Round 2

Ok, so now Speck has the bug. It hit about 3 am. But, it could be worse, and it WILL get better. I just keep saying it over, and over, and over (as I wash sheets over & over & over)

Can you say ROTTEN

So, little man is better. Kept him home today just because. Bless his heart, he was sick for 12 hours, almost exactly. It would hit every 30 minutes just like clock work. Heard two more in his class were out with it, so it is going around and we don't want it back. Little miss is back to her old habits. Refusing to sleep and thinking she has to be held ALL the time. If you put her down its like the sharpie commercial from several years ago, her legs come up and she screams. She has learned "no-no" and it comes out very plain. Yesterday I had two picture perfect moments, that I of course missed because I was afraid she would get hurt. First she climbed in the cabinet under my bathroom sink, all the way in, and emptied everything out. But she almost fell out so...then I was unloading the dishwasher and she perched her little bottom on the door as it was down. When she tried to hold on to the racks to stand up she lost her balance. Testing my reflexes I think. She was a handful last night, I also got to call poison control. She ate Destin. Just fyi...it takes about 3-4 handfuls to make them sick. She only coated her tounge. Gross. This time last year I remember thinking I would still have one more. Then I remember HG telling me to just wait until she got mobile & I would rethink that idea. She was SOOOO right. What was I thinking?! I guess I just don't remember the boys at this stage. Or maybe its because I am older, or because I have 2 more to chase now. I don't know, but oh my goodness...& it has just begun. None the less, I love them all more than they will ever know. I just have to stop and remind myself every now and then that this stage will soon be gone and I will never get to do it again. So for me, I have to slow down & treat each fight as a moment to teach, each sleepless night as one more piece of uninterrupted cuddle time, and take every minute I can to show them how much I love them.

here we go again

We went to town after school to run a few errands. My grandpa isn't doing real well so we called to see if they had eaten dinner and thought we would pick something up and stop and eat with them on the way home. They wanted McDonalds. What?! I can eat that with my kids any day, I was thinking potato soup from Panera, or something, nope, Mickey D's was the request. So, we stopped and picked up cheeseburgers and headed for a visit. We didn't stay long since it was a school night and on the way out the door the writer says his tummy hurts & he just had "that" look. We made it home but he went downhill fast. Barley out of the car and he started throwing up. When it was clear it wasn't a one time thing I gave him some medicine. Still sick. Cuddled up watching Spiderman 3. Finally he dozed off on the couch. Hopefully he will sleep through it and wake up all better. And the other two won't get it. However, he and Top Knot shared a sucker this afternoon :) We shall see...

weekend in review

She really loves her bubbas. Its the first thing she asks for when she gets up.

We enjoyed a little bit of warm weather Thu afternoon!

Their idea of enjoying the weather...hunting down poor little birdies. (they are actually pretty good shots because I seem to find these birds sitting on the freezer in the garage quite often!) He finally let me sign the cast. But it had to be on the bottom and it had to say "mom" not "mommy" :( he is getting WAY to big.

Friday night a few of the big brothers went to a birthday party so the younger siblings came over to have their own party. 7 kids age 6 and under. I slept well ;)

The girls made their cupcakes

The boys played nerf guns

Then they played American Idol. These were the first two judges

And these were the first two contestants. These two, ten years, TROUBLE.



(one of the little guys would not let me take his picture)

Miss independent. She wants to feed herself everything. Notice two spoons?

Saturday we went up the mountain to meet hubby. He worked at the home show all day. Then we went shopping for a little while and ate dinner at Hermans. Home by about 8, and poor Speck had dug a hole he couldn't get out of. Too tired from the night before and a mean old mom that drug him around all day. All three were off to bed and had to be woke up the next morning. I kept the nursery and hubby took the boys to church. The power went out so they thought it was quite the adventure. The rain made perfect sleeping weather. Top Knot and I laid down while the boys helped clean out the car. & I actually got all my laundry caught up...for now.

Twice in one day

Our first stop this morning was to get a new cast. This time it is plain old white, but it glows in the dark! He won't let anyone sign it. Doc said he wasn't at all surprised to be putting it back on. He said the bone in his foot was extremely compressed and it is quite painful. Poor little guy, he never says a word. But watching him try to play was heart breaking. We go back in 4 weeks to get it cut off and x rayed again. After school we went back to town to replace these :) still no idea how they just suddenly broke

We did stop at Old Navy and Target. Got a few summer things for the kiddos. Sooo ready for warm weather.

Today

I had lunch with a few girlfirends. I can't figure out where the time goes. We sat there for about 1 1/2 hours but it felt like 10 minutes! I found out the same people who called about the house before want to see it again. and its not even listed. Stopped at the pharmacy to get eardrops for Top Knot & they were $50 even with insurance! Speck informed me that he really has no idea how his glasses broke. He was just wearing them and they all of a sudden split in half. Hmmm... Two of the kids friends came home from school and played for a bit. Then we went for pizza and got to play with some adorable lab puppies. Stay tuned, I am such a sucker for that puppy breath...

Who needs these?

When you can empty out the cabinets?! (she took about 10 steps tonight!! Its all downhill from here)

This is my PILE of clean laundry that needs to be folded and put away. But I think I'm going to sleep instead, maybe the laundry fairy will visit ;)

Note to self

Keep toilets clean, very, very clean. With boys in the house it is certain that the seat will get left up. And with a 1 year old following close behind it is certain that she will splash in the water whenever the seat gets left up :( at least they remember to flush! Waiting on ortho to call back. The writer is having trouble walking again. He actually asked for the cast to be put back on so it wouldn't hurt anymore. Top Knot is napping so off to shower & then lunch with girlfriends.

Oh what a difference

a little sleep makes :) My sweet, precious, little darling daughter actually slept last night!!! Maybe daddy told her I needed a Valentines present. He is requesting the credit for it, however its more like "I told you so". O well, I guess it won't kill me to let him enjoy his "accomplishment" :) My mom and dad came over and watched the kids yesterday afternoon so hubby and I went to the movies. We saw Dear John. I had read the book (while we were sitting in the airport last week) and it was quite different from the movie. I am not a reader, and haven't ever done that before. Read the book and then watched the movie. Not sure I recommend it. Even the ending was different. There were parts that I liked better from each, think I'll make my own and use both :) Either way, a good love story. After the movie we went to Marble Slab. Nothing like ice cream when its 30' outside! Couldn't have asked for a better Valentine's Day. Anyone still interested in lunch tomorrow? Mexican @ 11?

Sleepy Saturday

Once again, we did not sleep last night. If anyone has a suggestion, PLEASE...! She is fine. Just rotten. She doesn't cry, just screams, like, I am mad, I am not getting my way. As soon as you open her bedroom door it stops. You don't even have to pick her up. I know, leave her in there and eventually she will go to sleep. Problem is, I can't sleep with her screaming so I might as well get up and hold her. At least one of us is resting. Right?! (hubby doesn't agree either) The writer is still walking with his foot turned in, Dr. said give him a few days and if its not better they will put the cast back on. Praying he will get back to "normal". Baseball is almost here! Doesn't that mean the weather has to warm up? Thank goodness!! I am ready for all the practices and games as long as it is nice outside. House full of kiddos today(6 to be exact) Friend's sister is getting married & they went to Tulsa to shop for dresses so I am getting lots of entertainment! Of course hubby is hunting, squirrels, I think. Boring, stay @ home weekend planned. Can't wait.

Back to reality

They are all 3 getting their turn at the dr again this week. Wouldn't want them to miss out, afterall it has been a regular stop lately. Thankfully its not for illness (did I just say that? they will all be sick by tonight!)

This sweet little thing still REFUSES to sleep! If she wasn't so stinkin cute she'd be in trouble. Tomorrow won't help matters. Time for the one year check up and shots. I am the crazy mom that wouldn't do vaccinations if I didn't have to. Daddy gets the honors. After 8+ years of motherhood, I have never held a child for a shot, or even signed for them to get one. And I have no intentions of starting now.
He finally got his cast off, but can't play basketball just yet. Guess we'll have to wait til next year and try it again.
Speck had his visit this morning. ENT consult. Tonsils & adenoids are coming out. But not til July. Still have time to change my mind on that one. Again, crazy nurse mom :)

Think I'm ready to go back to the beach.

We didn't agree

...the insurance company and I. Their regulations said that the traveler or a dependent child must be under the care of a physician ( & of course it had to be documented by said physician) & if it was a dependent child, the illness must be serious enough to require the parents presence. In other words, a hospitalization, stomach bug, or fever the previous week, did not meet their requirements to get a refund. I was OK with this, however, hubby was not! So, we left kiddos with Nanaw and drove up the mountain in the snow and boarded a plane at 6 am Thurs. By noon we were looking out our window and this was the view...

Originally we were supposed to be in a standard room ,but the hotel had over booked so we were upgraded to a junior suite with an ocean view. Rough start to the vacation :)

For the last several years we have gone somewhere in Mexico with our friends B & T. She has 2 little boys at home with grandma too. This year it was Cozumel.

We stayed at Cozumel Palace. We have stayed at a Palace Resort the last several years. They are all inclusive and really neat.

T & I at Senor Frogs.

B is a lot like me, just sits back and watches. Does not want to draw attention. T is a lot like my hubby, loves to dance and the more attention the better. Needless to say most of our fun pics are of the two of them...usually on a table :)

In fact, one night a lady came up to me and said, "OK, we have a bet. Who is married to who?" It was so funny. Several people were staring and we probably don't really want to know what they were thinking. Those two would dance, and on the rare occasion they sat down, it was with someone else!

Dinner at the oriental restaurant. The food was really good everywhere we ate, (there were 5 different restaurants) but one night it was outside at a grill. The lighting wasn't great but not a problem. I had some seafood cocktail and it was pretty good. Well, the next day I had it again and the lighting was much better. And I found octopus in it. A real tentacle with all the little suction cups...yuck!

Coke in a real glass bottle at Hard Rock Cafe. Lunch overlooking the water.

Shopping in downtown. The guys favorite part!! Ha!

Yes. I actually got in the water! It was beautiful. Blue/green and crystal clear. You could see forever. My panic attack didn't start for about 5, maybe 10 minutes so I saw a few fish before having to race back to shore :) For those of you who don't know, I am TERRIFIED of the water. Hubby won't let me close to him b/c when we snorkeled in Hawaii I almost drowned him. So, when they all took off, that was it, I was done. I think they take me just so they can laugh. Glad I can be of assistance.

I just took pics above the water :)

Relaxing by the pool

Our last night. Notice the lobster red legs?! I was freezing to death thanks to a good old sunburn.

The trip was great, but since history usually repeats itself, the journey home had a few bumps. We didn't get through customs in time so we missed our connecting flight. We sprinted through the airport and actually stood on the loading ramp and watched it take off. This was at 3:45pm. Luckily we were put on the next flight out. It was supposed to leave at 7:45pm
Then it got bumped to 8, 9, & 10:15. Finally, @ 11pm we took off.

In the meantime...we had bought this "wrestling mask" for one of the boys in Mexico. (They were all over the place and they love to wrestle) anyway, the guys were about done by the time we got out of the airport, so to entertain himself hubby got it out of the bag and put it on. People thought he was NUTS and the poor kids, he scared one little boy to death! We were laughing so hard we had tears!! They are already talking about next year, oh my...

Willpower & What's that smell?

2 in one day...& this one might take a minute. Just have to document this for later reading enjoyment. Top Knot was not the best sleeper before our hospital visit, but is much worse now. Mind you, as newborn she slept 14-16 hours at a time. The only time she didn't was with an ear infection and that was the tell tale sign. We would get meds and she would sleep again. In August she had tubes & no more infections but the sleeping went down hill! Figure that one out. Anyway, about last night. I started rocking her about 8:30. By midnight we were still at it. She goes to sleep fine. But its the putting her in the bed that she doesn't like so much. (however she won't sleep anywhere else...I have tried) In comes dad. He says, "Go to bed, I can handle this. We're going to fix this little problem". Hmmm... OK, I'll try it. So off I go, snickering to my self. I can hear it all on the monitor. "Alright sister, its time to go to sleep. Lay down & close your eyes". She SCREAMS. I am secretly smiling at the tone of his voice. He patiently sits in his chair and turns on the tv but every few minutes he would get up and talk to her again. All the while she is still screaming, not crying, screaming. (I have NEVER let any of my kids cry in their beds so it is about to do me in) Anyway, after about 1 hour 45 min she starts to slow down & he comes to bed. Laying there listening to her sniffle, we are thinking she is about to give it up. Oh no, second wind. Another little bit & he goes to talk to her again and she is still screaming. Only this time he brings her to me, in our bed (there were no tears, she was just mad) and says "ok, I quit" did not say told ya' so, but... :) Sis & I found the trusty rocker and that time she was worn out. Finally @ 3:30 she went to bed. Thank goodness for Nanaws who will come and pick up big brothers who have to go back to school. Guess she has more willpower than dad. Not a good sign. Afterall, this is the guy who repeatedly said there would be no difference between the boys and her. Ha! Ha!

What do you do when you can actually leave the house after 2 weeks of confinement? (& the hospital didn't count)
start off by taking a shower, washing, drying, and fixing your hair, putting on make up AND something other than sweat pants. WHO HOO!! Then...
1. post office to mail the pile of stuff from the kitchen cabinet (we still have utilities so I guess its not that bad)
2. school to pick up PTO check that has been in the safe for 2 weeks
3. bank to deposit PTO check (but have to call someone to get acct # b/c you forgot it at home)
4. get gas
5. pick up laundry from cleaners that you forgot was there until hubby was looking for a specific pair of pants
6. bakery to pick up cookies for p/t conferences (yes, I cheated )
7. visit with lawyer re: work, not because we are getting a divorce or are in trouble, or anything else you might need one for
8. go to our bank
9. buy GROCERIES with a very sleepy baby in tow
10. drop off cookies (that I bought)
11. go to the tanning bed (& yes, I cheated again, & got a "spray on") more on this later
12. pick Speck up from school who says "WHAT IS THAT SMELL" It was me, ya' know, the tanning bed smell? gross huh?!

Shhh...

Not going to say it, don't want to ruin it. So I'm not going to say it outloud, no fever, no sickness for almost 24 hours. But I'm not going to jinx it, so I didn't just say it ;)

Really?!

The Writer. 103. Today I am not succeeding.

Whew!

Don't know what it was (seems the way things work around here lately) but it hit hard and it hit fast. And thankfullly, it was gone in 24 hours. By 3 pm yesterday I wanted to cry. But hubby came home early and ran me a hot bath. Then I went to bed. He took care of kiddos until about 8:30 but Top Knot would not let him put her to sleep. So I got up & was almost like a new person. Boys are still home today just because of the "24 hour rule" @ school. But they are fine. There has been someone in our house sick since Christmas, and I am not used to that. Lately my strength and my faith have been tested. Some days I succeed, more days I don't. But I am reminded daily how very truly blessed we are. Please keep Stacy and her family in your prayers today as they face a very difficult time.

Black Cloud ("FO-SHO")!!

TH said it perfectly. But after our little scare last week I will not complain, although I really want to right now :) The stomach bug has hit...all 5 of us. Hubby woke up with it yesterday morning, Speck went down yesterday afternoon, and the rest of us got lucky about 3 am.
Speaking of last week, her mono screen came back negative. Very strange. Doc said we probably wouldn't ever know exactly what it was. Don't think I like that, but will just pray it doesn't happen again. Sick kiddos calling, gotta RUN.