A Day In the Life of Ernie

All Done

2008-11-18T15:19:00.000-08:00

I am discontinuing this blog. If you wanna follow along on my new one and haven't heard from me for the new address, shoot me an email!

In the Mood

2008-11-16T18:46:00.000-08:00

What the beak is up with this blog!? It won't let me post pictures anymore! JERKS! Ohh well. We had our first snow today and I had some cute pix of me and Mikie sledding. From the minute he got up he's been wanting to go outside to sled. So after we all took a MUCH needed nap, he and I headed out (Erk was home from deer hunting - nope, no bambi!). Jack is doing pretty good - I won't say better. He's at a sort of standstill, but is certainly a tough kid! He has this sad look on his face and you can just tell he's in pain, but he's pretty positive. He took a nap on the couch today which was good. The boys helped me with Christmas cards tonight too which was cute. I have pictures of that too, but I can't share them - again, blogger = jerks!

I hope this finds you well. I hear Erk and Jack snoring upstairs! I'm the only one up and I'm listening to Christmas music - I know, gag me, but what can I say? I'm in the mood!!

Locked Out

2008-11-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

Here and happy to report that the little dude with no tonsils is doing well. He did great in the night last night, slept like a champ. I woke him up every 4 hours (set my alarm) and had to turn the lights on so I wouldn't spill the medicine, but he'd fall right back to sleep. I think the 5:30am wake up meds are what woke Miss Mol up. That or Bean dog jumping off our bed (yep, she slept with Jack and I) and pacing the hallway before 6a. I finally got Molly up about 6:20a and we've been at it ever since. I had an underlying annoying feeling goin' on first thing this morning, but I know it was cause when days start really early like that, who knows where they'll go. But this day has been good - lots of tv and now Kung Fu Panda, but Mol took 2 naps today and Mikie and Jack are doing good. Jack has really impressed me - he has a great attitude and is handling the pain really well. He'll give me the thumbs down some of the time when I ask how he's doing, but typically it's a thumbs up.

Granny and Grampa stopped by earlier so that was a special treat. They brought both boys milkshakes :) They visited for a bit and I ran to church to drop off some stuff I made this morning for tomorrow's bake sale. Wouldn't you know, church was locked! So I dropped the bag of stuff to a friend at church and left her a message. Here's to hoping she gets it! Otherwise some birdies or racoons or someone is gonna have some tasty treats! I ended up making 3 kinds of Chex mix, Festive Spicy Apple, Muddy Buddies (also called Puppy Chow) and Cheesy Ranch. Mmm, they were all good :)

Well, I'd better go back in and watch the movie. Jack has been wanting me to cuddle today so I gotta take advantage while it lasts! Here's to hoping for another good night!

Today's Events

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Here are some pictures Jack snapped this morning:

2008-11-14T16:24:00.000-08:00

Alrighty then! I've tried to post some more pictures from this morning and it continues to tell me I've reached my quota! JERKS! Anywho, I will show ya the rest tomorrow perhaps. Ya get the overall idea though :) Jack is snoring here next to me (finally, he wanted the tv on and me to check out fun websites) and Molly finally quit fussing. Mikie already came in here and did the ol' "bad dream" ploy even though he wasn't in bed but 3 minutes and by NO means was he sleeping yet! Ahh, the life of Ernie... and this weekend - I'm a great big hunter's widow!

Doing Well

2008-11-14T13:19:00.001-08:00

Well, YIPEE. That's about the only word that comes to mind right now. Jack did TERRIFIC this morning, really a strong dude. He lost it when we got to our room and he was asked by the nurse to put his "gown" on, but he pulled it together. He thought the gown (pants and shirt with tigers all over it) was for babies! I thought perhaps that little episode would be what we were in for, and if it was, well than that was alright. But I was truly amazed. He perked up once he got a visit from our good friends who were there too (Ivan was getting his ear tubes taken out) and after that? He was in great spirits. We read the book we got from the library again ("Good-bye Tonsils") and the nurses came and went. The nursing staff there was wonderful by the way.

In no time, Jack was given a little cup of red medicine and within minutes he was talking silly and starting to lose his balance! Erk and I were cracking up at what all he was saying. Then they came to wheel him away. Wouldn't you know when given the choice, he wanted DADDY to take him to the OR, not ME? I wondered if maybe he'd change his mind as the morning wore on, but nope! Daddy it was :) That was really cute. So I gave him a hug and kiss and off they went - Erk all dressed up in a blue gown, hat and slippers. Erk was back to our room in no time and then headed to work for a few minutes. There I sat, texting on my phone, walking around the room with a big open spot where Jack's bed had been... Waiting... waiting... when finally the doc came in and said Jack did great. He said the tonsils were huge but the adenoid (sp?) was even bigger! He said Jack will breathe much easier now! Good deal. So then I was back to waiting. Waiting to hear when I could go see him. Doopy do...

A nurse comes in and turns down the lights and says "we'll make it a bit more relaxing in here for him, he's on his way," and in they wheeled him. He was visibly upset, dry heeving and crying. I felt so bad for him! The nurses were terrific, getting him a cold cloth, a pan to puke, etc. One of the dry heeves turned into actual blood and I must say, I was kinda freaked out! It was this huge GLOB! But instantly he was feeling better. He laid back but then got all upset again and wasn't making any sense. I climbed in bed with him and laid with him while he cried a few minutes, heeved again, then laid his head back and shut his eyes. He heard the movie come on (before the procedure he got to chose a movie to watch, he chose Monsters, Inc) and wide open his eyes sprung! I told him to go ahead and lay back and shut his eyes, that we could rewind the movie. So he did. And he slept and slept away. Erk got back with lunch from Taco Bell and we sat there and watched Jack sleep (and Erk tilted his chair back and shut his eyes).

It was approaching 1pm when I got some chapstick out and put it on his really super dry lips. That's when he woke up. He sat up and was white as a ghost but feeling MUCH better. He was talking fine, asking for something to drink, watching Monsters, Inc. and doing great. He had ice chips, some of Erk's diet pepsi and some ice water. Mom and Dad stopped up with Mousie and Mikie for a visit. That was really good - I'm sure it helped Mikie to see his big bro where he was to see it was a "big deal." I think between this hype of Jack's surgery and Molly walking, Mikie has felt lost in the shuffle! Anywho, we were released at 1:30p and I tell you what, this kid has been eating us outta house and home! We stopped on the way home and got him a milkshake at McD's, he's had yogurt, gatorade, ice cream, a popsicle! And he was still hungry! So I made him mac n cheese! He only had a little of that and was finally full :) That'll come in handy later when his appetite is in full swing again.

All of this to say, I'm thankful he's feeling so well - even playing on the floor for a while. I hope it continues, we'll see! I will be setting my alarm to get up in the night to make sure we stay on top of his pain meds! Thank you to all who prayed for our little man! Praise the Lord :)

PLEASANTLY surprised

2008-11-13T17:28:00.001-08:00

Good evening! This comes to you with very good, encouraging news! I am thankful to report that after seeing my Ear, Nose and Throat doc this evening at 5:15pm, that it looks like my hearing in the left ear will be fully restored. WOW!

I figured I'd get the doc to look in the ear and say, "yep, it's ruptured" and send me on my way. But I was pleasantly surprised. The nurse first took a peek and said "Umm WOW" then walked out to get the doc. I waited... waited... shifting my weight from one leg to the other (sitting down but leaning forward) and then he came in. He took a peek in my right ear and said there may be some fluid in there, but that the eardrum isn't bulging (it was in Iowa per the ER doc) and then before looking in the left ear, he was saying what he predicted he'd see in there. Sure enough, it was as he thought and across the hall we went where he and a nurse suctioned out the blood and goobers all stuck in my ear. It felt weird, tickled and scratched the itch I've been feeling in there for a few days now! At times it hurt, but heck, it was getting all the bad out! He told me that I still have blood behind the eardrum and that it's still bulging (and some fluid remains in there) but that he wanted to do a hearing test to determine if there is any nerve damage. Ohh and he said he could see where the hole was where it ruptured.

So down the hall I went and had my hearing tested and the woman doing the test said afterwards, "boy, you sure can't hear outta that left one, can ya? I kept turning the volume up and up!" Yep, you're telling me! So after talking to ENT doc again, he told me the results don't indicate permanent hearing loss (PRAISE THE LORD). He prescribed some steriods for me to take to help with the inflamation and I go see him again in 4 weeks. I am so thankful, I can't even tell ya :)

Shifting gears, our man Jack goes in the morning kinda bright and early (the surgery is around 9:30a) - please keep him in your prayers! Them tonsils are huge! My dad joked that maybe they'll give us the tonsils and Jack can put some Velveeta on them and have them for a snack! I then said perhaps we can bring them home in a jar for a keepsake. Jack then asked what they really do with tonsils and I told him they donate them to another little boy who needs them :) What twisted minds we have! :)

Good night - I hope all is well - I hope you're doing better Pa!?

How Could I?

2008-11-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

How in the WORLD could I forget to mention on my blog earlier today that last night Molly took her very first steps? What kinda MOM am I!? :) Well, I'm here to tell ya now (as my hairy beast of a dog is tapping on the window to come in, staring at me... I tell you, this animal is nutso. She laid her head all as if she loves me in my lap while I was eating my turkey sandwich for supper (the kids are at Granny and Gramps tonight), then when I'm done proceeds to go right to the door to annoy the crap outta me until I let her out. THEN she taps on the screen (but it's dark so I can't see her) and lets me know she is all done out there. HOW FUNNY, now she is in the mudroom and knocked the lid off her metal container of dog food and is eating out of it. She acts as if she owns the place!) - ok - but now back to the big news of Mol walking...

She is 14 months and some people think that's the same as 14 YEARS old to be walking. But both boys were the same age when they decided to take those first steps too. TOO cute. She is so reluctant and will stand in one spot for 10 minutes, but will not unbuckle those legs to walk. So here are some pix that I hope at least give you a peek into what it was like :) I got the very first steps on video so I'm excited about that. Then the boys took turns videoing while I grabbed my camera. Ohh and don't mind her outfit, Erk had just changed her nasty poopy pants and her onesie "extension" (best invention!) is kinda coming undone...

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The boys were so excited that she was trying to walk, heck, even Bean wanted in on the action!

Mikie, what a NUT!

Holding Hands with the Future

2008-11-12T12:25:00.000-08:00

Mikie is having a snack and Jack is sitting in front of the heater. Molly is still zonked and I got up a bit ago after a short nap myself! Today just sounded like a good day to lay down and I tell ya, I was out the minute I hit the pillow.

This morning I got to help out in Jack's classroom. Last time I was signed up for it, it turned into a field trip day, so today was really my first volunteer experience. I wasn't really sure what I'd be doing. Turns out Jack's class got to try out a room where stations were set up for motor skills or whatever the beak you call it! So the whole class lined up and down the hallway we headed. I was in the lead cause Jack was second in line and Mrs. O told me I could lead the class and she'd bring up the rear. Jack grabbed my hand and looked up at me and smiled, followed by another little boy grabbing my other hand, then more kids started grabbing on to their hands and before I knew it, we were the width of the wide hallway! I felt like I was holding hands with the future. It was so cute :) We got to that special room with stations set up and Mrs. O left 5 kids with me and took the others back to class. We agreed we'd meet in the hallway 1/2 way every 10 minutes to swap out the kids. I tell ya, teachers don't get enough praise for their patience! Some of the boys in Jack's class are TURDS! Then you have the sweet, always listening and ready to line up boys. I'd say Jack is somewhere in the middle of that group!? Anywho, we had fun and before I knew it, we were thru all the kids and back in Jack's classroom making paper feathers to put up on the big turkey mounted on the wall. I stuck around for a while after the kids went out to recess to help put the feathers up and got a chance to chat with Mrs. O about our hunting trip, the new bizz for printing digital scrapbook pages, etc. She's a SWEET lady. I'm so thankful for her as Jack's teacher! We have our conference with her tonight at 6:45p and then I am actually meeting up with Shawna to meet some ladies who want us to do a "special project" for them! Fun stuff...

I hope this finds you doing well. Please keep Papa Loo in your prayers, he underwent some pretty major surgery yesterday and today has a fever and not much of an appetite I'm told. We love you Pa Loo! Ohh and Jack is having his tonsils out this Friday. I just spoke with the nurse about the time, what to expect, yadda yadda. Our little dude is going under the knife :( But these things have been needing to come out. His left tonsil overlaps his right! Please pray for him for his nerves and the whole experience to go smooth!

Be Careful

2008-11-10T06:46:00.000-08:00

I gotta tell ya, I am scared. I'm scared my hearing won't be restored and I'll be deaf in my left ear. It's hard - really hard to think about that. I've had people tell me "be careful what you wish for!" when I say I just wanna be able to hear my KIDS. They don't understand - seriously, hearing my kids little voices means the world to me. Mikie came in our room in the middle of the night and was talking to me... I had no idea. Erk told me this morning about it. Erk had Mikie come tell him the problem cause I wasn't saying anything. I couldn't hear him. Argh! I feel like I was just here with my ears - fortunately this "damage" isn't in my already corrected ear. I shouldn't have taken that 5 months of hearing in both ears for granted!

All of this to say I'm anxious to see the ENT on Thursday night (they squeezed me in after hours). Please pray that my hearing will be restored. I've been praying too that if it isn't restored, that I will be used in some way. Selfishly it's really hard to accept it's possible I might be partially deaf all over again...

Some Pix While We Were Gone

2008-11-09T07:57:00.000-08:00

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As you can see, the boys got to go to the local fire department this last week! They even got to go on a RIDE in a firetruck. They thought it was super cool!

Forget Me Not

2008-11-09T07:49:00.000-08:00

We are home safe and sound! Molly is dragging a shoe box along the ground and laughing her head off at Bean cause Bean is trying to get it. The boys are building "beanstalks" up in their room outta books all piled high. Erk is doing "bills" and I'm digging thru odds and ends stuff like the kids backpacks and their nice clean tubs of clothing back from Nanny and Papa (THANK YOU for doing their laundry)!

We got home at a good time yesterday, made it home in less time than it took to get there. Mom and Dad brought the kids home and wouldn't you know? Molly was taken aback by me! She wasn't sure what to think! People thought I was nuts for thinking she might "forget me" but she definitely was unsure at first! Like she knew me, but just couldn't put her finger on where from! HA! Now she is back to lovin' her Momma :)

We had planned to head to church this morning but when getting ready and my now right ear plugged up, we decided to stay put. Erk was thinking he'd stay home anyways cause he has a lot he'd like to get accomplished today. I was feeling the need to go get "fed," but with the lack of hearing in both ears? I'd feel overwhelmed and confused and lonely all at the same time. So we'll do a special Bible time here at home this mornin...

I hope you have a great Sunday! Nice to think the only laundry that needs to be done is Erk's and mine from this past week, and that's manageable!

On the Road Again

2008-11-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

Now how often can you be riding down the highway, sitting in the passenger seat pulling your trailer, AND be writing on your blog? Well that is me right now! Erk and I pulled outta camp about 2 hours ago and are well on our way. The weather is a bit on the cold side, and windy, but fortunately the wind is at our back. We've made one pee stop and back on the road we got.

I'm happy to report that my ear/throat/snot/headache have definately improved. My ear has the occasional sharp pain here and there, but overall it's good. About an hour ago my phone was ringing from a number I didn't recognize. I decided to answer and it was the ER doc we saw the other night checking up on me! Very, very nice. I asked him about the sharp pains, and he said that's all part of the healing process.

I suppose that's about all for now. Here's to hoping you are having a good day and maybe the sun is shining where you are! :)

What We've Been Up To

2008-11-06T08:13:00.000-08:00

What We've Been Seeing

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Pictures Special for Mikie

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In the Field

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Yep, that's ME!

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Here is my beautiful ear this morning!

Piercing

2008-11-06T06:19:00.000-08:00

Good morning. Coming to you live from a cool campground in the middle of cornfields with a stream of blood dried and crusty on the side of my face. Looks like I was hit in the face with a 2x4! Don’t worry, I wasn’t. Here’s the deal…

We had a great day yesterday. I went out in the field with Erk, Phyllis and Don to check out what this pheasant hunting bit is all about. I got to see the beautiful country side that Erk enjoys while looking for birds to shoot. We walked and whispered (apparently gotta be kinda quiet while trying to flush out birds) and just took it all in. The wind was blowing pretty good which wasn’t helping my ear ache out, but I just put my bright orange hood up. I told Erk that next year I’m gonna be “an orange highlighter for Halloween.”

We headed to a second spot to check out and Phyllis and I found ourselves sitting in a big open green field chattin’ while the men hunted with the dogs. Again, no birds to be found so we headed into town for some lunch. We went back to the same lunch spot we hit on Monday and enjoyed the day’s special :) Phyllis asked to borrow our truck to head to a sort of Amish country, while I opted to come back to the trailer to lie down. Erk came back too for a snooze. I was woken up not too long after dozing off with a piercing ear ache. Like, as in brought me to tears. Erk and I both got on our phone (amazing what phones can do now a days) and looked up on WebMD what to do about an ear ache. Found the old remedy of hydrogen peroxide. So I tilted my head to the right (with a tear rolling down my cheek) while Erk poured a cap full in my ear. Ahhh, relief. Instant relief.

I hung out here at the campground for a while while Erk and Don headed back to the field. Got some more scrapbooking done! Erk and Don came and picked me up and there I sat between the 2 of them in Don’s truck, Freckles (the doggie) in the backseat, speeding down gravel country roads. Can’t you just picture it? We met up with Phyllis back at their motel and hung out for a bit, heard that their neighbor at the motel (Joe) had an incident earlier in the day that took him to the hospital. Joe happened to pull in as we were hanging out outside so we waited for him to get off his cell phone to hear what happened. Apparently, he was in a field with his dog and went to lift this dog over a fence, while bending over a stick went right up his nose! YEEE-OUCH! It bled and bled, he said, so he began wondering if there was something stuck up there, and proceeded to head to the ER. He said it was a little sore, but fine by the time we were talking to him. We joked that we didn’t even know there was a hospital in this town, but good to know.

We invited Joe to come have supper with us in town and he did – we had fun joking around and giving our waitress a hard time. We had delicious fried chicken and I stepped out a minute while we were eating cause it was bedtime back home and time to say goodnight to the chitlins. As our time at the restaurant continued, I was having a bit more increasingly sharp pains in my ear. We headed back to the motel and laughed some more (fun to talk about old times in the office with Phyllis) and my face changed. Erk saw it. It went from happy Ernie to “ok, this is really bothering me.” We said our goodnights and headed back to the campground. I was driving and while chattin’ with Erk, I had to stop talking here and there cause my left ear just hurt so bad. We got back to the trailer and the pain was SO intense, I thought a baby was gonna pop outta my ear. The pain seriously reminded me of child birth, but in the side of my head! I was pacing the trailer, crying my eyes out, trying not to go insane from the pain. Holy cow it hurt. I was literally shaking in the knees and my lower lip was quivering like ya do when you are freezing cold, all because of the intense pain. Erk was so calm and encouraging, trying to hug me but I couldn’t stand still. Trying to have me look him straight in the eye which, when I could focus helped, but then I’d have to look away to cry. Can you imagine!? Then a sort of gurgle noise and I happened to grab a Kleenex, wondering if I’d catch some puss or something. No puss, just blood. A steady stream of it. At that point, Erk called my doctor’s office back home to see what we needed to do. We were waiting for a call back and after 20 minutes they hadn’t called, so he called back, then another 20 minutes, and we get a call back but my phone didn’t ring. Went straight to voicemail. So I called back and was wired directly thru to the doc on call. She was so kind, and apologetic that this was happening on my “vacation” and told me “you need to go to an ER or med center to get it evaluated.” So out the trailer door we headed, into town to that same ER we had just learned about a few hours earlier. By this point, my ear had been bleeding for an hour. We pull in and there is one other car in the parking lot. As we walked in thru the abandoned looking ER entrance, we came around the bend and saw 2 nurses, one in plain clothes and the other in scrubs. We talked with them about the issue and they paged the on call doc. While waiting for the doc to come in (technically he was a PA), the plain clothes nurse went to take my temp in my bloody ear, to which I quickly asked, “can you take my temperature in my other ear?”

Wondering if that was the sorta folk we’d be dealing with (taking a temp in a bloody ear!?!), we were very pleased with the doc who came in to check me out. He first checked my right ear (the ear I had surgery on in April, I’m SO THANKFUL this didn’t happen to that ear!) and he said that eardrum was bulging. It’s been sore in there, but nothing like my left. He checks my left ear and was like, “umm yeah your eardrum has ruptured.” He left the room and came back saying with his arms out as if he’s flexing his muscles, “what, were you just gonna tough this one out?” I said “I wanted a helicopter to swoop down and take me to the hospital but that didn’t happen.” And he laughed, reminding me that we aren’t back home, but are in the middle of nowhere :) He then said “you Nordic women are tough!” HA!

He printed some information on ruptured eardrums and wrote me a stronger script (I started on amoxicillin 2 days ago in addition to the pink eye drops, so I’ve been on meds) and we started heading out. While walking I was reading about the eardrum where it said “depending on where the hole or tear is in the eardrum, you may have some permanent hearing loss.” So I asked him where the hole/tear was or if it was rather large. He replied, “umm, there is so much blood in your ear, I couldn’t even see your eardrum!” He recommended I see my ENT that did my ear surgery as soon as we get home. BEAK! So there is a possibility that I may have some permanent hearing loss in my other ear. For now, it’s completely clogged, can’t hear anything at all outta my left side. At least with my right, I could hear a little bit (larger crowds were hard, but I could manage thru reading lips). Now it looks like lip reading is gonna come in handy! I was used to tilting my head to the left to hear better about 6 months ago, now the rolls have reversed…

So back home to the trailer we of course came and headed to bed. I fell asleep pretty quickly but then was woken up with PIERCING pain in my ear again. I took some deep breaths and waited patiently, nearly in tears again in the dark, but the pain finally went away when something else “gave way” in the ear. This morning I was met with more blood on the pillowcase and of course, all dried to my face.

And now here I sit. Erk headed out to hunt (it’s pouring rain, YUCK) and I’m gonna take it a bit easy this morning. They’ll pick me up for lunch, but between now and then? I’ll get cleaned up and listen (one eared) to some music. Maybe do some scrapbooking and hopefully my email will stay up and running longer than 2 seconds (now that we moved campsites, I can’t stay connected to email very long)! I hope this finds you doing well today…

Today

2008-11-04T08:32:00.000-08:00

Why hello there! The wind is blowing again today so the trailer is being a bit knocked around. Yesterday the awning took a beating while I sat here on my laptop, so when Erk got home to pick me up for lunch yesterday he rolled it up. Erk saw that tomorrow is gonna be really windy, so we're thinking we'll change campsites. Where we are is very cool, but we have this stupid thought (but it's possible!) that we could roll on down this big hill we are set up on! That would bite! So we'll move on down the row and behind some trees to block the pending wind.

I meant to be in the field with Erk, Don and Phyllis right now but here I sit. I had a rough night's sleep last night (major sore throat still hanging around) and when I rolled outta bed this morning, my right eye was stuck closed. Yep, Ernie has pink eye! That combined with the knives I feel I am swallowing and the ear ache (and noises sound weird in my ears, so they are definately plugged), I made the call back home to the ol' doc. First I went with Erk to drop him off to hunt with Phyllis and Don and then I headed into town to find a pharmacy. Went on in and a nice lady gave me their phone number so I was armed with it to call my doc all those miles away. They called a bit ago to tell me a script (actually 2) had been called in and they are being filled. So I hope to be completely on the mend before long - at least I hope this sore throat leaves. Man, don't ya hate that?

Yesterday afternoon was a hoot though. Erk and Don went out hunting and Phyllis and I just sat in their motel room chatting the afternoon away. It's been so long since her and I have visited like that! I probably went on and on it seemed, but there was a lot of ground to cover :) Then the men got back and Phyllis and Don came to join us for supper at the trailer. Erk grilled some chicken, we had some other goodies and here we sat chatting the night away. What fun! Great friends and great company I tell ya!

Now I am waiting for the call that it's lunchtime, and I'll drive back into town and meet up with them. While there, I'll swing by and pick up my new meds and see where the afternoon takes me! I hope you are having a great day! Jack told me first thing on the phone last night, "I miss you Mom!" That was so cute, the dude who acts all macho, he misses us :( Mikie is wanting some pictures of John Deere's and Miss Mol giggles every time I get to talk to her on the phone. Cute!

Halloween Pix

2008-11-03T06:48:00.000-08:00

Hello and good morning! Just sitting here in the calm of the trailer, enjoying the sounds and sights all around. I have the windows cracked open to hear the birdies and the nice breeze, but also have the space heater going (kinda like driving a convertible with the heater on :). A good night's rest was had - I slept on a bottom bunk so I wouldn't get Mr. Hunter Dude sick and we both slept good. Erk made himself a big breakfast this morning, and I opted for my bowl of cereal and donut. I just can't always get behind a big breakfast ;)

Erk headed out about an hour or so ago to shoot birds, I've been on the phone chattin' with Mom which was great, and now I'm uploading some pictures to show you! It takes a while with this slower connection than I'm used to, but I'll see what I can do. Here are some cute pictures from Halloween. The kids were sooo cute (in my opinion) in their costumes! I hope you have a great day!

Trick or Treatin'

2008-11-03T06:47:00.000-08:00

Okey doke - looks like it's only gonna post 2 of my 4 pictures... What the beak! Ahh well, 2, 4 you get the basic Halloween idea :)

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Wrappin' it up

2008-11-03T06:40:00.000-08:00

And the end-of-the-night-candy-check with Daddy (and Auntie Jane and Em). Auntie Jane and Em were in town for a college visit. Here's to hoping Em chooses to follow big sis Molly's footsteps so we'll get to have her close by us!

2008-11-02T17:04:00.000-08:00

Kicked In

2008-11-02T16:57:00.000-08:00

Good evening! Here we are in farm country! Erk and I made the 8 ½ hour journey, leaving home around 9a this morning. We had originally hoped to leave by 8a, but I was having some issues. Yesterday I felt like I was coming down with something, had the starts of a sore throat and headache… When we went to bed last night Erk asked me if I thought I’d feel better by this morning.
Umm well, not exactly.

I didn’t sleep very well and when I got up this morning to hit the shower, I only made it to the top step before having to sit down and rest. I made it down stairs as far as the bathroom to get in the shower, but then lay on the bathroom floor, NO ENERGY, for like 10 minutes. I mustered up the strength to hop in the shower somehow, but had to sit and rest with the water running. All the while, I couldn’t see straight. It was like I was delirious, sounds crazy, but I was! I couldn’t see straight, I couldn’t see the kid’s faces, just their outlines. I don’t remember getting Molly outta her bed this morning, I don’t remember Jack asking if I “was mad” (cause he didn’t understand why I was being that way). I lay down in the bathroom with my head resting on my drawer, I remember that! I remember asking Erk if I had more face lotion (but he said he put it in the trailer) so I grabbed some lotion out of my drawer… come to find out it was diaper rash cream I put all over my face. I tell you, I was DELIRIOUS! I finally went back up to bed and when I got up I felt a tiny bit better. The kids came in to say goodbye, that the “purple bus” was there (Papa’s truck) and at that point I had a bowl cause I thought for sure I was going to toss my cookies. I mustered up the strength to go out to say bye to the kids all packed up in Papa’s truck and then told Erk it’d be good to get on the road. Feeling like poop as I was, may as well have gotten the journey underway. So we did. I felt better, then worse, then a fever came on, then it broke, I took a snooze here and there with two coats covering me at times, other times sweating. At one truck stop, I bought some migraine medicine and Aleve, not sure which would help. The migraine meds didn’t do squat, but the Aleve finally kicked in. All of that to say, WHEW. What a day! But we are here now and having fun just hanging out. Feels funny to be in the middle of a field with the sound of a combine in the distance, writing on my blog! It also feels funny to not have the kids in the trailer here with us! They are having fun though, we got to talk to them a few times today and they are lovin’ their time with Nanny and Papa. They get to see Granny and Grampa tomorrow night to spend the night at their house too, so that’ll be lots of fun! Good night our babies! We love you!

Jack's Field Trip

2008-10-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

I got to join the dude on his field trip yesterday to a nature preserve. Jack had fun at first, but quickly became "bored" on the nature trail. He'd rather run or be camping or something than just walking thru and learning about leaves and berries! It was nice to be able to be with him. Fun to see him in action with his buddies and to meet some other parents. I was "assigned" Garrett in addition to Jack, he was a super cute boy too!

2008-10-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

What's a Happenin'?

2008-10-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

Let's see if this works right tonight! Last time I uploaded pix, they showed in opposite order than I meant them to. Here are some recent pix of the kids and Papa beating up. The first one is Jack when he was sick on Sunday with pink eye and the whole bit...

2008-10-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

Looks like the pictures are posting opposite again! Ohh, above that random picture of the dock sections was showing the hail we had the other day. WEIRD weather!

Here are some more pictures - big Mol came up the other night and we were so glad! It was awesome to have her here to visit and have pizza with us :)

here are the kids sitting by the heater, classic :)

2008-10-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

Test of Patience

2008-10-30T05:07:00.001-07:00

Good morning! This morning is proving to be a bit of a test of patience, but we'll get there. It's nice because we have a few minutes to breathe today compared to the crazy packed week we've had. But as we know, sometimes the slowing of the train can bring other problems (like crabby, "tude" kids)! I'm hoping all will nap today since we actually will have time to do so, and that it won't be a fight. Tomorrow being Halloween and all the activities tied into that should make for a good reasoning on my part to the boys about napping today! Heck, I'll have to give the same speech to Mol, she wouldn't take a nap yesterday afternoon while Shawna and I met. I did notice Mol has 2 molars on the top that poked thru. OUCH!

I hope to post some pictures on here today from Jack's field trip yesterday that I had the pleasure of joining him on. That and some other recent cute stuff. I hope you are having a good day!

Goop

2008-10-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

Well, we have a ruptured eardrum! The doc took a peek and said he couldn't see the actual "pin hole" where it must have ruptured, but that with the goop (he used a more technical term) still in Jack's ear canal, it did rupture in there. Jack continues to be in great spirits so that's incredible. Doc said this may have all been brought on by a virus, and if so, the meds he is now on won't get rid of the virus, BUT it will help with the ear and eye infections. Glad he is feeling better and glad we went today. Jack goes to the ENT tomorrow as it turns out, I made that appt many weeks ago, that's to see about getting his tonsils out. I probably could have waited until that appt to get Jack some medication, but I'm glad he saw our doc today.

Tomorrow is gonna be CRAZY. We have that ENT appt at 10a, then I am meeting up with Shawna (first have to coordinate the kids to Papa), Shawna and I are meeting with Sally, then off to meet with our webdesigners, then home to enjoy some time with "big" Mol :)

Well, I'm off - I hope this finds you well!

EYE of the storm

2008-10-27T06:23:00.001-07:00

We have a sicko here - his name is Jack. Well, today I guess he'd be better classified as 70%, rather than the 2% he was at last night! The poor kid - yesterday morning Erk stayed home with all 3 kiddos while I went to church and had double nursery duty. He thought it would be best with Mikie's cough to keep the kids home - that way Mol could get a nap in too. When I got home from church, Erk informed me that he had researched Pink Eye on the internet and yep... Jack had it! Never have we dealt with that before. So, as Erk left (he had to go outta town for the night for work) we headed to Nanny and Papa's. Nanny, Molly and I were gonna head up to the hospital to visit my cousin who just had twin set number 2, but opted not to cause of the off chance any of us are carrying the Pink Eye, we'd feel awful if the babies or anyone else got it. So we just hung at Nanny and Papa's for the afternoon/evening. GLAD WE DID!!! It's always great to sit and hang out, but boy, yesterday proved to be more than a one woman (or man) job! Jack went from pink eyeball to fever to VERY sore ear to puking. He shared his lunch and everything else imaginable on the dinner table, his "B" (under the table) and the floor. Papa was swift in his movement to grab a bowl while I felt like I was in slow motion standing there wondering what to do! I grabbed his dinner plate to catch it and that perhaps helped a tad, but by then, most of the "damage had been done" if you catch my drift. So... from there, Jack was stripped down to BVD's (cause he had puke on his clothes) and Papa quickly got the washing machine going with clothes, table cloth, "B," etc. Jack then fell asleep on the couch while burning up. While contemplating spending the night there (with Erk gone and all) I opted to come home anyways. So we get the kids ready - Jack last - and when he got up on his feet, I realize he had PEED on Mom and Dad's couch. He felt bad and so did I! But fortunately the cover zips off and there is a sort of waterproof pad underneath. Thankfully! We get his now clean clothes back on him and he's gagging again - get the bowl and just a tiny came out. We head out in the drizzling cold rain and drive home in the darkness. When we got home I was trying my best to get everything organized - who should I put in bed first? Jammies? Where is the medicine? Jack's bowl in case we need it? Got it all situated and called Dad to tell him we were home and settled. Jack ended up sleeping with me in our bed (bowl on the nightstand) and as he and I watched Extreme Home Makeover (did you see it? I cried my eyes out!) he seemed to be feeling much better. At 9p, I shut off the lights anticipating a LOOOOOOOONG night ahead, but ya know? Jack slept all night, soundly. I kept waking up to check the kids and feeling Jack's forehead. Bean kept hopping on and off the bed which would wiggle it and I'd wake up to make sure Jack was ok. Mikie came in at the wee hours of the morning claiming to have had a bad dream, so I plopped him in bed with us too. Mikie, also known as "Larry" (a guy at church that means well and is so nice, but he leans on you all the time) was laying with his head touched to mind and legs over my stomach!

It hits 7:00a and Mol starts to fuss. So I try to secretly escape from between both boys sleeping but Jack sits right up. Bam, he feels good this morning. AWESOME... After we ate breakfast - Jack ate pretty bland just in case - all the kids got in the bath (Jack knew not to touch anybody with his eye situation :) and Jack asked me what the "stuff coming out of his ear was?" It was a crystalized gold thick gunk. So even though he is feeling better, I opted to call the doc to see if maybe something popped or ruptured in his ear last night. We go at 11am...

Erk is due home tonight - after the "eye" of the storm has passed, which seems to just be the way it goes! Every year he goes to this particular show, something happens here at home. Last year it was Mikie puking all night and I had Mom stay with me cause Molly was still getting up a few times in the night. WHEW!

Recent Pictures

2008-10-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

We did some rearranging around here the other night - family room furniture, dining room furniture and kitchen -

2008-10-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

Miss Molly's new curtains from IKEA (ain't they cute??) and here is Mol playing in the boys room while the boys were at school...

2008-10-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

The boys wore their rain boots today to Ry's football game, although Jack didn't really want to cause he was afraid people would say he was "cute" in them! So we tucked them under his jeans :) Mol was trying to get her rain boots out too, but for now they are too big :)

The boys had fun carving their pumpkins today too -

2008-10-25T17:04:00.000-07:00

Yucky

2008-10-25T14:37:00.000-07:00

Kind of a yucky day out there! Erk and Miss Mol ran to the store for some stuff for chili and we just got done cleaning up the innards of the 2 pumpkins the boys and I just carved. Jack had a paper from school about weighing a pumpkin, measuring it, counting the seeds, etc so we went for it. It was fun, and although I ended up doing most of the scooping (Sara, they don't even like it at 5 and 4!) the boys did have fun picking out the faces they wanted. They both claimed they wanted to have "scary" pumpkins but somehow they chose the "traditional" pumpkin smiles for both :)

I'll try to post some pix later gator. Hope this finds you well and enjoying your Saturday, no matter what you're up to!

DORK for a DOG

2008-10-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

I'm about to head out to my lovely yearly physical - ya remember I sat in the waiting room a week or so ago only to be told they'd have to reschedule? Well, that day has come! Dad just picked up Mikie from preschool, brought him here and we stood out in the rain waiting for Jack to get off the bus. Mol and I were under our (well, Dad's technically :) umbrella and my arm was falling asleep holding her. Bean was rolling her ball down the driveway, and after nearly ending her OWN life by leaping at Papa as he pulled in (with 2 cars close up his rump, don't you hate it when people do that to you on the road - umm, can you see I have a TURN SIGNAL ON?), Bean rolled her ball into the road and then ran out to get it. All while I'm being ignored, yelling her name. What a DORK for a dog! Anywho, I thought during all of that chaos that Jack's bus drove by in the opposite direction, but they have had so many different numbers on Friday afternoons that it's hard to know. Sure enough, when she pulled up with him, she said she only had 3 kids on the bus today! She had to go find a place to turn around (cause she can't drop him off on the other side of the road due to DK/K rules). Anywho, Jack came inside and we piled Mikie and Mol into Papa's truck. I came in to tell Jack it was time to go and he admitted he isn't feeling all that well. Hopefully he'll get feeling better! I gave him some medicine and out the door and out of the driveway Papa pulled with the 3 precious gifts (ask me yesterday and I may have chosen different words to describe them)! I am off - more later :)

Two Sets

2008-10-23T05:58:00.001-07:00

Yesterday met with some sad news, as well as exciting news. The sad being that Sugar, Auntie Pat and Uncle Mike's beloved dog had to be put down. Sug is up with Cassie in doggie heaven now :) Awww...

The exciting being that Sarah is having her c-section tomorrow to deliver the babies! For those of you who don't know, my cousin, Sarah is having her second set of twins! Two pregnancies, 4 BABIES! They have 2 little girls, Sophie and Mary who are 3 and now (Lord willing) tomorrow morning they will be joined by a little boy and little girl. CONGRATS to them :)

We are just chilling at home today - Erk just sent me a message wondering if we wanted to meet him for lunch! So we will, that'll be terrific to get out a bit. The boys were running wild this morning and have calmed down, but I guess when the day starts at 5:58a, you have an extra plug of energy (that is their logic, NOT MINE). Anywho, I'm off. Have a great day!

Big for Little

2008-10-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Hope this finds you having a good day. Jack just got off the bus and is now flipping thru a Little People catalog that we get every year at this time :) Mikie is zonked on the couch, has been for about 2 hours now, and Mol just got up from her nap. I heard her stirring upstairs before I headed out to the end of the driveway with my umbrella to get Jack off the bus, and opted to let her talk to herself rather than put a coat on her and hold her waiting in the rain! Bean of course came with me and stood there waiting for her buddy Jack, even tried to get ON the bus, as she does EVERY single time. Funny... She always jumps up and kisses Jack right as he steps off. Cute.

I had M2 this morning while the boys were at school and Mol hung in the nursery with the other kids and ladies babysitting. We had such an interesting meeting today. We have some new ladies in our group and it's so awesome to hear different perspectives and we have been taking our conversations into "deeper" issues and more than "on the surface" type stuff. It's awesome and I'm so thankful to be a part. We are having a mom's night every month (which is tomorrow nite) where we will hang out/eat out/go to a movie/whatever. Tomorrow night we are eating at church and watching a few episodes of Jon and Kate Plus 8. Fun...

Well, off I go - Mol is now wanting more snack! A big eater for being sucha lil' lady!

Fall Campin'

2008-10-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

Our fall weekend camping...

2008-10-19T16:53:00.000-07:00

2008-10-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

Mike ready to head outside...

Mommy as Stevie Wonder doing dishes (we were listening to the song, "Superstition"

2008-10-19T16:46:00.000-07:00

Molly dancing to Stevie Wonder :)

The boys showed me their hideout and the tree they found and befriended. They even got me to climb the tree! Here is Jack showing me how it's done...

2008-10-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

Mikie showing me how it's done...

2008-10-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

Checking out their shadows...

Uh Oh, WET BUNS from the slide!

Stalker on the Dark Highway

2008-10-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

Sheesh, I didn't realize it's been so long since I've written! How ya doin? Things are great here (with the exception of listening to Molly fuss and not give in to her nap). We had a terrific weekend - we went camping! Just pulled in about 2 hours ago and now the laundry is going, things are settling in (hence, Mol being down for a nap) and the boys are doing quiet time. Erk left a bit ago to help Dad out with taking their boat outta the lake and also their dock. We'll head that way in a bit as well to visit with the cousins.

We headed to the campground on Friday afternoon. We had a place in mind, but opted to go closer to home (glad for that since I had forgotten a few necessities while packing like TOWELS) so I came home Friday night to grab a few things. The kids did pretty darn well for not camping for a while when it came to bedtime. Sometimes it can take a few nights to get into the groove of trailer living, but not this time! On Saturday morning I headed out just before 9a to meet some friends at a carpool lot, left my car there and we headed a few hours outta town to shop for the day. What a RIOT! Shawna's mom and sister (who live near where we were) met us for lunch, and then we shopped til we dropped. Good times! We then ate out and shopped some more before heading home. While on the expressway, some jerk pulled in front of us going 45 MPH and so we had to slam on the brakes. Not 2 seconds later a car pulls up next to us and goes the same speed as us, for what we think is her "calling us out" for doing that. We ignore it and joke about it, until she pulls in front of us, then in the right lane and rolls down her window pointing at something. Then we were freaked. What the beak is the problem? Our reactions go from "something is seriously wrong" to "what if she has a gun!" We ended up getting off the next exit where this girl did too and she pulled up next to us to say our tail lights were not working! BEAK! So we pulled into a gas station and got to the bottom of it. We were so thankful she was so persistent! Sheesh. Turns out Deb had turned the knob next to the steering wheel (as she does in her car) and accidentally turned the lights off of auto! At least the headlights were working :) So back on the road we go, looking for a Starbucks for some coffee. We find a sign for one and go in (I had to pee) and they tell us they cannot serve any hot drinks! Their machine was busted. So, we ended up with some cold drinks (frappacino??) for free and headed the rest of the way home. Well, not home for me, but the campground :) They unloaded me and my bargains at the carpool lot and I headed for the dark trek to the campground.

This morning we had a nice breakfast (prepared by Chef Erk) and then the boys went out to play. After I was showered and Mol was down for a nap, I headed out to see what they were up to. I ended up climbing a tree (as they were) and we walked around a bit. Nice morning and made for some beautiful pictures! I'll have to post some later. Anywho, all in all, a wonderful weekend. I hope yours was the same. More later!

Baths

2008-10-14T15:45:00.001-07:00

"If you guys hurry and clean up outside, you can get in the bath," I tell the boys a minute ago.
Mikie says to Jack, "yeah, cause we love baths,"
Jack not understanding the way Mikie said it says, "we like bats? That fly around?"
Mikie says, "no, baths!"
Jack says, "ohh, like the fish? (bass)"
"No, Jack, baths" says Mikie... "Ohh, baths, where we like get clean... yeah, we do like those!"

This after Jack came tearing in the house to tell us Mikie had just gotten stung by a bee. We hear Mikie crying and go out, poor kid the bee is still in his shirt! He got stung on the shoulder and I got the bee out and shirt off. Molly has been stung twice lately too (her first sting on Saturday at Ry's game and her second sting yesterday at the orchard - what the BEAK is the deal with the BEES?)

More from the farm...

2008-10-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

2008-10-14T05:40:00.000-07:00

some of our little friends...

2008-10-14T05:30:00.000-07:00

trying to get a cute shot of all the kids in a wagon!

Down on the Farm

2008-10-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

Mikie was unsure about the slide from the first minute he saw it. So I went up the steep, narrow steps (kinda like here at home!) with him and tried to help him get over the fear. I ended up riding it with him, then he went down twice more with Holly and her boy, Bryan... As you can see, he was pretty scared about the whole thing :)

2008-10-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

Ok, so apparently it won't let me show you more pictures! I'll try again tomorrow - sleep well :)

Ohh and after sitting for a freaking hour in my doc's office, the nurse came and told me "he can't see you today, sorry." Then she proceeds to tell me "if you wouldn't have been late..." I interrupted her as she saw it on the chart, that I was in fact there at 4:06pm and my appt wasn't until 4:30pm, so UMMM... Anywho, had to reschedule! I guess him having to run to deliver a baby was WAY more important than me anyways :)

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

I just have a few minutes before heading to my physical and Papa being here to catch Jack off the bus and hang with Mol and Mikie - but I couldn't wait to share this pic with you all! Cute!!! :) At least I think so :)

2008-10-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Jack

We had the pleasure of visiting with Grandpa and Grandma S. yesterday at Nanny and Papa's house!

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Jack in Daddy's hunting boots :)

Cute Bonnet or What?

2008-10-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

Mol in her authentic Amish bonnet...

Made it Thru

2008-10-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

Just sitting here getting little tasks accomplished on the ol' computer. I need to take in this relaxation cause from this point the day gets pretty busy! I'm going to pack a picnic lunch pretty soon, then pick Mikie up at preschool and head to an orchard with some friends. I waited to tell Mikie about it after Jack had left for school cause I know it would break the little dude's heart that he wasn't coming along today. We'll go again sometime... So, but we will have fun at the orchard, eat some donuts, maybe pick some apples, then come on home, where Papa will be ready to receive. I have my lovely, always fun-fun physical today. I'll head to that while Papa waits with Mikie and Mol for Jack's bus to show up. Then Papa (BLESS HIS HEART) is gonna run the kiddos to Granny and Grampa's for me since I won't be home in time. I hear the weather today could get up to 80? WOW! This stretch we've had has been amazing! The beautiful fall colors but the summer weather. Can't beat it!

It also hit me the other day, that our house has been thru the Great Depression. Not too many homes out there can say that. Kinda gives me yet another way of looking at this place fondly :) Is fondly a word? Either way, pretty neato.

I hope you have a great day - enjoy the sunshine!

Some recent pix

2008-10-12T06:42:00.000-07:00

2008-10-12T06:41:00.000-07:00

Here are the boys searching desperately for Rachey's red "croc" that was lost in the lake this summer while they were playing at the sand bar... As you can see, the boys take their search very seriously :)

2008-10-12T06:40:00.000-07:00

2008-10-12T06:39:00.000-07:00

Bean dog is so rare watching before heading out to pee in the morning...

At Ry's football game...

2008-10-12T06:37:00.000-07:00

And back on the boat!

2008-10-12T06:12:00.000-07:00

The boys had Papa pull out the "bed" on the front of the boat so they could look at the moon :)

Puke, Barf, Whatever...

2008-10-10T08:18:00.001-07:00

Good day! Molly is playing with toys here in the kitchen and I'm standing at the buffet typing hello! I had Morning with Mom at Jack's school today. It was fun to go (at the butt crack it felt like) and he and I sat and ate our donuts and drank our OJ. Most of the other moms had muffins, not me! Gimme a donut any day! From there we went thru the crowded cafeteria and said hi to Mrs. Orange and then Jack took me to his class to show me around. For whatever reason he didn't want to go out to recess before school, he wanted to stick inside by me. It was nice - we read a Franklin book and saw where he sits, looked at the play kitchen, etc... I came into contact with the little girl that Jack has "butted heads with" in the past - and call it knowing your kid well, but like with the lunch situation, I can SEE why Jack and her butt heads! It's so funny. They were playing really cute this morning in the play kitchen, but with her strong personality, I can see why that takes Jack back a step. For him, I like to think he can roll with the punches pretty well, take it as it comes. But toss a big change or big personality that's intimidating or overwhelming to him? He's gonna have issues with it. I'm glad he and Meadow can accept their differences now and play together :)

From leaving his school, I came home and Erk headed to a meeting and Mol, Mikie and I packed up and headed to preschool. We dropped Picky off and Mol came home to take a nice nap while I sat and watched the Today show. I never do that! Kinda nice...

Now I am hungry and awaiting the boys being home so we can all eat lunch! Here are some pix of Mikie in the rain the other day - he is so cute... (by the way, he got up in the night and told me he didn't feel good. I assumed it was a cough that he was having issues with, so he went into the bathroom and I went to get his cup to refill it with water. Well, he starts crying in the bathroom and low and behold, I get back with his cup and he starts throwing up! Poor kid, lost every bit of everything he had in his lil' belly. After he was done, he felt fine and back to bed he went. This morning he told me "I ate too much last night Mom." Just like he had told you last night, Granny! :)

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

2008-10-09T15:06:00.000-07:00

Don't they look like the mirror mirror guy?

Mail, Movies, Milk and McD's

2008-10-09T14:47:00.000-07:00

Good evening! Molly and I just got back from running some errands. The 4 "M's" as said in the title! Jack and Mikie got to go to a new farm that they (we've) never gone to before with Granny and Grampa today! They were really excited. We laid up on our bed watching out the front window for a while and talked until the time we got shoes on and headed outside to wait. I even tried to shut my eyes for a bit, only to open them due to the boys screwing around instead of taking a rest. I open my eyes to see Mikie's butt in my face! I said "hey, I'm trying to rest and wake up to butt cheeks in my face!" We all cracked up, the boys gave a good old fashioned belly laugh! They took off for their afternoon/evening of fun and I plopped on the couch and watched General Hospital while Molly napped away.

Once she got up, we headed to the post office. I am happy to report, that was our second run to the post office today! Most people wouldn't be happy about that, but when it's business and you have interest, you'll go as many times as needed (or more like wait until the end of the day and go once :). But, early this afternoon, I saw that someone had emailed us at our company email and wanted a sample page sent to them. So I made the envelope all pretty and packed it up all fancy and the 3 kids and I headed out. Pleased as punch to be watching GH, I quickly checked email again (today is my day to check it by the way :) and BAM, another sample request. You'd better believe that is high priority! So I did the fancy and pretty stuff again and headed out. This time just me and Mol. From there, we took our movies back to Blockbuster (Willy Wonka and the Choc Factory - cute movie, hadn't watched it in years til this morning with the boys, and a Winnie the Pooh Halloween movie). From there, Mol and I headed into the grocery store for some much needed milk (we go thru a gallon a day here!) and many people commented on how cute she is in her Amish bonnet :) Then we ran thru McD's for a quick bite (no worries, we ate healthy) and sat in the parking lot and gobbled it all up. As she sat in her carseat and I in the captains seat next to her, I asked her if she was having fun. She grinned at me and I joked (I thought it was funny) about how "this is what mom's and daughter's do, they go out to eat together!" From there we headed home and now here we are. Erk had a vendor dinner tonight so he's being well fed :)

To Say I Had Some Laundry to Fold is an UNDERSTATEMENT

2008-10-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

Good morning to ya! Sure is a yucky day out there - raining non-stop. I should be putting all the laundry away that I just folded, but posting pictures on here is more fun :) I hope you have a good day! I hope Jack's day is good, he was reluctant to head to school again today, although last week and this week have been wonderful days for him. He's really coming to his own, no more trouble, just enjoying it, so we are thankful for that. For whatever reason though he is still nervous and "gets that feeling in his belly" before heading out the door. Today Papa took him to school so that was a special treat. Mol and I ran Mikie to preschool and came home for her to nap and me to fold. I suppose I'd better get it all off the table so we can eat lunch when Mikie gets home...

Molly is Relentless

2008-10-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

And the taunting begins...

Mom, can you help me?

2008-10-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

Mikie, just minding his own bizz in "his chair." He calls it that since Daddy sits in the other chair now :)

God's Timing

2008-10-05T15:23:00.001-07:00

Wow, the lessons that can be learned, even years after something happens that doesn't make sense at the time. Erk and I have said many a time now, how thankful we are that the first sale of our house didn't go thru. Those of you who have been with me on the ol' blog for a few years now know what I'm talkin' about. The couple who got right up to closing and backed out on our house. This after we had put a bunch of moola down on a beautiful new home. At the time we were ticked, sad, just plain upset. Over time, we realized we were thankful to be here still. Then after trying to sell again this summer and even being strung along by that dude from out of state thinking they for sure wanted to buy it. Nope. We are still here...

Ticked? Sad? Upset? Not at all. We have known now that it's been a matter of His timing, and not ours. An extra amazing lesson we learned, just today? We can now pray for that first couple who backed out and crushed our (at that time) hopes. I happened to pull out the church bulletin a bit ago to read thru the prayer requests. I read thru and then for some reason (God!) thought to read thru them again. In my second time thru, the names popped out - Curt and Lindsey..., nephew of ... at church, their 4 month old baby Rylee needs open heart surgery. No way. I read it outloud to Erk - he turned from the chair in the office and said NO WAY. Yep, same folks. All of this to say, what an awesome opportunity the Lord gives, not only in teaching us lessons that at times seem wrong, but then in the long run (in this case over 2 years) allowing us the opportunity to pray for someone we once knew...

Way 2 Go!

2008-10-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Emily for getting Homecoming Queen!!!

Sanity Soon

2008-10-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

I am going on little to no sleep.
At this point, I feel I could weep.
A super beyond belief jube load,
Putting me in major crabby mode.
Jack was up in the night at one,
Having to fix his bed at that time was no fun.
Then falling back asleep was nowhere for me,
Wishing my eyes would stay closed and not open to see.
This cold is absolutely kicking my butt,
And inside my mouth where I just bit, a cut.
Snotty used Kleenexes stuff my pockets,
Boys’ been running around the house like rockets.
Molly literally pulling my pants off to walk with me,
Or at least for me to hold her while I drink my tea.
Naps are long gone, not sure if there will be sanity soon.
Making up songs in my mind to “Lord Have Mercy” tune.
I can’t go to the bathroom without a baby crying and banging on the door.
Either that or the boys knocking, wondering if milk, they can have more.
My undercarriage of the nostrils is raw red and throbbing.
Random thoughts pertaining to the website of my head are robbing.
Feeling like I’m a bad mom and not spending the time with my kids,
Trying to balance all that is in life right now, what Tupperware goes with what lid?
Emptying the dishwasher while Molly climbs right in it,
The boys telling me everything ‘the other did wrong, every little bit.
Count in a dog, yeah, you all know her name,
She whines to go out every 2 seconds, driving me insane.
The loads of clean laundry piling as tall as me,
Bean’s bowls somewhere in the laundry room, how she can see?
There are toys strewn here and there and in every nook,
Can the boys hang their own backpacks on their hooks?
I came to an all time low this morning when we went to run an errand.
I’m tired of not being listened to and what I say nobody carin’.
Mikie blows me off big time, lemme tell you,
Perhaps not intentionally but it’s what he’ll do.
Jack gets it when my voice starts to raise and he knows I mean it.
Rather than going into the hardware store, in the car he did sit.
As if he needed a minute to collect his attitude and bring it in line with mine,
Not Mikie, he found a ball and was asking for it while we were standing in line.
Umm, Mikie, what is it about my recent meltdown/yelling episode you missed?
Now you think after being a turd I will buy you a freaking ball, that’s quite a twist!
But once we got home and the furnace filter was changed and I got it together,
I went and talked to the boys individually about the storm they just weathered.
Holding Molly off all morning which wasn’t easy, from a nap,
Thinking after lunch she would go down in a snap.
No such luck and only one and a half hours is all she slept,
The boys so loud during quiet time, I went up 3 times to keep their voices low and kept.
I will say I’m not sure where I’d be right now if not for my Dad,
He came and picked up the boys this afternoon, my patience had been had.
With quiet here and just Mouse and I to feed,
Things have started to look up, a magazine I can read.
That is until she is touching electrical outlets and a constant runny nose,
Climbing all over everything, ahh you know how it goes!
Finding the knob that’s ready to fall off her bedroom furniture,
Ohh she’ll make that knob come of permanently, that’s for sure!
But realizing that my baby in the pink footie jammies won’t be a baby forever,
And that our crazy boys will only grow bigger and more clever.
And putting the thought of a 6:30 bedtime for Mol at the latest…
The silence in the house come bedtime can be the greatest.
Although when Erk is gone overnight and I’ve had a day like today.
I get all emotional and wish for that time back or another chance to say,
That my kids are my absolute world and I couldn’t breathe air without them,
Even with all my patience gone combined with all my phlem…

Playin Dirty

2008-10-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

Mikie could sit and do this ALL day long - play "big truckers"

Mol? She could do THIS all day long - climb the freaking ladder to the attic...

2008-10-02T15:04:00.000-07:00

Like the dirty mouth? Yeah, she was trying to eat rocks...

Future pianist?

2008-10-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

Beware of the crazy baby!

But she does love her momma...

How Out of it am I?

2008-10-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

How out of it am I? Lemme tell ya... I just went to get a Motrin out of my drawer in the bathroom (still have the real good stuff since after Molly was born that I save for when I'm sick or have bad cramps) and came in the kitchen to grab the rest of my little yellow bag of peanut M&M's. I pop one and think to myself, they didn't coat that one with chocolate, it was just a peanut. I go to open my other hand with the Motrin in it and realize it's gone. Then it hit me! My taste buds are obviously gone, so fortunately it only tasted like a peanut (funny how our minds can fool us) and not what it really was! Mmmm, chewed up medicine - nothing like it!

2008-09-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

Here is another recent scrapbook page - one of my favs :)

Fat Belly Sicko

2008-09-30T16:56:00.000-07:00

Ignore the fat belly, the pants I had on push my gut up over top my waist! HA! But here we are readin' :)

Good evening to you! I wish it was a better feeling evening for me, but unfortunately I have a freaking cold/bug. I just took my temp via the kids ear thermometer and it told me I'm at 103. Neato! NOT. Molly has been crying on and off since I put her to bed at 6:30p. She didn't nap worth a poop this afternoon and I know she is exhausted, she just doesn't feel good either. Jack, Mikie and Erk seem to be doing marvelous so that's a good thing. Let's hope it stays that way, but it won't :)

I had plans to head to the hospital this morning with 2 girls from church to visit our pastor's grandbaby with Cystic Fibrosis. I just couldn't even chance it with what started as a scratchy throat. Now I am SO glad I didn't.

Last night, Shawna and I hosted another gala event (kiddin :) at Erk and her hubby's company to introduce/reintroduce more women to the world of digital scrapbooking. We had fun and a very nice crowd. Wouldn't you know when we went to demonstrate our website, it WOULDN'T work!?! I finally figured it out, sheesh. The crowd understood and we laughed about it. Soon after it started, in walks "big Molly," I was totally shocked! She came cause she got our email newsletter saying we were holding this tonight. I was so excited she was there - one in a million, came to see what it's all about cause she knows it means something to me. You are somethin' MOL!

Well, I suppose that's all I've got. Erk just went up to hold Mol for a bit. Poor baby... She is getting so big, it's like it hits me every so often that she's growing taller and getting older. The boys are so rare too, Jack has been wonderful (seems he had a great day at school Monday even and his little enemy in his class (not really but for lack of a better word) asked him to sit with her at LUNCH on Monday. Jack didn't cause he likes his "new spot" too much, but how cute is that - he mended ways with her (this is his new approach we've been coaching him on, be kind to everyone and smile) and now they are buddies. He had a girl last year that was his rival too, but by the end of the year they were friends. Perhaps his someday wife!? :) HA!

Good night - here's to hoping you are doing well and had a good day...

Molly squared

2008-09-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hey, it worked! Here is a recent digital scrapbook page I put together with the Mol's :) I'm starting at the beginning with lil Molly, so it's fun to go back to last years pictures and make pages!

Isn't Anything

2008-09-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon! I just got up from what I guess you'd call a nap, although I just laid there awake more than I slept. But that rest was oh so nice! Mol just got up and the boys did too (they napped without any major fits) and Erk just took the boys to the bike trail to go for a ride. It's sorta glum outside as far as weather goes, but not raining so that's good.

Our website works the way it should now and Shawna and I are thrilled! This is even more exciting than having it go live :) I just tried putting 3 digital scrapbook pages on here to show you, but the file sizes are too big. I'll try to post just one to show you a recent page I made. Fun FUN!

I had double nursery duty at church this morning and Mikie and Mol tagged along. Jack stayed home with Erk cause he's got the starts of a not so nice cold. I guess besides that, there isn't anything too interesting about our day! Hope you are having a good one! Ernie

Ernie Wrap

2008-09-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

At first Mol didn't know what to think of this white strap around my noggin. I have a zit or something on the side of my head that I end up picking at and wouldn't you know, it bleeds! A lot! I know, quit pickin! The other night when I got my haircut, Heather combed that spot really hard and it was just this huge line of blood streaming down my wet hair. So when I picked it yesterday (thinking it was almost gone anyways) it started to bleed and I thought the kids would think I was funny with this on my head. Turns out Bean was kinda thinking it was funny too!

2008-09-27T10:06:00.000-07:00

Once again caught in the act of going thru a bag/purse! This kid is such a WOMAN!

2008-09-27T10:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, this dog is nuts. Last night I sat upstairs scrapbooking on my laptop while Erk watched political stuff on tv down here. Bean joined me to hang out. Well, when it came time for bed and I checked the dryer and our mattress pad thingy wasn't quite dry yet, we opted to "camp." We call it camping when we just fold quilts over in half on each side of the bed, like a sleeping bag, and sleep in that. Well, as I laid Erk's quilt out for him, Bean wouldn't budge. She loved being all warm and cozy. I had Erk come upstairs to see her. So he got her to hop off the bed, I go check the kids and come back to find her, ummm, on MY side of the bed! Spoiled animal!

BYE MOM!

2008-09-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

Hello there! Man, I'm not sure what I am right now, kinda tired, kinda in between being excited and not sure if I should be YET, enjoying the peace of Molly nappin' and the boys at school... I just got off the phone with our designer and things seem to be headed in the direction we want/NEED them to be! YEAH! But with as many hicups as we've hit before, I don't want to be prematurely excited. Let's hope and pray this is what will work and the past 2 days of constant back and forth between 3 of us (which is now just 2) was the best move we could make!

It was hard to see poor Jack struggling yet again this morning before school started. He is still having a hard time with the lunch situation - simply because of his teacher's aide. She said to him on Monday "Jack, this seating arrangement at lunch is only temporary you know, you won't be sitting here all year." His little heart was broken. I contacted his teacher to see if maybe Jack didn't quite understand what she said, but her and I haven't been able to talk about it yet. Either way, the kid has a literal stomach ache about it all over again. So come Wednesday, I went and had lunch with him at school to see what his new seating arrangement is and to let the lady know I was gonna stay on top of it. This teacher's aide isn't the friendliest of people, makes me wonder why she is in with 5 year olds!! We do love his teacher though. Anywho, where he has been sitting at lunch is wonderful. Cute kindergartners who talk and share their Cheetos and talk about wanting to play together on the playground. The little girl who sat across from me kept talking to me the whole time, even when I wasn't paying attention :) And I thought - now this is what his lunch setting should be, where he is comfortable, able to open up and make some new friends... The other issue that he's been dealing with is the bus. I may have mentioned this before, but he told me that the neighbor boy (Michael of all names) that his friends on the bus have been picking on Jack. So Jack has said "I will just sit somewhere else, Mom." POOR KID. So that worked for a few days but he is so freaking nervous about it (I see him watch where Michael sits and then Jack will go back about 5 rows) that today, I took him to school. I never thought I'd be a parent who took her kid to school, but you know what? I think it's necessary to help ease his mind and belly. He's FIVE years old. What the beak! Man, life just ain't easy... And when you're a mom, you can't help but take it to heart for your little one. And I'm not sayin' he's perfect, but I do know as time has gone on and he's still having a few things at school going on, he can't help but react to the stress by say kicking the kitchen or not thinking about what he's saying. My heart goes out to him.

Then after we got home from dropping him off (he was so relieved getting in the truck to head out), Mikie got in Papa's truck and headed to preschool. Mikie wanted Papa to take him this morning so I called last night to get that arranged :) Mikie turned around in his carseat and kept waving and mouthing "BYE MOM!" as they pulled away. It was so cute.

Here's to hoping the boys have a good morning at school and our website stuff is peachy and all is well! Mol is taking a nice nap so I'm able to make some of these phone calls again (I have to call my cell provider and I hate doing that!). Have a good day all :)

I'm DONE

2008-09-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is exhausted, how are you? Man, what a long and sorta stressful last couple of days. I've been on the phone or computer it seems WAY too much and my eyes and ears are gonna pop out/fall off. Our website has been having some issues that need resolvin' and it's been quite the few days. I am probably way over my cell phone minutes cause of being on hold and calling everyone and their brother! Ahh, ohh well. I feel bad for canceling plans tonight with the "girls" for dessert, but I just need to sit and recharge the ol' battery - and I don't mean on the laptop! No more computers (after this ;), no more talkin' on the phone, just good old couch potato-ing it. Hope you have a nice evening! Bye for now :)

Some recent pix

2008-09-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

Since I've neglected you in the picture catagory, I thought I'd show you a bunch from lately... ;)

2008-09-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

2008-09-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

OREO time!

2008-09-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

2008-09-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

the end result and naked baby!

2008-09-24T07:20:00.000-07:00

three kids can play in harmony :)