Another N Moment - the Value of DAD

It is no news around here that Dad is out of town. But N has come up with quite a few doozies this week. As this one keeps slipping my mind, I have to add it as well before I go to bed. This morning, a good 14 hours ago, N starts walking through the house hollering for his dad. This strikes me as odd and I really wonder about what planet he is existing on, cause he KNOWS his dad is gone. I find him and ask him why he is hollering for Dad cause he knows Dad is not here.
"I want some eggs."

"?? You want eggs?"

He nods his head. You see, Dad makes the meals around here while he is on second shift so Mom can get the homeschooling done. Dad gets little guy duty. Eggs are something the two of them like to do together and eggs are something D can't have cause he is allergic. (I think that is more behind the gotta have eggs than anything.) I just look at him all incredulous. Then I say with all the suprise and dismay of the mother who gave him birth, cause I can't fathom why he wouldn't just ask me,

"I can make you eggs."

"?? You can?" --- Total shock on his part, never in his lifetime would he have ever considered his mom could make eggs. I make everthing else, but eggs? that is like making a souffle or something. Well he got into it and was busy making sure I knew what to put in it, cause Dad makes them special. Rewind 10 years, and I remember a certain little A when she was 2 and dad was working 3rd shift, and eggs were their thing as well. Maybe eggs are Dad's thing? Dad was out of town and she wanted me to make eggs. I made them, served and they were summarily rejected. Why?? "They are not like Dad's eggs." "He doesn't make them that way." At least N received and ate my eggs. Maybe that is why he made his move on me during the movie.

Not to be left out, D had to check with me and ask me if I knew how to make "Saus, Saus"?
Sausage for those who need translation. Amazingly enough I knew how to do that as well. Though I quickly turned it over to my 12 yr. old who is becoming very skilled in the kitchen....cause yet another moment was occurring that needed mom. Ah, now my brain can rest. Good night all.

A SMOOTH OPERATOR

I have to blog this before I go off to bed. I will forget otherwise.

Tonight, my dear N cried and cried. "I'm tired. I don't want to go." (Awanas) "I want you to rock me in rocking chair." So a quick couple of calls, I found a vehicle with 3 empty seats and sent off my older 3. N, D and I set to having a quiet evening at home. Perfect after 4 hours at the park. (Mom was feeling better and the kids needed out of the house.)

We finally agreed on Gideon the Tuba Warrior, a Veggie's Tale. We snuggled up on the couch. Then D got up to dance to the music, cause that is what you do when you are 2 almost 3, tired and don't want to get too comfortable, lest you fall asleep. So N and I are sitting there. He scooches, and scooches some more right up next to me. Be sure to note he is four years old and is a short 4 yr. old. Our sides are touching and the next thing I feel is his arm around my neck. Awww. But that was not enough, he pulled me ever so gently by the neck till my head rested on his head. If I tried to raise my head he'd tug a little till it rested back on his head. I got love taps on the neck. And then finally he turned his head and kissed me on the cheek.

Where he is learning these moves I have no idea. His daddy needs to get home quick though, cause he is throwing too many WOWZZIES these days.

A 2 Year Old and the Power of Suggestion

It is 8:35 in the evening.

It has been a beautiful day.

Four hours spent at the park.

A shortened nap by brother N,

and then again shortened by sister M.

Snuggles on the couch instead of Awanas.

Brother N has fallen asleep.

Pitter Patter go the feet of a sweet 2 yr. old not quite asleep.

He looks up at Mom with those charming and adorable blue eyes.

Pause

"Good Morning,"

Then the question in the eyes..."did it work?"

"Good Night and to Bed!" says the chuckling Mom.

Sinus Infections Can be Costly but kids like the Perks!

Never have had a sinus infection this bad before. This one has sent me to the ER, then to the dr. for follow-up. Resulting in a CT Scan and then a trip to the ENT. The ENT then with tremendous gentleness scoped me in the office. Conclusion: One nasty virus resulting in one nasty sinus infection which will lead to some really horrible coughing eventually, so says the ENT. Drink lots of fluids, rest, take antibiotics, decongestants. Day 4 on antibiotics and not feeling a whole lot better. I dream about my ear drums bursting, releasing all the pressure in my head. I am soo glad they are dreams.

My kids can't wait for mom to be better, they miss doing school....well maybe not. However they do like:

**BONUS ! ! ** Mom has almost no voice. She feels so yucky she allows Rice Krispy Treats for breakfast & popcorn for dinner! Lots of time for creativity. Daughter cooks like crazy in the kitchen. The three older ones are reading every book they can. I think they have earned 5 maybe 6 personal pizzas between all of them, 1 free ticket to a hockey game and 3 or 4 ice cream treats from Braums.

Precious isn't He?

N is a sweet heart. He strokes my hair. He tells me I am beautiful. He is always quick to say "Have a good day." When one of us leaves, even if it is to just run a quick errand or go to the doctor. He asks his Dad on the phone, "Did you have a good day?" He strokes my cheeks and tells me he loves me.

He worries about looking like his 2 yr. old brother and spends quite a bit of time combing his hair to look different than D.

He/We are celebrating still. Last week we learned he has outgrown his food allergies. Still no red dye, but no other food limitations. He adores chocolate, cheese sticks and yogurt.

Then there is the other side....He is celebrating he doesn't have food allergies, but D does. Just a WEEEE bit of glee can be heard under that very serious factual statement.

Then there was today. He hasn't been feeling well. I wanted him to nap with me. He kept waking me and asking if he could get up. "NO! lay down!" After how many times of asking, he popped off this question: "When are you going to stop being a pain in my butt?" It took no time for me to pop up from my pillow and send his little tushy to his room.

When I relay this to Dad who is much quicker at the draw than Mom. Dad laughs and says "When you move out!"

After I calm down, I invite him back to my room. I need to be sure he understood me earlier, and if not impress it upon his brain further, "You NEVER NEVER state anything about Mom being a pain in your butt, Understand?"

"Yes, but, but, but (he is stuttering now)..."

"No buts, never again."

"HRUMPH, (a growly sort of sigh), You are ruining my life." and he stops out of my room.

Now a precious friend of mine, who later brought me Cider from Starbucksto soothe my throat, thinks this is a riot. Because of her encouragement I have posted this. She thinks one day, I will laugh about it. For now it strikes terror in my heart, right now he is only 4 years old. I don't even want to imagine what the coming years could bring.

I don't think I could ever say to my children, especially this one, "I hope you have a child just like you." For the most part they are truly charming.... However, I think praying/wishing another child like N onto my dear N would not be fair to his future wife. This same dear friend suggested twins then. I couldn't do that to my daughter-in-law. This same precious friend who's children have nicknamed N as the N-ator, laughed and said maybe God is already preparing his future wife for them.

For now I will pray for grace and wisdom for me and for God's hand to be on him.

Taking Care of Mom and Other Talents

I have been blessed with a wonderful 12 yr. old daughter. She not only told Dad to not worry, "I will take care of Mom," she has been very sweet and loving to all of us in the house so far this week. It can be very trying with two brothers not even 2 yrs. apart and are often in a ball of arms and legs, sometimes pleasantly and other times at war.

Sunday, she chose to make Banana bread for the first time ever while I took a nap. We had bananas that needed to go and I asked if she would like to try and make bread. She did a wonderful job and made a special loaf for her food allergic brother D. She made Rice Krispy Treats for the first time as well. But the clencher is she cleaned the kitchen up as well!

Monday (yesterday) according to the clock now...
She made these Braided Raisin breads with icing. (pictured in the blog) MMMMMmmmmm Good. Not happy tummy for the food allergies. And yet again while I was at the doctor office and then napping, she did laundry for the mother. I came home to neat piles of laundry on my bed and then woke to more.

Rainy Days....

How did this monkey hurt himself?

He's not hurt. He discovered his underwear fit on his head. If one pair fits, a second pair just might as well. Sis has the camera, how very cool....

The giggles and laughter abound. What's even better is Dad is on the phone as all this happens. Too bad he's not here to shake his head. Maybe Dad will proudly show off these pics to the people he is working with... You thinK?

5 Little Monkeys !

5 Little Monkeys go out to play, and none get hurt.

Momma doesn't have to call the dr. today.

Big Sis captures it all on camera.

Momma smiles and tells all 5 Little Monkeys how much she loves them. Quietly Momma remembers her climbing days. Trees, glorious trees, made for girls and boys to climb.

When the King of this Palace is Gone

All chaos tends to break loose.

The king is desperately needed to be present to care for his kingdom.

I wonder if all the calamities that present themselves when he is gone, are to remind us that he is wonderful husband and father. That we depend on him greatly, and he should not be taken for granted.

In the past, we have had straight line winds demolish our backyard and wrap our trampline around a fort.

We have had the heater go out.

We have had 3 inches of ice that trapped us in the house, cause I didn't know how to get the garage door open. (I now know how to)

I have had infants that have cried desperately for da da and unable to calm themselves until they heard "da da's" voice, which was actually's daddy's brother.

I have lost count of how many emergency trips to dr. offices or ERs for stitches.

This time, though the hurricane was forecasted before he left.

I won a night at the Hilton this past summer!

Grandma came to stay with the kids...all five of them. Isn't she something.

My man and I headed out around 2ish in the afternoon.

All was going great.

We went shopping and then to dinner.

My eyes are kind of hmmmm.

Hmmmm. after dinner lets go back to the hotel for a minute.

My eye is swelling. Hmmm. Call the dr. He takes pity and calls out eye drops for pink eye and some for dear husband. As it would totally be horrible for him to land in Atlanta & start to go hmmm.

We go to our movie. We saw FIREPROOF! A great movie by the way.

Then to Walgreens for our prescriptions. YIKES!

Back to the hotel and sleep, desperate for sleep. By now I just don't feel well. I wake up 3 hours later (2 AM on Sat.) and can't open my eyes. I pry them open and go to the bathroom. I look like I lost a fight in a bad way. I wake my Mike and he has to take me to the ER. Doctor has to pry my eyes open yet again. "IMPRESSIVE," he states. Guess he hasn't seen anyone with such a tremendous yuck in their eyes before. He cultures, gives me a prescription, tells me I will be sick for a couple of weeks and sends me on my way. No miracle wand, no magical shot to make me better. See your primary on Monday.

So my eyes are responding to the drops, my head is crammed full of stuff. Kids have banished me to my room cause they don't want to get sick. My throat is swollen as if I have strep (but I don't) and my ear feels like it could burst at anytime. My very sweet 12 year old tells Dad "Don't worry, while you are gone I will take care of mom." A CT Scan on Monday reveals every sinus cavity is packed and an ENT appt. is scheduled for Tuesday.

And Where is Dear Husband -- gone, gone, and we miss him. And yet, there is more.

the next post will show what my dear children have been up to so far the last 2 days.

When Dad Escapes the Hurricane Named Beach Gardens

So Dad doesn't travel a whole bunch anymore. He loves his brood and the craziness. But he does know that it is best to not elaborate too much about the restaurant meals, lack of dishes and any entertainment he gets to experience which is not provided courtesy of his children.

So on Sunday at 4:45 AM, he woke me to drip medicine in my eyes and to say Good-Bye. 3 hours later the children are being cheerful ! ? !

By early afternoon I have sent them outdoors to play. My 12 yr. old is "too old" to play. She asks to take pictures. She did a beautiful job. She even caught these two and their personalities.

My 9 yr. old demonstrates his unique monkey abilities to his brother. I wonder if he also gave instruction on how not to break any bones and other safety related important information. I figure he probably told him, to just make sure Mom doesn't catch him.

When all were thoroughly refreshed from being outside, the sick Mom was joined in her room. A whole other post to come!