Friday, Friday, Friday

Oh my!  It is finally the weekend, but it looks like it will be as busy as the week.  I will need a week to rest from the weekend ahead.  Mike, Andrew, and JJ got haircuts this morning.  They look like boys again!  This afternoon, Andrew and I took the van to have the oil changed and serviced.  Two jobs marked off the list! 
I have a funny little story about our wait at the car dealership today.  While I was waiting to sign the paperwork to have the van serviced, Andrew took Jonathan into the waiting area to get him out of the cold.  I got in there about 2 minutes later.  Andrew was talking with Jonathan when one of the women that worked there walked in.  She was looking at Jonathan and talking to Andrew.  She asked him if I was his wife... LOL!!!!  Andrew said, "No ma'am, that's my mama!"  Wait, it gets better!!!  The lady says, "Oh!"  She goes on talking to Jonathan and Andrew.  She asked Andrew if "Grandma kept him most of them time."  The woman thought Jonathan was Andrew's son and I was the grandma.  Go ahead JuJu, laugh your behiney off!  I told her several times that he was mine, but I guess she thought I was talking about Andrew.  Finally I said, "They are both my sons.  Andrew is my oldest and Jonathan is my oldest.  They are two of seven kids."  She gave me that look then like there was no way I had seven kids.  She asked my age and said I didn't look my age.  Okay, I was happy to know that I don't look almost 35.  Andrew was trying his best not to laugh at the woman.  I can't believe it took her that long to realize what I was saying to her.  We have had a good laugh this afternoon.
Before lunch today, Emily came to me asking me to pull her tooth.  The tooth really wasn't loose enough to need pulling, but I was sick of hearing about it.  I tried to pull it a couple times, but couldn't get a good grip on it.  She has such tiny teeth.  She kept telling me it hurt too bad, so I put some Orajel on it.  Andrew told her to squeeze his hand when it hurt.  Of course, he put on quiet a show about how she was "breaking his hand... squeezing too hard... etc." to keep her mind off what I was doing.  She was saying, "Ouch!  Mommy it is hurting too bad.  You gotta stop, b/c I can still feel it."  I told her to stop b/c it was over.  It didn't register to her that I was trying to put the napkin in the space where the tooth used to be.  Andrew told her to look in my hand.  She looked and said, "Oh!  Hey Andrew, you were squealing like a girl when I was squeezing your hand!"  Water works off, unstoppable laughter on. 

Here are a couple of pics I took last night of Jonathan.  Isn't he a cutie?!  He is almost 4 months old.

Well, time to get productive.  We are going to Savannah tomorrow to get shoes for the girls.  Love ya bunches!

Is it almost the weekend?!

Why does it seem like time is flying by?  We are leaving from vacation on March 5, and the days are flying by.  Okay, I know that seems crazy to be implying that time is going by too quickly when we are counting down for vacation.  BUT, we had hoped to get some things finished up around here before we left.  Mike and Andrew started to put up the molding in the boys' room this morning while Mike wasn't hurting so bad.  Guess what!  We only had about 10 paneling nails.  What?!  I thought we had a whole box in the cabinet in the laundry room, but Mike used those in the girls room.  **sigh**  So, off to Lowe's and Walmart we went to pick up the molding for the top of the walls and more nails.  I also needed to go to Wally World for some groceries and other stuff.  On the way to Vidalia, Mike's phone rang... service call.  That meant the room wouldn't get finished today.  Oh well!  Tomorrow the guys are going to get much needed haircuts and I'm taking the van to get the oil changed.  Two things to mark off my To Do list.  Then we will have to buy the girls' tennis shoes, all the girls need haircuts, etc.
Mike went to see Dr. M yesterday afternoon.  Not a good visit!  I'm so thankful we are finished with him.  Mike was beyond furious when he left the office.  He called me after he left to give me the update.  Mike asked him why he didn't drag the stone out instead of breaking it up.  He just kept telling Mike that he broke it up.  Then, he couldn't see the string to pull out the stent, so he told Mike to pull the stent out at home when he saw the string.  Oh my goodness!!!  I'm sure at that point Mike was ready to lay hands on him, and it wasn't for the purpose of praying for him.  Mike came home, took a pain pill, and removed the stent.  Poor guy!  I couldn't stay in the room, so I got on the bed to be close in case he fell out in the floor.  He was a strong man and didn't freak me out, but I could tell it wasn't something he wants to experience again.
Sarah brought her dog over here last night for us to keep until Tuesday or Wednesday.  They left at 1am to go to Pennsylvania.  Adam, Kara, and Makenna will be welcoming Logan into their family tomorrow by c-section.  We are so excited to have another little blessing added to the family.  What a blessing God is giving them after all the hard times they have endured.  Please join us in praying that everything will go smoothly tomorrow with the delivery and Kara's recovery.  We will be visiting in a couple weeks to get some baby sugie. :o)
Well, I'm off to do a little housework.  Love ya bunches!

Thank you God!

Mike came home from work yesterday telling me that he had started passing some pieces of the kidney stone.  I'm not thanking God that my hunk of a hubby is in pain, but I am saying thank you that things are starting to move out.  I'm hoping this process will be over soon.  He has been in pain too long!  He goes to the doctor tomorrow for the post-op appointment. 
On to lighter things, Emily Grace has a loose tooth.  She is so excited.  She will look so cute.  It is a tooth on the bottom.  For a month or so, it would wriggle just the slightest bit.  I guess she has been messing with it over the past few days, but it won't be long before it is outta there.  I can only imagine the drama it will take to get that tooth out. 
I have been looking online at new digital cameras.  I guess I will be stepping up from my small camera to a bulkier one.  My Sony Cyber-shot is about to bite the dust, I'm afraid. :o(  I remember when Mike took me to buy it.  I didn't want a digital camera.  I argued with him the entire time we were looking at them.  Now, I can't imagine life without it.  I have had this camera for several years, so I guess it is time to retire it.   
Just how annoying can one Happy Meal toy be?  VERY, when in the hands of a 20 month old!  Luke has found a Chipmunks movie toy that plays, "Dah dah dah dah dah, I'm lovin' it!"  He presses the button constantly.  At times all we here is "Dah dah dah dah dah dahhhh dah d da dahhh dah d."  Simon just might disappear permanently during nap time.
I'm off to wash some clothes and do some math w/ the little ones.  We are hoping MyLissa is feeling better!  Love ya bunches!

Progress...

The little boys' bedroom is completely painted!!!  Yes, Andrew and I worked on it Saturday and conquered that project.  Now, it is waiting for my hunk of a hubby to start feeling better so he can put up the molding.  I have already bought the bedding and curtains, so I won't have to wait around for the mood to strike me to go shopping. :o)  I'm kinda getting excited.  One room painted... four more to go.
I can't remember if I posted that Mike had surgery on Thursday.  The plan was for Dr. M to go up w/ a basket and drag the stone out.  Did he do that?  That would be a big ole NO!  He went up and broke the stone into pieces.  He also placed a stent to keep the tube open.  When he walked into the room before surgery, his first comment to Mike was, "You sure didn't try to pass this thing very long."  Okay, can you imagine the look on Mike's face at that point?!  Let's just say he didn't think it was funny.  After surgery when he came out to talk to me while Mike was in recovery, he said he didn't think Mike could have ever passed the stone no matter how long he waited.  Ummm yeah, we kinda figured that after TWO weeks of major pain.  I wasn't excited to have to tell Mike that he still has his stone only now it was in pieces, AND he would have to pass them.  Nor was I excited to tell him that he was going to have to have the stent removed in 5-10 days and I had heard that it is very painful.  Mike said he would not use Dr. M again, nor would he recommend him to anyone.  The reason we went ahead with the surgery was because we are leaving for Iowa in two weeks and didn't want to worry about him being in pain.  Say a prayer for him!
Speaking of Iowa, we are getting so excited!  The kids are talking about it every day.  They keep asking about what they can take with them.  I have my lists started.  Yes Julie, I have lists too.  I don't want to forget to do, buy, or pack something.  I washed the van today.  It is a little early, but the afternoon was beautiful.  It gave me a reason to be outside.  Andrew and I also washed Mike's car for him.  I wanted to do something for him to let him know I appreciate everything he does for us.
Well, I think I'm going to get some rest.  I have a busy two weeks about to start.  Love ya bunches! 

Procrastinating...

I'm the queen of it!  Believe me, I'm not bragging.  It drives me nuts, but I keep on doing it.  I have so many things I want to get done, but I say, "Oh, I will catch it later."  Only later becomes MUCH later.  The little boys' room probably needs only one more coat of paint, then my sweet hubby and son could put up the molding.  But... I keep putting it off.  I want the bunkbed pieces out of my schoolroom, but that can't be done until the room is painted and molding put up.  Yes, I'm still SLOWLY working on the room... at a very SLOW snail pace. 
I need to paint the kids' bathroom and Laura's bedroom.  The little girls' bedroom needs the painting finished.  I guess I keep waiting for the painting fairy to do it, but she is missing... along w/ the kitchen fairy and laundry fairy.  If we ever build a house or buy a house, I will hire that job out! 
I need to go through Jonathan's clothes and pack up all the clothes he can't wear anymore.  I grumble each time I put away his clothes, b/c his drawers are full.  It would only take a few minutes to look through each drawer, but I still put it off for another day.
I need to make out a weekly menu.  It would help out with the "what are we going to eat tonight" debate.  It would also make my grocery shopping much easier if I knew exactly what I needed for each meal. 
As I'm typing this, I'm thinking that I really need to be in the laundry room washing some clothes before Mt. Washmore gets out of control.  Mike is having surgery tomorrow to have a kidney stone removed, so I will be gone most of the day.  Missing one day of laundry makes the task depressing.
I pray that God will guide me in overcoming this fault of mine.  I'm not the organized person that everyone thinks I am... far from it.  Yes, I can keep some things straight, but other areas of my life are complete chaos that causing a lot of needless frustration.  It is preventable... all I have to do is get my behiney busy.  My goal isn't to become a neat freak, but I do need to get the chaos of my life under control.  My life needs balance... starting with my spiritual side.  There is no balance if that part of my life is out of control.  Pray for me... I'm struggling.  It has been a tough year, and I'm trying to fight my way back to where I need to be in my walk with God. 
Well, off to do those few dishes in the sink before I talk myself into waiting until "later."  Love ya bunches!

Georgia snow 2010

Make a Smilebox slideshow

And it drags on...

Mike went to the urologist (sp?) yesterday in Savannah.  We are a little irritated about the visit.  He didn't look at the CT scan cd from Friday, nor did he look at the radiologist report.  He did do a x-ray, but the stone didn't show up well.  He said some stones don't show up b/c there isn't enough calcium in it.  Mike's kidney stones in the past have been b/c of uric acid.  He said 90% of the time, they are caused by the same thing.  Uric acid kidney stones don't show up on x-rays.  Hmmmm... Okay, if ya can't see them on an x-ray, then do another CT scan so we know exactly where the stone is.  He didn't!  He told Mike that breaking it up isn't an option b/c it is too far down in the tube.  He say, "We could cut it out, but we don't do that anymore."  Why mention it?!  The option he wants to do is go get it w/ a scope.  OUCH!!!!  Mike says he doesn't think he wants that.  :o)  I told him he would be asleep, so he wouldn't feel a thing.  The doctor told Mike if he decided that is what he wants to do, then to call back and they could get it scheduled within 2-4 days.  Ummm... by that time, there is a good chance Mike will have passed it.  It is the 6mm stone we are talking about.  I don't think the 2mm stone was even discussed.  He gave Mike some stronger meds to take.  Mike says he is going to try to pass it on his own.  Love you babe!  I will be here with you, praying that it will pass quickly.  I so wish I could take the pain away.  I don't like seeing my man in pain.  To add to this, he is getting gout in his big toe.  Another huge OUCH!!!  Also caused by high uric acid levels.  Guess I need to be researching online to see if there are ways to lower uric acid levels.  Say a prayer for him!
Love ya bunches!

A new look!!!!

Wow!  Doesn't my blog look AWESOME?!  Let's all give Lissa a big ole THANK YOU!!!  I love it.  I had no idea that our page was being updated, but I love it!  I signed in, and actually walked away to help one of the little ones with some school work.  I glanced over to make sure the page had loaded, but it didn't registered that it looked different until Andrew said, "Hey Aunt Lissa changed it!"  I think they get as excited as I do about the blog... even Mike.  When something happens around here, he will even ask, "Did you blog about that yet?"  LoL  I also see that I have a new signature at the bottom.  Yay!  I'm lovin' my Lissa bunches!
We are still passing around the sniffles and sneezes.  I have it now, along w/ Jonathan.  I couldn't outrun it this time.  Mike has also been having problems with kidney stones.  He was having some discomfort from them for a couple of days during the middle of the week.  By mid-morning Friday, he was in PAIN!!  We spent a couple hours in the e.r.  It took 3 shots of pain meds to get it under control.  He had a CT scan done.  He has a 6mm stone in the tube between his kidney and bladder on the left side and a 2mm stone in his right kidney.  He goes to the doctor tomorrow afternoon to see what they are going to do about it.  He was "in labor" (as I like to refer to it) off and on all weekend.  I can't wait until the delivery b/c I don't like seeing him in so much pain.  Of course, you know I had to have a little fun with it.  I told him next time, he needs to schedule his labor and delivery a couple months in advance like I do. :o)  I also told him that I have pain meds free labors.  Okay, okay... I know that is mean, but you know how he likes to pick on me especially during labor.  He tells me each time that if I wouldn't cram 20 years of work into 20 minutes, my labors wouldn't hurt so bad.  LOL  Gotta love him!
Well, I'm off to do some laundry.  Love ya bunches! 

Aaahhhhhh.... peace and quiet

The oldest 6 kids are in bed.  Yep!  Even Andrew and Laura!  I was sick of the crabby attitudes, so I sent them off to bed.  I thought that it was better for them to go to bed than for me to start yelling.  I really don't care that they didn't get to finish watching the movie Up! that came today from Netflix.  I was tired of speaking to them about their attitudes with no positive results.  It wasn't doing much for my attitude either.  Maybe they will all be in better moods when they wake up in the morning.  Lord, please change my attitude so that I can be a positive example for my family.  I know my attitude sets to tone for the home.  I want my home to be relaxing and loving... with Your love surrounding us.
Mike still isn't feeling well.  He has a kidney stone moving about ever so slightly.  I don't like it when my man isn't feeling well.  He says he is going to work tomorrow.  I pray that the day will pass quickly, and he can come home to rest for the weekend.  His cold/sinus infection still isn't completely better.  Lord touch his body and give him strength.  Help him to sleep well tonight.
Jonathan is getting the same junk that everyone else has been sick with for a week and a half.  He starts gagging when he tries to eat.  I slept sitting up on the couch for several hours holding him.  My arms ache.  He is 13 lbs now.  I have used the saline nose drops.  I have sat in a steamy bathroom.  He doesn't have fever, so I'm just trying to wait it out.  Lord, touch his little body.  Help him to sleep peacefully through the night. 
Love ya bunches!

Thank you God...

After the past week and a half, all I can say is Thank You God!  Thank you that I didn't pull my hair out, b/c everyone, even me, was cranky beyond words.  Thank you for OTC meds are available to treat colds, b/c Mike and a few of the little ones were sick.  Thank you that Luke did NOT need stitches after falling off the dining room chair because he wanted to be at the table w/ everyone else.  Thank you for our emergency fund b/c we had been in the doctor's office every week since the beginning of the year for one child or another, even if some visits were for nothing more than a well child checkups.  Thank you for your forgiveness and love even when I lost my cool and said something I shouldn't have said.  Thank you for my friends that pray for me daily, b/c I sure do need it.  Thank you for two very responsible teenagers who will pick up my slack when I collapse in the bed all afternoon b/c I feel so bad.  Thank you for a husband that works so hard to provide for our family even when he is sick.  Thank you for our turtle Leo, even when his tank is such a pain to clean, b/c he brings so much joy to our children.  Thank you for take-out, especially when I've spent an hour and half in the doctor's office with a sick little one and feel too bad to cook lunch.  Thank you for so many clothes even when Mt. Washmore begins to appear to high to conquer, b/c it means we haven't had to go naked YET.  And Thank you God for helping me to realize that THIS TOO SHALL PASS.
Love ya bunches!