365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day # 271

Being Still

November 28th, 2012

Any mother will tell you, every pregnancy has it's challenges and it's highs and lows. Each time your body goes through such a huge transition you realize the process is as unique as the child growing inside your womb. These forty weeks aren't exactly a cake walk. Medical problems can make it feel as if the gestation period has been extended way beyond your control. How long are elephants pregnant? Well, I can't complain, I was pretty lucky and had no major problems. Unless you count being a big, fat pig but I don't think there is an actual code for that in my patient file. Other than the weight column. Hey, don't judge, they wouldn't let me remove my shoes or take the package of cosmic brownies out of my pocket. 
    

The best part of the gig was definitely the movement inside my growing belly. From the first simple kick all the way to the last days of the Billy Banks, TaeBo round house kicks. Bedtime was the best  time to watch the action. When the household was completely still and quiet with no distractions. I'd stay awake well past Baby Daddy so I didn't miss a thing, poking and pushing around, I hated when the show stopped. Night after night I would look forward to this special time. Just me and my baby. It was a good routine, other kids asleep, all necessary work completed for the day. Time would fly as I  became mesmerized, starring down at what appeared to be eight arms and legs trying to bust out of my skin like an alien movie. Stillness in a hectic busy scheduled life is so peaceful, comforting and welcomed. If you are still enough, amazing things happen.      

If I had to pick one word for this jacked up Minnesota time it would be STILL. Real life, extra distractions and responsibilities were taken away with the temporary move. I have to admit, in the beginning I thought it was some sort of awful torture. Now, 5 months later I consider it quite a blessing. We have been still. Day after day. Still, still, still with an extra side of still. Remember though, amazing things happen when you allow stillness to happen. Enjoying each other like never before. Back in South Carolina our old schedule was chocked full of everything but stillness. Silly ole me thought I spent every waking hour with the kids. Nah, I was wrong. In these past few months of learning we truly have, 24/7/365.
We have been stuck with one another, in a good way.     

   

Only one unfortunate side affect to being still and not changing your eating habits. 20 pounds of stillness have found it's way on my parka covered back. Not really my back, more like my back side but that's ok, I wouldn't trade the experience for my old pant size I started with. Body parts are growing, the kids have changed and matured right before my eyes.   

My little kicker in utero all those years ago has made the biggest transformation of them all. Deodorant has been purchased and applied. She sometimes looks at pictures here and occasional even reads what her goofy mom writes so I will let others simply read between the lines. It has been a pleasure soaking up special time with you Delaney. You have grown way more than the vertical half an inch that reads on the tape measure. 

I am more than proud to be your mommy.   

When we baked together in the tiny kitchen...we were still.

While making up never before seen Zumba moves...we were still.

Teaching you to upload and create a blog post...we were still.

 Giggling in your cozy bed late at night ...we were still.

Stealing your picture angles...we were still.

During girl manicures...we were still.

Best haircut ever by a ten year old...we were still.

Riding down a mountain roller coaster..we were still.

Hit in the head by your snowball...we were still.

Jumping off the baby cliffs...we were still.

Walking our bikes up MN hills...we were still.

I Love Lucy marathon mornings...we were still.

Being scared to death of weird noises...we were still.

Enjoying the 100th PB & chocolate chip sandwich...we were still.

Struggling through decimal conversions...we were still.

Being with you, doing anything...we were still.

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #270

Underwear Shark Boy

November, 27th, 2012

 

Been a lot of warm, sandy, beach talk around our kitchen table these days. Delilah even put sunscreen on her face after a bath for her  daily MN make over. Man it smelled so good, I couldn't resist a little SPF Coppertone slather on my dry soccer mom cheeks, just for funzies. A weekend at our favorite spot of the Myrtle Beach shore will be in order this December. A light brownish, not white Christmas is on my list this year. First in line will be shark boy, he even wore his bestest fossilized tooth around his bare neck at school today. 

No shirt, no shoes, no pants....no problem.

We home school.

 

Science was interrupted frequently to talk about animals of the sea and last Thanksgivings beach vacation. Digging for sharks teeth for an entire week with extended family at an Ocean front place.

Shark Boy in his happy place, day after sunny day. Desperate for a chance to find the big one, Drex asked to utilize the last few minutes of the trip. Bags were already neatly packed away, goodbyes were being said to relatives when Shark Boy, in his sweetest little voice begged to search, one last time. My quick answered happy nod accompanied with a toothy smile proved to be a rookie mom mistake.

 

 

My high pitched, gym teacher whistle didn't even get his attention when it was time to go. Hard to tear him away from good ole fashion fossil finding. I begin the long walk down the wooden path, stopping periodically to call shark boys name, in a somewhat irritated fashion. Wasn't really in the mood to expend unnecessary energy. Just steps away from my feet hitting the sand, my attitude softens. Eyes as big as the southern sun I laugh out loud. 

What on earth bud? Why are you in your underwear?

 

My clothes got wet while washing off some cool shells.

 I didn't think it was a big deal.

 They look like a bathing suit right?

 

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #269

Early Morning Tea Parties

November 26th, 2012

Whoppers and leftover movie theatre popcorn

Thank you Delilah, breakfast was yummy today. 

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day # 268

November 25th, 2012

MMM

Morning Minnesota Manna

In this strange time away from the daily grind of real life I have become a bit spoiled. 5 months with barely no commitments or mandatory places to be sharpied on my calendar will do that to a person. Top on my list of Minnesota luxuries I am dreading giving up in a week, MMM. Morning Minnesota Manna. OK, I just made that title up, I've never actually called in that in my head or even out loud. I like the sound of it though, TRIPLE M TIME...hhmmm that's even better. Joking aside, that is exactly what it is. Before the kids wake up, my alone time for prayer and jumping in the Word head first with no distractions. This morning a sleepy, confused,  five year found me before my coffee was done brewing and I could arrange my favorite MMM spot on the futon. Doing my best to give her a look as if I was happy to see her I told the disoriented child to cuddle up at my feet and try to go back to sleep. After half a cup of coffee, some tossing and turning and a few selfish prayers for my quiet time not to be ruined, she eventually drifted off. I know it doesn't sound very motherly but please understand I crave this MMM time like I crave a white on white corner piece of birthday cake from Freeman's Bakery. Oh yes, it must be a corner piece, I'm a little particular about that, more icing coverage ya know. Anyway, unlike the cake I need this bread and special part of my morning to ensure the rest of the day runs smoothly. 

At home I have no warm cozy fireplace, I won't have the peaceful hum of the snow maker machines or look out the window to a snow covered winter wonderland. 

This little Minnesota ice princess will get over that. Plus, it doesn't really matter where you are when you get your daily manna. 

God will 100 percent of the time meet you there.

How awesome is that!

 If I'm really lucky,

 He will also brings the other 3 corners of the cake.

 Thank you Lord for my daily bread this morning.  

         

365 Random Days of Team Zybko
Day #267
A Thank-half-full Thanksgiving
November 24th, 2012


"They" say
CHANGE IS GOOD
but
"They" hardly say anything after that.
So "I" will.
CHANGE CAN BE LONELY
Missing half the kids this Thanksgiving Day I found it to be a constant struggle to keep my glass half full.
We filled the day with activities and memories, just the five of us
 but it wasn't quite the same. It was a big change. It was a thankful day. Despite the good, my heart idled at lonely most of the day. Moms change hats throughout their career, I get that.
 Every stage of this child raising gig, hat on...off...on...off.
 Gets tough to keep the right one on when the wind blows and tough when it isn't the hat you wanna wear at the moment. Just wanted to put that out there. I'm sure I miss them more than they miss me at this point. They are growing up. I get that too. I've been learning how to the wear the mom hat of college kids. Not the cake walk I thought it would be. I take that back, I really had no idea what it would be like at all. People can tell you, explain to you and even warn you but that ain't the same as at all. This hat doesn't fit very well, maybe it's the huge Condit head I was given at birth or maybe inexperience is the actual culprit. Either way, doesn't change the fact this learning process is
never ending,
ever changing
and sometimes lonely. 
Love you big kids.
Needless to say we all missed you lots.   

History Lesson Given By The Principal 

Cheesy Crafts
Apple Crisp
Parade Dancing
Mid Day Fire Compliments Of My Favorite Indian
A Game Of Pool
An Buffet Feast
Fun With Flashlights
A Fire In The Dark
 In A Blizzard

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day # 256

September 30th, 2012

Happy 50th Mom and Dad!

Thanks Bro for your promptness in forwarding a couple pictures from the celebration. Within hours of your favorite little sisters request, they arrived in my in box, too bad I them sit there and marinate.

Unfortunately Team Zybko couldn't make it to the party in September. Wish we could have. 
Happy Anniversary you crazy old cats!

50 Years Equals
7 Kids
 25 Grand Kids
974 Sleepless Nights
18,250 Days Together
23,449 Sporting Events Attended
30,660 Diapers Changed
42,165 Loads of Laundry
54,750 Meals Shared
72,880 Bills to Keep Family Running
189,422 Gallons of Gas Used on Kids Activities
Of course some of these were rough estimates.
 I know for certain I personally ate more than
3 meals per day on average. 
Lessons learned, good examples, pats on the back, encouraging notes, advice, cheers and  talks can simply not be added to get an accurate sum. It is of course impossible to put LOVE into an 2nd grade math equation. Thank you Mom and Dad for the many hours of nurturing, day after day, even during the times you were so sleepy your eyeballs probably hurt. Pushing us in the right direction with just the right amount of parental nudging and loving us when we knowingly went the opposite way. Not me silly gooses, those other little minions. I am the baby, everyone is aware that the baby of a big family never does anything wrong.
204,745 equals 
the number of times the youngest pretends to be the favorite.      

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #255

November 23rd, 2012

What Negative 5 Degrees Looks Like 

My oldest friend in the whole wide world sent me this text a couple of months ago. Just to check on me. To be more specific, checking to see if I had frozen to death or if Big David had kicked me out yet for being so intolerant to cold weather. After all Cristina has known me since the 4th grade, she knows the deal. I was gonna give her an honest answer or she would know better anyway, even through modern technology. I told her I was a still a big fat baby and can't understand why people tolerate this kind of behavior from Mother Nature and don't move to Florida.

You may like it.

NO!

You may get used to.

NO!

You may actually enjoy the snow.

NO! NO! NO!

Seriously, Vic, It's not that bad. Makes you feel alive.

ALIVE? Surely auto correct messed that one up. 

I stare at words on my phone, than at the clock on the microwave. She can't be drunk, it's only slightly past noon.

I type back a smarty pants reply and turn my attention to some sort of necessary, motherly duty. The digital, red minutes flip past quickly as the days afternoon slag kicks in. My hands might have moved on to the dirty dishes but my mind was stuck back on our "conversation". I can't get her optimism out of my whiny head. This is a girl who has lived. She has lived in frigid cities and she has lived through cancer. Hhmm maybe she has gained a bit of secret, valuable wisdom somewhere along the way in her struggle to stay alive. Interesting thing about the good ole days back in the 80's, we killed a few brain cells together and we foolishly thought that was living. This survivor I proudly call a life friend must have regenerated a little sumpin' sumpin' back those late college nights stole from us. To me, her experiences in the last couple of years has made her an authority on many topics. Especially about what makes oneself feel alive. 

Today, at -5 degrees windchill, I finally understood what she was talking about. 

Makes your blood pump wildly through your veins.

Heart beats fast.

 Air so cold it's hard to describe.

Fills your lungs to capacity.

You must move to stay warm.

Any skin left exposed fights for safety.

Heart beats faster.

What a great feeling to be alive.

Thanks Cristina, for remaining my friend through the good, bad and not so smart times. Love you :)