful.  After blood work and a CT scan it showed a 7mm kidney stone.  I was well drugged up at the ER and feeling wonderful and sent home with 4 meds.  I went Monday to see the urologist and he said a 7mm is very hard to pass.  I would need surgery on Friday.  I felt good Monday going to the doctor and then picking up the kids, but when I got home I was SO sick again Monday night.  This continued all week.  After Monday night, I was ready for the surgery because I knew I couldn't go on like this any more.  I'm hardly ever sick, so this was hard for me.  Surgery went well and I saw part of the stone that was blasted....it was about a 2mm stone.  He got it all, thank goodness....nothing left except they had to put a stent inside of me that has to stay in for 10 days.  It doesn't feel comfortable, but I know it is healing the kidneys up and I think slowly I am on the mend.

Monster week

Thanks to Labor Day, this was a short week.  We are finally in a routine and although I am tired, I do not feel run down.  I did however on the weekend think I had another kidney stone, but after things calmed down and I went to urgent care on Sunday, we found out it was just a UTI.  It's not been a pleasant week, but the antibiotics are sure working today!!  this week was monster week.  Wednesday we make "cookie" monsters and today we took paint and blew it with a straw.  The results are not what I wanted, but they still turned out cute.