Struck...

Just the other day I was sitting on the couch watching the children frolic and play- as children do. As I sat and pondered my life, I was struck...

It wasn't by a thought, or a feeling...

It was by a broom handle...

to my face.
It really hurt and I cried!

All brooms have been forthwith banned and expelled from the home unless in the hands of the mother.

still here...

still not well...

but definitely alive.

A friend of a friend...

told me of a new up and coming band that just released their first album. They are selling it for donations... so basically~ whatever you want~ just to have it heard.

I took a listen to a few songs of their myspace page... I liked it. It has a good style, it's quirky, and fresh.

You can listen here
http://www.myspace.com/theawfultruthmusic

and buy here...
http://www.orchidcollective.com/catalog/ocr014/

Just breathe...

I officially hate the doctors office.

I am tired of being put into a 6X6 room with four children that know their mother is sick. When the kids sense that I am not at my utmost~ they take full advantage.

Today I went into the Doc because apparently the good ole' swine flu is not quite finished with me. You see... I have asthma. I have had it since elementary school. I generally only have to use my lovely little geek inhaler before I exercise and a little more often during allergy season.

The swine flu that I thought had left my body has slowly and secretly attacked my bronchial tube. Leaving it seriously inflamed and me using my inhaler ~~ oh, every hour or so.
When I went to the doctor, they checked my oxygen levels and the Doc stated that my numbers were very borderline. Borderline? borderline to what? Death? Hospitalization? I was too busy trying to breathe to ask.

Pam (the nurse that happens to live down the road from me and is in my ward.)offered to watch the kids for me while they sent me down to the labs for a chest x-ray. When I came back my children were spilling out of the door and into the hallway. It was quite the sight.

My x-rays confirmed my bronchial inflammation that cannot be treated by antibiotics. To top it off I have the beginnings of a sinus infection. Who am I? Job??

My sister was kind enough to bring over some special herb tea that is supposed to help and the Doc sent me to get some Mucinex and some nasty nasal rinse (ick). I'm just tired of coughing and breathing like I am darth vader. Oh~ wait~ this could work to my advantage. I think I just figured out who to be for Halloween. ~ I feel grumpy about this entire situation.

and so begins.... Halloween

I love how Halloween never stays just to the 31st. The festivities always inevitably start a few weeks before. This gives us a good opportunity to break in our costumes, change our minds, get new costumes... You get the idea.

Seth has decided that he MUST be Harry Potter. Despite my efforts to persuade him otherwise. He is about 3 yrs. behind on the whole Harry Potter costume phase and they just don't have anything for a quick costume at the store.

So, today, I made a wizards robe and a few adorning accessories.

I have owned a sewing machine for several years. I remember the day that it was bought for me~ from Sears and sadly... I remember every thing that I have ever made on it.

There is one thing for certain. My sewing machine may spend most of it's sad existence in the closet, but it shines during Halloween EVERY YEAR!

Today, I brought out the ole' sewing machine. Dusted it off, happy to see that the bobbin and the thread was black (from last Halloween) and was ready to go!

I used some red ribbon that I used on one of Sophie's dresses, gold fabric from a table cloth, a brown scarf and black fabric that I spent $7.00 on. Seth was at school so Sophie acted as my model and she enjoyed watching me sew saying, "when I am a Mom, I will sew too!" Hopefully she will sew a bit more than I do!

In the end it turned out fairly decent. Anyone who is a seamstress will surely scoff at my stitching but it's okay~ Seth was in Harry Potter heaven!!

There will be no changing his mind!

Sophie and Isaac's costumes go together.
Our version of "Gone with the Wind" Scarlett & Rhett.
Isaac will even say... "Frankly my dear, I don't give a darn."Eli was a dragon, but if I can find the rest of my Halloween stuff... I know he would prefer to be Thomas the Tank Engine.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today was my Mom's birthday.

I love you Mom!!
Have a good birthday and enjoy what's left of your 50ish's!

More Chocolate Trivia...

I have not forgotten about my contest, just neglected it for awhile. The fact is that the household MUST be healthy before I can make the centers, let alone dip the chocolates. I refuse to poison my dear readers with contagious chocolates! So the contest will continue until~ guesstimating~ late November.

This means you must stay ever alert because if you miss just one question... than you are out of the game. New Readers... feel free to scroll on down to take a peak at the other questions. It is never too late to enter.



Question: How do we know Mozart loved chocolate?



E-mail your answers to me at my8isgr8@gmail.com.

Musical stylings...

We are no VonTrapp family by any extent. However, I do feel that music has the ability to bring a family together. Even when we sound like a bunch of cats howling in the rain.

For Family Home Evening tonight we discussed talents.

More specifically was how if you do not use your talents, they will dwindle and fade.

My prime example for this was how I "used" to be able to play several songs on the guitar and now... I can only play bits and peices of what I used to know. Although, combined all together it makes for a very interesting sound :)
Seth insists that he already knows how to play the guitar and I must say, he has a very good strumming technique down. He wants to take lessons.
When I asked the other children what talent they would like to learn... they all said the same.
When I asked what talents they already had... Isaac said Karate, Seth said reading, Sophie said Singing and Eli said "I want some!" ~ I guess he means he would like a talent :)
So, without further delay, here are the highlights of our musical stylings... well, at least some photos.

Of course the guitar was bigger than Sophie and Eli could possibly manage. They gave it a good go.




Isaac was so focused. I had to giggle. They all took it very seriously!

We had a good time.

The Quarantine...

a state of enforced isolation. It's been a week and two days.


Can they go back to school yet???

Doubters...

Some recent conversations have led me to believe that "some" of you doubt the hilarity of my daily life.

Really, people... my life is one of two things~ it is either Hell~ or it is Hellarious~

In referance to sanity... some would say that I am not so. I would have to agree. No sane person could possibly survive my life.

Here is how the day went down....

Wednesday October 14, 2009
Awake at 4am to a whimpering little child.
Promptly remove whimpering child and place him in bed with me.
4:02 am- Get poor sickly whimpering child some medicine.
4:03 am lay down
4:04 am have conversation with poor sickly whimpering child as to how a bandaid won't help his hurting head.
4:06.32 am Get a damp wash cloth for poor sickly whimpering child's head.
4:11 am get poor whimpering sickly child some 7-up.
4:12 am go back to sleep
5:21 am Awake to poor less sickly whimpering child asking for his pooh bear.
5:22 am respond by quickly retrieving pooh bear for my poor less sickly whimpering child.
5:23 am sleep- for all of us

6:46am- Awaken to a very loud other not so sickly child yell for breakfast. (it was Isaac in case you haven't caught on to that child's passion and drive for food.)

6:46 am- Yell back for him to eat a banana and to be quiet! (don't you like how I yell to be quiet! It's classic! It's like slapping your childs hand while telling him "no hitting!")

okay... so you get the idea... Fast Forward....................

Doctors Office Visit Number One:
So, after having been into the office just the day before I was fortunate enough to get a doctor who was kind enough to actually listen to my request to get some swabs done. Actually he was quite appalled that it hadn't been done previously.

Ope.... to far... Rewind just a hair.......................

I left Isaac and Seth at home with strict instructions to behave until I got back. Yesterday's visit to the doctors office with all four of them gave me at least 704 new gray hairs!

Fast Forward........................
k- we are caught up. I took Sophie and Eli in... along with myself. I wasn't worried about Sophie so we didn't check her out but the Doc confirmed that Eli had swine flu and that I had strep. He also suggested I bring everyone else in before 2:30 to get swabs done on them.
Both Eli and Sophie got suckers and stickers. They really did a fabulous job!

Fast Forward.................................
1:27 pm- Load ALL children in truck and head to Dr's office. Watch as the receptionist looks at our file, steps back, puts on a face mask, sanitizes the counter, and sanitizes her hands after handing her back the clipboard. Not that I blame her~ I just think its funny.
Eli fell asleep in the waiting room with his blankie while sitting in the chair. The other three... HAD to go potty. So they RUN across the clinic RACING to the bathroom~ Isaac won~ there was yelling from Sophie. Seth was distracted by the drinking fountain and didn't really make it to the bathroom ~ which explains his bathroom visit later on...

Eventually, we were called back.
My children were lined up like little soldiers for their height and weight. Followed by a quick exam by the doctor. okay... Seth didn't line up like a soldier at all... he was too busy "feeling" all the smooth surfaces in the room and picking off any "glue" that might be on them. Oddly, a Doctor has never questioned Seth's diagnosis of Aspergers when I tell them. :)

Then came in the nurses with the swabs. The swine flu swab goes up the nose. There were tears on that one. The strep test... well we all know how that one goes down... gagging ensued.

Somewhere in between all that... Seth had to use the restroom. The Doctor kindly pointed it out to him and off he went. Two children checked out and 7 minutes later... still no Seth! He eventually came wandering back with the statement, "What? I got distracted!"

It was done. The whole family had been appropriately prodded, poked and swabbed. I did it! whew!

2:40pm Kids get their rewards of suckers and stickers to make a sucessful trip to the Doctors office.

Fast Forward...............................................

4:37pm Recieved a call from said Doctors office to give the results of the labs. Swine flu and strep confirmed for kidlets. "Please come pick up your prescriptions."
4:38 start gathering children
4:47 stop gathering children- children want to stay home.
5:15 pm Start looking for keys
5:27 pm Find Keys ( yes, Mom... I know, I know... that is why I have a designated "key" spot!)
5:30 pm Arrive at said Doctors office- pick up prescription

Oh, I failed to mention that I had also gone and dropped off and picked-up 3 other prescriptions. It is important to know this!

5: 32 pm- Drop off prescriptions- Go home

6:23 pm- Pick up prescriptions- Stay home

and that....

is when I found it.

An incredible Hulk sticker stuck to my butt!!!
I don't know when... or how long... or how... it just was
in all its green glory!

So you tell me...

You have got to be kidding...

Holy virus' batman!

I am so glad I canceled out little trip! We went to the Doctor for a third/ followed shortly by the fourth time in a week. I FINALLY got into a doctor that agreed to swab the whole family instead of just casually throwing out a diagnosis with nothing to back it up.

Here are the final results.... drum roll please!....................

We have:
Strep throat

Bronchitis

Two ear infections (each in separate children)

and the swine flu!

I think our weekend away would have been a complete bust :)

I also think we will be quarantined for at least another week!
Wish me luck!

Canceled

:( I feel sad :(

To cancel or not to cancel...

I have till the end of today to cancel my trip with no loss whatsoever. A family trip to the doctors this morning gave me hope that our illness will soon be over. Opinion #2 said that she didn't think that we had swine flu but rather upper respiratory infections along with ear infections for the older boys. She said the little's just appeared to have colds. None of us had fevers at the time. So we went to good ole' Wal-Mart to pick up our plethora of anti-biotics. While standing in line waiting I was suddenly struck with the worst feeling I have had in a very, very long time. A cross between being hit by a bus and living in Antarctica . Bring on the fever and chills, not to mention the body aches! Uggghhh~ hello death... glad you came to keep me company.

My wonderful sister brought me soup and brownies and I was kind enough to spray around the sanitizer before she came into the house.

So the big question remains... will the anti-biotics kick in and leave me well enough for vacation... or will I go on vacation just to lie in the condo and die... if I get there to begin with??

What a conundrum!

2 More Days...

Wolf Creek Worldmark, Eden, UT
Originally uploaded by stokyacres

In two days... we will be here sitting next to the fireplace with hot cocoa and eating caramel corn!!

So Excited!!!!!

and yes, we do have swine flu~ no reason to stay quarantined at home when we can stay quarantined here instead.

Well that just blows chunks...

After our pumpkin activity, it was time for dinner- but Isaac was not hungry! WHAT? Isaac the 86 lb 6yr. old is not hungry? - I hear you all saying in my mind- Nope, and his head hurt... and his tummy ached... and... a sore throat.

I'm sure by now you are all aware of the symptoms of swine flu. The only thing Isaac was lacking was a loud hacking cough.

but... because my Mommy instincts were shouting at me... we went to Urgent Care. There I briefly explained Ike's symptoms and they quickly turned him into a ninja warrior.


Once we got in to see the Doctor, he optimistically said that what Isaac may have is strep throat rather than the dreaded H1N1 virus. That would be great! Isaac did not have any signs of a fever. So they swabbed his throat... and I sat waiting for 15 minutes. Actually I was singing songs to the littles to keep them entertained. Doc came back in and said it was negative... but it doesn't always catch it... (what's the point of the test?)

He then said that he was going to put Ike on an anti-biotic. If it were strep... he'll quickly improve... if it is not, than he would see me tomorrow.

So, out we went to collect stickers for my good little children who were so patient. While standing and rummaging through the sticker drawer- Ike keeps getting paler and paler. He then removes himself from the sticker drawer without getting a sticker to come stand next to me -BIG RED FLAG- the nurse continues looking for a sticker he would like. I quickly pull out the plastic tupperware that I had so cleverly stowed away in my purse for just such a moment... and sure enough... puke fest!

The doctor pulled us back into the office... gave me a prescription for Tamiflu under the direction to not use it until Ike has a fever. He then counseled me that the entire family was sure to get it. No-one, not even myself would be safe. He went as far to suggest that I go home and prep some meals tonight so my children wouldn't starve when I am sick. BOOOOOO~

I went to wal-mart and picked up the following supplies.


If anyone wants to kindly volunteer to come take care of me and my family please do so now. Bring your own gloves :)

Festivities...

Fall time is wonderful. It is the beginning of the holiday season... I say, let it begin.

Our annual pumpkin painting was a big fantastic messy time!!

How many pumpkins do you count? Question #3.

Favorite Candy bar

Yes, this is question #2 and this time it is something that can be answered publicly!!

My fave- Three Muskateers or a Caramello- depending on mood.

Post 101...

what better reason for a giveaway?!

I've been pondering what to do for this momentous occasion. Now that the weather is cooler and dipping season is just around the corner... I have decided to do a giveaway for some of my delectible hand dipped chocolates!

I can not promise that they will still be beautiful by the time they get to you though as I have never shipped them before... but what better way to try. Who knows... maybe by this time next year I will be filling chocolate orders for people nationwide (ha, ha)

So here's the deal. This is not a one question contest. NOPE~ you must understand that in these parts... people fight over these chocolates! So, I will be turning this into a multi-week challenge with various questions interspersed throughout the duration of the contest.

All applicants must answer ALL questions correctly and have them in by a deadline that I will give you in the future. It is possible that I may choose more than one winner. It just depends on what kind of mood I am in~ and possibly how hungry I get on shipping day :)

Also, newbies are allowed to play this round so if some random person comes blog patrolling and decides to stick it our for the duration of the contest~ than job well done... they get a go at it & Lisa gets to play too!

With that being said... onto the first question.

Where did chocolate originate from???

Conference weekend...

anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE conference weekend.

There is something amazing that happens when you open your home to the spirit and let it in. This year, with the weather being cold and a nice sleet coming from the sky. Our home felt cozier than ever.


The kids settled down with their snacks and their conference packets. (I had made the night before... Sophie loved hers so much she fell asleep with it.)


I made a deal with Seth and Isaac~ as they were a bit unruly during the second session~ to tally certain words that they heard during conference and they would get a piece of candy for each tally. Seth was very vigilant~ I owe him a lot of candy~


and took a break only to help direct the Choir.


Ya gotta love a day like that! Unfortunately~ we could not get reception for Sunday's session and listened to it on the radio... which DID NOT keep the kids' attention :)

Happy Graduation cake to me...

Dear Me,

Your graduating on Sunday. That's a big deal!!

You should bake a cake and eat it.


Mmmmm.....



What a brilliant, educated decision.



Love,
Myself.