She needs Grandma's sympathy and TLC

If you read the earlier posts....
M's pretty little thumb from her trip to Wal-Mart.

Lots of tears and pain this morning till the Motrin started working.

She was begging me to use the needle and make more holes.

She was so sad I suggested we call Grandma.

See if she could go spend a few days with Grandma.

Get spoiled and eat ice cream all day!

Big grin from her then.

However, Motrin kicked in and then she played the Wii. Lots of strikes and spares in bowling.
She even felt better enough to play tennis against him.

St. Nicholas Day continued...

D needing restraining! Doesn't he look happy!
Children should just not have birthdays so close to Christmas.
It is just too confusing for them.

He hasn't got a clue! He only know s it is Scooby Doo!

N has no clue. It is not what he asked for!
Because that is the kind of parents we are!

They've got a clue.
Their suprise and shock left them speechless and quiet!

Which of course left the parents in shock!

All but D were okay with no money and candy in the shoes after they opened gifts.
S was sweet and kind to D and put a penny in his shoe!

Who knew !

All through my teen years and into college I thought I wanted to be a doctor. God did some changes in me and I quit school for a time. A short time later, I met my dear husband. And many years and 5 children later I have racked up quite a few medical experiences.
I have had 7 completely different pregnancies and 5 of them very complicated, interesting and frightening to boot.
All of my children have had stitches at least once. Some more than others.
One has had staples in his head.
I have had 2 with broken arms.
A couple of concussions to deal with.
One with a broken nose requiring surgery, to break it all over again 2 weeks later after surgery.
One was hospitalized at 6 weeks of age for cellulitis.
2 have been hospitalized for respiratory issues.
I have ridden in an ambulance with one.
I super-glued one child's chin instead of going in to let the dr/nurse do it.
All 5 have had to have nasal extractions in the doctor office. I wish I could put the smiley with eye rolling next to this one.
Last month I did my first nasal extraction cause I just couldn't bear to go in yet again for another one. So I pinned him down with my weight and ignored his crying. Fortunately, it was the eraser from the end of a pencil and it was easy to grasp with tweezers. He informed me his brother did it?! ! ? Whatever.....
Countless other off the wall procedures. All firsts for me.
And now I know how to use a "needle" to put holes in my daughter's nail."
We go to a clinic where everyone seems to know me well enough to remember my last name if not the first names of all us.
The clinic staff seem to notice when we haven't been in for a while.
The scheduler at the ped's desk knows my voice and just has to ask which one.

Who knew back then all the "medical experience" I would rack up. I almost can't wait to see what my grandchildren are going to do. Yet, it concerns me as well. I wonder if I will have any nerves left to remain calm.

Happy St. Nicholas Day! with some freebies

D was awake this morning first. Not a surprise here. Fortunately, my ears picked up the rattle of paper and there was some sort of connection to my brain. "D leave the presents alone!" Dad was shocked cause I sleep hard. He informed D he was going back to bed, ours or his. He chose ours. Couple of hours later I feel him sneakily wiggling off the bed. We are hard pressed to convince him to wake the other children. He wants the pile of presents for himself. S wakes up and pretty much tackles him. Finally, we are able to wake them! The younger two are somewhat confused. "Happy Birthday!" "Happy Birthday! Santa" We gave up and let them think as they will for the year.
Then N noticed his shoes weren't by the door and he was a little distressed. But St. Nick didn't forget him either.
..........and the kids are having fun now.

This year St. Nick's day happened with a few bumps in the road. Dad decided we would do something different at the last minute. So mom + 2 went off to Wal-Mart yesterday evening. A was babysitting a neighbor girl & was left at home with 3 kiddos. D didn't want to go. He was having so much fun creating a not so fun atmosphere for the rest of them. "I want my A-Y" is what he screamed for a while. Once at Wal-Mart, M shuts her fingers completely in the door. So back in the truck and to immediate care down the road. Fortunately, no broken fingers. However, the doctor did bore a hole in her nail to relieve some of the pressure and showed me how as well. I will try and post some pictures later....or maybe not. So off to Wal-Mart, cause we just keep plodding along in this household. Score some St. Nick treats, and deals to boot. Got the big present. Went home and put 3 more holes in Dear M's thumb nail.
But alas, the deals were perfect for our new medical experience!

The deals were:
buy 2 Band-Aid Red cross first aid kits and use a $3/2 Man. Printable Q. The band-aid kits are in the travel section for a $1. If I had been frugal I would have applied the overage from 2 coupons and 4 kits to the gift. However, the 2 children I am with found 2 color books for $0.97 each. I had no "NO" power left in me. So they got their treasures as well. Though they are long forgotten now that St. Nick has visited. Maybe they'll be stocking stuffers!

Some Much Needed R and R

So we didn't know what to do for D's birthday. We have had an extremely stressful 4 months. Not to mention we bribed the (at the time) soon to be 3 yr. old. Go potty on the toilet and we will go to GWL. Okay. Major cooperation there. All 7 schedules meshed and we took off for some much needed family time and Rest and Relaxation. Not to mention the amazing deal we got. Dear Husband qualified for a promotion deal for military and their families.

For those very detailed people. I know the dates are wacky on the pictures. My camera is messed up and that is one thing I have yet to take the time to work on.

A fun little survey!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Paper unless it is too difficult to wrap!
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? Dec. 6 ~ St. Nicholas Day!
4. When do you take the tree down? Ummm, when I can procrastinate no more. I don't like to put it up, I don't like to take it down. I do it for the kids. Then I do it for my sanity!
5. Do you like eggnog? no
6. Favorite gift received as a child? when I was 18, I got a leather coat
7. Hardest person to buy for? the men in the family
8. Easiest person to buy for? this year, my oldest children
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, and I will still be finding pieces to it in April, probably. The kids love to play with it.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail, but maybe not this year at all.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? My Christmas (2 weeks) before my wedding. Dear husband got me nothing! (yes,there's a little more to the story. But I did get nothing.)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? None, they all drive me nuts.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? As soon as I start finding goodies. THis year it was late summer....stocking stuffers.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Carmel rolls, Christmas dinner, deserts, peppermint ice cream with or in Hot Chocolate.
16. Lights on the tree? yes, prefer white
17. Favorite Christmas song? All of them. I am guilty of singing "I saw mommy kissing Santa" a lot. Mike told me on Black Friday he "got it". Mommy is not having an affair. It is daddy. LOL
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I prefer home. At least in the morning.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Probably not,
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? we have Jesus. We found him on our honey moon.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Normally one on Christmas Eve...pretty jammies for morning pics. THis year none. We don't need jammies. The rest on Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Rowdy kids who can't focus on what they are told to do.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Snowmen. Can put them up and not take them down till spring.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey, pie, ummm, the whole dinner thing.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To forget about the evil in this world for one day and to have my mother-in-law with us at least till after the first of the year.
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? I dunno, whoever has their shopping done?
27.Who is least likely to respond to this? Whoever is stressed and has too many things to do, unless they are procrastinating big time.

Food and Love Languages!

N confirmed tonight his love language is food.
Our first inclination was when he was about 2 1/2.
Grandma opened the oven and pulled the turkey out.
His eyes got REAL BIG and he said, "WOW!" in a hushed
and almost reverant voice.
Which of course had us laughing.
Tonight, I was tucking him in.
"And, and, and, Mom, Mom, Mom, one more thing."
"Uh-huh, What?"
"Breakfast tomorrow, what are we going to have." For breakfast, ummm, ummmm, I want.....
Ummmm, I will have to think about it.
"Okay, you think about it, good night."
This all after a quick trip out of town for some much needed R&R. Making do with Cheerios, breads, yogurt and such. Whatever was quick. If you look back on an earlier post, you will note eggs were an issue when Daddy was out of town.

Happy Birthday Mr. Smiley!

Mr. Smiley is 3. We love his smile around here. His giggle is infectious. Even though big brother N and D fight like cats and dogs they are brothers through and through and love each other lots. "I love you, D, truly" and "I love you, D, dearly" Even though he gets into stuff and makes messes the rest of us have to clean up, all he has do is say, "I sowwy ___." We smile and melt and tell him, "I forgive you." Sweet Dreams with your "Jesus loves me blankie" tucked safely in your mouth.



Happy Birthday sweetheart.