Moving on!

Everyone at our house is starting to feel better, and I couldn't be happier!  Today was my first non-medicated day, and that went pretty well.  Ears were a little plugged, but nothing to complain about.  Emma is still taking her antibiotics for her ear infection, but her cough and runny nose seem to be slowly getting better.  Andrea too, seems to be over the worst part of the cold.  Lucky ducks David and Janelle never even got it!

It's nice to feel positive again.  I think I'm finally really getting over being dumped by my best friend.  I don't find myself wondering what she would think about something, don't catch myself wanting to call and tell her something that just happened, or whatever.  Instead, I miss my nephews, I don't know what to say to my girls about an aunt that meant a lot to them that has now dropped from their lives, but I know life goes on.  Our value to her was obviously not what hers was to us.  I'm trying to show the boys that we love and miss them by sending them mail.  Real snail mail.  A card with a personal note inside, and something silly.  Stickers, or some little thing they'd enjoy.  I hope they are receiving and enjoying them.  In time, I hope actions will speak louder than words, and they will know that we love them.

I'm looking forward to this weekend, one of the rare ones that is not crazy busy.  We have stuff going on, but we'll be home, and not running in a billion different directions.  We can continue to get over our colds, and enjoy watching the rain outside.  I don't even mind that I just washed my car and it's going to rain on it.  I knew that before I washed it, but it was REALLY dirty!  I don't think it's been washed in months.  I did finally get my cool Kauai sticker put on the window.  It's been over a year since Hawaii, and I'm just getting to it.  Good times, good memories, and a great reminder of all the fun!

Tomorrow we're having cocktails and a barbecue down at the patio.  I'm glad those traditions are continuing. Things are moving slowly out of Grandpa's house.  I feel incredibly fortunate to have his kitchen table and chairs.  We had a lot of good times around that table, and I remember them every time I look at it.  It's nice having my family sitting around it.  The girls have all picked out 'their spots' at the table, and our family dinners will be even more special around it.

Well, I guess that's a pretty good update.  Got to see a super cute baby at school today!  That's ALWAYS a day maker!  As I finish up, I feel very...... content.  I have a great family, we're employed, housed, and fed.  Everything else is just FLUFF!

Really?

I feel like Emma has been sick since Christmas.  She's pretty much gone from tonsillitis to a cough, to a cold and cough.  Poor girl really needs to get back on her feet!  I kept her home from school today because she coughed all night long and was so, so tired today.  On top of that, it seems like whenever she gets a cold she gets fluid in her ear, and then she has an earache.  Today I hooked her up with my old fashioned hot water bottle and she LOVED it!  Good thing, because it helps her ear feel better.  She took it to bed with her tonight.

Of course, now I am catching the dreaded cold.  Better that than the stomach flu that's going around!  I hope I wake up tomorrow still feeling ok, so I can go to work, then crash this weekend and get rid of it!  Fingers crossed!

Andrea has been taking Finals all week at school, and feels like she's doing well.  All three of the girls are great students and we are so proud of them.  I can't wait to hear how she did.  Janelle gets to go to the movies tomorrow with the Jr. High as an 'end of 2nd quarter' treat.  I hope they have a blast.  Emma is questionable for school tomorrow, I can her coughing again, and she's been in bed, medicated, for an hour already.  Poor girl.

Vitamins, fluids, rest!

A day to be outside!

It was another oddly nice January day here today, and we (well, most of us anyway, Andrea was watching a wrestling tournament in Eureka, and Janelle was desperately trying to defeat Voldemort in Lego Harry Potter for the Wii) took advantage of it and spent some time outside.  The chickens have been very happy since we moved them out of the mud into a more grassy area.  Emma put on her sweatshirt and boots and went nail collecting with Daddy's cool magnet.  There are a lot of nails laying around close to the house from our roofing project, and she enjoys finding them with the magnet.

Next she went to hang out with the chickens. She's almost tall enough to undo the latch all by herself!

She really wanted them to come out of the coop so she could try to catch them, but those wily chickens were onto her.  They hid in the coop most of the time, with only a daring two coming out to join her.

David (and his helper Pita) made the most of the dry spell and mowed the grass.  I can't say mowed the lawn because really, it's not lawn.  He breezed through the front yard, which we've kept up on, but the back was not so easy.  It's been ignored for a month or three, and was pretty tall and wet.  It took him about an hour and a half to mow what we fondly refer to as 'the back 40'.  It sure looks better now though, and he's glad he got it done.  Now it can rain, rain, rain!

I don't know what it is, but I really enjoy watching him mow the grass.  I think it stems from back when we were dating.  He would go to his great-grandma's house and mow her grass for her, and I would go with him, visit with Grandma Clara, then watch him mow.  I still love to do it today.

Not that he slaved all day!  He did get to go have some manly man time shooting guns with Andy.  He had a blast, and I really hope they do it again.  Apparently, men and shooting ranges go quite well together!

Tonight we went to the FFA tri tip dinner.  It was good, and I got to visit with a lot of people I knew.  A co-worker/friend brought her family and we all ate together.  Good times!  Tomorrow Dad is coming to our house for dinner, Mom & sister are out of town.  I haven't figured out what we're having yet, but tomorrow I am going grocery shopping, so anything is possible!  I also get to have coffee with an old friend that I don't get to see often, and I'm really looking forward to it.  Also on tomorrow's agenda: Sunday school, laundry, football, and family time!

Goodnight, and Big Balls!



I LOVE the show Wipeout!  It doesn't matter what kind of mood I am in, it ALWAYS makes me laugh.  There's nothing like a bunch of crazy people jumping around, bouncing off of obstacles and falling in water.  Every episode cracks me up, and I laugh right out loud in my living room.  Doesn't matter if there's other people around or not, I laugh anyway.  I've decided Wipeout is the best medicine for whatever ails you!

My very favorite obstacle is the Big Balls.  People try to go flying across them, only to bounce right off, usually with some degree of style, or distinct lack thereof, into the drink!

Jon Hensen is one of the hosts, and he is hysterical.  I used to watch him years ago, when he was the host of Talk Soup on the E! network.  He's funny, and quick, and I love all his one liners and nicknames he gives the contestants.  I've missed seeing him on TV, and he really makes the show.

Winter Wipeout is in full swing, with cold, wintery themed obstacles.  Fabulous.  It airs every Thursday night from 8-9pm on ABC.  Watch it and see how many times you LOL!

Brr!

Well luckily, the weather held off until school was out, and all the kidlets got to play outside today.  We've been spoiled by good weather, and Mother Nature is returning with a vengeance, with rain, wind and cold!

I came home and made a confetti cake, and the house smelled good when the big girls got home.  Tonight after basketball games I am looking forward to baking a ton of chocolate chip cookies, then snuggling up in bed with the mattress warmer on!  I spent a good portion of the day with a headache (thanks a lot, possible side effects) so a good night's sleep will be appreciated.

On a sad note, my sister called and said she has pneumonia!  I hope she behaves herself and gets better fast.  Sounds like she caught it pretty early, so she should be fine.  Maybe I'll take her some cookies.  Stay warm and dry everyone!





Skol!

I can't quite remember how this conversation started, but this is how it ended:

Me:  You have to be 21 to drink.

Emma:  You do?

Me:  Yes, you have to be 21 years old.

Emma:  I don't know if I can wait that long!

Oh boy.......

Zzzzzzzzzzz

So I kinda overslept this morning.  My Mom called at 9:45am thinking I'd be up, and I was sound asleep!  I was a little shocked when I looked at the clock.  The girls had slept at Mom's last night, and we went out to sushi with my cousin & her husband.  We had a great time, but I was in bed at 11pm.  Not like it was a super late night!  I think these antibiotics just wipe me out.  They're pretty strong.  I tried to make up for the rest of the day though.

I ran to Ferndale to turn the heat on for the lodge installation this afternoon, then picked up the girls.  Off to Fortuna to take Emma to Sunday School, then home.  Got the girls started cleaning their rooms, while I started laundry, swept floors, and cleaned bathrooms.  Off to Fortuna again to take Janelle to Youth Group, and back home to make beds and fold laundry.  There never seems to be just a little laundry to do, it's always a huge pile!  David got home and made me sit down for a while, and he's making dinner.  Unfortunately, I know I have another weeks worth of medicine, so I better get used to feeling a little run down.  Life goes on!

Here we go again....

So after being in and out of doctor's offices 3 times in the last two weeks with my kids, I ended up in one for myself today.  My throat started getting sore yesterday, and by this morning I knew exactly what was happening.  My peritonsillar abscess that was kind enough to visit me TWICE last year, has reappeared for a 2011 visit.  Lucky for me, I knew what I was feeling, and hauled myself right in.  Antibiotics are already started, and I can go in tomorrow for a shot if I feel really, really awful.  I'm hoping since I caught it so early that it won't last nearly as long, or feel as bad as before.  I am expecting a call from the ENT office sometime in the next two weeks.  Obviously it's time to take it to the next level so we can put an end to this particular reoccurring nightmare of mine.

On a much happier note, before Blogspot decided not to let me on last night, David & I totally schooled the kids on how to play Mario Bros.  They were pretty impressed with our mad skillz, and I had to remind them that we've been playing Mario since before they were born!

Fool me once!

Boy did January put one over on me!  Completely fooled by the fantabulous day we had yesterday, I looked out the window this morning at the sunshine and thought we'd have a repeat.  Was I wrong!  I froze my @$! off today!  Standing outside on recess duty I could see my breath.  Lesson learned, and I will be dressing warmer tomorrow!

What a beautiful day!

Today was a rare, gorgeous, winter day on the North Coast.  Not a cloud in the sky, and it actually felt WARM!  Such a treat for us in January, which is normally so cold and rainy.  It looks like this whole week should be pretty dry, and I plan on enjoying every moment of it!  I would like to wash my car, and maybe go for a walk before we're limited to the indoors again.  Janelle requested the beach if it's not too cold.
Today the big girls both had their teeth tightened at the orthodontist, though Andrea doesn't have to go back for another 3 months.   She's really on the home stretch.  Janelle is doing great, and her cross bite is mostly corrected.  I think all the kids are enjoying being back on a schedule, but we'd all rather our day didn't have to start until about 10am! 
David celebrated 14 years at his job today.  I'm so proud of him.  He works incredibly hard, and has a stronger worth ethic than many people I know.  He's come so far from when he first started, back when the IT department consisted of three people in a basement!  Way to go honey, you are the MAN!

Enjoy the sunshine!

Happy 1/1/11!

Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope this year brings health, happiness, and prosperity!