New Teeth!!

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Originally uploaded by Amah.

Sierra got her "two front teeth" today - and it isn't even Christmas yet. I should teach her that song. But she already got them - so what good would it do? She wanted them OUT when she first got home and the novacaine was wearing off. I gave her one shot of the pain Medication the dentist sent home and she has been fine ever since. She ate a really good dinner - which I wasn't expecting. She also is showing off her "pretty dress". She's a dress girl. She'd wear them every day if she could. Maybe Santa will bring her some more for every day. That would really excite her. She likes clothes and bows - a girly girl :)

Got news from Aunt Sharen that Caleb has become engaged. They've set a date but not a place. She is supposing it will be in Oregon. Mitch is signing books again, so they will go down towards Dads (Laughlin) and spend some time with him while she is on vacation. They are hoping to visit the Grand Canyon and boy, do I hope they like it half as much as I did. It was soooo awesome. I still haven't thought of the right words to describe it.

We are getting ready for a little road trip. Keith has a meeting he wants to attend up in St. Augistine so we are taking the RV out and going up there for 3 days next week. I'm looking forward to some different scenery also. Not that I don't have enough to do :)

Just found out today that April is bringing Elizabeth and Brennan down for a few days the week before Christmas - I'm so glad that they are coming. I love having family around. I guess I don't even care whose family it is. I'll adopt them !! We plan to take the RV up to Orlando while they are here and do something up there. Don't know just what. April and Keith will think of someting :) So that is 2 road trips between now and Christmas that we have planned. Hope they pan out. I'm all excited about it.

Enough for tonight - I'd sure like to hear from all of you.

Amah

Holidays!

Well, Thanksgiving is over. Most have put the Turkey and Dressing to rest after having the "Big Meal" with families and friends. We went to Keiths Club for dinner. Boy, talk about dine and dash - Dinner was at 1 and by 2:00 we were almost the last ones there! I've really never seen such a thing. We hang out longer after a Board Meeting swapping news than that:) Afterwards we took the three dirvishes to Tom and Nancy's for awhile. Tried real hard to keep the three out of the way of the horseshoe game. No one could beat Tom. Keith even swapped out with someone to try and beat him. He was on a roll. The kids were fairly well behaved. I attribute that to them being so tired that they couldn't run as fast or as far as usual. We got home to late for naps, so they just went to bed at regular time. They were still so tired on Friday, their naps were extra long. There was a Christmas Bazaar with Santa landing at the dock downtown at 3 and they slept right thru it. So we didn't go. I don't know if I really wanted to or not. The honeymoon period is over. They are really showing their bottoms. Sierra is getting real good at a real snide little face and talking back. The boys can't even talk but they are baby-talking in sour voices too. Nick even threw his bowl of noodles at Papa tonight - so maybe it's a good thing they were sleeping on Friday.

I've had a rather bad week. I know that S'te has been ill and the babies are taking their turns also. I really feel for her. It's hard taking care of family when everything is going well - it's even harder when things are not going so great.

I got a call last Monday that my Mamogram had "something there" that the Dr.'s wanted a better look at - ASAP. Scared the crap outta me - it did. I've been feeling badly off and on ever since I got that yucky virus or whatever in San Diego anyway and then this!! Oh, no. Anyhow they scheduled me for "diagnostic x-ray and ultrasound" on Wednesday. So, it actually turned out to be a "see you next year" thing. No one told me what it was that they thought they saw - but they did call Wednesday afternoon and let me know that they didn't see what they thought they saw - or couldn't find it again - whichever or whatever it was. Which was nice. Now all I have to do is get over whatever it is that I do have. I'm hoping that when I get well, I will find a way of relating to these children. There has to be something that I'm not trying. As I type this both boys are sitting in time out for not eating (more for throwing their food on the floor) and Sierra is still at the table - not eating either. Papa is in charge of that. He was the one that got upset with the boys too. And you know that Papa doesn't lose his cool very often, but when he does - he sticks to his guns!!

My hand seem to be getting worse again. Today alone I've broken a glass and a plate - dropping things on them. Guess I'll become a lefty again for awhile. My whole right upper quadrant is still pretty achy - maybe because I'm lifting the boys instead of infants. Don't know, don't care, just want it to stop.

Got some yard work done today. It seems wierd to be pruning Hibiscus in December because it is still growing so quickly. The mowers kinda trashed our yard when we were gone - scalped it in several areas - so there is really lots to do. Gotta get it cleaned up so we can do our Christmas decorations. Papa actually went out and put up one string of lights - he wanted to see how far it would go - not far on the Loquat Tree. I want to get a couple of lawn ornaments also, but not sure yet what kind of "budget" I have for Christmas.

Joe had his surgery a few days ago, I am praying that it went well. I certainly hope to hear good news from him as soon as he is able. Because of his news, I "suspended" smoking on October 31, it took me that long to think it all the way thru. I don't want to say quit - I've done that so many times before. I've failed at keeping my word to myself so many times before that this time - I'm not quitting - I'm just not smoking.

Anyhow, enough rambling -
Diane

Survived!!

I survived the week!! All the way from Monday mid-morning to Friday afternoon. It was quite a week too! I even got brave on Tuesday and took the kids grocery shopping and then on Thursday we ran an errand and stopped at Lowe's. I was looking for those little white pretend-a-fences that would maybe help the Hibiscus stay upright after our winds. But they were painting and we couldn't go back there. So we bought some weed-n-feed and some geraniums and a couple of rosemary bushes (I found 3 of them here in a year so I brought 1 all the way back from CA). We happily took our purchases and put them in the van - talking about how we needed to plant our froers in the ground so they can grow - like 2 & 3 year olds talk - Got all loaded, everyone strapped into car seats, put my purse and cell phone on the floor on the passenger side, and THE VAN WOULDN'T START. But being the ingenious person that I am - I figured that I could go and 1/wiggle the battery cables and see if they are loose and/or 2/ use my hammer and pound it into submission (I have found this method to work!!). So I grabbed the hammer, pulled the latch on the hood, jumped out of the van. Well, the person parked next to me had parked awful close, so I had to close my door to get around it. I opened the hood, grabbed the cable and I heard a "click" - OH, NO I recognize that "click". I dropped the hammer and ran for the door. It was locked. Now, I didn't know that if the battery wasn't connected and it gets connected, the automatic door locks - lock. So here I am in the parking lot at Lowe's, 4 kids strapped into carseats, and I can't call AAA because my cell phone is locked in the van with the keys. The lady parked next to me returned to her car and volunteered that if I call AAA they will look up my number if I can't get to my card. The problem was - I couldn't get to my phone, I can't leave the kids there to go back to the store, I can't do anything but try to talk the oldest one (3) into unbuckleing herself so she can push the button for me - but she won't! She gets in trouble for letting herself out of her seat!! Finally, years later (actually about 3 minutes) one of the ladies who were parked near me asked if I was locked out of my car and what the problem with going into Lowe's and using the phone was. When I explained, she went in and they sent a Lowe's security man out - he called the Sheriff's office. So withing a few minute 4, yes 4, police cars come screeching into the lot, lights flashing, and following them were the paramedics!! Up to the point the kids thought I was playing with them - you know how you do- with your face against a dirty window singing stupid songs like - the wheels on the bus go round and round. . . But when the sirens arrived and the cops started crawling all over the car and the paramedics had their faces pressed to the glass, they came UNGLUED!!! Now I've go 4 screaming kids, police everywhere, and a huge crowd of old women whispering. I don't know if they thought I'd left them in the car to go shopping or if they thought I'd kidnapped them, but there sure were a bunch of dirty looks and lots of pspspspsps. I wanted to crawl under the car. And stay there!! Seconds later, I heard that familiar "click" and knew that they had already unlocked the door - I crawled in - found cups and scooby snacks, and wiped everyone's noses and wiped the tears and then the paramedics climbed in and checked them all and found that they were not overheated or anything. Everyone was fine - except me!! I was sweating, embarrassed, red-faced and highly stressed! So anyhow, no one ever even asked what happened - not even the cop that stayed while I got the kids calmed down. I just had to sign a paper saying that I owned the car and they had my permission to break into it!! No license, no registration, just my signature. I guess that he figured, if it wasn't mine, I must've been outta my head to want to steal that particular vehicle!!

Thank the Lord that Papa got home on Friday. I don't think I was still quite over it. I took the little car and had my mammogram done Thursday night. Grammy kept the kids cause they were having a board meeting I wanted to attend right after the mamo appt. I wasn't getting back into that van just yet!

The Church had the Adams Family Trio as guests, bringing us some of that good old Southern Gospel music Friday night. I'd been looking forward to it all week. It was my reward for getting thru the week. The kids misbehaved so badly that we left after only 1/2 thru. I'd had it, couldn't take it any more. And neither could the people around me. They didn't need that either.

So Papa kept them today. Bev and I went over and cleaned the little house for the renters. I had HOURS without them. I cleaned everything I could think of. Bev even rearranged the furniture until she liked it better. I opened the back door and a frog jumped in!! I screamed so loud that Bev thought I'd hurt myself. We chased the stupid frog under the bed, up the wall, and over the headboard before SHE caught it and put it back outside with the warning not to come back. So I had a productive but relaxing morning and when I got home Keith had them all down for naps, so that worked too. Wonderful timing. Now all are in bed and I'm about ready to head that way too.

Diane

Am I ready??

Am I ready for this? Keith left this morning to work in NJ for this week. While getting ready to depart, he packed his bag, his computer, checked for milk and bread (my staples) and decided to go to the store. In the 15 minutes he was gone the boys got into his 1. computer case and got his wires all tangled for him, I'm sure they wanted to make sure that he thinks of them while he is gone and 2. emptied the pockets out of the front of the suitcase - his toothbrush, paste, comb, extra change, work badge, etc. so that he got to repack it before he could leave. I'm sure that this was because they wanted him to stay here longer before he could leave.

He has been gone for 15 minutes. Right now both boys are in time out and the girls have barbies that they are playing with. That is why the boys are in time out - they went momentarily insane and decided to raid the barbie "party" and throw everything into the next universe!!

It should be a fun week. I'm sure I'll have more later, if only out of sheer boredom and lonliness. At least I'll stay fairly busy and won't be heading for any bars or taverns - unless they cater to toddlers also!!

Diane

Veteran's Day

Today was beautiful here in Vero. Not to hot and not humid either. Not often that we get the blessing of both!! We dressed the girls in red, white, & blue and the boys wore grey onsies with the flag on them. Believe it or not, I still have my "Navy Mom" t-shirt that S'te brought to me while she was in the Navy. We went to a dual dedication. Many in our Village are "Winter" people from Canada and we had a Memorial Service for both the US Veterans Day and Canada's Rememberance Day. We honored our Veteran neighbors as well as the Canadian counterparts to them. As we are an older group, there were no Veverans in attendance from the Gulf War, or the ones we are now involved in. We had a moment of silence for the memories of those lost as well as to send blessings and wishes of good luck and God Speed for those now in action. We sang both National Anthems and then had a huge picnic. It was a really nice time. And it was great for us because we got back home before everyone got tired and cranky - so naps were close to regular time.

After that I just relaxed while the kids and Keith were sleeping. It is a nice break. The one little girl came with a warning about not having a onesie on her at bedtime - and I forgot. Guess what! When I went in to get her up - She had 'her' blanket over her and she didn't just stand up. So I pulled the blanket back and there she was! in all her glory!naked as a jaybird!and as wet as if she'd been swimming! I stripped her bed down and the others decided their beds needed it too. - So all the beds are now clean (except for mine, of course)!!

The four of them are presently doing thier own things - one with a Barbie, one carrying around sand buckets (empty ones), and the twins trying to outscreech each other. I think they are going to bed really soon.

Anyhow, that was my day - how was yours?

Typical Sunday?

We were joined early - oh, so very early - this morning by a little voice that announced "I'm scared" and promptly took up the middle half of our bed. By about 2 another voice said "wook" and a toy schoolbus got shoved almost into my nose. Then he also got into bed and took up his half of her half which was also my half - so after they went to sleep - and it only took minutes- I went to the couch and couldn't go back to sleep. I read, watched TV, did crossword puzzles, etc until almost daylight when I made an executive decision - they - at least one of them were going back to their own bed - it worked for about an hour before the schoolbus was back in my nose!! I don't know why I needed to smell it but - oh well.

So we were up at six for breakfast. By the time we were ready to go to Church - all three needed naps - badly! By the time the 3-5 group went to Children's Church - the 3 year old was sound asleep, stretched straight out between us. She slept the whole time. The twins kept Grammy and Zoe busy in the Nursury. They were both tired after the hour was up!! Then we went to lunch!!! I made a statement to all of them - Keith included - I'm not leaving until I've FINISHED my coffee. Well, that kinda fell thru too :-) But next is naptime - I'll get a cup then.

I put them all down, Keith got into his recliner, I went out to pick up a couple of weeds that I saw in the flower bed - a big recycle bin later and another pile of clippings later, I return for that coffee (I'd left it in the nuke) and Keith was sleeping like a baby - but she wasn't. What fun she had been having! She was really demanding in wanting to know where I'd been - never mind that she shouldn't have even known I was missing!! Anyhow, she got so loud with her questions that she woke the boys up. Now, they've not got their nap out, been asleep only about 45 minutes = but by golly - they were not going to lay still and go back to sleep!! What's a person to do????? So I fixed them - I opened a can of Ravioli for dinner - stripped them - fed them - bathed them- and they are all in bed. I'm not taking the gate down yet - even tho' it didn't stop 2 of them. It may have slowed them down a little - I'm not taking any chances!!

So it's an early night for me. I check everyone elses Blogs for new news several times a day!! Don't quit on me!

Diane

Church Picnic

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Originally uploaded by Diane 0500.

Keith is standing in line at the Church picnic today. It is so hard to believe that just 2 weeks ago everyone was boarding and buttoning up waiting for the wrath of Wilma. We were sitting in Georgia and I was bored to death and just waiting to get home!

We've had the 3 new children just over a week - and what a week it has been! They are not used to anyone giving them boundaries - so they've had some new experiences. Sierra has learned to ride a trike and her brother is trying hard. He gets his feet on the pedals and actually balances standing up - but he doesn't go anywhere yet. The other brother still just uses his toes to go where he wants on it. It has been a busy week setting up all the appointments that Keith needs to catch up on with his doctor, opthamologist, and dentist. I've had some good luck with the freecycle here as far as getting some pretty nice clothing for them.

S'te has certainly worked hard getting the Condo ready to rent. If it doesn't rent in a month we will go ahead and put it on the market. I am a little gun-shy after the last go around with Tornado Robin. As each item is fixed or replaced, it seems that S'te finds something else that is missing or broken. Last it was the garbage disposal - they had poured the candle wax down it - while they were using candles for light since the power had been turned off for non-payment!!! Landlords beware - she hasn't found a place yet

Well, kids are up and getting hungry, so I'll sign off for now.

Diane