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Stories August 8, 2011
4 more days and school starts. This summer has flown by and we've enjoyed most all of it. We vacationed for most of June and hung around home in July. I thought I was ready for school to start back until yesterday. I broke down in tears during church thinking about another year gone. Sure, there is much to look forward to but there is also a lot to say goodbye to as well. Gabrielle will be full day this year and it struck me that my time at home with her all day is over... gone... done. From this point on she will be in school all day. She's no longer a baby. I know I'm dramatic but Mom says it was always emotional for her when school started back. Brady and Cooper will go to preschool 5 days a week. I also made the decision to separate them this year. They can't keep their hands off each other wrestling and playing. Their teachers felt it would be best since in order to prepare them for Deerfield Pre-K next year they should "focus" a little this year. The kids are neither here nor there on excitement for school starting. When Thursday night arrives I'm sure they'll be some butterflies.
The house is coming along. We have a good solid foundation and it's ready for framing. I'm very excited and looking forward to what's to come. The bottom will be brick and they have already placed it. I love the color and texture of the brick. I've made a promise to myself that I will NOT let this house stress me out. I am going to make well thought out decisions and go with my gut instinct. This is an exciting time and building our forever home (Lord willing) is a true blessing.
On Saturday Gabrielle and I went to Tallahassee, FL with Teresa and Shelby. Shelby is 16 and I didn't know what we were in for shopping with a 16 year old. It was so much fun and I swear Gabrielle was harder than Shelby! She's become so particular about what she wears. She told me the other day that a certain pair of shorts made her butt look big! I thought I would fall out. And no she does not hear that from me. I make it a point to compliment myself whether I feel like it or not when I'm around her. I want her to have healthy and confident self esteem. Jackson is still a fashion icon. He makes up cool outfits all the time. He's hilarious and JUST like his Daddy.
July 26, 2011
I finally got some pics loaded! Enjoy and I'll catch up tomorrow. It's after midnight...
June 22, 2011
We are back home from the beach, reluctantly. I was ready to come home and regroup then head right back again. We are definitely beach bums in the summer. Maybe we can make it back down a couple more times before school starts back. Jackson started Camp Invention on Monday. You would have thought he was being punished. He did not want to go. He kept saying, “I hate inventions!” What he didn’t realize is it was only one week and how much fun it would be and how many of his friends would be there, too. After Monday he was hooked and loved it. The babies do a summer camp as well. Theirs is only two half days a week at the same school they attend regularly. They had a good time and it’s a good chance for me to get away a bit, too. Connor has tutoring twice a week during the summer as well. Poor Baby! The older kids have Pirate Camp next week and they are thrilled! So Am I… J
Our Canton house is STILL for sale. We switched realtors last week and are very pleased with the choice we made. She has already shown the house personally several times. We are getting more traffic and that makes us hopeful. We are giving it away as it stands… please someone buy it! As far as our new house, well there is nothing to tell. We’ve run into as many problems as you could imagine. All of which are zoning, city and county issues. We are finally ready to pour concrete this week. Please pray for swift hands on getting this house done. I’m so anxious.
Other than that there isn’t much to tell. I promise pictures are coming soon. I got a new camera and have to download the software to download the pictures.
June 15, 2011
The kids were rotten all day yesterday. They chose not to listen and disobey from the moment they woke up. I don’t know what’s gotten into them. I had done nothing but threaten all day until finally I had enough. They all got spankings and it broke my heart. I turned to Nancy and just cried. I hate spanking them. It’s hard enough spanking one or two but when I have to spank all 5 at one time… ugh, it breaks my heart. As a parent, I understand the saying, “It hurts me more than it does you.” I had to prove to them that I meant what I said. It did seem to help but ever since it’s been touch and go. I hate days like that. I woke up this am and prayed for God to give me patience and energy. I also swore I would not threaten all day with no follow through. Cooper hit the floor this morning full throttle and full of himself. He was pitching a fit over nothing and I had to set him straight. Then Gabrielle decided it was a good idea to spit on Connor. We had been up for 30 minutes and two of them had already been in trouble. I’m hanging on by a thread and it’s only Noon!!!
I forgot to mention a funny story. When Brad was here over the weekend we were hanging out at the pool. I was lying on a chair dozing off and Brad while Brad was watching the kids swim. I saw Jackson with a freeze pop and assumed his Daddy had given him money to get one from the cabana store. It wasn’t ten minutes later Connor had a freeze pop. I said to Brad, “Quit giving them money they need to eat dinner soon.” He said, “I didn’t give them money I thought you did.” We both looked at each other confused and then Connor and Jackson looked confused. I said, “JACKSON! Where did you get the money for all these freeze pops?” He said, “From that fountain over there… it’s full of money!” OMG… we laughed so hard!
June 13, 2011
We had a fabulous weekend. We spent the day by the pool on Saturday and grilled burgers and hot dogs. Sunday was pretty much the same except we went to dinner with some friends and their kids that are also in town. Party of 11! Brad left early this morning to head back to Albany. The kids and I sat around the condo the entire day. We slept late and they played while I cleaned up the place a bit. They took every blanket and pillow in the house and made forts in the den. They had a blast. We talked Memaw into coming to stay with us for a while. She got here around 5pm this evening. We were all thrilled to see her. We took the kids to the pool and let them swim then had pizza delivered poolside for dinner. A storm was coming in so we headed back up to the condo. I cleaned up a little more and now everyone is settled down watching TV.
While Brad was here he mentioned that he would love to see Jason Aldean in concert. I agreed but we had missed the boat when he was in Macon. I checked online to see where he would be the rest of the tour. I said, “Oh look, we could see him in West Palm Beach, FL!” I figured Brad would say yeah right! Instead he said, “Let’s do it!” So I found a babysitter, booked us a hotel, purchased tickets online and made our airline reservations. It’s all set and I’m so excited I can’t stand it… Thank you, Honey!
June 11, 2011
Wow, it’s been a very long time. I had three people randomly mention this week they missed my blog and I decided I missed it, too. Now that school is out I think I have much more time to dedicate and commit to my page. I may switch to a different version though. This site gets me so frustrated. I just spent an hour updating. When I pressed the spell check it erased my document and kicked me out. It’s happened on more than one occasion. What a waste of time not to mention I can’t remember everything I wrote. Nor do I have time to spend doing it. Any suggestions on a site that is easy to use?
The construction of our home is still on hold. We had zoning issues and that put us behind a couple of weeks. Now we are waiting on the power company to decide when they are going to get our power run out to the lot. After that we still have to dig a well. Then and only then can we actually start framing. I am trying to be patient. There’s no reason to stress because it’s all out of my hands.
We came to the beach last Saturday and are staying through the 19th. Brad comes down on the weekends. We love it here! We have a cute 3-bedroom condo right on the gulf. We spend our days swimming and playing in the ocean and our nights walking to Pier Park (or Peter Park as Connor calls it). I brought a babysitter with me the first week. Shelby is 16 and loves my kids to death. We think the world of her, too.
The kids are doing great. Brady can still melt me with those blue eyes. He’s still very mischievous and can be a silent troublemaker. He loves being the baby! He will ask me in a pitiful says it’s not true voice, “Momma, am I a big boy?” I tell him that he’s growing up but he’s still my baby. He grins and eats it up.
Cooper is still a precious little soul. His curls are his trademarks. People can’t help but mention it when we walk by. He has the cutest little laugh and has no idea he isn’t 5 years old. He thinks he can do everything the older kids can do. And most of the time he really does. He loves his Momma. He wants to know where I am at all times and talks non-stop. Who knew a 3 year old had so much to say!
Connor is a lover as always. He wants to be just like his Daddy. He sits and reads hunting magazines. He talks about hunting, fishing and “land” all the time. I think he will grow up to be a farmer. I can just see him managing a 3,000 acre peanut farm. He has a respect for land and wildlife. He can get anything he wants with those bedroom eyes. There’s always been something about Sweet Connor. We had to make a hard decision with him this school year. He’s come a long way with tutoring but he’s not quite where he should be. With that being said we are following the advice of his teachers, principal and tutor and holding him back in K4. If he weren’t a twin it wouldn’t bother me so bad. But splitting them up is harder than I ever imagined. It’s the first time we’ve had to think of them as individuals and not twins. Gabrielle would be bored if we kept her back and Connor would struggle if we sent him on to K5. I hope he doesn’t hate me for this later!
Gabrielle gets more beautiful with each passing day. She’s lovely! I’m bias but honestly people stop us to tell me how pretty she is. She’s mature beyond her years. She swears when she grows up she’s going to be a nurse at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. I mentioned why doesn’t she become a doctor like her daddy and she replied, “No Momma, those kids need me. They aren’t just sick like we get sick. They are so sick they die.” I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if she doesn’t end up doing just what she says. She sent her $2 tooth fairy money to the hospital. How big of her!
Jackson is still a ball of energy. He’s nonstop and tall as can be. He tells me sometimes when he wakes up in the mornings it’s hard to walk because his legs are sore. Growing pains! He played baseball this year, as did Connor. He really liked it and learned a lot. Most of the boys had played 2-3 years already so he had a lot to learn. He began to want to play towards the middle of the season and we say improvement. He still wants to practice and learn to be better. That makes his Daddy very proud. We are also holding Jackson back in 1st grade. His school is ahead of where he came in out of K5 and he needs another year to catch up.
Brad celebrated his 1-year anniversary in May for the practice. He’s doing great and working through the headaches. I am very proud of him and just hope he continues to find balance between work and family. He’s such a great provider and we appreciate him so much.
Lots more to tell but it’s 2:30am and I’m pooped! Nite Nite!
February 7, 2011
It's time for my once a month post. As the weeks go by I try to tell myself to "remember this or that" for the blog. However, when I finally sit down to update I can't remember a darn thing.
Basketball season is over... finally. I'm so glad to have our Saturday mornings back. On the flip side of that we are now into baseball season. The practices are 3 days a week so I have to work them into Gabrielle's 3 x a week dance classes, Connor's tutoring sessions as well as play dates, building a house, running a business, keeping up the house, selling another house and taking care of kids/home/husband and find time somewhere in the middle for myself. Baseball here is intense. I think it's that way most everywhere. I don't know what it is about the sport but it's taken very very seriously. It's about fun but they really push the fact that it's about winning, too. Brad and I agree with that motto. Jackson and Connor really like going out there each week. The other kids think it's wonderful to run around wild. I could enjoy it more if they practiced at the same place. That would make too much sense and be too easy though. I love love love seeing them in their little uniforms. They both fit the profile. The babies keep saying, "Mom when I get big I can play ball, too." So sweet. They love their big brothers. Brad and I were watching Brady and Cooper the other day while they were playing together. They didn't know we had our eyes on them which made it even better. They play so well together. Their bond is amazing. They can be sitting on the couch and one say to the other "Wanna wrestle?" Then they get up and go at it giggling all the way.
Last week there was not much to giggle about. The stomach virus hit our home with a vengeance. It started with Cooper and Gabrielle. The next day was Jackson, Connor and I. Brady and Brad managed to stay well somehow. Poor Brad was running around like a chicken with his head cut off trying to take care of us.
My battery is running low so I have to cut it short. I'll post more tomorrow. I have pictures, too.
January 17, 2010
I think Facebook has been one reason my website has suffered and the other is exhaustion. I thought this life with 5 kids was getting easier until this past 6 months. I swear it's all gotten harder. Parenting is way more difficult than I ever imagined. I'm sure it's going to get even worse as the years go by. The kids are just being kids but they know how to push my buttons and use it to their advantage. They know when I'm so tired I could drop and that's when they go in for the kill. Jackson has turned into a bit of a different child. He's silly all the time and doesn't understand social graces very well. He says and does things that make me embarrassed. I think that is just a phase... I hope. He questions everything and is a bit lazy. He doesn't try very hard at school and he's prone to be sloppy. Is this just boy? Oh my gosh, I don't know what to do with him. He used to be such a big helper and now he's reliving his "childhood" that he never had LOL! Seriously, he is the one that acts 3 yrs old. Please... HELP!
On the other hand, he's still very tender hearted. He followed through with his ARC project and raised over $260. It rained and was freezing cold. My back was out for a few weeks after that but it was worth it. It turned out the ARC asked me to be on their Advisory Board and I was honored. I had my first meeting a few weeks ago. I was flattered and happy to be a part of something so worth while.
On a different note, we purchased a 5 acre lot about 1.5 miles from our house. We are in the process of working out our house plans and hope to start building SOON. It's not in a neighborhood and we love that. There is lots of property surrounding us that is undeveloped so it feels like we have much much more than 5 acres. The house I have chosen to build has a very classic, southern, comfortable and timeless feel to it. I think we have an excellent builder who I will work well with. It's exciting!
This past weekend Brad had a meeting in Nashville, TN. I was able to tag along and my wonderful Mom watched the kids for us. I was so ready for a break. If we hadn't had plans to head out of town I would have gone on my own somewhere... anywhere. I was feeling beat down, exhausted and very confused. I'm not depressed even though it sounds that way. The problem is I just feel so overwhelmed. I want to enjoy the kids, play with them, talk to them but it seems all I do is yell, give orders and clean up. I don't want to look back in 20 years and say why didn't I prioritize differently. How do you do both? How can you be a "fun" mom who plays with her kids and still keep the level of respect between you and them. Over the weekend Brad and I talked a lot about our parenting skills. Usually, when we are away we don't talk about the kids but this was a different situation. I needed to develop a new game plan. He mentioned that he's noticed a few things. He said that it seemed like I was doing lots of threatening but not lots of follow through. He was right. I was catching myself yelling and pitching fits just like they were. I decided that I had to be more consistent and make sure I follow through with consequences. The other thing was keeping calm and patient. I used to not let the noise bother me. I was able to tune it out. But the noise has turned into chaos. They each want to be heard at the same time. The noise level can be intense to say the least. It gives me a headache and I catch myself talking over them which means I am screaming! I still have not figured out how to fix that part. I repeat myself over and over... "Get your clothes on... brush your teeth... get your clothes on... brush your teeth... I told you to brush your teeth... why have you not put your clothes on... BRUSH YOUR TEETH NOW." It's the same things over and over. By the time they do it I have threatened them by an inch of their lives. Then we are all frustrated and yelling. There has to be a better way to get them to understand First Time Listening. Please... HELP!
Brady is still not potty trained. He will pee in the potty (for the most part) but refuses to poop in the potty. I am eating my words because I did not understand how any child could be 3 and not be potty trained. I thought it was the parents fault. He could care less to sit in poop. It doesn't bother him in the least. I honestly do not know what else to do to get him motivated. I am so sick of it. Please.... HELP!
Cooper, Connor and Gabrielle are doing great. Connor is coming a long way on his school work. He's learning letters and how they make sounds. He's getting tutored 1 x week at home and then 2 x week at school. Also, we are working on things separately at home. I am very very proud of him but more than anything he's proud of himself. He got Lincoln Logs for Christmas and loves them. They have been a wonderful way for him to take an idea and put it to use. He loves to build and sort things. Gabrielle is a hot mess. She's the same and not changed a bit. Cooper is a heart warmer who is learning how to stand his own. He's been know to call his siblings "rump kisser" "chicken head" and my personal favorite "poo poo." We are working on better words but it's hard not to laugh. Obviously he's hearing his siblings say these things!
Not much else to report. Brad's practice is booming and we are thrilled. He stays busy but still tries to balance work and family which is something I am very proud of. He was able to do a lot of deer hunting this season for the first time in 8 years. He had a great time and hardly ever went without at least 2 kids in tow.
Please pray for me that God will direct me on better methods of parenting these kids. They are sweet, energetic little balls of fire. I just need to find out how to stay warm without getting burned!
December 12, 2010
Oh what a fun fun weekend! Brady and Cooper had their Christmas Program on Friday. They were reindeer and sang a little song. They were precious and it was a joy to watch. Saturday morning the boys had basketball games. They are playing on an Upward league at the church. They love it and Brad is coaching their teams. After the game I took Gabrielle to dress rehearsal for her first ballet recital. It was so cute to watch her. She has not shown me ONE SINGLE MOVE ever since she started this past fall. I wondered if she had learned anything at all! Watching her at rehearsal was so sweet. She sang and danced her heart out. I was thrilled to see my only little girl on that stage. She was front and center! After rehearsal we took Jackson to Sam's Club so he could ring the Salvation Army bell for 30 mins. His 1st grade class chose that as their service project. He loved it and really got into why people were giving the money and the purpose of it all. Later that afternoon Brad and I took the older 3 kids hunting. Sissy was begging to hunt with me some time soon. Papa was here to watch the babies and so off we all went to the woods. Gabrielle and I sat in a stand together. She was so precious as you can see by the pictures. She sat at my feet and doodled for a long time. Just when it was prime time to see deer I started feeling sick. Let's just say I ruined the chance of us seeing any deer... or any other wildlife for that matter! LOL Once I began to feel better we got back up in the stand. We sat in the stand giggling and talking about God's creation. She loves the woods and the outdoors as much as the rest of us do. We did not see a deer but had a great time anyway.
This morning we woke and headed off to church. After church we went to look at some property about 20 minutes north of here. We want our own hunting land so badly. We have just begun looking to see what's out there. Our "dream" would be to have 600 acres full of beautiful timber pines and hardwoods, some sort of water like a creek/pond/river/lake, food plots full of clover or something of that sort. Do I sound like a redneck? Even so... it would be wonderful. We want to build some sort of cabin and barn or building for 4 wheelers, tractors, etc. The cabin would be something comfortable but nothing fancy. A real cabin that we could pack up on Friday and go for the weekend. Not that any of this is going to happen any time soon but it's fun to start looking and dreaming!
The end of our day was the most exciting. Gabrielle had her dance recital at 4pm. Papa, Brad, the older boys and I went to see Sissy perform. I had a sitter here for the babies. Next year they will be able to go but they are not quite ready just yet. I put her hair in braided pig tails and then wrapped each of them like a bun. We sprinkled sparkle dust in her hair and on her face. She wore pink blush, red lipstick and a little mascara. Oh my word she looked beautiful. It makes my eyes water with tears just thinking about it. She wore a green leotard with a green tulle tu-tu that was flanked with red bows. She was so calm but so excited. Although I did see her perform at the dress rehearsal I worried she might get nervous about the crowd during the actual show. Pheww, she could have cared less if anyone came. She ran out there and performed like a pro. She did a great job and was so confident. We were all so proud. She had not a bit of stage fright and made each of us proud. When it was over Brad presented her with 6 pink roses. She was shocked and so tickled. She wanted to come home and put them in a "pot." Before we did that we stopped by Outback for the worst dinner ever! Never the less, we came home and found the perfect "pot" and placed the roses in her room. She fell asleep looking like an angel sparkling in her room.
Jackson had a bit of excitement this weekend, too. He lost 2 teeth! Oh he's so proud. He's the cutest little thing. It made him seem younger to me. He talks with a funny lisp on some words. I want to just freeze him! He's growing way way way too fast. I watched his class on Friday for a hour or so because his teacher had to leave school early. After school he and I went to the movies to see the new Narnia movie. It was wonderful. I tried to put my arm around him during the movie and he pulled away. Not being mean but just being grown up. Oh the sting... I turned my head and let a few tears fall without him seeing. It's just too much... When I put him to bed Saturday night he said, "Mom, can we have a stand that we can sell lemonade and raise money?" I thought he meant to raise money for himself. I asked him what he wanted money for and he said for something like the Salvation Army. I choked. He had already donated his tooth fairy money to the Salvation Army (that was his idea). I told him that lemonade isn't a big seller this time of year and he said "How about donuts and coffee?" To that I replied, "Jackson that is a brilliant idea!" I made small suggestion regarding who he donates the money to and he liked the idea. I have a dear friend, Melinda, from college who was actually my roommate when I met Brad. Melinda works for ARC which is a community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Jackson really liked the idea. I contacted Melinda and she's going to work out the details of our donation. If he raised $50 he would be thrilled. I asked him what a fair price is for coffee and a donut and he thought $1 was good. I agreed. So... as if we had nothing else to do this week we'll add making posters, ordering donuts, finding a commercial size coffee maker somewhere, buying cups/plates/creamer/sugar etc and advertising to our list. I am proud of my little man and if I have to stay up until 3am all week I'll do it.
November 29, 2010
Dear Gabrielle and Connor,
On November 26th of this year you turned 5 years old. It was a big one for the entire family. It was a combination milestone that you were growing up and we had survived for 5 years. Daddy and I sat in bed with the two of you telling our precious memories of your birth. One of my favorites is waking in the wee hours of the morning realizing my water had broke. I woke up your Daddy and said, "Honey, my water broke. Call the doctor." He sat up on one elbow and stared at me without blinking for what seemed like forever. I said the same words at least 5 times before it hit him that this was IT. He jumped out of bed and did his duties while the pain of your arrival was hitting me over and over. Daddy told you about the moment you both made your entrance into the world. Gabrielle popped out without any fuss and full of determination. (Just like you are now.) It took you a few minutes to cry. Daddy and I held our breath until we heard that sweet squeal. Then it was Connor's turn. You took your time (just like you do now). It was as if you knew this would be the only moment in your life you had reign of your own domain. Knowing you sister was going to take control you decided to "hang out" for a while. The doctors tried and tried to get you out the easy way but you were too comfortable. So an emergency C section was performed and out you came 23 minutes behind your sister. You struggled for air. Your little chest rose and fell with a vengeance. I wanted so bad to put you back and give you more time to mature. Your little lungs were not ready at 34 weeks but you came anyway. Our hearts filled with hurt. If I could have taken your place I would have. They gave me a quick look at your precious faces while two teams of doctors worked on each of you. Mommy had her own team of doctors, too. It was a rough day for all of us. A rough and glorious day! After three days the doctors released me to go home. Leaving the two of you at the hospital nearly broke my heart in a million pieces. I wanted so badly to bring you home to meet your big brother who was anxiously waiting to teach you kung-fu. Ten days seemed like an eternity. However, it did give Mommy time to recover and try to prepare for what lied ahead. When you were ready we brought you home and our world has never been the same since. You both fit like a glove into our family. Life without the two of you would be incomplete. I am so thankful to my MawMaw Stacey for the "multiple genes" that I was so blessed with.
All our love and all our hearts,
Mommy and Daddy
Okay... needless to say the month of November has been very busy. All of a sudden I see my kids so differently. They are growing up... I mean really growing up. Jackson has matured so much in the past couple months. The other day he laid on my bed while I was dressing Cooper. Jackson looked at me with the most sincere and confused face. When I asked what's wrong he said, "Mommy isn't Cooper the cutest thing with those curls?" His tears began to flow despite his trying to hold them back. I held him in my arms and he said, "Gabrielle and Connor are 5 years old and the babies are 3. They are getting older and we don't have any babies anymore. It just makes me sad." Oh my cup runneth over... He and I sat there both sobbing and then laughing. Jackson has taken the role of big brother very seriously since the day Gabrielle and Connor arrived. Brad was seldom home and Jackson somehow knew that I needed a helper. I've said a million times that I don't know what I would have done without him during that time. He was so much help to me and still is. I sometimes regret that he had to grow up so fast during his toddler years. It's in his nature to be a care giver. He loves people and has the kindest heart of any 6 year old I've ever come across. After this conversation I went to Brad with a bleeding heart and said "Let's adopt." It was Jackson's idea. Much to my dismay he said no. I know I'm not ready and it would be a crucial mistake at this point in my life. Emotionally I want a baby again but practically there is no way I could add anything else to my plate. The thought of a dog puts me over the edge. However, that's why God put man with woman. Man can be practical while women can be emotional. And now that I'm over that emotional state I'm very sure that FIVE is ENOUGH ;)
Brad and I took a mini vacation the first of the month. He and I went to Missouri on a white tail deer hunt. It was supposed to be a guided hunt but when we got there nothing was what we had been promised. However, we made the best of it and had a good time. There was no TV, phone, radio or heat. We huddled around electric heaters and slept in a million layers. It may sound horrible but believe me it was glorious! We both agreed that we couldn't remember a time when we were able to completely unwind, relax and just be. We came home without a trophy deer but we were still able to call the trip successful. GG and Memaw watched all the kids while we were gone. I left them feeling very concerned... not about the kids but the adults! I know the job is overwhelming, low pay, hard work and requires a minimum of 14 hours a day, non stop feeding, driving, helping with homework, bathing, playing, stopping fights and cooking. However they survived it and even offered to give us this opportunity to get away every 3 months. Brad and I nearly passed out! Oh there is nothing absolutely nothing that we appreciate more than time to ourselves. We are looking for a good 5 day getaway.... nothing to do, nothing to plan, just relax and unwind. Any suggestions?
November 4, 2010
Happy Birthday to my BFF, Susan!! When you turned 16 almost a year before me I thought I would die of jealousy. Now that we have "matured" I am so loving that I am behind you. Thanks for testing the waters, friend! I love you very much and am so thankful to have you in my life. You are my sister through and through. I miss you.
Have a great weekend and I'll catch up next week.
November 1, 2010
I am so sorry. I am doing to be best I can right now to keep my head above water and this website has suffered because of it. I am still working at Brad's office 2-3 days a week. I am having a hard time balancing between work and home. I am not cut out to be a working outside the home Mom. More than anything I want this to be over so I can go back to my full time duties of Mom! I am so thankful for my babysitter and how much she helps me out. Sara is wonderful and has become a part of our family. We have hired an Office Manager so there is hope of me getting out of the picture soon. I just want to stay around long enough to help her learn her way around and then I am done.
A lot has happened this past month. Gabrielle has lost two teeth! Both bottom teeth are gone. Jackson finally has two loose teeth but they are being stubborn and I don't think they'll come out anytime soon. When Gabrielle's came out Jackson tried so hard to be strong but he was upset. He said, "I think I'm jealous!" and then balled his eyes out. Poor thing! It's his birthright to have these things happen to him first and she stole his thunder... unintentionally of course. :() He's better now and knows his time is coming. They are all doing so well in school. Jackson is reading well and learning so much. He has 4 reading tests a week, one timed math test a week, a spelling test each week and standard math/science tests. He stays busy keeping up but he's doing great. Gabrielle picks up on everything so fast. It just clicks for her. She loves loves loves school and swears she will never get in trouble because she's always good. I think I believe that, too. She's not a rule breaker and she thinks things through before acting. Being a female I am SO glad she's like that. Connor is struggling just a bit. He's not matured as fast as Sissy has but he loves school and his teachers are sweet as pie. He's coming along at his own pace and we're working with him at home quite a bit, too. Brady and Cooper enjoy school as well. Brady is giving me a very hard time with potty training. He wears underwear and has no issues with going pee in the potty. However when it's time to poop it's another story. I am so frustrated! I have not had to deal with this with the other 4 kids. Please offer suggestions! Cooper had surgery last week. The opening of his penis was 3/4 way fused. He was not able to empty his bladder all the way and there were health risks involved with not treating the issue. Not to mention that this caused him to practically pee over his head which made for a huge mess. The urologist enlarged that opening and things are much better now. He came through the surgery just fine.
Brad has been taking Jackson hunting quite a bit. He's ready for his first deer and wants it so bad he can taste it. Yesterday they went off hunting and I took the other kids to the grocery store. Publix was giving out samples of a fish dish and Connor loved it. He wanted me to fix it at home. We purchased our tilapia fillets and he wanted to carry it in his own special bag. You would have thought it was candy the way he was acting. When we got in the car he said, "Mom. Will you please fix me this dead fish for supper tomorrow?" He was very serious. Cooper starts chanting... "Yeah... Dead fish please Momma!" I guess tomorrow night we'll have strangled chicken.
The kids had so much fun trick or treating. Honestly, Brad and I did, too. We started our day having family pictures made. We went to some friends house to watch the GA/FL game and hang out and then hit the streets. There is one street in our neighborhood that has a street fest for lack of better words with a band and all kinds of activities. There were so many people trick or treating. The kids were complaining after a while that their feet were hurting and we knew the fun was over. We took our half ton of candy home and sat on the front porch giving candy out as well. They almost enjoyed that part more than anything. Jackson has already decided next year he wants to be a werewolf!
October 11, 2010
Although it is Oct. 11th it's only 1:30am and yes I am up! The kids and I are at Daddy's house in Fayetteville. We are spending the night tonight and in the morning I am headed to the hospital to be with my Mom. She is having a surgical biopsy on her breast. The doctors tried to do a needle biopsy a few weeks ago but were unsuccessful and are now going with a lumpectomy. We don't know if it's malignant and may not know for a few days. Please keep her in your prayers. However, I am not awake for that reason. The kids are all sick with snotty noses, upset stomachs, coughing, wheezing and croupy voices. Gabrielle had a terrible time last week and I finally took her to the doctor. They put her on oral steroids, daily albuterol inhaler, Xopenex breathing treatments, antibiotics for double ear infections, daily Nasonex and ear drops. She'll be on this type stuff most all winter. It hits her every year. Cooper and Brady are feeling puny today. They have low grade fevers and Brady is coughing his head off. I just rubbed him down with vapor rub, gave him a breathing treatment with the nebulizer, then dosed him with ibuprofen and cold meds. I had to rock him for about half an hour until he could lay back down without coughing. So now that it's time for me to close my eyes... I can't because I'm exhausted AND wide awake. Great combo, huh?
I really can't complain due to the fact I had a lovely, quiet and relaxing weekend. GG and Aunt Cathy watched the kids while Brad and I went away for the weekend. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, GA. It's on Lake Oconee. We had a fabulous time. We planned this trip since last month. The babysitting is my gift from GG and the weekend getaway is from Brad for my birthday. Brad and I left Friday afternoon leaving GG and Aunt Cathy with 3 sick kids. They managed although they had that deer in the headlights look when we got home. Needless to say their bags were packed and car running when we pulled in the driveway. :) LOL They managed well but I think the kids tried their best and may have taken advantage of GG. Brad and I were very disappointed and embarrassed that they hadn't been on their best behavior. But while the Indians ran wild Brad and I were resting and relaxing. We walked into the hotel room and fell straight back on the bed... shoes and all. We didn't move for about 25 minutes. We were too tired to move our thumbs to work the remote. I had been up the entire night before with Gabrielle and was going on about 3 hours sleep. After we gained the strength to move we headed downstairs to dinner al fresco. There was a beautiful courtyard with water falls and small romantic tables set for dining. I had a creamy vidallia onion soup with a Caesar salad. Brad had shrimp and grits. We went straight to bed and didn't get up until 9am. It was heaven. Saturday morning we headed downstairs to quite possibly the most wonderful breakfast I've ever had. The most divine sticky bun with toasted pecans and soaked in a butter/sugar reduction that was almost like caramel. I don't know how I can go the rest of my life without another one... it was THAT good! After breakfast we walked around the resort because we both thought we would puke at any moment from eating a truckload of breakfast. We settled down in front of the infinity pool and gazed across the lake. The pool boys positioned the umbrellas right over us so the sun was out of our eyes. We laid there and dozed for a while before I headed upstairs to get ready for my spa treatment. I had a European Signature Facial. It was my first facial ever and it was great. I loved all the steam and the natural fruits and botanicals they scrubbed my face with. It was a great experience. After my facial I sat in the hot tub room by a fire in my cozy robe and read a good magazine that had nothing about parenting inside! When I finished I went to the pool bar where Brad was watching the UGA game and had a sandwich. After a full stomach I went to the room and took a 2 hour nap!!!! Then watched more college football. We decided we were not in the mood to dress up or have a fancy dinner so we opted to order Mellow Mushroom pizza. We had it sent to the lobby where a jazz/blues band was playing. We enjoyed our pizza and sat around for some more music. Then it was bed and sleeping in until 10:30am this morning!!!!! Ahhhhhh, it was amazing. We had another wonderful breakfast and headed back to Albany.
On our way we stopped in Macon to hit the outdoor mall. It's that time of year where we have to spend a fortune and get all the gets some necessities. I love GAP jeans, sweats, hooded sweatshirt type jackets and long sleeve T-s. They wash well, wear well, don't shrink and the jeans can take a beating before a hole will appear in the knee. So we got everyone 3 pairs of jeans, a hoodie, 3 long sleeve T-s, 2 pairs of sweats a piece, socks, undies and pj's for Sissy, and some extra shirts for the babies. Brad almost fell out at the cash register but he kept his composure. I was glad he was there so he can see how expensive it is for 5 kids even when you shop sensibly. The rest of their shirts they will need will come from Target. The last thing on our list is shoes. That's always fun, right? And of course I had to have something, too. I was in desperate need of sunglasses. I bought a cheap pair at the beginning of the summer and told myself IF I kept up with them all summer I would treat myself to a good pair of shades that were polarized and indestructible. So today I went into Sunglass Hut and got a beautiful pair of Oakley's. You can pop the lenses out and tear off the sides and they will pop right back into place. Exactly what I need. My eyes are so sensitive to the sun. I am excited about having them and will punish myself big time if I lose them.
October 2, 2010
I love Saturday mornings. My favorite part is waking up at 6am and knowing I don't have to get up in five minutes. I usually get up pretty soon anyway but it's because I WANT to and not because I HAVE to...It's perfect. I woke up this morning to Cooper standing over me whining. When I got out of bed I almost squished Brady. He must have snuck in bed with us during the night. I set Cooper up in front of the TV and I dozed off on the couch. Shortly after I laid down Gabrielle wakes me up wanting itch medicine because she's covered in mosquito bites. After that I made a pot of coffee and called sleepy time officially over!
Potty training with Brady is progressing a little more day by day. I sent him to school in underwear Friday but he had an accident while he was there. Thank goodness his teachers are patient and said they don't mind and keep up the good work. Yesterday took the kids to Chick Fil A for dinner. I think I've mentioned that our Chick Fil A is a double drive thru and walk up window only. There is covered outdoor seating with overhead fans. It's really pretty nice. Only in the deep south can you eat al fresco all year long. Anyway, before we ate I took Gabrielle and Brady to the potty. Brady tried to go but couldn't really make it happen. We were sitting on the bench eating in complete silence. We were all so hungry no one wanted to take a break to talk. Brady was shoveling his food down. I heard a trickle sound like water. Gabrielle and Connor noticed it, too. We were all looking at each other trying to figure it out when we focused our attention on Brady. He was double fisting a french fry and nugget while he relieved himself. He never stopped chewing long enough to phase him! I looked under the table and pee is pouring like a water fall. Brady looks up at me with a mouth full and said, "More ketchup!" It was hilarious. The funniest part is that after 5 kids Brad and I said, "Ahh, just let him finish eating then we'll clean him up!" It wasn't bothering him and didn't get us wet so we finished our dinner then asked the staff for cleaning supplies and we took care of the mess. We stripped Brady down at the car then came home to get everyone cleaned up. It's funny how you adapt to a new normal. If that had been Jackson when he was a 3 we would have been so humiliated, rushed him to the car and fled!
The babies are turning 3 years old on Monday, October 4th. We opted not to have a birthday party this year. (Also something we would have NEVER considered with the other kids!) We thought about taking them to Chuckee Cheese and decided we did not want the hassle of a crowd. We just really wanted to stay home so we rented a bounce house for the weekend. It's a bounce house on one side and a double slide on the other. We are going to have a family party and nothing special. The babies picked out a Mickey Mouse cake from Publix. We'll cook some burgers and have cake a little later today. The older kids picked out pillow pets for their present. Brad and I got them Toy Story scooters. They have gifts to open from grandparents, too.
Gabrielle and Connor received good behavior stars and stickers for the entire month of September. They have not had any discipline issues since school started. I promised them a reward. We went to Toys R Us to find the perfect gift. They both chose Pillow Pets. Gabrielle and Connor were so excited they couldn't stand it. They have all seen the commercials so many times they know them by heart. They can sing the songs, act the part and probably know the 800 number to call! While I was paying for them I heard Connor say, "They are so cuddly and soft your child will love them." Gabrielle said, "And they are machine washable, too." LOL When the babies open their pillow pets today Jackson will be the only one without a pet. I'm sure he'll talk his way into getting one before the weekend is over.
September 27, 2010
I know I know... I said I would do a better job keeping up. Sorry. I am trying, honestly.
So, what's been going on the entire month of September? I turned 35 years old on the 15th. I couldn't decide if I was going to be sad or not. When I woke up I figured I have a wonderful life, husband and children. I am blessed from one end to the other and there is no good reason to be sad. I was thankful to breath another day and take care of my family. It was a wonderful day. My girlfriends took me to lunch and gave me a spa/facial gift certificate. Brad took me to dinner the Saturday before my birthday and gave me a Starbucks Gift Card. He's also taking me away for the weekend of Oct 8th. I had a ton of phone calls and everyone was so sweet. The kids couldn't believe I had a birthday. They think it's just for kids. Jackson asked me if when I was little did I have color TV! I could have strangled the little toe head but instead I said "Yes, but we didn't have cell phones or remote controls for the TV." He couldn't believe it! It was hilarious.
The kids are growing so fast as you can see by the new picture of my front page. I am working on Brady with potty training. It's proving to be harder than I expected but I will be patient. Over the weekend he did so good. He was taking himself and it was almost easy. But as soon as Monday rolled around he's forgotten he ever knew how to do it. He's talking so much. I love to hear him say Jackson's name.... it comes out "Zash-E"
Jackson decided he did not want to take Hip Hop. There was only one boy in the class and he just felt awkward. Gabrielle took his place and now she's taking ballet, tumbling and hip hop. She loves it! I am so glad she's found something she's interested in. She's constantly showing us "Her Moves." She's very proud of herself. Of course she is becoming more and more beautiful with each passing day. I am biased but people stop to tell me how pretty she is.
Jackson is doing well, too. He likes school and has made quite a few friends. He's working hard and I've seen a lot of improvement. He's had some catching up to do from public school but he's making great progress.
Connor is as sweet as ever. My little lovie still melts my heart. Every time he walks by I want to scoop him up and kiss all over his face. I can't resist those big brown eyes. He's my little buddy, for sure. He is having a bit of a hard time in school but he's only 4 and I am not stressing. He'll catch on. He needs time to mature and think for himself. That's something Gabrielle has not allowed him to do... Miss Mother Hen.
Cooper is as feisty as ever. His hair gets curlier by the day. If I had a nickel for every time someone has touched or commented on his blond curls I'd be a very very wealthy woman. Don't let his cuteness fool you... the boy is a little brat! LOL He has a temper and is NOT afraid to show his ugly side. Gabrielle was the same way at his age and I've learned that as long as I stay consistent with discipline he will turn around. I have to continue to shape them until the day I die.
Brad's practice is still growing and he's still a big stress ball. I keep encouraging him to relax and roll with the punches but he's so high strung that's just not going to happen. I actually have started working at the office a couple days a week. His ladies needed some help getting caught up and I was the closest and easiest target. I have a sitter who is taking care of the kids on Mon/Thur. My working is temporary and I'm glad I can help. There are sacrifices we all have to make for it to happen but so far things are working out well.
August 30, 2010
Last week was very busy, too. On Wednesday I had one doozy of a day. I'm talking speeding ticket, bad hair and not enough time in the day. It was rough. That also happened to be the day of my meet and greet that was hosted in my honor by some friends. I knew from the time I woke up the day was not going to follow through the way I had hoped. Some people would call it "bad karma" but I call it getting up on the wrong side of the bed. The speeding ticket came when I was half driving and half turning to yell at the kids saying, "Don't touch her... don't so much as breath on each other or so help me..." about that time I realized not only was I in a school zone doing 42 in a 25 but there were blue lights in the rear view mirror. Great... just what I needed. At this point we were late for Connor's golf lesson which meant I was late getting home which meant I was late showering and therefore late for my party. I was so sweaty when I got home that even in the shower I could feel sweat beading up on my scalp. I never got properly cooled down after drying my massive amount of hair. My hair was frizzy and makeup was runny. I couldn't find my shoes for the dress I wanted to wear so I slipped on another dress that I hated. I got lost on the way and when I got to the party there were already guests there ahead of me. I was so sweaty and a little nervous. I NEVER got cooled down the rest of the night. I was dripping and so embarrassed. I wanted to say "Hello. I'm the new Oral Surgeon's wife who is fat, sweaty and totally out of sorts. Let's be friends!" Despite the fact I wasn't feeling up to my best I met a lot of wonderful sweet ladies and feel very blessed to have had such an opportunity to be introduced to the community. When I got home that night I peeled off my clothes, took a cold shower, went to bed and prayed for a smoother day tomorrow. And yes, tomorrow was a new and brighter day.
GG and Larry came to visit this weekend. Connor had a birthday party for a friend on Friday night and Saturday morning. When I got home Friday night I helped put the babies to bed and then went to bed myself at 8:30pm. It was wonderful and I was ready to tackle the world Saturday morning. Brad and Larry played golf the first part of the day and the 2nd part of the day I went shopping. Roxi is a friend who helped me decorate Brad's office. She and I headed out at 11:30am and didn't come home until 5pm. We had so much fun. We were shopping for Brad's personal office. We got a chest and side table, 2 lamps, throw pillows and a ton of decorative items for the book shelves. We are having an open house for the practice late in Sept. so I wanted to get the rest of office decorated before that date.
Well, I am off to get Gabrielle to ballet, pick up Jackson, go to the grocery store, cook supper, give baths, make lunches, get homework done and then go to bed and start again tomorrow.
August 24, 2010
I told you I'm going to try and post more often, didn't I? Wow... what a day. We started off with the normal routine and 4 minutes before walking out the door Jackson pulls a notebook out of his bag I've never seen before. I said, "What's this?" He says, "Ohhhh that. It's our spelling notebook. I forgot we are supposed to write our spelling words on it." I couldn't believe he had not told me. The boy has homework 4 days a week (Mon-Thur). It's insane. It isn't that time consuming but it still takes about 30 mins of me sitting right by him pushing to get it done. Brad cleared a small area on the table that did not have sloppy jelly and milk spills and they finished the words. Brad took them to school and I got ready for bible study. The babies and I were at bible study by 9:30am. Did I mention I was doing a Beth Moore? Usually I stay far far far away from her studies because the homework calls for at least 45 mins a day. I don't have that kind of time to dedicate. Carla insisted that this study was much easier and I fell for it. Actually, it is a lot easier to keep up with. I don't feel like I am trying to get a doctorate in philosophy. It's on Revelation and it's amazing. I LOVE it. After bible study I picked up the kids and took them to Chick Fil A for lunch with Carla and Grace. When we were leaving Grace invited Gabrielle to go see Nannie McPhee. Gabrielle said she wanted to see it AGAIN and off they went. The rest of us came home and worked around the house or took naps. After we picked up Jackson from school Carla returned with the girls. They played outside for a while and then Grace hung out at our house for a little while. The kids played like crazy and were a sweaty mess so I gave all 6 kids baths at 5:15pm, fed them dinner (eggs, toast and sausage) at 5:45pm and watching a movie by 6:15pm. Jackson took care of ALL his homework and then it was time for bed. Brad had to work late. He had a business dinner tonight. He went our for a nice steak dinner complete with salad, rolls and dessert. I on the other hand had a piece of sausage and toast. Ick! He came home and said he felt so guilty so he called the place he ate and picked up my favorite pasta dish for me. Sweet thang! Now I feel like I am holding a load of bricks in my stomach right before bed. That ought to look nice on the scale in the am.
All the kids will be in school tomorrow. I am meeting a friend, Andrea, at Starbucks for coffee in the am and then going for a walk. After I pick up everyone from school we come home for snacks, Gabrielle changes into ballet attire and we head to drop her off. Meanwhile we rush to get Jackson then come home to drop Connor off for his first golf lesson. Golf and hunting are the only two sports that interest Connor. He likes those sports that he can get into his thoughts and it's a competition with yourself. He will play golf in the backyard and make contact with the ball almost every time. He's thrilled about golf and I can't help but think he might be pretty good at it, too. After golf we fly home so I can get showered and ready for my welcoming party at Brandy's house. My sitter will come early and entertain the kids while I get ready. I'm a little nervous and thinking what am I going to wear and why didn't I get my hair hi lighted BEFORE the party instead of after.... duh? Brad has to work late tomorrow night, too. He's going to Americus to have dinner with a couple of dental friends.
Jackson decided he wanted to play basketball and wasn't interested in soccer or flag football. He said he also wanted to take hip-hop dance lessons. I didn't think he would really be serious so I never mentioned it. The past 3 weeks he has asked me over and over if I found a class for him yet. Gabrielle's studio is just girls ballet/tap/jazz. I found a studio that is fairly new and they offer hip hop for beginners. She said they had lots of little boys last year in the class and he would LOVE it. She said it's not girlie, it's funky and super cool. Jackson was sold and he's now a hip-hopper! I can not wait to see him start to bust a move. He loves to dance and perform. This should be right up his alley. Brad on the other hand said, "You signed him up for WHAT? Dacia, are you serious?" LOL I laughed my head off. He's letting him do it and I promised there were no tights involved!
While Grace and Gabrielle were playing I was in the kitchen. Grace came running in and said, "Dacia... Gabrielle said she was going to beat me up!" Gabrielle came running into the conversation and said, "Nu-Uhhh, I said I was going to punch her in the face!" I was mortified. She never would have done it... I don't think... but that's the way she hears all her brothers talk. Ahhhh, this only one girl thing is going to be tricky. When I gave the kids their baths tonight I had to be aware of separating the girls from the boys. To Gabrielle it's not a issue to see the boys but for a little girl who has no young siblings it's another story. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks... what happens when they are teenagers? Will Gabrielle's friends want to spend the night because of the boys? Worse than that.... will the boys friends want to spend the night because of Gabrielle? Oh gag... I can't even think of it. She'll have to sleep with me when there are sleepovers for the boys and that's just that. And if she has a sleepover with other girls then the boys have to pile in my room. Lord help me... I think I am having an anxiety attack thinking of it!
August 23, 2010
Yes... I am posting two days in a row. Hard to believe, I know. After I got all the kids off to school this am I came home and cleaned up from the tornado we call "getting out the door." Soggy cereal, cups of milk, crumbs of toast and smears of jelly were waiting on me when I walked in the door. I got all that taken care of and started a load of laundry. Brad walked in the door after a workout and hit the shower. I went back to our bedroom to start making beds. I thought, "Hmmm,It's not even 9am yet. I think I'll lay here a minute until Brad gets out of the shower and then I'll finish up the house and hit the grocery store." Okay.... that was the plan however I ended up sleeping until 12:20pm! I was in the same position as when I laid down. My arm was numb, I had drool running down my jaw and sheet marks pressed into my face. I could not believe I slept for over 3 hours. Unbelievable! I felt guilty at first and couldn't believe I had "wasted" my time but then I convinced myself that I had not slept very well the past week and it's okay to catch up. I jumped out of bed, made my hair look half way decent and made a mad dash to Publix. I was like a mad woman on a race track through the store. I had no list and no idea what I would cook this week. I grabbed a few loafs of bread, turkey/cheese, chicken, tortillas, cheese, sour cream, boston butt, cubed steak, strawberries, milk, juice and yogurt. I threw them in the car and ran to pick up the babies. After that we went straight to get Gabrielle and Connor, made a mad dash to Ballet, then pick up Jackson, then a dash home to grab snacks, then pick up Gabrielle then home to make dinner. Whewwww, by that time I was so glad I had that nap this morning.
Kids are in the bed and Brad and I are watching a movie. Good day!
August 22, 2010
We have not had phone/Internet or cable for over a week. It was so frustrating because I never watch the news.... NEVER. If Barney doesn't announce an oil spill then I have no way of knowing about it. I catch any news on the home page of Yahoo! So anyway, I am back in business.
School is in full gear for all 5 children and life is starting to seem normal again which is exactly what I wanted. I need normal and I need routine in order to keep from going insane. I get up at 6:30am to make coffee, wash my face and get woke up. I start waking the kids at 6:40. I have clothes laid out the night before down to shoes, sock and belts. Book bags are sitting by the door ready to go and lunch bags are in the fridge ready to go as well. The kids eat breakfast, dress, brush teeth and are in the car by 7:45am. After that it doesn't stop until around 11pm. I am NOT exaggerating. Gabrielle has started taking ballet and tumbling. She loves it and has so much fun with other girls. It's wonderful to have her playing with other little girls. She has never had any girls to play with on a regular basis. Last week she had a play date with Grace. She is in her class and her mother, Carla and I have become very good friends. She's been so helpful and welcoming. Grace and Gabrielle played very well together. Gabrielle was a little bossy but she has to be like that at home to keep ahead, right? When I knew Grace was coming to play I started to think about what kinds of things they would play. It hit me that we have no girl toys. I asked Gabrielle what they would play with and she said, "My Barbie mermaid (which came with a McDonald's happy meal) and my pink knife." The pink knife is from an old plastic tea set... real fun, right? At 8pm the night before I make a mad rush to Target and try to find a "girlie" toy. I decided on a Little Pet Shop and a box of pets to go with it. I also found a Pretty Pretty Princess game to go with it. It was all a big success and they had a lot of fun.
The kids LOVE school. I could not be happier with the school, director, head master and staff. They've all been so great. It feels like a family there. People already know me by name and the director greets the kids at the door each morning with a hug and calls them by name. It's amazing. I don't feel like I am dropping them off in the am and have no clue what's going on. The babies are doing well with school, too. Brady has no trouble but Cooper on the other hand breaks my heart each and every time. He hovers over me and says, "Mommy, Don't leave me!" It's heartbreaking but within a minute they said he stops crying and plays with all the other kids. When I pick them up they both talk about how much fun school was and what they did. Their favorite part is the playground. They adore their book bags. They think it's super cool to have a bag like their older siblings. They want to show them off and carry them around on their backs. It's so sweet.
I joined a bible study at Sherwood Baptist Church with Carla. Sherwood is the church that made the movies "Facing the Giants" and "Fireproof." It's a Beth Moore study and I really like it. A few friends are throwing me a Meet and Greet this week. They have invited a lot of women to drop in and introduce themselves. It's so nice of them to do this and I'm so thankful.
Brad's practice is going well. Things have slowed down a bit since school started. It's really normal for this time of year so Brad is taking advantage of his time to spend with us.
On a funny side note. Gabrielle was playing with the boys the other day and must have popped Jackson one time "where it hurts." Jackson came downstairs and said, "Gabrielle hit me in my privates." Gabrielle said, "Yep... I hit him right in the taters!" LOL
July 30, 2010
I want to update I really really do. I think daily, "Oh I have to blog about this or that" but I honestly do not have time. I'm exhausted ALL the time. I will admit that parenting these 5 kids has never been as hard as it is now. I thought things would get easier as they got older but I was wrong. They fuss and fight all the time. They never shut their mouths, too. Someone is talking non stop.
We love our house. I feel more at home here than I did in Canton. It's wonderful to have Brad come home or meet us for lunch. You can't put a price on that. The kids have adjusted better than we ever expected. We've joined a country club and there is a pool for the kids to play in. It's the hottest place on the face of the earth!!! The humidity is AWFUL. I thought it was bad where we were but man is it awful here. It's too hot for the kids to play outside unless we are at the pool. Last week every child with the exception of Gabrielle came down with a virus. Jackson was over 103 for 5 days straight with vomiting. He was pitiful. I took him to a Convenient Care Sunday afternoon. His tonsils were enlarged, red and blistered. They gave him antibiotics and he was feeling better within a few days. The other kids were not as sick as Jackson and got over it quickly. So our first 3 weeks here we've had a broken wrist and 4 kids with a virus. I also took Cooper to the Orthopedic today. He's been limping since Wednesday for no apparent reason. He's not acting like anything hurts but he's favoring his left leg. That's the leg he broke last year. He said that everything on the xray looked fine and not to worry about it.
Tomorrow we leave for the beach! We are headed to the Gulf coast. GG and Memaw are coming along for the vacation. Brad is coming for two nights and the rest of the week it's just us ladies with the kids. I need a vacation soooo bad. Even though the kids will be with us it's going to be nice having no house keeping to take care of and be in a different scenery. The kids are so excited to swim, ride go carts, play putt putt, jump on the bungee thingie and eat out. I usually make myself crazy packing every single little thing and stressing over "do i have it all." This year I am going to make sure I have the bare essentials... my Zoloft!!! If I forget anything else we'll pick it up at WalMart. LOL
The kids start school on the 13th and I... I mean they... are so excited. LOL I think when school starts things will really start to settle down more. They need some structure and I need a new normal. Gabrielle and Connor are going to a 5 day a week 1/2 day PreK program at Jackson's school. The babies are going to a 3 day a week preschool 1/2 day. I will have 3 mornings a week to myself. What will I do???? I really want to start working out again. Or I could just take a nap on those days :)
We have not had so much as a nibble on our house in Canton. Please pray for a quick and reasonable sale. We planned for the worst but hoped for the best. I would hate for that house to still be sitting there this time next year.
I miss your comments so let me know what you think about pictures...
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