Summer Vcation II

I was looking forward to summer vacation more than anyone. I just needed a break. Now, school has been out for two weeks and it has not been restful at all. The first week my husband was out of town and I was home with all three kids. I decided to do some spring cleaning and get it over with. I cleaned for four days and then Colin got a stomach virus. I washed all the blankets and sheets and sprayed lysol on everything. Then we had Aubrey's birthday party over the weekend. Sunday night after the party Connor got the stomach virus. His was much worse. So again i sprayed the lysol and washed everything. Then Wednesday his stomach was hurting so bad that he was screaming. I took him to the emergency clinic thinking it was just gas pains. Sean left work and met me there. They did tests and took x-rays. He thought it was cool to get to see his insides. Finally they told us he had appendicitus. Ugh! They transported him to the hospital in an ambulance. I rode with him. It was a very bumpy ride. Even though he was sick he was still asking the drivers to turn on the sirens. Of course, they did. When we got there the surgeon immediately came in to talk to us and within the hour they wheeled him away. Mom came up and waited with us in the hospital room. I was trying not to cry in front of him so he wouldn't be more scared than he already was. But as soon as he turned that corner, I was bawling. That was the longest hour of my life. Finally they came and told us that it was over but we couldn't see him in the recovery room. About an hour later after I had eaten all the junk food that I could get my hands on, they brought him to his room and he slept the rest of the day. Apparently they gave him some good pain medicine. He finally woke up about 7 o'clock that night and I was soooo happy. He immediately wanted to eat, but he could only have clear liquids. I spent the night with him on that horribly uncomfortable cot. Not that you can sleep anyway. The nurses came in every two hours to check him and woke us up. I was so tired the next morning. We laid in the bed and played pathwords until the surgeon came back in. He said that he was doing good and could go home after lunch. But first we had to get him up and out of the bed. He didn't want to at first. He knew it would hurt. But the nurse was very insistent and he finally did and he started eating. So they let us go home. But by the time we got home, Aubrey, Sean, and Kasey all had the stomach virus too. So my nap was out of the question. I spent all last night taking care of everyone. Now Sean is at work and Kasey is still sick. Connor is up and playing his computer games. And guess who has the stomach virus now? Me. Yuck!! I'm going to need a vacation from my vacation.

Summer Vacation

Okay Heather, here it is. I'm finally blogging. So far summer has been really busy and not very fun. I decided to clean my house from top to bottom and get it all done the first week. Amanda is helping me. Thanks Abba!! I have cleaned carpets, cabinets, bathrooms, closets, baseboards, EVERYTHING. I think my fingerprints are fading from all the cleaners I have used. It's been very boring for my kids, but they have kept busy making messes in the rooms that were already clean. So far all they have done is fight this summer. They can't get along for five minutes. I don't know what is going on with them. They've been spending most of their time in time out. Today I'm going to do something fun. I'm going to Old Navy to spend my birthday money then taking the kids swimming. Tonight we are going to a midnight movie. Me, Bryan, and Manda are going to see "Land of the Lost". I love Will Ferrell. Aubrey is having her birthday party on Sunday. Should be a good weekend. Last weekend we took her to the Ranger game for her actual birthday. It was a nightmare. The heat was unbearable and the kids were running everywhere. I got to watch a whole 2 innings. But the hotdogs were good. Now, if I can just get back on my diet. I have to start working out again. Once you get off that routine it is so hard to get back on. Ugh.

Spring Break

Spring break has flown by. Monday we drove to Blossom with Heather and Kade to visit Memaw on her 91st birthday. Kasey had never been there. It was weird seeing mom's house next door. We were going to go to the zoo Wednesday, but Kasey was all stuffy, so we canceled at the last minute. Yeah for Kasey's allergies. That night on the news they said that there was a two hour wait on the highway to get into the zoo and the parking lots were completely full. They were sending people away as they drove in after waiting that long in their car. So we took all of Colin's play animals and put them on the porch and made our own zoo. Then Aubrey

came over and we went across the street to have a picnic. It was fun. Yesterday was Kasey's birthday. I can't believe she is one. It seems like days ago I was bringing her home from the hospital. We've been getting ready for her party this week. Yesterday she opened her first present from her aunt Amanda. It was a necklace with a cross. It was so pretty. Then Nana and Papa came over with her next present. It was a bulletin board for her room. She made it just for Kasey. Last night she ate her first chicken nugget. Today we went for Kasey's one year check up. She was perfect. She gets to drink regular milk now. Yeah, no more formula. Tomorrow is her party. Her theme is Angelina Ballerina. A lady at Sean's work made the cake. It was perfect. After the party we're going to fly kites and play with the remote control airplane that Anton sent to the boys. But now I've gotta clean this house. It is going to take me all night. Sunday I'm staying at home all day in my pajamas and watching NASCAR.

Beautiful weekend!!

What a beautiful weekend. Friday night me and Sean went out for Mexican food and I had the best frozen marguarita. Amanda was the babysitter. I think she was a little overwhelmed. Saturday morning me and the boys went fishing went fishing with Papa, Dustin, Abba, and Aubrey. It was a nice morning, but windy. Colin and Connor both caught a fish. It was very exciting. The rest of the day we just stayed at home and worked around the house. I cooked pork chops and shrimp outside last night. I love to cook outside. I guess that's my dad's influence. He taught me how to light the fire and how to cook different things on the grill. I've been watching cooking shows lately and learning how to season different things. I love Top Chef. If I had time I would go to gourmet cooking classes. But I don't. So today I went to work out with Abba and then went for a bike ride. Then Dustin made hotwings. MMM, they were so good. Then I swang Kasey and Aubrey to sleep on the front porch while Sean took the boys to the park. Tonight me and Abba rode bikes with the kids and graded papers. I did some laundry and cleaned bathrooms in between the other stuff. Now it's time for a nice long bubble bath while I watch Brothers and Sisters. It was a nice weekend. Now tomorrow it's back to the real world. The only thing I can think about is SPRING BREAK. Only 5 more days. BRING IT ON!!!

Sorry, no pics of Kasey this weekend. She spent most of the weekend in the house. She had a horrible cough, but that didn't slow her down. She was into EVERYTHING!

I need a vacation

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. There is never enough time to get things done!! My house is a complete disaster and everytime I get a moment to clean it, something happens and I never get it done. I have piles of dirty clothes on the floor and piles of clean clothes on the couch. Last weekend I went to see Eli Young band at Fair Park with Amanda. I loved the concert, but I am way too old for that stuff. It was Texas Mardi Gras and there were drunk kids everywhere and girls were showing their boobs for beads. I'm sorry, but have some pride in yourself people!! Lifting up your shirt for beads while 60 guys are taking your picture with their camera phones is not appropriate. Although by the end of the night I might have lifted up my shirt for a ride back to the car =). It was freezing cold and we had to park so far away. There were crazy drunk people everywhere and it was Dallas. We didn't even stay for any other concerts. I was yawning by nine oclock. But Eli Young was awesome. It was one of the best concerts I've been to. I've seen them 3 times now with Amanda. She has converted me to an Eli Young fan. Connor's team had their playoffs this weekend. He won Friday night and Saturday morning, but lost last night. He played a lot in the first two games because the score was so high, but played about three minutes in the last game. He's not the starter and the game was really close so he sat out. I know that they want to win, but it's hard to explain to a 9 year old when he asks why he didn't get to play very much. You can't say it's because he's not as good as some of the other players and they needed to win. He has gotten a lot better this year, but it's only his second year. He just needs to be aggressive. He did get his first foul and we were so proud. We're sending him to Mavericks basketball camp this summer. I think he will have fun and learn a lot more there. We're still having issues with Colin hitting. It has to be hard being the baby, then all of a sudden you are the middle child. We're working hard on it though. He can't wait to be big and play basketball like his brother. I might start him a t-ball this year. Kasey is just into EVERYTHING. She started drinking out of a straw and eating everything we eat. I can't wait till we don't have to buy baby food anymore. Her birthday is in 19 days. I can't believe it is already here. I spent the night with my mom last night. Sean went to help Dustin move his stuff down here and it took longer than they thought. So they ended up staying the night. I didn't want to stay at home by myself, so we had a slumber party with Aubrey. We all got up and made breakfast. It was fun. I have to go to the store and buy groceries now. I have to make Sean something good for dinner. He's a really nice person for helping Dustin move down here when we were all busy. He gave up his whole weekend. He's been really trying hard to change some things lately. I think things are finally getting better. Woohoo. Now if I could just have a day to sit in my pajamas and play with my kids!!!! And maybe hire a maid!! Yeah right! But I can dream can't I?

Dumplins

Well I got that call at work today. Kasey was running 103.1 degree fever at school so I had to leave once again to go pick her up. Poor thing. I thought it might be her ears. She just got tubes about two weeks ago. But she is also very stuffy and coughing. I hope it's not the flu. So I came home and started making dinner because Bradley was coming over. He had a job fair in Denton and was all dressed up in a suit. When he comes to visit I think that I have to feed him. I had already asked Amanda to bake a chicken for me for the broth. I started the dumplins and realized that I didn't have any of the pre-frozen ones. They are already made up and frozen and taste almost like Memaw's homeade ones. Those are the only dumplins that mom will eat. But Bradley likes the round, doughy dumplins made from bisquits. That's what his mom, my aunt Wanda, always made. So I always make both. Mom decided she wasn't going to eat so I turned into my Memaw and started throwing flour and broth into a bowl and making them from scratch. They turned out so good. I guess all that time that I spent watching her in her kitchen paid off. Now Kasey is in her bed and I'm trying to make that dreaded decision. Who is going to call in sick and stay at home with her. Don't get me wrong. I love a day off with my kids. But it's about once a week lately.

Weekend

Wow, what a busy weekend. Me and Sean went out to eat on Friday night while Amanda stayed home and babysat my kids and cleaned my house. She's such a good sister!! And of course I blew my diet at Olive Garden. They have terrific Mango Martinis. Saturday was Valentines Day, but also Colin's birthday. The kids got me a Vermont teddy bear and some candy. Sean had already sent me flowers at work on Friday. I was so excited. So I got him a monopoly game for the Wii. He has every other monopoly game every made. Grandma Sue Sue and Aunt Tevyan came in for the weekend, so they got to watch Connor play basketball.
He was awesome. He made a beautiful shot, had 5 assists, and caused 2 turnovers. WooHoo. Then we all traveled to Chuck E Cheese. We always take the kids there on Valentines Day instead of just going out ourselves. It was fun. Amanda and Aubrey went too. Colin had a blast in the crawl tunnels. I don't think he came out of there all night. Me and Connor played speed basketball all night. He wanted to keep playing until he beat me, but he never did. My arms are killing me too. Aubrey and Kasey danced in front of the screen all night. Aubrey has some moves!! Today was the big birthday party day.

After running around all morning getting everything I came home and everyone had already cleaned up the house. That helped so much. So Amanda decorated everything and we had a wonderful party. I was rather dissapointed that no-one from his class came. I don't know if he was sad about that or not. He never mentioned it. But there were plenty of kids here and he got lots of presents. Thanks everyone! Then we went out to eat with Heather, Tim, Kade, Bradley, Nana, Papa, Manda, and Aubrey. Now we're back at home recovering. I came in Colin's room to watch Diego with him and to type this blog. I just looked over and he is passed out on the floor next to me. I guess he had a little too much fun.

Superbowl Party

Last night we went to a superbowl party at Heather and Tim's. It was so fun. I usually couldn't tell you who won, or who was even playing. But they had made a football bingo game where you had to watch to mark off squares. Connor won, of course. He's so competitive. I actually started getting into the game. The kids had the best timen too. Even the babies. It was fun letting Kasey, Kaden, and Julia play together. I wish that I lived closer and we could hang out more. So after the game we were on our way home and I was riding with Amanda. I started getting so cold and achy. By the time I got home from the 45 minute ride I had started running fever. It was the strangest thing. I felt bad all night so I went to the doctor this afternoon. Now I have the flu and can't go to work or be around my kids for three days. This stinks. I know what you're thinking and yes I got a flu shot. The doctor said that sometimes you still get the flu. What did I pay $25 for then. Now I'm just stuck in this bedroom feeling like crap and listening to my kids play in the other room. That's one of the bad things about being a teacher. You get everything that they have. So sorry to anyone that I breathed on yesterday. I shouldn't have been contagious since I wasn't running fever yet. Last time I went to a party at someone's house two of my kids threw up on everyone and gave three people a stomach virus. Maybe I shouldn't go to anymore parties.

FAT

Okay, the whole working out/eating less resolution has not gone so good this month. I decided to work-out today, which would make my third work-out this month. It was so beautiful outside that me and Amanda rode our bikes for about an hour. Then we came back to my house to get on the wii fit and check our progress. Mine was not pretty. I did so good losing that baby weight this past summer and I've gained half of what I lost back. Everything has been so stressful around here that I just gave up. Till I saw that wii fit. Now I'm determined. Plus I have to fit into my summer clothes pretty soon. I didn't have to worry about it last year because I had just had Kasey and nothing was going to fit anyway. I could wear big clothes and had an excuse. No excuses now. This is sooooo frustrating. Atleast I don't have to worry about losing all my baby weight and then getting pregnant again. That is NOT going to happen again. Oh well, I'm going shopping now to look at all the clothes I will be able to fit into by May. Wish me luck.

sick kids

Okay really! We were at home for two days in the ice. Well, the first day they were just anticipating ice. Anyway we went back to school today and guess what happened. I got that dreaded call from the daycare. I thought it would be kasey because of her ears. She still has an ear infection and we're having tubes put in on Tuesday. But it was colin. He was running 101 fever and had a headache. Luckily it was three o'clock and there was an intern who took my class. I'm going to run out of sick days before spring break. Awwww, SPRING BREAK! I love the sound of that!!!

blog block

What do you blog about when nothing is going on in your life? Your kids! I've never been more excited in my life. Connor made his first shot in two years of basketball. Amanda and Chelsey were there with us. We screamed so loud. He looked over at us to see if we were looking at him, then he smiled so big. After that he shot three more times and missed, but he didn't even care. Heather, Tim, and Kade came too, but they didn't see the shot. We went back to my house afterwards and played rock band. Kade is so funny. Him and Kasey are going to have so much fun together. Connor also got glasses this week. He hates wearing them, but he can see. Colin's getting in a lot of trouble at school. We're working on behavior issues at home too. I think he's having middle child issues. We're planning his birthday party. I can't believe he will be 4. He always tells me that he is a big boy, but he is still my baby. Kasey is walking all over the place. She thinks she is just one of the boys. When they play rock band she stands in front of them and dances. She's the happiest baby ever.

Sick Kids

Well it's day two of being home with sick kids. Yesterday I kept Colin and Kasey home. Colin had the Croup and I didn't want to drive all the way over to the daycare with him to take Kasey. Mom was working at the school so she took Connor to school. I was hoping I would get some stuff done around the house while Colin layed around. I was wrong. The breathing treatments make him so hyper. He was running and jumping all over the house, coughing in between sprints from the front door to the couch. Kasey was walking all over the house and getting knocked over by Colin. It was a crazy day. I was ready to go to school this morning. Then, I woke up at three o'clock with a fussy baby that had 104.2 degree fever. So I'm at home again. Mom was home today, but has Aubrey. So she came over to stay with Kasey while I took the boys to school. I would be lost without her and Papa and Amanda. They help me so much. Who else would get up at 6:30 to drive over in the 19 degree cold to hold a fussy baby. School will be crazy when I get back next week. I feel so bad for the kids having a sub two days in a row. I feel sorry for the subs too. I'm going to cuddle up with Kasey on the couch and watch Wonder Pets. She likes when I sing the songs. She is so cuddly!

Sleeping Late

Wow. I woke up at 8:00 this morning with a headache and asked my family if I could lay in bed for about five more minutes. Three hours later I woke up and wondered what in the world I was doing wasting half of my day in bed. I missed my Sunday morning coffee time in bed watching I Love Lucy. I haven't slept that late since I was in high school. I wasn't up late either. I fell asleep at about 10:00 watching Diego with Colin. Aubrey and Manda were going to stay the night, but Aubrey wanted to go home at the last minute. I guess the Rockband with Heather and Tim wore me out. That Kade is so funny. He was so tired, but he just wanted to stay up and play. He was not giving it up. This week was crazy. Getting up and going back to school was so hard. I missed my kids a lot. I was tired and cranky by the time school was out. Plus it was testing and report card week. It was nice just spending yesterday with family. Connor had a basketball game and Nana and Papa got to come watch. His team lost, but he played so good. He's getting more confident. He shot the ball, but it bounced out of the basket. I still think there was something wrong with the basket. I wanted to cry. I want him to make a basket so badly. He can make the three pointers at home, he just gets a little nervous when all those people are watching. He's going to get his eyes checked this week. He's been squinting a lot. Colin has been really into doing puzzles this past week. He spent the night with his Nana and they put puzzles together all night. Which she loves to do. He's putting a new Dora puzzle together with Connor right now. And my sweet little baby Kasey is WALKING. She was just taking a few steps every now and then. Now she's figured it out and is walking all over the house. She just laughs and laughs when she gets going. She knows she is doing something good. It makes me sad that she is my last one and she's already almost done with all of her firsts. Bradley is coming over today. I'm so excited. He used to visit all the time when he lived closer. I miss our Sunday dinners. We're going to my favorite place, KOHLS. I bought a shirt and it was too big. I love taking clothes back when they are too big.

New Year

Okay, my cousin Heather was amazed that I didn't have a blog. I guess I just never thought anyone would be interested in reading about what was going on in my house. Believe me, we are not exciting. So after we finished rocking out on rock band last night, she set me up an account and here I am trying to think of what to write inbetween my laundry and steam cleaning carpets. We've all been very busy this week getting organized and doing some things around the house that we've been putting off. That was one of our New Year's resolutions. To get organized and make daily chores for everyone, so we (and I mean mostly me) are not all stressed out trying to do everything at once. I get so overwhelmed with the mess that three kids make and I can't keep up with it, so I get a little cranky. My goal is to have more time to play with the kids and not to be so tired at the end of the day. Which leads me to my second resolution; to be healthier and happier. I'm going to do more stuff for myself, like paint my toenails, eat better and work out. I've actually changed a lot of things about the way that my whole family eats. I'm not going to make them eat anything gross just because it's healthy, but there are lots of things that I have changed that taste pretty good. The main thing is to cut out a lot of sugar. If you know my kids, then you know that they need as little sugar as possible. I actually gained back some of my weight that I lost this summer and have been a little depressed about it. I just feel so guilty when I go out by myself to workout for an hour. My friend who is a personal trainer showed me a way to work out twenty minutes and get a forty minute workout. It is hard and will kick your butt, but when it's over I feel so much better. I am also going to work on getting my stories published and starting a side photography business. I've figured out that life is too short to put things off. My last resolution is to work on our family. We had a tough year and are trying to fix all those problems and be a happier family. That means taking more time to spend with my husband. We have a long way to go, but we are going to try. As far as the kids go, they are the best kids in the whole world. I enjoy spending time with each of them and after these past two weeks at home, I really don't want to go back to work. Me and Connor like to play rockband and basketball. Colin wants to play board games all day and watch Diego. And my little Kasey just likes to dance and cuddle. They are the three most different kids I have ever known. But they are my whole life and I will do anything to make them happy. Even give up falling asleep on the couch at 9:00 while I'm folding socks, so that I can read them a bedtime story.