Is It Over?

SERIOUSLY!  It HAS to be over at this point!  I think everyone is on the mend and I am really hoping that light at the end of the tunnel is really sunlight - not another train about to hit me head on!   For those of you who missed last week's edition of "Robertson Hospital", let me give you a quick re-cap:  Both boys had the flu (no - not swine)...Zachary got better but Josh wasn't....took Josh and Ava (who had some sot of "funk" growing under her nose) to the dr. on Thursday....Josh had strep and I learned today that Ava had strep under her nose as well - not staph - so that was actually a good thing!  Ava woke up Sat. morning (that would be 4:30 a.m.!)  thoring up & blazing with a fever.  She was a mess all weekend, but I think she too is starting to show signs of improvement.  I am HOPING that tonight I can sleep all night - not just a couple of hours at a time.  After 10 days of this, I am about to start unravelling!  I had some major germs running amuck in my house, but I think all has been taken care of.  Sheets & linens have been washed several times, all toothbrushes and water bottles have been replaced, toys disinfected....I told someone last week that my house smelled like a kindergarden classroom!  (On a side note - Lysol "Fresh Linen" is very good.....it kills more germs than any of those other sprays....gotta read your labels people!)  It appears Sarah is the only one who has managed to escape any illness, and I am finally able to start breathing a little easier that she isn't going to catch anything.   

While everyone has been fighting off their own illnesses, Sarah has started to break out her imagination play times.  She re-enacts Dora, Blue's Clue's, she LOVES to be a fireman, she get her big Magna-Doodle and puts it on top of 2 pillows and that is her "snowboard", she is a pirate, a mommy, a rock star, a nurse/doctor......she is so fun to watch!  She loves to be creative and does not care who is around.  Love my little girl!

  

I Spoke Too Soon..

I knew I should have never said that there wasn't much going on around here.  As of yesterday, both boys have the flu and there is a probability that the girls could get it too....nice.....(SARCASM!)  It really hasn't been bad, I just hate to see my guys sick.  They just lounge around the house fighting off a fever all day, so it could be worse.  Josh's is HOPEFULLY on the downhill side of it.  His started Friday night and it hit him hard yesterday.  His fever went up to 104.5 and never went below 102....he was soooooo sick.  Zachary started with the fever & headache yesterday, so his is just starting.  He hates feeling bad!  On the plus side, they have been very nice to each other - maybe it's sympathy kindness!  Saturday morning, Josh was up about 5:30 a.m. feeling like he was going to be sick and before I could even get to him (I can hear when they turn on the light in the bathroom -- "Mommy Ears"!) Zachary was in the doorway asking him if he was okay.  How sweet is that?  Zachary usually doesn't hear anything when he is asleep so I was very stunned.  This is going to be a long week - and even longer if the girls get it.  I guess I will know in a few days!

Speaking of the girls...they are such little balls of fire and Ava's secretly implanted "seek & destroy" chip is acting in full force.  She has the arms of an octopus and the speed of "Dash" from "The Incredibles"... SERIOUSLY!  I don't know if any of you know that you can click on the box to the left that says, "Praying For Stellan", and it will take you to a blog about Stellan's recent 5 week stay in the PICU and his airflight to Boston to see a cardiologist, etc.  His mom is amazing and has an incredibly strong faith...please read her blog and read all that has been going on these past 5 weeks and you will be blessed.  Stellan was released from the hospital and as of today is back in the "Now Thawing" Tundra with both parents and 3 siblings sleeping in his own bed!  Anyway - all this to say that Stellan's mom has nicknamed all her kids names like "Big Mac", "Small Fry", "McNugget", and "McMuffin".  I thought that was funny and wondered what I would name my kids if I had to pick.  The only one I could think of was one for Ava -- "McFlurry".  How appropriate!  She is one big whirlwind.  If I had a dollar for the number of times I have to say "No Ava...", or save her from tumbling off the top of something...I wouldn't have to work for a very long time!  I do love her though....she can be so sweet and smother you with lots & lots of kisses, and has the cutest little voice for singing the sweetest songs....and then turn right around and grab a handful of Sarah's hair and not let go!  And to think - she isn't even 2 yet!  Oh - and that is another thing -- she is soo tiny for her age.  I'm going to have to see what her pediatrician thinks when we go for a check-up in June.  She is able to wear all her clothes from last year, and that just should not be happening at this young of an age (at least I don't think so!)  At first I thought I was just comparing her to Sarah, but the fact is that she is tiny and I have never had a child be able to wear the same things 2 years in a row -- that just is not right to me.  Sarah looks like she is 2 years older - not just one.

Oh well - enough rambling.  I have sick boys who need their nightly Motrin to go to sleep.  We went thru 1 bottle in 24 hours.  They both take 3 tsp. at a time and that makes it go quickly!  I so appreciate Kristina for offering to help with the girls - you are so sweet and so brave!  :-)  Today wasn't bad b/c Sarah was at MDO.  Hopefully tomorrow won't be bad.  We do want to come out & see all the baby chicks!  Maybe next week?  Love ya much...

A Little Of This...A Little Of That...

Hmmm....not much to write about - or maybe it's more like not enough TIME to write!  The only computer time I get at home is after the girls are asleep, and I rarely get time to update my blog at work.   Obviously not much is going on or you would have heard from me sooner!

So, the girls are doing fairly well in their "big-girl" bed.  It takes them a while to get to sleep - they do like to play!  Tonight, Sarah stuck her head out the door and yelled, "Mommy!  Ava pooted!"  Talk about stall tactics!  I said, "Ava, what do you say?"  "'Cuse me..."  she said.  Then the door shut and Sarah went back to bed.  They are quite funny...

Easter came & went in a blur and I have NO pics to show for it.  We will just have to re-enact another day.  Charles was helping with breakfast at church so my one & only goal was to have all 4 kids dressed and at church on time.  I reached my goal and with a few minutes to spare - which for me is huge!

The boys have been playing "dentist" this weekend - well - Zachary has.  He pulled one of his own teeth Friday night, and then Saturday, Josh let him pull one of his!  Josh is either very brave or was delirious from fever!  (He's been running 102 fever all weekend.  Motrin brings it down, but I've been having to supplement with Tylenol.  Not sure what's up with that.....)  My kids never cease to amaze me!

Gotta run - I will try to better with the updates!  

I'm Eating My Words....And They Don't Taste Too Bad!

Okay...I know it wasn't even a good 2 weeks ago I said there was NO WAY I was ready to put Sarah in a big girl bed.  She is up at the crack of dawn and I know poor Ava is up early because of her!  Then - out of the blue - a co-worker offered me her daughter's bedroom suit.....for FREE!  Seriously - I just can't turn down an offer like that!  I really hadn't thought about Ava moving out of her crib too, but when I found out this was a double bed, Charles & I figured we might as well bite the bullet!  We were really anxious to see how they would adapt, and with the exception of nap-time, they really have done well.  We put them down at night (around 8) and usually don't hear a peep out of them until they come wobbling out of the room around 7 the next morning.  Naps are a different story.  It just doesn't happen!  Now on Tuesday, Sarah was at Mother's Day Out so I left Ava in the room to see what she would do.  She never cried to come out, but I did hear her on the slide several times.  I finally went in to get her up because we had to get to school and she was curled up on the floor asleep with her blanket.  I guess if she is tired enough, she will crash!  Anyway - here are some pics of their first night...one before they got in bed - one playing before bed - and one after they finally gave it up!

Firehouses & Field Trips!

I know - I have been neglectful of my blog! Time really gets away from me...not to mention there hasn't been anything exciting to write about!

That being said, I finally got to go on a field trip with Josh & his Enrichment class. We went first to Firehouse Subs and then to the Fire Museum. See the theme here? (ha!) It was a great time! All those kids are so well behaved (well - except for the ride home - but I'll get to that in a minute!) I had never been to Firehouse Subs, so that was good too! Someone came around & gave all the kids a fire chief hat...cool! The Fire Museum was awesome! If you have never been, I highly recommend it. Josh came home asking about our smoke detectors, so I know he at least learned something! We got to see Zachary's poster framed & hanging up too. Josh was so proud of that! He was telling everyone to go look at it. The whole tour was amazing, and the kids especially liked the end when they could run & play on all the equipment (imagine that!) We got in free, but the brochure I picked up said there was an admission fee of like $4 or $6...so I really don't know how much it is, but either way it is reasonable. Now - parking stinks if you are going there during the week, but otherwise it is great! Something that was kind of interesting....right next door (and I do mean literally!) is Memphis' first police station. It is totally in shambles. Wouldn't it be cool if they could restore it like they did the Fire Museum?

So - let's fast forward to our ride home. Now the kiddos are all hyped up from all the running around, so it starts out kind of loud. I have 3 boys (one being Josh) and they are all 3 sitting in the 3rd row seat. The middle kid (not Josh) starts egging on the other 2 to "tickle" him...which causes him to squeal - therefore driving me nuts really fast. I let them have their fun...asked them to stop...they continued to keep doing it....so before it was over, I had 3 little boys sitting on their hands for about 1/2 the way back! Okay - so then I am coming dowin Union and cross over Cleveland. The light was yellow and I was panicking b/c I realized I passed a police officer on my right (who was turning right) as I went thru the intersection. I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw his lights come on. I felt the blood drain from my face and my hands got cold & clammy - until I realized he was getting the car who turned left after me. WHEW! I just knew he was coming after me! How on earth would I have lived that down with my field trip refugees? I was soooo grateful for that little pass!

So - that is my fun! I am so grateful for good weather and warm temperatures. More time to spend outside with the kids and my camera! Yea spring!!

And Another Week Begins....

I am SO ready for summer!  I can't wait for the boys to be out of school!  I hate packing lunches...I hate having to get everyone up & out of the house before the crack of dawn...I hate being tied down to a schedule....I HATE COLD WEATHER!  If I thought I could organize my life, I would homeschool in a minute (and if Charles is reading this, he is falling out of his chair laughing at this idea~we both know it will NEVER happen!)  Besides, my kids actually like school - they just don't like all the "prep" work that goes with it.  Even Sarah is all psyched on her MDO days.  She only goes one day a week, but she would go every day if she could.  She feels like such a big kid....and she loves getting to visit "Miss Cindy" for her snack (which she gets before & after "school" - nope - not spoiled at all!)  I love that Cindy "takes care" of her - they have a neat bond - always have!  Anyway - Spring break is coming...Easter break is coming...then it will be the end of the year before we know it...YEA!

The boys spent the night with Charles' aunt last night, then we met up with them and traded out the girls for the boys.  I am so glad she enjoys being with them!  They LOVE going to her house!  We took the boys to Incredible Pizza with a group from church.  It was my first time there and I was impressed.  I was glad we went early though - it was getting crazy by the afternoon.  I can 't tell you how many people I saw there who were always wanting "something for nothing".  I can't stand that - the whole "cater-to-me-so-I-don't-have-to-pay-a-dime-but-get-everything-I-want" attitude.  I see that at work too and it drives me crazy.  There is a reason I am not a manager because I would not have the philosophy of "the customer is always right"!

So anyway, we visited with friends, came home...then karate, dinner, showers, bed, and the weekend is over before you can blink.  I think the boys might have a dentist appointment this week, the girls need their hair trimmed, and there are other tasks too numerous to mention here! I'm just hoping to get thru the week without a child getting sick.  Sarah and Ava both had a 12 hour thing...but 5 days apart, so I'm not convinced they got it from each other.  Last Sunday, Sarah was still getting over her bug so I kept her home from church.  We made a quick trip to the store to grab a few things - one thing being her favorite breakfast item....mini pancakes.  Every morning she asks for pancakes, syrup and chocolate "mook" {that's how she says "milk}.  I put the pancakes in the basket and you would have thought I had just handed her the keys to a brand new car..."Oh mommy THANK YOU!  Thank you so much for my pancakes mommy!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!'  As she is saying all this she is hugging my leg!  It really was quite funny - and the dozens of people around me thought so too!  She is so easy to please......SOMETIMES!  We'll save that for another blog....I've already thought of the title:   "Drama Queen,  Hormonal, or Bipolar?"  This actually applies to both Sarah & Ava, but let's not give it all away!

HaHa!

Yeah - I guess you probably gathered if I hadn't written anything in a week about my potty-training adventure - then there must not be anything to report. How right you are! Yeah - that was a bust. Sarah was all pumped about her Dora underwear and being a "big girl", but when it came down to it, she really wasn't as ready as I thought. Maybe I wasn't consistent enough...maybe I should have made her sit on the potty forever until she went....maybe if you know our household you would know that ISN'T going to happen! I can promise you that Sarah isn't going to sit still on a potty for that long of a time and I can also promise you Ava won't allow me to be tied up with Sarah for that long! I'm going to give it a couple of months & try again. It will be nice to get one out of diapers!

We spent Superbowl Sunday at home...eating pizza, Charles' FAMOUS oatmeal-chocolate-chip cookies and I frosted all the boys hair. We know how to party don't we? I think Josh looks the best out of all of them! I've been doing Charles & Zachary's hair for years but Josh finally succombed this time! I think he liked all the attention Zachary got last summer when I pretty much made him look like a skunk, so he wanted some of that. He flinched the whole time, but was kind of proud of himself when he saw the results.

There really isn't much going on around our house - chaos as usual! I'm discovering that Sarah is becoming much more mellow, while little Ava is now the uncontrollable chihuahua. She CANNOT be trusted alone! She gets in the kitchen and gets the forks out of the silverware drawer (only because she reaches in blind and grabs whatever she can reach). If you don't hear her pushing the chair back from the table, you will walk in and find her perched on the kitchen table -- sometimes sitting, sometimes standing! It is never-ending with her! I had a friend of mine comment to me the other day that - even though I might not see it - she is JUST like Sarah and is in the same place she was a year ago. That is true..Sarah really was "hell on wheels" so to speak! Ava might be much smaller, but she is just like her! Heaven help us! At least I know there is hope a year from now, but gosh - what a year I have ahead of me! I LOVE my kiddos!