ramblings...

Peek-A-Boo!

I see you!

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In all honesty, I have nothing interesting to post about. My kids are feeling better- but, unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating. So, inside we sit. Playing peek-a-boo. Or, all right I'll admit- watching a tv show here or there...

Really- I just took a bunch of pictures of Ariana and thought that some of them were cute so I'd post them.

However! Even though I don't have anything interesting to say today- I thought I'd share with you something beautiful I read in my daily flip calendar. I have Stormie Omartian's "The Power of a Praying Parent" calendar and every day there are beautiful words of insight.

This one I read a couple days ago, especially touched my heart....

"Parental love is often the means by which children actually open themselves to God's love and come to understand it early in life. That's why from the time our children are born, we should pray, "God, help me to really love my child the way You want me to and teach me how to show it in a way he/she can understand."

What a precious reminder of how vital our role as parents is in these little one's lives.

Happy Friday!!

Angela

Mommy Date

Things are looking up around here. Everyone is feeling much better AND I have not gotten sick at all. Praise God! As you all know, Mom's aren't allowed to get sick!

This morning, I had the wonderful privilege of taking my son out on a date. I get to spend a lot of one on one time with the girls... Grace, because I am often driving her off to activities and Ariana, because, well- because she's "the baby." I always ask Alex to come with me by himself when I go run errands or grocery shop- but for some reason, that just doesn't have quite the appeal for him. Not nearly as much- that is- as a date to the donut shop!



So- this morning we headed over to Mr. Donut - the very same store that many years ago I was taken to for dates when I was his age. And, let me tell ya, nothing about that place has changed. Same booths, same 70's counter tops, same garbage/tray stand that was there 25 years ago (ewww). The place could use a bit of updating, for sure, but I cherished being there with him.

We ordered up our donuts... chocolate with sprinkles for him, chocolate glaze for me. A special hot chocolate for him, a plain decaf coffee for me (that I had to choke down- gross!). We sat down in our booth- facing each other- and visited away about things that 4 year old's love to talk about. He confirmed for me, again, that his favorite thing to play with is "Cars" and that when he grows up he wants to be either Spiderman or a Dad. He wondered about when Spring would "come back" and suggested that maybe it was already over! We talked about everything. And nothing. And I loved every second of it.

I honestly didn't want our time to end! As he finished the last of his donut and started to get up from the booth to go- I said, "We don't have to go yet! There's no hurry." And for me, Ms. Multi-tasker, Type-A, always doing 5 things at once.... that was quite the proof that I wanted to be nowhere other than right where I was.... sitting in a 1970's orange booth, sipping weak coffee- but across from my handsome boy who lights up my life.

Sick Day

So, we are going on Day 7 here of being cooped up in the "sick house." Fortunately, this was only day 2.5 for the kids being sick- but day 6 for Mike. Which means, it was also Day 6 of me just about losing my mind wanting to get out and go somewhere other than across the street to Target to get more medicine or a Rx.

From the looks of the picture below, you'd think it was nearing the end of a long hard day. But, nope- this picture was taken around 9 a.m. When you have the flu, I guess you're "done for" first thing in the morning upon waking. All it takes is walking down the stairs and you're wiped out.



Later on, just before lunch, apparently Ariana was ready for her nap because I found her curled up on the couch all on her own. She'd managed to get the pillow in place and cover herself with a blanket...


Alex felt the worst today. It was hard to keep his fever below 102, even while dosed on Motrin and Tylenol. When he wasn't laying down, glassy eyed or asleep on the couch- he sat and listed to his sister read to him. I have to admit, my heart was very touched by my daughter. Even though she has been just as cooped up as me- being that she is the only other well one in the house- she made the best of it and offered all day to help get medicine, water, and read to her siblings...



I noticed she was wearing her new shirt that I recently bought her and though it is Saturday, and we did not "have class" today- I still get a chuckle out of her shirt and thought I'd post a picture of it below. Next time, I'll have to make sure she's wearing it on a "school day"- ya know- when we're out and about on a "field trip" (of course), when we get those questioning glances from cashiers or librarians or whomever else wonders why she's not in "school."



Hoping tomorrow is fever-free!!

Well- another 'interesting' week around our house. My husband flew home from New York City a week ago, and with him, he brought Influenza B home in his "luggage." And, as if that were not enough of a souvenir, he also made a special trip over to my sisters house last weekend to pick up a package of gastroenteritis (aka the "puke bug"). Yes, I know what you are thinking- what LUCK! I mean, seriously- who gets TWO of the nastiest things at the same time?? But the Dr. confirmed he had both. For the majority of this weekend and week, he was the only one to feel ill. And, fortunately, he was the only one who enjoyed the puke bug... which struck him not just once- but twice... with 36 hours in between the first and second round, teasing him into thinking it was over. Just when he thought he could eat a decent meal (and did) it returned with a vengeance. I thought everyone was in the clear from Influenza until last evening when Ariana and Alex both came down with 102 fevers and the little one turned from funny and sweet to whiny and demanding.

Prior to knowing the kids had actually gotten influenza from Mike, I had called our Pediatrician on the recommendation of Mike's Dr. who suggested we start them all on Tamiflu to prevent them from getting the flu. I'm not a big fan of giving my kids medicine- especially when they are not even sick yet. But, the Pediatrician had called over a Rx for each of the 3 kids regardless. So, last night, when the 2 youngest fell ill I flew over to Target and filled the Rx's. Alex and Ariana's are dosed for treatment, Grace's is dosed for prevention.

As for myself... I feel equal parts sitting duck and mother hen.

Because Mike has been totally out of commission for the last 5 days, I've been taking care of EVERYthing and everyone- including him... ALL the time. Fairly exhausting. I am back to keeping schedules of their medicine- how else could I keep track if I didn't write it down??



I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of this the next few days....


Although, I've gotta admit- my boy is a trooper. He is not one to complain. Even when his fever has been around 102, and he's coughing, he tells me he feels just fine and is still jumping around slaying imaginary guys with his sword in the living room.

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But on the bright side, this week hasn't been all bad. Not at all. As a matter of fact- we enjoyed a couple of really excellent weather days earlier in the week. I believe Monday hit nearly 70! The rest of the days, we did bundle up, but still enjoyed bikes, balls and chalk outside.

Just praying that this passes quickly and the medicine they are taking does it's job and binds the virus up and stops it!

Here's to hoping your weekend is better than ours!! :)