Tagged again....

I got tagged by Erin a looong time ago and am just barely getting to it!

Here are the rules:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.

2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

3. People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (if you don’t have a blog, email me)

4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.



8 random facts:

1. I have to sleep with socks on... even in the middle of summer.

2. I sneeze when there's a temperature change (like walking outside in the summer, getting out of my car, etc.) and I always always have one big delayed sneeze.... it's how I know I'm finally done.

3. If I could go anywhere in the world it would be Santorini, Greece... the most amazing place ever!

4. I got a pistol from my mom on my 19th birthday (a Lady Smith and Wesson 357 mag). I have a cool mom.

5. I LOVE trash day. There's just something so freeing and cleansing about someone taking away your nasty stinky trash. I look forward to it!

6. I love to wash and fold laundry, but absolutely despise putting it away.

7. I'm an obsessive list maker... I have about 3 lists going each day. I think it's messing with my memory... If I don't write it down, I'll forget to do it. I use to never be that way. I'll just blame the kids for that one!

8. I love road trips with my family... my kids actually do so good in the car and I just love driving around (but I don't want to be the driver).

Okay, I tag....
Meg K.
Denise
Angela
Meagan
Irma
Irene
Stephanie R.
Paula H.

Cal's new favorite snack...

Lotion. He likes Suave Natural Oatmeal the best... oatmeal... hmm? Could it be nutritional after all? He sneaks into his room and climbs up on the dresser and squirts the lotion into his hand and licks it off (I'm assuming anyway.... I just catch him licking it off). So, why can't I get the kid to eat fruit? Surely it tastes better than lotion!

Ringling Bros. here we come!

Last night at church, I got called out of class because Cal was inconsolable. Lately, he's been such a momma's boy. We haven't been apart in weeks (except for an hour and a half when I left him with a dear friend to go take pictures - he was upset the whole time). He had a 30 min. nap in the car while I ran errands... that and the fact that we haven't been to Wed. night class in several weeks (between being out-of-town and being sick), he was not a happy camper. Oh, and I teach/ help(with) his Sunday morning Bible class so he's use to Mommy being in there with him. Patti on the other hand was SO excited to be going to class... she was singing all our songs on the way there. Anyway, he just about fell asleep on the way home from church... I had him almost ready for bed when Daddy got home. When Daddy gets home, the party gets started.

My two boys are joining the circus...it's totally their "calling".... ha.
Patti tried to get in on the action, but my sweet little girl isn't as fearless as her brother (and she lacks the motor skills ... shh, don't tell her I said that).

Wet and Wild

It is SO hot! I was getting a little tired of all the rain, but now I'm sad it's gone. At least it cooled things off. Now, it's just unbearable! And, with all that rain came time off from watering. It's amazing how quickly things are drying up. Our yard and plants have been looking so sad and I've been meaning to get out and water, but it's just so hot (did I already mention that it's hot?). Anyway, I finally got out and watered yesterday evening - I figured that the kids could play some and I'd get some watering done. Ha... plans quickly changed once that water hose came out. The kids watered themselves and the plants and grass got the leftovers. I don't know who got more wet, the grass or Patti and Cal. Either way, we had fun... I even got sprayed a time or two (that happens when you put the hose in the hands of a wild 2 yr. old). The water also kept away those horrid mosquitoes! As soon as you walk outside, they swarm you like crazy!

A funny note to previous post...

One funny thing that has developed from all this...

Patti loves medicine and has loved graduating to the "cup" (rather than the syringe). She has adopted the "cup" as her new drinking cup and brings it to me to fill up with whatever it is that I'm drinking (believe it or not, this has been a huge blessing to me... I have a serious Diet Coke drinking problem and since I've had to share with Patti, I have switched to water or Crystal Light). Anyway, I fill her cup at least 50+ times a day. I've filled it 3 times since I've been typing this. I just can't say 'no' to such a sweet red face!

Poor Patti

A little over a week ago I took Patti to the doctor because I noticed an unusually large bump on her leg (well, groin area). It was exactly what I was praying it wasn't - a staph infection. How in the world she got it - I don't know. The doctor had to cut and drain it there in the office. I had taken Cal with me thinking that it would be a quick visit and we'd be in and out. Ha. We went into a little 'procedure' room (more like an operating room). Once we got through the doors, Cal wigged out. Patti was calm and sweet - the nurse reached out to pick her up and Patti sweetly reciprocated (arms extended upwards with a sweet smile). The doctor looked at me with the saddest look - like "I don't want to do this to her." Long story short, all three of us left there crying - I don't know who it hurt more, me or Patti. She was fine once we got home - except when I'd change her diaper and gauze. Anyway, we had to go back the next day to take out some packing the doctor put in. We did everything we could (and will continue to do) in order to prevent it from spreading. The doctor told us that it wasn't necessary to quarantine ourselves or wear the scarlet letter "S" around town. Because it was in an area that was always covered by a diaper, we weren't too terribly concerned. I did, however, wash ALL our clothes, sheets, sofa covers, I steam cleaned the carpets, bleached all the toys, cabinets, etc. We've gone through a gallon of antibacterial gel and now bathe with antibacterial soap. All was clear and we were healthy again....


so I thought...


Yesterday morning Patti woke up with this terrible rash that covered her head to toe. Of course I called the doctor. His nurse thought that it was either an allergic reaction to her antibiotic or a virus... they needed to take a look at it though and make that decision. So, I loaded them up and headed back to the doctor. As we are walking through the front doors, I noticed that Patti had stopped. I turned to look at her and she's throwing up everywhere. Okay, what was really only about 15 seconds seemed like 15 minutes. What in the world was I suppose to do?! Cal had already run into the waiting area to play. Do I go back outside and let her throw up out there (and leave Cal).... no. Do I stand there like I'm in shock... yes. Do I try to 'catch' it in my hands like I can contain it all (and then do what with it?)... yes. Finally a receptionist brings me a bucket - but by then it was all done. Long story short, instead of crying this time, I laugh. Both kids still cried though. Patti is allergic to the medicine that she was taking for the staph infection. The following pictures don't do it justice... it looks terrible! Her face looks like Santa Claus... red and swollen. It looks so much worse than it feels... I know this because she is still her sweet and fun self. Every once in a while she'll notice it on her arms or legs and tries to rub it off. We're anxious to be "normal" again soon!

Never a dull moment...

with Cal around.


I have two children... the exact same age (okay, a minute difference), same mom, same dad, same house, same bedroom, same toys, same diapers, same lotion, same water... someone pleeease tell me how they can be so different. I've heard that boys and girls are soooo different. If this is true, I have the classic example. Patti is calm, predictable, dramatic at times... your typical girl... me, just 28 years younger. Cal... oh, Cal.... he is all a boy is meant to be. He is wild, unpredictable, mischievous, and sweeter than honey. He keeps me on my toes... he also melts my toenails. I just can't describe in words how precious he is to me... and how he drive me absolutely beyond crazy. Right now as I type this, he is standing behind me choking my neck (love and hugs or premeditated murder... don't know). Maybe these pictures will put a smile on your face (those with boys will smile and think "yeah... been there" and those with only girls will think "I'm so glad I have girls").

I took the stuffing out of some of the pillows on the couch. I put them on the dining room table - out of reach (hahaha). I was gone for maybe a minute and walked into the playroom to find... snow in August!! At first, I was going to get mad and yell... then, I stopped and said to myself, "you know Jen, if you were two years old, this would be SO FUN!".... so, I let them play and cleaned up later.

"Where is Cal?!?!?" I lost him! He disappeared within seconds.... until I heard a creak/crackle in the hamper. Oh, Cal.

I was doing laundry. Cal loved my baby blue shirt... he walked out of my bedroom wearing it... Cal style. Can you read his shirt in the second-to-the-last picture? It is Cal's theme shirt... we'll frame it when he grows out of it (well, maybe/hopefully we'll pass it on to Isaiah soon... Sam's already outgrown it I'm sure -- btw, Sam is Cal's protege... shhh, don't tell Jennifer and Jamie). Angela, I'd love to pass it on to you... hopefully, your boy will fit into it well.

For those of you who can't read his shirt, it says " I tried to be good, but I got bored."