Too Busy to Blog

I keep trying to make blogging more of a priority - but so many things still keep getting in the way. How does life just get busier and busier?

Now that I am actually sitting down and typing - I can't think of a thing to say.

At least I tried!

The "C" Word Again.

Just when everything seemed to be going well and looking forward to Christmas the "C" word came up again. This time it was my dad announcing the news. In a cruel twist of irony my dad was just diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (the same cancer they thought Chris had).

So I am so sad my dad has to go through this but am grateful I already know a whole lot about lymphoma and know all the emotions my mom and dad are going through. I hope I can help them through this.

His diagnosis was quick. He went to the ER on a Sunday had some testing done on the following Tuesday, got the results on Thursday and even started his first round of chemo on that same Thursday.

My Dad is a total workaholic and always busy. It was hard for him to take some time off work and to feel too crummy to do much but sleep after the chemo. But he also has a lot of gusto and a great attitude and is doing well so far.

I had already resolved to do better at blogging. But now I have even more incentive. I need to keep up on my life so my dad can have something to look forward to while going through all this. So, here is to you dad!!!!! I'll keep the blogging coming.

How Do Your Kids Get Out of Eating Their Food?

I remember not wanting to eat certain things on my plate while I was younger. But at least I was honest about it. I left it on the plate and accepted what ever punishment came with it - early bed, sitting there until I did eat, etc.

Some how Chad has become the master of hiding the fact that he hasn't eaten his food. At first he would very sneakily make his food into very small pieces and then toss them down on the floor. I caught on as soon as I realized how messy the floor was becoming from certain foods Chad didn't like.

After he knew that gig was up he started hiding the food on his chair between his legs. No mess on the floor, but plenty of evidence once he left the table and I started to clean up.

His newest attempt? Sticking it in his pocket!!!!! Yes, the kid is crazy. He loves meat, loves spam, loves bacon, loves deli ham but will not eat just ordinary ham. Before he left the table I checked the floor - the usual mess - and checked his chair -all clean. But as he was standing up while I did the chair check I saw something sticking out of his pants pocket. He had stuffed all the pieces of ham in his pocket. So glad I discovered then and not while in the middle of laundry!!!

What is a mom supposed to do with that? Laugh or throw the book at him?!

Sean is starting to take after his brother now too. I noticed some of my dishes had gone missing (nothing new around my house). I finally found a couple of bowls and spoons strategically placed inside the wood framework of my dinning room table. Unfortunately I found them after the breakfast cereal (oatmeal and cream of wheat) had been there long enough to dry out and start to mold. It was so disgusting I about gagged. I made Sean look at what he had done and more importantly made him smell what he had done - he did not like that.

Tonight Sean was the last one at the table (as usual). I left for a few minutes and came back to see him scooping his dinner into the trash.

Aggh. These things make me so frustrated! I understand that they are not going to like eating everything we have for dinner every single night. But what I really can't stand is the sneaking part - that they think it is okay to not be honest.

What do your kids do? What do you do to encourage them to eat or punish them when they don't?

Gone Are the Days of the PopTart

I've been a failure in the breakfast department for a long time now!

With three young kids and not being a morning person - I've been in breakfast survival mode for many, many years now.

Breakfast has mainly consisted of cold cereal (with or without milk - depending on the child) or pop-tarts with a few mornings (but mostly evenings) of pancakes, waffles, or french-toast.

I decided that I am no longer in survival mode (all three kids in school). So I planned for more cooked breakfasts. No, I am still no June Clever (although Chris' mom certainly was/is!!!!) but I have upped my game in the morning.

Last week we had cream-of-wheat, scrambled eggs and toast, oatmeal, bacon bundles, and zoom.

My kids have not quite yet embraced having a good cooked meal in the morning. They just have to remember that I am way more stubborn then they are!!!!!

What do you like for breakfast?

I'd love some more ideas - so send them my way!!!!!

Bye, Bye "C" Word!!!

Totally, wonderful, fantastic news! Chris does not have cancer!!!!!!!

The last couple of months have been so long and stressful - thinking Chris had cancer and with all the doctors appointments and procedures Chris had to go through.

After each test came back inconclusive I had a little bit of hope build up in me - but didn't let it build for the fear of it being crushed. But now I can finally really embrace the good news and be just so happy inside.

We meet with the oncologist early this morning. He said they have looked, and looked and done every test possible - but there is no sign of cancer. He does still want to keep an eye on Chris though - just to make sure.

Chris will start seeing a rheumatologist, Dr. LaSalle, so he can start treatment for Lupus. Some of the medicine will be the same that he took for his other autoimmune disorder - polymyositis.

Again - Chris is kind of a mystery to the medical world and he will be on a treat, wait and see kind of treatment. We just keep praying that we are on the right track and the medicines for Lupus will restore his health again.

Thank you everyone for your prayers!!!!!! We have really been able to feel them in our lives. We feel so blessed and grateful for all that Heavenly Father has helped us through.

Mouses in the House

Yikes - we have mice in our house!!!!! Right now as I am typing there is a nibbling noise coming from the wall above me.

We have already caught four mice - but apparently there are plenty more.

I can't stand the thought of them chewing up things in my house, getting into my food storage, and leaving little poops everywhere. But I also hate the thought of killing them.

I (the cat lover) thought that getting a cat would be a great solution to our problem but hubby (allergic to cats) thought that was a awful idea. So I guess we will keep using peanut butter and traps.

Any other suggestions?!

Back to School - August 2009

By the time school starts back up it always amazes me how much my kids have grown over the past year and especially the summer! I never think they are ready for the next step - but they are! Chad is now a big 3rd grader, Halle a 2nd grader, and Sean is now in Kindergarten.




They all have a love for school - which I am so grateful for. The first day of school was full of excitement about having new teachers and seeing old friends.




At Adam's the 3rd graders get to have class out in one of the portables. Chad was overjoyed to finally become one of the big kids in the portables. He also graduated to playing in the big kid area of the school for recess. He has adjusted well - and been a trouper at staying positive even though most of his close friends from last year are now in the other 3rd grade class. His only real disappointment about his new teacher is that she does not require them to have a binder (which the other teacher does for her class). He was really looking forward to having a binder (okay, not "looking forward" to but completely OBSESSED!!!!! with having one) - so I let him have one for use at home.




Halle's 1st grade class and teacher looped to 2nd grade - so she has the same teacher and friends. She was so excited to see her friends again. (With all that was going on this summer I just didn't get many friends over to play this year.) She thinks she is getting pretty big. She loves school and was disappointed on the first day when they didn't even do math, science, or writing. Life is much better now that they are back to a hard core learning schedule - she has even completed 3 homework assignments now.




Sean was the most fun to watch. For the past two years he has made the walk to the bus stop and back. He would always try to sneak on the bus - but never quite made it and would always have to walk home again. This year was his year!!!!!




On the first day, we waited and waited for the bus. I usually expect problems with the bus (due to past experience) and was prepared with my van parked right by the stop. Finally it was time to make a decision - continue to wait for the bus and be late for the first day of school or go in the mommy bus/van. All the kids decided they wanted to get to school right away - nobody wanted to be late. Even Sean, who has been literally waiting his whole life to ride the bus, wanted to be to school on time.




So, I drove them to school, dropped them off, and then found a parking spot. By the time I got to school the kids were all settled into their classrooms and ready to go. Chad was ready to get down to business, Halle was socializing with all her friends, and Sean looked as proud as could be coloring away and sitting at his desk.




Things looked like they would run smoothly - but come on, something always happens on the first day of school. As I again waited and waited and waited at the bus stop for Sean to arrive home from kindergarten I wondered what was going on and what time he would actually arrive (on Halle's first bus ride home from kindergarten it took the very confused bus driver almost 2 hours to drop her off at her stop - completely ridiculous).




After waiting for half an hour I got my phone out to call the school. Just as I grabbed it, it rang. It was Sean's kindergarten teacher. She did not put him on the bus. Sean had convinced her that I was coming to the school and was taking him to the school cafeteria for lunch.




I started laughing my head off. First, I have no idea why Sean would come up with a story or a thought like that. We had talked all week about how he would be riding the bus. At the open house the day before I showed him his bus badge he would be wearing and where he would be getting on and off the bus.




I was also laughing at the teacher. Just the day before at the kindergarten open house I had filled out a form saying that Sean would be taking the bus home everyday. The kindergarten teacher knows me and my kids and knows they take the bus. And she mentioned several times that she follows what is on the form (bus kids to the bus, express kids to express, kids to moms - once you see the mom, etc.). Over and over again she mentioned that only a written note would let them change the schedule. So after all that concern and show of rules, Sean had sweet talked her into changing the schedule without at note.




So I know my Sean is a pickle and was real concerned about his behavior in school this year - but this takes the cake. On just his first day of school he has the kindergarten teacher wrapped around his little finger - following his orders instead of his mom's and the school's rules. What else will he accomplish this year?!

Sean shows off where he got his four shots for kindergarten. Turns out he missed a shot so I had to take him back in for another one today. He was very brave!!!!

The many faces of Sean. Sean got to go to school on Wednesday for a kindergarten open house - he counted it as a full day of school. So he has been to school four times now.

All ready to go.

Chad checks out his fun school supplies (minus the binder of course).

Halle excited to be with her friends again.

Sean is ready to get into kindergarten work. (Looks like he is day dreaming about his next scheme.)