Bugger Off....

My cold is still lingering...

Yesterday it was James' turn to visit the children's emergency...he woke up all wheezy wednesday morning ..and by lunchtime he was getting worse...they gave him a dose of steroids and he is doing okay today....let me tell you, there is nothing more gut wrenching than watching your baby struggle to breathe...

So yep, all five of us are sick...fun times indeed...I've not got a full nights sleep in over a week...

We almost made it out of cold/flu season....although the silver lining is that James and Leah were not at the peak of their cold at the same time...I would have went bonkers...

Basically...I look a mess, my house beyond recognition...

I've got tons of pics and video to upload...maybe tomorrow I'll get them up...

Blessings~

A small victory...

I am feeling a teensy weensy bit better today..so I thought I would write...

First off...

Dear Gerber...I'm not sure who or what your *fit* models are but having my 6 month old fit perfect in your 24 month sized onesie seems a tad ridiculous...I know he is a little plump..but still...

Dear Pampers....your new dry max diapers...they are the suck...

I have been using a few disposables with James as he is teething and had a bad rash there for a bit, cloth diaper manufacturers recommend not using creams as it affects the absorbency and fibers in the cloth diapers, but yeah..the new pampers...not impressed...and their supposed sensitive fragrance free wipes, well they smell...I see a phone call to Proctor and Gamble in my plans for today...

Moving on....

Its been so long since I updated...I'm trying to remember all that is/has been going on...

Oh yes...Hallie got her report card...it was very good...I'm not sure if you all know that she is in resource 2x a week for reading and writing...which I think is a load of shit, she reads books that are at a grade 5 level...and you should read the stuff this kid writes, it is amazing..it makes me proud...so I am not sure *why* she needs resource...but she likes it... so she stays...I am still seriously considering home schooling her next year, I know it would be a ton of work for me, especially with Leah and James at home, but its not like I need to follow a strict daily schedule..home schooling is very flexible, and with my background in education, I should have an advantage...anyhoo, the teacher also told me that Hallie is not a "deep thinker" OK...she is 8...how fucking deep should she think? She wrote something the other day, I can not seem to find it amongst the rubble, but the teacher read it to me on parent/teacher night..and she went on and on about how Hallie had such a great imagination..blah, blah...and she can write better stories than some in higher grades...so how the hell is that not deep thinking? When I find that story, I will share it with you all...

Oh yes, I awoke one morning last week to tons of porn on my computer..all the desktop icons were breasts and penises...it was mildly amusing until I realized some virus had wiped out most of our C drive...I'm not totally sure Doug does not watch porn on the computer, and I really could less if he did or not...I do have certain measures on the computer to keep Hallie from viewing the stuff...so after I got it somewhat fixed, I was hesitant to let her on...I just warned her that if men or woman came on the computer screen undressed or partially unclothed doing weird things to each other or with fruit, just get off the computer and come find me...we reinstalled Norton and it is still acting funny, so we ordered a new computer last night..will be here in 10 days..woo hoo!

My little man is 6 months old today, and I don't have him here to take some pics...he is still with Nana and Papa...I do hope he comes home soon..I am having serious James withdrawal...

Leah was the 1st one to get sick, she had a fever of 105 when we took her to the emergency, since there was nothing outwardly wrong with her, they assumed bladder infection..so we stuck a little bag on her and waited to pee...nothing...we gave her popsicles and juice, we begged and pleaded...no pee...so after 4 hours we left..with the conclusion that I would leave the bag on her and when she peed we would take it to the lab for testing...well she did pee like 8 HOURS LATER OMG...and it was fine...so Friday, I get a high fever, vomiting...thanks Leah...and Friday night Leah gets really croupy so we take her to a walk in clinic where they gave her a dose of steroids...and today we all seem to be on the mend...

I think that's about all that has been going on with us....

My next entry will have some new pics....

Blessings~

High fever, vomiting, runny nose...etc...

No, the Moshers have not fallen off the face of the earth...we all have a plague of sorts...well minus James...he is likely getting antibodies from my breast milk....Leah has been to children's emergency once, the Dr office once...Hallie seems to only have a mild fever and sore throat...I've got it all...it truly sucks being sick and have to take care of the kiddies...thank the stars that my in laws have taken James for the day/night....

Meanwhile its Saturday night and I'm hunkered down on the sick couch watching the hockey playoffs...once again...the Penguins are going into overtime....dammit, I can barely keep my eyes open past 11:30....

Have no fear, I will be back to my regular ramblings in a few days....

Blessings~)0(

Somebody hold me.....

I think I am turning into one of those crunchy mamas.....

I've always been big fan of the environment...I take composting and recycling very seriously...but its starting to go beyond that...I've switched to cloth diapers and looking for more ways to be a "sustainable" mama...all of my kids have skin sensitivities...so I have to use unscented laundry detergent, however, I was using the baby Purex with James and now he is starting to show a reaction, so I guess its using Tide Free for all of them...we already use an all natural organic bubble bath and baby wash....in the last few days I have been rethinking their diet...and while they eat a ton of fruit and veggies, they also eat a lot of processed foods, like Hallie takes her lunch meat and snacks..etc..I want to try to cut back on all of that...I'm hoping to load the garden up on all kinds of veggies, like zucchini and squash...and try to eat as "raw" as we can this summer...we don't eat a ton of red meat, maybe like 2-3x a month..but its mostly chicken and fish...I would like to avoid meat totally, because of the hormones etc..but its not realistic...on the subject of chickens, I am trying to convince Doug to build me a chicken/hen coop, so I can have my own fresh eggs every morning, I currently only buy free run eggs and they are way more expensive...I guess, what I am trying to do is raise my kids in the healthiest way possible, trying to avoid harming the environment and loading them up with chemicals...

So, stepping off my pedestal now....I've hired Candace (the neighbor kid) to be my mommy's helper...she comes over for a few hours after school to help with the little punks, it allows me to to do the laundry, prepare supper etc....she took her babysitting course a few weeks ago and was so proud that she made up these little cards and brought one over, I hired her right on the spot...she was so excited, she is only 11 and really great with the kids, I'm lucky to have her...


The weather has been fabulous here....yesterday I put James in his mei tai and we went outside, I pushed Leah around in her wagon and we went on the swings..and it was just nice to wander around the yard and look at nature, see the bugs and birds..Leah loves the outdoors...

A few pics....


Diapers hanging out to dry...the sun really is the best stain remover....



All those branches are what fell when we had the last hurricane roll through here...Doug is piling them up and I'm not sure what he plans to do with them....


James just a swinging....this is Leah's swing, so we need to get another, but the problem is we don't have any space on the swing set for another baby swing...



Leah helped me make supper for Sunday night, I made Chinese pepper steak in the slow cooker...Leah pretty much did everything except brown the meat and cut the veggies...we served it with rice..it doesn't look the yummiest, but it is good...





Leah's new thing has been to put her hands in her pockets, she will walk around like this..its too funny!

Doug finally got our outdoors jacuzzi/hot tub working last night...so looking forward to climbing in at the end of the day!

Hallie gets her report card this week..ugh...what it says will probably decide if she gets home schooled next year or not...Hallie is an unique and gifted child and I am just worried the regular school system is doing more harm than good for her...I'll save Hallie for another post...

Gotta run, the masses are hungry...

Blessings~

You've heard of Where's Waldo?...

This is my version....


Where's Leah?




Can you spot her amongst the mess.....

Here she is!

Her new thing has been to take all the toys out of the toy box, which she does anyways..but then she puts herself in...

New photo of James....

Not much has been going on in our household since my last update...I missed a visit from my dearest friend/cousin Amy...I was laying down with Leah and she stopped by...so girl, if your reading this..stop in again..and we really must get out and do something..movie, starbucks..etc...I am so happy you are home *hugs*

Doug only has 2 months left of school, I can't really believe how fast time has gone...it really only seems like yesterday he was going off for his first day...I know I sound like a broken record, but I am so proud of him, and I am so lucky to have him as my husband, he is an excellent and devoted father...I will be front row and center cheering him on when he gets his diploma!

And with Doug's school year winding to a close, also means the end of grade 2 for Hallie...I am seriously considering homeschooling her next year...maybe just for a year...I think it would be a wonderful learning experience for her, sort of school outside the box..Doug is not too keen on the idea, he thinks she will miss out on the socialising aspect and turn into an anti-social freak!

The weather has been so lovely here the past few days, I've not turned the dryer on in about 4 days...I got a lot of outside work done..I'm getting ready to set up my garden, just waiting on the load of manure to spread on it...what a shitty job that will be..hahaha get it, manure..shitty job...I purchased a set of wind chimes to put alongside the bird bath ...I may have to move them closer to my bedroom window, I want to be able to hear them when I am falling asleep..I now have husband and wife ducks at my bird feeders, I've named them Oscar and Lucinda..I'll be keeping my eye out for the baby ducks..so cute!

Have a great week all...

Hoppy Easter!

My 3 little cottontails...

We had a rough night last night....Leah fell down in the driveway and scraped her nose....

But we got visited by the Easter Bunny last night, so all is well now.....busted face is forgotten...

The bunny left a ball for Leah...

It was just regular morning for James...bunny left him a few chocolate eggs and a Little People boat set...

Hallie got a Webkinz deer....to help feed her internet addiction...I think she spent 4 hours straight in Webkinz World on Friday...

Leah keeping an eye on her goodies....

The Easter bunny left a few eggs hidden around the house, and I think he left some eggs in the backyard which we will go out to hunt for when the dew on the grass goes away...

Doug made breakfast and we are going to his parents for supper this evening....the weather is beautiful here...

Hope the Easter Bunny found you all...