Stress

1. /'stress/
constraining force or influence: as
a : a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part; especially : the intensity of this mutual force commonly expressed in pounds per square inch

b : the deformation caused in a body by such a force

c : a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation

d : a state resulting from a stress; especially : one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium

e : strain, pressure

....I went to the neurologist today, and this was his diagnosis...Stress. The allusive answer to seemingly every problem a person could have. Stress. How to cure stress? Do you get enough sleep? Yes. Do you get enough free time? What's enough? I know there is an age-old cure for stress that my husband is a big fan of, but I feel that base is covered as well. So I guess the million dollar question that will cure me of my blinding headaches is how can I relieve the stress? How do you relieve your stress dear reader? Is it possible? I hope so.

Backstage

Whilst skipping Sunday school...I mean...while in between blocks at church last Sunday, I was chatting with the Relief Society president about a task I was given for an upcoming Relief Society meeting, and she lovingly asked me to make sure and tell her if I was feeling overwhelmed, to which I replied "I'm fine" to which she asked "How?"...to which another participant of the conversation, who is a seasoned mother and tactfully honest, replied, "This is the Front stage...we can't see what's going on back stage". There were a few beats of silence until we all laughed and moved on with the conversation. So now I'm left thinking about whats really going on "Back stage"

Setting:
West Virginia
Characters:
Holly (The Mother/Wife), Kimball (The Father/Husband), Mya (Child #1), Aiden (Child #2)
Plot:
My Life, more specifically the ins and outs of everyday life in all of its triumphs and failures.

Scene:

Holly has been pregnant with child #3 with a husband who is close to finishing his first year as a surgical resident

Lately if someone came and took a look "back stage" you would be liable to find any or all of the following things:

• Aiden crying in a fit of rage because something didn't happen EXACTLY the way he wanted it
• Mya crying because Aiden is touching her things, or breathing her air
  
• Both kids entertaining themselves because Holly is either A) Puking B) Laying down with a migraine C) eating or D) trying to do all three
  
• Holly wishing Kimball would come home
• Kimball asleep with both children on his lap wanting a story read to them
• Holly screaming at the mystery person who she's certain is slipping poison in her food and causing her to still be puking
• Mya using her new favorite phrase "..but I WANT to"..like this news will all of a sudden change my mind about letting her cut her own hair with safety scissors..."Oh well, since you WANT to that changes everything.."
  
• Holly trying on 10 different outfits because each makes her look 10 lbs. heavier than the next

• Holly wishing she lived close to any family that would feel at least semi-obligated to come rescue her out of her sweatpants

....not pretty. So if all appears to be right on the front stage, why not keep it that way, you may ask. Because I need a little reassurance that the certain scene of this "play" will have a happy outcome. I need to know that once my brain returns to normal and stops trying to pulse its way out of my skull, and once the culprit who is poisoning me is found and severely punished, I'll have accomplished the noble cause of motherhood once more. Will my family and I be slightly worse for wear, maybe, but it's worth it...right?

Both times I've had a child arrive there has been a moment when we first meet each other, just a small fleeting moment, there is a perceptible shift when we look at eachother and things become so clear. My purpose becomes clear. I'm waiting for that to happen again, which is really the only motivation for doing any of this. There are rare moments that come along that I feel it again, when Mya tells me I'm her best friend, or when Aiden walks over,takes out his pacifier and gives me a kiss, but never quite as strong as when I hold them for the first time. So for now thats what I'll keep waiting for, and until then I'll make sure that entrance to the "back stage" remains off limits.

Look at me grow

This was actually taken a couple weeks ago so the little sprout is even bigger. The legs are in shadow but they are there, along with everything else thats suppose to be present, although we looked between the legs and couldnt tell yet (too early)...so we'll wait a couple more weeks . Pink or Blue? Pink or Blue?

Now we are Five

Our nearly eight week blob has got us pretty excited (and mom pretty sick)! Coming Sept 2011!

Daughter

Everything she sees
she says she wants.
Everything she wants
I see she gets.

That's my daughter in the water
everything she owns I bought her
Everything she owns.
That's my daughter in the water,
everything she knows I taught her.
Everything she knows.

Everything I say
she takes to heart.
Everything she takes
she takes apart.

That's my daughter in the water
every time she fell I caught her.
Every time she fell.
That's my daughter in the water,
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
I lost every time I fought her.
Yea, I lost every time.

Every time she blinks
she strikes somebody blind.
Everything she thinks
blows her tiny mind.
That's my daughter in the water,
who'd have ever thought her?
Who'd have ever thought?
That's my daughter in the water,
I lost everytime I fought her
Yea, I lost every time.

Shutterfly Cards!

When my fabulous friend Carlye told me about a promotion that Shutterfly was doing where you get 50 free christmas cards, just by blogging about it, I couldn't think of anything more simple, mostly because I love shutterfly to begin with! The web-site is uber user friendly and there are so many cute products to choose from. Last christmas I made both of sets of grandparents calendars, which you can learn about here that featured all of their grandchildren and they all loved them. I've also used Shutterfly in the past for christmas cards and have loved them too. So I'm more than happy to sing this company's praises especially when it means another chance to use their awesome product again! The only hard part will be trying to pick out just one design that I like...oh and licking all those envelopes! Happy Holidays!...oh and P.S. I need your address!

Bucket List

Last night I was laying around thinking that I ought to take a minute to write down my "bucket list". It isn't because I'm feeling like my time is any more limited, or because I'm "wishing for greener pastures", I'm just a firm believer that the first step to seeing dreams and goals realized is to write them down. So here it is.
Before I die (or get too old) I want to:
-visit a crayon factory.
-ride in a hot air balloon
- Attend all major sporting events: Super Bowl, World Series, NBA finals, World Cup, Olympic games (check), U.S. Open, Kentucky Derby, etc.
- When and if I get to attend the Kentucky Derby, I want to wear a gigantic hat.
- Eat at each of the Iron Chef's restaurants
-Be in the audience for an episode of Iron chef America (this, I hear, is not possible since only friends and family of the chef's are allowed in the audience, but nothing is EVER impossible, right?)
-Get a nursing degree
-Go to Greece
-Read the Old Testament
-Be completely debt free
-Take my parents on a trip
-Take Kimball's parents on a trip
-Own a scrapbook retreat business (with my dear friend Kathy!)
-Go on a mission with Kimball
-Raise successful well-rounded, kind, loving, humble, smart children

Some may happen, some may not, I hate to think it, but maybe none of them will happen, but even so its good to know I'll always have support from those that love me!