S.T.R.E.S.S.E.D.

I'm sick of vomit and 104 fevers and kids sleeping in my bed
and whining and trying to give medicine to a kid who HATES medicine
and my husband saying I'm not doing enough to get him better
and other nonsick kids who are not patient and fighting every 7 seconds
and laundry mountains and not showering for 3 days and my hair
that hasn't been cut since October
and lists they are never going to get done and my husband
yelling at 4 years olds because they are being 4 year olds and kids with
attitudes. This mom gig hasn't been so fun the last few days.

However I am not sick of scrapbooking and it's a great stress release (yep,
gluing and cutting paper, who would have thought?). Somehow, with all the
stress of sickness still going on, I am managing to keep up on LOAD.
Here's today's layout of the day:







I am not sick of sewing on paper, or of orange & blue, or owls, or photos of my kids.

My New Wagon

Remember when I used to haul the kids around in the choo choo wagon? It caused quite the stir . . . now they're too big for it but here's what I need:

Wouldn't I be the talk of the town with this bike? It's a MADSEN Cargo Bike. It is so cool . . . I love the cool color and retro feel plus I think most or at least 2 of my kids would fit in there. Think of the work out I would get? Don't you want one too? Good news, two are being given away on July 15. Go here to find out the details of how you can win one, and if you don't want it, try to win it for me . . . I need the exercise!

Keeping Up!

Even though sickness continues to terrorize our house, I am still keeping up with the LOAD (layout a day) project. Actually I think it's the only thing keeping me sane right now. I even been doing more than one layout on some days. If I could, I would just keep on scrapbooking all day, if there weren't like other more pressing things like laundry, doctor appointments, and feeding the children. During Reese's morning nap I usually can work for an hour or two then at night I spend a couple more hours after the kids go to bed. It's almost addicting. I won't bore you with every layout I've made so far but to show that I have been keeping up, I picked my 3 favorite ones so far:

Out Sick

Long time, no {blog} write. I have a good excuse . . . sickness! We are now on week 4 of somebody being sick at this house. Remember about 3 weeks ago, everyone but me had the flu for like 5 days???? The next week Reese got croupe. Then last week Caden came down with this low grade fever which I thought was no big deal, but on day 3 it turned into a 104 temp which went to 105 a couple times too. I thought for sure he had ear infections, took him to the doctor and nope, after bloodwork and chest x-rays doctor wasn't sure what was going on but he was on day 5 of a fever, so she prescribed antibotics and after 3 doses all better (so I thought). Then Ethan throws up Saturday night and has a low grade fever. Then before long his fever is 105 and 106. I got it to come down with medicine and stripping him but what is this all about? Caden throws up again on Sunday night but no fever and he's been so grouchy with us and falling alseep 3 hours before bedtime and staying asleep. I keep him home from school on Monday and he seems fine. So off to the doctor's office we go again for Ethan and it was a 2 hour wait in the waiting room because 2 babies decided to come unexpectedly yesterday. And Ethan threw up on me in the waiting room and the blanket and the sweatshirts we had . . . good times. Again doctor doesn't know what's going on although she thinks we have two different "bugs" going on . . . oh goody! Ethan had to have urine tests and bloodwork but I'm sure you all knew that, certainly you hear him screaming when that happened. Just getting the turnicate on and cleaning his arm with alcohol was super traumatizing to him so when the needle went in . . . it was nearly the end of the world. Conclusion at this point Ethan has some bacterial infection and needs antibotics too. So we'll see . . .
Mother's Day was nice although I wish we could have done something as a family but Ethan was so sick. Aaron cooked me breakfast

and tried to get my one wish of a photo of me and the kids together. Here's the best one . . . aren't they happy?

Addison and I went shopping and out for lunch at Red Robin where we both enjoy my favorite freckled lemonades



I taught Addison how to play tic-tac-toe.

We had a fun time.

We went to Michael's and kids' resale shop and scrapbook store. It was fun and nice to do something by ourselves. I'm amazed how easy it seems to have one kid when you shop especially a 4-1/2 year old who can listen and stay by you and you don't have to watch her every single second. We came home and Aaron grilled steak, sweet corn, and baked potatoes. It was great and I never cooked once today but had 3 great meals!

The kids and Aaron got me a cute card and a Kenny Chesney CD although I think this would have been a more practical and appropriate gift at this time:

. . . after all, I still have 2 kids to go this round of illness.

Baby Steps

I am really "digging" this LOAD Project (does using the word "digging" date me?) I have been able to keep up easy. Now if I had signed up for a project where I had to do 31 layouts in May with a one time deadline of May 31, I know I would struggle with this and within a few days already be behind but not sweat it until about May 28 (that would probably be both Keely and I, sorry Keel but we both know we're procrastinators). I can keep up with things if I do them little by little but I have to have deadlines. A couple weeks ago I felt the need to do some spring cleaning . . . so I made a list . . . I am really good at making lists . . . I am not so good at doing the things on the list. There was about 20 spring cleaning jobs I came up with. Most people could probably accomplish that in a week or so. Not me I decided I would try to do one thing a day but skip weekends. I got behind when the kids were sick but mainly I have kept up. That's how I work . . . I need baby steps. I need to start sorting and pricing stuff my yard sale stuff in the basement but it's a huge pile so I figure if I do a box a day I can get it done since Keely's yard sale will be in about a month. I need to remember baby steps in all things I do and maybe I won't feel so overwhelmed.
Here's my layouts for the last 2 days:

Finally . . .

it was nice weather this weekend. The kids spent a lot of time outside which ultimately meant I spent a lot of time outside since Reese now has "side" fever.

Somebody always has to be unhappy in a group photo . . . it's an unwritten rule!
This morning at 9:15 we had only been up 30 minutes and no one was dressed, they were clamouring to get out there. Reesey overheard the conversation and started clapping "side, side". Thus beginning our day of swinging . . . practicing baseball, where we discovered Addison is quite the hitter . . . playing in the yard.

These two are quite amusing . . . so competitive . . . and yet they have a blast together.


We made plans to meet Grammy and Papa for lunch and then went to the park to play.

This boy still loves to swing, you can't tell though, can you?

We walked over to the lake and walked across the bridge looking for fish, we didn't see any though. People fishing, yes.

We did see a dandelion field where Addison made some wishes.

Here's Papa Ronn and Mini Me.

Reesey had fun swinging with Grammy too!
We finished the day by eating PB&J outside at the picnic table and playing in the sandbox where Reese had her first sandbox experience which of course includes her first taste of sand. Baths and to bed, not a peep, not one single person came out of the bedroom I think they may had fell asleep the second their head hit the pillow. Can't beat that!

LOAD #1

LayOut A Day #1: Check. Only 30 more to go! Sorry for the blurry photo -- I can't do it all.
Scraplift courtesy of Megan Klauer -- check her out!