NO!!!...

     "NO>:(" My son's new favorite word... Yep he's two alright! He doesn't talk in sentences, at least clear ones, but he knows a few words- cookie, cup, "pete" is feet, toes, "chuck" is truck, "twain" is probably what you think it is, that kind of thing. BUT when he's mad you know it! "NO bet (bed) and makes a face similar to this >:( His sisters have taught him well! The funny part is his voice. He has a DEEP voice but cries like a girl (no offense fat man:)! 

     He is the baby... for now... maybe... haven't decided... maybe later... maybe... I'm not sure. My oldest doesn't start kindergarten until the fall of 2013, then the youngest daughter, then the fat man... Then to high school in a row (9th, 10th, & 11th), driving in a row, graduating, college, married with kiddos... WOW! I just sped thru their whole childhood in one sentence! I really hope it doesn't go by that fast!!! That's why the 4th kid is still a maybe... not ready for a definite no yet. I still have to find a life outside of being a stay at home mom... some kind of job after they start school... My own business would probably be best because of my oldest. She will probably need me to have something flexible in case she needs me in a hurry! Maybe real estate would be good because I love looking for houses? I'm not sure... lots of things I would like to do, but don't have the time to work on now... undecided.

41 & Counting...

Hello there all of you! I was AMAZED when I walked outside this morning and I did NOT fry!!! It was 79?!?!?!?!!!! CRAZY!!! It helps get me in my FALL mood even more (even though tomorrow's weather will probably smack me right back into place;) Sooo ready.... 41.... I had to laugh though at a comment an old friend of mine made about this on Facebook. He replied "42". ??? I had know clue what he was talking about. Apparently it was a quote about the answer to the meaning of life being "42"... some jokingly made reply from someone once that kind of stuck and has since been tested and proved to be true about many other scientifically tried questions. Who'd-a-thunk-it?

Anyways, my oldest daughter will be 5 (YES! OMG! F.I.V.E.....!!! wait... which also means I will turn 3... yeah we won't go there yet!). WOW! She wants a "pumpkin/fall" themed party (YES! for me (but with a different face than that one previously made^) so we should have LOTS of fun planning this:) 

What kinds of themes have your kids thought up??? 

I will leave you with this happy note... 41 people... 41:)

No More Monkeys Jumping On The Bed...

So this was my 1st (of probably many I hear) trip to the E.R. due to an injury. It was almost time for dinner and I asked my oldest daughter to clean up her room before she eats. I start sweeping up the living room when I hear a loud cry... "Lilly, what's wrong?" "WHAAAAAAAAAAAA.....WHAAAAAAAAAAAA..." Drop the broom, run to her room and all I see is blood pouring from her face! "What did you do!!!???" 'I jumped off my bed and hit the dresser!" I can see a deep gash under her lip, lip itself is busted, and she says her top teeth hurt:# CRAP!!!!! The hubs took my car with the car seats in it and is not answering the phone, so I call his brother... Minutes later, he shows up here, and we run out- paper towel in hand, and head to the hospital... On the way I ask if her tooth feels loose. She says no. We get in the room and she needs stitches:( Poor baby!!!! But, she took it like a champ! Didn't cry or move an inch! She even thought it was funny that they made her lip numb:) Nothing to do for her busted lip but let it heal and her "toothache" was her gums getting shoved up, exposing some tooth. She will be fine, but I will always remember that book...

So...

     I must not have paid attention to the heat when I was younger! I've lived here my whole life and NEVER remember heat like this!  The kids have been going to Grandma's house to swim almost every other day, but wanted o go to the park with us instead. We decided taking them to an indoor park at the mall would be a great way to stay cooler than being in this heat. OH no, it's on the top floor of the mall where there is a glass ceiling... we were BAKING! I swear the heat was on! All of the kids were bright pink and their skin hot to the touch. I couldn't do it! We packed up and headed home after only 10 minutes. You may call me a wuss, but I GLOW white I'm so pasty. If I can't take it, I won't force my kids to either!  All I could think is how this small child was left in a daycare van Friday and died from the heat... may he rest in peace...

On another very unfortunate note, I would like to end with this... I know everyone has heard about the tragedy that hit Colorado this weekend. My hearts and prayers go out to anyone involved and left with a void in there lives because of such a deranged individual's actions. What is this world coming to??? Both of these stories have touched my heart and have created a fear that is something we should not have to deal with. We should be able to trust our children in the hands of people that run a business such as a daycare! The only job they have is to keep them safe. The deaths of the people in Aurora were inconceivable! Why should we not be able to freely relax in our spare time? I don't even know where to end this... there are misinformed people in this world that feel their time here is much more important than anyone else, but it isn't... they are cowards... to be able to take the lives random strangers, parents, siblings, family, friends, children... dressed in full protective armor... and just use these LIVE human bodies like a target practice... I will never understand...

Forgotten, Not Gone...

WOW! I am WAAAAAAY behind on posting! Can you believe July is half over ALREADY??? 

     Life has been busy as usual. I got strep throat for the second time in 3 weeks:(  I have been attempting to keep up on my cleaning, but being sick and being home with these kids make it hard!!! The schedule I've been using has 1 day a week dedicated to laundry... ummm... I wonder how many people this person has in their family or if the husband comes home covered in dirt like mine, or even has kids?? This is not working! I spent the ENTIRE day doing laundry in addition to the rest of the work to keep the kids fed and alive and barely got half of it finished! Guess I'm going to have to use one of the less important days of cleaning to get the other half done. The saying is true- "laundry never ends".

     On another note, our renters left and now we are trying to decide whether it's better to fix it up and finally sell it, or try renting it out again. I understand it brings in money, but man it's a hassle! We never have "good renters" and just feels like more trouble than it's worth. The good part is that either way, I get to do some decorating!!! I love being able to pick out anything house related:) My only MAJOR DILEMMA is that I want to paint the kitchen cabinets! If you were to buy a house, would you rather have black or white kitchen cabinets??? Please give me your design thoughts:)

Crazy...

    (This is a little early, but I figured most of you would read this in the morning instead of at midnight:)

     SO, in my fever induced craze, my mind decided to go full-on spring cleaning mode! I was literally scrubbing base boards, cabinets, even the wood floors with a scrubber pad! Thankfully, my body took over and that only lasted about 2 hours. Definitely made the right decision:) The body aches and fever seem to have gone, but I still feel like I have a head cold or REALLY bad allergies. Too bad I don't think it's either. The girls are both showing signs of something, so I might swing my oldest by the doc to make sure. She's only been sick from any illnesses maybe once since she was diagnosed with diabetes... thank goodness! From what I've seen and read thru on Google and Web M.D., she should been taken in due to her weaker immune system. 

     FYI- I may not post on here tomorrow. Now that I'm feeling a little better, I really need to get some things done- grocery shopping, errands, cleaning, and the visit to the doctor.

Sick As A Dog...

     Hello again! It has been a LONG few weeks! We went on our Disney trip... let me make a suggestion to NOT take small children, make sure your flights are close to a sleeping schedule, and that you take breaks all the time! Don't force them to stay awake or stay up longer than usual. You will just have cranky children that will want to do what THEY want to do! We had to take turns carrying my son and youngest daughter (each are 40ish lbs), carry a diaper bag, hold a stroller (all while standing on 30 minute bus rides- kids were beyond annoyed!), endure long lines and SCORCHING humid heat. Then there was the stomach bug... or maybe food poisoning, not sure which... Let's just say it was not as fun as we hoped:(

     Now that we are back, me and my husband have had some type of flu-ish illness.  I've NEVER felt like that in my life! I swear I got ran over by a truck who's wheels were on fire! It's strange to feel like you have a fever, but don't. Not sure what to make of it. Hopefully it passes, just not straight to the kids.  It's HORRIBLE!

  

No Post...

     Sorry I haven't posted lately! It's been CRAZY! We're trying to get everything ready for our week long trip Disney World Wednesday (at 6AM). Not sure how the kids are going to be on such an early flight (not sure how they'd be anyways, they've never been on a plane!). I think we may be holding my son the whole 2 hour flight! I REALLY hope not! I have NO idea what I can take on the plane, if they will question my daughter's needles and bottles of meds, the fact she HAS to have food? Guess I should add checking on their website to my mile long list! It's not going as smoothly as planned, so far it's raining every day I can see on the forecast and we've spent a TON on 2 activities for the girls, but have been told it's all worth it! I've tried to pack as much as possible so I won't have to the day before, but the kids keep taking everything out. I think I may put it in the car- the only place they can't reach! Also, not sure if I can get to any more posts before we leave because of all the things and errands I need to do, but give me until the day after we come back and I'll try to catch up!

     p.s.-The little man was sick for an ENTIRE week... better now and no one else caught it!

     How have your kids been on the plane? Anything you can recommend bringing with me?

Memorial Weekend...

     No plans for us for the long weekend, but since it IS the weekend, I'll make it short and sweet:)

     Memorial Day is Monday, so I want to thank all of my military friends and their spouses out there for doing what you do! I know it's especially difficult for a certain close friend of mine that is home alone with 4 little kids and her grandmother. Her hubby is in Afghanistan until January. My heart goes out to her! She's doing a great job and I know she will stay strong! 

     To everyone, BE SAFE, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE, and BE CAREFUL AT THE LAKES! REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKETS!!!

    

Any Volunteers???...

     Made it through yesterday! I gave all 3 kids a damp, soapy washrag and told them to help me clean. WHY did I never think to do this before??? They LOVED it! Will be a new "fun" daily project:) We'll see how long it lasts! They usually won't help. I call their name out 3+ times before they even answer, tell them what needs to be done, check to see what it looks like, and nothing... just a BIGGER mess! I told my oldest daughter that she has to start helping because mommy can't do it all. She replies "Ugh! It's TOO MUCH! I can't!". So I explained that's the same way I feel! "I have you, your babies, daddy, AND me to take care of, and if nobody wants to help, I won't be able to do anything. I'll be too tired. I don't make ALL of the messes around here, but I have to clean them, right? Why do I have to if I didn't do it?" Hopefully this will make sense to her (and her babies, and her daddy soon!). It's gets to be a lot if no one wants to help. Especially after almost 5 years and no days off. It's the life I signed up for. Love everything but the lack of help... Someday... A dishwasher would be nice too! For now I will try out the link I shared the other day. Here it is again in case you don't know what I'm talking about:)


http://thestressedmom.com/2012/03/10-habits-for-a-well-run-home

     Are the chores even in your house? Do/did your kids help out at such a young age? Any tips or tricks?

Hectic Days...

     Sorry I missed yesterday's post! My daughter had a doctor's appointment and my son is still kind of sick, so I slept MAYBE 1-2 hours, off and on, total for the night. AND I didn't get any coffee:( Hopefully he fells better soon so we all can get some sleep!

     I still really want to get this house together! We've been here a year and a half and it's still not very organized. It's hard to fit everything in a day! I really have no one to blame but myself (and time! Definitely time's fault too!). Just now my oldest decided she wanted to make frosting, so she dumped out a box of cocoa powder on the carpet and into a mixing bowl. She knows she can't eat it, she just wants to make it, but those are the "little" messes that keep my house a wreak! -No wait... ALL OVER HER LITTLE SISTER'S HEAD TOO!!! Ugh! I wish I knew what was going through their mind so I knew how to correct it! 

    What are the craziest ways your kids have found to dirty/ destroy your house? Sorry I have to get off here a little faster today! Will get back to this tomorrow... Thanks for reading!                                                                                           

Doctors Aren't Cheap....

     Let me start by saying Happy 5th Anniversary to my husband! He may not think I appreciate all he does for us, but I really do. He works hard everyday so I can stay home with our kids. Love him more than he knows;) 

     My son has had a  high fever since Friday. Does your child always get sick like mine? Always at night or on a weekend? When the doc's office is closed? ALWAYS? Never fails! I can't complain much. They have not been sick since Christmas (wait, that's the other "always"). When you call the after hours nurse they tell you, "Oh, well we can't do anything unless "John" has had it 3 days at 101 or higher. Call back on Monday if he still has it or his symptoms get worse." By Monday it is gone or you do take them in and the doc tells you it's just a virus. Nothing they can do because he's too young for any medicine. Just give him Tylenol. I will get a $30 bill that has a note for a 5-10 minute conversation, yes they charge per minute! WELL, I could have saved SOOOO much $$$ and just stayed home with a can of Lysol! UGH! At least he seems to be getting better... Fever is gone, but now he doesn't want to eat:/ 

      As for the cleaning post from yesterday, I got two steps done- woke up early and washed one load of laundry;) Maybe tomorrow! My son was NOT himself today and did not want to be put down... Poor baby:(

I'll Never Catch Up...

  
     Have you ever been on Pinterest? It's a dumb question, I know. I LOVE IT!!! Can't get enough! There are SO many things I love, want to do, want to see, want to buy (can't afford!), want to craft... I could go on forever:) L.O.V.E , love, LOVE!!! It's so helpful! So many ideas my brain may explode one day!

   
     Anywhoo, I found a great list of ways to help me get through the chores. I am HORRIBLE at cleaning the house- ask anyone related to me- wait, maybe you shouldn't... I mean well... I always tell myself I can get it ALL done in one day! I'll wake up with (some) energy, get the kids breakfast, drink my coffee while watching the news, give my daughter her insulin, get them cleaned up and let them play, finish watching the news... then get on Facebook or Pinterest... wait, what were my plans for today??? Never happens. I get some laundry done, clean up enough so the kids have room to play,  give them snacks, start to sanitize whatever needs it, then it's already nap time and I'm exhausted! Then it's time to put them down, get my snack, take a break on the couch, and in no time at all, they're awake and it's time for lunch. Oh well. I found a pin on Pinterest that makes sense and hopefully will work for me. She has a list that makes it seem so easy! I'm going to give it a try! WISH ME LUCK!

Check out thestressedmom.com-
http://thestressedmom.com/2012/03/10-habits-for-a-well-run-home 

4 years in...

     This is my FIRST post! SO excited to share my life with you! Guess I should speed up my intro and get you caught up:)

     My name is Amanda. I am 29 and have been married to my high school sweetheart for 5 years (together 11+).  We have 3 kids- a 4 & 1/2 year old daughter, a 3 year old daughter and a 2 year old son. I have been a stay at home mom since my oldest was born and wouldn't change a thing... except...

     My oldest was diagnosed in November with type 1 diabetes. There is no worse way to break a mother's heart than to tell her something is wrong with her child. I took her to Children's Hospital in Dallas for a rash and because she was feeling right. FYI- mother's instinct is ALWAYS RIGHT! She had a blood glucose (sugar levels in the blood) of 587. A normal person should be close to 100. We stayed in the hospital for 5 days until her ketones (sugar found in the urine) were gone. Thanks to the doctors and nurses in the Endocrinology department for helping save my daughter! She is now doing good and can't wait to go to Disney World with her babies and cousin next month!

     Thanks for listening and hope to hear some about you! Feel free to leave your story (or a comment) in the comment box! Until next time...