Boys

Boys

Friday, November 30, 2012

What I'm Thankful For

So I missed posting most of the month, but that doesn't mean I don't have anything to be thankful for. 

I am thankful to be a stay at home mom. When the teenagers were little I worked so much, there were many, many times I would get off of work just in time to say goodnight to them and leave them to sleep at Nana's and Papa's. I missed firsts, I missed the sweetness of babies, I missed the bonding times. I am so thankful that I am here to watch them play together, to watch them grow, to hear their babblings. If I were working today I wouldn't have seen the boys chasing Lola around laughing hysterically, only for her to stop short, run up to Gavin, and give him kisses. 

I do miss using my mind, the social interaction, and working on projects that I get recognized for (sorry honey, but sometimes they get missed at home). But I wouldn't change it for the world. Having them run to me to kiss boo-boos, show off their latest stunt, talk to me in their own words. I am so glad that I don't have to go through crying when it's time to go to work, and crying when it's time to go home. I feel like I'm starting all over again, learning milestones and how to engage a toddler, and I am so blessed to be able to do it this time around!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Countdown to WildFlower Designs Official Launch Giveaway!

Only 19 more days!  WildFlower Designs' official launch is set for December 1st, what better time to have a giveaway?!  Win the WildFlower Designs Photo Bag, a $20.95 value!



Follow two simple steps below and you're entered!  The winner will be announced on December 1st, LAUNCH DAY!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 5, 2012

Thankful for new beginnings

Each day, we wake up to new beginnings.  We have a God that welcomes us to Him each day, and gives us the opportunity to start fresh at any moment we choose.  He allows us to freely talk to Him in prayer and accepts us as we are at any given moment.  While in our relationships with others, sometimes stubbornness and selfishness may get in the way, God is there to listen and help us in anything we ask.  We have the opportunity to change our hearts and minds daily, in every aspect of our lives.  What you've done wrong yesterday, you have the chance to make right today.  I'm thankful for new beginnings, with my family, with my friends, with my life.  Won't you take this day as a new beginning?

Friday, November 2, 2012

I'm thankful for willing hearts

Starting my own business, I decided to network on Facebook.  I joined various groups of ladies in direct sales, and have "met" some wonderful people.  My husband and I have been working on a fundraiser, which hasn't been as successful as we had hoped.  Mentioning this to a select group, I have 10 different ladies who are willing to donate their time and commission for this fundraiser.  I really wasn't expecting anything, especially with the holidays coming up, but these women are cheerfully giving for this wonderful family!  I am so blessed to have fellowship with all these wonderful people and I hope and pray for more willing hearts to come and participate in any way.

And, yes, I will post details on the fundraiser in the near future!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Things to be thankful for

It is November, and it is time to be thankful, if not the rest of the year.  Will I keep this up every day in November?  I will try, my self-discipline is not what it should be, but that does not mean I am not thankful!

Today I am thankful for my boys' smiles!  It means they are healthy and happy!  While the older two have been pretty much healthy during their lives, my three babies are all miracles.  Aidan was 6 weeks premature and born by emergency c-section due to the cord being wrapped around his neck.  There were no issues, he came home after 5 days, but then later had reactions to his immunizations.  He had petit mal seizures and has been developmentally behind by about a year.  He is starting to catch up, since the spring he has gone from sitting in a bumbo to sitting on his own, crawling, and now slowly walking.  Gavin was 13 weeks premature, also born by emergency c-section when, after having my water broken for two weeks, both of his legs came out of my cervix!  We were new to the NICU and it was really hard adjusting to seeing our baby at 2lb 11oz, under billi lights and getting blood transfusions.  He is definetly a fighter, now almost 30lbs, eating anything he can get his hands on.  Isaac was born 12 weeks premature, and while we knew the ins and outs of the NICU, 3lbs 4oz is still hard to get used to.  And he took his sweet time in coming home, not wanting to learn how to eat from a bottle, but he is here, smiling and cooing, right on target.  

Their smiles are the most precious thing in the world to me.  All five boys have eyes that light up when they smile (they must get it from me), and they smile often, which I love.  

What are you thankful for today?

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Enter to Win a Free Monogram, Fast and Simple!

Thinking about joining A Mom's Celebrated Creations Online Party?  Enter the giveaway to win a free monogram on any one item!  Not sure what to order?  Check out the Celebrated Creations website, choose your favorite item and win free personalization!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Instructions on ordering with your free personalization will be given when winner is chosen.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

A New Place Called Home

While we are on a search to find our new church home, today's sermon at The Village Church was just what we needed.  It was titled, "Traits of 'Great' & 'Growing' Churches".

Do you know how to tell if a church is "great" or "growing"?  Is it the massive stage on which the pulpit sits?  The number of cars in the parking lot?  A lot of times how we judge if a church is right for us is the convenience.  Do I like the music?  Is the service too late or too early in the morning?  How big is their Revival?  But even the smallest of churches can be doing great things.  We studied the early Christian church in Acts today and looked a few of traits that we can use to compare to today's churches.


  • Deep unity
  • Uncommon eternal perspective
  • Unashamedly Jesus-centered
  • In God's favor
  • Obvious absence of poverty
  • Remarkable generosity
  • Whole-hearted confidence in leadership
Do you recognize these traits in your church?  Or are they at least goals to work towards?  

Today's service gave us new things to look for in a church home.  I'm not as concerned if I don't find people my own age or have children of the same age, or if their welcoming committee is bending over backwards to get us to return.  I need a church that will help me deepen my faith, challenge me, and remind me to make Christ my number one priority.

But we have to remember, we are the church.  What can we do to keep Christ center of it?

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Happiness Tip: Don't Pat Your Own Back

Happiness Tip: Don't Pat Your Own Back

Birthday Dinner of Combos and Water

Had a pretty good birthday weekend, but boy, did it go out with a bang!  Rick came up to me about 5:00 and said, "Ok, I'm going to tell you something, but you aren't going to worry, say to me, you're not going to worry."

I'm wondering at this point, did I forget about a bill that needed to be paid?

"Ok, I won't worry..."

He had been having chest pains and cold sweats since the night before.  DON'T WORRY?!  I keep calm, have our doctor paged, who said he didn't think it was an emergency but we can go to the ER just to be safe.  

At the ER, they took care of him promptly, had an EKG done in triage, blood and urine tests done immediately in the room.  They brought the xray machine to him within 15 minutes for a chest xray.  He had an episode during the xray, but still able to keep calm, after all, we're AT the hospital.

The doctor was very nice.  She was very thorough and friendly.  She was concerned, because of Rick's recent broken foot, that it could possibly be a blood clot that had travelled to his heart, so she ordered a CT scan.  

Now the past two years have been a whirlwind of complicated pregnancies, three premature babies.  Now I'm on the other side of the hospital bed.  Granted, Rick had me and a baby to worry about each time, but I'm starting to understand what he must have went through.  Thoughts of my mom's heart attack at 50, called a widow-maker, and losing her two years later to pancreatic cancer, losing Rick's mom in April at 58 to a heart attack.  I didn't hear until last night that his paternal grandfather and maternal grandmother had both died young of heart attacks.  Yes, I was starting to panic.

Our Erin was so selflessly there for us to watch the babies AGAIN, but this time for Rick.  But what if he had to have surgery to remove a blood clot right now?  What would I do with myself?  How would I be able to visit while he's recovering with three babies at home?  What if he didn't recover?  I did not like being in this position.  I love him.  I don't want to lose him after only two years of marriage.  I don't want my babies to lose their daddy, whom they adore.  I want them to grow up knowing him, not just hearing about him.  

Finally, after three hours at the ER, all of his tests came back normal.  He will be getting a stress test on Friday with our doctor.  This changes our priorities.  We will be active in the new church we found, we will be on the electric cigarette.  Our diet will be the hardest, but we will be eating healthier.  If my 37th birthday wasn't reminder enough that we are getting older, the ER trip confirmed it.  We've been talking a lot lately about retirement and the babies' college funds since watching the vice-presidential debate.  Now I don't care what we have to do to make it there.  We are going to change the way we live in the present, in order to make it in the future.  

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Our Erin

This post is dedicated to someone who is so special in my life, I cannot express how much her support has meant to me this past year.  Besides being the one of two people who actually read my blog, she has been my biggest cheerleader and my strong shoulder.  I can see the love she has for my children in her eyes.  She gets as excited about their triumphs as I do, and just as concerned about their struggles.  She has schooled me on Words with Friends, but has really taught me what selflessness is.  She makes wish I could adopt her as my sister, even if she does move away, I'd still do it.  While I've had two very special ladies to call my best friends almost my entire life, she was there to hold my hand at my weakest moments when they couldn't be.  There are no "bests" anymore as you grow older, there are moments, and sometimes you are blessed to have someone there in those moments, and I have been truly blessed beyond measure.  

Happy birthday, I love you, and thank you for being there for me and my family!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Oops...

This blog post is meant to be a public apology to my husband for my lack of time management lately!  I was getting such an awesome system down with my family planning binder, and I'm finding myself leaving a chore off here and there every day, not able to hold a conversation without checking facebook, not able to keep a coherent thought.  I have had so many ideas and projects going in my business ventures and blog posts that everything else has fallen to the wayside.  My main priority is my home!  I just need a little leeway on the start up, and the blog reading I have done is a good thing - it is helping me organize and come up with ideas for simplifying (I just need to practice them!)  If only everyone else's hours could be the same as mine I wouldn't be so tied up all day and night :)

I would like to give a shout out on a blog I found, her latest post was so inspiring and just what I needed in my life right now!  Please visit Ramona Dishes, which ranges in topic from recipes to crafts to topics on life.  I was so excited to be able to subscribe by email that I put a "subscribe" button on my own blog! 

I will end my post with a plug:

Shop Celebrated Creations today!  Free enrollment until 10/31/12, no fees, no kit to purchase, join my team today!

Friday, October 5, 2012

Do You Feel That?

I've been putting more on my plate recently.  A lot more.  I've started with a new company in direct sales (and here is my plug, visit my Facebook page to see what I'm doing).  I'm rockin' my family planning binder, I've never felt more organized or gotten so much accomplished at home.  I'm the person who loves to check things off, I find myself doing extra just so I can cross more off!

Part of my "daily list" includes my devotional.  I'm currently reading "Discouraged Moms' Devotions to Go", which you can find on Amazon here for only $3.50 for a kindle download.  I love this devotional!  It really touches my heart.  I normally have a hard time relating to the author in a lot of devotionals, but this one is different, this one is real.  She recognizes discouragement, resentments, sometimes the laziness we all experience.  It's so good that I didn't even skip the "physical health" portion like I usually did.  Not that I'm exercising or anything, but it is included in my goals to start shortly.  Today was the story of Judson W. VanDeVenter, who I had never heard of before today, but he wrote the song, "I Surrender All".  He felt God nudging him to leave his position in the public school system for FIVE years before he surrendered.  So I'm wondering, what is He nudging me to do?  I have plans for my new business, I'm promoting it, I'm signing up new people and spending time on online parties, attempting to start a blog about it.  Am I spending this time in vain?  Am I supposed to be using this time to "promote" Him instead?  Would anyone even listen?  I don't feel qualified for this sort of position, but maybe that is the point.  Now to re-prioritize my binder and spend more time getting qualified, in His word, with other Christians.

What is God nudging you to do today?

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

To goal or not to goal?

In my search for usable ideas for my Family Planning Binder, I came across a free printable, "Our Family's Five Year Plan & Dreams".  I don't work well with long-term goals.  I either expect to remember them so I don't write them down, or pull them off the seat of my pants, make them too attainable or unattainable.  I cringe at the thought of sharing my goals, so to sit down with hubby and tell him my long-term dreams was completely new to me.

The sheet itself was fairly simple.  It had five categories, Everyday, Wealth, Wellness, Home, and Fun and you were to write your goals for 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and a "Dream Big" section.  Some were easy, things we had been discussing on and off, while others we really had to put thought into.  We were completely lost on the "Wellness" section.  We both want to be healthier, especially both having lost our mothers way too young.  We want to quit smoking, lose weight.  But a three-year plan?  I don't plan to run any marathons.  Ever.  It became easier when I added our spiritual wellness to that section.  Definitely want to spend regular time in prayer, in Bible study, get active in church.  The Everyday section was a little tough, too.  What do I want to be doing every day in the next year, three years, five years?  IDK, but I would like to try super-couponing.

Goal planning brings up ideas like empty-nest, college funds, retirement, mortality.  It feels strange to be an "older" parent, there are so many more things to consider, like, will I be in good enough shape to play catch?  When Rick brought up a five-year goal of getting a hot tub, I had to nix it because I will most likely be going through menopause and having hot flashes by then.  But there are good things about being an older parent, Rick is well on his career-path.  I still consider myself new to the SAHM business, but I've been a mommy for almost 17 years.  And, while I'm just learning to cook and clean, having the babies so close together I've got our routine down, diapers, feedings, naptimes.  

I guess the whole "accountability" aspect is what gets to me most.  If you write it down or even share your ideas out loud, there is the possibility of disappointment if your goals are not met.  It will take a lot of discipline for most of our goals, something neither of us have had much practice in, and now we get to hold each other accountable (don't forget Honey, we have a five-year-plan of going to Disney!)  Homeschooling once seemed so far away and now Aidan and Gavin are one year away from pre-school!  I never shared my fear of the younger years of homeschooling with Rick until tonight.  Arts and crafts were never my strong suit, and keeping three toddlers occupied enough to not eat the paste terrifies the pants off of me.  Give me apples to count or phonics to teach and I'm great!  

Overall, I think our goals are pretty realistic and attainable, while still challenging us to grow and mature to keep them.  It was nice sitting down together and realizing the possibilities we have with some effort.  We learned some new things about each other, like me wanting a bigger car even though I vehemently protested anything bigger when we got the minivan, or him detesting me using roman numerals to abbreviate thousands (I should write $1k instead of $1M because that is what normal people use).  

What are some of your long-term goals?


Monday, September 24, 2012

NickMom TV Shows Official Site

NickMom TV Shows Official Site

I'm so excited for the new NickMom starting October 1st!  I don't really know why, exactly.  But I'll get to watch this



and this


and I don't know who these people are but its mommy-related


I haven't watched TV since being on bedrest for practically two years, so I may have to DVR it and watch bits and pieces.  Does this mean I'm getting old?

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

How do you measure the unmeasurable?

Any stay at home mommy understands what I mean. How do you know you are doing it right? How do you know you are successful? Is your house spotless, children well-behaved, husband fed, causes volunteered for, church is attended? Well, yes. Is it possible to have ALL of those things. I suppose (not that I would know). I've been striving to feel successful at something, ANYTHING. Parties thrown, birthday cards sent, babies bathed (and that is a major accomplishment). Work at home business ventures that aren't panning out, family planning binder that turns out to be too full or not enough. How is it that my chores for the day are not only done, but I'm a day ahead, and nowhere did it say to pick up all of the toys strewn about the livingroom? I have a husband unhappy that I didn't have time for him on the few minutes he has from work to check in. But, there were chores to be done? I'm contemplating these things lately, and I'm realizing that it is happening. I'm vacuuming before one of many therapists for the babies arrive, wondering, how can I be successful? I'm feeding the babies, I'm cleaning the refrigerator (which is on tomorrow's chore list), I'm starting beef stew in the crock pot (which, trust me, cooking comes once in a blue moon for me). I played with the babies, had snuggle time with Isaac, read my daily devotions and started a weekly devotion I'm doing in a (very) small online group.

Maybe instead of lists of things to do we should have lists of things we are doing.

 Not that I don't need a reminder to dust the furniture that I never seem to notice or clean out my purse that I never think about until I'm at the check out not able to even find my wallet in there. How about an "or" list. Is your house clean today OR did you spend quality time with the kids OR did you make a nutritious meal for the family OR did you spend time with God? The top of each day in my binder should be the questions, are your kids happy, clean and safe? Is your husband provided for? Did you nourish your soul today? That is the measuring stick I want. And while this epiphany does calm and inspire me, I may need a gentle reminder once in awhile. 

As I typed that last sentence, Gavin just peeked around the couch and smiled the most heart-melting smile. That is just the reminder I'll need!

Friday, September 14, 2012

Monday, May 28, 2012

The baby is here!



Introducing Isaac Aaron Robin Darcy!  Isaac was born May 17th, weighing 3lbs 4oz, 16 inches long.  It was a difficult delivery, my water had broke (after being home from the hospital only about 12 hours).  During the c-section they discovered that the cord was tied in a knot around his arm.  We were both battered and bruised but Isaac came thru like a champ!  He is doing amazingly well, he is holding his own body heat, on full feeds of 28ml and gaining weight slowly.  He has a small hole in his heart that they are watching, it is slowly closing on its own.  He moves his mouth when feeding thru the tube like he's sucking, he will be able to try bottle feeding in about 3 more weeks, I think he'll enjoy it!  He even wore his first onesie already!


The rest of the boys are happy to have Mommy back home, I can't believe how much I missed being on bedrest and in the hospital.  Gavin is eating Gerber puffs and Aidan is now able to get himself down from standing.  Now is the countdown to the big move, although it looks like its possible that Isaac will be home before then!  My recovery is going so slowly, I'm wondering how many vicodin it would take to wash the floors?  Family and friends have been awesome, we're all so anxious to be moved, have Isaac home and just enjoy the upcoming chapter!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

And a big "oops"

We thought we were having Isaac last night.

Well, I thought we were, the doctor didn't agree.

In my defense, with three of the four pregnancies I'd had previously, my water leaked just a little bit.  


So imagine my freak out when my water leaked, ALMOST a lot.  Even my doctor yelled at me, "why didn't you call me sooner?"  My squeaky voice said, "I wasn't sure that's what it was!"

And it wasn't.

But I contend that I DID NOT PEE MYSELF, as much as my 16 year old thinks its funny.

So the bag that I thought was ready, now really is, the nanny had to bring her 3 kids to watch my two babies (love you Erin!), and another hospital bill on the way, all for an overactive bladder, apparently...

Monday, May 7, 2012

Public Shaming, hmm...

Have you see the latest trend in punishment?  Strollerderby posted Shocking or Brilliant?  11 Examples of Public Shaming as Punishment, which varies from women who found unused gift cards at Walmart to a 15-year-old who wears a sign declaring his low GPA.

My mother used this form of punishment on me in third grade when I decided to skip school with a friend, and I have to admit, it worked!  I never ditched school again, not even on Senior Ditch Day.  BUT...I was made to sit in a chair in our driveway while our neighbors in our very small complex confronted me with how scared my mother was.  It wasn't just an embarrassment but a lesson on the torment you cause your parents and how dangerous the world actually is.  

Is a YouTube video declaring your teenage daughter a spoiled brat and shooting up her laptop a bit extreme?
Um...couldn't you have sold it and made her donate the money to charity (or the housekeeper)?

While I firmly agree, any parent has a right to ban their child from Facebook (even posting why), are some of these instances going a bit too far?  Are they teaching lessons or giving parents satisfaction in embarrassing them?  Should public shaming be used in lieu of formal punishment on actual crimes?

And the countdown begins...

Spent the morning bookmarking all of the funniest blogs in my Kindle to get ready for the hospital.  I didn't realize that I have about 150 blogs bookmarked on my laptop, most I don't even know why I saved them in the first place, so this was no small feet.  I think this is my way of nesting, which is making Rick really nervous, but I'm on week 27 (tomorrow) and that's when Gavin decided to arrive.  I have my bag packed (which, incidentally, was still packed from last summer when Gavin was born), my Kindle is loaded up, and the nearest route is mapped out, with a pit stop at McDonald's for my last meal until they let me eat again.

Did I mention that we're on baby FIVE?


Isaac Aaron Robin Darcy, hoping he'll be my redheaded Mexican baby!  I've been slacking in my posting, but Gavin is growing to be a monster baby.


He is right on target for where he needs to be for the average 7 month old (his adjusted age).  He and Aidan are getting along great, if you don't count the chunk of Aidan's hair that Gavin pulled out.  It did make a nice lock for the baby book!


Gary and Benny are having fun with the babies.



On top of it all, we're getting ready to move at the end of June!  When I say we, I mean everyone else.  I have a mental note of what the boys (including Rick) have to go through before moving day, it's a tough job being in charge.  We will have movers do the packing and moving and some awesome friends who are volunteering to help unpack.   OB is hoping Isaac will make it to 32 weeks, which is a week and a half before moving day.  Everyone is panicking, I'm not sure why, I'm not helping anyway.  I guess they just want my direction :)  But, we will finally have room for everyone!  We'll have a toy room in the basement with an office and school room for the babies when they start homeschooling, and an extra table for the scrapbooking I fully intend on doing (but probably won't).  

So it's resting for now.  Will try to be wittier on the next post, but not much is exciting on bedrest!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Goodbye


It is with so much sadness that I say goodbye to my mother in law. The love that her family and friends have for her cannot be measured. She lived each day to the fullest and loved her grandchildren with her complete heart. She will not get to see them grow up, she will not get to meet her youngest grandson, who is yet to be born. I pray that she knows the love her kids and her husband have for her, without seeing the hurt they are suffering without her. I will strive to be the wife that she always gave me credit for, the mother that she would have wanted her grandsons to have. I will accept her family into my heart as she accepted me without question. I will never forget her beautiful smile, her contagious laughter. I will never let her memory fade, her legacy will live on. She believed in the angels, I believe she always was one, and now she lives among them.