Happiness

Flashback from 2007- Asher eating Mac n Cheese, a favorite around here Yesterday, for our date night, Josh and I went to Tysons Corner Mall for the first time since we've moved here. It's located in Virginia- a 20 minute drive from us- and as a salesman was telling us in Bath and Body Works- it is the 11th biggest mall in the U.S. with the first MAC store ever. It is HUGE! Huge ceilings, tons of people, lots of stores, I felt like I had stepped into a different land! Needless to say, once I got there, I was so excited! I love shopping and I love malls. Also, I'm a little manic. Shopping for a manic person in like Willie Wonka's Chocolate factory for chocolate lovers, or something like that. Good thing I had Josh with me. Yesterday was a busy day for me: walking a mile, doing Zumba for half an hour, going swimming with Asher for an hour at our local pool and then taking all four kids after their last day of summer school to an outdoor splash pool with slides and fountain...

Getting little boys to kiss each other makes them laugh with the sillies! I woke up this morning, all excited for my new goal of writing (and posting) a blog post every day. Sure, I almost do that already- except Saturdays and Sundays- so it probably won't be too hard to do, but it's a new challenge and a GOAL and I LOVE GOALS! My latest GOAL was to Run a 5k Race. I did it this month! Hooray! Josh says I should keep going and run another one in September. I wasn't sure about that. I loved doing- the training, the getting in shape, the race. I enjoy running. But, I don't see myself running race after race, trying to do bigger and better. For one thing, I know that will lead to running a marathon (26 miles aka 4 hrs at least of running) and there's no way I want to do that to my body. I know that it would be a challenge to train for. I know it would be an incredibly cool challenge to accomplish. It's just not for me. So, what CHALLENGES are for me? These: 1. Write...

It's hot. I'm tired. But I haven't posted yet today so I am here. We just got Netflix streaming through our wii. It is awesome. You put in a free disk that you get from Netflix.com with your membership and then you can get movies and tv shows to watch instantly. From your tv. It's like a movie store in your own home. Only without the late fees and that pimply teenager at the front desk. It does make the internet run slow on our home computer though. So, tonight, while Josh was pulling a late nighter at work, I was paying bills, folding washcloths and laughing at the subtle jokes in Julie and Julia that I have missed before and I knew. I knew what I would blog about for today. A challenge! The challenge: Write a blog post every day for 365 days. That's right. Just write something down. It can be funny. It can be dumb. It can be out-of-this-world novel type quality. Either way, it will be written down. This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott. Day 365, counting down.....

/blog.cjanerun.com/2010/07/i-want-lot-of-children.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CJaneEnjoyIt+(c+jane+enjoy+it) Except I want six or seven children. Or six. Or seven. Okay, maybe just six! This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

So, here's a little story for ya- I found a way cute blog about two years ago. It was back in the day when I bookmarked everything that I liked. Yep, I had like pages and pages of bookmarks. No google reader yet (which I don't really use BTW, I just look at for fun occasionally- I just use the blog list on my blog). Josh kept telling me to cull down on the list of my bookmarks and I would- every so often. Bloggers would come and go, go private or just leave to another domain. Some I lost interest in. Others I no longer connected with. A few have remained strong. marthawrites.com is one of them. She changed blog sites and I changed along with her. Two days ago I commited myself to putting her button on my blog- that's it, she made it big time in my book. Then I read a post that she wrote about her miscarriage. That's it. I could blog stalk no longer. I commented. One of the 150 commenters. I mentioned in the comment that I thought I knew her (which I did) and that I had...

I finally downloaded the pictures off my camera so I can post about Asher's 4th birthday! We did a lot of fun stuff! We planned to celebrate it officially on Sunday but on his real birthday he had to open at least one present. I love this look on his face, although it is blurry! I think the present is a set of jungle animal toys. His birthday fell on a summer preschool day, so we had a little celebration for Asher and learned about the beach and oceans. We have blue frosted graham crackers with red fishies and gold fish crackers and made our names in real sand from the beach. He loved having all his friends over (A, T, J, E and T) I wanted to make Asher a blueberry cake (since it's blueberry season) or a dirt mountain with bikes cake but he requested a basketball one. When he saw it he said "No, a BASKETBALL one!" "This is a basketball one, Asher." "A basketball one!" "You mean, a soccer ball one?" "Oh, yeah. A soccer ball one."...

Me and my new hair cut! Why don't I get my hair done more often? Feeling sick today. On the down low and in bed and reading and on-line and still manic. Here's a little something that made me cry today. Also, wish me luck for tomorrow- I'm speaking in Church on the importance of choosing wholesome entertainment for your young children and boy, do I have some stories to tell - and some advice to give! Mormon.org has a new thing going where it posts profiles of Mormons on their website. You can type in your gender, age and religion and it will pull up a profile of a Mormon who is just like you. I loved listening to Jane Clawson Johnsons's about being a Mother. She is the author of I am a Mother and was a big time journalist before her journey to Motherhood. I could read and listen to their stories all day! Each story is so unique and different! Like Josh's Mom used to say "This Church is a class act!" Seriously. This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott. p.s...

My Dr. prescribed me Omega 3 fish oil yesterday. 3 x a day. 1000 mg. Who would have thought? I'll let you know how it goes! This is my blog. My name is Megan Rose.

taken August 2009 Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you just have to roll with it. Yesterday all 4 kids got sick with a fever of 100-102. They were cranky, then tired, then cold, then hot, then hungry, then thirsty, then throwing a few tantrums, then asleep. It started at 1 pm yesterday, when we picked up the kids from summer school (oh yeah- they go to summer school from 9-1 pm with free breakfast and lunch in July. It's an option available because our school is a title one school and we like it) and he asked for a blanket. It was 95 degrees outside, with high humidity. I gave it to him and he was happy. Elizabeth came home and said she was cold all day. I checked her head- burning hot! 100 degrees. I gave her tylenol and sent her to bed. I checked Asher. Same. Tylenol and blanket. Ethan? Nothing. Jonah- hot too, but refused thermometer and medicine. It's sad because Jonah needed the medicine but he was so sick he couldn't think straight. He spit out most of the...

So, after a half hour nap, a frantic call to my Dr. for the third time that day and a smooth call to Josh and cleaning the kitchen and folding the kids laundry I slept through the night (mostly, woke up at 7:15 am and felt much better. That means I'm not too manic! Yay! If I can: 1. Keep the household running (doing dishes, laundry, picking up, fixing meals, etc.) 2. Get 6-8 hours of regular sleep at night. 3. Sit down to blog somewhat clearly and be aware of the state I am in. Then, yes. I am doing okay. And that is always a good thing. This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott. p.s. It's also wise to avoid caffeine when you are even slightly manic. I drank a Dr. Pepper on Monday (the first whole one in 14 years- that I can remember) and it didn't help the situation. At all.

Manic! No time to write! Gotta go! I'm definitely manic. Not manic as in nervous breakdown- I need to go to the hospital manic. Just the clean out the whole garage and the lazy suzan that has been unorganized for three years and talk up a storm and get nervous at night and wake up at 3:30 am manic. I haven't been exercising for three days and have been staying up a little later with company. That could have done it. The fact that I've reduced my lithium by 75% was the main factor. I guess life never goes how you plan. I'll most likely go back on the medicine. Hopefully not the Depakote- that one makes me sleep too heavy and I rarely dream. I have lots of extra lithium and am tempted to just start taking my normal dose again (1200 mg instead of 300 mg) but will have to call my Dr. first. Maybe I'll try reducing my medicine again in 3 months. When the kids aren't all at home keeping me busy (aka high stress situation). My Dr. said "When is your life not stre...

This morning around 5 am I was woken up with a lot of shaking! "Earthquake!" I said and woke up Josh. "Earthquake! Wait a second- does Maryland get earthquakes?" "No" he mumbled and went back to sleep. I couldn't sleep, so I went online and found a few people on facebook talking about it. They woke up too! It was an earthquake! In Germantown, off of Middlebrooke Road, 3 miles deep. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Quakes/quakes_all.php I talked about it with Josh a half an hour later. He said Maryland has never had an earthquake. It's either the last days or the Abbotts have always slept through the earthquakes. Josh slept right trough! Of course, it was only 3.6- like a train or a big truck coming through. I'm definitely glad it was an earthquake. I thought it was a withdrawal symptom from stopping/reducing my meds. All that shaking. I guess I brought the earthquakes from California with me! Phew! This is my blog. My name is...

I've got to get some pictures off my camera but until then here is a little medical update: Josh and I would still like to add on to our family. We've prayed about it and feel that the timing is right. So, we've decided for me to go off of the Lithium and Depakote and go from there. Last week I reduced the Lithium from 1200 mg to 600 mg. I reduced my Depakote from 250 mg to just half of that. It has been a week and I was doing pretty well. I woke up a few times, which is rare for me lately, but other than that I was fine. Yesterday I had a bad day. It was rainy so we couldn't go swimming and we don't have cable. Asher was sick with a fever and wouldn't eat very much. I had to get the oil changed in the Van and it took an hour. I tried to practice the Organ while the kids played in the gym and it was a disaster. Ethan fell down on his bike and scrapped up his knee. Elizabeth turned into a hormonal blob and went to her room two times in tears and anguish. At one t...

There are so many cute blogs and websites out there! Here are a few that I love: www.familystickers.com www.eliseblaha.typepad.com wwws.mint.com blog.cjanerun.com O.k. I'm done. And have I mentioned this yet? I'm baby hungry. Way baby hungry! This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

During the last three days of our trip to California we visited my hometown of Victorville, CA. It was amazing to see how much has changed in the 14 years that I left home (doesn't that date me?) My neighborhood has gone from one of stable income to poverty. The city pays it's residents $50 for every 5 square feet of grass they convert to gravel or concrete. This is an effort to conserve water. I guess a lot of people needed the money, because a lot of neighbors have rocks, dirt or junk for their yard. I'm glad my Parents haven't caved in to that culture. I took a few pictures of those yards which I may post later. Pictured above is my Mom, Joanie, and Elizabeth at good ole' Hook Park where we hung out all the time and my initials may or may not be engraved on the sidewalk somewhere. The Jr. High is just around the corner. All four kids in the gorgeous back yard my Dad works so lovingly at. I was trying to get a picture of Ethan and Jonah wearing matching shirts, bu...

I watched a particularly disturbing movie the other day (not rated R- but PG-13 and just really, really weird) and read a disturbing blog and was wondering what I could do to purge all that gunk out of my system. I decided to be grateful. Focus on all the good things in life and not the little bad things in life that can take away our happiness and joy. So here is my Multitude Monday: I am grateful for: 1. My family- immediate and extended. They love me and I love them and without them and their support, I would be utterly lost in this world. 2. My health- it's touch and go at moments, but currently I more healthy than I have ever been as I am running and not eating any junk (ok- some chocolate). 3. The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ (www.mormon.org). I love that I know why I am here, what I am supposed to be doing in my life, where I will all go after I die and that I can teach my children these things when they ask questions like "Do animals have souls?" (yes, they do!...

Asher, June 2010 at the ball field 3 1/2 2008- 2 yrs old 2007- 1 year old 2007- nine months old Dec. 2006, six months old, Baby's 1st Christmas Baby Joseph Asher Abbott, born July 8, 2006 Asher, you are four years old. Wow! Why is it that the years have gone by a lot faster with you than with our first child? With Elizabeth each year went by slowly and newly. For you, it whizzes by. You have blessed our lives with so much joy and happiness. Seriously. I didn't think our life could be added on to that much with Elizabeth and twin boys. Turns out it could. You amaze us. You are always bursting with energy always. You have a knack with Sports and you kick and throw anything you touch. At the store yesterday I was headed to the toy section and you saw the sports section and said "Here are the toys, Mom!" Like, don't you see? These are the toys- not the other stuff. Asher you have already memorized the first two articles of faith and you love the song "Follow th...

Me- tired after the long, hot run. Everyone was looking towards the Parade- not at me! Elizabeth and her close friend Madison I've been training for a 5k for quite a while now. Since January I think. The 5k training program I have is for 8 weeks. There were no good 5 K's going on in the end of February. Nothing. So, I stretched my training into sixteen weeks. I found a nice 5K downtown D.C. for the end of April and even registered for it. Then I got pregnant, miscarried and had to schedule the D and C for the same week as the 5 K. Bleh. The next one coming up was on July 4th. Two months later. July 4th? Are you kidding me? July is not a good time to run. Even I could tell you that. Me. The novice. So, I decided to do it anyways. Even if I would be gone on a vacation very soon before that. Even I had not stuck to my training schedule for the third time in a row. I was going to do it. So, I did it. And it felt SO GOOD! Yes, it was hot. Yes, it was tiring. But, I DID IT! I ran ov...

Happy July 4th! (taken 2009) Tonight, as Asher was going to bed, he yelled "Cannon Balllll!!!!" and jumped right in. That kid makes me laugh. Seriously. Also, tonight Elizabeth was crying because she felt like she was not ready for second grade (summer school starts on Tuesday). We showed her the straight A report card that she received, along with the fabulous remarks from her teacher and proclaimed that if she wasn't ready for second grade, no one was. Ethan saw a slinky at the airport and was determined to have one. We got one during individual time as I was scoping out presents to give to Asher this Thursday. I let him have it and he has loved it and carries it wherever he goes. Except the bath. I put my foot down on that one. Elizabeth bore her testimony today (without any prompting from me!) and told about how one time she woke up in the middle of the night and needed a drink of water and the hall way was dark and she was scared and she prayed and she got the drink ...

Isn't he a hottie? Monday Morning we went to Montana de Oro with Ellen and Anna. It was cold and windy but we came prepared. Josh helped all the kids climb up a huge rock. What a stud! I stayed and collected a pocketful of sea shells and rocks. I have this same picture but Elizabeth was almost three then and now she is almost eight. I should scan it in. Tuesday we did a tour of beautiful San Luis Obispo and then hit Avila beach. Here Josh insisted that I get in one of the pictures. So, here I am. I loved that mission by the way! So Spanish! Bubble gum alley. The kids thought it would all be pink. I guess that's the only kind I buy. They loved it. It grossed me out. Oh, well. Pirate Ship at Avila Beach, Ethan and Jonah Tuesday Night we had a marshmallow roast to say good-bye to cousins. It was awesome. Wednesday we drove eight hours from Paso to Victorville. Normally it would take 4.5 hours, but we stopped at Jamba Juice, Larissa and Jon's for a couple of hours and Charli...

Yesterday I randomly decided that today was going to be backwards day. That's right- backwards day. I had seen my friend do it and I thought it was a wonderful idea. They had all worn their clothes backwards, walked backwards, went up the stairs backwards. How fun is that? I thought! Turns out it was fun. For an hour. Make that 45 minutes. Yesterday we had a great time planning backwards day. I figured out everyone's backwards names: htebazile ("heh, ba, zeel"), nahte ("nate"), hanoj ("ha-noj") and rehsa ("re-sha") and mom and dad. Everyone giggled crazily when I would call them by their backwards name. I said Good night to Elizabeth and reminded them to wear their clothes backwards and say "Good night" when they woke up. Today started happily "Good night!" I thrilled as the kids woke up and I greeted them with a hooded shirt on backwards. The excitement died when Asher realized we would be having ice cream (dessert a...