May 24th, 72nd Day of Quarantine

The high today was a beautiful sunny 86F!

We enjoyed the 9am service this morning, followed by the kids sermon at 10:30.  The kids enjoyed the packets from my mom's church.  The twins made a parade once they finished their banners.

I tried out a new plant identifying app, and it is pretty cool!  I think we will do our best with the field guides, and use them until we get stumped. = )

Emily and Grace set up the slip and slide, and today was supposed to be our first "go outside and play so that you are tired on Sunday night" but it was a weekend.  I was going to skip it, but decided to enforce it.  I was glad I did, as all 5 of them ended up in swimsuits, playing in the water. = )

I spent a good portion of the day on the front porch previewing and notating our nature studies book for this fall.  I made a list of things that I need to acquire.  I also tracked down things that I thought we might still have, if they survived my konmari a few years back. = )  Once of the things was a brick.  I had found several partial bricks in part of the 'wild' in our back yard, but could not picture a full brick.  After scouring the basement with a flash

I also decided that the kids could start working in their nature journals this summer as part of their daily summer chart.

Billy sat out there with me and worked on engineering things on his laptop.
Once I finished with the nature studies, I pulled out the since list, and gathered anything that we already had.  I made a list of the recycling we will need to keep, and the items we might be able to get a dollar tree.  There are a few items that a thrift store would be my go-to, but I have no clue when those will be opening back up. = /  And once they do, I don't know if I will go.  Certainly not with all 5 kids.

For dinner I heated up whatever leftovers I could find, no one seemed particularly hungry after a day of snacking.

I don't know how Billy managed to keep going all day, but it is time for bed and he is still out there working!

later days

January 10th

Today the high was estimated for 49F, but we aren't supposed to reach it until late tonight!?  It was cold at 47F according to my car, but without the wind, it didn't feel like a biting cold.  As the day progressed it became foggier and foggier.  We are anticipating our first winter storm of the new year tomorrow.

After sending my dear ones off to school, I checked the mail, and sorted it in my car.  My next stop was to pick up some potting soil, because I woke up several times last night worried about my wilting outdoor, but currently indoor plant: Ward.  His new leaves are browning and a few of his shoots were wilting. So, I bought some rich soil, and moved him to a bigger pot.  I hope he makes it through the winter, because he was thriving outside all summer!

Once I had the soil, I headed to Meijer for Billy's ice cream cake, but we decided to meet for coffee, so I stopped by the bank and then went to a thrift store to bide my time. = )  I spent almost two hours shopping, but only ended up buying a handful of books.  One of them was a Geronimo Stilton, a series I hadn't found a supplement for since May!

I went by Burger King to redeem the last of our 'prizes' a freebie chicken fries!  Then on to Panera to order some real lunch. = ) I had a gift card from my mom, so I splurged and bought an iced cookie to go with my sandwich.

Billy and I spent a nice lunch at Biggby (since we'd both already eaten) before he had to go back.

When I got home I started in on my plants (because I knew that once I went inside, it would be hard to go back out in the cold. Also, I tried out the new mower key that came yesterday.

While I was moving Ward (far left) into his new home, I also mixed in some fresh soil for my other plants.

While I was working on my 'gardening' (lol) Sarah called to see if I wanted to take in my mower.  I was excited to do so, now that I had the key!  It took us a bit for just the two of us to maneuver my lawn tractor into the bed of her truck, but we made it work.*  After checking it in, it took him a lot less time to take it out, than it did for us to get it in.  Hopefully it's something simple and cheap to fix.  At least if it takes them a while to look at it, I have the time.

After we left the repair shop, we went to Carl's to pick up an Ice Cream Cake for Billy's birthday tomorrow!

I had just enough time to sort through my catch-all (Texas) bag that had the mail, trash, receipts, thrift store purchases, etc. before running to collect my dear ones.

Fridays are a shortened piano practice time, and since Grace and Emily had both worked on their time this morning, piano practice did not drag on as long as it normally does.

Billy went out to celebrate one of his co-worker's retirement news, so for dinner we had a choice of a hot roast beef & swiss or PB&J.  Most of my children chose the peanut butter. Even going out after work, Billy was still home by 7:30, but the kids thought that was "so late. It's dark!" lol

I also had to fill out the annual forms for the kids' supplemental medical insurance.  I never regret having it ready to roll for when we file our taxes, but man is it a pain to fill out. Luckily, I had the foresight to keep last year's so it was just a matter of copying all the information that never changes. x3.

later days

*After clearing it out of the shed, naturally I had to sweep, and much to my dismay found the missing key in the leaves that were underneath the mower.  The safety pin was closed, which probably means that when I had 'attached it to my shirt' after my final mow, I had missed my shirt and it had fallen under the blade. = /

Doctors and Ailments

This is the latest post in the series of William, grace and Juliet's journey with hypophosphatasia. And now adding Emily to the list.

October has been fairly light in the way of Doctor visits, which is a nice change from our usual.  Of course, we had to have a smattering, or it just wouldn't feel right.

One morning, Grace was complaining about itchy hands.  I helped her wash them, then put on some lotion, because the cold makes my hands dry out (and itch) sometimes too.  There were a few spots that I could see forming, and thought maybe she just got into something that set off an allergic reaction.  I gave her some cough medicine, because it was the only child friendly antihistamine that we had in the house.  By the time we got to school, her hands were covered on the palms.

I showed her teacher and the school secretary incase they had any insight.  It didn't look like HFM, so she stayed, and I called to get her an appointment.  It was an early appointment, but with a different doctor in the practice. I ran up to the school to grab her, on the way to the car she told me her belly also itched.  She had so many spots on her belly!

I went through all of the things in my mind that she had eaten that were new, and chocolate pudding was the only thing on the list.   She confirmand that it was an allergic reaction to something, and prescribed her a 3 day steroid and gave her some Benadryl.   She also recommend that I keep the ingredient list for the pudding in case it happens again.

As we were walking around the store to pick up her prescription, the Benadryl started to kick in.  At least she stopped itching as she nodded off to sleep in the car.

I was working on a project out in the flower bed a few days later, and my arm brushed up against a plant.  This was the itchy result.

So, the general consensus is that Grace is allergic to the plant in our flower bed, not chocolate pudding.

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Alice had her second eye therapy appointment.  She was very diligent and completed her homework.  I had hoped that by buckling down maybe we could abbreviate how many weeks she would need to complete her therapy.  I was slightly irked when the doctor did not even retest her to check for improvement.

Apparently, she will have to complete the 12 weeks regardless.  This is not what I was told by the referring doctor, which of course has led to disappointment. Her homework this time is also not as regimented as the previous time, and I'm having a harder time keeping the therapy in a position of importance in my mind.  <- Sounds like somebody needs and attitude adjustment.

We will go back once more in November, and then her final 'recheck' will be in early December.

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My poor little boy was stung by a bee at school!  It was a warm fall by Michigan standards, so the teachers keep their windows open in the unairconditioned building.  The bees are curious and sometimes come in to visit.

According to him, he raised his hand to answer a question, and the bee stung his finger!  I was working in another classroom that day (as more of an aide) and heard a scream in the hallway.  It took me 2 seconds to realize it was one of mine.

Luckily, our school secretary got him all fixed up, and though it was swollen for a couple of days, he was quite the trooper.

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We had a scheduled dentist appointment for the little ones in Ann Arbor.   It was just a routine cleaning.  All 3 of them got full marks!  No cavities and we don't have to return for 6 months unless we have an issue. = )

Avia, Alice and Emily came along for the ride, since their appointment fell during fall break.

We have several doctor's appointments planned already for November, hopefully we can keep up the low ratio with no unplanned trips!

later days

<what happened previously
what happened next>

Ending the MOPS Year, and Other Brief Moments From Spring.

Next year is my final year that I will be eligible for MOPS (and I'm out of room* on my cabinet door.)  I am saddened by this thought, but the reality is that my woes are drastically different now that they are all going to school.  Our group is planning to put those of us with "older" children together at a table next year, for which I am very grateful. = )

At our meeting, the theme was MOPSCARS, and everyone on the steering team worked so hard to make it happen.  Lots of awards, kind words and small gifts were presented.

It was an opportunity for all of us to get dressed up (or not) and celebrate!

I also received a new member into my plant family, as a table leader gift.  Please meet Ward. = )

My award was for being thriftiest and giftiest (I don't actually remember the wording.)  And, I scored all the chocolate.  (Here she is Jessica!)

In our museum membership newsletter, they printed a list of requested donation items for their think tank.  I had a box full after my garage sale, so last week the twins, Avia and I headed over there to drop them off.  I asked if the girls wanted to go in an play for a little while.  Juliet was quick to respond "no, a long while!"

So, Avia and Juliet paired off, as well as me and Grace.  We spent a couple of hours playing and learning in depth.

I was letting William look at a picture that I had taken, and he started taking other pictures.  I really enjoy looking at the pictures that Alice and Emily took on the little camera in Houston, so I thought I might like to see this one in the future too.

The twins intentionally dressed as identically as possible in an effort to fool their teachers.  I can tell them apart with ease, even without their glasses on. But if they were to trade glasses I would be hard pressed to sort them out quickly. ; )

We counted out how many cookies Avia would get by our family rule. (age/4 +1)  It was quite a pile.  And on her next birthday she'll get one more!

William wanted the toilet paper box, so he was responsible for putting away the toilet paper.  He did a decent job, at least they were all in the bathroom.

And my final and newest picture of the night, Hat Day.

We still have 3 jam-packed weeks of school left, but I know it will fly by.  Anxiously awaiting our summer, such that it is.

later days

*I feel like my very first year in MOPS either they didn't sent out a printable, or I neglected to keep it.  This next year should be my 7th year in MOPS.

Valentine's Day, Prep, & School Parties

Emily and Alice had knocked out their valentine cards for their friends during some of our frequent snow days. While grace had finished some, Juliet and William hadn't finished any.  So, Cutting it close for my comfort, we knocked out all the cards on Monday during homework time. 

Since we had extra snow days both Tuesday and Wednesday, we could have waited, but it was nice be finished.

Emily wore a special outfit, and so I did her hair 'special' too.

My current outlook on life has me not wanting to shower my children with "tawdry gifts and shallow flattery" so they were gifted a simple stuffie and pair of little Debbie heart cakes from me. 

Emily named her stuffed poodle "caniche" after my grandma Sondra's mom's dog, who looked very similar. = )

William loves his little "mike."

Grace's frog was named Karopi, since that is one of Hello Kitty's friends.  Though, when she says it, it's slightly mispronounced as "crappy." Which is entertaining for us, but we should probably rename the frog.

Juliet's seahorse is one of  Ariel's "friends." The most memorable one in the movie is Harold. So that is his name.

I'm not sure what Alice named her seal, but he would definitely be friends with a narwhal. Or maybe dinner for one?

My mom gifted them each a pair of socks, which went over super well!  Though, the twins didn't have a chance to open theirs before school, since the bus comes early.  = )

With all of the snow days, we didn't receive notice of the time for the twins' party until Sunday, and it naturally fell at the same time as the big kids' just at a different school.  Since Alice had personally invited Avia to attend her party, I tapped her to bounce to Emily and William as well, so that I could represent for the twins. = )

They were happy to see me, and I helped pass out their valentine cards.  Favorite station, the pretzel icing station:

Working together!

Juliet wanted her creation to match the one on the package.

These pictures are from my mom of the big kids' parties:

William gave Vivi a special valentine gift.  Her mom sent this picture to me last night:

If I must share William's affection with another girl, I am so glad it's one as sweet as Vivi. = )

As for my valentine, he bought me my newest plant. May I present to you George...Bush.

He joins the ranks of my other loved houseplants:

Winchester (SPN), he's a thyme plant, who I thought I'd lost, but he came back just like the characters in the show.

And [name in progress],  my beautiful succulent that came home with me from MOPS last year.

I got Billy a STEAM gift card, that still hasn't arrived. = /

So thankful for all of my valentines and the fun they provide on all the other days too!

later days

Mother's Day

Last Sunday was Mother's day.  It's nice to be recognized during service, and Billy did the cooking, but this year Emily and William were so excited to give me their gifts from school!

William packed a "breakfast" with an orange, tea bag, granola bar, oatmeal packet and Hershey kiss. It was very sweet.  Emily made me a booklet about "why I love mom" and her illustrations are really sweet.

At mops we potted succulents to keep or give away.  My mom is not much of a plant person, so I added it to my window sill, as well as the one gifted to me by another mom at my table. = )

Now it's green inside and outside!

Billy bought me a very pretty earring and necklace set*!  The necklace is perfect, the earrings were heavy for me, since I don't wear them everyday, so I'll need to work my way up to them. = )

And my sister, Sarah, rounded up my children and they cleaned out, washed and detailed my car!

I think it worked out pretty well.  All 5 started out helping, Alice left first, then the twins were sent in when it was time to go to the car wash, and once they were all done "helping" Aunt Rocky finished the job in peace. = )  It was so hard to get into the next day, in the rain, and get it dirty again = (  Winters up here get the car far dirtier than it every did in Texas!

Speaking of Texas, Avia was visiting Haley for mother's day, so I haven't gotten to give my mom her mother's day gift yet.  (so I'm not posting it just yet.)

Emily found some dolphin décor for Enisi:

And we mailed her a card with a picture, that came back, so we had to resend, so it arrived late. = (

And Billy took a ton of pictures of the 6 of us, but this was the best we could muster.  The nice thing about pictures, is that sometimes they get better with age.  I'm hoping this is one of those. = )

It was a fantastic day.  I'm so thankful for each of the people in my life who made me feel special!

later days

*The set is really pretty, I just haven't made time to take a better picture, and it's becoming less and less likely.  But, a less than ideal picture is better than no picture. = )