Kindergarten Buddy Day

Of all of the kids, Tea's pre-school years have flown by the fastest. It's like she went from baby to Kindergartner literally over night. She's ready for the world though, she really is. Our district no longer has half-day kindergarten so she'll be going all day long. This doesn't intimidate her at all. Like I said, she's ready. She loved Buddy Day and told us all about it. It's hard to believe that next year she'll be the Kindergartner and Midge just might be the buddy!

Thanks Mema

I had to go to the dentist this morning and the kids stayed with my mom. This afternoon this is what they looked like.

I'm not sure what they did, but they must've played hard and had fun!

Instead of writing about the absolutely horrible, unbearable night I had with another severe toothache I'll post cute pictures of this little hunk.

Seriously though, I'm having the tooth pulled tomorrow. I don't even care anymore. The loss of the tooth has to be better than the pain.

This is another busy week for us. What's new I suppose. Tomorrow Chiggie is taking cookies to school for her summer birthday. Wednesday Tea has Kindergarten buddy day. Friday is the school talent show, which Chiggie auditioned for and made it! It's all exciting I'm just hoping we can stay healthy and pain free for that matter.

We had a lovely Mothers Day. The King and the girls spoiled me with lovely cards and gifts. Even Buster gave me extra snuggles. It's my goal to take more pictures this week so we'll see.

Amazing

I know, I just wrote a long depressing post on how sick I've been and all that, but it amazes me how much better my kids make me feel. Not long after I wrote that post Buster smiled. Not a reflex smile. Not an "I'm dreaming smile" A real, eyes locked, I love my Mommy smile. *sigh* Oh I love him!!!

Blah, blah, blah....

I can't believe I haven't posted anything since Monday. I hate going that long in between posts, but I also hate posting the same thing over and over and over and well you get the point. We've been sick AGAIN. Seriously I'm done with all of this. I woke up on Wednesday, which just happened to be the King's birthday, with a fever, sore throat, and very sore joints. I was not happy, let me tell you. I had plans. Big plans, and they were all ruined. It wasn't something I could fight through. Every time I got up enough energy to get up off of the couch and try to accomplish something I had severe abdominal pain. I called the doc but couldn't get in until Thursday.

Somehow I survived the day, but it was awful. I just wanted to sleep or maybe even cry. I didn't have the energy to cry though, and it's not really safe to sleep when you're taking care of 5 kids under 9. On Thursday I went to the Doc and was rapid tested for strep which came back negative. I was shocked and ticked off. I stayed to see the doctor, not satisfied with just going home to ride out the "virus." After an examination he agreed I appeared to be infected with something. He gave me a prescription and sent me to the lab to have a tissue sample taken from my throat.

Once I started taking the antibiotic, just like last time, I felt better. The Doc called yesterday and the sample grew Strep. Just a different type of strep than the rapid test normally picks up. Oddly I was thrilled. I know it sounds weird, but I guess I felt validated. Hopefully the antibiotic will work and this will end for good. Strep twice in a month is not fun.

So for now I am feeling overwhelmed. Another couple days of being sick has put me even further behind. Top that off with the girls rotating through completely random, short lived bouts of fever and vomiting and one might see where I would be a little jumpy at this point. The King is still working Saturdays, but should be off on Sundays. This is nice, but we spend a good portion of our Sundays on church activities leaving little time for things around the house. I've come full circle and I'm right back to trying to find a balance.

Groove

After the baby was born, almost immediately, I craved some sort of routine. Even if it involved very little sleep, I craved predictability. I am definitely a planner and don't always handle "surprises" very well. Over time I can definitely say we have found a groove, but a routine not so much. 5 kids is just un-predictable by nature. Every time I think we're finally there someone gets sick or hurt or pulls an all nighter. I don't find myself to be overwhelmed in the traditional sense, but inflexible, yes that would be me. I'm working on it but the progress is oh so slow.

Today was an all day errand day. We picked up my Mom and took her by several places she needed to go and oddly it was a lot of fun. Just being out of the house on a weekday made a world of difference. Who knew eating lunch in the Safeway parking lot could be so much fun? Tomorrow I really need to buckle down and do the housework. I'm buried in laundry after a dryer fiasco that resulted in $100+ in repairs. I'm just thankful I've got two loads going right now. The weather continues to annoy me in every way possible with its refusal to make up its mind already. Summer is just around the corner, though, and I can't wait for that!

Blossom Festival 2010

Suddenly I'm realizing that all of those elderly people who have winked at me and told me on random occasions to "enjoy it, it goes by too fast," weren't kidding. This was our 6th Blossom Festival. Buster had no idea what to expect. I dressed him up and gave him a morning nap in the swing.The kids posing just before we left. It's still weird getting used to saying "the kids."This crew has grown so much over the years. Not just exponentially, but physically as well.Chiggie got a hug from Jelly Belly. They all also got bags of jelly beans.Tea grabbed a quick hug too. They loved tasting and trying to guess the different jelly bean flavors.This was my favorite float that we saw. We didn't stay for the entire parade though....Buster was perfectly content just sleeping on Mema's lap.Chiggie and Tea really enjoyed the gator coaster.Tea came out of the slide head first. Against the rules technically, but oh so fun anyway. I LOVE the Moby wrap. Buster slept and nursed and never got upset, while the girls road hours worth of rides.

Midge and Boo are such good friends. They loved these boats and rode several times.

Tea was hilarious riding the swings. I was so afraid that she would get scared and want off, but I went ahead and let her go and she LOVED it.
The slide, as always, was a hit!

The King spent a lot of time with the little girls making sure they got to ride everything.

Exhausted, Boo fell asleep clutching her precious carousel unicorn. We had a great time and already can't wait for next year. It'll be here before we know it!