whew....

Rosie-the-bad-dog.....

She was ripping up/eating the purple streamers from the birthday party. She doesn't just chew things up, she eats them.... Our back yard this morning.

It isn't nine o'clock yet, and I need a nap. I actually had a good sleep last night, Camille woke up twice, but I didn't get up, and she went back to sleep on her own. Only like a year later than it should take for a toddler to learn that, but I'll take it.

Camille is up now, and she is snuggling with me. Rosie is tied up outside, and barking her head off. She is all clean and fluffy and cute now. I just went out and got her and brought her in again. That makes three trips outside already for me. A guy is plowing our across-the-street neighbors' driveway, and somehow that is Rosie's business. She is pacing around and whining to go back outside. I wish I could just let her go, but she will go over there and bark at that truck.

All nine school kids went this morning. Suzanne remembered her brownies. They all remembered their snacks (or rather I remembered all their snacks), and Jonathan brought his snowpants just in case they go outside. I am successful. ha. Aaron had a migraine at school yesterday. I wonder why he and I both got them on the same day. He came home and went to bed, and when he got up later in the evening, he still felt awful. He has some migraine med. but forgot to take one before school. He only gets them in school, I wonder if it is the lighting or the dust or the lack of air circulation. Or stress. I don't know. I always try to figure out what triggers mine, and the one common denominater is stress and being very busy, but that is the story of my life, and I don't always have a headache, so it has to be something else.

Well, like I said yesterday, I am thankful for the help I recieved yesterday, but....oh my goodness, they don't do things like I do. Joseph DID sweep up last night, which is nice. But a Monday without doing any laundry, eeks! Benjamin is taking his GED test today, and Mirielle has classes, and will be picking him up when he is done, but he will have to wait for her for a while...he wanted me to pick him up. I said no. It was hard to do. I like to please everyone. But it will take me all day to get ready and drive to the small city and then I won't want to just come home after all the effort of getting ready, and he won't want to shop. So...I said no. He can wait the hour or two....but of course I feel bad. That's me, the mom who wants to help all the kids all the time.....but sometimes I just can't. Oh, but maybe I should just go get him....rrr.

Emily was here to visit last night. She didn't have to work, but she couldn't stay overly late because she had homework. She is going for her bachelors in nursing by taking classes online. She has a tough job, I couldn't do it. She works on a very intense floor, and people there die. Of course it is a hospital, people die in hospitals. But her floor has people with mostly unfixable or dire medical conditions, and it is sad. And just for the record, she never tells me any names or specifics about any patients, she abides strictly by the privacy laws.

Anyway, Paul and some of the older kids were gone when she came over, and the little ones were estactic to see her. They showed that by their behavior. Jumping on the couch and going wild....I had to put a stop to that...they wanted her attention. And I told her to remember that they aren't always like this. She'll never want to come over! She is a good girl, she helped by changing Jon's bedding and tucking them in. They liked having her pray with them and put them to bed.

I have a niggling feeling, and whenever I have that niggling feeling and I ignore it, I am sorry....right now I should check on the girls. They are not supposed to go into Evelyn, Suzanne, Jonathan, and Sonja's room. Because they get into their stuff, and there is nothing more heartbreaking than a kid getting off the bus and running into their room and exclaiming how someone dumped her Barbies or trashed her shelf......I am supposed to guard that room for them...so off I go...

life goes on....

Charlotte Claire, Jonathan, and Camille. Camille is eating a plastic chicken drumstick. These kids do not get bored. Rosie the dog was very dirty. Even though there is snow on the ground, she manages to get dirty...I gave her a nice bath after dinner, I wash her face with kids' no tears shampoo. She is spoiled. I left her in the bathroom with the door closed for a while, because she gets the whole living room and kitchen all we when she shakes off....so she just waited until I let her out. She is so smart.

I am feeling wrung out. I hate that post-migraine feeling...that exhaustedness, with the still-slightly aching head to accompany it....I didn't accomplish a single thing today, but I am extremely thankful that Joseph held down the fort and that the other kids helped out.

We had roasted chicken breasts for dinner, with rolls and butter and salad. There is a lot of chicken leftover, which means dinner will be easier tomorrow night. Paul had to leave to go to a meeting, and Samuel, Margaret, Kathryn, and Evelyn went to soccer practice. Mirielle is cleaning up from dinner on her birthday, poor girl, but she is not complaining. She is truly a kind soul. She is also making individual brownies for Suzanne to take to school tomorrow for her birthday.

It seems like whenever I start to get ahead around here, I get a headache or something. But in my heart I know it isn't what I get done here that is really important.

It was hard to send the kids to school today after having them home for a nine day vacation. I love having them home. Yesterday Jonathan and Charlotte Claire played out in the snow at the edge of the woods, making a fort, for almost two hours. He does amazingly well in kindergarten, but I am jealous that the teacher has him for so long. We just enjoy him too much. Same with the girls.

headache day...

I should have taken some ibuprofen before bed last night, I should know by now. I thought my head just ached from the long day....

I couldn't sleep, it ached so badly...but anyone who has had a migraine headache knows that when one gets up and walks, the pounding is enough to make one throw-up. I finally got up to take that ibuprofen, and it was FIVE o'clock! Rats. I got back in bed, and oh my goodness agony....it hurt so badly....I tried to think calm thoughts, because even when stressful thoughts crossed my mind, it made my head pound. And it is not exactly relaxing to know that the clock is ticking, ticking, ticking, and the kids have to be woken up for school in just a few hours.....when I was sort of relaxing and starting to drift, Miss Camille started crying....I had to get up and comfort her, and when I got back in bed, pound pound pound....I was still awake at 7:02 when Paul got up....then, of all things, I dozed off 'til 7:16. So I have had 14 minutes of sleep. Yes, I am sort of complaining. But I am okay...I got the kids fed and dressed and brushed and kissed and out the door onto the bus....and I am making Joseph get up and watch the little girls so I can take a few more ibuprofen and go back to bed.

I haven't always had the luxury of being able to do that, but miraculously I have usually only had these bad headaches when I was able to sleep. It is amazing what one is capable of though, when one has no choice. I have nursed babies while having the stomach flu.....that's the thing about being a mommy, there are no SICK days. I am sure Paul would have stayed home if I asked him, but he does not even stay home himself, unless he is really really ill.

Oh well, I think Joseph is almost done with his shower, I am going back to bed. And later when I get up I will start that "battle of the birthday cake".....you know, the battle not to eat it all......I wouldn't officially take a piece and put it on a plate, no way, I would just take a little taste at a time....whittling away at it....if I can make it until the kids get home, I'll be all set.

Oh, and HAPPY 20th Birthday, to my daughter Mirielle Joy!

birthday fun....

I woke up this morning and decided we should celebrate the birthdays today. I took Sonja and Camille and went to BigLots and the dollar store for some gifts and ballons....then home to make the cake and some cupcakes. I was tempted to go to BJ's and buy a cake for $9.99, and I should have. But it was fun to do....Suzanne .....

Suze and Kathryn

The cupcakes had butterflies and flowers...the cake was French vanilla, and these were chocolate.

Rosie with a ponytail.

Charlotte Claire

Looking at these pictures, it is hard to remember that it is cold and snowy out. Camille's top is a 12month size that she pulled out of a bag of clothes I had packed away in the closet.

Today the girls' cousin Grace came over, and their friend Hannah. There were a few of those fights that happen when extra girls come over. Jonathan was sufficiently wired with excitement, and Charlotte Claire was looking for attention. We did the party backwards, which means we had cake and ice cream first, then dinner. They shrieked with agreement when I suggested it.

I am tired enough tonight, tired enough to fall asleep while watching Jane Austen's "Persuasion" with Mirielle....

ten o'clock, do you know where your children are?

I know where mine are. Most of them. Benjamin is with his friends. Where that is, I do not know. Hopefully he is behaving and not getting into any trouble. He is 21 years old, and trouble IS his middle name. Not really, he is not a bad kid. But...I do worry. Emily Anne is my oldest, 25, and she is at work right now at the big hospital in the big city, working a night shift on a busy floor. Abigail, 23, Mirielle, 19, Mali, 15, and Margaret,13, are at a church conference. Joseph, 18, Aaron, 17, and Samuel, 14, are watching a WorldWarII movie here in the living room. Kathryn, 11, is playing SIMS on the computer, while Camille, 2, watches. Evelyn, 10, Suzanne, 8, Sonja, 7, Jonathan, 5, and Charlotte Claire, 3, are tucked in to bed. So there, I know where my children are. Mostly.

Paul and I are also watching the movie, but I cannot just watch a movie without reading a book or being on the computer. Oh, it is hard to watch, too. Things that happened during that war are horrific.

Mirielle is turning 20 on Monday. I am feeling old. My fourth child, twenty years old. Yikes. Then the next day, Suzanne is turning nine. Yes, nine years ago this Tuesday, I had my twelth child. Suzanne Eleanor. Emily Anne was 16, Abigail Marie was 14, Benjamin Paul was 12, Mirielle Joy was turning 11, Joseph Michael was 9, Aaron Royce was 8, Mali Rose was almost 7, Samuel James was 5, Margaret Cheryl was 4, Kathryn Grace was almost 3, and Evelyn Joy was 18 months old. Sam didn't go to kindergarten yet, so I had seven in school, and the five at home.

Time just flies. When I had little ones it seemed like it would be that way forever, and now they are all just growing up so fast. I know, I know, so cliche'.....I read Camille her stories tonight and cuddled her and rocked her (I took a break while writing this), and she actually asked to go to bed now. I wasn't quite finished cuddling yet, but I carried her in and covered her up...I know she is a big girl, but after having babies for twenty-five years, it is hard to let go. I wish someone would just knock on the door and give me a baby. ha, I must sound like a crazy woman. I am not seriously going crazy for a baby, but my arms WERE full of baby for all those years, and it was the greatest joy. My babies were treated like gold....new clothes, new blankets, (on sale, of course)...new prams and strollers and re-covered car seats...always a nice baby swing.....the Fisher-Price countertop cradlette is the sweetest thing, I still have that...probably for my grandchildren. I have treated the children like gold too, of course, but the babies...I didn't let them cry unless I had to put them down for a diaper change or something important like the toddlers playing in the toilet. I never believed in letting them cry.

We made pizzas again tonight, Aaron and I, and our sweet little Charlotte Claire. For being only three years old, she can roll out a dough with the rolling pin mighty fine. We roll the dough out with flour, then let is rise in a warm oven for a bit, and bake them with lots of olive oil. We decided that pizza without sauce is better, serving the sauce on the side helps it not be soggy. We put butter and garlic powder, then cheese and bacon or red peppers and tomatoes and onions and black olives and pepperoni......Paul put hot peppers on one for he and Joseph. We also made some spicy chicken drumsticks, and a nice salad. Then, ice cream cones for dessert. I try to stay away from ice cream, just maybe having a spoon of it when the kids eat it, but tonight I had a small cone...it was birthday party ice cream....irresistable. Now I feel yucky.. I should have only had a spoonful.

We had a special afternoon visit with one of our friends from church this afternoon. He brought his oldest son over to play guitar with Joseph, and he sat and had tea and fellowship with Paul and I. He is a cancer survivor, if I might be so bold to say, since it has only been three years since he was diagnosed with esophogeal cancer. It is usually fatal. He had major surgery, and thought he would never be able to eat solid foods again. But he has had a miraculous recovery, though he is still quite weak and gets tired out easily. He and his wife have eight kids, the youngest is three. It was so nice to sit and visit with him. He has done what is written in the bible, he has lived the gospel. He is thankful and trusts God, and is such an encouragement.

I am getting too tired to write....and this movie is so sad, "Letters From Iwo Jima".....

have I mentioned how nice my husband is?

Yesterday was busy. Fourteen of us out the door after breakfast to shop....then in the door at dinnertime to put away groceries, cook, eat, and pack up for the pool....then home with wet suits and towels and kids who were hungry again....needless to say, I did not get everything all tidied up and put away before bed. No, not even close. I actually fell asleep in my chair while watching the Olympics. At least twenty times, before I finally dragged myself to bed. So, this morning, I would have liked to scream when I came out here and realized the work I had to do just to catch up......I had the kids help, and Paul helped, too. He likes to move all the couches and sweep under them, and it seems that we do that every Saturday. Today I apologized to him that he seems to help me clean up so much on weekends. I do try to have things nice on Fridays.....but...well, he told me he totally understands, because there is one me, and so many of them. He says it is like that at work for him. I was just so thankful that he said that, because sometimes I feel kind of like a failure....I can't keep up with everything, and I don't even have a baby anymore....anyway, it is much cleaner in here. I swept and vacuumed and mopped and shined the stove and 'fridge and cleaned the counters and picked up shoes and coats. Suzanne cleaned the mirror and tv and windows, and Sonja dusted and shined the tables. Kathryn straightened the books on the shelves, and Benjamin did the dishwasher. (Mirielle, Mali, and Margaret are at a church conference)

Well, it is time for lunch. Jonathan wants tomato soup. Suzanne and Kathryn are having leftover mashed potatoes and turkey gravy. I need to get out there before they make messes.

home, home again....

Jon with some of the balloons they got at the grocery store....

They got a cookie, a balloon, and I ordered a few pizzas at the grocery store. They walked around with us for about 20 minutes then Abigail took them over and they ate the pizza. I brought 13 kids with me today. Well, Abigail and Mirielle aren't really kids. Charlotte Claire was tired out.

Jonathan and Mirielle

Camille...and that is chocolate on her cheek. I bought some marked down Hershey's kisses at Target. Yum.

And now we are going to the pool -, Paul and I and some of the kids.....Joseph, Aaron, and Samuel are taking the mini-van and going to the Chinese buffet with some of their friends. I am tired and do not feel like getting up and serving dinner and cleaning up and going to the pool, but I will anyway. And I will have fun.