Health reports

Amy was put on Orapred (steroids) for 5 days. Sarah has been using her rescue inhaler and I am watching her closely in case she needs the Orapred. We came home from the dr. with ALbuterol ampules (in case we need to use the nebulizer), Albuterol puffers (new ones with counters--but really, they gave us the old style without counters and I will return them), and Orapred. A big bag, but a small price, monetarily. $21.00 is all it takes to really mess up a kid's brain for several days while you heal her lungs. It's an expensive trade-off, I think, but one without other options. A girl's gotta breathe. We thank you for your prayers, and will be on the mend very soon!

Breathing issues and weather observations

We started 'round the clock, every four hours, breathing treatments with Amy last night. She had a rough weekend and we are headed to the Dr. today. She seems to be at the "weepy" point, when anything makes her cry. D@#$, I hate those steroids!
Sarah is now coughing too, so we'll beg the doc to take a listen to her chest today when we are there. (Two peas in a pod, they are, and it always happens in twos with them) Naturally, Matt is gone this week. Murphy's Law in effect. I'll update later tonight if I can.

About the weather: From looking at all the KCCI school net sites, it appears to be WET in Iowa today. I remember February there--it's always ugly. Feeling sorry for you, but admit that I'm rather in love with the 70's we've had the last 2 days. Very nice, very sunny, very good for the February doldrums. During June-September, you can laugh at/with me when we are cooking in the heat. Talk later--Love you!

For Lynn and Paul

Welcome to computer land, where you will spend entirely too much of your time. We're happy to have you here!

More snow and why that's good

It started to snow last night around midnight and this morning we had about 3-4" on the ground. Nothing stuck on the streets, so no problems with travel. I've figured out why I like the snow here so much better--it hasn't got the complications of Iowa snow. Why is that, you ask?
I'm so glad you did, because I've thought about it and have it all figured out.

1. When it snows here, everything shuts down. Even today, the schools had a 2 hour delay, when the roads were clear. If everything shuts down, you don't have to deal with the snow, messy roads, or traffic problems caused by the snow.

2. When it snows here, it doesn't stay for weeks and weeks, and doesn't add up from multiple snows. If it does happen to stay for a few days, see reason number one: everything shuts down.

Think about that; if it snowed and everything shut down you wouldn't have to go out and deal with it. Then it melts that next day and life resumes as normal. Easy peasy. Really, it makes me like snow a lot better. The whole 2 month winter (NC) vs. 5 month winter (IA) makes it pretty simple, too. That, and the sun. It seems to shine at least 4 days out of 7 on a regular basis. It makes February seem a lot nicer. Score 1 for NC.

What gets done around here?

Some days I go to bed feeling like nothing has been accomplished, so yesterday I wrote down everything I did. I was surprised at how much really does get done. Mondays and Wednesdays are always like this, since we go to town for Tae Kwon Do those days. Here's my list.
1. Made bed.
2. Made eggs and toast for breakfast.
3. Swept kitchen
4. Emptied dishwasher
5. Cleaned downstairs bath
6. Cleaned out toaster and toaster cupboard
7. Folded jeans
8. Dried and folded reds
9. Washed, dried, and folded lights
10. Cleared off top of dryer
11. Bagged charity stuff and took it to the van
12. Washed darks
13. SCHOOL, including A and S writing papers
14. Made lunch, including cutting a bunch of carrots
15. Bagged extra alfredo sauce and froze it
16. Cleaned up lunch
17. Made brownies
18. Talked to Betsy about rosaries, Playmobil and knitting
19. Made report card form on computer
20. Filled out 4 report cards and answered resulting questions
21. Ordered Melaleuca online--forgot the hand soap, rats!
22. Helped the neighbor kids call dad and get in their house
23. Filled the butter bell
24. Made chicken gravy
25. Pre-assembled supper
(Time: 4:09 pm)
26. Closed all blinds, turned on outside lights to leave
27. Gathered library books and took to van
28. Left for TKD
(Time: 4:35 pm)
29. Drove 30 minutes to town
30. Dropped off stuff at Goodwill
31. Went to library and got 22 books
32. Dropped off kids at TKD
33. Went to Wal Mart for bread, milk, eggs, and yarn
34. Waited at TKD for kids to finish
35. Drove 30 minutes home
(Time: 7:40 pm)
36. Unloaded groceries
37. Finished supper while kids took baths
38. Fed Sunnie
39. Looked at Civil War book with Theo
40. Ate supper
41. Cleaned up after supper
42. Set up dishwasher to run after midnight
43. Combed out A and S's hair
44. Swept kitchen (again)
(Time: 9:07 pm)
45. Sat down with Amy while she read a chapter to me
46. Worked on a knitting project while Amy read
(Matt arrived home- 9:46 pm)
47. Brushed hair for A and S and put into ponytails
48. Talked to Matt about the day
49. Finished knitting one project and started a new one
50. Checked locks and lights
51. Washed face and brushed teeth
52. In bed at 11:15--dead dog tired
I would call yesterday a successful day, and I will return to this post whenever I feel like I don't do much in a day's time!

Heaven comes to North Carolina

I woke this morning to find our world here in NC very different--so different, I thought I'd never see it this way. And you know what? While everyone else was rather freaked out, I was very, very comforted. This is what happened:

Hey, we're from Iowa--give us snow in the face--we can take it!
Icicles, Mama!! Oh, look! Icicles!!!
You have to click on this one to see their faces and how happy they were. It was wonderful to watch them having fun in this unexpected, but much appreciated SNOW.
They were beside themselves with joy.
I took this one for prosperity...who knows if we'll ever see our house looking like this again?

9 years ago

we stepped off the plane in Des Moines and began our jouney of parenthood with Amy and Sarah. How can that be? 9 years already?? But yes, it's true and I only have to look at them to prove it. They are quickly becoming young ladies, albeit, small young ladies. On January 9th I told them that 9 years ago when I held them for the first time, I never thought I could love anyone more. Now here it is 9 years later, and I do love them more, every. single. day.

I know I've said ti before, but I want to say it again: Thank you, God, for these two incredible blessings that I certainly did not deserve. I pray I can be the mother that they deserve. Amy and Sarah, Mama loves you!!

Time is flying...

Oh my! I just realized I haven't posted in loooong while. Why is this, you ask? Let's make it a multiple choice question just for fun.
A. I cannot move pictures from the computer la-la land to the blog.
B. A recent hormonal train wreck at our house.
C. Sleep deprivation.
D. We've all become inordinately studious.
E. All of the above.
F. None of the above.
G. Some of the above.

Leave a comment if you have a guess. I'd like to know the answer, too!