Craziness....

Those who know me well know I often refer to my life as "crazy." Christy texts me "How is your day..." my reply "Crazy." Mom calls "how are things..." my reply "crazy." Evan asks "how's the shirt business.." My reply... ? You guessed it.
CRAZY!

This past week all craziness broke loose. I took the kids to Indy to mom's for Fall break on Tuesday. I did not have the time to go away, but it is tradition for the kids so I went anyway. Ava started running a 104 Tuesday night and Wednesday was diagnosed with Pneumonia. I tried to stick it out up there, but she was too sick, so I brought her home on Thursday and left the others there....Crazy.

Friday, she was worse. The antibiotic they had put her on was obviously not working so we headed to Jasper. Dr. Krielien surmised that her pneumonia was bacterial and wanted to admit her for 3 to 4 days, to which I replied "NOOOOOOOO!" (I really did) Her response..."why not, do you have a lot going?" How is that for the understatment of the year!.... Crazy.

Thank God I am a nurse! I reasoned with her until I convinced her to try a shot of rocephin, let me take her home, and return in the morning. Which we did. Saturday morning I had her back in Jasper at 8:30, and had managed to have her well hydrated. Dr. Bies decided she was slowly turning the corner, and long story short... No hospital stay!... Crazy.

We thought three kids were crazy, but then Ava came along. We thought our business was crazy until we signed agreements with Butler and IU. We thought, well... you get the idea. I have learned that their are many levels of crazy and we just seem to keep climbing the ladder.

On the other hand...if my life were not this out of control...I would probably just be complaining I was bored... Crazy.

I've Been Tagged...

Christy tagged me.... go figure...

So now, in case you don't know how it goes, I have to list six random facts about myself... this could be difficult -

Hmmmmm...

1) Well, I grew up having debilatating migraine headaches two or three times a month starting at about age 5. After my first pregnancy, they magically disappeared. Aaron ironically grew up having the same problem, but unfortunatley, he still suffers from his. Maybe he needs to get pregnant...

2) I hold several degrees...probably because at seventeen I had NO CLUE what to do with the rest of my life. I have an AS degree in medical records, and AS degree in secretarial sciences; legal option, a BS degree in education AND I am a nurse! Yet what do I do for a living... run my own business. Good lord

3) I was a Rockette in high school. I twirled the rifle. I still have my rifle, and on some occasions, still twirl it!

4) I LOVE 80's music and movies.... oh and yes, Christy... I LOVE HSM and can't wait to go see HSM3!

5) Despite the craziness of our lives, my family sits down and has a home cooked meal together in the evening 3 or 4 times a week... believe me, that is an accomplishment.

6) Once I get Ava out of diapers, between my four kids, I will have spent about 6 years of my life changing diapers. Let's average 5 diapers a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for 6 years... that is a staggering 76,650 diapers. Divide that by an average pack of 40 diapers and you get around 1900 packs, times an average of $8 per pack and... are you ready for this $15,200... on DIAPERS! How is that for a random fact.

Now I am suppose to tag more bloggers. So Misty, Susan, Lacy and Kent... you're it!

Judy's Day

Yesterday was the first annual "Walk to Remember" for Judy Winklepleck. Judy was the school counselor at Shoals and passed away suddenly in July from a heart attack. She was 46. (see posts on 7/21 and 7/24)

The purpose of the Walk was to raise money for a scholarship to be given in her name each year to a high school senior. The event was very sucessful, raising over $3500.

We could not have asked for a more beautiful day. It was spent walking, eating, listening to music and sharing memories. Those of us who were privileged enough to know and love Judy will never forget it.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Family Day...

With business booming... we have very little time to spend with our kids. Yesterday we found ourselves with a "free day." The first one we have had since our Florida vacation way back in June. Ethan had won two free tickets to Holiday World at the end of the last school year through the over-achievers program, so we decided it was time to use them or lose them.

It turned out to be a fantastic day. No stress, very laid back, kids were perfect - and I am not just saying that... They were absolutely perfect. I think we were just all so glad to be out enjoying the beautiful day together, everyone was in an extra good mood. The parking lot was less than half full all day, so it was great time to go. Most we waited to ride anything was 3 or 4 minutes. Guess that's why Ethan and Alex rode the Voyage, Legend and Raven 22 times!

It was a blessed day... and we are SO SO Thankful we had the time together! Enjoy the pics!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Picture day...

Who doesn't remember picture day at school...

I can remember standing in line in the multipurpose room...holding that government issued little black comb... waiting for my turn to sit on that little stool...so I could turn my head in some awkward postition while saying "pickle"... all the while trying really hard not get teary eyed or blink at the 10,000 watt flash about to go off in my face. I did not like picture day...and my pictures were usually crappy.

Today my boys will go through this familiar ritual. I didn't have to do much to prepare them this morning. They are old enough to pick their own outfit. And even though they complained a lot about having to "look nice," they both looked great when they left. I basically just did the hair check...added a little gel... and wrote two checks for way too much money.

These days you can "pick your pose," all of which the boys thought were "stupid looking"... you can pick your color background (although that will cost you $4 extra)...and you have about 250 package options to choose from, along with the add-ons which are also way to expensive. The whole form gave me a headache.

Although it can be a pain, I guess it's all worth it when they bring the pictures home and you compare to last year and see the changes. I am really thankful to have them.

Here are a couple of my favorites...

Ethan 2nd grade 2001


Austin 1st grade 2003

Profound Moments...

Sometimes we have them and there is no mistaking it...

This morning I was thinking about people I know who are grieving... fresh grief, grief that has settled in, and long-standing grief...the kind you never fully get over.

I thought about dark times in our lives. We all have them and they are all significant in shaping us. Sometimes we go through valleys that are so deep, it is hard to believe we could ever come out on the other side.

I thought about times like these in my own life and the people who were instrumental in helping me through. I thought about times like these in the lives of those I love and how helpless I felt in trying to help them. At that moment... this song came on. How profound! It was God speaking and giving me insight and importance to what had been laid on my heart this morning.

Play the song on my playlist "Carry You to Jesus"...Take a quiet moment... and just listen...

When we are faced with someone...anyone... who is hurting or grieving,... the best thing we can do, the most important thing we can do...is carry them to Jesus.

Let there be Light!....

and tv...and internet...and microwave...and hot water...

I learned this past week I could never survive as an amish.

All the drama of the past week did distract me from the fact that my birthday was approaching... today it has arrived.

A big topic of conversation at my lunch with Evan yesterday was whether or not my blog name would change to "finding myself at 41" He said yes... I said no. He said he would leave me daily comments reminding me that I am no longer 40 so the name no longer applies... I said when I used the term "40" I was referring to the forties in general, not just one specifc year... You can see this made for facinating conversation over chicken alfredo... I love you Ev!

Another facinating conversation took place last night via text messaging. It went something like this...
kent to me "Happy Birthday Queer"
me to Kent "It's tomorrow Queer"
Kent to me "I knew that...I just wanted to be the first to say it"
Me to Kent "Whatever"
It is heartwarming for me to know that after all these 41 years we still have that wonderful,loving big brother-little sister dialouge going on.. :)

Here are some funny "old time" pics of mom...as my boys would say

4 or 5 months old


Second Christmas 1968


Christmas 1970 (note the Ker-Plunk game!)


My "Boston Tea Party" (marshmallows and red kool-aid)


Kindergarten