Ahh, blessed, blessed Saturday.  I adore myself some Saturday.  Of course, so far it has been less than relaxing, as judging by the lateness of this post (I swear, I’ve been working on it since 9am!).  I’ve had to talk on the phone, change diapers, feed babies, feed myself, run here, do that, fix this… whew!  But the good news is I have some great posts.  We’re back to a shorter list this week, but that doesn’t mean that these posts aren’t just as fabulous.  Because they totally are.  So take a break from watching Michael Phelps win ANOTHER gold medal and read these! (Because I told you to, that’s why.)

• This entire post borders on TMI, you’ve been warned from Rhi in Pink.  I adore Rhi.  Have I told you all that?  I’m sure I have.  She’s just about the sweetest thing ever.  She had surgery this week, which was kinda scary for her but she made it out okay.  Still, she got some news that can’t be making her too happy.  Go give her some loves, will ya?
• Guest Post: Vivian on Christianity and Liberalism from MOMocrats^TM.  YES!  I have a bumper sticker that says “I’m a Christian and a Democrat” on it.  Why is that so unusual these days?  More power to those of us who are caught between what has become two cultures.
• Some Surprise from Jonniker.  Yeah, I totally knew.  So no surprise for me.  STILL, I was so happy to read it (and to realize that I was right because despite what I tell my husband, I’m not ALWAYS right) and I am sending the very best vibes right her way.
• Best push up bra? Really? from Sarcastic Mom.  Lotus gives us an example of an extremely poor and entirely creepy PR email that she recieved and I have goosebumps just reading it.  of course, reading her reply made me laugh until my side hurt a little bit so that made up for the goosebumps.  When are they going to get a clule?
• The Birds and the Rigbys from The Spohrs Are Multiplying.  There’s a lot of funny this week.  I think this is to sort of make up for the sad, serious posts from weeks past.  This post cracked me up (and it comes with video!).  Who doesn’t love to read a love tale between a dog and her stuffed eagle?
• There and Back Again - The REAL Mythical Hobbit’s Tale, An Unexpected POOF from The Queen of Shake-Shake.  OH my STARS, I laughed so hard.  I love to see a story of lost pets end happily, even though it does remind me of losing our beloved Shadow four years ago.  Heh.  Mythical hobbits.
• The Occupational Hazard of Being Near Me from Surrender, Dorothy.  I feel a definite connection to Rita on this one because I feel the same way.  I can’t NOT blog and I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings but it seems to come with the territory, unfortunately.  I would just hope that anyone reading understands that it’s not really personal, but this is MY journey.  As are all of ours.  Thanks, Rita.
• A hiatus for my birthday from Poot and Cubby.  It seems EVERYONE is taking an internet break right now, doesn’t it?  I’m going to miss Andi’s voice while she’s taking a break (and Happy Belated Birthday too!).  I’ve felt rather the same post-BlogHer but I don’t think I’m ready to take a break just yet.
• Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful. Or Insane from Wiping Up Snot.  We all have our weird little quirks and Karly is no different.  The thing about the celery just sorta freaks me out, if we are being honest here.  Still, I laughed and laughed hard so maybe you will too.

We don’t have anything major on tap for the weekend.  In fact, I don’t know if we’re even planning to leave the house today.  We’ve got some chores to attend to.  Which, I realize, is about the last way you want to spend the weekend, but… whatever.  I’m not going to complain.  So what are your plans?  You know, other than watching Michael Phelps eat China?

So, dear readers, I’m going to make you work for it today.  Most days, I’m happy to just let you all sit back and just read without giving any sort of feedback or anything but NOT SO TODAY.  Oh no, I need you all to help me out with some things.  That’s going to mean clicking out of your feed reader and leaving a comment.  It’s a lot to ask, I know, because there are so many fabulous blogs to be reading and mine is just yet another drop in the bucket.  BUT… I don’t ask for much and this would make me happy.  You want to make me happy, don’t you?

I thought so.

First off, I’m thinking of doing a series of posts on various WordPress “How To’s”.  Things like getting started with WordPress including how to move off sites like Blogger and Wordpress.com, finding a theme and how to use it, what plugins are, where to find them and how to use them, etc and so forth.  But what I REALLY want to know is what YOU guys want to know.  Particularly those of you on Blogger or Wordpress.com.  What’s stopping you from switching to self-hosted Wordpress?  What are you nervous about when it comes to WordPress?  What do you want to know?  Tell me your burning questions and I’ll answer them in this series.  Sound good?

Edited to add: I guess my big question is: What is keeping you on Blogger and away from WordPress (as in, what do I need to do to convince you to move??)?

Okay, next order of business: Have you seen the new Savvy Source widget I have over there in the righthand sidebar?  Sure is purty, isn’t it?  Anyhow, if you have a moment or two, take the quiz because it’s for a good cause (not just putting $ in my pocket, which it does that, but also there’s the whole children’s eductation benefit).  You don’t have to tell me if you’ve taken the quiz or not, but I wanted to point it out either way.  Also, if you’re interested in running this widget on your own blog, I have some invites available to the first five people who want them.  So if that’s you, then you do have to tell me.  Otherwise, how would I know?  I don’t read minds, yo.

Here’s another question for you guys: What do you think of the blog, in general.  All criticisms about writing aside, how do you like it?  Is the design working for you all?  Are there any features to the design or the blog in general that you love or hate?  Anything that I don’t do that you’d like to see?  Would you like to see a different look?  Do you have any issues with the current design (doesn’t load correctly, etc)?  Sound off!  Give it to me with both barrels.  I WANT TO KNOW.  I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to know.

I think that’s all the questions I have for now.  If I think of anything else, I’ll be sure to let you know.  And I want to thank you ahead of time for your answers.  I’m continually amazed by the fabulous people who read this blog.  You guys, quite honestly, are the wind beneath my internet wings.

So I think I’ve posted more than my fair share of depressing stuff lately, don’t you think?  I mean, I look at it all and just CRINGE because as supportive as you all are (and you ARE wonderful), I’m sure you would rather read something that isn’t as “Woe is me” as that all the time, am I right?  I mean, there is being true to myself and my current state of mind and then there’s just wallowing.  I don’t want to be wallowing.  And I’m pretty danged sure that you don’t want to wallow with me.

OKAY, moving on!

I saw this video yesterday, first mentioned by the fabulosity that is The Bloggess on Twitter and I laughed so hard I nearly peed my pants.  If you are at all familiar with Twitter and it’s famous outages, then you’ll love this.  I PROMISE.  I only pass on the best stuff, you know.

There, now that I’ve brought a smile to your face… I need to share another link with you.  Now, I’m pretty sure everyone and their dog knows about CakeWrecks by now.  It’s quickly becoming a phenomenon.  But I dare you to scan through the different “wrecks” and NOT laugh at some point.  Go ahead and try.  YOU WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL.

And before you accuse me of ripping off Slackerpapa, I’d like to make it known that *I* am the one who pointed out both of these things to him in the first place so in essence, he stole the idea for his post from me.

I’ve tried to start this post a dozen different ways but everything I’ve tried sounds so stupid.  So just bear with me.

While hurridly taking a shower during those magic moments yesterday afternoon when both Liam and Evie were napping AND NO ONE WAS NEEDING TO NAP ON ME, I was mulling some things over in my head.  I do my best thinking in the shower.   Anyone else do that besides me?  Sometimes it seems the shower is the only place a person can hear themselves think around here.  Anyhow.  I was thinking about things, about stuff and I came ot a realization.   I’m in a Bermuda Triangle of sorts.  At least, I think I am.

You see, I may have mentioned once or twice that I have a little problem with my thyroid.  I know, you’re probably tired of hearing about it already.  In the last couple of weeks I’ve done some sniffing around and I’ve noticed that there are some connections between hypothyroidism and depression.  Either the thyroid causes you to feel depressed, or the depression is a symptom or an effect… Okay, now I’m just starting to confuse myself.

And then I started thinking of the influx of postpartum hormones that crash in when a baby is a couple months old.  That thought was probably prompted by the handfull of hair that I came away with after rinsing the shampoo out.  The hair starts falling out and the hormones inside are trying to even themselves out.  It’s no small task, I’m sure.  In fact, I’m sure it’s a pretty serious endeavor since it was during this postpartum period that my thyroid first decided it was going to take a dirt nap all those years ago after Harry was born.  So it would be no small wonder that hormones leveling out should cause me to feel a little on edge.  It makes sense, even.

And then there’s postpartum depression.  Is it related to the evening out of hormones post-pregnancy?  Or something else?  I have to admit that I know very little about PPD.  What causes it, why some women get it and others do not.  Why some women get it worse than others.  And why you can have multiple chidren and not have it with some but have it with others.  I have no clue.  But it’s there.  It exists.

So where do I fall amidst all this?  I have a feeling I fall right in the middle of it all.  Right in the middle of the “Bermuda Triangle” of hormones, depression and syndromes.  I don’t think I need to tell you that it’s not a happy place to be.  At least, I don’t think it is.  Because I’m not even 100% sure that it’s where I am.  How do you know?  I guess I never considered that a person who was feeling depressed wouldn’t know for sure if what they felt was depression or if, well, they needed to just buck up and take it.  When I would hear someone recount their experiences with depression, I would never second-guess it.  I guess I assumed if you were depressed you just KNEW.  Is that the case?  Or not?

I guess it can be hard to see what’s right in front of you when you’re in the Bermuda Triangle.

I’ve felt that I just need to buck up and take it.  That what I’m feeling isn’t that remarkable, that what I go through is nothing compared to some women, that I have no room to complain about anything.

I want it to be known, however, that I cherish my children.  The love I have for them sometimes keeps me awake at night, it is so enormous.  I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world.  As hard as things might be right now, I know my life is so much better having them in it.  So don’t think for an instant that I don’t realize I have some pretty awesome kids.  Because I know I do.

I just need to find my way out of this Bermuda Triangle so I can really start feeling like myself.  Even though I worry that I’ve been in here so long that I don’t even know what “myself” is anymore.