Merry Christmas from the Miller Family!

Don't know if I will be posting again until 2009. Have the Merriest of Christmases, and the Happiest of New Years!

Tubes!

Shawn has been sick since the weekend after Thanksgiving with an ear infection. I took him to the doctor in Shreveport finally on Dec. 8th, when all other options were not working. I also took Joey. By then Shawn had already taken 3 antibiotics, and on the 8th he was put on his 4th medication. By the 13th, when Shawn was driving home from work, he called me and said that he had so much pain in his ear, and that it was now hurting in his other ear and the back of his neck. He told me to call the dr on call and see what he needed to do. Of course, being a Saturday night and that we live 2 hrs away, the doctor told us to come in... to the ER in Shreveport. While he is finishing his journey home, I am frantic as usual trying to get things organized and situated for Josh & Lauren (Shawn's brother and wife just so happen to stop by, and she stays to help until kids are in bed), and get some things packed for Shawn & I. I guess Shawn could have gone himself, or even Josh gone, but I felt like I needed to go (good thing too because I *knew* all the answers... LOL!). Dr comes to look in his ear, and admit Shawn. He wanted Shawn on 12 hrs of IV antibiotic, do a CT scan, and possibly put a tube in his right ear. Sunday morning after the CT scan, the doctor decided he needed the tube. He then shot up Shawn's ear with novocain (? same stuff the dentists use), and did a "minor" surgery on Shawn ear right there in the room. I took pictures with Shawn's phone, but Shawn has yet to send them to me... I am sure they have been deleted. After the tube was in place, the doctor released him, and home we went. Shawn goes back to the doctor on Monday, along with Joey to get his pre-op stuff done, as Joey is getting tubes in his ears on Tuesday. I can't keep Joey well either with his ears. Back about this time last year, or maybe even at the beginning of 2008, Lindsey cried and cried all the time. Saying her stomach hurt ALL DAY EVERYDAY. I took her to her pedi doc, who recommended that I take her to Jacob's doc (so happens to be daughter/father team). Lindsey was checked for diabetes, as sometimes her bloodsugars were high, other times way low. Long story short: got her tonsils out, and checked for diabetes, which her numbers were on the *high* end of the *low* end... meaning she MAY can eventually get it but as of now her numbers are considered normal, but that they are higher then normal... KWIM? She seemed to be doing better. Eating better, not crying, until now. I've had to listen to her for the past week crying constantly about her tummy hurting. She won't eat, her blood sugars are in the normal range. What is wrong? At first I thought she was just bored (it only started this past Monday), but this whole weekend with the other kids home, all she has done is cry 18/7 (doesn't cry when she is sleeping). It is enough to make me crazy! Anyone reading my Facebook now knows why I am crazy! I gave her some medicine to help her stomach, but she is still crying. Doesn't matter what I give, she still cries. IN fact all my kids are driving me nuts... all fighting (especially Lauren & Kayley) and it makes me upset that they are like this.

New washer & dryer

Taken from what I wrote last night on Facebook:

We went tonight to buy a washer & dryer. Shawn had done his research (as he does with all things) and decided on what was best for our family. Not the Duet like I wanted, but just as good. I had planned on paying at least $2000 (with all taxes & warranties, etc...). I wanted something to last me a long time (ones I have now are still great after 14 yrs, but... just to small for my family). I let the saleslady KNOW that I was buying something right then, and I already had it picked. She then proceeded to tell me about the "floor models" that were on sale (good price actually), and how they were the same, blahb blah, blah. We looked, we compared, and was sold. I mean, I was planning on $2000, so I saved $700. We get it loaded up, and brought home. Hello... dryer is totally bent on the right corner. I guess with all the bright lights, we just didn't see it? I was mainly looking for scratches and very noticable dents. But, they were bent AND the top section is not even connected, which who knew I needed to lift the top of a dryer? So then I decide to check the washer out. TOTALLY USED!! I mean, WHAT THE FREAK IS UP WITH THAT? Fabric softener coming out of the fabric softener place, and the instructions are in a ZIP-LOCK bag?! AND the instructions have hand-written phone numbers on them, AND THE DATE IT HAD BEEN PURCHASED BEFORE? Saleslady never said ONE THING about it being used. I would never have bought it! I am NOT going to pay that much money for something and it's freakin' used! I called Sears, of course @ 9:58pm, and the store is closed. I talked to National Sears Hotline, and they told me to take it back, and tell them I am NOT paying for a restocking fee since I was misled about the whole thing. I AM SO MAD AT SEARS!!! Maybe that's why I never shop Sears? I also hate Lowes, but there isn't much other places... I am raising heck tomorrow in the store. Shawn has already told me he was leaving the store. LOL!

Update from today:

Shawn & Josh loaded it back into the truck, and away we went back to Sears. First off, it was my fault that I took a floor model without a box. Second, when I saw the label ripped off the back of the washer, I should have known. Label is not to be removed until the buyer gets it home, and has to remove it to get the cord out. I get to Sears, and go to appliances. I ask for a store manager. She comes. I tell her and the salesman on the floor my problem. I was very calm, did not yell, or threat any one. LOL!! They took my receipt, checked it out, and sure enough, both were returned, used items!! BOTH!! The lady who sold it to me kept telling me that they didn't have the one I wanted brand new in the store, and that it would take a few days to get it to me, etc... so that is when she "sold" me on the one I bought. The man checks for me, and sure enough there is a brand new one in a box at Sears. WHAT?? And the dryer was also in stocked in a box, brand-new. I tell him that I want both. He rings up both. Does some adjustments here and there, ADDS an additional 2 year warranty on my dryer (I had gotten the additional 3 yr warranties last night on both), AND I get $11 dollars back! I got 2 brand-new appliances for discounted cost, and I left as a very happy Sears customer. Maybe I will go back to get that elliptical machine that I tried out...

So crafty

This is my trusty ol' sewing machine that my mom's mom gave me in 1989. She bought it around 1981, so it's rather ancient compared to most cool sewing machines today. My zig-zag stitch doesn't work well, and I have never had it serviced. Maybe I need to take it in soon. It's a Kenmore... think Sears will service it?

This is the apron I did for Kayley. Now that I am done with it, it looks huge! She can just double wrap it for now. I know she will be so excited for it. She's been wanting me to make her an apron. It took my about 3 hrs to do this. 1 hour was doing the stupid straps... just trying to get them pushed through to the right side. I was getting mad there for a bit.

Look at the finish details... cute lace that matches and even buttons!

These are the stockings that I made. Okay, I didn't do them all in one day... actually over a period of about 16 years~ LOL!! Top left is Josh's, hence the lighter fabric (made about 1992). Then Lauren's, Kayley's, and bottom right is Jacob's. I've had those one done since 1998 or 1999. Then I had Krissy, Lindsey and Joey... and never a stocking for them. I have been debating for a long time whether I continue with the current pattern, or do something new for all. Kids really wanted me to make the last 3 like the others, so I did those yesterday. Krissy's or Joey's don't have hair yet because I need to get a lighter yarn. Krissy cried and cried yesterday because of it. I guess she thought I was going to keep hers bald.

Of course, the tree looks a lot better when it's dark and you can see the lights. And when all the ornaments are spread around instead of the top section... my tree would look better. It was perfect for the first, um... maybe 24 hrs? After that Joey hasn't been able to resist. He's doing good with the gifts at leaving them alone, but the ornaments & ribbon? Forget it!

Last Saturday I went to the Dallas Temple with the youth. Kayley stayed home with the younger kids (Josh was also here and technically in charge, but Kayley is the boss). They made this giraffe with some clay they found. I thought they did a great job.

Now maybe I will go finish the Christmas plates I was suppose to have given out at Thanksgiving 2007, and then 2008, but never did... I really need Rebecca here to help me! LOL!!

It's finally done...

My Christmas tree is up. And with all my new stuff I got for it, it looks very nice. I decided not to do all my Hallmark ornaments (over 100!), but only a few. I wish that Hobby Lobby had more of the red birds, but the few that I have makes my tree look cool. I even got a red star and red ribbon to wrap around the tree this year. I must say I love red for Christmas. I love having my free tree (thanks Rebecca again... she got it last year at a yard sale for $7... very huge and already pre-lit with white lights... and her husband made her get rid of it~ to me!)... it's soooo awesome too!

This week I am actually going to make 3 stockings for Kristen, Lindsey & Joey. Only my older kids do not know I am making them. I am going to surprise them. I have debated for years and years if I was going to continue with this current sock pattern (my mom used it for all of us 8 kids, and I did it for my 1st 4), and so therefore the last 3 have never had a nice sock. Finally this!

I am also going to be making a few other things. I can't say yet because I really want those as a surprise since sometimes my kids get on here to read. If they see the thing about the socks, oh well, but I want the others things to be special for them.

I am taking Joey & Shawn to Shreveport tomorrow to the ENT. I am hoping that Joey gets tubes soon. Poor kid... 3 surgeries in 1 year! Oh, well. Shawn has had a horrible ear infection for the past week. We went to our Dr. friend (thanks, HJ!), and he has said that maybe he might need a tube in that ear since this is his 2nd one in 1 yr! How crazy is that? Shawn wants to go shopping tomorrow in Shreveport too. Geez. I thought I was done. I AM DONE!! I am not going to get anymore stuff. I went to the church bookstore on Saturday in Dallas, and got some stuff there too (already planning on getting that stuff).

This is Josh's last Christmas home. I just don't want to think about it yet, but I want this to be a good memory for him.

Oh, Christmas Tree~ Oh, Christmas Tree

Today Lauren stayed home from school supposedly sick. So I took advantage of her. I didn't allow her to be "sick". She had to babysit while I went shopping for 6 hrs (remember the drive is an hour itself!)! Shawn and I had a great time. I am about down except for a few things for Josh & Lauren (HELP!).

As I was coming home, I called Lauren and told to take the Christmas stuff out. I went to Hobby Lobby tonight to get a few fuses for the lights and I hope to have our tree up tomorrow. I also bought some more stuff for the tree & house. I am pretty excited! I can't wait to start wrapping presents!

This is Heidi...

when she realized that she only has 23 more days of Christmas shopping left!!

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!