I seem to be good at it. At least, mild controversy. Understand, the
comments I made about men and women and the word "hot" are
generalizations. I know women are capable of sleazy thoughts, and men
are capable of objective thought. I was just saying, and I have had
this conversation with lots of people, actually. (I used to spend
8-12 hours a day in a van in mixed company) that GENERALLY a man
using "hot" as a reference is more sexual than a woman using "hot" as
a reference.

I would also like to say, for the record, that I do not find Tom
Selleck attractive. He is too hairy.

Now, on to my real topic. Tonight will be my last night in my little
house in the woods. Feeling a little nostalgic. When we moved in here
in December of 2002, it was just one room. The only door inside was
the bathroom. Then we built a laundry room.... and lived for a couple
years. Then I started going nuts and they built the new bedrooms and
the deck. What a pretty little cottage it is now.
I will miss you, little house. I will miss my purple kitchen. I will
miss my pretty little room with all the windows. I will miss the rain
on the roof- badly.
I will miss a house that has the memory of all of my babies, so far.
I will miss Juan and Sandy and the camaraderie and friendship. I will
miss not having rent. I will miss being far enough away that no one
ever drops in.
You have been a good little house. Thanks.

Last night I fed Toby rice cereal when we got home at midnight. He
loved it. He was smacking his lips and talking, etc. etc. Then I
nursed him to sleep.
He then woke up around 3, 5, 7 and 8 for meals. So much for the
cereal theory.

I am never going to sleep through the night again. Ever.

Well, the offer is still out there. Perfectly good yet annoying
Siamese kitten available. MamaPC is considering the offer...

Yesterday, my very good type A friend came over and packed 75% of my
house. And brought dinner. Wooooohoooo.... and it was good. Julie
Davis, you say? Bingo!
So that is a huge relief and today we have radrev... which kinda
takes the whole day.

Except... my poor little Richy has a dental appointment... I am
dreading it for him. Maybe it will be easy. Maybe...

If you have not been to RadRev yet, shame on you! Come tonight!

No blog this marnin. I am tired.
Monday Morning Mommy Meeting today... fun.

mas later.

When we got Sing-Sing... I was apprehensive. In my younger days, I was a cat person... I have evolved with age into a general disliker-of-animalkind.
They're pretty and all. I just don't want them to touch me and so forth.
But SingSing won the hearts of the males around here and so, I tolerated her.

But she is a cat. A very cat. She chases everything and jumps out of corners and climbs on the table and knocks things down and goes on neurotic Siamese rampages where she runs at lightning speed all over the house.
She's a good cat. I just don't want a cat.
Now, with a 3rd baby coming and the emotions and all the changes.... I really don't want a cat.
So, Sing-Sing is available to a good home. She has her shots, except rabies.

Come on now. Somebody really wants this cat.

Okay, so yesterday afternoon, the gents and Lentil and I went out. Soon, this will not be such an undertaking, because we will live closer to "out". On the other hand, I will have 3 children. It's a tradeoff.
First stop... the bank. Not interesting. Second, the library, where R2 and I checked out a book about horses. "See the horse, Richy? You're going to meet a real horse today!" Flapping, page turning, etc. General agreement.
Then, we were off to the Y. Richy read (well, you know) his book and I got lost. For some reason, I thought the Y was on 2854. Luckily, I have been through Issues enough times to plan for enough time to get lost and still be there on time. So, a few minutes early, we pulled up at the stables.
We walked out there... man, it had to be 100 degrees and it was 6:00! I had Tobes in the stroller with a bottle of water. We had to wait our turn, so we watched the horses. MAN! Those suckers are huge! We finally sat at the table with a few other specials... they had their helmets and so on. So cute. Paperwork, paperwork.

The whole time R2 is pointing at the horse... like, "I thought you said I was going to get on the horse..."
Finally it was his turn. They talked him through everything, put on a little helmet... he was a little nervous about that. Then they walked up this big ramp so he was standing right by the top of the horse. By this point, I had a mad overheated Toby in the Bjorn, and I was taking pictures. They helped him climb up on the horse, and then they walked the horse through the ramp while they both held R from the side.


He seemed really intent. He wasn't flapping or talking or smiling, but I could tell he was really into it. They walked him around a few laps... They would stop and change his position a little, focusing on different muscles and such. Then they helped him dismount... and he came back to me.
His little head was so sweaty from the helmet, and he was really flushed. It was just so neat because he was really thinking about what had just happened. He looked bigger, somehow.
So they will be seeing him every Thursday for 45 minutes or so. Very exciting.

Last night I went on a date... by myself.
VKG kept the young--uns... except for little Lentil... and I went to the movies... where I ordered nachos with jalapenos and milk duds. It was great. Watched a little Hilary Duff chickflick... which I laughed very loudly at.... sometimes stuff is funnier when you are by yourself.
Then Lentil and I went to Borders and had a bread bowl of pasta fagioli... which is kinda funny to say... and it wasn't that good. But, protein in there and whatnot. Then I wandered around Borders for a few minutes and purchased this book... of babies... on clearance for 5.99!
Fun was had by all... I like me.


Tonight is R2's evaluation for the horseriding therapy program... Leap of Faith. Very exciting stuff.

Today, the radiants are recording. I am not very sick yet... I should cook some stuff and freeze it. And clean my house.
Or, lay around and read books.
Debatable.
Anybody want a cat?

I am so tired. So wewwy wewwy tiwed. Waaaaaaaaaaa!

Okay: blogging.
You know when you're finished with one thing and ready to go to the next thing but you have to WAIT? That's me. I am so ready to go get in my new house... so exciting. And it's only 8 days or so. But you know, a watched pot and so on...
And of course, very little is packed. And the radiants are recording until Sunday. Handy. But don't worry your maternal hearts... I do not exert much effort when un-pregnant... I will certainly not strain a single muscle when pregnant. I might put books in a box. That should be acceptable. I have two appointments with Type-A's coming up to come and help clean and pack. How embarassing... I need to pre-clean and pre-pack.
Or, lay around and read books.

For those of you who entered blog-dom around or after December... a warning.
This blog was originally set up to give people my information so I wouldn't have to talk on the phone. Thus, the reproductive terminology flows pretty freely. There are certain words that I will not use.... but cervix and uterus and so on... fair game.

This is what I have: I have a body that thinks it is time to go into labor once my baby weighs about 1 pound. My brain sends some kind of signal, and I start contracting and dilating, just like normal labor. Only I start very early. With R2, I didn't recognize contractions, and my water broke at 23 weeks and 3 days. With the twins, I noticed contractions beginning at 18 weeks. With Toby, I felt contractions at 14 weeks, and more serious ones at 19 weeks. But I had later weeks 24-28ish without contractions. So the way we have found to manage this... prayer, lots of checkups, laying down to keep weight off my cervix, and progesterone shots and ocassionally labor-stopping (hell-based) drugs. So there you go.

Now, I am normally a very modest, private person. Really. But when it comes to pregnancy, I have to keep the people informed. It should be fairly mild around here until November or so when they start really watching me. Then, the biology lessons shall begin.

...
Man, I am really hoping that this will be an easy pregnancy. I plan on resting, regardless. But I just would love to rest with NO contractions.
Do I hope it's a girl? everyone asks. Well, I don't know. Of course, I think it would be fun to have a girl. Especially if she was a girly-girl and we could hang out. (If she's catching bugs and such...ewww) But I am planning for a boy. I have had 4 in a row, and it seems like I will keep having them. Plus, it seems easier to have all one gender and share clothes and beds and baths and whatnot.
A girl would be cool. I've just never had one.

...
Hopefully I can go to the doctor pretty soon and find out how far along I am, officially.

March ON mighty warrior....
March ON little victor, fight...
March ON mighty child of valor...
Put on His power and might...

Be crafted in the secret places
Structure and sinews strong
Strength and breath and hope is yours
All your sweet life long

so...
March ON mighty warrior....
March ON little victor, fight...
March ON mighty child of valor...
Put on His power and might...

let praises fill your mouth always
let praises free your soul
let songs flow from your perfect lips
His worship your life goal

Life of God grow in this womb
Spring forth oh river of grace
Love shining forth and breaking free
Reflecting Maker's face!

Yes!

March ON mighty warrior....
March ON little victor, fight...
March ON mighty child of valor...
Put on His power and might...

by Pam Crouse

Well.... my plan to shock and awe everyone worked.
To all who are related to me: I plan on having an amount of kids that will make Woodlands mommies choke on their Starbucks. So, I decided to have a little fun with this one. Next time, you will be notified prior to the World Wide Web.
I am funny, though. You have to admit it.

Bet y'all will keep up with the blog now!
Yesterday I went to the homeschool conference. I really didn't get a whole lot out of it because I don't know what I'm going to do with R2 yet. But, some ideas, yes.
Number one conclusion from the conference: no matter how many kids I have, I will not give them the standard homeschool haircut. Or for girls, lack of haircut. I will also not start wearing jeans way above my belly button with a belt. And a Homeschool Tshirt tucked in. Hey! Power to 'em. They have already done what I want to do... have kids and teach them. I'm just saying, that's all.

So, back to the conference today.

I don't know if this baby is a girl or boy, or even how many babies are in here. I just hope it's not a bat.

It's been getting pretty boring around here. 30 comment days and what not.
So, I went and got pregnant.
That oughta liven things up.

I went behind the scenes here and did some stuff to try to fix the blog...
but knowing Blogger, it's probably just a temporary cure. If we go down again, resort to the backup blog.
http://jessicasbackup.blogspot.com

the ol blog is down. We shall see when she returns.
In the meantime... I hate the cat.

Well, the monday morning mommy meeting is going great... kim is doing a good job inspiring us...
I am the most disorganized person in the world. and THAT is a universal statement.
Actually, I am certain there are more disorganized people than myself. But, I am greatly in need of order.

When I look around and I see stuff everywhere... I am not loving it. I would love to be one of the little magazine homeschool families with all the labeled plastic storage and everything in it's place. Someday, someday.

Guess what Richy is starting! Horseback riding for therapy!! The program is for special needs kids... I am SO excited!
Also on the schedule ... Special Champions Basketball! He is going to be so excited! It is so fun to have stuff for him to do coming up... because I will live IN TOWN. Holy Moly.

Last night around 3 I went on a trek to an unidentified room in my home... and found R2 and the cat sleeping on the couch. Ha. What a teenager.






Radrev tonight. Do it.

Am I still sleeping, Katie asks...
what is this "sleep" you speak of?

Off to the Mommy Monday Meeting. I may blog on something later.
Peace to the peeps.

I forgot yesterday was a weekday.. I always mean to post on weekdays. Oh, well.
Last night we stayed at the PrayerStorm until 3-ish... it was so rocking and I was just getting started but all the babies started waking up so off we went. If you haven't stayed overnight, you should. Such a cool dynamic.


The anniversary: was fun. But when I was starting the blog the other day, my spouse came in and engaged me in what could commonly be decribed as "an argument". It wasn't, of course. But that's how many would carelessly describe it.
So then I didn't want to type a gooshy blog about our date, or our 10 years.

If you are the type who would refer to "arguing", then you could say we "made up" now. But only if you are that type.

Our original plan was a Hawaiian vacation. Instead, we are moving to a new house.
So, we dropped our kids off at various grandmothers and went to Red Lobster (my special occasion pick every time). I had crab legs, which always kinda makes Richy queasy.

Then he tells me he planned for us to stay a night away, in a hotel! Fun!
So after dinner, we go to the Woodlands Riverwalk and hang out and take pictures and such.

THEN..... the phone rings. Toby ain't havin it. No thank you. Uh-uh.
So we go to my mom's, where Toby is gasping and sputtering and choking and crying. And as soon as I get him, he's laughing and jumping and telling jokes. This kid defines the proverbial ti**y baby. And, honestly, I was delighted to see him... I missed him! LOL.

So off Toby goes to the hotel with us. Richy's plan for me to get 8 hours sleep is also foiled by Toby.
But, hey... I prayed to get these "problems"!
Oh, and the hotel was free... reward points... gotta love that.

It was fun for us, and a nice break from home. Plus Richy gets major brownie points for planning the whole thing.

Except the Toby part...

IF a male speaks up before 10 am CST, we will have guys day. Otherwise, PLBBBBBBBBBTTTTTTT

Richy's cat peed on our bed this morning. And by morning I mean 6 am. &%^^&%
She's on thin ice with me, folks. But he loves her.

Tomorrow night begins our 3 days of prayer.... it's gonna be great. You should just camp out. It will also be the 10th remembrance of plighting my troth.

I am so boring on here lately. But I am tired. So I can't be terribly witty.
Soon and very soon, I will be interesting again.
If you didn't check out clark family pix, you should. Cute stuff there.

New stuff over at http://www.clarkfamilypix.blogspot.com

Nada mucho to say today... Toby is sleeping about 2 hours at night. My brain is fried. Let's pray these teeth IN.

Man, I was packing like Martha Stewart last night. I know I have over 3 weeks to go, but I'm excited! And I have to start taming the chaos around here. So we purchased some 66 Gal totes and I packed maternity clothes, and clothes for Toby to grow in to, and Christmas stuff.... and so on.
I also made an unbelievably huge stack of clothes to get rid of. Man. I should have a garage sale.
But the MOG wouldn't want to unless it would be HIGHLY profitable.... and it might not.

Anybody got the hookup on fence-building? We have to build a pretty monster fence at the new place.
Just everything- very exciting.

This morning is the mom home group at CTK- the first one! And off I go. In a little while, that is. But first, to tend to personal hygiene.

I was remiss yesterday in mentioning the dream.... the MOG, being a mystic, of course dreamed of this house. So here you go.

Aw heck... I have to try to remember it as the MOG is AWOL.

I am skipping way too many details. Will have to find said MOG and get transcript.

In a minute, we will be leaving to drive to 1960 and sign a lease. Exciting stuff.

It's weird because I remember all those years of being 19 and such, and looking about 16. And we would go to apply for jobs, or rent apartments, or buy cars, or be youth pastors at Discovery Camp... and wear super dressy clothes and try our darndest to look legit. LOL, for real. We'd clean up to look maybe 18. Everything we did, we had to convince people we weren't out for a spin in Daddy's car.

We don't have to do that anymore. Curious.

On another note, since we are going to be on 1960, I think we should go by Half-Price Books. Just makes sense. Well, some people don't think so. I ask you, faithful bloggerati, take it to the Lord. Please petition the Lord on my behalf, to speak to "some people" and tell them I need some new books. Thanks.

So here's the BIG news! We are moving!

Yawn.... you say.... I knew that infinity ago.
Well, some people don't hang around Richy, the beans-spiller. So they didn't know. So there.

Of course, there's always a lot involved in a decision like this... we have such a dream place out here in Radiantville, and Juan and Sandy have been such a HUGE blessing.... man, the rewards in heaven for those two. We always tell them, "If we had a million dollars..."
But we have been feeling like God was moving us out, and praying, and one of us has been fasting. :)
So off we went to look for a place. And found this one. We had been looking around all day, and just were getting pretty discouraged with how expensive everything is, for so little square footage.
As soon as we walked in this house, we felt the presence of God. R2 walked in and looked around and said, "This is amazing!" LOL
So we have been praying and working our butts off to get approved. And we did. We sign a year lease Friday and move in September 1st! WOOOHOOOO







It is 1900 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths... 2 living areas and a large dining area... walk in pantry and 1 car garage. Located on 242 east, minutes from everything and especially Montgomery College.
You better believe I'm happy. I'm getting giddy.

(was video of hands playing Hail to The Chief)
Sometimes, there are no words.

So I have been at my mom's for 4 days now... Richy has been preaching in Nebraska.
It's great over here... I get fed, and tucked in.... it has been a vacation for me.
Tonight Richy comes in just in time for the RadRev service, and then we head home. We didn't used to miss each other. Just say goodbye and that's it. I guess we're changing.... now we talk on the phone every day and start missing each other by day 3 or so.
Anyway, I'll be glad to get my MOG back. And if you haven't been to a Tuesday night service... or even if you have... you should come tonight!