Moments

I turned from doing dishes last night to see my boys "trading" football cards. We are obsessed with football cards right now. They have found Daddy's weak point and can easily get him to buy more on their special outings for "bread".

I saw my three boys' heads from the back and was stunned at how big they have become. The three of them carrying on a conversation about their cards; justifying their trade. I stood still, trying to take it in. Before I knew it I had grabbed my camera... a chance to catch them together, unnoticed.

Poor Baby

Joey got off the bus yesterday and didn't look right. I asked him if he was okay and he replied... I have a headache. (Mommy hair raises... oh no! The last time he had a headache he was in a ton of pain.) As soon as we walk through the door I give him Tylenol. Now... everyone makes mistakes, but you should always check the dosage and ask your kids how much he weighs (My kids love to weigh themselves, so they always know.) Everyone is hungry... no one wants a snack, they just want gum. Okay, gum it is.

After a while I can't find Joey... finally locate him on the landing of the stairs, curled up in a ball. He refuses to move... he's fine right there. Joe comes home... um, why is Joey on the stairs. I explain. He tries to get him to move and decides to leave him there as well.

Being that I happened to have my act together on Monday morning, dinner was in the crockpot (Chicken, onions and Apples... very good). We sit down to eat without Joey. He's not moving off the stairs. Molly comes down and carefully walks over him. After dinner, I see Joey sitting on the couch with Stefan... do you want to eat? how do you feel? He gets up and goes back to the stairs... finally accepts a pillow for his head.

I head out for meeting... wish Joe luck and tell him Joey is on the stairs.

An hour and a half later, I return from the BOND meeting. I give Joey more Tylenol. (Again, always check the back.) He goes upstairs. I get him to eat a piece of bread with butter and drink some water. Then the screaming begins. Controlled at first, then full throttle. I get an ice pack. Doesn't work. Rub his back. Doesn't work. Finally, he settles down and Joe and I convince him to let the medicine put him to sleep. Joe and I settle in to watch some TV and Joey appears. I snuggle with him... he jumps up and starts running to the bathroom. OH NO! I go after him. No puke... but close. You know what I mean. What a big kid... both hand son the throne, poised and ready to let loose. Back to the couch... moans, tries to sleep... up running to the bathroom. Back to the couch. Joe says... maybe you should give him one more Tylenol. This is an extreme case. So I go to get one... I turn the box over to check the dosage... I should have been giving him 3 Tylenol all along... the kid has grown! Aaggh. What a bad mom. Maybe I could have prevented the severity of it. I'll never know. I give him the extra Tylenol. After 15 minutes, he's finally out on the couch. Joe and I hate watching our kids suffer. It is the worst thing for a parent.

Sometime's My Kids Crack Me Up!

So we are busy getting ready for school, another two hour late start. Lunches are made, kids are playing and I jump in the shower. As I'm busy getting ready I hear the microwave. Hmm, I think. I come down stairs and here is the conversation:

Me: What are you warming up?

Joey: Pasta

Me: Why?

Joey: For lunch.

Me: Was it good?

Joey: Mom, it's for lunch.

Me: Is it in your lunch box?

Joey: (Looking at me with that look.) Yes, it's for lunch.

Me: Where is the sandwich I made you... ah, Joey... Won't that be cold by lunchtime?

Joey: Moooom (in that sing-song voice), I warmed it up!

Me: (Stefan looking at me as we are both about to crackup) Oh, do you think it will be any good.

Joey: Idunno...

Me: Don't forget you have a sandwich... just in case. (I smile all the way to the next room.)

3:45... Kids off the bus

Me: How was your day... How was your lunch.

Joey: Smiles... Cold pasta isn't very good.

We all laugh!

A Crushing Blow

The boys were desperate for the Packers to get the big win. Wearing our hats backwards may do the trick. Unfortunately it didn't do the trick. This was one sad house. As we sat down to eat dinner (WI style... brats, etc.) I noticed Stefan was very sad. I looked to Joe and told him he may need to help. When he approached and gave Stefan the beginning of his boost-you-up speech; Stefan began to sob. He has been so "INTO" the season of football. He was crushed with the Packer loss. As parents we were crushed to watch our child be crushed. It really breaks your heart to see your child suffer... even if it was just a football game. With snotty noses and all, we made it through dinner and mended our hearts with Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream!

Getting organized...

Don't you hate it when you can't find something and you KNOW you just had it. That happened to me yesterday; which in turn caused me to straighten out a mess. Here is the finished product. I had used this cart to organize scrapping supplies, but have since given each of the kids a drawer to keep track of their homework, library books, etc. That turned in to placing all of the "important" mail into a drawer. The problem was that I hadn't labeled anything. So, yesterday afternoon I heaped the table with all of the stuff and put it into the correct location. Hopefully, this will help. A place for everything and everything in its place! The simple things make me happy :)