Sick of Being Sick

I had a book with this title when I was little.  It was about how to get more sympathy from people when you are sick.  One of their suggestions was to paint your tongue green and add white blotchy spots to your skin to make it look like your are sicker than you really are.  Are there any parents out there that would actually fall for such a thing?  Mine didn't, and yes, I tried it.  I also tried the old put your thermometer in a glass of hot water to make it look like you have a fever routine.  A fever of a 110 is a pretty hard sell.

We have been sick all but two weeks of this summer vacation.  The running tally is 5 cases of strep throat, 5 cases of stomach flu and several cases of "viral-something-or-other-highly-contagious-itis".  It's symptoms include:  fever, body aches, sore throat, rash, high pitched crying and other over dramatic behaviors. (That last symptom is mine.)

"My Speckley Baby Boy"  

We have completely checked out of the social scene - no church, play-dates,  family dinners, or even *gasp* WAFFLES!  I'm not sure I even remember what other big humans look like.  Yesterday everything came to a head.  The older/neglected children were trying to eat each other alive, Zaying was screaming (as he had been for 3 days) and it was pouring outside.   I felt like a caged animal, in a very loud zoo!    

(Now lest you think I have read my Sick of Being Sick book one too many times, I'm not actually looking for sympathy here.  I am just painting you a picture of the miserably sweet pity party I was having in my head.)

Everything was coming unraveled we had to get out, or I was going to lose it!  It wasn't thundering outside, so why not go play in the rain?  Sure! That's what a fun mom would do in this situation.  Right?  Well at least that's what I though. So I gathered the kids, we went outside, and for a few minutes it was marvelous!  I could feel the rain melting away the stress of being pent up for so long.  I decided to lead a playful march down the gutters and into a really big puddle at the end of the street.  Unfortunately, I didn't know that when it rains our gutters are REALLY slimy.

And slippery.

And I bit it.

Big time.

Thankfully, I had the fortitude to hold Zayin above my head so he wasn't hurt, but that meant I also couldn't brace myself for the fall.

It hurt.

ALOT!

But as I was laying there, deciding whether or not I would ever walk again, I remembered a resolution that my brother recently made.  His resolution is as follows - Resolved:  Not to grumble against God's providence.  (side note if you've haven't read the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, I highly recommend them.  Our college group has been going through them and making some of our own.  Good stuff.)

I realized then and there, as dirty gutter water gently washed over my pathetic life, that I have a lot of choices in life, and none of then include whether my kids are sick or well.  That is completely out of my hands.  But I can choose to be grateful that I have children that I get to see everyday, that I get to stay home with them while they are sick, that all their sicknesses have been treatable or minor, and that no matter what God is with me and He is in control.

So thank you, Lord, for 4 sick children and a trip down my scummy gutter to make me realize how wonderfully blessed I really am!



 

Once upon a time...

There was a softball game, and a very, very bored little boy.

(That my mom, ladies and gentlemen, in pink, playing her 27th year of softball! - Yep, she's a hoss!)

He tried to focus...he really did.  But softball just wasn't his game.

But just then, when he thought he might slip into a softball coma - he heard a voice. (or at least he would have if his brother could actually talk.)

"Pssst.  Micaiah.  Come check this out.  I don't know what it is, but it feels glorious between my toes."

"Zayin, my friend, forget toes, this is going everywhere!" (and as his mother, I can attest to the fact, that it was indeed everywhere! *wink*)   

"This is the life!  Why didn't I know about this until now?!"  

"I gotta tell Lash about this 'dirt'.  He is gonna LOVE it!"

"Can I, Mom, pleaaase?"

"We promise, Mrs. Kueffer, we'll take gooooood care of your son."

"Auntie Claire, It's not fair, everyone else is doing it."

"I promise you, Lash, if my brothers are doing it, you don't want any part of it.  Ooh - is that dirt over there?  Gimme some!"

And so ends the story of the bOring softball game, and the boys who didn't end up watching too much of it.  Sorry, Mom, I'm afraid they just might take after me.   

When Life Gives you Lemons...Make a Funny Face!

Need I say more?

Remembering to Laugh! (Out loud if possible)

Last night we had some friend over for dinner.  Dinner is always a circus, but when we have guests the problem only escalates.  After an evening of the kids usual shenanigans we tried to sit down with our friends have have some human/adult conversation.  Of course, it was one interruption after another.  I was starting to get annoyed (yeah I know) when we were interrupted with this this gem.

From downstairs we hear a frantic voice...

Micaiah: "¡Ayúdeme, ¡Ayúdeme  Help Me, Help Me!"

Greg:  What's wrong?

Micaiah: "My undies are stuck!"

Greg:  "Stuck where?  In your bum, or in your drawer?"

Micaiah:  "No! In the computer!!"

Without even a thought, about what may have just transpired, I tried to continue my conversation with our friends.  I looked up and realized they were both giggling.  Hmmm?  Did someone just tell a joke, and I missed it?  No....? Of course, they were laughing at Micaiah.  But I hadn't even stopped to think that the ridiculousness we had just overheard might be funny.  I guess when you hear odd things all the time, they begin to lose their hilarity.  Sad.  I decided then and there, that I didn't want to let these moments pass me by, and that I want to laugh when something if funny.  Because, let's face it, even though kids are not always well behaved - They are stinkin' hillarious!

P.S. In case your curiosity is getting the better of you.  I have no idea what happened with the undies in the computer.

A Week of Normal - In Pictures (and a few words too) - TUESDAY

TUESDAY (affectionately.known. as.) Gramma Sally Day.

Since the kids were little they have spent almost every Tuesday afternoon and evening with Gramma Sally and Paco (Grandpa) Ron.  I'm pretty sure my kids don't even know the real days of the weeks because of it.  In our house it goes Sunday, Monday, Gramma Sally Day, Wednesday...and so forth.  It has been a wonderful blessing for all of us.  G.S. does many things with them that I would not do (or do not have the energy, patience, creativity, time...)  and, of course,  they love it (and her), and I get a generally peaceful (as peaceful as it gets with a baby) afternoon to get some things done (or not).

So since I am not with my kids Tuesday afternoon, I guess this post will be all about my Tuesday.  Feel free to take a nap for the rest of this post.

Girl Lunch:  A while ago my mom and I started one of the most wonderful traditions.  Every other Tuesday she takes me out to lunch!  How could we not love this?  Everyone should start this tradition with someone that they love (and would also love to pay for your lunch).  In the beginning I did protest, but now have become quite accustomed to the life of luxury.  (after having said this, I have a feeling free lunch might be over as she is one of my most dedicated readers.)  After we went out several times we added my sisters to our regularly scheduled program.

As soon as Gramma Sally comes to get the kids I hop in the car, pick up my mom, and on this Tuesday decided to go see "Aunt Mo" doin' her thing..making non fat, low fat, iced, java chip, mochachinos, with extra whip, of course.

Then My brother decides to try and crash Girl Lunch, not gonna happen buddy!

Restaurant choice of the week - Free State Brewery.

The reason Free State is the choice of the Week!  These onion rings are the size of bagels, and just as good for you I'm sure.

Zayin has reached the age where if there is food near by, it needs to be in his mouth.  Okay if anything is near by, it needs to be in his mouth.  Here is my sister valiant attempt at keeping him entertained while we tried to talk.

Now I was hoping that this would be the part of the post where I got to talk about Tuesday evenings.  We usually spend Tuesday evenings at Exit 2:9 (wow, we need a new picture and some major updating), but this Tuesday we ended up being called home early because Anya was coming down with strep.

*Nadvornik fun fact - In the past 1 and half weeks we have had 4 cases of strep throat, 3 cases of the stomach flu, and one mystery bug that prefers to remain unnamed. Yeah for summer vacation.

But despite the abnormality of my "normal" Tuesday it was still a wonderful day, spent with my wonderful family, eating WONDERFUL food.  (Sorry guys, but you know that those onion rings deserved the biggest wonderful).

And for those of you that have been napping, it's time to wake up.  I'm sure my next 20 posts will be kid related!