What do you do in your pink leotard?

While I was watching my nieces one day - I ended up with 5 girls in pink leotards.

And since we've done all that ballerina stuff... let's try something different.

How about beating the bushes in the back yard? And sometimes each other (on accident of course)



Maybe climbing the basketball goal? Must have been a great day!

MY8

In the bible, the number 8 commonly means "new beginnings". For example, God made the world in six days, on the seventh he rested, then it was Monday - time to start a new thing.

So in this year of 2008 (or the Hebrew year 5768)- when we had Claire (the 8th person in our little family)- the license plate on our new van is 29V MY8

Micheal Phelps has his 8 and I have mine.

Back to school

My current brainpower is focused on school. Although all the kids around here started school this past week - Katy and Jacob won't be back until the end of September...then the grandparents don't leave until October.

So I guess our 2008-2009 school year won't start until mid October - all the children rejoice!

In the meantime, I am thinking about how to run my home and school and revisiting my favorite articles and websites about just that.

One article talked of how the mom loves a particular curriculum, but doesn't have the time/energy to do it perfectly, so she is using something else "that is getting done". She talked about after much research she picked her favorite science curriculum but it sits on the shelf while they use a less favorite because "it is getting done."

So I still have a month to decide if I am capable of using Sonlight (my all-time favorite curriculum) or if I need to settle on something else so we can "get it done."

There is another option I am looking into - K12 thru the state of Texas... I'll let you know what we decide :)

Miss Mommy

We were around a lot of people the past few days... and I told Amanda to go talk to Ms. Rebekah or sit with Ms. Meredith or ask Ms. Jessica.

So on her own, she's figured out that an adult woman needs a Ms. in front of their name. So now I am Miss Mommy.

Home alone with alligators

Today was my first day home alone since the seizure. It's been about 2.5 weeks.

It's hard (fun, but hard) for me to be gone to someone else's home or have then here (I'd rather visit than do housework) and keep my house going... food, laundry, sweeping, etc.

Last week when Darren tried to leave me home so he could go to Radio Crap for an antena, I immediately felt the fear in my chest rising up. Nope, we'll all go and just wait in the van for you.

So today was my first day - I had high hopes. I prayed through some issues this weekend and had others pray for me. No fear here.

Just puking. Amanda.

What? She woke up saying her tummy hurt and she didn't eat anything for breakfast - just orange juice (I saw it later...along with the chili beans from last night).

Between holding and nursing Claire, and "hold you, please" Amanda - I didn't really get all the housework done I thought I would.

She only threw up the one time and she took a nap - but she didn't say much this morning and we watch lots of TV. Of course, I was holding her on the couch when she threw up...all over me, the red couch, the floor...ugh.

But as I held her I prayed...I put on my mommy voice and took authority over that sickness and said no more - we are covered by the blood of Jesus... so hit the road jack, you are not welcome here.


After her nap - she's a different girl. Although I am hesitant to feed her whatever she wants. I did give her more "alligator".

New Van

Well, you knew it was coming. I have 8 people in my family now and the van only seats 7...you do the math.

Someone else was doing the math as well... They gave us a 2008 Chevy Express - 15,000 miles, with the 90,000 mile warranty, cd player, a/c all around :)

It was all a suprise and they just drove it to my house and handed me the keys. AAAHHHH! No joke.

Now we are on the search for flower magnets - gotta make it my own! I asked Darren if he'd drive it with flowers on it... he said, "I've got 5 girls, I'm ok with flowers." Great answer daddy.

Disney or bust!!!

Seven Nephews

A few days before my seizure... my sister gave birth to Gabriel Lee. I actually got to be there :) At the same birth center I had given birth to Amanda and Claire at.

Claire's birth was still pretty fresh in my mind - but watching my little sister labor and deliver was extremely hard for this big sister. Mom and Dad did a great job and the fruit of their labor was a beautiful baby boy.

On the other side of the family, Ceep had a baby boy in May - a few weeks before Claire. I've been to one of her births - but not recently. I haven't seen Andrew in person either, but Katy and Jacob have :) And I may not see him for a while...

Who knew we'd all be so prolific? Brining my grand total to 7 nephews and 3 nieces.

Seizure Salad...

Sunday - July 27th - I had one of the longest and probably worst seizures I've ever had.

It started the night before with an awful headache. It felt like someone was squeezing my brain really hard. Even made me feel a little bit nauseaus. Bad enough that I decided not to go to church. While Darren was getting ready, I asked him if he smelled that plastic-y smell. But we didn't put all those pre-seizure things together...they were happening so far apart. I tried watching GOZ on the webcast, but my eyes were hurting so Claire and I took a nap.

After Darren and the kids got home, I had a grand mal seizure around 2pm. I bit my tongue, I was jerking, turned blue, etc. He called 911 and I got an ambulance ride to Denton Presby.

Due to the seizure or the meds they gave me... I don't really remember much. I came home and slept a good long stretch...maybe 7 hours. Don't know when the last time I slept that big of a chunk at one time. I have a newborn and I had a pregnant bladder before that :)

And that ClaireBelles...she is wonderful. I couldn't nurse her for 24 hours... so in the middle of the night (after the meds had worn off and I was able to stay awake) she took a bottle of cold formula from me. What a wonderful compliant and easygoing girl.

Now I'm on probation for a month... until we know the meds are working and I'm not having any "break thru" seizures. Darren's working from home at Katy's desk. He's also driving me everywhere, because I can't drive either. If he has to go somewhere without me ( like a meeting at UNT) I have to have a sitter... Jenn Care or Jenn Watch.