Why is it that when I want Ella to wake up from a nap so that I can go have coffee with Liz Lewis, she remains asleep taking a marathon (over 2 1/2 hrs) nap? But, when I have lots of housework and the goal to get it all done while she is asleep she decides to sleep for an hour. The irony of it all.

Update: Stevan has to have an ultra sound done on his gallbladder on Tuesday. He is going to an all-nighter tonight ( he still feels terrible) with thirty-one teens and sponsors. Pray that he doesn’t die…..please!

As I am typing this, Ella is coughing through her nap. She woke up with a runny nose yesterday that has now drained into her throat causing the coughing spasms. She’s had explosive diapers, too, so I’m blaming it on teething for now. That second tooth is still pushing up and all she did was want to chew on teething rings yesterday. She didn’t seem interested in eating or nursing much and always seemed to improve after some teething tablets. Tylenol was our friend to get her through the night ( I only had to go into her room a couple of times to help find the pacifier or roll her back over as she got tangled in the blanket) and she woke up happy, but the cough has worsened. Pray for my baby–it’s so hard to know what to do for her when she can’t blow her own nose or spit the stuff out. The bulb syringe/nasal aspirator works, but she hates it. Stevan calls it the turkey baster. She just cries and is starting to fight me when I use it because her little nose hurts. It’s hard to watch your little child suffer through these life hurdles. I know it only gets worse, but I still hate it.

Stevan is sick, too! He threw up last night and spent much of the evening in the bathroom. His stomach is still upset. He hasn’t felt “right” in his stomach this whole week. He’s going to the doctor at 11 today. Pray for him so he can survive the all-nighter this weekend with the teens.

I’m fine–but still in my pajamas due to the other demands in the household. We’ll see if I get anything more done besides this post today.

Ella is moaning now–maybe the nap thing won’t really happen today. Yea rah!

I turned the tube on and muted Jeopardy just so I could see who won. Instead of watching it intently, Ella and I got to hang out with Tiffany (our pastor’s daughter) for awhile. She had to sketch Ella’s hand for an art project. That was funny to watch–Ella didn’t exactly hold her hand still for any length of time so hopefully the project will work out. Ella acted so excited as if she knew Tiffany came over to see her instead of me.

We took a walk this afternoon. Ella loved it as much as I did. Where did we walk? Some of you might think it strange, but we walked through the Oakwood Cemetery. It’s a block away from our house and has perfect pavement for a stroller. The scenery is interesting, to say the least, and it’s rather peaceful to walk around in there. I like looking at the tomb stones and reading some of the epithets (is this the right word?) when Ella lets me stop. I feel safe in a cemetery more than on a busy road, too–so call me weird, but that’s where I’ll probably walk again when the weather is as beautiful as it was today.

That’s right, folks! Jennifer Gotcher, the homemaker, from Costa Mesa, CA wins Jeopardy with $40, 000 and change. She beat the returning champion and some librarian dude. Yea, for moms everywhere who might begin to think their brains and education have gone to waste. I’m sure she helped her kids with their homework without a problem! I’d show you a picture if I knew how to post a pic. Still working on that. Tune in tomorrow night to see if she kicks bottom ( a “mom-friendly” term in case any kids are reading this over your shoulder) as the returning champ. Of course, Monday nights are usually the only nights I see Jeopardy in it’s entirety since Stevan is with his men’s group. Hopefully I can give you an update tomorrow. Go Jenn!