Our family has had an unexpected change in plans for the next month. Steve's Mom is transitioning from independent living (in a senior community) to either a nursing home or possibly an assisted living facility. Most likely it will be a nursing home, because her Alzheimer's is continuing to grow worse and she is not accepting her need for either facility. She believes she can continue to care for herself, and that she's just going to pack up and move across the state. Except, she doesn't have the ability to plan a move (we took care of details of her last move 1.5 years ago), and hasn't driven or had her car since September. Of course, that's another source of contention, as she believes she is perfectly capable of still driving. Sigh.
So this week, we have calls and visits to make to find the right place for her. Steve will be meeting with doctors to find out if they even think assisted living is an option. We'll be talking to nursing homes and having them go assess her at the hospital. Then on Saturday and Sunday, we'll have to move her belongings into her new place, so when she's transferred sometime next week it's all ready for her. But that won't be the end, because then we will have to sort and empty her duplex, while wrapping up our school year. Steve's sister will be here Mother's Day weekend to help with the project again. (She was here this weekend.) Not the most fun way to spend Mother's Day for Kristi or myself ... but it needs to be done. Steve has requested time off for our Anniversary, but we'll probably be spending it working on his Mom's stuff. That's fine. I totally understand, and it's only one month.
June will be calmer ... but then the church camps and family vacations will start. End of June/early July is boom, boom, boom ... one thing after another. Then we have County Fair and 4H projects to wrap up in late July. That will be hectic and exhausting. It always is. Maybe August will be calmer. Except, I'll be planning our new school year and probably starting school mid-August. Which means, we really aren't going to get any less busy any time soon. I'll just have to enjoy the peaceful moments in between the hectic times, even if it's just a day or two at a time.
With all that going on, I'm not sure how often I'll be able to blog this month, or this summer. (I do have several posts written already for this week.) I'll try to post short little updates whenever I can. Maybe the kids will be extra funny, and I can post their funny moments. I can hope, right?
Just taking it one day at a time,
April E.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Four Weeks of Walk Kansas
We're actually 4.5 weeks into our 8 week Walk Kansas project. We've walked from Eastern Kansas, as far as Colby, KS ... if you convert every 15 minutes of exercise to 1 mile. Last week our family team had the most minutes we've ever had, though I personally didn't beat my first week's 3 hours. I am getting 2.5 hours of exercise every week, but it's hard for me to balance my exercise time with family needs, and making sure their exercise time is protected from little ones underfoot.
It's the midway point where we re-evaluate our goals and our plans. The only change I made was to try to get my exercise in 5 days a week or more, rather than only hitting 3 or 4 days of the week. I do need to eat more fruits and veggies at breakfast and lunch. I'm getting a lot of vegetables at supper, but not earlier in the day.
Some of us set weight loss goals for our Walk Kansas plan. Steve is just a few pounds away from hitting his, and I know he will. I've lost another 5 lbs since starting Walk Kansas, bringing me down from 175 in January to 160 today. I'm happy to have lost 15 lbs, but I had to add another hole to my belt last week and my summer clothes I was looking forward to wearing are on the baggy side. I guess I can live with that.
My main goal, though, was to model a more active lifestyle for our kids, and we're doing that. My 6 year old daughter keeps telling us how good it is to be active and exercising. Each of my children is learning to look at their own life and notice when they are being sedentary. They are moving more, getting outside more, and they've regained an interest in talking about healthy food choices.
That is why we joined Walk Kansas. I don't want it to end in 4 weeks, though. I want it to be a lifestyle change.
April E.
It's the midway point where we re-evaluate our goals and our plans. The only change I made was to try to get my exercise in 5 days a week or more, rather than only hitting 3 or 4 days of the week. I do need to eat more fruits and veggies at breakfast and lunch. I'm getting a lot of vegetables at supper, but not earlier in the day.
Some of us set weight loss goals for our Walk Kansas plan. Steve is just a few pounds away from hitting his, and I know he will. I've lost another 5 lbs since starting Walk Kansas, bringing me down from 175 in January to 160 today. I'm happy to have lost 15 lbs, but I had to add another hole to my belt last week and my summer clothes I was looking forward to wearing are on the baggy side. I guess I can live with that.
My main goal, though, was to model a more active lifestyle for our kids, and we're doing that. My 6 year old daughter keeps telling us how good it is to be active and exercising. Each of my children is learning to look at their own life and notice when they are being sedentary. They are moving more, getting outside more, and they've regained an interest in talking about healthy food choices.
That is why we joined Walk Kansas. I don't want it to end in 4 weeks, though. I want it to be a lifestyle change.
April E.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Sometimes ...
Sometimes being a Mom means accepting a lovely bouquet of stinky wildflowers (sometimes known as weeds) and putting them in a vase in your kitchen.
Sometimes being a Mom means getting snotty kisses from a one year old.
Sometimes being a Mom means listening to your child pour out their heart, instead of asking them to go do their dishes.
Sometimes being a Mom means washing the dishes for all your kids because their weekend was busier than yours.
Sometimes being a Mom means falling asleep with a 3 year old on your chest in the living room after your husband has gone to bed, because the 3 year old needs help falling asleep.
Sometimes being a Mom means waking up with a toddler foot in your face.
Sometimes being a Mom means getting showered with hugs and kisses.
Sometimes being a Mom means one of your children gives up some of their chocolate, just because they know you like chocolate.
Sometimes being a Mom means not being heard at all.
Sometimes being a Mom means your words are the most important thing to your child's heart, even if they won't admit it.
Sometimes being a Mom means pushing through with Easter devotions, even though it feels like no one is listening and you're on the verge of totally losing your temper.
Sometimes being a Mom means you're the best cook in the world.
Sometimes being a Mom means you never cook anything good anymore.
Sometimes being a Mom is hard, or messy, but it's always worth it.
April E.
Sometimes being a Mom means getting snotty kisses from a one year old.
Sometimes being a Mom means listening to your child pour out their heart, instead of asking them to go do their dishes.
Sometimes being a Mom means washing the dishes for all your kids because their weekend was busier than yours.
Sometimes being a Mom means falling asleep with a 3 year old on your chest in the living room after your husband has gone to bed, because the 3 year old needs help falling asleep.
Sometimes being a Mom means waking up with a toddler foot in your face.
Sometimes being a Mom means getting showered with hugs and kisses.
Sometimes being a Mom means one of your children gives up some of their chocolate, just because they know you like chocolate.
Sometimes being a Mom means not being heard at all.
Sometimes being a Mom means your words are the most important thing to your child's heart, even if they won't admit it.
Sometimes being a Mom means pushing through with Easter devotions, even though it feels like no one is listening and you're on the verge of totally losing your temper.
Sometimes being a Mom means you're the best cook in the world.
Sometimes being a Mom means you never cook anything good anymore.
Sometimes being a Mom is hard, or messy, but it's always worth it.
April E.