WHAT A DAY!!!!

Many of you know that my family has been battling strep/scarlet fever on and off for a month. Scarlet fever is basically a rash that is associated with strep. When toxins are released from the strep bacteria it causes a sandpaper type rash on the trunk. Dr. C. had to do some heavy explaining considering my kid's only attachment to scarlet fever was that it was why Mary Ingals was blind. Our battle with this nasty bug began with Bailey at the beach, a week later Annalee, another week then Mary-Grace and now this week. Of course I was wondering all the while "who's next?". Well, Thursday after co-op Judson and Jadon stared running low grade fevers. (sorry co-op friends) I knew that it was strep so we were up bright and early Friday taking them to Dr.C.. This was how my Friday progressed. After being up all night on and off with 2 sick little boys, I was loading them into the van by 8am. I decided to take all 3 boys with me even though John Mark wasn't sick. I was taking the last load of things to the van when I noticed our new baby kitten was still asleep on the porch only to discover that it was dead. I was leaving the girls home alone and didn't want them to come out and see their dead kitty so I had to bury it while in my dress clothes and the boys waiting in the van. So now, cats buried and we're off. We arrive a bit early so that I can nurse and make it to the office right on time. We were the first patients so that was great. Jadon had not been to the Dr.'s office but a few times in his life so he started freaking out, Judson's fever still hadn't broken after the Tylenol so he is weepy and John Mark had to explore. I had my hands full. Finally, after throats were swabbed (real fun) shots were given (even more fun) and prescriptions written out, we were out of there. Jadon had strep, John Mark had nothing but treated just in case and Judson had a fever virus that must run its course. It was such an ordeal that I told the boys that we could meet maw maw for lunch. They were so excited. We met at Jack's and was eating a nice lunch with Maw maw. Jadon started feeling a bit sickly so came and cuddled up under my arm until time to go. John Mark must have felt left out and decided to lay his head over on my shoulder. You are getting this mental picture right? Well out of NOWHERE John Mark PROJECTILE vomits all over me, my hair, my arms, my food, Jadon's head, clothes, food, and all the way over to Judson who is on the other side of me in his car seat. My mama is at the register getting something and has no idea what is happening behind her. I sit for about 10 seconds making my mental list of how I am going to handle this one, Jadon starts screaming hysterically, and John Mark just smiles and says "gwoss!" After my mama and a whole team of Jack's employees (who had nothing else to do because no one in the store wanted to eat anymore) got things cleaned up, we headed for home quite smelly. We get home to a very clean house ,thanks to my girls, and put Jadon (still screaming and 102 temp) and John-Mark in the bath. Judson is screaming as well but I had to shower so I left them all wailing and got cleaned up. Now I get all my boys cleaned up, medicated and in the bed and the girls remind me that American Girl club is in 10 minutes. After all that they had done for me I knew I couldn't let them down so I call Melanie and she carries them for me. I now have the house to myself for 2 hours so, I sleep. When I wake up I feel a bit funny but I have no time to think about it because I am soon keeping Melanie's 3 little ones while they go to the boys' far away football game. They soon arrive and stay while I go get the girls. I finally am home and start to make out my list so that when Eric gets home I can go to get the boys' prescription and some groceries. About 15 minutes before Eric comes home I have to stop and pay attention to the fact that I feel awful and it is not just stress. I take my temp and it is 100 and my throat is sore. OH Yeah I now have strep, but antibiotics have already started their miracle effect and I should be back to action soon. What a day!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELYONA

 

 

This blog is about a week late but I could not let my Ellie's day go by without a special blog.

September 11, 1997. This day my world started spinning in another direction. I had the most precious thing placed in my arms and was told that she was mine. I put my all into that little bundle. She was bathed 2 or 3 times a day, dressed like a doll even if we were staying at home, she was meticulously trained to our commands to which she obeyed very well, every detail of her life was thought about and prayed over.

On her 4th birthday, 9/11/01, we woke up to a new bike, birthday pancakes, birthday phone calls from all the cousins and the unforgettable birthday terrorist attack. Being a new 4 year old, she was so mature. She seemed to have so much understanding that day at what was happening. I told her that day that her birthday would be remembered by the whole world for the rest of her life. She thought that it was cool. She was super responsible at 4. I didn't realize it much then but now that I have had many four year old I understand what a gift God gave me in her. She was a whiz kid then too. She could memorize any verse I could throw out to her. She began reading soon after her forth birthday as well and progressed in her education rapidly with joy.

Well now my baby girl is growing up and is changing everyday. I look back at how much time I put into her and wish I could do that much for all the others but I think God had a plan for Ellie even when she was being trained at 12 months old. You see Ellie is more responsible than most anyone I know. I can trust her with any task. Now she is still a little girl who likes to sing, dance, play dress up and make belief but she has always been able to go from being a little girl to my biggest helper in a snap. She is my best friend. I can talk to her about everything and I trust that she will keep my secrets much better than I probably keep hers. I am having to change the way I think about Ellie now. She is growing up and becoming a person of her own. She has opinions about things and her own likes and tastes. We have been discussing if and when we sould send her to school. She would like to but then again she likes it at home with us too. We have started to talk about SAT scores and college, drivers license and buying a car, her first job, her wedding and her own children. She has her own thoughts on all these things. How exciting to watch her become a young woman.

She is also changing spiritually. Her faith has to start becoming her own. Soon she will have to deal with sin as not offending mama and daddy but her spirit will really start feeling the pain of offending a Holy God. I want to see her grow in the Lord. I long to see my prayers fulfilled in her walk with Him.

Ellie is a special person. For her birthday she wanted Seven Brides for Seven Brothers on DVD and BrainAge for her DS. She is such a nerd. Her mamaw called and wanted to know what she wanted and after thinking about it for a while she called back with her request...to spend the day alone with her mawmaw.

Ellie I hope you have had an enjoyable birthday and I love you!!!

Vacation 2008

 

 

Vacation

 

John Mark gives a big hello from Ft. Walton.

 

We had a great time. It had been 4 years since we have been able to take the children to the beach. They loved it to say the least. The best part though, was the place that we stayed at, Waterscape Resort. It was fabulous with pools and
children activities. I could describe this place forever it was so nice. Our condo was just as nice with all the extras. If you have children you need to check this place out.

The weather was an added extra. We were able to have all kinds of weather lessons with the hurricane weather coming in. The ocean went from no waves at all to crashing waves so high it was scary to look at.

Of course our favorite part of all was being able to watch the Alabama game on a 60" flat screen TV. ROLL TIDE!!!!

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.