File it under stupid questions

Yes, I have 9 children, Yes, I know what causes it, any other stupid questions..Yes, I have a television, I even watch it, sometimes, why do you ask?

Momdar

I have heard of radar, and sonar, but just recently discover something far mor mysterious, momdar. I guess, I knew about it all along. I just wasn't paying attention.

Momdar is used for all the missing items it the house, ie...where are my shoes, uniform, school papers, can opener...whatever is missing in my house, i am supposed to know where it is, even if it is not mine, and i couldn't fit my big toe in it (take that size 1 Nicole).

Every night before school, i say the same mundane things, get your shoes, backpacks, uniforms, socks....blah, blah, blah...does anyone ever listen to me for more than 1 day a week? And as I never sleep, I hate to say what kind of shape I am in at 6:30 in the morning...usually the babies are sound asleep, and I am just nodding off for a few hours of bliss, before they hit the ground running.

Let us just admit, I am not a happy camper when chaos reigns in the morning...I may have to strike up a regular conversation with Our Lady of Perpetual Help...either that or i may start beatings first thing in the morning....and if their chaos wakes Alexandra, heads will roll...

I am almost ashamed to admit, that my 2 youngest children believe in the family bed. I believe in being left alone, but in the wee hours of the morning i will do just about anything for peace and quiet...Christian and Alexandra regularly make their way to my bed. It wouldn't be so bad, I mean, they are very small people, and they shouldn't take up much room.

You would be kidding yourself if you believed that..for one they helicopter all the time, spinning and kicking, and punching...Ben and I feel like we just hang on to the post of our side of the bed, and hold on...I have tried putting Christian in bed with an older child, but it never works. He always wakes up and hunts me down...Alexandra is worse. She has to be on top of me, preferably using my tummy as her pillow, or rubbing my tummy for comfort...I really hate it...

This morning I had had enough, they were both on my side of the bed, I had a leg, and one butt cheek hanging off, and I was holding on for dear life..when Ben left for work, I decided that was my opportunity to make a break for it...I got my pillows, and then placed Bens' pillows on my side of the bed, in case the little darlins' decided to fling theirselves at me again, and i wasn't there to catch them.

I snuck over to his side of the bed, and crawled in...ahh, bliss, and no one was touching me. I fell asleep...I was awakened by my children a short time later, when they discovered I was not where I was supposed to be, and they both ended up on top of me....

Momdar, it seems, that they have it too.

spring shenanigans

Our computer has a stinking rotten virus, and i am reduced to borrowing Andrews' laptop.

Ashleys 'bout with bronchitis again set back her recovery, but she returned to school again today. Her wound has re-opened and she is very frustrated. She is trying to get caught up at school, but it will be an up-hill battle.

I am helping her with her term paper in my spare time.

We are running in circles, if i had a tail, i would try and catch it. Ashley has so much to do, lots of senior activities, and lots to catch up. Nicole is running track and playing soft-ball. She is also involved with the large girls choir Defined and the girls will be competing in Orlando In July.

Connor is running track, and playing base-ball. Jonathan, track and piano. Sean piano and little league. He is quite a ball-player, and excited to be on his 1st team.

Ashley is competing in Orlando individually, with a guitar and vocal performance of her version of I need you to love me. She is also in the small choir 5g's that made nationals. The next few months will be a challenge.

Christian and Alexandra spend their days finding things to get into. I should know better than to be surprised, but i still find myself shaking my head at the antics of my little ones and thinking unbelievable.

Alexandra decided to cook in her Dora kitchen, and someone left the salt and pepper on the counter, and the eggs out. She dumped them into her sink, and mixed them all up.

Christian, came in and told me, sister is cooking in her kitchen, thats nice, and i continued folding the laundry. No really Mama, she is cooking with eggs, I ran to her room, sure enough, she was cooking with eggs.

Now that it has warmed up some we have had a case of spring fever, and sat in the yard yesterday, and watched them ride their bikes. It was fun, enjoying the sunshine and watching the children play.

Ben is back to working on the bathrooms. They have battled with the gas lines, and gas company for 2 weeks, and still no gas. They now suggest we replace all our gas lines, completely update them. The only problem is, we have over a mile of gas line, and the expense of replacing them will be astronomical. We are considering the option of going all electric, which will also be expensive.

We are praying about it, and still camping in our house. One thing about living out here, life is never dull, and as Fr. Adrian, says so we persevere.

I am hoping for a peaceful holy week. A prayerful time for all christians as we approach holy thurs. , good friday, and Easter. I would hope for a peaceful time, but at my house that would be asking too much...Blessings and Happy Easter

what is normal

I am hoping for a return to some sort of normalcy? , but i have really lost any sense of what normal is. Things have been so difficult for so long, i don't even know where to begin...

I feel the need to purge, declutter and spring clean in general, but i have to remind myself to pick one thing at a time, and go slow. My body is still very tired, and the struggle with the auto-immune diseases makes it difficult. My mind says do, but my body just won't co-operate.

Ashley returned to school, for the first time in 6 weeks today. The Dr. is allowing 2 hrs. to start, and we are to let her body and tolerance guide us. School is ridiculous as usual. I am so irritated with them right now, i am going to have to go visit with some people. They put her on the fail list, as she has been out of school so long, and want to send her to the fail club, with the other students as punishment. She spends 5 days in the hospital, emergency surgery, comes close to dying, and has a long difficult recovery with 6 weeks of home health nurses, and daily packing of her wounds, and they want to punish her!!!! and i thought i was insane....

We have lots of things coming up prom, senior pictures, soft-ball season, base-ball season, track...musical competitions, lessons...so many things, my brain has gone to befuddled or fuzz setting, i am just hoping it is not permanent...

Mom called today, her younger sister, my Aunt Linda Sue died of a massive heart attack. She is in shock as her sister is 16 years younger than she is. We are unable to travel to Missouri for her funeral, but my thoughts and prayers and with my cousins and their children. Time passes so quickly, it has been years since i have seen them.

I watched my youngest 3 children this afternoon enjoying the sunshine, and the puddles(lakes) all over our property, and it was just yesterday, that Andrew, Kyle, and Ashley were my puddle ducks, and now they are 22, 20, and 17. I blinked, and they were big, I blinked and my babies weren't babies anymore.

I am trying to remind myself everyday to savor the moments with my babies. Mud washes off, puddles will someday dry up, but the memories of watching them laughing and running through the water will last a lifetime...

the waiting game

We are waiting for Ashleys' test results, and hoping they hold the answer to her slow recovery. She is still weak and dragging. They have even checked for anemia. My sister Kathy has offered to accompany me on a spa trip. I haven't been alone with my older sister in years...

Bens' test results came back yesterday, and he is fine, didn't even glow in the dark, i was so disapointed. I wanted to see if i could read by his radioactive glow.

Kyles' culture came back positive for MRSA, and Ashley has some weird aerobic, and anaerobic bacteria, that you never find in this situation. Highly unusual, actually never seen it before, no idea how she got it, it doesn't live on the skin like Staph, no answers...probably why we can't get her well.

It causes me great pain and stress to see my happy girl, like this. Ashley has always been such a joy, and her pain and grief, and now depression are creeping over my house...she is lonely, and angry, she is afraid she will not graduate, she came downstairs crying about 1:30 a.m. she is so frustrated. She doesn't have the energy to return to school, they have sent an outline of work, but thats' it. She is in yearbook class, and if she doesn't complete her pages, she fails.

I really love sympathetic ,helpful teachers and administrators, at least i would if i ever met any.....

As we live with such unusual circumstances, life still goes on. My never ending battle with the laundry continues. My floors oh how they still need mopping. After 4 inches of snow on Fri, then the additional mud, I don't know what color my tile is, gray, mud, sludge is my best guess.

Alexandra doesn't want me to ever forget i have a 2 year old in the house, so while i was frantically trying to find the phone(Ashleys' nurse was calling, and Lola hid it in the closet), my 2 year old took advantage of my distraction to bathe 2 of her Dora dolls in the toliet, and pour shampoo in their hair...someone stuck conditioner in the freezer, just to see what happens to it...Christian and Jonathan decided to spray paint their guys black, and used my golf clubs to crack ;pecans....

Do you have any idea what it does to golf clubs when you use them to crack pecans on cement? I guess I will not be swinging any clubs this spring either....

Christian refuses to grow, and still weighs 29lbs at 4! He is so tiny, it causes this gnawing kind of worry. He has seen an endocrinologist, and is scheduled to go back. I suppose it is the fear of the unknown. Kyle at 5'5" insists he is just fine, and i am worrying about nothing, but i have found out the hard way, inner voices often ring the truest.

While he may be my smallest child, he more than makes up for in it flat out charm. He oozes it. He has beautiful long, blond curls, enormous blue eyes, and black lashes. He is frankly beautiful, and twice as mischevious....I never know what he will think of next, and my heathen baby is right on his heels.

I officially have 2 children in their 20's now, Kyle turned 20 on March 1st, and we are having his birthday dinner tomorrow. It is odd, to have sons in their 20's , 2 teenagers, 2 pre-teens, a 6 year old, and 2 toddlers...

3 girls, mellow missy, diva, and drama queen, 6 boys that range from energetic to frentic, and2 very tired parents, that are no longer in their 20's. That is probably why we are so tired...

Come what may...

I haven't been able to get on the computer lately, it has been sick, and i have really been so busy with things at home.

Ashley has not been recovering like the Dr. expected(what a surprise). The culture they did at the hospital grew out expected and unexpected things. She had among other things, an anaerobic bacteria they were not expecting to find. They put her on another specific antibiotic, and finally she seemed to feel a little better.

The home health nurses have been fantastic, and they really have done a great job taking care of my sweet girl. She started feeling bad last night, and was running a fever.

She has been out of school for almost 7 weeks, and graduation is 11 weeks away. I don't know how this will work, and I am praying the school steps up this time and really gives her the help she needs to complete her graduation requirements.

One of Ashleys' teachers contacted her on facebook, and told her she signed her up for prom, and purchased her ticket...we just found out that prom this year is March 12, and no we don't have a dress yet....

I have been sick for 2 weeks, the stress, and lack of sleep really do take a toll on my body...I am on a super antibiotic, and today they called in a 2nd med. an anesthetic type for my extreme pain. Round the clock care for Ashley, and then Christian and Alexandra who have decided sleep is optional, and they don't need it, is about to send me over the edge...I told Granny if they come take me to the funny farm, I want a padded room, so i can't here the other guests banging their head against the wall. Maybe, i could get a nap...

I know we have been held up in prayer by people all over the country, but, i have reached the point of numbness. I am physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. I am finding it so difficult to pray, at a time when we desperately need Gods' intervention...

I am really struggling...I keep repeating my scripture to myself, and run through others I have memorized over the years..I am trying to read a book by St. Louis de Montfort, but my brain spends a lot of time on bubble cycle, so i have to reread it...

I have conceded defeat to the laundry, and will never ever get caught up, ever!!!!!I have to bag all Ashleys laundry and wash it seperately, i have to wear gloves to do her laundry, change her linens, anything that might have come in contact with her wound or drainage...

All my floors need mopping, the tile is very well, dirty doesn't quite cover it. It has been so wet and muddy, half the vents filled with the overflow because the entire area was so flooded, when i say the river ran through it, i mean my yard...

Today, the sun was shining, my friends the birds continued on, I have lots of daffodils ready to bloom, maybe like spring, hope and faith will return to me...I would like to feel something besides fear, exhaution or numbness...

Joy, Hope, and while I know my redeemer lives, a little reassurance of his love and pressence would be a great boost to me now...

I am done whining, and while my baby is distracted, I think i will go take a shower alone!!!!, and put my pajamas on...I am praying tomorrow will be a better day....and i need to check and see if Ben glows in the dark tonight, his nuclear scan is tomorrow, and he is radioactive!!!!

prairie life

We have made our preparations for the storm, and it is looking to be a real doozy. The firewood is stacked, buckets of water ready, drinking water in the house, kindling in a bucket, propane, and camp stove ready, and food in the pantry.

I know our preparations sound excessive, but we have been iced in at times for over a week. Without electricity and water. They had to bring massive portable generators in to run the pumps on the tower a few years ago, which shut everything down.

Our water is still not safe for personal use, or drinking, they don't know what kind of bacteria may be lurking in it, and until the EPA, gives the green light, we have to collect bottled water at City Hall every few days, for our use. I am very grateful to the Chicaksaw, Seminole, and Pottawatomie Nations for providing our drinking water. You see, while I am technically a citizen of the U.S. of A. , I live in the heart of the Seminole Nation, and the Nations, take care of the Nations...

Ashley is seriously ill, she is down with bronchiitis, and with her, it can turn to pneumonia at any time, this is really not a good time to be iced in. Alexandra, and Christian are also ill, and irritable. They take turns coughing, crying and keeping me up most of the night. it is so hard on little ones to be ill. They really don't know what to do, but cling and cry...

I am watching for the school bus. I expect them to turn school out any time now, and there will be no school tomorrow. I-40, is already a skating rink in places, and I am praying Ben will be able to get home from work, and Andrew into work safely. I am hoping my family will all be safely around me soon.

About that time of course, the noise level with hit nerve shattering pitch, and i will have to be sent to my room for a time out...i may have to call Ben and tell him to bring Dr. Pepper and chocolate while he is in town...i don't know what i was thinking not getting a supply of the true necessities of an ice storm...

They are expecting 2 inches of ice and about 4 inches of snow in our area, it is supposed to last through Monday, I really hope they are wrong, but Ok forecasters usually aren't...

I was sitting in bed this morning with my 2 sleeping sickies, trying to keep my eyes open drinking a cup of coffee, when Little House on the Praire came on, and i just turned them off...life wasn't really simple and sweet then, it was just plain hard. you didn't have time to do outside things, because all your time was consumed with trying to survive...

Light,heat, water, laundry , food all would take every moment of every day, i can imagine on a small scale,how difficult this must have been. I wonder if you didn't know any difference, if that made it easier...

Light switches that don't turn anything, taps with air, and no water, washing machines that don't do anything, toliets that don't refill...these are the realites of modern life, when the things we take for granted like electricity and water aren't available....

I am praying the lines don't ice, the power stays on, and even our limited water supply continues to flow...and i remember, my strength is in the Lord, and these things are temorary and temporal, and will hopefully someday soon be just a memory

survival of the fittest

The past week has been a whirlwind. I am exhausted, overwhelmed, and having serious brain bubbles.

Granny fell and broke her hip Tuesday night. She had surgery on Thursday night to repair the break. This is the 2nd time she has broken her left hip. She will be in the hospital about a week, and then she will be transferred to rehab to begin the tough work of walking again.

I have really been afraid something like this would happen with her so weak and frail from this bout of shingles, and the pain meds disorienting her.

After i left for the hospital Thursday, Sean began vomiting, Christian started in the wee hours of Sat. morning, Lola was the next to succumb. Ben came down with it Sat. night, followed by Connor, Jonathan, me, Nicole and Ashley...

Between worrying about Granny, and the 2 little ones taking turn vomiting on me , and all over the house, i am totally out of it. The virus hit me harder than anyone else. While it seemed to affect the others for about 24 hours, i am still weak, dehydrated , and i have just started drinking. Gatorade, not tequila....i have eaten a piece of toast in 3 days, and lost 7 lbs. Talk about a crash diet...

To really make my day, i discovered this afternoon 3 of the boys had head lice....any moms worst nightmare...the 2 older boys had been to a friends house recently, thank goodness, i found it quickly.

On top of mopping up from the virus, and all the laundry that entails, i have had to spray all the furniture, put all the pillows into the dryer, bag the boys baseball hats, and strip everything and i can't even begin to calculate how many loads of laundry i need to do...

I haven't got around to finding a new scripture for this year, i guess i am waiting for it to find me..

My house is a wreck, and unfortunately, i have no volunteers for the clean-up crew. Ashley has been assigned to find my kitchen, Nicole is putting away laundry, and bathing the babies, I am cleaning the living room, and doing laundry...I wish my stomach was settled enough to eat chocolate, i really need a chocolate fix...my Christmas decorations are still 3/4 up.

Tomorrow is Jonathans' 11th birthday, and i don't think i can possibly have the house clean and sanitized, un-decorated and birthday decorated by tomorrow evening...i am still feeling pretty rough, and just too tired to know where to start...maybe i can convince Jonny to have his birthday dinner on Wed. the thought of making chicken parmesian turns me green...

Dear Lord, i know you never send us more than we can handle, but i have hit overload here, and i need some help...please send the house fairy to repair my little world...but first, send your best angels to watch over Granny as she goes through this difficult time...she is your faithful servant,and needs a little boost...

HONESTLY, WE ARE WORKING

I KNOW, I KNOW, I AM SUPPOSED TO BE CATCHING UP ON 3 DAYS WORTH OF LAUNDRY, FLOORS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SWEPT IN A WEEK DUST BUNNIES RUNNING AMUCK, BUT I AM LOOKING AT PICTURES WITH MY BABY.

AS YOU CAN SHE, SHE PUT CAP LOCKS ON, AND I CAN'T DISENGAGE IT...I ALSO PUT A LOAD OF LAUNDRY IN THE WASHING MACHINE, AND FORGOT TO TURN IT ON...IT TOOK ME AN HOUR TO FIND THAT...WE HAVE 4 LOADS TO FOLD AND, MY LIST HAS US ON THANKSGIVING COUNT DOWN...

TO MAKE IT REALLY EXCITING, THE CHILDREN ARE OUT OF SCHOOL AT 2:00, AND WILL BE HOME UNTIL NOV. 30...AT LEAST NICOLE CAN FIX THE COMPUTER FOR ME...THANK GOD FOR NICOLE, SHE SAID SHE WILL COOK SUPPER TONIGHT, AND FOLD THE LAUNDRY WHICH I DIDN'T DO..

SHE JUST INFORMED ME, THAT SHE, CONNOR AND ASHLEY HAVE REGIONAL ACADEMIC COMPETITION, THEY WILL BE GONE ALL DAY...AND NEED MONEY TO EAT ON ALL DAY...WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT 60.00 THIS WEEK ON EXTRAS' AND I STILL HAVE A FEW ITEMS TO PURCHASE FOR NEXT WEEK, PLUS JUST FOOD TO FEED THE LOCUSTS(MY BELOVED HUNGRY CHILDREN)...BEN IS GOING TO HAVE A CONNIPTION...AND I HAVE TO GO SHOPPING WITH JONATHAN 10, SEAN PATRICK 6, CHRISTIAN 3 AND MISS MEME LOLA 23 MONTHS...SAINTS IN HEAVEN PRESERVE ME...

I ALSO HAVE TO DROP ALL MY THINGS AT THE CONSIGNMENT SHOP....LORD GIVE ME STRENGTH...AND A GLASS OF WINE WOULDN'T HURT...

older mom, new tricks

As the mommy of 9 children, it would seem like we are seasoned in the art of mommyhood. We might even be considered experts to the untrained eye. I know very little for certain, but life, experience and children have taught me a few lessons...

God has the ultimate sense of humor, and he sends little people into our lives to test our patience our growth and our sense of humor....things that would have really upset me 20 years ago, barely rate a raise eyebrow today.

Sometimes, I have been accused of becoming complacent, and not taking life as serious as i used too. Kyle observes Sean, who behaves so much like he did as a little boy, and says he literally gets away with too much. I will admit me perspective on life, and childhood were changed by Lukes' death, the loss of Seans' twin brother, and almost losing my life and Seans at the same time. I am not the same untested mother i was all those years ago, and i think we are supposed to be changed by experience.

Kyle says i would have beat him half to death, for behaving like Sean, and did on occassion chase him around the house with a shoe or a broom..

I have threatened to just beat the tar out of Kyle because Alexandra behaves so much like her older brother, it is wired into her...and i am not going to beat her...

God has given me the opportunity to watch my grown sons interact with siblings that are almost 20 years younger, and they adore each other. I have some pretty wild children, and i always thought i was a pretty together mom...i have completely admitted defeat on the whole potty training adventure with Alexandra...i have met my match...every trick i have learned in the past 22 years of childrearing, she has a new trick, one i have never even seen before...

God has been gracious and funny in the gift of my youngest daughter...she has done things no one else has ever done...we will not forget her baby-hood or as some people would imagine the children are all lumped into 1 type or personality, and i can honestly say she is the first child to announce to me, when i went to investigate her disapearing into my bedroom, and shutting my door behind her... oh look Mama, I booped on your shoe!!! and sure enough, she had...

I am quite certain God had quite a chuckle over that one...or her latest...she gets in trouble if she tells mama no...I say don't tell mama no, so now, she shakes her finger at me and says don't tell mama no, when she and i both know she is telling mama no....

I may have a few wrinkles around me eyes, and laugh lines that didn't exist when Andrew and Kyle were babies, but thanks be to God there is still laughter, joy and babies in my home...

those rockin' Tuckers

I went outside for a few minutes for some fresh(frigid ) air and some peace and quiet...the leaves are all changing and such beautiful vivid colors...i can look west and see nothing but beautiful trees with leaves in every color imaginable, and the bluest sky...it was so brilliant.

I had about 2 minutes of quiet before they all noticed i was missing and came hunting me...so like a trooper i helped chase the puppies, tried to catch the chickens, and then we all lent a hand with dinner. Dylan made peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, Nicole and Ben made Potato Soup and I baked the bread (well, i put the ingredients in the bread maker) that sort of counts...

Kyle and Timmi were over, Tony stopped in, Andrew and Tiffiany said hello, and then Kyle brought out his new game system...The rock band Beatles edition...Benjamin is a huge Beatles fan, and since dinner was over Kyle, Timmi, Ashley, Jonathan, Connor, and anyone else that cared to try have been playing the instruments and singing their hearts out...it is a school night, and bed-time, and the dinner dishes aren't done yet...but the crazy Tucker clan is eating cookies and rocking out..

I have no eye-hand co-ordination so i am in the cheering section...they are all having a blast...Kyle can really sing well, I hadn't heard him sing so much in a while...the down-side the boys want one for Christmas, but Ashley she has really rocked the drums...She plays guitar, and piano and has taken voice for years also, when she finished with the drums she turned to her daddy with drumsticks clutched in her fist and yelled, i've got to get me some of these...they rock!!!!

I think we are in for a very loud holiday!!!I am glad they all love music, and playing together, i may have to invest in ear plugs though...you would think i am oblivious to noise with so many people in our house, but sometimes, it makes me nervous.

fall break

Fall Break is officially over, and everyone is back to school. The weather is cool and crisp, and the leaves are changing. We have been checking the trees for pecans, and i think it is going to be a spotty year for pecans.

We had planned an outing , but due to the interuption of the flu, all outings were cancelled. We did make it to the grocery store, the dr.s office, and the pharmacy, be still my heart....i am so glad the children are all on the mend...Nicole still has a cold, Christian is having sinus problems, and Alexandra, well Alexandra is just a whirlwind...

Kyle and Timmi have been engaged for over a year now, and we met with her parents and the lovebirds, to hear the wedding plans. Her mother is very excited about planning a wedding, and they have a lot of ideas...

They have set the date for June 18,2010, Timmi wants a small outdoor ceremony, and she and Kyle would like to use the Mission grounds with the reception at the church hall. Fr. Adrian said weddings were to take place in the church, and so they are looking for a compromise of taking their vows earlier in the evening, in the church with the families present, and then repeating the vows and nuptual blessing on the mission grounds at twi-light.

I know where Fr. Adrian is coming from, and yet, i understand Kyle and Timmi wanting to use the old Mission grounds, it would be a beautiful setting for an outdoor wedding...I hope they are able to find a compromise....The church view of marriage as a sacrament, means it needs to take place in the church, but i am optimistic that Kyle and Timmis' idea is doable.

Timmis' Mom asked me if i thought it would be agreeable to Fr. Adrian, and i said it seems like a reasonable compromise to me, but i learned a long time ago, not to even pretend to know or understand what priests think, because like all men, we don't think alike,and priests don't really live in this world, their whole vocation is getting us to live our vocations, and look toward heaven, so they do live with a different perspective on life.

As a wife, and mother, i try to live my vocation, but i will admit to having myself distracted by one foot in the dirty laundry, dishes, dust, and cooking, the other distraction lots of children, lately, lots of sick children, my prayer life has been, " oh lord, get me through this, and keep me vertical...not very deep....

Fr. Phillip told me, every dirty diaper, and runny nose, dirty dish, etc. is a sacrifice, and in many ways a prayer...it is living a vocation of service, i hope he is right, and this all counts as prayer otherwise, i am seriously behind....

blessings

I am praying blessings today for all the men who worked 2 days in the rain and mud and cold to restore water to all of us on the rural line . We had the first trickle of water about 10:00p.m. , and i threw in the first load of laundry at 11:30. I did 2 loads last night, and have 3 done so far. You see, it is entirely possible the lines may start running red mud so i have to watch and wash very carefully.

Everyone is asleep, and i am waiting on the coffee to brew before i go crawl back in bed with Christian and Alexandra. Ben is at work, but it is another one of those cold, cloudy crawl back into bed days. It is on 37 degrees plus wind....i call that winter

At least we don't have to haul water today, anyday we don't have to haul water is a good day. The odd thing is, that hauling water for some people is just part of their daily survival...the hunt for clean water a daily chore...how spoiled we are, thank you god for allowing me to be born in this country where my daily blessings are more than many women can even imagine....

I saw a really yummy pumpkin cake recipe in my new southern living magazine, i am going to fix as a dessert tonight to celebrate our water, and i am going to apologize for threatening to quit. I never really meant to quit, i was just blowing off steam, but after Lee said some Moms really do quit, and the toll it takes on their children, i know it is not something i should joke about, but hiding behind the chicken coop, or locking myself in my room that is fair game...

housework is for the bugs...

Thats' it, I am giving up housework, probably not forever, but at least for today. I was minding my own business sweeping my bedroom, and a tree frog lurking next to the baseboard jumped right on top of my foot.

I screamed so loud when that wet slimy thing landed on me, that children came running from every corner of the house. Nicole rounded up the evil frog now lurking under my dust ruffle and took it outside...

Who exactly would bring a tree frog into my house, and leave it in my bedroom? I am not exactly certain, but i suspect his name is Sean Patrick...

day trippin"

I didn't exactly run away from home, but i sort of did. The last week has been so crazy with school starting back up, and Shayla's wedding shower, and then the wedding Saturday night.

Ashley and Tiffiany have both been so busy with all the wedding preparations, i was quite relieved to have that behind us. Shayla made a beautiful bride, and Ashley and Tiffiany were stunning in their dresses as well. I made a few people mad because i sewed the straps on Ashleys' dress, like i care.

Ben reminded me on Sunday morning that we were leaving for Branson when he got home from work, i don't exactly know how i forgot, but i did. We didn't get home from the reception until 12:30 a.m. . I didn't go to sleep until sometime after 3:00 and then i had to pack for the 4 of us.

I am usually not so unorganized, but i didn't finish packing and cleaning my room until 5:30, i got in the shower, and looked almost ready when Ben got home at 6:30. We ended up leaving about 8:00, and drove as far as Big Cedar and stopped for the night.

We drove into Branson the next day. We had a nice time, it was very low key, we took the little ones to the Butterfly Palace, and wandered around historic Branson, our favorite stops were the 5 and 10 store. They sell everything you didn't know people still made, and more. It is unbelievable. Every where you look is something you remember, but haven't seen in years.

We also loved,loved,loved the candy shop. We bought a little of this and a little of that. It was yummy!!!!

We stayed in this condo right, so picture, 2 middle people longtime mom and dad rent a condo with 1 bedroom and a fold out couch. They arrange for a crib for the baby, and think everything is fine. Well on arrival they discover that while their are 2 bathrooms, there is no bathtub. Thats right, no bathtub, oh except for the monstrosity in the master bedroom. An enormous jacuzzi tub.

Have you ever tried to bathe two little bittys in a tub that is 4 ft high and about 7 ft across? I was not pleased. It is impossible to corral and wash children when you can't reach them. On the plus side, when they wanted to go swimming, and i didn't like the pool very well, i was able to persuade them to swim in the jacuzzi...

Ben thought we could relax, and have a glass of wine and soak in the tub,until i said do you have any idea how many old and wrinkled butts have sat in that tub? We did enjoy sitting on the patio and watching the lightning storm. It was awesome..In fact it was the only show we saw in Branson, because unlike 99.9% of the people their, going to see people pretending to be someone else, or going to see shows of entertainers from 20-50 years ago is just weird to me. I know everyone needs a place to earn a living but, this is strange...the legends show...all people dressing and singing like someone else...why????

I am just so unimpressed with that stuff.

I like holding hands with my husband, quiet dinners(well relatively) with my family and listening to our choice of music.

I like to get away, but i was really looking forward to getting home, and sleeping in my own bed. More about that disaster later....

back to school

We have started the back to school count down around here. We have 10 days until the first day of school . We are looking for backpacks, shoes, taking inventory of the childrens clothes. I have a running list of who needs what.

It looks something like this... Ashley needs absolutely everything from underpinings, to new jeans, dresses, skirts, tops and socks. Her yellow converse, and cowboy boots are in good condition.

Nicole needs socks, thats it, socks and a backpack. I never saw a child with more clothes than Nicole. Billie hit several yard sales and bought them out. I found some really cute tops and jeans at the salvation army for .25each. She wants a particular type of backpack, she can buy it with her allowance.

Connor needs socks, boxers, and jeans. Size12 slim to be exact. Not the easiest to find. He has plenty of shirts, and a new back pack courtesy of Billie.

Jonathan, well he is a whole other story....we never know what he has, or where it is. Jonathan and his clothes drive me absolutely batty. He has no socks, no boxers, no pants, no shirts, and no shorts. The laundry chute ate them, the laundry basket hid them,Jonathan threw them away, take your pick.

Sean Patrick is in pretty good shape. He has several nice pairs of denim shorts, he has jeans and khaki slacks. He also has several nice shirts, and plenty of boxers. We do need to buy some new socks. His backpack from last year will make do.

Christian is not going to school, but he has tons of clothes. He rarely outgrows things. I need to go through his things, and sort them out again. He is so tiny, he could still wear an 18 month in the waist, but needs a 3 in length.

I am sending everything they don't need to the consignment shop. I am tired of picking up the same clothes and washing them over and over again.

I am not ready for piano lessons to start up again, and the girls just reminded me, that they start on August 5th.

Someone told Sean Patrick it is time to get up early, and he has been up by 5:00 everyday this week. I am so tired i could cry. The 3 babies have been up this morning since 4:45, i hate morning. There isn't enough coffee in this house to hold my eyes open. Even Maggie is irritable.

On the plus side, once they start school, we can go back to bed, pull the covers over our head and sleep in peace and quiet. Only 2 children in the house. It might seem empty(nah)quiet. Now if i could only do something about that stupid rooster ....

boys will be boys

You know you are the mother of little boys when...
there are frogs hidden in a bucket in the closet, and in the bathtub.
...you are grateful if you only find rocks in your dryer.
...you receive lots of sticky hugs and gooey kisses.
...you receive rocks as a regular gift.
...you are very wary of anything that starts out mom, can i keep it...
...you have to give daily instruction regarding the use of soap, water and towels...
...you go to use your breast pump for an emergency, and discover the horns have been confiscated as impromptu guns, and you no longer have one..
...ketchup is good on everything, and i mean everything.
...no matter how big they get, or how little they still are, boys always need their mama..
...i know this to be true, because i have 6 sons, and the mama, i need this, or mama i lost this never stops.
...the very best thing about being the mama of lots of boys, is they always think i look beautiful, even when i know i don't.
...the worst thing about boys...they smell really bad...really bad, my girls don't smell like this. Sweat, dirty socks, bait, bugs, dogs, and some other things i am really afraid to identify....

service announcement

We interrupt this summer break to announce that the seriously crazy lady has gone over the edge. Yes my friends it is true...the neverending task of caring for an extremely large family that thinks they need to eat every single day has driven her completely mental.

There are 8 children still living at home, a son and daughter-in-law next door, and a variety of assorted teenagers always in the house, and they are all hungry all the time...

Did i mention the laundry? the laundry helper has been sick for days, there is so much laundry piled in the laundry room, you could lose a small child . Adding insult to injury, Connor, Jonathan and Ashley all cleaned their rooms, and you can not shut the laundry chute.

We're not complaining over here, oh on, we wouldn't dream of it....we just grit our teeth and smile as Christian who is terribly ill screams non-stop. Alexandra is screaming because he is screaming. Jonathan is fighting with someone because he does, and Ashley thinks the kitchen is clean because she washed some dishes...

When the men with white jackets, and nets come looking for me, tell them i am in the back-yard hiding by the chicken coop, i need the rest.

the jokes on me

For the last month Alexandra has been running me ragged with her new game. It is called pee-pee. She yells pee-pee, and runs to the bathroom, i strip her and pull off her diaper, she sits for maybe 2 seconds jumps up flushes the toliet and promptly pees on the floor.

After a month, the game has gotten a little old for me,but it never ceases to amuse her, so for the sake of peace, she yells pee-pee, and i make Ashley or Nicole run to the bathroom with her and repeat the ritual.

The girls are not amused. They think it is a waste of time, and a waste of time. i insist someday soon she will get the hang of it , and won't we all be happy when we don't have to change a diaper everytime she yell pee-pee.

Today she decided to mix it up a little bit, we had already made 500(at least a dozen) trips to the bathroom when she yelled pee-pee and grabbed my hand. Once again we ran to the bathroom, i pulled off her diaper and tucked the front and back of her dress into the collar for safety and was about to put her on the toliet when she stepped on the scale. I said no Alexandra you have to sit down, and she promptly sat on the scale and peed on it. She was so proud. I cleaned up the scale and was laughing so hard Ben came to see what was so funny(if i had lost my mind again).

He stood in the bathroom door and found the baby and i sitting on the floor, me in hysterics, and the baby using her diaper trying to help me clean up the scale. There is never a dull moment at the lazy-t ranch or tuckerville as our neighbors call it.

Who ever thought potty-training could be so much fun.

feed me Seymour

Tiffiany came over Saturday morning to take me to Walmart for a few supplies, and to the grocery store to pick up a few things. I need to do a serious shopping, but i haven't had the energy, and Kyle has been doing most of my shopping after work at the big Wal-mart he works at.

I really appreciate all the shopping he has done for me, but it has taken a toll on my grocery budget. It is always a little bit of a shock when the children get out of school. They have been home for a month now, and i have come to the conclusion that children eat constantly. They are kind of like cows and just graze all day long.

We go through a gallon of milk, 2 loaves of bread, lots of butter, a lb of lunch meat, crackers, graham crackers and lots of fruit every day. Every other day they tell me there is nothing to eat in the house. I make lists, i offer suggestions, and i hear the same thing over and over.

The babies and I eat a very simple lunch. It is left-overs or some sort of sandwich. For some reason, they think i need to cook them lunch everyday. I say to them hello, it is 98 degrees plus humidity, i don't want to eat, let alone cook . I turned the air conditioner on last week. I don't want to heat the house up by cooking non-stop. I am not a short-order cook!!!!

We alternate breakfasts between hot items and cold cereal, so they are not entirely mistreated. They have a nice supper every night, these are not neglected children. I just don't want to cook all the time....

Since i have been so ill this spring, the girls and Ben have really helped with the cooking, i don't have the energy i normally have, and tend to fade in the afternoon. Thank goodness for crock-pots. They are really a busy mommys best-friend. I even found a way to cook a large amount of "baked potatos" in the crock pot.

Tomorrow night, we are having bbq chicken, crock-pot potatos, corn on the cob and a tossed salad. I am supposed to make Ben lemon squares. I was too tired tonight.

I have to plan the childrens meals for wednesday and thursday as i will be at the hospital. Ashley and Kyle are both able to cook, but they want me to keep it very simple. They would prefer pizza, but they want pizza hut to make it if mama isn't home to roll out the crust.

I have a lot of anxiety about the whole hospital visit. I really hate the very idea of going. I dread the i.v. They can never get them in me. I have been stuck over and over. I am hoping the anesthesiologist puts it in. They at least numb my arm with lido-caine before they start digging.
I do not want a catheter either, but lucky me, i have won the lottery....

I think my past hospital experiences just add fuel to my anxiety. I know i need to relax, and be calm, it is just getting there.