TO HELL WITH YOU WRITER’S BLOCK

So, what do you do when you have writer’s block? You write about writer’s block of course!

In all of the time I have been writing there are two kinds of blocks I’ve run into. Type 1 is where you just plain and simple can’t write anything. Even a subject to write about escapes you. Type 2 is when you have everything you need to put a great piece together but the words just won’t come out right.

I guess for me, my latest episode of writer’s block leans more toward Type 1. I had a subject six hours ago when I started working on this blog post but decided early on that it was a subject better left until we know each other a bit better. So I was back to square one. Usually I can pull a subject out of thin air and go with it, but not this time. I sat there for 5.5 hours with nothing. Not one damn idea. Then I started to laugh because it was all so ridiculous that I was sitting there acting like a crazy woman for five and a half hours trying to decide what ideas and words to put on paper.  That is when it hit me, this blog post that I was trying so hard to write would be about the ridiculousness of writer’s block.

I sit there on any given day and think of 20 or 30 different subjects I might want to write about. If I can, I write them down and if not, I pray that I can remember them when I need to.  Then comes time to write, and all of the subjects I wrote down don’t appeal to me anymore so I am stuck trying to pull these other ideas out of my brain which frankly doesn’t work quite as well as it did before I had five kids. Seriously, pregnancy brain never truly disappears, it just morphs into mommy brain. Times five for me which equals MUSH.

Okay, so once I have determined that I have writer’s block, I try to find out why. Am I over stressed? Do I have too many mundane things on my mind? Are the kids bothering me? Am I on a deadline because of an appointment or previous commitment? If one of these applies, then I try to solve the problem. If I can’t, then I try other things. I’ve meditated, prayed and tried a change of scenery. Deep Breathing has sometimes helped too. If all goes well, I start writing and don’t stop until I choose to. If not, it is time to smack my head with my pen, or my cell phone, or my hand. And if that doesn’t work, I give it a break for awhile.

Yes, writers block can be so stressful and I guess smacking myself about the head is a bit extreme, but I’ve known and read about people who have really gone all out to end this awful state of mind.

I heard of one woman who would go bungee jumping or skydiving  to try to cure her block. That is something I would never ever do. Not because I don’t want to do those things (because I do) but because with my luck I would have that best selling idea on the way down and then crash to the earth where the awesome idea would die with me.

I knew someone who would sit in a chair with their legs on the back and their head hanging down to the floor.  I could see where that might make the ideas flow to the brain better, but again I would never do that because I would have that best selling idea and then I would pass out cold never to remember the idea again. Part of my ‘brokenness’ is migraines/sinuses/dizziness and I really don’t need to add to that if at all possible.

Now swimming is a writers block cure that I could get into. For me swimming can cure just about anything that ails me. But then I don’t have a pool, the city/rec center charges way too much, I don’t do bathing suits in public and I don’t have a baby sitter for the little ones on a moments notice. So in the end I will just have to whack myself upside the head in times of blockage emergency and hope that it doesn’t add to the brain mushiness that I have thanks to my five wonderful children.

Until next time…here is wishing you easy recovery from whatever ails you. <3

CREAM CHEESE PEPPERMINT COOKIES

This is my favorite Christmas time goodie recipe.  Enjoy!!!

Without the peppermint added

1 box yellow cake mix
8 oz cream cheese - softened or room temp
1/4 c butter - softened or room temp
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375
Cream together buter and cream cheese.  Add egg and vanila
Mix until well blended
Stir in cake mix a little at a time until all blended
Spoon onto cookie sheet
Put candy canes in baggie and crush with rolling pin or hammer and sprinkle on top of cookie dough balls
bake for ten minutes until edges are brown

BEAUTIFUL ALASKA - JULY 2012

I had some requests for pictures from our Alaskan Cruise in July so I thought I would share a few with you every week.  It was so very beautiful there and I hope you find peace in these pictures. (Most of the pictures were double tagged Juneau/Douglas Island because I can not remember which side we were facing when I took them.)

ON DECK NEAR JUNEAU/DOUGLAS ISLAND

NEAR JUNEAU/DOUGLAS ISLAND

NEAR JUNEAU/DOUGLAS ISLAND 2

OUTSKIRTS OF JUNEAU/DOUGLAS ISLAND COMING INTO VIEW

JUNEAU/DOUGLAS ISLAND

JUNEAU/DOUGLAS ISLAND

JUNEAU RIGHT BEFORE DOCKING

Keep an eye out for pictures from Mt. Roberts in Juneau next week.  It is truly one of my favorite places on earth.  

Until next time...<3

WE BE HICKS

Way back in 2004 we were given the opportunity to make a better life for our children. We grasped that opportunity and ran as fast as we could.

I had been struggling with the heat of Southern Nevada for years with constant headaches, being physically sick an average of 151 days per year and having to keep my little ones corralled inside because I couldn’t  go outside to keep an eye on them. (Downtown condo means no fenced yard.) It was an awful existence for all of us. The kids couldn’t burn off energy and they had to watch me be sick all the time and wonder if there was something seriously wrong with their mommy.

We did a lot of online research and even visited places we thought we may have wanted to live. We had 3 criteria for our move
1. No state income tax just like the place we were leaving.
2. Mild summers - the fewer 95+ degree days the better.
3. Low cost of living.
Our research led us straight to Wyoming and our visits led us to Evanston. So in early April 2004 we wrapped things up in Nevada and moved our then 5 year old (The Freshman) and 8 year old (The senior) to a new dark pink/salmon colored home in a quiet neighborhood.

The change was pretty much instantaneous. The kids could safely play in the back yard by themselves or out front with every other kid in the neighborhood.  The kids were finally happy! And as for me, it was wonderful to be able to drive them places without getting sick because it was too hot and it was nice to be able to sit outside on the front steps and watch them actually acting like kids! And you know, the friends and family that had bashed us and doubted us were starting to think that maybe we had made the right decision after all. Mom was healthy (minus yearly back trouble) and best of all, the kids were finally living a normal, happy life.

I’m not sure when things began to change. It may have been when we took in 3 dogs (plus the 2 cats we already had). It might have been when we had two more kids in quick succession and then one last fabulous oops a few years later.  It might have been when we moved to Casper which made it hard to get back to visit friends and family on a regular basis or it might have been when our oldest two reached the teen years and made decisions that were fine with us but no one else understood because they weren’t present to see what had really gone on. Whatever the reason was, somewhere along the way, we became dumb Wyoming hicks.

It wasn’t so much the title of hick that hurt us, but the fact that people who knew and loved us could think that just because we had a lot of kids, lived in a rural state, and lived in a mobile home, we were no longer capable of raising our kids properly past the age of 12 or of making proper decisions for our family because of a stereotype that they knew we didn’t fit.

It is bad when perfect strangers have these stereotypes of us, but when intelligent, educated friends and family have these prejudices, it is absolutely 100% heartbreaking. Especially when your 4 year old son comes up to you and asks what a hick is because he heard someone he loves call you that and you have to explain as best as you can what is going on.

If these people knew the truth about our lives (which I hope someday they will open up and be willing to learn about even if we aren't speaking anymore) they would know that:

1. We moved to a rural state not to become and turn our children into dumb  hicks, but to give them a chance at a HAPPY life. WE SUCCEEDED!

2. We moved into a mobile home not because we had become the hicks we are now accused of being but because it was the best way for us to give the kids outdoor space to play in while saving money on living expenses (lot rent and home mortgage) so we could afford all of the extra little expenses that come along with having an autistic child with many appointments every week [Gasoline, lunches on the run, behavior incentives etc.] And as a side note, Mobile home parks are NOT filled with hicks. It is just a less expensive way to live and be part of a tight knit community!  WE SUCCEEDED!

3. We had a lot of kids not because we were dumb hicks who didn’t know what birth control was (another stereotype), but because despite failed birth control and hard times, we were trusted with these children because we had so much love to give.  WE SUCCEEDED

4. We don’t allow our teens to make the mistakes they have made because we don’t care or are too stupid to know better, but because we know it will make them independent and strong. It is working - no one is pregnant, drinking, smoking or doing drugs.  WE SUCCEEDED!

All I ask of family, friends, and all people actually, is to please not buy into stereotypes. Especially when you know the person and what they are like, what they are capable of…Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. What is inside might surprise you. And if you’ve already read the book it most likely won’t change drastically by the time you open it again.

Until next time…Thanks for all of the support <3

CHRISTMAS DECORATING

The day after Thanksgiving is decorating day for us.  I think things turned out nice this year even if I couldn't wrap everything in lights because the store was sold out and our tree skirt disappeared into the great beyond so we had to use a Christmas throw :)

FUN TIMES

OUR TREE

OUR STOCKINGS

OUR DECORATION SHELVES

OUR ENTERTAINMENT CENTER

WHAT I AM THANKFUL FOR

Over the last month I have seen people posting day by day what they are thankful for.  It is a really nice thing to do, but I just couldn't do that because I would most likely forget to do it most of the time. Haha

So I figured I would do my Thankful list all at once on here instead of one of the social networking sites.

I am thankful for:
1. My kids who I love dearly even if they drive me nuts

2. My husband who I also love dearly even though he drives me nuts.

3. My home which isn't my dream home but it keeps me warm and dry and we are making a lot of great memories in it!

4. My country which might have problems but for now is free and beautiful.

5. My friends who no matter how far apart we are still support me.

6. My family (mom,aunts, uncles, brothers, cousins, in laws etc) who I don't see often but talk to all the time thanks to Facebook and email!

7. The internet that allows me to start my career and stay in touch with my friends and family

8. My dog, he might be totally crazy but he does offer me sweet kisses and stress relief.

9. My group of ladies who keep me sane and offer me love and support and I have only met one of them in person!

10. My supporters - All of the people who support this blog and my Facebook page. This endeavor makes me the  happiest I've been in years and for that I am grateful. <3 to you all.

MICKEY MOUSE NO MORE

       Our children reach many milestones throughout the years that let us know that they are growing. We are sad to see them walk because it means they are no longer our little babies. But it is also a time for joy because it means our children are healthy and becoming productive little humans. We are sad when they start talking because it means a loss of innocence (you know, the whole talking back thing) but it also means that they are growing up and will soon be able to communicate easier and this makes us happy.
Recently my 5 year old son hit a milestone, one that all of my kids have hit. It made me sad just like it did with the others and the emotions involved puzzled me to no end. One day, with no warning, my sweet little boy graduated from Mickey Mouse and Doc McStuffins to Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Kickin’ It.  He started to prefer big kid shows over little kid shows. Don’t get me wrong, he still enjoys cartoons, but instead of watching them all day, every day, 80% of our TV time involves shows that have real live people in them!
I wracked my brain for over a week trying to find something positive about all of this, and well, I found nothing. Plain and simple, this milestone means that he is growing up. It doesn’t’ give me the joy of knowing he is healthy and on schedule developmentally like most other milestones.  It just means he is one step closer to leaving me. Boo Hoo!!!
Most people who know me well know that I am that mom. You know, the one that sheds a few tears with every new milestone.  In the end, it just feels like a majority of them are happy tears.  But not with this one. This time they were definitely sad tears that I shed along with a couple of barely audible sobs. Really, they weren’t that loud I swear.
I guess you could say that milestones are, in a word, bittersweet - that is until your child decides they like real people more than animated ones.  After that you better prepare yourself for a world of heartbreak. Before you know it they are ditching you for friends and girlfriends, moving out and getting married. Waaaahhhhhhh!!!
One good thing, my youngest (Little Butt) has no real interest in TV so perhaps I can escape this horrible milestone with her… I can always hope!

Until next time…HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

WHAT I CAN DO!

        Because of my physical limitations, I used to be sad most of the time. I used to feel sorry for myself a lot too - until recently. (Oh boy, you should have seen some of the rockin’ pity parties I’ve had!) I’ve recently begun trying to retrain myself to be happy with what I can do and not worry so much about what I can’t.
I can’t go outside and roughhouse with the kids often (I bet my neighbors are glad they don’t have to see my fat butt running with a football or Frisbee), but I can make sure they are safe and then set them free to discover and create their own joys and methods of play. And most importantly I can be here to share the joys and hardships of their young lives. I get to be the first one to see their fresh, flushed faces and hear their near breathless joy when they first come inside from an exciting outdoor adventure. I can be the first one (and sometimes the only one) they share their adventures with!
I can’t spend all day making sure my family has a clean and comfortable house to live in, but I can help the kids by teaching  them how to keep their lives and houses organized and clean. I can also think up awesome room schematics and decor ideas that make their living space more comfortable. And I can turn a cleaning session into a fun group bonding moment.  I pick a room amid many moans and groans about the chore and I sort through drawers, boxes and mail while the kids do the organizing and straightening.  The afternoon quickly turns into an impromptu jam/gossip session and not only do we get to have a great time together, we get a clean comfortable room.
I can’t work outside of the home (I really, really miss retail during the holidays… and no, I’m not crazy I promise!), but I can always be there to give the kids anything they need. I can be their confidant, life coach and support system all rolled into one.  Because I don’t work, we can’t afford a lot of  ‘cool’ things for them, but I can help them enjoy what we do have.  Most of all, I can teach them that no matter what, all jobs have worth. Whether a job is inside or outside of the home or paid or not paid, hard work is hard work and we all need to do our best.
I can’t sit on the floor to play games with the family  but I can help them create ideas and ways to play while sitting next to me on the couch or bed.  I realized a long time ago that it was a good idea to keep old removable shelves from bookcases that we discard because they make great card tables and drawing surfaces! And all of the kids learn to drag a chair across the room at an early age in case they want to play near me but not right next to me.  Granted, it isn’t all totally smooth going because we always have to dig through the couch to find missing Legos and game pieces, but we have just as much fun playing my way as we would the traditional way.
I won’t lie, it has been a long road to ’positive land’, but it is worth it.  Life is so much better when you are happy with yourself.  There are a lot of things I can’t do, but there is so much more that I can! I have a lot to give my friends and family if they are willing to accept it.

Until Next time…<3

PICTURES

After my 'Step Away From the Boobs"  post I just had to share this picture. This is how little butt looks as she is about to devour the boob. You can just tell how much she loves it!

Mmmmmm Mmmmmm Milk!

Thought you might enjoy these too :) If you have any of these kind of things, please send them to me and I will share with everyone.  My email is brokenwifeandmom@gmail.com

CLEAN LIVING ROOM? EH, WHO NEEDS IT…ME!!!!!!!!!

     I’m not sure if I am the only one with this affliction or not, but I would love some feedback from my readers on this one.
I don’t know why this tends to be so embarrassing for me, but here goes…My name is JJ and I’m a mom of 5 and wife of 1 and I am obsessed with re-arranging my living room.  I do this at LEAST 2-4 times a year no matter what.  It isn't something that I can predict or control. It just  happens. One day I am sitting there and doing nothing when WHAM, I know that the next free day for the family will be spent with me walking around like a robot re-arranging or supervising my living rooms transformation. Truly people, I have no choice in the matter. I have to do it . I’m too afraid to find out what would happen if I ignored the urge. I think it is a possibility that my head might explode.
I used to wrack my brain for hours after the deed is done wondering why I did this.  Super Shooter thought it bordered on OCD. I thought it might be that it is one time when I know that I can get my living room 100% clean. Everything is organized and placed properly and every nook and cranny is dusted and vacuumed.  It is the one day that my living room looks perfect.  Eventually I decided I was right but if you think about it, I guess it could be said that this affliction is all about a person who is OCD about cleaning, dealing with having 5 kids and 2 adults living in a small space.  It is a coping mechanism.  As much as it pains me to admit it, Super Shooter was partially correct.
In an effort to clamp down on this behavior, I have tried a couple of things. First, I have doled out punishments for chores not done properly to myself and the kids (i.e. nooks and crannies not vacuumed.  I hate crumbs under couch edges and against the bottom of furniture.) After all, if the house stays spotless, there would be no need to re-arrange to get a good cleaning right? Yeah, it didn't work, I’m not sure my kids are capable of doing chores properly (I love them with all my heart anyway) I guess I just have to keep making them practice, after all, if they can keep their own houses clean they may escape this horrendous affliction ;). And truthfully, who doesn't like skipping chores occasionally to just relax or have fun with the family!?!?
I have also taken over all of the detailed parts of cleaning to the detriment of my physical well being but that didn't work either. No one does well with a mom stuck on the couch writhing in pain. And believe me, mom doesn't enjoy it either! So, for now we all just live with my problem (you should see the look the kids give me when I announce a re-arrange…bahaha!) and enjoy a perfect living room at LEAST 2-4 times a year.
     Oh and as you will probably come to notice, I also like to change the background/profile pic/cover photo on my blog and Facebook page a lot. Not just once in awhile, A LOT! But that has nothing to do with needing a clean living room so I wonder why??? Hmmm...

Until next time…Have a wonderful week before Thanksgiving!

OUR RELATIVES

There has been some confusion as to who I am talking about (relatives) in this blog.  Let me assure you that the ones I am talking about do not have access to the internet and I have told them how I feel about their antics in person! And they come from both sides of the family.  If you have access to the internet please be assured that we love you and so appreciate all of the support you have given us through the years. <3

STEP AWAY FROM THE BOOBS AND NO ONE GETS HURT

     There are so many things in life that can stress us out: 1.family problems (relatives thinking you are hicks and don’t know how to take care of your kids) 2.health issues (you can’t afford to fix the problem that made you have to quit your job so now your family is in financial hardship) 3.work problems (everyone is going to part time so they don’t have to give health benefits so it is impossible to find a new full time job to better support your family) can throw us for a loop. For me all of the above apply and you might think my life is full of stress because of these, but nope. These problems do cause stress, but not nearly as much as one thing that is seemingly minor, one thing that should flow nice and easy, one thing that is a normal part of a mom’s life (for some). Yep, that’s me, I’m the one FREAKING OUT OVER WEANING MY BABY!!!
All of my kids have been easy to wean.  My first weaned herself at six months.  The second I cut off cold turkey after I almost smothered her with my bountiful boobage when she was two weeks old. My third was a horrible sucker so she just ‘sipped’ off and on for six months.  When I became pregnant with my son, I stopped her cold turkey and really she could have cared less.  My son was addicted with a capital A from day one.  I think he was asking for ‘BB’s’ at 9 months.  I decided to nurse him until he was 2 and as the end drew near I had no idea how I would get him to stop.  I feared this would be the worst time of both of our lives.  On the day before his 2nd birthday I was eating potato chips and some fell into my bra, cutting me.  I asked my wonderful sweet son to stop nursing because mommy 'had an owie' and I gave him my pouty look.  BAM, he was done - no more boobs ever!
Then came my little butt.  She was soooooooo attached from almost day one.  She was a world class nurser even when the girls tried to give out on us after three months of nursing.  Now we are approaching that dreaded 2 year mark.  Like most almost 2 year olds that still nurse, Lily is NOT down to just morning, nap and night time sessions.  She nurses All. The. Damn. Time! I tried telling her that it hurt me and all she did was laugh and play stretchy poppy with my nipples :/ Then recently I was having really bad breast pain problems so I flat out told her no boobies.  She cried for an hour!!! When she started turning a redish purple color I had to give in no matter how much my body needed a break from even more pain.  So now you know why I am stressing so bad.  How the hell am I going to wean this child! She won’t listen to reason (most two year olds don’t - although my boy did) and if I let her cry it out she tries to deprive herself of oxygen and pass out.  I’m going to be nursing this child till she is twenty.  That might make her first date and high school graduation a bit awkward but hey she’s the one who won’t give up the boob right?!?!

As my dad used to say, “it’s the small things that stress us out the most”.

Until next time…<3

TRICK YOUR CHILD!

In our house 5 is a big birthday. I guess because it means that school is in the near future and that is a huge life change. We usually like to make a big deal about it, but when you are barely making it paycheck to paycheck you have to do the best you can and hope your child is happy.  Well I must say that we succeeded this year with all of our littlest ones, most recently with our son who turned 5 on November 7th.

Step 1 - Buy gifts that make it seem like they are getting more than they really are.  For example, this year be bought Mr. Crazy two four packs of Play Doh and a Switch and Go Dino (both things he had asked for). To us, we had bought him THREE cheap gifts that fit our budget, but to him, we blessed him with NINE perfect treasures! And if we had been forced to switch out the $17 Dino for a 3 dollar power ranger action figure he would have been just as happy so don't worry if you have an even smaller budget, it still works!  [ I must say that the older a child gets, the less this works, but when they are older they know more of what is going on in the family dynamic and they know they are lucky that they were able to get anything at all - It all works out!]

Step 2 - Make the celebration last two days. Give a present on the day before the birthday and let them take a day off from chores (or another hated activity). Then have the rest of the celebration the next day. For our son this year, The Shooter had to work swing on the actual birthday so we let the boy open a present and go shopping for his own toys with the birthday money from his Aunt and Uncle. He had an awesome day playing with all of his new toys and feeling like the special "Birthday Boy". On day two of the birthday celebration (the day after the actual birthday) he opened the remainder of his presents, took us out to lunch at McDonalds (his favorite), ate his favorite meal for dinner- that he was allowed to chose and put on the menu, and had cake.  It turned out to be a really fun birthday party! [ This may sound selfish, but this particular step is very helpful to me.  With my physical limitations it allows me to spread things out so I don't hurt myself and I don't get as tired.  And we all know  how exhausting a child's birthday can be!]

3rd - Let the child chose their favorite meal as their 'birthday dinner'. Everyone has to eat anyway so there is no extra expense but the child feels special because they got to CHOOSE their favorite meal for their special night.  Mr Crazy choose homemade Mac and Cheese and BBQ Chicken chunks with mixed veggies.   YUM!!!

4th - A homemade cake saves lots of money and you can usually buy a character kit really cheap if that is what you want.  Or you can do simple decorations yourself! (We actually had a store bought cake this year because there was a bit of leeway in the food budget)

5th - Give them special privileges throughout the two days.  You might let them go first out the door when going somewhere or they get served all meals first, let them pick out which toys to play with before other siblings or let them pick out the books to read.  There is so much more you can do to make them feel like number one, but I won't bore you with more details because I'm sure you get the picture.

So, if you have a small budget, don't fret that you can't make the day special for your child.  You can do it for very little money! And I must say that it can be very hard to 'pull one over' on a child but this has never failed us and it's kinda fun knowing that you are completely in charge for once ;). After all, everyone knows that kids rule the roost!

Good luck and until next time...Hugs and Love to all of you!

Don't forget to visit my Facebook page and feel free to like and share it with your friends

Facebook page link.

FACEBOOK PAGE!!!

www.facebook.com/brokenhousewife

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I EAT BON BON'S ALL DAY

     What does a housewife and mom with physical limitations do all day? Does she sit on her Throne and eat slimy, icky stuff like Jabba the Hutt(or on the couch and eat Bon Bon's like a stereotypical housewife)?  Truthfully, stereotypes and comparisons like that offend me, but also in truth I do have an occasional day where I do absolutely nothing physically or mentally.  Chronic pain can motivate you some days and knock you on your ass some days.  And this is the story of my life.

     Do I cook three square meals a day, clean every inch of the house, do dishes, do at least two loads of laundry, take the kids to two different parks and 'service' my husband before bed everyday?  Well, no I don't (and if you do, might I say wow, just wow!)  However, I also don't sit on the couch eating Bon Bons, ignoring my kids and having sex chats online all day either.  And I don't keep my kids on leashes and whip them if they don't keep my house spotless (have you ever seen my house 0-o). I do have relatives however that think the above is how I live my life and yeah that hurts, but it is a subject for another blog. 
     My true life is somewhere in the middle. I do my share of sitting on the couch playing games and on Facebook, but it is usually when the pain gets to be too much and I need to get my mind off of it.  I do pay all of the household bills (the family better hope nothing happens to me because I am the only one who knows all of the passwords, user names and account information ;p). I do the doctor visits and appointments for the kids plus I am majorly involved in menu creation and grocery shopping with The Shooter or The Senior.  I can fold laundry, help cook occasionally especially if it is something I can do sitting down, do dishes occasionally and once in awhile I can manage a major cleaning job in the kitchen or bathrooms (Yeah, my kids do a lousy job hoping I will magically heal and do it myself from then on - I WISH!!!). But sometimes it just gets too icky and I have to take charge as best as I can.
     So how do I keep my house decent you might ask??? Well, I have four kids who do chores nightly for 30-60 minutes(takes them longer usually though because they goof off, get distracted by the TV and pretend to go to the bathroom etc.).  But we work together and manage just fine. :)
     My biggest role in the house is 'whip cracker' [Figuratively people, FIGURATIVELY!] I organize, problem solve, arrange, discipline, and offer emotional support and love. And believe you me, you haven't played war games with a four year old boy until you have ambushed troops from a stationery position on the couch (with fire burning it's way down the outside of your thighs) and won. Now that is what I call fun. :D
     The next time someone with chronic pain or injury says they don'y want to, or can't do something, give them the benefit of the doubt. Let them give you what they can - amazing ideas, emotional support, fun, love and so much more. Believe me, it will be enough.
     Now off to fix lunch and pick up the living room for the second time. Yes that is another thing I do, although by 4:00 you really can't tell and the kids take over for that round of chores. 

Until next time...visit and like my Facebook page :)
    

INTROUDUCING ME

Introducing ME - and my brokenness (is that even a word?)

         I am a 44 year old wife and mom to 5 who will henceforth be known as JJ the broken mom/wife. It will be up to you, my readers, to decide if I am broken because of my physical limitations or because I am just plain crazy! Broken mind or broken body - you choose.
So, the bottom line is I have bad hips, the last two discs in my back are too close together and I suffer from sinus induced dizziness and eye migraines (i.e. flashing lights and squiggly lines that I affectionately call my pet sperm), all while being a housewife and mom to 5 crazy kiddos who in turn make me a little off my rocker.
Allow me to introduce you to the players in my life that you will probably be hearing a lot about. First of course is the man who made me a wife and mom but did not break me physically (although he can make me crazy in many ways ;)) He will be known as “The Hubs” as we never had to try more than once to get pregnant with each child - hmmm, maybe I should be known as Fertile Myrtle???)
My 19 year old daughter is beautiful, smart, a bit full of herself and has really bad taste in/luck with men, but she was the first love of my life as a mom.  She is just plain Awesome! She will be known as “The Senior”
My 17 year old daughter is cute, very smart, talkative and LOUD.  She has Asperger’s Syndrome (an Autism Spectrum Disorder) and although she can be quite a handful, I wouldn’t trade her for the world. She will be known as “My Little Giant” because she is taller than me!

B     I       G             G      A     P

My 8 year old daughter is beautiful, smart and crazy and can be a bit of a handful.  I think her favorite activity is to bully her siblings :P She will be known as “Miss Crazy”
My 7 year old son - our one and only boy - has had a rough few years.  His allergy meds were slowly turning him from a sweet helpful little man into a violent screeching monster.  It took us awhile to figure out what was really going on (almost 3 years 0.o) but he is off the meds and getting better.  He may require counseling and re-training but I think he is going to be my sweet little man again soon. He will be known as “Mr. Insane”
Last but not least is my baby girl.  She is 4.  She is the sweetest, funniest craziest little chickie that I have ever met.  She will be known as “Little Butt”
So, welcome to the family, I sure hope you enjoy our crazy ride!!!


P.S. For those of you who are wondering - and admit it people, you are wondering - All of my kids have the same father :p