~A New Look~

Here's a new, quite bright, look for my blog.

I really like this site: The Cutest Blog on the Block

I will be going back again & again to change up my blog every so often. Really cute stuff!

I also managed to figure out a few bugs that had been giving me trouble. Such as the "quick thoughts" gadget there at the bottom of each post. Now, even if you don't have time to leave a comment, you can quickly click on one of the three reactions: funny, interesting or disagree. This will let me know what my readers think of certain blog posts. It is annonymous, quick & easy. **and trust me, I'm okay with people disagreeing with me. really. just be polite, okay?!**

So anyway, hope my life will settle down into a nice schedule and blogging will become more consistant. Of course, the only way THAT is gonna happen is if I start going to bed at a decent, REGULAR hour.....so.....bye!

'Night~

Keep on keeping on...

Goodness, when it rains, it pours, eh??

I've been having some pain issues: turns out my gall bladder needs to come out PLUS I have a ulcer that needs to be treated. Once I get those taken care of, my pain level should return back to normal - hurray!

My cyst isn't really bothering me lately, but I'm still going to get the carpel tunnel testing done and see the hand surgeon.

My son is officially allergic to the sun ~ yet it is not considered severe. He is now taking otc allergy meds, plus he wears a strong sun block whenever he heads outdoors. Hopefully that will cover the current condition. Actually, we are hoping this allergy will fade away, as many kid-allergies tend to ebb & flow as their little bodies change and grow.

Today is rainy and cool (in the 60's - lovin' it) and I have cleaned the boys' room. Yup, that's about it - but man! it was trashed!! I'm gonna head upstairs and organize the girls' room here in a sec. Then maybe tomorrow I can start hanging up pictures and shelves and hooks and things. I also need to organize my master closet ~ my dh tells me I am the only woman he knows who finally gets a walk-in closet and I'm not even using it for clothes! Nope, this will be my homeschool closet/hobby closet/personal storage closet. I just need to get it organized....:)

Life is good, it's just a lil' crazy right now. I'm hoping it'll settle down after all this crazy doctor stuff is taken care of. Oh wait, I hear a battle brewing between two siblings.....forget it. I don't think things will EVER calm down around here. I think I just need to learn how to embrace the chaos.......*snort*

Old habits die hard

I don't have to do laundry all the time anymore.

Amazing!!

It used to be, our W & D was always going. It would take HOURS for a load of towels to get dry! There simply wasn't enough time in the day to get to all the linens, curtains, all the extra stuff you really *should* wash occasionally.....I was too busy trying to keep up with just our clothing!

But with our new W&D, I'm walking aroud the house LOOKING for things to wash. I'm asking people to take off their clothes, so I can wash them!!! (ok, that was just my husband after he had set up the swingset and he was all gross and sweaty....I wasn't asking company to strip, just so you know!).

I'm beginning to realize that I can occasionally NOT be doing laundry. Wow. I might even be able to skip a day or two. Amazing. I can get a LOT more into one load, plus the dryer is SUPER-quick! If you are a larger family, I would STRONGLY urge you to save up some money, somehow, and purchase a new model W&D ~ it is TOTALLY worth it!!

**and the family closet/laundry room idea? BRILLANT!! Whoever first thought of this was genius. Even my dh is praising this idea! Again, if you have the space, go for it! It just cuts down on the time spent doing laundry, putting things away, gathering it from all over the house, etc. We have better things to be doing with our time ~ like lovin' on all those babies!!

Speaking of which, time to go nurse my lil' one.....I love this age~

Country Livin'

A pic of my hubby & I taken some time during all the hubba-balloo ~ we're so cute!

Okay, okay, I *know* we are really 'city folk' just pretending out here, but it's fun nonetheless~

Isaac & Clayton in our new guest room

Some updates:

I had 2 tests this week - an ultrasound of my abdomen & a barium (sp?) x-ray (where you drink the gross stuff, it expands your stomach and they scan you). I'll find out more next week.

I have an appointment set up for the carpel tunnel test (EMG?). I've had some people tell me it was 'less than pleasant'.....great....I will get the results back from that and then take them to the hand surgeon. He will be doing surgery on my ganglion cyst thingy, and possibly the carpel tunnel surgery as well. We'll see....

Isaac *is* allergic to the sun. His tonsils were all swollen (indicative of allergies), plus some of the rash was still evident. He now has to take Zyrtec (sp?) once a day, plus wear sunscreen whenever he is outside. Luckily, he is my neurotic child (God knew, eh?) and he is ADAMENT about not going outside until I have sprayed him down with sunscreen (his own personal bottle, that kinda looks like bugspray going on: a clear mist that you don't really have to rub in. It's 85 spf, Banana Boat Ultra Defense Continuous Spray - AWESOME stuff!!). So far, so good (okay, it's only day one, but still: so far, so good!).

Micah Dean in his swing ~ a huge help during the move!

As to the plumbing issues: I do believe we have the main leak fixed. The plumber (goodness, you plumbers make A LOT of money!!!!) is not covered by home owner's insurance - basically the CAUSE of the problem is not covered. The RESULTING DAMAGE is covered (i.e. drywall, flooring, painting, etc.) but our deductable is fairly average and it would simply be financially advantageous for us to do most of the work ourselves (the stuff we can't do, we are calling in the professionals). So we are out the LARGE SUM of money to the plumber (did I mention plumbers are well paid?? just checking), plus the cost of the drywall repair (professional), plus the cost of supplies for us to RE-DO my new laundry room flooring (only about 1/4 of the room, PTL!), the texture paint for the ceilings, new access panels for some of these holes, oh....all that jazz.

We noticed another leak, from the hall bath, that leaked on the basement floor. We have tried to check it out, but can't really see where the problem is EXACTLY. We're gonna have another guy check it out and see (looks like a MUCH easier fix, since the basement isn't finished yet). AND I just found a bit of water under the sink......I'm *tired* of water.....

Hey, it's home ownership, eh? At least we are getting all these plumbing issues dealt with now BEFORE the work on the basement begins. That work begins in a month or two and I am so excited for my parents!!

the girls calming Micah down in front of our broken dishwasher (cracked motor) ~ we have since replaced it, with an awesome stainless steel tub newer model: love it!!

Speaking of my parents, they are finally headed back home tomorrow (Sunday). My dad seems to be much better, although he still tires easily. He was mowing, raking, helping Dean put together a swingset, helping to clean out the garage and burning lots of paper/boxes/etc. I can't believe he is doing so much after this whole blood loss ordeal!?! Praise the Lord! It has been *wonderful* having them here, as my mom will often sit with the baby, or helping me with the other lil' ones, allowing me time to get house stuff done! Yeah~

Ok, well, it's time for me to go get the camera out and snap some pics. I've just been so busy, I didn't take the time to get very many pics of this whole process. I'm just gonna start now...so I'll share soon. Here's a few from my friend Janet, who came up with her hubby and grandson, for the big move: (all the pics in this particular blog post are from her)

pretty girls

look at all those kiddos ~ our friends came to help out ~ we all have a bunch of kids!

Elijah, lovin' the BIG TRUCK!

I'm back!!

My internet is a bit slower than I am used to, but it's really not that bad. Some sort of broadband network thing-a-ma-bobby. That's the technical term, I believe - ha! Hey, it's better than country dial-up. Goodness, I just couldn't go back to progress bars....ugh...

We've had some crazy moments over the last week such as my dad ending up in the hospital after losing HALF of his body's blood (slow leaking ulcer, he's doing good now although still easily tired). My folks ended up staying a whole extra week while my dad recovered (not allowed to travel quite yet), which was great!

I am in the process of figuring out a particular pain I've had....maybe gall bladder, maybe an ulcer like my dad. I also have a ganglion cyst (sp?) that I will have removed plus I'm being tested for carpel tunnel (sp?), so I may possibly have both surgeries at the same time (but not both hands at the same time).

It also appears my oldest son may have some type of allergy to the sun - he sees the doc tomorrow morning. Poor lil' man....the rash looks so severe.

AND, we had a plumbing problem: basically, an upstairs shower/pipe was leaking IN the walls and now we have some damage (floors, ceilings, drywall, etc.). Thank goodness for home owner's insurance!! The adjuster comes out tomorrow ~ we'll see...

All in all, I'm doing pretty good! I'm still lovin' the new house, the country setting, riding the lawn mower, listening to the farm animals from next door, I even weeded a bit the other day (and I HATE weeding). The next door neighbors sell eggs, I hope for a good price. I can see that it will take me longer to set up my new home with five small children running around, but it *will* happen...eventually. Right now, we are focusing on the plumbing, the main living areas, the garage and outside. The upstairs kids' area will have to wait. I will get up there and organize/decorate at some point. Some day~

And you know what? I can see God's blessing through all of this. Yes, we've had some crazy moments, but God has always met us RIGHT where we needed Him, with exactly what we needed for that moment. Not more, but *perfect* for that moment. Not only that, but He has blessed us above & beyond what I would have ever thought possible - and to think, we deserve NONE of this, yet He loves us so much! WOW. Even when life seems chaotic and crazy, I still feel blessed. I can't explain it, but that's how I feel.

I'll try to get some pics up here soon.

Hope everyone has a terrific weekend ~ our fireworks are this Saturday and the kids always love that! God bless, y'all~

see ya next week~

It's finally happening!

We will be off line here for a lil' bit. Actually, we have some sort of new-fangled wireless internet at our new place (in lieu of dial up or cable internet). We might be able to set up right away, but I'm guessing we'll need some sort of password at the very least in order to get started. So I'm guessing next week.

We are actually VERY ready for the move - we've moved quite a lot of stuff over already. A truckload here, a van-load there, we even had a friend come over with a trailer and was able to take 2 loads of garage stuff (riding lawn mower & huge ol' swingset included!). Cory, you rock!!

So we're almost there. Speaking of which, my W&D arrived at the new place today! The flooring was *almost* done, the mud was *almost* dry and ready to be repainted - so I *almost* have my long-dreamed of Family Laundry Room! How exciting!!

Ok, gotta do a load or two more of laundry to try and keep up - even during the move! This job never stops, does it?!?

;)

I'm behind~

Well, I got the cubbies painted (they're cute!) and we got the stuff we needed from Lowe's. My folks took a load of boxes out to the house too! I didn't get any more boxes packed though....

So tomorrow it's off to the house to prep, prime & paint the new laundry room. That'll probably take me most of the day....hmmm....maybe I'm a slow painter??

And lastly, I'm behind. On laundry, that is. I just can't seem to keep up AND pack AND paint AND get any sleep (ugh, after 2am again). Oh well, it's just this week, then I can figure out a whole new routine, a whole new house to organize and run - you know, the really FUN stuff!!

And someday I'll catch up on the laundry. Someday.

Here we go...

Thus starts the week of craziness...

Hello all~

My folks arrived last night (whoo-hoo!) and my dad saw the house for the first time. How exciting! We just did the house tour, showed the kiddos the master tub "bubbles" (they thoughts this was FACINATING!), took down some wall sticker-type decorations (which we are moving to a new room) and basically just oooohed and aaaaahed over the view.

Just as my parents were sitting down (in camp chairs- ha!) with my kids, to look out the front room window, we saw the most AMAZING rainbow (double rainbow, actually). I have *never* seen one so bright!! We were in AWE! I honestly can't describe how I felt, but my mom & I discussed how much God has blessed us and what a gift that rainbow was from Him as well! It was as if He was right there with us (I know He IS), and wanted to just let us know He was watching over us, loving us. *sigh* Truely amazing~

So anyway, today's plan is to paint two sets of "cubbies" that I have plans for in the new house, head on over to Lowe's for a few other painting supples I will need tomorrow at the new house, and lots of packing up of boxes! My dh hates that part and wants me to get as much done of that as possible. Good wife that I am (ha!), I will try to oblige (thanks Danielle). The adults were all up last night until after 2am talking, so we are a bit slow getting going today....

Well, off I go.....laundry still needs to be done, dishwasher needs emptied, lunches will need to be fixed.....praise the Lord for my folks!!

p.s. I put a call in to my doc this morning, she's supposed to call me back this afternoon. I'm praying for another week of the meds plus a referral to a specialist or an ultrasound or SOMETHING! *sigh* This WILL get resolved!!

Actually...

I believe my lack of motivation yesterday was NOT simply a lack of motivation (whoo-hoo, I'm not just *lazy*).  I felt worse and worse as the day went on, felt like I was hardly going to make it through Saturday Venue Kids, then crashed on my bed for the night.  I hardly ate anything yesterday, just felt awful, and eventually started getting chills.

I believe it all relates back to this nursing/thrush issue.  Perhaps there is an underlying infection - which my doc said could cause the yeast to have an even greater hold.  I do feel like the meds are working, but I'm almost finished with my second week of this particular drug.  I'm going to call on Monday and ask for another week's prescription, while I make an appointment with a specialist and get an ultrasound.  I have read conflicting opinions online, with some saying you should have AT LEAST 2 week worth of the meds, with one week being after all symptoms are gone.  Problem is, they recommend an even longer dosage if you have a particularly persistant infection (which I believe I have).  So while it's getting "better"......it is VERY slowl going......

Soooooo....anyway.....I was in bed early last night and feel lots better this morning.  Of course I found out all this can be aggravated by stress and lack of sleep.  What could I possible have been stressed about over the last two weeks?????  Hmm.....I wonder?!  Whatever!!  My life is always crazy ~ and I love it!!

And lastly, my husband is TERRIFIC!  Through all this, he has been understanding and sympathetic and supportive.  Even last night, when I crashed unexpectedly while he had to feed and put four children to bed.....even when I could see that he was tired and frustrated......he kept on going and told me to stay in bed and helped me however he could.  He's a good man.  I am blessed~

p.s.  Have a blessed Sunday!  Praise the Lord for He is worthy!!!  Isn't it true?!?!?!!

oh, I forgot

**the following post is color-coded for clarity. Apparently, I am just a jumble of thoughts, ideas, words....a mess. So beware: what follows is a severly mixed-up post about numerous topics. Don't say I didn't warn you~

WE GOT THE HOUSE!!

Yes, we now have the keys! How exciting~

Today (Saturday), my body feels soooo tired, sooooo NOT motivated, soooo blah. I'm wondering if I am just conserving my energy for the upcoming week?!

My folks are arriving tomorrow (Sunday) to be a HUGE blessing to us regarding the kiddos this week. I can't tell you how excited my kids are that PAPA is coming as well and he is STAYING the whole week. Now that he no longer has that awful....um, helpful...um, blessing of a newpaper route job - he gets to visit us for longer than just 2 days! Hurray!!

So this week - for me - will be painting, cleaning, packing, dealing with our contractor (who is a wonderful friend - PTL!!) while he does some minor work before we move in.

I purchased my new W & D yesterday, so they are being delivered this coming Thursday. That's the first room that will need to be dealt with. The walls need to be primed & painted, carpet has to be ripped out, new flooring put down, hook-ups need to be moved to that room from the existing laundry room.....then I've got to figure out how to organize ALL our clothing. Dressers we've got. Hanging clothes racks I need to buy. Fun stuff....

I also can't stop thinking about where to put things. Where should my sewing stuff go? What about the piano? Since the home is a Cape Cod - it's *iffy* whether or not we should use bunkbeds....due to the sloped ceiling. In the girls' room, the top bed would be RIGHT BY the ceiling fan. Not ideal. So I'm guessing we'll take them apart, which is fine, but it's just all the logistics that need to be figured out, ya know?!? Good thing I enjoy this stuff~

Ok, well, I have a regressing 4yo who has decided to start pooping/peeing in her panties again (see previous post)....while the pics may look cute, the reality is a bit wearing on me...I'm not sure what to do? I know we're moving and all, but hey, our lives are usually fairly crazy around here....I'm not convinced that's it. I'm not getting upset any more, no negative attention, but I *am* at a loss. What to do??

And lastly, I took the time today to scrub my feet, rub 'em down with this AWESOME foot lotion (Shea It Isn't So), finally took off the old polish and painted them a pretty red/gold color. LOVE IT! Since the fifth child, my feet have DEFINITELY taken a backseat in the priority list. Yet my dh likes nice feet (as do I), and it just feels so wonderful ~ AHHHHHHH........;)

p.s. I also made up a batch of the fabric softener-extender stuff (from the Duggar's website). Basically, you take a container of fabric softener, pour it into a five gallon bucket, then add two more containers of water (1:2 ~ softener:water). Then you let your 7yo stir it all up (he's was fascinated by this whole process for some reason), then he cuts a few sponges in half and continues to stir. When you are ready to dry a load that needs fabric softener, you simply reach in, grab a half-sponge, wring it out and toss it in the dryer with your load.

Technically, I haven't tried it yet, so we'll see.....I also didn't use a NAME brand, which is what they tell you to do, so it may not work as well. I'll let ya know~ ;0)

This is what happens...

...when you are just-turned-four years old and you have too many "accidents" in your panties.

"Momma told me they were here somewhere"

"Waaaaaaay back here, maybe?"

"I *so* need to stop peeing in my panties"

It's a darn good thing she's so cute....

p.s. Yes, we have been making progress on the house issue. If you recall, the underwriter needed a particular paper from a bank. We finally got an email from that bank stating they can't give that paper to us, 'cause that's NOT the required paperwork for our situation. She even stated in the email, "This really should not be an issue for him (the underwriter)". SEEE??!!?! The underwriter *should* send this through!!! I have NO IDEA why this is being held up - I know GOD knows, but *I* am clueless (and less than patient).

So we wait...some more. I am still praying that the owners are not terribly mad at us. I can see why they *would* be, I just wish I could tell them how upset I am as well about all this - and how it's SOOOOOOO not our fault. But I can't. And I can't FORCE the underwriter to just make a decision already and send us through to closing. So we wait.

BROOKE!!! I NEED that coffee & dessert tonight. Anyone else up for The Raven tonight? 7:30pm, see ya there!

patience is a virtue...

...that I am desperately lacking in.

Our mortgage guy is working on it.  He has contacted that appropriate bank and they are working on it.  They *should* get us the needed paperwork today - so we can close here soon.  Yet you never know.  It's really up to how hard this bank works at finding the right paperwork and how quickly they get it to us.  At this point, I am simply praying we get it all taken care of by Friday, as that is when our current contact says we will close by.

On a different note, I am headed to the doctor's here in about 30 min.  My thrush has simply not gotten better.  It's really bad right now.  I just nursed the baby and there was quite a bit of crying on my part.  Pretty bad.  It now feels like it is *in* my breast, which - according to what I can find out on-line - means it is now "intraductal yeast infection".  great.  The treatment seems to be the same though, Diflucan (?).  It's a pill, taken for a few weeks, with relief in a few days (I believe).  Yeast is just such a difficult thing to kill.

Micah still has it here and there - but his is mostly under control.  I'm sure I'm the one who keeps giving it to him, I've never really gotten mine under control.  I kept thinking I was doing something wrong:  not being consistent enough with the application, not able to keep the area dry enough, whatever.  So now it's been almost 3 months - horrible!

So now I am hoping my doctor will prescribe just the right STRONG med,  and that it will help me SOON!  I will be *so* glad!  Of course, part of me will also be so frustrated that I waited so long......my oldest daughter thinks this is just the way nursing goes - very painful for the momma.  Ugh, I don't want her thinking that.  For the most part, my nursing relationships have been painfree and wonderful~

Ok, well, the boys are up (it's 8am - good boys!) and I need coffee.  Why in the world I woke up at 6am WIDE-AWAKE, I have *no* idea.   Weird....;)  That is *so* not like me~

Have a great day, my friends ~ I pray I am able to update you soon on the thrush issue....and that it is going AWAY quickly!