First off, I have a couple updates. Michelle has raised over $2000 on her blog for Julian and his family. This money will help Mimi to buy a burial plot close to their home. Ugh, it just breaks my heart to write that. Julian was in the hospital the other day to help relieve pressure on his poor distended tummy. Thankfully, they're home now and I pray they have a wonderful Christmas and can make some memories to last a lifetime.
In other news, I'm feeling fine and dandy now. Hooray. My middle daughter, Lexington, has strep throat however. It just kind of hit her like a ton of bricks this afternoon. You see, in my family we get sick on vacations and holidays. It's just more fun when you can't get to your regular doctor and you have to try and find a treatment center out of town or you have to go to the ER on the weekend or holiday. On the bright side, we discovered the best way to be seen right away without having to spend hours in the waiting room. Just walk up to the reception desk and promptly puke all over the floor. I don't think we've ever been ushered to a room as quickly as we were today.
After we got to the room, we met Dr. Know-It-All. This is why, when my kids get sick on the weekend, I do everything in my power to wait until Monday so we can see our regular pediatricians who, by the way, are all awesome. So, this doctor spent .000000429 of a second looking in Lex's ears. She didn't say a word about her ears.
(Oooo back up. I forgot to tell you about the ENT appointment I had on this past Thursday. Lexi's ears are still filled with fluid from back in October. She did poorly on her hearing test. She's going for her third set of tubes in January. Clay's ears are both filled with fluid, and he did really poorly on his hearing test as well. Looks like he'll be getting his second set of tubes come January too.)
OK, back to today. Dr. Know-It-All didn't say anything about Lexi's ears which have started causing her pain. I asked her, "How are her ears?"
"They're fine," she quickly replied.
"They're fine?" I was really surprised they didn't look infected since I knew they were fluid-filled and now Lex was running a fever and her ears were hurting. "Are they still filled with fluid?" I asked.
"There is no infection," Dr. Know-It-All avoided my question.
"I understand that they don't look infected to you, but are they still filled with fluid?" I asked yet again.
Dr. Know-It-All gave a sigh, looked at me, and in her most condescending voice (I'm assuming this was her most condescending voice and she isn't actually capable of acting more superior), said, "She doesn't need antibiotics if she has fluid in her ears."
Ummm hello? Did I ask you for antibiotics for her ears? Did I say anything remotely like that? After years of speech therapy, at least partially brought about by poor hearing as a result of fluid-filled ears, I'm just keeping tabs on her ears right now.
Anyway, Dr. Know-It-All asked me what else was bothering my daughter. I told her that her throat, stomach, and head were all hurting, that she'd thrown up in the reception area, and that several kids from her class were out with strep. Dr. K.I.A. brushed it all off and said, "Well, it looks like she just has a virus. We'll do a strep test just in case and then let you go home."
Surprise, surprise, the strep test came back positive. The good news is that Lex will be feeling better and won't be contagious after 24 hours on the antibiotics. The bad news is that one or more of the other kids will have it within the next two days. They just believe in sharing that way.
I've taken a bit of a break from my other blog, Mamaslike.com, but will be back posting regularly there come the beginning of January. As always, if you're interested in advertising on either Mamaslike or this blog, you can get more information here.
Now, without further ado, here are the answers to life's great questions...
Did you just say your husband was grilling? Outisde? In Chicago? In December?
Yes! I highly recommend it! Husband outside grilling = little clean-up for you!
You know, I have a friend who insists that she considers my blogs (yes, I have two) a "ministry". I laugh at the thought, but I suppose if I can give somebody reason to smile on a day when everything around them looked bleak, maybe she's right. Do you agree?
I had never really thought about it until people started thanking me for making them smile on an otherwise gloomy day. Like you, it makes me kinda laugh to think about it, but if I can make someone smile on a bad day, then it's all good in my book and people can call it whatever they wish. :)
This is the final countdown week for Christmas and I'm curious - WHEN did you start/finish your shopping?
I was contemplating starting my shopping today, but it's REALLY cold and windy here right now and I don't feel like shopping right now. I wonder how much longer I can put it off?
OK, seriously, I think I started shopping right after Thanksgiving when Christmas was in the air and stores were fully stocked, there was just a little chill in the air, people were in festive moods, the sounds of Christmas carols filled the air, and my favorite holiday coffee creamers were available in stores. I finished shopping today (literally) when the store's shelves were bare, employees were tired, shoppers were frantically trying to find those last minute gifts, the Christmas music grated on our ears, and it was 500 degrees below 0. I'm doing all my shopping online next year.
Your talent blows me out of the water. How do you do it all? Where do you find a second in your day to do everything that you do?
I do it all, but I sure don't do it well! I'm thinking that I may just "wrap" presents in the shopping bags in which they came. I did my Christmas cards, but I have yet to drop them in a mailbox. I bought Christmas gifts for out of town friends, but I have yet to send them. Maybe they can be New Year's presents. Believe me, I've been checking things off my list and breathing a little easier every day.
Yay! My question made it into Dawn's list! But joint compound!!! Did she get stuck together?!?!?! Oh my!!!
Here's what she did...
The rest of the "If a monkey bit you..." question is, "...what kind of medicine would you have to take?" My kids are the greatest fountain of straight lines, ever. Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair...
LOL! I say this all the time. I can remember all sorts of ridiculous, useless, Cliff Claven-like information, but I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday! If only I could send stupid movie quotes, the lyrics to that song I learned in fifth grade that named all the states in alphabetical order (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas.....), and the lines to every part I've ever played, to the recycling bin, I'd free up a ton of space on my hard drive!
PS_If I am first can I have a prize? Like an autographed copy of your book? Hee, hee, hee.
I'm not sure about that, but Guideposts has some awesome contest ideas for my blog readers! I'm really excited about them. This summer is going to be fun!
By the way...What Time do the kids wake you up on Christmas morning????
Let's see...Santa doesn't wrap gifts at my house. He just sets the toys (completely assembled, part A inserted into slot B, batteries installed, and decals applied) out around the tree. That means Santa is usually up until the very wee hours of the morning assembling, constructing, swearing, smashing thumbs, and undoing approximately 4000 twist ties, while watching A Christmas Story play over and over and over again. If the kids just got up on their own to see what Santa had brought, I would never hear them, they'd tear apart the house, and I'd probably sleep til noon. However, in our house we have a rule. The kids can't get up and run out to see what Santa brought until everyone's awake, Mom and Dad have had a cup of coffee, and I've gotten my camera ready to go. So, we can usually hold them off and tell them to hang out with each other in their bedrooms until 8:00.
Can you share with us what kind of camera you are using. I'm planning to buy one your seems to meet my expectations.
Surely! It's a Sony model DSC - H2. I got the display model for 50% off when I bought it! The best thing is the 12X optical zoom!
Quick question: How do you keep up with all those mittens for your kids?
I just tell the kids that if they lose them, they can't have any pie.
Have they ever had one go into labor?
This was referring to the Living Nativity at my church and the pregnant women who have played Mary. I don't think anyone has ever gone into labor, but let me tell ya - when I played Mary two years ago, that was the easiest labor I've ever experienced! All I had to do was turn around, pick the doll up off the ground, and place it in the manger. Ta da! No epidural required.
A question for your Sunday sound-off: Do you do laundry everyday? If so, how many loads of laundry do you do in a day?
Every day is laundry day in my house. I do an average of 4 loads a day; more if I'm doing bedding and/or towels. I don't mind doing laundry at all. I seem to have a procrastination problem with the whole 'folding and making sure the kids put it away' part though.
Where on earth did the idea to scotch tape their faces evolve?
I have no idea. Kids are insane.
And for the 400 of you who wrote something like this...Let's see, dizziness, nausea, lack of energy....pregnant?
Ummmm NOOOOO!!!
I have a question for your Sunday sound off....how much time do you spend reading other people's blogs on a regular basis and do you have a favorite (or two)?
I wish! I actually haven't been able to find time to read other blogs. I check out other blogs now and then when someone sends me a link. I feel bad that I don't have more time to read other blogs especially when so many people read mine. I'd like to return the favor. Maybe some day...
Is your book going to be illustrated? If so, is Rick Green going to do the illustrations? Just wondering. - I'm not Rick asking.
Hmmm good question, Rick. I don't think the book will be illustrated, but I haven't gotten that far yet. If it is illustrated, I assume the publisher will pick an illustrator they think is appropriate for my book. I really don't know how all this works.
This is great! However, I can't figure out how you ended up with just 10 dirty dishes. Just ten?
Well, that's what I had to work with. The song isn't called The 4,932, 834, 082 Days of Christmas. A reader sent me a link to this video. This is the best version of the song that I've ever heard!
Was the drawing on the table?
YES!!! Ugh, now I have a "potato person" on my kitchen table for all time. Mr. Clean only faded it a little bit. I hear tablecloths are in.
I was wondering if ..being your from Chicago..Have you ever been to the Oprah show?
LOL! Nope. My husband thought he'd get tickets for me and some friends for my birthday one year. Little did he know that you can't just go to Ticketmaster and buy them. I believe it's easier to win the lottery, have your kids behave in December, find cute shoes in your size on sale, and get hit by lightning - twice, than to get tickets to Oprah's show! She's one popular lady! It would be awesome though, wouldn't it?
Do you pass down clothes? How do you store them in your 1000 square foot house? Would the whites turn yellow if I put them in the attic?
I do save clothes and hand them down. I keep them in the attic. I've never noticed whites turning yellow, but they do tend to pick up that enchanting "plastic container" smell after being up there for a few months. Although, I have to admit that I gave away all clothes and baby items a couple times "because I was done having kids and didn't need them anymore." Of course, every time I did that, I ended up pregnant within a couple months. Take my advice - giving away your baby things causes pregnancy.
Hey, according to Dave Carlson's What's your blog worth, Your blog, mom2my6pack.blogspot.com/, is worth $1,172,549.58!
Who's Dave Carlson and where can I claim my check?
I'm still in awe over how neatly all those boots were lined up ... by size yet!What's up with that?
:::snort!::: That is the magic of movies, my friend. This is what it REALLY looks like...
And finally, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If used very carefully, rubbing alcohol will remove permanent marker off of a wood table. But you have to be careful not to strip the finish. I know this not from having kids, but from inheriting an antique table that a group of frat boys "decorated".
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! Can't wait to read about Christmas Morning!!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter drew on my table with a permanent marker, and I colored over it with a dry erase marker and while it was wet wiped it off with an alcohol wipe....it took it completely off.(I'd recommend doing a spot test, so you don't just end up with a bigger drawing on your table...cuz I'm sure it will work on some types of wood and not others). Good luck!
ReplyDeleteDon't ever let Santa bring you a monster portable, 8- to 10-foot adjustable basketball hoop. Or if he does, make sure you are hiding in the back of your van wrapping presents in the bags they came in.
ReplyDeleteHave fun shopping tomorrow!
I've had experiences with arrogant or insecure (which is it?) doctors like the Dr. KIA. I have learned that the best way for me to get them to the obvious diagnosis is to be very careful not to suggest a diagnosis, but to just list all the symptoms very carefully and then play dumb. It makes them feel so smart to be able to tell you what is already obvious to you... like... "he's got pneumonia". "Oh, really, is that why he's wheezing and sounds like he's going to cough up a lung?" "Wow, who would have guessed?"
ReplyDeleteHere's a funny for you: Years ago when my daughter was having repeated throat infections every 6 or 8 weeks (before tonsillectomy), one doctor said if she kept having them, we'd want to test the family to see if someone was carrying strep. He said this even though he wasn't testing my daughter for strep. Now, wouldn't you think he'd want to know if she had strep before looking for the carrier? LOL. I asked him about that but since it was 4:50 pm, he quickly said "Well, we'd treat her the same way regardless if it's strep or not." HELLO??? By the way, have you read that the Feingold diet is supposed to help also with ear infections? We are trying Feingold and are seeing improvements in some areas, but the Holidays are a really bad time to watch out for the bad stuff and to do all the cooking. :)
On the bright side, we discovered the best way to be seen right away without having to spend hours in the waiting room. Just walk up to the reception desk and promptly puke all over the floor. I don't think we've ever been ushered to a room as quickly as we were today.
ReplyDeleteah yes the joys of trying to find ways to get quickly admitted to the ER. Another good way(i personally discovered this one) is to start bleeding all over the floor from some odd location(nosebleeds dont usually work). Like the time I fell on the fence and landed astride it(one leg on one side the other on the opposite side) and wound up in the hospital for 3 days after a 4 and a half hour emergency surgery to fix the 'damage'(its amazing how much damage a solid metal pipe can do).
Isn't there a rule in the mom handbook that says kids must get sick on holidays, birthday and weekends? They certainly seem to like to abide.
ReplyDeleteSanta did the same at our house growing up and continues today. But no way we could have waited till 8:00. 6:00 was the magic number. One year Santa brought several bikes (there were 5 of us). Another year Mrs. Clause suggested Santa only put together one part of a 3 part kitchen but Santa would have nothing of that. I think they got about an hour sleep that year. Have a Merry Christmas and I hope everyone feels well enough to celebrate.
Generally publishers like Guidepost have staff artists on salary that they use to do their illustrating. But if and when you need me - just ring the bell. Like Pavlov's dog I'll come running with my tongue wagging.
ReplyDeletehttp://organizeddoodles.blogspot.com/
Yeah, I spent Christmas Eve in the waiting room last year. LOVE the song and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteI've had success getting permanent marker off wood with hairspray. One of my kids decorated the baseboard of my bed and I was able to make it look nice again.
ReplyDeleteI check your blog periodically and love it! I, too, have been to a Dr. KIA in the ER who looked at our son, said, "Well, that's odd - why don't you go home and make an appointment with his regular doctor." A month later he ended up in the hospital requiring constant oxygen and a month after that we found he had a rare lung disease. We, and by we I mean he, are still doing the oxygen thing and will be for several years. Which brings me to my question...
ReplyDeleteI have read about Julian and my heart goes out to his family. It breaks my heart to see a little one go through so much. We are fortunate that they THINK our little guy will grow out of his condition, but there are many that are not so lucky. He has something under the classification of Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease (chILD). The foundation website is http://www.childfoundation.us/Link_Page.htm
They are raising money for research etc. because not a lot is known about these chILDs. An easy way to raise money for this (or other foundations) is to change a search engine to goodsearch.com and select the charity you want to donate to. Whenever you do a search, a small amount is donated to the charity. The results are similar (the same I think) to Yahoo! results. So, if you wouldn't mind mentioning this, that would be great.
Sorry that was so long - but again, I think you're great!
Dawn,
ReplyDeleteI am sure this has probably been done, but my youngest son had the same problem with his ears and all the fluid and gunk in it. He had tubes put in 3 times and on the 3rd time they took out his adenoids and his ears cleared up. I am not sure if your kids have had their adenoids taken out, but if they have not you might look into that and see if it will help. If they have had them taken out, I hope their ear problems clear up soon. Poor babies. Merry Christmas to you and your Family!!!
""Quick question: How do you keep up with all those mittens for your kids?
ReplyDeleteI just tell the kids that if they lose them, they can't have any pie.""
LOL! I LOVE that book! And still have it on the book shelf =)
Merry Christmas! Hope it's the best.
~Kristi
Was the drawing on the table?
ReplyDeleteYES!!! Ugh, now I have a "potato person" on my kitchen table for all time. Mr. Clean only faded it a little bit. I hear tablecloths are in.
Magic Eraser works very well!
WOW your 2nd and 3rd sets of tubes... maybe they can give you a discount and do them together on the same day?? Well, it was wishful thinking lol. My youngest was the same way and they took out her adenoids saying that they were the most common carriers of infection. As the child gets through with the antibiotics and gets back to normal the infection has been sitting in the adenoids and returns to the ear canal to re infect it. She had tubes at the same time and they stayed in for about 2-1/2 years. After that she was fine. Good luck and I'm sure that even though the kids may not feel well they will definitely have the energy to wake up and see what Santa brought them. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
ReplyDeleteI think they shove the doctors with the worst bedside manner into emergency rooms because they won't last anywhere else!! I avoid emergency rooms like the plague! They can be good for some things, like broken bones and car accidents... But other than that, I can wait!!
ReplyDeleteAbout the marker on the table... I bought some of this from a door-to-door salesman last year when I saw him drink it (it was so safe) and he also marked a white towel with a big fat black permanent marker and washed it out right in front of me. I only paid $20 for my bottle, but I still have it (you dilute it based on the chart they provide, according to what you're going to use it for) and I keep a 20/1 spray bottle in the bathrooms and the kitchen. It's a lifesaver! It even got 15 years worth of grime off of the inside of my mom's oven window, without scrubbing!!
If the dry erase marker doesn't work (which I used to remove a sharpie drawn "woody" from my oak woodwork) then try magic eraser. If you haven't tried them already-- they take about anything off of anything and the generic ones work just as well as the name brand...Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI did have some luck with one of my girls having the throwup thing last week. Yesterday I was at the Dr. on calls office with my other daughter having strep, my dog has double ear infections and my husband has an attitude problem. Other than that things are good and cooked, sewed and wrapped!Thanks for all the laughs, I can't wait to see what Christmas morning brings for you. Our Santa leaves everything unwrapped too. The older the kids get the less you have to put together! Now I just have to figure out how to charge the Ipod. Hmmm. Merry Christmas, Dawn!
ReplyDeleteDawn,
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed your writing since ebay. I am a seller myself there.
I have to comment about doctors, my OLDER sister is one, just retired. But I totally understand your frustration with doctors. Having one as a sister is even more frustrating, as they seem to learn in doctor school and in practice their word is the most important. And it continues into family life, which being the YOUNGER sister, in her mind she is always right, and since I am younger (prettier too, lol) I know nothing according to her. It is a constant battle. Some, like my sister come to believe their "godliness" and it continues into their own life, not just the hospital.
I applaud you on fighting for what you know is right with your child's illness. Too many just believe the doctor. I know first hand, they are
very full of themselves, not all, but my sister is a prime example of "I know better than you".
I also understand the word "practice" as that is what the "professionals" really are doing, practicing on your child, or in my case my pets. A degree does not give them anything but a degree, you have to find the human-ness in a doctor, as I have to find a country vet, which means, they listen to me, respect my opinion, and admit not knowing, or admit they will research it some more.
Doctors, vets, lawyers, etc....
well many do get too rigid and forget the parent or owner (pets) really do have a lot of knowledge, if they would only listen!
J
You're not alone, someone in my family ALWAYS gets strep in December and every single one of us seems to get a stomach virus in December as well. Another popular day to get sick is whatever day we are flying out of the country to see my in-laws and I have to squeeze in a visit to the pediatrician among the 375 things I have to do before we get on the plane. Oh, and I have 4 kids: one with 3 sets of tubes, one with 2 sets of tubes, one with 1 set of tubes and one who never gets an ear infection. I am always running to the ENT or pediatrician over the ears. Glad to know someone else has the same issues!
ReplyDeleterachel
Merry Christmas!! I remember having a sick child on Christmas!! About 10 yrs ago my 2 month old baby had chicken pox...FUN FUN FUN!
ReplyDeleteDo the Magic Eraser-it really works! My daughter had done a fabulous *green* mural on the front of her bed when she was just a couple years old, and I tried EVERYTHING to get it off. Only real difference I made was smearing-lovely! Just a couple years ago, when she was 8, a friend got it off in less than two minutes with a Magic Eraser! Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeletejeffie
Hairspray will remove permanent marker safely from most surfaces, but do be sure to do a spot test, or you'll just have a weird "blob of you" on your table instead of a drawing!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Dawn!
My 6 year old daughter did the exact same thing to me!!! Thursday after school, she was fine and dandy, then oddly went and laid herself down for a nap; woke up an hour later with 104 temp and her poor teeth were chattering!! What the ***? Puking and moaning followed for the next 16 hours until the DR opened. Then, just as you experienced, as I was signing her in at the desk, she said "Mom- RAAALPH!!" all over the floor in front of the desk. (The waiting room was FULL!! I'm just glad it didn't start a chain reaction!) The girl behind the desk said, "The bathroom is right thru that door and down the hall. You can take her there." Ya THINK!!! But the thing was, the puking wasn't gonna stop long enough to make that little trek! So, another girl behind the desk said, "Give her that trash can under the desk" First girl replies, "It's too big" What? Too big? What ever chickie, it's too late now! Finally, she quit, and we made our way to the bathroom, having left 8 year old sister in charge of 3 year old brother in the waiting room, so she could respond if they happened to call our name in less than 2 hours! On the way to the bathroom, I spy our pastor's wife, who is the Nurse Prac, specializing in Pediatrics, YEAH! in the hallway, and beg her to see Ann. Initially I had called to see if she was in to begin with and was told she wasn't, I had to choose from the work comp doctor and psycho doc who likes to throw people in hospital every chance he gets. EEK! So I spy the saviour NP and told her they had LIED to me and could she please see Ann and she is burning up and puking everywhere, and heeeeellllpp! We were next!
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe we had the exact same experience. Too funny. Well, not funny really, but you know. Ironic. Or proof God's sense of humor is a little wonky!
Loyal reader, Amanda in NM
BTW, ours was strep, too!
Ah, the ER. I hate when the Dr. acts like you have no brain. When they get snippy with me, I just comeback with "This ain't my first rodeo". LOL..
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! In spite of the sick child, I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday! And keep in mind...someday, they will all have children of their own and will get paid back for every little thing...lol
Dawn, Our family hopes that you have a wonderful Christmas. Your blog makes me smile everyday.
ReplyDeleteI so agree that RICK GREEN should do the illistrations!!!
ReplyDelete"I'm still in awe over how neatly all those boots were lined up ... by size yet!What's up with that?
ReplyDelete:::snort!::: That is the magic of movies, my friend. This is what it REALLY looks like..."
Oh, Thank God. I thought something had gone terribly wrong with the kids.
Thank you for updating us on Julian. I know this is not a 'pleasant' matter to talk about.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you Michele for organizing the 'Julian Fund' on your blog.
It breaks my heart to think about what Mimi and her family are going through. The agony of losing a child can never be put into words.
I hope you are given pain free moments to enjoy Christmas.
I pray for our creator to give this family the strength they need to help Julian have a peaceful crossing over.
My prayers, my love, my blessings to Julian and his family.
If anyone is reading this, please take a moment to send a prayer to all those in need of one.
I have never commented boefor but I LOVE your blog! I read the following and instantlly thought of you. I hope you enjoy. May GOD bless you and your family this Christmas, this holiday season and this upcoming new year!
ReplyDeleteA Mother's Night Before Christmas...
'Twas was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode,
only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
while visions of Nintendo Wii and Barbie, flipped through their heads.
The dad was snoring in front of the TV,
with a half-constructed bicycle on his knee.
So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?"
With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
she descended the stairs, and saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug.
"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."
"Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."
"Your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone."
"Exactly!" he chuckled, "I've made you a clone."
"A clone?" she asked, "What good is that?
Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit-chat."
The mother's twin. Same hair, same eyes,
same double chin. "She'll cook, she'll dust, "
she'll mop every mess. You'll relax, take it easy,
watch The Young & the Restless." "Fantastic!" the mom cheered.
"My dream come true! "I'll shop. I'll read., I'll sleep a whole night
through! "
From the room above, the youngest began to fret.
"Mommy?! I scared... and I 'm wet."
The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."
"Hey," the mom smiled, "She knows her part."
The clone changed the small one, and hummed a tune,
as she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon.
"You the best mommy ever. " I really love you."
The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too."
The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal. "
That's my child's love, she's trying to steal."
Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear, "
Only one loving mother, is needed here."
The mom kissed her child, and tucked her into bed.
"Thank you, Santa, " for clearing my head.
I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,
when they'll be too old, for my cradle-song."
The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."
With the clone by his side Santa said, "Goodnight.
Merry Christmas, Mom, You'll be all right.
If you think that vid is awesome, check out THIS one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suqWNk1vi0o
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas. Your blog cracks me up and makes me feel like I have a normal life.
ReplyDeleteThis is hilarious, I'm sure you've seen it before on youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXT6Hs113ZA
A very Merry Christmas to you, Dawn (and to all your other readers)! I hope that Santa brings you all what you most desire.
ReplyDeleteI truly loved the video you posted (especially the Dreidel part). Bummer that you've had bad ER, etc experiences. We've only been a couple of times (knocking really, REALLY hard on wood right now) with our two kids (4 and 2) and both times had good experiences... ok, except that for my son's rotavirus where he ended up in the hospital for 4 days when while puking as we walked in (17 months at the time), we still had to wait 4 hours to see a doctor. Once we saw a doctor, he was really great and admitted us when he wasn't sure we needed to be just so we didn't have a return visit the next day. Given that we stayed 4 days, I'm really glad he admitted us rather than letting us go home! I will say that Good Shepherd (in Lake Barrington) is really great, clean, low wait, nice docs, etc. I do hope that all your kids stay healthy enough to give you a few days' respite at least.
I love how Santa leaves the presents unwrapped and put together at your house. I think that's something Santa might do at our house in the future (too late this year -- Santa came and went about an hour ago!). As your kids get older, a question for all of you, how do you keep Santa alive?
Again, a Merry Christmas (and here's hoping that kids sleep in!)
Michelle
Dr. KIA is always irritating...but Nurse KIA is even worse. The worst place to experience those kind are in the clinics on military bases...but they're everywhere!
ReplyDeleteHope everyone is feeling better, and you have a GREAT Christmas!
I LOVED your response to the mitten question!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and a very Happy New year.
ReplyDeleteDawn, thank you for the heads up on giving away baby stuff. LOL I am a loyal believer in Murphy's Law, but this one escaped me. You posted this right on time as I was about to declutter children's closet. Needless to say, NOTHING is leaving my house until ready for #3.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas. I love the idea of Santa not wrapping his presents. We had no toys that needed assembling so Santa went to bed at 10:30.
ReplyDeleteWhaat is you favorite coffee creamer during this time of the year? Mine is the Chocolate Mint Truffle from International Delights. I'm drinking some in my candy cane mug right now.
What did Santa bring you?
Have a Blessed Holiday!
Hi Dawn, I was laying in bed last night thinking about what you said. Those darn Twist Tie's and plastic straps they put on all kids toys. Is it a conspiracy? Do they think the toys will really shift that much? Who does the packing and what are they thinking as they twist them up so tight! Just a pet peeve of mine. Kristine in Michigan
ReplyDeleteHas the ENT considered tonsil and adenoid surgery for Clay and Lexi? My daughter had it about a year and a half ago and it helped since she lost the low tones in her hearing due to fluids constantly being in her ears. I fought tubes only because it would be more inconvient to me and her daycare than her. I hope the other ones do not get strep.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!!
This is a crazy suggestion for the potato person on the table, but if it's permanent marker, try mosquito repellent. I know that Off Skintastic works, but other Off products have worked for others I know too. I don't know about other brands. Don't ask how I came up with it...just know that I have boys. It takes permanent marker off of almost anything, including clothes and skin.
ReplyDeleteThat version of The 12 Days of Christmas was awesome!
ReplyDeleteI gave away all my baby girl stuff about 18 months ago and I currently have a 6 month old baby girl. :)
garlic-mullein oil drops. In their ears. (while sleeping if they don't cooperate, just hope they don't always sleep with the same ear up.)
ReplyDeleteSince I'm sure you don't want to hear that you should try cutting dairy out of their diets just in case that's the trouble. I had speech issues as a child too, due to fluid in my ears and constant ear infections (my mother was anti-tubes, or I'd have had those too) but it all cleared up when I started school and drank a lot less milk. To this day I still have to go and blow my nose after milk, cheese, pizza, yogurt...
but anyway, the drops work (for pain and fluid, plus the garlic is anti-bacterial) and your kids smell yummy too. Well, if you like garlic, that is.
Enjoy your holiday. Boy am I glad we don't have to go through that Santa business. I bought each of my eight kids exactly nothing! Okay, I gave them each a dollar. But some other relatives took care of them, don't worry. And one gave money and told me to spend it on them, so we will... as soon as the Xmas shoppers/gift exchange people are done with the stores.
Oh yeah...giving away your baby stuff definately causes pregnancy. You have to keep some of it around or else! Even my husband believes this rule.
ReplyDeleteWD-40 also removes permanant marker.
ReplyDeleteAhh the joys of Christmas ... we can't ever seem to get throught the holiday without at least one of ours getting sick. As of this moment I have one husband and one daughter diagnosed with strep but not yet medicated, and another daughter on her way to be diagnosed. (The other husband is taking care of necessary home repairs and making dinner while doing the laundry!) Just waiting for the other two to start feeling the need to see the white coats. Me? I'm fine, and will be until everyone else is well.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
I actually have a question: How do I find some of your older blogs? For fun, I sent aroung your "movie trivia" and now, silly people, want the answers and I can't remember them all (imagine that!) My friends and I would really appreciate the help since some of these quotes are driving us nuts!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
The song you were wondering about, if its the same song that I learned, also in about the fifth grade, with the alphabetical states (the fact that I can rattle them off amazes my children), is Fifty Nifty United States, and apparently, according to Google, Ray Charles did it. Here's the Wikipedia entry on it.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifty_Nifty_United_States
Just in case it was really bugging you. When I can't remember stuff like that, it nags at me, hehe. Thank goodness for Google.
I have read some of your comments and know that someone has alread mentioned this to you, but it worked for us too with our son. He had a modreate hearing loss, unable to hear conversation level speech. My dad thought this was selective hearing by the way! But, his ENT recommended removing his adenoids and putting tubes in. It worked fairly well for us too. He has had one ear infection and just some fluid each time he has a head cold. However, it (fluid) disappears when his cold goes away. Good luck to you. And Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteKirsten
I am not a gambler, but if I were, I would call Vegas around December 20th every year and put money down on either my son or my wife coming down with something. It's as close to a sure thing as you'll get. Also, hair spray works wonders on getting those evil Sharpie marker scribbles off of the dining room table.
ReplyDeleteAs bizzare as this may sound, try a waterproof or sport type sunscreen (you know the oily, greasy ones)on your sharpie marker art. You can guess how I discovered this quite by accident one day. While it was a little scary to think something I slathered on my children on a regular basis could also remove permanent marker, I quickly got over it when the art on the front of my white fridge was finally removed after two years of Magic Erasers and various other products plus I haven't had to replace a dry erase board in ages. As my son would say - SCORE! If only I'd known this a few years ago when my oldest wrote her name on the door of my SIL's brand new car.
ReplyDeleteDane Carlson's website...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.business-opportunities.biz/projects/how-much-is-your-blog-worth/
You're rich..lol...
Dawn wrote: I check out other blogs now and then when someone sends me a link.
ReplyDeleteBecca responds: gatermom.blogspot.com
Straight No Chaser is one of my favorites... Have you seen Anita Renfroe on You Tube doing her William Tell song? If not you should and then call her and get together to go on tour.
You should get your "agent" to get you ON Oprah. You are just the kind of person she loves to highlight. (If you do get on you must let everyone know.)
Where in the Chicago suburbs are you from? My Dad and step mom live in St Charles and 6 of her 7 children live within a half an hour from her. I bet that you and she could compare notes and haev a grand time!
Thanks for doing this. It is inspiring and entertaining all at the same time!