Is it Thursday Yet?

It's one of those days. It actually started yesterday when I went to pick up Brannon from pre-school. Brannon for the first time, asked to wear underwear instead of a diaper. This is my 3 year and 8 month old child who has refused to potty train. I was so excited because he can pee in the potty but WILL NOT poop in it. So, he really wanted to wear underwear to school and so I thought that was the motivation he needed to poop in the potty. I dropped him off at school and the teacher made a big deal out of him in underwear. Something that you need to know is Bran is a hider pooper. He prefers to go hide when he poops. When I picked him up yesterday, the teacher had told me that he peed in the potty fine but she was determined to not let him out of her sight. If he can't hide, he won't poop. I pick him up at 1pm. At 12:40 they were on the playground and a little boy fell down. When she helped the little boy up, she then quickly tried to locate Brannon. Sure enough, he seized on the opportunity to go into the tunnel slide, and poop his underwear!!! So, when I arrive at 1, they had just finished cleaning him up. I was so disheartened. Attempting to potty train Brannon has been a lot of work and frustration. He has never had the desire to do it and has fought it every step of the way. I finally thought we had broken a barrier, but obviously not. So as I am loading him and Tierney, who I had with me, back in the car, my cell rings. Wesley's school is calling to tell me he is sick and has a 102 fever. Wonderful.
As soon as I get Wes home, he throws up. Luckily he got MOST of it in the toilet. I get Bran and Tierney down for their naps, get the remaining vomit cleaned up, attend to Wes then clean myself up.
Did I mention Ben is out of town????
I finish off the day just trying to cope: Wes had thrown up one more time, the fever kept coming back, had to attempt to keep the other 2 away from him in a very small apartment, while trying to fulfill all my other mommy duties for the evening. I finally go to bed last night completely exhausted. I didn't get much sleep though because Macy decided last night would be a good night to attempt to sleep on my head or when that failed, play with my hair. I got up at 1am- Wes' fever was back so I woke him up and dosed him with Tylenol. He then woke at 5am whining, fever was back, I drugged him again and climbed back into bed praying to all that was Holy that I would get some sleep. No luck.
Wes comes in my room at 6:30 because he says he can't swallow. I get out a flash light, and when I looked down his throat I was not shocked to see that it was huge and red with white pockets on it. I no sooner get him in my bed, when I hear Tierney in her room talking. What the hell? It's 6:30. She's ALWAYS good until at least 8:30 if we don't wake her before that. I tried to put the pillow over my head but she kept talking. Now she has woken up Brannon who is in my room telling me that Tierney's room smells. I go into Tierney's room to see what is wrong, open the door, and I was almost knocked dead by the smell that assaulted my nostrils. Then, I was greeted by the artistic abilities of my daughter, who had taken off her diaper and attempted some sort of art with her own poop. It was all over her crib, and her body and her walls. I wanted to run, far far away......
One hour later, the crib materials are in the wash, the crib and Tierney both have been disinfected, and I was silently cursing Ben for having the good sense to leave me when all hell was about to break loose.
The rest of the day continued down that path. Here's the summary... all 3 kids fighting while I was in the shower to take Wes to the Dr, Brannon threw a book at my head while I was driving them to the Dr, long wait at the Dr where Brannon knocked over a small table that had books and pamphlets all over it, Wesley has Strep throat, Dr checks 2 other kids for good measure and both of them have the beginnings of strep, antibiotics for all 3, long wait at Target pharmacy for drugs, while waiting we are shopping and Tierney grabs glass on shelf while I am getting bread and drops it and it breaks everywhere, Brannon threw a temper tantrum because I wouldn't buy Lightening McQueen band-aids (we already have some), Tierney then joins in screaming because a) she always cries acappella when someone else cries and b) waking up at 6:30 has finally caught up with her and she is tired and hungry (it's now 1:00), I drive home and there are no parking spots near my apartment so I have to park far away and haul 3 kids and groceries into apartment, while giving them some lunch Brannon drops his soup on the floor- I have to clean up.....
Ben is still gone. It's 4pm, little ones will be waking up any second and I have to get through the rest of this day.
God help me.

Ben & Kara's Excellent Adventure

Make a Smilebox photobook

Our trip to Canada was awesome! We had such a great time. I missed the kids terribly but it was so good to be away with Ben. We did remember why we married each other 10 years ago in October! It was so cold, we loved the break from the Texas heat (even though we had to do some shopping when we got there for not packing heavy enough clothes!)

Enjoy the photo album!

Our first trip since having children... Prayers PLEASE!!

Ben and I are heading to Whistler Canada on Thursday morning. Next month is our 10 year anniversary so we are taking our first trip together since we had kids. True to my nature, I wasn't going anywhere without a deal. We are flying into Seattle and then driving to Whistler, this way we could use FREE mileage tickets on Southwest. We are staying at the Fairmont Chateau, which during the winter the rooms start at $800 per night. We got the room for $147!!! We're looking forward to hiking, ziptreking, and being in some cooler weather. But, first we have to get there. For those that know me at all, you know I am terrified of flying. I hate it in fact. I do not like giving my life over to someone I don't know, powerless to help the situation should one arise. I try to avoid flying if I can. But, after years of saying we would go somewhere together for our 10 year, it's finally here. I have to do it. I have to do this for Ben who thinks I am a big weeny. So, we updated our estate plan and off we go. We fly out Thursday morning and return Monday night. My babies are going to my parents house. Pray for us! Any prayers offered up asking us not to die in a plane crash will be greatly appreciated.

Can I get a SHOUT for the Supermom!!!!

I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face, tears of happiness. I am watching FOX news and to see who has been nominated for McCain's VP pick has filled me with empowerment. To see a mom of 5, a family woman, get nominated for the second highest position in the country is incredible! I gave up my career to become a mom. For the past several years I have felt like a baby factory and a milk machine. I feel like Sarah Palin represents me. For one thing, she will be such a great voice for moms, working and staying at home, plus issues that matter to families. Secondly, if she can achieve this with 5 kids, then I can too! Many people have asked me when I am running for some sort of political office. I LOVE politics. I remember marching in a parade when my Grandpa ran for Indiana Representative with a t-shirt on that said "Vote for my Grandpa." Even as a child, I loved it! He lost, but only cause he was on the wrong ticket. You might say I learned my first political lesson: be a republican! Now, I can see that having children and putting them first, doesn't have to mean it's the death of a potential political career. I think I can see a State Representative election in my future!!!

What age to give a Pedicure

Most of you know how desperately I wanted a girl. I am very much a girl's girl and I needed a Protege. Praise the lord, (and Ben) that I got one! I am so eager to indoctrinate her in the ways of girlhood, but I want to make sure I am not rushing it either.
Whenever I get a pedicure, my mini me spots it immediately. She will squat down and point to my toes and say "Piddy Mommy piddy!" She is 21 months now and I want to paint her toes so badly. I found a cute "little girl pink" today at home, oops, I mean Target. Should I use it? I don't want her to look like a hoochie but it would make her so happy! She doesn't put her feet in her mouth anymore. Is she too young for a toe polish? Respond with a comment or answer in the poll.

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil

This motto seems to work well for the kids so we'll go with it!

Our GREAT friends Jill and Dave Mapes were here with their kids (Grahm 6, Lexi 4, and Tristan 22 months.) We had a fabulous day with them, showing them around Austin/Lakeway and of course the new house. The kids played until they could play no more. And Lexi and Brannon did what only they can do very best: disappeared, gave us a heart attack trying to find them, and then claiming they had discovered a secret hideout. They babies had to blow each other kisses and poke each other in the eyes, and the oldest boys decided they need to form a club with only themselves in it. We ended the day eating at The Oasis. If you've never been there, it's an Austin institution. Check out the website- the sunset is amazing!

http://oasis-austin.com/

I love Jill like a sister and I am so so happy she came to see me!

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. C. S. Lewis

I'm Baaaaack!!

I know, I've been absent. It occurred to me that I spend all my time blogging about the kids and the family, but not so much about all my adventures. Well, my adventures are what is keeping me from my place in bloggdom. As a few friends and family members know, I have been having some health issues. What looked for the past couple of months to be PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) is now looking to be a thyroid issue. I have been on and of hormones and medications and suffering through so many blood drawls my arms look like I am a crack addict! It's been a long road and it's not ever yet. The main problem is that my blood levels don't show that I have a thyroid problem, because they compare my levels to the "average" person. However, I have almost every symptom of hypothyroidism (too low). The more I learn, I realize there are a lot of people out there that have thyroid problems and their levels weren't "Average" either. If that's you, please let me know, I want to do what you have done/are doing about it! My OBGYN is referring me to a specialist in Austin that is experienced at dealing with "special" people like me. But, the last couple of months have wrecked havoc on me with all the hormones and medications. It's been all I can do to keep up with our kids and new life in Austin.

Ok, enough about, more about the offspring of me (they're cuter anyway!) Wes starts 3rd grade on the 25th. Yes, I did say 3rd grade. No, I am not sure how he grew up so fast either. He's very excited to get back to the social aspect of school, and maybe learn something along the way too.

Brannon still thinks he is a dinosaur. In fact we usually have to address him as "T-Rex." As in, "T-Rex, would you stop hitting you sister." OR "T-Rex, don't bite the kitten." OR "T-rex, mommy T-Rex is getting very angry at you for trying to eat the couch!" He told me today: "Mommy T-Rex, be very careful when you hug me and kiss me because my teef are very sharp."

Tierney is all girl. She just turned 21 months and is obsessed with shoes and hair bows. But, she's also one tough cookie. She doesn't let anyone (mostly T-rex) get away with doing anything to her. She doesn't hesitate to give him a wallop on the head if he makes her mad.

So, that's all for now. I will start posting again more regularly with fun antidotes and stories about what's up. I do miss blogging, and besides, we are now entering prime political season and I have a lot to say about that. I have very strong political opinions (I inherited that trait from my Grandpa) and I am not too good at not stating what I think/feel about the issues. If you don't like it, you can post a comment (I never mind a good debate) but since all but 4 of you don't do that then I guess you'll have to start your own blog (expressing how much you don't agree with my political views.)

So, to quote Paris Hilton: "I love white haired old dudes!"

*These are pictures of the kids at Wesley's 8th birthday party at Dave N Busters (Tierney had been eating so hence the food on her face!)