Family Friday: Girls Day Out

It's Family Friday time again! Family Friday is hosted by HomemakerBarbi.com, thank you Danielle! Danielle has also launched two new sites in recent weeks you might want to check out:

And Freebies For All (and)

Mommy Blogger

I'm excited about today. I'm actually behind on my day right now but that's how it's been all week it seems! I learned about Crazy 8 children's clothing a few months ago. We are huge Gymboree fans, and this is a "sister store" of Gymboree. I received an email via Gymboree on Wednesday that a Crazy 8 store was opening in the next city, yay!! Not only that but a $10 off of $30 purchase coupon, too! So Hannah and I are headed off in a little while to do some back to school shopping. The kids are going back to their private Christian school this year. They have went there their whole school careers except for this past year when they went to a charter school, and that was not a very good experience for Jackson.

Hannah and I went shopping last weekend since it was tax free weekend, and I was amazed at how much money we saved in school supplies. We literally spend half as much money, or more (versus what we did last year), not counting book bags. It made me wonder- how is it that this small, private school can accomplish so much more with so much less, than the large public charter school? Of course the answer was easy- God is behind the small private school and is an integral part of its daily operation, He isn't in the public school. We're very excited about the upcoming school year that starts on the 20th. I've been helping Jackson's teacher this week get the classroom ready and its been a great blessing.

We've recent had a big family event happen: Braden turned three! Braden is our great nephew, brother to ^Jordan^.

Check out the recent Braden posts from his birthday and videos from the party:

Happy Birthday Braden!

You might be a redneck IF ...

Braden's birthday (Thomas the train is yummy)

Braden and bubbles

We've also reached a milestone with food. Hannah asked me yesterday if I can get her a Sigg bottle to send her water to school for lunch, because she has started to like drinking water. Praise the Lord! Miracles never cease. Read more about the recent food revelations.

Have a great weekend! I look forward to reading your Family Friday posts, be sure to leave your links with your comments!

452 Family Friday: June 12th

It's Family Friday time again! Family Friday is hosted by HomemakerBarbi.com, thank you Danielle!

Last week I left you with a quick page, stories of my parents, and my thoughts on the challenge of a picky eating mother and what to prepare for them while she is out of commission. I'm happy to report some good news.

First, I've fixed two batches of meals for them. Batches being enough to last dinner, lunch the next day and maybe another dinner, depending on how hungry they were. The first was a chicken soup from the crockpot. No special recipe, just chopped celery, carrots, a potato, and garlic. I made my own stock by cooking the chicken in the larger crockpot and the veggies separate- then putting them together after deboneing the chicken. That was a great attempt at frugality. I had a ton of broth which hit the freezer in 2 cup portions for future use. The only seasoning was a packet from a pack of ramen noodles, diluted in three cups of water. I added the noodles to the soup, too. It worked very well and mom ate a lot of it sources say.

The next was a deer roast fixed with celery, carrots, bell pepper chunks, onion, and garlic. This was thicker than the soup but had some natural broth to it as well. They didn't know it was deer, only that it was good. Last I heard, that was finished. Today, pork chops and apples are on the menu.

Tuesday after picking dad up from work, (he's retired, but cleans houses) he said mom wanted him to get some KFC (aka Kentucky Fried Chicken) ... "okay". So this was my test because I had recently become aware that KFC has MSG in their chicken, and MSG is known to cause migraines. It's been forever since I'd had KFC, and I had often wondered just how sensitive I was to it, so this was the test. When we got home I fixed what sides I could come up with at their house (I was not planning on all that, we had leftover deer roast in the fridge!). I'm glad to report, no migraine from KFC!

Just an upset stomach- Jackson said "mama the breading on that chicken was where the meat should have been, and it tasted like liquid seasoning". I think my healthier cooking is rubbing off, praise the Lord!

As for how mom is doing, she's "doing". I got her an appointment with her surgeon on June 22nd, so we'll see how it goes from there. She's still in pain, but claims her 5/500mg hydrocodone is the "only thing that works". If someone can help me understand how 7.5/750mg of the same thing, morphine, and percoset "won't do anything", please do. It bewilders me to no end.

Don't miss the devotional / passage study from the book of Job, it's a good one. It blessed me, anyway :o)
Soccer season ended last Saturday. Jackson's team placed second in the tournament, and he played his best game to date as goalie. We're trying to decide whether to do camps or go with a summer league. I'm leaning towards camp, but there's also the expense. I need to do more research on that. I get the impression they are better off to stay with the outdoor leagues than going to an indoor league when they're still first learning the game, does anyone have some input concerning this?

My nephew graduated from vocational high school this week, it was awesome. We are so proud of him.

I've been thinking about writing down some of the conversational highlights Jackson and I have been having over the last week since the shooting of abortionist, Dr. Tiller. Jackson is no stranger to watching the news, and feels very strongly about abortion. He had already seem Dr. Tiller in the news and remembered who he was when he saw the clip about his shooting. When he saw the clip, it immediately led to some serious conversations, a lot of it spiritual ones to boot, considering Dr. Tiller was shot at his church. Talk about a challenge- try to find the right words to answer the questions that can fly out of a ten year old's mouth on a subject like that!!

It goes along the same spiritual lines that Hannah was asking about after watching the movie Kit Kitteredge. Hannah (7): "Mommy, is it ok to steal from the rich if you are giving to the poor, like Robin Hood did?" Jackson (10): "NO! That's SOCIALISM!". Who knew you could get into a political conversation about the state of our country from the mention of a novel in a rated G, children's movie? Have you seen this movie yet? How did you like it? As parents, do you think this movie hits home for dads more than it does for moms?

I've found a new life motto. My dad raised me with the saying "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is." While I'm telling my kids this as well, I've found another saying coming more and more out of my mouth recently:

"Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD."

Do you have a motto you tell your kids a lot?

I look forward to seeing your answers! Please leave your Family Friday links with me, or if you are not participating in Family Friday, a link to your favorite family related post (or update) from this week.

443 Family Friday: June 5th

It's Family Friday time again! Family Friday is hosted by HomemakerBarbi.com, thank you Danielle!

Last week I left you with the vision of a thirty something daughter getting a crash course on caring for an aging parent, and what new adventures we've been experiencing in that arena. I shared on Saturday the next part of that story, which, was the other, well parent. I updated you yesterday on how that venture is going. (Hint: surgery)

If you are an aspiring digital scrapbooker to capture memories (and enjoy quick pages), check out this one and grab it if you like it. I hope to be offering more on the future (sans disclaimer). You can see what I have done with my desktop wallpaper here. What do you usually have on your desktop? Pictures of your kids, or something else? I have no pattern, but have noticed the kids really like it when their pictures are there so I think I'll roll with that idea for the summer.

I have taken to writing down the "-isms" of the children, you are going to love some of the stuff they have been blurting out. I started twitter-ing their sayings in a contest a few weeks ago that @plumkeeper was holding, and I've just kept it up. They have highlighted two or three of their quotes on their Facebook page: Kids Say the Darnest Things, too! (Cool!)
One day I might do a scrap page for everything they've said that month. Here is one Jackson said this week. More to come. Stay tuned.

I've been lacking in my bible reading in the past month so Ive been playing catchup with that. The kids just started the "Pastor's summer pals" club this Wednesday at church, and devotionals are part of the points system. I already have it all in place, we just need to do it. My goal this summer is to UNPLUG them. I've been writing out a plan on how to accomplish that. Routines are in order more now than I think they were when the kids were in school. Summer in our house can equal chaos, how about yours? It doesn't take long for these natives to get restless! Today, we're going to go to the Children's Museum in the next city, that's going to be fun.

Lastly, I've decided to double up on some meals and cook for mom and dad, so dad won't worry about what's going to be for dinner each day. He doesn't have his license (has never drove), and doesn't really "cook food" (he can scramble eggs and fry bacon, I remember that from my childhood and mom working at night!). He has a routine he's pretty set to, and I can empathize with the anxiety caused by the unknown and one's routine getting unsettled. He's 68, he doesn't need that unnecessary stress.
The challenge, however, is finding meals that my mother will eat, that is compatible with my family. She says how her stomach is sensitive, except she has no problem eating fried, fat laden- smothered in oil and butter type meals from the local restaurants they tend to frequent. (See my frustration?) The idea of adding a teaspoon of Italian seasoning to something at home sets her into a tailspin! Oy. Pray for me :)

Family Friday: Parent Adventures

It's Family Friday time again! Family Friday is hosted by HomemakerBarbi.com, thank you Danielle!

This post is likely not going to be what you initially thought of. Most blogs of mothers, when referring to parent adventures, is likely talking about their own children. Today- this blogging mother is posting about her own mother.
I have seen my mother HIGH twice this week!

My mother has had five back surgeries in the past ten years, each time on the right side of her spine. Saturday her and dad were outside planting tomato plants in planters. Mom was more supervising than actually doing the work, because it can be hard for her to bend over at times. They babysat so Jay and I could go out for lunch Saturday afternoon. When we dropped the kids off mom mentioned how her left leg had started hurting bad not long before we got there. It wasn't better when we picked them up so I told mom to call me if she felt we needed to go to the hospital. It was odd those words flew out of my mouth because my mom has never went to the emergency room.

Around 6 she called for me to come get her. They said it was her sciatic nerve and she had a bladder infection. Gave her three shots while we were there, tordol, dilaudid, and phenegryn; sent her home with three prescriptions- morphine, a steroid, and an antibiotic. She was flying high by the time we left. I got home about 1am Sunday morning. Monday afternoon Jay and I went to check on her, and she had not even started taking the steroids! So I get on to her, because she was complaining "what they gave" wasn't working. Well? When you're not taking everything as directed, you're NOT going to feel better! So she doubles her doses of the steroids to get "caught up" (sigh).

Tuesday I go over to take dad to work, and she's broke out in hives- allergic to the steroids. By Tuesday evening the hives were settling. Having been instructed at the ER to follow up with her regular provider, I ask if she's made an appointment. No. Wednesday I'm at my non-biological, but nonetheless "aunt's" house all day working on her computer (problems). Dad calls around 11 saying mom wanted to hit the walk in clinic, wanting to know when I can come. I say I'll be over between 1-2 pm. Finish at my aunt's, get over there, and she doesn't want to go, "wait until tomorrow". So today, after dropping my carpool kids off at school Hannah and I go pick her up. We get there around nine.

God sent an ANGEL to care for her today! She was SO thorough with mom, I've NEVER seen a Doctor care for a patient so carefully! (She even helped me with a problem, LOL!!) However, covering all bases, they done seven X rays and an ultrasound of mom's knee to rule out a cyst or blood clot. The decision, four hours later, was cortisone shots in her hip and between her fourth and fifth vertebrae, where her last surgery was. The disks were sitting lopsided on each other and she felt confident there could be nerves getting pinched there. We left with the shots- which again, made mom HIGH again, and even more funny than Saturday (lol) along with a change in her regular pain meds (and an increase in dosage); additional antibiotics because her white blood cells were still higher than she thought they should be- and we found out mom has a mild form of scoliosis! (My sister was just diagnosed last year.)

So I sat either waiting for mom, or with mom for the Doctor, for five hours today. That's a lot of bonding time! I believe I got a glimpse of what my future is going to be like today. Prayerfully, mom is not headed for another back surgery. As of tonight, her pain level is down from a nine to a seven, when she's sitting. She needs to stay off her feet, but she keeps getting up and waking around.
How do you get your mother to obey doctor's orders?

Oh, you think this concludes my parent adventures? I have more- my dad was at the doctors' today, with Hannah- waiting on mom and I- for five hours!
Click here for the daddy tales, and it's a doozy!

412 Family Friday with a Jay update

I just found the cutest site I cannot wait to dive into reading, homemakerbarbi.com . I found her through Twitter @HomemakerBarbi. Her Friday Meme is Family Friday.

From her website:
"Family Friday is a blog carnival at HomemakerBarbi.com where you can link your best family-oriented blog posts or website articles each week. "

So now I've met a meme that matches with what I've noticed is a weakness of mine- I don't really post that much family related topics here! I really need to, I believe. What do you think?

So, family related, I need to update everyone on Jay. He went to the appointment on Monday, to learn it was a "pre op" appointment. No one told him. He had fasted the whole day! According to this specialist, after looking at the test results from the test Friday, he did have the hiatal hernia, but they also believed him to have esophogeal spasms, as well. After scheduling the endoscopy for next Monday, they prescribed him some medication. He took it Monday evening, and woke around 1am having an allergic reaction! He could barely swallow! But what does every man usually do? He never woke me to tell me. So he suffered through the night breathing swallow waiting for the swelling to go down in his throat. (I could have ringed his throat after he told me what happened.) So no more medicine for him. So the test is this coming Monday (5-11) at 3pm. Please pray! (I also have a special unspoken concerning this issue, the Lord knows what it is but if you would pray along with me, I'd appreciate it.)

More family posts:
Awesome soccer picture of Jackson, and the story behind it.
How the kids are doing in their new school.
Remotes. That's all I'm sayin'- check it out ;o)