Not so Many Hats Week

My creativity has abandoned me this week, as have the majority of my Hats. This week I have worn only 2 hats, though I attempted to wear many others. This week I have been "Mommy" and "Nurse". All my children were sick this week, a first I never hope to repeat.

I have bemoaned, in the past, when each child fell sick at different times. "If only they were all sick at the same time, I could get through this much faster." After THIS week, I've changed my tune. Trying to track all the medications given, to whom, when, and how much, and who was nebulized has been a challenge. I am a registered nurse, you'd think I would do better at this. I finally broke down and started charting, yes charting, on my own children. (Although, I never wrote progress notes nor set up a care plan for them.)

The upside, I spent a week at home with all my children. No one wanted to see or be around hacking children. While I'm starting to feel a bit trapped, I've enjoyed spending the time playing and caring for my children.

I am looking forward to getting out of the house later this week for work...taking care of sick people.

Mini-Me

Mini-Me is often difficult when you want her to do something, about anything really, especially pictures. If she has it in her mind that she does or does not want to do something, it is very difficult to change her mind. She does not distract easily. Thankfully, she seems to be getting better about somethings. Here is my favorite, current, picture of her.

No Rest for the Weary

It shall be a long night. Three of the four kids are sick, and it sounds like the 4th is on their way to joining their siblings. Thankfully it's not a throwing up sickness. There is a lot of wheezing and coughing going on. We thought a few of them had gotten over this, but apparently not. After my long night tonight, since I don't sleep well with sick kids in the house, I will cart them all out into the cold and visit the pediatrician to see what is going on. I am not enjoying being a part tonight.

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not make a new cookie recipe (aka-homemade Oreos) and eat more than half.

I did not let my children watch and hour and half of Looney Toons this afternoon so I could have a cup of tea and do a crossword puzzle in peace.

I did not let my children stay up really late, in the hopes that they would sleep in, and then have them wake up at the same time they always do.

I did not leave the three girls - 1 sick, and 2 whiny - with Daddy, while I grocery shopped with the boy - healthy and happy.

I did not eat a whole bag of Weight Watchers candy in one sitting.

I did not ignore my 2 yo when she said she had to go potty, 3 times.

Elizabeth quote of the Day!

"I'm borning a baby!"

Barn Sleding

I grew up on a farm. The main barn was large and round. While it was only 1 story, the roof peaked at least 40 feet up. On one side, the roof sloped to within 6 feet of the ground. It was here that the snow from the driveways was often plowed, making that 6 foot lip very accessible.

No sled required, no snow for that matter either, just a pair of snow pants and the willingness to climb on up the roof.

The roofing material contained a flat middle, about a foot wide, with a ridge running along the long edge. With 2 of the tiles together, there was a perfect indent for boots to fit into and use for climbing.

Up we would climb, some of us to the very top. Down we would zoom. We slide down as many times as we could, before someone caught us. Then, our fun would be done and we'd be sent inside for the rest of the day.

See, sliding down the roof was not allowed. My Mom was always afraid we would fall off. There was a good sized gap at the peak, where the two sides of the roof met. An adult could easily fit through, so nothing kept us from falling through, into the barn, and down to the concrete bellow. Also spaced out on the roof were plastic, opaque tiles. There were meant to let in some light to the cows bellow. These would not support our weight, so we ran the risk of falling through if we picked the wrong spot to slide.

It was lots of fun, until we were caught.

Inside out, Rightside out!

I decided my two older children were old enough to learn to turn certain pieces of clothing inside out for me to wash. (I've also been trying to get my husband to do this, unsuccessfully!) I carefully explained that clothes that had pictures on them needed to be turned inside out.

My son is hit or miss. I doubt he is turning his clothes inside out to help me, but because that is the way he takes them off.

My daughter is great about this. So great in fact that she turns every piece of clothing inside out, underwear and socks included!

I guess it's time for a review with them.

A Cold, Wet Butt

(What a title! But it's true)

Before Christmas I was able to attend a Ladies Christmas Tea, hosted by Grace Fellowship Church, held at Tinelli's Hathaway house. (Our wedding reception was held there. Very beautiful and excellent service and food) The speaker, who happens to be my mother's cousin, Kathy ended up with an extra ticket. She kindly thought of me.

On the night of the tea I met my Grandmother, and her sisters Sidney and Joyce, and we headed off to Tinelli's, which is out in the middle of nowhere, think one or two houses in sight and a 20 minute drive to the nearest "town". As always with my Grandmother's family, we spent a lot of time laughing and making sure Aunt Sidney knew where she was going in the dark.

The evening was wonderful. The music beautiful, skit funny, speaker excellent as always, and the food decadent - chocolate fondant, bread pudding with black berries and oranges, and a carrot cake with pears! It was a nice evening out with family.

The end came, as all endings will - too soon. We gathered out coats and gloves, this is Christmas in Central NY after all. It had been raining the whole time we were at the tea. Aunt Sidney went to get her car and we waited, talking with other family members who were there and friends.

I helped Grandma and Aunt Joyce down the stairs and then got in the car myself. The seat was a little cold, but I figured it would warm up quickly. In only a few moments I noticed that my pants were a little wet. I thought it was b/c I had kept the door open for a few seconds before getting in. My pants proceeded to become wetter and wetter, and my underwear was also starting to feel a bit damp.

I reached my hand under my butt and low and behold the seat was not just damp, but sopping wet! My Grandmother's seat, on the passenger side of the car, was also damp, so was the middle. After trying to figure out where I could sit that would save me from becoming wetter, which there was none, and discussing how the seat could have gotten so wet with the door "closed", I finally decided to sit in the wet seat and have a very wet, very cold, butt.

My Grandmother and her sisters had a great time on the way home about me and my wet butt. I made it home and quickly went upstairs to change. Where upon my husband thought I had had a terrible time, since I rushed upstairs and didn't say anything to him.

Not Me Monday

I know I already blogged today, but couldn't resists posting this. (I really need to get Kristina to come over and have her show me how to add all the stuff she does. I'm bribing you with the new nutella shortbread recipe I have!)



Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not pretend to be asleep while my husband changed a very messy, screaming baby.

I did not tell my 2 yo that her hand would freeze and fall off if she didn't wear her mittens.

I did not tell my 6 yo that the tooth fairy recycles her teeth. (She doesn't believe in Santa, but does believe in the tooth fairy!)

I did not leave the upstairs gate open and find that the baby had climbed down to the landing and was heading down the rest of the stairs.

I did not become flustered at Calling Hours and forget where I was and whisper "Congratulations!" to one of the deceased's family members.

I did not laugh during said funeral, with my sister, when we realized the funeral service was written out in the back of the hymnal and that the pastor had gone out of order.

I did not pick up two of the same item in the store so that the girls each had one to carry.

Why so slow!

It never ceases to amaze me how slow the kids often are getting out of the car and into a warm building in the winter. It's cold, snowy, windy, etc., etc. and they insist upon moving their slowest. Meandering hither and yon, while never growing any closer to their destination. Trying to hurry them is like using a spoon to shovel. And once you've herded them inside they say, "I'm really cold Mommy. Can I have some hot chocolate?"

Remembering Aunt Joyce

This afternoon I attended the funeral of one of my Grandmother's older sisters. I enjoyed seeing family I haven't seen in a very long time, some of whom I did not recognize! I also enjoyed listening to everyone speak of their memories of Aunt Joyce. I did not see my mother's extended family very often. I enjoyed the times we did see each other. One of my most prominent memories of getting together with my Grandmother's family was laughter. She and her sisters loved to laugh. It was fun to make them laugh as well.

Growing up they did not have an easy life. 5 girls - Audrey, Gloria, Joyce, Sidney, Janice (my grandmother), 1 boy - Reginald. Their Mom died of cancer at age 33, leaving three young children and a husband who was in the military. Their Grandmother raised them. They all spoke very highly of her. Life was still difficult for them. Reginald died in his early teens from a seizure. Despite not always being together, the 5 girls kept in touch. Audrey died when I was very young. Gloria when I was a teenager. Now Joyce.

Their lives were not always easy. But, they kept on laughing. That is what I will always remember about Aunt Joyce.

(I last saw Aunt Joyce at the Ladies Tea hosted by Grace Fellowship Church. That's a story for another day.)