Mike Rogers For Congress

We made it to TV !!! OK, so it's not Jon and Kate Plus 8. It's not even like those notorious ALFA quads but it is TV. I was sorta hoping my first TV experience would be Extreme Home makeover but I was thrilled when we were asked to be in a Mike Rogers for Congress commercial. It was about high gas prices effect on large families.

We were to meet at a gas station in Saks at 2:40pm. Great, I had all day to get everyone dressed and ready for TV. I had my list finely tuned so that everything would be perfect by 2:40, everything from drying hair to washing the van and even working Judson's schedule so that he would nurse at the perfect time. At 10:05am as my family is slowly starting into our list and beginning baths in a relaxed, non rushed way THEY CALL. They are wonderfully ahead of schedule and need us there at 11:30. AHHHH!!!I ask for 30 extra minutes and start into my drill sergeant mode. We did make it but it was nothing like the way I had planned. Actually I had made a much bigger deal out of it then what I needed to. The kids basically just had to run around and I had to look sad and frustrated. I still think they fooled me and it was really a pro-choice commercial.

We did meet Mike and he bought the kids candy. We had our picture made but I don't have it yet. I have no idea when it will be on TV so if y'all see it let me know.
It was tons of fun and I think I can even count it as a school day. YEA!!! 10 down 150 to go, but who's counting.

Starting School and Conformers

 

Our summer is over and school is up and running. We have ended up our second week and have settled into a good routine. Here is the run down of my little world this school year.

Mon-Wed 7am wake Annalee, Mary-Grace and Jadon up for breakfast, getting dressed, chores and to begin school. We usually are finishing up around 11am. While we are in school Elyona and Bailey do chores, laundry, homework and play with the little ones. After lunch I have school with Elyona and Bailey which has been taking about 3 hours. While we are doing school the little girls are doing chores, playing with the boys and homework. I meet Melanie so we can walk after I finish up with the big ones. When I get home from walking, the children watch PBS while I prepare supper. On Tuesday and Thursdays supper is on the road. Tuesday afternoon we have piano and art in White Plains and Thursdays is soccer in Alexandria. Both of which has us getting home around 8pm.
Thurs. We will soon be starting our co-op so we will not do school at home but be with all of our friends learning with them. When we get home we do a little science and history before we have to leave for soccer.
Fri. we will save this day for Science and History projects and crafts. We are learning all about Astronomy and Ancient Civilizations this year.
Sat. this fall from 9am till 12n we will have soccer games.
Sun. is truly our day of rest!

Separating the big ones from the littles to teach has worked wonders this year. Also, giving out "homework" for them to work on in their own time has helped tons as well. So far so good.

My house, on the other hand, is slowly becoming hazardous. I have been able to maintain, with the help of the children, laundry, dishes and general picking up but my floors and toilets and such...well, if you are coming to my house and would be offended, bring a scrub brush and a mop.

 

Judson has started his conformer series. A conformer is a clear shell that fits over the entire eyeball and is used to stimulate the tissue surrounding that small eye to grow and "conform" to the shell. We go to B'ham every 4-6 weeks to get a larger conformer until the tissue is ready for a painted shell that is the size of his other eye. I will post so that you can keep up with his progress.

Mastitis Woes

I've noticed that I have not put up many pics in a while but I am sorry, you aren't getting one of this either.

I have developed mastitis. It is so painful. I have never had it before and I am so thankful that this is the first and hopefully only time that I will. Judson decided Saturday that he would only nurse a few minutes before humming, singing and biting. He did this all day. I did develop a lot of excess milk but GOOD NIGHT, not enough to develop this pain in the ying yang. Today is the first day in three that I have felt like living. We did survive with the help of Melanie, who got my antibiotics and Jennifer who came one day to feed the children lunch, make supper, do some house work and give my children something to do other than babysit. The children were so thoughtful though. We had a few fun things planned that we had to skip out on but they were very understanding. I have to brag on them a little. I woke up one time and found Mary-Grace changing Judson's dirty diaper and doing a very good job. She even remembered his diaper rash cream and to wash her hands. Today they cleaned the entire house VERY GOOD, they even mopped and changed the sheets. They bathed up the boys and right now I have a wonderful hot supper waiting on me that they alone prepared... chicken, green beans, potatoes, and rolls. I am so proud of them. Last night when they thought that my fever would never break, they, with their daddy, prayed for me. I looked up and saw Jadon holding my hand, with his little eyes closed, begging Jesus to heal his mama. I love my family. They mean so much to me.