Day 25: Sell, sell, sell

Today, I decided to use my computer time to generate money. So, I posted stuff on craigslist.org. These are two of the items I listed, and I've already received responses on both!












I've made a long list of items I plan on selling.

Other news today: my printed materials for Nurtured Mother arrived! Hooray! I now have business cards and brochures that I can send out to promote my doula business. Tomorrow I'll be packaging them up to take over to clinics and doctor's offices, and to anyone else that is willing on promoting me.
We're praying more income comes in soon. We've cut back everywhere we can think of, and Matt had great success in reducing costs on insurance and wireless services through his company perks program (he's already saved us over $300/year). Come October though, if we don't have some major income increases soon, our savings will be depleted. We're still hopeful he'll be promoted soon.

Day 24: Mirror, mirror...

I caught Eden playing with the mirror on her car while I was making dinner. It looks like she's kissing her reflection.

Day 23: Videos of the Kids

Matt took Owen to swim lessons, and Eden & I had one-on-one time. She's so easily startled, and she gets the giggles when I roar at her.



This one is Owen playing guitar, but I couldn't get him to play very long because he wanted to watch the video of himself. He absolutely loves to watch videos of himself.

(I started this post yesterday, and it took until today to get the videos to load.)

Day 22: Catching Up on Pictures

Today we returned to routine--mostly. Matt switched his schedule to help a co-worker, which meant he was home today.

It turned out well, b/c a few students also canceled today, so he had a nice long quiet morning. Owen enjoyed having his daddy around all morning too. It's amazing how just a few minutes with Matt can change Owen's behavior completely.

Today was also our last day of Bible study "A Divine Calling." *sniff* I wish we could keep going. It was what I looked forward to every Monday. It had become a renewing each week of this daunting task as "mother."

The batteries are re-charged, and here are some photos from last week. The first is Owen reading to Eden last Wednesday (after our first trip to the library).

This is my dad and Owen riding the train at the park last Saturday.

This is Eden waiting patiently for Owen to finish riding the train so she can go home and eat.

Day 20 & 21

Saturday blew by so fast, I didn't realize I hadn't posted until this morning. It was Mom & Dad's last day here, and we had a packed schedule.
We went to visit Aunt Karen in the morning, and then came home for naps. After dinner we went to the train park.

I wish I could share some photos, but the batteries in my camera are dead. I would LOVE to get a picture of the kiddos right now--Owen is wearing one of Matt's shoes, and Eden has the other--chewing on the shoestring. It's very cute.

Today was simply a day of rest. I made more jam, and that's the extent of what I've accomplished today. Sooner or later I'm going to have to face the berry stains on the counters, but for now I'm just enjoying a quiet day.

Day 18 & 19: Biscuits and Jam

I made jam! I made jam!

Okay, so I didn't post anything yesterday, but I was tired!

After getting the kids up & ready for their day, Mom & Dad came over so I could go shopping for jam supplies. I wanted to make a sugar-free jam, and apparently you have to use a special pectin that is only sold at two stores in town.

I found the pectin, and bought jars. Then I came home to get ready for my afternoon date with my husband. We received a "complimentary entree" from P.F. Chang's, which was good for a FREE New York strip steak lunch! Cool. (Side note: When we've gone to P.F. Chang's for dinner-dates, we've had miserable experiences--loud, rushed, etc. This afternoon date was MUCH MUCH better. Great service, quiet, and really enjoyable.)

We walked around a bit, but we both wanted to get home & make jam. (Yes, I know, we're weird--a "fun" date is making jam together.) We had to get a couple more ingredients (limes and white grape juice concentrate), and then we headed home.

We spent the rest of the afternoon making jam. It was lots of fun, SO much easier than I had thought.

I told my folks to come over early on Friday morning, and I would make a big breakfast of buttermilk biscuits (yes, from scratch), bacon, and eggs. The best way to try out jam is on fresh biscuits.

So, this morning I made biscuits, bacon and eggs, and we ate jam. Wowzer! It's SO good. It's not super-sweet. Just rich-raspberry good! Matt came home on break & inhaled 4 biscuits on his own. I thought I might give these away for Christmas, but I'm not sure how I'll part with them!

Day 17:

I'm not doing a great job of taking pictures while my folks are here (they've been taking plenty--maybe I should just download some of their shots).

Today Mom & Dad watched Eden while Owen and I went to the pool. It was so cold today & overcast, so we didn't stay long. Owen really wanted to go down the big slide, but I'm not quite ready for that! We did go into deeper water (3 whole feet) to practice going under. He did a great job.

Eden says "Dada" pretty much all day, but I realized today that she does say "Mama"--but only when she's really upset (mad or sad). It would be nice if she said it when she's happy, but I'll take what I can get!

Tomorrow Matt & I have an afternoon date planned. I can't wait! We got a coupon in the mail for P.F. Chang's, so guess that will be where we go. Just getting away for a few hours alone with my husband will be fantastic no matter where we go.

Day 16: The Library

Today was the kids' first trip to the public library. I had planned on taking a picture of the stack of books and videos Owen checked out, but well, Owen liked his books so much that he's sleeping with them.
Yep, I'm grinning ear to ear that my boy likes books so much. I love that he stays up late reading, and insists on several being read before bedtime and nap time.
Tomorrow we're headed to the public pool to practice Owen's mad swimming skills he's learned in class. Lessons are going very well. Owen really enjoys being in the water.

Eden said her first word today. I attempted to get it on video, but of course she clammed up every time I turned on the camera. Much to my dismay she is clearly saying "Dada." :( Matt, of course, is quite pleased with his little girl.

Day 15: Pictures

Hooray! The pictures from our family photo session are finally ready. Kammi & Ross from Elegant Images did an AWESOME job. Check out their blog http://www.xanga.com/Elegantimages to view a few of our pictures.

Day 14:

Just a quick note, because it's late and I'm tired.

Mom & Dad arrived safely tonight. They watched the kids while we met with financial counselors. The meeting went well, but as expected, it wasn't good news. We're about 2k short each month, and somehow we have to stop spending that much and/or start making that much more. *Sigh* We're feeling quite low tonight--not to mention exhausted.

My friend Wendy (the one leading the awesome bible study I've been attending) just started a blog. http://adivinecalling.blogspot.com It's great!! (Way to go, Wendy!) I can't wait to read more.

That's all I've got tonight.

Day 13: A Bunch of Berries

We've got quite a collection of berries, and tomorrow I plan to attempt making jam.

We had a quiet day--Matt worked, came home for a couple hours & then was off to All Shook Up for the second show.

My kids LOVE salmon. Tonight we made smoked salmon, wild rice, and ate fresh green beans from the garden. Owen gobbled down two helpings of salmon and rice. Eden got her first bite salmon, and really enjoyed it too. I'm so glad they like fish!

Day 12: Take A Moment

I need to take a moment and thank many of you who have been caring for us recently. So many of you have sent gifts, helped with the kids, or taken care of our needs in some way.
We are so thankful to have friends and family like you.
I am in awe at how even those we know who face similar financial struggle have poured out abundantly on us to make sure we're okay--that just amazes me. It reminds me of Jesus' life and parables--how the least of people and poorest gave all that they had.
It's easy to get caught up in the woes of this world, and it seems sometimes that the majority of people don't live the life God called us to. We've had hard times in our life before where we really learned to rely and trust in God. This time it's gone beyond that, and I'm learning to trust in God's people.
I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God.

(By the way, to the "garden gnomes" who sneaked into our yard while we were gone, and cleaned & cared for our garden & lawn: I know who you are, and I love and appreciate you. :)

So, today:

• Grandma Diane visited with Emerson. The boys played outside with bubbles, while Eden and I took a little trip to Target.
• B&N called me today, and I have an interview for a part-time job tomorrow.
• Matt was home for a whopping hour and a half today--enough time to enjoy dinner together. Tonight is opening night for All Shook Up. Thankfully, that means Matt will be home before midnight (here's hoping). At least rehearsals are over & next week will be somewhat less chaotic.
• I took a nearly 2 hour nap! (This RARELY gets to happen, and this week it was more than necessary.)
• Didn't take any pictures today, but I'll make it up to you tomorrow.

Day 11: A Bike Ride

Today was Matt's day off, and we took the kids for a bike ride. Owen absolutely loves going for bike rides, but this was Eden's first time in the trailer. She smiled from ear to ear the entire time.

I tried to get a photo of them both smiling at the same time, but alas, these are the best I could get.

It was a really great day.

Day 10: Early Bed Time

I was geared up for a pretty hard week, and thankfully it's not been so bad thus far.

Matt is in rehearsals for the musical "All Shook Up," and he's gone until close to midnight. On days that he works at Starbucks and teaches it means he's pretty much gone from 4 a.m. until midnight.

Praise the Lord that this week several students cancelled their lessons. Normally, that's not something I'd be excited about, but it meant Matt came home today for one hour & had dinner with us.

He's EXHAUSTED. When he came home this evening for dinner, he asked if he could just have 20 minutes to rest. I didn't mind, but Owen was desperate for Daddy-attention. So, Owen crawled into our bed with Matt & sat quietly with his truck while his daddy took a wee nap.

Cool kid-stuff today:

• Owen can count to five using his fingers.


• Eden not only is pulling herself up, but she attempted to climb up onto the couch tonight.

The picture explained: I'm going to bed after this post. I'm exhausted too. I don't sleep well without Matt, so I've been up working late on projects when he's at rehearsals. I'm hoping that if I go to bed early it will give me the energy to get up with the kids in the morning & let Matt sleep in (tomorrow is his day off).

Day 9: A busy day

The kids and I spent the morning at the WIC office. *Ugh*
Good news though, we were approved, and received checks for food on the spot. Hooray! Better news: They cover goat's milk (a staple in Owen's diet). YES!!!! Now, I just need to figure out how to be creative with carrots, tuna, peanut butter, and beans. Hmmmm....sounds like another blog I need to start--"Culinary Delights Using WIC Food."

It was a really hot day too, but that didn't deter us from our daily berry picking activities.

Eden also volunteered to sample the first of this season's green beans. (Mom, I swear in the profile she looks just like Grandma/your mom.)

Tonight was Owen's first swimming lesson. As expected, our little water bug had so much fun he

didn't want to leave. He jumped, splashed, blew bubbles, and had a great time.

Day 6, 7, 8/30: What Happened?!?!?!

Saturday and Sunday are somewhat of a blur. I had pictures and a plan on Saturday, but at some point it all disappeared.

For those of you who have ever dealt with any form of depression, you can probably understand this. For everyone else, let me illuminate.

Some days, at random times, and usually for no reason specific at all it feels like you're being sucked unwillingly into a black hole. Your energy is immediately depleted, and it's all you can do to crawl into bed and pray. Your head is overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions that just seem to spin out of control, and you're desperate for rescue before you drown in this abyss. That's basically what happened Saturday morning shortly after putting Eden down for a nap. Owen quietly played in my bedroom as I laid there curled up & not moving.
Just as quickly as it happened, it left, praise God. I only remember praying. I jumped up, showered, and cleaned house just like normal.

When Matt came home I told him what happened, and it really bothered him (a totally normal response). He asked me why I didn't call him. I told him depressed people don't call you, you call them.

So, this weekend went by without a blog posting. (Sorry, momma.) I'll catch you up on the other happenings, and we'll move forward undeterred in our 30 day post quest. (It's my blog I can do that if I want to.)

On Saturday the kids and I created a fort/obstacle course in the living room. It was a bunch of fun, and Owen & Eden had a blast playing together inside.

Recap of last week: Eden now pulls herself up to stand (which she does all the time, even in her crib--YIKES), she not only likes berries, but now is snacking on Cheerios and anything we give her from the table, Owen loves to feed her (which, wasn't so great when I found him feeding her berries in the kitchen--the floor and the girl were a mess of pink berry goo), we caught Owen laying on his slide staring up at the clouds, pointing & talking (we're not sure what that was all about), Owen sings his ABC's, and he now when asked how old he is he holds up three fingers and clearly says THREE! Whew! What a week!

I don't have pictures from Sunday, but I do have video! This is Owen doing his respiratory therapy. He recently learned that he can make really funny noises while it's running, and it's hilarious listening to him.

Matt got a raise today! Hooray! Still praying for a promotion, but with the recent Starbucks store closings it could be awhile before that happens.

Today's picture: My hardworking hubby, picking berries:

Day 5/30: Caught Red-Handed

Another berry-muncher has joined our family. Little Eden seems to enjoy black raspberries just as much as Owen. (Though she has the luck of seeds not getting stuck in her teeth, being that she doesn't have any!)

The berries are ripening quickly now, and it's a twice daily activity to go and pick berries. There are so many now that we actually have some leftover day to day. I might even attempt making jam.


















Bathtime after berries. (Naked in the tub is okay to show on the blog, naked in the pool--that's another story--yes, it's my bizarre logic, and I'm okay with that.)

Day 4/30: I can't show you the photos.

Owen had so much fun swimming yesterday that he really wanted to go again today. Being that our pennies are limited, I thought I should break out the inflatable pool our neighbor gave us.

Upon opening said pool, we realized that by inflatable it means something (or someone) will have to force air into it (duh). We also discovered that the cap to the valve through which air passes was missing. Hoorah, a challenge, like that's going to stop stubborn me.

I searched everywhere for my hand pump that came with the excercise ball (which, is now my "birthing ball"). I'm thinking I must've left it at a birth at sometime, b/c it's no where to be found.

Matt wanted to throw in the towel (metaphorically speaking--throwing a towel literally into the pool would not have helped our situation at all), but I wasn't giving up (especially b/c Owen was hoping around the backyard screaming "Oh, boy! Oh, BOY!")

I grabbed my blow dryer & ran to the backyard. Okay, this worked, but now how do we keep the air in without a valve cover.

I yelled to Matt "TAPE." He didn't budge. "Seriously, hon, go get some tape." After a short discussion on whether or not the physics of tape and high pressure air where really going to work, and me INSISTING IT HAD TO, Matt went and got tape.

Meanwhile, I commenced orally blowing up all the little sections of this inflatable pool. (It has a little water slide, a smaller wading pool within the pool, and a palm tree sprinkler.)

After a lot of deep breathing, and 3 pieces of packing tape, our pool is functioning. Owen filled it with water & ran for his swim trunks.

After awhile of being in the pool, Owen declared that he wanted to take of his trunks--I kid you not. If you haven't been to our house (shame on you--we have an annual open house chili party in October--get it on your calendar now), the backyard is pretty much open to a large green belt and several other neighbors' backyards. So, basically, anyone & everyone can see what's happening in the Cramer's backyard.

Before I had a second to reason with my 3-year old (like that ever works), his trunks were off, and he was squealing with delight (and how cold the water was on his bare bum).

Of course, I took video, but I love my boy too much to post those videos online (no, no, I'll save those for the future girlfriends).

He came inside after a grand time of playing in the nude in the pool, but continued to streak his bare bum around the house for the remainder of the morning & through lunch (pb & honey must just taste better naked). We did have a long talk about how it's okay to be naked at home, when it's just us, but his trunks are to stay on when at the city pool.

Just before nap time my two kiddos decided it was time to wrestle with their momma. Owen (still naked) pounced upon my belly--which, some of you know, makes me giggle uncontrollably. Eden thought she should get in on the action, & crawled over. She proceeded to play pat-a-cake with my face while Owen bounced. This, and more (imagine me flat on my tummy, hair sprawled everywhere, while two giggling babes swish my hair around and blow raspberries on my back) continued for quite some time. I remember thinking I wish I had a picture of this, but alas, I was having too much fun to stop & grab a camera.

During this attack on my, I also hollered for salvation from my dear loving husband, but where was he? Enjoying a nice, hot, quiet shower. He just doesn't know what he's missing.

Okay, so photos. Not going to show nude photos of my baby boy, and didn't take photos during the mommy-attack, so these will have to suffice:

The aforementioned inflatable pool:

Me--after a great morning with my kiddos:

Day 3/30: A Day at the Pool

Today my friend Kendra invited us to join her & her kids at the city pool. Owen starts swim lessons next week, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to introduce him to the pool.

Owen had a blast! He was timid at first, but seconds later he was splashing over to the "deep" end (about 2ft), and running under the mushroom fountain. He did not want to leave! I even took him into the "big" pool to try deeper water. He was very happy as long as I had an arm around him.

Eden wasn't too excited. I think she prefers her warm bath water to the cooler pool water. She did get quite excited when I took her in the big pool--kicking & waving her hands. Not sure if it was a happy dance, or a panicked "get me outta here" type dance.

Swimming with one arm around each kid is a talent I didn't know I had until today!

I almost forgot to take pictures, so at the last minute I had Owen run back into the pool (funny, he didn't complain), so I could get a few shots of him playing.

We're planning on making this a weekly adventure.

Day 2/30: Paperwork

I debated on what to post today. How we spent our morning wasn't all that glamorous or fun, but thankfully not painful.

This is a stack of paperwork we had to prepare before going down to the county offices to apply for medicaid and WIC (and anything else the state was willing to give us.) I kid you not, it's 1 1/2 inches thick, and that's only about half of it. The other half we left with them.

We stayed up until 11:30 p.m. last night completing paperwork, and gathering all the documents they require. We headed down to the offices at about 9 a.m., only to discover that we still had yet MORE paperwork to complete. We finally saw a case worker at about 10 a.m., and she was really nice. Long story short--the process is started, but we still have more paperwork and more meetings to get everything complete.

It's literally going to come down to pennies on whether or not we qualify, and we may not know anything for over a month.

If you're reading this wondering why on earth we're applying for assistance, you must not have received my very long email to friends & family about our current situation. If you want to get caught up send me an e-mail & I'll fill you in.

Also--Can anyone see the slideshow in the upper right hand corner of the blog? My mom said it wasn't working, but it seems to be working fine on my end. Let me know.

Day 1/30: The Berry Muncher

I've made a goal to post every day for 30 days (picture included). I got the idea from a friend, and after my mom told me she checked the blog every day for new posts--I figured I should give it a try. So here goes.

Our black raspberries are FINALLY starting to ripen. This time last year we had hundreds. So far, I've picked a few handfuls, but my little berry muncher seems to gobble them all up before I can even get a bite.

Can you see the berry juice all over his nose & mouth?

"More berries, please momma?" he says.