Random Thoughts

Can't think of the last time I watched a show.  I mean really watched a show without multi-tasking.  Or better yet....in real time!  Before DVR for sure.  By the time DVR came around we easily had 3 kids and had to just miss the shows totally.  Do not have time for tv!!!

Why do people immediately judge people in terribly hard positions without any regard?  I mean I know it's human nature, but it's so unkind.  I mean, why do we have to judge someone when something terrible is going on in their family, like a loved one is dying, injured, etc?  Why can't we have compassion and put ourselves in their place instead?

I know I thought I was so smart when I was younger.  I couldn't even begin to imagine that things were really going to get much busier, like the older more mature women kept telling me, as my kids aged.  Yep....got a TON busier.  So glad our kids are spaced a bit so you can catch your breath.  But, sometimes when I watch others add to their families so quickly, all I can think is; how are you going to feel about that when they all are in school and have loads of homework at night, all at the same time.  There are definitely some pluses to having them spaced just a little.

And, some of this just comes from watching others on adoption boards I belong to, over many, many years.  But, why do they complain about not being able to pay their bills; medical, credit card, etc. and then jump right back into adoptions.  I understand the premise of 'I'd rather have my child than the money', but that doesn't 'seem' even remotely responsible to me.  I mean you never can accidentally adopt, so it's a very thought out decision...or should be.  So, if that's the road you choose, please do not complain about not being able to pay your bills that SHOULD be paid unless your circumstances changed after the child was home.  I honestly, would adopt another.  I would probably continue our discussions to have another, if it weren't for my realistic worries.  Can we afford it in the first place?  What if it makes it so we can't pay other bills?  Should we expect anyone else to bail us out?  I don't feel that's right at all....in any way.  Just saying.

And one thing I can't stand is watching people with kids quit their jobs to stay home; disregarding lack of insurance and ability to pay any bills.  I completely understand those that have children with disabilities that crop up.  Finding care for those children while working would be near impossible.  Especially reliable, loving care.  Medical care is so scary for a child.  I completely understand the want to be with your kids.  You're talking to the girl who wanted it for ever 10 years before getting to go part time (even though temporary).  But, sometimes you just can't have what you want.  I've seen people quit their job to stay home, purely because they wanted to be a stay at home mommy and then put their kids on assistance.  Nothing, absolutely nothing burns me more!!!!!

Those are my random thoughts that sometimes pervade my mind as I drive alone to work in the morning or on the way home....or worse....during work.  :)

새해복많이비드세요

Hope everyone has a wonderful Year of the Rabbit.

We had a wonderful celebration with friends this past weekend.  Forgot the kids' hanboks....AGAIN....but still a great time.

 

Chelsi and her 'husband' C

The good and the bad of a slightly larger family.

Okay, so we're nowhere near Duggar's super size, but I wouldn't want that.  No matter how much I love kids I cannot imagine feeling like I get to give them the time they deserve.  Working or not.  But, we are still, in fact, larger than your average family.  So, sometimes I think about these things as other people discuss family size.

Let's get through the 'bad'.

-Much harder to get a hotel room without separating your family or paying through the nose for a large suite.  Most hotels will allow you to squeeze in 5 or so, but not so much on 7.
-We're on the line with vehicles.  One more and we either have to trade to get an 8 passenger van or get one of those big vans.  I'm definitely not driving one of those 15 passenger things and can't afford a trade right now on my van for an 8 passenger.  Not to mention, it's hard to have carseats set up in an 8 because you still have to be able to get through to the back row.  And I'm WAY too cheap to drive a suburban.
-There's only one empty chair left at the table and it's not really an empty chair since we bought two more chairs when we found out about little man.  You have to straddle a leg, which little man or someone will be doing after he gets out of his booster.  What the heck are we going to do when we get inlawed and grandkids?
-It's really hard to afford vacations.  While others talk about their multiple trips to Disney, per year, we find other avenues every few years.  And you have to get CREATIVE.
-Food is getting WAY expensive.  And since we both work (me part time at the moment) we don't have much time for a good garden, so no great ways to save money other than old fashioned being careful.
-Diapers for 14 years!!!!!!!
-People still say 'are you done yet?' and if you actually think about another one (one day) you feel bad because you know people are going to treat you like you're crazy.  We got that with #5....not that we plan on a 6th, trust me.

And now for the 'good'.
-Vacations are even more fun with kid at various ages and expectations.  No matter where they are or how simple they are.
-Imagine the family table and tv trays and people standing at the counter to eat in just 15-20 more years when we have 5 more kids and grandkids.  It will be loud and bustling and cool!
-There's always someone around, so you never ever get lonely.  Boredom is another issue with any kid.
-We are reminded more than most other people how amazing God is and how blessed we are!
-Look how many do overs we've had.
-After you teach them to cook and clean, it's really not that bad....though they don't seem to do these things on par with my OCD expectations, so I do redo.  Bad habit, I know.
-All the things, we as parents, are exposed to due to 5 very different personalities and interests.  I learn new things all the time with new activities. 
-There's a hug and a kiss somewhere.  You can always find someone willing.

I won't go and say others who have smaller families don't know the true blessings in life, because each decision to his/her own.  I will say we have realized money isn't everything and we're thrilled to have spent so much having and raising kids.  Of course, there is a fine line on that issue too.  Next post.

Wet Nights

And I'm not talking about the blizzard. 

Last night was as bad as night #1.  She got up twice with it going off, but by the time she gets up she's done.  Her pull up is soaked.  Again, use a pull up over the underwear if you don't want added mess and frustration.

I'm going to hold out.  I'm going to continue.  I'm going to give this thing the full chance.  Repeat.

Lisa

Day or should I say Night #4

She was dry.  It's probably been close to a year since she's had a month where she's been dry two times.  Let alone two times in a week.  No alarm going off means more sleep for me.  YAY!

Lisa

Cheers, giggles and smiles

I've had a couple of these pictures locked on my camera for a couple of weeks.  Jaemin found Chelsi's pom poms from the fall football games and he was cheering.  And you can see what she would rather do.....duh duh duh duh....dress up as a princess.  SHOCKER!

Jaemin had the giggles today.  Everytime I said anything he laughed.  I noticed he's been doing this a lot lately.  So, am I funny or funny looking?

All they wanna do is potty all the time

It's only been a couple of days and I feel like potty talk all the time!

Chelsi is 5 1/2, but does not ever stay dry at night, so after the doctors all agreed that other than duplicated ureters she has no birth defects and nothing that should cause incontinence issues.  So, it means it's just her.  They all recommended an enuresis alarm since she's nearing 6.  We were waiting for my new cafeteria plan year and the time has finally come.  So we've ordered the alarm and received it this week!

I have Chelsi sleeping on a mat next to my bed so that I can make sure she wakes up when the alarm goes off.  That sucker is so load it scares the crap out of me a lot of the nights.  It's only been 3 nights though.  The first night was aweful!  She had be woken up and it took a long time to get her to her feet.  Lesson learned.  She needs a pullup over her underwear to keep her from peeing on the mat, or worse yet missing and hitting my floor.  She peed twice that night.  The second night she slept through and was dry.  This generally happens one time per month....on a good month.  The 3rd night, last night she only had it go off once and it was almost 6 am.  She hopped up before I was really awake.  Of course, I still have Jaemin in my bed too.  So, about that time or maybe a little later, he was laughing in my ear.  Apparently, he was having a really happy dream because he was giggling his butt off!

Thursday I decided to try to potty train Jaemin.  It was not successful, but it must have put a bug in his ear.  He ran around naked and peed on the potty a couple of times and stayed mostly dry even when his diaper was on.  We had to put it on Thursday night because I had to go with Chelsi to play rehearsal and he won't go for Brian.  Friday we had places to go and our appliances were in and we needed to install, so he wore his diaper again.  But, he asked to go while we had company last night.  He remembered that I had bought a brand new box of fruit snacks and I, smartly, put them right at his height in the bathroom cabinet.  He grabbed a snack and told me he needed to pee.  He squeezed out a couple of drops and got his snack.  Brian things he just knows how to work the system, and he does, but I told him to let it go.  It might be enough incentive if we're lucky!

This morning as soon as he opened his eyes Jaemin looked at me and said he needed to poo.  So I took him in the bathroom, he grabbed his snack and peed....a lot!  He ate his snack and then, apparently, when he took his wrapper to the trash in the kitchen he peed on the floor in front of the trashcan.  I don't know how he peed that much in that short of time.  1/2 hour later, he always poops after breakfast, he said he needed to poop.  So Cole took him poop.  He actually went.  For the first time ever.  Cole gave him his snack.  Then, he pooped in his diaper 10 minutes later.  Hopefully, that's just a minor miscommunication with his body and he's still figuring it out.

My dream.  Oh my dream is to have Chelsi and Jaemin both potty trained at the same time.  It would be fine, if it had to be that way, to only have 1 (Jaemin) in nightly pullups.  But, oh to get them both out of diapers and pullups!!  14 years of diapers next month is what we've been doing.!