February 7, 2014

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Sickness returns...boo!

• Everyone woke up in a good mood and Robby and I debated if we should take Whitman or Keaton to the doctor.  We finally decided yes so making our appointment was the first order of business.  This was our second time to go to the doctor's office this week so I have thought about applying for a job up there (kidding!)
• The breakfast schedule said that it was "mom's choice" for breakfast so I had to come up with something more fun than usual.  Though Keaton was adamant that she was eating a pop tart and had already unwrapped it and taking a bite while I was still getting out my muffin pans for a batch of chocolate muffins and a bath of blueberry muffins.
• The kids were pretty happy with my breakfast choice and as soon as breakfast was picked up, we started on our "project day"-just a fancy way to say "the day that we are going to work on over 100 valentines."
• Yep, over 100 Valentines and we don't even go to real school. This though, is the time of the year that Reagan said that she wishes that she went to real school.  So we have tried to do Valentines up a bit-all 6 of the Dennie kids have fancy Valentines to pass out during our homeschool Valentine/100 Days of school party plus Campbell has her Valentines for her class party.  I am lucky that Robby is able to design just what we need so we have Valentines with bugs, with candy, with juice boxes, with gum, with kool aid and peppermint hearts (that we have yet to make) 
• As I cleaned up the Valentine production mess and put Whitman to bed-who had spent all morning in his highchair watching all of the action at the kitchen table-the others started on other projects.  Anderson worked on his dinosaur mosaic.  He got it last Christmas-not this one but the one before.  I think those stickers were so small that Anderson would quickly give up each time that we would work on it.  Campbell finished one of her mosaics and we all worked to help Graham finish one of his.  And Reagan and I worked on coloring a wooden butterfly of hers.  Then we did a few trial batches of her peppermint hearts (can't get it quite right yet-they have to work so say a little prayer for me to figure it out)
• Reagan had already packed for Grannymom's house and Graham had already packed for Nonna's house (I need a few more grandparents to come and get the others) when Nonna and Pops stopped by to pick up Graham.  That child was so excited to go and didn't even mind wearing his heavy winter coat.  
• The rest of us had lunch and then we headed out.  Reagan was excited about staying over at Grannymom's house but she was a bit concerned if she knew the recipe for snow ice cream.  Apparently my kids do not remember having snow ice cream and are very anxious to have some.  I explained to Reagan that Grannymom could call me if she needed a snow ice cream recipe (guess I do need to call Nonna to get the recipe for myself)
• At lunch, Campbell was praying and her prayer included "please let Graham have a wonderful time at Nonna's house but don't let him to go to Chuck E Cheese."  Um, okay.
• At our appointment this afternoon, Keaton was a perfect child.  We had talked about her showing Whitman what to do when Dr. Martin was looking in his ears and mouth.  Keaton talked the entire time while waiting and she even talked to Martin.  She had taken over Campbell's role as a chatter box and care taker of Whitman.
• We felt like Keaton was getting over her cold but were concerned about her ears.  One ear had fluid and the other was red-not infected yet but the doc thought they soon would be so she was given some medicine.  And my poor Whitman-two infected pussy ears.  Sounds lovely doesn't it-just a reminder that we have the happiest baby ever since he has still been in a very good mood lately.
• I picked up the leftover kids (Anderson and Campbell) and they headed home with me and the sicklys.  The kids watched some tv and Keaton and Campbell played house upstairs.  Then we had our Friday Mexican for supper and Robby then suggested to make cookies as we watched the snow fall.
• The kids were so intrigued by the snow-well, we are too actually (as long as the power is on)  We all huddled up in our bedroom to watch the olympics and let's make a deal.  As we enjoyed our cookies, Robby mentioned having some "snow dew" which the kids do remember from last year and they were tickled about this late night treat.  Pretty good day!  

February 6, 2014

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How our mornings typically start around here...

• Everyone slept well last night thankfully and early this morning, I climbed out of bed to take a picture of 5 little kiddos sitting on my bed.  If Robby does post that picture, you can see him setting up as I snapped the picture-if 5 kids are in your bed, you don't stay long.  The kids were playing their kindles-the poor things use all their kindle time so early in the morning that they were already put back up by 8!
• I quickly dressed Keaton and Campbell for school.  Keaton and Robby stuck around to watch Campbell's class sing their songs.  And Campbell was tickled to be a the snack helper today-it is the little things in life.
• The rest of us worked on school this morning and even finished in time for the kids to put on a show for Robby.  A show consists of Reagan singing into the fan, Anderson running in circles and Graham rolling around on the floor.  The boys are "dancing"-don't think they really know what the word dancing really means.  Whatever was happening, Keaton enjoyed watching and Whitman even jumped up and down as he watched the entertainment.
• We had lunch and then I had the kids help me in the kitchen.  They scrubbed the kitchen cabinets, chairs and stools.  Seriously, they worked for almost an hour.  Anderson even asked to clean the windows which I certainly let him.  Love my little helpers.
• Soon it was nap time and I worked on pulling school out for the next month.  I was able to do Reagan's work-it takes me about a day per kid.  Goodness, hope I can streamline things by the time everyone is doing school.  Glad I have another year before Campbell is in kindergarten.
• Campbell had spent the afternoon at Nonna's house and had a blast.  She was even disappointed to see me when we picked her up this afternoon.  We were headed to the grocery store.  And between our stops, we bought a pizza.  The plan had been for the kids to get out during the second stop but it was just so cold.  So we passed out slices of pizza, drinks and then rice krispy treats that Nonna and Campbell had made while I ran into the store.  Back home everyone had showers and then it was time for a Let's Make a Deal.  
• Keaton wasn't that coughy today except in the car this evening and Whitman is just a snotty mess.  But he is eating well and is still his happy little self.  Gracious me!  What are we going to do with that child?  I even wondered if his teeth were bothering him because he sure did try to take a chunk out of Robby's leg tonight.

February 5, 2014

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• Today was going to be a relaxing day with not too much going on here at the Dennie house but that seemed a bit too uneventful for Keaton.  The poor thing was cuddled up in my bed with her eyes closed acting all pitiful.  As she laid in my bed this morning after chugging her milk, she told me over and over that her tummy hurt.  I should have listened and before I knew it, I was stripping off her clothes and stripping off my clothes, throwing my sheets and then my blanket and brand new bed spread in the washing machine. 
• But Keaton felt one hundred times better.  She happily took her shower with Campbell and then started talking.  She usually doesn't talk really early in the morning but after her little incident, she chatted all day long.  And by all day, I mean all day long.  By mid morning she was wearing her Dorothy dress and was in rare form dancing with her brothers.  
• Since more Dennie kids were technically sick than healthy this morning, I called my grandma to tell her that we were not going to make it today.  The kids were really disappointed because she is at a new place-new people, new places, new crazy lady calling "come here little boy"-well, I am not sure if there is a new crazy lady saying that but surely there is a new crazy lady there.  
• We had our breakfast and then started on our school.  This should have been Bible study day but yesterday's weather cancelled that.  So we only had the left overs from yesterday's school and the kids happily started on that.  They worked as I gave out spelling words while sweeping the kitchen and wiping poor Whitman's nose.  Keaton definitely seems to be feeling better but I can't say that for Whitman.  Next week, I have scheduled his ear check from his 3rd round of antibiotics from his cold starting in December.  Arrrgh!  I have a good feeling that we will be at the doctor's office before next week.  
• The kids helped out around the house again quite a bit today-emptying the dishwasher is the new favorite chore.  Graham was the lucky one today to help with that.  We decided to move that from midnight to during the day.  Robby and I would do the dishes together right before bed but now it is just me and my little helpers.  This changing when we do the dishes was Robby's idea-hmm, wonder if he was trying to get out of doing the dishes. 
• Somehow even with little school work and no real agenda for the day, we were busy all day and before we knew it, I was getting everyone ready for church tonight.  I had let the kids eat my delicious tomato soup for lunch (that they didn't eat) so I could feel less guilty about giving them sandwiches for supper so we could eat quickly.
• Robby walked in and not too long after, we all walked out.  Keaton and Whitman hung out with Nonna and Pops while we were at church.  After church, the kids had a snack before bed-hopefully, everyone will sleep well tonight and feel better tomorrow!

February 4, 2014

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Computer time...

• Kids were still in bed with us this morning when I looked at my phone and saw a message saying that Campbell's school was closed. I hadn't really been keeping up with the weather and was shocked to see no school for her.  I quickly looked out of the window and just saw a bit of rain.  Robby was on his phone too seeing that they were told to only come in if necessary.  What an exciting way to start the day.  
• Breakfast was uneventful-except for the small fire.  Not really a fire, just smoke-lots of it.  This is the second time in a row that I have made toast and also smoked up the entire house.  5 kids were sitting at the bar and I was standing with my back to the toaster passing out yogurt, when Graham walked in the room and shouted "Mom."  I turned to see smoke billowing out of the toaster.  I quickly pushed up the toast and ran to open the door.  I could hear Anderson say "look at all that smoke going up stairs."  I ran to open windows down and upstairs hoping to air out the house some.  Then the smoke alarm started going off so I would have to run back to jump on a chair to stop the alarm every few minutes.  
• We finished breakfast and I finally shut the doors and windows despite the lingering smoke smell because the kids were saying they were cold-it was 20 something outside.  Then we started on our school work.  
• School was going splendidly until the lights flickered once, twice and then no more lights.  The kids were beyond excited and ran around gathering flashlights.  I quickly found spots at windows for everyone to work out and that lasted for a while.  It didn't take long for me to notice that more kids than not had blankets wrapped around their bodies.  I guess it was chilly by the windows with no heat and the house and it probably didn't help any that the house was a bit chilly from all of the doors and windows I had opened earlier.
• After looking to see when the estimated time for the power to come back on, Robby quickly fired up the generator.  I think that is his favorite purchase-mine too.  It is really is all that we need-the bonus room was nice and cozy with a lamp on and the tv playing when the kids migrated upstairs.  I had the kids finish what they were working on and then bring a few things upstairs to work on.  We will be able to finish the rest tomorrow.
• We hung out upstairs working on legos, eating salsa, playing a few games and watching tv-we did all of that before noon and as we were thinking about moving food from the house fridge to the one in the garage that was plugged up to the generator, the power came back on (that was a good thing but still a bit disappointing)  
• Robby put his generator and all up-though not too up because our trees were really icy and leaning out here.  And the kids went downstairs to play while I worked on lunch.  After lunch the kids played until I asked for them to help me some before movie and nap time.  
• The afternoon flew by and soon Robby was back home from work (he went in around lunch)  The kids were happy to see him and happy to eat supper.  We ate and even cleaned out the desserts in the fridge (it wasn't much but we found enough for all)
• Robby put Campbell and Whitman in the shower but Campbell was so busy playing dress up that she didn't stay long.  She had on a t shirt and tu tu and Keaton was dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.  Some times the kids can play perfectly and that they did for most of the evening.  
• I am going to bed a bit worried about my little two.  Poor Whitman has had a runny nose all day and possibly some fever tonight.  And Keaton has Graham's cough with a runny nose herself and possibly a tiny bit of fever.  We gave at least 5 different medicine to the 3 sicklys-though Graham can't really be counted as sick anymore since he is quickly improving.  
• Because of the weather this morning, our Bible study is cancelled for tomorrow.  The kids were pretty disappointed but with all of our sickness we probably would have had to skip anyway.  I am oh so thankful that all the kids are normally very healthy and we hardly get any of the bugs floating around.  But I am oh so concerned that Whitman and Keaton don't feel good at all-hopefully there little bug will pass quickly.

February 3, 2014

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Sisters!

• With Graham well doped up (ear drops, tylenol and even some cough and cold) he slept like a baby and so did the rest of the house.  He woke up feeling great this morning and when Robby asked him if his ears still hurt, he told us that they were fine.  His ears might truly have been fine but right at 8, I started dialing to get him a doctor's appointment.
• We started school around 8 after eating breakfast.  The kids did well and it seemed like we flew through our work.  Well, I did let Reagan and Anderson skip one box (their oral report) but that means that I must make them do it tomorrow.  
• The kids enjoyed coloring as I read science to them and soon it was lunch time.  We had lunch closer to twelve today so I guess I am more back on schedule this week (compared to last week when lunch was closer to 1 each day)  As soon as we were finishing up lunch, Nonna rang our doorbell to watch the kids while Graham and I were out.
• Graham was a bit upset about leaving but not nearly as upset as Keaton was about me leaving.  She does fine at church and Bible study but when it is time to leave her with a grandma, she gets a little panicked.  I think that she doesn't want for me to leave on a trip again.  
• Since Graham had been acting fine all day and saying that his ears didn't hurt, I wasn't expecting anything surprising at the doctor's office.  I was surprised-2 infected ears.  She acted like they were pretty bad so as soon as we left there, we went to Sams.
• This is "no spend month" here at the Dennie house but obviously necessities are allowed-necessities like bananas, milk and medicine for your ailing son.  But Sams is Sams so I had a few dilemmas like strawberries.  They had been on my grocery list and we decided to buy them at Sams but that was last month.  I decided that they were a necessity.  The next dilemma was a box of honey buns (12 count) for 2 dollars.  I never see deals at Sams but I thought that was good but it is "no spend month" but a good deal-so I bought them.  Then there was an 8 dollar jar of salsa for 2 dollars and I bought it too.  Apparently, I am not any good at "no spend month" and for this month to be a success, I better not leave the house again. 
• Back at home, I say my boy down and gave him his first dose of many (he wasn't too pleased but did drink up when the movie turned on in the other room.)  The kids had a blast playing with Nonna and Anderson was thrilled to have beaten her at checkers (the Dennie game of the week.)  
• Soon Robby was home and it was time for our supper of leftovers.  Then the littlest people had showers while the bigger ones played an exciting round of Simon Says-thrilling, I know.  Then we watched our evening movie before bed for all.
• We let Graham stay in our room one more night tonight.  Campbell is oh so disappointed that he is getting to sleep downstairs.  But if her cough continues, then she will probably be the next one on the floor of our room.   

February 2, 2014

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Super Bowl Party!

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(click here to view our commercial debut for Baptist Health)

• Last night as we went to bed thinking all would be well since Graham seemed to be coughing less.  Ha!  About 1:30, we heard Campbell crying over the monitor.  Robby groggily asked her what was wrong and said that Graham was crying and making her cry.  So up the steps I went.  Poor Graham was holding his little ears crying so down he came with me.
• I made him a pallet on our floor and thought that he would certainly go back to sleep.  Nope!  He ended  up in our bed and Robby quickly vanished (taking one of my blankets)  I tried a warm washcloth, tylenol and everything else I could think of to help him be comfortable and sleep.  I rubbed his back until he said "can you stop that?"  I even let him watch a tv show in the middle of the night-of course that was mainly so he would set up so his ear would feel better and then maybe fall asleep and while this was all happening I could snooze.  After just a few minutes, he asked if we could turn off the tv.
• Then a bit later, he said what no one wants to hear in the middle of the night "Mom, what's that outside?"  I quickly started searching for my glasses but come up short.  I could see the non-man shapped blob so didn't have to sound an alarm.  We headed to the window and sat there for a long time watching 6 deer eat near the house.  We did that until he asked to get back into bed.  By this time, I was debating if I should ask Robby to switch with me at 5:00 or just get on up and maybe exercise.  Thankfully, around 4 we finally did fall asleep.  
• He woke up feeling fine today though his ear did hurt some off and on.  Sometimes you would think that he felt perfect and other times he had his hands over his ears.  First chance Robby had today, he went to Walgreens to find some ear drops and we think those helped him.  The first business happening in the morning is to get the boy an appointment. 
• From 4 to 7 though we slept great and thankfully I felt well rested this morning (I am no longer a spring chick that can stay up all hours of the night)  It didn't take too long for us all to be ready and loaded in the car headed to church.  Campbell was told (threatened) how she would walk into her class since a repeat of last Wednesday is not acceptable.  (Though we might cut her some slack because she might not be feeling 100% either but on the other hand, she can be a bit of a hypochondriac)
• We didn't think we would make Graham go to Sunday school so Robby brought me and the 4 youngest to Nonna and Pops house early while Reagan and Anderson went to Sunday school.  By the time Robby dropped us off, he had to head right back to pick up the others.  At Nonna's house, we did most moms of sick kids do-let them run in the rain.  We ran through the rain to go and check out Pop's new shed and my Graham took his sweet time running back to the house-I think he was enjoying playing in the freezing rain.  
• We had lunch and didn't have to rush off because their was no church and no choir tonight.  So that really made our afternoon stretch out-which was lovely because most of us in this house were snoozing (everyone but Reagan and Anderson)
• Our small scale Super Bowl party was a success-pizza, tomato basil soup, Hello Kitty cake pops, brownies and coke-what could be better?  The kids gathered around during each commercial break waiting on our debut.  Even though we have already seen the commercial, the kids squealed when they saw themselves and we continued to have to watch the commercial over and over.
• At bedtime tonight, Reagan asked to pray so she could pray for Graham to get better and sleep well tonight.  Upstairs sounds calm and Graham is cuddled up in our bedroom floor so hopefully he will sleep well tonight.

February 1, 2014

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Making cake pops!

• If you had 3 guesses of what we had for breakfast this morning, what would you guess?  Doughnuts-yep.  Robby had to do a little work so he took Keaton, Campbell and Anderson with him to pick up the doughnuts.  
• Back at the house, I asked Reagan and Graham to watch Whitman while I took a shower.  They started off so excited about this and Graham even found me to ask if I could do something else after my shower so they could watch him longer.  I said certainly and took my sweet time.  When I did walk back into my bedroom where they all were, I saw Reagan and Graham sitting on my bed playing their kindles.  But they had still done their job of watching Whitman-they had thrown his toys all over the room and he was crawling from place to place exploring all of his toys.  
• Sometime during the morning, Campbell looked up at me and said "glad we are not a homeless family."  I certainly agree with her but I really wonder what all goes through her little head.  
• Also this morning Keaton said "I want to see Beebee later."  I thought for awhile what made her think of going and seeing Beebee.  Then I remembered and asked "do you want some candy from Beebee?"  "uh huh" Keaton answered.
• This morning Robby and I cooked 5 pounds of meat, made spaghetti and chili, he played one game of checkers, Campbell and I started on her cake pops, Robby did some computer repair on my computer, started on our taxes and I pulled out clothes for tomorrow.  With all of that activity, it was still a pretty perfect and restful Saturday.  Graham said "I wish there could be two of these days in a row-a Saturday and then another Saturday."  This is a pretty wise little child.
• After lunch, we all headed outside.  Robby and I worked on straightening the ever messy garage.  I think that a 5 car garage would not too big and even though we have an awesome coat rack out there, we have coats galore hanging from everywhere.  (I probably should get rid of a few coats)  
• The boys played with their remote control cars around the yard.  Robby told the kids that he would give them 10 cents to run to the big tree so that is what they did.  Reagan ran there 5 times, Anderson, Campbell and Graham 3 times and Keaton twice.
• We stayed outside until Campbell had herself a good meltdown and it started to rain.  The boys played some basketball with the neighbor boys as the girls took showers.  Then we cut the boys hair before their showers.  By this time it was too late for Keaton's nap so she joined the others watching their movies.
• We watched the Hogs play and then had our supper.  Afterwards, Robby played 3 more games of checkers (he had told the big 4 that he would play checkers with them today) and Campbell and I and many others helped with her cake pops.  Tomorrow we will finish decorating them and eat them.  
• And we ended our day with a viewing of Let's Make a Deal.  I so want one of the kids to have a Let's Make a Deal birthday party-that would be so fun.  We doped up Graham (who is coughing less today) and Campbell (who is pretty excema-ish right now).  I think my kiddos were pretty tired tonight-but we will soon see if it gets quiet upstairs.