A Jumble of Thoughts

I have a lot going on in my head right now...almost like facebook statuses, but more detailed.  Here they are in no particular order...

I decided last Saturday that, come Monday morning, we'd be having a TV free week in our house, (and in the car).  I was extremely hesitant to jump into it--some days it's my sanity.  But I am SO glad we've done it!  I anticipated that Monday would be the hardest day with the most withdrawl.  But it wasn't.  Tuesday, Clayton begged all day for a movie.  Wednesday wasn't bad, but we were gone most of the morning, so it was hard to miss it.  Today, Clayton did ask a few times to watch a show, but was mollified by distractions like reading or playing "chickies" with his sister.  Just before dinner, he turned on the office TV and happened to see a snippet of his favorite show.  (How this didn't happen earlier in the week, I don't know...)  Ryan walked in the door at just the right time and the budding tantrum ceased.  I have to say, if all non-TV weeks were like this one, I don't think I would ever turn it on again.  My kids have been better behaved, happier to help, more prompt in taking care of their responsibilites, read more books, and been kinder to each other.  That last part may be due to the fact that if they're not nice, they are bored and have no one to play with.  I've loved watching their creativity blossom as they come up with new and different things to do each day.

I've been trying out a lot of new recipes this week.  I will admit--I'm a pretty good cook and it's something I really enjoy.  This time, however, I'm trying new things as a result of a malfunctioning gallbladder.  I have voluntarily changed my diet to avoid any further issues.  And, it has been a lot of fun.  Some days, it seems my kitchen is a stage for a comedy of errors.  That's what happens when you're trying new things, (and when you thought you bought a certain ingredient, but you didn't).  But, overall things have turned out pretty well.  I'm enjoying the challenge of cooking high-fiber, very low-fat, low-sugar foods while avoiding dairy and tomato-y sauces.  (For some reason, cooked tomato acid is killer, while citrus or vinegar acid (so far) is fine.)  I feel like I'm succeeding and helping myself and my family enjoy eating in a healthier way.

Life seems to have slowed down a little since the holidays ended.  (I should do my next post on "What I Did Over Christmas Vacation...)  I'm glad it has.  I've had time to be HOME.  And, I've been able to make progress on a few personal goals that I've had since...well, since I got pregnant.  I can't tell you what a difference it's making for me.  It just feels so good to feel better about myself and more in control of my life again.  It has nothing to do with resolutions--it's just time to finally make progress in my personal life again. 

Along these lines, I've had to be a little more disciplined in my YW lesson prep now that we have early meetings.  I used to read the lesson sometime during the week before, then put it together on Sunday.  But now, I'm kind of forced to get it done sooner.  In fact, today, I was able to get it all ready while the kids were napping.  (Except the handouts...)  It's nice to know that all I need to do is review it before Sunday and put together handouts in the next couple of days--instead of feeling that pressure to get it all done that morning.

Speaking of napping, Clayton has been horrible about settling down for his naps this week.  He's not giving up naptime, (because he's gone to sleep every day)--he just hasn't been settling down like he normally does.  Today, he was hitting, squirming, etc. and I finally said, "Do you want bed or rock-a-bye?"  He selected bed...and upon being placed there, proceeded to throw the biggest tantrum I have ever heard him throw.  Maybe he's reached a new cognitive level?  Maybe he's readjusting to our daily routine (reference the forth-coming Christmas post...)?  Maybe it's because it was a full moon?  I have no idea.  I went in a few minutes later, after he had calmed down a little, and offered to rock and sing again.  This time, when I asked him to be still and quiet, he decided to listen.  (Whew!)  It took twice the normal amount of lullaby time for him to really settle down, but I was happy to return to some sense of naptime normalcy.

I have a few other things on my mind, but I think they deserve posts of their own.  So, maybe I'll actually get in a few more tonight.  For now, it's bedtime--and it sounds like my kids are REALLY ready for it.