A Sick Baby

When Kyndal was about 9 months old, she had a really high fever. It wasn't anything alarming, but we just couldn't get it to go down. We had to get a late-night prescription for Children's Motrin (this is showing you my age ... at that time you could not buy children's ibruprofen over the counter!). She was pretty lethargic and just layed in my arms. Her dad said, "You like it when she's sick, don't you?" And the truth was, I did. Kyndal was always going, going, going. She didn't want to be held and snuggled. She had things to do, places to go. And when she was sick she was quiet and snuggly and dependent on me to make her feel better.

Fast forward 17 years. Kyndal has been sick for the past couple of weeks. She went to the doctor and they put her on an antibiotic for an upper resperatory infection. She went back to the doctor on Friday and the doctor tested her for mono. The doctor ordered her out of school for two weeks, and she is now on bedrest here with me.

Kyndal is always going, going, going. She doesn't want to be held and snuggled. She has things to do, places to go. And now that she is sick she is quiet and snuggly and dependent on me to make her feel better.

Of course I don't want her to be sick. She's missing parts of her senior year. She's going to be sick on her 18th birthday. But, oh how I love having her here so I can take care of her. In a couple of weeks she'll be (mostly) better and will be off again. I am going to cherish this time.

No Matter

As I snuggle into my little bed in Missouri, after a long 4-hour, late-night drive to get here, I am thankful ... thankful that Rick and I started making the decisions a few months ago to change the course of our life to better our family.

With the re-election of President Obama, I am particularly thankful for our decision to simplify our life, to downsize to just what we need in order to preserve what we have.

We have talked with our kids, including our little ones, about the impact of President Obama's presidency on our country and our lives. When they found out that he was re-elected, they were upset. Eli was even scared. But I explained to them a few foundational truths:

1. Our Leader is sitting on His throne in Heaven. He is in control. He loves us. And, he has promised to protect and bless those who fear Him. 
2. President Obama has been given "another chance" (as the kids say) to do a better job protecting the people of our country. We will respect him and support him as our President and will pray for him, that he makes decisions that are right in God's eyes.
3. Daddy and I have been working to take care of our family in the event the leaders of our country do not do their job to take care of us. This is one of the reasons why we moved to Missouri, so that we would not have to rely on the government and its' empty promises. But, instead, we will do our part to take care of ourselves and protect our family from the decisions of others.
4. We live in a country where we have the right to not be controlled by our government and its' decisions. We have to stand strong to protect our rights. This is a huge reason why we have chosen to homeschool our younger two children.

Folks, we have to work hard for what we have and NOT rely on others to provide it for us. We need to protect ourselves from the interference and control of the government in our lives. We can attempt that in an election. But, ultimately, it starts at home, in our individual families. I cannot control what other people do. But, I can control what we do as a family.

In the next four years, instead of relying on President Obama and his administration to provide us with a good life, we will do the following:

1. We will willingly and happily reside in a $30,000 home and will strive to have it paid for completely within two to three years.
2. We will pay off all of our debt so that we are not held in bondage because of it.
3. We will live within our means.
4. We will drive paid-off cars, and take care of them.
5. We will homeschool our younger two children, and will fight for the rights of our older two.
6. We will be responsible for purchasing our OWN health insurance and will choose our OWN medical providers.
7. We will spend loads of time together as a family.
8. We will pray for our leaders and serve in our community.

What will you do? Whatever you do, however you feel, remember:

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... it is a sunny day in Oklahoma. We are here for a couple of days while Dawson has his ortho appointment and I vote. 

I am thinking... about how you CANNOT be a sissy and raise teenagers.

I am thankful ... for the time the kids and I have had with Rick this week. We are really looking forward to the 10 days we get to have him with us over Thanksgiving!!

I am wearing... a black top with red, turquoise and gold print with red skinny jeans and black UGG boots.

I am planning...  Eli's ninja birthday party and ideas for the boy scout Christmas parade float.
 

I am creating... some items to put in the church's Christmas bizarre.

I am going... to vote.

I am reading... The Mermaid Garden by Santa Montefiore,  Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud). 

I am praying... that God's will is done in today's election. I am fearful of the outcome, but know that our true Leader sits on His throne.

From the learning rooms... We are actually doing schoolwork in Oklahoma. Yesterday we went to the zoo to observe animals in their environments and to further learn about ecosystems. Today we are learning all about the Election. Tomorrow we will be traveling home, but will finish the week completing our studies on Indonesia, as well as our other regular book studies.

Noticing that ...  our kids really do want us to be involved with what they are doing, even when they seem they don't.

From the kitchen... Tonight we are having lasagna with daddy.

Around the house...  are signs of the coming end of fall.  Trees are more and more bare.

One of my favorite things... a good book and time to read it.

A few plans for the rest of the week... We are at the library right now, in Oklahoma, and are heading home to do our Election unit for school. Then Dawson has an orthodontist appointment at 2:00 and then Rick and I are going to vote. Tonight we'll just spend time with Daddy before our trip back home to Missouri tomorrow. I have bell choir practice tomorrow night, and then I am PRAYING that the rest of the week is quiet!! We have a weekend at home. My aunt and I are planning to put the faux granite finish on our kitchen countertops.

From my picture journal.

An official flag retirement ceremony at Boy Scouts on Friday.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Halloween Goodness

Our Halloween was super busy and lots of fun! We really, really missed daddy! It's so hard not having him here for a holiday, but we made the best of it. Here's how we celebrated.

During the day we went on a little field trip to a local pumpkin patch. It was very picked over, and there wasn't much left, but we had fun seeing the pumpkins on the actual vine. Every pumpkin patch we have ever gone to has had the pumpkins shipped in and arranged in large piles. So, we had a little lesson in a real pumpkin patch. And, the pictures were fun ...

 

After the patch we rushed home to get changed for trick-or-treating! This year we were NINJAS! 

The first stop was the costume contest. Brynne got 1st Place in her age category!

Eli didn't place in his group (there were LOTS of kids), but he sure gave a full performance to try to draw in the judges.

After the contest we walked to our church for some hotdogs.

Then we trick-or-treated on Main Street where all of the businesses sit out in front of their stores and give out candy and other treats. We circled around and walked to my parents' to see my niece and get goody bags that my mom and dad left the kids (they are in Florida). Then we walked another couple of blocks to a trunk-or-treat location.

After the long walk back home, we hopped in the car and went out to the nursing home to see my grandma. She gave each of the kids four quarters that she won playing poker!

I think my grandma fell asleep in this picture! Must have had a long night of poker.

A few pieces of candy and a shower later, we were ready for bed!! What an exhausting, but fun, night!!

Hope you had a nice Halloween!

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... it is a sunny but crisp day. More perfect fall weather!

I am thinking... about Kyndal sitting in Concordia, by herself, sick (because her dad has left her alone for another week), unable to get ahold of him so calls me to excuse her from school, with no money to go to the doctor or for gas so she can drive down here so I can take care of her. And he is "supporting" her.

I am thankful ... that Rick gets to spend a WHOLE 10 DAYS here with us for Thanksgiving!!!

I am wearing... a brown long-sleeved hooded shirt, jeans, brown Ugg boots.

I am planning...  my grocery trip on Thursday.
 

I am creating... the finishing touches on Eli and Brynne's ninja Halloween costumes (really, they will be done today). I was creating transformed bedside tables in our bedroom.

I am going... to be in charge of my niece for a couple of days this week while my parents are in Florida.

I am reading... The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan,  Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud). And MY HUSBAND is reading The Hunger Games. He finished the first book in just a couple of days. And he HATES to read!

I am praying... for Kiley Palmer, a girl from our Homeschool Co-op in Oklahoma. She is undergoing chemotheraphy for luekemia, and is having a really hard time. Here is yesterday's update from her mom:
"10/29/12 - It's proving to be a rough round of chemo for Kiley. We're only on Day 5 of Consolidation Therapy, but she hasn't been able to drink anything significant or keep any food down for 3 days. Praying that this changes tomorrow. I'm not sure how far she can go without going back into the hospital. She really doesn't have any weight, water or anything to lose. I'm praying for my girl tonight."

From the learning rooms... Having a mixed bag of school work this week. Studying Indonesia and doing general studies a couple of days, going on a mini-field trip, and doing a couple of separate unit studies the other days.

Noticing that ...  I haven't heard hardly a word about the upcoming election on t.v. here. I do think there is very little advertising because Missouri is an all-Romney state. But, it sure helps when you only watch Cartoon Network and shows that you have dvr'd.

From the kitchen... we are taking it outside today. We made a solar oven yesterday and the kids are cooking hotdogs and s'mores, since it's a sunny day. Wish us luck!

Around the house...  are a few projects I want to get done before Rick gets here and brings me MORE!

One of my favorite things... the way I feel after a good walk in the mornings.

A few plans for the rest of the week... I have handbell choir practice tonight since tomorrow is Halloween. Then my friend, Angela, is coming over for some chat time. Wednesday is Halloween and we're going to a little pumpkin patch during the day and will be trick-or-treating on Main Street and at the nursing home that night. Thursday afternoon I have to go "to town" to get groceries, go to recycling, and pick up Eli's cub scout shirt and patches. On Friday Rick comes to town for the weekend! We have a Pack meeting for cub scouts that evening. Rick is bringing a moving truck with the rest of our stuff. Then on Sunday, after church, we are all driving back to Oklahoma. Rick needs to get back to work and Dawson is going back to help one of his best friend's celebrate his 16th birday. It is also the infamous release of Halo 4, so he will be getting it and playing it. He is even taking his big flat-screen t.v. to Oklahoma so he can play on it. Big event! The little kids and I hope to fit in a trip to the zoo. And I will be voting while I am there. Dawson also has an orthodontist appointment on Tuesday. And we'll be coming back home on Wednesday.

From my picture journal.

He LOVES the park! FREEDOM!

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

An Unusual Sunday Boost of Energy

For some extremely odd reason, I decided to forgo my typical Sunday afternoon of vegging on the couch taking multiple cat naps, reading, and getting caught up television. After we got home from church, I had an unusual Sunday afternoon boost of energy.

I cleaned house from front to back, had the kids clean their rooms and the basement, and ran back and forth between my house and my parents' to do laundry (my washing machine is broken, but I get my ones from Oklahoma this weekend ... squeal!!).

As if that wasn't enough, I decided to paint the bedside tables in our bedroom. A bit of back story ... In Oklahoma we have the most amazing bedroom furniture with a super comfy king-sized bed. In our little house in Missouri, there is no way that furniture is fitting into it. So, our master bedroom furniture is, instead, the furniture that I grew up sleeping on at my grandma's. It's OLD! When we moved in I painted it all a nice chocolate brown. It has a full-sized bed (so small!), a tall bureau, and a mirrored chest of drawers. But, it has no bedside tables. So, I took the two pine end tables from our second living room at our house in Oklahoma to use in our bedroom in Missouri.

When we were moving my grandma into a nursing home, I was so sad that this furniture was going to just be given away. I loved it! So, I was actually so glad we needed it in our new house so that I could keep it in the family. I plan to use it as our spare bedroom furniture when we do the renovations upstairs (someday).

The side tables did not match the colors in the bedroom (green, tan, white, and chocolate brown) nor the style of the other furniture. They were rustic, and they drove me crazy. BUT, we don't have the money to purchase anything new right now, so we have to make due with what we have.

I felt like I was in college again, throwing together a mish mash of furniture.

I wanted the tables to be transformed into something new and eclectic, but still to blend with the other furniture. So .....

I "green"-washed the furniture. I watered down green paint we used in our kitchen, painted a whole side, and then rubbed it with an old t-shirt. When that was dry, I watered down some of the brown paint I used on the other furniture and added accents to the edges, creases, corners, etc., and rubbed it around. Then I painted the top that same brown.

I think they turned out really cool. AND they look really neat in the room!

They have also inspired me to complete the decorating in the bedroom. I want to get some chocolate brown Euro pillows, a neat iron scroll thing to hang above the bed, some cool prints of birds (maybe from a calendar) and frame them with green matting and white frames, and I want to get a couple of small green/brown rugs. With a couple of other miscellaneous accessories, the bedroom will be very comfortable and cottagey.

This is, seriously, the tiniest bedroom. But it's only temporary. The upstairs renovation will include a master suite, and this room will become Brynne's, when and if she and Eli ever decide they can be separated.

The last thing I did last night was to touch up paint in the bathroom, spray paint some hooks a rubbed oil bronze, and hange a toilet paper/magazine holder. I had to use my MacGuyver skills to do that. Rick will die when he sees how I did it.

Oh, and I cooked a BIG dinner ... for a Sunday! (We usually either go to my parents' for dinner or have something super easy). We had homemade fried chicken strips, waffle fries, and apple slices.

Then Dawson and I ended the night watching an episode of Chopped. My feet were actually hurting. And, dang, I slept good last night! No wonder .. I practically worked myself to death.

A Great Start to a Great Weekend

Our great weekend really started yesterday with news that my brother Tim and his wife Shawna welcomed their first baby into our family. My new sweet niece, Bell Nora, was born yesterday morning weighing in at 7 lbs. 15 ozs. and was 20 inches long. Tim assisted Shawna in the delivery of their daughter at a midwife birthing center in Portland, Oregon. I know it was a life-changing day for them. Mama and baby (and daddy) are doing great!

Last night I realized that Dawson does not have school today because of Parent Teacher Conferences. I opted out of conferences because my extremely smart son ended up with 6 A's and 1 B in his first quarter back as a public school student. I am very proud of him and didn't feel the need to go see all of his teachers at this time.

Because he got to sleep in today I thought, "Why not let us all sleep in?" He is currently STILL sleeping in, and so is Eli. I am laying in my bed with the three dogs drinking coffee and blogging. Brynne is watching "The Incredibles" in the living room. My kids are back into that movie again, for some reason. She is also trying out a new iPad app from the creators of Stack the States, Stack the Countries, Presidents vs. Aliens, and Rocket Math called Monster Physics. These apps are the GREATEST and my kids know so much because of them.

We have plans to take it easy the rest of the day, and just go to the park for some nature study later in the afternoon. And we have NO OTHER PLANS for the weekend, and I couldn't be more thrilled! I am going to get caught up on housework, do some reading, some lesson planning, and watch some television. We might get our pumpkins carved. It's my kind of weekend! Other than church on Sunday, we probably won't even leave the house.

Sounds like a great weekend to me! Do you have any fun plans?

BBC TV

As I have mentioned lately, I have become hooked on a couple of BBC drama series that are on PBS. Last year I wrapped myself completely around the amazing show "Downton Abbey". I watched the first season on Netflix and then check out the second season on dvd from my library. The third season starts in January and I CANNOT WAIT! Last night I saw a preview of the third season at the conclusion of my new favorite BBC series "Call the Midwife".

The first seson of "Call the Midwife" is on PBS right now. It is set in 1950's London and is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth who was a midwife to the poor of that area. The storylines are so rich and the weekly births of the babies bring me to tears. It is, by far, my favorite show on television right now.

Why all the BBC shows? Why is PBS so popular right now?

Because, let's face it, American television shows are either all reality or all filth. There is the occasional drama that is worth watching, but the choices are certainly limited. Now, I watch lots of reality television ("Project Runway", "The Amazing Race", "Survivor", "Chopped", "Cupcake Wars") and my share of borderline filth (although I try to stay away from it, out of personal preference) and I have a couple of dramas that I watch religiously ("Parenthood", "Criminal Minds", "Law and Order: SVU"). But I never walk away from any of those shows feeling like I have been bettered because of watching them!

America could never pull off "Downton Abbey" or "Call the Midwife". They would lose their class. They would cheapen them, throw in a raunchy factor, stupify the men, add violations and crime, and lots of sex. To me, it's a relief to live a few hours a week in the lives of people in the 1920's or 1950's, even if those lives have complications and conflict. There were, at least, standards of the time that are to be revered, in our time, where there are very few.

So, I encourage you .. if you are looking for some quality television to lighten your load and brighten your day (week, year ...), then check out "Downton Abbey" or "Call the Midwife", or just turn on PBS and see what other quality shows are available for your viewing.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... are some type of construction trucks doing some kind of ditching work.

I am thinking... about what we should do about our house in Oklahoma. It's stressful.

I am thankful ... for our cub scout leader. She is so organized and does a great job with the boys. Eli is loving it! And I appreciate the work she puts into it.

I am wearing... gray capri sweats and a blue Medical Mission t-shirt. It's warm today!

I am planning...  to put a faux granite finish on my laminate kitchen countertops soon. I hope it turns out good!
 

I am creating... the finishing touches on Eli and Brynne's ninja Halloween costumes.

I am going... to go pick up Dawson's first public school grade card on Thursday evening. He has done so well this first quarter and I am proud of him! I can't wait to see what his teachers have to say about him.

I am reading... The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan, Too Wise to be Mistaken, Too Good to be Unkind by Cathy Steere, Journeys of Faithfulness by Sarah Clarkson, Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud).

I am hoping... that the plans Rick and I discussed this past weekend are a possibility. We just want to move forward with our life.

From the learning rooms... Today we are doing an activity day surrounding the book Little Hoot by Amy Kruse Rosenthal. Tomorrow and Thursday we will begin our studies on Indonesia. And on Friday we are going to get caught up on some nature studies. We have fallen behind the past couple of weeks. Of course we will still be continuing with Bible, grammar, math, literature, P.E., writing, and other general studies.

Noticing that ...  blog trends have changed, and I don't like it. It seems that many blogs have more concentration on ad space and reader stats, instead of just sharing their lives. It's boring and mechanical and many of the blogs I used to love have completely lost my interest.

From the kitchen... the little kids and I have been experimenting with international cuisines. As we learn about a geographical area, the kids cook a recipe from that area. That has been our dinner on Thursday nights. There have been some hits, and some misses.

Around the house...  are doggies who are glad we are home from our weekend!

One of my favorite things... is a cup of hot green tea.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Other than hand bell choir and dinner at church on Wednesday night, we have no plans. The gas in my car needs to last me until the 1st, so driving will be limited. Besides, a few fall days at home sounds good to me.

From my picture journal.

This walking stick was on our back door the other day. I hadn't seen one since I was a kid in this town 30+ years ago.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

So, what do you do in an empty house in Oklahoma?

The kids and I went back to Oklahoma this weekend to see Rick, and for Dawson to spend time with his buddies for his birthday. Our house now contains one bed, one love seat and a living room chair (that are upstairs), a futon (upstairs), two office chairs, a couple of small tables, and a tall chair at the bar in the kitchen. The house echoes when you talk.

We arrived on Friday and spent the evening with some friends at their house. Jace and Berry are great friends and so fun! We ate pizza, drank wine, laughed a lot, and completely enjoyed ourselves. We got home just in time for bed.

On Saturday, we had NOTHING to do all day. The kids had taken over the upstairs, sleeping on the love seat and futon, had the computer up there to watch movies, and their toys strung everywhere.

What did Rick and I do?

Hmmm ... well, I laid in bed and finished my book, took a couple of power naps, read more of another book, and took another nap or two.  We took Dawson and his buddies to Cici's Pizza for dinner, and then I took them into Tulsa to go to Laser Quest. While they were shooting each other for a couple of hours, I drove a few blocks to Barnes and Noble. I walked around and looked at books, and drank some coffe, then picked them up and headed back home. Meanwhile Rick and the kids were at home. The kids were playing and Rick was watching Season 1 of Mad Men on his computer with dvds we checked out from the library. When I got home, it was bedtime.

On Sunday morning we went to church and then came home for lunch. I took another nap ... yep. Rick took the kids into town so that they could spend some time with some friends. When I woke up, Rick and I sat in the office chairs in our kitchen and talked. Then he pushed me through the house. That was fun! We have an empty house with concrete floors and fun rolling office chairs!

We picked up the kids and went out to eat for dinner. Eli has been craving nachos, so Mexican food was in order. Yum! After we got home I took Crusoe for a walk and Rick and the kids played Jenga. We turned in early because Rick had to work yesterday morning and we had to get Dawson to the orthodontist and then get back to Missouri.

It was nice to be "unplugged" all weekend, get caught up on some reading, and actually talk to people face-to-face. But I feel bad for Rick because that is his reality every single day, and he doesn't even have anybody to talk to except our cat (when he shows up for food). He is lonely. I know he is. And I hate that he sits in that big 'ol house all by himself. Please be praying for us that our house sells soon so that we can move forward with our lives. It's hard on the kids, and Rick and I, being separated.

We are going back for a few days in a couple of weeks. I need to come up with some things to keep us busy!