Thursday, November 19, 2009

Happy Birthday. Now shut up and eat your brains

Our oldest turns 10 tomorrow. He also celebrates one year seizure (and medication) free this week. To mark this fabulous occasion, he said he wanted a brain cake.....so hear ya go. Don't let anyone tell ya that you don't have a lick of brains.

October 2009

Apple picking
Don't sit under the apple tree for anyone else but me...
Pumpkin Patch

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

HOME!

What is that saying about home? Something about it being humble and no other place like it? I can't remember because I haven't slept since very well.
KC the wonder kid is BAAACK.
After this morning initial estimate of being at 90 %, he ate something and and then started climbing and ripping up the room.
His diagnosis .... metabolic acidosis. And as I said before, his history of licking and putting everything in his mouth -- made the doctors concerned that he got into some kind of toxic substance. The pediatrician said his blood levels were close to normal today, but considering his behavior we were fine to be released. Her only concern was that his body did not react to treatment as expected. Therefore if there are any future incidents, we'll have to investigate a cause.
For the two older boys -- they are in quarantine upstairs. Both tested negative for strep and influenza, but they are taking Tamiflu as a precaution because of KC's hospitalization.
The love and generosity of friends has inspired and overwhelmed me. A friend is bringing my exhausted soul dinner tonight. Another friend picked the baby and me up from the hospital so we wouldn't have to pile all the boys in the van. The messages on Facebook, email, texts, phone -- I have clung to every word of hope, prayer and laughter. Bits of joy - it is what I live for.

wed 6am

There are meowing noises coming from the hospital bed next to me. The sweetest sounds I do believe I have ever heard. KC is back to about 90 %. He still has low energy and is content to be bedridden, but is past the whiny fussy stage he was in yesterday.
Yesterday I rejoiced when he started moaning and fussing, because it was a 100% improvement from being near unconscious. When someone can stick him with a needle and draw blood without him even opening his eyes, it is bad.
This morning he is charming the nurses with his sideways smile and meowing his answers back to them, as if he's pulling off some big joke on them. But we've got his number.
We are in a holding pattern this morning until the doctors can have a last look at his lab tests from this morning. The toxicology tests have become negative, which rules out one of the initial fears that he got into something he shouldn't have.
Last night he ate for the first time in four days -- rice, applesauce and something like 12 packages of saltine crackers.
God has been so good to us. His presence has shined in the kind words of friends and talents and generousity of the staff.
And today -- we will figure out what we are going to do about going home. The oldest two have the flu fevers that hover around 103-104 if you let the Motrin slide by a a few minutes. I don't know that we should let the baby back into the plague just yet. Off to order His Royal Kittyness some food.....

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

tues 1pm update

Good NEWS!!! -- Kenji will be moved out of the ICU today!!! His labs are almost normal. They will move him to a regular room for the tonight. We expect to go home tomorrow. He smiled for the first time today and is becoming more of himself. The staff entertainment unit (or whatever they are called) just brought in a craft and he glued and colored. He also has more interest in playing.

Bad News -- Kai and Quinn have some other kind of ailment, so Shawn will be at home with them today. The initial strep tests are negative. (Though for Quinn they usually are, so we had the strep test sent for the one day test) They are treated them both protectively with Tami-flu, since Kenji will soon be home...and well, what is that saying about the last thing i need...?

Thanks for all your notes and calls of support.

Monday 11/2 update


Just a little update about Kenji.
Kenji is in ICU tonight at Scottish Rite Children's Hospital. He started the weekend off with what we thought was just a stomach bug. Vomiting started Sat afternoon and continued throughout the weekend.
We brought him in this morning for what we thought was some simple rehydration. I thought he'd be hooked up to IVs get some zofran and we'd be on our way.
His blood work came back showing that his Bi-carb levels were at a critical level. Normal is a 20 -- His was 8. After getting some fluids it dropped further to 6. This is apparently something that happens when during dehydration -- but his organs began to show signs of trouble too. Increased heart rate etc... And given his history of putting things in his mouth (they know us around here) they were concerned that there may be another cause.
The ICU doc indicated that he should only be in ICU for one night and will mostly likely go to a regular room tomorrow.
Kenji is sleeping comfortably now. (in fact -- they just drew blood from the top of his hand and he didn't even wake up)
Continue to pray for God's healing hands in this.
Will update as I can,

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Baby no more

Have I mentioned how much I do NOT enjoy planning or throwing birthday parties for my children? I know this is not a statement that will move me up on the mother of the year rankings, but tis true. I do enjoy going to other parties that other people have thoughtfully planned and taking home a goody bag at the end of it.
We approach the 4th birthday of my third son. We celebrate much -- the child speaks, he goes to the potty and does what he's supposed to in it (90% of the time.) He can recognize letters, numbers, shapes. This was the boy that seemed lost in his silence for what I can only call the lost years.
So he needs a party really. A few weeks ago we went to Ohio to witness my niece's wedding. It was a traditional celebration complete with flowers, song, dance. The boys enjoyed all of the festivities. After we ate, danced and celebrated for hours, I dressed the baby in his night clothes so he could just be plopped into bed when we got back to our friends'.
"Mama, was this my birthday party?" he asked as I pulled up his PJ pants?
pause
"Yes it was," I said. "We need to thank Uncle Rob."

Thursday, June 25, 2009

end of June

Last day of VBS is tomorrow for the two oldest boys.
They have expressed their annoyance and embarrassment of me writing about them, chatting about them with other people. They told me to stop writing about them on Facebook.
I remember feeling the same way about my mom when I was a kid, minus the blog and Facebook thing of course, but for crying out loud I had a beauty shop full of women to contend with.
It is cheap therapy for me, of course, and I haven't even really hit the terrible stuff.
speaking of .... I turned 41 yesterday, I ate myself silly to celebrate. One of my favorite restaurants is Flying Biscuit and I am determined to try everything on the menu before I fly to the Big Biscuit in the sky.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Worm Farm -- part one

A couple of months ago, our mailman Barney delivered 1000 red wiggler worms to our front door. We began our quest to start our own vermicomposting project.
You can sense the joy (or is that fear and disgust) on the face of the children. "What has our mother gotten us into now?" I know, I know, I'm a mind-reader.

Our friend owns a landscaping company and supplied us with plastic flats that potted plants come in. We layered kitchen scraps (vegetable and fruit peels, egg shells, paper towels, paper bags and even a pair of cotton socks) in the trays and stacked them inside this blue Rubbermaid container.
The amazing results to come in pictures to come.....
Garden update...
We've got yellow squash and cucumbers coming out our ears nowadays.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

good deals





Our spring garden is fast moving into summer. So we are in the process of moving out the spring lettuces. The boys organized a organic produce stand. Neighbors generously stopped to shop our wares. I stood like the fat field boss drinking coffee and barking orders (ok, suggestions)

A good sale always starts with the marketing team. Here are two of the members now displaying their ad campaign. Each person that drove or walked up had to hold green sticker sheet in hand and admire its beauty. There was also a list of our products on the back. We sold: romaine, arugula, green leaf lettuce, oregano, and flat leaf parsley.

Pied Piper? Snake Charmer? Really there is nothing that draws the crowds like a welcoming rendition of Hot Cross Buns on the recorder.
Boys made $16.50. Talk about sustainable gardening. Notice the baby holding a paper replica of our lettuce it says "WOW"

Friday, April 17, 2009

Spring 2009

April showers brough hail last week. Oh it was very exciting! We collected them and KC ate all the little ice balls.All hail the chiefs....on Easter Sunday

Thursday, April 09, 2009

The baby's new obsession....




KC is obsessed with our cat recently. Nevermind that Baka, the wonder cat, has been here from the get-go...suddenly we must always know where said kitty is and what he is doing *at*all*times*. Baka is just annoyed by the whole thing.
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Spring 2009


For you Mom
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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Mabel and Chester

There are mountains of laundry around this joint. Some wet. Some muddy. Some dripping. Some clean. Most are dirty.

My washing machine finally said, "enough!" and bit the dust. Moment of silence please.

R.I.P Sears Kenmore 80 series May 2001-March 2009
Sniffle

S'
Okay....So my new models are arriving this Saturday. I have polled my Facebook friends asking if it is inappropriate to embrace the appliance delivery man when he arrives. My friend Paula says, "
Only if he'll do a couple of loads of laundry first!"

I like that about Paula, so level-headed.

So I have decided that perhaps the new models need names, to make them feel at home, to make them work harder, to make them want to stay for more than a decade, to make them love us .....

Mabel and Chester. These were the names of my dearly departed paternal great-grandparents. I feel a bit guilty for not having named any children after them. But come on.... Mabel? Chester? No wonder we nicknamed them "Bom" and "Chet."

In my mind, my new appliances are bright burgundy red, glittering, shiny and new, but I then remember that I didn't want to spend the extra 300 bucks for colored appliances. So they are white, shiny and strong, true to their names.


Mabel will, of course, be the washer: hard-working, super efficient, tough on spots but with a gentle cycle. Chet will be the dryer. An easy line here would be because he blows hot air and spins in a circle, but anyone that has ever met quiet, sweet, tiny Chester knows better.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

cake in the oven

I've got a chocolate cake in the oven and a diet on my mind.

Just got back from an hour of Zumba.

The boys are healthy. The baby is still a handful. He is different, way different than the other two.

The transmission in my washing machine is on the blink. But if I stand on one leg, rattle the wash cyle button and sing "Bicylce Built for Two," I can fix it.
So I am shopping for a washer and dryer. As are most projects I find myself in, it consumes me.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Phase Two of the 2009 Great De-Crap

You know those "I Spy" kids books where you search for hidden objects? No? How about "Where's Waldo?"
See if you can find a hidden child or two doing homework in the chaos that WAS our garage.

I took back the space thanks to the cool shelves and bins from costco and my Bob hanging the shelf and tool hanger thingy.
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

raisins in the washer

I talked to two money women today: one, a rep from the credit union, another from Fidelity. I can't really remember the last time I talked to such types, let alone two in one day.
Their tone was kind gentle sympathetic. The way funeral directors softened their eyes and gently lead you to view the body. I'm so sorry. I'm just so so sorry.
They expressed their concern and empathy for the decisions and losses that needed to be handled.
"Hey, we are all rowing this boat in the same direction," I shrugged into the phone.

So to make myself feel better, I made soup. Not just soup, but bean soup. I even made the friggin stock. I used the carcass of a rotisserie chicken and ends and bits and choppings of every vegetable in the house.
My kids hate my bean soup. I tried to make it all romantic and tell the story about how if it weren't for "seven bean with barley," they wouldn't even be here. But that is another post, I suppose.

My house and the economy is a mess and the laundry. Oh the laundry. I had four loads folded all over the family room. Three more added today. At the bottom of the washing machine were three plump shiny raisins and a dime. My payment for a day's work. And a snack.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

nothing

I have absolutely nothing to say, which is a good thing.
I have been forgetting about my blog and not unfortunately my Facebook account. Facebook is truly a remarkable creation. I thought I'd hate it, but have found the opposite to be true. Truth is, I like seeing what my friends are doing.

My boys are remarkably healthy and strong. For this I am so grateful.
We are approaching the three month mark of K being seizure free. The baby has begun to talk ribbons around us.
Quinn had a little bout with the flu last week, but has rebounded quickly.

Today Q reinforced his bicycle legs by taking a 5K spin around the park. He wobbled, stopped, started and fussed for the first 1/2 mile and nearly took out a couple walkers and a toddler, but he got it.
Life is good.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

I'm sorry already

This is a transcript of an actual letter of apology written under duress, as a condition of not being grounded for the rest of his life.
The names have been altered to protect the not so innocent.

Dear Q,
I am terribly sorry for choking you.
I couldn't control my anger.
You are my nicest brother.
I shouldn't have done that to you.
I WILL NOT do it again. Sorry again.

Sincerely,
K
Hogwart's Head Master

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Feb comes

I have started to get ready for my next 5K, which is in May. Last year I did the couch to 5K program, which got me ready and enabled me not to humiliate myself.

This week I have already run eight miles; it seems easier this time around. I also have been doing Zumba at the YMCA twice a week. My weight doesn't change because I still eat like a truck driver.

I have also taught the baby how to roll play dough into balls, which seems like not such a big deal, but has become a big time saver in my day-- perhaps about 20 minutes a day. Because all he wants to make are snowmen. HELP ME! MAKE SNOWMAN! HEEEELLP MEEEE.

Which leads me to the crazy part of being a Northerner living in the South... There comes a time when you have to teach your children words like: yak, aardvark and igloo. These are words you have to know them because they begin with a letter you have to learn in order to get ahead in life. Usually this curriculum is developed in exotic places like Connecticut or Massachusetts

When I realized there were pictures of sleds, mittens and icicles -- I actually had to explain them what they were how they were used or where you could find them, because we've had no interaction with them in real life. Snowmen? Same thing....The baby has never made, touched or seen a real snowman. Same thing with snowflakes -- we make the snip snip paper snowflakes -- not because it reflects the outdoors in anyway, but because it is a craft that goes with the season.

I don't miss the winters up north, but somehow I feel like my boys are missing out. Those winters make you stronger somehow and help you appreciate beauty in a different way. It also makes you more appreciative of spring when it comes like a promise fulfilled.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

phase one of decluttering

Before.... our garage/mudroom was in constant disarray. We made a futile attempt to put up a shoe and coat rack.
Ater...Thanks to my friends at IKEA, we came up with a locker system. Each person has his own space and if his crap becomes too much for the space, it has to go.
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Sunday, January 11, 2009

Merry Christmas 2008

Here is a sacred holy scene revered around the world.

The Nativity......complete with Mary, Joseph, the donkey and Baby Jesus (in the laundry basket)