The Sunday Tooth

I realize that it is still the same day of my last post, but much has happened. E's 3rd tooth, (a front one no less) has "fallen" (has been pulled) out today! We have been working on this bubba tooth for a while now. It would cross over the other front one, push back behind it, it even stuck way out over his lip at times (hence Bubba). We used dental floss and twisting and got it so it was so crooked it was hilarious! After frustrated (almost) tears of can we quit now, this mama does not give up. I couldn't send him out looking like this now! I told him, "just go over to the mirror and try yanking real hard." And out it came! He was so excited...it just took a little perseverance. So we then practiced our "s" and our "th" and sometimes "f". It was so fun to hear his "new" sounding letters! Oh well, just had to share.

OH, I can't forget: I came home from church fully expecting a double ear infection for E, and the whole deal. He met me in the garage, jumping up and down. "God healed me," he said, "yeah for my God!" And I believe it.

I just washed my hair with beer!

Wow, I never realized bar soap would work so well on hair. Especially my thin, flat, do nothing hair. Prairie Land Herbs is my new store. And I know there's nothing nasty entering my skin. Alleluia. My bar of choice was the Ginger and Beer bar, as they suggested. I heard they were going to be at the downtown winters market, so I hightailed it down there a couple weeks ago (slight fever and all) just to check it out. I'm going to add them as an official link on my linky-do's soon.
Note on health: unfortunately, the pukes passed through (so to speak) all of us. L was Wed., E was Thurs, and hubby and I were Fri. Now, E has an ear ache and is now sleeping on the couch. (We had to be fair after all). When E has been congested (which he has), it generally goes into the ears for him. I try to treat it at home with garlic oil and heat pads, but most end up as trips to the clinic. On another note, L's sickness usually ends up in wheezing, for which he has been on the nebulizer on and off these last few days. Can I just say that December has been crap? Just plain crap. We've never been so sick. I always pride myself on my kids being the only ones not sick! (Maybe I needed to be brought down a notch?) Anyway, that's our crappy health update. Just how many times can I say crap in one blog. It's quite fun.

A question to all you bloggers out there: how does one find other's blogs? Is there a way to search by name/profile? I usually link off others, but would like to do a search on my own. Our day today will hopefully be uneventful. I sing for our worship service today, and it probably will be only me going to church. As http://mytotalpv.blogspot.com suggests, I have made a list of organizational things for this year:
1) Papers, papers, papers. I let them pile up, mail, kids' stuff, it doesn't matter. It runs my life!
2) Go through kids' toy room and fit all Christmas goodies into it.
3) Take down Christmas decor--fully. I don't want to find bits and pieces of it in July. Like usual.
4) Addition done--that's more on hubby's to do list.

*These aren't in any particular order

What's yours?

Of Christmas thoughts and food replacement

What a whirlwind. Going to 3 Christmas functions 3 consecutive nights. Maybe I'm getting old and fuddy duddy, but do we have to please everyone? By the time we got to our Christmas morning presents, I was burnt out, and the kids had opened more than their fair share the previous 2 nights. Gah. I hope to do it differently next year. With in laws, how do you change things? So, we'll see. All in all, I always enjoy Christmas. Maybe I'm partial, but I always enjoy my family gathering (Gpa Dennis) as it is calm. It's so peaceful. We sit and talk, eat, and exchange a few presents. There are no other kids. There is the only child coming out in me! It's nice that my kids get all the attention, darn it. They are the only grandchildren/great grandchildren on my side.

My kidneys are getting better, so to speak. I didn't post for a while, as I had fevers of 103 on and off the past 3-4 weeks. Finally, an antibiotic later, and I'm feeling great. No long term solution, until insurance kicks in and I can go see a urologist. I just hate talking about my health. But if this is to be an online journal of sorts, I really can't avoid it. So sorry for the non blogging--that's how you know I'm having some health issues.

Speaking of health issues, my little one threw up about the last half of the day. None of us are sick in that way, and he still seems hydrated, so we're just waiting it out. He is currently sleeping on the floor in the living room in blankets. He was so sweet and asked, "Mommy, will you sleep out here with me?" Of course! How cute is that little guy. Big bro thought it was unfair that he had to sleep in his bed, so I told him that if he pukes he can sleep out there too. Gee, I hope that wasn't an encouragement.

Since interesting things all happen in threes, here is number 3: Does everyone have little dials on their fridge to tell them what the temp is? Yeah, everyone has something. Well, ours are out in front when you open the fridge, and apparently someone had turned them all the way down. Pink liquid was leaking out of our fridge, so when hubby came home, he investigated and found that our candy cane ice cream had melted all the way down our fridge and was leaking out onto the floor. Oh glorious day when you have to go to the store to replace the whole contents of your fridge. Hehe.

I'm very excited about the new year. Always my opportunity to become and organized person. We'll see what happens this year.

My "Last Minute Shopping"

I generally do not "make" things. I really want to be that way, and I'm getting better. I'm just not there yet. I did the long haul of gifts for the kids from a random toy website today. Sorry for the non-postings...Internet Explorer has been down. There are still some things that Toys R Us will help out with, but we usually end up spending about $300 or so on the kids all together. Considering the crazy in-debtness that goes on at Christmas, we definitely don't go that far. We've learned our lesson, and are no longer in debt (except our house).
We have already purchased "our" gift. Hubby and I have already gotten our "we won't get anything for each other if we get this" gift purchased. The only thing left is our stockings. So that is our "budget" per se. We have yet to get items for family we are getting together with. I am not so stressed knowing that we have the kids taken care of.

The kids have been really wanting to go sledding, so they will get some daddy time on Saturday. That will be great. There's also a winter farmers market downtown, so yeah for me. I love those things. I'm so excited for Christmas. We still have much to do, and I'm still working on the ginormous pile of dishes that stacked up for me while I was sick. I should take a pic...you wouldn't believe it.

E's first front tooth is just about to come out. It better happen soon. I've never seen such a stubborn (and silly looking) thing. It's actually starting to cross over the other one! The poor boy will have to become good friends with the dentist. I have thumb-suckers. Even at age 6 1/2 he isn't giving it up.

I am well!

Sorry for the delay, folks. As yesterday went on, I felt better and better. We struggled with the decision of going to urgent care or not, and I'm glad we didn't. ($70 for the urine test, $80 for the visit.) We self pay, you see. It's so interesting when you're not covered under insurance. When you ask doctors, "how much will that be," they look at you as if you were a freak. I want to say, "I'm sorry, did you expect me not to care about the bill, because you thought I'd only be paying a small portion or none? Medical costs in this country are nuts. For whatever the reason. I believe it's because we're all so damn unhealthy! Needless to say, my usual kidney supplement, Naked Power C, and water did the trick. I realized it was my own fault for not drinking the water I should. My Power C's are $2.99 a pop, but having even 2 of those a day beats the cost of the doc visit (and better for me than antibiotics--oh yeah, those aren't free either!)

On to normal things. My in-laws moved this weekend. Yeah. Fun. We were there most of the day yesterday, so I entered their house as crazy-lady, wrapped in my down blanket, flannel one around my face, my knit cap, and slightly delusional from fever. You should have seen it. LOL. Just before I came in, my hubby says, oh yeah, there are people you don't know here from my dad's work. Whaaa? I had to tell everyone that I really wasn't crazy, and that I'd be taking my leave to go lie down in the other room...nice to meet you?

I always see pink everything when my fever gets high. The room also bends. Quite '70's really. Now it's your turn to tell of horrible sick stories...I'll be reading your blogs!

I've Done All I Can

I tried my home remedies, and it's just not working! I will be going in to the clinic tonight. I apologize for not visiting here twice yesterday, but I was in a delusional feverish state. This will be a short post, as I must get ready to go. I'm ready to do the rest of my shopping--online. This is the point of the year when I don't visit anymore stores. Especially with the shootings and all. Our weather is crazy, and we're supposed to get another snow storm. It's so fun to be inside while all of this goes on. Any of you out there of the praying variety, please pray for my kidney situation. It's a little scary that these things keep happening.

I missed a day!

I'm so bummed I missed, so I'll post today at 2 different times. I do have good reason, though. I usually post late--after midnight, so I'm not taking up the kids' time on the computer during the day. Last night (graffic content) I was puking my guts out. How horrible it was. My muscles already don't work right, then they are forced to work even harder. Man, am I achy. I'm a self diagnosis person, so I can say that I have a kidney infection, which upsets my stomach. The 2 times I had gone to the doctor for these, they told me that vomiting is common. This one came on strong. Thankfully, it happened after Awanas. Hubby had already been throwing up all Wed., so he wasn't too keen on taking care of me, too.
On to a better topic--Cubbies. I teach the 3 & 4 yr olds in Awanas. Their class is called Cubbies. Without hubby there, it was a bit crazy, but with our wonderful helper it went a little smoothly. All Cubbies (except one) said their verses. It was great. We have a lesson, craft, snack, game time. We have a theme song, we say the Pledge of Allegance, they have a great time.

Well, the big snow storm is to happen today, so I checked out some documentaries (thanks to http://mylittlesoapbox.blogspot.com for the ideas). It's nice that the WDM library lets you have media items for 3 weeks. We're going to curl up and learn el TV style. We only have the TV on for specific shows throughout the day. PBS is the only station I let the kids watch, so it's Cyberchase, Word World (sometimes), and Dragontales/Super Reader if they're up in time. Usually we miss these 2 since we are just waking up and getting breakfast and such.
Well, time for kids to do their lessons...talk to you later!

Ticked Off!

I just spent a long time blogging, for Blogger to erase my work. Needless to say, this one will be short. Our dinner with Shawn consisted of talking about how messed up we are, being a product of the 70's and and 80's and all. Everything from divorce, quasi only-childness, to abuse and family relationships. Yipee! It's good introspection, though. It's good to get it all out and realize that we are becoming better parents/people. Also, for anyone out there, Shawn is in search of a Christian hippie-type lady. Hard to come by, I know, but in the blogosphere, anything is possible!

As for the bulk of my day, the kids and I went to the library to check out loads of books. We also hit the new Mustard's kiosk to have lunch. Yum-eee. I love these days. Having fun, reading, doing our school work on the computer. I've boycotted all curriculum for the time being. I do actually use it sparingly, but I'm non-committal. (80's child?) LOL. Anyway, we got to visit with my misunderstood neighbor. He helped us salt our iceway, I mean driveway. It was good to have the opportunity to talk to him. He is good hearted, but as a grandfather, he does not agree with homeschooling. He has told his grandson (who is E's age) that homeschooled kids are screwed up. I have to laugh at that. I suppose that's not the first comments we'll get! I wonder, though, as homeschooling gets more and more popular, there has to be some kind of educational change going on in our kids generation. It will be interesting to see where it all ends up.

I was going to answer http://lifedreamed.blogspot.com on the soccer coach, but that will have to be a future post. So here's the list of future blogs:

1) Boys curtains and my craftiness
2) Soccer coach from hell
3) The new organization in the school/play room

PS--http://mytotalpv.blogspot.com, you can post pics of my kids from the card crafting!

We're Up Late Tonight

Almost forgot to blog for the day, my friends! We had a guest over for dinner tonight. He is a long time, SINGLE friend, who's name is Shawn. (I didn't ask him if I could use his name, but oh well). Hubby works with Shawn, and he has been a friend to us from a previous church we went to when we were new parents. Shawn is single (I say again) and never been married. I will plug that from time to time...OK, I will end here and see you in a few minutes to tell you about our night and day. (After all, it's almost Dec. 4th!)

My Previously Mentioned Secret

Most of you that know me already know this, but we have built an addition. Yahoo! This has been our dream since we moved here in 2000. Patience is a virtue. It all happened so suddenly, and this is how: my long-time friend from junior high, flips houses, along with her husband. They were in the midst of buying an acreage to live in and wanted our hot tub. Hmmm, I thought, "what's it worth to ya?" Needless to say, her husband is an engineer and has built houses, so 2 weekends later, we have a shell. Now we (husband) just has to finish the inside. I have much faith in him. We had hoped to finish by the end of the year, but did not want to use credit cards, so it may be after the new year.

We have been thinking a lot about the future, how are we going to retire, etc. Landowning (free and clear) seems the only thought we are OK with. Investments are risky and social security, HA. There are savings accounts with 4+ interest, and while we know that can't compare to inflation over the years, we'll start out there (and paying off our house, of course). Any thoughts out there on retirement? What are your plans? It would be so amazing to own, free and clear, our little house on the southside. To own that house well into our retirement age. Who does that these days? I look at my grandparents, who built and owned their house for over 40 years. I'm sure they got a pretty penny when they sold. They also owned other land, and gramps was an insurance man--I'm sure we was well insured. Grandma seems to be getting along great, able to live in a retirement home with independence. When you can still send money to the great grandchildren, I consider that a generational heritage. I want to be like that! The grandma that all the kids are excited to get a card from! (Not only that, but she used to hand-make her cards). I begged her for that creative ability when we went up to see her and she just laughed. (I guess I'll have to rely on God for that one).

We are in the midst of an ice storm, and there is no place that I'd rather be. I love being "stuck" at home. Listening to Christmas music (since Oct. 18th, by the way) and drinking hot beverages. Playing games with the kids, watching all of the Veggietale Christmas videos. My oldest knows about every x-mas song, and especially likes Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. The kids take turns swinging around (real fast) in my wheelchair and it is great fun.

I guess I'd better sign off, as it is getting late. And to all you bloggers out there, this is your challenge--to write every day in December (and to hold me accountable, too!)

An Inspiration

A lot of my blog friends have been challenging themselves to post every day in November. Well, I'm going to do that for December. And here's number 1.