Getting better

We are on the upward swing-I hope. Everyone is feeling better today. Carter is cool and fever free this morning. Katey and I are both still suffering with cold symptoms, but are feeling better- I am upright and teaching school today. Laurel is feeling better as well. Now we are hoping we don't face round two with Tim and Matthew.

The reason I hate when someone gets sick!

So it started with Katey and a cold. Yesterday I came down with it. Last night Carter spiked a fever and was hallucinating. He kept telling Tim that Katey was being hurt when she was asleep in her bed. He said Indiana Jones was in the house and so was Matthew Crabb (one of his friends who moved away). He is still running a temp of over 102 this morning. This morning Laurel doesn't feel well. It's 4 of 6 down. This is why I am a germophobe. We never have an illness in the house that only takes one out. Its like a house of cards, once the germs attack the place falls apart. I have to go take care of my little boy. Say a prayer for him, he is miserable.

I have a hot

This morning as they sat down to breakfast Laurel and Matthew were arguing over who would sit by Katey. I explained that they needed to give her some space, especially with regard to their food because Katey has a cold. Matthew looked at me and asked "Katey has a cold?" Katey chimed in "No, I have a hot." I have no idea why she said that (she isn't running a fever or feeling hot). Maybe on a cool morning having a hot sounds better.

A day in the "big" city

Today the children and I went to Paducah to see a performance of Seussical at the Carson Center. Just before exiting the interstate I heard a loud "thump" followed by a sort of clicking sound that didn't stop as long as the van was in motion. I pulled off the exit and got out and checked in the back of the van- I thought maybe the stroller had fallen over and that was causing the noise. I didn't see anything so I drove on to the Carson Center. When I got there I decided to check further so I got down and looked underneath the van and found the inside sidewall of our rear driver's side tire had failed. Tread was missing and there was a piece hanging off, thus the noise. I called Tim who offered to come help, but really needed to work. I was unsure about what to do, but my friend Deborah who was at the play with her kids was willing to help me out. She travelled with me to Walmart, watched my kids-and hers- while I checked the van in, took us all to Hobby Lobby while they were replacing the tires, took us back to pick up the van, and watched kids again while I paid. Had she not been such a good friend I would have spent two hours wandering around Walmart with four kids. I am very thankful for her tonight!

After the van saga we all went to Bob Evans. It was Carter's reward for learning to ride his bike without training wheels. The really cool thing was that part of the cast of Seussical came in. The kids got to talk with them and learn a little about the show.

Then we did the rest of our "big city" business- for you non-small town people this means going to places we don't have in Murray and getting things we would otherwise have to order online or do without. By 4:30 pm I was over running around, the kids were ready to go home, and Katey had just had her second potty accident for the day (she is doing well, but today was a struggle- who knew the INSIDE of rubber rainboots could hold that much fluid?!!? Luckily that fact saved me from having to apologize to store employees in two locations).

It was a long day, but I am feeling blessed that we did not have an accident due to the tire failure. It was also good to be reminded how great it is to have good friends, how blessed we are to be able to afford to pay for sudden expenses, and how cool it is to homeschool so you can bump into people you just saw in a performance on a school field trip!

So I am finally posting something

Sorry folks, life is hectic.

Camping was fun this weekend. Carter learned to ride without training wheels. Katey had only one accident all weekend. The weather was beautiful. I think I could be one of those retired people who work and live in the campground. It was great to see the kids spend hours gleefully playing in a gully near our campsite. No TV, no phones, no crazy weekend racing around town from one thing to another. We did all the typical camping things and only got really cold one night. It was a good weekend. We worshiped at the campsite around our fire because it was chilly on Sunday morning and we didn't want the kids to be uncomfortable at the campground service. The kids thought it was really cool that you could have "church" while drinking hot chocolate and sitting by a fire.

We came home for a going away party for our friends, the Crabb family. I have mentioned this before- can you tell I am dreading their leaving? I am thrilled for them and God is truly blessing their new situation, but selfishly I really don't want to see them go. The kids played together today and really enjoyed their last time together. It was sad when Laurel prayed tonight that she would see them again. Someday, I promise.

Joys of Freedom and a Day on the Farm

She was out of bed and ready to play at 5:30 am. We spent the day at Fall on the Farm on the MSU campus. Here are some pics. I am too exhausted to give more details! I'll let the kids blog about it tomorrow.

She's out

So she climbed out again. At least its only at naptime so far. Tomorrow I will have to try something different. A new system will have to be implemented. Today I tried letting Laurel play with her in their room after she came out and did not want to go back to bed, but that only prompted demands from the boys to get to play as well. There was nothing quiet about "quiet time" today.