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!