Throwing up stinks!

And that's no pun intended!! We have been really lucky since Jacob has been diagnosed with diabetes that we haven't had any bad sicknesses. Jacob got the flu shot last year (2006), and again this past December. He would have a few ups & downs, but nothing ever really bad.

I posted below about who was sick last weekend. After posting that, whoever was going to throw-up did. It was either throwing-up or diarrhea or both. I don't now how Lindsey & I got so lucky, but we did. Unfortunately this weekend she and I have terrible head colds, but I rather have that then up-chucking. :-)

Everyone was done with throwing-up by Tuesday. I sent kids to school. I probably should had them stay home another day, but I was so ready for kids to be back at school. It was rather a long weekend.

Thursday I took Jacob to see the new GI doctor. His blood sugars had been really low since Tuesday, and I let them know that. Good thing his diabetic doctor was in the same building. They got him, and we all had one great big talk. We decided to let him eat whatever he wanted (since he wasn't eating well either), and to lower his Lantus insulin. Okay. No biggie. YEAH.........RIGHT!!!!

On Friday, he didn't eating much breakfast. At lunchtime the school nurse called me. They had tested his sugars, and they were trying to correct them, and they were not going up. AND to top it off, they gave him his Novolog insulin, and he didn't eat! So, as I am trying to decide what to do, I called his diabetic doctor back, who always answers his office phone (love love love that!), and he told me to go get him from school. I do, and had him eat a sugar-free pudding (since that is what he wanted). I go to the store with my mother-in-law, and I was only gone for 1 1/2 hrs if that long. The store was a 25 minute drive each way, and that's all we did. I got home, and he was complaining again that his stomach hurt. He checked his blood, and then we to lay down because he still wasn't feeling well. Promptly throws-up again. I call his doctor back, in a panic because now I don't know what to do, and I tell him "TELL ME WHAT TO DO! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE." We both agree that he needs to go to ER @ LSU Children's in Shreveport (90 miles) to meet him there.

Long story short of the rest of the night: He was admitted to LSU Children's.

Not only do I have Jacob, but I unfortunately had Joey. Not fun. My friend did offer to watch him the whole night, and I should have left him there. Why didn't Shawn take care of him? Because he had to be at work on Saturday, and he could not call in sick because he called in sick that Monday because he had to virus too, and we already can't afford to live.

His blood sugars remained low throughout the night, and on Saturday morning. By afternoon, his sugars became normal, and he was starting to eat without complaining. They took his IV out to see how he would do until dinner time. He ate dinner good, and sugars were great. We left to go home at 7pm, to meet Shawn at the other hospital so we could drive back at the same time.

The doctors determined that his Celiacs is at its worst right now, and that he needs to be on a gluton-free diet now. So needless to say, we are starting that tonight for dinner, even though I started it for him this morning. Kids aren't too happy about no more porkchops with gray gravy (don't ask!) or stand-up fried chicken, but those are foods that can make him sick, or worse.

We will be going on a vegetarian diet (see me laughing really hard?) with some meat and dairy, but no breads or bread products! Even ice cream has gluton, and Ranch dressing (oh my, whatever shall we do?)!

PUKE!

Literally! Let's see... Kristen started with it Friday night, and continued to puke until 3am, and then puked most of the day on Saturday, puking her last puke last night about 7:30pm.

Kayley then complained all afternoon today that she wasn't feeling well, and finally around 5:30 or so, I told her to go to bedroom, put on her jammies and go to sleep (she told me she didn't want to eat). Wasn't complaining about her stomach though... just saying she didn't feel well. By 6:30, she was puking. Has puked about 3 more times since.

We all sit down to eat about 6:30pm, and give the kids their food. Jacob just sitting there looking at his, and at first I thought maybe he didn't want to eat the chicken (Shawn's brother grilled it...a lit-tle on the black side). I call him over to me, and when I asked him what was wrong, he told me he didn't feel well. Sent him to bed. At 8:30 when I am trying to get little girls in bed, while holding a nursing baby (yes, I can multi-task), I ask who is in the shower JUST AS I OPEN THE BATHROOM DOOR AND SEE PUKE ALL OVER AND AROUND the "throw-up" bowl and all over the toilet. Jacob stickes his little head out and says it's him.

Take baby off the boob, and lay him in bed. Start cleaning up throw-up. Shawn is an RN, but he cannot clean up sick puke. He can do puke at the hospital because usually it's not the "sick sick" kind... KWIM? So, that is why I am doing it. I have a strong stomach! :-)

In the meantime, Kayley is running into the other bathroom puking, and Lauren is complaining she is going to get sick if she has to smell it while taking a shower. I tell her to stop, and take a shower in my bathroom since Kayley only had some dry-heeving, and not anymore sick puke (at the moment). I get the 3rd load of wash going since I don't want the smell lingering in the laundry room anymore then it has too.

At 9:47, all children are in bed asleep. Let's see how long it will last... *EDIT* Lasted all of 3 minutes... Kayley was just in the bathroom. I've told them to spray the toilet and everything around it with Lysol and wash hands good.

*Side note* Josh came home from school on Friday with a very sick stomach, but he never threw-up. His came out the other end. LOL!! Same with Joey's. I am glad I am nursing him still (only a few time a day as he is eating food) as his diapers have been YUCKO! I didn't feed him much food on Saturday because he was worse on Saturday especially that morning, so I knew he wasn't feeling to good. He is also beginning to pull at his ear again. He just got done with antibiotics for his 2nd ear infection in a month. Guess he is getting another. All of his could be related to getting his teeth (he now has 6!), but may not be.

Only Lauren & Lindsey haven't gotten sick yet, but their moment is coming I am sure...

A new baby is coming!

And it's not mine!! Can you believe it? My crazy, silly sister-in-law, Cindy, is preggers! #5 for them. Her 'baby' now is almost 7! She says she wants 2 more, and wants them to be both boys! I have a friend who had 4 in the same pattern as Cindy: B-G-B-G, waited 6 yrs to have another and then another 2 yrs later. Both boys! Maybe Cindy's pattern will be like Jen's!

Congratulations Cindy & Brett!! Glad it's you and not me!! LOL!!!

Oh, part of the story I was going to post down there... I listen to a radio show called Kidd Kradic. Crazy show in the mornings! Hilary listens to it too. Anyway, they have a segmet called 'Do you think I'm crazy?' You have to call in with your "weird" thing you do, and the show will determine if you are crazy or not. Hilary called in once, and they told her she was rude. LOL!! So I call today (2nd time I have called... did I post about the 1st time? Hilary will have to post it), and I got through!! I was soooooooooooooooo excited, but the segmet was done. I was so bummed!! I have the perfect "Do you think I'm crazy?" I was going to say, so if you ever hear it, you know it's me... I have a thing about even numbers. Every thing has to be even. If I count something, and I know it's going to end with an odd number, I'll count really fast to end it in an even number, silly I know... but the catcher is... I have 7 kids. It's really bothering me that 7 is not an even number. I want to have one more to make it 8. Does that make me crazy?

I know I would win!! I would be the ultimate winner. Who can come up with something better then that?

Ok, this is it!

10 days into the new year... I am starting the dreaded word~ diet. Oh, how I hate diets! I love to eat. This new year I decided I really needed to stop drinking Diet Dr Peppers. So far this year I've had 4. Yes, 4. Mom thinks I've only had 3, but I did have another. It was the 2nd. I was so ashamed. I acted as the 3rd was my 2nd. :-D Such a dork, I know! I even went walking today in my new Nikes that Josh got me for Christmas. I told him I wanted pink and white Nikes. They are awesome. I can't even tell you the last time I had Nikes for me. I know I had some in high school, but I have been wearing the Walmart special. They are cool, my Nikes that is... I am hoping to loose the 50 lbs I need to loose by Saturday. Think I can in these Nikes? Wish me luck! I'm hoping to get at least in the size 14 jeans that Hilary gave me that are super cute (which I almost can, it's just the dang zipper that won't cooperate!).

Oh, and the nurse has already called me! I'm like sooooooo dang impressed!!

Next week I am taking the 4 younger kids to their Drs. in Shreveport. Taking Jacob to the Pedi GI, and taking the other 3 to a new Pedi.

Why are people dumb?

Don't know what it is. I don't know if they are dumb really, but it's enough to make me ticked. And you don't want this person ticked! LOL!!

A few weeks ago, Jacob was finally approved for an insulin pump. I say finally because first they told me that he wasn't. I called the insurance company, dealt with a nice lady in HR named Janet, and we got everything squared away. It wasn't that we weren't approved, it was because Ed from the Insulin Pump company didn't make it clear what he was trying to get approve. So before I called Janet, I spoke with Ed, with him telling me that I needed to call the insurance company. I signed all the papers that were sent, and mailed them back. Almost 2 weeks later, and I still haven't heard back from Ed. I call him today and he tells me that the insurance company wasn't going to approve it. Hello? Are you there ED? Didn't we have this conversation a few weeks ago? He then called Janet, who confirmed everything that I just had told him, and then he calls me back. But not before I called Janet back to make sure everything was cool, which of course it is. Ed calls me back, but I didn't let him know that I had called too, and he tells me that everything is cool, and that all papers are signed (um, hello ED...you just told me told that I wasn't approved so why am I now with papers signed even?). He is mailing the pump off today, and I should receive it by Tuesday. He will have a Home Health Nurse come to the house to help us set Jacob up with it. Of course I told Ed that if I hadn't heard from the nurse by Tuesday I would be calling him back. Why do I get the feeling that I will be calling him back?

Shawn got me a Bosch Kitchen Machine for Christmas. Not cheap for a family who is not rich. He also got me the cookie paddles and the food processer to go with it. Only it's not the food processer that came with it. It was the slicer/shredder. Which would have been okay if it wasn't $100. So, I called Emergency Essentials and told them that they sent the wrong item. I called them less then a week after Christmas. They told me that the UPS or Fed Ex man would be coming to pick up the box within 72 hrs. Nothing. I call back. Okay...he will be there either the 4th or 7th. It's now the 10th. I actually called yesterday. Manager wasn't there, but I was told that they would send out a call slip for the return order since they messed up, but to call back on the 10th. I called this morning. Oh, and BTW... where is my processer? "Hmmmmmmm," she says. I don't know what happened. Seems like all of it was put on hold? WHY? You have my $100, send me the right item! It's not my fault that y'all screwed up! Send it to me now and get the d**m UPS man here because I'm tired of waiting for him. I do have a life besides sitting in my house waiting for him all day! Okay, not really did I cuss, nor do I have a life, but still! I'm tired of waiting! They told me that he should be here within 72 hrs.

Oh, brother...

Christmas Dresses and a Pair of Khakis

I always remember getting things that matched as my sisters. Being the oldest, and with the next sister 4 yrs younger than me, it wasn't all the time. My sisters Heather & Hilary always had matching things, or at least I think they did. I do know that my mom would sometimes attempt to make us Easter dresses for all of us girls. I think the first dress I ever remember her making me was when I was 10. She made this red dress, and it was like pioneer-style up on top. Had the lace and all that, but it wasn't a long dress. I really liked that dress. Mom would put my hair back into a bun, and have this lacy comb thing that she would put on, and I thought I looked cool.

The next Easter Mom made the pink gingham dresses. Mine was the same style as that red one, and the 3 other girls had pinafores to go with them, or at least that is what Mom called them. It basically was an eyelet dress sleeveless thing over the main dress. I don't know if my baby sister had one, but she did have a bonnet to go with hers. I thought they were cool. I think Mom made herself a matching skirt too. Not to sure about that.

Then we moved to Alaska, and the first Easter there was still snow on the ground. I guess Mom thought we would freeze if we didn't wear long johns to church like the boys could. So that year she made us long purple dresses. Oh, how I hated that dress! I was 11!! No 11 yr old wore a long dress, and certainly nobody on earth wore long dresses in 1982! Heck, I was almost in Young Women’s! Can you see me making Lauren & Kayley wear a long dress? Oh, it was soooooooooo not cool!!

Mom started making her a matching skirt too, but never got done. I think she realized that they were ugly. I mean the material, and I do remember that material, was like very thin, and the dresses were short-sleeve! What was the point of that? Sorry, Mom! LOL!!

That Christmas, after I was 12, Mom again made sure we were matching. I guess she decided dresses were too hard to make (thank goodness!), but we did get matching nightgowns. Long-sleeve white gowns with red trim and panda bears on them. I have to admit, they were okay, as I didn't have to wear them in public. Mom does have the picture somewhere; don't know if Hilary can get it from Dad's scanner, and put it on here. It would be hilarious!

Since Kristen & Lindsey are close in age, they do like to match. Shawn's mom and I found these dresses at Dillard’s. They had bigger sizes for the bigger girls, but I just couldn't see Lauren & Kayley wearing them. She bought them for the girls, and they thought they were so cool. They wanted me to keep taking their pictures, but they had to leave for church. Lauren was staying the night at Victoria's house (first time I ever let her do it on a Saturday night... what kind of Mother am I?), so she didn't get pics done with her new church clothes. Jacob has his new church clothes on, which are always the same... khaki pants & white shirt. But Josh did do his hair to make it look like his. Kayley is wearing her new dress and black boots. She just about died and went to heaven when she saw she got black boots for Christmas! Lauren did too, and they were cute with her new black skirt, and gold sweater with belt. I'll get a picture of it later.

My Baby Is One!

My baby turned 1! Can you believe it? Shawn had to work on his birthday, so we decided to have his party on Sunday night (sound familiar?) when Shawn could be there. Normally Shawn can careless about birthdays, but he does like to be here for the 1st one. Maybe because he realizes that he doesn't have a baby baby anymore. Oh well... this womb isn’t having anymore!

Saturday night, Joey was up all night crying, like he was in pain. At 3:30am I pulled on his ear some, and he screamed out. Gave him some Tylenol & Motrin, and he slept until 2pm when kids & Shawn came home from church. I got up with them, got them dressed, took pics, and as soon as they left, I went back to bed too.

Normally I never miss church. Can't even remember missing church for a sick child. Most of the time Shawn stays home because of my calling... leading music in church. But, Shawn was doing the 5th Sunday lesson for Priesthood/Relief Society, so he had to be there.

I decided not to make a cake, or buy one. No one really eats cake here. We rather have brownies or pie, or cookies. Don't get me wrong, we like cake, but not as much as the other stuff. So, I made brownies, and cut him a piece, stuck on the candle, and whoa-la! Birthday brownie!

Shawn fed him a piece, and he liked it. Remember he is sick in these pictures, and still has his jammies on. BTW... I took him to the doctor this morning, and he does have another ear infection!

Christmas

Christmas day this year was a bit different for our family. Josh didn't like it for the most part because it was to boring. It was rather boring, but in the end, I think it will be fine. I'm actually writing this before Christmas Day is even over. Let me go back to a few weeks ago...

Shawn came home from work and told me that he most likely will have to work on Christmas. He kind of knew he might have too, but he was really hoping he wouldn't have too. He is at a new hospital this year, and unlike St. Joe's, everyone takes turns working on Christmas Day. Shawn was always able to juggle his schedule so that he would be off on Christmas Day. Most of the time he worked Christmas Eve, but that was okay, because since we lived in Bryan (for most of the years) we just did all of our fun stuff at Mimi & Grampa's house later on Christmas Day when we went to their house. First year here, he was off because Christmas was actually on Sunday, and he didn't work weekends (which we loved), and last year we were at Killeen because of the baby being born in Bryan 2 days later. Shawn worked out his schedule so that he would be off Christmas Day, and not go back to work until that Saturday.

Christmas Eve day came, and everyone in Shawn's family was coming. All except 1 brother-in-law, 2 nephews & 1 niece. I told everyone to bring his or her favorite Christmas dessert, and I would provide the meal. I decided to still stick to the Pritchard Family tradition of having Cornish game hens, rice, broccoli casserole, cranberry salad, toss salad and rolls (which I forgot to get). At 4pm, I put the hens in the oven, and it wasn't pretty. I had to literally smash 9 hens in my bottom oven, as none would fit in my top oven. I had sprinkle them with a lemon-type spice that smelled really good, and then I basted them in butter, and oh my gosh, they were good!

Close to 4pm, Michelle (Shawn's sister-in-law, married to Jon) called to say that she and Kendall were coming up and they were bringing 2 extra people. I said OK, and really made my kids clean up better. I had no idea whom was coming. They get there, and we met 2 pilots who were "stranded" in Texarkana for the night. They were staying in a hotel, but Michelle (who works at the airport) didn't want them to be alone for most of the night, invited them to come. One was born in1984, and the reason I know that was because we were laughing at a picture that I have on the fridge of Shawn that Josh found of him at Shur-Way at a Christmas party in 1984. We were laughing at what he was wearing, and what we were doing in 1984, and the pilot said that was the year he was born. Wow!! So young!! The other one is from Phoenix originally, but lives in Houston at present time working for Continental. They both said that they had just been in College Station the day before, and I was "boohooing" as I told them I love the area and want to go back. They agreed that it was a nice place.

They also said they fly to Killeen often, and that they would be in Killeen later this week. I then told Michelle I needed 7 buddy-passes on Jan. 1st to Killeen, and she told me she would see what she could do. LOL!! It would be fun to fly, but not really. How would we travel once we are there? Michelle then said that it was easy for her to get passes to Houston from Texarkana, but that from Houston to Killeen was almost next to impossible since those flights are always full. Ramble, ramble, ramble...

We eat, and it was good. We then did the T'was the Night Before Christmas. We told them pilots that this was crazy, and they might be scarred for the rest of their lives, and never want children or a family, and they laughed. They all laughed through it, we all laughed through it, and it was so much fun. The little kids loved it. Then "Santa" (aka Uncle Jon) came in with 2 HUGE bags of gifts. I was so embarrassed because I really didn't have anything for them, but he said it was OK. I guess he did all the shopping, and loved doing it. The kids loved their gifts, and had so much fun with it. I'll have to remember this next year. Even Uncle Shane had gifts for us, and again, nothing for them. I mean, I got the 4cousins something, but that was it.

Then we do the Nativity story. Shawn's mom plays Away in the Manger in the background as Shawn reads the Christmas Story via the book that my mom got us a few years ago from Deseret Book, or something like that. Lauren took it upon herself to borrow the costumes from the church's activities closet, and had the kids practice, and also practice the song in the Children's songbook, The Nativity, or something like that. Lauren practiced and practiced playing& learning that song on the piano, and did a great job playing while all the kids sang it. I never really had heard that song before until this year, and I really like it. Side note: I also did the Ward Choir Christmas Program on the 16th, and we sang that song in the Dec. 2007Ensign called Guard Him, Joseph...and I think these 2 songs are my favorite this year, and for a long time.

Everyone was gone by 8pm, and dishes done, and kids in bed by 9pm. I told all my kids that Santa was going to be by at 10pm, and if they weren't asleep, he was passing by. Shawn was in bed too since was up early that morning deer hunting, and he may have to work the next day. Everything that I needed to do was done by 10:30, and I was asleep. I didn't sleep well because I kept thinking about how today would go if Shawn had to work. Shawn calls Sunday night to get his name as "first off". No biggie said the unit secretary. He was still to call at 4:30am on Christmas morning to see if they would still need him or not. "Sorry" he was told...2other people already called in this morning and beat you to it. WHAT? We called Sunday!! So, Shawn leaves for work.

I go back to sleep. About 7:30am, I go back to get a diaper for the baby, and tell Jacob to check his blood. By 8am all that was done, and kids came out to see what Santa left. Not much, as this was Santa's last stop, and he just didn't have a lot left (as I told the kids). It looked rather small compared to past Christmases, but I just didn't have the money. Kids were happy though, and loved the candy that was left, and the hands-on stuff that they got. It has kept them busy most of the day. At about 2pm, kids were getting kinda bored again, so I called Shawn to see if he mind if we opened some family gifts because I knew of a few games and some new DVDs & CDs. He said to go ahead, and all was happy with Harry Potter 5,Little Rascals, and new games.

Now at 6:30pm, we are getting tacos done waiting for Shawn to get home by 9pm, so that we can open the rest of the gifts. Yes, I have made my kids wait ALL DAY!! They certainly have not liked that, but they have been pretty cool with it. Shawn told me to have them open them, but I wanted him to be with us. He has to have some sort of Christmas today, even if it is 9pm!

What I am thankful for

I knew Joey was a momma's boy, but I didn't know how much until this week when everyone came. All I can say is...

I AM THANKFUL FOR ZOLOFT!

Thanksgiving 2007

I just need to learn to take the camera out and take pictures of things like this. 20 of my parents 23 grandchildren were at my house, and not a single picture of all of them together with my parents! How sad is that? I am hoping that Hil will post some pictures later when she gets home, but until then, I have none.

My Thanksgiving week began Sunday night when my brother-in-law, Shawn Mc (Heather's husband) came up with their 3 sons. Heather and Holly were to arrive on Tuesday. Shawn Mc arrived so that he could go deer hunting with my Shawn. On Tuesday, Heather & Holly got here, along with my parents, and Brett & his family. On Wednesday Chad & his family arrived. Chad's wife, Kimber, just had a new baby...Ella...on October 5th. She is a cutie. Early Thursday morning, like 5am-ish, Hilary and her family arrived from Ft. Knox, KY. They had a long 10 hr drive and couldn't leave until 5pm Wednesday. They had pulled over a few times a long the way to sleep here and there. They weren't planning that, but it happened, and I rather have them here then dead. And about 8am on Thursday morning, Scott, Val & Jared arrived from Killeen. They left like at 3:30am.

When I was growing up, Thanksgiving dinner at 6pm. Not before ever! Not even 5:59pm! Always 6pm, and always we were dressed nicely and had the house cleaned, and the table set perfectly. If we even ate an olive before dinner, we were in trouble (sorry Mom, but it's true!). Dad would make pies with nasty pie crusts (sorry Dad, but it's true!), but the turkey would be carved perfectly and everything else made just right. Dad just didn't have a good pie crust recipe, and I hated that they were never done right. They were either not cooked right, or they were burned. He would burn a few at first, and then not cook the rest long enough so that the crust would not burn. No one knew what Pampered Chef was back then, and their pie crust protecters (not that I use them because I do make perfect pie crusts!).

Thanksgiving dinner at the Miller Family aka as the Pritchard Family Reunion is now at 12 noon. Besides all my family who comes, but Shawn's family comes too. Plus extended family...like aunts/uncles/cousins from his parents side. Thanksgiving 2006, when I was 8 months pregnant, we had over 60 people eating here. This year because Shawn's mom family did not come (sickness), we had about 30-40. It wasn't as hectic, but I felt I was soooooooooo not prepared!

Dinner was prepared at 12:30 with 3 different types of turkey, ham, sweet potato casserole, smashed potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and oh the desserts! I made 5 pies. I did...and all were eaten and eaten fast! I made 2 pumpkins, 2 pecans (from the pecans that my mom brought up from Killeen) and 1 apple. I also made a Reeses Peanut Butter bar dessert, and then what everyone else brought. I ate a lot, and gained weight.

Speaking of weight... Hilary is like skinny! I knew she had lost like 100 lbs, and 50 of it was at least since April when I saw her, so I hadn't seen her skinny skinny yet (she was like this when she married in 1996). She looks so good, and I am so jealous! And as I am typing this, I am thinking of more food and when I can get to Sonic to get me a drink. So sad, I know.

Pritchard Family Reunion

Next week of Thanksgiving. By Thursday, 35/40 people will be at my house staying. If you get on my Dad's blog, you can read some about it last year. Everyone is coming again except Toddanem. Maybe next year we can get them down. I have to go do grocery shopping Monday. This weekend will be all about cleaning and buying me a robe. OK, I hate robes. I sleep in my G's. I hate everything about PJ's. Can't stand the feel of them. And I had a horrible robe that I got a few years ago that I threw away a few months ago. So, off to robe shopping Saturday. LOL!!

Update on Lauren: Eye looks good. One stitch came out this morning. She is hoping Shawn will take the rest out tonight. Her eye is yellow & purple, with a red streak in the white of her eye. She is hoping that it will look better by tomorrow. Big youth thing tomorrow in Shreveport, and she is afraid that no one will dance with her. She is only 12, but this is the 1 dance that our stake allows the 12-13 yr olds go to because it's an all-day missionary thingy. I told Josh to dance with her, and to line some guys up to dance with her. LOL!! Her picture of her and her buck was also in the paper this week.

Joey cut his first tooth this week! Talk about exciting, and talk about miserable!! Poor baby has had a fever, running nose and yucko diapers all week! Poor baby!! :-(

Josh and his "new" car

Last night, Shelly & Mark got in from Alaska. Shelly is Shawn's sister. She and Mark have lived in Alaska for about 10 or so years. Mark is older, like close to 50. He and Shelly have always worked construction work (they were part of the group that redid the housing at Ft. Wainwright). But the cold is getting to them, so within 2 years they will have all their stuff moved down. So last night they get in. Mark is driving their huge motor home pulling a trailer that has a restored Corvette in it. I want to say it's a '79 or somewhere in the 80's. That is one of many hobbies of Mark's...restoring. We didn't know he was bringing it. In fact we just found out a few days ago that they had left Alaska and were heading down. Last we had heard they weren't coming down this winter. Josh goes outside to help with the directing of the motor home, and Mark drives out the Corvette. "Hey, Josh...wanna drive this to school tomorrow?" Uh, he// yes! What 17 yr old wouldn't? Now Josh is a good kid. Haven't had to wake him up to many times this year to get to seminary (he usually is heading out the door at 5:35am to make it by 6am in Texarkana), but this morning...5:22am he leaves! Yes, showered and everything! OUT THE DOOR! He tells his seminary teacher that he was up all night because he was soooooooooooo excited that he was able to take this Corvette today. LOL! I'll try to post a picture.

New Mastercard Commercial

Gun: $200
Ammo: $25
ER visit for stitches: $800+ (that's how much it cost for Kayley when she got her stitches in 2005!...don't want to know what this will be!)
Getting your first buck: Priceless!

I am filling in for Heidi on this one. She called me this morning to tell me that Lauren got her first buck, a 3 point buck! Paul is jealous! He and Nathan are off going hunting now...no not because Lauren got a buck, but because they had already planned on going hunting. Now he is REALLY hoping to shoot a buck!

But anyway, back to Lauren. She got the buck and the gun kicked back and hit her in the face. Well, the gun didn't hit her, but the scope did. She had to get 6 stitches. But it was well worth the pain and stitches to get her first ever buck! She even beat out Josh on getting a buck! Good job Lauren!

We can't forget about Shawn! He got an 8 point buck with an 18 inch spread. Paul is really salivating to get down there at Thanksgiving in hopes to get himself a buck and to redeem himself for shooting the spots off the one he got last year!! Good job Shawn!!

The day after...

The Ward Halloween Party last night was great! I had a lot of people to thank me and tell me that it was a good one. Time I got home last night though, my feet were sore! Josh was a judge in the chili cook-off & Lindsey won the cutiest costume in the Nursery & below age kids. Her "boyfriend" won the scariest costume. LOL!! I had only 9 people sign up for chili, and we probably had 20 different types of chili! We had so much, and tons of cornbread, crackers, the trimmings for frito pies, brownies and hundreds of cupcakes! It really was fun. Glad it isn't my calling though...don't think I could do a Christmas one in 6 weeks! I have a choir program to worry about anyways...

Few more pictures as well of the small kids and their haircuts. I got Joey's buzzed and Kristen's got hers cut today too, and we added a pink strip of hair. She loves it. Other girls want color in their hair too, so by Thanksgiving, we may have colored hair up here (perfect for family pictures!).

Wish me luck!

Ok, not really, but I kinda stressing out some with this Halloween Party on Wednesday night. I am pretty confident that it will be great, and lots of fun, but I am worried that there will not be enough food. I went to Sams today and bought some extra chili. I have people bringing chili, but just in case there wasn't enough. Lauren carved her pumpkin tonight. I should have gotten one for Kayley & Jacob, but honestly I didn't even think about it until I got home with the one for Lauren. She asked; no one else did. I told Kayley that she could decorate the cupcakes for the cupcake walk. She is excited for that.

Let me go make some cornbread so it can be done. I've already done 2 pans of brownies. I need to get dishes done too before heading to bed.

I hope Joey stays asleep the whole night...LOL! He is such a stinker! I bought him some cute fleece jammies tonight so maybe if he is warm all over he will stay asleep. I got 6/9 months even though he is more into 12 months because the 12 months looked huge! If by Christmas they are to small, I'll give them to Jared. They are soooooooo cute! I love Sams with all their cute Carters stuff. These have puppy paw prints all over, and just so dang adorable.

Feeding the Elders

Doing that tomorrow night. Our mission has a rule where only 1 set per house per night. We have 2 sets, and I feel bad that we don't always get to feed them as I like because we live so far out. Well, they had extra miles so both sets are coming...one set is going to "eat" with the in-laws, and one set with us, but we all going to eat at my house. LOL!! I am making pulled BBQ beef, potato salad, and a bun-Ta (My Big Fat Greek Wedding...say it like that) German Chocolate Cake (so good!) so far. I think I will do a fruit salad or something else along the lines of that. Not sure yet.

New jeans

I'm not going to take a picture of them, but I got a pair of new jeans last night. So much better then those maternity ones. When I posted about them, they were still "tight" some for not having been worn for a while. Well, after a few hours, they weren't staying up good. Little big! Which is good, but not so good since I couldn't get my pre-pregnancy ones on. :-( But this is a recent picture taken of me from the other day. Yes, I have a double chin. Yikes-o-la!

10 inches GONE!

Yep...after threatening to do it for months, I did it! I took Lindsey in on Friday and got 10 inches cut off! We were going to do 12 inches because I think that is what Locks of Love needs, but I was to scared to do that much! I didn't want it that super short. When the stylist chopped off the first pony, I about cried! I mean, she has only had 2 small trims in 3 3/4 years! That is almost 4 yrs of long hair! She loves it though, and we are thrilled with it. I still have the 2 ponies, and I am going to send them to Locks of Love if they'll take them. If not, I'll put them in her baby book. They are so cute. Little ringlets. Waaaaaaaaaaaaa! Now I can't believe I did it!!

Ashdown has moved up in the world!

I called my mom today to tell her that I was very emotional at the moment...

I just walked into our new Super Wal-Mart here in Ashdown. I was almost crying it was so exciting!! LOL!!

It's a small Super Wal-Mart, but it's nice. I am pleased with it. Many people hate Wal-Mart, but seriously...how can one live without? I am sure there are ways, but I'm not changing! I love it. Only thing I do not like is the produce section of any Wal-Mart. I will continue going to another grocery store, Brookshires, to get my green leaf lettuce there, and other stuff that isn't pre-packaged like at Wal-Mart.

I rather have fresher then Brookshires, and this summer when we had out garden, it was awesome! I love fresh veggies. Unfortunately, because we had such a wet wet summer, we didn't get a lot. Some of our tomato plants died too. There isn't a Farmers Market close by that I know of, but there may be one in Texarkana. I just need to check it out.

I am going back this afternoon when Jacob gets home from school. His birthday was on the 14th (He is 9!), and we went to the old Wal-Mart to get a bike for him, but they had already had sold out of them. I told him the day the new Wal-Mart opens I would take him to get his new bike. This morning he was excited about his bike.

How embarrassing!!!

This is Red Ribbon Week at the kids' school. You know, anti-drug week? Anyway, so each day this week they have a certain way of dressing. Monday was Red Day...wear something red. Tuesday was Camo Day...so the kids wore some of the hundreds of camo stuff we have around here. So when today Kayley said it was crazy hair day, I figured it was for all the schools like everything else was. Kristen announced she wanted like 6-7 ponytails in her hair, as well did Kayley. So, I put them in their hair. Had Kristen's all cute as it could be with 7 pony's, 2 with clippies that had "Kristen" on them, and a band that wrap around her whole head. Pictures will be posted soon.

I didn't have much today for lunch for Kristen to take, so I told her I would bring her lunch to her. I get there, and noticed that NO ONE had crazy hair. But I saw different colored socks, and crazy-looking socks. I asked her teacher, and she said it was crazy sock day. I was like OH NO!! I AM SO EMBARRASSED!! I tried to get Kristen to let me take her hair out so I could redo it, but she said no. Tomorrow is crazy hat day, so I will make sure she has a crazy hat.