Worst Birthday Ever

Yesterday was Caleb's 7th birthday. I am a birthday person and love to make a big deal about them. The day started out great with him coming and cuddling with me in bed, and then him asking if we could go to the Rush (the gym where I work out ). And so that is what we did. He likes going to the Rush because he gets to play video games, which we don't have at home. But, when I went to go get him, they said he was grumpy (which hardly describes Caleb) and he says I was gone too long. To make this up to him, I said we could stop by a friends house to take him to lunch with us. ( I love this about my friends who home school, that there kids are home and I can drop in for a lunch date...) Anyway, in the two minutes it took us to get from Duncan's house to Chick-fil-a, Caleb had his head resting on the headrest. He didn't want to play much and requested we go home so he can take a nap. And, he says "I hope I am not sick, that would make it the worst birthday ever." So, I took Duncan home and apologized to Sarah for brinigng him to lunch with my possible sick child.
Well, after nap, things went from bad to worse...I got in the shower and Caleb came in the bathroom crying, " now I know this is the worst day ever" It was then I knew....and panicked that he was going to tell me he threw up all over my new not quite white, but light enough chair. (bad mom thought, I know) He said he threw up on the floor, but it was everywhere. Now I have visions of Elisa running through the house and sliding on puke. As luck would have it, Mike came home moments later and cleaned up the mess for me. I don't do well with vomit, so this was a wonderful thing for me.
Poor guy, he was so bummed. No cake, no ice cream...no dinner. But there were presents and I promised him a birthday do over when he was able to hold things down. I still can't believe my oldest child is 7. He asked me if I would cry, since I always cry on their birthdays. "Yes, Caleb", I told him. It is a joy to be this little boy's mom, and I am thankful for 7 great years with this little guy.
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Mar. 22, 2007 - Oh man!
Posted by QueenoftheHill
And for the record, I would have had exactly the same response to barf: "how's my furniture and/or carpet holding up?" But the visual I get flashing before my eyes includes the family dog. Ugh. I'm sure the make-up birthday will be fabulous!
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Mar. 24, 2007 - poor guy
Posted by jenmcintyre
I hope he doesn't get to detailed Monday. yuck great site.... can't believe I missed seeing you here!!!

IKEA

I got to have a girl's weekend this past weekend. I have to say my husband is really great to let me get away, although, I know he holds his breath when the weekend entails IKEA. Mainly because he has no clue what I may come home with, or what I may call him about telling him we " must have this" for our home.
IKEA is what I call "stuff mart", for anyone who has seen Veggie Tales, Madame Blueberry. As the song goes in the video " If you need a rubber hose, we got those, a rhodedenron tree, we got three. A wrap around deck, gotta check...." IKEA has anything and everything you want for inside your home. It is a wonderful, happy place to be! Tamara and I shopped in record time this Saturday, 6 1/2 hours. That is the shortest we have ever been there. Usually, it is about 10 hours. Oh, the places you can go and the things you can see at IKEA.
I told Mike I wasn't in the market for much, just keeping Tamara company, because she needed a new dresser. But, alas, I had to call him with the computer cabinet I have been searching for and it was on clearance, so I had to jump on it right then. Poor Mike. One of my favorite things about IKEA is everything is packed in boxes, so you put it together yourself. This helps keep their cost down. I am serious that I love this because I love to put things together. Mike gets in trouble with me if he does it first. So, I sit here, upset that I forgot to chrage my battery powered drill and screwdriver this morning, and I have to wait to put my desk together later today.
How do I get one of these in Knoxville, I wonder? It would probably do Mike in...but just think of the wonderful organized house I could have if only I had all access to IKEA when I wanted it. (this is where Mike is laughing) Each time I come home with "the thing" that will get me organized...The good news is, the pillow I bought for a friend is the wrong color, and we have 45 days to return it, so, guess where I will be going sometime in early April. So, get out your IKEA catalog, look online, and if you need anything, let me know. Better yet, come on with us! What a fun day it is down in Atlanta, exploring all you can do with only 1,000,or 700, or even,500 square feet.
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Mar. 19, 2007 - Oh how I love IKEA!
Posted by QueenoftheHill
They have thought of everything. Got cranky kids? Leave them in the store day care. Hungry? There's always the cafeteria filled with fabulous goodies. I used to frequent IKEA when I lived in California and found myself haunting the one in Walldorf, Germany, while Glen was at work. What a luxury it would be to have one in Blount County. But NO! We have to have a second Walmart instead.
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Mar. 19, 2007 - I forgot..
Posted by partyoffive
to mention the wonderful restaurant, we always get their yummy swedish meatballs...I have never used the childcare, I've always gone w/o kids!
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Mar. 19, 2007 - Me Too
Posted by hmschlmomto2
Hi, I love looking at the IKEA website. FORTUNATELY we don't have one of them in Nashville - where I live. Or I would be just like you! have fun! Pam
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Mar. 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SmallWorld
One of these days, we're taking a homeschooling friends trip down!

Bekah at 5

Today Bekah turned five. It's always hard to believe when my kids have a birthday that another year has flown. And so, as I laid next to her last night watching her sleep for the last time as a four year old, I reminisced over the last five years with this little girl. Bekah had a rough start at life. First, she wouldn't eat well, then slept in a suitcase because she was jaundiced. But, at 12 days old, as I was burping her, she stopped breathing. She had had a cold, but what we learned later was that she had RSV. The drive to the hospital felt long and horrible as I wondered what I would do if I lost this little girl.
The next four days, I saw God work in my life like never before. My mom asked me how I was able to hold myself together and I can honestly say that God's peace filled me with more than I could ever imagine. Later, Bekah's pediatrician asked me if I was a Christian, and I told him yes. He said he could tell because of the peace I had. So, as I watched her last night, I remembered that scary time, but wow, it was awesome to see God work in that situation.
And now she is five! And she is full of life and smiles and laughter, and love. And the last five years have been great with her. I told her today that she could do what she wanted because it was her day. She said she wanted to play with just me. So, at nap time, we played with princesses, tried on new clothes for the spring and painted our nails. What a great priviledge it is that, of all the things she could pick to do with her day, she chose me. And so, I think I became her birthday present....but really, it was a present for me.

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Mar. 7, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by TOSPUBLISHER
Happy Birthday to Bekah! She is a little miracle. www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com
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Mar. 8, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SmallWorld
Beautiful, beautiful post! You made me all weepy at 7 a.m.!
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Mar. 9, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by fyftn
That was a very scary few days when she stopped breathing. I still vividly remember the noise she let out that alerted us she couldn't breathe. I remember flagging down the police officer to clear the way to the hospital. I remember the IV in her head and the sounds and smells of the ICU. She was a strong-willed little fighter then and she is a strong-willed beautiful little girl now. She is, and always will be, Daddy's favorite brown haired little girl.
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Mar. 9, 2007 - I still have...
Posted by fyftn
... the little tuft of hair they cut when they were putting the IV in her head. It is wrapped in a piece of medical tape. I carried that in my wallet until she was almost 4 years old. I took it out after I destroyed my wallet in the ocean January 2006 and it is now safely tucked away in my nightstand

Beautiful sounds...

I had the rare chance yesterday of having the afternoon alone with Bekah, my middle child. Caleb and Mike were out , and Elisa was still asleep. I had promised to make cupcakes with B to take to preschool today to celebrate her birthday, which is tomorrow. We had such a great time. She was so happy to have this time alone..."I love it when it is just us, Mommy"
Before I could get icing on them Elisa woke up. B says "good morning E" And E grunts...oh boy, this will be fun. I told B she could put sprinkles on them and was waiting for E to throw a tantrum....but to my surprise, my almost 5 year old says, "E, would you like to help me put sprinkles on these" Immediately the grunting stopped and turned into a "Yea, Sure" What a lovely sound in my home. My girls, in harmony making cupcakes with me! E kept pouring the top of the sprinkles right on top of the icing, therefore, taking half the icing off, so I show her how to hold it higher and shake it and she looks at me and says "Fank you so much Mommy for teaching me" Too precious..this will hopefully get me past my next gasoline moment.

Mar. 6, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by TheMonkeyParade
Absolutely adoreable. Those are certainly the moments to hold onto.
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Mar. 7, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by ApplesofGold
Hi there! I've enjoyed reading your recent posts! What a beautiful family you have. That really is beautiful sounds when the kids are being kind to each other And that sounds totally ridiculous about the "illegal" wheels. I can't believe it! Holly

Cub Scout Controversy

Caleb's first Pinewood Derby with his cub scout pack was last week. He and Mike were excited about making the car together, so with door closed , they sanded, hammered, and painted in Caleb's room. They emerged with a fun little race car; green, with flames on the hood, the number 14 in silver on the top, and a silver bumper. It was a good looking car. I had nothing to do with it, it was all theirs. And I didn't know it could be such a "controversy" as we are calling it, at the Derby.
Caleb's car was fast. I would pump my fists with him race after race that he won. We were having a great time. He ended up in second place! So, as we were celebrating , I was called over by a friend of mine, who's tone of voice got me a little worried. She says to me " Caleb's wheels are illegal." OK, I think what does that mean...? She goes on to tell me that because we used illegal wheels , he can't go on to districts, but that they will let his second place finish stand within the pack. I was a bit stunned by this. rules are rules I understand, but I had no clue as to anything illegal or not on the car, so I told her to go talk to Mike.
So I come to find out that, that afternoon, Mike was hammering the wheels on, and one broke, so he went to Hobby Lobby and bought a new set, same size, they just had.....holes on the side and didn't say Boy Scouts. I felt bad for him because enough people found out that he felt like he had done this horrible wrong and was going to be labeled a cheater. He just wanted Caleb's car to race. So now, here we are, surrounded by this "controversy"!
Caleb didn't know what happened, he doestn' care that he isn't going to districts. And we couldn't go that day anyway...But, he had so much fun, and watching his excitement with each win was priceless. So now, the beloved cheater car sits on his desk, when he is not playing with, and he plays with it often...illegal wheels and all.
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Mar. 6, 2007 - Tone, huh...
Posted by TheMonkeyParade
I thought you all were gonna fix the wheels and let him race. What happened?
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Mar. 6, 2007 - Way to go Caleb!!
Posted by arajbrown
I'm so sorry about the 'cheater' thing ... is it Mike you're worried about being labeled or Caleb ;) It is funny that in a pinewood derby "pinewood derby" wheels wouldn't be sufficient. So, in keeping with the current debate at the co-op ... Mike would be most likely to be a fined and suspended NASCAR crew chief!! But the bright side is ... you get to be the cute blonde wife on the wall! at Daytona!
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Mar. 6, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SmallWorld
I don't think we've EVER gone through a Pinewood derby without SOME kind of trauma! It's amazing how that competitive nature comes out at these things. Jesse would get sooo upset because of some kid's unsportmans-like behavior...which in turn, of course, made HIM unsportmans-like....phew! And to think I get to do it all over again for 5 more years! ;-)
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Mar. 7, 2007 - They are both winners in MY book!
Posted by QueenoftheHill
I think it is fabulous that Mike and Caleb built that beautiful car together. I'm sure that that is the REAL goal of the whole Pinewood Derby project, right? Those are memories that will last forever.
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Mar. 8, 2007 - I'm Just Glad ...
Posted by Dad2Three
I'm just glad Mike decided to take the battery-operated engine out of the little secret compartment beneath the decals ... I told him that was a BAD idea. You know those Ford guys, always trying to figure out a way to whoop the Mopars.
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Mar. 9, 2007 - The worst thing...
Posted by fyftn
... was that the National Scout Leader overseeing all pinewood derbys for North America called the next day. He told me that I had to appear at a BSA pinewood derby review council. They proceeded to ask questions for 3 hours then suspended my driver's license until after Caleb is done with Webelos. Oh well...
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Mar. 12, 2007 - Pinewood
Posted by Anonymous
I am just glad that my son gets his rightful place at the district race. Year's of trying to "fix" these races hasn't paid off but a little trip to Hobby Lobby worked. WHY oh why didn't I think of this earlier??? We owe a big thanks to Mike! He's not a cheater in my book but a hero...the life size photo of him being chastied by the race official is framed in my room.

Yesterday...

And so I have to say that yesterday, was lovely for me. And I am partially embarrassed to admit it was because I didn't have my kids all morning. Sometimes friends can tell when you are hanging on by a thread. And that is exactly where I was on Monday. A wonderful friend asked what she could do to help me. I initially thought "Please pray for me", but that didn't come out, because what I was thinking was, "Please take them." And she did. So I had three hours alone in my house yesterday. I listened to a cd, talked to many friends without being interrupted by my kids (just theirs:) ) and found that, indeed, I have a floor in my bedroom. I knew it was there. It had just been awhile since I had seen it.
Just three hours, and I felt like a new woman. I was excited to see them when they came back, and a bit less uptight. Anyway, I am thankful for friends like Amy who saw in my eyes just a need for help, offered and followed through. What a gift.
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Mar. 2, 2007 - Vacation
Posted by heartworkingmom
Wow, 3 hours! I've been needing one of those for a while. Good for you :). Ever hear/read the homeschool cartoon that says: You know you're a homeschool mom when 2 minutes to yourself is called a vacation? LOL. Thank God for friends. I didn't get 3 hours to myself, but last night I visited with 2 friends at one of our friend's house (the goal was to pray together, which we eventually did) as our husbands were on business trips. It was LOUD with 7 kids 7 and under having a blast, but refreshing! God bless.
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Mar. 2, 2007 - Any 'ole time pal!!!
Posted by arajbrown
We had such a great time having little ones around! Even hanging from the staircase! hugs to you!
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Mar. 2, 2007 - Any ol' time???
Posted by fyftn
Be careful what you offer... Let me run and get my calendar. We need you to take them Monday from 1-9pm, Tuesday from 5-9 pm, we'll keep them Wednesday and you can have them Thursday and Friday... :) Thanks for giving her a break. Mike