Guess what I did today??

I vacuumed our dog! Yep! Sure did.
He was shedding, hair was getting everywhere. We would brush and the hair would fly off him. Kept thinking, would be kind a cool if we could use the vacuum and keep the hair from going all over.
So I tried it.
He let me do it! Okay, someone held onto his collar. Hence, he knew he was caught and didn't struggle. BUT..he did not growl. He did not try to get away. He did not nip at me or the vacuum or the person holding his collar at the time. He just sat there.
I used the vacuum this morning.
Then this afternoon, he stunk. Like barn stink. yech! So we gave him a bath. As the water hit him in the shower, chunks of hair started to fall off of him. I was flabbergasted. I scrubbed and rinsed. Before a few minutes passed, I was covered in hair. I had no idea a bath would cause his hair to just fall off of him.
So we got the brush (defur-inator) and more chunks of hair. Needless to say, Little Princess had the job of keeping the drain clean and free from the hair. Dried him and let him loose. Still lots of hair on the hand after petting him.
We got the vacuum out again. He looks 10 pounds lighter. He wasn't obese. He was HAIRY! He is really calm tonight. No bouncing around or trying to get on the table. Thinking we might need to keep the vacuum out all the time.

Ha, google ads have a sense of humor....

So I have these ads running in my margin. I just noticed that today's ads are all about casts, medical supplies, etc. Anyhooo, just thought that was pretty funny.

Oh, how HE loves me

I don't think I could ever say my life has been easy. There have been moments when God has blessed me with a season of calmness and peace. But there has been much drama in my life, childhood, adulthood, parenthood, the whole shebang. Through it all, I have had one constant request of the Lord, if this must be how it is, then please use it. Please don't let my tears and struggles be for nothing. May this time bless someone else. Don't get me wrong. I beg God for things to be different, I ponder what it might be like to have a boringly sedate and calm life. I kind of long for it at times. Yet, in all the craziness of this drama filled, rollercoast life of mine, I, also, experience God in ways I never could in a boring, sedate and calm life. I find myself tucking away these memories into my heart to ponder, cherish and cling to for the years to come. Some of these, I hold onto quietly, secretively, tucked deep into my heart. To share them, would reveal too much and possibly hurt one that I love. Others, I share quietly and then others I shout from the rooftops. Recently, God gave me a hug beyond anything I could imagine. A note of love for me to tuck deep into my heart and hold onto.

You see, I got a kiddo, well actually 5 of them. But this kiddo, some would say he has 'special needs'. He is absolutely brilliant. Far too brilliant for his age and he struggles socially. The memories of my childhood have come rushing back. I try to not share too much of his struggles. Labels, misconceptions, gossip, prejudice are all things that concern me. I want to protect him as much as I can from these.

For as long as I can remember, I have asked God for my life to be the one that breaks unhealthy cycles. I didn't know what that would end up looking like, nor how hard it would be to endure, I just didn't want things to continue as they were. As we were taking note of this kiddo's struggle, our life as we knew it was shattered, the pieces were like broken glass spread out on the ground. But God used this horror of horrors in our family, to introduce us to a wonderful team of people. With them we began to pick up the pieces. Funny thing is, you can't put glass back together again and have it look beautiful. It ends up cracked with little pieces missing. However, God creates beauty. That is what He has done and is doing with our broken pieces. I didn't want what I had before, He knew that. If someone asked me to describe what I want, I would not be able to. But God knows what I want. He even knows what it looks like. So the healing began, and then, we began to seek insight and help with this beloved child of ours. With the passing of weeks, the tears, the fears, and whys, God has continued to put back together the broken pieces. Not into what was there before, but into a beautiful work of art, a mosaic made out of the past but into something new and beautiful.

As with many works of art, the artist is never quite finished, there is always something. No difference here, at least for now. But every once in a while, the Artist lets you have a sneak peek. That is what happened a couple of weeks ago. God gave me a sneak peek, a truth I could hold onto, to ponder and cling to. This child of mine has a heart of gold, is challenging to parent, but has the sweetest, biggest heart. I have struggled this spring. Lots of invitations to travel and explore, but I would have to go alone with all the kids. We are still trying to get medicines fine tuned. Weather and schedule changes add other challenges. I confessed to our friend, Ms. Amy, I am scared to travel alone with the kids, all things considered. I know the kids want to, but I know how challenging it would be. She is sympathetic. She understands. She offers some encouragement. Then it is time to be one on one and so I leave. While I am alone, I remember the meaning of this child's name. Source of healing, a good steward of what God has given. I cling to these promises, because after all, I didn't choose his name. God impressed this name on my heart. I rest in my heavenly Father, enjoy a few peaceful " Just as quickly, they are there. A hug for me from my tender hearted child. Special words for me from Ms. Amy. Out of the blue, off topic, these words were said, "God made me special." "He loves me and lives in my heart." Nothing to do with the pictures being colored. Nothing to do with topics of school work and activities. Just a simple declaration.

My prayer is that he will know God's love. He will grow in stature and wisdom. He will trust the Lord and live a life that is for the Lord. That no matter what, he is special to God. God did not make a mistake when he made him, he is special and has a plan for him. And right now, God is using him to heal my heart and change the pieces of the past into a beautiful work of art.

...7..8..9..10....Cast or Not Here We Come

For me it has been a week. Just busy. All the mom hats I keep juggling. This week we took Flutter Nutter to the ENT for post-op follow-up. A+, Great ! But since it is in the same building as our other doctors, the stories from April come up. AND...We were there just lask week to get Flutter Nutter's cast removed and arm x-rayed again. We will be there next week, for one more follow-up on the broken arm. Not to mention all the other "little" incidents. Have I ever mentioned the ladies at the front desk, who check us in, know us. They KNOW us. THEY KNOW ALL my kids by NAME. THEY KNOW them so well, they often don't have to ask us for birthdates to verify who we are. THEY KNOW US!
So this crazy, busy week as I try to get ready for FUN MOM's 15th birthday. Yep, 15! I am little buzzy over that one. Driver's permit here she comes if she ever finishes her freshman year. I may just fail her in a couple of subjects. Of course, 11 year old Hockey Player, has this light fuzz of a mustache going on and he'll be 12 soon. Little Princess cries at the drop of a hat, slams doors and is sooo obviously becoming hormonal with her 10th birthday looming around the corner. It is so much fun, when Fun Mom doesn't understand why Little Princess is being "so, so, so WHAT is wrong with her???" Well let's see, when did you hit puberty, Fun MOM? Her response, "10.5-11 years old???"
MMMhmmm, and how old is she???
Fun Mom immediately collapses in "No Way ! ! NOOOooooOOOOoooOOO, she is my LITTLE sister."

But back to topic, what does casting got to do with all this. Defintely not fishing this time. I am in this little tumbleweed called life. A friend is over, taking care of late afternoon stuff. Feeling a bit overwhelmed cause I am having difficulty finding the correct feathers. Another topic in of itself. But they are needed for the birthday this week.
In this tumbleweed, of my so called life, walks Flutter Nutter sobbing. He has tripped over Gus. Gus is our friendly bark-o-meter. He likes to be underfoot. Unfortunately.
So perceiving these cries were more of indignation, I ask Flutter Nutter, "Is this a hurt cuz something is broken and we need to go to the doctor."
FN: "No" He comes to get a hug and walks back off to go play.
Minutes later, in walks two of the neighbor boys, "Hockey Player is hurt."
OKay, my brain switches pathways and I think, is this the kind of hurt that is bothering them more than Hockey Player. Well, I don't hear crying, must be okay. Didn't quite register that Hockey Player doesn't cry, holler, sob or wail, he just gets very stoic and even more quiet.
But wait, here comes Hockey Player, and in my experienced mom way I ask, "Anything broken?"
To which he responded, "I don't think so, it just hurts."
OK. Good, go on doing your thing. Back to the tumbleweed.
30-45 minutes later, things are calming down on the homestead some. House is quiet and my nerves and thoughts have quieted some as well. In walks Hockey Player, very quietly, "My arm really hurts."
OKKKkkkkaaaay.
I have him come to me. I manipulate it, touch, poke, prod. Get some "oOoOOOows", and some "that doesn't hurts." What did you do exactly? I was hiding, and Daddy's Buddy was in the suburban. I didn't know he was. He opened the door and... WHACKED his brother good. Where is the eye ball rolling dizzy little emoticon for a time like this? ? Who knew Hide and Seek could be so dangerous?
Call the doc, cause it is 4:30, and maybe they can give me some guidance. I am sooo very tired of walking in there with injuries this Spring. There is no bruise, no swelling, just a bump. But it is a bump with a scratch. I get those bumpy scratches too. Nurse tells me, yes, can have a broken bone with no swelling and no bruising. Really ? ? Learning something new, again!
However, if his arm is broken, all they can do tonight is Xray it and confirm one way or the other. No casting till the next day. So, we have a choice. Keep him comfortable for the night and go in the next day or go to the doc possibly 2 days in a row. Hockey Player, opted being kept comfortable and waiting for 'tomorrow'.
At one point, he gets nauseated from the pain. But then he is fine. Ice and elevation. This morning it hurts more. At the doctor's office, it doesn't hurt that bad, BUT he is trying to tie his shoe with one hand. It doesn't hurt so bad, as long as he doesn't move it.
Off to X-ray. Where they know us very well. However, I did have to clarify this visit was for a new injury, different child. I am holding a brace in my hand. Forgot to mention, Fun Mom pulled out her brace from when she sprained her wrist, just happened to be for the left arm, and gave it to Hockey Player the night before, for stability. The reception asked us, if we had come into the doc and got the brace, or we had one already. Laughter, and yep, we had one at home that happened to fit. From there the conversation digressed.
In some families, the kids wear hand-me down clothes. The Clark household wears hand-me down casts and braces. We wondered if we could hand-me down stitches as well. And mind you, we do have the casts from the past. So we could rubber band those on. Good to know, if we ever find ourselves without insurance. So, I am psychotically laughing by now. X-rays are done and it is time to get the news. No Broken Bones, a Bruised Bone. To which the doctor tells Hockey Player, you can milk this one for a while. He then proceeds to pulling out a sling, telling us Hockey Player should keep his arm in the sling until he feels his arm is doing well enough without it. I, of course, ask how long this typically is. 10 days or so. WOW! Hence, the permission to milk this one for a while. Fortunately, he hurt his left arm. So he can still do work. I graciously pointed this out and that if he really wanted to get out of school work, he would need to get a serious concussion that would prevent him keeping his eyes open and keep his head hurting enough so that thinking would be difficult.
Bruised Bone. A new one for us.

Free Home School Curriculum!! Anyone ? ?

So, I have been using Swagbucks for quite a while. I have Amazon Gift Codes built up. I have money deposited into my Paypal account. But it wasn't until tonight I realized I could use those Amazon codes to purchase some of my homeschool curriculum. I needed to order something and then to get free shipping, I was pondering what else was on my shopping list. It dawned on me to check on some of the items on my school shopping list. Oh, yeah! Happy Dance! ! ! Handwriting is ordered, on its way and it cost me nothing. That is how I like it! !
So if you haven't signed up with Swagbucks yet, you might want to think about it. And if you decide to, will you sign up through my link. I get bonus swagbucks for making the referral.
Oh, Happy dance ! !

The Long Wait is Over.... (pictures)

The Long Wait is Over....

Timing is everything. Sometimes the timing is long in coming. The kids, their dad and I have been talking for a long time (4 years long time) about going fishing. Not living in the same town, it gets a little hard to coordinate such an endeavor. Add in emphysema, weather, health, and schedules....well time has flown by. But with Grandpa's latest visit, we made a point of it to go fishing. Only one fish was caught. We give credit to Flutter Nutter. It was his line. This fish ended up being half as big as him. I had the privlege of reeling in the catch of the day. Of course. as it always goes, there is a story to this fish. We had been catching lots of rocks and brush. So when I took the line I was convinced he needed help freeing himself from a rock. A tug, a little slack and then a big tug.... A FISH! Well we had been watching the kids on the shore and what they were catching. They weren't anything all that exciting big. An exciting catch but nothing to run and go get a camera for. The line was really pulling. I was trying to not be wimpy. Then this fish surfaced. "HELP" "HELP!" I am hollering. Then realizing dad can't help, he is connected to his O2 tubes. Big O Daddy O is busy with 3 other kids and their fishing poles. "HELP!" "HELP" They are all laughing, until they take a look. Quick as he can BODO is getting the net. A little bit of comedy there, trying to maneuver around children, fishing poles and the mom, yelling, "HELP!" "HELP!"

We defintely took pictures and the kids quickly turned to Grandpa and asked what kind of fish it was. It was definitely not crappie. DRUM fish. The kids were quick to say, "Of course, it is flipping around in the boat and it sounds like a drum." I got a quick lesson in freeing the fish from the hook and putting him on a string and hanging him off the boat. Back to fishing we went. With a little convincing the kids agreed to free this fish back to the waters till next time. Disembarked the boat with stories to tell and dreams of the one that got away were still to be had in their sleep. Looking forward to the next adventure!