Break and Progress

I am having a wonderful, relaxing, family-filled break! I took Friday the 17th off and spent the day with Leah then picked up Hannah and Joel at the airport late that night (which went as smoothly as it possibly could). Spent that afternoon and evening with my Dad and Jean. The next day we got up and had Christmas at the Lake with the Kuenzi's and Clarks. This is always a special day but for some reason, this one was even more special. I loved spending time with Shari and her kids and Season and everyone! We had an especially good Smith family Christmas also at Wooten's. Then Christmas here was very low key. This year I never got around to putting up lights or decorations of any kind (I did win a poinsetta for Christmas from work) or even a tree. I didn't shop until I absolutely had to and never shopped for the kids at all--we wrote them checks and they were happy! Christmas day was about relaxing and eating. Scott made a traditional Fire Department breakfast of sausage, biscuits and gravy, eggs, and hash browns. Leah had brought homemade cinnamon rolls. Then we just hung out. The whole time the kids have been here is laid back and relaxed. We hang out as a family or in smaller groups but there isn't any pressure so I feel like I go off and read or go to the gym or nap or whatever. I've discovered Pinterest and spent some time doing that and did some crafts, painted the hallway and trim, stuff like that. We try to go to the gym (Scott, Hannah, Leah and I) every day if we can together. The kids have had time with their friends, too. Very enjoyable times. Joel's friends have hung out but not too much--enough that he feels reconnected and home. Scott and I have had time together, too, which will help with the transition back to the two of us. Jon is moving out into an apartment so it will be very quiet around here for awhile after the kids leave. And they are leaving little by little instead of all at once, too, which will help. We are getting ready to head into craziness as I go get mom tomorrow and then I understand that Jon is on his way back from Mexico and then on Sunday, the Griffiths are coming up for the day with maybe some Clarks and Kuenzi's also! Gonna be exciting! Then I have Monday and then boom! The girls go to Newton and I go back to work! Joel will go with them for an overnight then come back and be here until he flies out Friday (or Saturday--can't remember). Of course, the house will still be getting worked on.
Progress on the house: Got the roof onto the new room and most of the siding and the windows in. Today got the sliding door in the kitchen! It looks amazing! Makes the room look much bigger! I got the hallway painted including the trim and doors (still need some of the trim put up). I guess we've turned a corner and I would put the house at about 65% done.
Wow! Scott and Hannah ran to the store and I just realized I'm alone for the first time in a long time. Nope, Leah got here. Now to start cooking (again:)--the grocery bill is HUGE!)

Eating Frenzy

Once I get in an eating mode, I can't get out. Today I have eaten:

6:30 a.m. Coffee with hazelnut creamer
7;00 a.m. Staff Christmas party: some sort of muffin, 2 helpings egg casserole, some sort of fruit punch.
10 a.m. poppy seed muffin, more egg casserole, more fruit punch
11 a.m. strawberry chocolate fudge (Christmas gift)
12 p.m. Large peice of fried chicken, cheesy mashed potatoes, tortilla chips, chocolate covered peanuts
2:30 p.m. strawberry chocolate fudge
4:00 p.m. post nap pre work out snack--tortilla chips
At this point I did attend spinning class where I gave about 80% effort and then sat in the sauna for 15 minutes
7 p.m. dinner spaghetti with wheat noodles and meat sauce, milk, two peices of dark chocolate almond (hey--I need antioxidants!)
7:30 strawberry chocolate fudge

This is ridiculous.

ER today

Ok, so today I went to the ER having Scott sure I had a heart attack. After lunch, I had this HORRIBLE pain in my stomach. I popped a couple of antacids and then a couple more and went to lay on my bed. I yelled to Scott that I thought I need to throw up but he was in the bathroom so I went upstairs. I had my pants down because they were pressing on my stomach and then even took them off and laid on the floor. I was in AGONIZING pain. I told the girls to get Scott and by the time he got to me, I was sweating from every pour of my body and the world was swirling around and then my arms and legs, mostly my arms and fingers got super tingly. Scott looked for the phone to call 911 but then I felt a bit better so I got my pants back on (which was my main concern if an ambulance was coming) and was able to walk back downstairs and lay on the bed. Soctt said I'd had the exact symptoms of a heart attack so even though I felt better, he convinced me to go to the ER. This is a guy who NEVER goes to the doctor (well, except to get surgeries:) The ER did an EKG and labwork and said I was fine. I came home and ran errands but I did skip going to the gym, mostly because I didn't want to run into anyone who saw me at the ER a few hours earlier:)
I am now making my official own diagnosis: I had a HORRIBLE gas attack and then probably hyperventilated. Don't worry, I'll follow up with my doctor.

Perfect Days

Yesterday, Friday, I took off work and slept in til about 8:30. When I got up, there were guys working on the new room outside and Rex the contractor was here! I got to talk to him about where we are with the renovation progress and it made me feel hopeful:). I had my quiet time and took a bath in my wonderful new bathtub and got dressed in my wonderful new walk in closet then ran to the bank and grand ol trunk and left town! It was sunny and mild out. I got to the Sprint store in Topeka to get my phone fixed and instead of waiting 2 hours as I expected, there were 4 guys waiting for customers! It only took 30 seconds for him to fix my phone! So I took off for KC and picked up my Leah at David's house in KC! We did a little Christmas shopping and then went to see my Dad and Jean. My Dad is hilarious. We went to the little coffee shop at Aberdeen and drank cappacino then went back to the apartment and took naps. I even woke myself up snoring! When we went to dinner, walking down the hall a guy came by and my Dad called, "Hi Henry" to him and he said, "Hi Dick". I was impressed and said to Jean, "He knows their names!" She said, "No, that's Wes. He calls them all Henry." I laughed so hard! On the way to dinner my Dad told us about 6 times that if we didn't like what was on the menu, we could order steak. We had a wonderful meal of brisket and scalloped potatoes and apple pie then went back to the apartment and watched "Elf". About 9:30 we left for the airport and picked up Hannah and Joel! I was expecting their flight to be super late and it was basically on time! I love being with my kids so I was already happy and content hanging out with Leah and I got all three! We had fun in the car talking and laughing at Joel who couldn't hear out of his right ear from the plane and he kept talking really softly. We got back to the house at a reasonable 12:45 and Joel's friends were over to greet him. Got to bed about 1:30.
Today was wonderful also! The guys were here early putting up walls so I got up about 8:30 again and had my quiet time. Lele got up pretty early with me, too. We got dressed and other than a key fiasco and great difficulty getting Joel up, left for the lake at a reasonable time. Christmas at the Lake day--a Clark family tradition! This one was particularly fun with excellent fellowship. All of the Kuenzi's were there (with the exception of Kevin--sad). We love hanging out with the Kuenzi's and Lauren and Season added to the enjoyment of the day. The meal was delish as usual and the games fun. Then we all just sat around and talked and laughed! Toward the end we were working on our dance moves and tried to do the "stanky leg" and were horrible dancers. We got home at a decent time and the girls went running and I ran on the treadmill at the gym. I feel like this time with everyone home will be relaxed and non stressful. A great day!

Lately

Hello blogger followers who are mostly my family:). Sorry I blog so sporadically. A lot going on lately with the house and it takes all my attention. That and my back has hurt for about 5 weeks now. But it is better--at about 90% which means I can finally work out again! I went to induro spinning today. We went to Ireland--beautiful! Right now I am sitting at my new kitchen island and I have fiber one blueberry muffins in the oven. I prepared them using the light above the stove and I have on the fan above the stove--both features I've never had before. And the dishwasher is quietly purring away--it used to be that I couldn't really cook or do anything in the kitchen when the dishwasher was running because I had to drag the whole machine over and hook it up to the faucet. Really, I feel like I'm living in luxury! I went to the grocery store today and put the groceries away in the beautiful double door fridge and the pantry:). If I want to later, I can fill up my giant tub and read in there then walk into my giant walk in closet to get my jammies on. I put a hook for my robe right over the heat vent so its always toastie when I put it on:). I think the guys are coming to lay the carpet in there tomorrow then I'll really feel like I'm in luxury. Speaking of luxury! My mom and I are planning another resort trip! This one to jamaica! It looks unbelievable! I'm so spoiled! The kids are coming home in 5 days! I'm terribly excited! I haven't done a doggone thing for Christmas--not one thing. I haven't baked, bought a single gift, sent a card or decorated. I guess it will be a "participatory" year. We did go to a Christmas party last night which was fun. I usually do not like parties where I have to dress up and people act all fake and nice but this one was good. It was put on by MCC for the staff. Scott and I got on our nice clothes (in our new spa bathroom and walk in closet:) and were treated to a fabulous steak and salmon dinner complete with cherries jubilee and bananas foster (yes, I had both deserts or is it desserts). Then we watched the best Christmas program I've ever seen. Just 6 students who did simple but truly inspiring and worshipful Christmas music with meaningful short skits in between. I was impressed. It helped so much with my bah humbug attitude. I'm counting on the kids to want to do all the Christmas preparations together. I also hope the kids won't mind "participating" in the renovation while they are here. I need some input on the paint colors for the hallway, kitchen, dining room, and trim. And then help actually painting them! Then maybe we can put the Christmas tree up and decorate! Sometimes I feel like there is so much more to do on the house and then other times I think, my goodness, this could be done so soon! Here is what is done: The repairs to the big room walls and ceiling upstairs, the entire upstairs bathroom, the main bathroom (all except the glass shower walls), the walk in closet (sans carpet), the kitchen counters and countertops and appliances, the foundation laid for the new addition. What is left to do: demo the closets in the master bedroom and repair the walls and ceiling in there and put up the new lights and ceiling fan. In the kitchen, paint, backsplash, sliding glass door, some sheetrock, and trim. The new room has the foundation laid so it will need the heating and air, electricity and walls put up then the wall removed, the big window moved and french doors put in, then redecorate the front room entirely and refinish all the floors. And repair the windows in the front and put in the front door insert, repair the stairs and build the portico. Ok, upon reexamination, I guess we are only about 50% done. I did show Scott what I wanted for Christmas: slippers so he bought them and some pj's for the dogs! I told my mom I wanted rugs for the bathroom so she said buy them so we did! I hope they are the right color. Need input! ok, blogger people, I'll try to blog again soon.

Christmas X 3

So I've waited and waited and all on the same day, I get my appliances, my toilet back, and the bathroom AND kitchen sinks hooked up! What are the chances? So I got home from work (an exhausting day, I might add) and there were trucks and vans parked all down the block--all for us! I came in and Rex the contractor was in the kitchen and there were boxes and plastic everywhere and two plumbers in the bathroom working under the sink and going in and out the door--there may have been three or four. I changed my clothes and then left for the chiropractor and bank. Got back and Rex was tidying up. The fridge amazes me! It has huge doors and tons of space. I can put the milk in the door! Rex will hook up the water and ice (on the door) tomorrow! Rex left and of course, I had to try out the new toilet right away! One tiny touch and swoosh! When you've lived with old plumbing you can really appreciate these new toilets! I recycled cardboard boxes and put trash out for about an hour. Then I moved the stuff back under the kitchen sink and moved all the fridge stuff into the new fridge. Got done with that and was HUNGRY. The stove still isn't hooked up because it needs a cord so I got chipotle. But I ate it at the new kitchen island! I put my pots and pans that were dirty from the construction in the new dishwasher and set it running. So quiet! And it holds a bunch! THen I cleaned up the dush in the bathroom and cleaned the 5 foot mirror and moved my bathroom stuff (all but the shower items) into the cupboards and new linen closet in the bathroom. Oh that reminds me! Need to search out some of Leah's cool pottery to put in the bathroom. Its going to look so cool in the bathroom and kitchen. I already found a couple of cups Leah made that were the exact colors of the new bathroom upstairs and they look awesome! I'll have o frame up some of Hannah's paintings for the dining room and the new room addition when its all done. Maybe I'll contract with her for a cool sculpture for the front lawn too! This is too exciting! I felt like Christmas morning!

Perspective

After I hit "publish now" on my blogs, my perspective often changes. God does that, too, when I give things over to Him. "Moreover, let us be full of joy now, let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character produces the habit of joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation." Romans 5:3-4. Friday is the day I pray for healing. I have family members with Alzheimers, some with depression, some with horrible cancer, some with addictions, some who've lost a husband and father, many who don't have the love and comfort of Christ, and here I am stressing over a renovation. Perspective.