…it just has to be scary.

Want an idea of how my mind works?

A few weeks ago (or maybe a month, I’m not totally sure) Hailey was running and playing in the living room.  She stopped and looked at me and said, “Owww, my head it hurting.”  So I asked her where it hurt and she pointed to the back of her head.  I gave her a kiss and then she ran on her way, totally fine.  But do you want an idea of how my mind works?  My first thought was, “It could be a brain tumor.”  And then I worried about it for the rest of the day.  Never mind that she was completely fine a second later.  It doesn’t have to make sense, it just has to be scary.

Another time Hailey looked up at me and I thought one of her eyes looked lower than the other eye.  Clearly (in my mind) she’d had a stroke or some other serious problem with her brain.  Then I realized she just had her head tilted to the side.  But for the rest of the day (and maybe even the next day) I kept staring at her making sure her face was still even.  It doesn’t have to make sense, it just has to be scary.

Last week while Hailey was sick we were in the steamy bathroom trying to help her cough and Hailey said, “My jaw is hurting.”  So I asked her where her jaw was (I wasn’t sure if she knew) and she pointed to her forehead.  So, I said, “Where does it hurt?”  And she pointed to the top of her head.  A few seconds later when I asked her where it hurt she pointed to her stomach.  Apparently nothing really hurt because she couldn’t decide where it hurt.  Or, if her head did hurt- it could have been from being sick for 2 weeks and from taking medication with a side effect of headache.  BUT, in my mind it was clearly another sign of a brain tumor.  It doesn’t have to make sense, it just has to be scary.

A few days later Hailey was playing.  She stopped, looked at me, put her hand on top of her head and said, “I’m cold.  I need my sweatshirt.”  Want to know how crazy my mind works- I thought her head must have hurt and that she also had a chill.  Both of which, in my mind, were signs of a brain tumor.  It doesn’t have to make sense, it just has to be scary.

I have to tell you that I really debated over whether or not to post this.  As I read back over this I know I sound really crazy.   I know these thoughts are not rational.  I know that Hailey is perfectly healthy and she shows no signs of any serious illness.  I am thankful that other than a few colds and some problems with asthma- Hailey has been completely healthy.  But this is still how my mind works.

And these are just a few examples of how my mind works- I go through thoughts like this every single day.  My mind always creates a scary scenario no matter what the circumstances.  Remember, It doesn’t have to make sense, it just has to be scary. 

So, am I completely paranoid?  Do other moms do things like this?  Do I just deal with it or should I be medicated?

The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of giveaways here at Livin’ With Me. If you’re a regular reader then you know I’ve been trying get lots of new people here to vote for me in the Velveeta Casserole Challenge. The challenge ends this Sunday, on November 23rd and the winner will be announced on Monday, November 24th. Thank you so much for all of the support you have given me in this challenge and please keep on voting for me everyday.

Anyhoo, starting today I will be going back to my usual once a week giveaways each Tuesday. And also back to my usual posting.

So, what’s been going on over the last couple of weeks while I haven’t really been doing any regular posting? Well, Hailey was really sick last week. She had the croup which then turned into an even worse cough where she coughed so much she had a hard time catching her breath. So we were stuck at home all week with the nebulizer machine and steamy bathroom.

It’s not even winter yet and I already feel like I’m going to lose my mind if I am stuck in the house all of the time. But, at this point- with how sick Hailey was last week (and she is actually still sick) I am ready to quit every mommy group and story time group we belong to and keep her at home away from germy kids.

So, as you can see you didn’t really miss out on anything while I was posting all of my giveaways anyways.

I know I haven’t been visiting all of my bloggy friends like I should be over the last couple of weeks either. Giveaways are a lot of fun to host, but they also take a lot of time- so I had to give up something from my day and it was visiting all of you. So, I’m off to go catch up on what all of you have been up to over the last couple of weeks.

Oh- and I just have to ask- pretty please- will you vote for me over at the Velveeta Casserole Challenge?

Andrea over at Lifesong is hosting the 2nd annual Winter Activity Menu Challenge.  The purpose of this activity menu is to come up with some creative and fun things to do during the long winter months to help fight off the winter blues.  You can see all of the details about this challenge at The Makings of a Menu.

I participated last year and didn’t do so well.  I had great plans at the beginning of the winter but by the end of winter when we checked in and posted about how we did, my plans had pretty much been a flop.  So, the thing I love about what Andrea is doing this year- is she is having us check in every two weeks.  Today I will post my plans for the next 2 weeks, then in 2 weeks I’ll check in and post about what we did and post some new plans for the next 2 weeks.

My biggest struggle is that when winter comes I tend to just stay home and feel lonely and depressed.  So I am going to work on having plans to get out of the house several times each week. 

So- here are my plans for the next 2 weeks:

• Friday (the 7th)- Monday- we are going out of town this weekend to visit family, so we’ll be having a wonderful time with them.
• Tuesday- Hailey and I will go to our monthly MOMS meeting.
• Wednesday- I will take Hailey to story time at the mall and then we’ll walk around the mall afterwards.
• Thursday- Baking night
• Friday (the 14th)- Our MOPS group is meeting to wrap the Operation Christmas boxes that we will be filling with goodies for needy children.
• Saturday- Family day- not sure yet what we’ll do.  I get a newsletter every week with activities taking place around the community, so once I get the newsletter for this week I’ll find something for us to do.
• Sunday- Church and then just a take it easy day at home.
• Monday- Story timeat the library
• Tuesday- Maybe go to a playgroup
• Wednesday- Story time at the mall, then walking afterwards
• Thursday- Baking Night
• Friday (21st)- MOPS meeting

In addition to our activities to get us out of the house, I do craft activities with Hailey every day.  You can see our fun crafts at Our Crafts ~N~ Things.

If you want more information about this Winter Challenge- stop over at Lifesong.  The more people who join and share their ideas the better!

A quick reminder before I go- please vote for me at Velveeta Casserole Challenge.  Thanks and have a fabulous weekend!!

On Columbus Day we had some fabulous weather and decided to spend the day at the pumpkin farm.  Here’s a few pictures from our fun day.

There were tons of scarecrows and Hailey had to hug all of them.

Rich and Hailey jumped on this huge bouncy pillow thing.  Rich hurt his neck while jumping and I don’t think Hailey liked it either.  When we asked her later if she wanted to go on it again she said, “No thanks.”

Hailey loved the corn maze.

Hailey did not love the big slide.

Taking a little break from all of the fun to play in the water.

Hailey looking for a pumpkin.  This pumpkin patch seems a bit empty.  We took a hay ride out to another pumpkin patch that had tons of pumpkins, but I didn’t take any pictures of it.

Oh- and totally unrelated to the pumpkin patch- I just wanted to mention that the Velveeta Casserole Challenge site is now live.  Go check it out- and you’ll see my lovely face while you’re there.

Have a great weekend!!