Limit

Scott has always been very good at knowing when I've reached my limit with the kids. I love them like crazy, but every parent knows there sometimes is a point when you just need a break. We've been on Oprah's Debt Diet recently, and it's causing me to reach my limit much earlier than usual! Check out her website if you haven't seen the shows- it is a neat program. Anyway, we started it, not because we are in debt, but because it makes good sense and we have realized that there will never be anyone dropping bags of money and gold off at our front door. Because of the debt diet, I have engaged in some slightly insane activities, such as spending hours scanning coupons, sale ads, and making menus based on those sales and shopping 4 different grocery stores which are all very close by for the best deals on everything. You can imagine how well this goes over with a two year old and a five year old. I have also been trying to do free things with the boys like the zoo, the free movie at 10 in our area, the pool or cheap things like the previously posted about Jump House (which got me a free workout too, so who needs to pay for a gym?) All that to say, grocery days, previously fun and exciting to the kids, have turned into a nightmare for everyone, where I'm constantly saying, "No, we're not buying strawberries here, they are on sale at Tom Thumb," and hearing "WWWWHHHHHYYYYY? Baby want strawbeess!!!!!" Or, "Do they have a cookie here? Can I have a cookie? Why aren't there cookies? Can I ask her to get me a cookie?" After the second store on our way to the third is when I usually start searching the car for the Advil and begging for a bag of money on my doorstep when I return home.

Yesterday was shopping day, and when Scott got home, he took one look at my face and said, "why don't you go have some time to yourself for a while!" It pays to have a quiet, intuitive husband who notices things! Off to run errands alone and listen to Nelly Furtado if I want, I had a couple of hours to myself, which was much needed. I got home just in time to kiss my babies goodnight and then walked into a SPOTLESS house and a hot off the grill dinner just for me and Scott. He had fed the kids earlier and waited to eat with me. And after dinner, a chick flick... Failure to Launch. Thanks Scott for some time off and for noticing that I needed it before I asked.

Thanks also to those who have continued to pray for our family and check in on us after our miscarriage. We are better, but haven't been able to close that chapter completely... after seeing so many friends tear up years after their own miscarriage, I guess we may never. The pregnancy calendar in my head hasn't stopped... I should be 20 weeks, and the countdown to the due date- December 3rd- plays in my head constantly. There are some days better than others, and some situations that set off sadness, but I know God is healing our hearts.