Things don't always go like we want them to.
Of course....
Right?

I sent out an email last week to ALL of my gym buddies. My 330+ aerobics peeps that I work out with every week. I told them I'd be back teaching this week. I was feeling better last week. More like the old Jennie.

WELL....

Since I was feeling better, I decided to go to Charlotte with the girls. Brian was going to be out of town for the weekend. Sounded like fun! And it was. UNTIL...

While I was there...on top of the mono...I got a stomach bug. I was laying flat on my back... again..

Unable to stand or even sit up. Now I was stuck at my sisters house, in the wrong state. Couldn't pack to go home, or drive or even care for my children. My entire family had to band together to get me home. Sis drove my car, followed by her husband and baby, in his car. My Dad picked up my Mom and they met us halfway. Mom drove my car the rest of the way home. While Dad followed. Meanwhile, I was laying there...oh and to make the trip a little more exciting, Carlisle threw up in the backseat. (But I caught it! In a towel!)

So, I am embarrased. I told everyone that I was going to be there at the gym this week teaching. Now, I am not. I am good to my word. And, now. I'm not. To my gym friends. I'm so sorry.

After seeing me sick for the past three months, noticing that I've lost weight, colds, cough, mono, stomach bugs, with one thing after another, my Mom, Dad and Brian are all ADAMENT about me RESTING. They ALL put their foot down. NO teaching aerobics for at least another week. They want me to take care of myself and rest. This, of course, is contrary to everything I feel about me, health, life, etc. I am sorry for the entire situation. I have been preached to from my mother, father and husband. I am choosing to respect their wishes. Back to the bed for gobs of sleep. And, no gym for another week.

I miss encouraging. I miss the gym. I miss motivating. I miss people. I miss enthusiasm. I miss feeling good. I miss everyone. I know that I work with the best team in the ENTIRE WORLD. And that other instructors will step up and be there to cover for me.

BUT, I just feel terrible for the inconvenience. This is HARD FOR ME.

Professing Love...

So, perhaps its a slight epidemic.

Other instructors at the gym are also being diagnosed with Mono.

2 total...so far.

One waiting on test results. Crazy, I know.

No we haven't been kissing, although I absolutely love them enough to kiss them! :)

Some have had it before, so it's flared up, which is probably how I got it. . . .

We all share a microphone.

Yesterday one of the other instructors THREE children came over to play.

So I spent the day with:

2 - 1 1/2 year olds

1 - 3 year old

1 - 4 year old

1 - 7 year old

I was nervious. I don't know boys. My oldest is 3, he's 4.

We started at 9:30ish at the park.I put the two babies in the swings and Carlisle and Drexel ran around and had the time of their lives.

She was DORA and he was DIEGO.

We were there for hours.

My sweet Brian ordered us pizza to be delivered.

Got home in time to wash 8 dirty hands and the pizza man came.

Each baby ate over one piece of pizza and Carlisle and Drexel ate 2 or 3.

Then babies up the stairs, to bed. Carlisle and Drexel went outside for Icee push pops.

(You can get them at Sams in a huge box.

Yes, they HAVE to eat them outside. But the kids absolutely love em! Great treat for a warm day.)

They were silent as they ate.

The sun was shining.

It was warm and gorgeous.

A yummy breeze off the water.

It was quiet, babies were sleeping.

Geese were flying.

And an occasional duck would quack.

They just dug IN.

I was quiet too.

I just watched them.

(Oh...and was a Dora and Diego paparazzi.)

Right in the middle of their second one...

Carlisle takes a big bite and starts chomping.

(picture - real messy, dripping down her chin).

She's staring down at the pushpop, when I hear her sweet little voice quietly say,

"Drexel. I love you."

Then she non-chalantly keeps eating. Still looking down at her Icee.

He completely finishes chewing up his huge bite,

and looking down at his Icee, says,

"I love you too Carlisle".

.

And, they kept eating.

Two little buddies.

.

They had so much fun together. Carlisle has so many girlfriends. I watched her make her favorite boy friend today.

I wish I had thought to grab my video camera.

I fell in love with this little stinker dude.

4 year old boys are SO not intimidating to me anymore.

They are fun and OVER the TOP sweet. He kept sitting in my lap when we were outside.

And totally giving me sweet snuggles.

Next, they decided they needed to feed the ducks.

Except, there were no ducks.

So they waited....

And waited...

And decided they should throw bread anyway.

Then, THEY SAY, a BIG fish jumped up and ate their bread.

I didn't see the fish. But below is a picture of how big they told me the fish was.

(Too big for just one person to show me. Notice Carlisle's confused expression.

She cracks me up! She totally didn't get the 'fish story'.)

It was right after this that Drexel says,

"You're the bestest Carlisle", then off he strolled to throw more bread.

(Meanwhile, little Boo Boo watched all the excitement on her tippy toes.)

I had the best time with these two.

Victoria, lets do it again.

Soon.

It was SUCH a fun day.

HUGE GOD

I was missing it. Totally missing it. Can you believe it? I have been a Christian for a long time. Almost 10 years.

God has been waiting on me. He has WAY more for me. Can you believe that? I already feel so full. So blessed. (I'm telling you, Mono is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Click here for the story.)

He has more FOR me. And desires more FROM me. Now that He has gotten my attention, I want to shout it from the rooftops! And so I am! If you talk to me anytime soon, I will tell you how awesome God is. Now, I can't WAIT to get back to the gym....they give me a microphone to strap on!! :)

If you know me...you already know that I love Jesus, that I am a Christian, that I dig my husband and family in a massive way.

Evelyn love-love-loves to brush her teeth. I know I always have pictures of her with a toothbrush hanging out of her mouth. Weird. Sorry. :) Worse things could be hanging out of her mouth, right?

But everything is now NEW. I have been set ablaze by Jesus and His wholehearted love for me.

Because I have been a Christian for a long time, things had begun to feel common. My view of God was very familiar. BUT, God is WAY HUGE. He is WAY bigger than just a familiar dude.

I just wasn't getting it. This experience of being still with God has enabled me to begin a new journey. This effects my everyday life. I have embarked on a new life of complete and total AWE of God. For the first time in my life, I understand that God loves me no matter what I do. Meaning.
I can't read my bible and make Him proud. He already loves me.
I can't pray for sick friends and make Him love me more. He already loves me.
HE ALREADY LOVES ME THE MOST THAT HE POSSIBLY CAN.

'And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.'Ephesians 3:17-18

Tonight we took Carlisle and Evelyn to see Mickey Mouse Live on Stage. We had been talking about it for a week or so telling Carlisle, "Mickey is coming to Florence to see you!" She was so excited, of course, Evelyn is ALWAYS excited and ready for the fun.

We got there a few minutes early. EVERYONE in Florence that Brian and I have ever known was there. I didn't even take my camera, just wanted to enjoy the girls, enjoying the show. We knew they would. The curtains opened. The show began.

Brian chuckled and I giggled as the girls mouths fell open. We were sitting just a couple rows from the stage, on the floor, so the lights from the stage fell on the girls. The sparkle in their eyes was magical. They sat perfectly STILL. Glued to our laps. Not wanting to move or change position so that the show wouldn't end. I know they didn't blink. It was the most fun they have had in so long. The music, dancing, lights, cheerfulness.

They were in complete and total AWE.

That is EXACTLY how I feel. Except I am in AWE of something way better. Someone graceful, merciful, humble, loving, good and righteous. I am in AWE of God.

And, I don't want to blink.

What does Mono for Mama... look like... for her girls?
It looks like hours of reading books...
It looks like LOTS of snuggling in Mommy and Daddy's bed...It looks like ridiculously crazy, silly, fun outfits that only children could think up...It looks like tea parties in jammies with swim suits ontop...It looks like the hard decision of sparkle yellow headband with purple crown or just silver crown...

It looks like lots of time with NINEE...

It looks like a sweet sweet girl.

It looks like building forts with three year olds...

Really, Mono requires chill time.

When you are with your favorite people.

That is NOT SO BAD.

Renaissance Man and MONO Girl

Looking back over the last months. I have been sick. My children have been sick. Brian has been sick. Everyone I have ever known has been sick. (I know that I have your sympathy because I am sure you, your husband, or your children have been sick). So much is going around.

When I ran the half-marathon at the first of January, I was sick. When we had our Super Bowl chili cookoff party, I was sick. That is actually when (for the first time in our marriage!) Brian kicked me out of the bed. I was coughing and hacking so bad that I was keeping him up all night. I was so exhausted, I slept through it. I slept in the guest bedroom for 2 weeks.

I never go to the doctor, unless I am having a baby. I went to the doctor. I am so out of whack. First visit, two weeks ago, he sends me home with an antibiotic. Great. Took it. No better.

Second visit was Monday. I asked him to take my blood. Test it. You can have it.

The doctor calls yesterday:
"You have MONO."
"MONO!?!?!?"
"Yes, Mono."
"No teaching aerobics for THREE weeks."
"Three weeks?"
"Yes! Three weeks."
That is torture.

Thank you for the emails, texts, facebook messages and voicemails. I love you friends. And a couple of sweet friends have called asking what does this mean for me. This means I am supposed to rest. Rest is usually so hard for me. Not this time. I am so super-crazy exhausted. I slept 11.5 hours last night AND napped today.

I am sleeping as much as my children.

Keep checking in on me. I hate isolation. I stink at it. I am an off-the-charts-EXTROVERT. So seclusion, even with the girls, is HARD for me. Although they are both flourishing with all of the downtime. We read 100,000,000 books today. Sweet Carlisle keeps asking "Are you better yet?" When I tell her I'm not better yet, she tenderly says: "I love you Mommy. I'll take care of you." And sweet Brian is like my own handsome Man-Nurse taking care of me. He's so already jumping in. He took the morning off today and tomorrow also so that I can sleep in. He is so awesome. Already made a grocery run. And, he robotically tells me, constantly, to "go lay down". He's a renaissance man. Thanks Sugar.

He and the girls are my silver lining.

Off to bed. (again)