A Bit of a Better Day....a bit.

Poor Robbie, his cough is absolutely horrible, I feel so bad for him. It's such a nasty dry hack, you know the one that just tickles the back of your throat constantly?!?!?YUCK! Alex's voice comes and goes and his throat hurts, but his cough isn't as bad. Bill isn't as bad, but he is soooo clogged up.
Both Kayla and Mariah were total monkey's today, they were into everything and totally pushing the sickies buttons and each other's. They are what I would imagine twins be would like, what one doesn't think of the other does!!LOL

We've made some progress here on the homefront though, Kayla has given up her bottle (yes, I do mean Kayla-the 4yo!!!) I knew she would eventually, and we are VERY close with the suckie being gone as well. Mariah, still uses both, but I would assume once she sees Kayla without them on a regular basis she won't be far behind. Matthew doesn't use a suckie at all, just his thumb and fingers!!
Speaking of Matthew, it seems he is requesting a snack!!LOL

Have a blessed Thursday!!
~Penny

A Song From My Heart

sung to: "This is the Song that just won't end" from Lamb Chop's PlayAlong

This is the sickness that won't end, yes it goes on and on my friend.
Some people gave it to us not knowing that they did, and we'll be coughing hacking sneeezing forever just because, this is the sickness that won't end..........


Yup, that it is my friend or at least so it seems!!LOL
Stats:
8- the number of bottles of Triaminic used since Feb 1st
3- the number of bottles of Motrin used since Feb 1st
4- the number of bottles of Benylin used since Feb 1st
12- the number of boxes of Klennex consumed since Feb st
100003424- the number of times I've heard "MMMOOOOOOMMMMMMMMYYYYY"
2562- the number of times I've been awoken in the middle of the night...not from Matthew
3- the number of times I would've liked there to be an on/off switch on my children
4- the number of visits to the doctors
2- the number of prescriptions for antibiotics
2- the number of times I've thought banging my head up against the wall would feel good

Thankyou for all the prayers!!
Have a blessed Wednesday!!
~Penny

Mother Gardenia and Son of a Flower

Two words I use to replace not-so-appropriate words that could be used to sum up this weekend. We have yet ANOTHER virus floating thru the house *BIG HUGE SIGH* it has hit Bill and Robbie so far for sure and I think it's a safe bet that Alex is next. Bill is the sickest so far, and my goodness, a sick husband is way worse than six sick kids combined!! Although, I do feel bad for him, he's been snezzing like crazy and I can tell he's in a lot of discomfort...BUT...I can't help but poke a bit of fun at him.*grin*

Bill and I went and got groceries after dinner on Friday night and he did very well and resisted the urge to run over any inoccent by standers!!LOL Although I think that was probably my fastest trip ever....it helps too that it was only a weeks worth of food..LOL!!! I managed to get the majority of laundry done as well, I just have a couple of regular loads left and two loads worth of towels..not too bad!!LOL
We didn't go to the indoor playground today, Bill was feeling to yucky to be able to handle playing with the kids there, not to mention the noise level!!LOL With Robbie coughing and hacking and all clogged up, I figured it wasn't the best place to be. So, we will probably go next week some time. It's a good thing we never did tell the kids anything!!

Here's a couple of meme's for fun!!
List 3 of each:

Pet Peeves:

people who don't clean up after themselves
people who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom
people who exagerate the truth

Favorite Sounds:

my kids giggling with each other
my husband saying "I love you"
waterfall

Favorite Candy:

coca cola bottles
nibs
gummi bears

Biggest Fears:

something bad will happen to a family member
fire
thieves

Biggest Challenges:

relaxing
not following routine
sleeping

Favorite Department Stores:

Walmart
Old Navy
Value Village

Most Used Words:

"Stop it!!"
"get down from there!!"
"please leave your sister/brother alone"

Favorite Pizza Toppings:

black olives
pepperoni
green peppers

Favorite Cartoon Characters:

Little LuLu
Wilma Flintstone
Wylie Coyote

Movies Recently Watched:

Click
The Illusionest
Fun with Dick and Jane

Favorite Fruits:

bananas
apples
mandarin oranges

Favorite Vegetables:

broccoli
brussles sprouts
Romaine lettuce

Have a blessed Monday!!!

Friday 5 and a Better Day!!

Today was a better day, I decided that the Chinook that blew through yesterday was to blame for the kid's wacky behaviour. Of course today, we have had the opposite and snow! Their behaviour gets all wonky when the weather warms up, I don't know if the pressure change or perhaps just my imagination!!LOL At any rate, it sounds like a good analogy to me!

Well, here's my Friday 5:
Who’s got you wrapped around his or her finger?
Definitely Mariah, I totally admit to caving in to her WAY too many times!
What’s as easy to learn as your ABCs?
To cook a Turkey!!LOL I thought it was way more involved than it actually is!
Whose destiny is to be the king (or queen) of pain?
Hmmmm, well there are different ways to take this, so I'll take it as an injury type of pain and that would have to be Mariah again, she has no fear and already has a scar on her nose to prove it!!
Who would you like not to stand so close to you?
Anyone who hasn't discovered laundry soap or deodorant!!LOL
Which animals’ stings have you experienced?
A wasp and a bumblebee.

My sister and Brad will be here later to spend the night, then tomorrow Bill and Brad have to go and take care of something requiring testosterone and while they're gone my sister and I and the kids are going to tackle school work. When the guy's get back, Bill and I are going to go get groceries....yup, a date getting groceries!!!LOL It's not always fun going with Bill as he is not blessed with patience, but I am not getting much so hopefully he won't find the need to run over any innocent by standers in the store....just joking!!!LOL

Then we will have a relaxing weekend, where I will be doing laundry like a mad woman and cleaning like crazy now that most people are better...oh wait....did I say relaxing?!?!?BWHAHAHA...yeah, ummmm *cough* not me!!!!LOL I have over 13 loads of laundry to do, not including the usual weekend laundry of sheets and towels, so more like 20.

Monday will be a nice day, my sister is treating the kids and us to a day at an indoor playground....hehe...where Daddy and Uncle Brad will run through tunnels and slides with the kids, being engulfed by plastic colorful balls and my sister and I will sit and sip cappuccino's and entertain the chunky monkey baby!! Ha, see how things work themselves out?!?!?!
I will certainly be bringing the camera (and extra batteries!!) to capture our fun filled day......the kids don't even know about it, they are going to be sooooo surprised!!hehe!!

Have a blessed Friday!!
~Penny

What a day....................

It is just barely the afternoon and I am done!
Here's a glimpse in pics of what has happened so far today:

While I was busy in the kitchen, here is what the two youngest girls decided to do:






And then, while we were cleaning that up, the little well known "not me" person who lives here decided to do this:





Thankfully there were no poopoos in there! But of course, I haven't got out to grab groceries yet and thus I have no laundry soap, and thus meaning I cannot wash all the towels that were used to clean said mess up.There are no pics of the chewed up carrots that Mariah decided to spit all over the carpet while I was busy cleaning up the toilet mess.

On the bright side of things, here are a few other things that also got accomplished today:







There is however, not one of Robbie, because he was having difficulties staying focused and was trying to tell me he does not need school and why is everyone else in a higher grade then him...*sigh*But, he did manage to complete his work....finally.

So there is my morning, the afternoon has not been quite as messy so far....so far.
Hope your day is going a bit better!
Blessings,
~Penny

Update....

Here's the lo down (or should I say 'down lo'?!?!?) on Alyssa and Matthew's checkups.
Matthew is doing great and yes I do believe he is getting straight cream from me!!LOL He weighed in at just under 17lbs!!!(16lbs 15.5ozs) and just under 27in!!!! My Doctor exclaimed when she took off his blanket to examine him "WOW, he's not starved!!" It's so funny because Mariah was soooooo teeny, she didn't weigh 17lbs until she was 1yrs old!!LOL
Alyssa seems to be taking after me weighing in at 44lbs and she measured 4'2, and she is doing really well too.

Boy, I tell you, it's been hard to be chipper these past few days. It's like everything seems to be going wrong everywhere I turn. I couldn't get my abscessed tooth fixed and now about an hour ago the filling junk came out of one of the teeth that anchors my partial bridge in place and now I have a gaping hole there. Then we were supposed to be getting a produce box (we joined a produce co-op and will be getting about 40-45lbs of produce for 20.00) next week and now because the darn warehouse is moving all orders have been put off until NEXT month.
*sigh*
Then of course there is all the other stuff, the semi-sick kids, the job situation with Bill, etc, etc.

Okay, enough pity party. On a good note, the Used Toy and Clothing sale is in April, so that means I will be going through and digging out spring and summer stuff and seeing what the kids will need. I know Matthew will need a lot, since he's outgrown the majority of what I have!!LOL I also am planning on going into it and selling some of my little girls stuff (although no baby stuff!!!LOL) and a few things that I have acquired or have doubles of. I'm on the lookout for an exersaucer for Matthew, he absolutely loves to grab and touch stuff and keep busy. So much so that when he is laying on his back he is trying to lift his head up!!! I keep going back and forth about getting a crib, I have a sneaking feeling that Matthew will outgrow his pack 'n' play long before he's done sleeping in something..ummm...confined?!?!?
I know Mariah will need some stuff, I think I finally cleared out the last item of hers that is 18-24mos (Kerri-remember that purple sparkly outfit with flowers???) now we are full force into size 24mos and up...whoohoo, I think it's about time, especially since she'll be THREE in May!!LOL

Sheesh, that turned into a longer post than I had intended!!LOL
Have a blessed Wednesday tomorrow!!!
~Penny

Getting there................

Well, we are slowly on the road to feeling better. Matthew is doing great, Mariah is doing much better, Robbie is still a little clogged and so is Alyssa. They are both dealing with the annoying dry hacking cough, so they haven't been sleeping that well. Kayla is doing MUCH better and is on her last day of antibiotics, much to her dismay, she loves her 'banana medicene'!!LOL
Alex is doing pretty good, but has been having trouble with his tics again. It's in his neck and head and really peaks when he is trying to focus on something. He is so good natured about it and says he just has to deal with it! I still don't know exactly what sets it off, whether it's stress or what. I still don't feel comfortable with getting him drugs for it or his ADHD. Only time will tell if we will need to in the future.

No other news to report on, still no word from Bill's work.*sigh* Bill's Mama is doing much better, which is really great news!! She's actually been up walking once a day, so that is fabulous, the Lord is so good!!

I am hoping to get out and get some groceries sometime this week, I was able to squeeze a little bit of $$ out of the budget, but not enough to be able to take a cab to and from or have them delivered, so I'll either be walking or maybe hitch a ride with Shellie if she is going this week.

Not a lot planned for the rest of the week, taking Matthew and Alyssa for their checkup today, so I'll get to see how much my little man weighs!! I'm guessing around 15-16lbs, I'm guessing based on what Robbie weighed when he was 2mos old (which was 16lbs4oz) they seem to be built the same way!!LOL My little chunky monkey!!LOL

The rest of the week we'll be doing catchup with school, I'm hoping to get all caught up before the homeschool visit on March 1st, but we'll see!!

Guess I better get my butt moving, I need to give Mr.Matthew a bath, oh and perhaps do something with my hair!!LOL!!

Have a blessed day!!
~Penny

Friday 5!!!

Here it is, a day early again!!LOL

For these first seven weeks of 2007, what’s something you give yourself an A for?
My patience, especially with everything that has been going lately!!
What’s something you give yourself a B for?
My ability to keep up the kid's routine and house routine
What’s something you give yourself a C for?
keeping up with school for the kids, despite the illnesses and stress
What’s something you give yourself a D for?
not getting enough sleep, ugh, I pay for that!!!
What’s something you give yourself an F for?
Trusting the Lord completely, I always struggle in this department...but it's soooo hard!!(can you hear my whiny voice?!?!?)

Changing Things Up!!

Time for a change around here!! Feeling a little green??? Personally, I really don't like green (maybe, just maybe a deep forest green) so I don't know how long this will last....but it's only for a month!!!!
I also updated some new links along the side that you might be interested in.

Ok, sickness update (in case you were wondering, and if you're here, you probably are!!LOL)
Robbie is the next one down, he's had a fever of 104 all day, I can get it to 103 with Motrin and that's it.(he's my fever guy, next to Bill anyways...they always seem to fever really high) Alyssa isn't too bad, and Kayla is much better. Poor Mariah is still coughing and stuffy. I think I may give her another day and then she might have to go in and get checked. Matthew is doing wonderful (can you believe he is 3 mos old today?!?!?). Alex is doing pretty good, he's had a headache off and on today (which is how the others started) so we'll see. Of course because of Mariah being not herself and Robbie coughing and crying, I didn't get barely a thing done is school today, nor much else of anything.*sigh* Oh well, I guess that's the way it goes sometimes!

We've had a mild day temperature wise today, so now all the snow we've had is melting. I really hope it doesn't cause any flooding for people! I had meant to take some pictures yesterday before all the warmer air came through!! But, I'm sure knowing our city it won't be the last big downfall we get!!(even if the groundhog didn't see his shadow!!LOL)I remember about 9yrs ago we had a huge amount of snowfall over night and it shut down the city for most of the day!!LOL That was on a St.Patricks Day!!LOL

I also posted a few new pics on the Flickr!!
Oh and here's something interesting to finish up with!!


This is me and ROBBIE!!! Sorry it's kind of blurry, my scanner isn't working so I had to take a pic of it!! I cannot believe how much him and Matthew look alike!!

Have a blessed day!!
~Penny

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Even though it's a write off for me! Kayla was up and down so many times last night, begging for more Motrin, like I should be giving it to her every hour. She just doesn't understand that she can only have the stuff every so often!!LOL Mariah was up and down right along with her. Alyssa has woke up this morning feeling yucky and her head hurts, Alex and Daddy just left for Alex's shot. I'm sure he'll be grumpy when he gets home (Alex that is!!LOl) since he was up until past 1am, he decided that maybe, just maybe he was a little worried about needle at around 12:30am. After saying to me every time I suggested it, " I'm not at all scared about my shot tomorrow". I have a sneaking suspicion that today will be a write off for school too.....grrrrr.......but school doesn't have the same pizazz with a bunch of sick, grumpy kids....can't imagine why?!??!?LOL

So, have a happy valentine's day!!!
God Bless,
Penny

Snot, snot and more snot.................

and more snot!!LOL

Just when you think it's just about over...WHAM!! Mariah is clogged right up and she is NOT happy about it. Bill had to take Kayla into the doctors tonight because she spent the afternoon crying because of her ear hurting, she had also developed another fever....so she joins me with antibiotics having an ear infection in both ears. The little monkey would not open her mouth for the doctor to look at her throat, but he said the antibiotics should clear up whatever could be growing in there. I hope so. Then while I was trying to get Matthew settled, Mariah stole the tube of toothpaste and proceeded to squirt bits of it here and there, including all over Kayla's winter jacket and IN her boots. So, then I had to try to get the drops cleaned up from the carpet, which thankfully I was able to just scoop, however, my house house smells distinctly minty. I guess I would rather smell that then any other possible scents.

My mouth still hurts, but not nearly as bad. I have no idea when I will get in to see a dentist thanks to some sort of benefit misunderstanding...grrrrr.

Alex goes for his needle tomorrow, it's his hepatitis shot. I had originally scheduled Matthew with him, but I cancelled that today. He's feeling much better though, but I still don't want to bombard his system with vaccines. So, he goes next month with Kayla. He'll be two months behind, but I'm not worried...I kind of lean towards delayed vaccination anyways. Next week, it's Matthew and Alyssa who go for a checkup with the doctor.

I cannot believe it's already the middle of the month!! Where did the time go??? I'm nowhere near where I wanted to be with regards to school, and I don't know how much Alex will get done tomorrow and as I was tucking Alyssa into bed tonight, I discovered she had a fever....oh boy. I guess this sort of thing happens though, it just frustrates me!!LOL I like everything to go according to MY plan...hehe!!Yeah, I know, I know!!!

Well, I hear somebody rustling and coughing (EWWWWW!!!) better go investigate!!
Have a Happy Valentines Day....*sniff, sniff* I really want some cinnamon hearts!!!LOL (they're my absolute favourite treat!!LOL) I hope the kids are feeling a bit better, I had a surprise plan for them to make each other Valentines cards!!! We'll see...maybe I'll just be making them all heart shaped toast in the morning!!
God bless,
Penny

UGHHHHHHH!!!

Just thought I'd pop in here quick....

I was in urgent care for the better half of yesterday evening with tooth pain (which I had originally thought was a sinus infection) turns out that my upper molars on the left side are all abcessed into my sinus cavity (I LOOK sooooo nice!!LOL) so anyways, now I'm on hefty antibiotics and painkillers and then sometime next week I'll be heading over to the dentist (YUCK!!) to see if they can do a root canal or if they'll just pull 'em...yeah!(NOT!!)

The kids are well on the way to feeling better, Mariah is the worst right now and just sounds terrible. When she cries, she reaches decibles I didn't think were possible...her voice is so messed up.

Well, I must make my way back to the couch.....and perhaps I may get a load or two of laundry done today!!

Oh and something fun to share....go over to the right side of my blog-------->
there is a link(vote for my Loveism) to click on that will take you to our Loveism that the kids wrote, if you leave a comment on it we have the chance to win a really neat gift basket!!!(besides, you'll their responses to the questions!!!)So please vote for us!!!!

Have a blessed weekend!!
~Penny

Friday!!! and other stuff...........

okay so it's friday tomorrow, I'm getting an early start!!!lol!!
Here's my friday five!!!

1. When you were a student, would you have been more likely to turn your test in first or last? It depended on the test, math-handed in when the bell would ring...written tests in other classes-first!!

2. Question 1 on a test can be narrowed down to either A or B (you’re sure it’s one or the other). Question 12 on the test can be narrowed down to the same two answers. You know one is A and the other is B. Do you go for the all-or-nothing guess (choosing A for one and B for the other) or do you play it safe and take one correct (choosing A for both questions)? I'd choose A for both!!

3. Are you more of a multiple-choicer, a true-falser, a fill-in-the-blanker, or a free-responder?Free responder, I like to explain myself...or maybe it's just I like to talk?!?!?LOL

4. What are your thoughts on standardized college aptitude tests such as the SAT? Well, we don't have SAT's here, so I can't really comment! :p

5. In the past week, in what ways have you been tested? Well, around here, I'm tested all the time!!LOL Although, I guess this past week I could say my patience has been tested, everyone being as sick as they have been and my not having any sleep....ugh!!

Wasn't that fun?? Get yours here: Friday 5

I think the kids are slowly getting back to normal. Matthew is still coughing and barfing each time, Mariah isn't as bad, but cries when she has a coughing fit, which in turn causes her to cough more and look at me and say "Mommy, I sooooo sick". Kayla is doing much better compared to a week ago, and the olders are hanging in there. I'm debating whether I should go into the drs and get myself checked, I have a sneaking suspicion that I have a sinus infection, but we'll see. I also found out the other day that my poor sister has Mono....poor kid. I am hoping that is not what we're dealing with here...I certainly do not have time for THAT!!! I remember when Alyssa had it when she was about to turn two.......that was terrible!! The doctor at the children's hospital said it was the worst case he'd ever seen in a child in his career.Ah well, for all I know I had it as a kid...I had everything else!!LOL

I feel bad for Kandie, she is soooo tired and feels so yucky. She had to have a blood test done because her liver is enlarged and has been told her spleen is also fairly enlarged.

Still no word from Bill's job, not that I am surprised, this company is really making me angry!!! Which brings me to a couple of questions I've received!!

*************************
Q: Why doesn't Bill just get a job somewhere else?
A: because he has worked so hard at this current place and we would loose all our benefits, he would lose his salary and seniority at the company. Also, he would end up losing the Long term disability payments and is a new job didn't work out, we would be in deep doodoo!!
**************************
I also got a few emails asking other similar types of questions, so hopefully this answers your question....
I also got some emails after the Kids by the Dozen shows aired (why ya'll email me?!?!?!LOL j/k)
here's some that I snipped:
**************************
Q: I noticed that some of the families have clothes and other items left on their door stoops and front porch. I was wondering if this happens to you and if it does, how do you feel about it?
A: There have been a couple of times I've had a box left on my front door with no idea who it was from and inside was a bunch of clothes for boys and girls or a garbage bag with a note. Personally, I see it as a blessing and I am grateful for anything that comes my way. I don't feel as though someone took pity, just that they thought they could help and most likely have someone who would fit the clothes they no longer used!! Just as when people I know hand me down things, I welcome and am grateful for it. Let's face it, I can use pretty much anything...towels, sheets, blankets, dishes, of course clothes......everything gets used more often around here and thus we go through things much quicker!!!LOL Especially linens and clothes!!(and lately spoons and glasses?!?!?!?) and as some of my friends know, I LOVE to try and get stains out of kids clothes, hence why I don't hesitate to buy clothing that has stains nor do I refuse clothes that have some stains!!! I think the only type of clothing I wouldn't use is seriously outdated stuff (I'm not that mean of a Mama!!LOL) or badly ripped/stretched clothing (in which case, I usually use these for quilt making or sewing projects for the kids!!)
*******************************************
Q:how do you react to other people when they make offhand comments or remarks to you?
A: I used to feel really upset, but now (I think baby #3 did it) I reply with my own comments, usually the other person's tone depicts what comment they'll hear back. A rude one will usually receive a sassy reply, whereas most time people just get a smile from me...see below:
*****************************************
Q: what comments do you hear most often and what do you reply with?
A:
"Are they all yours?" this one is the all time most often thing I hear!! My replies:
"Nah, I just collect them"
"Oh my!!! Where did THEY come from???"
" I think so"
"Yes, they are" (this one is for the rude one, I say it with a BIG smile on my face!!

"Don't you know what causes that"
"Yes, and we like it"
"No, could you explain it to me?"
"We finally found something hubby is good at!!!"
"Our TV doesn't work"

"Do they all have the same father" this one makes me angry!!
"Yes, we're just trying to figure out who the mother is"

There are others, but I can't think of them right now, these are the most common ones I hear. Sorry I once again snipped the emails, but I hope I answered your questions!!

Well, time to get back to reality and errrr...poopy diapers, which Matthew just did while I was typing that last sentence!!LOL
Have a blessed evening!!
~Penny

Happy Birthday Billy Boy!!!!!!

It's my hubby's 34th birthday today!!!

It's too bad everyone is so sick, but hey, you can't have your cake and eat it too!!!ROFL!!!

So, we'll be busy making daddy cake and a specail supper of Lasagna!! YUM!!!

God bless!!
~Penny

BLAH!!!

That word pretty much sums it up around here, but the words BLECH, YECH could be used interchangeably.
Everyone is sick and grumpy, including this Mama. Alex and Robbie aren't too bad yet, but the others...whoa!
Poor Matthew is even sick, and he is NOT happy about it...I had forgotten how horrible it is to have a sick baby and trying to find a position to nurse him comfortably in. He absolutely hates having his nose suctioned (and rightly so!!) and screams his head off, poor little gaffer.
I have basically planted my butt on the couch as all the sickos just want to cuddle and cry and of course, smear snot on me!!LOL

My sickness is of course receiving no pity, which is the cost of being a sick Mama. Bill tries very hard to do what he can, but let's face it, the kiddies just want Mama. My living room now resembles one giant bed, thank the Lord for Xbox and DVD's and homemade chicken noodle soup...oh and herbal teas!!!(and dare I say Neo-Citron and Triaminic?!?!?LOL)

Well, duty calls, the coughing fits they have cause them to throw up (oh yeah, I get it ALL!!!) and I hear Mariah on the verge and Kayla starting up.....

Keep us in your prayers!!
God Bless,
Penny

Well, I had to open my big mouth!!

Wasn't it just the other day I was saying that these guys haven't been sick?!?!?!
HA! Actually, it hasn't been that bad (hmmm, maybe I better just be quiet!!) both Mariah and Kayla have a fever and stuffy nose, sore throat and body aches...you know it's pretty serious when they are begging for medicine. The last two nights I have maybe slept a totaly of two hours in a row, other than that it's been 20min here and 10min there. Mariah likes to make sure that everyone feels her agony and distress over being sick and just sits there and moans.

Thankfully Matthew is such a good baby boy and is sleeping basically through the night, he only wakes up at 2am and has a quick drink.

Well, it's time for bed...for the olders.....hopefully for the littles very soon!!!

BTW, if I go MIA, just send the search party to look through Mount St. Laundry....I'm sure I will be there...devoured by dirty clothes!!!!

God bless!!