School Photos are here

About 4 weeks ago, Nora had her first "picture" day at school. She choose what she wanted to wear and how she wanted her hair fixed.. and what bow... as she does for every day of school. :)

She goes to a private school, but for the preschool children they are not required to wear uniforms in PreK-3 or PreK-4... so this was her one and only chance to be unique for her school photo ..... and unique she was :)

Nora is very independent for her age. Maybe it's b/c she's the first child or maybe b/c I need her to be b/c of the twins?



Either way, I love it that she wants to do it herself and wants to choose her style. She is very creative and little by little it is building her confidence. :)


WOW, how'd they do that? I can't believe she looked directly into the camera! I sure would like to know their secret...

So today I'm busy writting on the back of each photo her name, school, age and year :) so they'll be ready to hand out next week when we are in Kentucky! :)

There is No Fear in Love

God of love and understanding, Let me always remember: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear..." (1 John 4:18).


Give me the strength to trust you and to choose faith over fear, especially when the coices of the world try to frighten and paralyze me by screaming that I am not good enough. Remind me of how beloved I am.

I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Still sick.... poor Paul Thomas

Tuesday was a nightmare... whereas, yesterday was a better day. Nora stayed home from school and never had any more events… however Olivia had two occasions of nose bleeds yesterday :( but that was easy peasy compared to the clean up I endured the day before… I just held her down until it stopped both times… and for most of the day Paul Thomas felt like his ole self….. but then…after David got home from work…just when I thought he was over it - he vomMERrred at supper… then again! and again! and again last night.

And that’s not the worst news…. Today it's gone from bad to worse = now he has diarrhea. :-{

I heard him explode in his diaper as he was standing close to me so I picked him up and took him to the bathroom... I figured I'd change him in there and that way it'd make for an easier clean up just in case it was super messy.

Actually it wasn't - the diaper absorbed nearly all of it b/c it was as runny as water.

So he immediately started grabbing at anything he could get his hands on - everything looked new and exciting to him in the downstairs half bath b/c it's a forbidden zone in our house
to the babies - door always closed off...

anyway, he grabbed Nora's potty cushion... and I thought why not? So I sat him on top of it on the potty and I wish I had had my camera to capture the look on his face... he was so intrigued and excited all at the same time! :P He wasn't very concerned with holding on to keep from falling off of it - so it still left me one hand holding on to him and the other cleaning up... but I used some of Nora's potty stickers on his belly, knees and legs to distract him and get his mind off of getting down and it worked! :) Yeahhhhh thanks Dora the Explorer and Boots! :)

He was able to sit there long enough to have at least two more diarrhea pains.

I just hope I can keep him hydrated. He has no appetite but is thirsty all the time… but can’t hold any liquids down… David stopped by CVS tonight and bought some Pedalyte drinks… I am hoping that will help.

I’m also hoping he is over this sickness SOON! Especially before our road trip to Kentucky for Thanksgiving! However I’ll continue keepin on keepin on… I am so grateful that he hasn’t had any episodes during the middle of the night… *KNOCK ON WOOD*

I've did FIVE loads of laundry last night

and I'm not done... the last (for now) load of "Puked ON" stuff is in the washer now. The floor rugs from the bathroom and bedrooms.

Yesterday was so out of whack here at home. Around 4:30pm the twins took their "first" bath after I discovered Paul Thomas had vomited during his afternoon nap. YUCK-O!

I'll spare any gross details... but after they got out of the tub and diapered and dressed... Nora "Vomm-MERed" all in the floor all as I was running to the toilet with Paul Thomas b/c while holding him I felt his belly doing the wave... so next tub was with PT and Nora...

I forget all the details and order now - too tired... but beore David got home from work Paul Thomas had vomited another 3 times for a total of 5 and Nora once more (for a total of 3) before passing out in the kitchen floor.

Thankfully David brought supper home from Wendy's and helped with getting them upstairs and to bath again... This being PT's 3rd or 4th for the night...and Olivia's 2nd... but while waiting for the tub to fill up with water.... he vommMERed again :( poor little guy!

Needless to say I kept the monitor on louder than normal - I wanted to hear if anyone got sick and thankfully no one did the whole night!!! However Nora scared be silly out of me when at 2am I was using the laptop on the sofa and out of the corner of my eye I see her standing beside me! AKK!

She was thirsty... and she could have served herself upstairs in her bathroom - bu I am so glad she didn't b/c I only gave her a small amount of water - didn't want her to vommMer in the middle of the night... also I felt of her and she was burning up hot - scanned her head and it was 101.6. So I gave her some medicine.

Turned everything off and headed to bed myself... and at 3:15am Nora started bursting out in tears -I go running thinking maybe she's sick again... and no - just feelings hurt... b/c "It's NO FAIR! you did not give me more water!" so another small amount and wet washcloth for her head and she was fine. ;)

I hit the pillow around 3:35am and passed out!

Nora is home from school and not happy about it. They all finished breakfast about 30 min ago and ....So far so good today...

Camera update

Great NEWS! Our camera is on it's way home to us and I think it will be here in time to take with us on our Thanksgiving trip. :) This was the emial message I first read when I logged on this morning! Yeaaaaaa!!!

We are pleased to confirm that the service you requested on your
POWER SHOT SD790 IS has been completed and your equipment has been shipped to you on 11-NOV-08 .

Thank you for purchasing Canon products and for allowing us this
opportunity to serve you.

Best Regards,Canon Factory
Service Center

and thankfully the repair was covered under the manufacturer's warranty - so ZERO cost to us! Yeahhhhh!!! Soon I'll be back in the picture taking mode again!

I'm so thankful to be an American

Veterans Day – November 11, is a day to honor all the men and women who have served in America’s armed forces and to thank them for that service.

Today at Nora's school they are having a program to local many local veterans at 2:00pm. I pick her up around 11:30 each day but we'll go back for the program.

Kids are never too young to start learning about how we should be thankful and show respect and honor to our men and women who serve and have served. I still remember my mom coming to programs like this at my school when I was growing up. :)

I am so thankful to be an American! We take so much for granted but we live in the greatest country in the world and I am so thankful that I have the freedom to worship God, live in a nice home, and in the past have had good jobs, and always food on my table. So many people in the world are so less fortunate.... but somehow find true happiness. Again reminding me: "It's not about having everything you want - but rather wanting everything you have."

I am so grateful to the thousands of men and women who have served our country and dedicating their life to the service. Thankful for the ones who have battled to defend our rights... and the countless number who have given their lives for America. I'll never be able to properly thank them... but every time I see anyone in uniform, I say a simple "Thank you for serving" as I look into their eyes.... it's not enough but if we all did that it would help perhaps...

Well I gotta get moving - almost time to go pick up Nora at school.

For information on the history of Veterans Day, this year’s national and regional observances, to read the President’s 2008 Veterans Day Proclamation, visit http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/index.asp

I had FUN with the Four Year Olds Today ;)

Today was the first time Nora's class had been on a "field trip" and also for most of them their first time to ride on a school bus! :) Double smile! :) :)

My Angel, Ms. Cindy from church, came over to our home early this morning to keep the twins here at home while I went to school with Nora today. Olivia hasn't had anymore vomiting since last night before supper... but today she feels hot so I gave her Tylenol before I left and again when I got home.

At school the teacher introduced us to the kids. It was so cute. She had everyone listed on the board (they don't have black boards with chalk anymore - instead use dry erase boards) Anyway my name was listed then three kids under me... which she called to come up to the carpet and meet me...

Ms. Meaux pointed out that I had on a green shirt...and a red purse... and told them to direct all of their questions to me for the rest of the day. Not to go to her but to come to me ;) She even had them cup their hands around their eyes and look directly at me to get a good look so they would remember what I looked like in case they got lost. Then they returned back to their seats... and she did the same with the next group for the other mom, and so forth.

While we waited for the buses to show up Quaid got to talk about his weekend with Callie the class' mascot cow. He had photos mounted on a poster board and had lots to talk about :)

The pre-K3, pre-K4, and Kindergarten all go to go to the theatre to see "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and can you believe that they were suppose to send 2 buses but somehow didn't and we all crammed onto one bus! My kids and I were in the WAY Back on the LAST SEAT all together.... and while they loved all the bumps, I sure didn't. I was sure that I'd bounce right onto the floor on each one. The kids sang "The Wheels on the Bus" both to the theatre and back.

It was a lot of fun! The pupets used in the play were paited with glow in the dark paints and were really bright and colorful with the black lights shining on them. After it was over the ninga looking actors came out adn showed how they did everything and took questions from the kids, which I thought was cool that they'd take the time to show how they put the play on.

I'm so glad I got to be a chaperon!! Thanks again Ms. Cindy for keepin the twins! ;)

How many times have your turned your quilt frame yet Bonnie? - asks my Dad.....

I don't usually share quilty things here on our family blog... but I just noticed in the previous post the empty quilt frame behind the sofa.. and thought I'd share. (Mainly share with Dad & Clara) ;)

Remember the day we put this in the quilt frame???? Way back when you and Clara visited in February wasn't it Dad?

Well I'm almost ashamed to say, not much has been accomplished on it since that weekend that we put it in the frame he made for me. Actually next to ZERO accomplished.

At one time, I seriously had high hopes to be ale to sit and stitch on it at night time after the kids were put to bed... but who was I foolin? Myself!

Well it's been sitting behind the sofa in our den since then and every time I talk to my dad in KY he can't help but ask me "Have you turned your quilt lately?" and every stinkin time my answer is "are you kidding? NO, I've got kids, have you forgotten!" :P LOL

Well one day a few weeks ago week I was in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher when heard a lamp fall over in the den where the twins were watching a video "out of their car seats" - I thought I could trust them....for just 10 minutes while I was in the kitchen.... turns out NO I can NOT!

So I go runnin in to find that Olivia had knocked over the lamp - and good thing b/c Paul Thomas was up on TOP of my QUILT FRAME ROLLIN AROUND trying to sit up!!! AKKK!

It's a wonder he didn't RIP the fabric!So needless to say, I removed it form the frame ASAP and putting the frame away until another year... *sigh* not a big deal b/c I hadn't even loaded thread in the quilting needle but a hand full of times if that many.

Later the same night Paul Thomas was up on top of the quilt I read on one of my favorite message boards, that my friend "needlecrazy" is heading up an IKE Relief fundraiser project. Several of longarm quilters from the board have volunteered to quilt a simple meander on any quilt sized up to 100" for a donation of minimum donation of $50.

The quilting will be simple--no ruler work or pantographs, just an all-over-free-motion meandering design. This is perfectly fine with me - after all it is a rather busy pattern. And done is better than perfect -or in my case with Paul Thomas - done is better than ripped or hurt child!

My friends have already raised over $2000 for the IKE Relief fund with their project!!! Three of my friends are each quilting for the project and my friend "Quiltaholic" in North Carolina is where I will mail my quilt to.

She can't get to it until after the holidays - she has a long list of customers to quilt for before Christmas... and that is fine with me. I am not in any hurry.

So sometime in 2009 my "Texas Treasures" Round Robin Quit will be longarmed and returned to me to be bound. I'll actually be able to cuddle up on the sofa and enjoy using this quilt while we live in Texas!!! Who knows how many years it would have remained in that quilt frame waiting to be hand quilted. *sigh*

...and speaking of living in Texas... can you believe we are approaching our 4th Christmas in this house! We've now lived here longer than any other home over the years.

Not feeling good today

Poor little Olivia - today is just not her day. :(

We were sitting down to eat at McDonald's... you know get evryone's meal prepared. Ketchup opened, straws in drinks... just ready to bow our heads and say the blessing.....

when Olivia "VommMERed" :(

Nora had a holy cow b/c about a **teaspoon** amount got on her dress... she's the one that made a scene in the restaurant. *sigh* 4 year olds! :c(

That I May Sing Your Praises

God of mercy, forgive my failings and shortcomings an help me to
treat others with a sprit of reconciliation.

God of love, open my mind to the countless ways you love me and
help me embrace others with that same love.

God of light, enlighten my mind that I might come to know ou more
deeply every day of my life so that when my dys here on earth are ended,
together with all the saints and angels, I will forever sing you praises.
Amen.

Lots of new posts located in the archives

Maybe you have noticed a longer list of archives located on the left sidebar... or maybe not??

When Nora was first born I used another type of web page service (www.prayersanswered.aboutmybaby.com) and this week received an email that they would be automatically renewing our subscription... and since I do NOT want to renew, I spent the day cutting and pasting all the journal entries over there and posting them here so that I won't loose all the info when I email them back and tell them to cancel my subscription.

So if you'd like to take a trip down memory lane (It was fun for me too) then look to the left on the links under archives. As I get time here and there, I'll go back and add the photos that go with the posts... but for now it was a lot to just copy the words.

One thing that I realized is - that I have NOT journaled nearly half of the stuff with the twins as I did with Nora. Must me some of that "first child syndrome" LOL :P

a repair request for the NEW digital camera

So this is a photo of our most recent Cannon Digital Camera. (Actually our 4th Cannon since our married life began in '97..but who's counting)

I la,la,love it!!! My most favorite feature that this model has that none of our previous Canon's have had - is that it immediately REMOVES red eye after you take the photo. Blink, red eyes GONE! :) I can't tell you how much time that saves me when I am at CVS printing them out!

You may remember us buying in in June just before the kids' Birthday b/c David broke our other one.. (apparently when you are on the floor rollin around playin with the kids, your pocket is not the best place to store a digital camera!)

Well guess what - I broke it! actually I'm not convinced I had anything to do with it... but the switch that lets you change between taking photos or videos is STUCK on video mode only! URGH!!!

and guess who thought we didn't need to "waste" money buying Circuit City's Buyer Protection Plan... yep, us! double UrGH!!!

David called Circuit City, and there is nothing they can do for us... although they did fax us a copy of the sales receipt which was helpful. David contacted Canon and found out everything we need to do for a repair request and left me printed step-by-step instructions...so today I mailed it off to Cannon and I am hoping we get it back before our Thanksgiving trip to Kentucky!

Our most favorite camera (the one David broke) was the Cannon SD450 is now our back up camera... and I am grateful that it still works to take photos so that I could capture some Halloween photos..... although, it's almost like ancient times... I have no clue what the photos are turning out to look like until I see them loaded on the computer. :P

can't stand putting it up to my eye to look thru the teeny tiny view finder!!! ...am I spoiled or what?