...A Tortoise In the Fast Lane...

Ahh, a new year!

2012-01-02T23:14:00.000-08:00

I feel like the year is off to a very good start! I'm not sure why, I just do! I mean, we just had a tummy bug sweep through the household, swiftly and severely enough to merit me calling in to work the next a.m. That was still in 2011 though, AND that's one thing off the checklist now of things to do. "Major flu bug?" "Check!" Now we can move forward into the new year.

Another big plus, I've gone out and run both days of the new year. Santa geared me up to run safely this winter, so I have no excuse. I got a flashing red light to clip on me, some foot accessories involving carbide spikes to put over the bottom of my running shoes, and I got a "worker jacket." I will include a photo of that possibly tomorrow. Suffice it to say that if anyone sees me running in that thing, they may think there's a fleeing utility worker and glance around nervously for the utility box that's about to explode. It's actually really cute and I love it..super comfy and perfect, right down to the zippered outside pockets I can use for a flashlight in one and my cell phone in the other, the soft cuffs that do a swell job at keeping the arctic air out and a hidden hood I can pull out of its zippered compartment to act as a wind breaker over my stocking cap on the really blustery days! It's an honest-to-goodness utility jacket. Oh, the "worker guy" thing...it's what one of my kids said when I opened it Christmas morning, "Oohhhh, that looks like a worker guy jacket!". It is, Dearie, it is. And I....I could be considered a worker guy!

Today it really helped to have a little mutt...I mean, pup...barking so loudly it honestly hurt our ears! As brutal as it seems to have to brave the elements and do what we have to do to burn this high energy dog's excess energy, believe me when I say it, it's truly more brutal to have to endure his barking! Going on a run with him Is well worth the trade-off of him being quiet for a few hours. And, going on a run with him is worthy of a post entirely devoted to that to topic! I will have to post about that when I post the pic of my running gear.

Oh yeah, a lovely event that happened the other day: our deep freeze was meddled with and we did nt discover it until one fine moment when one of the kids went to retrieve a food item from it and returned saying that the freezer smelled downright rotten. Yes indeedy it did! All our meat had rotted and the freezer smelled like we were storing cadavers in it. Thank you little toddler boy! I know you did it! BUT again, it happened in 2011. Done with. Another thing to check off our list. "Get rid of all our frozen foods! Time to start fresh for the new year!" "Check! Done deal!"

So, all in all, a very good start to 2012. A very good start indeed!

Testing

2011-12-27T00:10:00.001-08:00

Okay, so now I can see if I can start posting images on my blog again..

See why I never post pics of myself? Eww! Oh well, like someone so kindly reminded me, "Cameras never lie!" Gee, thanks! In other words, no that is not a bad picture of you, you just always look that bad. :/

Mom, you have a BIG butt.

2011-12-20T21:38:00.000-08:00

Just the other day, I went into the bathroom to prepare a mop bucket. My reigning princess was sitting upon her throne (the porcelain one). I bent over the tub to run the water, rinse the mop, and so on. Apparently my rear-end was right in her line of vision so she had no choice but to inspect it...and come to the conclusion that, "Mom. You have a big butt." I replied, "Yes I do. And you, Miss Izzy, have a small butt." She then said, in her little dramatically wistful whine, "Ohhh Mooom, when I grow up I want to be a mom just like you!" Then a pause, then, "Even if I do have a big butt. That's okay, right?" I said, "Yeah, that part's pretty unavoidable. When you get to be a mom like me, your butt is just going to be big."

An outing

2011-11-15T22:46:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I decided it was high time to take a couple of my daughters out after the little kids were tucked in. These two fine young ladies babysit every Tuesday and Thursday night while I and the two oldest girls go to our martial arts class. E has been traveling the past many weeks, otherwise he is here when we go but they still do the majority of the work when we are gone to class.

We had so much fun tonight! We first went through MacD's drive-through and ordered small peppermint hot chocolates for them and a peppermint mocha for me. Mmmmm. We just sat in the parking lot in a toasty warm car, reminiscing. They remembered many things, "Remember when I ran away, Mom?" Me: "Um, which time?" "The time you had to call the cops to help look for me." Me: "Uh...yeah, I think I faintly remember that! Yeah, I very clearly remember that!" Also, "Remember when you climbed up on the roof and put Christmas lights all along the eaves of our house?" Me: "Yup. I remember that. I loved our house that Christmas." Fia: "I so badly wanted to come up there with you!" Me: "Yes, and I remember clearly fearing you would. You were a kind of fearless little gal." Fia: "Remember when Dad made you hot chocolate while you were up there?" Me: "Yes. And I scooted over along the roof to that skinny kitchen window and you guys handed out the hot chocolate. Then we drank our hot chocolate together, me outside the window, you guys inside. It was a very chilly evening and my hands were really cold. That hot chocolate was perfect!" Fia: "I so badly wanted to climb out that window and come up on the roof with you and help you with the lights." Me: "Yes, and I remember clearly fearing you would. I half expected to see you climbing out that window once you realized you could. And I remember you begging Dad to come out there."

Then, we took off for a little drive around town. We ended up slowly lally-gagging through this most amazing, idyllic neighborhood with houses that look like giant dollhouses and wonderfully landscaped front patches of yard...almost every house with a darling set of porch rockers or porch chairs on their beautiful porches. So then we dreamed of getting either into a larger house or a place with some acreage to roam...and to have a dog...and chickens...and gardens...and apple orchards. Mmmm, dreaming!

Onward to talk of IF we get another puppy, a Golden Retriever/Husky mix. They are called Goberians, I think. From what I read later, they would be very, very good personality dogs for small children, all people, other animals, etc. THey just require very good exercise or they can be very hyper. We plan to have it as a running companion and a sled puller in our yard in the winter, just to give it "work" to do (pull kids in sleds). We dreamed, we schemed, we planned, we plotted. Mmmmm, dreaming! :)

Then we came home to nearly everyone, including the big girls, sleeping!

What a good outing!

Out of the mouths of....Princesses!

2011-11-15T22:27:00.000-08:00

Izzy (lying on the bathroom floor as I was getting ready to go to our martial arts class): blah, blah, blah...lying...blah, blah. And you can't lie, right? Cause that's hell, right? When you lie, that's called hell...right?

Me, suddenly tuning in: Uh...oh, you mean lying is a sin, right?

Izzy: Yeah, it's a sin...and blah, blah, heaven, blah, blah, you can burn there, right?

Me: Oh, you mean if you go to hell instead of heaven, you could burn there. Yup.

Izzy: And there's that Level that lives there. It's that Evil Level guy that lives there, right?

Me: Yup. It's that Evil Level that lives there....

End of Discussion

Someone had a deep discussion with her, I guess.

Well, what do you know?

2011-11-09T13:38:00.000-08:00

I'm on a roll. Two days in a row of blogging. I think I will give myself a Diligence Award!

What can I say about today? Hmmm...we currently have some logs being sawed by a few people in this house. I do wish I could join them. I am tired.

Well, tomorrow is going to be a busy day, like usual for Thursdays. I guess it will even be busier than usual. We have PT for Baby at 1pm. That means we need to have this house in presentable shape by then. THat can be a feat in itself. We also need to work a little harder on some of the exercises with her because I don't want the PT to feel like it's a waste of her time to be coming out here.

Also, we have our usual Ao Denkou Jitsu class at 5 but tomorrow night I need to pick up sparring equipment for our karate class and help run the beginners' class as well as our intermediate/advanced class that our girls are in. That means I miss ADJ again....but am still running the girls there, dropping them off and a sis-in-law will pick them up afterwards. From there, I run to another town close to ours, pick up the gear and paperwork, and run to the town we have karate in, set up, run the two classes, get the paperwork together afterwards to send with one of the adult students that lives near our main instructor...

Then off to bed so I can get up early FRiday morning for work....I have a 12 hour shift Friday. Then I'm off for the weekend! :)

Well, I'm being beckoned to help go through some pics my oldest is going to edit.

Ta-da!

Oops! I forgot!

2011-11-08T21:43:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to blog every day! I've probably thought about it every day but never realized so many days have slipped by since I blogged last.

Hmmm, so much goes on in this life but when I sit down to write about it, my mind flat-lines.

I was knocked down flat the other night and all day yesterday due to a stomach ailment of unknown origin. None of my kids were sick so that should rule out any tummy bug 'cause I just don't get sick unless I've had all 8 kids rotate through some nasty bug 3 times each, taking turns at it for a week straight, ill with ill symptoms day and night...then finally, after enduring all that goes with tending to children that are ill with ill symptoms, not sleeping a wink for 168 days (as it would add up if each of the 8 children was ill for a week straight then repeated the rotation 3 times..), I finally collapse and get ill, with ill symptoms myself...Since all THAT didn't happen, I wonder if it was a food-borne illness.

It. was. horrible. To say the least. I woke up at about 1:something a.m. with knife-like stomach pain that would double me over. I went to the bathroom and emptied my insides of a pure-water-like-substance...multiple times... I went to lie down for a bit only to have to make a run again for the bathroom. By this time E was up, getting ready to run out the door to the airport for his 4th week in a row work trip. He sat and rubbed my back as I was lying on the couch, groaning, then holding my breath, then groaning, curled up in a ball as wave after wave of knife slices went through my stomach.

Well, to make my long story short, I was curled up in a ball all day yesterday, sleeping, groaning and sitting on the toilet.

Today proved to be a much better day, provided I didn't try push my luck and eat a tiny dabbling of ice cream (that brought on the knife pains again, just not as severe).... I sat out of my martial arts class and watched and learned (a lot, I might say) from the sidelines since I was so wiped out and still had water-like stool throughout today.

That's all I have to say about my stool-laced adventures! :)

Our house is a disaster zone! BUT, I've finally decided that, since it's gotten considerably worse since I've started working again but our finances have finally started to get considerably better, so that we are finally getting caught up again after 2 months of me working again...I'd much rather be losing control of the house than losing the house due to lack of finances. This is a much better option. AND, guess what! I work ALL day shifts now!!! Can you believe after all those years of working nights, I work days? I just got onto that schedule where I work every Friday, 7a-7p and every other Saturday and Sunday, 7a-7p. Then, I have another client that has 8 hour shifts that has many openings every week that I can pick up shifts with the weeks that E's work in slow and he's in town. So, as much as I resisted going back to work, it's actually going pretty well...the kids seem to understand that it's essential and are being pretty good about doing their jobs while I'm gone too. It's just that certain tasks, like dishes and laundry are my jobs while they pretty much cover the rest of the main living area...so my jobs, if E isn't around, get left undone. Usually E is home Fridays, so that's why I've chosen to work them. Then he can help with the homeschooling a bit, although I try to plan most of our work M-TH, with Fridays being independent work day...I assign them Math and then whatever they need to catch up on...usually handwriting and maybe Science.

Homeschooling has been getting more and more random, which makes me nervous at times, but at the same time, I notice a lot of the informal stuff we do has actually lots of learning laced into it. And the girls seem to be loving it and I see a big inner shift in a lot of them when we are homeschooling. Very good character building, self-motivation, leadership skills, self-discipline, super good interpersonal skills have been developed between all of them....all those good things that they actually work on in school. And this is in a very natural, real-life situation where emotions and tempers can oftentimes run high and uninhibited, unlike in a school setting, where most nice kids are on company-behavior mode (and not-so-nice kids aren't).

I've seen a lot of maturing and confidence develop in these guys. And we still have a lot of time to cram in the academics once the snow flies...which we tend to do.

Well, now, off to bed.

The End

This is it! I'm going to blog EVERY day!

2011-11-02T04:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I will try to anyway! :) I got woken up this morning by little J, crying and thrashing and so on, at about 4:something a.m. He fussed and thrashed off and on until I finally got out of bed at 5:something a.m., then he quit! He was feeling cramped in MY bed with ME in it I guess!

E is out of town and all of us last night could NOT get our beloved Izzy to sleep after hours of trying. She, as a result, kept the other Littles awake with her noise, and her whispering, and her restlessness. I finally gave up thinking I will stay up late and clean...and tucked the Twins (Izzy and Yodie) in bed by me. Well, I guess there were too many in our bed for Yodie's liking so I had to go! And, I figured, that was fine 'cause now I could clean in a peaceful house....except the minute I start cleaning in a peaceful house, my rustling wakes the Littles up again, no matter what time it is. I decided I would find a quiet activity to do so they wouldn't wake up. THat can't include sweeping, cause they are all sleeping downstairs and you can hear even a crumb crawling up here from down there. I decided I would wash walls...but first need to look up dimensions on a cabinet from Ikea....started reading a blog, and decided it's time I blog again. Well, in my defense, it IS a quiet activity....and not one Little has woken up! :)

Yesterday we had troubles with a syrup jug. We buy almost all foods in bulk now. Including syrup, of course. Well, I opened one of the huge jugs of syrup on Monday morning. Tuesday morning I was juggling jugs of milk around the "milk shelf" in the fridge to try make them all fit and then put the syrup on the front of that shelf, hoping no one would knock it out of the fridge the next time someone came to get milk. Well, I'm sure you can guess what happened! About 5 minutes later, someone went to get milk and knocked the syrup onto the floor. That's no biggie usually, except this time I heard a bit thud, then a, "OH NO!" and a, "Quick, Mom! I need help!" I went in to see one of the big girls holding up the jug of syrup that now was sporting a large gash across the middle of it....syrup just chugging onto the floor. We got it to chug for a bit into a large bowl, then escorted it to the sink, where it continued to chug. BIG cleanup job ensued. Well, The Syrup Story Part II: We went to Ao Denko Jitsu (I KNOW I spelled that wrong but am too lazy to get up and see how it's spelled on my certificate) class, came back and walked into the kitchen to have my feet STICK, STICK, STICK to the floor....my slippers were staying on the floor with each step! That syrup jug had gotten left in the sink and one of my babysitters that had stayed home was kindly doing her dishes turn, took the jug out, walked absent-mindedly around the kitchen trying to find a spot on the counters to put the big jug, not realizing that the whole time she was walking, the jug was emptying onto the floor.....and the mopping job that ensued! ANd she was home dealing with our highest maintenance kids at the time...I don't blame her for not getting all the stickiness. I mean, I had to super-slop-mop it about 4 times before that layer of stickiness came up...and still there are little spots of stickiness my slippers are finding this morning!

Well, that's the end of my story telling!

Do You Love Your Children Even?

2011-09-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

This was the random question of the day, asked so nonchalantly of her father by our Princess Izzy G. E looked at her with amusement and just as nonchalantly answered, "Of course I do...Do you love your parents?" Izzy looked at him blankly, batted her eyes, and asked, "What are those? I don't even know what they are." E begin explaining, "Dad is your parent, Mom is your parent..." "..and Molly is too?" she asked.

Apparently her big sister is in the same ranks as her other parents! :)

As I came in the house after karate last night, Izzy was waiting for me. "Mom, while you were gone I was sad and I had tears and blurry eyes....(and when I had no immediate response)...Do you want to know why I was sad and had tears and blurry eyes?" I said, "Yeah, tell me why you were sad!" She said, "I was sad 'cause Hillukka Dorothy died and I missed her and wanted her to come to our house again and 'cause the marks wouldn't come off (gesturing to marks all over her arms from markers).." Wondering why she had said she wanted "Hillukka Dorothy", to come to our house again, when she hadn't ever been here before, I asked her, "Have you seen her here before at our house (thinking maybe she was mixing her up with someone else)?" She said, "No. And neither have you. Right? 'Cause she's never been here before." *Just in case someone reading this doesn't know, she's referring to my mom, who died when I was 8 years old...I'm not sure why she refers to her "Hillukka Dorothy"...I've never heard anyone else call her that before.*

Last night: Izzy started writing her name and as she wrote each letter, they got bigger and bigger...Finally, she just sighed with a big huff to Molly and said, "Molly, I just HATE this pencil! It won't let me write small!"

The other day: Izzy and Molly again...Izzy, writing with a pencil in her workbook, "Molly, I don't like this pencil! It keeps dryin' out!" (the lead was really dull and wouldn't write on one side) Molly, "Go show Mom!" Izzy, "Can she fix it?" Molly, "Go ask her!" She came running downstairs and said, "Mom! I need you to fix this! It keeps dryin' out!" I just grabbed her a new pencil and said, "Here, try this one!" She ran back upstairs and Molly asked her, "Did Mom fix it?" Izzy, "She gave me a new one, with flowers on it!"

Today, drawing pictures in her notebook: "Mom...do you want to know what I'm drawing?" I said, "Yup!" She said, "See? Here's a picture of me in a photocopy with a dress on, with a lollipop and an ice cream cone and really cute hair...." (not sure what a photocopy is in her mind) :)

Testing, Testing, 1-2-3

2011-06-26T20:45:00.001-07:00

I haven't blogged for so long, I have to check if I still know how!

I've had an eventful while now. In the beginning of May I signed up for this twice/week boot camp with a friend, Kathy, to whip myself back into shape since I hadn't so much as taken a walk since my baby had been born. There are 8 classes per month. I made it faithfully to the first 5 in May, then for some reason or another, missed the last 3. I was SO bummed!

Well, I decided in June I'll make another go at it and combining this class with Weight Watchers, I will be sure to have a good start to a very sound and healthy life...I made it to the first 2 classes, then my baby got very sick for a week straight. She had very high fevers that kept me up day and night....not straight but I was up so often at night I hardly felt like I slept. During the course of that week, I noticed that I started to have plugged milk ducts on the right side but was able to unplug them here and there with hot packing nursing. Soon I had some red streaking but that would nearly go away when the ducts would unplug. Finally, on Sunday, I realized that the severe aches and pains I had been feeling for awhile were the signs of an impending infection. That night I began burning with fevers and the next morning I called an OB doc to get started on antibiotics.

Long story short: the fevers kept up in the 103's mostly, up to 104, despite the fact I kept myself continuously medicated with Advil and Tylenol round the clock. Finally, Tuesday night I became severely nauseated and began the slow road to dehydration and starvation (or so it felt like) due to the inability to eat or drink anything. By Wednesday, I called the doc and they said it's time to be seen...I, from there, got sent to the hospital and stayed in there through the following Sunday. I didn't respond to IV Vancomycin, which is very strong. So, the oral antibiotic failed, the first IV antibiotic failed....I didn't have an elevated white count, the right side wasn't even warmer than the left, although it was flaming red, swollen, etc. It got the OB doc in the hospital thinking it could be breast cancer. She got a breast surgeon involved, who also said that breast cancer can present in a way similar to breast infection. I had a breast biopsy Saturday morning, which was negative for cancer *whew*.

So, needless to say, I haven't been able to participate in my boot camp all month after the first two classes. I have been so bummed but what do you do? I've lost weight but also muscle mass and such. I'll have to just focus on keeping my nutrition where it should be and when my strength is back, I'll begin working out again!

A Royal Update: The Princess...

2011-05-08T22:52:00.000-07:00

The other day at the park:

Dad: (as Izzy is struggling with the button on her sweater) Here, let me help you with that.

Izzy: No. I can do it myself.

Dad: Just let me help you.

Izzy: No. I can do it myself.

Dad: Come on. Just let me help you with that. I can button that for you.

Izzy: *Sigh* Oh-kay. Why do you like me so much?

Dad: 'Cause you're my daughter!

Izzy: *nose wrinkled* I'm not a daughter! I'm a Princess!

Izzy, sitting on the toilet: chatter, chatter, chatter, chatter, chatter **toot** " 'scuse me.." chatter, chatter, chatter *toot...tooooot* " 'scuse me. 'scuse me." chatter *toot* " 'scuse me. Um. That's okay if I fart on the toilet, right? 'Cause I say, ' 'Scuse me' ".

Me, almost snorting with laughter: "Um. Yes. It's perfectly fine to fart on the toilet. Even if you don't say, ' 'Scuse me.' 'Cause that's just what you do on the toilet. But that's very polite of you to excuse yourself on the toilet. Those kind manners show me that you really are a princess!" *still stifling a snort*

This morning in church:

Me, trying to distract a very tired and ornery little Izzy: Hey. I have to tell you a little story. That is, if you want to hear one.

Izzy: struggle, struggle....struggle...then still

Me: K, ready? See Pete sitting right there? You know, your uncle Pete...Katie's Pete?

Izzy: looking in Pete's direction, nodding very slightly

Me: Did you remember that your uncle Pete is my brother? Kinda like Jo-di is your brother? As a matter of fact, Pete is about a year younger than me, kinda like Jo-di is about a year younger than you. And you know what? Pete got bigger than me when we were still pretty young, just a little older than you and Jo-di are now....just like I tell you that your little brother soon may be bigger than you. And you know what? Pete and I were friends. We did fight sometimes, like you and your brother do, but mostly we were just friends. And guess what! Since we were friends when we were little, and since I was nice to him when we were little, he was so nice to me when we were older. Just like I tell you that Jo-di will be nice to you when you are older if you are nice to him now. Pete would fix my bike if I needed him to, he would help me if someone was mean to me...
..AND, guess what! Pete is still my brother. And, he is still my friend...

Izzy: ...and he still fixes your bike?

Me: again, stifling a laugh: Uh..well, he would still fix my bike if I needed him to. I mean, now your dad fixes my bike but I know Pete would still fix my bike if I needed him to!

Midnight Madness!

2011-04-26T17:29:00.000-07:00

Last night I had to bring one of the girls to Target, then Walmart, to get a couple of items for a field trip she is going on from tomorrow until Friday. I also had to get a couple things for Baby that I've been putting off getting 'cause it's so hard to take her out still. So off we went with Baby and a couple others along as well. First stop: Target!

When we left Target, I suddenly got hit by a severe stomach ache. The kind that feels like you are going to throw up any minute. I think I was suffering Chocolate Toxicity 'cause I had eaten an excessive amount of chocolate that had been kindly left in my basket from the Easter Bunny. Well, we trotted off to Walmart and then on to home. It was already nearly midnight and I still had Baby's diaper to change, a few night diapers to get on, or have someone else do, a neb to give to my baby, nurse her, get myself ready, and such...

Well, after finishing most of my duties and on my way over to throw a blanket over one of the younger kids, who had fallen asleep on the couch while I was gone, I noticed she didn't have a night diaper on yet. At the same time, I was struck by a sudden, severe cramping in my stomach and knew I had to get to the bathroom. I threw the blankets on the sleeping one on the couch, crossed my fingers she wouldn't pee while I was in the bathroom, and ran. I finished up pretty quickly, grabbed a diaper, went out to put it on her and saw a fresh, huge wet puddle on the couch. I just cringed and woke her up to strip down while I began to remove blankets, start washing up the couch and send her in another direction to sleep so I could let the couch dry overnight.

I washed my hands again, got fresh blankets, threw wet ones in the tub to wash in the morning, and tucked in....only to see Baby's oxygen saturation level drop from the lowest they want her to be, at 90%, to the upper 80's. I was SO exhausted and felt SO sick that I tried first to just get her to shift around, which would hopefully make her wake up enough to draw deeper breaths and get her sats up again. For the next hour, from 12:45 a.m. to 1:45 a.m., I would drop to sleep, only to be harshly awoken to the alarm of her desat'ing...push "silence" button, wiggle her, fall asleep, and jolt awake again to the "beep-beep-beep-beep!!!" of the alarm!!!

I finally realized her sats were just sitting at 89% without going up and when it would drop, it was going down to 84% or so. I got up, got her oxygen tank set up (switching the gauge from an empty tank to full one, checking the level, get tubing on it), got her little cheek patches ready on the nasal cannula, and then had to get them set up on her without her whipping her head around and rubbing them off kilter with her fists (she hates wearing them). I managed all this, got her oxygen started and to a flow that brought her back to mid-90's, and tucked back in...only to be hit again by horrible stomach cramping.

Back to the bathroom...then on to get a cup from the kitchen for use for stomach content...back to bed....back up again seconds later, puking. Finally, some relief from the stomach ache!!!

Back to bed finally after being up about an hour....only to hear our young son wake up screaming, then his pounding feet coming down the hallway to find me. I pulled him into bed with me, got tucked in again, only to have him spy my puke cup and insist on having a drink of water. I hustled back out to the kitchen and got him some water and Cheez-Its, since I figured he was probably a bit hungry too (I knew he probably fell asleep without anyone that was at home with him making sure he got a snack before sleeping). He finally settled in about 10 minutes later.

A short while later, Izzy woke up crying and came to find me. I got her tucked in by me too and finally got to sleep about 3:45 a.m., in time to hear my hubby's alarm clock starting to beep. I passed out...only to be woken up by E about 4:15 a.m., letting me know he was leaving to work, then on a trip for the week.

Next wake-up call came at about 6 a.m. or so from my baby, needing to eat. I got her settled back in again about 20 minutes before having to start getting my school girls up!

Needless to say, I pretty much got nothing done today until this evening...now I'm finally getting some cleaning done with some of my middle girls.

Whew! Sometimes you have to wonder if you'll ever make it through all this!!! :P

But, I'm actually pretty surprised how good I feel finally...no hint of stomach flu or anything...only a trace of a headache left. Now, only hoping that my kids will go to bed early tonight!

Morning Izzies...

2011-04-25T06:25:00.000-07:00

Morning started out with me peeling my eyes open to Izzy pounding Yodi on top of his head. I scolded her severely as he howled. She left with a royal frown, not to be seen again. Yodi and I ate breakfast and then went wandering down to the bedrooms to start stirring the household up a little. Izzy was just on her bed looking at a book, so as we were leaving the bedroom, she came cruising after us. Yodi did a little fast trot to get out of her way. I'm sure she was thinking he was afraid of another pounding so she quickly assured him, "I'm just going to the bathroom and then I'm going to get my Morning Dress on!" Sure enough, she went bathroom, went down to retrieve her Snow White princess dress, came up with it on a hanger, stared it up and down, and declared, "I don't like this dress, Mama!" I looked up and said, "Oh. Should I put the collar back on? Then will it be better?" She scowled and said, "No. I still won't like it. Even with the collar on." She stomped back downstairs and found another beautiful dress and came back up again, "Should I just wear this one again, Mama?" It was one she had taken off yesterday. She is just a princess, through and through, just like all little girls her age, I'm sure!

Baby has finally been baptized!

2011-04-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

Well, Baby is six months old and FINALLY is baptised! We were supposed to have a joint baptism with E's sister's and her husband's new baby but our little lady ran a low-grade temp yesterday and, that, combined with the fact we had two other kids run temps earlier in the week, we thought that it was probably best not to take a chance and get her baby sick.

Some funnies this week: Izzy tells me, as I was lying next to her on the couch, hoping she would fall asleep so I could keep cleaning the basement: (as she was rubbing my eyes lightly) "That's okay if you fall asleep...'cause you're the Queen!!!" Yes, my dear dolly. I like that mentality! Now if any of the other kids ever question any of my commands in the future, instead of saying, "Because I'm the Mom, that's why!" I will say, "Because I'm The Queen, that's why!"

Last weekend, after we came home from the homeschool conference we attended a few hours away, and picked up kids from various places, our Princess Izzy flounced out of the van, pigtails swinging, and announced, "I feel like I'm never gonna cry again!" What a cute way of saying she is just that happy! We know we weren't the only ones who had a marvelous weekend! She and her cousins are Princesses and they had a royal blast together for the weekend! :)

And, the other night while we were celebrating our little guy's second birthday, Izzy announced to anyone who was interested, "Hey! Hey, I'm not three anymore! Hey, you guys. I'm not three anymore, it's not my birthday! I'm not three anymore 'cause it's someone else's birthday now!"

My Life...

2011-03-30T22:29:00.000-07:00

I keep trying to wait until I have a minute or 30 to sit down and post a right proper post, one that has a title, a purpose, a direction. Now, I don't consciously think of it that way but I know myself well enough to know that is basically what I am waiting for. Well, if I wait for all that to happen, I might as well never plan to blog again. So here it is, quick, to the point, and with no real sense of direction whatsoever. Last night: Rocked baby to sleep in the bedroom, came out about 9:30pm to start chasing the rest of the little urchins to bed, only to find my sweet little Princess Belle (3 y.o.) standing there looking at me and explaining, "Um, Mom. I peed AND I spilled my milk." I look beyond her to see a puddle the size of Lake Superior of pee and another the size of Lake Michigan of milk. I veered straight into the bathroom for papertowel and straight back out to wipe up the mess, only to see my 2 y.o. boy running through the puddles on his way back from running through it a millisecond before. In other words, I saw two sets of his tracks going through all this wetness! This morning, after 2 poopy diaper changes of my young son's and hearing my infant daughter loading her second diaper of the morning, I hear my Sweet Princess Belle squealing in distress. I turn to see a few hard balls of poop hit the floor, following closely by diarrhea. The beauty: we have no carpet, so it landed on linoleum and hardwood. The unbeauty: the liquidy stuff also landed on the small, 1" gap between the linoleum and hardwood of subflooring...yeah, that stuff that isn't exactly non-porous. Yeah. So, I grabbed her very quickly, after depositing Infant Daughter into a (now feverish) daughter's arms (then I didn't realize she was sick...and, mmmm, Infant Daughter really shouldn't be getting sick for fear of hospitalization...oh, I never blogged about that but she's been hospitalized 3 times since beginning of Feb.), ran her to the toilet, ran back out to Young Son running through the diarrhea! That's my life. Oh, and as I'm blogging about it all, I still children up. At 12:45 am. Why? I don't know. I would ask them but I don't think they would know either. So, I will just sign off and go to bed. =)

Well Child Check

2011-01-09T23:36:00.000-08:00

So, an addendum to my previous post:

I had noticed with my baby that since birth she had a really low-pitched cry. Then I began to notice that she sometimes struggled to get air...kind of like her airway would stick when she tried to draw air in. This is normal right in the first few days or week or so after birth but when she was about 3 1/2 weeks old, I noticed it really noticeably and felt like it should be resolved by then, or at least getting better.

This has been noticeable to me and when I ran it by a sister (Kristin), she seemed to agree that she seemed to be struggling a bit (right? if I remember right...at least you agreed that I should have her checked if I was noticing this issue). Then just before her well-child check, a cousin saw her for the first time and almost right away after taking her in her arms, asked if it was her normal cry to cry so quietly and also that she seemed to have pretty poor neck control and also seemed to be so uncomfortable or unhappy for some reason.

Well, at her check-up 2 days later, I asked the pediatrician about this. As she was examining her, she noticed what I was talking about (although, of course, she wasn't half as bad as she sometimes could get with the struggling to get a breath). She said that this condition is called tracheomalacia. It can be quite normal for babies to have and they typically outgrow it within a few months. It's just a softer, "flappy" airway. Most babies have a stiffer airway but some have a bit of an underdeveloped trachea that can then make the airway floppy when they especially are upset, eating, congested, or lying on their backs...seems to get better if on tummy or upright.

Long story short, it doesn't seem to be anything to worry about typically. I spoke with a pediatrician in church this morning too and she said that she's only once had a patient they had to trach for the condition to improve. All others that she's seen with this condition eventually outgrow this.

I looked it up also online on a site that my cousin sent me and it looks like some things to watch them a little closer on is when they are congested or have upper respiratory infections...these can more easily develop into pneumonia on babies with this condition.

So, hopefully she will get better all the time until she no longer has to struggle at all. When she's calm though, she really is fine and doesn't have to work at all at breathing...it's just when she gets upset or sometimes when she's nursing that it gets a little worrisome for me.

Alright, on to bed!!! :)

Baby's doing better...

2011-01-07T15:11:00.000-08:00

She's been such of a fussy baby so finally, when I went to the chiropractor on Monday, I asked her to check her out. I had her gently adjust our 3 y.o. when she was such of a fussy one and it seemed to help so I thought I don't have anything to lose at least.

She said that her pelvis was twisted as well as her spine and one shoulder, just normal birth trauma. After one adjustment, she was much better. After the second adjustment, she was a different baby!

This baby has been one that requires almost constant holding, day and night. Now, she can nap for a couple hours during the day, even when awake she is content and just looks around and smiles and coos. Of course, not always, but so, so much more than before.

Just a minor detail, as I began typing this, she began crying and of course found her way to me, via a big sister's arms. Needless to say, I can't really concentrate on this too well with her crying at my elbow! She's hungry! :)

She also is pooping and burping so much better than before. The chiropractor told me, as she was adjusting her, that she was crinked up in her GI area.

Well, since she needs me, I better go. She also had a well check Tuesday, which I have to write about, but.....

Later!

Oh, the Choices We Must Make....

2010-12-10T14:52:00.000-08:00

Do I starve the children and live in a shining castle or feed the children and live in squallor? I don't seem to have the time for both cleaning and making meals.

It feels like if I make a good meal, it takes all my time in the afternoon, I make a hideous mess, and don't have time to clean up the mess that I made for the meal or the time to regain the cleaning that didn't get done while cooking. If I clean, I barely finish wiping up the last crumb at about bedtime and our kids have existed on cold cereal, toast or nothing (according to them) that day.... Oh, woe is me! And to make myself not feel whiney!!! Distressing!

I can't complain though....exactly why I can't still evades me but I'm sure I can think of something.

***Thinking.................thinking............thinking.............................................THINK, THINK, THINK!!!***

1. I have a darling baby...fussy, but darling!!!
2. Our other kids are becoming more and more helpful...and complain less and less when I ask them to help.
3. My husband spend 1 1/2 mos at home while laid off. I think he gets it how hard it is to keep up with especially so many littles...like shoveling when it's still snowing....and when you add in a very fussy baby....nearly impossible!
4. Ummm.....hard to think with all the chaos here! Our littlest toddler, our little fella, is extremely nice and gentle and loving to his baby sister. He looooves her and kisses her whenever he can....and he only kisses her on the head or forehead or top of cheek...so when he has a booger nose he doesn't infect her at least.
5. I have really been enjoying my big girls....my oldest two are a blast to bring to school every morning and we get some really good gab time in.
6. My two middle girls have really grown up since we started homeschooling. They are really responsible and dependable.
7. Our 1st grader also has shown some considerable changes since she started homeschooling this year. She was really full of outbursts much of last year and most of the summer. When we started the school year, she somehow has just mellowed out and is extremely diligent when it comes to doing her schoolwork. She wants to learn every day and works hard.

There, I really do have a lot to be thankful for! :)

Oh, yeah! AND we have a BLIZZARD coming...similar to the Halloween Blizzard of '91. Remember Kristin and Joni? We had such of a blast being snowed in with lots of friends and family! And when it came time to start shoveling our way out, remember how we could hardly even find the cars in the parking lot...seriously! I can't wait!!! :)

Hmm, Chocolate Toxicity...Is There Such of a Thing?

2010-12-02T10:34:00.000-08:00

Those mint M&M's I mentioned the other night? I ate probably too many of them and just as I was tucking in to sleep that night, about 1am, I suddenly had a wretching stomache ache and then eventually diarrhea. I was up for hours, between sitting on the toilet and wondering if I was going to puke. I finally went to bed about 4:20am....next morning I was fine.

I gave those mint M&M's to my 11 y.o. She was thrilled!

P.S. I didn't give my daughter the mint M&M's to poison her, btw. I just knew she wouldn't eat them by the handful after handful after handful like I did. :)

A Manic Monday...

2010-11-29T22:39:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days... our car broke down about a week ago and today was E's first day back to work. We weren't able to figure out what to do about the car so E had to take the van to work. I should have brought our oldest two girls to school but couldn't so a neighbor's carpool friend took them but then one of the kids had to be out of a seat belt because there were eight in a seven-passenger van. I'm kind of rigid about seat belt usage so I knew we had best cure this car situation quickly.

Thank goodness one of my sisters had an extra car that we could use for a while until we get some funds saved up to either fix this car or get another one. Needless to say, a month and a half with both my income and E's stopped suddenly, we didn't really have the extra cash to fix the car right away.

I called our insurance lady to have her switch our insurance from our broken down car to the one we will be using. She went on and on that my sister should still have insurance on the extra car they don't drive, "I mean, home owners' insurance wouldn't cover that car if the house would burn down and the car was in the garage and was damaged!" Her point was that they should have it insured. Just drive it under their insurance.

Lady. This isn't my car. I don't know if it is insured. It isn't my business if they don't have insurance on the car they don't even drive. It isn't your business if they don't have insurance on the car they don't even drive. JUST SWITCH OUR INSURANCE, FOR PETE'S SAKE!!!!!! I told her, "Look. If I get into a car accident with their car, I don't want to do damage to their insurance rates when it isn't their fault and they're being kind enough to lend us their car! Just, you know, to be courteous, I would like to insure it while we drive it." She finally agreed that it may be a good idea. I told her, "Hey, we've done this before! You've advised us to." (I think) :) Grrrr. You're fired, Lady! FIRED!!! I argue 20/7 with my kids, 2/7 with my hubby, and 1/7 with my pets. Knock it OFF!!!! I don't have the energy to argue with YOU TOO. I mean, I PAY you to insure my vehicles. Don't ARGUE with me!

Okay, so then E gets home from his first day back at work, we eat, I nurse one baby, change about 6 others' diapers, bathe one and air out his behinder 'cause he has diarrhea and poops about every 3 minutes....then to try get out the door with all the kids to get to my sister's house to pick up the car. E helped her hubby change the tires from summer tires to winter tires. I told my sister, "Now that's a new concept to me. Summer tires? Winter tires? I remember.....uhhh....maybe putting chains on the tractor tires maybe, but on a car? Never heard of it before!" They are just so sophisticated. And she did have to mention the cool rims the summer tires have...now all I will do is pine for those summer rims! No, actually, as cool as those summer tire rims are, and they are cool, nice looking, the winter ones are just fine. Cuter than our van rims! :)

So, as we were getting ready to leave from my sister's about 11pm or so (way past our bedtime....or at least our imaginary bedtime, or dreamed of bedtime, no pun intended), it started snowing gigantic snowflakes on top of rain. Great. And I had my sights set on stopping by the store for gum......and, um, mint M&M's. Shhhh, don't tell my baby 'cause then she will insist on being gassy all night. If she knows nothing about the M&M's, she should be fine....I'm thinking. :s

So, we drove all the way home noticing the roads are still just fine, just wet. By the time we got to our town, I knew I was safe zipping to the store quick for some refreshments to reward myself for my wearing day.

Now I'm making my plans for my home school day tomorrow. Today we had our first really nice, productive, 100% complete day since Baby was born, just as I had planned. Yippee! A big celebration for me.

Oh, Rats!... Izzy G... and other such updates!

2010-11-23T21:04:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to get myself self-disciplined to start posting often, even if not every day, at least a few times a week. So, here goes...I always have many things a day that happen that are so blog-worthy. Let's see how many of them from today I can remember.

We had to take off for a while today to tow our car home from a neighboring town, where it had broken down Sunday night. Upon our return home, one of the girls found our pet rat's cage tipped over and the rat was missing. Our cats had apparently gotten the cage upturned...help! Were we going to find the rat alive or dead, hurt or unscathed?

Well, we found Briggs (the rat) hiding in the bedroom behind a little drawer set in the corner of the room it "lives" in, unhurt and happy to see us. Whew!

Izzy G, the other day, tells me, "Mom. I have had these clothes on for years! I have to change already! Find me new clothes!" Well, she got an instant response. Her oldest sister got such of a kick out of it that she dropped whatever she was doing to go find her a complete new outfit. Well, little Miss Izzy G wasn't to be so easily satisfied, it turns out. She didn't exactly care for the darling, even matching outfit that was found for her.....she's really into pink, you see. This outfit was all gray and cream in color. So, since the years thing worked for her once already, she decided she was ready to give it another round. Within hours of changing, and with sparkling clean clothes on already, she tells me, "Mom. I have had these clothes on for years and years! I think I need to change already."

*side note: Now, as I am typing, this is the Izzy G dialogue that's going on. From the basement, where we have laundry hanging up (our dryer is out of order): "Mom! There is laundry hangin' out for me! Can I change?" I told her, "Yup." She brought some clothes up and she had a pair of darling jeans I bought for her on ultimate clearance, clearance from Children's Place for a couple bucks...I always try get her to wear them but she tells me she doesn't wear jeans. Well, she put them on, came out of her bedroom and asked, "Should I wear these?" I told her, "Yes! That looks good." She says, "It doesn't look cute though!" Grr...she is just too prissy! She's back downstairs looking for 'leggin's'!*

Well, there's more, always more, but my beautiful baby is fussing now so I must go attend to her. I will probably be adding more on later today...this post took me since last night to write so I think I will just add as I can, in bits and pieces, or I will never get a chance to blog 'til my kids are all self-sufficient. :)

Our little Angel Princess has arrived!

2010-11-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

I have other really, really good pictures of her but they've been emptied onto the big computer, which isn't connected to the internet. I could use a flash drive to transfer them but I'm too lazy..I mean, busy....to do that at this point. Maybe later..?!

She's always got lots and lots of loving going on around her...everyone gravitates to where baby is, holding her, holding her hand, holding her pacifier in...can't get enough of her!

Big sister goofing around with the younger ones....see baby nestled in on the crook of her arm? She's a natural with them all!!!

Best Buds, these two are! Still goofin' it up!

And here they are again, just chuckling over their photo shoots! And there's baby, hanging out with them. Isn't she just too tiny? Gasp. I forget from baby to baby just how small they are!

Well, she is 2 weeks old already! I have been getting so crabby at myself for not getting on here and blogging earlier but I guess, after having 8 kids, one is entitled to be a little putzy at getting around to announcing Baby's birth, right? I've been doing lots of holding, nursing, nuzzling, loving, and healing for the past 2 weeks. Oh, and tending to fever-ridden little darlings as well...that tends to take up a little time, energy and focus too!

We are on Round Two of fever bugs since our little dolly has come home. Our Izzy was the first one to get a fever with the first bug (that showed up the day my hubby, E, was laid off from his job). Now we've slowly made our rounds about the household with that one and she nicely popped a fever again tonight! This bug has added the joy of severe sore throat and headache though, thank you very much! Our Viva actually bypassed Bug Number One but yesterday got Bug Number Two that features the sides of sore throat and headache. I'm assuming that's what Little Izzy has now.

But onward to the joyous news: our Baby Girl, born 2 weeks ago (my due date was this coming up Friday, so I once again lucked out and delivered early). She weighed in at a tiny 7 lbs, 4 ozs. For our babies, that's tiny. I still just hold my breath changing her clothes or diaper cause it feels like I'm going to snap one of her teeny, fragile little limbs!

One of the first days home from the hospital, Izzy kept exclaiming over and over again, "Oh, I just love our new baby! I just lOVE her!" Then she would add, "I love her name too! ......What was her name again?....oh, yeah (after I would tell her)...I LOVE that name!"

Well, after about a week of having this lovely baby in our home, Izzy decided that she doesn't like her anymore. "I don't like her. I don't like that baby. Not anymore." I would ask her why. She would just answer honestly, "I don't know. I just don't like her." Then one day, as she was telling me that she doesn't like this baby anymore (and always in between she would be proclaiming her love for her), I told her, "Look at her! Look at her watching you. You're her big sister and she loves you!" She told me, "Well, I do love her. I just don't like her. But I love her. I just don't always like her. That's okay, okay?"

Our little guy just loves the baby to pieces! His whole head gets swallowed up in his grin when he sees her, holds her, or just pauses by her bassinet to chat to her. So far so good with him! I'm always on guard though.... :)

Baby has really been such of a joy and blessing to have around. She's easy to take care of...just feed her, burp her, change her diaper and give her at least several long stretches of just holding and rocking her...or even kicking back in the recliner with her on your chest, and she does just swell! She has minimal complaints.

She's a keeper!

And, last but not least, this video clip says it all. Big Bro taking care of his little sister already! :)

A New Path...

2010-10-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

The economy has finally bit us in the backside. My husband just got laid off from his job of 20 years. What a shock that was!

Just last week, E was told he was to go down to 3 day weeks. We've had that happen twice before over the last few years. His place of employment has surprisingly kept him busy thusfar all these years. Although we were a little concerned due to our baby due to be born at any point now and me being off work, we figured that we would be fine with the 3 days plus the little unemployment benefits he would receive during this slow time. We then found out that he wouldn't be receiving unemployment benefits for some reason. He explained it to me but I didn't really get it too well.

Well, on his first morning off, on this little mini- or partial-layoff, he got a phone call that he is being laid off fully, indefinitely.

We had a few hours of pure shock and utter disbelief, both of us just huge-eyed and wandering around the house, many times wondering out loud, "Now what?" Then a kind of peacefulness settled over us. We both agreed, this too has a reason for happening. Life happenings aren't just random, there is a reason for this too and we will someday understand why. Maybe we will even be happier for it, you never know.

Now we have decided to have him just help out around the house in the next week or so until baby is born, until he finds out one way or the other if the lay off looks for sure permanent or not, and then go from there.

Well, I will have to say, he makes a better housekeeper than I have been the last few weeks. He has had me lay low, just resting up for my possibly last weekend of work, and has totally taken over the house, the meals, and the kid cares. Wow, I never knew how nice that can be! Sometimes when he is just bustling around, doing all the stuff I usually worry about, I pull myself out of my chair and putz around along with the rest of the crew, trying to do my part. He just chuckles and tells me to sit down and relax, that I've done all this for so many years, it's about time he contributes, especially now that he has no job. What a dear man!

I truly believe we will be guided in the direction we are meant to be guided. In the meantime, I am going to enjoy this time waiting for baby, and count the many blessings I do have.

If all else fails, we have a solid Plan B. If E doesn't have any promising job leads by the time our baby is about 6 weeks old or so, I will plan to pursue full time hours as a nurse. I don't like to even think of that since my heart is with my other full time job-being a mom. I, however, recognize that it is a huge blessing that I am a nurse and probably can find work to support us.

Things are going to be incredibly tight for us for a couple months but we will survive and probably be more insightful, grateful, and wise for it all.

"No Shirt, No Shoes...."

2010-10-03T03:01:00.000-07:00

My husband, getting kids ready to go to Sam's Club, tells Izzy, "You need to remember to wear your shoes. You can't go into the store without them. There is even a sign on the door that reads, 'No shirt, no shoes, no service.'"

Izzy: " But you don't need to wear pants?"

My Hubby and his Guitar-Playing Girlfriend...

2010-09-19T00:14:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you about this hubby of mine! Just the other night (in DreamLand), I found out my husband has another family. Don't really know how he has time for them when we keep him so busy. I was quite surprised to find this out, and asked him, with a bit of wonder and maybe a bit more of sarcasm, "Anything else I should know? Do you have a girlfriend as well that you want to tell me about?"

He answered, just as casually as I would have asked him if he would like mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner, "Yeah, I do. She has blue hair and she plays a guitar." Well, you know how things in DreamLand can be. I instantly had a mental picture of this...ahem...guitar-playing girlfriend of his. She had brown hair, not blue, and she wasn't even cute!!!! I wasn't even as devastated as I was astounded. I mean, this man has never even indicated he likes guitar-playing girls. Piano player? Yes, I could see that. But guitar player and not. even. cute?

Well, on my way home from bringing the girls to school the next morning, my mind snapped back to this image of the not-even-cute girlfriend of his. When I got home, I parked the van, pulled out my cell phone and texted him this,

"Last night in DreamLand you casually told me you have a girlfriend, who plays guitar. I mean, she wasn't even cute! So, you better tell that guitar-playing girlfriend of yours that she better watch her back! I'm gonna keep an eye open for her and if I see her, I'm going to sneak up on her and bust her guitar!"

His reply: "Well, maybe you should take up playing guitar and then I would have a cute guitar player. :)"

Ain't he just great? :)

Homeschooling Life....

2010-09-14T22:34:00.001-07:00

These pictures ended up getting posted rather randomly, so with no further ado, and in no particular order....our life as mostly homeschoolers, and a couple of non-homeschoolers: (there are two posts of pictures only, then a very long post about our decision to homeschool and our journey thusfar. This is in no way an attempt to say homeschooling is the way to educate your children or to say public schooling is bad. This post was spurred mostly by comments or questions I've run into from others that closely echoed my former feelings, questions, or concerns I've had in the past about homeschooling. Now I've felt that it's time for me to reflect and give my observations and opinions regarding these concerns):

Here, our first grader is working on a phonetic based reading program online, something that she does in her downtime as she waits for her lesson in Math. She has a 2 y.o. closely observing her (and learning at the same time)......

And our baby boy, busy in his own fashion of homeschooling...a self-taught smarty pants, reading a book and working on mom's computer at the same time, and quite smug at the sounds he's able to produce on that keyboard! :)

Ahhh, some rest after a long day's work!!! It's a tough job keeping these school kids in line but someone's gotta do it!

And a tea party put on by the two big girls (one is not pictured due to a camera shy disorder...any pics of her are purely by accident on her part or by extreme trickery on our part). See the diligence of the first grader? She had a math project to finish and was not to be distracted by a tea party! One can party and do a project at the same time, I learned. :)

And the nummy cake so lovingly made by one of the big girls. They each had a concoction that is their specialty that they asked to make for this tea party.

Homeschooling Life....And the Non-homeschoolers..

2010-09-14T22:11:00.000-07:00

Working on the number line with integers...

Making use of her down time waiting for her Math lesson...playing chess on the computer....

Here, working still on Math, playing Chess, and in background, on couch, 1st grader working on Starfall (phonics-based reading) with a serious 2 y.o. onlooker....

Back to public school for a year, after homeschooling for about a year and a half....

Our two "out the door" schoolers, along with their friend and neighbor that goes to the same school.....

To Homeschool or not to Homeschool...That was the Question!

2010-09-12T02:08:00.000-07:00

Just a word of precaution: This post could get a little lengthy so you might want to go grab that cup of coffee out of the microwave that you've reheated a few times and kick your feet up...If you're not interested in the topic, just skip down to The Story of the Dizzy Husband, "What is a Bee Sting?"

What came first, my thoughts to homeschool or the Columbine school massacre? I don't remember for sure, but I do remember three things from about the same time frame.

1. I worked with a nurse who told me about her neighbor children that homeschooled. She said that they all knew how to bake, cook, sew their own clothes, grind wheat berries for flour, and were all very intelligent, advanced students. She said that they were the most grounded, responible, respectful children you could hope for. Plus, they were nice....and great babysitters!

2. I remember the Columbine shootings taking place and, having very small children that would some day be in the school age group, I really began to imagine one of my own children potentially being in a similar horrific, life-scarring situation like that. I just felt that although life is life and everyone just has to learn to roll with the punches, and we can't protect our children from everything, I at the same time felt that no child should ever have to witness violence of that nature. Even if it doesn't result in death. Bullying, battery, teasing of peers just isn't the most natural occurence in the adult world. It can happen of course, but once you're an adult, you will always have a choice to move on from a bad work situation and will be hopefully mature enough to know when it is a situation that's fixable and when it isn't. As an adult, you can differentiate what is your problem and what is someone else's. A child in school doesn't have much of a choice and to an extent just accepts circumstances in school as normal. Then they internalize it, whether it is bullying and taunting of them or not. It sets a precedence of how they perceive "normal", and really, think of it. How "normal" is a set of norms set by your peers?

3. I remember having an intense yearning to school my children at home some day.

Since then, we moved into a town with a great school system and our oldest daughter had looked forward to school for so long, and we really didn't have any reason to keep her from going, that we just went ahead and sent her to public school.

We enjoyed many years of the kids going to school. The years, though, were speckled with things here and there that made homeschooling come to mind again and again. Not intensely. Just a niggling thought in the back of my head. A couple of these things include:

Our second oldest, from about kindergarden on, begged me off and on to homeschool her. I don't know what provoked this intense desire on her part to homeschool but I believe it started when she overheard me talking to someone and saying that I had always wished to homeschool but just really didn't have any reason to pull the kids out of the public school system.

She usually brought up her wish to homeschool at the beginning of the year, so I felt that, since it was possibly just anxiety with a new school year beginning and maybe a fear that she may not make new friends, I would encourage her to just give the new year a chance. I always say, if you try something new for at least two months and still don't like it, then go ahead and make a change. Most of the time, after about two months, things have settled into normal and you're happy where you are (this even pertains to me when I have begun a new job in the past..I always make myself stick it out for at least two months and have never quit a job after that point until other reasons way down the road have come up).

One thing that really started bothering me about public schooling, especially after we began having more and more children and especially after we started having more and more children in school, is the volume of homework they brought home that began to invade our weekends and holidays, bleeding into our family time. Then there were "family projects" that dictated how we spent our family time. I started resenting that during the only time I ever had my kids, we were consumed by what homework still needed to be done and what family projects needed to be done, what materials needed to be bought for these projects, etc. It was getting so stressful and time- and mind-consuming, I felt that my life was dominated by school. I never thought of it so much in those terms...I just felt that it was just because we have such of a large family of course it is going to impact us more, and that because I am not organized enough, that is just how it goes. I should just be more on the ball, better organized, etc. Side Note: Since beginning to homeschool, I have become much, much more organized just because I don't have the added distraction of "all that" that comes with so many kids in public school. Oh, another Side Note: The two girls that do go out the door to school, go to a charter school that doesn't believe so much in homework other than math, an essential life skill. One of my daughter's teachers even told them the other day that he tries not to give homework, or at least not much, because he feels that they do have a life and they shouldn't have it consumed by just school and homework. Bless his heart!!! :)

With that being said, I still didn't really get much of a push to begin homeschooling until my now seventh grader was in fifth grade. She had stomach aches more frequently, and asthma issues, that required her to stay home more and more. One Sunday night as she was getting ready to go to sleep, she asked me to come over to her bed. She told me she had a really bad stomach ache and didn't think she was going to be able to make it to school the next day. I told her that's fine. We'll plan on her staying home unless she feels better in the morning. She then asked me, "Why do we never start homeschooling? You keep promising and promising that if I just try the school year out and don't like it, I can try homeschooling. We never do though!" I was kind of surprised and asked her, "Do you still think of homeschooling? I guess I never realized you still thought about it because after school starts for the year, you have just dropped the topic and haven't brought it up. I assumed you were then fine with going to public school." So I decided right then and there, we would at least try homeschooling. The next day, her stomach ache was gone and she was so happy, peaceful, relieved.

Shortly after we pulled her to homeschool, the next two wanted to also homeschool. They never had even expressed interest in it before but I think they thought it sounded fun. I thought, why not? If we're going to be homeschooling anyway, why not really homeschool. Our oldest daughter really enjoyed going to school so she wasn't at all interested in our new adventure. She has always done quite well in school so I felt that, for my sake I would love to have her home but for her sake, at that time, keeping her in her school was the best for her.

Shortly after beginning our homeschool adventure, I started noticing some changes in the girls.. changes I really hadn't anticipated or been looking for. I had worried a bit about the "socialization" issue, as did everyone else that I told I was homeschooling. However, the more I spoke with other homeschooling moms and the more I did research, I learned that socialization really doesn't become an issue with homeschooled students. Not any more, or maybe even not as much as, the random public schooled kid that has social issues. There are plenty of those out there that because of public schooling end up with some pretty distorted social skills that take sometimes years after high school to get to a healthy balance. I was pretty surprised though, after the initial bouncing off the walls and fighting with each other, the girls started to settle into a routine. They learned to get along better and they all began just settling into a peaceful coexistance. Then, the unimaginable happened. The two girls who couldn't stand the word "love" began to say, "I love you" to me. They began giving hugs again...something I hadn't seen them do for probably a couple years. The one that couldn't have any physical contact with anyone, began sitting on the arm of my rocking chair at any given opportunity and even sliding herself in beside me, snugged right in at my side. I could not believe it!!! My husband began commenting to me how much these girls have changed. He said that they come talk to him and tell him stories of their day, they smile all the time and actually sit and visit. They used to be so hyper and so stand-offish. I had just assumed it was partly due to a phase they were going through and just partly due to their personalities. They are both very "tomboyish".

Once, when we were talking about behavior in general, my oldest one homeschooling said that the two others were always so poorly behaved on the bus and that the younger one, in first grade, had actually had a boy down on the floor of the bus and was kicking him and he was crying. I was horrified!!! I asked her why on earth she was bullying and assaulting kids. She scowled and didn't say anything at first, then she did something she never usually did. She started sobbing and said, "I was just sick of him doing things to me! Every day he would punch me and pull my hair and kick me. I just got sick of it and finally did it back to him!" Tell me, what part of your life down the road are you privvy to battery and assault....and it's just accepted as "normal"....and you really can't get out of it? These are kids, that should be given a sense of security as they are growing and developing and learning. I think that most of us just feel that since we all went through the whole school thing and school bus thing, it's just a normal part of life. We all got through it okay and it prepared us for "real life" after school. It actually made me very cautious after I got out of school. Although I was always pretty comfortable with myself and very, very fiesty, so most people didn't mess with me, it still took me most of the way through college to realize that this setting was different. I don't have to be so self-protective for fear that someone will make fun of me. We were all there, paying to get an education, and no one person was any better than the next. There, it didn't much matter who wore what, who drove what, or what kind grades people got. We were all just happy to pass one class and move on to the next. So... so far, no comparison to my experience in elementary, junior and senior high school. No comparison at all! And sadly, it took me that long, almost 3 years, to realize it.

Okay, back to "socialization". What exactly does that word mean? According to the dictionary, the word "socialize" means: To make social; to fit or train for a social environment; to adapt to social needs or uses.

Now, when you think of it, when a child is in a classroom of peers, the age range of all the kids around him/her is within 12 months of his/her own age. Who sets the "norms" for social skills in this situation? The room full of peers. The teacher can try influence it, and probably does a really good job of steering it in a healthy direction. However, when that teacher is done, and the class moves on, your child is still with that same group of peers, grade to grade, year to year. They are the ones that will praise what they think is worthy of their praise, and laugh and ridicule what they think is "weird" or "different". Are they yet qualified to do so though? Children learn enough social skills at home in presence of their siblings, parents, extended family, church friends, and social groups you choose for them to be involved with. Our kids have actually become much more confident and well-rounded in their social skills. They can easily interact with peers or younger kids or older kids or kids' parents. I have had countless comments from people, both within our extended family and out and about in the world, about their behavior and friendliness, etc. Part of it, I know, is just a result of being in a larger family..they get used to helping out in public with the little ones or I won't bring them anywhere and such. But I feel that it's been much more frequently noticed and commented upon since we've begun homeschooling.

Oh, and one other thing, what if the teacher you have entrusted to teach your child and be a big influence on his/her life and shaping of values, turns out to have some morals and standards you hugely disagree with? Because think of it, your child is with that teacher more than he or she is with you during the school year. I haven't had any real bad experiences with teachers...only a few that I didn't care for so much and I think weren't exactly the best positive role models for my kids. But, one of my nieces once had a very "diverse" teacher, I believe for Language Arts or Social Studies or something. I think she was in middle school at the time. This teacher, who was a strong, strong advocate for diversity and diverse thinking had the kids write a paper. She posed a question that had something to do with dating and the kids' views on how intimate they would be or how much they should be allowed to do on their first date or something. My niece, who by our faith, doesn't believe in premarital intimacy or too young dating, wrote the paper with her views, feelings, and beliefs portrayed in the paper. She simply stated that since she didn't believe it was right to even get intimate, she didn't feel it to be an issue for her how much she would be able to or should be able to do. The teacher failed her work on the paper...not only failed it but gave her a zero. No matter how my niece tried to defend her points, the teacher told her she was to rewrite the paper following her guidelines and requirements or she would not get a point for the assignment. Conferences came up soon after that and my sister was livid and went in to speak to this teacher. The teacher first argued with my sister but after my sister laid it out to her, questioning her diversity, after all she had tried to instill in her students' heads about diversity, and asking this teacher exactly how diverse was her thinking, the teacher finally agreed to back down and give my niece the credit she had earned for the paper. Oh, just another Side Note: the teacher was openly gay and had made it pretty clear to her students...tying this in to the diverse thinking they should have about all walks of life. That hypocrite!!!

Oh, and one other area of concern that many have is how do you know if they're "keeping up" with kids their age? I really don't know for sure but I do know this. We learn every day, we love learning and have fun doing so, and at the end of last year, they all tested out well above their grade level on most, if not all, subjects. They're learning. That's the most important thing.

One fun perk: I get to spend so much time now with my kids and they seem to love it too. I get to teach them extra things now too, like baking and cooking (what better way to teach fractions in many, many ways than to have them follow a recipe and have them double, triple or half the recipe?) We're going to have an archeological dig in our sandbox soon to illustrate how history is made and how really it is up to interpretation as to what really happened way back then. All the kids will make their own history (with emphasis on "story") of what they think "happened" in that sandbox based on the same objects found in the dig.

And I get to teach them living skills, such as cleaning, how to do laundry (sorting is a math skill taught as early as kindergarden...seriously!), how to crochet and knit, some of the Finnish language as well as Latin that my 5th grader and I will begin to learn this year.

Okay, enough of that! This strong viewpoint has been slowly developed after I began homeschooling, by the way. I simply began homeschooling because it's something I always had wanted to do, was pushed enough by my 2nd oldest daughter, and just thought, "Why not?" I mean, we could always re-enroll them if we wanted to.

Oh, last side note: the daughter, who had always wanted to homeschool and finally pushed me to when she was in fifth grade, just went back to a form of public school (charter) this fall and is doing really, really well. She loves it, is super confident and grounded, is very responsible and self-driven and tells me she feels all this positive is due to homeschooling. This was my real test to the socialization worry. She went back with much more advanced social skills than when she began homeschooling. And it was nothing to do with me. I didn't ever get around to getting them into any community classes or anything like I thought I would. She just had a little reprieve from all the distractions and side shows at school, had time to mellow out and breathe, grow, and learn to get along with those around her: her family, her neighborhood friends, her exteded family and church friends. That's all.

What...is a bee sting?

2010-09-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

Today, one of my nieces called and told me that she had gotten a bee sting between two of her toes yesterday. By about 2 or so this morning, she woke up with her toes swollen. The swelling extended into her foot. There was also redness and incredible pain going through her whole foot. She was wondering what to do.

I asked her many questions, told her she should probably have a doctor look at it to determine if they consider it an allergic reaction because if she has developed an allergy to bee stings, she may need to carry an epipen with her. I told her I would look up some more information online to see what I find.

I got off the phone and my husband said, "It could be an infection." I asked him, "Can you get an infection from a bee sting?" He kind of looked at me blankly for a second and said, "You can get an infection from anything! And that could be dangerous." I said, "Yeah, I suppose you can...I hadn't thought of it I guess. Have you known of someone getting an infection from a bee sting though?" He just kind of looked at me and I don't think he even answered me..

After our conversation continued onward a little, he suddenly asked me, "What's a bee sting?" I looked at him blankly and said, "A bee sting." He said, "What is it though?" I looked at him in utter disbelief. What part of bee sting is he not getting? Our two older girls were in the room too, so a couple of us looked at him and said, "A bee sting, you know, as in a sting from a bee!" He got this little brief look of sudden understanding and just meekly said, "Oh." He didn't say anything for a moment. I think he was nonchalantly trying to move forward, wondering if he could just casually continue on to the next matter at hand. We, in the meanwhile, were all still just staring at him, wondering what kind of explanation he could possibly have for not getting something as simple as a bee sting! When he realized he wasn't getting off the hook without at least some further explanation, he kind of sheepishly chuckled and said, "I was wondering what you guys were talking about. I thought it was a beasting." I said, "It was." He said, "No, like one word...a beasting. Like beast-ing. I thought it was some condition I had never heard of...and you all seemed to know what it was!"

So later, as I was doing my due diligence and researching bee stings for my niece, I read from Wikipedia, "Bee Sting: A bee sting is stricly a sting from a bee." I read it to him. He seemed relieved to get a technical definition.

The man is brilliant. Sometimes, he just lacks common sense!

Free Willy!!!!

2010-08-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

My young son has decided that life sometimes is best lived without a diaper.

Well, young man! You should at least learn to march right to the bathroom when you decide to piddle.... and aim at the potty chair, when you're in there, not at my leg! Hmph!

He first ripped off a poopy diaper, left it in one of the girls' bedrooms, and deposited a puddle by the dining room table. I discovered the little yellow puddle, cleaned it up, cleaned him up, put on a fresh diaper, and went to wash my hands. While I was in there, I decided to go to the potty myself, and while I was sitting there, he marched in, started chatting to me, and as I was looking down at him, I noticed what looked like a string blowing around (I assumed blowing from the vent air) .... then suddenly felt warmth and something wet draining down my leg. It was a little yellow string...or stream...! I yelped, he stopped mid-stream, walked a little bit away, then as I was looking at him, laughing and laughing, he proceeded to unload another stream right in the direction of the bathroom vent!

By this time I was just howling and trying so hard to tell him to stop all this nonsense already!!! He just looked at me and finished draining his bladder!

My goodness, kiddo! I mean, I understand freeing Willy every once in a while but please!!! Tell Willy to just keep it in his bladder unless he's at least aiming at the potty chair!

On the positive note: As I was cleaning up one of the puddles, one of my lovely daughters said, "Well, on one hand it's not so bad! The cleanup always smells so good!" I have Pine-Sol and water in a spray bottle so I don't have to get the mop bucket out for every little mess.

Little Miss Izzy!

2010-08-14T02:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday: I was sitting on our over-sized recliner, leaning forward, pouring over some homeschool material when I hear this chirpy little 2 y.0. voice say, with utter disdain, "Oh, yUUck! What's that?" I asked her, "What's what?" She said, "That!" I had to look back to see what she was looking at and I see her hanging on the arm of the chair to my right, staring at my back...or, a little lower. I was aware that my shirt and my pants weren't quite connecting so I asked her, "What? Is there something on my back? Or...are you talking about my...uh....plumber's crack?" (They all know what a plumber's crack is) She said, "Your butt crack!" (I know, I know. I shouldn't allow them to say butt, but....) I was getting up right then to go to the bathroom so I proceeded to do so, with my delightful little Izzy following close behind, with her little button nose crickled up but with a very pleased and entertained look on her face, saying, "Hee, hee! I saw your butt crack sticking out! Your crack just keeps comin' outta your butt, hah Mom? Hee, hee, hee!" I had to (a-hem) crack up over that one!!!

And, one more Molly/Viva exchange: Molly was busy telling me a story or explaining how she would love to redo our whole house (and I have to admit, the girl has a lot of really good ideas) when Viva walked up and very clearly, and very impatiently, was waiting for a chance to say something. She tapped her foot a little. She tried to get a word in edgewise. But, Molly wasn't done! She sure wasn't going to pause in her idea telling for her sister! I finally waited for Molly to pause between sentences and glanced in Viva's direction and gave her a nod to go ahead. Viva asked her quick question, I answered her with an equally quick answer, and she was on her way back downstairs. As she was retreating down the stairs, Molly did a low gutteral sound in the back of her throat, obviously displeased and annoyed with the interruption. Viva quickly paused as she was ready to twirl down the second flight of stairs and asked, with disbelief in her voice, "Did you just...growl....at me?" She sounded just floored. Like Molly had never....growled... at her before! We (Molly and I) just cracked up as we heard her feet patter the rest of the way downstairs. They are just too funny sometimes.

Oh, and yet another of their latest: Molly, just out of the shower, tells me, "And don't worry, Mom. I cleaned up after myself!" I've been just nagging them to put everything back how they found it (foot towel hanging over the tub edge, baby ducky bath back in the tub, their towel hanging up, dirty clothes out of the bathroom) after they shower. I glanced at her and realized she had showered so praised her for her good deed. Viva, deeply absorbed in her book, apparently missed the exchange (or acted like it at least) and glanced up and told Molly, "Jeez your hair is greasy!" Molly, without a pause, replied, "Thanks! Like your face?" and they both proceeded to chuckle. I guess Molly's latest quip to every insult Viva hurls her way is, "Yeah. Like your face!" and it usually fits the exchange....somehow! They are just too much, those two!!! :)

Birthday Party and Such...

2010-08-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

The Party Setup
All Decked Out....Compliments of the Big Girls

Birthday Girl

The Guests

The Party After the Party (A Tea Party)

We had a fun and relaxing day for Kai-Kai's 6th birthday. I had worked the night shift before so wasn't really sure how I was going to hold out and pull it off but I didn't have to worry. My husband took a bunch of the littlest ones out to pick up the last of the party supplies, my second oldest swept, mopped and did the last minute pick up, I worked on baking the cake and some Finnish sampyla (buns), and dishes, and our oldest decked the place out. She did much better than I could have ever done. I told the girls that this is it, decorating now officially is their job! They love it and I love it!

The nice thing is we have enough family to have plenty of kids to come as the "real" party guests and of course moms and dads and siblings are welcome to entertain the rest of us and we all feel like we got to have "friends" over, not just the birthday kid. :) Another nice aspect of family filling the whole guest list is Mom doesn't have to stress about anything needing to be fancy. Family doesn't care....you're supposed to be able to just truly relax in the presence of family and they still love you the same, whether we pulled it off perfectly or not.

We missed Joni (my sister) and her family this year though! We have enough kids the same age that we usually have them for most of our parties too but this year they are overseas!!!

Okay now some fun stories. We have plenty of these usually, I just forget to post them:

Funny little Izzy story: Tonight, looking out the window and seeing some very dark clouds in the sky, combined with it just getting dark for the evening, gasped and said, "Oh! Look! A ma...ma...matado (tornado) is comin' to bonk down our house! Better hurry downstairs!"

And....I was just finishing a poopy diaper on our little guy when I noticed Izzy straining and grunting. I personally had just had my fill on poopy diapers for the day so I asked her, "Hey! What are you doing? Are you pooping?" She turned and nodded. I told her, "Quick! Go poop in the potty chair!" And her quick reply, "Uh-uh! I'm not potty-trained...I'm NOT!" I told her, "Well! I think it's high time to get potty-trained!" And our Kai-Kai then gave her input on the matter: "You know what though? The potty chair for is when you aren't potty-trained. You know why? 'Cause there's no water in it!" Good big sisterly advice! I needed to say no more. :)

And, some fun big girl stories...I forget to post these. Sometimes I get too focused on the cute little kid stories that go on around here. These big girls are just getting to be a hoot, I'm telling you! So I just have to share some of the fun things they come up with:

Today, making a birthday cake and decking out the house for Kai-Kai's 6th birthday, we just kept a rolling dialogue, the oldest two and I. One of very many humorous conversations:

Molly, putting up streamers and curling pink ribbon, decorating the cake and such, decided to cut up small pieces of the curled pink ribbon to put right on the cake. It was darling. Viva, obviously a little concerned for the safety of us and our guests, asked, "What if people think these ribbons are edible and try eating them and...choke?" Molly: "Oh, no one's that dumb!" Viva: *sigh* "I guess that means I stand alone!" (in other words, admitting she was a little....dumb...?) And we laughed and we laughed....and Viva looked blankly at us and said, "What?" But this is all just a part of her humor. Sigh, what I have to live with, my big girls developing their own sense of humor and I have to hear it all the time....we do really have a good time with it!

We just got a couple of free, super cute kittens. I know! More pets!!! These girls have a way about them sometimes...that's another post in itself! So, anyway, after we had had them for a week or two, one of them appeared to be ill with something. It just slept, hardly did anything, didn't play, eat much, drink much, etc. The girls were highly concerned. They were bugging and badgering us to bring it to the vet. We tried to explain to them that by the time the diagnostic labs would even be back the cat would either be dead or recovered...it just isn't worth putting tons of money into it at this point...let's just wait and see. We have so much food that falls on the floor that they gobble down before we get a chance to sweep it up..we had just had chocolate cake about the time it fell ill. I was pretty sure it was something it ate.

We had girls begging and pleading, scheming and plotting, "I will sell my Nintendo DS...and all the games....and give up the DSI that I will earn for getting my black belt in karate...and all my next year's Christmas and birthday gifts..." was a couple of the girls' promises. Then as I was doing laundry, one of the girls came downstairs with the cat and said, "Now look, Mom. You gotta see this. Watch what happens when I put this cat down...it just curls up in a ball and doesn't do anything." She puts it down on a pile of laundry, which it proceeds to roll down, and pick itself up, and walk away. She says, "Hmmm, well, now watch it. It will just sit down now..." It didn't. It kept walking around, quite perkily... She didn't quite know what to say. She just said, "Hmmm, he looks pretty good now!"

News spread fast throughout the household and minutes later, the one that had promised to give up her Nintendo DS...and all the games...and the DSI she was gonna earn... ran downstairs all excited. She said, "Wow, he's looking just fine now! I am so glad I didn't actually sell my DS...and all my games and stuff. That would have been such of a waste of money!!!"

That story has much more...mostly including Dad and Viva bantering about bringing the cat in (Viva) and practicing being a vet and trying to diagnose the illness herself (Dad's argument). Somewhere along the way, they discussed the possibility that the diagnosis is probably the Tamiflu...which then Viva triumphantly announced the next day, "I am going to tell Dad that I've diagnosed it! It was the Tamiflu!!!" not realizing that Tamiflu is actually an antiviral medication. I had informed her of this but she apparently wasn't listening. We've had some fun, at their expense (cause I think Dad was in on the original possible diagnosis of maybe Tamiflu), with that diagnosis!!!

We have a really bantery household...we rib each other all the time!

I'm Trying to Simplify...

2010-08-04T22:02:00.000-07:00

...my whole life. Can you tell? I've turned my blog background into simple white. There. Except, how on earth do you remove that blasted "cutest blog on the block" logo from the upper left-hand corner? I mean, I'm not even using their background right now. Or banner. I tried to remove it from the HTML spot where I originally put in on but no such luck.

***HMPH!***

Funny(ish) story: Last night I was browsing around Walmart with a bunch of my kids and a couple others, yakking on the phone with one of my sisters about which prepaid cell phones are the best to buy, when I heard from a group of teens behind me (a boy's voice), "Aurinkolasit," which means "sunglasses" in Finnish. I promptly turned my head and asked, "Missa?" which means, "Where?" I saw one of the two girls who was walking with two boys gasp and put her hand over her mouth. I heard one of the boys echo after me, "Missa?!?" Then I just laughed and told them in Finnish that I had guessed they were Finnish when I saw them earlier in the store.

I saw them later outside of the store, sitting on the curb so I went up to them to chat a little. I told them I had seen them earlier in the store and just thought that they looked Finnish but had kind of forgotten they were in there so was surprised to suddenly hear, "Aurinkolasit," behind me...

One of the boys said in perfect English, "That was me!" as the other boy was explaining, "Yeah, the funny part is, the one who said it was an American. I didn't know he knew any Finnish, so first I heard, 'aurinkolasit' suddenly, and turned and said, 'Huh?!' and right away heard, 'Missa?' right after. I was so surprised, like, 'What just happened now?'"

I laughed and asked the American boy, "Have you been in opisto (a school) in Finland?" He said, "No! I only know about six words in Finnish, and that was one of them! I just felt like saying it!"

So, without even trying, two Americans kind of messed with a few Finns' heads for a moment there! :)

Funny Izzy story:

Couple weeks ago I had a friend over here, trying to visit. We had constant conversation flowing, however, from my two year old. Suddenly, at one point, she spied my 5 y.o. didn't have undies on and got irate and told her, "Yuck! You don't even have undies on. That's 'gwoss', go put a diaper on!" Our 5 y.o. told her, "You go put a diaper on!" Izzy happened to be standing right in front of me so it looked like our 5 y.o. was looking at me. Izzy just looked at her incredulously, then swung her head in my direction, looking at me with a chuckle and said, "You don't wear a diaper! Haah! Right? You wear undies! Right? Great BIG undies, right? Like THIS big, right?" and flinging her arms out wide!!!

Well! Maybe big, but not that big!!!

But I just laughed and agreed with her. :)

Well, What a Day!

2010-07-29T15:40:00.000-07:00

Today, for what may be the first time in my life as a mother...well, maybe the first time in my life as a mother of more children than four, should we say?....I made a To Do List. And stuck to it. Like glue. Kinda. I didn't get the laundry done. Otherwise my very, very long list got all checked off!!!

I mean, I'm really to the point in life I don't even make those dreaded lists 'cause I'm sure to fail, then I begin to feel like a failure and get depressed, then quit making the lists....so what's the point?

This time, I'm not sure what was different. Maybe it was that the majority of the list was phone calls. They were very important phone calls. Calls to clarify car insurance information. Calls to verify health insurance information. Calls to clarify boat insurance information. Calls to find out that although the boat insurance was clarified, it was never processed....so back to clarify the boat insurance information. This was in between about 6 diarrhea diapers on one kid, washing diarrhea bedding, diarrhea clothing, diarrhea trails on the floor...oh, and I was just informed that one of the kittens pooped on the floor. That one's easy 'cause the kitties are the girls' responsibility and if they don't take care of it, the kitties go 'cause Mama's pregnant. Whew! Now I was informed that it wasn't in fact kitty poop but a lint ball....?.... In addition to all the phone calls, there were important computer issues to deal with..setting up an account with the above-mentioned boat insurance so I don't have to try to remember to keep up with the payments every month..they will be automatically processed. Checking if our Finnish twins updated their Facebook, mop floors, run the dishwasher the fifty times that were required to catch up on dishes....Wow!

The girls baked two Finnish cakes, did their jobs, and are behaving quite well today.

I was able to make a fresh garden vegetable soup...most of the veggies picked straight from the garden, washed, and tossed into the pot...along with some meat.

How do days like this happen? I mean, I don't mean to look a gift horse in the mouth but I just don't get it. Usually my days just continue on the path of my post from yesterday....all that before noon....and after noon....and until midnight...and starting again in the morning!

Well, with that, I guess I better go address that one more diarrhea diaper I just heard loading up...I can just see our diaper supply disappearing before my eyes today. I have to go bust into my van stash cause I just ran out in the house. And dig every diaper bag out that I find. And dig into a few more corners. We should last until our Sam's Club run tomorrow. Crossing my fingers!!! :)

Our Twins!!!

2010-07-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

They came, and they left! :(

This summer we were blessed with the presence of 17 y.o. twin girls from Finland. They are just about the nicest girls you could ever wish to have in your home. They were friendly, outgoing but not at all overbearing, helpful, patient with the kids, thoughtful....you couldn't ever find a better package deal. They helped without us asking, did the dishes, took care of their own laundry, bedroom, bedding, baked, cooked....many times I would have to run an errand or just do some outside work, leaving my oldest two in charge, to come home to a meal cooking. They weren't here to be our nannies for sure, they were here to learn English and just kind of hang out with our family, but they were kind of unstoppable, those two! They are the oldest of 11 kids, so they are used to working hard. They many times told me they do much more at home so to them, they just preferred to keep busy.

Sadly, our camcorder charger was lost the entire time they were here and our camera for part of the time had dead batteries, then when I finally remembered to buy batteries, the memory card was missing! I finally bought a cheap memory card but then couldn't find the camera! We used their cameras the last night they were here and got some pics and they also promised to send me pictures that they took over the summer.

We will miss them greatly!!!!

Here, one of the girls is giving three of our girls a lesson in baking sampyla, a Finnish bread/bun that we fell in love with!

We will miss these girls greatly and hope to see them again!

As I was typing this post, I got a return text from one of them saying their trip went well and they will soon be home in northern Finland. They haven't seen their siblings yet...the kids are all waiting to see them, I'm sure!!!! :)

It's Only Noon AND.....

2010-07-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

I've already changed a huge poop, have another two waiting for me, wiped up two spilled milk messes, cleaned up puke, and now my baby spilled a huge cup of milk!!!!!! Thank goodness for big girl helpers, my second oldest is mopping that last milk mess up...my oldest also changed a pee diaper.

I have been trying to make my way to the dishwasher, to no avail. Whenever I get near, I get either my 2 y.o. or 1 y.o. hanging on me or the dishwasher door. I always try to have morning time be primarily kid time, then try to make up lost time after my littlest one goes to sleep but sometimes could I pleeeeaaaase at least get the dishwasher going to do its work while we sit????

***SIGH***

A Totalled Car, A Near-Kiss With a Deer, and New Parakeets

2010-06-06T04:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I wish I had pics to post here but I need batteries for the camera first...

Friday night, after a late night discussion with my husband, I decided to go for a quick drive to a neighboring town down the freeway. I was cruising along right around 70 mph, when suddenly, right in the left lane was a deer running full tilt, not slowing down, not even noticing me cruising along full tilt. It was just there suddenly, running out of the ditch and straight into my path. I hit the brakes as hard as I could, knowing instantly that I would never avoid hitting it but just hoping to slow down the best I could so I could minimize damage to our car and me.

It was such of a scary feeling to in one instant see this huge deer coming right at me, then in a split second hitting it with such of an impact, the entire car slammed and lurched with tremendous force. I could see this huge deer airborne...imagine, going nearly 70 mph in a pretty small car...and then imagine the speed at which that deer was coming at my rider's side of the windshield. It was coming with lightning speed. It had hit the car pretty high up on the front right corner so it came slamming at the windshield extremely fast...I could see it coming through the glass....instantly following the slamming force of the car being impacted, glass was shattering in a fine shower all over me, and I could hear a howling wind and feel cold air swirling around in the car. I was in a panic because I could see the deer coming into the car! I pulled over to the shoulder, thinking, "How am I going to get this thing out of my car? I have to get to the shoulder and get out before I begin to get thrashed with the hooves!" I was looking over at the windshield, in the sudden darkness after impact, trying to see the gaping hole and see where the deer was lodged. I then noticed, as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, that the windshield was intact but the rider's side window was gone...the deer had flown into that window (I think it's head maybe) and then was gone!

I had left the house without my cell phone...something that is entirely against my grain. I had been up north Wednesday and Thursday and had lost my charger in the van and hadn't gotten around to finding it so that I could recharge my phone, so my phone was dead. I remember thinking, "Oh, I'll be fine without it!" Another thing I usually don't do when going to Walmart in this particular town is go down the freeway. There is a back road that goes directly to Walmart but this time I wanted the peaceful drive down the freeway, since it was pretty late and I knew traffic would be light. I also had this thought pass through my head as I turned in the direction of the freeway instead of the county road, "I hope I don't regret this turn..." thinking more down the line of hoping I don't get too relaxed and start speeding and get pulled over. I kept my speed at 68-70 the whole time.

After hitting the deer, I was totally in a daze, pulling onto the first exit I could, then slowly driving to the first gas station I could think of...Holiday....wondering what I do next. The whole time the wind was swirling throughout the car and I kept hearing glass shifting and settling into the door.

As I pulled into the Holiday parking lot, I saw the attendant in the gas station glance in my direction and do a double-take, staring at the car until I parked. I just sat there for a few seconds, looking at my lap full of tiny pieces of glass. I looked on the seat next to me and saw the same, my purse, which had been unzipped was full of glass, as well as the seat, the dash, the floor, the cup holders.... I tried to brush some of the glass off me, only to succeed in cutting my finger. I got out of the car and shook my pj pants off...I had taken off on a whim in my pj's (they weren't too bad though...just a long-sleeved black t--shirt and plaid cotton pants)!

I got into the gas station and asked the guy what one is supposed to do after hitting deer on a freeway..thinking that it may be still in the roadway. He went back and asked his manager, who said to call the non-emergency police to ask them. I told the guy, "The weird thing is, I think that deer ended up in my car (partially) for a moment. He said, "Yeah, I noticed it really got the side of your car too!" I hadn't even looked at the side of the car but when I went out later, I saw the whole passenger side door dented in with deer hair stuck on it. What happened is when I hit the deer on the front right corner, it was just high enough it came flying at the windshield but, I think, just as I was hitting it, I may have swerved to miss it and it was, as a result, spun around and then the front of it hit the rider's side door, bursting the window, then continued on its journey onto the freeway or shoulder. I think that deer was dead right away...there was blood and poop all over the front and side of my car.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Well, almost a week later and not even having the time or energy to recheck my writing above, I'm going to finish up and post, so pardon the mistakes or repetition of details if there are any. :)

About the parakeets:

After we posted on Craigslist that our parakeet was missing, we got many nice texts and emails, giving tips on how to find him. One email we got, though, was one woman from a town quite a ways away from here that offered to give Viva two of her parakeets because she had five and didn't have the time anymore to spend with them.

Long story short: after much communication with her, we met her in a neighboring town and she gave us two parakeets, one mainly blue and one mainly green. She also gave a small cage, many parakeet toys, a huge container of bird food, a cuttle bone, and so on. What a very nice person.

After that, Viva has been communicating with a vet tech who is going to vet school specializing in birds. She has been giving many very helpful tips (some of which have undoubtedly spared the poor newcomers much trauma and stress...maybe even their lives) on integrating them into the household. They aren't very tame yet but Viva is patiently working with them. I don't doubt a bit that they will soon be as tame as Reggie was. Something tells me this girl may very well become a vet someday.

And the Pet Saga Continues....

2010-05-29T04:23:00.000-07:00

Argh! Okay, we were down two pets already, right? We just got rid of our two dogs. We were down to two pets, a parakeet and a rat.

Well, you see, Viva's parakeet, Reggie (he was oh, so vain...loved to perch and stare at himself in the mirror..got down right twitterpated to see himself) loved when our daughter opened her bedroom window so he could listen to and try mimic other birds. She decided she would bring him outside, in his cage, so he could get fresh air and listen to other birds. Well, this very tame, very friendly bird that was a friend to all in our household, decided to go touring and flew right out of his cage when Viva opened the door to pet him. He must have gotten confused or disoriented outside and didn't know how to stop flying or where to perch, so he kept going. And going and going and going. He is gone. Lost.

So, I decided to post an ad on Craigslist because I just saw that someone had posted a found parakeet right in our area and first thought it was ours. Then noticed the date was in April. That gave me the idea though to post our lost parakeet, in hopes someone would find him and, if not return him, at least let us know he's okay.

Hmph! This was one pet I always told the kids I could handle having forever cause, even though he was very vain, he was nice. And tame. And soothing and comforting to have around, warbling in his quiet (usually) way!

I hope someone finds him. Even if they don't return him to us, I hope someone finds him and feeds him. He's got to be hungry.

The Perfect, Perfect Sunday...

2010-05-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

This is the post I was writing in my head last night, as I was sitting out in the balmy breeze, watching our bonfire die down...holding my 2 y.o. on my lap, singing, "I see the moon," song over and over to her as we gazed at the 3/4 moon...the breeze feeling like a tepid ocean waves lapping over my skin...and NO BUGS!!!!

We started this perfect day sleeping in a bit, well, until 8:30 or so. Usually I work nights on the weekend and am dragging my sorry self home about 7:45 and then proceeding to try to function, getting kids ready for Sunday School and church, trying to keep my eyes open. Instead, I had stayed up just a little too late, enjoying the company of my kids, then was sick with vomiting and diarrhea (sorry if TMI) until about 3 or a little later, but still felt fabulous when the first rooster-child crowed to get up.

Sunday School is done for the year so we just slowly got ready for our annual Sunday School picnic. On our way, we swung by the store for paper products and moseyed our way to the park.

At the park, the weather was perfect. A bit muggy but the temperature was nice and there was a lake breeze blowing right up to the picnic area. The playground was more sheltered from the lake breeze and directly in the sun, so the kids got quite hot. They took care of that though...they all (except for the youngest two) went swimming in their clothes, over and over as needed while I just sat up visiting with ladies, keeping half an eye on the girls...keeping track of who was where and so on. We just stayed there 'til we felt like going home, which wasn't until close to 6pm. We went home and cooled off in the house a little, then everyone went out for sidewalk and driveway chalking and I stoked up a bonfire for hotdogs and marshmallows.

We ended the evening with showers and just hanging out, a couple of the girls playing Battleship and the rest of us just vegging...the little ones one by one falling asleep in various places.

How could a Sunday get any better than that? :)

Happy Birthday, Viva!

2010-05-22T21:55:00.000-07:00

My dear second born child, Viva, was born 12 years ago today. Since my husband left out of town very early this morning, we brought her out for her birthday meal yesterday. Just my hubby, Viva, and I went.

We had a jolly good time..beginning our adventure at the laundromat, putting four loads of laundry drying (our dryer isn't working and I refuse to have it serviced until our basement is clean). We left them drying and went to eat nearby.

I recalled her birth story and recounted it to her:

I was at work that day, two weeks before my due date. I was supposed to be gradually passing out my work load to my coworkers over a course of a couple of weeks, but thusfar, it hadn't happened. I just kept getting more and more on my plate, adding on a very complex client that required extensive wound care, colostomy changes every day, and very vigorous and diligent assessments since she had many serious diseases.

I went into the office that day and tried to tell my supervisor, who was coincidentally on her last day working there before moving out of state. She just laughed me off, saying, "Oh, I've heard from so many people that the second baby feels like it's going to fall out for weeks before it actually is born. You won't be having it yet!" I told her, "I think I may not be back Tuesday (it was Memorial Day weekend, so we were off Monday)." She just blew me off. The new supervisor who was taking her place came to talk to me later and asked me, "Is there anything I can do to make your transition easier?" I told her, "Yeah. Pretty much get report from me right now on all my clients because thusfar I have not been able to report any of them off to anyone. If I go into labor and have my baby this weekend, I will not be in any shape to start handing out clients on Tuesday morning, and they will need case managers!" She just took a notebook, pen and without any questions, started taking notes on all my clients. I was so relieved...no laughing or blowing me off. She just took me very seriously and took over!

That day, as I was leaving the office at about 3:45, for my 4:00 appointment, pretty much right after I finished giving report on my last client, the receptionist said, "See you Tuesday!" I said, "Never know! Probably not!" She too just blew me off, "Oh, Darla, trust me. We will see you Tuesday! You aren't waddling enough. You're not going to have that baby yet. The second one always seems like you're going to have it a lot longer than the first." I just said, "Don't be too surprised!" and left for my doctor's appointment.

I got to my doctor's office, he checked my cervix, and said, "YOU are in ACTIVE labor! You are dilated to 5 and about 80% effaced. I can't believe you aren't really feeling this!" I told him that I had had inconsistent contractions off and on all day but nowhere near the every 5 minute, consistent mark. Also, I hadn't had any contractions in a while. He told me that if I begin to have any organized contractions, even if they aren't consistently every 5 minutes apart, get to the hospital. If I don't start contractions again, be at the hospital by 5 a.m. because it wasn't safe to be dilated that far, effaced that far and not be somewhere near the hospital. He said that I would surely have an ambulance baby otherwise.

We went to pick up our daughter from my sister's and decided to eat out that night nearby..during which I started getting some contractions again. We ate and brought our daughter back to my sister's and started meandering toward the hospital. I still thought we were way premature on going there so we decided to go to Sam's Club to stock up on diapers for our new baby. My hubby insisted on pushing me in a wheelchair since it's a big warehouse and he didn't exactly cherish the thought of catching a baby in the middle of the store.

We then drove to the hospital. Sat in the parking lot. Decided to go to a nearby bookstore to get a baby name book. For this I sat in the van. And started to get a little more intense contractions. But still....not THAT bad.

Off we then went, back to the hospital. Sat in the parking lot. Finally decided we might as well go in and at least sleep overnight there than go home and have to get up by 4 am to be there by 5. We called up and told them we were coming up...that my doctor said I was already to a 5...and so on...anticipating that they would probably try send me home but at the same time, knowing they couldn't because after being at a 5, they really can't.

I went up to the L&D floor, got settled in my room, got checked, and the nurse or doctor that checked me said, "My dear, you're at a 7! Your baby is on it's way!" 20 minutes later, dear Viva was born! Of course, I left out the cervix details for the most part; that would have made her a tad uncomfortable!

AND, now tonight, she and I went shopping for a little bit and bought her.......shhhhh....a bra! AND, we had that talk! You know, about periods, arm pit hair, shaving, deodorant, and so on. She wasn't exactly really chatty about it but I was! :) I told her, "I'm sorry if this is a little awkward. I know it was for me when I was your age but, I got my period 27 years ago and now it's as normal as peeing...no big deal!" She was quiet for a moment, then asked, "What's like peeing?" I said, "The topic of having a period is to me like talking about peeing...everyone does it. All girls eventually get their period....have to shave....gotta use deodorant...etc. Just as normal as peeing!" I'm not sure if she agreed but she seemed to be fine with it all. I got a jump start and got the next one down some little bras...such cute ones too. I mean, with my dear second child I have meant to get her some and do the talk for over a year now. I better not miss the boat on the next one or she will be graduating before I remember! Sheesh!

Dog(s)....Gone!

2010-05-15T00:58:00.000-07:00

Sob! After much heart-wrenching and agonizing talk...like, for probably the last two years.... we finally decided that 1. we don't have the time and energy a dog requires and really deserves, and 2. the dogs really needed more dog needs met, like getting out on walks, socializing and being socialized to other dogs and people. We have sent our dogs away!

Our Great Dane went first, although we had intended for our Yorkie to be gone first, out of respect for our first-born dog. (We just kind of kept forgetting to bring the Yorkie to the humane society..or started out to bring her and realized that we forgot her food at home and since rehoming is such of a big huge thing for a pet, she just had to have her familiar food to start out with. Plus, as I found out when I actually did bring her, she is a geriatric dog. With such of a late-in-life dog, you just can't throw those kind of curveballs...plus, she has hardly any teeth left in her old age, which is typical for older Yorkies..they just don't hang on to their teeth too well, so we felt it necessary that she has her canned food there)

Our Great Dane was adopted by a Great Dane Rescue. We felt that, being he is a giant breed, which requires giant commitment, knowledge, sometimes patience, he should be sent somewhere that we can feel confident that he won't go to just any home. With this agency, he first goes to a foster home, to a home that is very familiar with Great Danes, where they iron out any wrinkles the dog may have, even to the point of working with a canine college or specialist if needed, then screen any adoptive family that is interested in him. The screening involves even a home visit before adoption, a very thorough interview process, and a post-adoption home visit to ensure proper placement.

The transportation people that came to pick him up were so kind as to come into our home for about a half hour to listen to us ramble on and on about what he likes, dislikes, his habits, and just how well he does with little ones...and on and on...then he left with them in style, in a black Mercedes with a leather interior. He looked happy to be going for a ride and seemed very comfortable with the transport people.

We've seen his pictures on the website now of him in his foster home, got a report on how he's doing, and just beamed to hear that he is minding his manners and overall doing just great.

We finally got around to bringing the Yorkie to the humane society on Monday. We felt pretty comfortable to have her there, since small dogs tend to be adopted very quickly and especially knowing that Yorkies are quite an expensive breed, and being so small and easy-going, she would be gone quickly.

Well, after many long and agonizing days, waiting for her to be posted on their site (they first go to the intake center, where they are screened and monitored and such for several days, before going to the adoption center) we finally saw her posted there today, only to see her unposted by tonight. She's already been adopted! So good for her, although I have to admit that she looked so cute and so her on there, I was a little bit sad to see her and then to know she is gone now and no longer ours!

I do believe though that our decision was made for the best interest of us and our dogs and I'm sticking to it! I still, though, find myself ready to throw a scrap of food to the nearest dog, only to remember they are gone and my baby would be the one to happily scarf up on it.

Just yesterday Izzy had the crust of her bread in her hand and yelled, "Ma-ac! Maaa-ac! Where is Mac?" I had to remind her, "Mac went away. Remember?" She asked, "When is he coming back home? Tomorrow?" I had to tell her, "He isn't coming home, honey!" That was hard. She also had picked up on the fact that he was going before he actually left and several times would turn to me and ask, quite out of the blue, "Is it sad, Mom? Is it just sad?" I would ask her, "Is what sad?" She would say, "Is it sad that Mac is going away?" Argh....too hard!

Also, just yesterday, I mentioned the name, "Mac," and my baby right away turned his head to look at the stairs, waiting for Mac to come up.

We haven't missed Honey, the Yorkie, so much. She was with us a shorter time and was such of a small presence in a much hugely present household, she just kind of kept to herself...and is only about 7 lbs vs. Mac's 130 lb presence.... that we still just kind of feel like she's there, somewhere, like she always was.

We all continue to "hear" them, here and there...Mac stretching and shaking his head in his loud way down in the basement before he came rambling up to see what was going on. Honey scratching herself, which would result in her paw hitting her carrier...only to catch ourselves and remember they aren't there. We've turned it into something more fun than sad though. Suddenly someone will say, "I just heard Mac coming out of his crate," or "Oh, Honey just sneezed!" Or someone will say, "Sh! I hear something. Oh, that was Mac's toenails on the floor downstairs." and we all just kind of smile. I'm pretty surprised that no one has corrected anyone yet. Our girls can tend to be over-diligent about setting others straight on their facts, so I'm happy no one has said, "Nope! Can't be, 'cause Mac/Honey is gone!" Everyone just goes right along with it! The funny thing is, we all actually do hear these noises and instinctively hear them as one of the dogs! Kind of a fun way to gradually let them go!

Mac, in his foster home

Honey, in her listing picture at the humane society

An Announcement!

2010-05-09T01:50:00.000-07:00

I just realized I haven't yet mentioned that we are expecting another baby! Oh, where have I been? I can tend to go into hibernation mode during my first trimester of pregnancy, and I believe that is exactly where I have been this pregnancy as well, no exception from the others. I am not exactly sure of my due date but I do know I am due in the fall sometime.

That makes number eight for the number of children, number ten for the number of family members! So fun to be hitting double digits finally. Not like we felt we had to have many, many children. We just hoped we would be so lucky as to have a large family, like we both grew up in. It looks like we just may be getting that wish! Now, with any luck, we will have twins. Each pregnancy we cross our fingers but so far haven't been granted two-for-the-price-of-one yet! :)

Hmmm, looks like we may have to do some finishing of our basement soon!

Naming the Nameless...

2010-03-27T23:55:00.000-07:00

So, we (my daughters and I) collectively decided that it is time to give the poor dears blog names. I am giving it much thought and deliberation and will try to give them names that, although will not be their own, will have some significance to them in some way. See, I have gotten to the point that saying Daughter #1, Daughter #2, Daughter #3, Daughter #4, Daughter #5, and Daughter #6 is a little impersonal and flat for a bunch of girls with so much life and personality. Baby Boy isn't so bad but a bit boring.

First, we thought that giving them flower names would be just grand. Names like Rose, and Daffodil...Daffy for short. One would think that anyone would be slightly insulted by being named "Daffy".. but not my girls. They chuckled and giggled at the thought of it...thought it would be fun to be given that name! Daisy is another name that was brought up. The problem with flower names? I just don't think I could think up 7 of them that I like! And what flower has a masculine enough sound to fit my little guy? I might have to use Daffy and Daisy for a couple of the girls though. The rest will just have names or nicknames that we've used for them.

Okay. Our first-born, first teenager......hmmm....Joni, remember this one? This is the first nickname that comes to mind: Lolly-Palooza. A little too long though. This one will be a little difficult and I'm sure she will veto whichever one I come up with, finding a more suitable one for herself. Which is just fine, of course. It's just that I am at work, it is night, she is asleep...I will have to come up with one myself for now. And I pick....Molly!

Second-born: Viva! That's the name she was given by her 2 year old sister so that's what her blog name shall be: Viva.

Third-born: Here's either Daisy or Daffy....hmmm...even though my natural inclination would be to say she's the one to be called Daffy, since she loves to act a bit daffy at times, for a name I think she would rather be called Daisy. Let's stick with that for now; she's Daisy. Actually, no. Her nickname has been Fia before and she liked that. So she shall be Fia.

Fourth-born: Now this one would probably like to be called Daffy, but she's about as un-Daffy as one could get. There's one nickname she had for a while when she was quite a bit younger. Betsy. I think that I will go with Betsy. I hope she likes it! :)

Fifth-born: We call her Ky-Ky. Since that already is her nickname, that will also be her blog name.

Sixth-born: She has actually started to, from time to time, call herself Izzy. It's not her name, it's not her nickname, we don't even call her that but she has told us, out of the blue quite a few times, "My name is Izzy!" So Izzy she shall be.

Our Baby Boy and seventh-born: For some funny reason, this kid has had quite a few nicknames in his short life. He was Ah-dah to Izzy right after he was born. That's how she said his name. So that's how everyone else said his name. Weirdly, it's a girl's name in Finnish, but spelled Aada. Then he became Yo-yo. If you knew his real name, you could see where that came from. Now, Y0-yo or Yodie...again, pretty close to Jodi...poor kid! But I think I might just have to stick with Yo-Yo. I know, it sounds mean but he's a pretty cute Yo-Yo! :)

So here we are, with no further ado...presenting my children:

Molly

Viva

Fia

Betsy

Ky-Ky

Izzy

and...

Yo-Yo

Ta-Da!!!

Negatives to Positives...

2010-03-21T23:16:00.000-07:00

Ever have times in life that you think it just can't get any more overwhelming...there is just no way...and then it does?

Ok, this is not going to be a whining post, however. As much as I feel like whining right now. I decided that instead of being weighed down by all the difficulties, I am going to look at the positive side of each of the challenges.

Here goes:

1. It seems like this week has been the week for peeing through diapers, poopy blowouts, dog accidents. My yucky laundry of the wet and poopy variety is piling up...I just haven't been able to get to it all. Wait, I think it's been the month for it 'cause it has been going on for a long, long time!

positive: (Shoot. I forgot it already. Hang on....Oh!) At least right now, we still have clean socks and underwear for everyone (a small miracle in itself) and even clothes for everyone and tomorrow is still looking good for mass washing during the day and then laundromat to dry in the evening. Laundromat=evening out (with a couple helpers...they are such good folders and sock pairers I wouldn't dream of leaving home without them)!

2. Our house is really messy and dirty lately.

positive: At least it isn't tornado season where a tornado could lift the roof off and then in all the aerial shots from the news helicopter, everyone all over would see how messy we live!

3. Our house is just getting smaller and smaller with our growing family. It's hard to move around here without stepping on someone, something, or in something really gross!

positive: At least we have a house! (Seriously!)

4. My baby, who was coughing and coughing, just after drinking a whole bunch, barfed up at least 68 ozs of milk...straight into the crockpot I had just finished washing out and setting up to put chicken into overnight!

positive: At least the chicken wasn't in it yet! :)

5. Oh, and baby also barfed all over the dishwasher.

positive: At least the dishwasher door was shut for a change, cause the dishes in it were all clean...and in this household the dishwasher is probably just as often open as it is shut.

6. Also, much of those 68 ozs of milk ended up in a huge pool on the floor. And down my clean shirt.

positive: With as much that was just hanging out on the floor, at least no workbooks, notebooks, school work or mail didn't happen to be there and a clean towel that happened to be partially wet that I had just wiped up a huge puddle of water with happened to be close enough that I could just toss it over the puddle of milk and wipe it up with my foot. And the shirt? It's washable!

Oh, and I happened to have papertowel around, which is another small miracle, to wipe the front of the dishwasher with, after I got baby rocked and sang to sleep and tucked in and the frozen chicken forced into the crockpot.

So, things are actually kind of looking up! :)

And, tomorrow is another day! I get to start fresh, albeit tired I'm sure, and try all over again!

Home Schooling Update:

2010-03-21T03:29:00.000-07:00

Now, I don't even know if I ever wrote on here that in about mid-December we started using an online school for the girls we had been homeschooling. I was just too worried that I wasn't teaching them enough, never knew for sure which direction to take with planning curriculum, etc. The online program seemed to be just the solution!

Soon after becoming enrolled with this school, we were up and running, with all the lessons available online until the textbooks, workbooks, etc. started rolling in. The girls had LiveLessons scheduled regularily, we got a loaner computer...it is quite the amazing program, really.

The only problem? We weren't quite the amazing household that one is required to have in order to be able to school a 2nd, 4th, and 6th grader following a public school format...with stinky diapers parading by in the middle of a LiveLesson, or a toddler obsessed with getting in on every one of our 2nd grader's math lessons, 'cause it had a froggy wind-surfing on a lily pad that she found to be so enthralling, or a baby and toddler rocking (and crying loudly) in mom's lap while one of the girls was trying to listen to a lesson, concentrate on a test, or recording a fluency assessment for her teacher. It was a novel thought but it just didn't work for us! The girls kept falling farther and farther behind and, although they all were getting A's in their classes, we ended with them each about a week behind! OUCH!!! We were lucky enough to have the teachers just end them with the grades they had received for the completed assignments and leave it at that. We are now officially homeschoolers again! :) Whew!

Our first day of lessons as homeschoolers took place on the trampoline, with toddler right in the middle of it. We all sat down, started out with going around the circle doing math facts, then changed it to sitting, bouncing on our bottoms, moving our arms to assist with the bounce, rotating them in different directions and first straight out to our sides, then straight out in front of us....I had them show which muscles they could feel these actions were using..just getting them aware of the direct link from movement to exercise. While we did this little gym routine for about 15-20 minutes, we did poetry, each doing a line and passing it on to the next person to add on.

So there! A lesson in math, language arts, gym and health...oh, toss in gardening and composting too 'cause we were eating snack, consisting of oranges, apples, bread, cheese and grapes. We discussed then which byproducts of our lunch could go into the compost (orange peels, apple cores, grape vines) and the container to recycling. We then discussed what we learned last year what we learned about composting and gardening, each of the girls happily revealing what they still remembered from last spring...which was quite a bit, I was pleasantly surprised! From there, we decided who was going to research what topic, composting: what it is, what are the two types of compost materials, what are the components needed to make composting work, what is the end result; gardening: what seeds need to be planted when, how does a seed grow into a plant, explain how plants are nourished (nutrients and water moving up the veins of the plants), photosynthesis; and harvesting: what goods from our garden-to-be can be frozen or canned for use into the winter. We'll see if we get to those papers! :)

So now I'm feeling so peaceful and happy that we are doing our own thing again. I can clearly see that we will make much better use of our time learning our own way because we can fit toddler, baby, kindergartner, everyone into our schedule instead of trying to work around them, over them, ditch them, etc. to get our schooling in.

Now we'll see how long this sense of relief and peacefulness stay before they are replaced with worry, apprehension, fretting, and concern that we are not doing the right thing! We sure are enjoying it in the meantime though!

Our Life in Pictures.....

2010-03-13T02:30:00.000-08:00

...In preparation for Wacky Wednesday....

Um, check out the words on the T-shirt. "I Eat Brains. You're Safe." I like it.

And Wacky Wednesday.

Well, it doesn't work so hot to lean forward and sideways at the same time in a stroller, young man!

The Jo-Meister grin. He usually manages to have eyes totally squinted shut when he sees the camera coming.

...And the Johawk! (pronounced "Yo-Hawk")

The Winter Bonfire Nights:

Ha. I caught the ever-elusive, camera-shy girls on here.

I think the bonfire smoke was getting them sluggish. I usually can't get pictures of these girls!

*Poof!* We realized we had to get going to the laundromat to dry clothes and pitched big snow blobs onto the fire. Looked pretty cool!

And our budding photographer who takes about 90% of our photos nowadays...outside with the two youngest girls...

The End

Mom is out on the town....by herself!

2010-03-10T18:39:00.000-08:00

A night out. A neat concept. I finally got one. I hardly know what to do with myself. I actually do know what to do with myself but the problem is, when I only have one evening and about 3 years worth of stuff I would love to do. So I packed up my new netbook and a new parenting book I just got in the mail today from Amazon, came down the road to a coffee shop, am sitting here facing a fireplace, catching up on Facebook and eavesdropping on everyone behind me! Tee hee! And, I'm only on phone call number four from my family. Not bad!

I am so thrilled. This handy little netbook is so tiny it fits in my purse, it has up to 8 hours of battery power, there's a little port for my memory card for my camera....!!!! What more could I ask for to keep keeping up on my blog? Now I hope the coffee shop doesn't close at 9pm like I'm afraid it does cause that only leaves me 15 more minutes to get my pics on here and blog! And I didn't even get to that parenting book I just got. It's called, Parenting With Love and Logic, by somebody. And somebody else. I've heard a lot about it and I've tried two little tactics from it that my sis-in-law told me about....and they worked!!!! I'm sold already!!!! And I have the whole book to read! :)

One of the tactics that was so fun to try, and it's worked everytime, is with my 5-year-old. She has gotten into these little (or kinda medium or even big) temper tantrum meltdowns. She gets upset about something and right away starts to just fuss and whine and cry and throw herself about. Our rule is, "It's okay to fuss. It's okay to get upset. Angry even. Just take it somewhere else. When you are all done, you are welcome to come join us again." That though usually was followed up by, "One. Two. Three..." as they're even more frustrated but running down the hallway to their room cause they know that they need to have some good progress toward their destination by the time I reach three.

With this new tactic however, it's, "Umm, dear? It's okay to fuss. It's okay to get upset. Angry even. Just take it somewhere else. When you are all done, you are welcome to come join us again." Followed by intensified fussing. Which is followed by a very calm, sweet, "Uhh, would you like to go to your room with your feet on the ground or would you like to go to your room with your feet in the air?" The first time she didn't really pay attention to what I said, apparently, cause she didn't respond. I just as calmly said, "Hmm, I take it you would rather go to your room with your feet in the air." And calmly went to pick her up, making a point of having her feet straight out in front of her so she could see her feet in the air. Now, it takes a moment for it to register, then she howls even louder and takes off trotting down the hallway to her room! 'Cause she just wants to be in control. Even in her outburst. Gotta love it!

K, just got two pics uploaded and got kicked outta the coffee shop... They're closing, I guess!

AD(no H)D

2010-02-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

Oh,boy! I have at least a million times intended to update this but every time I sit down to type, my brain short-circuits! I feel like I have ADD...definitely no H, there's actually no "activity", much less "hyperactivity"! I am pooped!!!

Hubby has been slow at work since maybe October or so. That means, 3 day weeks, or 24 hour weeks. That translates into, Mama better pick up some shifts! I did when I could, which made for a hectic household over Christmas time. It was pretty fun and special too, though. My husband was around more so he became more patient with the kids, they got pretty attached to him being around, and he took over the baking for Christmas, for the most part. I am tellling you, we had buckets and buckets and buckets of the best sugar cookies in the world, we discovered the best frosting in the world to go onto those sugar cookies...we found the best gingerbread cookie recipe (we got a Pillsbury Baking Book for our wedding and now finally use it a lot)!!! Then I made a lot of pulla (Finnish cardamom-flavored cinnamon roll braided loaf...some also in the shape of Christmas trees with frosting and red and green M&M's), karjalan piirakat, liha piirakat (more Finnish baked goods...I wrote them in Finnish 'cause there is really no comparison in English and then my two sisters who read this, one who is in Finland and the other who lives nearby, can appreciate my baking spree)... Don't let me whine that I haven't lost much baby weight this time and my baby is already almost 10 months old!!!

Now, my husband has been travelling, which is great for us financially but not so much when our kids decide that, despite a really healthy streak, they are going to go get RSV on me! Baby ran temps of 104.6, 103.9, 103.6, 104.2 rectally, those times I decided to check what the numbers where cause he was so, so beat red in the face and SO uncomfortable. He had nebs a few times, which did seem to help, and I had many very sleep-deprived nights. Whew!

Well, that's it for my AD(no H)D post! I'm at work and the next nurse is probably arriving right about now!

Stay tuned for more ramblings from the mind of the ADD'd, O.D.'d (on motherhood responsibilities), S.D.'d mother of seven kids, two dogs, a rat and a parakeet. Did anyone notice we are down by one in the Pet Department...I will see who remembers what other pet we had. I won't promise any fancy giveaways, unless you want me! :) Just see how intact your memory is!

Anyone Heard of a Clothes Volcano?

2009-11-12T18:47:00.000-08:00

I had never heard of one until yesterday. I actually saw one first, then found out exactly what it was.

Let me first show you, then I will explain:

*note all the empty baskets, totes, and bins hanging out, just kinda minding their own business, nuttin' in 'em...just thought I would point 'em out. They used to have 9 people's clothes in them!*

Yesterday, I went downstairs to get some clothes for our kindergardner. We keep our clothes down in our laundry area just to ease up on carrying baskets up and down stairs, especially when I am pregnant. We have shelves, baskets, and totes to keep it all flowing. I was greeted by this....disaster!!!!!!

I first stopped in my tracks, took a step back and held the edge of a dresser to keep from falling, and asked the first child to come near me, "What. on. earth. happened. HERE????" There was a little stuttering and stammering, then one of them said, "Uhh, it was, um, S's idea! She actually emptied everything out, I just jumped onto them!" Upon further investigation, I found out that my lovely daughter, S, decided the world wouldn't be complete without a clothes volcano, of all things! She proceeded to dump out the baskets, totes, shelves, even the tops of the washer and dryer of all the clothing she could possibly find right in that area, pile it up as high as she could, then climb up on top of the washer and dryer, and jump down. So, daughter G naturally followed suit "'cause S told me to!"

Can I tell you that it is nearly impossible to find socks and underwear in a pile like that, especially in time for our little kindergardner to make it to school on time? I think that was the first basket to get emptied.

Can I also tell you that it is nearly impossible to pull a pile like that apart to fold clothes again? After being jumped onto by, not a 2 and a 5 year old, but an 8 and a 10 year old? 'Cause all those clothes were compacted down pretty hard after all that jumping?

Explanation for the dirty deed?

Interrogation:

Me: Please just tell me, what were you thinking? Seriously! I need to just know. What were you thinking?!?!?!?!? Was it to be really, really naughty? Or were you just not thinking?"

Her: "Uhhhmmmm...I guess...I just...wasn't....thinking???!" Whew! 'Cause I would hate to think someone could have even given it a second of thought and make a conscious decision to do this!!!!

Well, library trip was cancelled for yesterday. Everything else for that matter. My little helpers are still helping me fold, sort, and put away laundry.

Might I add that I even had so, so many piles sorted into stuff going away for the winter, getting thrown away, getting given away, and so on....all dumped, mixed up, and compacted down?

****Sigh!!!!!****

A Teenager Household

2009-10-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

We are now officially a Teenager Household. Our oldest just turned 13! She's acted like a teenager (and I mean in the cool sense, of course) for a very long time so the transition will be quite smooth, I'm sure! :)

*Just a side note I meant to mention on my Oink Report: When I called the school Monday to report our kindergardener's absence, the nurse told me that so far that morning they had a 40% call in rate! She said she has had not ever seen numbers this high!

Oink! Oink!

2009-10-19T20:06:00.000-07:00

Well, everyone! We got it! The dreaded H1N1! Swine Flu!!!! Oink, oink!!!!! It hasn't been tested and confirmed but the kids that have gotten sick have pretty much had any symptom that could be possibly related to H1N1, except not so much the GI symptoms.

Oh, I sometimes yearn for blogging again...the so many funny things that come up. Especially with our two y.o. But, it goes by the wayside due to the lack of time in my life right now!!!

My dear hubby came home early from his trip to help out...and just in case anyone ends up having to be run to the hospital.

Our second daughter has asthma so she's had some struggles. We brought her in today because they highly recommended us getting her the Tamiflu antiviral med to decrease the severity of the illness as well as the length and chance of complications afterwards.

We're so weird (the girls and I), we have guesses out there as to who we think will be the next down. Our oldest was first (the school district is just swamped in "flu-like illness"). Then our second one went down (they have it figured out..it was because the oldest one tooted on the second one's trumpet then handed it back to the second dtr, who proceeded to play the trumpet, before we realized our oldest was sick). The third dtr then went down. All bets were on either the 4th or 6th dtr next, but the 5th one was next instead. She buckled today while we were at the doctor's office. She was sitting in the chair as we were all talking and such when suddenly we noticed her nodding and starting to tip forward, like she might fall out of her chair..flu mask on and all.

They all had to wear masks...all the kids in the waiting room pretty much were masked. The clinic was really good about keeping family's germs separate so they just herded ppl into their own room as rooms became available. I have pics on my phone of the girls in their masks but don't feel like looking for the cord for my phone to hook up to here.

Well, I had about three different things I wanted to tell about but don't remember any other issues but this one. Well, there's always tomorrow! :)

It's Birthday Season again!

2009-09-27T01:47:00.000-07:00

We had a birthday yesterday, one today, then another one in about 3 weeks and another 2 days after that! Whew!

We've decided to take on birthdays a little differently this year. We've given the girls the option of having a big birthday party or cashing in on their birthday. Their "cash-in" option has two variations. Variation 1: Cash in place of the party but still a gift from us. Variation 2: Cash in place of the party and gift (which ends up being more cash that Variation 1). Both include cake and a few goodies. We couldn't do without cake and a few goodies.

They've all opted for the Cash-In Option, Variation 2. Double Whew! In the relief sense. So much easier.

I love how this money they anticipate for their birthdays is being spent....even much before any of them actually received the money. Some of their purchases include:

Buying off their sisters for many, many things. For example: "If you will share that with me, I will give you $2 of my birthday money...when I get it!"

One can never have enough of their own space: "I think I want to buy my own house with my birthday money. Do you think that's enough to buy a house...or not! 'Cause I would like to have my own space."

Then there are those that are the charity-minded: "I know what I will do with my birthday money! I will donate it to the church! Do you think that would be good....or, maybe some of it to the church and the rest of it to (now I don't remember where the rest was going). Or, I know, I will donate, like, $15 to the church, then $x to (wherever it was), then I would use the rest for (American Girl doll stuff, for example) for myself...that still would be good, wouldn't it!"

Gotta love it!

And on other notes:

Home schooling is going pretty well, except I'm feeling pretty inept as a teacher at times. I have more material than we ever would need but still I'm always wondering what we should tackle, in what order, are we "keeping up" with the rest of the world, etc. We got together with some other moms and kids that we know that are homeschoolers and have been longer than us. That was very encouraging to be able to bounce ideas off them and just know that they also have their days they don't feel all that adequate too! They are ladies from our church that I have known at least as acquaintances for many years, some better than others. It was only after we left that one of our girls realized that all the kids that were there are also home schooled.

Our baby is growing and growing. He is over 5 months now. He giggles, coos and talks, reaches for everything, squeals, stuffs his toes in his mouth... He is a joy to have around.

I wish I had been able to find the camera but I guess I will just someday update with a kajillion pictures all at once. For now I remain pictureless.

Our 2 y.o. talks and talks. When I was calling her the Birthday Girl the other day, she looked at me with a scowl and said, "I not Birthday Girl!!!" Later, I said something about having cake and she gave me a warning glare and said, "Don't call me Birthday Girl!!!" Of course it's not crystal clear like that but very understandable. I've been very surprised at how well she articulates when she talks.

I am running out of thoughts to share...it's gotten to be that time of the night again. :)

Another Updating Opportunity Passes...

2009-09-20T04:49:00.000-07:00

I meant to have a full update, complete with pictures and all, but I had the night off Friday night and now last night I was pretty busy and veeerrryyy tired so I couldn't concentrate at all to even remember to update.

We don't have internet right now at home so I always just update myself on everything...email, blog, family page, etc. on the weekend.

Well, now it is time for my shift to end so...next weekend!

Or we will get internet back up and running this week 'cause I kind of miss it already!!! It was a nice break to get grounded the end of this summer but now I need my internet resources and contact with the outside world. :)

TTFN!

See, It All Started Like This....

2009-08-15T03:56:00.000-07:00

I decided that it's time for a new look. I had noticed the past few times I've changed my blog background, there are now matching headers for some of the backgrounds. This time, I decided that I'm going all the way. New background, new header, might as well toss in some pictures on the header since you can do that, you know!!!

Well, that was several attempts ago. I only succeeded to waste entire, precious night shifts on nothing more than monkeying around with what "they" claim as a very simple procedure each time I attempted to get this fancy blog set up.

Next, after many tries, I decided that maybe it's time for me to purchase a cheap "PhotoShop"-like program to help me figure this whole thing out. Additionally, this type of a program can be so fun to alter pictures with! I couldn't wait....I had actually tried the free version that this blogsite touted also as a very simple process. It. was. NOT. Several tries of just downloading this free program produced a big nothing!

Okay, now here I am. Fast forward, mmmmm, at least a month and a half, two months later. Purchased a cheap, reasonably-priced program...only to realize it was far from easy to figure out.

I got a call from this company about a few days later asking me if I realize that this version that I purchased, this cheap, reasonably-priced, not to mention simple program I purchased, is an old, slightly outdated version of a wonderful newer program....a program that is much more user-friendly that comes with a user manual, many prompts while using this program....all for a slightly higher price. One that if I purchase it, I will be reimbursed my other money I put towards the cheap, reasonably-priced, not to mention cheap program. Sounds good. Sounds downright EXcellent!!!

I have since received this wonderful user-friendly program.

Now guess what! My C: drive is too full to download and install this new and improved photo altering program. And, try as I might, I cannot get enough deleted to satisfy this no-good, broken down, washed up, has-been computer to install this program!!!!!!!!!!

*Sigh*

A Not-So-Family-Friendly Side Show

2009-08-09T01:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, for reasons that will be obvious after you read this post, there will be no pictures to accompany this little story.

This evening, before getting ready for work, I was cleaning a bit. I was in the middle of sweeping the dining room when I realized that it had become really pretty dark and almost greenish looking outside. I told the kids that were home that it looks a little tornado-y outside and I wondered if the sirens were going. I went to the patio door and opened it to hear a little better.

What I heard wasn't sirens. What I did hear was some drunkish sounding voices over in our neighbor's backyard, by their pool. I glanced over there to see a woman standing there and stating over and over, "You purposely did that! You did!" and so on. I heard the neighbor guy saying, "I did not. Now come back in the pool!" This was accompanied by laughter and such.

I was about to look back to the sky when another woman came out of the pool. I noticed that her swimsuit was a very light pink...it could have been mistaken for skin! When she turned around, I realized, it was skin!!! She was naked! Buck naked! Then the first lady I had seen came over with a large towel and wrapped it around the naked lady and herself so they were wrapped in it facing each other. And kind of jokingly exhibited some lewd behavior. Gag!!!!!!!!!

Then, as I was turning away, the neighbor guy came climbing out of the pool in all his naked glory! All I saw was very, very white bum cheeks and I had seen enough!!! I turned away. I warned the girls away (just my oldest and my toddler were there).

About a minute later I heard some really loud shouting and exclaiming! I still was a little in disbelief, thinking, maybe what I saw was some very white Speedos and other such various thoughts, so I glanced over (Now, ladies and gentlemen, you must realize, it is simply a glance out our patio door or picture window for full view of the neighbor's poolside, like pretty much from anywhere near the windows, a glance toward the neighbor's...we're slightly uphill from them). This time I was privvy to a lovely shot of Lady #2, naked. Neighbor Man, naked. Running! NOT a pretty sight! Front view. NOT good. And Neighbor Lady, wrapped in towel. Surely with suit still on. She's NOT the naked type. I finally had had enough. I went to the patio door and yelled out, "Okay, you guys. GET some CLOTHES on! My kids are over here, able to see everything! I have to keep them away from the windows right now!" No response. I shouted again. No response. I put my fingers in my mouth for a very sharp, very loud whistle. No response. Either these people are ignoring me, have drinking-induced deafness, or have music going that I can't hear above their excited shouting. Absolutely no response.

I shut the door in disbelief. I told the the girls to stay away from the windows if they want to avoid visual disturbances and possibly permanent, lifelong mental trauma and scarring. I was assured that they would.

I called the neighbor on the other side of them and asked what I should do. I told her I really didn't want to call the police on them since they periodically let us use their pool. Just kidding. I said that I would prefer to resolve this without police intervention since they are super neighbors and probably would be horrified if they realized that we saw everything. She told me that I should probably call the neighbors themselves, but then she remembered that they don't have a home phone anymore, only cell phones. I didn't exactly want to go knock on their backyard fence door since I didn't want to be greeted by someone displaying privates!

Her suggestion was to wait until they are sober and tell them, "Um, I'm not sure if you realize this but we have a very clear view into your pool area right from our living room and dining room. We saw some nakedness (or something like that) from our living room the other night...." I think that I will be informing them of that pretty much on our way to church Sunday morning! Or right when we get back! I really, really didn't like that side show!

"Little Kids Have Eyes!!!"

2009-07-29T01:15:00.000-07:00

Daddy brought the girls to the gym the other evening. Afterwards, he brought them into the family locker room. The three older girls he had with went into one large shower room to shower and change and he and our 4 y.o. went into another.

As they shut the door, our 4 y.o. told her dad, "Now, don't look at me!" He said, "Okay. Then you don't look at me either."

After showering, drying off, and beginning to get dressed, my hubby dropped something, which in turn caused our little daughter to look sharply in his direction. He looked at her and said, "Hey! You looked at me!" She gave a big sigh and said, "Little kids have eyes! We have to look! If we didn't, everything would be dark and we would keep bumping into things!!!"

So there, Dad!!!

Computer Savvy....

2009-07-26T02:34:00.000-07:00

I am not! Well, savvy for that matter...I am not! I'm flubbing my way from one thing to another. Just a few weeks ago, I was trying to find someone's blog I had been following that seemed to have just up and disappeared. I finally looked on my follower list, clicked on something, then maybe something else, then, next thing I knew, I was following myself!!! And I couldn't, for love or money or really kind words to the computer or bribery, get myself off my tail!!!! I do not know how to get myself off my followers list! Oh well, I guess I will just be like a dog, chasing my own tail for the rest of my blog life.

Another thing...a few years after making a profile, I was looking at my information I have on there at the same time as I was updating my profile picture, and I noticed I had written "Tom Grisham books". It's John Grisham, I think! Or...Tom Grisham...no! John Grisham! Now I'm second guessing myself!!! I'll have to Google that now.

It seems like almost everything lately is going in this manner. I think I need a mental health break....or something! I would even settle for a beach day...even a beach half-day!

Now I'll see if I can get some pics put on here and blog for a little bit. I'm at work and I've so far used all my down time trying to figure out how to put pictures on my new header! I don't even know if I will know how to get the header on here!!! :)

July in Review:

2009-07-26T02:15:00.000-07:00

The Dane

Toddlers in Motion

(These photos were taken within about a 30 second time frame)

Brothers

(My sisters two boys...the older one was holding the baby. Big Boy fell asleep, Baby began fussing, Big Boy quickly scooped Baby closer and inserted Baby's pacifier in his sleep!)

Cousins:

The Projects:

The Old

The New

The Inside of The New

(Although it was a year old, it had never been used)

The Installer Runner-Up

(I had taken out the old, unhooked everything, and was ready to install the new one when I noticed it need to be hardwired, not plugged in like it had been in its previous home. I was going to do the wiring too but decided that The Children might still need The Mother. The Dad has done lots and lots of hardwiring in his lifetime. Lots! So he became The Chosen Hardwirer!)

The Installed

The New

Uhhhh, where did The Old go! I guess I forgot to upload the pic of the old sink!

The Testers

Yup! It passes as a bathtub too!!!

Oh. One more The Old, The New:

Oops! It isn't letting me add any more pics. "Enough!" it said. So here is:

(missing) The Old

The Older (but new pic)

Just for Fun!

2009-07-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

This is our form of entertainment:

And toddlerville at its best. Big sister as Kanga, little sister as Roo. Roo keeps up with the latest technology...cell phone in a pouch!

Dizzy Dad!

2009-06-15T22:19:00.001-07:00

This story is a bit reminescent this story, when my lovely hubby forgot we had a baby, or didn't realize the fussing baby his buddy was bouncing along with his own youngest child was, in fact, his very own daughter.

A few days ago, my husband and I stopped by a garage sale near our place. We only had our newborn baby along with us. As I walked up the driveway carrying the baby in his carseat, the man of the house said, "Free babysitting while you shop!" So I left the carseat near him and began to browse.

After browsing through many fine items and conversing a bit with the man and lady of the house, the lady shouted across the way to me, "How old is your baby?" I answered, "Eight weeks." She said, "Okay, I didn't think he was that old!" End of story. Or so I thought.

I think it was already the next day that my husband asked me, "Now how old is the baby?" I told him, "Eight weeks." He kind of muttered to himself, "Okay, so that would be about three months..?....no, more like.. two .. months..." Then, a very sheepish grin, "I told someone the baby's about five months!"

I kind of gave him a quick look and said, "You did? Who did you tell that to?" He said, "That guy at the garage sale. He asked me, 'How old is your baby?' and I said, 'mmm, about five, six months. Yeah, about five months..I think..!' I did add, 'I think!'"

I said, "Oh, funny...did you notice then that his wife asked me later how old the baby is? What if they compared notes later?...Wait a minute. Was his wife right there when you told him?" My husband replied, "Yes, she was!" I said, "Okay, that explains it. After I told her how old he is, she said, 'Okay, I didn't think he was that old!' She didn't buy your version of his age!"

My husband gave another sheepish grin and said, "I don't know what I was thinking! I mean, I know he was just born in April. I know that it hasn't been five months since April. I mean, I didn't do the math or anything. I just kinda threw that number out there! I wasn't really thinking, I couldn't really come up with anything so I just kinda pulled a number out that seemed like the right one!"

Dizzy dude!!! Gotta love the guy. I think he's one of those kind that is so smart he's.....dumb? :)

Wordful (and Picture FULL) Wednesday: The Month (or Two) In Review

2009-06-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

Here's the little man, getting bigger! And the two babies keeping an eye on each other in the van. This is Memorial Day weekend. There's a shot of my oldest and youngest taking a nap together at the cabin we rented.

At the cemetery where my mom and infant brother are buried. On the left, "Um, you're standing on someone there! Hellooo!" (The 11 y.o. to the 12 y.o.)

Two of the girls standing at my mom's grave site. The 4 y.o. had just woken up while we were there and stumbled out of the van, walked over where my mom's headstone is, sat down and just was... She didn't really stare at it but more just was in her own world, gazing at the headstone. I had snapped a few more that turned out much better (here she kind of sensed me there and stretched and turned around) but they clearly had our family name on the stone and I would prefer not to have that on this blog.

Dad and girls......then one gravesite that had the most beautiful purple flowers growing all over and one precious angel sitting in the thickest part. The little footstone it is sitting watch over is one of a small child, an infant, if I am remembering correctly.

Homeschool projects:

Chicks one day old in first two pics, then about a month old in last picture. They are laying hens and will reside at my husband's parents' place, where we will take care of them and gather eggs, sharing them with our in-laws.

"The Secret Garden"

This was part of my Mother's Day gift from my husband and kids. They secretly had it tilled and partially seeded without my knowledge of it. This, too, is at my husband's parents' house.

Art Day! One of the girls picked mask-making so they were given only that for direction. I was very impressed how creative they were! I didn't get many pictures because my memory card was full and it was so time consuming to delete pictures.

Here's a phy-ed shot. The older two are teaching the younger one how to ride bike.

Everyone's enjoying Daddy being home from a business trip!

Oh, So Tired!

The little fella looks like he's already taken a few lessons from Dad. Church time is just so hard to keep the eyes open! Sooo relaxing!

Another niece's wedding! She's my godchild and married her sister's husband's brother. They are SOOO delightfully cute!

A girl and her dog! It was a dress-up day for the big girls that day!

Oh, I've got a kazillion and two more pictures to post but I will spare you all until I have another chance to blog! :) Actually I'm getting down to not too many more!

A few pictures at a time....

2009-06-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

Well, here are some of the photos I uploaded the other day (as you will see on the date stamp...today is actually 6/9/09). I just haven't had time to get back on here to finish up the photos and stories. These were taken quite a while ago. These were from when baby was maybe 1 1/2 wks old. The one picture on the top I will explain in another post...they are baby chicks that were one day old at the time.

Another busy baby! :)

2009-06-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

I've had so much to write about in the last month but I have another lap baby. For the most part, he is so happy and content...as long as I'm holding him 24/7. I'm not even exaggerating at all!

You know what though? I'm quite confident that I won't still be holding him in another year even. I think that time spent now keeping him feeling secure and happy will be paid back by a content and happy baby later on. I remember our last baby was the same way and now is such of a card, happy to be running around exploring and entertaining, with only occasional pit stops in my lap. So, in the meantime, I keep taking pictures and collecting little stories in my mind that I think, "When I get a minute or ten, I will go post these pictures and tell these stories. When I get a minute...." So far that minute or ten have been hard to come by, so by the time I actually sit down to tell my tales and post my pictures, I probably won't remember much of anything anymore that I had meant to post but I'm quite confident I will have new stories to tell! :)

Another Quick Story...

2009-05-04T21:53:00.001-07:00

Whew! It's sure busy around here!!! Here's another story about the girls' reactions to their little brother's arrival:

After I called my sister's to tell the girls the big news, that we had a BOY, I was having the afore-mentioned conversation (in last post) with our almost-eleven-year-old. Right at the end of the convo, I could tell that everyone else had caught on that we had a boy. I heard my sister say, "A boy! You're kidding!" And then the buzz of the other kids as they were exclaiming over the fact we had a BOY! Then I heard a hoot of laughter from my sister and heard her saying, "Oh no, I'm sure you'll change your mind once you see him!" and something about they'll surely fall in love as soon as they see him....or something like that. I wasn't totally sure what she was saying or what the convo would have been about, although I gathered that there was some less than favorable reception with the news of the arrival of blue (boy).

My sister told me later (now you can correct my recollection of the details if I missed anything or remembered wrong, Joni..):

When our two middle girls (7- and 9-year-old) heard we had a boy, they said, "Aw, you can have him! We don't want a boy...it wrecks our pattern of all girls!" to which Joni had just hooted at and said that they will surely change their minds once they see him. They assured her they wouldn't.

One of them at some point asked her at what age do brothers start being mean, or how old will he be when he starts beating them up or something. She told them that they are so much older than him that he won't likely ever beat them up or be mean to them.

Our 4-year-old said something about him being mean and peeing in their faces. I had told them that one difference with baby boys and baby girls is that baby boys have the capability to pee pretty far and could even get you (the diaper changer) in the face if you're not careful. I had no intention of giving them the impression that boys do this to be mean. I think it started with her asking how we will know if it's a boy or a girl....

At some point the girls decided that they were sure they will get used to having a brother and would be fine with it, and were getting a little anxious to get to the hospital to see him. Then suddenly the 7-year-old had a change of heart and asked my brother-in-law if he would want our baby. My bro-in-law said, sure, he would take him. Our daughter then said, "Then if you guys have a baby girl someday, we could just take her!"

After they came to the hospital to see our little guy, they were instantly in LOVE!!!! They can't get enough of him! The evening they came to pick us up from the hospital, my husband only took two of the girls with him, our 4- and 7-year-old. The 7-year-old wanted to hold the baby the whole time they were there. Then at some point she asked me real quietly, "Mom, how many times do you think Sofi has kissed him in her whole entire life". I figured she wanted to kiss him but wanted to make sure her partner in anti-boys had kissed him too, so she could feel justified in giving him a kiss. I told her, "I'm not sure just how many times she may have kissed him but I know that I've seen her kiss him at least once! (just a teensy white lie)" She smiled and leaned down and gave him a kiss. That was a miracle in itself 'cause that girl don't kiss!!! ANYone!!!

First night home: Those two middle girls wouldn't leave my side until nearly midnight. THey followed me around the house everywhere I went with the baby. They were shooed to bed finally when I was sitting in the basement trying to visit with our oldest daughter. They had a few excuses to come back down, then when they sensed I was getting a bit short with them about not going to bed, they went up and were quiet for a while. Then I heard them whispering pretty close by. I found out they were gazing at the baby through a little hole in the sheetrock. Then they came down one more time to say good night to the baby. They were sitting one on each side of me, just grinning and telling me that since they were the tomboys of the family, they could teach him how to climb trees and dig for worms and find frogs and all the stuff they love doing! Then they decided that they should give him a kiss, one on one cheek, the other on the other cheek, at the same time. They did. Then they went grinning to bed!

Pardon any typos or anything that may not make sense. Baby's crying so I can't even proofread this! :)

More on our Mr. Man...

2009-04-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

Some quick stories if I can squeeze them in before the Prince decides it's time to eat again:

Right when I called to my sister's to tell her and our kids that we had the baby, our almost 11 y.o. answered. I told her, "Well, we had the baby!" She asked, "What did you have, boy or girl." (My question mark doesn't work on my keyboard) I told her, "Guess!" She said, "Girl!" I said, "Nope! A boy!" Her first comment was, "Mom! Dad still has to do most of the diapers now, right (quest. mark)" :) I told her, "Absolutely!" Her, "Whew!"

Story behind the comment: Once upon a time, many years ago, a wise man and his foolish wife made a deal. After their firstborn child (a girl) was born, the man told his foolish wife, "I just have such of a hard time doing a little girl's diaper. It just gives me the hibbies (accompanied by a little shiver and shudder) washing out all those little girl parts. How 'bout if you do most of the girls' diapers, then I will do most of our boys' diapers!" The very, very foolish wife agreed!!! Guess who has kicked herself 5 hardy kicks or more since that deal was made!

The reason our almost-eleven-year-old has taken such interest in who will change the diapers: Once upon a time, this same foolish woman was with seventh child. Her very wise husband, without knowing the gender of the child (but surely was covering his bases just in case this was a boy-child), informed the almost-eleven-year-old that since our eldest daughter had done so many diapers with the last two babies, it was time for her to begin the duty of diaper changing with the next baby. He said, "You had better practice a bit now before the next baby is born because you will be doing many diapers with the next baby!"

One day, as the almost-eleven-year-old was lamenting her fate, the foolish woman suddenly had a clear moment in her very foggy brain and remembered The Deal, made so many years ago with her wise husband. "Wait one stinking minute, my dear daughter! One day, almost 13 years ago, your daddy and I made a deal...." And thus, the almost-eleven-year-old was enlightened of the details.

Hence, the sudden interest of the almost-eleven-year-old of her daddy's involvement in diaper changing.

Now, I will post a few more pictures of our newest addition and will have to wait until the next post to tell you more of the Princess' reactions to the news of the Prince's arrival.

IT'S. A. BOY!!!!!!!

2009-04-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

Can y'all about believe it...I didn't even think it was possible! It's not like it makes any difference to us if we have all girls but it just is surprising that after we had six girls that we could have a boy! :)

My husband and I went furniture shopping Tuesday night. I was in the frame of mind that I need a rocker recliner before our baby is born. I've never had a good rocking chair for any of my babies and oftentimes, at least in the beginning, I've had babies that love to be held all night or they won't sleep.

We found a perfect chair after about 3 furniture stores. We also needed a couch so we found a couch there too. We took the chair home that night (the couch will be delivered in a few weeks). After we were home for only a couple hours and all the kids were sleeping, I started to doze off on my new chair. After about 15 minutes, I woke up suddenly with contractions. They were entirely bearable but I could tell these were for real (versus the false labor I had been experiencing off and on all weekend). They started out from the first contraction at 4-6 minute intervals. I called my sister a couple times to first see if she could come and stay the rest of the night with the kids if I ended up going in, and second, if she thought I should go in. My contractions were regular but not so painful that I could just yak easily the entire time. I finally decided after about 3 hours that it was time to go in and see what progression I had made. I went in and was at a 4+ (versus 3+ the afternoon before, at my doctor's appointment). I was effaced to about 80% versus the 70% the day before.

After about an hour I was at a 5 and about 80% still. They decided that I was going to be staying so I was admitted to a labor room. The rest of the labor and delivery was absolutely picture perfect. I had adequate time to get an epidural, waited for our doctor of choice to get on duty at 7 before they broke my water (at about 7:30), then delivered at a little after 9:30.

Our baby is very, very easy...even though he is one of those that has to be held or he won't rest well. We definitely are not complaining! He wouldn't be in a crib ever anyway because there is always someone waiting to hold him.

I will have to tell a few hilarious stories from when the girls found out we had a boy. They will have to wait though because our little prince is waiting to eat!

I would post some pictures but can't find the camera I do have a cord for that I could use to transfer some pics onto here. I can only find our new camera, for which I have lost the cord and probably wouldn't know how to operate anyway as far as transferring pics, even if I did find the cord!

More later! :)

An Update of Sorts

2009-03-01T03:32:00.000-08:00

As I sit here, trying to decide where to start, I realize that really aLOT has happened that I haven't posted on. I'm trying to decide how much of it is appropriate to put on here and how much of it would be TMI (too much info). I think about 70% of it is TMI....for one reason or another. That poses the problem then of, if I don't write that, the rest of it won't make sense! So, here I sit, pondering and pondering.....

Well, this much I can say. I started homeschooling a few of my kids recently. I started with my fifth-grader. She has always wanted to be homeschooled and I've always wanted to homeschool. My problem was, I've always really liked our schools and most of the teachers the kids have had, so I had no reason to pull them. I felt that by going to school, more of their needs are met....from academic needs to social needs. Finally, my daughter had had enough waiting and really pushed for it and I decided, "Why not?"

After I pulled her, the other two elementary girls started pushing for themselves to be able to also stay home and be homeschooled. I waited a week, then pulled my third-grader. Then after a few more weeks and some time to get things in order, see how it all was going to fall into place, I've finally pulled the first-grader. Her first day home is Monday.

I have been enjoying this so, so much! I have some really good resources to draw curriculum ideas and other ideas from. The school has been really supportive as well as all my family and friends.

One added bonus that I wasn't really anticipating is that I'm noticing this really neat transformation in my girls. The older one has been pretty easy-going and an eager learner anyway but our next one down has been a little more high-strung. The first week or a bit more, she would just bounce off the walls, get on everyone's nerves and was a master evader of sitting down to learn. Now, the two girls are just always thinking up new ideas, from Science Photography to Nature/Wildlife Clubs to Imaginary Worlds. They play math games together and love them. They've always avid readers so they are both just thrilled to have now gotten their own library cards that are the keychain version that they've both put on those neck things (like people put their employee cards). We are trying to have a day a week for each subject. We feature Language Arts on Mondays...this includes a trip to the library. Tuesdays feature subject is Social Studies, Wednesday-Health, Thursday-Math and Friday-Science and Art. We have Dad bring them to the gym a few times a week for swimming/P.E. I've just ordered some more material to cover Music and then a complete Elementary software program off ebay to give us lots and lots of lessons for each subject. I also have some books coming that covers each grade to make sure we have them on the right level by the end of the year.

It's been a bit scary on one hand....I worry that I won't keep them at their levels. I've been calming down about that though, I think I have adequate resources and information now to ensure that we keep up.

There, now that covers one topic! I will post some homeschooling pictures maybe this week sometime. We even had our first field trip about a 1 1/2 weeks ago to the Science Museum and Omni Theater. Coincidentally, the film was about the Grand Canyon and we are studying landforms in Science (in the film, there were several landforms mentioned....slot canyons, deltas, caves, and sand dunes). Also, the featured display/lab for the museum was water/the water cycle, etc. That's also something we are covering. We spent 4 1/2 hours there total and all of the kids did very well (except the baby got pretty ornery)! In the van on the way home was another story. THey all had had so much fun but got so tired out, they were all having micro- to macro-meltdowns. :)

Alright...time to wrap up here at work. I would love to update more but running out of time!

The Process....

2009-02-15T00:51:00.000-08:00

Whew! To try get a picture of all six without someone looking away, playing Nintendo DS, fighting, blinking, pinching another's nose, suddenly sitting up, scowling.....Phew! We did have fun in the process though!:)

Hey...Happy January To All (Quickly Before It Leaves)....And Happy February!

2009-01-31T03:54:00.000-08:00

Whew! Where did January go? I guess I abandoned my Tortoise for a bit and look what happened!!! I lost a whole month!

Oh, if only I could update you on the month but....whew! Let's just call it life-changing in many aspects! I may or may not get into it next time. :)

As for baby....(in utero)...ultrasound about 1 1/2 weeks ago revealed a beautiful baby of unknown gender. Little stinker was sitting breech with legs crossed tight! We got a level 2 ultrasound so it was really cool to see all the details so much clearer. Soooo fun! I am now about 26.5 weeks along.....and it looks like I may be pulling the same stunt as last time. Baby is already very low and I've had a lot of pressure. I went in early for my OB appt and although nothing has started, I will now begin my every 2 weeks appts a little early.

Well, Happy Weekend to you all....let's see when I get back on for an update again! I hope it's sooner rather than later! :)

A Very Merry Christmas to All...AND...

2008-12-24T02:39:00.000-08:00

...we've had our very first runaway(s)....right in the midst of this fine holiday season!

I was shopping the other night, finding some screaming deals, when I got a phone call from my 10 y.o. She said that our middle two girls were nowhere to be found. She said she searched the entire house, the yard, the neighbors' yards where their "sledding hill" is...no girls. It was getting dark...or rather, it was quite dark already. I was only a few miles away so I told her to keep looking and I would come right home to help.

I got a phone call a few minutes later reporting that the lost had been found. The girls insisted that they had been in the yard all along playing tag and such. At this time, my 10 y.o. reported that earlier she had seen the two girls off walking down the street, around the corner and then later overheard their discussion that they had gone down another street and had walked until they saw a dog, at which point they decided to beat cheeks home. I told her I would talk to them because they know they aren't allowed to walk off our cul-de-sac without permission.

I got home and asked the girls what they were doing walking around the neighborhood. They said they were just out walking. I told them that they aren't allowed to do that and beside the fact it was getting dark, it also was much too cold to go wandering off. If they would have gotten lost, they could have easily and quickly gotten dangerously cold...and they could have gotten kidnapped!

I got quick apologies from both.

Later that evening, as I was getting ready to go out the door to work, our 9 y.o. (one of the wanderers) started whining (and I mean whining) that she never gets time to do her homework!!! I told her that it is her responsibility to get it done before playing outside. She wailed that she forgot that she has homework!!!! I told her that that just doesn't cut it. That is what they have a planner for. Her job in this position as a student is making sure she checks her planner every night, even if she thinks she doesn't have homework, and that she gets her homework done every night.

She was getting quite loud with her outburst, so my husband, who was trying to get the baby to sleep, reminded her to keep it down. She raised her voice even louder so he raised his, telling her that she had 20 minutes to complete whatever she had for homework (which is always plenty of time for her). She continued her high-pitched whining and wailing and was getting quite obnoxious until he yelled at her that regardless of what she had to say, time was ticking...get her homework done in 20 minutes or she would go to school without it done! To which she began crying and saying, "Mom! I have to talk to you!"

She came down to the door and said, "Plus, Mom, I really did run away!" I asked her, "When, tonight? You mean when Olivia was looking for you....you were on the run?" She said, "YES! Everyone is always mad at me and yelling at me, even when I try to talk so nicely. I finally got tired of just talking about running away and decided to just do it! I decided to try it to see how it feels." I told her, "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that you felt that bad about being here that you decided to actually leave. You really picked a bad night to try it though. Besides the fact it was already getting dark and you could have easily gotten lost, it is really, really cold out there. You could have quickly frozen and then what good would that have been? And just think, what if someone would have kidnapped you?"

The "kidnapper" word is the one that always gets her thinking. She has great discussions of the "what-ifs" involving kidnappers..so this kind of slowed her down a little bit. Of course this great confession came right as I had to get out the door so she promised to talk about it with me when we were both home the next evening after school. I also pulled my oldest aside and asked her to, at some point, mention to her dad what happened and ask him to talk to her about it. That way she feels that we at least acknowledged her distress (as dramatic as she can be). I know they both talked to her then after I left.

When we talked the next afternoon, her emotions were pretty evened out and she just told me where all they walked, what all they saw, and wasn't even in the least bit disturbed anymore. The highlight of the whole discussion was the fact they saw a bulldog on the run (I have recently seen the same dog in the neighborhood) and decided they better make fast tracks home.

I have a feeling that these two just might turn my head a snowy white before too many years!

Wordful Wednesday: Christmas Card '08

2008-12-17T00:39:00.000-08:00

This year I decided against trying to gather the young'uns around for a formal or specifically Christmas picture. I felt more like picking out snapshots I've gotten of them here and there over the past few months. I think this shows their personalities better (between that and I was just too lazy to attempt the more formal route)...except the dogs. I am still floored that I got them to just go sit by each other (somewhat motivated by a piece of roast beef my 10y.o. let them first sniff). I will forever be amazed that I got the shot I did. They actually sat right down and posed for several pictures. I finally told my daughter, "Okay, give 'em that piece of meat to share! I think they've earned it today!" :)

(Take note of the parakeet on the hood of my 10 y.o. in the top right photo, or below)

This bird has been so fun to have around! The girls have been working on socializing/taming it.

*Okay, now that I've posted this, I realized that I have this same photo (our Christmas card photo, including this one of my daughter and her bird) in color on top as my blog photo! Pardon my dementia-ridden brain!!! :)

A Blog Giveaway...

2008-12-17T00:06:00.000-08:00

I'm posting this blog giveaway because the owner of this blog has some really neat handmade items she is just giving away if you go comment on her giveaway blog. Just click on her giveaway button, like the one above, that you see on the upper left-hand side of her blog..then follow the instructions. Her blog is really cute!

Thirty Years Ago Today....

2008-12-13T21:20:00.000-08:00

This is a post I did one year ago today. Due to time constraints, I will just link to this post instead of creating a new one.

Thirty years ago today, my mom passed away. This was one of my biggest life-altering events. On one hand, I feel that, as tragic as it was to all of us, it also helped define who we all are today. On the other hand, I just wish she was here...even if that would mean I would be a weaker or less determined or less strong person. Her passing and then the continuation of life without her truly did make us all closer and stronger, that is without a doubt in my mind. However, sometimes strength, determination, and closeness is a tad overrated! I miss her!

Another Addendum....

2008-12-13T02:05:00.000-08:00

Well, the second screening went well. Our daughter dared to speak up even a little bit more, bringing her voice from a whisper to a soft speaking voice, still only answering to me though, never to the screener.

Some of her answers to the screener's questions:

Screener: "What is an umbrella?"
Her: "Um....for cleanin' up and puttin' away." *brilliant smile to me*

Screener: "What are boots?"
Her: "Shoes! For people!"

Screener: "What do you do when it starts to get dark outside?" *answer she was looking for was, "Turn on a light."*
Her: "Go inside."
Screener: "And what do you do inside the house when it starts to get dark?"
Her: "Go to bed!" *We do not encourage light usage in our house, apparently!!!*

Screener: "What is a candle?"
Her: "Mmmm, I don't know." *looking right at a couple of them that were sitting on the table in front of her. She knows very well what a candle is, I think she was overthinking these questions just a tad...just wasn't sure how to explain exactly what a candle is.*

The screener had to go back to her office and score the testing results but felt that our 4 y.o. almost certainly didn't qualify for the early childhood preschool intervention. I guess that's okay since that means that academically she probably won't struggle once she does start school as long as we somehow get her more comfortable in a group setting. I personally think she will do fine once I saw how much she warmed up during the at-home screening process. We will just have to make sure to either enroll her in a very parttime preschool program or enroll all of us at-homers next year into some community ed classes geared for her age.

Addendum to the "Pick!" Story (yesterday's post)

2008-12-11T02:12:00.000-08:00

I guess I didn't give all the details and maybe should have about the preschool screening.

The reason they had our 4 y.o. do her preschool screening at home then, after two attempts at screening her at school was that, although she passed the screening on the second shot, she barely passed due to her not daring to do some of the physical stuff and then not answering some of the questions. The screener thought that she could possibly benefit from one more screening, since she was pretty sure that our daughter was pretty bright but still thought maybe she could qualify for the school funded preschool, just to get her on track socially so she wouldn't lose ground in kindergarden. I know that our third daughter really lost a lot of ground in kindergarden and first grade due to shyness and now in third grade is finally catching up and beginning to seem like she is reaching near her full potential.

The screener at the school had asked if we had planned on enrolling our 4 y.o. in preschool next year and I told her that we actually had. We've never had any of our kids in preschool before for multiple reasons but in this case I felt that it is almost dire that she gets used to the group/school environment before kindergarden. In a lot of ways, I don't want her in preschool but think that if we could have her in just for a couple hours a few times a week, she would greatly benefit from it.

She did, by the way, do much better at home after she warmed up. She started out whispering very, very quietly in my ear but after a while of "playing" with the blocks, paper, coins, etc., she started whispering a little louder in my ear...finally to the point that the screener could hear her without me having to repeat everything she said. The screener is coming back on Thursday since she didn't finish the screening before our other kids came from school but she was very impressed and said it was fun to screen a child that did so well. I'm happy she did well so far but on one hand, wouldn't have minded if she hadn't since she could then possibly qualify for the preschool that they have right in the school system (in the kindergarden building, as a matter of fact). For one thing, it builds right into the school curriculum, and for another, it would have been free! Gotta love free!!!

What Do You Do With....?

2008-12-10T01:31:00.000-08:00

Our 4 y.o., yes, this 4 y.o., can actually be quite shy!

Doesn't appear to be the shy type in this photo, but we had her go through preschool screening twice and she wouldn't answer anything except in a very, very small, quiet whisper and only to me, in my ear, in a very tickley kind of way!!!

Because of this, at the second screening, although they gave her credit for answering to me, then me saying the answer out loud and she passed, they decided to do an in-home screening to see if she would be more comfortable in her comfort zone-at home.

On the morning of her screening, after I got home from work, I remembered that I hadn't finished her paperwork for this screening. I looked over all the forms, finished the few things I had left, and then noticed a 300 question questionaire that had to still be completed. In that questionaire, there were areas such as, "Does your child know how to recite the complete alphabet?" and "Can your child name at least three colors?" and "Can your child count at least up to 10?" then a little later, "Can your child count at least up to 15?" then a little later, "Can your child count at least up to 20?" Then, "Can your child dress independently?" "Can your child dress independently and button up a button-up shirt or sweater?" "Can your child hop on one foot?" "...hop on one foot at least three hops?" "...stand on one foot without assistance?" I would many times just look at a question and just go, "Huh? Didn't they just ask me that?" I mean, how many combinations can one think of that has to do with one foot???

Okay, moving onward. At one point, they asked, "Is your child able to tell you what certain body parts do when asked, such as what he/she does with his/her eyes, ears, nose, etc.?" Does she ever!!! Me: "Um, what do your eyes do?" Her: "Roll!" Me: "What do your ears do?" Her: triumphantly and confidently, "Wiggle!" Me: smirking at this point "What does your nose do?" Her: "Umm, what does yours do?" I paused for a minute, then thought, "I suppose I should ask it how they worded it. Although it does seem more unclear to me...for a 4 y.o." Me: "Okay, what do you do with your eyes?" Her: "See!" Me: "What do you do with your ears?" Her: "Listen!" Me: "What do your do with your nose?" Her: ".....mmm....Pick!"

I couldn't help it, I just snorted out with a tiny burst of laughter and quickly tried to mask it with a snuffle and cough. She didn't like it. "Don't laugh!" she reprimanded. I tried to lamely say I was laughing at the next question, which was very funny. I don't think she bought it!

All About "The Bats and The Hornets" or Was It "The Birds and the Bees"?

2008-12-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

"Mom. Is S-P-X a swear word???" Me: "S-P-X?" Her: "Yes." Me: "Nooo..." Her: "So, 'sex' isn't a swear word?" Me: "Oh. s-e-x. Um, no, it's not really a swear word. It's just one of those words we don't really need to have discussions about at this age." Her: "'Cause I read something about, "..dog's sex..." Me...and 12 y.o.: "Oh...in that sense it's gender. Like, is it a boy or a girl."

Later. Her: "Mom. Holli told me that 'sex' is a swear word." *Back to that again* Me: "Well, there is another meaning to that word that I will have to...uhhh...try to figure out at some time how to explain to you. But you really don't need to know much about that meaning quite yet!"

Oh these enlightening conversations you're never quite prepared for!

The Month (whoa, was it a MONTH?) In Review

2008-11-26T02:52:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh, it was a nice break actually. First, when I decided to take a break to hammer down already and get my nursing continuing education credits done, I thought I would have severe withdrawals from blogging. I didn't. It actually was kinda nice. I took a break entirely for a little bit and tried real hard to get my courses done. Then, I snuck into my favorite blogs and just lurked around. I read them quietly and just as furtively snuck out. Then after a bit longer, I commented on a few as well as lurking on the regulars. What I noticed is that I was just ready for a hermit's life for a little bit.

Well, I got all my credits done as of a few nights ago. Here are some of our month's shots. I have pictures in various places so I have a few more posts worth of pics.

Relaxing, yet hair-raising. That was our month.

Baby's favorite place as of late: the Kitchen!!!

HEY! What do you think you're doing?

Oooops! Busted!

Hang on a minute! Here. Have some. It's delicious!

One of the girls dressed her up as "Christmas Baby". She was dazzling!

My little poser (one of them).

Remember my post from about a year ago? The one about this little lovey crying and crying and crying? This one.

Well, this little girl is so good natured. She doesn't cry that much anymore. Now I can say, "See this little girl? She smiles and smiles and smiles." She's a charmer!

JUNIE B. JONES HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING!

(Ummm, I'm not sure where she learned to pose like this. I think she just makes it up as she goes...you would see what I mean if you watched her posing for pictures. She just kinda...acts...or flounces around like she always does in her little life, with a few crossed arms thrown in for good measure. I think her oldest sister, the photog that she is, taught her to cross her arms for some pics and she hung on to that tip!)

And in her dressier dress-up dresses:

Big Sis joins in the dress-up fun:

Our latest charge. These two 4 y.o.'s are so much alike. They get along pretty well. And when they don't, they are very equally versed in their bickering. They even bicker alike. We babysit this young lady now, and when we aren't babysitting her, we still enjoy her and her cousin's company several times a week.

Our activities as of late. The older sister of the 4 y.o. asked me tonight, when she saw all the bags of food and treats after I came home from the grocery store, "Are you having a party over here for the girls tonight?" I just told her, "Every day is a party over here when I'm pregnant! I looove eggnog, and mint M&M's, and gingerbread cookies, and chips with chili and cheese...." She just laughed! The kids are loving it! And I'm gaining weight a bit more than my last few pregnancies! :) Here, we had just finished supper of rotisserie chicken, bread, chili with cheese, chips, and eggnog. The girls are decorating their sugar cookies for dessert.

Umm, A-hem! Still Plugging Along!!!

2008-11-11T04:28:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe how hard it is to get these credits done! It definitely is much more challenging to stay awake and focused when trying to complete courses (as stimulating as they are) than blog surfing and posting!!!

My hubby and I got in a mini-honeymoon last weekend, from Thursday to Sunday! Heavenly!!! I've got pics to post from then and otherwise but I just re-peeled my eyeballs open from reading all about Congestive Heart Failure and lots and lots about treatment of it and such. YAWN!!! It sure is interesting though! Just wish I could somehow convince these eyes of that fact!

Okay, later!

Time For a Mandatory Break!

2008-10-27T03:42:00.000-07:00

Well, due to so many other more boring (but essential and necessary) life obligations, I've decided to put myself on Mandatory Hiatus...just for as long as it takes. Aside from checking and publishing comments, I am not going to post any new posts until I get some other things done. For one thing, I have to complete 24 CEU's (Continuing Education Units) by November 30th to keep up my RN licence. Then there's a self-evalution for work since I just passed another anniversary at work and will not get a raise until I get that completed and back in the office. Then there are a few other, more mundane but just as necessary tasks I must face and conquer already so they can rest in peace in my mind!

So, if any of you see me trying to sneak back in and post anything, slap my fingers please! I'm trying to be very responsible here but if I don't have anyone keeping me in line, I may just continue to choose the path of least resistance, not to mention the path of more fun.

I will be back very soon. If I stick to my guns, I should be done in a few days or by the end of the week!

Photo Story Friday: Blogging Bliss!

2008-10-25T03:31:00.000-07:00

They start younger and younger, don't they? Computers have become a central part of everyone's lives...even for preschoolers and babies!

These are "kids' computers," my 4 y.o. informed me, as she invited her baby sister to join her. It sure didn't take any coaching for our 14 month old to know just what to do!

What a Fine Day!

2008-10-23T01:32:00.000-07:00

Today an old childhood friend came to visit. And by "old", I don't mean old! She's younger than me! She is due to have a baby any day now and came for one more visit before being a mom to two. And what a delightful visit we had!

First, a little story to go with it. Several days ago, my 4 y.o. asked me, "Why do you go to work, Mom? Why do you need to take care of *Michael?" I said, "Well, most dads and some moms go to work to help get money so we can buy food to eat and gas for our car and van and buy clothes for all of us...." K (4 y.o.): "And treats? And presents?" Me: "Yes." K: "Does Michael give you money?" Me: "No...someone else pays me money when I go take care of Michael." K: "Who gives you the money?" Me: "*Allie pays me for doing my job." (Allie is the owner of the home care agency I work for) So for a few conversations following this one, K has asked, when my husband and I have been discussing payday or something work-related, "Did Allie give you money?" Me: "Yup!"

Now, yesterday, when I mentioned to the girls that my friend, *Allie (same name, different person) was coming to visit, K's face just lit up and she asked, with a big grin on her face, "Allie's coming to visit?" Me: after realizing what she was thinking (Allie=money=treats and presents) "Not that Allie!" K: "Oh."

So, anyway, my sister and her daughter were over as well and we all had such of a nice time catching up. We don't get to see each other very often so when we do, it's hard to fit it all in...even several hours almost doesn't suffice!

I am still grinning tonight, thinking about being able to have such of a nice visit today! It was just a fine day!!!

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent, non-suspecting targets of this post!

WordFUL (and PictureFUL) Wednesday: Happy Birthday (Belatedly)!

2008-10-22T04:14:00.000-07:00

Hosted by:

Here is my 3rd born lovey! I missed blogging on or around her birthday because it was just so busy I couldn't think, let alone blog. We had a fabulous day!

The festivities began with an outdoor activity: Toilet Paper Fashion. Two lovely ladies were dressed in toilet paper by their team in competition to see who could make a more fashionably dressed model. It was a toss-up. They both looked mighty fine. One (on the left) was complete with a big lady chest and all! Quite creative and quite clear to me who was on her team. My #3 daughter and her very creative friend!

Then Pin the Tail on the Donkey!

All festivities were led by our two oldest daughters and our oldest daughter's friend.

This ended up being sort of a double birthday party since our #4 daughter didn't get to have a friends-only party for the last two years. Last year I had a baby the day before her birthday and this year since my niece got married the weekend of her birthday, we had a joint birthday cake with her baby sister and had family over. She has close cousin friends, so she wasn't lacking for friends at the party, but the Actual Birthday Girl thought she needed also to have a party complete with birthday games and all, so I let her invite a few of her friends as well. She mostly invited younger sisters of the original party attenders.

Here are most of the treat bags. Each of the party-goers decorated their own bags that then were filled with goodies from the pinata and prizes from games.

Here's the pinata! After looking at pinatas at Walmart for $17 to $20-something, I decided to make my own. We fit a lot more candy in it and it was just as tough to break, although I did try to make it a little easier to bust through! It was in the shape of a birthday gift, wrapped in wrapping paper and ribbon.

Instead of making a big cake, I oftentimes make cupcakes for the kids to decorate. Sometimes I make a main cake and make cupcakes on the side for decorating purposes. Because we ended up with extra guests (new neighbors that had just moved in and are the same ages of about 4 of our kids that were kind of hanging around outside watching the activity going on in our yard), I made all the cake batter into cupcakes. They were made at different rates and I was busy divvying up pinata candies, so I didn't get a picture of all the decorated cupcakes at once.

Then, our last activity before opening gifts was a yarn and stick creation that in Highlight's magazine was called, "God's Eye". ????...Didn't think it really resembled anyone's eye, but it was really pretty, in fall colored multi-colored yarn, and the girls had fun making them. This was the first time I had such of an activity-filled agenda but with this many kids I figured it was the only way to keep peace and some semblence of structure and maybe some assurance to not losing any kids to the neighbor's "woods" (a patch of really nice trees about 200 yards wide and maybe 10 yards deep).

The final verdict on the party by the Actual Birthday Girl: "It was my best birthday ever!" The final verdict of the September Birthday Girl: "It was great but last year was better!" Me, to self, and also to her by way of my lifted eyebrows and look of, "Hah?" Last year we had a cake in the hospital since I had just had the baby the day before. We were so lucky we caught my oldest sister before she came to the hospital and asked her if she would bring her oldest daughter to be our daughter's birthday guest. I was sure she felt a little short-changed since she didn't get the invite-as-many-friends-as-Mom-will-allow (which is usually not that many)-and-run-around-whooping-it-up-at-home type of party. Her answer to my perplexed look, "Last year I got a baby sister for a present!" So much for worrying that she was lacking for parties the last two years!

*We, by the way, have four birthdays within about 3 1/2 weeks from first birthday to last. Only one more party to go! Yippee!!! I'm decidedly not the biggest party fan but when all is said and done, it usually goes quite well. I'm not below bribing in forfeiture of a party for a little nicer, more yearned for gift that the birthday child otherwise wouldn't have had a hope of getting otherwise. So now I'm quite satisfied with myself that I actually squelched the urge to bribe away this season's parties. Next year I may have to with a new baby coming along!*

See This Here Girl?

2008-10-20T01:50:00.000-07:00

This one, who dotes on her little sisters and showers them with attention?

This young lady, who still knows how to have a great time with her sisters and will help them set up a nice, creative place to curl up without making fun of their choice of retreats?

Who loves to pal around with friends and have a good time?

Our firstborn daughter is a creative, helpful, kind, sensitive, intelligent, artistic, musical, fun-loving, deep individual who just got rave reviews at her conferences last week as well.

She has embraced this middle school thing like a champion...loves it, as a matter of fact...and, to her teachers, it sounds like it shows! They told us some really fun things to hear as parents, such as, she's always on top of things, very organized, ready to go when class starts, sometimes a little quiet for some classes, for other classes she is a little more vocal, although not too much. They report that she is very responsible, mature, happy, comfortable with her new school situation, where sometimes when kids start middle school with all the class changes, going from class to class, keeping track of everything can be a bit too overwhelming, for her it's been almost refreshing.

All the way from Science to Math, from Language Arts (fancy name for English) to Keyboarding, Phy-Ed to Choir, Band to Social Studies....they all said the same thing. "She is just a joy to have in class. I wish I had a class full of students like her. She is very positive. A good role model to other students..." We both left conferences feeling so happy to know that she is at school like she is at home, she is a joy to be around!

Happy Birthday my dear girl!!! I am so happy to be your mom!

(One of the first days of Middle School)

(Baby bonding)

(Mother's Day '08, she masterminded a very special Mother's Day lunch/dinner. With very little assistance from her dad, she made a very good tatertot hotdish. Then she decorated the dining room so nicely, complete with name tags for each person, she designed a beautiful "M" card and a heartfelt and heart-warming card for me. It was truly a special day!)

Hmmm, Interesting!

2008-10-14T04:36:00.001-07:00

Check this out! A couple in Cambodia decided to split and as part of the settlement, the husband insisted that they cut the house in half. He proceeded to, with the assistance of his relatives, take the house, bit by bit, away.

Toddler Tales....

2008-10-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

...and animal tails.

One day I noticed piles and piles...and piles...of toilet paper overflowing out of the trash can in the bathroom and onto the floor. Being in a household of overly creative young ladies, I kind of paused and quickly concluded a little, "Whatever!..?..!"

The next day my sister asked me, "Oh, by the way, did you by any chance notice, uh, a little excessive amounts of toilet paper in the bathroom?" I said, "Yeah...!" She said, "Your little K (4 y.o....I guess technically I should say preschooler tales then, right?...doesn't sound the same though) was entertaining me yesterday. She had been sitting on the toilet and I was out here waiting for her to get done when suddenly she came out and asked me if I would like to see a horsey tail. I told her, 'Sure!'. She turned around and had toilet paper wedged between her little cheeks and a string of toilet paper dangling all the way down to the floor. She waltzed back into the bathroom and then reemerged, asking, 'Becky, do you want to see a cow's tail?' and proceeded to turn and show me a little shorter tail between her cheeks. Then she came out with a doggie's tail, then a kitty's tail, and on and on. The best one was when she came out with a rabbit's tail." I asked Becky, "So, did the tails look any different or were they all just toilet paper wedged in randomly?" Becky said, "No, they all were different, they actually looked very similar to the real deal! But the best one was the bunny's tail. She had this huge wad of toilet paper all bunched up, wedged in those little cheeks of hers. It looked so funny 'cause the wad was almost as big as her bottom...her rear is just so teeny-tiny! And I could see, it was clearly a bunny's tail, all a big round bunched up wad of t.p."

Another day, when Becky's daughters were babysitting in her place: K, sitting in the bathroom, the place where all intellectual, thought-provoking ideas are born, asked one of the girls, "Umm, do you think God gets sad when we pick our boogers?" My niece, "Um, what?" K, "Do you think it makes God sad when we pick our boogers?" My niece, "I don't think so!" K, "Oh."

And yesterday, "Why do you think God made me a girl?" Me: "Mmm, 'cause he thinks you make such of a good girl." K, "But I wanna be a boy!!!" Me: "Oh, I know. 'Cause guess what?" K: "What?" Me: "I used to want to be a boy too...Until I was about H's age. Then guess what happened!" K: "Hm?" Me: "Then I was so happy to be a girl and I've always been so glad I'm a girl ever since then. Being a girl can be just so much fun!" My hubby: "So, tell me, why do you want to be a boy? Is it 'cause we boys have SO much fun?" One of the other girls had walked by right about then and corrected him, "You're not a boy, Dad! You're too old!" K, about the same time said, "Mmm, I don't want to be a boy now. Now I'm happy I'm a girl!"

Last night, K: "Can we go to God's house sometime?" Me: "Well yes, tomorrow we will go. When we go to church, we are in God's house." K: "Well, where is God then? I don't see him there." Me: "Ummm, well, that's cause church is only one of God's houses. He lives in the one in heaven. Heaven is God's house where he lives...that's where we want to go when we die. Then we'll get to see him."

Later last night, as we were just settling down for a bonfire with my hubby's brother and his daughter, one of the very observant kids noticed very distant flashes of lightening. She mentioned it to me and I let it go in one ear and out the other, since I hadn't noticed anything and thought that she must have seen some lights from something else. Not too long after that, I did notice little flashes of lightening and then we heard very distant rumbles of thunder. Miss 4 y.o., K, said, "Mom! We need to go in. Now! There is lightening and thunder! We are all gonna die if we don't go in!" Me, thinking, "Huh? How does she make the connection? And...what if she's having a premonition or something?" I closely scrutinized her face and saw she was very serious and glancing nervously at the sky. I told her, "Let's keep an eye on it and we'll go in if it lightens more...maybe we can even go just into the garage!" I was instantly onto the topic at hand with my hubby and his brother. Moments later, I noticed K scouting around on the driveway, eyes skyward. She was back in seconds with her information, "Um, Mom? I kept my eyes on it and saw more. Now can we go in? I'm scared we're going to be hit by lightening and die!" I said, "Okay, tell you what. Let me wait for my brat to get done, then I will come sit in the garage with you. Okay?" Next thing I know, I hear, "Mom? Is your brat done? Come in the garage with me." I look toward the garage and there she was, up in the furthest corner of the garage, with her little director's chair, waiting for me to join her. She looked so tiny way in there by herself. Poor dear, feeling so vulnerable. I went in and she promptly said, "Sit by me!" *Ummm, far as I can tell, there is no other choice, Babe. You're the only one in here! I'll be sitting by you!*

This is life with her...she is just constantly spouting out these profound thoughts or just cultivating her Dad's dry, hilarious sense of humor in herself. It is just so fun when their little personalities just take off like that!

WordFULL Wednesday: Testing, Testing...1,2,3...

2008-10-07T22:52:00.000-07:00

Cecily at My Choas, My Bliss again has far surpassed photographic finesse in her Wordful Wednesday post, hosted by Angie at Seven Clown Circus.

*I did it! I did it! It suddenly dawned on me as I was wishing I could just get this linky/hyper-linky thing. It is just as everyone said, you type in what post name or blog you want to feature or bring to attention, then hyperlink it to the ....HTML code....or something. As in, you type in the name you want to appear on your post, don't just hyperlink it and hope the consarned computer is going to figure the name out and fill it in for you!

This big lightbulb just went off and completed the synpasis between nerve endings in my brain that before this, just kept shorting on me! So to test my brilliance, I decided to try my hand at linking to this post I had just read and was moved by.*

Back to Cecily at My Choas, My Bliss. I have been so impressed with her photography, as I have been by several others'. Somehow, this picture of her darling daughter just impressed me beyond impressed. In addition to its superior photographic quality in its black & white beauty, it also captured the sentiment of the moment perfectly. You would have to also read another of her posts to understand the "back in the saddle" reference.

*now, to go back to my "Tagged and Awarded!" post and fix my prior ineptness (notice how I said, "prior ineptness"? As in, inept no more?)! Wheeee!*

TC 10 Mile Run Today...

2008-10-06T00:28:00.000-07:00

This is the banner for this year's event. I was drawn to run this year (it is a lottery-style drawing, so there is never any guarantee that you will run if you sign up). I had actually heard that although so many had signed up of my acquaintances, only two of us were fortunate enough to get drawn.

This is me, ecstatically running in the 2006 TC 10. I had never run an organized run before and couldn't have imagined how neat of an experience I would have. There was such energy to run in a huge crowd like that.

I am in this picture somewhere, crossing the finish line.

Last year I was pregnant and due to have a baby in November so I couldn't sign up. I actually had my baby in September, about a week or so before the run. I was so excited I got picked this year since I couldn't run it last year!

I had been training for this run and had reached my seven mile mark already. I went to the doctor just about 1 1/2 weeks before the run. I confirmed that day that I am pregnant, now just over 9 weeks. My doctor expressed great concern over my running in the TC10. He said that running that long keeps your heart rate above the recommended 140 bpm or less for exercise during pregnancy.

I did not run in the race today. It was hard. I went to the health expo anyway last night. I picked up my packet. I got my race number. I got all the little goodies that come with it. I had paid for it already. I also had paid for a pasta dinner for my whole family. We decided to still go to that. It was paid for and we always can stand for a family date. However, our van had a flat tire so we took the car and our two "middle" girls. It was fun. It helped me get over the fact I couldn't run today.

As an added consolation, I went up north to my niece's and her new husband's home. They had their gift opening today. I went for a 2-3 mile run up there to feel like I got my run in today anyway. My doctor said to go ahead with these runs since I've always run that distance and my body's used to it.

I'm okay with it now. I am actually able to really look at the big picture: we will have a new baby to add to our little family. I'm due May 9th. Whew, finally our 2nd daughter will have a spring companion for a birthday. All the other kids are clustered from August to October.

There will be many, many more runs. I am planning to run until I'm at least 90 years old. I can't have babies too many more years, but I can always run for years to come.

Tagged and Awarded!

2008-10-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

*Okay, big old fat disclaimer here: I am NOT responsible for the complete computer ineptness my brain possesses. If anyone would be so kind as to tell me how to copy these cute buttons (I think that's what they are called)...and disregard #3 of my random facts about myself because I now see it is just not true, I would greatly appreciate it. Eventually #3 will be true, so I will just leave it there for good luck!*

Tiaras and Tantrums tagged me with this:

TAG YOU'RE IT MEME

RULES, because you know these tags always have rules . . .

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Okay, here are 7 facts about myself:

1. I have a hard time knowing when to stop pushing myself. Example of this: about 1 1/2 weeks ago I ran 7 miles. I hadn't been training up to it as well as I should have but by bare minimum standards, was up to the run. I ran continuously until I had only a mile left, then had to stop for a traffic light. To make sure that my heart rate didn't drop too fast, I paced back and forth, waiting for the walk light. I noticed I couldn't walk straight to save my life, I was weaving and almost tipping over. Although I've never been drunk in my life, I imagined this was the challenge a highly intoxicated person must face when trying to walk. As soon as the light changed, I continued to run since I hadn't had any problems keeping a straight line while running. Later, I excitedly told everyone that knew I was training for a 10 mile run that I did 7 miles just fine and felt great afterward. Because I didn't pass out at the time, I didn't give it another thought. Only after a doctor's appointment later that week for a totally unrelated issue did it dawn on me that that may have been some indication that my body just wasn't up to that length of a run......for reasons I will get into in another post.

2. I come from a family of 11 kids...I am number 8. Trying to figure out the birth order thing since I never really see it explaining birth order past 3rd child...would be nice to know what I'm supposed to turn out like! :) Just kidding. Not too concerned at all but a birth order post I recently read at Octamom's blog (here's the post) made me chuckle and wonder, "Where, exactly, do the rest of us fit in?"

3. I just figured out this linky/hyperlinky thing and am quite pleased!!! It's a huge accomplishment for me!

4. I have a first degree black belt in karate and am/was hoping test out for my second degree this December....more about this in another post soon. I love it!

5. In the recent years, I've begun to realize that a void that was left with the death of my mother has begun to be filled by mothering my own kids.

6. In some ways I am very self-disciplined (I can get myself into a quite rigid running and eating schedule when I put my mind to it, for one example) but very non-disciplined in others (I can drink coffee like water....or usually I can....more on that topic in another post...soon, and eat chocolate until I'm nearly sick. I'm at their mercy!)

7. I just LOVE hanging out and shooting the breeze with my little family. Nothing beats my hubby and the kids teasing back and forth, the decibal level reaching the roof with cackles and story-telling, discussing random things like math problems, weird history and other little-known facts my husband has tucked away in that big cavernous brain of his...

I tag the following:

http://liveinthebadlands.blogspot.com/

http://angiescircus.blogspot.com/

http://imbeingheldhostage.blogspot.com/

http://little-but-loud.blogspot.com/

http://ladolcevitathesweetlifewiththreesons.blogspot.com/

http://www.octamom.com/

http://mychaosmybliss.blogspot.com/

http://houseofdanes.blogspot.com/

http://shutterbugsandbutterflies.blogspot.com/

Of course, if you've been tagged to death and can't stand the thought of doing another, that is truly okay. Anyone else wanting to participate, consider yourself tagged because it's fun to learn more about everyone!

PROXIMADE!

Bestowed upon by Tiaras and Tantrums:

To translate the gift from Portuguese to English, it means: "This blog invests and believes, the proximity"[meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' -being close through proxy]Post this if/when you award this to others:

"They all are charmed with the blogs, where in the majority of its aims are to show the marvels and friendship; they are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize, and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut or that they propagate?"

Then let's try to give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to 8 bloggers that in turn must make the same thing and put this text.

http://imbeingheldhostage.blogspot.com/

http://angiescircus.blogspot.com/

http://liveinthebadlands.blogspot.com/

http://mychaosmybliss.blogspot.com/

http://ladolcevitathesweetlifewiththreesons.blogspot.com/

http://little-but-loud.blogspot.com/

http://houseofdanes.blogspot.com/

http://shutterbugsandbutterflies.blogspot.com/

http://www.octamom.com/

*I know that I tagged a few more than I was supposed to but the more the merrier, I like to say!

Thank You Letters

2008-10-02T03:51:00.000-07:00

I know that I am belatedly writing my thank you letters...the contest over In The Gutter is over. However, since I had already fizzled a few brain cells thinking about the narrowing down process, since I have so many I could thank, I felt it only appropriate that I complete the circle and actually write the letters I had intended to.

Dear Sisters;

First, I want to thank you all for being my best friends. We've gone through a lot together and we're all a lot closer for it. I'll never forget the day Mom died, as friends and neighbors gathered downstairs to bring their comfort and grieve (quite loudly at that..as an eight-year-old, it actually spooked me a bit) with Dad, we gathered upstairs, circling our wagon, pulling in tight to plan our future without Mom. We were all too young to be without Mom, but we knew we had no choice. The household would be ours to run and we weren't going to be caught unprepared. Job lists were discussed and tentatively prepared, then fine-tuned as we went until we had a system that ran smoothly. We followed this for the next eight years.

K, You were only 15 and too young to be a mom...especially a mom to seven younger siblings (and take care of laundry and meals for 3 older siblings). You knew that. We knew that. Sometimes your directions were met with some resistance. I know it had to have been hard for you, but you did it. You took over laundry for twelve people, meals for the same....you did delegate many parts of these tasks, such as hanging loads to dry on the line, taking them off, folding and putting away. You made sure though that the laundry was always done, hot meals were always a part of our menu, and so many of Mom's special ways and traditions were followed. You did a great job and still do. I still call you so many times for a certain recipe, to share big news, or just to reconnect with you, which just gives me a good feeling of security...you are always that nurturing big sister!

Jo, You also ran a lot of the main, essential tasks. You made many meals. You were the head planner of piano sing-a-longs and game nights. The boys loved to tease you because you made it just so fun to tease...you were (and still are) full of life, laughter, and love. You were always the one to lead the rest of us into destinations unknown. You were the first to leave the country for a year, nannying in Finland after high school. Remember the $1.46/min. phone calls we made, all of us timed for about 5 minute increments in those infrequent calls we made you? And the packages and letters we sent back and forth, snail mail? Then, on to the big Twin Cities, then college. Because you made it seem less formidable, one by one, we all followed when our time came to leave home. We still are such good friends and call almost every day. Being in the same stage in life, we have a real good comraderie and can toss ideas back and forth from mothering to kid illnesses, from pregnancy woes to business ideas.

Ja, You taught me about all the girl things I needed to know. One day, you informed me that I do need to wash my hair more often than just our once a week, Saturday sauna night. When I resisted, you told me that if I don't take care of myself and my hair, I need to get it cut short (I was laboriously growing it out). You told me pick a day during the week to wash it. I picked Tuesday. You enforced it. You pulled me aside one day and asked if I knew anything about periods. I said no. You told me all about them and what I will need when that inevitable day arrives. You told me that the rest of you girls had gotten yours close to the age of 14. I'll never forget the shock when that day came that I got my period and I was only 12. But, thanks to you, I was prepared. You taught me a love of dressing nicely (...eventually. I was a hideous, stinky tomboy until I started to develop. Maybe God knew I needed a jumpstart on development so I would begin to practice a little better hygiene and fashion consciousness), the love of smelling good with good old fashion deodorant and, eventually, perfume. I strove to dress like you, do my hair like you, smell like you. You were my role model. I even admired your career choice as an adult and followed your footsteps to nursing school.

B, We were close enough in age that we began our friendship in some pretty good spats and squabbles. That didn't last. When we became good friends, it's never gone back. We've probably never had a cross word since I was in Junior High and you were in High School. It could have been even earlier than that, but I know since we began hanging out together, we've always gotten along and been very, very close. You started your family before me and let me haul your kids all over creation...you must have been very trusting! :) Then, eight months after you had your last baby, I had my first. Every time I have an absolutely life-shaking, earth-shattering, traumatizing (at least in my opinion) event with one of my kids, I call you and you are SO calm. Your response is usually, "Well, she sounds like a normal kid. I remember when so-and-so was little, she used to do that. It didn't last long. I would just....." and then you would give me ideas on how to deal with it. I would try it and lo-and-behold, it worked! You've pulled me out of the rafters (of panic) more than once! Now when you've been taking care of the two little girls (and the others before they get on the bus in the morning), we've all been basking in our extra time with you!

G, You were always my little buddy when we were growing up. I always remember when I finally got my own room at home, I still didn't like sleeping in there by myself so very often I would let you and Ka take turns (or together) come crash out in my room. You so bravely came to visit me in Finland when I was there for a year. You were only sixteen and for how so very shy you were, I was so impressed that you travelled there all by yourself. I had the best time toting you around there, showing you all my friends, running around Helsinki and the train stations, even at night. That was such of a safe time there that, as long as you could weave through the streets of partying drunk people on Friday and Saturday nights, you were fine. Now you're in the midst of motherhood yourself, with your teeny brood. Our similarities in life are coming together more and I've been really enjoying the time we've been able to visit and swap mom stories now. You're still the sweet person you've always been and I truly enjoy that.

Ka, As the baby of the family, you were just this innocent little gem. Although you were quite spoiled by all of us, it never spoiled your demeanor or personality. You were always such of a generous child. Every Christmas and birthday, everyone could always count on a gift from you. Never mind the fact that usually it was a recycled gift...I remember once getting someone else's book wrapped up and so lovingly given to me. My 4 y.o., your namesake, actually had a very similar personality to yours. Now, even as an adult, you are just a joy to be with. I love when you call me during your "down time" and we can just each grab a cup of coffee, sit down, and yak until it's time for one of us to go tend to kids again. Our friendship has been very valuable to me and as your life too is becoming increasingly more like mine (with your three in the same age range as my youngest two) we have more and more in common again.

Without my sisters, I wouldn't be who I am today. For that I thank you all.

Love, Darla

To my loving husband,

I thank you so much for being who you are and allowing me to be who I am. With your acceptance of who I am and encouragement to strive to who I need to be, I have bloomed twenty-times the person I was when I married you. Anytime I decide to pursue anything, you are so encouraging. You believe in me and have such confidence in what I chose to pursue that I derive confidence from it as well. My success had so much to do with your faith in me. Because of all the situations I went through as a child (death of my mom for one and many others that I don't share with many), I was who I thought I should be. With your nurturing and encouragement, I've found a me I never knew existed.

I think we've had an exceptional relationship from the start. We've had our rougher patches...they seem to come though only every several years. They're not even that bad but definitely we're not as patient with each other and tend to bicker a little more. Then when we get through them, we become even closer than I ever imagined we could be.

Your patience for me to work through some of the post-childhood issues has been so second nature that I don't even think you realize what you have done to effortlessly help me move through that phase. It has been so smooth, outwardly no one else would even realize I was working through anything. On one hand, I use my running and karate to physically reground myself. However, it's not always as simple as that. A run or workout might not totally cut it. You know me well enough that you can sense that I need a little extra distance or "me" time without me even having to say it. In fact, it's such of an innate sense that you just kick in when you sense it, and make sure that if I'm going out to the store, for example, and get the usual onslaught of requests from the girls to come with (and you know I almost always take one or some or all of them), you just firmly tell them, "No, I think Mom needs to go by herself this time." And you're always right on!

I love you to death and love our time together. I hope we grow really, really old together. Thank you (and I thank God for you)!

Love, Darla

*I could write so many more thank you letters but I think that the others I would love to thank, I will or have posted about in a different form that basically says the same...that I love them, think the world of them, and am eternally grateful to have or have had them in my life.*

Wordful Wednesday: See This Girl?

2008-09-30T23:18:00.000-07:00

This girl is very nice. She makes friends wherever she goes, in her quiet, unassuming way. She's very helpful. I can always count on her to kick in when I ask for chores to be done...and she does a good, thorough job. Once she gets going, she can sometimes clean for a very long time, still cleaning long after the others have dropped out of sight. She loves dogs. She loves all animals. When the kids weren't caring for their dogs like they had committed to, and a threat was made to find a new home for at least one of them, she quickly volunteered to be the sole caretaker of the dogs, if only they can stay. She was true to her word. Eventually I decided that enough was enough and the other girls had to start helping again. She, however, was rewarded sole ownership of the Beagle, since she had proven herself to be a very responsible pet owner.

There is another very strong trait that she possesses that I know will serve her well someday...well, it already has. It just doesn't always serve me so very well. She. Is. PerSIStant. A master GRUMbler. When she decides she needs something, and I mean needs, there is. no. stopping her. Oh, I could go on and on and give you lists of times she's put her mind to wearing me down and does she ever succeed! It takes a long time sometimes but too often, she wins. She, for example, might say, "Ooh, I love this FurReal cat! Can I get it, Mom?" Me: "No! Did you notice the price tag? It's $40." Her: "I know. But I can earn it. I will give you all my money at home plus I will give you many hours of a backrub." Me: "No!" Her: "Um, Mom? Remember we haven't had my birthday party yet? Remember, you promised that I could pick one friend and go to Build-A-Bear instead of a party? How about I skip Build-A-Bear and have this instead?" Internal calculator kicks in, goes into high gear, and quickly surmises that this very well may be the cheaper route...as well as more simple. Me: "No party then at all?" Her: "No party, at all." Me: "Sold!" See? She won! But I did too!

Here's another good one: "Mom. Did you see this coupon for Highlights magazine? Do you think you could order it for me? It's really educational. It has good articles and many fun puzzles." Me: "No." Her: "Well, remember that money I earned this summer? How much do I have again? I would have enough to pay for this, wouldn't I?" Me: "Well...yeah, but....um, I don't feel like going online right now and ordering it." Her: "I will go get the computer, set it up, get it to the site, then all you have to do is order it." Me: "I'm really tired. Maybe later." Her: "I'll give you an hour back rub if you will do it now." Me: "I don't have time for an hour one. How about a really good, diligent one for 15 minutes?" Her: "Yup!" Me: "Backrub first." Her: "No way, Mom! You know you will fall asleep before I get done. Then you'll NEVER order my Highlights magazine!" Me: "True. Go get the computer." See? She won, again! But, so did I. I got a free back rub (I usually pay them for 15 minute increments...just peanuts but it's change for them to ka-ching into their piggybanks).

Okay, so here's the latest story: See this girl? So nice and quiet looking, in a book-wormy sorta way?

See this bird?

This really beautiful parakeet?

Well, one day our lovely, nice, helpful daughter came home from her friend's house. She said, "Anna has a bird. It's name is Lucky. It is a parakeet. It is sooo cool! It mimics you. It flies around the house. It sits on your finger. It is sooooo cool. Can I get one?" Me: "No." Her: "Please? I have enough money!" Me: "I. don't. care!!!! A bird, as any pet, is a big responsiblity. You know that. We have a hard enough time getting the dogs cared for. What makes you think you'll take care of a bird? Plus, a bird would drive me crazy! Chirp, chirp, chirping all day long." Her: "Well, I am the one who always cares for the dogs without complaining. " (True...) "I would take care of it sooo well. You would never have to take care of it." Me: "NO!!!! Now stop." Her: Now begins the Stage 2: Operation Get What I Want. "Grumble, grumble, grumble...have money for it too...grumble, mumble....I really wanted it...whine, whine, mumble...not fair! I KNOW I would take care of it....mumble.." Funny thing is, she's not even talking to me. She is muttering to herself. But I can hear it. And it bugs me! Me: "STOP! That's enough! I do NOT want to hear that now!"

Fast forward a day: Same song. Same dance. Same routine.

Fast forward another day: Same song. Same dance. Same routine.

Fast forward another day, a week, another week: Same song. Same dance. Same routine.

*add in: Me: "Go ask your dad (first sign of weakening, although I wouldn't have admitted it then). See what he says." Her, later: "He says to ask you." Me: "Well, in that case, NO! (whew! Got my resolve back)"

Her: "When's the next time we would be going by the pet store?" and "Could we go for a little drive and swing by the pet store and..." Me: "NO!"

So, so many different tactics. See how she operates?*

Finally, one day, I caved. I decided to go check out birds when I was out near a pet store anyway. My husband joined me on his way home from work. We watched and read up on Finches. Nope. Not so social, they do better in a colony...we are NOT looking to adopt a colony. Parakeets: Only $5 more, social, clownish, can mimic...super long life expectancy....maybe not so good. Well, take a look here:

There they are. A girl and her parakeet. See? She won! But, guess what? I kinda like that bird. I actually like it a lot! So, it wasn't a total loss after all. And it was with her own money. And we've worked out a deal for her to earn money for future food and accessories she will continue to need (because she has finally completely exhausted her funds). She will be completely in charge of scooping dog poop so I don't need to worry about always assigning that gross task to someone. And she's okay with that.

All in all, I think that persistance will get her places...it already has. Mostly at my expense.

*Just a side note: She does truly lose too. I do know how to say no to her. And mean it. And stick to it. Just right now, I'm feeling her recent wins. However, it never, never is a total win just for her. We bargain. We bicker. We plot. We plan. And I make sure I always win too. Because I can. Because I hold the trump card (what is a trump card, anyway?) and know enough to use it. And oftentimes my win is bigger for me in the financial sense.*