Christmas Day

The kids have had some wonderful fun this morning! Here are some pictures for you to enjoy! And since blogger isn't being nice today I'll have to post about them here instead of near the picture where I wanted to. Avery got her first tea set for Christmas. Let's say it all together now, "awww, cute!!!" She loves banging the teacups together, so so far she isn't playing with it a whole lot differently than a little boy! Evan and Aidan are SHARING the pirate set that Aidan got from his South Dakota cousins. Toby is coloring on his new little cardboard house. Believe it or not I actually love building stuff like that, so while the construction could have caused some major payback gifts in the future for the South Dakota cousins, I'm actually quite thrilled to be able to say that I put it together! :)

Home again, home again

Well. We've had quite the week around here. Monday afternoon Avery started throwing up. And had a fever. And a owie spot on her leg and behind her ear. Thursday when I got her up, the sore on her leg was oozing and the foot was red, puffy and hot to the touch. So, off to the doctor we rushed. Hyper Doctor Lady (whom I will not voluntarily be going back to by the way) rushed around ordering tests, taking swabs and ordering labs. Within an hour we found ourselves checked in to the hospital and the precious baby girl had had several pokes, proddings and an IV. With an eventual diagnosis of a strep infection, a staph infection and roseola we camped out in the hospital from Thursday morning until Saturday night. Avery was hooked up to an IV which dripped high powered antibiotics straight into her bloodstream. Thanks to some girlfriends who brought me sanity and clean clothes and Jim who kept the boys under control I was able to stay with her the whole time. Plus, I sort of had to stay since I was the source of the only food she was interested in eating for three days!

Well, alls well that has ended well. Avery's home, the house and I are recovering from being gone for a few days and the boys are up to their normal antics. Avery's sleeping up in her crib and I'm getting caught up on blogging and laundry.

That's all for now. :)

Praise Baby

I found a great link for a free Praise Baby bib and a $5 coupon for a Praise Baby CD. All you have to do is to be one of the first 300 to post this pic and you win! I am looking for new music for the kiddos, so I'm hoping this will be one they love!

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

Yes. I have found the stockings. The day after I went to Hobby Lobby and bought new ones.

And we've spent the last 2 days with Toby and a stomach virus. No, I take that back. Jim spent the last two days with Toby and a stomach virus. The bottom kind which isn't all that fun with a non-potty trained kiddo who yells like a banshee everytime you come near him with a wipe because his little posterior area is as red as a tomato. I took Evan to his Christmas program rehearsal on Saturday morning. Jim stayed home with the 3 lil'uns while I did that and also stayed home with the Toby while I took the three non-Tobys to church. Then Jim stayed home with Toby and Avery while I took the two big'uns to their program last night. What a man.

Edit that last paragraph in your own mind however you feel would make more sense than what I've actually written.

And now Aidan has the bug, but at least he can take care of himself. I'll just have to wash the toilet forty-leven times today in a (probably futile) attempt to avoid this bug myself.

And if these kids aren't healthy by tomorrow I'll have to miss the MOPS Christmas meeting. For the third straight year. Pray, y'all. Pray.

Holy Cow, It's December!

What happened between my last post on November 20 and today? Well, let me think...

We've put up the Christmas tree, though we seem to have lost the box with the stockings and our Advent calendar in the move.

I've tried to potty train Toby. Note the word TRIED. Not so good so far. We'll keep trying.

Jim finished his 15th-ish play The Miracle Worker. It was indeed a miracle since some of the actors weren't solid on their parts until opening night.

Avery is still not sleeping through the night. We usually have a 12, 3 and 5 o'clock show. This morning I asked Jim how many times he thought she got up. He said, "uh, zero?" No dear, three. Well, at least someone is getting some sleep!

Evan has his Christmas concert at school tonight and at church tomorrow night.

Aidan has his Christmas program at church tomorrow night.

I've signed up to make a 8x batch of chili to trade meals with 7 other women in an attempt to fill up my freezer with yummy foods. We'll see how that goes!

I've got a sewing machine for my birthday. I've got about 10 projects lined up in my crafting cupboard to do before Christmas. If I don't get to yours you might get it for Christmas next year! ;)