Happy Birthday

Today is Ray's birthday. 28th to be exact. I keep telling him he's one year closer to 30. :)

We love you very much daddy!

The horrible, yucky, no good flu

Yep, that's right the horrible, yucky, no good flu has hit our home. Gretchen brought it home about 2 weeks ago. She complained mostly of a sore throat and headaches. I started with it last Thursday. First it was the horrible sore throat. Then by Sunday afternoon it was a headache and then fever. Yesterday morning it was the runny nose and today it's sneezing and watery eyes. And of course, Mr. T started with the fever last night and cough throughout the night. I must say how absolutely lovely it is to be up for an hour in the middle of the night with a little boy who is completely out of it due to being tired but having a cough that won't allow him to sleep. Fortunately, we have been able to keep it away from Ray. I think that has to do with him not being home much. Work is starting to pick up and he has to do inventory soon. Throughout this whole ordeal there are a few things I have learned. Let me share a few with you.

• Puffs is not softer than Kleenex; don't let them fool you. They haven't fooled my nose. Never again will I buy you.
• Hot chocolate is fabulous at any time of day; water or milk, it doesn't matter to me. Just as long as it's warm, it's good.
• Curious George is a good quality show that I think I could watch all day with the kids. For that matter, PBS is fantastic.
• A VCR is highly underrated. The kids are able to put the videos in without me having to worry about them scratching the daylights out of a DVD.
• My kids amaze me. They may feel the yuckiest but are still able to put a big ole' happy face on their smile. Colored paper, crayons and different shaped cut-outs can keep them entertained for hours.

Play-dough... I have a love-hate relationship with you. I love how you can entertain my children for hours. How in the world can you stick so to my carpet and my kids clothes' after being appreciated by those little hands?

• It's okay for your 5 year old to be walking around the house with disinfecting wipes wiping every thing they see. You can never be too clean.
• I'm done with this snow. Winter I've had enough of you, time to say your goodbye and leave. See ya next year.
• Theraflu, you and I will never be friends. You taste yucky no matter how many times I take you, you make me gage; yet you help me sleep wonderful at night.
• Just because you give your 2 year old honey and lemon to help with his cough, it doesn't give you a right to have it too. Yes, it may taste delicious but it doesn't help. Your 5 year old may look at you funny while eating it too.

Great conversations

Peanut and cracker jack never cease to amaze me with what comes out of their mouths. I've had quite a few great conversations with them lately.

Sunday we were at church downstairs playing in the toddler room. Mr. T was building with blocks.

Me: "Trevor, what are you making?"
T: "A birthday cake."

Me: "Who's birthday cake?"

T: "Mine."

Me: "Honey, your birthday isn't until this summer. I'm not sure it will last that long. Carrie's birthday is coming up soon."

T: "It's my birthday cake but I'll share it with Uncle Carrie and Uncle John."

Me: "You mean Aunt Carrie not uncle."

T: "You know what I mean." :)

On Sundays we go to my parents' for lunch. We were leaving their house and Gretchen was wondering about Nala.

G: "Where's Nala? I didn't see him when we left."

Me: "He probably went into the barn to stay warm."

G: "No, mom. I think dad ran over him and he's hanging on under our car."

At this point, I'm very glad I'm not the one driving. Ray and I laugh quite a bit.

Me: "Gretchen, are you sure he's under there?"

G: "Oh yeah, he's coming home with us."

We get down to the stop sign at the end of the road.

G: "Oh, there I think he jumped off and is going home. He's going back to grandma's house."

I'm happy to report Nala is safe and sound at grandma's.

Tonight as I was getting the kids out of the bathtub and dressed, Mr. T announced that he needed to make a stinky. I jump at the chance to get him out of the tub and onto the potty. He screams, hollers and throw his fit while sitting on the potty. As sure as can be that I will drop him into the potty. I finally get him calmed down and dressed with a diaper on. I then proceed to go potty.

T: "See mom you have big buns so you can sit on the potty. I have small buns, I fall in."

Thanks Trevor.

I just love the stuff they come up with. :)

Nemo milkshake

One evening while I was making supper, Trevor decided it would be fun to put his Nemo into my blender. He then proceeded to make the noises that the blender would make. He informed Ray and I that he was making Nemo milkshakes. Of course, they were orange and white and quite delicious.

Anytime he hears the blender running, he takes off to the kitchen like there's no tomorrow just to make sure I'm not putting Nemo in it. Silly boy! Never a dull moment in this house. :)

Party time

Miss G had her party this past weekend. Of course, it had to be all about princesses. The girls loves her princesses. I think the house is now going to explode with all of the princesses.

She loves her pinks and purples.

Trevor had to come investigate the new doll.

A princess purse. So exciting!!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Gretchen,

Happy birthday to you.

WE LOVE YOU!

5 years ago

5 years ago today my life changed forever. (A GREAT CHANGE)

I remember not sleeping very well the night before. I thought I had an upset stomach and didn't think much of it. I woke up in the morning as if nothing was wrong. I got up and did my cardio like I did everday. I ate some breakfast and took a shower to get ready for work. It was while I was getting dressed that I realized there was no way I was going to make it at work. I called in sick that day. The first time ever. I called Ray at work to let him know I didn't feel good and decided it was best to call a doctor. I called the doctor's office to schedule an appointment. The earliest they could get me in was in 2 weeks. I then proceeded to take a bath (bad mistake). After that I discovered some bleeding. Called the doctor's office again and they could get me in that afternoon.

I couldn't get myself to eat anything for lunch, just wasn't hungry. Drove to the doctor's office to wait for a few minutes. The nurse proceeded to ask me to pee in a cup, that wasn't happening. The doctor then came in to see me. They determined that yes indeed I was pregnant and an ultrasound would have to be done immediately. The ultra sound tech could not find the baby. She was already down and ready to come out. The doctor called an ambulance and I called Ray. Ray left work in Elkhart and flew to Goshen. The doctor arranged for a midwife to ride with me in the ambulance just incase. Julia Gautsche rode in the ambulance with me to the hospital. We found out later that the doctor (who's name I can't remember) turned in his retirement letter the next day.

I was rushed up to the labor and delivery room where the nurses were frantically getting everything ready. Ray made it into the room as I was getting ready to push. The nurses knew right away where to send him since he looked dazed and confused. :) Dr. Vancuren was on duty and the hospital and didn't get a chance to change out of his suit. Nope, Gretchen was ready to come and there was no stopping her.

3 pushes later out came a beautiful and healthy baby. She was immediately given to the pediatric who was in the room for a full checkup. She was just fine. Her parents, however, were still in shock as well as the nurses. Calls were made to parents and workplaces and visitors started coming. As the snow continues to fall outside, I am reminded of that day 5 years ago. Ray left the hospital to go home and check on the dogs and didn't come back for quite awhile. Little did I know we were having a snowstorm.

5 years later she's still full of surprises but will have one of the most interesting birthing stories ever.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRETCHEN

Random tidbits

Things have been quite busy around here lately. Ray just got home from work so mommy gets a few moments of "me" time. :) I figured I'd give you all an update on what's going on around here and other random tidbits.

• Trevor has figured out that the volume/channel and other buttons are on the side of the tv. You may be in a middle of a show and bam it's on something else.


• Trevor's personality has grown leaps and bounds within the past few weeks. He's such a little talker. The terrible two's have set in as well. His new thing lately has been to say "soon." "I'll go wash my hands soon." In other words I'll do it when I'm ready. :)




• Gretchen is going to be a great mommy some day. She just needs to realize it's not time yet. No more yelling and spanking Trevor.


• I've watched Cars enough in the past few weeks to cover me for the rest of my life. Trevor wakes up in the morning and from nap time and wants to watch Cars.


• Gretchen deems it necessary to collect every princess thing made.


• I'm finding it more and more difficult to watch tv with the kids when every commercial is trying to sell them something.


• I'm trying to explain the difference between wants and needs with Gretchen. It's quite difficult.


• I made some bars last week and realized that we go through at least one 18 oz jar of peanut butter a week! Peanut butter sandwiches for the kids and Ray takes them to work most days. Good thing Kroger's had them on sale and I stocked up.


• After having dogs for 6 years, I think I'm more of a fish/turtle owner. I'm tired of the dog hair. Maybe a cat in the future.


• Gretchen is more like me everyday and it's SCARY!!
  


• Everything has to be green for Trevor. Green silverware, green glass, green shirt and green candy. It's all about the tractor color.


• Trevor informed me Saturday morning that he wanted yellow pants for Christmas. He yelled at me again this morning about yellow pants. Crazy kid.


• Ray is working full time at ITC and then going to the rv company for a few hours to help them out which means he doesn't get home til supper. Last week he worked at ITC for 42 hours and then Glacier Bay for 19. I think the kids are handling that better than mommy.


• Gretchen is learning that mommy doesn't buy everything, only if it's on sale. She knows about the yellow and blue signs at Meijer's.


• Trevor loves cheese. I was making supper and he informed me he needed cheese. I gave him some; he ate it and then told me his hand was empty, he needed more.


• Trevor loves to give kisses and hugs. He also tells him stuffed animals that he loves them but refuses to tell Ray, Gretchen or me that he does.


• My kids give the best hugs and kisses!!


• Trevor loves to listen to Keith Urban at bedtime and nap time. At nap time he has this unbelievable ability to know when the CD is over and cries bloody murder as if someone has stolen his music.