"Flu like " symptons STINK!!

Disclaimer - I don't complain very much. And I guess I am not really complaining. Let's call it venting. Yes!! I am venting!!

My kids have now been sick for over 2 weeks. Taylor and Kaylee overlapped for a little while, and than it was Nicole's turn, and than mine, and now Warren. We all have "flu like" symptoms (I hate when doctors say that. What does that mean anyways..."flu like" - isn't that basically the flu! )

This flu or "flu like" thing was nasty. It wasn't the I am going to puke my guts out kind of flu, but my body hurts, I have a fever, I want to sleep - but I can't really sleep because of my sore throat and stuffy head.

After Kaylee had a fever for 5 days, she woke up at 3 in the morning, came into our room, and said, "Mom. I am going to throw up." I got out of bed, went over to her, and her eyes got really big. All I could think was run to the bathroom or get a bowl, but Kaylee looked very odd. I said, "Kaylee can you see." She said, "No. I can't see." She was so calm - this is not like Kaylee, at all!!

She proceeded to faint into my arms. I screamed at Warren and than Kaylee's eyes started to seize. Anyways, I figured her body was acting this way because she had been sick for so long. But, I was still very concerned. Warren and I slept with her the rest of the night. In the morning, Kaylee proceeded to beg and plead with me to go to her school field trip to the Science Museum. Um, let's think about that Kaylee. About 3 hours ago, you had a seizure. Sure Kaylee!! You can go to the Field Trip, get everyone in the car sick, and proceed to have a seizure at the museum. That would be an awesome story!!

Needless to say, Kaylee wasn't amused with my sarcasm, but I was trying to lighten the mood. That morning we went to the doctor and I told them she had a seizure and has had a fever for 5 days. They proceeded to ask me, "Did she wet herself or shake when she fell down?"
Me - Um, No. But that doesn't me she didn't have a seizure.
Doctor - If she didn't wet herself or shake, she didn't have a seizure. Looks like she just fainted.
Me - Really?! So when you faint, your eyes remain open and they start to go crazy! And, I have epilepsy. I am on medicine for seizures and I have never once wet myself, or shaken on the floor. I pass out or faint and my eyes shake. Just like she did. (I really tried to remain calm, but why did she want to argue with me about seizures!!!)
Doctor - Well, she didn't have a seizure. She just fainted because of being sick so long. Looks like she has "flu like" symptoms and she fainted. I am sorry, but their isn't much we can do.
Me - (In my head, as I am walking away) My daughter did have a "seizure" because of having the stinking "flu"!!

(When we are sick, we love when people play with our hair. Kaylee made the HUGE bean bag in our family room her sick island. She had books, tissue, a bowl, water, etc. Nicole and Taylor would visit Kaylee on her island and play with her hair to try and make her feel better.)

ANYWAYS - I VENTED AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT "FLU LIKE" SYMPTOMS and
"SO CALLED FAINTING" !!

A "Fairy" Party....along with alot of other pretend

Taylor had her very FIRST birthday party this year, and she LOVED it!! Our theme was a "Fairy" birthday party, but there were My Little Ponies, Princesses, Mermaids, and Batman.

I never buy the girls sugary cereal, but when it is their birthday - my motto is "The More Sugar the Better." It is always fun to see what they pick for their "Birthday Cereal." Taylor saw all the sprinkles on the cover of this Fruit Loops box and had to have it. She enjoyed every bite and had numerous bowls every morning.

Taylor anxiously watched her cake baking in the oven. She was determined to have a yellow cake with chocolate frosting (but oops...mommy forgot the chocolate frosting)

I distracted Taylor with sprinkles, so the Chocolate wasn't missed. But, after her birthday party she needed to have a chocolate fix and got into Warren's "hidden" chocolate. This girl LOVES chocolate....especially Dark Chocolate with caramel.

Unfortunately her birthday was one of the coldest, snowiest days I have ever had the misfortune of being a part of. It was like -30 outside with windchill, but the party carried forward and a bunch of 3-4 year olds arrived for her special day. (Another good thing - school was canceled so Nicole and Kaylee could help me get everything ready for the party)


I had to post this picture because it cracks me up. Jake and Taylor are good buddies and sweet Jake was the only boy. Taylor HAD to invite him and he was a good sport. He loved his magic fairy wand, which was also a pretty powerful gun at certain times.

All of the beautiful princesses loved having Batman around!!

I just love this age. They are pretty entertaining, especially while opening presents. Once the opening of the gifts starts, everyone gets so excited. They can't contain their excitement and have to help you open their gift while shouting to you what they got just for you.

Birthday spankings - I can't believe Taylor didn't run. She normally runs away, but she was so HIGH on "IT IS MY BIRTHDAY AND NOBODY IS TAKING MY SPECIAL DAY," she just stood there and smiled.

Taylor is such a joy to our family. She keeps us on our toes and loves attention. Her older sisters love her ALOT - which means our little "Princess, Mermaid, Fairy" generally has her 2 sisters wrapped around her little finger. (Which is just fine with me)

For all of you Musical Buffs out there - this picture and day made me think of a song. If I were there with you, I would bust out singing:

Sisters, Sisters
There were never such devoted sisters
Never had to have a chaperone "No, sir"
I'm there to keep my eye on her.

Caring
Sharing
Every little thing that we are wearing

All kinds of weather
We stick together
The same in the rain or sun
Three diff'rent faces
But in tight places
We think and we act as one

Those who've
Seen us
Know that not a thing could come between us

Many men have tried to split us up but no one can
Lord help the mister
Who comes between me and my sister
And Lord help the sister
Who comes between me and my man.

JUST A QUICK SIDE NOTE - LOVE THIS MUSICAL!!  And Kaylee and I love quoting this line 
whenever we want to be goofy, 
"How about those deep brown eyes. No the blue, No the brown.  No the blue, No the brown."

The Titanic has Arrived

"One of the virtues of being very young is that you don't let the facts get in the way of your imagination." ~Sam Levenson

The other day, my girl's imagination was in full force. We were all rich and famous (of course we were because when you pretend..you always pretend to be either really rich or really poor). We were riding on the Titanic. As we all know, the titanic sadly sunk, but did you know there were some survivors. These heroic girls jumped ship and floated on some pieces of the shipwreck. Their names were :

Rachel

Alyssa

Ebeny
and Kathryn ( I don't know what happened to my picture!)

After floating on some wood for days, we landed on a mysterious, magical Island. We decided to name it : "Surprise Island"


We went on many adventures around our island. As we traveled the island, we made a wonderful map so we could go back to our favorite places and stay away from the scary areas.

When we found a favorite place we would name it after each other. For example,
1) "Rachel Beach" has a beautiful waterfall and treasures in the sand. The water is warm and it is always summer. (Taylor loves the summer and wants to be in her swimsuit all the time)

2) "Kathryn Bay" was like a lake. No sharks or scary fish. It also had a beautiful, but dangerous waterfall named "Deadly Falls." ( I love the lake....the ocean, not so much!)

3) "Alyssa Bay" has a ton of rocks. Rocks made out of everything imaginable and plenty of sand/mud.. (Nicole loves rocks and mud. She loves to play in the dirt!!)

4) "Ebeny Bay" has beautiful Palm Trees to make it nice and shady. Not too hot, not to warm. We could also make clothes out of these Palm Trees. (Kaylee loves the fall. She likes to be outside, but not in the direct sun. She also like clothes...ALOT)

After being on the island, for months our hair grew so long and we had to make our own clothes. We made our clothes out of palm tree leaves and our hair grew extremely long. ( I remember being little and putting skirts on my head so I could have long beautiful hair. My girls decided to use scarfs.)

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.
~Pablo Picasso

It was such a fun Sunday morning. The "game" lasted a couple of days. The girls transformed the entire house into an island. The upstairs landing was our cave complete with beds, dishes, and food. Every day someone would either get deathly sick or find some new fascinating treasure. I always played the sick one!! I liked being taken of - my hair was brushed, my head was rubbed, and the girls were sincerely concerned for their "little sister."

AREN'T IMAGINATIONS GREAT!!
Sometimes I get so caught up in the mundane routine of life - do homework, practice the piano, exercise, pay the bills, go to ballet, go to gymnastics, speech therapy, etc. I forget to just PLAY!! That should be added on my list of " to do's" These are the things I will remember and the girls will remember.

Every once in a while I need a good reminder of the important things in life. And this was one of those days when I actively chose to play instead of work.


"He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead; his eyes are closed." ~Albert Einstein

"God Bless America"

God Bless America,

Land that I love.

Stand beside her, and guide her

Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans, white with foam

God bless America, My home sweet home.

(Nicole learned this song in school and it made a HUGE impression on her. She sings it all the time)

A couple of weeks ago was President's Day and I love National Holidays. It gives me time to reflect and think about the wonderful place I live. When we woke up, we had a flag in our front yard waving in the wind. Nicole was so fascinated with it and LOVED looking at it. The scouts in our ward got up nice and early to place the flag in our yard.

On this wonderful holiday, I would occasionally find Nicole outside admiring the flag. I was a little taken back by her admiration of the flag. I actually got emotional watching her look at the flag with fondness and reverence. I love living in this country and I feel so lucky to be raising my children in this blessed country. Many people have sacrificed their lives for this glorious country and I feel honored to live here.

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him." ~Abraham Lincoln

GOD BLESS AMERICA

I AM IN LOVE

We had a wonderful Relief Society Activity a couple of weeks ago on "Bread" and this recipe is AWESOME!! It is so easy and I am in love. I already love bread and this bread just makes me SO HAPPY!!

Here is the recipe -

Ciabatta Bread

4 cups flours
2 tsp kosher salt (1 tsp if using table salt)
1/4 tsp yeast + 2 cups water - put in microwave for 30 seconds

Mix all ingredients together just until moist.
Cover with plastic wrap and leave for 8-12 hours on counter.
Put on greased cookie sheet (or silpat on cookie sheet) and gently form.
Bake at 400 degrees 35-40 mins.

(Yesterday I made it with cranberries and sunflower seeds. DELICIOUS)

ENJOY !!

My Hairsylist

LOOK WHAT KAYLEE FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO

I can't believe she did this. She has been practicing on her dolls and she finally wanted to try on my hair. My hair is not easy to braid because it is so puffy, thick, and gets tangled SO easily.

BUT, she did it! And it looked beautiful !

BIRTHDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, BIRTHDAYS

This is one of the many birthday posts. Birthdays are always a BIG deal in our home and I had a great birthday this year. I am now 33 years old!! Crazy....I am writing this almost 2 months after and I keep forgetting how old I am. After 30, I don't think it matters anymore. I just say, "I am 30 something." But, I should enjoy 33 because guess what I found out besides the fact that I have 2 of the same numbers in my age which is pretty exciting anyways

The number "33" means : "Nurturing, Responsible, Dutiful, Family Oriented, Kind, Stable, Devoted, Seeker of Harmony, Champion of the Underdog

33 is the number of nurturing and goodwill towards all things. 33 holds all the qualities needed to nurture successfully: generosity, caring, sacrificing, loving. 33 also represents love and marriage, and unions in general. From romantic to motherly , 33 Wherever a 33 is seen on a chart look for the powers of love and nurturing to come into play"

I don't really believe in horoscopes or number traits, etc, but maybe I will start believing because the number "33" is AWESOME!! - I am proud to be 33 years old!!




I love how Taylor and Nicole drew pictures of Christmas Trees for my birthday. Christmas made a huge impression on these 2 silly girls.

I love Oreo Ice Cream Cake. I have had this cake FOREVER!! I love it!!

I haven't used these shoes yet, but they will be my constant companion when the weather gets warmer. I love the color and retro look!!

My girls think BOWS make a beautiful accessory!!

Nicole loves this movie "Despicable Me." She was so excited when I opened the present because I am sure this movie was not just for me. When I started opening it, Nicole was giggling and said, "Mom!! It is Spicable Me." I had no idea what she was trying to say..but she couldn't keep her excitement to herself.
I was lucky enough to have my parents down for my birthday. WE spent my special day painting the basement and than went out to get a hamburger from Red Robin. I love hamburgers and on the way to the restaurant, my parents reminded me that some things never change. I always wanted to go to McDonalds for my birthday so I could get a hamburger. I still love hamburgers, but my taste has definitely changed.

**My Dad is reading the girls (especially Kaylee) his favorite book, "Where the Red Fern Grows." Kaylee is loving it and I love watching him read with her.**

Here is to a great year...33 will rock!!