Joy

Today I witnessed one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. While Brad isn't Memphis' biological father, he is the only father he's ever known. He calls him Daddy and delights in receiving Brad's attention.

This afternoon was lazy for us. Brad and I were laying in bed watching the American Idol recap on the laptop, the girls were playing in the living room, and Memphis was napping. When he finally woke up, I brought him to the bed to hang out with us while he regained his wits.

All of a sudden, he turned to Brad, whispered, "I love you," and leaned forward to give his Daddy a kiss. My heart was joyful as Brad's eyes filled with tears. My boy has a Daddy.

On My Honor, I Will Try...

We have joined the Girl Scouts. Cody is officially a Brownie and Brianna is a Junior Girl Scout. Cody's troop is brand new and we had our first meeting last night. We are getting in on the last six days of cookie sales so things are starting off with a bang! Because of the short amount of time we have, we were conservative with our goal number, hoping to sell thirty boxes. Not even twenty-four hours later we have sold seventy-six boxes!! And we're not through.

Both girls are very excited about camping and all of the other fun activities they will be doing. I am excited about getting Cody plugged in with some girls her age to play with as well. Brianna has been in need of an extra-curricular activity, so this is perfect timing.

I was a brownie for two or three years, but I don't remember much about what we did other than cookie sales. Hopefully both girls will stick with it and have a great time.

Ahead of Her Time

Today we planned on going to a nearby museum that Cody always enjoys. Both her and Carson had money that was burning a hole in their pockets, so I reminded them that there was a gift shop at the museum. They raced from my sight and returned in split second, Cody holding her purse, Carson clutching her piggy bank.

I told Carson that I was pretty sure the museum didn't allow pigs and that maybe we should get the money out of her bank before we went. She agreed and I pulled the plug and proceeded to shake the money out.

What I saw was not quite what I had expected. There were several receipts for various items and...a lottery ticket. A lottery ticket. A real one. Seriously, Nicole grabbed a ticket for us on our way to Dallas a couple of weeks ago, but I'm pretty sure I didn't end up with it. And before that, I can't remember the last time I bought one. I spent the next hour searching her room for her fake ID and her secret stash of credit cards.

Yes, You May

We are a homeschooling family. At least partially. Meyson and Brianna go to public school because they always have and, for the most part, that's where they want to be. Cody went to a private kindergarten after spending six weeks in a public school that she and I hated equally. The irony there is that I spent the six months before her first day of kindergarten visiting no less than six different elementary schools in two different school districts to find the right one for us. Somebody should have told me that you can also hand pick your teacher. Or maybe it worked out better this way.

Before anyone gets offended, let me just say that I don't think there is anything wrong with public school, homeschooling just works better for me. I'm a control freak. The first step is admitting it and, apparently, the second is homeschooling.

Anyway, because I teach my daughter everyday, I was able to decipher this:

"dir momy my hoolluhooq is in the groj maigo git it sind me a nathr noot abaoot it from cody"

into:

"Dear Mommy,
My hula-hoop is in the garage. May I go get it? Send me another note about it.
From,
Cody"

She slipped this note under my door while I was in the shower this morning. While school is in session here, I am very strict about spelling and spacing, but when she is left to her own devices, laziness prevails.

My response to her note:

"yesuma luv mom"

Dr. Pepper and Roses

I just realized that I posted on Valentine's Day without mentioning anything even remotely related to Valentine's Day. You probably guessed that this is not my favorite "holiday." I have spent the last seven years loathing the day and even though I am married now, I just don't feel all that sentimental about it. We didn't feel the need to go out among the masses of the lovely.

I bought Brad a card and the kids each a little candy heart, and Brad brought me a rose and a large Dr. Pepper from Whataburger. I can't get enough DP from a fountain, but I hate it from the can, I much prefer Coke in that form. Oh and he also got me a card that sings "Ring of Fire."

That's pretty much it. We rented a movie which is nothing out of the ordinary, but I fell asleep watching it because we were up until after 10:30 helping Brianna with her report on seahorses. Did you know that seahorses abandon their children immediately upon birth? Or that they are eaten by crabs and penguins? Crappy life.

Anyway, another Valentine's Day has come and gone and the only things we have to show for it are kids high on sugar. And a card that sings "Ring of Fire."

Sorry To Rain On Your Water Stand

With seven people in this house, sickness tends to hang around awhile. It just passes around, taking it's time, making sure everyone is affected, and usually infecting the first one afflicted twice by the time it's gone.

Yesterday was my turn. Wow, I forgot just how badly a stomach bug can drain you. Even the Zofran was overtaken.

Anyway, Cody and Carson celebrated my naptime by erecting a water stand in the kitchen. Really, I shouldn't give Carson any credit for this marvelous idea, I'm sure Cody was the mastermind as she is the one who can reach the faucet. They had a large bowl full of ice and water and a ladle. When I entered the room, they were happily serving repeat customers Brianna and Meyson.

This might have been cute if they had not dirtied every cup and glass from the cupboard. And also if sickness wasn't still working it's way through the family.

So I, very calmly, said, "Sorry to rain on your parade, but this is not a good game choice. You must have permission before you may get ANY clean dish out for play use."

Carson looked at me like I'd really lost it this time. "Mo-om, it's not a parade. It's a water stand!"

Oh, ok. Sorry, I didn't realize. Please continue.

Success?

Well, nobody almost died. Although, at one point Nicole looked like she wanted to. She and Karin spent the first day or so not really feeling very well. Other than that, the trip went pretty smoothly and it was so good for the three of us to get to hang out together again. We miss you already Karin! :(

Things here at home did not go quite as smoothly. Cody and Memphis spent the long weekend trading fevers and I'm pretty sure that Memphis lost that little bit of extra weight he had put on in the last couple of weeks and then some. I think he may have rotovirus because of all the diarrhea, vomiting and refusal of pediasure or anything else to eat or drink. That's right, he's refusing his addiction. That's how I know he really doesn't feel well.

Overall, I guess the kids did pretty well otherwise and I arrived home last night to a freshly cleaned house. The fact that three husbands did so well with nine children while the three of us and a baby had relatively few problems is actually pretty amazing so I'm labeling our vacation a success. Yes, Josh, Jared, and Brad, you guys did so well that we think we may just decide to do this again sometime. You guys are great! Thank you!

One more day!!! One more day!!!

I go on vacation in one more day!!! I'll bet you think I'm excited.

I probably won't be posting over this weekend, unless something extraordinarily funny happens. Which is likely, but it's also likely that the story can wait to be told until my return.

My two best friends and I are going to Dallas this weekend. Yay! Among us we have ten children (in utero child excluded) and somehow (by the grace of God I'm sure) we are getting away with only bringing one. And he is only four months old, therefore much less work than the others. Woo Hoo!! What are we going to do with ourselves? Well...since my friends share my love of Ikea, I'm sure we'll be spending plenty of time there.

The last time the three of us got together, we had to manage three children, terrible airline issues, and a man who almost died. I'm confident that this time will be much less problematic. I'd settle for no almost dying people.

Anyway, Thursday morning will not come quickly enough. Don't get me wrong, I love my family endlessly, but I will be a better mother and wife after a much needed breather.

So...Karin, Nicole? Are you guys ready?!?!

The Bravest of the Brave

My poor baby girl is so sick. I mentioned that Carson had a high fever on Wednesday, but that same afternoon it disappeared and it was as if it had never even been there. Then, on Thursday morning it was back. It was still in the 102-103 range so I decided to try and conquer it myself at home rather than risk even greater illness by taking her to the doctor. In hindsight, this was a mistake.

I alternated tylenol and motrin every three hours all day and her fever would only come down into the high 99s. Not bad, so I put her to bed last night with her final dose of tylenol for the day.

Right on schedule, at a little after midnight she came into my room and was burning up. I took her temperature and it was an alarming 104.4. I immediately started getting dressed to take her to the ER.

Upon arrival, we were promptly whisked back into a room because Carson's heart rate was 175. They set us up for an incredible array of tests over the next hour. First, we had to collect urine, then she had to have an IV placed from which they drew a lot of blood. When she realized what was going to happen, she begged me to not let them put that thing in her arm. Talk about breaking my heart, but she forgave me and even told me she loved me after it was in.

Then we were off to x-ray. They took Carson (clad in her "new blue dress," aka awful hospital gown) in a wheelchair and when the nurse asked her if she wanted to stand up for her picture, Carson responded, "No, thanks." At least she's honest.

We went straight from there to CT where Carson had to stay strapped onto a moving "bed" all by herself in a huge room while holding very still for the scan. She did so good. I was standing helpless on the other side of the wall watching her through the window, amazed that she was doing so well and sad that I couldn't hold her hand. I know she had to have been scared.

When we got back to our room she was hooked up to IV fluids. I had just finished telling her that we were all done with tests when the nurse came in to do strep and flu cultures. Again Carson told her, "No, thanks." She told Carson that she was going to tickle her nose and throat and Carson took it literally, even laughing when they "tickled" her nose.

She spent the down time looking at her reflection in my eyes and telling me that she could see herself in my eyes. I told her I could see myself in her eyes too. She got to go to the bear closet and pick out a new stuffed bear for being so brave. She had the choice of several homemade bears, some beanie babies and several other cute bears and she chose the same one we had just received in a happy meal a couple of weeks ago. Go figure.

Word of her sweetness spread quickly and when my mom showed up, the lady at the information desk said, "Oh yes, that cute little blond. She's so sweet."

Everything came back normal except for the urine and so we were sent home at about 4:15am with a perscription for an antibiotic and instructions to return if her fever rose above 102. You would hope this was the end of the story. I did.

She awoke this morning at 102.8 and so I gave her some motrin and made an appointment with our pediatrician. Half and hour later her fever was 105.6. I'm not sure fear has ever taken me over so quickly. It is a miracle that I didn't get a ticket on the way to the hospital.

Fortunately, our doctor is wonderful and told me not to worry, kids come in with fevers of 105 and even 106 all the time. She checked Carson over again and said it looked to her like she has a virus.

I know that was a long story, but it all seems like kind of a blur now. Since then we have just been fighting the fever. She doesn't really have any other symptoms and we're told that the fever could last quite a few more days. We're just crossing our fingers and hoping it doesn't get that high ever again.