Confessions from a Flogger




I’m disappointed in me. 2017 is over in 5 days, and I have only written ONE blog post in the entire year. Is this true?? ME?! I’m full of words & stories--and I didn’t catalog a fraction of them this year. I used to fill pages and pages of journals and diaries when I was younger. Now I can’t even make it to 2 entries per year.
So pathetic. No respectable blogger would ever dream of posting just twice a year.
I’m full of regret and a little disdain. I WILL write down more of my thoughts in 2018. I won’t call it a resolution, but I am resolved. I've even changed my blog name from Mediocre Mom to Good McLean Fun...hoping to drop the connotations of the past. Because you know what they say...don't bring last year's self to next year's goals.

I read recently, a blog is most successful if the author writes often, and succinctly. Soooooo yeah. Clearly my blog is not a success. I can’t get 2 posts out over 12 months and I write novels when I actually do sit down to post. 
I am a failure at blogging. 
I am a flogger.  ;) 
Self-loathing aside, I will recap some blog-worthy events and go from there.

Here are some major things I don’t want to forget from 2017 that could possibly become a blog post later: 
1. dog rips Luke’s face and he needs 35+ stitches from plastic surgeon
2. executive trip and first time visiting New Orleans
3. behind the scenes of a girl scout troop leader during cookie season
4. going on an all-expense paid trip to the dominican republic with my lover
5. sex ed video for 5th graders
6. first family trip to Seaworld
7. stupid science projects
8. Lincoln’s struggles with Touch-a-truck
9. sister weekend in West Palm Beach
10. Luke’s skull fracture and concussion
11. being married for 10 years
12. struggling to fit in with the autism treatment center
13. overdosing on 5 hour energy drink
14. Visiting Utah
15. the struggles to find a school placement for the twins
16. finally becoming homeowners
17. Hurricane Irma and the great ceiling collapse
18. Halloween on the spectrum
19. I want a dog
20. Ryan has double pneumonia
Juliette, Lukas, Levi, Lincoln, Jackson

December is my favorite month, hands down. I turn another year older on paper every December, but it’s still my favorite. It’s one of the busiest, but it’s the best. Ryan and I even squeezed in an impromptu date night last week when he was told to go to the ER for a potential pulmonary embolism! 
He's had a relentless dry cough for 3 weeks, erratic heartbeat, elevated blood pressure...good times! After an intimate night together getting an EKG, chest xray, being put on 5 liters of oxygen, and a CT scan, we were told he was clear of blood clots but has double pneumonia. 
 He refused to stay in the hospital at their suggestion for 3 days of antibiotics, and has instead been trying to heal at home--he was prescribed an inhaler and 10 days of levofloxacin. The ER nurse did not hide her disapproval and in an empty voice wished him luck as we left. 

We are on day 4 since leaving the ER...tomorrow is his follow up appointment to see if he’s kicking double pneumonia’s butt-- or vv. Praying for the former! 

Apart from this medical disaster, we spent a magical first Christmas in our new-to-us home. I still can’t believe this is ours. Granted, it’s old--the carpets are worn, the bathrooms are dated, the cabinets are hideous, our living room is floor to ceiling wood paneling (the 70’s kind), our walk-in closet is an unfinished section of the garage… but you know what?? 
Gratitude is my attitude. 
We have a lovely swimming pool with an attached tiki bar and covered party space, we have 2300 sq ft of amazing indoor space for our family of 7, we have a fireplace, we have room for a piano, we have a dining room and a dinette area, a bar at the kitchen for homework and quick meals, we even have a little koi pond in the yard! (it’s not hooked up… but it will be eventually!) We have space for the kids’ big trampoline, with plenty of yard left over. Our street is quiet, we’re still just 7 minutes away from nearly everything in town.It is perfect for us. 

We had an entirely crazy year as you can imagine from the highlight reel above...I’m sure I’m missing some big events but that’s all I can come up with.

If I don’t get to all of them, which ones would you like to know more about? I could use the help prioritizing. I am determined to get my thoughts down more often in the new year… I’m also determined to get my pant size down--and even though we can’t have everything we want, I’d settle for a few more blogs than just 1 per year, and a few less pounds in 2018.

I know for certain we were not the only ones with an incredibly wild, blessed, and occasionally heartbreaking year.  I hope at some point this year we were a blessing to you, even from afar. Thank you all for your love and prayers, this season and next!

Signing off with a blessing for you and your family into the new year…


The Lord bless you and keep you.




The Lord make his face to shine upon you




and be gracious to you.




The Lord turn his face toward you



and give you peace. 



 -Numbers 6:24-26



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