Relay for Life!

The countdown is on!  My office will be participating in Relay for Life on June 11, 2011.  We will celebrate, remember, and fight back against this disease.  Please visit my personal fundraising page for more information.  Together, we can make a difference.  I'm asking for you to partner with me in this event.

FRIENDS, Please consider making a donation.  Every dollar counts.  Whether it's $20, $10,  $5, or $1...it makes a difference.  If you make a donation of $5 or more, a luminary bag will be made on your behalf.  This will be in remembrance of a loved one who lost the battle.  Leave a comment with the details and  I will be sure to prepare a bag in their honor.

Click on the link below to make your secure donation. Thank you in advance.

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/apasinski

T-Minus 30 days...

...until I turn 30. Thirty.

That is all that is on my mind at this moment.

Five Question Friday

1.  Do you apologize to your kids?

You betcha.  I wish I didn't have to, but I'm only human.  It's usually on my "P M freakin' S" days.  It's the days I roll out of bed on the wrong side.  I can probably guarantee my kids know when it's one of those days.  Thankfully, they always accept my apology.  I spend the next hour feeling guilty before I remind myself that I'm not a bad mom.  I usually confess my behavior to my husband as well, just to have him remind me too, that I am not a bad mom.

2.  What color are your nails right now?

Blue.  Bright blue.  I was feeling patriotic, being Memorial day weekend and all.

3.  When you were growing up, how difficult was it for you to stay home sick? (As in, did you have to vomit or just say "I don't feel good?)

I can't remember back to my elementary years, after all, I am almost thirty!  Ugh.  But from what I can remember I just had to say I didn't feel good.  No fake vomit, no hot washcloth on my head to make me feel warm, and no crazy moaning noises.  Thanks mom.  As for my kids, if they are staying home, I want to see puke.

4.  When is the last time you bought a new comforter for your bed?

Joe purchased a new comforter about 10 months ago.  He staged "Operation Take My Life Back" and went on a shopping raid.  At this time we were still sharing a bedroom with Gracie, who was 9 months old.  I did not want to put the girls in a room together, for fear they wouldn't sleep well.  One day, Joe wasn't having it anymore.  He went on a shopping spree for new items for our bedroom and kicked the baby out.  The comforter he bought was thick and red.  I must say I was scared of "Operation Take My Life Back" but the girls slept fine since day one.  It was nice to be alone again.

5.  Favorite Website(s)?

I don't know if I have a favorite?  OK, if favorite is equal to the one I check most often, the it's facebook.  I feel a little dirty admitting it.  I had this conversation with another mom awhile back.  She felt like she was on it to much and was considering deleting her account.  I honestly don't spend a lot of time on the site.  It's normally just to post a new blog and quickly see what's going on.  However, for the moms that use it all throughout the day....Good for you!  We all know how it is, especially with new babies, to feel completely out of the loop.  You have little adult conversation and certainly not as many outings.  If facebook helps you feel connected to the "real world" and keeps you sane, check it all day woman!  I'm now going to head over there to post my blog and see what everyone is doing today, lol.

Bloody Nose?

Elia was throwing a tantrum last night.  She was protesting bed time.  I was winning.  As she sat her plump behind on her Dora potty ring, red stuff poured out of her nose.  I grabbed a tissue and immediately placed it on her tiny nose.

She continued to cry about not wanting to go to bed.  I was becoming concerned about her bloody nose.  I removed the tissue and as she cried more red mucous came out of her nose.  Then I smelled something familiar.  Playdough.

It was not a bloody nose.  It was red playdough.  She said she didn't eat it.  She said she didn't stick it up her nose.  I think she lied.

Wordless Wednesday

Oh, the Horror!

Nap time. Sacred time. Quiet time. A chance to regain my sanity. The pick me up I need to make it through the rest of the day. Some days it's a cup of coffee. Other days it's a phone call to a friend. Sometimes I lay out in the sun, but let's face it, there is no sun. Nap time. Just say the words and moms all over the world smile. You know you feel me on this one.

On this particular day, nap time would involve my guilty pleasure, Grey's Anatomy. I don't care what anyone has to say about it either. I love it. My husband doesn't, which is why I DVR it. So, I've got my coffee in hand, the girls are quiet, and I turn the TV on. Happily I scroll through the list and click on the season finale of Grey's.

Something weird is happening. The "Please Wait" scrolly bar thingy is taking way to long. Relax, it's fine, you're overreacting. Longer still and the words are still there and the scrolly thing is not stopping. "Please Wait" is still on my TV. I swear it is laughing at me as I begin to panic. Then to my horror, the following is displayed, "Playback failed. No audio/video data packets received from server."

What!? What the heck is a video data packet and why weren't they received from my server! Are you kidding me. This is the season finale people! Are Mer and McDreamy going to get the baby Zola? Is the clinical trial going to be trashed? Who is going to be named Chief Resident? Is Lexy going to go back to McSteamy? Are Hunt and Christina going to stay happy in love? Is Teddy going to Germany or staying with her husband? What will become of Karev? I can live without knowing what happens to Torres and Robins, I'm over them. Kepner is even starting to grow on me.

I already admitted it was my guilty pleasure, don't judge. I got ahold of myself. I went to the living room to try that TV. Oh no, it happened again. Remain calm. I reset the buttons on all of the receivers and waited. And waited.

I hit the play button and as the picture came on I was giddy. All was right in the world, almost. One minute and 37 seconds later, I heard Elia. She was awake. I would have to wait until bedtime to find out the fate of my peeps at Seattle Grace. I cannot be disturbed during Grey's.

Mother's Day Gifts

I know Mother's Day has come and gone, but I did not get to discuss all of the beautiful handmade gifts that I received from my kiddos. One in particular, is out of this world. It's my favorite. It's the best.

In case you can't read it, it says, "I like when my mom sings Pink Floyd."  OK, sometimes we sing Pink Floyd together in the car.  I checked out some of the other kids pictures and sentences. They said things like, "I like when my mom...makes pancakes, reads a story, kisses me, takes me to the park, buys me things.". Jadon's proclamation of his mom totally made me smile.  His other sentences included, "I wouldn't trade my mom for food," and "I love my mom more than football." 

Christian said I weigh 10 pounds and that I am as pretty as a princess.  He ended his paragraph by saying, "I love my mom because she is my best friend."

Joey made a picture with an acronym for "Mother" as follows,
Mommy I love you
Outstanding chef (which I am not at all)
Totally Awesome
Heart
Enjoy
Rock On!

These handmade mom gifts are irreplaceable.  (Stop singing Beyonce, I'm trying to be serious here.)

Five Question Friday

1.  Do you and your spouse go to bed at the same time?

If we are both home, yes, always.  Last night we checked in at 8:00.  We got through The Big Bang Theory before I dozed off around 9:00.  Please note, it took an hour to get through the show because we had to keep pausing it to tell the children to be quiet.  Thank heavens for DVR's.  When you have kids, you take what you can get.  I need to go to bed with my husband.  Most nights I need a good chest to lay on and remember I have him for life, and we're in this together.

2.  What kind of facial hair do you like on your man?

Um, none, mainly because he can't grow any.  OK, he can grow some.  He would never be able to do a full on facial anything.  He has certain areas in the beard area that just don't produce hair.  It's cute.  Really, I prefer him smooth.  It's not fun making out with a porcupine.

3.  What's the worst vacation you've ever taken?

Is this a trick question?  We haven't done many "vacations" per say.  We've done camping and mini-getaways.  If I have to answer...when Joey was just one year old, we had the new parent bug, and thought we must make all kinds of good memories that our one year old would never remember.  We smartened up real quick when the other kids came!   Anyway, Joey was in love with The Wiggles.  Joe and I thought it would be so much fun to take our little guy to Toronto to see them live.  Yeah, like I said, we smartened up real quick.  We did the long drive with a toddler to Toronto and arrived at a lovely Bed & Breakfast hosted by a sweet, old, loud, woman.  Joey did not sleep, at all.  Every time we looked at him his big blues eyes were staring right back at us.  When Joey finally dozed off it was about 10:00 in the morning.  The sweet, old, loud, woman, banged on the door to our room about seven different times for various reasons, and woke him up every time. 

The next day we were exhausted  I read the tickets to the concerts wrong and we ended up being almost a half hour late to the show.  The show we drove for hours to see.  After the show we had plans to visit a huge indoor play place.  The place was closed that day for maintenance.  I think I had my period and remember sobbing each time something didn't go as planned.  Joey did say "the wiggles" perfectly that day.  That was the highlight of the trip.  I just might have done it all over to hear him say it again.

4.  What's the first blog you ever followed?

Honestly, when I started blogging, I had no idea how popular it really was.  Honestly.  And I like to think I am a pretty techie person.  The first blog I actually clicked "follow" on was "The Glitter and the Gray"  I don't know how I found it, but I liked it.  It was real life.  It was exactly why I had wanted to blog.

5.  Do you like amusement parks?

I don't like them.  I LOVE them.  I love them.  I still get scared though.  And I still have not gone on the Superman roller coaster at Darien Lake.  My hubby does not like scary rides.  He says they are from the devil, but he goes on them with me anyway.  Another reason I love him.  Last year we got the boys to do some of the big rides.  It looks like I have some up and coming amusement park lovers.  That's exciting.  Amusement parks make me feel like a kid again.  When you're pushing 30, it's good to feel like a kid again.

Mother Nature, You are a Tease!

I previously wrote a post titled, "My name is Amy, and I'm a Complainer". I've been trying not to complain. Trying.

We live in Buffalo. I should be used to the weather. Friday, we finally got a gorgeous sunny day. We followed it up with six days of cold and rain. Why must mother nature be such a tease. She gets us all excited by flaunting her goodness and rips it right out from under us. She causes us to pack up all of our sweaters and break out the flip flops, only to leave us freezing.

The kids get out their bikes and are finally able to unleash their madness. Then they are stuck unleashing their madness on me, bouncing off the walls for the next week because of the rain.

I think I've had enough. Please stop teasing me.

You Heard It Right

Welcome to another edition of "You Heard It Right."

Today's message comes from Christian. 

"Mommy!  I had the most super, best, really good, awesome, really, really, super good day!"

"Really.  Why?" I asked.

"Because I was good and got a dinosaur sticker from school!" he continues with pure delight.

I told him to go get it so I could see it.  He runs and grabs it and happily presents it to me.  The small circle sticker was smaller than a dime.

"Isn't is awesome!?" he squeals.

"It sure is!" I agree.

My five year old could not wait to get in the house to tell me about his super awesome sticker.  The sticker was the highlight of his day.  It made his day.  Oh, to be five.  I instantly forgot about the cold, rainy, weather and how depressing it was making me, and took pleasure in the sticker story.

TEN YEARS, Whoa Baby!

Today I celebrate my ten year anniversary.  I try not to brag too much about my amazing husband, which is hard.  I can't help it most times.  I don't post everything he does for me on facebook or tweet about his constant choice to put me first.  Same goes for him.  He keeps it to himself as well.  Yesterday, however, he posted this as his facebook status, "Ten years ago was the day before my wedding. My brother and I were discussing the things of life. It occurred to me then (and still baffles me today) how such a beautiful woman who had everything going for her would choose me. Somehow I duped her in to believing that being with me for the rest of her life was her best option. WHAT A SUCKER! I wish I could reciprocate the peace, love, and joy that she brings me."

I cried as I read his proclamation.  Knowing that amidst all of my flaws and shortcomings he can say I bring him peace, love, and joy, makes me so happy.  As a wife, that is truly my heart.  He does reciprocate all of those things right back to me.  And he probably does it better.

I will never forget our wedding day.  I was standing in the back of the sanctuary peeking through the blinds as Joe and his groomsmen came out.  The beautiful Prior girls were singing "From This Moment" as my girlfriends began walking down the aisle.  At that moment I felt so completely sure about following them down the aisle, and walking into my future with Joe.  Ten years, 5 children, and everything in between, whoa baby!  It hasn't gotten old, and I pray it never does. 

Joe is full of so many good things.  He is loving, he works hard for his family, he loves God, he is a man of uncompromising integrity, he loves people, he makes me laugh, he is trustworthy, he is patient, he is a dreamer, he is my best friend.

I won't apologize for my mushiness today.  Ten years only comes around one time.  Joe planned an overnight getaway to Salvatore's and is taking me to see Wicked.  It was supposed to be a surprise, until I kept bugging him about buying tickets for the show.  Since I wouldn't leave him alone, he cracked.  I felt bad that I ruined his surprise.  I should have known he had already bought them.  That's just the kind of husband he is.

At our last overnight at Salvatore's.  Happy 10th Anniversary to my Lover.

Wordless Wednesday

It Truly is the Little Things

I'm learning more and more it's the little things that count. It's the times you pause from the craziness, to take in life's joys. I was just talking to a friend this morning about it. It's easy to wish for bedtime to come, a baby to finally walk to make things easier, or summer to come to enjoy the outdoors. We are always looking forward to the next season in life. This is especially true in the trials of motherhood. Trust me girls, I am right there with you!

Today I decided to tackle the dressers and closets in order to "switch seasons". This is no easy undertaking. First I must empty and store the winter clothes and then pull out the spring and summer. Before I can put those clothes away they all need to be washed. Multiply this by seven people! I spent the entire day organizing, doing laundry (twelve loads, no joke), folding, and putting clothes away. It was not fun. I don't like housework. Who does?

The girls came in from playing outside and I cleaned them up for bed. I searched around for Elia's nuk. Finally, I found it shoved in the corner below her crib. We were down to one nuk. She only uses it at nap time and bedtime. It was on my list of things to do, but I didn't have a sense of urgency yet. Twice before I mentioned getting rid of the beloved nuk, but she was not having it.

Today, when I picked up the thing I noticed it was cracked and filled with nasty, bacteria ridden, spit. I suggested maybe we should throw it out because it was very yucky. She said OK. I was in shock. Really? Really? Let's see how far we can go with this. I told her how proud I was of her and that she could do the honor of throwing it in the garbage. She happily skipped to the can with a smile on her face and threw it out. I continued to praise her and tell her what a big girl she was. I also told her we would go to the store and pick out a big girl surprise for making the decision. She was thrilled. Her precious little face could not contain the excitement.

I put her back into bed and she told her sister the entire story, word for word. She told Grace, and grandma, and daddy, and the boys, and Grace again.

It truly is the little things.

Happy Mother's Day! The winner is...

KRYSTINA CLABO! Congratulations! Krystina's favorite mom moment, "My favorite mom moment was when my mom tried to spit her gum out my passenger window while she was driving. We both were laughing so hard at her valiant effort that the gum ended up in my hair. Boy do I love her. Happy Mothers day to a sharp shooter mom."

Thanks for all of your funny and heartfelt moments. My favorite moment(s) will forever be when each of my five beautiful children were placed on my chest after delivery. Nothing will ever to compare to those first precious moments with them.

Enjoy your day with the ones you love! Happy Mother's Day to you all. You are each amazing in so many ways! I hope you take time today to forgive yourself for the mistakes you have made and focus on all you have accomplished in motherhood. I know I will. I'm certain the good far outweighs the bad.

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Puke in a Bucket

My firstborn turns 9 tomorrow. Nine. Every birthday causes me to reflect on the actual births. Most of the time it is sentimental stuff that makes me cry. Tonight I'm reflecting on my husbands crazy shenanigans.

Fast forward through all the gory details to coming home with my son. My husband tells me I have to see the video footage. He turns it on and I am puzzled to see my house. It is a wide angle shot of the front door. It stays this way for a minute and out the door comes Joe. He holds up the rubbermaid bucket I used for cleaning floors and smiles at the camera. The bucket was filled with regurgitated Wendy's chili from the night before. (I did not eat chili in the third trimester of any other of my pregnancies.) Joe comes back in the camera shot a moment later after dumping my bucket of vomit in the woods. My toilet was occupied by my rear end that was spewing pee-poo at an uncontrollable rate, which resulted in the bucket. He smiled at the camera as he passed and went back in the house. A few minutes more go by and the door opens again. Here I come. My face is scrunched into a what appears to be a crazy person straight out of a horror movie. Joe has me by the arm somewhat dragging me to the car. I waddled along with him. My contractions were two minutes apart at this point.

I had no idea the camera was set on the front of the car. He smiled at it again before he shut it off. Puke in a bucket captured on film.

MOTHER'S DAY GIVEAWAY!

Mother's Day is almost here. I have an awesome gift to give one mom!

My friend over at beCAUSE jewelry designs has graciously offered one of her beautiful necklaces to giveaway.

"The sterling nest of pearls is a great choice for mothers, this nest is crafted using sterling silver wire, intricately woven around your specified number of fine freshwater pearls. Included is the 16.5" sterling chain. 10% of profits will be donated to the Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo maternity ward."

Here's how to make it yours: Up to FOUR entries/person!

1.  Comment on this post and share your favorite mom moment!
2.  "LIKE" PoopInACandle.com on Facebook**
3.  Follow my blog**
4.  Post my giveaway on your facebook page or blog**
** Make sure to let me know in your comment that you did these!

Need a last minute gift for your mom?  Would you like your hubby to make sure you get this necklace?  Visit beCAUSE jewelry designs and place your order by Friday and get it delivered on Saturday!  (local delivery/pick-up only)

The winner will be selected by random.org on Mother's Day! With your permission, I will share some of your comments on my Mother's Day blog post.

Where's the Poop?

It's everywhere. Fear not. More poop is coming. Thank you for asking.

Life has been oh so busy. It was on my "to do" list to get back to the blog today (along with getting back to the diet). I don't even know where to begin, but I will keep it simple.

As I folded eighteen loads of laundry this morning, I listened to my girls play "Ring Around the Rosie" eighty-eight times. I kept peaking into the kitchen to catch a glimpse. They were still in their pjs, with their hair all a mess. That's common for a Monday. They giggled and laughed as they turned in a circle. Gracie would yell, "Again!" each time they fell. Elia would jump to her feet and push her curly hair out of her face and resume the game.

"Ring Around the Rosie, pocket pull-a posies, atch-es atch-es, we! fall! down!"

Back up they stand and do it all over again. So many thoughts run through my mind as I watch them. I think of how happy I am that another baby snuck into the family. I hope that they will be best friends forever. I pray they will always feel this happy and joyful throughout their lives, amidst the good times and bad. I wish for them to one day watch their children like I am right now. I close my eyes and try to burn this moment into my brain with the many others I wish to never forget.

I go back into my room to fold some more. Forget it. I'm going to play until I get too dizzy to stand.