My Kids

Gabe
Caitlin

Luke
Jonathan

Thank you Friends...

I feel so blessed this morning. My kids are all still sleeping, and it is 6:30 am, Sean made it safely to work and we were able to spend a few minutes of quiet time together this morning. I had sanity saving moments yesterday when I got to go to Lura's and visit for a little bit (Lura, me and 7 kids!), My friend Rhonda came over and helped deep clean my kitchen last night and her son Christian came to play with Gabe. Gabe had the greatest time playing with his cousin! Today I have Kellie and Tanis coming over to play. I have found what a wonderful blessing it is to have this blog. I get the surprise comments of support that mean the world to me. Thank you everyone. I love you all!!!

My Question....

Everyone is putting neat questions on their blogs and I feel left out! I figured that I would come up with one next.

What is your favorite song, and why?

I know it is not the most creative question, but humor me!

Anyone want to trade???

Ever have a day when you want to trade lives with someone? I am having a week like that! Jonathan has spent the last three days sick and is finally better, thank the Lord. He had a fever that climbed past 103 and endless throwing up of bile. I didn't sleep last night and he didn't much either. He didn't go to daycare for the past 2 days and I really need that time! I know it may sound selfish, but I am so run down and I am hosting Christmas Eve for over 30 people this year. My house is a complete disaster and everytime I get one thing done, 2 get undone! Yesterday I caught Caitlin standing in front of the open refrigerator drinking ranch dressing out of the bottle. Her breath was terrible for the rest of the night! Today Luke emptied my 20 oz. bottle of water all over the coffee table and the floor which ran everywhere, including under the couch and bookshelf. The triplets went upstairs and were in Gabe's room. When I went to get them out I found that they had emptied hisbank. They threw handfuls of coins at me when I walked into Gabe's room. That really hurts, I don't recommend it. This morning I spent 2 hours at the orthodontist with Gabe. He had xrays, impressions and pictures done. We find out the treatment schedule on January 23, the same day we find out if Caitlin will definately be having surgery on her eyes. Tomorrow I have physical therapy on my left arm which means that I will be cranky for the morning. Ugh... Things aren't all bad. I realize that I have really been a complainer. I am blessed with a wonderful husband and 4 kids who can be real "sweetie pies" when they want to be. Gabe made me a Christmas card at school today with the sweetest poem inside and a very sparkly tree. Tonight he surprised me with a glass of peppermint hot chocolate, using the hot chocolate mix he got at school today. The triplets met me after daycare with hugs, kisses and I missed you's. I have faith that the Lord will see me through all the frustrating things and that I will grow from them. They say He doesn't give us anything we cannot handle, but I wish God didn't think I could handle so much sometimes!!!!

it's a wonderful life? Yes, actually it is...

I am sitting in my room listening to the sounds of laughter, shrieking and heads banging into the wall coming from the triplets room. It is one and a half hours past their bedtime. I am frustrated beyond belief. Jonathan has a 101.3 temperature and after a dose of motrin has turned wild. The labels that read "will cause drowsiness" ahould read "will cause dorkiness!"

Gabe has had attitude problems today and I am exhausted from dealing with him and with the orny threesome. I applied for a part time morning job at Kohl's today, but not having worked for 9 years I don't know what the outcome will be. I figure that if it is God's will it will happen.

Sean and I did some last minute Christmas shopping this morning. I had fun at Old Navy and found that I can wear a Large! This is a big deal to me because there has usually been a 1 or a 2 or a 3 in front of the XL.

Anyone have suggestions on keeping kids in their car seats? I took the 4 out for 45 minutes tonight and Luke was out of his seat 4 times. I am worried that something is going to happen to him! He doesn't get how dangerous, not to mention illegal, that it is.

I don't know why this week is starting out so bad...maybe it is because we played hooky from church yesterday. I fond out some sad news this past weekend also. A good friend of my parents was just given 12-18 months to live. He had unexpected brain surgery to remove a huge tumor 3 weeks ago and it was found to be the most aggressive form of cancer. Please pray for him and his family if you think of it. I can't imagine what they are going through right now.

This is a hard Christmas. The 21st will be one year since Sean's sister, Angie, was taken off of life support. For those who don't know, she collapsed while shoveling snow last Dec. 15th and never recovered. It was a horrible shock. Sean is struggling with sadness and a little depression. It is the 3rd Christmas since my daddy died and it hasn't gotten easier. I miss him so much. Holiday's are the hardest.

I know this wasn't a very uplifting entry. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day!

Friday....Finally

I went to a conference with Gabe's teacher this morning. It went well. I just wish that the behavior he exhibits at school is what he does at home! The best news of the day was that he brought home a 100% on his spelling test!!! He worked so hard for it and we are very proud!

Sean and the trio and I went to Sandusky today. We rode over listening to Luke sing the newest rendition of Rudolph. Are you all aware that he had a chinese nose? Caitlin and Jonathan fought the whole 15 minutes to Sandusky because Johnny was touching Caitlin's space. Not her body, but her space.

The triplets have taken to kicking their wet pull-ups off their feet when we they are ready to be changed. While cleaning I found them under the couch, behind the television and under the Christmas tree!! If they are going to put them under the tree, they should at least wrap them! My thinking is that if they can do this, they can be potty-trained. They don't agree. Caitlin once again tried to tinkle standing up like the boys do. She is so funny about wanting to do exactly what her brothers do. I will be so glad when they are expert toileters!!

My mom and I took all 4 kids to McDonalds to celebrate Gabe's A+. They had a ball playing in the playland and it was a nice break for me to get out of the house.

Tomorrow Sean and I get 4 1/2 hrs. kid free to run some errands. I just look forward to the quiet. Ok - so we will spend the time in the car singing and dancing (I do the robot and he does the cabbage patch) but we will be doing it together! I wonder how much longer until we are the"embarassing parents?"

I don't get it...

I have written 2 entries and thought I posted both of them. I also posted several pictures...where are they? I just don't get this at all...how long did it take all of you wonderful readers to get the hang of blogs?

Tonight I gave the triplets a bath after dinner. There is usually a lot of splashing and jumping so I get wet. But tonight I got hit with a fountain - courtesy of Jonathan who was holding himself above the water. Before I could stop him he tinkled in his face and then laughed and did it again!!! Then I look to the end of the tub where Luke is standing up using the foam shapes as targets! He stuck them to the wall and was tinkling on them to knock them off! Caitlin found this all to be so funny and was encouraging them to "Tinkle More!!!" She then grabbed the shampoo cup and held it against herself to try and tinkle into it. Needless to say bathtime ended quickly.

Caitlin practiced her art earlier this week by fingerpainting with bubblegum scented pink toothpaste in the sink. I didn't realize how hard it was to wash out toothpaste, especially off of hands. The downstairs bath still reeks of bubblegum. I caught Luke scrubbing the toilet with Sean's toothbrush (Yes I told Sean) and Jonathan has been enjoying the fun of falling into the Christmas tree. Stop laughing Kellie!

Gabe just went to bed with a horrible tantrum - because I made him lay in his bed. He finds everything I do unfair and I am at a loss of what to do. Any suggestions? Anyone?

A Visit With Santa

Today we took the kids to the mall to see Santa. When he asked our 8 year old, Gabriel, what he wanted he replied "I'd like a bouncy ball." Sean and I just looked at him. This is the same child who wrote a letter asking for : a b.b.gun, a pellet gun, a squirt gun, and a missile launcher. And told my sister he wanted an invisibility suit. I don't know where he gets these things. I am happier with the whole bouncy ball idea. Lura and I won a nice Cleveland Browns one from the arcade on my birthday. We were the only ones in the place. Are we cool or what?! When he asked the trio what they wanted; Luke, Caitlin and Johnny each said a vacuum cleaner. Santa just kind of looked at Sean and I like we were the weird ones. WE didn't just ask him for the vacuums! The picture turned out cute...as soon as I figure this thing out I will post it. It is 10:30 pm and the triplets will not going to bed. I am going to try and put them in their room one last time!!!

My First Blog-thingy

Hi to anyone who might read this. I have never done a blog-thingy before so please bear with me. (I suppose I should learn the lingo as I highly doubt blog-thingy is an actual term) I think that Lura and Sonya will be the only readers so I figure that you guys will put up with my made up terms. Today has definately been one of those days. We woke up late, got Gabe out the door for the bus and I ran upstairs to get dressed when I heard a loud voice outside. The bus driver was on her speaker yelling "put down the snow! I said put down that snow and get on the bus!!" Guess who's kid she was yelling at??? We get the trio to daycare, a mile and a half down the road, and find that Luke had taken off his shoes and socks. Luckily we had several dirty, stiff, juice soaked ones jammed in the seat so I had replacements for the socks and we found the shoes under the seat. I had physical therapy and left the hospital with my arm taped from shoulder to wrist to try and reduce swelling. It was a bit embarrassing as I have about 1 1/2 inches of hair trailing from my armpits. Sean ran out of razors and took my last one for his face! Can you imagine what my legs look like? Maybe the woman thought I was French...I might wear a beret' next week...Also I couldn't find my deoderant so I had on Sean's powerful smelling Right Guard. Boy did I smell manly! I could go on about my day..but I have rambled long enough. I do want to say that Jonathan came home with a note from daycare today showing what an angel he can be. He told his teacher "Hi Miss Kristin, sweetheart, I am here!" Also, all three used the potty today. I am going to attempt to put in a picture of the trio, Gabe will come tomorrow. I hope to get the hang of this and learn not to write inane things soon!!!

Luke