Poop - from one extreme to the other

A lot of you know that my son has had "poop issues" for a long time.  He has been constipated the majority of his 4 1/2 years.  We have had such drama over pooping...from screaming...to running on his tip-toes...to squeezing his butt cheeks together so tight that if a turd did manage to slip out, it was as flat as could be.  Up until a few months ago, he would NOT even let us get him near the toilet to use the bathroom.  He would pee like a champion but not poop.  Pull-ups were our BFF.  FINALLY, I got him to the toilet one day and for some reason, his Hulk watch was in there.  His Hulk watch is really a projector type thing that, when you push a button, displays Hulk onto the wall.  I turned out the light and made Hulk talk to Logan while he was on the toilet.  It seemed to distract him and when I made Hulk's image appear in the toilet water, he pooped so he could "beat Hulk!"  This is how we've been pooping up until last week or so.  He was still acting scared, we were still using the Hulk watch and then...something happened...he pooped by himself one day.  Let me just tell you, there's been no turning back.  This child is a champion pooper now.  He poops all day long!

As I was showering this morning, I hear him, downstairs, just yelling as loud as he could.  I am all shampooed up, but turned the water off so I could hear him.  When I yelled, "Are you yelling at me, Logan?"  He replied with, "I pooped, come wipe my butt!"  Oh my.  I told him he'd have to wait.  As I turned the water back on to rinse my hair, I found myself wondering how I was, at one time, convinced that he would be graduating high school while still wearing pull-ups.  We have most certainly gone from one extreme to the other...and I must say, I am super happy about it!!!

Thumbs up for POOP!!!

The retirement of Cleopatra and the fireman..

Another Halloween has come and gone.  This year seems to have flown by!  My kiddos had a great Halloween I think.  Fall is my very favorite holiday so I am always excited to participate in as many Fall activities as we can.  I love trick-or-treating night so I can see all the kids in their cute, unique, and sometimes down right freaky costumes.  My kids were a fireman and Cleopatra.  Logan was the only fireman I saw this year, although Leah said she saw another one.  Leah got more compliments on her costume this year than I can ever remember from previous years.   This year was a lot of fun in the fact that Logan actually went to the doors without me or Brad.  He would proudly say trick-or-treat, proceed to stare into the bag to see what he got, and then say thank you, and run back to us.  He ended up getting bored and tired with it all and he and Brad headed back home to feast on his Milk Duds, while Leah and I continued on.  It takes a lot to get ME, Big Mama, to stop getting free candy!  Here are some of my favorite pictures from our Fall/Halloween.  Enjoy!

Cosmo Johnston, our 11 year old Shih-tzu

Lily May Johnston - our 1 1/2 year old Pug

Logan at the pumpkin patch

Cleopatra

The Johnston Kiddos
Logan 4 1/2 years old
Leah 9 years old

The Johnston parental units
Photo taken by Logan :)

Reflection...

Sometimes I like to think back to my life, years back, and reflect on things...It is hard to think about where I was 6 years ago, but I am happy to see how far we've come and how truly blessed we have been.  The end of October, six years ago, was when I lost my baby.  We'd already lost one in January of 2004 and I was so excited to be pregnant again, although terrified at the same time. Anyone who has had a loss can tell you that you lose all innocence where pregnancy is concerned after you have had a loss.  You know all too well that things can happen.

I remember the morning I woke up, ready to babysit my neighbors baby.  I will spare you the details, but I called her and told her that I needed to get to the doctor.  I went in, hoping and praying that my baby was OK, but the ultrasound determined otherwise.  I saw my little bitty baby on the screen, with no heart beat.  I don't think that words can truly describe that feeling.  The moment of utter helplessness, of one of the greatest despairs a mother can ever have.  My baby that I had not even met was...gone...again...

The next day I was scheduled for a D&C.  That was one of the saddest moments of my life, going into the operating room, knowing that when I come out, my baby was going to be gone forever.  The room was cold.  I remember two techs in there, talking and laughing.  I remember the silent tears that fell down my cheeks as I touched my stomach one last time and said a silent goodbye to my baby.

I remember going home, and it was trick-or-treating day.  It was so terribly hard to put on a happy face and try to be there for Leah while I was aching, physically and emotionally.  I remember crying for my lost babies.  I remember how my arms would actually ache with the need to hold my babies.

Six years ago was the lowest point in my life.  I still think about my lost babies, about what they might have been, what they might have looked like, what they might be like.  I feel secure in knowing that one day, I will see my babies in Heaven.  Until then, I know that they are safe and never have to know any heartache or pain.  There were two very specific Bible verses that got me through my losses.  I have an angel in my curio cabinet that has one of the verses on it...

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; They will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jer 29:11 (NIV)

I can not tell you how many times I read those verses through all of my heartache.  Thank you GOD for getting me through!

I am so thankful that we have our little Logan now, he was truly my little gift from God.  Leah is also my precious gift because, without having her, I don't know how I would have pulled myself through all the grief.  Six years...it can make a lot of difference!!!

One Day at a Time

One day at a time, that's all I'm asking of you...give me the strength to do everyday, what I have to do...Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine.  So for my sake, teach me to take, one day at a time...

This was one of my Granny's favorite songs and I think that it really applied to her life.  Especially when her arthritis got so bad and her bad days greatly outnumbered her good ones.  She would always say that she took it, "one day at a time."

I realize that my kids are getting older, but sometimes you just have those really big moments where you realize that they are growing up so fast it isn't even real.  I had one of those moments yesterday when we went out to carve pumpkins.  Leah and Logan had both picked one out and decided what they wanted their pumpkin carved into.  As we were cutting the tops off, Leah got very bored with it and said, "I'm going back inside."  That was a very eye opening moment for me.  My baby girl is not a baby girl anymore.  At almost 9 1/2 years old, she isn't amused by the things that we once loved to do and found fun.  Where did that time go?  I can't believe that she's growing up so much.  I got her a pair of shoes to wear with her Halloween costume yesterday.  She had to get a size EIGHT in women's?!!!  My heart breaks to think of the little girl that she's leaving behind, but hopes that the young lady she's turning into is a great one!

I look at Logan and he's my last baby...only, my baby is now 4 1/2 years old.  He'll be 5 in February, start school in August, and leave me home alone - with only the dogs.  I know that it is months away, but I am already having a hard time thinking about sending him off to school.   He's been with me every day of his life except for Girl Scout camp when I was gone two nights and once or twice when he spent the night at my mom's.  He's my little sweet heart...he tells me I'm pretty several times a day, that he loves me, that I'm his favorite Mommy in all the life.  He's my little ball of energy, the house is never quiet when he's awake!  I'm so going to miss him when he starts school next year.

I guess all of these realizations is making me more aware of how much we need to cherish each and every day that we have.  Yesterday's gone...and tomorrow may never be mine...so for my sake, teach me to take, one day at a time.

Opposites Attract/The Man Behind the Scenes

I have been planning this blog in my head and had it narrowed down to two possible titles.  As you can see, I couldn't decide so I am using them both...This is the story of a man and a woman...they met in college, got hitched after graduation, got a dog, had two kids, got another dog, and are still going strong.  How does a couple such as Erin and Brad stay together...Two words:  Opposites Attact

I'm not sure if we were so opposite when we met, many years ago.  We both were working towards a common goal:  College Graduation.  We were both young, (skinny too!), enjoyed the likes of Garth Brooks, going to the movies, etc.

Erin and Brad in college - dressed for the Christmas dance - Awww

Nowadays, however, we seem to be very opposite.  Here are a few of the things that we differ on:

• Music - Brad has turned into a heavy rocker kind of guy.  He enjoys the music that makes me want to bash my head into a wall.  Don't get me wrong, I do like some of the same music that he does, but not a lot of it.  I like the more "pop" kind of music and I also love me some Bluegrass-Gospel music too.   Of course, I am in the car with the kids 99% of the time, so I listen to a lot of Kidz Bop and things too.
• House Decor - Our opinions on how the house should be decorated is another difference we have.  I am into more of the country/primitive sort of stuff, while he wants to buy the most fancy looking stuff he can find.  I don't do fancy.  I am a plain, cheap girl and fancy just doesn't fit my taste.  Brad thinks that every wall needs a picture hanging on it.  He thinks that every window needs curtains, while I am content with the mini blinds.  He would put up border in every room we have if I would go along with it.  
• Home Cleanliness - This might be our biggest obstacle in our marriage.  I know a lot of people have money issues, we have clean issues.  Our house is NOT nasty, it is NOT dirty...we have two kids and two dogs that are always getting their toys out, leaving crumbs behind, etc.  I try to clean the house, I really do, but after so many times of picking up the same crap and 5 minutes later it gets messed up, you get tired of doing it.  My goal for our house is to keep us clothed, fed, and dishes available for us to use.  If these things are done, then I feel we are OK.  Brad is the total opposite.  For him, there's a place for everything and everything should be in its place.  He hates that I put Leah's school stuff on the counter in the kitchen.  If someone is coming over, he wants the house to be spotless, nothing in the floor, nothing on the counters, etc.  We battle about this on a regular basis!  LOL!
• Socializing - I am a very social person, I could talk to anybody I think.  Brad, on the other hand, is very quiet around people that he doesn't know, and sometimes around those that he DOES know!  I enjoy people, I enjoy chatting and visiting with them.  Bradley is content to watch TV all day and I don't think it would bother him one bit not to speak to anyone if he didn't have to.   I tell him all the time that he is anti-social...he says, "No, I just don't like people."  LOL.  Go figure.
• Family functions - I enjoy family functions, whether it is going somewhere with our kids or a family get together with our family...I love to get together, talk, eat, laugh, etc.  I realize that life is short and I want to spend it with the family while we can.  You never know when you might lose someone.  Brad is more of a home-body and doesn't enjoy the family stuff like I do.
• Church - I love going to church.  I love the singing, I love the fellowship, I love the atmosphere.  Brad does not enjoy singing, nor does he like it when people speak to him.  (Back to the antisocial-ty that I just mentioned above - LOL)
• Food - Another one of our constant battles.  Brad loves him some food, but he wants what he calls "good food."  I'm still not exactly sure what he qualifies as "good food."  My goal is to fix food that the kids will eat.  It seems that no matter what I fix, he doesn't really like it.   Occasionally, I will fix something that he approves of, but that usually means the kids are eating SpaghettiO's due to not liking what I fixed.   As long as my kids eat and are full, I figure that he is a grown man and can fix himself something if he gets hungry enough.  Let me also mention that Brad does not know how to operate the microwave to warm up his food (so he claims...)  He will go without eating unless I warm up his food for him.  (Can we say SPOILED???!!!  LOL).

I'm sure that there are more differences that we have, but this blog can not go on forever.  It amazes me that we can be so different, yet we are happy and content with each other.  Things can get hectic sometimes, we get mad at each other, but we also have a lot of fun together!   He can be one of the funniest and goofiest people I know at times.  I love to torture him, buy things that annoy him, and do things that aggravate him.   He hates my scarecrows that I have out for Fall...so what do I do???  Buy more scarecrows!!!  It keeps the relationship fresh :)  

The "man behind the scenes" of the Johnston family is a hard working man, he is a good Daddy, and a good provider and hubby.  I can't say that he's a good daddy to the animals though because they really annoy him and he thinks that the dogs stink all the time - LOL.   Through all the years we've been together, we have grown apart in some ways and our differences have increased, but we've also grown closer in other ways too.  Here's to Brad Johnston - my opposite, my hubby!!!  

Girlie, I think not...

Guess what folks?  My nails are painted.  Oh yes they are.  I painted Leah's last night and, in return, she wanted to do mine.  I debated and debated and finally let her.  I normally don't wear nail polish on my fingers.  It drives me crazy, and I'm not sure why.  Perhaps it is because I equate nail polish with being girlie, and I - my friends - am far from girlie.  

I think that I used to be a bit girlie when I was younger.  I liked to wear dresses and skirts and even wore heels. Now, I can twist my ankle just wearing tennis shoes.   I wouldn't mind being girlie, but there's a big problem:  I don't know how!  My hair, bless my heart, might be some of the worst hair in the world.  I have fought my natural curl/wave/frizz for YEARS, but have recently tried to embrace it.  With lots of mousse and gel, I can get it to curl without too much frizz, but then it looks hard and crunchy all day.  It is a no win situation.  I just have crappy hair genes.  

Make up is another girlie procedure that I am not good at.   I wear foundation - to cover the zits.  I wear mascara because my eye lashes are blond and without the mascara, I look like I am missing my eye lashes.   I wear powder  to cover the zits even more.   I have tried to do eye shadow but it just never looks right when I do it.   Lipstick - oh my mercy - if I put it on, I spend the next few hours constantly licking, trying to get every speck of it off.

I don't really have girlie clothes either, probably because I don't want to spend the money on them.  I like stuff, but I like it cheap!  It seems that the more girlie the clothes are, the more expensive they are.

Sigh.  I might be a girl by gender, but I am not good at it.  I guess I'll just continue to be me...plain ole' Erin who wears foundation, mascara, powder, and clearance rack clothes!  Woot!

Thank you for your time.  

Hugs and Prayers

I have recently read through some of the letters that my Granny wrote me while I was in college.  She was so good to write me, I'd get a few letters a week, and it always brightened my day to see her handwriting when I opened our mailbox at 7605 College Station Drive (Woo hoo - I'm happy I remembered that!)  Most of her letters were full of general day-to-day happenings of her and Grandad - what they'd been up to, what they were doing that week, etc.  Some were full of tidbits of gossip.   It is such a joy to be able to read back through these letters!  Some days, I miss that woman so much it is unreal.  Even after 4 1/2 years, it still hurts to know that she's gone.

Almost all of Granny's letters were ended the same way:  "Hugs and Prayers,"  Granny and Grandad.  I know that my Granny was one of the most faithful people in the world.  Even through her pains, and she had many of them, she never wavered in her faith.  It kept her going.  I know that she prayed for me, and I am sure that it got me through many a difficult times.  When I read her letters, sometimes I think that I'd do anything to have one more hug from her...and to see her praying one more time...sometimes when I read her letters, I can hear her voice in my head.  What a warm reminder of her!  I hope that I never forget what her voice sounded like.

This is highlighted in Granny's Bible.  I am so happy to know that
she's "Dwelling in the house of the Lord forever."  

I have lots of VHS footage with her in it and today, I decided to play one that I remember well...I tried to record it with my digital camera, so the sound quality might not be the greatest, but at least I got to see her, and got to hear her voice again.

Hugs and Prayers - what a great motto to live by!!!  

Love and Miss You, Granny!