InstaFriday

Happy Friday, friends!

I know I have a lot to share with you- like, the TWINS!!!, and also Trace's birthday and the start of summer and all sorts of good stuff but for today I thought I would just get caught up on my instas. 

People who deal with ongoing grief know the feeling of the black cloud that arrives around the important dates in your lives- without knowing when or if it is coming and it certainly is not invited. I had been feeling really good up to Trace's birthday on the 17th but then it seemed like the week after it (this week) I felt like I was walking around in a fog. Every day I had to give myself a pep talk to make it school that day, find something hopefully clean to wear, throw my hair in a pony tail and hope I made it through the day. A few days ago I was staring at the pile of laundry on the floor in my room and just thinking, "what is wrong with me? Have a finally gone off the deep end?" No, of course not...I am just in the black cloud. It is such a sneaky thing and comes when you are least expecting it but I feel like if you can give yourself a break and realize that it is happening maybe you can get out of it sooner. So I do feel like I am coming out of it and I am looking forward to the promise of a summer full of restfulness ahead- just two days of school left! 

We actually spent Trace's birthday weekend planting all of my annuals and getting mulch down. It was good to have a project to focus on and I think that is what helped the black cloud to stay away before his birthday. Yes, I spent too much money on sweet little plants but I just can't help it. They make me so happy and I love taking care of them all summer long and watching them grow and become beautiful. 

Trace's lilac bloomed on his birthday and it is so beautiful. 

Michael was the best helper all weekend when we were outside working. He would entertain himself or we would give him little jobs to do. He is at a fun age and likes to entertain us with his stories or songs! 

I had a great ultrasound appointment on Tuesday this week and celebrated with my favorite summer drink- passion tea lemonade from Starbucks. The girls are growing well and they have no concerns but we will still get ultrasounds every two weeks at least through the 2nd semester to keep an eye on growth progress. This is common with twins, especially identical twins who share a placenta because they can quickly develop twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome which is very bad. I am seeing both my regular OB and a perinatologist for lots and lots of appointments over the summer!

I love this pattern and wish I knew how to sew! Also wish Michael and I looked as cute as this mother and daughter on the package. ;o) 

And finally, I've been trying to wrap up loose ends at school as well as try and plan a whole semester for my leave in the fall. It is overwhelming to say the least but I think my process of making a OCD/manic list then whittling it down to things that need to be done before school is out, things that can be done during the summer, things that need to be photocopied, and things that can be done in August has helped. I ordered a massive pile of music from my favorite retailer and received a personal thank you email for my large order- eek! I am also in the middle of purging files in my office and getting things organized in a logical way so the sub can find what he needs. I guess crazy pregnancy hormones are good for some things, right? 

And finally, I've been continuing my operation lamination at the end of the school year too. It is seriously one of the best perks of being a teacher and yes, I laminate everything that goes on my walls. I've learned my lesson that if you don't it will get beaten up, torn or written on by lovely middle school kids. 

That's it for me this week! Have a great weekend!