A night at Nanny's house

I don't get to visit my mom enough. She is 80 years old, means the world to me but lives 2 1/2 hours away. That may not seem like much but with 5 kids that usually translates into 3 1/2 hours if you factor in pee stops, snack stop and then a throw up stop or two! Scheduling and just busy busy busy means I only see her about once every couple of months. We are all hoping she will soon spend more time with us. Maybe next winter hey mom!?!


She is a strong, independent unassuming lady who has survived breast cancer, losing two sons and  losing her husband, my wonderful father to cancer. My mom has welcomed Jane just as she has her other 14 grandchildren. I can't tell you what that means to me. She calls her her "little darling"  I love you mom.

Witness the love
 

They're Playin' Basketball!

John had a basketball tournament this past weekend. He is quite the little player and really enjoys the game.

John with friend Aaron

 And look what he got! I was such a proud mama!

Dave, Jack and I got to go watch while Josh and Jacob stayed with Jane while she slept. The team didn't advance but they did a great job and had fun doing it!

What have you got in your cupboard?

Jane loves her snackies. Some of her favorites:

1-mandarine oranges

2-strawberries

3-corn puffs

4-Graduate snacks

She lets me know when she wants a snack by going to the cupboard, opening the doors and pointing. Today, she decide to get right in and she what I actually had in there.

Mom...I want a snack!

I'm diggin' in

Look at those little feet!

I would really like some of those snacks in the yellow can! Please!

Corneal Abrasions-Step Throats/Hives-Ear Infections

Remember, way back to our Chinese New Year celebrations, I mentioned Jack got an icicle in the eye, well it turns out that was the worst corneal abrasion Dave had ever seen. You could actually see a gel like substance peeled back in his eye. I just about threw up when I saw it. He had a tough night of pain but by the following evening the abrasion had healed over. Two days later, he developed an iris (infection), this is what we didn't want to happen. So, it was off to the opthamologist for an urgent consult. The opthamologist said his eye had taken quite a hit, the cells were very unstable and that he was a very lucky boy. We had to continue the drops Dave had prescribed and he included a glue like ointment that had to be instilled at bedtime, this would help the cells adhere to the cornea. Well, we are still doing all of that. He gets rechecked next week, fingers crossed.

Poor Jack the night the icicle got him.

Now, strep throats! Jacob has been unwell the last 6 days. Unexplained hives that we have been treating with Benadryl first then a very sore throat and little energy! He is home from school with very white yucky tonsils, swab sent and now on his second lot of antibiotics.Poor guy!

Jakie-my strep throat guy on a happier day!

Ear Infections-Jane is now into her 4th ear infection. The first one was Christmas Day. Dave says she has teenie tiny ear canals and wax so they are difficult to see. I always know when she has an infection because she gets very clingy and irritable. Poor girlie! After her second dose of antibiotics and some Tylenol, she seems to be on the mend tonight.

So, there you have it. It is all a part of being a mother. This comes with it. You take the good days and go through them, sometimes not appreciating the ease of them. You notice the days that swallow you up because they disappear and you just don't know where they went. A couple of sick kids can really change your routine. You have to just roll with it because life goes on!

What have you Got if you Ain't got LOVE!

Our little Valentine's Day tree with the treats cupid left!!

Enjoying a little treat

Remember....I got the music in me!

This little book is about a woman who adopted her daughter from China. It is a beautiful book.

Blowing kisses to you!

Look at that face!

This is Jane's new hmmm look. Everyday we chose her outfit and she definitely knows what she wants and what she doesn't. She will put her little finger to her lips and say "hmmm" when she is trying to decide on one outfit over another.

Hee Hee!

I love this one!

Tu Tu cute!

This is my favorite!

Photo session over..real life!

Ok...so...I don't bake. I hate it actually! Dave's patients are all kind enough to do my Christmas baking for me, they give us trays of cookies from time to time  and then there is Pillsbury. If they go to all the trouble to design a lovely Valentine sugar cookie, the least I can do is pop them in the oven for 8 minutes. The kids were thrilled when I arrived with these as I dropped off their lunches. 3 survived the trip home!

Special BBQ tenderloin supper for my special valentine's before Dave and I went out to supper.

My Valentine and I

What have you got if you ain't got Love!

Our little man

John Jack and Jane

Josh Jack Jane

Jacob (so very impressed with all this foolishness) Josh Jack and Jane

Jake-getting into it now!

Sweetie John

Josh John Jack and Jane

Very special friends-Jane and Jack

I t amazes me everyday, how well this little girl has fit into our family. Daily, I am asked ,How is she doing, How is she adjusting, How is she sleeping? The answers-Great-Great-Great.

No doubt, there are days that are so busy I feel like I am drowning but most days I float, some days I thread water, everyday I am grateful, blessed and in love!