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Hmm..Today my tiny son brought me a caulking gun. Tells of what's going on at our house! The painters are still in knee deep (and 22 ft. shoulder deep too) and are getting it done. They did the foyer yesterday and I was so unhappy and got all worked up about it, but it's working out. They put Kilz over the water stain and then painted it, and it has a different sheen than the rest of the ceiling-so obvious! I wanted no Kilz on it, but either he didn't understand, or I don't know-a misunderstanding? He's doing the whole celing in Kilz then repainting. The color formula was changed in Nov of 2008, so it wasn't even the same exact color-the ceiling looked darker than the walls (further throwing me into hissy-fit mode). Again, it's going to be okay, but I wouldn't let him proceed with the kitchen/living room/stairs/walls until he got the color matched okay and promised no more Kilz. He did, so procedure tomorrow....
So today was Mary Claire's room and ceiling. Ugh. I asked them not to put anything back up on the walls or ceililng (yesterday they took down those stupid stars/planet things ticky-tacked to Clay's ceiling *Insert Expletive Here for The First Time they got put up* and then PUT THEM BACK UP! after they painted OVER the ticky-tack!). Again, today I said not to put the junk (stars! stickers! etc.) back up on Mary Claire's walls or ceiling when they were done. Can you guess? They did, of course, put it all back, and not quite in the right places. I could've SCREAMED when I walked in there and found her paper chain (scrapbook paper in pink toile, solid light and dark pink cardstock, and pale lime scrapbook polka dot and cardstock-not hideous, very PB!) poked back into the ceiling and not in the measured spots where it's lived for three years! They apparently pulled out the tacks, laid them somewhere (painting over the reminder holes, I guess?) and then attempted to "redecorate" with them. It looked like Mexican Fiesta. Crazy. Some were hanging low, some poked way higher (on a sloping wall). It was awful. So now we have NeW, CRooKeD holes! ahhhh!! I don't do well with change, maybe? Or gross mess up changes? Now the chains look uncool.
I will live through this $4500 change (don't freak out, of course it's insurance money), I will live, I willl live. There are more important things in the world. Remind me if you see me of all the other problems in your world. Mine won't look so awful.
Okay, so Ethan. STiLL sick! BAck to the dr. after two long nights up with him with fever. We have started ear drops (Ciprodex for his tubes), and yesterday morning he woke up with dried yellow drainage all over (good news, meaning his tube unclogged and let all the fluid out). Well, not good enough news. He had a double ear infection, and both ear drums were bulging. Even WITH the tubes for drainage (or not.). So now he's on Omnicef for 10 days (we'll be in Disney in 7...), has to use his Ciprodex for 7 days, and use his inhaler four times a day for 7 days. Ahh, good times.
My very good news: I got to play outside, clean the pool deck-sweep and hose down all the nasty oak pollen stringy things, and rearrange furniture-it was so cleansing! And I even let the kids put on their swimsuits for the first official time this season and swim (yes, granted, in the polar water), but they were entertained (well, along with the creepy poop and toot jokes that Clay currently thinks are all the rage), and I got lots done! THen, even better, I laid out, and fell asleep! It was so relaxing! Then ...
My SCARE! I woke to Ethan standing next to me with his hand on mine. I woke with a start, started mumbling (in an attempt to think out loud how he was OUTside!), remembered that we turned the beepy thing off the alarm since the kids were opening/closing the door so much and were going to wake him up, wondered where on Earth Ches was! not watching our baby, tried to figure out how he got out of his bed, then felt his diaper to see if it was changed (did Ches get him out?), then was freaking out over the possibility that he'd walked out on his own, and how did God protect him and keep him from deciding to go for a swim (I mean, Ethan and water? like pb and j!) and then I looked around to see Ches on the other side of the pool snickering. Yes, giggling as he could see I was clearly about to have a heart attack in the 10 seconds all this was going through my head! He'd brought Ethan out and stood him by me (knowing I was out cold), then when I didn't wake up for FiVe minutes, he put Ethan's hand on mine, then walked off. Enter me-crazed and panicked. Ethan just sat calmly in my lap for a good 15 minutes as he woke up too. For that, Ches had to make dinner. I was clearly not in a Happy Place. I still feel all freaked out.
I let Ethan put on his swimsuit and put his feet in (he, being smarter than the other two, knew that if the feet are freezing, you should not put more of your body in!), while Ches grilled.
So...I must not have high blood pressure or tons of cholesterol, or God's not ready to see me up close yet, because I didn't have a heart attack and die today!! I'm alive to live another day. I hope I live an amazing day tomorrow, cause I consider it a gift! A Bonus in the cereal box of life!
Ok, so baths, stories, and I'm more tired than the kids! I read to them for over an hour (it just flew by!) and I'm headed to bed early. I've decided I need it once a week to catch up after all my midnight nights. They are SO productive, but then I get worn down. (I made a wreath last night, vacummed, dusted, did three loads of laundry, mopped the kitchen, cleaned my desk, cleaned my bathroom, cleaned up the wreath mess, rearranged the hearth room and rehung pictures all after the kids went to bed last night-and I had a coffee, heehe). That shall NOT happen tonight! : ) G'night!
It's been so very long..let's see, I don't even know how long it's been! Call it a Facebook hiatus! I'll get back on track. I have a timer I'm using now to keep me focused. : )
The Rundown:
Friday: Volunteered at school and helped with writing about their dream pets, went to lunch with Jen, shopped at Interiors Galleria (again!), home, got ready to go, Vanessa came to watch the kids, then Ches and I went out to Red Lobster, to Pottery Barn (my Friday night hangout!) and got the new catalog from Kyle that comes out next week!, then to the movies to see Duplicity (can't give it 5 stars, maybe 3.5, I can tell you why after you see it), and Mary Claire was over 300 most of the night, so I did tons of texting, and fortunately, didn't get thrown out of the theater! : ) Three cheers!
Saturday: Got kids baths, played a little, made Reagan's bday card (poem, stamps, glittery stuff), too much catching up on FB, all went to church together, 4:20 took MC to the skating party (brought back memories of my 8th birthday party I had there! It still stinks like feet there!), 4:40 back to church (picked up boys), 5:00 back to skating rink, they dropped me off, then they picked us up at 5:50, then called a pizza order into Tim's, ran down there, ate, then they dropped me at the mall to meet Melissa (whom I haven't seen in sooo long!) then we partied at the mall, then she brought me home (and I almost had a heart attack in her car when her phone rang, and a woman took over the speakers really loudly-I thought I was dying!!).
Sunday: Up, around, little more FB, laundry, lunch, tiny bit of reading, and cleaning stamps (as Mary Claire used about 45 on a little card!), get ready for trip, then to Missouri to see Ches' mom (actually a very nice visit), then to Fazoli's for more dinner for those ravenous kids! and home. Long weekend.
Ethan is still doing very well. No long term problems, I guess. He was holding his neck when he got in the van today, and I'll stress about his neck/head for a month, I'll bet.
Ok, somehow I just erased a whole section. I write only my crazy, random thoughts, so I have no idea what I just wrote about! heehee Will try to go on.. like Titanic! : )
Spring Break has officially begun! I didn't have to make lunches, make Mary Claire's lunch note, lay out clothes (after consulting our crazy weather), so Woo Hoo!... Let's see how I feel tomorrow!
I just found out that my friend's husband had a heart attack today, and will have bypass surgery tomorrow at 11am. Please pray for the successful surgery, and a speedy recovery. I can't imagine the scare, and what it's like. I guess it's like seeing someone else's life flash before your eyes. Just think about them. : )
My sweet daughter can be so crafty (wonder where she gets it?). She made a cute card today-it's all stamps (All in the Family and Family Accessories from Stampin' Up!) of her, Clay, and Ethan, and they are all holding things (bear, ball, bat, tutu, pets, and wearing party hats), and it's soo cute! I'm thinking about letting the kids have a fun party (for no real reason) this week. They have some friends who aren't leaving town, so they could all plan their own party/games/food, then celebrate! If your kids will be here, let us know! The kids will be (kinda, as I am still OC) in charge! Maybe play tent under the table, or Hullabaloo? They want cake or to decorate cookies. They think the small things are so great! Since I can't completely turn her loose for her bday, maybe now is a good non-party! Then no one has to bring bday gifts. Maybe we could gather dog food for the animal shelter? They have a real soft spot for doggies now. : ) Maybe it'll just be like a fun VBS week? No, that'd take planning on my part! : )
Ches goes back to work tomorrow. His break is over. : ( I'm glad that Arkansas has decided to coordinate all the spring breaks from now on. It's tough not having vacation together. He got lots of work done-mostly getting the back yard prepped for landscaping. He dug tunnels, used drainage pipe underground, laid river rock over them (we'll cover it though) with soil and bark. It may be another week till we get the plant in. It's work! He said tonight on the way back from Missouri that he's ready to open the pool! It's way too cold to swim, but it's just beautiful to look at. We could heat it, but when it's this cool, it takes too long to make it worth it. The only problem: then you have to keep it clean! Skimming, chemicals, aahhh, I don't think I'm ready! And then the kids start asking daily when they can swim! We really pushed it last year by letting them swim in May. It's not even April yet!
I'm still thinking about my breakfast room...I was thinking dark, hot pink (like raspberry), but now I'm thinking lime green, but maybe pale turquoise... Because it's on the north side, it needs to be a brighter color than I have now. It seems dark and small. I've got the new chair seat cushions (remember-lime and choc zebra?), so they would go best with the lime or raspberry. I feel like turquoise. I saw this great scheme at Interiors Galleria with the black/wood table like I have, and turquoise dishes (Vera Bradley! I didn't even know she had a home line!) It was so fresh and clean. I will have to see if I can find fabric to pull the lime, turquoise, and chocolate (and maybe black!) together. I'll have shorter drapes/curtains this time. I've enjoyed them, but I want something simpler now. Maybe even matchstick blinds to match my wood and no curtains? Hmm..will keep thinking about!
Must go to bed. Since it's not a school night, my kids will be up playing before 6:30 or 7am (school morning means I pull them out of bed about 7:10-after 10 minutes of singing, hugging/tickling, and finally nagging!). They are smarter than I give them credit for!
ps-get ready Baby Bookworms for my three kiddos! : )
I've spent all my computer time (and cleaning time, and cooking time, and laundry time..) on my background research (heehee) to work on making new backgrounds. Finding them isn't just enough, but aquadots will do for a few days till I can spend a little more time on it. I made a cute faded dot with Pooh quote, but I kept getting the quote too big, then Firefox shut down on me. Yes, really. I only had 11 tabs open. It was just too much. So, I updated to version 3, and here I am!
Things I Never Thought I'd Say:
No! Don't get your blanket in your poop! (And worse: Then it'll take an hour to wash and dry it and you won't have it for nap!)
I survived yesterday's small crisis, and slept hard last night. I thought we weren't going to keep our puppy-Serious. I was upset, we were all upset, long story... So I was taking her over to Gigi's to let her spend the night, but then I stayed, calmed down, baked Pumpkin Spice Muffins (see yummy recipe below!) and decided to take her home. It was traumatic. I just wasn't sure the kids were ready-they've been rough with her, and I was thinking only of her. And, thinking of her, I didn't want her to have to get used to another home when this is what she knows. So, I decided to keep her with me even more.
Lexi is doing better-she's already made 3 pees, and 1 poop-on papers! Yay! I should just figure out how to make tally marks. : ) She's getting better, and I'm getting more attached. I was trying to leave me out of the equation yesterday, but maybe I can't!
We went to the Girl Scout Cookie Kickoff! So, today is the first official day we can sell cookies! (and I left the forms at Gigi's) We'll get right to work! If you want any, let me know. We also have service organizations to give the cookies to if you don't eat cookies (Our troop is sending them to Support the Troops-NWA and Shiloh Health and Rehab). You still buy them, but we give them away. They have a new baker-I think I mentioned it.. Anyway, they have the really old names: Caramel Delite is now Somoa, the Peanut Butter Sandwiches are now Do-Si-Do's, the old shortbreads are now Trefoils, the yummy peanut butter patty (with Chocolate) is now Tag-a-long. But good ol' Thin Mints get to keep the same name!
Do you ever wonder about your friend's health, but you can't say anything? It's a catch-22 (or 44!). If you notice them looking poorly, and ask them if anything's wrong-there are four things that could happen: One, there is something wrong, and they are so relieved you know them well enough to notice. Two, they don't know you well enough, and are offended you'd ask. Three, there is nothing wrong, and they are mad that you think they look "bad"! Fourth, and most rare, they don't think they're sick, but admit they should get more sleep, or have a physical. So, do you ask them about it, or wait-and-see, hoping they don't die? Seriously.
I was helping Clay's class with writing yesterday morning, and I was working with a sweet little girl. She was writing about her cat, Mouse. It was very funny-she showed me how Mouse runs on the wood floor when she chases her! And she wrote all about what she liked about Mouse and about her favorite paw. Isn't is precious how little kids can focus their thoughts on one tiny thing for a long time? I have trouble focusing without my mind jumping to the 18 things I could or should be doing at any one time. I think that's why I like to go-to focus my mind off myself for a little while. It's like Simpler Times.
Well, the other big thing that happened, is Nurse Patty probably had a Heart Attack! She couldn't get up, was in excrutiating pain-like a knife stabbing her!-when it happened, so she couldn't check Mary Claire (she checked herself, and was fine). The biggest shocker was that she didn't call 911-nor did anyone else! She stayed there, scheduled a dr's appt, and was planning to stay until Nurse Tracy got there! Was she MAD!? I came in about 11am, and she was STiLL there! I asked if she'd had any aspirin yet, and how did she feel? She said that the pain wasn't too bad-She's A Nurse! I ran to the gas station and got her some BC powder, which she took, and I made her leave. What's with women? Why do they have to care for everyone else and put themselves last??!! If you don't make it, you can't serve everyone anymore! Ok, so has anyone heard how Patty is? I'm so worried about her!
Lesson Learned: I left the school, went to WM (always WM-everyday for something), and got aspirin for the school, aspirin for home, and baby aspirins for me to take every day. My family has heart disease and high blood pressure, I'm not taking any chances! So, I had one of the little gems today. At first it's candy-like, and I could see why kids could OD, but then the bitterness kicked in. Nope, one a day is enough.
Please pray for Patty and her heart. And my beloved: take a baby aspirin every day. If only to live to serve others for another day.
Here's your recipe, that's not guaranteed not to cause heart palpitations!
Pumpkin Muffin Recipe:
Can Pumpkin
Box Spice Cake Mix (think Betty Crocker)
Bag MINI Chocolate Chips
Mix together pumpkin and cake mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Mixture will be thick like cookie dough! Put into mini muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Makes about 48. Yummy! : )
