They'll throw you in jail.

I hate to admit it, but I went there.

You see, Smiley isn't always the best shopper.  She's great if she's down, walking and has free reign of the store.  And frankly, that isn't the best option for a inquisitive 2 year old.  Much to her dismay, I  prefer her to be confined to her stroller or a cart.

So when we made a quick trip to Ikea last week, I immediately put her in a cart.  Life was good.  Smiley was chatting up a storm pointing at this and that.  When all of a sudden it started.

The screaming.
I'm not talking a holler or a yell, but a full out scream.  Just to let me know that she is completely displeased with that fact that she is not free and waking around.

So what did I do?  I got eye level with her and said, "If you don't stop screaming, the workers are going to call the police.  Then the police will come and put you in jail."

Her reply, "I no want to go to jail."

Guess what?

She didn't scream anymore.  And yes, I do feel a little bad about scaring her.  But my ears (and I'm sure the ears of those within a mile of us) said a big BIG thank-you!

I wish I was perfect, with perfect children but alas, I am not.  How boring life would be if I was!  And I wouldn't want it any other way :)

Keeping it real

Today, my bloggy friend Jennifer Juniper posed the question ~ are you keepin' it real?

I've seen this very topic blogged about before and know one blogger who has a weekly link up to "picture me {im}perfectly"

Anyway, the whole point is to share your mess.

As bloggers, we tend to just show the things that are pretty and pleasing to the eye.

But is that really how we live?

If you do, I admit I am a bit jealous. However, the fact that there are dishes on the counter and  toys on the floor make me smile (um.. as long as I am not stepping on them).  Because for me it means, I have spared moments of cleaning and perfecting to do the things I enjoy ~ playing with the kids, spending time with my hubby and friends, working out, creating, planning........

Today Jennifer challenged us to keep it real, to show the messes in your life ~ to not stage, to not be fake, to be yourself.

Here are my messes of the morning:

Hello dishes that either need to get washed 

(umm... yes, that is my wine glass from last night) 

or get put away

Oh messy, messy mud room ~ you are the first room I see when I walk in the house and between the coats, boots and laundry, you do not make me smile :)

(and no my walls are not purple, although they look like it???)

And my lovely guest room/clothes line ~ luckily you are not needed until next weekend, 

but I will clean it sooner if anyone wants to come and stay :)

Today, I'm keepin' it real!  

Are you?

Link up here

Something to think about Sunday

BEING

Definition: living; being alive

I've been busy.
My mind has been racing.
I've been stressed, and yet  somewhat relaxed (huh?).

When life gets this way, I seem to get frustrated easily.  Which is.....    very frustrating.  And it leads me to unconsciously examine my life path and seems to amplify all of my downfalls.

I feel like I am a good wife, mom, friend and child of God.  I am loving, spiritual, helpful, and so much more, but it doesn't feel like it's enough, like I'm being enough.  I mean, I love my family, but am I showing it enough, in my words and actions?  I love my husband, but the spark that was there so many years ago is more like a candle now, I could be more romantic and spontaneous.  There are so many moments when I feel stretched  too thin, tired and short, moments I should step back, take a deep breath and relax.  And while I'm fun (I think ☺), and I love to laugh it doesn't feel like it's enough.


For some reason I feel like I need to be more:
Loving
Romantic
Patient
Spiritual
Health conscious
Fit
Fun
Relaxed
Spontaneous
Organized
Creative

Is it possible to stop trying to "be more"  and just accept who you are right now?


1 Samuel 16:7b
“For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’ (NKJV)

28. For the smile on my Daughter’s face as I cheer her on
29. Cuddling with my Hubby in the middle of the afternoon
30. Unexpected flowers

Something to Think About Sunday

Did you know that this week is designated as "Eliminate Fat Talk" week.

What does this mean? 

It means, can you go the entire week not putting yourself or others down because of weight, or another physical attribute?  Can you embrace who you are and love yourself for it?

Instead of saying something negative about your body or someone elses body, can you change your thinking and find something positive in yourself or other person.  Try it for a week ~ I dare you.   Even better, continue that week on indefinitely!

We are all beautiful, we are all different and unique ~ Embrace the person you are!

Be Healthy
Be Confident
Be Happy
Be Yourself

Spread the word and don't forget to share a compliment :)

Be Blessed!

The story of a girl and her glasses

I have a story to tell, and it's kind of long.  But it's a story I want to tell.  One, I will always remember.
So go grab yourself a little snack and get comfy.
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Ready?

Ok........

Wait, one more thing ~ just a little warning that all of the pics have been scanned in and are not the best of quality ~ but you'll get the picture, I think :)

When She was born, we noticed her eyes right away.  Blue and beautiful.

As she grew older her eye lashes grew longer and her beautiful blue eyes seemed to sparkle.

She was spunky, happy and stubborn.  As she learned to talk the four words we most heard from her were, "I do it MYself"
So, when during her 3 year well-check she didn't want to "test" her eyes I was only mildly surprised.  Her doctor said she looked perfect ~ of picture of health (especially since she had ear tubes put in  when she was 11 months old).  She mentioned to keep an eye on Sassy's eyes and if I noticed anything weird ~ falling down a lot, squinting, or anything suspicious to call.

It was maybe 1 week later when I saw it.

I was putting some snapshots into a photo album.  It was so obvious.  How had I never noticed before?!  In many pictures my beautiful Sassy had 1 red eye and 1 normal eye. Weird.

And some of the time when it didn't turn out red, one eye seemed to be turning in.

We went back to the pediatrician.

We were referred to a pediatric opthamologist.

He is a very good doctor.

He is a very busy doctor.

We waited what felt like forever to see him.

And when we did, the results were shocking.

Sassy was 20/20 in her right eye ~ excellent!  And 20/1000 in her left eye!

That's right, 20/1000

She was diagnosed as having Amblyopia ~ which is basically loss of vision in one eye ~ for some reason, the brain prefers one eye over the other and does not turn the other eye on.  She also had significant crossing of
her left eye.

As a mother how could I not have known this!  I felt like I had failed my daughter.  I remember when her funny "trick" was to cross both of her eyes and then turn one back so she had one crossed eye and one straight eye.  Then she would make them both straight.  THIS WAS NO LONGER FUNNY!  Had I missed an important sign?

Well, we were determined to get her vision back.

She was prescribed glasses (which when on would mostly correct the turning of her left eye):

And had to patch her "good eye" 15 - 20 hours a week

while pretending to be pregnant.....  with a balloon.....

Just kidding!  Just had to see if you were still reading along :)

We had to go back and see the eye doctor every 3 months.

There was gradual improvement in her vision ~ with lots of tears and frustrations along the way.  I mean, really what 3 year old wants to wear a patch over the one eye they can see out of and basically walk around blind?

20/200

20/100

20/80

20/70 ~ stuck for what felt like FOR-E.V.E.R.

Still wearing glasses ~ trying to not scratch the heck out of them....

And still patching ~ and that got harder and harder.

She was busier.

And she was concerned about what her friends and other people might think.

There was lots of talk about "true" friends.

20/60

1st grade.

Eye alignment surgery.

We decided to have this surgery done to align Sassy's eyes.

She was "put under" and I cried.

Waited.

Nervous.

Never happier to see her eye doctor and hear him say she was being transported to recovery and that they would come and get us soon. He told us her surgery went perfectly.  Her eyes were finally straight and "man that girl has some beautiful eyelashes".

I just wanted my girl.

When we finally got to see her, her eyes were quite red and she was super nauseous.  I'll spare you the details and just tell you it was a very long 25 minute drive home.

The first thing she wanted to do when she got home was to look at her eyes.  Red or not the smile on her face when she saw how straight they were was priceless!

20/50

Woot Woot!!!

Straight eyes ~ WITHOUT GLASSES :)

 

Now, Sassy had to patch just enough to at least keep her vision where it was.

Appointments decreased from every 3 months to every 6.

20/40

No more patching, and we only have to see the doctor once a year.  Here she is and here she will stay.

Sassy, her long eyelashes, her beautiful blue/green/gray eyes that are perfect and straight.

Baby it's been long and at times frustrating for all of us, but you've been a champ.  You've come such a long way and I am so proud of you!

Something to think about Sunday

Who are you raising up today?

Blessings to you.

Friday Funny

Have a WONDERFUL weekend

and

Don't forget:

 Be yourself!

Something to Think About ~ feeding the wolves.

A friend of mine posted this on her facebook page the other day and

I LOVED it and wanted to pass it on to you.

One day an old Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson.

He said, "There are two wolves fighting inside all of us -

the wolf of fear and hate,

and

the wolf of love and peace."

The grandson listened, then looked up at his grandfather and asked, "Which one will win?"

The grandfather replied, "The one we feed."

Which one are you feeding?

Get your Face on

Well, one of the blogs I like to read is having a blog party.

It's called GET YOUR FACE ON

Ready?

Before ~ fresh after a workout at the gym, trip to Target, and time with the kids.

one word: WOW.

I would like to explain that this is a typical day ~ you know no showering before 1pm.

And I am a very simple make up girl.

Ready?

Cleanse ~ I use one of these products depending on exfoliating needs.

War Paint:

Moisturizer with SPF

Eye Cream

Foundation (have yet to find one I love, but I like this for the different shades ~ you know winter face and summer face)

Bronzer, which in this picture looks really dark, but once applied is not .

Blush

Eye Liner

Mascara

Lip Gloss ~ although today it was lip stick, because the gloss I like was downstairs.

Thats it ~ maybe 5 mins worth.

and

~ Voila ~

But now my hubby is going to come home from work and wonder what got into me today :)

Hmmm...

This is what I had on when I left the house this morning:

This is what it looked like outside:

I don't think I needed my sunglasses.

Wishful thinking perhaps?

Whats the weather like where you live?