Testing, testing, testing...

Anyone still there?

Why is it that as the years go on since I first started blogging, the time between my posts grows farther and farther apart?

I suppose adding a couple more kids- (and a home education!)- may have something to do with it ;)

But I'm still here! Even if I'm the only one.

I'm pretty sure I'll never stop blogging. I may go several weeks in between, but I'll never stop. I love expressing myself in pictures and in words. I'm hopeful that as the kids grow older, it will get easier, as they become less dependent and I can carve out a little more time to create posts. But for now, the little ones require much investment in time- and I don't want to miss investing in what is invaluable. I read the best quote today- it affected me deeply, and also confirmed for me that it's ok to go a week or two (or 4) without updating. I read, "Make sure the time you spend (online) is really nurturing you. Make sure it's making you a better wife, a better mother, a better Christian. Your time is so precious and your time alone is so scarce. Make it count. Make it matter."

So there you go. That's where I've been when I haven't been here...
I've been making it matter. Making it count.

That being said- I've got a baby sleeping, 2 girls listening to Cd's in their room, and a little man building a Lego Cross for Easter in his bedroom... and about 20 minutes of time to myself- to share with you- what we've been up to.

Just when we thought Spring was here to stay... fresh air and no more colds... we got hit with a bad case of Influenza. It hit all of us hard! I was in bed for 4 days straight. At one point, when my fever soared past 105.5, my husband was eager to take me in to the hospital because the Internet scared him into thinking I could slip into a coma. I told him I was too sick to move- that I was going to try to sleep- and to check on me in an hour... if I didn't budge, then he should bring me in. And obviously you know how the story ends- here I am. Three weeks later. Well!

My little Gracie got hit hardest out of all the kids. She soared past 106. When I was sweating away in my own fever induced delirium-  the scary Internet info didn't phase me. But when it's your CHILD who's afflicted, it's hard not to flip into panic mode. But I resisted... and chose prayer over panic. (And I also gave that fever 60 minutes to dip down before I would have raced her to the ER... and like her Momma, she- too, was ok).

When my little mother hen wasn't resting, fighting off this nasty bug...

... she was helping take care of her siblings. She's amazing.

We all chipped in taking care of each other...

As the Mom, I was in charge of the Rx log, of course. Keeping track of 6 people's Tylenol schedules in my head is too confusing- even for me...

But soon enough- the smiles returned-

And so did our energy...

And so did the sunshine!!

(Well, temporarily).

Since I took these pictures we've had snow.

And sun.

And more snow.

I know that living in the Northern parts, our Spring comes a bit later than in other parts- but this is ridiculous.

I'm hopeful, however, that I've seen my last snowflake of the winter fall. And that in posts to come you'll be seeing us OUTSIDE, where we LOVE to be!

Happy Spring (or if you live by me... Spring to Be!)