Fall Time

Well, with sickness (almost) gone from our household, we took advantage of a few small outings over this past weekend. It's hard to figure out what you can and where you can go without contaminating your kids again, or have people glare at you when your kids are hacking up their left lung. So we had small small field trips to the Pumpkin Patch, and we carved some pumpkins, painted some pumpkins and went on an adventure walk through close to our house. It felt nice to be out in the fresh air and sunshine after our long bout of sickness. Enjoy the pictures, I think the smiles speak for themselves!

Sick Again

This flu season is starting to get a little bit out of control! As everybody may (or may not) know, the flu invaded our house last week. Carlie on Wed/Thur, Lucy on Fri/Sat and then Mon. Now last night in the middle of the night - Carlie AGAIN! She threw up and has the exact fever she had last week. So I am home from work ... again. At this point, I am going to have to start dipping into my vacation days. That would stink. I am wondering if Carlie actually got another strain of the flu - or if this is simply a reaction to her H1N1 shot on Monday. I would hate to think that she was infected by that, but I guess that's possible. We haven't taken the kids in to get the official "H1N1 diagnosis" and Jeff doesn't want to. I guess I would just like to know what we're dealing with. But on the other hand, I wouldn't treat it any differently, would I? So much uncertainty with this! So scary for everybody. I was up about 20 times last night just watching Carlie sleep. With each sickness her asthma gets so flared up. Her breathing is so labored it just scares me to death, and I can't sleep knowing she is sick in the next room. Coffee is my friend this morning and whether the kids know it or not - we're napping today!

Brand New (To Us) Basement

My new shelves - they are so cute!

Old yucky walls....

New pretty carpet...

Old yucky carpet...

New pretty basement!

Old yucky basement..

Well, our basement "re-do" is almost "done." We are having our HC over this weekend, so a final push made us get those details finished. Although the pictures don't show the walls true colors, it is a light tan. Being down there now smells so clean and comfy. The girls and I hang out down there all the time. Jeff has worked three days putting up my shelves, and he finished tonight. I am so happy to have all the toys off the floor and out of totes!!!! I could give him a big smooch! We need to have a welcome to our new basement party now! Although we don't have the big screen tv...yet... it may be coming once we get this paid off!!

Winter Germs

Tylenol. Ibuprofen. Thermometers. Lysol Wipes. Love. Vinegar & Water. Change of Sheets. Multiple Blankets. Patience. Lots of Load of Laundry. What do all these things have in common? Things you need when your child has the F-L-U. When I picked Carlie up from school today she was white as a sheet. Even Lucy said, "Carlie, why are you so sad?" She told me she was simply tired..but my mommy hairs stood up on the back of my neck. I knew better. Once we got home, I changed her into comfy clothes and made a "nest" for her in basement to watch TV, with hopes her her falling asleep. Temp 100.1 While I was upstairs getting Tylenol for her, I hear the all too dreaded "cough" Moms - you know that "cough"...the one that happens just PRIOR to vomit coming out. Unfortunately, I didn't make it down in time. No way to break in the new carpet than fresh vomit. Ugh!! Too much information I am sure - but I was able to catch the rest in an old blanket, which is now resting peacefully in the trash. Once my poor princess was done dry heaving her first words to me were "Mommy - I am so sorry I puked on her your new carpet!" Awww...my sweetie girl. Well, the new carpet passed the test, and cleaned up like a charm. On the other hand, the couch still may need some cleaning. Move upstairs and she informs me that the TV hurts her eyes and she can't watch it. Okay - my baby is really sick! One more small vomit, daddy kidnapping Talky Talkerson (bet you can't guess who that is) and finally she sleeps for a couple of hours. Still has the fever, but in bed and resting soundly. Honestly - if I use any more antibacterial gel, my hands my crack off my body...

Our Busy (but fun!) Weekend

Whew! What a fun weekend! We started out Friday night by heading downtown to pick up my Fort 4 Fitness race packet. Parkview Field was buzzing with everybody getting ready for the big race. The girl's were excited to see the finish line right on the field! We ate giant pieces of pizza at the Pint & Slice downtown to finish out our night. Saturday I awoke very early (4:00a to be exact) with Carlie very upset! She was stung by a bee! In the middle of the night - IN HER ROOM! We had Chet out on Thursday because we had noted a bee's nest in our shingles. Well, apparently, one had snuck through the walls into Carlie's room. After Benadryl was administered, ice applied and she had fallen back asleep, it was nearly time for me to be picked up for the race. I got got picked at 6:30a and it was a yucky, dreary, dark morning! What a horrible race day forecast!! The race went very well, and my goal was 10 minute miles, and I finished the four miles in 40:09. Pretty close! I then was off to cheerleading, a 50th wedding anniversary party and then naps. Thanks goodness for naps. That evening we were ready to party again and went to a co-worker's house for the ND v. Purdue game. Now this was a party....They had five babysitters, four different kid movies going on on two different houses (boy movies vs. girls movies), jumpy house, tons of food, and a projection tv set up outside to view the game. Lots of chili and hot cider ... I love this about fall!! Sunday - I am embarrassed to say we slept in. All of us. Skipped church. Yup, that's right. Skipped church. It was a nice morning of pajamas and homemade waffles, with yummy maple syrup from the State Fair (thanks Lacey!). We did go to House Church that afternoon, which was held down by Foster Park. I forgot how much I love that area. After House Church was over, I convinced our host to walk around the blocks with me some so we could house look. Always gets me in the home improvement mode. Not such a good thing when you are broke! I think we'll slow down this fall sometime...perhaps...but then there is Thanksgiving...and then Christmas. Okay, let's shoot for January.

New Post

Wake up. Shower. Do hair. Wake Carlie up. Dress. Help Carlie dress. Wake Lucy. Carlie's hair. Carlie's breakfast. Pack lunch. Dress Lucy. Lucy's hair. Vitamins, claritin. Book bags checked. Breakfast dishes put away. Dishwasher unloaded. Crockpot started. Shoes on, coats on. Van loaded. Drop off Lucy. Drive to Carlie's school. Drop Carlie off. Discuss PTL items with school secretary. Answer questions about Upward. Small talk, small talk, small talk. Drive to work. Get coffee. Go through emails, print important emails. Return voice mails. Work, work, work. Work out. Eat lunch. Go through more emails. Check facebook (hee hee, that one is for me). Attend meeting. Participate in phone conference. Drive home. Dinner. Read paper. Go for walk, play game with kids. Unload back pack. Practice scripture. Go over sight words. Discuss our days. Bath time. Stories & devotions. Running. More email responses. Upward devotions, planning. Bible study. Load of laundry. Dishwasher loaded, started. Kitchen floor swept. Toys & books picked up. Blanket put away. Brush teeth, take vitamin. Climb into bed. Watch a little TV, fall asleep thinking about my to-do list tomorrow.

And I wonder where I can fit in more blogging?

Lucy's First Day Of School

Today was Lucy's first day of Preschool, and in her words.. it was "GRRRREAT!" She went to class in style and with a smile. She even told me that she didn't cry the whole time. I wonder if she had her doubts about that? She looked adorable and although my eyes teared up a little when I got into the van, I am so proud of my confident little girl's. We celebrated by going to lunch with Grandpa Toad and Grandma Barb. And I must admit, I was a little sad to be giving up my "mama day" with my girls to school...but as it turns out - I can get A LOT more errands done without them...who would have thought?