flu...

WOW, we got hit hard by the flu this past weekend. It's the first time the whole family went down at once and it moved quickly. Odd though, Nicky got it first on Sat. and it took 36 hours for it to make it to the rest of us. We wanted to go see the holiday lights and had everyone in the van and nothing out of the normal with Nicky whining about something. 15 minutes into it, Jake yelled from the back seat "Nick's puking!" Great! What parent is ever prepared for that one? It was nasty but thankfully we had old towels under the car seats and wipes. We did a u-banger (yes, legally) and headed home. Jake had to ride in the front seat and thought that was the coolest thing ever. Don't get used to it kid for at least 6 more years! We did see some holiday decorations that houses had up already on the way home.

Jake went to school, Dad went to work & I watched the twins and Logan (my girlfriend's 3 year old) when the call came in from school around 1:30 p.m. - "Jake's been in the health room twice complaining of a stomach ache, can you come and pick him up?" As it would be - no. They we're suppose to be released early around 1:45 from school, I had Logan and the twins we're napping I told them to try and put him on the bus if he hasn't gotten sick. By the time I got everyone up, dressed and in the car, Jake would be home of the bus anyways.

5 minutes later the school nurse calls back - "Jake's puked twice but your neighbor Sue can bring him home for you - is that okay?" I said "YES, she is helping me out huge!" Just as Jake gets home, into the garage comes John - home from work sick. That's 2 now. I had that queasiness all day so I expected I was next. My girlfriend's husband came and got their boys at 3, I continued to nurse the sick, care for the twins and do laundry. Thanks to Delee for saving me by lending me detergent and Gatorade! Abby started to go downhill after dinner and by 6 she was falling asleep in the tub and in her bed by 6:30. Then, it was just me and Nick (who by the way was just fine by this time) and around 8 I melted into bed. I fought that gross, crampy feeling all night and the next day we all stayed home, slept most of the day and hung out on the couches while sipping white soda, Gatorade and trying to eat crackers. That was the worst 4 days in a LONG TIME. Strange that Abby & I never got throw up sick - only the boys. I was the only one too who didn't have a flu shot yet. GIRLS RULE!

We are up and at em' now and I hope you all don't get it - it was really bad and sorry to share TMI, but it was a whirlwind! Wash your hands and get the antibacterial stuff out - keep yourself healthy this year!

We love hats!

My hat-loving kids... Nicky sleeps with his on. Funny since I couldn't get a hat on him 3 weeks ago without screaming. Whatever - now he wears one. :)

Dance to the music...

I can only say one thing, my kids love music and when we want to burn some energy, this works wonders! Enjoy. Try not to look to closely at my two-tone living room - it is waiting for some paint after ripping the wall paper down - there is always a project to be done and never enough time when you're playing.

Also, Abby goes kind of ballistic towards the middle when she can't touch, climb, chew, throw, climb, tinker (did I mention climb?) with things she's not suppose too.

Sorry for the screaming but that's my life. :)

Halloween 08

It was a very busy Halloween this year. Jake was very excited to get out there in his construction worker costume and gather candy and to see the neighbor kids. The weather was wonderful and we had planned to have our friends hang out around the fire pit to enjoy all the trick-or-treaters. But, in the morning I had to take Nicky to the doctor because he was wheezing and grunting, having a hard time breathing generally with a bad cold. So, after our visit, poor Nicky had Amoxicillian for a double ear infection as well as a nebeulizer with Albuterol to help him breath and Prednisolone to open his airways. Holy cow - he was really sick so he did not trick-or-treat. But John took Abby around with the kids to get some candy and Abby loved her costume and a red sucker. It was not a relaxed evening as I had hoped but I did get to visit with our friends and have some tasty home-made chili. Okay and a few beers!

We are keeping busy this fall...

I can't believe that September came and went but October has been BEAUTIFUL! The colors of the trees are wonderful but lots of leaves to rake. The kids enjoyed jumping in a big pile of leaves a couple of weeks ago but man, my arms we're sore. We have been trying to get outside as much as we can knowing that the winter is just around the corner. The Farmer's Almanac predicted that this winter is going to be like last year - lots of snow. I think we had a total of like 109 inched of snow for the whole winter or close to that.

Jake is loving school and doing very well. His teacher has asked us to have a challenge packet sent home for him to work on because he is doing so well. We knew that Jake would do well but we we're pleasantly surprised that he was exceeding. What reminds us he's still 5, his listening is a skill that he has to work on. It takes about 7 times to get through to him at home and it is now something he has to work on at school too. He also has to keep learning how to tie his shoes. I've been teaching him and I have to say - MAN - when you have to slow down and go through the steps of actually tying - I am caught off guard. Honestly, it is something that I had to think harder on after doing it for 35 years. So, hopefully Jake will catch on before too long. Viva la Velcro!



Nicky & Abby have been keeping me on my toes but mostly Abby. She has just recently figured out how to scale the gates that have been keeping them caged for the past 1 1/2 years. I guess thinking we could keep them in for 4 years was a bit of a stretch. So, we tried putting the spring gate on the stairs, she scaled that and fell off. She won't stop. Now, we have bungee corded a headboard (yes, a headboard) to the bottom of the steps and banister. Thinking we had them beat...I snuck upstairs to take a quick shower and 2 minutes into it, there was Nicky in the bathroom talking to me. I couldn't believe it - how did those little stinkers get through that? All it took was Abby (our pudgy pie) to squeeze through the bottom banister and 1st rung and Nicky followed right after. Unbelievable! So, now John is going to shrink wrap the banister all the way up and hopefully Abby won't chew on the plastic like a dog. They are 22 months and we hope that they will be stable enough on the stairs by summer. But for now, we are trying this. Next up, leashes! You think I'm kidding? Just when we think we have won, they find a way to "one-up" us and frankly, John & I are completely frazzled. Each day, I think "what will they get into today" and just go moment by moment. We laugh a lot and why wouldn't you when you literally have the circus in your house. I need to buy one of those smart cars to put in my family room. I don't need it to drive, just to see how smart they really are. For all I know, they may figure out how to drive it through the bay window. :D I will cherish these days when they are older but GOOD GOD - they are making my hair turn gray before it should!

When John shrink wraps the banister, I will post a picture. Maybe we should just shrink wrap everything? How could they get to anything then? I kid, I kid.

First day of School

I can't believe my little boy is a big boy now and is in kindergarten! Sniff, sniff.

Jacob LOVES school to say the least. He was ready for that bus at 6:30 - out of bed, dressed and back pack on waiting to get on that big, yellow bus. Now, the bus does not come until 8:30 but he was READY! He had the biggest smile on his face from the bus window I have seen since he got his guitar for Christmas. He only had 2 days the first week and now is in full time - all day. I was sad for about one day, then he was home and driving me nuts and couldn't wait for the bus to come the next day.

But I am a little sad that he likes it so much because I miss our little conversations during the day and my helper. The twins miss him too. I think they we're too dazed the first week but this week, Nicky has cried when Jakey gets on the bus and it leaves. They say and point to the road, "Jakey bus" every time we are outside and I explain to them that he is at school and will be home later. We are all happy to see him when he gets of the bus! I'm glad the transition was easy and hope that Abby & Nick give me the same. Then I will be weeping for sure.

The hand is better...

And the shed is complete! It's so nice and has already been put to use - full of all kinds of things in it's first week! And John's hand is getting much, much better. We have been able to do some putzy stuff - especially cleaning out and organizing our garage after moving all kinds of yard and outdoor things into the shed - should be able to park the truck in there this winter now.

Special big thanks to John's brother Joe and his wife Jane for surprising John on painting the shed. It looks beautiful and now we can focus on what the house colors will look like next year.



John has been loving having a little haven to go to when out in the yard... it's pretty nice. He did some masterful work and we are thankful to God that his hand is healing okay!