The insulation crew should be finished today -
The phone company is going out to see what all needs to be installed to get us a phone line (for my security system that I am SO having) -
We're spending all day Friday at the house finishing up odds and ends, and the insulation inspector is supposed to come out, too -
Monday the drywall crew is supposed to come out and start making walls for us!
Tuesday the security system guy comes out to walk through the house with us. I will feel so much better when that thing is up and running -
The kids and I have been going out early and unlocking the gate for the insulation crew. It's been a little creepy going out alone. I always walk around the house...oh wait, first I jog down the driveway b/c it's still too soft to drive on (lovely) - THEN I walk around the house and make sure all the doors and windows are closed and in tact. Then I go to the basement and move the truck that we've parked in front of the french doors (poor man's security system)...then we (I always make my big tough Jason go with me, leaving Maddie with the other kids in the van watching tv at the end of the driveway)...we jog back to the van and drive like crazy to get the kids to school on time. We have to leave a half our earlier than usual (7am) to pull all of this off on time. The kids have been such champs! Today we stopped at Yoke's and got Maple Bars for them - nothing like a healthy sugar headache to start their day!
I'm still plugging along on our insurance claim. What a pain! As soon as I get some documentation from our bank I can submit the claim. I so don't want to have to haggle with Allstate! I've paid them premiums for over 12 years and have seriously only called on them a small handful of times - four maybe. And without a doubt, THIS is the most we've ever asked of them!
So we really can't complain much - oh wait...I did just complain - MUCH! lol We know that we have things pretty good! Our home is almost finished, the stuff that was stolen will be replaced, everyone is healthy and safe...there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Wow!
Brandon reassures me that I don't even want to know how he and our friend, Dan McC, got that window up above the door! I know that 2 ladders and a pick-up bed had a play in it! Ugh!
I went to open the gate/house this morning and got to take a look at the gorgeous door and window that went in this weekend.
I couldn't believe how amazing it looked!
(Before)
(After)
And then I got to see that it looks even more amazing from the inside!
(View from bridge to upstairs)
It was a little freaky to go out to the house alone today - I'll admit I'm gun-shy! I don't think I'm afraid of an encounter w/ a thief. I'm more afraid to be the one who finds that all of the wiring has been stripped out of our walls and then having to call Brandon to tell him. I practiced my 911 call all the way out to the house today! Luckily, I didn't have to use it. But I'm pretty sure that should I find anything amiss tomorrow, I'm going to have to have a deputy call Brandon because I simply don't have the heart to tell him if anything has happened to all of his hard work. Appliances and tools can be replaced - but this house, every inch of it, is HIS hard work - his talent - his dedication. He is simply amazing!
Tomorrow the insulation crew will be out there all day. They'll probably take 2 or 3 days, so hopefully we'll be able to have it inspected before the weekend. Then we have drywall lined up for Monday. We know that the only thing that is going to really keep these schmucks from trying to poach our house is to be living in it. They aren't confrontational - they're sly, they're lazy, they're slimy. They want something that's EASY and FAST. So all we can really do for the month of April is PRAY that everything is protected and remains safe.
I went to open the gate/house this morning and got to take a look at the gorgeous door and window that went in this weekend.
I couldn't believe how amazing it looked!
(Before)
(After)
And then I got to see that it looks even more amazing from the inside!
(View from bridge to upstairs)
It was a little freaky to go out to the house alone today - I'll admit I'm gun-shy! I don't think I'm afraid of an encounter w/ a thief. I'm more afraid to be the one who finds that all of the wiring has been stripped out of our walls and then having to call Brandon to tell him. I practiced my 911 call all the way out to the house today! Luckily, I didn't have to use it. But I'm pretty sure that should I find anything amiss tomorrow, I'm going to have to have a deputy call Brandon because I simply don't have the heart to tell him if anything has happened to all of his hard work. Appliances and tools can be replaced - but this house, every inch of it, is HIS hard work - his talent - his dedication. He is simply amazing!
Tomorrow the insulation crew will be out there all day. They'll probably take 2 or 3 days, so hopefully we'll be able to have it inspected before the weekend. Then we have drywall lined up for Monday. We know that the only thing that is going to really keep these schmucks from trying to poach our house is to be living in it. They aren't confrontational - they're sly, they're lazy, they're slimy. They want something that's EASY and FAST. So all we can really do for the month of April is PRAY that everything is protected and remains safe.
E=mc2
About two months ago, the Math Coach at Jacob's school called me at home, in the evening, to ask if Jacob could be on the school's Math Team. I told him that if Jacob wanted to be on it, it would be fine with me. A couple of days later I asked Jacob if he joined the team and he said he didn't want to. I reassured him that it was ok w/ his dad and me if he did - but he said he really didn't want to and that the deadline to join had already passed anyway.
A few days later, the coach called again - he told me that he'd make an exception to the deadline if Jacob wanted to join. So I talked to him about it, again. I told him to at least find the coach and let him know that he didn't want to be on the team so he'd stop calling me!
The next thing I knew, Jacob was telling me about going to Math Team practices at school. I was glad he joined a team and figured that since Jacob enjoys math so very much that he'd have fun.
Fast forward to this past Friday. A math competition was held at a local high school and Jacob's team registered. There were over 125 teams (some schools had more than 1 team, so not 125 schools). Each team had 4 students - so there were over 500 4th Graders at this competition. (See how well I put that together? Maybe he does get his math genius from his mother! ;)
Brandon and I went to the parent-friendly session of the competition. When Jacob saw us come in he got his shy little smirk. Brandon and I stood in the back of the classroom and watched. I was so amazed at how well Jacob and his little team did. There were questions that I had no clue what the answer was (there's a big surprise). There were trick questions - that of course stumped me! It really was so much fun to watch him!!
We all sat together with his team and parents in the gym for the awards ceremony! It was PACKED! It was LOUD! It was HOT! But it was FUN!
The first award they presented was "Top Scoring Individual" for each school. So no matter how many teams of four a school registered, only one student was going to win the award based on a test given earlier in the competition. I'm Jacob's mother, so of course I think he's brilliant - I'm a little embarrassed to say I squealed when they called his name as the winner from his school. I was/am just so proud of him. I'm so happy that his first experience as part of a competition was a positive one!
I couldn't believe I didn't take my camera with me - well, in my defense, I'd never been to a Math Competition (again, big surprise) - so the following pictures were taken with my cell phone - hence the blur!
The announcer explained that awards would be given to the top 5 teams - but only the top 4 teams would be advancing to the next competition in May. Team 5 was announced and we were relieved it wasn't us - but at the same time there is that disappointment that one of five chances to win a ribbon was gone.
Then the 4th place ribbons were presented......and JACOB'S SCHOOL WON IT! I can't tell you how cute those 8 little 4th Graders were running down on to the gym floor. Too cute!
A few days later, the coach called again - he told me that he'd make an exception to the deadline if Jacob wanted to join. So I talked to him about it, again. I told him to at least find the coach and let him know that he didn't want to be on the team so he'd stop calling me!
The next thing I knew, Jacob was telling me about going to Math Team practices at school. I was glad he joined a team and figured that since Jacob enjoys math so very much that he'd have fun.
Fast forward to this past Friday. A math competition was held at a local high school and Jacob's team registered. There were over 125 teams (some schools had more than 1 team, so not 125 schools). Each team had 4 students - so there were over 500 4th Graders at this competition. (See how well I put that together? Maybe he does get his math genius from his mother! ;)
Brandon and I went to the parent-friendly session of the competition. When Jacob saw us come in he got his shy little smirk. Brandon and I stood in the back of the classroom and watched. I was so amazed at how well Jacob and his little team did. There were questions that I had no clue what the answer was (there's a big surprise). There were trick questions - that of course stumped me! It really was so much fun to watch him!!
We all sat together with his team and parents in the gym for the awards ceremony! It was PACKED! It was LOUD! It was HOT! But it was FUN!
The first award they presented was "Top Scoring Individual" for each school. So no matter how many teams of four a school registered, only one student was going to win the award based on a test given earlier in the competition. I'm Jacob's mother, so of course I think he's brilliant - I'm a little embarrassed to say I squealed when they called his name as the winner from his school. I was/am just so proud of him. I'm so happy that his first experience as part of a competition was a positive one!
I couldn't believe I didn't take my camera with me - well, in my defense, I'd never been to a Math Competition (again, big surprise) - so the following pictures were taken with my cell phone - hence the blur!
The announcer explained that awards would be given to the top 5 teams - but only the top 4 teams would be advancing to the next competition in May. Team 5 was announced and we were relieved it wasn't us - but at the same time there is that disappointment that one of five chances to win a ribbon was gone.
Then the 4th place ribbons were presented......and JACOB'S SCHOOL WON IT! I can't tell you how cute those 8 little 4th Graders were running down on to the gym floor. Too cute!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Rejoice!
I don't know how much it costs to have a certified electrician wire an entire house - but I'm betting my amazing husband saved us thousands of dollars by doing this job all by himself!
The storm before the calm...
Let's walk through yesterday's afternoon together. I drove out to the schools to pick up the kids and Brandon drove out to finish up the electrical on the house for inspection (which is sometime today). On a whim I called his cell phone and asked if he wanted us to come out there with him for a while before Jason had his Youth Activity. Apparently we were only a few minutes behind him anyway, so we headed his direction.
As I drove down the LONG, straight strech of D Road, I passed a Sheriff Deputy along side the road. I thought to myself, "Hmmmm, I'm going to remember he's here..." Not even sure why that thought came to my mind (at the moment anyway). Just as I crossed the last intersection before our home, my cell rang. I answered and Brandon said, "Someone was here." My stomach instantly hit the floor of the van. And I'm pretty sure I could have crimped metal with my teeth! When I could finally talk I said, "Did they pull the wire?" He answered, "No". WHEW! "Did they break out our windows?" Again, "No, but they did take the appliances and a few other things from the basement!" WHAT!!!
Just this summer we found some great deals on a double oven, dishwasher, gas stove top and fume hood! Then later this summer, we found a wonderful set of brand new kitchen aid appliances.
The refirdgerator is still there (but we could see that they had tried to move it - it had been slid a few inches from it's original place) and the new double oven is still there. I guess they figured they didn't need 2?
Luckily, no other damage had been done - the morons had pried a piece of plywood siding off the front of the house and climbed in that way - then went straight to the basement and out the basement door. We're puzzled that they didn't just break the basement door (glass french doors), but we're glad they didn't. Very kind of them to be so thoughtful and all. But really, why go to the trouble of prying off plywood walling when there is a glass door just screaming to be broken? Dorks!
Oh - so back to my phone call with Brandon. When he told me what had happened, I turned the van around and drove right back to the deputy on the side of the road. How strange that he would be there even. As we were talking he was called to a crime in progress, so he gave me a phone number to call - which I did. I got to the land and pulled into our driveway. FYI - our driveway is still to soft and muddy to drive on in a big old van full of people! I almost instantly sank up to my nostrils! I seriously could have cried! Brandon came out with a shovel and we made no progress. Finally he tied a rope to his car and to mine and started pulling and miraculously, we got off the driveway just as another deputy was walking in.
He was a very nice guy - he was frustrated for us...which really didn't make me feel any better, but I appreciated that he was trying! lol He stayed for about an hour and finally mentioned where he lived (which was near where I grew up). I asked him if he ever drove Ambulance in S County. He said he did and had for years. I told him I recognized him from the divey resturant I worked in when I was in High School. All of the ambulance drivers, sheriff deputies, state patrol, and city police officers would break there b/c we gave them free food! LOL
It was so good to get home last night. Of course all Brandon and I could talk about on the way home was who we thought had done it, when they did it, if they would come back, etc. I hate the violated, paranoia you feel when you've been robbed!
We sat down to a late dinner of thrown-together-tacos! Naturally, the night couldn't just end, the plumbing had to back up. Poor Brandon! Of course it can always be assumed that nobody wants to fix plumbing - ever! But I could just see the last bits of sanity drain from his face as he looked into the sink. Just for fun, we poured some drain-o in while we ate dinner. His plan was to fix it after the kids were in bed. As we finished up dishes and did "brush your teeth and use the bathroom" routine, we heard the drain chug and bubble and finally empty! What a blessing!
I did go out to the house this morning and everything looked fine. We left Brandon's Jeep parked against the french doors in the basement so if they came back for the oven and fridge, they'd have to lug them up 2 flights of stairs and then drop them out the hole in the wall! (Or, just push Brandon's Jeep back into the huge septic hole that was right behind the Jeep, LOL).
I'll go back out this afternoon and lock it back up and hopefully find a sticker on our meter that says we passed the electrical inspection! Now we feel like sitting ducks! If we passed, we have an insulator lined up to come on Tuesday and he said he'd be done by Wednesday night - then it has to be inspected. Then drywall - which I'm sure will take a good couple of weeks. Then we're going to have to move in as-is, otherwise we're afraid they'll keep coming back and helping themselves to the Lee Family Free-For-All!!
As I drove down the LONG, straight strech of D Road, I passed a Sheriff Deputy along side the road. I thought to myself, "Hmmmm, I'm going to remember he's here..." Not even sure why that thought came to my mind (at the moment anyway). Just as I crossed the last intersection before our home, my cell rang. I answered and Brandon said, "Someone was here." My stomach instantly hit the floor of the van. And I'm pretty sure I could have crimped metal with my teeth! When I could finally talk I said, "Did they pull the wire?" He answered, "No". WHEW! "Did they break out our windows?" Again, "No, but they did take the appliances and a few other things from the basement!" WHAT!!!
Just this summer we found some great deals on a double oven, dishwasher, gas stove top and fume hood! Then later this summer, we found a wonderful set of brand new kitchen aid appliances.
The refirdgerator is still there (but we could see that they had tried to move it - it had been slid a few inches from it's original place) and the new double oven is still there. I guess they figured they didn't need 2?
Luckily, no other damage had been done - the morons had pried a piece of plywood siding off the front of the house and climbed in that way - then went straight to the basement and out the basement door. We're puzzled that they didn't just break the basement door (glass french doors), but we're glad they didn't. Very kind of them to be so thoughtful and all. But really, why go to the trouble of prying off plywood walling when there is a glass door just screaming to be broken? Dorks!
Oh - so back to my phone call with Brandon. When he told me what had happened, I turned the van around and drove right back to the deputy on the side of the road. How strange that he would be there even. As we were talking he was called to a crime in progress, so he gave me a phone number to call - which I did. I got to the land and pulled into our driveway. FYI - our driveway is still to soft and muddy to drive on in a big old van full of people! I almost instantly sank up to my nostrils! I seriously could have cried! Brandon came out with a shovel and we made no progress. Finally he tied a rope to his car and to mine and started pulling and miraculously, we got off the driveway just as another deputy was walking in.
He was a very nice guy - he was frustrated for us...which really didn't make me feel any better, but I appreciated that he was trying! lol He stayed for about an hour and finally mentioned where he lived (which was near where I grew up). I asked him if he ever drove Ambulance in S County. He said he did and had for years. I told him I recognized him from the divey resturant I worked in when I was in High School. All of the ambulance drivers, sheriff deputies, state patrol, and city police officers would break there b/c we gave them free food! LOL
It was so good to get home last night. Of course all Brandon and I could talk about on the way home was who we thought had done it, when they did it, if they would come back, etc. I hate the violated, paranoia you feel when you've been robbed!
We sat down to a late dinner of thrown-together-tacos! Naturally, the night couldn't just end, the plumbing had to back up. Poor Brandon! Of course it can always be assumed that nobody wants to fix plumbing - ever! But I could just see the last bits of sanity drain from his face as he looked into the sink. Just for fun, we poured some drain-o in while we ate dinner. His plan was to fix it after the kids were in bed. As we finished up dishes and did "brush your teeth and use the bathroom" routine, we heard the drain chug and bubble and finally empty! What a blessing!
I did go out to the house this morning and everything looked fine. We left Brandon's Jeep parked against the french doors in the basement so if they came back for the oven and fridge, they'd have to lug them up 2 flights of stairs and then drop them out the hole in the wall! (Or, just push Brandon's Jeep back into the huge septic hole that was right behind the Jeep, LOL).
I'll go back out this afternoon and lock it back up and hopefully find a sticker on our meter that says we passed the electrical inspection! Now we feel like sitting ducks! If we passed, we have an insulator lined up to come on Tuesday and he said he'd be done by Wednesday night - then it has to be inspected. Then drywall - which I'm sure will take a good couple of weeks. Then we're going to have to move in as-is, otherwise we're afraid they'll keep coming back and helping themselves to the Lee Family Free-For-All!!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Electrical Inspection!
Tomorrow (3/22) is our big electrical inspection out at the house. It would be such a wonderful thing to have this hurdle behind us. We have insulators and drywallers just waiting for us to say the word to start!! WALLS! We'll have real walls! No more weak knees while standing up in Jared/Joseph's bedroom and looking clear down into the basement through the walls! (Makes my knees hurt just imagining it!)
Keep your fingers crossed for us!
Keep your fingers crossed for us!
Guess we'll keep him after all...
Jason is doing so well at his new school. As much of a pain as it is to drive the kids out to school and then get them to bring them home every day - it really has been good for the kids!!
Monday, March 12, 2007
SO COOL!
Ok, this is the coolest thing ever! Well, maybe not "EVER" - but in a long time, for sure! But first, get a chuckle out of the conversation I had with my mom!
I call her and she answers:
Mom: Hello
Me: Hi! Guess what! You'll never guess, but guess anyway!
(To humor me, she plays along)
Mom: Your electrical is done and passed?
Me: No, but man that would sure be nice...*sigh*
Mom: Ok, you've lost 30 pounds?
Me: No, but that would sure be nice...*longer sigh*
Mom: You got the diamond replaced in your wedding ring?
Me: No, but man, that would be great, huh? *Very long sigh*
Mom: Maybe you'd better just tell me before I make this any worse!
Me: Ok - I get to work at Antiques Roadshow when it comes in August!!!
My friend Marilyn and I were out walking this evening and she was talking about her work. I asked her if she got paid when she did stuff like the PBS telethon or judging Jr. Miss stuff. She said she didn't, it was all just volunteer stuff...and then, just as casual as anything she says, "Like when I work Antiques Roadshow in August..." I about fell off the sidewalk! Thinking back on it now, I must have looked like a moron jumping up and down beside her saying, "Me, take me, can you take me, I want to go, can I, huh, huh, can I?" And just like that - I'm IN! I get to take 2 things to be appraised and she said she would take 2 more things for me since she didn't have anything to be appraised.
So back to the conversation with mom - she had signed up for tickets as soon as she heard that AR was coming to town. The max you can sign up for is 2. So I told her that now she could take Dad if she gets tickets - she laughed at me like that was always the plan!? RUDE!
The only thing that would make this weekend even better would be if AR agreed to go and look through the "Museum house" that my mom's local historical society runs. It's a very old, very beautiful house with all original furniture. She emailed AR and invited them and they told her that they go to 3 off-site locations when they go to a town and they'll consider hers. Naturally, I begged my mom to let me "be there" if/when AR goes through the house!
I call her and she answers:
Mom: Hello
Me: Hi! Guess what! You'll never guess, but guess anyway!
(To humor me, she plays along)
Mom: Your electrical is done and passed?
Me: No, but man that would sure be nice...*sigh*
Mom: Ok, you've lost 30 pounds?
Me: No, but that would sure be nice...*longer sigh*
Mom: You got the diamond replaced in your wedding ring?
Me: No, but man, that would be great, huh? *Very long sigh*
Mom: Maybe you'd better just tell me before I make this any worse!
Me: Ok - I get to work at Antiques Roadshow when it comes in August!!!
My friend Marilyn and I were out walking this evening and she was talking about her work. I asked her if she got paid when she did stuff like the PBS telethon or judging Jr. Miss stuff. She said she didn't, it was all just volunteer stuff...and then, just as casual as anything she says, "Like when I work Antiques Roadshow in August..." I about fell off the sidewalk! Thinking back on it now, I must have looked like a moron jumping up and down beside her saying, "Me, take me, can you take me, I want to go, can I, huh, huh, can I?" And just like that - I'm IN! I get to take 2 things to be appraised and she said she would take 2 more things for me since she didn't have anything to be appraised.
So back to the conversation with mom - she had signed up for tickets as soon as she heard that AR was coming to town. The max you can sign up for is 2. So I told her that now she could take Dad if she gets tickets - she laughed at me like that was always the plan!? RUDE!
The only thing that would make this weekend even better would be if AR agreed to go and look through the "Museum house" that my mom's local historical society runs. It's a very old, very beautiful house with all original furniture. She emailed AR and invited them and they told her that they go to 3 off-site locations when they go to a town and they'll consider hers. Naturally, I begged my mom to let me "be there" if/when AR goes through the house!
STREP!
It's gotta end, right? HONESTLY! Our poor family has been sick for WEEKS now!
Naturally, it can't just be a cough and sore throat, it has to be full-on strep - doctor's office visit, antibiotics, missed school, no sleep, etc etc etc! I guess if there's a bright side, it's that I only have half the kids left who need to get it! LOL
Dad
Mom
Jason
Madilyn
Jacob
Megan
Jared
Malorie
Melanie
Joseph
Naturally, it can't just be a cough and sore throat, it has to be full-on strep - doctor's office visit, antibiotics, missed school, no sleep, etc etc etc! I guess if there's a bright side, it's that I only have half the kids left who need to get it! LOL
Dad
Mom
Jason
Madilyn
Jacob
Megan
Jared
Malorie
Melanie
Joseph
Thursday, March 08, 2007
And the winner is..........JACOB!
Jacob's music class has been holding a competition for the past three months or so. The first one to memorize 10 songs and play them for the teacher, one a week (sometimes 2 if time allowed) would win the green recorder. (Everyone else's is black.) Yesterday Jacob was presented with the recorder - we're so proud of him. Darn kid is a natural at almost everything he puts his mind to!
Seuss Olympics
For five years now, we've held an annual Seuss Olympics near Dr. Seuss' birthday. This year's events were kind of whimpy b/c Brandon has been so busy with the house and usually doesn't get home until the kids are in bed, or almost in bed. Yesterday he had to fly to Olympia for work and was able to get home eariler than planned flying stand-by! Here are a few of the games we played. We're planning on a much bigger event next year when we have more room (it seems like everything is going to be better "next year"...)
Megan and Melanie are playing the Tweedle Beetle Battle game. It's really for one player at a time and a stopwatch- (but Jaynie wouldn't wait) - the player gets 2 wooden spoons (Their Paddles) and has to use them to pick up the beetles from the floor (paper print outs) and put them into the bottle - a tweedle beetle battle, in a bottle, with a paddle!
This is Maddie and Dad doing the Hop-on-Pop game. Each player has a set of 4 feet (foot print feet). You stand on two of them and when you start, you lay the other two out in front of you - you step upon those 2 feet and reach back to get the feet from behind you and you lay those feet in front...and so on. The winner is the first one to the end who "Hops on POP" (which is a big old picture of Brandon's face).
Jared's playing Ring the Gak - nuff said?
Megan and Melanie are playing the Tweedle Beetle Battle game. It's really for one player at a time and a stopwatch- (but Jaynie wouldn't wait) - the player gets 2 wooden spoons (Their Paddles) and has to use them to pick up the beetles from the floor (paper print outs) and put them into the bottle - a tweedle beetle battle, in a bottle, with a paddle!
This is Maddie and Dad doing the Hop-on-Pop game. Each player has a set of 4 feet (foot print feet). You stand on two of them and when you start, you lay the other two out in front of you - you step upon those 2 feet and reach back to get the feet from behind you and you lay those feet in front...and so on. The winner is the first one to the end who "Hops on POP" (which is a big old picture of Brandon's face).
Jared's playing Ring the Gak - nuff said?
Thursday, March 01, 2007
EDGES!
Holy smokes, I can SEE! Everything has edges again! I've gotten so used to looking at everything "fuzzy" that seeing it now w/ edges is kind of weird! Nuts, I'm getting old I guess. I'm all happy and excited over new glasses...what next? New teeth? Hmmmm?
Saturday, February 24, 2007
The week in review...
So last weekend we were almost buried alive by the flu from purgatory! Can't believe it's been seven days since that all started! So what all have we missed since then? Well, here goes...
Sunday: Mom stayed home from church with Jaynie and Joseph.
Monday: Mom took Jaynie back to the ER. The doctor gave her another round of Zofran which seemed to do the trick. Marilyn bailed us out (again) and took the boys to their appointments while Mom was at the ER w/ Jaynie (Joseph, Maddie, Jacob too). Jared had a dentist appointment and Jason an ENT appointment (Malorie & Megan too).
Tuesday: Hooray! No more throwing up! 24 hours of food staying where it was supposed to stay! Mom sneaked off to Weight Watchers and was down a couple more pounds (for a grand total of 15.4 since January 2). Brandon was in Olympia all day for work.
Wednesday: Mom's new cell phone came. Jason went to Youth Night and watched Dave A. do magic tricks. Brandon worked on the house after work.
Thursday: Maddie and Maggie went to sewing lessons at Shirley's. Jacob went to Cub Scouts. Brandon went to the house again after work.
Friday: Brandon drove the kids to school and spent the day at the house. The little girls, Joseph and mom spent the entire day at home. Movie night after dinner.
And now, here we are back to Saturday! Brandon, Jason and Maddie went out to the house all day today. The other kids and Mom are working on Saturday jobs and dinner.
There you have it - probably not really interesting to many of you, but it sure keeps us busy!
Just for fun, here are a few of the pictures we've taken with mom's new cell phone - cheesy, but fun!
Sunday: Mom stayed home from church with Jaynie and Joseph.
Monday: Mom took Jaynie back to the ER. The doctor gave her another round of Zofran which seemed to do the trick. Marilyn bailed us out (again) and took the boys to their appointments while Mom was at the ER w/ Jaynie (Joseph, Maddie, Jacob too). Jared had a dentist appointment and Jason an ENT appointment (Malorie & Megan too).
Tuesday: Hooray! No more throwing up! 24 hours of food staying where it was supposed to stay! Mom sneaked off to Weight Watchers and was down a couple more pounds (for a grand total of 15.4 since January 2). Brandon was in Olympia all day for work.
Wednesday: Mom's new cell phone came. Jason went to Youth Night and watched Dave A. do magic tricks. Brandon worked on the house after work.
Thursday: Maddie and Maggie went to sewing lessons at Shirley's. Jacob went to Cub Scouts. Brandon went to the house again after work.
Friday: Brandon drove the kids to school and spent the day at the house. The little girls, Joseph and mom spent the entire day at home. Movie night after dinner.
And now, here we are back to Saturday! Brandon, Jason and Maddie went out to the house all day today. The other kids and Mom are working on Saturday jobs and dinner.
There you have it - probably not really interesting to many of you, but it sure keeps us busy!
Just for fun, here are a few of the pictures we've taken with mom's new cell phone - cheesy, but fun!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Martian Death Flu!!
Poor Jaynie has been so sick this weekend. Friday the kids and I spent the day at my mom's house. Everyone, including Jaynie, was fine. They played and played and slept all the way home. We had dinner around the usual time and then went to bed around the usual time. Then, somewhere around midnight, the space ship landed! Jaynie woke up throwing up. It was all of her dinner (lovely, I know). Then she proceeded to wake up every 25 minutes or so dry heaving. It was the saddest thing I've ever seen! By about noon Saturday, Brandon and I decided we'd better take her in. Maddie, Joseph, Jaynie and I loaded up and headed to the ER. Luckily, our friend Dave was working Saturday so he got us right back to a room - avoiding the 2+hr wait in the waiting room. Who says it doesn't pay to know people??
The doctor promptly ordered Zofran for the nausea (one of my favorite morning sickness meds) and Tylenol & Motrin. I didn't realize who bad her fever was. Apparently it was high enough that he was worried about fever induced seizures! Thankfully, the Zofran kicked in almost instantly! She was able to sit up and eat a popsicle then drink a cup of 7-Up and Pedialyte. They sent us on our way w/ an RX for an anti nausea and an antibiotic for strep - must have been a parting gift from the ER...I had no clue her throat was bad! Even after getting straight back to see a doc we still spent 4 hours in the ER.
We filled her scripts and went home...got there just in time to send the five older kids to our Cub Scout auction with Marilyn. I was supposed to run that auction - luckily, everyone pulled together and did a great job getting through it without me. I guess when you call from the ER and say "I'm here w/ my baby" people become a little more willing to step up and help out!
Jaynie is still under it today. A little worse even than yesterday - but I believe it's because her anti nausea med isn't the same as what she was given in the ER. I think she's feeling a little more nauseated than she was after taking Zofran yesterday. But she hasn't thrown up since the ER. We are treating a fever constantly. I had to make myself a little chart so I'd know what to give her and when to give it! The "orange stuff" (Motrin), the "Pink stuff" (Tylenol), Anti nausea, and antibiotic...each followed by the time she takes it next. Lucky for her, I'm a little OCD abt keeping track of meds this way!
Here is a cell phone pic taken at the ER. Her lips look funky from the popsicle (and the fact that it was taken w/ my phone, lol). Sorry abt the quality - didn't think to load up the camera while we were rushing out the door! ;)
The doctor promptly ordered Zofran for the nausea (one of my favorite morning sickness meds) and Tylenol & Motrin. I didn't realize who bad her fever was. Apparently it was high enough that he was worried about fever induced seizures! Thankfully, the Zofran kicked in almost instantly! She was able to sit up and eat a popsicle then drink a cup of 7-Up and Pedialyte. They sent us on our way w/ an RX for an anti nausea and an antibiotic for strep - must have been a parting gift from the ER...I had no clue her throat was bad! Even after getting straight back to see a doc we still spent 4 hours in the ER.
We filled her scripts and went home...got there just in time to send the five older kids to our Cub Scout auction with Marilyn. I was supposed to run that auction - luckily, everyone pulled together and did a great job getting through it without me. I guess when you call from the ER and say "I'm here w/ my baby" people become a little more willing to step up and help out!
Jaynie is still under it today. A little worse even than yesterday - but I believe it's because her anti nausea med isn't the same as what she was given in the ER. I think she's feeling a little more nauseated than she was after taking Zofran yesterday. But she hasn't thrown up since the ER. We are treating a fever constantly. I had to make myself a little chart so I'd know what to give her and when to give it! The "orange stuff" (Motrin), the "Pink stuff" (Tylenol), Anti nausea, and antibiotic...each followed by the time she takes it next. Lucky for her, I'm a little OCD abt keeping track of meds this way!
Here is a cell phone pic taken at the ER. Her lips look funky from the popsicle (and the fact that it was taken w/ my phone, lol). Sorry abt the quality - didn't think to load up the camera while we were rushing out the door! ;)
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Happy Valentine's Day
We had so much fun this year! On Monday, the three little kids and I went and bought decorations for a Valentine's Day party. Malorie didn't say a word to anyone about it for 2 whole days! I was sure she'd blow it! When the kids and Brandon left yesterday morning, the girlies and I started decorating and fixing dinner.
We had Hawaiian Haystacks for dinner and a strawberry cake for dessert.
Our friend, Marilyn, brought by a huge bouquet of balloons for the kids!
It was fun for the girlies to get to surprise the "school kids" and daddy when they got home!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Please don't forget March of Dimes...
Over at the right are the links to the kids' fund-raiser sites. I've taken Megan's link off as she's already reached her $200.00 goal. The rest of the kids are all more than 1/2 way there, but still need help.
Thanks guys!!
OK - I had to put Megan back because the other kids informed me that they are trying to see who can get the "most past their goal" - and if I take Megan off, then I mess up their game. Brother! I am AMAZED at the generosity of everyone! Thank you again!
Thanks guys!!
OK - I had to put Megan back because the other kids informed me that they are trying to see who can get the "most past their goal" - and if I take Megan off, then I mess up their game. Brother! I am AMAZED at the generosity of everyone! Thank you again!
Kitchen cabinets have been ordered!
The cabinet lady came out and measured the kitchen last night to make sure everything we'd chosen at the store would really fit. She will actually place the order in 2 weeks - it takes 3 weeks to get here...that means in 5 weeks (theoretically) our walls and floors will be in and ready for the rest of the kitchen! Here's a picture of how the kitchen should look - per the Ziggy's Lumber lady's computer program! LOL It looks a lot darker in her print out - we actually ordered a natural stained hickory...so it's going to be much lighter!
Friday, February 09, 2007
I'm an auntie...again!
Mindy had her baby Thursday! This is Adam. He was 6 lb 13 oz. I'm waiting for more pictures - but this is the "from the cell phone" one that I have for now!
Grandma is going to New Jersey
Brandon's mother is going to New Jersey for 12 months to serve a mission for our church. She's been talking about it for over a year now so it's kind of hard to really believe that it's finally official! She just found out where she would be going today! We're very excited for her, but at the same time we hate to have grandma gone for so long. Imagine this - Joseph will be 2 just after she comes home. He'll be walking and talking! How BIZARRE is that!
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