Carter’s top 10 reasons

Okay, I’m insane!  Carter came in my room in the wee hours of this morning with such an odd request I couldn’t help but lay there and kind of compose this in my head then.

Carter’s Top 10 reasons for coming to my room in the middle of the night.

10.  I can’t sleep

9.    I can’t find my blankie

8.    I have to go to the bathroom

7.    I’m thirsty

6.    I had a bad dream

5.    I heard something in my room

4.    I fell out of bed

3.    Is it morning yet?

2.    I want to snuggle you

1.    MY BUTT ITCHES!!

Now you know why I had to compose this!  We managed to remedy his issue with some powder at 3:45 am!  In reality, he comes to my room the least often, but it was the BUTT ITCH statement that just simply screamed YOU MUST BLOG THIS!

Best Shot Monday

Check out these cheeks!  This is my youngest niece, Laney.  She’s 11 1/2 weeks old.  Isn’t  she sweet?

Bring on the exterminator!

Yes, Yes, Please!  If anybody knows of an exterminator that can get RID of the “sick” bugs floating around our house please send him our way—-*sigh*  And I’m warning you here, this post contains lots of ”poopy” talk.   Someone has been sick in our house of some sort for the last 9 days!  Yuck! 

Carter started with the flu last Tuesday evening so I kept him home Wednesday.  Everybody seemed to be okay Thursday.  Shealyn woke up with a tummy ache Friday, but wanted to go to school because it was only a 1/2 day and she and Carter were having friends over.  She made it through the day, but with several trips to the bathroom.  She came home and crawled in her jammies and just kind of laid around with a blanket. 

 Yes, the friends still came over.  I called both mom’s and let them know and they figured they had already been exposed so it would be fine.  That was fine with me b/c Shealyn’s tummy wasn’t hurting anymore; she was just tired, cold and achey. 

By the time we took Carter’s little buddy home I wasn’t feeling so well and sure enough by the time I was putting the kids to bed Friday night I definitely had the flu.  Saturday was a very low key day and spent in our jammies and me still recovering (I had the chills and aches on Saturday).  Sunday, we all felt much better.  I felt off again on Monday—tired and cold, but plugged along.  Payton woke up with diarrhea on Tuesday morning so I kept her home from school.  We went out and ran a few NECESSARY errands and then came home and tucked in for the day.  By this time I could feel a cold settling in.  Early, early Wednesday morning Carter woke up with explosive diarrhea so I kept him home.  I woke P. up so I could load everyone up to take Shealyn to school (get someone out of this house of germs).  When we got back home I realized Payton had a fever 101.6.    Sure enough, by 9:00 am it was evident she had a touch of the flu.  So, she laid around all day Wednesday with only a little burst of energy late in the afternoon.  Yesterday, we took Shealyn and Carter to school and P. and I kind of laid around again yesterday morning.  She and I basically slept away the morning.  I believe I’m trying to fight off a sinus infection and I was doing everything I could to keep the sinus headache to a dull roar.  So here we are at Friday and I’m keeping my fingers crossed, knocking on wood that the tummy bugs are gone and the gas/solid separators (Clark’s term) start working in this house. 

We’re off to my mom’s this weekend for my uncle’s memorial.  My mom’s brother passed away suddenly last Saturday.  So, let’s hope getting out of the house for a few days will lift all of our spirits.

I prefer Ho–Hum

Yesterday was one of those days until about 3pm.  I kept Payton home from school b/c she wasn’t feeling well (though her only episodes were before school).  We ran the few necessary errands, came home and were settling in for the day. 

I was wrapped up in a blanket on the couch and P. was playing when my dad stopped to plow out our driveway, his last plow of the day.  He plowed us out and came in to visit like he always does.  Anyway, he and I were sitting here chatting and I happened to look out the window and saw smoke and fire rolling out of the hood of his truck!

Me—dad, you’re truck is on fire!

He runs out in sock feet to shut the truck off and see if he can get the hood open.

Dad—Kimmer, call the fire department

I come in and call 911 and tell them all the pertinent information.  The trucks are being dispatched.  Meanwhile, while we’re waiting (it seemed like 20 minutes, but I know it wasn’t) the paper shows up and is taking pictures before the fire trucks even get here.  *Sigh*  And when my dad went out to shut the truck off his dog followed him out and got BACK IN THE TRUCK!  Few moments of panic for me.  I can hear my dad yelling for Mr. Bud to get out and I’m not seeing the streak of black fur.  (actually what I’m thinking this can’t happen — my dad had to put his longtime companion, Sister down last March and something like this CANNOT happen).  Anyway, something popped with the heat of the fire and Bud bolted over to the neighbors; they grabbed him and put him in their garage for the time being.

As the fire trucks were getting here Shealyn and Carter were getting off the bus.  I was sure to meet them b/c I didn’t want them to panic.  There was no panic,  just pure fascination.  Anyway, when all was said and done my brother came over and was able to move dad’s truck out of the way (he was in front of the garage).  They cleaned up the melted mess in the driveway and were on their way and when I talked to my dad last night I told him I could probably make him a few bucks just by charging all the gawking drive bys:o)  I guess it’s natural human curiosity, but it sure feels invasive when its a loved ones personal belonging.  So as I said, I’ll be happy for those ho-hum days.

Best Shot Monday

This week it’s a picture of my little reader.  I love it b/c lately trying to get a “nice” picture of Shealyn is impossible.  Anytime she realizes the camera is near she makes these silly faces.  For once, she didn’t know I was taking her picture so I got her in the moment.

  Oh yes, and before you ask—she did her own hair:o)   She actually does a pretty good job it’s just that I caught her at the end of the day.

Some news to share

Most of our friends and family know so I thought it was time to share here.  Clark has been without work since October and has had no luck in the state of Michigan finding anything.  Before Christmas he went to Texas and had 3 different interviews.  He was called the 1st week of January and asked to come back down for a 2nd interview.  He left on the 9th with his closet and most of the contents from his dresser drawers in his truck and headed for Texas.  He had his 2nd interview and after another meeting on Saturday and Monday he was offered the job.  And on Wednesday he accepted and started work on Thursday.  He is working for a company called Humphrey and Associates and is one of the project managers for the electrical division.  He is working in Denton, TX.  This is an area he is familiar with as he did some growing up there.  We had already decided before he interviewed anywhere that I would stay here with the kids and let them finish out the school year and then we will load up and move to Texas this summer. 

As we start this new chapter in our lives I have run a full range of emotions (okay I’m sure not all of them yet).  At first, I couldn’t imagine leaving Michigan, my family, and my friends.  But as this became more of a reality I was starting to get excited.  This is something new and different for us.  Living near the Dallas/Fortworth area (with hopefully a touch of country) I will be able to offer so much to my kids and family.  I can expose them to so many things and give them so many opportunities that I can’t give them in northern Michigan.  There will be so many more sunny days in a year.  I honestly have to say I am looking very forward to that—I’m tired of gray and dreary.  I prefer hot over cold even though I haven’t experienced a Texas summer.   Most importantly, this allows the 5 of us to be together as a family.  We have spent the majority of the last 4 to 5 years with Clark working away from home and only being home on the weekends.  The five of us together will be wonderful!

So please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we start this new venture.

Lucky Me?

Lately around here we’ve had the case of the missing phone and the missing diamond.  Yes, you read this right — the missing diamond.  A week ago Wednesday while at the library for story hour with P. I noticed my diamond was NOT in my ring.  Sheer panic set in.  If you would have walked in the library that day I’m sure you would have wondered what all these grown woman could be possibly doing on their hands and knees crawling around the library floor while the kids are looking for books or playing on the computers.  They were all helping look for my diamond.  The youth librarian even went and emptied her bissel and came and swept the area and then went in back and dumped it again to examine the contents.  NO LUCK!  I was heartsick — not only had I lost THE diamond Clark gave me and what it means to my heart, but it was also the day he left for Texas (more on that later). 

Let’s fast forward to 10 days later.  P. had been in bed with me for about an hour and a half(she came in at 5:45 asking if it was morning—–NOOOOOO) when she sat straight up and said, “mommy, I have to go potty!”  Normally she goes on her own, but with the sickness that has gone around this house this statement was reason to hurry to the pot!  So, I put her up on the potty and I’m sitting on the tub all bleary eyed b/c I had been sick the night before and into the morning when something sparkly caught my eye.  Could it be?  So I reached down to touch it and YES my prayer was answered along with my friend’s son’s prayer—-there lay my diamond!  How amazing is that?  It was just far enough under the cupboard that it couldn’t be seen w/o the bleary eyed view from the tub.  I’m off to the jeweler’s this week to have it reset.  Lucky Me?  Yes—I’d say so!

Oh, by the way, in case you’re wondering we found the phone, too.  That had been missing for a couple of weeks and I found it in the basement.  It came up missing on Shealyn’s birthday—I had Clark take some stuff to the basement and apparently the phone was in that pile of stuff.  I found it when I went looking through that same tote a few weeks later.

The healing powers of chicken “little” soup

Well, as you know I kept Carter home from school yesterday because he had been sick.  And what do you make when you don’t feel well?  At our house it’s Chicken “Little” Soup per Payton.  Anyway, Carter just kind of laid low yesterday.  He and I got some great one on one time.  He wasn’t “sick” anymore just needed to rest his body so while Payton went and did the typical Wednesday routine (library and McDonald’s) with some friends Carter and I hung out and read and played games.  It was fun to have him all to myself.  Oh yeah, we got a little snuggling in, too:o)  About 1:00 he headed off to his room and I didn’t see him again until 3:15, but he wasn’t tired and HE DID NOT TAKE A NAP!  I know differently, but hey it’s his story and he’s sticking to it. 

In the meantime, Payton came home and she was snuggling with me and just kind of whiny so I asked her if she felt okay (you just kind of assume they’re all going to get it at some point, but desperately praying they don’t).  Her response, no momma my toes hurt.  Whew!  She’s okay.  Fast forward to dinner time and chicken “little” soup. 

Mommy—P. how’s your chicken little soup

P– good mommy, my toes feel better

M– so glad to hear that

Great healing powers this chicken “little” soup has!  We shared it with a couple of friends and we hope their “toes” are feeling better as well.  And I’m sure forever and ever it will now be chicken “little” soup in our house instead of noodle.  It’s much more endearing.

Under the weather

                              

My poor boy!  He came home from school yesterday went and grabbed his blanket and crawled up on my lap (he is my snuggler, but this is not normal).  He told me his belly hurt so I suggested a snack or maybe he had to go to the bathroom.  He didn’t like either idea and about 20 minutes later he got sick all over his bed.  We got him cleaned up and in jammies and on the couch he laid the rest of the afternoon/evening.  Before the evening was over he was making trips to the bathroom for other reasons )

He seems to be feeling better this morning, but I still kept him home today to make sure he can keep food down and won’t be making those surprise trips to the bathroom.  He seemed a little disappointed that he wasn’t going to school, but quickly got over that, too. 

Shealyn was fit to be tied that she might have to sit by her brother.  She would NOT sit on the couch this morning and she was having a fit thinking she might have to sit by him when I drove her to school.  I tried explaining to her that the germs have already been there and all of us have been exposed before Carter even got sick.  It just didn’t make sense in her 8 year old mind when brothers are already somewhat “disgusting” even without being sick.  She was mad at him last night, too over all of this.  Carter and Shealyn were supposed to go to my dad’s for a couple of hours so I could take Payton to a classmates b-day party and as you can guess that didn’t happen.  I called another mom from P’s class and she came and took P. to the party, but Shealyn was very bummed about not going to grandpa’s.  Unfortunately, I’m sure it was more about the idea that she wouldn’t get to play with Mr. Bud (my dad’s dog).  My dad would willingly admit and did to me that was why she was so upset.   So, you see her brother rocked her world last night and she was NOT happy.  And yes, I tried to explain to her that if it had been her sick I would have to have done the same thing.  She just didn’t want to hear mommy logic.

It will be a low key day here and I’m very much hoping that it doesn’t find its way through the rest of us.  Carter’s teacher happened to call me about something else this morning and informed me that 15 kids were out of his class today.  The odds don’t seem to be in our favor do they? 

general kid stuff

This past weekend I was on the phone and Shealyn and Carter were screaming, arguing, playing, whatever they were calling it at the moment and I just told them to go to their rooms.  I did this  #1 so I could finish my conversation quietly and #2 to separate them.  Anyway, when I got off the phone I went and got them and said

M–okay, what was going on?

S–Carter was hitting me with a piece of his road

Note:  This road is foam so it can’t really hurt, but the whole idea is he’s hitting her.  So I continue.

M–Carter, why were you hitting her?

C–Mom, she wouldn’t talk monkey to make me stop!

Okay, I’m laughing now b/c who talks monkey better than a 5 year old boy?

M–Carter, I can’t talk monkey and do you really think Shealyn can.

He proceeds to show me how it should be done.

S–Well, I was doing STOP in sign language and he didn’t stop either.

I’m still laughing.

M–Okay, you guys—neither of you should be hitting the other and let’s just talk English.  It will make my life much easier.

 Moral of the story —- Shealyn doesn’t understand monkey talk and Carter doesn’t understand sign language, but who knows maybe we should branch out.  Maybe Shealyn could become bilingual with English and Monkey!

Now, we’re on our way to school this morning and Carter asks some questions with very good logic I might add.

C–Mom, why don’t they have a green sign that says G-O like they have a red one that says STOP?

M–Good question, buddy.  I think it’s more important that we stop and look both ways b/c if that sign (the one at the end of our road) said GO we wouldn’t even look and there might be another car coming and could crash into us?

Silence in the backseat………………………………..

C–But, if they put a STOP sign at one corner and a GO sign at the crossing corner then it would be okay?

M–you’re absolutely right.

WOW!!  Good problem solving.

Now onto my one and only Miss P.  I’m convinced she’s trying to tell me something.  I think she wants a warm, sunny vacation.  For the last 3 days (we didn’t have to go ANYWHERE all weekend) she has gotten herself dressed in summer clothes.  Friday it was a summer dress, Saturday it was a skinny tank top, panties and socks only, Sunday it was a summery dress up dress and today it is camoflauge capris and a Curious George shirt.  And no, the outfit today does not even come close to matching, but what the heck that’s part of the fun!