7 Quick Takes Friday, vol. 27

~1~

My boys are 4 months old today!!  Here they are, aren't they cute!

Peter and Ethan

~2~

My parents are coming to visit this weekend.  Nanny and Papa haven't seen their grandsons since their baptism in July.  They have grown a lot!  I'm looking forward to the weekend because there will be many more extra hands to help out.

~3~

My next post on the Catholic Sistas blog went up this morning.  You can find it by clicking here.  I hope you'll like it.

~4~

I went by my church yesterday to check out the construction and possibly take some pictures.  No one was in the sanctuary at all, so I was able to walk around and take the pictures I wanted.  I got one of the new tabernacle:

Tabernacle construction on 9/29/2011

I also got a picture looking at the whole sanctuary.  You can't see the tabernacle in this picture because of the wall that currently separates the altar from the construction area.  But there is plastic sheeting all over the place.  You can definitely tell that construction is going on in this picture:

Cathedral of Christ the King, construction 9/29/2011

~5~

Before leaving I drove by the new rectory.  Windows are in and the walls all look like they are up.  No pictures of the rectory since it is at the corner of the church property and I just drove by it.  But I moved my car to the front of the church and got out to check out the Perpetual Adoration Chapel.  As a reminder, here's a picture from the groundbreaking:

Groundbreaking on frozen ground in January with ceremonial dirt brought in.

Now here is the same spot, from a bit further back:

Cathedral of Christ the King, St. Kevin Perpetual Adoration Chapel
9/29/2011

I wish I could show you pictures of the new Baptistry, but I wasn't able to get into that area.  Actually, I didn't really want to attempt to get into where the Baptistry is since there were workers in that area.

~6~

Things at my job are going to be getting tough very soon.  One of my staff members is leaving, she's decided to change career paths.  I'm excited for her because she's excited, and I'm proud of her for making such a big change.  I wish her luck.  I've been down this road before: I'll have to make a case for filling the position, I'll have to fold some of that position's responsibilities into my work, and eventually I'll have to go through the whole advertising the job, reviewing applications, interviewing, and hiring.  Oh, and I'm going to be out of the office for six months beginning in January.  I can already feel the stress building!  But, I've been here before and survived.  We'll survive again.

~7~

Speaking of being out for six months ... I am referring to my sabbatical, which I have previously mentioned in this space.  I need some input from some creative people.  As part of my sabbatical, I want to keep a blog as a way to easily journal the work I'm doing in addition to having a place to link up relevant info or surveys I create or whatever else I think might be good to have a link to.  But I'm stuck on a title/name for the blog.  The project includes: working on a database of all the recital recordings from the university (cleaning it up, mostly), creating records from that database, creating templates for cataloging future recordings, some research on recital program requirements at other Schools of Music, and looking at some digital possibilities.  I want a professional sounding title, probably using Kentucky or University of Kentucky in the title (or subtitle) in some way, but also catchy.  Any creative ideas out there??

Check out more Quick Takes over at Conversion Diary where Jen hosts Quick Takes each week.

A Blog Giveaway

Are you a fan of Catholic Sistas yet???  If not, you need to get over there and start checking it out!

And while you're there check out the first Catholic Sistas giveaway.  A $35 gift certificate to a Catholic Bookstore that can be redeemed online if you don't live in the area where this store is located. 

(And since I live in KY and many of my readers live in KY, you may be interested to know that this particular store is located in Owensboro, KY.  So if you happen to live near Owensboro or have family there, what a great giveaway to enter!  Right??)

Who doesn't like free stuff??  Go on over and enter!!

7 Quick Takes Friday, vol. 26

~1~

I've been sick the past week and very out of the loop.  Luckily, Hubby and Ethan seem to have escaped the sickness.  Peter had a congested cough over the weekend, but no fever and was always in a good mood.  I got a call Monday afternoon from the daycare that he had a low fever.  Despite that, he was still a smiley baby.  Both went back to daycare on Wednesday, by which time I was totally sick.  Still am.  Ugh!

~2~

Due to the sickness in the house this week, I have no new pictures.  But I still laugh at these pictures everytime I see them.  Just way too cute!!

~3~

Being home most of the week and sick, means I've had no energy to do much of anything.  Thus I've been vegging in my recliner watching crap sitcom reruns on TV.  I'm finding it very disturbing how sex and pregnancy is portrayed on TV.  Pregnancy especially.  When did pregnancy become something to be feared and depressed about all. the. time???  I need to go back to watching HGTV and the Food Network.

~4~

My husband showed me this video this week.  If this was popular on Facebook this week and everyone has already seen it, I apologize.  I did mention I've been out of the loop all week.  This is for all the Star Wars fans out there:

So I couldn't figure out how to embed the video here like I have done in the past.  Sorry.  Use this link to go check it out:  http://youtu.be/NtgtMQwr3Ko.  It's very funny!!

~5~

Tuesday we had a well-visit for both boys.  Luckily no one had a fever so both were able to get their shots.  Both boys are growing well.  Peter was 12 pounds, 14 ounces and 23 1/8 inches long.  Ethan was 12 pounds, 12 ounces and 23 inches long.  Pretty identical, wouldn't you say?  I didn't find out what their percentiles were, but found the growth charts in the back of one of the preemie books I had at home.  From what I can tell they are roughly in the 20th-25th percentile for weight and less than 5th percentile for length.  This is for actual age.  My husband was looking at it for their adjusted age (3 months old instead of 4 months old) and they are slightly higher on the chart, but not by a lot.  They really aren't behind by much.

~6~

My next post over at Catholic Sistas is supposed to go up next Friday.  I haven't written anything yet.  I have several ideas that I can't seem to develop into anything worthwhile.  Hopefully something will come together soon.  Like VERY soon.

~7~

It's Friday and it's noon!!  I'm late for a Rosary I'm supposed to be doing ... right. now!  Please pray for a sweet little baby girl who is being born right now with a serious condition of fluid on the brain.  She is facing surgery sometime shortly after her birth and possibly many more procedures.  She comes into a loving family with two wonderful parents, four older sisters and a brother in heaven to pray for her.  Thanks!!

For more quick takes, check out Conversion Diary where Jen hosts Quick Takes each Friday.

Twin Talk at 15 weeks

Peter: Then Mommy takes the bottle ....
Ethan: What are you talking about??

Peter: What?  I tell funny stories!
Ethan: Whatever, dude.

Peter: What's Dad doing?
Ethan: Now, that's funny!!

Check out Friday's Quick Takes post to learn the story behind the bibs the boys are wearing.

7 Quick Takes Friday, vol. 25

~1~

The boys are 15 weeks old now and we're starting to find our groove.  They sleep great!!  I kind of hate telling people that because so many lament how their kids never slept so much at such a young age.  Wish I could tell you what we did, but I honestly have no idea.  Sorry! 

~2~

Speaking of the boys, Peter is now able to get over on his side.  He does not seem anywhere close to actually being able to roll over, but does seem to like lying on his side.  I walked into his bedroom one morning and he was awake and on his side.  I thought he had seen me, but apparently not.  I looked down at him and said something and he suddenly splayed out on his back, all limbs extended as far as they would go.  I couldn't help but laugh.  I know it was at my child's expense, but it really was funny!!

~3~

Our house is officially on the market.  Know anyone moving to Lexington, KY?  Anyone in Lexington looking for a new place?  Let me know!  We'd love to sell our house to you.

~4~

We got something cool in the mail this week!!  A note from one of the School Board members for the Catholic School attached to our church congratulating us on the baptism of our boys.  Included was two letters from some 5th graders at the school also congratulating us on the boys' baptism and welcoming them to the Church.  The letters were very cute.  I had no idea they did this, but I love it!!  Oh, and there was a gift included as well ...

~5~

Peter and Ethan in their new Christ the King School bibs.
How cute!!

~6~

Speaking of Christ the King I had written a post back in January about construction beginning at my church.  Last night I attended a meeting to get an update on how things were going.  I was pleasantly surprised when I got there and discovered that it was less of a meeting and more of a tour.  This was good for two reasons: one, I had both boys with me (no "divide and conquer" that night), so moving around and being able to chat with people along the way was way better than trying to keep them quiet and happy during a meeting; and two, I actually got to see the progress rather than just hear about it.  I also meant to bring my camera, but forgot it in the chaos of trying to get out the door (Hubby had Bible Study at the same time, so it was a crazy evening all around).  Luckily, my good friend and our church organist told me he had been taking pictures and would send me some!  Yay!!

 ~7~

And he did!!  Since the pictures I took for the January post about the beginnings of construction were all of the ground breaking for the Adoration Chapel, for comparison sake here is one of the Chapel under construction:

Photo courtesy of Brian Hunt, Christ the King organist and friend.

Thursday night I actually got to walk into this chapel.  The walls are much higher now, I believe they said they are about ready for the roof to go on, and you can see the shape of the chapel and the spot where Jesus' in the Eucharist will be exposed, plus the new baptistry font is in front of it (not shown).  The chapel is expected to be completed by mid-March.  Still a ways to go, but it's all really coming together and that was obvious when I was there last night.  I could write more, but these are supposed to be "quick" takes, so I'll save it for another time ... when I have more pictures too.

Check out Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes.

Alert: Catholic Sistas has moved!!

If you haven't been following the Catholic Sistas Blog [and I'm sure that is no one here, right???] then you may have missed the announcement that it moved to a new web address.  Don't miss anything, change your RSS or blog reader links to the new address: www.catholicsistas.com.

Did you notice how much easier the address is??  We kind of figured we would eventually go this direction, just didn't expect it within the first couple weeks.  But hey, the Holy Spirit leads and we follow!!

I will be going through my posts and sidebar shortly (if I haven't already by the time this post publishes) to redirect all links to the new blog. 

Also, I have a request.  If you have been following Catholic Sistas and enjoying it, we would love to hear your feedback.  Check out the page under "Accollare" (on the left side of the page) for the Readers' Scoop: http://www.catholicsistas.com/2011/09/09/what-readers-are-saying/.  Have a comment to add?  There is a place there to add comments, or let me know either here or in a private email (see sidebar, About Me) and I will share it with our fearless leader.  If you share something with me, you're also giving me permission to use your words.  We won't publish your last name, just first and last initial, or even just first if you prefer.  Really, we'll put you up however you want.  If you want to brag about the Catholic Sistas in a blog post of your own, please share the link with me and we'll be happy to add the link to your post under that same "Accollare" menu.  Just let me know!!

Don't forget to change your RSS links and bookmarks to the new and improved Catholic Sistas blog.  Go check it out!!

Parenting after Pregnancy Loss: Initial Thoughts

I've written about miscarriage and pregnancy loss quite a bit on this blog.  Because it is such a part of my life now, it will always be on my heart and thus something I will still write about.

But now my life is in a different place, a new place, and I'm still working out my thoughts on it.  I think I'll be working out these thoughts for a very long time, so I have a lot of fodder for blog posts.  As a result, this post is probably the first of several.

It is estimated that about 25% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage.  I'd venture to guess that this is a low estimate, especially when you consider how the pill works in addition to the possibility of very early miscarriages that often go undetected (we even wonder if we had one of those once, but we'll never know for sure).  So miscarriage, and pregnancy loss overall, is much more common than most people realize. 

And yet, with all the people who have been through the pain of miscarriage, everyone has different experiences.  Everyone's experiences before they became a member of the Miscarriage Club are different and shaped how they were able to deal with their loss.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I have dealt with my losses in a variety of ways.  Writing here has been one of my ways to get my thoughts and emotions out.  I also felt better being open about my losses and sharing my story whenever and wherever I can.  This is not for everyone, I know this.  But if my story can help someone else, then I will continue telling it.

Now I find myself in a new place: the mom of two sweet boys.  I'm loving my cutie pies both during the fun times and the fussy times.  I'm loving that after so long I am finally getting the chance to be a mom.  My heart melts with each little smile and bursts with pride with those rare little laughs. 

Mixed in with all these wonderful emotions is still some sadness as I wonder what each of my other children would have been like.  And so many more questions, too.  Would I have these two sweet boys if we had Zachary?  Do I appreciate my babies more because of what we went through?  But then ... more than what?  And what about future children?  How long do we wait?  What if we wait too long and we experience loss again?  How will a possible future loss feel different now that I have living children?  Or will it?

These are just some of my initial thoughts and questions on this topic of "Parenting after Pregnancy Loss."  It will be interesting to explore more of my thoughts on this topic and I look forward to hearing your comments too, especially from those who have been there themselves. 

I think the first idea I want to write about will be on "appreciation."  Stay tuned to find out what I mean by this.  I hope you'll stick around as I explore these various thoughts and feelings.

Divide and Conquer

I don't know why it took us this long to figure this one out, but we finally did this weekend.  We are in the process of putting our house on the market.  Have been for a while, but we are finally at the point where we must get things put away, the house cleaned, and the papers finally signed ... hopefully this week!!

All of the above is difficult to do with two three-month olds.  It would be hard, I'm sure, with one let alone two.

Hubby and I both had errands to run this weekend.  We finally decided on the divide and conquer method.

Saturday he took Ethan with him and went to the credit union, stopped in at his office to pick something up, went to Lowes, and finally Kroger before heading home.  While they were gone I was able to shower and get ready and then start the process of putting away all our pictures and other personal items.  It was so much easier to do all that with just one baby.

Saturday night Hubby took the boys for a walk and gave me an hour to get more stuff done.  It's amazing what you can accomplish in one hour: two loads of laundry folded, a third one started and a fourth waiting to go, the bedroom completely cleared of all personal things, dusted, and vaccumed, and the living room decluttered some as well.

I felt so accomplished!!

Today after church and breakfast, we did it again.  I took Peter with me to run more errands while Hubby and Ethan went around the house taking down pictures, hanging different ones in their place, and repurposing others.  Again, so much easier to do all those things with one small child!

We need to divide and conquer more often.  I would find it much easier to run into the grocery store with one baby than with two.  I know it'll get easier as they get older, but right now those infant car seat carriers are heavy!!

Divide and conquer it is!!  At least when it is possible.  Hubby can't take one of the boys with him to Bible Study, so I'm on my own then. 

But that's okay, I get some time away too and Hubby gets to be in charge then!

New Vacation Day Concept

Tuesday I took a "vacation" day from work.  Ha!!  It was a totally exhausting day.
I had made an appointment to have the boys pictures taken that morning.  The appointment was at 9:00am.  For some reason, 9am on a "vacation" day didn't seem as early as it usually feels on a regular work day.  That is until I woke up at 7:15am and realized that I needed to leave at 8:30 in order to make it while also showering, dressing, changing the babies, restocking the diaper bag (because we had been out most of Monday), and feeding all of us.  Amazingly it all got done, with the exception of feeding myself, and we were pulling out of the driveway at 8:40.

Phew!

And I made it on time, pulling up to the studio at exactly 9am.  Again ... phew!

Pictures went well.  And I had help.  Oh thank goodness for that!!  What a wonderful friend I had to come spend the morning with me.  She helped me change the boys, hold them, switch them out ... everything.  I couldn't have juggled it all on my own, so I was extremely grateful to have her there.

And when we were done, she offered to stay at the studio with them while I ran across the street on a quick errand.  Truly amazing friend!!  And thankfully the boys had fallen asleep by then.  It was an exhausting morning for them as well.

The pictures were done when I returned.  We then packed everyone and everything back into my car and my wonderful friend met me over at another store so I could run my last errand.  She pushed the stroller through the store so I could pick up what I needed.  I know having help in the store made that trip take half the time than it would have otherwise.

Peter had had enough by the time we were checking out.  I don't blame him, I was hungry too.  Everyone and everything back in the car and I took the interstate to get back home as quickly as possible.

It amazes me how much longer it takes to do things now.  I do plan for it, of course, and I just laugh at it all. 

Home by noon, boys changed and fed, and I finally got to sit down by 1:00pm and eat for the first time.  Just in time for the next thing on the agenda ...

an interview for our local Catholic paper.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from that.  I was being interviewed by someone I know.  She had taken the newborn pictures of the boys as well as pictures at their Baptism.  In talking to one of the deacons in the area who works with the Paper about Peter and Ethan's Baptism, they started thinking about how my story would be a nice one to write up.  So I agreed.

I wasn't quite sure of the angle, but with the March for Life coming up in January and October being a Pro-Life month, they are looking to do a bunch of pro-life stories.  So this fits in well.

As for the interview itself: she was here at the house for about two and a half hours!!  But we had a good time.  We sat on the floor to talk so I could easily attend to the boys while we chatted.  I basically went through everything from our first miscarriage through the birth of Peter and Ethan.  She asked some questions along the way and then had several questions at the end.  She has a few questions for Hubby and then she'll be able to write something up.

By the time the interview ended it was after 5pm and I was amazed at how fast the day had gone by.  I was exhausted ... to say the least.  More exhausted than days when I have to get us all ready for daycare and work in the morning, go to work all day, and then have my hands full all evening as well.  Those days seem like the easy days now.

The vacation days, on the other hand ... well, those are now a bit more exhausting!!  Haha!!

Yep, definitely a new concept to the "vacation" day.  ::smile::  Even so, I really did enjoy every bit of it!

7 Quick Takes Friday, vol. 24

~1~

My boys are three months old now!!  They are growing up so fast!  ::sniff sniff::  They smile a lot more now, which has been fun.  It still takes some work on our part to make it happen, but the reward is finally there!  So cute!!

What do you remember from when your child(ren) were this age?  Or were you too sleep deprived to remember anything?

~2~



We are starting to see a routine with the boys. We now feed them 6 bottles a day (occasionally 5) and they sleep a good length of time at night. Those first several weeks you just have no idea how many bottles they take a day. At least I don't, not with two of them. It was all written down, but nothing was consistant. Now, however, I can predict things. Oh what a difference that makes!! First bottle is somewhere between 5 and 6 am (give or take an hour or two), last bottle is around 10pm (give or take an hour), and they sleep well in between. I'm simply feeling lucky right now!

Don't tell me that this will change. Just don't, let me live in a fantasy world for just a tad bit longer.

~3~

During my pregnancy I know I mentioned a desire to use cloth diapers. It is still very much on my mind, but we're unable to completely convert to it. The daycare won't use them, so I'm left with just weekends. I thought about evenings and nights during the week, but that wouldn't produce enough dirties to bother with a wash every couple days; there is no way I'm leaving dirty diapers sitting in the diaper pail for a week before I can wash them. So for the moment, it's just weekends. Then we had some issues with leaks and I decided I really didn't like the flushable liners I was using (the possible culprit of the leaks). So I bought a diaper sprayer [Yay!!] and Hubby hooked it up this week. Now my plan is to use cloth fully this coming weekend! It's actually a four day weekend for me and the boys (I'm taking a vacation day next Tuesday) so we should get plenty of use out of my fluff and see just how many more diapers I need to truly make it work for several days at a time. I'm hoping that by December, when I start being home full time, we'll know what we're doing and we'll be able to forgo sposies completely for the next 6 months. 

For the most part, we're using one-size, pockets (seem to be the easiest things for us with working and busy schedules).  I'm completely open to hearing tips, stories, and recommendations as well as words of encouragement for Hubby who is still doubting the wisdom of this endeavor. Leave comments below ... please!

~4~

I had professional head shots done this week.  They were taken for an upcoming promotion and tenure celebration but I'll also get the digital copies to use however I want.  So you know, if I ever, like ... publish a book or something, I'll have a nice picture for the back cover.  Ha!!  Maybe I'll just use it for my profile picture on this blog.

Have you ever had professional head shots done?  If so, what for?

~5~



Promotion and tenure celebration??  Oh, did I forget to mention ... yes, I was promoted this year.  Went into effect on July 1.  Yes, I know, I wasn't even at work then, hadn't been there in several months.  So how did I manage that?  Well, as a faculty member the promotion process starts very early.  I started putting together my file and contacting potential outside references (colleagues from other institutions) in May/June of 2010.  The process takes about a year.  I found out around March or April that my case had been approved at all levels except the Board of Trustees.  So I've known since then, but it wasn't really official until the B of T met in May.  Let's just say that I've been a little busy since it was made official in May.  ::smile::

Any guesses on why I was so busy?  [You can just taste the sarcasm, can't you.]

~6~

Have you been following the Catholic Sistas blog??  I am so impressed day after day with the amazing posts my sista friends are writing!!  If you haven't been there yet, please go check it out, "like" us on Facebook, add us to your blog reader or RSS feed, and if you have a blog grab the "Friends of the Sistas" image from the blog and add is as a linked image on your blog (and we thank you for the free advertising!).  [And my first post went up this week, too.]

Is there anything you'd like to see this blog do?  Maybe something you wish was on the internet for Catholic women but haven't been able to find anywhere else?  We're still new enough that we're throwing around a lot of ideas.

~7~

I signed myself up for a date for my next post over at the Catholic Sistas blog.  I chose the feast day of St. Jerome.  It was completely unintentional, I was looking at the end of September and saw his feast day listed and thought, "what the heck."  He's the patron saint of my profession.  So now I'm contemplating writing something about work and still putting a Catholic spin on it.  It just may take me a month to figure that one out. 

Any ideas?

For more Quick Takes head on over to Jen's blog!