I think I'm going to throw up....

Confessions by Gretchen:

About a year and a half ago Jason got a new cell phone. About a week later, I found it in the bottom of the washer as I was putting the load in the dryer. UGH! We had to buy another one ASAP, that is his business phone. A few months later, again, at the bottom of the washer. Another one to buy (and cell phones aren't cheap). Jason and I have been equally good about emptying his pockets, but have you ever tried to empty pockets of carpenter jeans - there are a lot of pockets!!! Tonight I went to shift a load to the dryer, cell phone at the bottom of the washer - dead! I couldn't believe it. I really thought I was going to throw up. The last thing we need right now is the expense of buying a phone, but apparently God thought that is what we needed. ??? I even checked the pockets this time. I pulled out his keys from one, his wallet from one and some receipts from another. I thought I checked them all, apparently not.

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Allergy Panel #2

This title could either refer to the fact that this is Daegan's second allergy panel or this is my second one with one of the kids. I'm not sure? :) When Daegan was younger (maybe 3 or so) they did a mini-panel to test some food allergies. Today he had to have a full panel done. Of course, in Daegan style, he had the ultimate test done. It was 72 pricks and 24 shots. He had to have the regular panel, plus foods (again!), so they had to do it on his back - not enough room on his arms.

He wanted picture proof since Mollee had the same. And since I blogged about Mollee's, I must blog about Daegan's. He was a champ! Didn't move a muscle or complain - it was actually very amazing to me. He is allergic to life outdoors, which was no surprise - many grasses, trees, molds, etc. Thankfully, there were no food allergies and no dust allergy.

Of course, we went out for ice cream afterwards!!!

A year ago today!

It was a year ago today that Mollee was home recuperating from a tonsillectomy.
no big deal, right?
It was a year ago today that I could not wake her up from her nap.
did her lips look purple?
It was a year ago today that Mollee had a seizure right in front of me.
how long did it really last?
It was a year ago today that I truly panicked for the first time.
thankfully, the boys were all downstairs.
It was a year ago today that I called 911 for the first time ever.
they came in less than five minutes.
It was a year ago today that I rode in an ambulance for the first time ever
oxygen level: 78.
It was a year ago today that I became extremely grateful for our Children's Hospital.
everyone was so kind.
It was a year ago today that Jason's windshield was hit by a blown tire as he was racing to the hospital.
as if God was saying, 'slow down'.
It was a year ago today that the doctors just couldn't give us any answers.
possibly it was her asthma that we have just recently found out about?
It was a year ago today that we waited five days for Mollee to breathe on her own
thank you Lord for being our peace.

It was a year ago today that I had to accept the fact that I am not in control!

It is today that I am forever grateful that I tried to wake up Mollee from her nap.
low oxygen for too long could have been devastating.
It is today that I am relieved I saw her have a seizure.
even if I still dream about it.
It is today that I am glad I panicked and called 911.
sometimes, I forget to panic.
It is today that I have a hard time expressing my relief that Jason wasn't hurt as the windshield shattered in front of him.
what would I have done?
It is today and everyday that I am thankful we have a church family that holds us up in prayer.
what do people do without prayer?

and, most importantly,

It is today that I am eternally grateful that I am not in control!

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." I Peter 5:6-7

Thank you Lord for lifting us up when we need it and for taking upon yourself all our worries - big or small!

And Summer Begins!

To start off the summer, Heather (my sister) and I took the kids to McDonald's Playplace. We got there around 10:30 so they could play and then we got lunch afterwards. Heather needed to go shopping for new carpet and had planned to take all her boys, so I offered to just take them home with me after lunch (my van can hold 10 kiddos) until she got done. I'm sure it was quite a sight to see me herding nine kids (ages 8 and under) through the parking lot, but the kids always have a blast together. Plus, Heather is keeping my kiddos tomorrow while I take Daegan for an allergy test.

On a side note/complaint. I'm a little anal about a clean house. Jason was just telling me last night that I needed to loosen up just a little or else it was going to be a long, stressful summer. (Hmpf!) He knows me so well! But why is it they have to empty every toy box and leave it all over the floor to play? And why doesn't the mess bother them? This is only day one!

Maybe we have too many toys?

OK, I can do this - maybe I'll just avoid the downstairs for the summer!

Except that is where the computer is. :)

Last Day of School

This morning Tavis and Mollee left the house for the last time as a First Grader and a Second Grader.It has been a good year. Mollee has matured greatly in her responsibilty. She had a rough beginning of forgetting to turn in homework, but second semester she had no troubles. The only major ordeal we had was her forgetting her Bug Project last Friday (that we have worked on all school year saving bugs and storing them in the freezer for this project). Thankfully, her Uncle Jon lives a few doors down and usually runs a few minutes later than the Browns so he was able to pick it up and take it when he dropped off his boys.

Tavis was a different story. The first semester of the year, we never saw his Tuesday folder (the one full of the previous weeks paperwork) on Tuesday. He'd leave it somewhere. I'm still waiting to hear from the librarian what the damage is for library books that he misplaced. He has two lunch boxes (one from kindergarten and one from 1st grade) that he alternated between, along with brown bags, because he'd forget to bring one of them home. Of course, I'd ask him to visit the Lost and Found to find them and he'd forget, but Mollee would always bring it home the next day because she went and found it for him (that sounds like something her mommy did for her brothers). Yesterday they cleaned out their desks and were told to put everything in their bookbag. Let me give you a sample of what Tavis' desk looks like (old notes that I had found out later that I missed and there were two old lunches in there - sound familiar Uncle Philip??).

I'm hoping to stay on top of math facts review and making the kids read (unfortunately, they don't just do it because they like it) for 30 minutes a day this summer. OK, that is my goal, we'll see if it happens. Summer Break, here we come!

Partyville

Tonight the kids went to a birthday party for Tavis' best friend, Chase. Chase has spent the night with us and been our guest many times. He is an only child, but he jumps right in to our chaos without hesitation. His mom said that when they were sending the invitations he asked if Tavis' whole family could be invited. We were honored and the other kids were so excited to be part of the invite.

The party took place at an indoor playground that was full of many different 'inflatable worlds'. Everyone had a blast! When they got in the shower last night they each had a complaint about some 'rug burn' hurting in the water, but that is the price you pay for two hours of fun.

Mac was slightly hesitant at first, but once we convinced him to try this one slide (even though it was a tough climb and a steep slide down), he just stayed with it the entire night.

Fun was had by all! Happy Birthday, Chase!

Memorial Day

I'm a patriotic girl, but when it comes to Memorial Day, I can't remember what we usually do. I'm assuming we go to Mom and Dad's for a cookout, but, honestly, I can't say for sure. When work is good, Jason doesn't take too many holidays off, so I can assume he is usually working on Memorial Day.

This year was full of relaxation and fun. Not that it will surprise any of you, but I have a hard time relaxing. There is always something I can be doing, right? Today I promised Jason I would relax. I got the kids their breakfast and then I went back to bed with a cup of coffee and a good book. At about 10:30 I decided to get moving. I had an awesome treadmill run (too bad this was my last day of steroids - prescribed for a swollen sinus cavity). We all got lunch and then Mac went to bed and the bigger kids went outside to play. I headed back to read my book while I waited for the NASCAR race to begin (it was supposed to Sunday, but got rained out and today it took forever to get started because of rain).

At 4:00, we headed over to the home of Mike and Tammy's for a Memorial Day cookout. At fullest capacity, there were 14 adults and 17 kids. Here are the kids finding different places to eat outside:

But what does it say that my two older boys were in different sections away from the crowds?:

Tavis observing from afar -

And Daegan, inside where it was cooler -The kids had a blast and were very sad to leave. Jason got his exercise for the day in a humid badminton match, which he repeatedly told me that he had won. Unfortunately, one of the boys there sliced his knee open and had to go to the ER for stitches. We took his mother and sisters home afterwards so they wouldn't have to wait until the ER trip was over. Hope you are feeling better, Drew!

Ironically, the book I am reading is about a girl and her fiance, who has been shipped over for his second tour in Iraq. I don't want to forget what this holiday is truely about. I do want to thank all those that have served to make our country a safe place to live. I am proud to be an American!!!