Allergy season has struck again for me (and many others)! The pollen was in full force this morning as I hopped into my car and saw the haze of "yellow sneeze dust" as I call it. The pollen has been in the air for some days before, but this was the first attack that I have personally seen this year. Matt got home from work and decided to mow the front yard. And me, being the good wife that I am , I sat outside and swept the sidewalk and watched him. Well, it wasn't 15 minutes after when we entered the house that my eyes were swollen and watery and my nose was dripping/stuffy at the same time. I had sneeze after sneeze after sneeze come on. I started a full blown allergy attack, which wasn't in my plans for the weekend. I was worried, and I still am a little, because 2 years ago I had a bad allergic reaction to pollen. I know, I know, no human likes to breathe in pollen and it makes us all sneeze and such, but I looked like Hitch (if you have seen that movie). Matt took pictures... really he did and I think I smacked him for them.
I had asthma growing up so I thought that I was having an asthma attack when it first started. I couldn't breathe (from my lungs, not my nose) very well and I was having tight chest pains, which is how it always started when I was having an asthma attack. I had an emergency inhaler from a bad cold I had and I used that. I slowly started to breathe again. Although I did breathe again I was starting to itch all over. I went into our bathroom and looked in the mirror, I was red everywhere, which was a rash. I told Matt we needed to go to the ER quickly and we did, much to his chagrin.
We got there and they asked me what the problem was, which I am sure was just because of formality since we all knew by looking at me what was wrong. At this time it was just itchiness and a rash. They told me if it started to get worse before they called me to come back up and tell them. 30 minutes later I stood up by the front desk and I think that I probably scared them because they came right around and got an IV in my arm. My face was swollen; my eyes, my nose, my lips and my cheeks were ballooned and actually a little numb. They did test on me and the only conclusion was that it was pollen, oh yeah, and that the inhaler saved my life because that pain I was feeling was me starting to go into shock from the allergic reaction. Scary. Thing. To Hear. They didn't let me get an epi pen though, they said I needed to experience that little joy twice before I could "earn" one!
So, as my long story showed, I am nervous for pollen season because I literally don't want to die because of pollen. Don't get me wrong, I know that God is in charge and when it is my time I am ready to go, even if it was because of pollen. Seriously though, I can't even breath this time of the year without an allergic reaction to it.
I love to look at the trees, I love honey, I love flowers, I don't mind bees, but I don't care for pollen!
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Maybe I should embrace pollen like I do other things that are exactly likable. I will have to remember this verse when I am hating on pollen and wishing I was back in Missouri where I did sneeze, but nothing compared to the NC haze (which I will have to wait until it gets worse and post a picture).
04 April 2014
03 April 2014
Stay at home mom when the kids are fully grown?
I have been a stay at home mom since 2008. The summer after we got married and found out that we were pregnant with Levi is when we both decided that I would quit my job and be a stay at home mom. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was one that has worked out. I do miss working at times, but I don't think that I would have traded this time for anything.
This coming fall Levi will be starting kindergarten and Bruce will be in the fourth grade. I always said that once both of the boys were in school I would go back to work. Matt has always said that I should stay at home even after they are both in school so I could be around to volunteer and help out and always be here if they need me. Pretty soon I will have some choices to make... or maybe not.
I have different things I could do. I could continue to stay home and just sit around (yeah right, if you know me you know I couldn't do that for more than 2 hours). I could finally start taking some online classes and continue to volunteer and keep the house clean and maybe become more ambitious in my cooking. I could get a job and just figure out what to do if the boys have the day off of school. I could do so many things and as of right now I am not sure what I am going to do.
I have always had a knack for some things and it has always been difficult for me to choose one! I love to take pictures and I have done that since fifth grade, but I do it more for fun than anything. I have always enjoyed writing and have published a few poems, but where do I start? I also always said that I would never want to teach, but I have been feeling more and more compelled to do that lately. So many choices. I am in no hurry to rush any decisions though, which makes me sound like I don't care maybe, but I do care and I want to take my time.
The Bible verse that I am thinking about today really helps me when I am not sure what to do or where to go.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
This coming fall Levi will be starting kindergarten and Bruce will be in the fourth grade. I always said that once both of the boys were in school I would go back to work. Matt has always said that I should stay at home even after they are both in school so I could be around to volunteer and help out and always be here if they need me. Pretty soon I will have some choices to make... or maybe not.
I have different things I could do. I could continue to stay home and just sit around (yeah right, if you know me you know I couldn't do that for more than 2 hours). I could finally start taking some online classes and continue to volunteer and keep the house clean and maybe become more ambitious in my cooking. I could get a job and just figure out what to do if the boys have the day off of school. I could do so many things and as of right now I am not sure what I am going to do.
I have always had a knack for some things and it has always been difficult for me to choose one! I love to take pictures and I have done that since fifth grade, but I do it more for fun than anything. I have always enjoyed writing and have published a few poems, but where do I start? I also always said that I would never want to teach, but I have been feeling more and more compelled to do that lately. So many choices. I am in no hurry to rush any decisions though, which makes me sound like I don't care maybe, but I do care and I want to take my time.
The Bible verse that I am thinking about today really helps me when I am not sure what to do or where to go.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
02 April 2014
Children are a blessing, even when they don't seem to be!
There are certain times in our children's lives that have specific names. Infant, toddler, terrible two's, pre-teen/tween, teenager, etc... They all mean something and most of us know what that is. When I hear infant I think of a new baby, one who eats and sleeps and needs a new diaper change very often! When I hear terrible two's I think to myself to just wait until the 3's hit (a little joke... maybe)! However, for me at least, there are other stages that no one tells us about. Then again, maybe it is just my oldest son who is going through this right now and he is the first and only, but I doubt that.
I remember that when I was a teenage girl I had an attitude for no reason sometime and I also remember getting irritated at just about everyone older than me. Big difference between Bruce and me is that he is a boy and he is only 9! Oh yeah, and he also only has an attitude with me. It is always hard as a parent at different times and for different reasons.
Just this morning I woke Bruce up and he slowly crawled out of bed and down his bunk stairs and then he finally made his way into the kitchen and sat down at the bar. I looked at him and asked him what he thought he was doing and his reply was, "I think you should just get me my breakfast". That sounds pretty tame I know, but it was his tone and the added knowledge that he wanted to start making his own lunch and breakfast a few months ago. I let him because he needs more responsibility. And by getting breakfast he means a bowl of cereal, it isn't like I am making him cook eggs and bacon! He will decide to get up and stomp around and grunt and make as much noise as possible before he eats.
That was just a little glimpse into what our morning today was like. Then I get to really enjoy his new found attitude when he gets home from school. He will tell me that writing his spelling words in alphabetical order is too hard and that studying for awana takes too long. He will tell me he got blue today for behavior (green is the better one) because the other kids were talking and the teacher decided to just get onto Bruce even though he was the innocent one who did nothing wrong. I will tell Bruce that he needs to help me put away his clothes and he will let me know that is too hard to do and then cry and whine like that will make me change my mind.
It could be worse and I know that the big picture is that he really is a good kid that minds everyone else and is so nice and polite (as everyone always tells me, which I appreciate it because I know that he is at least well behaved for others). Every age and stage is different for everyone else and I know that this too shall pass, but it doesn't mean that it is always easy!
A Bible verse that I try to remember everyday: John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
I remember that when I was a teenage girl I had an attitude for no reason sometime and I also remember getting irritated at just about everyone older than me. Big difference between Bruce and me is that he is a boy and he is only 9! Oh yeah, and he also only has an attitude with me. It is always hard as a parent at different times and for different reasons.
Just this morning I woke Bruce up and he slowly crawled out of bed and down his bunk stairs and then he finally made his way into the kitchen and sat down at the bar. I looked at him and asked him what he thought he was doing and his reply was, "I think you should just get me my breakfast". That sounds pretty tame I know, but it was his tone and the added knowledge that he wanted to start making his own lunch and breakfast a few months ago. I let him because he needs more responsibility. And by getting breakfast he means a bowl of cereal, it isn't like I am making him cook eggs and bacon! He will decide to get up and stomp around and grunt and make as much noise as possible before he eats.
That was just a little glimpse into what our morning today was like. Then I get to really enjoy his new found attitude when he gets home from school. He will tell me that writing his spelling words in alphabetical order is too hard and that studying for awana takes too long. He will tell me he got blue today for behavior (green is the better one) because the other kids were talking and the teacher decided to just get onto Bruce even though he was the innocent one who did nothing wrong. I will tell Bruce that he needs to help me put away his clothes and he will let me know that is too hard to do and then cry and whine like that will make me change my mind.
It could be worse and I know that the big picture is that he really is a good kid that minds everyone else and is so nice and polite (as everyone always tells me, which I appreciate it because I know that he is at least well behaved for others). Every age and stage is different for everyone else and I know that this too shall pass, but it doesn't mean that it is always easy!
A Bible verse that I try to remember everyday: John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)