Back amongst the living!

I think we have officially recovered from our recent illness..YEAH! Everyone was affected except Morgan (lucky girl), but we are all well now and getting back on with life! I now get to play 'catch up' the the next week on all the things that didn't get done while we were sick! It sure does make you appreciate your health and abilities!
This week I got a call from the PTA Pres. wanting to see if I was missing my 'project' at all! HA! For the past two years I've been in charge of certain fund raising events, but I told them at the end of last year that with a new baby due the week school started this year, that I would be stepping down from that responsibility. So, this week is the Pizza Sales delivery, and they've asked if I could come in as the 'voice of experience' (they are really desperate) to help get things set up for the delivery. I did agree to come in the morning for as long as my two kids could handle it (I'm thinking 30min. to an hour will be it). I feel bad about not being AS involved this year as I have been in the past, but this year I'm spending most of my volunteer time in my kids class rooms, which I really enjoy!

Not the weekend we'd planned for!

The past 3 days haven't quite gone as planned.....
Friday Brian took the day off and went to the temple in the morning, the kids got to play some more in the snow, and that afternoon Ronan got to go to a friend house for some much deserved play time while Morgan and I went ice skating for our 'Special Time' (all this went as planned). Ronan had a blast, and Morgan and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves skating! This was her first time on the ice, and my first time in years, so I was a bit nervous, but we both did great! She used the little walker thing to help her, and got going really fast, I could barely keep up with her at times! At one point she asked me to not skate by her, so it looked like she was 'good enough to be there on her own'!
Now for what I wasn't planning for-Duncan got sick, and had a fever the whole day. We were supposed to go to dinner with friends, but canceled due to poor Dunkie. That night he woke up with a temp of 104, and I got him meds, sponged him a bit and put him back to bed...then Ashlyn woke up due to the fact that she had rolled and her cradle was tipped-got her back to bed...then Brian was up saying he was freezing, and putting all the clothing on he could, while I piled more blankets on him...then back to bed only to have little Duncan up again...then Ashlyn again at 5:00am who was awake for the day. Brian woke up later and realized that he had a temp of 103.5, took meds, and went back to bed. Ronan and Morgan had swim lessons at 10:30 that morning, so I left Ashlyn sleeping in our room with Brian, Duncan asleep on the couch, and Hayden awake to sound the call if anyone needed anything while I took them to lessons. While at the lessons, I made some calls and canceled my 'Almost Heaven' spa appointment my sister and I had that day at noon, and canceled another dinner appointment we had with friends that night.
When we got home, Brian was doing much worse, and I called the home teachers for a blessing, they came and mentioned that his wife had similar symptoms last week and had pneumonia. So I called the doctor after they left, and described Brian's condition to him, and he told me to take him to the E.R. I called Missy up, who came to sit with the kids while I took Brian to the hospital. We were there for quite a while, and I came home to feed Ashlyn and get the kids settled for bed before heading back up there. While I was at home I realized that Ashlyn had a fever as well, and Duncan's was still coming and going. Brian and I made it home around 10:00pm after being at the E.R. for 8 hours. They did x-rays, and blood work, and determined that he didn't have pneumonia, but a really bad bout of influenza. He was pretty dehydrated, and his blood pressure kept dropping. But, they gave him lots of IV fluids, and some meds, and away we went.
So, that brings us to last night. I started to not feel so good on the way home, and was hoping it was just fatigue since I hadn't really slept more than 2 hours the night before. I'll get some good rest tonight and feel fine and ready to take care of everyone tomorrow I thought. Well, my poor Ashlyn who is normally the happiest baby in the world was so miserable last night, and was only comfortable when I was holding her sitting up. So, I didn't get much sleep last night either! It's now Sunday afternoon, Brian, Duncan, & Ashlyn are sleeping, and I 'm just trying to keep the other 3 entertained. I had to throw out the whole 'no TV on Sunday' rule, as I just don't have the energy! Hopefully I'll be feeling better by tomorrow, as they all have the day off school again, and will be in need of attention! So, needless to say this is not the weekend I was planning!

Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Today we had our second snow of the season, and it couldn't of come at a better time! It started snowing in the morning, and by noon we had 3 inches, and the kids had a half day planned-perfect! I went and picked them up and they spent all afternoon outside in the snow! They have tomorrow off as well, and so will get to have more playtime in the snow! They all got these snowball makers in their stockings for Christmas, and were beginning to think that they might not get to use them! Ashlyn and I stayed inside, made a fire and hot chocolate for everyone as they came in-it was a great day!

Here's a few photos of Duncan feeding Ashlyn carrots-she thought this was a hoot! It was messy and fun! Good job Duncan!

No Tips from me!

Quick story:
Tonight I needed a little 'mommy time out', and told Brian I was running up to Baskin Robins to buy myself a scoop of ice cream, and sit alone for 10 minutes. I ran in there and order, and my total came to $2.02, I had 2 one dollar bills in my purse, but no change (due to the Hawaii fund-see below), and didn't really want to use my card for such a small purchase. But, then I saw a small bowl on the counter- perfect I thought! A give-a-penny-take-a-penny thing! So, I grabbed two penny's out of the bowl, and paid the man! He kind of gave me a funny look, and I noticed as I walked away that the bowl said "TIPS"- oops! So, not only did I NOT tip him, but I took money out of his tip jar to pay for my ice cream! I felt a bit foolish, but oh well-twas already done! I just had to have a small laugh at myself! (he he he..)

Duncan is NOT being poisoned!

So, I'm not sure what has gotten into Duncan lately, but he is constantly coming up to me with his mouth open asking, "Mom, there's something in my mouth?"

"No, Duncan there's nothing in there."

"I can swallow?", "I won't die?"

"Yes, Duncan, you can swallow, you won't die."

He ran up to me after his mouth brushed up against Ronan's backpack...

"Mom! My mouth ok? Can I swallow? My lips touched Ronan's bag!"

"Yes Duncan, you will be fine."

Then I was in the shower the other day, and he runs into the bathroom asking: "Mom! There's poison in my room?!"

I said "No, who told you there was poison in your room?" (Thinking of course that one of his older siblings is torturing the poor guy).

"Nobody, but my mouth touched the floor! You sure there's no poison in my room? I won't die?!"

I assured him that I keep his house clean and safe for him, and there was NO poison in his room! This poor child! I have a feeling this is steaming from me telling him NOT to put his fingers in Ashlyn's mouth, as she might get germs and get sick! I'm afraid I may of created a worry-wart though!



HAWAII FUND

Last week Ronan and I were reading a book about sea creatures, and I happened to point out some of the fish/animals that I'd seen when I lived in Hawaii as a teenager while SCUBA diving. Well, that has spun his interest in seeing these things for himself! He quickly got the rest of the kids on board with his idea, and they voted to turn our 'Disney Fund' (a jar in which the children are saving money to go back to Disney World in) into the 'Hawaii Fund'. Originally the kids had to earn $100 to go to Disney World, (something that they've been working toward for almost a year, and weren't even half way there yet). I told them since Hawaii would be more expensive they would have to save $200 to go (of course I'm picturing this taking 2 years to get to, and by then they would of changed their minds as to what they want to do with the money). Well, Ronan has been finding loose change all over the house, and has been doing extra jobs to earn money for the 'Fund'. They are currently at $53.00, and just this morning he convinced Hayden and Morgan to forgo their lunch money (they are each allowed to buy school lunch once a week) and save the $2.25/per person a week instead for the Hawaii fund! Well, now I'm concerned, because if they really do that, and earn extra money, they will have their $200 in 3-4 months! This of course was not at all what I thought was going to happen! I told them that mom and dad have to save money as well, as it would cost Thousands of dollars for us all to go to Hawaii, and we couldn't go until we had that money saved as well. Ronan said "Mom, you'd better get started, start doing some extra jobs, because we are going to have our $200 soon!"

So, we just might experience some mutiny in a few months!

Everyday fun

My sister says that my evening last night needed to be blogged-she thought it was hilarious. I guess to me it's just normal life with 5 kids, but here goes!
Brian had a Stake Priesthood meeting to be at last night, so it was just me and the kids. My sister Heather called, and I spoke with her for a while letting the kids just play upstairs making a racket (and getting away with more than usual-which always seems to happen when I'm on the phone). Well, Hayden had found these Swiffer duster things I had just bought, and was going to town dusting the house(picture frames, book shelves, and even ceiling fan blades), it was great. He then asked if he could take the ashes out of the wood burning stove that we have, and in my 'quick I'm on the phone' kind of answer I said "Yes, just be sure to hold the bag open wide when you dump them in." Well, a few minutes later he comes upstairs covered in suet, blows air out of the corner of his mouth to get some off his hair with a smile and says "Um...mom, probably 3/4 of the ashes didn't make it into the bag."
I took a breath, and told him "Good use of fractions, now just sweep or vacuum it up, and vacuum the couch nearby, as those probably have ashes on them as well." He set off to clean up, and I had to hang up with Heather due to another call. I went upstairs to check on the other kids, and my youngest sister Missy called. I relayed the ashes incident to her, and commented on how Duncan was running around the house in nothing but underwear and Morgan's dress shoes. Then coming from the other room is Ronan yelling that Morgan has peed on him! I put Ashlyn in her crib and go check out what's happening with Morgan and Ronan. Apparently they were playing 'tickle monster', and Morgan lost control of her bladder while sitting on part of Ronan's leg! At this point Missy is just cracking up! She says "I love talking to you on the phone! You never know what's going to happen over there, it's always such a riot!" I told her I will savor the phone calls I have with her in about 10-15 years from now when she is in the same position as me! Anyway, I sent Ronan off to the tub, and Morgan off to the shower to get cleaned up, and our conversation turned to the chair that Brian just took to the dump for Missy due to the fact that her cats soiled the thing! As I am now at the front closet hanging up coats, I think I hear a cat at my doorstep, but no, that's not a cat, it's my baby that I left upstairs in her crib! So, I run up to get her, and Hayden tells me that something is wrong with the vacuum. I tell Missy I really need to go now, and on my way downstairs to help Hayden I find that Duncan has now lost the shoes and underwear he was running around in, and having heard the water running in the bathroom (just like a cat and a can opener) is hoping his brother will let him join him. Eventually all the ashes were picked up, children were bathed, dressed, and in bed! Brian came home at 8:30 to me feeding Ashlyn on the couch, and everyone in bed, and said "Was it a pretty quiet night?" HA! There is always something exciting going on in this house!
One other cute thing (sorry this is so long for those of you reading, but as I use this partly as my journal, this is for me). This morning Morgan and Ronan joined me in my room at 6:20am while I was feeding Ashlyn, and asked where daddy was. I told them he's gone to work early today. Morgan said "Dad should go to work after dinnertime" I asked why did she want him to go to work after dinner? "So that he can be home all day to play with us" I said:"If he is playing all day, and working at night time, when would he sleep?" "Oh that's a problem!" she said. "Maybe he can just work half the night, and then sleep half the night".
I said:"Since you are at school all day, isn't it good that daddy works during the day, and gets home and hour after you get home from school?"
"Yeah, I guess, but he should have the summers off!"
Wouldn't that be great!

Funny kids

There have been a few cute things that have happened this week that I wanted to write about.
There is a story that my family tells of when my sister and I were little, and my parents would ask, "Sara, where did you get your pretty blue eyes?", or "Where did you get your long hair?" To which I would respond "From Heavenly Father."
Then when my younger sister was asked the same questions, she responded: "From the PX" (For those of you with no affiliation with the military, the PX is the 'Post Exchange', and thus was where we got EVERYTHING, so it made perfect sense to her!). Well, with that said, I had just given all the boys haircuts, and Brian was noting how hairy Ronan is, and asked him, "Where did you get all that hair?"
Ronan quickly responded: "From the Internet." I guess that means we must get EVERYTHING from the 'Internet'! When I asked him what the Internet was, he told me the place that sends us boxes! Kids are great!
Story #2:
We were all (except for Hayden) in the boys room one night while Brian was reading from the Book of Mormon. After 2 verses, he stopped and asked what those verses meant. Morgan rolls over and with a heavy sigh says "Oh man, we NEED Hayden here for that!" So, I guess we know who answers all the scripture questions in our house!

On New Years day, we walked over to the lake across the street from our house to feed our long lost friends the ducks! They dredged out the lake this past summer, and has only recently been filled back up with water, so we have missed going to feed the ducks.
This is the crew on the new dock they put in.
Ronan feeding the ducks.
Little Ashlyn was braving the elements on our cold walk to the lake.

Brian loves those newborn jammies with the drawstring an the bottom (and no snaps), and calls it a 'sack-a-baby'--here is our version of 'stack-a-baby'

Poor Ronan is almost not visible in this one-I didn't dare put Ashlyn on the top of this one!

Today Duncan, Ashlyn, and I made a tent under our dinning room table-we haven't done that for a long time! It was great fun, we had a picnic under there, and brought in some animal friends. The older kids were jealous when they saw the pictures after school, and we will have to do it again tomorrow after school with them! See-who needed all those new Christmas toys? All we needed was a sheet and a table!