Happy Memorial Day!

This has been the first Memorial day that Eric has had off in a while. He was scheduled to work a few hours on Saturday and then off Sunday and Monday! That was awesome. However our awesome weekend looked more like this:

Plus
Equals

Yes, that's right. Rain plus sick kids. That was our weekend. It all started about 12:30 Saturday morning when Jack woke up vomiting followed by more vomiting around 6 and John was also running a high fever by then. Nice. Jack threw up for most of the morning but by mid afternoon we had the fevers under control and everyone was in better spirits. All was looking well. Until Sunday afternoon. Ella said she wasn't feeling well on the way home from Costco followed by vomiting until bedtime. She woke this morning with a high fever and has laid around all day. None really have their appetite back yet but they are all looking better than they were when their heads were hung over in the potty or the "throw up " bucket. Ben hasn't looked sick yet so for that i am grateful. We have gotten a few things done around here despite the bug going around. Ella and i had some girl time on Friday night. We got manicures and she is very proud of hers. Eric and i have a wonderful sitter that the kids love. Jack's soccer coach, Melissa, came and kept the kids while Eric and i went for dinner Saturday. We also got our monthly grocery shopping done. It would have been nice for the weather to have been beautiful and the kids feeling great but my life can't be perfect all the time. HA! Maybe next year. Between the rain showers we did get to go out and enjoy some watermelon.

Anyway, i would like to take a moment and thank all the servicemen and women who defend and protect our country and freedom. On this day of reflection, i don't daily thank God for the precious gifts i have here at home and i rarely think of those who are making sacrifices to protect me and my family. Shame on me. My Grandfather served and my cousin Shellie also serves our country. I think that is a very large sacrifice and i am truly grateful. In closing, here are a few pictures of baby Ben. More updates coming soon.

Ella and Jack's yearly Check-up

Today was the day. Ella and Jack had appointments right in the middle of nap time. It was okay. We made it there with time to spare and got called right back. The kids weighted and had their height measured. Ella had a mini eye test and a hearing test. Eric came in right as things were starting to unravel. John was spilling goldfish on the floor, Ben was realizing he was STARVING,(He is always starving at the most inopportune times) and i was trying to fill out the mounds of medical history paper work for two kids. Then we were corralled into a small room where the boys started playing tug of war with the bag of goldfish and then a chair while Eric tried to bounce a very loud and unhappy Ben on his knee. Finally i lost it and had Eric referee the boys while i fed Ben on the left side so i still had my right hand free to continue filling out the paperwork. Ella sat and drew in her notebook. God bless her. Anyway, they all settled in and the doctor came in and started with Jack. He looked right on track. Weight was 35 pounds and height was 42 inches. That puts him about 70th percentile for weight and the 98th percentile for height. Yes, he was just off the top of the height chart. Ella was up next. She weighted 39 pounds and was 45 inches tall. That is about the 36th percentile for weight and the 82nd for height. (the scale at home weights the kids a few pounds lighter) She has already had all her necessary shots so it was a Hep A today and a finger prick for an iron check and a urine sample. She was set. Then they handed us all the papers. All the papers i wasn't ready to receive. School papers. Yes, it is now time to decide whether we will let her start kindergarten in Troutman or if we will home school. A big, scary decision but one we have to make since they have already had registration. I am going to pick up a registration packet so it will all be completed IF we decide to go there. For the record, Ella's vote is to go there. :) Ella was a brave girl with her shot and finger prick so we said goodbye to daddy and headed off for some ice cream. The pain was nothing a banana split couldn't fix.

Kim's visit

Kim flew into town a week ago today. The kids were super stoked. We live about 40 minutes from the airport but it is an easy drive. Didn't get into a whole lot but I did get my soccer bottles done because I had her extra hands available. Thursday we had Jack's soccer game which is always amusing. Kim kept the kids Friday night so Eric and I could go out for our anniversary. Saturday, We went down town and walked around. It is a nice place but could use a few cooler stores. Eric took the two older kids to the race and with the little ones in bed we had good time to visit. Sunday came and I apparently can't add and subtract time because I dropped her off at the airport a little over 2 hours early. She never pointed that out as I said "see I told you I would have you here an HOUR early". She made it home safely. It is so nice to have such a wonderful best friend that will take off work to come to my house to visit and to keep the kids so Eric and could have an anniversary date. It was a great visit. I have the best bestie ever! :) Here are a few pictures from our excursion around town. Note: Kim will not allow me to take very many pictures of her.




On a side note:
I feel like I should add Dental Technician to my "what I am" list in my Mother's day blog. I realized it fit as I was doing the nightly brushing and flossing of three sets of teeth.
Another side note:
I have never doubted that my husband cared about me but when it comes time for gifts he has a hard time. Usually because he waits until the last minute and either buys flowers or something really expensive to make up for having not thought of something I would enjoy. However, this Mother's Day and anniversary I was bombarded with gift certificates for manicures, pedicures, waxing, tanning, facials, massages, and a tropical vacation with ONLY my husband. (looking for babysitters while Eric and I vacation if anyone wants to volunteer) putting all that together I finally asked Eric if he was trying to tell me something. Do I look that unkept? His response, "No I just thought all of those things would make you feel better about yourself. I just want you to feel good and be happy. I think your beautiful just the way you are." Obviously this is in response to my post-baby body complaints. :)Yes, my husband is the best.

Boogity Boogity Boogity.....

Lets go racin' boys! (my best Darrell Waltrip impression) Eric took Ella and Jack to their first race. I stayed home with Kim, John and Ben. It was a good time for Eric to spend with Ella and Jack. It was also the All-Star race. This would mean lots of fun and fireworks. The segments were short so the kids wouldn't get tired of it. They didn't get tired of the race but they were exhausted by 10. They aren't used to being up that late so after arriving, walking in, watching a race, buying shirts, earplugs, cotton candy and cokes, watching some more racing they were worn out. Jack fell asleep in Eric's lap and not long after so did Ella. She woke up and they left when the third segment ended. I am sure Eric was glad that she woke up because the walk to the car carrying two sleeping children would have been torture. They got in about 11:30 and Eric put the kids in bed but they were back up early with stories to tell. They had a blast and today all the kids are running around in their new race shirts.

Tickets to the 25th NASCAR All-Star Race: $150.00
T-shirts: $45.00
Food: $16.50
Memories of the kids first race with their daddy: priceless

5 Years....and one day.

The beginning

Eric and i celebrated our 5th anniversary yesterday. It is unbelievable to think that it has been 5 years. The condensed version of our last five years goes something like this: Wedding, move to Tuscaloosa, school and co-op, move to Auburn, school, move back to Tuscaloosa, school and a new co-op job, my graduation ceremony, Eric moves back to Auburn, another baby on the way, more school, Eric's graduation, FINISHED with school. Eric gets a job, moves to Florida, Ella and I move in with mom and dad. Move to Naples, FL, welcome baby Jack. Eric builds a hospital, we layout on the beach. Another baby on the way, Eric gets a promotion and a vasectomy, move to Boise, ID., welcome baby John. Eric builds a rehab hospital and i have a miscarriage. Move to Raleigh, NC, another miscarriage, another baby on the way, another vasectomy! Eric builds an addition to a psychiatric hospital. Move in with mom and dad, welcome baby Ben, move to Statesville, NC, Eric gets another promotion. Here I sit looking over the cliff notes of my last five years and i have so many memories, the one constant in all of them is my husband. The man who has stood behind beside me for better or worse, for richer or poorer, "for sicker or wellness" (in Eric's words, HA!), 7 moves, four different states, and four beautiful children. Most of those are because of him but i have to say i would follow him anywhere. Though my life is often difficult it makes it easier to have him here to help me. He does such a wonderful job taking care of me. He loves me when i have been in my pajamas all day, dirty hair, covered in food, poop, pee, spit up and any other bodily fluid you can imagine, dirty house, pile of laundry and no dinner made. Those are the bad days when he comes in makes dinner, bathes kids, cleans the kitchen and does the laundry and insists that i go lay down and rest. I am luckier than Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. I think i just might possible be the luckiest woman in the world. Our life together has been quite a trip over the last five years and i know that we have the rest of our lives for it to get even better and i can't think of anyone i would rather spend it with than my best friend, my husband.

Five years later

Miracle Workers v. Transformers

Thursday was a beautiful day for Jack's soccer game. Kim is here for a visit so Jack was thrilled that there was another cheerleader just for him. I had this idea to make the kids a treat for their last game. Needless to say, i probably over did it a little and ended up spending most of the day painting water bottles. I think i might have had a high from the paint pen. Anyway, i got them finished and they were cute so i guess it was worth it. We packed all the bottles and everything else we take to the games and headed to the YMCA. Our coach was out of town this week so another dad filled in but Jack was still excited and ready to play. Eric arrived just as the game started. It started off well. Okay, by well i mean we were up by 4 in the first few minutes but all the players for both teams were staying on the field so that was good. Anyway, true to their name the Transformers.....well......transformed. One little boy decided he needed to rest so he sat down for the last 3/4ths of the game. I guess being a spectator was better than getting run over by "the tank" (had to Mom since this is my last soccer blog). Anyway, another little boy was running wild just not on the field. He did a little kung fu fighting on the side. It was a fun to watch since the game was the usual, we scored every other minute. Finally, the last little boy on the other team got really tired of our team scoring and would throw a temper tantrum every time we scored (well, mostly the tank did the scoring). I figured i had enough pictures of Jack so i started taking pictures of the cry baby. Finally, the other team had whittled away to two little girls. Sad but true. The score ended up around 15ish to 2 (if you count the goal we scored in their net). 5 out of 6 isn't bad for the first season of soccer. Jack has shown progress. He still follows the other kids instead of the ball on the ground. He tries. He also runs until his "head sweats". That is how he knows he is doing a good job. Enjoy the last set of soccer pictures.

Home Alone

AGHHHHHHHHHH! Eric left last night for Birmingham for a CPR and concrete class. He arrived safely. He won't be back until late Wednesday night. That means i am home alone with the fantastic four. A little scary since each posses their own super powers. Ella has the ability to render her brother defenseless when it come to playing dress up. They can't resist when she commands them to dress as princesses and ballerinas. Jack does not require any sleep. He can get up at 6 or 6:30 and go well past 9 even if he is just in the dark in his room. This means no nap for me. John can climb like Spiderman. I am not sure how he does it but i do know that he can get things that i know were well out of his reach. Maybe he has elastic arms and just stretches to get things. Either way i have to keep my eyes on him. Ben is a super pooper. I don't know how he can poop out the side of a diaper or straight up but it must be a super power. All are capable of becoming tornadoes and completely destroying the house in a moment. This is a dangerous combination. I have to keep a very tight reign on them so they don't use their super powers. If they do my world just might spiral out of control while i am here alone. No breaks, no relief when Eric walks in from work but i got this. Jack cried as Eric drove off and then snuck into Ella's bed for a sleep over. I found him as i made might nightly rounds. I have already made this time without Eric our special time. They got to have a little Dr. Pepper for lunch and we might have a sleepover in Mommy's room tonight. I am not sure if our bed will hold us all. Gymnastics this afternoon and Kim flys in at lunch tomorrow. A short time alone but still a lot to do. Going to look for more fun things for the kids and i to do tonight. Pray for me. :)

Summer Vacation
I know everyone is ready for summer vacations. I am. Too bad we don't get to take one. HA! We will be in town June 4th-7th. Eric has another class in Birmingham. It will be brief but nice. Are any of you coming to visit us? If you are planning to come between now and September let me know now so we can get everyone on the calendar. We do have a guest room with a bathroom but i cannot promise that the kids will not invade this space when visitors are here. You may wake up to a kid staring at you. Ask Wes. :) At this point we are not planning on returning for a visit until after the completion of this job. So come see us.