Get well soon!

    The girls weren't feeling well, so while Dane and I were out grocery shopping, I looked around for a cute get-well card. I couldn't find any that I thought would make them laugh until I spotted the Valentine's Day cards.

Emma's

M*

Covid?

Thankfully we're all feeling better tonight! Sam woke me at 3 am throwing up but is feeling well now, M* has been eating a ton! She's the one who needs to gain the most!!! Ugg, sleep eludes me! 

My little petri dish

    I was woken early by this little one with ear pain. We later found out that in addition to an ear infection tested positive for Strep! Kids are like little petri dishes passing around pesky germs. Of course, a trip to McDonald's after her visit was in order. She is the only person I know who doesn't like the taste of Amoxicillin.

Socks!

The other day, my co-worker noticed first how tiny my feet were, then pointed out my cute black matching socks. She was surprised, in a house full of kiddos I took the time to match my socks. I bit back tears of both laughter and sadness, but mostly sadness. If she only knew the story of what socks in my life mean. 

We used to love to miss-match socks. Now, they are required to enter rooms (an OCD thing). However, socks can be fun and free us from time to time. I'll sometimes throw one over Kiddo's or Dane's shoulder for fun. 

We've received & purchased a lot of socks this year! Time to purge some more, as we are again overrun with SOCKS!

Heaven help them

 Her dolphin bark will alarm heaven when I have arrived. 

Cars!

Unfortunately, the Tahoe was involved in another collision (totaled this time in front of our house). Prompting the black car to step in. With the assistance of Bob-Bob and Gage Auto Sales, we now have a new car. Another task on my "To-Do-list" is advocating for change in our neighborhood by petitioning the City of Gladstone for speed humps.

*Update...The black car was totaled in the same fashion! Yep, I still need to get around to that petition.  

Gage Auto - The best place to buy a used car!

Goodbye old man

It was really hard to say goodbye! I was there when he took his first breath. Dane and I stayed up as he slowly took his last. 

Someday they'll fly!

 

This depression is hurting my eyes! 

Thankful two of my kiddos are doing well. 

ALONE at last!!!

 That was a fun walk! Just Dane and I, no children or pets! Venting to each other about said children and life in general. THEN, we relaxed with God's beauty all around us! 

Horse therapy with Emma & Scooby

Her trainer insisted I do a trust fall! She's heard my breaking heart for my mom and kiddos' recent issues. Scooby is a good boy! Emma urged him to trot into a gallop, scary for me but worth the smiles on her face! 

It can't rain all the time!

Today was quite eventful. I took care of some SAHM duties and helped my mom with her house cleaning. While I was at her place, Dane called me. Eeek... he stepped on a nail while working on the new addition for Emma. He needed some TLC and help finding an urgent care facility that accepted our insurance. While we waited for the doctor, M* and I treated ourselves to Starbucks! After surviving the tetanus shot, Dane continued working on the addition! Ah, the joys of parenthood—'Have kids, it'll be fun!'"

It Can't Rain All the Time

We walked the narrow path

Beneath the smoking skies

Sometimes you can barely tell the difference

Between darkness and light

Do you have faith

In what we believe?

The truest test is when we cannot

When we cannot see

I hear pounding feet in the

In the streets below, and the

And the women crying, and the

And the children know that there

There's something wrong, and

It's hard to belive that love will prevail

Oh, it won't rain all the time

The sky won't fall forever

And though the night seems long

Your tears won't fall forever

Oh, when I'm lonely

I lie awake at night

And I wish you were here

I miss you

Can you tell me

Is there something more to belive in?

Or is this all there is?

In the pounding feet, in the

In the streets below, and the

And the window breaks, and

And a woman falls, there's

There's something wrong, it's

It's so hard to belive that love will prevail

It won't rain all the time

The sky won't fall forever

And though the night seems long

Your tears won't fall

Your tears won't fall

Your tears won't fall forever

Last night I had a dream

You came into my room

You took me into your arms

Whispering and kissing me

And telling me to still belive

But then the emptiness of a burning sea

Against which we see our darkest of sadness

Until I felt safe and warm

I fell asleep in your arms

When I awoke I cried again

For you were gone

Oh, can you hear me?

It won't rain all the time

The sky won't fall forever

And though the night seems long

Your tears won't fall forever

It won't rain all the time

The sky won't fall forever

And though the night seems long

Your tears won't fall

Your tears won't fall

Your tears won't fall forever

Busy, Busy, Busy!

It's past midnight, and I'm finally relaxing after a long, stressful day. We rushed Mom to the ER this afternoon due to complications from her gallbladder tube! The ER was so backed up after several painful hours she insisted on being released with an appointment in the morning to have it fixed. Dane cooked dinner for us all, but it didn't go over well with two of our four kids. Hey, at least he cooked, which I was thankful for! I'm worried about tomorrow's hospital procedure with Mom, but I'm looking forward to spending time with her. I'll take her out for coffee and share good company on the way to her appointment. My therapist told me today that change is inevitable, and I need to set aside time for myself. So, I'm looking forward to October...I'll be attending a Christian Women's retreat in the wilderness with my fellow sisters!

She's home!

    After spending almost a month in the hospital, she has finally returned home! We spent some time doing things around the house and then snipped some of her beautiful hydrangeas to take home. Chloe and I loved our time together as well. It was nice to relax and take a breath before returning home to the chaos and sweltering heat! 

Fallen Sandcastles

Missed my ocean wave naps and freezing pool swims with the kiddos. But M* and I survived at home with the critters to keep us company. It's hard being a mama with my heart in two places!

Get well soon!

My heart sank when 2 of the 4 pots the kids made fell off her hospital bed. But then I took a breath and so did she! 

Goodbye baby boy.

"As I write this, our house is so quiet. There is no rushing to potty a little boy (who pees like a girl), no whimpering or barking because I'm on the other side of a door, and no need to make sure food is pushed way back on the island...just silence. However, I did have a mess to clean up this morning as everyone babied Miss Chloe and fed her too many treats while I was gone. Poor girl, we all miss him terribly.

Mom's everywhere!

I've shrunk down to 115 recently due to family stress, yet as I sit here in my mom's hospital room I feel guilty that I'm not home. She's been laid up for 5 days, and 4 days ago was one of MY worst days this year. I can't stand the summer heat and the day before she was admitted for pancreatitis pain, there was a cluster of bad events ranging from serious adult kid issues to critters driving me bat sh*t crazy! 

I made this sign and taped it to our door leading upstairs because both the puppy and one of our cats pees on the upstairs landing. Those who know our family understand this causes some OCD upsets!

It's a cool 68 degrees in this room and the thought of making the trek back through heated traffic and my foot walking through the front door is daunting. I love my house, family, and critters, but sometimes it feels good to just sit and breathe. Another thing to thank my mom...DINNER is DONE! I snipped some of her famous leftover chili, Dane and I are off the hook for dinner! I just pray that she gets through this and back to being grandma the great! 

Poor Carly missing her mom...She hates these long "store trips!"

Puddles

Slept upstairs and awoke to Sunny making biscuits at the foot of her door. Oh no, she's going to pee on the blankets (M* had laid out blankets the night before at the foot of her door to trap the cold air in the room). Careful not to wake her, I shooed the cat down and squinted at the clock... 5 o'frickin clock in the morning! I HAVE TO PEE! Finn follows me into the bathroom and then helps himself to a pee! 

Fast-forward to later that day when things went from peaceful to hectic. Finn helps himself to another pee at the top of the stairs. Sigh, potty training is not going well due to the fence fighting with the Pit Bull next door. But how can you not fall in love with this face!?

Miss ya girl!

Everyone gave me flak for re-homing Lady. However, the kids play, love, and appreciate her better now more than ever. She fell in love with her little chihuahua and wanted to be there come rain or shine. I wanted her to be loved and not get hit by a car.! Barb took her in, and Lady and Dolly became best friends. 
Emma and I visited Lady, Dolly, and Barb often.

Barb passed away this month. I'm so glad Lady was there to comfort her until the end! Barb's family put Lady down shortly after Barb's passing. I just wish we could have been there to say goodbye. 

Finn socializing some more

"I'm sorry Emma!"

    Hanging out at Grandma's eye appointment. The same day he and Emma broke her glasses, it was a busy day of driving for this tired mama! I wish gas prices were lower!!!