It's All About the Numbers!

Oh gosh.  I only ever have time for a quickie.  ; )  Here are some Picture People pictures, and if I'm behind sending you a thank you note for your graciousness, please forgive me!!  I'm going as fast as I can!

And then…yesterday was our endocrinology appointment.  Mary Claire had a too-high a1c, and she was honest about why.  I have tried so hard to micromanage her blood sugar, every carb in (we even count gum now!), and I'm constantly rechecking her basal.  All that to say…it wasn’t my human error.  (can I say thank goodness, or is that wrong?)
 
She told me that all those food wrappers I’d found in her room, she had indeed consumed.  She said she wasn’t so much sneaking food (my words) as hiding extra food when she asked for a snack (I know, mincing words).  She said she’d hold a pack of peanut butter crackers with 2 protein bars behind them, and ask for a snack.  When we said yes, give yourself a bolus…she’d bolus for the crackers and one protein bar.  The other she just ate. (!)  She said she thought if the carb number in the bolus was too high, I’d find it in her bolus history. (ha! She gives me tooo much credit.)  So, this is the Random High Culprit.  I’m just glad to get it out in the open honestly.

She obviously doesn’t want me mad at her, and I asked her if she thinks I’d rather find her 400 or find an extra bolus, and she didn’t know. (!)  Does she know me at all?  It’s all about the numbers.  So, I told her what I’d rather find.  We discussed it all with the doctor too, since I’ve been feeling awful about why her a1c has been higher the past two visits, and why I can’t figure out the random high numbers.  I felt like I had some ‘splaining to do.  So we both felt bad. 

Better now, thank goodness.  He said we need to make a list/spot for snacks she can have ANYtime, even 10 minutes before dinner, so she has some autonomy.  Good idea.  Gotta add that to my Things To Do list. ; )

And add to Momma's grief?  I got a 'letter' in the mail about Ethan's kindergarten testing.  Seems we still have some work to do.  He doesn't know his nickel or dime and their values, doesn't know what an exclamation point, period, comma, or question mark are (or mean!), and can't count to 50 properly.  Umm..and has to point to words as I read them in a book...there's a little more.  Let's just say when he woke me up at 7 this morning (after going to bed at 11:30 and feeding a baby all night), I made him breakfast and sat at the bar with him reading books, and TEACHING!!  It's been a long time, but I can't believe he's deficient. : (  I can't let them remember I'm a teacher!  I'm a disappointment to my profession!  (well, I am out of a contract and even my license is expired at this point...) ; )  Is that explanation enough?

Hope your littles have good numbers... and know their numbers! ; )

We're not in Kansas anymore : )

Guess who’s posting again?  Miracle, I tell you.  Or a road trip..everyone buckled up really gives me some breathing typing room ; ) But, not to worry...when I get home all that laundry catches up with me.
We made a small road trip this weekend-to Kansas City!  We lost our Picture People (the only one in Arkansas!) this past year, so we drove to the closest one. : ) The bringing home of a total matted, framed picture that you can hang immediately has totally been missed!  That’d be my favorite thing about them.  That, the clean backgrounds, and speedy process!  I can appreciate all of the above. ; )
And?  When we checked to see what else there is to do..we found out a new Legoland Discovery Center opened this spring!  We had to go.  And, of course American Girl is totally necessary. ; )

Here are some pictures of our weekend..and tomorrow?  I'll finally get around to uploading our pictures from the photo shoot at Picture People.  : ) 

In the Lego "Factory"-these are the plastic color beads

They got these free lego pieces after the "tour".  (in quotes since it was super short, could be self-guided, and was all in one room.  Also obvious?  They don't make legos there.)

A master builder at work, and on display.  We oogled his toys.

And how much did he weigh in lego bricks?  ..about 17,000!

On the Kingdom Quest ride..Not for little kids, i.e. babies.  We waited at Stroller Parking. ; )

KC Miniland.  Pretty cool.  The city made of Legos..complete with a spinning house, melting witch, and Wizard, from Oz of course (and all made of Legos). 

Took this picture a little prematurely.  He slept through the first half of Legoland.  Then was AwAkE. and unhappy about it the second half!

Should've asked the wizard for a shushing song for my sweet baby?  While we watched the kids on the next ride..they pedaled to fly higher and higher.

Building platforms..and big earthquake proof lego structures!  You could push a button to change the earth shaking movement. ; )

Ethan's favorite: Building cars and racing them!

Legos everywhere, and none of the structures was off-limits ; )

Then, on the way home, we stopped at Ft. Scott cemetery to see Ches' dad's grave site, and I saw the perfect wall for some pictures. ; )

Sweet kids.

Thank you, Ches' daddy, for making a great son!

Isn't the rhythm of the perfectly spaced stones beautiful?  I'm just sorry there are this many that have passed.  Hopefully it was later rather than sooner.

This is the one we're looking for!  Seventh row on the right, 32nd over.  Now, we'll find it easier next time.

Hope you had a great weekend!  Did you do anything fun?  Dress a family for pictures?  in a faraway city?  Do your makeup in the car since you let the kids swim too long in the hotel pool this morning?  Leave your wallet at your hotel..and have to go back for it?  And find and hug the sweet lady who found it and turned it in?  Rock on the porch at Cracker Barrel playing checkers with the kids at 8 at night, knowing you still had a drive in front of you?  Yeah, I had fun too. : )  

Playing Ketchup! (probably on my shirt..)

Hey there!  Long time, no talk. ; )  We've been enjoying life with four...and no sleep. ; ) We are getting used to functioning on a lower battery..so it's all good.  Big events keep passing us by-and I haven't had time to tell you ALL about them!  There are so many missed opportunities, but suffice it to say that I'm living them, soaking them up, and loving on my kiddos.  If I have five extra minutes I need to love on the older kids, get a few minutes sleep, or sweep up my kitchen floor...so blogging has taken a back seat. ; )  I hope it'll get better.  (at least the sleeping part?)

Here is a cliff's notes version of our last two weeks:

Mary Claire had a swimming/American Girl birthday party...she's 10 now! : )

Happy Birthday, sweet girl.  I'm so proud of you!  Did you make a wish?

Obviously we obliterated the cake. ; ) We crafted necklaces, shrinky dinks, doll hair elastics and clips, and...

the American Girl dolls even had their own table!  They had miniature placemats, plates, cups, and even food. ; )  It was so cute!

And then my handsome boy...graduated!  Fifth grade graduation, he's headed to middle school now! : )  We've had a wonderful year, and Mr. Ruddick was his favorite teacher ever.

So proud of you!

won't be long..and this one will be there too! : )

And then...Ethan graduated preschool and Mother's Day Out! : )  He was wonderful on stage-wish I had room to post all his sweet songs on video. ; )

Yes, this was all in two weeks!!  Next was Carter's baptism.  The kids have all worn the same baptismal gown..it's perfect for hiding mama's imperfections. ; )  He was very good, and I'm thrilled to have him baptized!

Brian and Courtney are a huge blessing-they are Carter's godparents!  They are amazing parents to their five boys, and I'm so happy to call them our friends. ; )

I think it's only the second picture of all four of them together.  Love these kids!  I think we are planning to get their pics made this weekend in Kansas City. ; )

I can see these didn't go in order!  This is my Mother's Day Tea with Ethan-he'd made tons of beautiful, touching art, and sang for me.  Precious child of God.

He even served me.  (and they made the food!)

Mother's Day at Ches' mom's house: in a tin lizzie, so cute! Still needs a little work, but the kids thought it was da bomb. ; )

His first convertible. ; )

I think he's our most photogenic child. ; )

Could I have the forgiveness and sweet faith of this girl, please?  This is at a Mother-Daughter Tea Party for mother's day!  (I was treated really special this mother's day!)

oh..and her beauty? ; )

We usually let the kids choose where to eat dinner on their birthdays..but she chose Home!  So..I checked her out of school, and took her to lunch.  She picked Red Lobster, and then asked if I could tell them secretly it was her birthday.  We ordered the lava cookie, and they all sang and all the staff signed a card just for her, with her name and everything!  She felt so special. : )

again..I think they got out of order. ; )  Is he laughing? at the "dress"?

For my best friend Angie's birthday, we went to Branson.  She chose Applebee's, some miniature golf, and shopping!  They stayed longer and got to go to White Water and Silver Dollar City.  Hope she has a fantastic birthday!! : )

The bottom of my post..isn't it the sweetest?  This is Carter sleeping while I got a shower in the hotel this weekend.  I just love these new sleepers with the faces on the behind.  Carters is ingenious. ; )

So..that was my shortest/longest update ever.  I'm promising to do my best to keep up now that I'm caught up.  Yes, promising to try. ; )  I will say that four is harder than I dreamed it'd be, to be honest.  There's never a down moment, but I think we'll figure it out.  The rewards are exponential, so we are still thankful!

Hope everything at your house is wonderful!  (if so..do you have tips for me?? heehee)  Hugs!
 

Inadequate

You could say that four kids have definitely changed my days, and my mojo.  I feel behind with all the little things that need to get done, and sometimes just plain ol’ inadequate.  I had three under control, but now I just feel like I’m playing Whack-a-Mole.  Whatever is looming gets priority (or whoever is loudest!).

Sweet boy.  Yes, sometimes he's loudest...but sometimes it's the bigger ones! ; )

Two nights ago, I was on my bed nursing Carter (which is slightly incapacitating), and Mary Claire came in feeling low.  She kept throwing herself across the end of the bed telling me she was h-u-n-g-r-y!  …and that meant she wanted me to get her something.  I kept telling her I was feeding Carter and to please go get something-anything.  More whining…and I realized I was dealing with Low Blood Sugar Mary Claire.  Nothing makes sense, just whining.  It gets a wee bit stressful.

I know.  Looking at him sleeping is so calming.  Keep thinking...Calm.

And added to that was the fact that Ches was at Clay’s ball game.  So I was alone.  (Put on a happy face…)  : )  Because it was about to get worse.  Ethan came in screaming that he’d cut his finger.  He wanted Mommy to love on him and get him a band-aid, Stat!  And the screaming and loud whining makes a startled Carter pull off screaming.  Fun times, friends!  (don’t worry-the cut wasn’t even an eighth of an inch long) ; )

Thank goodness, it’s definitely rewarding overall.  My babies are all so sweet, and they are loving on Carter, which makes my heart grow three sizes just to watch! : )  In wanting a baby for our family, I didn’t consider how a baby would bring out the best in my other kids.  Even now, I think about the work load..but overlook the fact that my kids are sharing, taking turns, and serving one another.

...and making us laugh!  (they got this from a gumball machine-love it soo much better than the sticky frogs and rings he normally gets!)  And?  It came with a fun accent. ; )

Ethan likes me to put Carter’s diapers on the floor, so he can put them in the Diaper Genie.  He gets all upset if there aren’t any. ; )  They are all good to go get diapers, clothes, blankets or burp rags if we have a little surprise mess, and  Mary Claire loves to buckle Carter in his car seat.  I can even count on Clay or Mary Claire to carry his car seat, and they are so careful!  And baby bathtime?  Totally as good as a broadway show-I could sell tickets!  (and I still don’t understand why..)

I admitted to a friend last night how absolutely hard it is to have four, and she appreciated the honesty.  (Oops!)   She said no one else (who had four or more kids) had told her it was hard.  Seriously?  So is it just me that thinks it's hard?  I love my kids, but it's a job to get everyone ready for school in the morning, get everyone bathed and to bed, and make sure they all feel loved on each day.  I didn't say it wasn't fun or that I regretted one second, but hard?  Yep.  Just takes a lot of time and patience.  Two things I can always work on. : )

 but how precious are these teensy feet?  I just love them. : )  see-no regrets!