Back Home: June 2009

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Update and an embarrassing moment!

Margaux is doing MUCH better! The hole in her throat is healing up great, although there is still a thing or two dangling from the back of her throat. I don't know how she is okay with that, but oh well... I don't think she will need stitches, we will find out tomorrow.

On another note, today I had to get out of the house. I needed a few domestic items and had a hankering for Chick-Fil-A. So off to Target we went to get a few things and a couple $1.00 Icee's (on sale this week/ANY size!).

After about an hour of scanning the clearance shelves in Target, and using a total of $7.50 in coupons on clearance items, we went on over to CFA. I purposely waited to get there until about 1:00, to try and avoid the lunch crowd. It didn't work. The place was booming.

The play area was packed and there were 3 big boys, (older than Maddie) playing in there. They looked rough too, and were playing rough. I began to scan the restaurant for which mom they belonged to. I couldn't figure it out, so I began to make a plan in my head as to how to get those big boys out of there.

After we finished eating, me, the car seat with Jane in it, Harry Jack and Margaux began to mosey on over to the play area. I had 2 drinks in my hand (a purse and diaper bag too, which don't really matter in this story, but make me VERY noticeable in the busy close quarters restaurant).

This is my plan in action: I opened the door and looked in. Then with a disgusted looked on my face I looked back into the restaurant to the manager who was clearing tables and making sure everyone was happy and said loudly, "Um, sir? There are some very big boys playing in here." It worked--instantly the man followed me into the play area , AND by the way, the mother of those rough big boys appeared too. "Yay! Mission accomplished!"

Then my plan bit me! As I was getting settled on a seat in the play area, the manager turned to me and said in an equally loud voice (as he pointed to a sign on the wall), "Um, ma'am? I am sorry but there is no eating or drinking allowed in the play area."

Aww man! Busted! And embarrassed! So, I tried to act cool and said, "Oh, no worries, I'm sorry." Then I hauled myself (car seat, drinks and bags) back out of the play area and stood outside the door sipping on my cherry Coke, trying to "act cool."

Embarrassing! I know people were looking at me. I just wish I had my mom or one of my sisters with me to laugh at it with me and feel my embarrassment too!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

My baby girl got hurt, sniff-sniff!

This afternoon my sweet baby girl Margaux Jeanne got hurt...really bad.

About 3:00 this afternoon we were getting some things packed up to go spend the evening on the water with some friends. All of a sudden I heard this scream out in the living room followed by, "she's bleeding, oh no!"

I ran out to the see what was going on and found my baby girl crying and blood was pouring out of her mouth. At first I thought maybe she bit her lip or the inside of her cheek. But then I realized, as she was somewhat gurgling blood in her mouth, it was worse.

I had her open her mouth so I could look in, and then I shut my eyes and said a quick prayer. The back of her throat had a huge hole like gash in it. It was like ground beef. I mean... I don't mean to be gross, but there were things hanging down in the back of her throat. I don't know how she wasn't gaging!

With tears in their eyes, Maddie, Danny, and Harry Jack began to tell me their own version of what happened...basically Margaux put Maddie's VBS craft, a 1x8 inch bamboo Australian Didgeradoo, in her mouth, ran around the house with it and ran into a wall. Oooooouch!

We called our friends and told them we would be a bit late to the beach. Thankfully, one of them is a doctor and he told us that a trip to the ER was definitely needed. Danny took Margaux to the ER while I dealt with the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder's going on in each of my childrens rooms. They were all so afraid.

Things are better now. Needless to say, it has been a long, tearful afternoon. Margaux is on a liquid diet and an antibiotic to prevent infection. We are praying for the hole to heal itself by Wednesday...or she may need to get it sewn up...big time OUCH!

The above picture was taken when Margaux came home tonight. The ER gave her a few Blues Clues stickers and told her to eat Popsicles. We just finished watching Cinderella together and now she is asleep. I'll keep you posted on how her throat heals. Bless her little heart!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Unlikely Disciple--Kevin Roose

UPDATE below!

Have you fellow, blogger, Liberty University, friends heard of this book, Unlikely Disciple, or its writer, Kevin Roose (click on his name to go to his website)? Kevin went to LU undercover for one semester. Watch the Youtube video below to understand more.

Danny is reading the book and he says parts of it are very funny! Every once in a while he starts laughing out loud at some of the things this guy writes about in the book. Sometimes Danny reads me parts of it and I must say I am excited to read it when he is done. Very interesting! And funny!

Small's, Jday, my 4 sisters, and any other of you LU alumni out there, you need to read it. If anything it will bring back memories of college days.

Oh, and if you go to Kevin Roose's website, take the quiz. I am proud to say I passed and I'm still a YC for C!

Whoaaa Nelly! Hold the phone Jack! I got a response from the above reader himself, my manny Danny. After he read this post we had a lengthy conversation about the book and, in particular, "prayer." I tried to get him to "guest post" about the book but he declined. BUT, he says, (quote)

"Read the book!"

This blog writer is laughing! Good times, good times!

***Please note, there is some...how should I say it...controversial content in this book.

The Unlikely Disciple Book Trailer

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

My Blog In A Book!

Okay, I know I have been slacking in the blog lately. I've been a bit busy--more to come on that subject soon.

Anyway, my sisters,

Dolly and

Donna,

went in together and gave me the above book for my birthday. It is my blog turned into a book! How cool is that?

Donna clicked and pasted each of my posts, from July 2007- New Years Eve 2008, into a word document and then somehow sent it to Staples, and bada-bing "that was easy" (Staples' motto), it was done.

A few months ago, a friend of mine, Nikki, posted about how to do a blog book on her blog. Nikki, when you get a moment can you type the link to that post in the comment section? Needless to say, I LOVE IT! I am looking forward to making 2009 a book too!

Thanks my sweets!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Hello, New Mom Here!

(Sorry this is untypically a long post for me.)
This morning I am tired, more tired than normal. It is one of those mornings where I could easily get mad over simple things that happen in my house. (ie. Why not go ahead and put the dirty plate in the dishwasher when you go to bed at night, instead of leaving it ON the counter ON TOP of the dishwasher?--see not a biggie, but it hits you hard when you're tired).

I think my getting up at night with Baby Jane is catching up with me. Yes, I am embarrassed to say that my almost 7 month old, baby girl is still waking up at night wanting to eat at least once, sometimes twice a night. The hours of 1:30 and 3:30 seem to be her peek hours. And, always 5:30.

You see it is all coming back to bite me. Before Baby Jane, if I had heard a "new" or "less experienced" (I say that laughing) mom say this, I would have said in response,

"Sweet girl, you gotta let that baby cry!
After a few nights of crying, she will learn!"

By the way...I have let her cry...and cry...and cry, it doesn't work.

So here she is, my sweet baby who's ONLY fault is that she gets me up at night to eat. Also, let me introduce you to my therapist, Dr. Dan, who at times rolls over to give me council, but mostly just lays there...asleep...hearing nothing at all...and says smiling happily in the morning,

"So, how'd she do last night?"

Anyway, I guess I am still a new mom, learning how to care for my sweet Baby Jane. Sometimes when I'm up,in the middle of the night I think about each of my children and this thought comes to mind,

"I should throw my own Oscars party and hand out awards for:

The best sleeper, eater, personality, labor/delivery,
potty trainee, cleaner upper, player with toys, etc."

Okay, now I'm feeling better! And, I am much more awake. It is time to "go to work." Since I have been sitting here, I have been brought apple sauce and Mini Wheat's to open, my hot tea and eggs have been swiped by two different children, and I have been given a juice cup to refill, and on a side note, how many times does the Disney Channel have to play the Jonas Brothers singing "Paranoid?????" I have heard it THREE already!!!!!!

Alright, gotta run, but before I do a BIG GIANT shout out to our friend Jennifer who is giving birth to her twins today!!!! We are praying for you Jennifer!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

So yesterday was my 36th birthday.

So yesterday was my 36th birthday. My day started out with Danny and the children making me breakfast in bed. Scrambled eggs, toast, strawberries and hot tea.

Then...

...this sweet widdle girl came in my room to tell me she did a poopoo (notice her right hand).

The rest of the day I did NOTHING, except make a cake! The children swam in the pool for about 3 hours. I talked to my sisters. I talked to my parents via my mom's new Skype thing. (I tell you my mom truly lives up to her name. We don't call her Jenius for nothing!) Then me, Margaux and Jane took a nap while Harry Jack, Maddie and Dan Dan watched TV.

Later that night it was party time.
Here are my presents...

...and a "present code" to inform me of who gave me the present.

Danny took the oldest three children out shopping the night before. He gave them each some money and told them they had to spend the whole thing on me. They all really thought hard and were SO proud of their gifts.

Harry Jack's gift: A Wall Flower, hand sanitizer and Swedish Fish!
Dan Dan's gift: Jon and Kate plus 8 (funny but so sweet!)
Maddie's gift: Case for my laptop.

Then...

...cake time.

This cake was--well, still IS so yummy! Dark chocolate on the inside and chocolate on the outside made with some delish cocoa that Danny brought back from France...last May...2008...hmmm...still tasted good! Oh, and on the top are Red Hots--one of my favorites. And, that is 3 candles on one side and 6 on the other.

All in all a great birthday! Special thanks to my personal photographer Danny Boy.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Spaghetti and Meatballs

For Mother's Day a few weeks ago, I told Danny all I wanted was this book called, Hello, Cupcake! (Click here to go to the website. It's pretty cool!)

So, I got the book for Mother's Day, and ever since that special day, my sweet children have been asking repetitively, to make cupcakes.

Aughhhh...you see 5 children in my kitchen baking, (yes 5, including baby Jane in the high chair cooing or crying to be held), stresses me out beyond words! This is where I become a bad mom, and I am a little embarrassed to say it.

My sister Donna is the bomb diggity when it comes to cooking with children, be it her own or her nieces and nephews. She is so relaxed with it. I, on the other hand, cannot handle the MESS, the NOISE. You know the old saying,''Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth." Well, I say "True dat" to that!

Anyway, this past week (after searching my Hello, Cupcake book for what I thought was the easiest cupcake to make), decided to bake with all 5 of my children. NO JOKE, after 4 hours in the kitchen, and 77 mini cupcakes later, I give you: Spaghetti and Meatball cupcakes!

We made mini cupcakes because the "meatball" on the regular size cupcakes is a Hazelnut Ferrero Rocher chocolate and those are some preeeety costly meatballs. On our mini cupcakes I used Whoppers and they worked---okay.

So I give our cupcakes *** (that's 3 out of 5 stars).

Mental notes/Tips for next time:
1.) Don't stress! They make the cupcakes look way better, and way easier in the book.
2.) Use professional frosting next time.
3.) Use professional piping bags. (I happened to have these with tips.)
4.) Don't make mini cupcakes next time. Three words: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome