Stress, anxiety, depression...oh my! Covid 19 Pandemic

Day 60 of quarantine

In my lifetime I have never encountered such a time as this. What is happening in our world is so strange and unpredictable. As a well balanced homeschooling momma of 14, I usually have my act together. Not great but at least I could handle the day to day ups and downs with a positive attitude.

This is a difficult time in my life with my normal schedule ruined. I am a strong woman when I am on my schedule, but this has thrown off my grove. I used to be super active, OK that is a nice way of saying super spazzy, if I was born in the 90's they would say ADD. My dad called it "monkey glands," I call it my super power.

Being off my schedule has caused me to fall apart in many ways like gaining around 15 lbs and being ultra lethargic. My house is getting messier and messier. I don't have the energy to do much. Everyday I have been surviving on watching daily mass, doing morning prayer with parishioners, doing a light workout, face timing family or friends to see a face other than my darling family at home, getting outside, taking a candlelit bath with praise and worship music, and watching family movies almost every night.

Today a priest I have been following for daily mass, said today that we need to fight against spiritual sloth and mental stupor. "We need to engage, the Goal is not to just endure the virus but to make the choice to sacrifice, than love, than friendship with Christ."

I am really appreciating the slowing down of my super crazy schedule, God is bringing lots of blessings to many families by having time with their daddy's, and working from home with their babies. I am not enjoying trying to do zoom school. This is not the homeschooling I have been used to for 30 years! As you can see from the classroom baseboard my kids aren't loving it much either.

This time of year I am busy planning and hosting parties,now its all cancelled. How else is my home gonna get cleaned if I don't have a party to host? Easter, First Communion, my birthday, Mother's Day, my daughters baby shower, seeing my grand babies, two graduation parties, the Father/daughter dance, end of the year banquet, not to mention all the sports...so many things cancelled. My old month looked like this...so God has given me a gift. This month everything is crossed off.

For an extrovert this is hard to deal with. I get out of the house each day but I am used to more of a schedule and without one, I literally lay on the couch and wonder what I have the energy to do. It's also hard on my marriage. My poor husband, I am trying to keep up with the housework when I am not trying to miss one of the ten zoom meetings we have. My husband is an extreme introvert and his schedule hasn't changed except that we are all home now, ALL. THE. TIME. So, he hasn't had his usual time by himself when we leave for the home school tutorial. This makes us more edgy than normal. My poor kids long to see their buddies again, thank God for letter writing, they have really embraced that fun skill lately.

So, lets keep praying for our world to get through this time with prayer and fasting and hope our churches open again. We need each other. Remember to keep reaching out to others and don't let anyone get left behind. Many are struggling and need our support.

Menopause support supplements 

My old schedule looked like this: 
Get up at 4:30 am and go to the gym
Go to 6:30 am mass
Quiet time before the kids woke up
Do school
Have lunch
Do jobs
Get ready for dinner
Eat
Try to pray as a family
Get ready for bed
Pass out between 9:30-10:00 pm

My new schedule looks like this:
Get up around 7:00 am
Take large amounts of Menopausal supplements
Brush teeth
Try to put on makeup
7:30 am light work out
8:00 am listen to online mass
8:30 am Do morning prayer 
9:00 am online school
11:30 am lunch
12:30 get dressed if not dressed yet
1:00 pm put baby down for nap
Take a candlelit bath with praise and worship music

Lay on the couch and do nothing

5:00 pm Dinner

6:00 pm try to pray

6:30 pm watch TV

8:30 pm put kids to bed

9:00 to 11:00 Lay around usually watching TV

Try to go to bed before 11:00 pm

Thy Will Be Done!!! +JMJ+

A Day in the Life of a mom of 12!!!

Another Busy Day ahead for our family on Friday.
First of all it will my husband and my 22nd Wedding Anniversary!!!
I will officially be married more than half my life to my best friend!!!

Rob and I renewing our vows on our 20th anniversary...yes, I was 6 months pregnant...

Secondly my oldest daughter is graduating with her masters in Social Work at 8:30am...

This picture was last year when she got her under grad degree...
Can't wait for this years picture...I am 24lbs lighter now!!!

Then, my forth child will be graduating from High School at 2:30pm...My Two Graduates this summer when Lizzie turned 16!!!

What a blessing to have so much wonderful stuff happen on a wonderful day!!!

Thank you honey for asking me to marry you and listening to God on how to raise our family!!!

God Bless you Alex and Lizzie!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

NOTE TO YOUTH:

The best wedding gift you can give to your spouse is your virginity!!!

Hold on to it...protect it...embrace it...guard it...appreciate it!!!

This is one of our favorite books...

The Joyful Mysteries of Life is a good place to start with your young girls...

Pray and ask God to protect your purity and watch out for what you see, hear, and do!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM YOUR SEVEN SONS

DADDY AND HIS DAUGHTERS

46 REASONS WHY I LOVE YOU:

1. I love that your forever my one and only
2. I love your cute face
3. I love your fathering
4. I love your balance
5. I love being married to you
6. I love you accepting me for my crazy self
7. I love your pessimistic personality…even if it annoys me at times
8. I love that you let me homeschool our kids
9. I love that you help me with the kids
10. I love the taste of the salt on your skin after running
11. I love waking up in the morning especially when you cuddle
12. I love when you work from home
13. I love your hair especially when it is short
14. I love you when you help me during labor, even when you got to hole Kolbe
15. I love how you think I am hot when I am pregnant
16. I love that you let me stay home with the kids
17. I love that you support my faith
18. I love how I feel safe in your arms
19. I love how you let me cuddle up next to you in the winter for warmth
20. I love your sardonic smile
21. I love that you don’t mind when I go shopping at the consignment shop
22. I love when you wear your running pants
23. I love you when you hold me after a good cry
24. I love that you balance our checkbook
25. I love to watch you sleep
26. I love that you let me text you at work 20 times a day
27. I love how you hold our babies on your chest
28. I love when you read to the kids
29. I love to rub your shoulders
30. I love to hug you from behind
31. I love that you think that I am the pick of the litter
32. I love when we pray together
33. I love that we are BFF’s
34. I love your gross toes
35. I love your warmth
36. I love when you teach me to do new things on the computer
37. I love that you think that I am more beautiful at 42 then at 16 when we met
38. I love how you are a hard worker
39. I love that you are a great parent to our teenagers
40. I love TTN
41. I love HT, HS, and any H day
42. I love that you are funny
43. I love that you help me when I am lost
44. I love that you are so smart
45. I love that you like to read
46. I love that I love your more today than the day we were married

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Happy 21st Anniversary Honey:

True Love...
This is a very exciting day...
I married you when I was 21 years old...
now being 42 I am thrilled to be your wife for half of my life!!!
+Pretty amazing+

Hmm, I think our day went a little like this:

12 am May 20, 2010-
Husband in bed with wicked stomach virus, someone crying upstairs, I go to get the 8month old and start nursing him back to sleep...call to 14 year old to get 4 year old who is upstairs crying...

12:30 am-
Finally fall back to sleep...

4:30 am-
Wake up to 2 year old crying and had just wet his crib...change clothes and blankets, convince him to go back to bed...

5:45 am-
Baby wakes up...

6:30 am-
Two year old says he is up now!!!

8:30 am-
Try to decide how to get to mass to celebrate my anniversary...

8:35 am-
Sick husband yells from his room...4 year old is in bathroom covered in diarrhea...throw her in shower...get dressed...

9:30 am-
Tell 15 year old to get ready to go and take her learners test...

10:10 am-
Get baby in bed and drive to DMV...say the rosary for daughter's successful test...

10:40 am-
Get to DMV, check in, find out we forgot to get "school form" for attendance...must go home...text 17 year old at home to get form off internet...

10:55 am-
Get home, get form, drive to umbrella directors house for signature of form...go home...

11:05 am-
Nurse baby, feed kids, do laundry, get 17 year old son who was barfing the night before ready to go and pick out tux for the prom next week...

Noon-
Pick up "prom date" go to tux shop pick out very handsome black tux, purple paisley vest, bow tie, black shoes, and plain white shirt...pay...get text saying hurry home-baby just threw up...

12:50 pm-
Get home clean and nurse the baby...get 2 year old down for nap...look over at 8 year old...looking sick...hmmm...put sick baby down for nap...

1:00 pm-
Get daughter to go DMV (again) to take test...she passes!!! Wait in long line for id...

2:30 pm-
Get home...take 6 year old for bike ride...

3:30 pm-
Get home...start thinking about the steak dinner on the grill...decide too many are sick...wait till tomorrow for nice dinner...

3:45 pm-
8 year old barfs on kitchen floor...

4:00 pm-
Make 4 and 6 year old girls happy and exchange gifts...mommy gets fancy shower head...dad gets cool trash can, hose carrier, and grill lighter...(we are sooo romantic- I mean practical)

5:00 pm-
Eat chicken nuggets and frozen pizza...convince the little girls that this is the celebration.
Had to remind them that last year was our 20th and very special. This year we were just happy with staying home.

6:20 pm-
Take neighbor to baton practice...(random)

7:00 pm-
Put baby to bed...try to get 2 year old to bed...took way too long...

7:30 pm-
Teenagers leave to youth group...husband and I sit to watch LEAP YEAR ...interrupted like 15 times by various children coming out of their rooms...uggghhh!!!

9:30 pm-
Go to bed finally...two year old decides to get up...I am ready to lose it...

10:30 pm-
Trying to post my anniversary blog...

11:15 pm-
Seventeen year old son calls downstairs to say 2 year old is awake and running around upstairs naked trying to kill a bug...go figure???

THIS IS WHAT TRUE LOVE LOOKS LIKE...
love is a feeling...
being with you honey is a lifetime!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

20 YEARS BABY!!!

TODAY is my 20 year wedding anniversary!!!

WOW...has it been a crazy ride!!! Got pregnant on our honeymoon and they kept coming!!! (thank God!!!) Let's see: 13 kids (one miscarriage), not to mention the diapers, nights without sleep, 1 hospital birth, 8 home births, and 2 birth care births, and 3 houses, lots of cars, suburbans, and vans, car accidents!!! Can't forget the many many great memories and laughs we have had and will have!!!

We are heading out for a second honeymoon to Florida with kids all at relatives!!! Wow-it has been since our first honeymoon that we have been alone for more than a night or two together!!!

My husband is amazing, helpful, patient, and did I say human?

I LOVE YOU HONEY!!! Thanks for putting up with me!!!

I look forward to another fantastic 2o!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

10 steps to Being a Better Wife:

10 Steps to Being a Better Wife


Before we try to change you, here are a few changes we'll try to make ourselves. Deal?By Sharon O’Brien

From my husband's post: (Ok wives it's your turn. Here is what you are supposed to do):

1) Take care of yourself

My honey is beautiful, nuff said. Grade A+++
I always can improve on this...I work on this harder each year.
Grade B

2) Say thank you, often

I usually feel appreciated. Grade B
I never could thank him enough...11 kids, great home, get to homeschool our kids, my every desire!!! Even a washer and dryer upstairs when we have the money {hint-hint-honey}. Grade B

3) Keep the romance alive

Um, 11 kids. Some would call that a deterrent, not for us. Grade A+
It is easy with my honey...always working to be better...need to work on making our room a haven by cleaning and organizing...not hiding my junk there.
Grade B

4) Let him have "guy time"

I workout at least once a day, sometimes with friends. Grade A+
LET HIM...ummm I guess I don't complain too much.
Grade A-

5) Make your husband a priority

Sam always wants to know how my day was, what I’m thinking etc…so I guess the grade is an A. Assuming you like that kinda stuff.
Of course, you like that kinda stuff...you are very patient with me with the kids coming between us at times...especially when the babies come and gets lots of my time...AND ENERGY!!!

6) Don't try to change him

For the most part, this is no longer a problem. I think Sam has realized that trying to change me has the opposite effect. Grade B+
OPPOSITE EFFECT-right!!! I gave up on trying to change you years ago!!!
Grade B

7) Don’t make him guess—tell him what you want

I think I always know what she wants and what’s on her mind. Sweetie’s no shrinking wallflower. Grade A
I have NO problem telling what I want...my skill needs to be to keep my mouth shut...you do not take my advice easily...I am learning to keep my pie hole shut!!!
Grade B

8) Cultivate friends and interests outside your marriage

Sam has more friends than a swimsuit model asking to have sunblock rubbed on her on a crowded spring-break beach. When we have a party the house, yard, street, neighbors yards are overflowing with people. I’ve banned her from making new friends. Grade A+
I have too many friends...Rob doesn't let me make any more...so I have to sneak them in!!!My skill needs to be to enjoy my family and the friends I already have!!!
Grade B

9) Let free time be free

I do get free time to pursue activities but I also get booked with lots of other activities. Grade B
OPPS...Rob, you balance me...I totally overbook...sanguine temperament.
Grade C

10) Believe in your husband, and let him know it

Sam’s got this one down. Grade A
I think I am OK...but always room for improvement!!!
Grade B

Needs of a Man and Woman

This is from a very holy priest Father Michael Sliney:
The #1 need for both men and women is God’s grace through the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist, and lots of prayers from their loved ones!

7 Needs of a Man

1. A holy wife who brings calm and peace to the household.
2. Physical intimacy
3. Cave time…a need to be left alone
4. Give advice when offered but do not offer advice when not asked (nagging)
5. Time with the boys (golf, basketball, outings with his friends)
6. Realistic expectations…the wife should not expect too much, too fast in terms of generosity and self-giving. He will change if he sees this change in his wife first.
7. Service- to “get done” the things that he asks of you, especially the details of managing the house.


7 Needs of a Woman
1. Quality Time with her husband- one on one, without blackberry’s or interruptions
2. Appreciation- to recognize the objective sacrifices that she makes every day for the whole family.
3. Allow them into your world- patiently answer ALL of their questions and keep them fully up to date with all the details
4. Kindness- the tone, the sincerity in the words you use, this really matters!
5. Time with the gals (allow them to take a few week-ends off to be with their friends, etc…husbands should offer to occasionally take the kids)
6. Listen, REALLY listen to them, show sincere empathy and do not try to solve their problems…
7. Give them a hug!

Why, oh why did I ever show my wife how to turn on the computer

She now knows just enough to be a danger to the world wide web. Of course now I have to help her with the technical aspects of this here blog. So if anything looks messed up on here that would be my fault. Also be warned that I have her password and can now post on here. I'm no where near as nice as my lovely bride.

Peace out
Rob aka Husband to Cecilia the Fox