cross my fingers

Everyone is at school. Kylee came home a little early on Monday with a tummy ache. But is fine now.

Buddy and Spot

We had a double hamster funeral last night. Yes-- it took a little bit. SHHH-we have 4 hamsters, a cat and a bird buried back there now. Buddy won't be buried back there.

One more win!

So Kelsea's team continues to be undefeated. She played better. She had about 5 rebounds and scored 4 points, fouled and got fouled, and she played a little while, not a whole bunch. Lee Joe got to watch her play. I was carpooling kids around. Amber started tennis sort of. They cancelled tryouts because of the wind and cold. It wasn't THAT bad. Today is also chilly and breezy, we will see what happens. There was snow on the ground this morning but most of it is gone.

ADD and like minded creatures

So here is the story on our ADD family. Lee Joe admits to having ADD now. Kelsea has it and decided to stop taking her medication for it in Jan because of the effects it can have on her growth. Things aren't going so well. She has a D in math mainly because of missing assignments. She isn't paying attention in class when he tells them to turn assignments in and he is not that consistent about when they turn their work in. Since she has been on meds since the 6th grade and has not had this problem it is the ADD effecting her. She is also inconsistent with how she plays basketball. Not that it is problem like the math grade-just a continuation of her struggle. And the thing that gets to me the most is her attitude at home with her sisters and me and how she gets along with Lee Joe. I can't stand that part and constant arguing and bantering over everything just because. So as an attempt at a remedy, we are trying a supplement system until we go back to the doctor. A friend of mine told me that caffeine works the opposite on ADD people. Instead of stimulating it helps them focus and NO doz is considered the lowest form of Ritalin type over the counter help you can get. And I have read how Omega 3 and magnesium is beneficial so on goes our experiment. Could be helping a little but it's a little early to tell. Kelsea was really good and calm at church. One of our still volatile places. So we go on and see how it goes. I feel like all the hard work from the last three years is gone and we have to start all over again. You may question how I know all this-Matt has ADHD-diagnosed by a doctor. My mom more than likely has it-all the job changes and moves. I have another brother with it in Connecticut. My nephew Dylan has it-diagnosed by a doctor. In the hyperactive category the phsychologist had never seen a child score as high as Dylan. He was in the 97%. I have studied it extensively and have worked with large groups of kids since high school and identify ADHD children long before their parents take them in and put them on meds themselves. Ususally those kids really need that help. So Lee Joe is convinced-use to be me biggest combatant on ADD-that Hannah has it. He could be right but it doesn't effect her learning like Kelsea. It is mostly her inability to follow instructions, distractibility and she rarely sits at the table long enough to eat her food until she is done. We need to get much more consistent with her. We thought maybe Autumn had it a long time ago but she gets super focused when she decides to focus and she is super stubborn and has some strange sensory issues. So we have given her weirdness it's own name. We call what she has Autumnism. I was thinking about Lee Joe and he does not have the hyperactive part of ADHD he is the opposite so last night I told him that he has ADTPD. Attention Deficit Turtle Pace Disorder. That is usually only around me.

Off that soap box and on to rest of the weekend. Lee Joe got a an emergency call from a guy that he has worked with in the past. They needed to tear some concrete out of plant over the weekend that had another company back out at the last minute. They had to shut down the plant in order for that to happen. So he left at about 7am Saturday. He met us at the school for the parent drive for Amber at 9. It is official, she has her permit. Then we didn't see him again until 10:30am Sunday. He worked all day and all night and came home with two calves on one of his legs. A piece of concrete fell onto his shin and was so swollen it looked like a calf muscle in the wrong place. But he is OK. And then he slept for about 4 or 5 hours and finished another job. Usually he doesn't work on Sunday but everything had to get done that fast. I have been waiting ever so patiently so the pile of shed-I call it shi-poo-key-to go away. I hope it leaves this week. It has been there too long. Lee Joe says that is his goal.

Kelsea had practice early Sat. Amber had driver's ed and Kylee had a dress rehearsal for Honor Choir. So at 8, 9, 10 and 11 I was coming and going again. Kelsea really should be walking though. The rest of the day was very relaxing until Amber went to a friends house and wanted to drive. EEEKK!! Kylee had her concert that night. I took Amber and Hannah to the concert and Kelsea and Autumn stayed home. When I got home my internet was messed up. It took until Sunday night to get it fixed. I was frustrated.

I don't know what on earth is going on in our ward but there are now 7 people called to nursery and there are only maybe 10 kids on days when they are all there. Crazy!

Since I wrote a book I want to tell you about a book. I read a really good book this weekend. It is sad and then rewarding. I can read it and say that my childhood wasn't as awful as this person's was. But I could relate to a lot of what happened. It is called The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. It is a true story. You should read it.

Par-taay

The first picture is from Amber's actual birthday-her car and light up glasses. She is really quirky. The next 2 pictures are from last night. 13 teenage girls showed up to Amber's friend party. 6 pizzas, two trays of Papa Murphy's cheese sticks, a bag of skittles and 2 bags of m&m's and many cupcakes disappeared last night. Many of the chips are still in tact and most of the carrots disappeared too. They played Mad Gab, watched fun with Dick and Jane (very funny movie!) opened presents-Amber got 4 Moosen (Brian Regan joke) then they watched Brian Regan and then played the snorting game. That is the circle of girls above. I guess one person is in the middle,spins eyes closed and counts to 10. Everyone rearranges and when they stop at 10 the person that the middle person is standing in front of has to snort. When they do the middle person needs to guess who the snorter is.

Game

I only got to see the 3rd quarter and all but the last 3 crucial minutes in the 4 th BUT--Kelsea's team is still undefeated!!! It was close the whole time I was there. They won 37 to 33. Kelsea was a starter this time and played most of the game and scored 8 points!! She was fouled 3 times while I was there. She would have had nine points if she didn't cross the free throw line too soon. The other two times she made at least one of the 2 she shot. She finally played the way I knew she could! They played a tough team. It was SOOO EXCITING!! and then I had to leave and pick up Amber from the High School and missed the last nail biting part of the game. I forgot my camera too.

I think I could have another ADD child in the works. My youngest is proving to have very high distractability and very low follow through. She is just driving me nuts with her messes and never doing what she is told when she is told. It is probably just youngest child syndrome.

I am having some left over effects of my Monday headache. My head is tender in places. I have a little swelling on the back of my head. I keep getting mild headaches randomly around my head. Kind of weird. But I can function.
Last night I had it. The petty fighting between Amber and Kelsea over my computer. Who does what chore. Autumn harrassing Kylee while she played piano again and again. All the "mom, mom" from 5 kids frustrated me. All that happened while I was trying to cook dinner at almost 7. I went to the store after dinner and let Lee Joe deal with it since I probably won't see him much for awhile. Autumn had to cut her fingernails off this weekend after she scratched both Kelsea and Kylee with temper tantrum rages.
Lee Joe's side work is picking up all of a sudden. He went from no work to like 3 or 4 good size jobs that need done now. He is getting closer to wanting to run a business full time or himself.
Hannah and I went to the mall yesterday. She decided that was where we needed to go. She had to throw away her Strawberry Shortcake toothbrush last night because it was old and it was very traumatic. She threw it away herself and cried when she did it. So we need to go on quest for a new Strawberry Shortcake toothbrush. They didn't have any at Winco or Walgreens when I looked last night. I didn't think I needed to go anywhere today but I do now.
I need to get busy and clean my house. Amber is having a friend party on Friday and Monday's illness has caused me to fall behind more than I already was. She is in charge of the party and I am providing the food. We will have had 6 parties since the end of Jan and Valentines day to boot.
Tonight is Amber's last class for drivers ed and she drives with Lee Joe on Sat. Then she officially gets her permit. I guess I am suppose to let her drive. But she might start Tennis next week. She is trying to decide if she is going to do Tennis or make money helping our neighbor with her 3 boys. Kelsea has a game today and the little girls have piano. I might be able to make the end of her game.

Headache

Somebody has to tell me if they have a headache that hurts all over your head, sinuses, all over my skull, ears hurt , temples, Everything hurts and it hurts so bad you feel like you might throw up. I had one like that and I woke up with it. It got worse and worse even after I took medicine and then I did something I hardly ever, ever do. I threw up. My family knows it is really bad if I do that. I couldn't sleep well and didn't eat anything till 12:30. I think it makes a migraine look weak. I have had plenty of those. I took Aleve cold and sinus which sometimes works, 4 ibuprofren (presrip strength) it didn't ease it up-I got sick instead. I was trying pain management things that I know how to do. That wasn't working much. I took excedrin migraine at about 1 and at 2:30 I felt like I might be a person and could get up. Man, am I weak and shaky still at 4. I hate head pain more than any other kind of pain and that headache is horrible. I think I can handle labor with no meds better than that. Well the kidney stone I had is right there with the headache. But it was 1cm around and 2 cm long and I suffered a week before I got rid of it with only over the counter pain relievers. I think I need a prescription for that headache.

4 day weekend

The kids are out for 4 days. Friday was very calm and quiet. I wish we could have done something fun as a family but instead everyone has been doing stuff with their friends which means I got to play chaffeur all day Sat. Lee Joe went shot gun shooting with friends. Kylee and Autumn had parties. Amber had drivers ed and played tennis at the park with friends(she took Hannah and she made friends at the park) and then Amber went to another friend's house to play pool. Kelsea watched a movie and stayed the night at friend's house. I spent the other part of the day getting Microsoft Office for Amber's homework-then installing it, trying to find a present for my mom's birthday that I thought would be easier than it was. And I got her pies from Marie Callendars. Hey, by the way where's my friends? I don't recall having any fun.
Lee Joe let the hometeachers come over today-Sunday. Was I home on Saturday? Needless to say the place was a DISASTER!! and we had a half an hour to frantically eat and clean. Somehow we pulled it off. We went to my mom's Sunday for an Ashlee and Mom birthday party. I forgot my camera!!!I got my mom a tree stump with a face and it's eyes glow in the dark at night. I called him Grandpa Tree Stump. Matt thought I was nuts. Mom loved it.
Monday might be another friend filled day for Kylee and Autumn.
Kelsea and Kylee got Tamagotchies as a sort of replacement for hamsters. Not really, but they are much cleaner, cheaper and don't smell and they don't run on a wheel all night. Sort of a dead hamster, good report card(Not really for Kelsea on that one) and clean room reward.
Somehow Kelsea's keeps getting mail with poop in it. Then it gets depressed and she has to take it to the doctor.
Lee Joe is home on Monday. That's our fun. I am thinking more and more about that Yellow van!

Bad sick season

They closed a school in Jerome (by Twin Falls) because of a scarlet feaver outbreak. They closed a school in town here that has 91 students because 17 of the students were sick with the flu, scarlet fever and other stuff. I am almost wondering why they haven't had anything like a letter or something come out at the kids school. My neighbors boys have had the flu-Sat and last night. I found out Dylan had the flu on Sat after Kailyn. Hmm-I only got one with the flu so far. Hannah spent the day with Kelsea and didn't get it. But I can't rule it out yet I am sure with how it is circulating still. But I still wonder what killed the hamsters. A mystery! Kylee is at school today!! But she was distraught trying to go to sleep last night remembering the hamsters death.

By the way--Happy Valentines Day!!!!!!!!

Lee Joe brought me roses this morning and brought home doughnuts. I had chocolate hearts and sweettart hearts for the girls and a package of chocolate hearts and sweettart hearts for Lee Joe. Since we went to Olive Garden this week already I told Lee Joe I just want Port of Subs for dinner. Aren't I easy to please?
Kelsea has a game today but it is away and I can't go. We are busy from 4-6 and then then YW was canceled and activity days is early so we can do dinner. I need to bake my cookies.

Valentines Day-the rest of the story.
I spent the day making heart shaped sugar cookies with Hannah. My mom brought me a flower arrangement. Very pretty. Party was fine at the school. Kelsea's team won their game. She played the whole 4th quarter and several other times and the coach was impressed. We got a heart shaped pizza for the girls and Lee Joe and I went to Port of subs and Wal-mart and the mall so we could spend a little time together. He played chess with the 3 youngest girls at home and I grilled the 2 oldest over boys.

Cheezball 2006-Feb 13 2007

Moments after my last post I went to take my shower and checked on Kylee's hamster. I looked dead but wasn't yet-like Kelsea's was. We held it, nursed it, warmed it up to no success. Kylee was able to hold it and try to help it as best she could until it finally passed away. It is very sad how it died and Kylee kept hoping it was coming back but I told her it would not recover. She is very sad but at least she was home to hold it and has time to be sad. So we will have a double funeral for 2 hamsters. I suspect the illness in our house was too much for the hamsters for them to both die 3 days apart and they are in separate cages in separate rooms.

So far...

Kylee is home for the 2nd day. She has almost no voice. I felt bad for her last night because I had to drag her all over after school. She was such a trooper. She complains a little. But only a little. Amber was at Drivers Ed and Kelsea had her basketball game. They are 3-0 now. Hannah and Autumn had dance so we were all over and Lee Joe and I tag teaming child dropping and fetching kids while attending Kelsea's game. Then we finally caught up with Grandpa and Grandma at almost 8 and went to the Olive Garden for dinner. That is my other favorite place to eat. We all came home with left overs. Kylee sat at her chair wavering, eating the best she could without complaint but looked awful.
I have the class party tomorrow. I have to make sugar cookies. Tonight isn't as busy as it was going to be since Kylee is sick. I am hoping Kylee recovers enough to make it to school because missing the Valentines day party would be no fun. Autumn had me worried last night that she was getting sick but is fine now and at school. I need a shower so I can go to the store.

Dot 2006-Feb 10 2007

Autumn came into our room sat morning at around 8:30 or 9 and thought Kelsea's hamster had died. Lee Joe went up to check on it and it was still alive, just barely. Kelsea held it and then Lee Joe tried to help it with sugar water but he only was able to watch it breathe it's last breathe as Kelsea looked on. She is sad and somewhat relieved at the same time because she was about ready to find it a new home but she has a tender heart. So we are one less in our zoo without a plan to replace our recently deceased pet. Only Amber now thinks she is entitled to a lizard or reptile of some sort. No thank you.

The week WAS busy. 2 concerts, 3 children in dance, Drivers Ed, Basketball-Kelsea's team won both their games. She played more the 2nd game and got much more aggressive than the first, enough to get 2 fouls called on her and a rebound or two and missed shot-the whole team was missing shots the whole game though. The birthday party, Amber is so far a happy 16 year old. She got a car-haha-a sirt and pants, slippers and flip flops, a watch, a boise state shirt from Melissa, a fountain from my mom, a pop tart pillow and a stuffed bear with ear phones that plays her ipod, ear ring holder, a computer game. Hannah got shots on Thursday. How sad. And I worked a half day at the school on Friday. So my house is out of control. Amber had 2 games to play pep band for this weekend but it is officially over now! WOO HOO.

Saturday was sad all the way around. Amber woke up very late for drivers ed. They came by and picked her up. The hamster died, Kylee's birthday party was postponed because the birthday girl got the flu. Which was just as well because a few hours later Kylee was down for the count. Lee Joe threw a fit and upset all the girls. Kelsea went to a BSU women's basketball game and was pestered most of the game by a friend and then I didn't see her when I went to pick her up and she ran after the van. I stopped at the stop sign and she was in tears when she finally got me. It rained and rained Sat night and again today. Kelsea won't have much to do with her dad right now because of Saturday afternoon.

That flu that is going around, it is nasty and circulating worse than chicken pox. I got 2 calls from the playground duties because their kids were sick. I was able to work for one of them. Kailyn had it on Thursday night-Friday. Kylee's friend got it Sat. And another 2 girls we know from school also got it Friday. They thought it was food poisoning-it is the same nasty flu. I don't know what is ailing Kylee but her lower abdomen hurts and she is dizzy. I am waiting for my next kid to come down with the flu Kelsea had. It will probably happen on Weds when I am suppose to be doing the Valentines party at the school. Leland and Randa are in town but they are getting sick too so we haven't seen them much at all.

Happy Birthday Amber!!

So it's official. I have a 16 year old in the house. I think we will be having a family get together tonight. Amber and Kelsea will probably miss YW. We are so busy every night this week there isn't another time to do it. We got her a car. It is a metallic blue Mercedes. Made by Match Box, a whole 98 cents. I hope she loves it!! Ha ha..

I was shopping for Amber's birthday and the trend for JRs this season is maternity looking tops. What is up with that!

Anyways, Amber is starting a big Brian Regan fan club at Capital. If you don't know who he is, he is a clean stand-up comedian. She has him on her IPOD and shares his act with any of her friends that have ears. I suppose that would be all of them! They listen to him, borrow Amber's DVD or CD. One friend became the hit at one of her parent's parties having her reenact many of the jokes. The friends are sharing it with their parents and it is catching on like wild fire.

So today I can count my blessings. I have an abnormal 16 year who is abnormal in a fun way. She is extremely smart and puts her parents to shame in how easy it is for her to learn.
I have a stunning 13 year old, who struggles with school and ADHD but is overcoming it and loves athletics. There are boys at school that keep taking her ID card and do it because she is cute and we are in trouble with that one.
I have a 10 year old middle child that is starting to figure out her identity that is always well liked by adults but still has to find her niche with her own friends. She loves to sing and is gaining confidence.
I have a very determined 8 year old that is developing her stubborness into a positive trait and has the funniest and cutest relationship with her friends and gets along well with her 10 year old sister.
Then there is the baby in the family that isn't a baby anymore that will be going to kindergarten next year and brings me a lot of joy and fun everyday at home while I still have her with me.

My world ended

I thought my world was about to end yesterday afternoon. My internet crashed yesterday afternoon and I couldn't get it to work. Lee Joe brought home very disappointing news from the tax appointment-we owe a lot. No relief from our usual tax return. I was so angry and frustrated and to top it all off my monthly visitor decided to show up last night and one of my daughters falied to tell me we were low on supplies. I have such bad hormonal anger I wanted to break something-but didn't, I cried instead.

mini update

Hamster is well again. Kelsea missed church on Sunday and could barely practice on Sat at Basketball. She is the 3rd person on the team who has had the flu. Their first game is Tues.
I missed church on Sunday. No Super Bowl party for us this year. The garage is even further along. Lee Joe has condensed about I think it was maybe 5 or 6 toolboxes into 3 or 4. One for me and a socket set for the house and two big drawer toolboxes for him. He is going to part with the extras. I had an anxiety issue dropping off all that stuff at DI. I think it was because it was so much at once.
Sat morning I had to drop off or pick up someone every hour from 9-11. I was suppose to get Kelsea and confused her pick-up time. I had 12 stuck in my head but it was 11. We live close enough to the Jr high it wasn't a big deal. She is just still feeling yucky.
Today, after school, Kelsea has BBall practice, Amber has drivers ed, LeeJoe is going to our tax appointment-we spent over $6000 on Doctor bills this year! Hannah and Autumn have dance and Amber has another band concert. Maybe we will find dinner somehow. But first I have to go to the store, oh and register the van (its expired).
Amber is registering for school for next year already. She could start earning credit for college next year in 4 classes! But that means more money from us to pay for the tests and possibly the classes themselves and she is looking at 2 summer school classes this year. Kelsea registers I think next week. Hannah has kindergarten registration in March! So I will have 2 high school aged children next year and all 5 in school. Hey, But I will have another driver in the house by summer!

Hannah's quote of the day

Today Hannah said "I don't like fast Sundays, I like medium Sundays."

This week is a super busy one. There are like 4 things on the calendar after school everyday all week long. Even with Lee Joe's help it will be challenge and I have been sick all weekend. we always get through it somehow.

Amber will be 16 Weds!

Friday and Saturday Lee Joe and I worked on our garage. I should have taken a before picture but it would be too embarrassing anyway. I think we are more than half way there. I took a van FULL of stuff to DI and there is more that I haven't gone through yet. Not a whole lot more but some. There is a bag of Clothes for Molly's girls too. The little girls got some toys back, that was almost better than Christmas for them.

Wow, I think I will stop while this is short.

What's up with all the sick people?

I was reading everyone else's blog on how they have all been sick. My goal was to make it through Jan healthy. We did it almost just barely. Kelsea has the flu and it started during the night and she missed school today. And I thought Kelsea's Hamster died but it is really sick too. I should have taken a picture with Kelsea in bed with her hamster. But we got it to take some water and it ate a little. We will see if it survives. It is wait and see how the flu runs throught the house.

Progress! Lee Joe has been home more after work lately and he is trying to conquer some of clutter. He gets so distracted it is almost funny but he put down a piece of trim last night, moved some paint into the crawl space. Fixed and found a home for the old washer, it will be going to my mom's house tonight. He moved the wood trim. I am not the perfect person either when it comes to clutter. But I am progressively getting organized myself and am willing to part with stuff. The girls all have the clutter disorder and the worst part is they don't see it. I have a hard time getting rid of their stuff because I remember the trauma it caused me when I was little but I have learned where it comes from. We left EVERYTHING behind at least 3 times growing up and that makes it hard for me to part with stuff and hard for me to get the kids to do it too but it is getting better. The funniest thing is I can have some very organized closets and cabinets but there can be a lot of clutter on counters and on my desk and around other places. When I was growing up I never had to be told to clean my room so disorder makes me crazy. I feel like I am going crazy or at least frustrated most of the time. We will see if this kick for Lee Joe lasts long enough to get a shed built.