All Done!

Well...last Thursday I had surgery. They took the one thing on my body that meant the most. And I'm still here. And I'm O.k. (Although the one requirement for my doctor was that I'd come home) The surgery went well and I went home on Sat. Today is Monday and I'm hating to stay in bed. I think that my kids hate it too. I KNOW my husband hates it. And can we say HORMONAL? Yes, I am one great, big hormone! Thank heaven my sister told me that it evens out again or I'd think I was in serious trouble.(Well, my family would be in serious trouble) It was kind of cool to go in, go to sleep and wake with everything done. But I didn't like waking in complete pain. And not a big fan of morphine. Lortab is o.k., but morphine made me really dizzy and sick to my stomach. And I only had a couple of little pangs when I was the only one with no baby to take home after the surgery.
Kelvin is going to go to Illinois for Wade's bootcamp graduation on Thurs. Nope, not a clue what I'm gonna do. Pretty much flying by the seat of my pants on that one. He'll be gone for about 4 days. Becky, my sister is going to be helping to take kids and pick kids up from different places. My house will probably be a wreck which makes me a LOT hormonal. Gotta be o.k. with it. I hope that this won't change me in a bad way. I love to have fun and I don't want to lose that part of me.
Well, I'll talk when I'm a little better and lot more in a better mood! (My poor family...)

Has it been a month?!!!!

Wow! I know I haven't posted in a while, but I can't believe that it's been a month! I've been wanting to post for a while but I really think I'm boring everyone because I don't have cute pictures up on my blog! I can't remember how to do it and Wade is still in Bootcamp! Waaaaaaaa! Woe is me! Anyone gonna take pity on me and tell in a step by step on how to do it. Remember people, they say that every time you have a baby, you lose 10 percent of your brain cells! I have no idea how I'm even here and half way coherent! I've lost 100 percent of my brain cells!(Sometimes I feel it!)
So....want to know what I've been up to? Hmmm....it's summertime and I have 9 kids here. Not much time to post. I keep logging in to post but then I remember that I don't have pictures and I leave cuz there's nothing absolutely wonderful to post. I haven't done anything interesting at all.
Although next week I'm going in for that pesky hysterectomy. Yuck! I am so scared! I'm not really worried for myself. I'm worried that if something happens then my kids won't have their Mommy. I wouldn't want that for them. I want them to have me here for them. (Oh! And I'm a little worried about my bladder. We're attached, we get together every day, several times a day. I would hate to be separated.) So, unfortunately, I have to get the kind of hysterectomy that is like having a ceasarian. Yeah, my uterus is stuck to my scar tissue from my c-sections. Maaaaaaaan! Can you believe that?! That totally bites!!! I have to stay in the hospital for 3 days and there's no baby to distract me.(Anyone have one they want to give away. Since I won't be able to have any more of my own, I sure would love to help out and take one of yours if you don't mind. I need to have a newborn. They always get the Mommy urges going)
I've also started with a fairly new company called Heritage Makers. For all those who are wondering, it's a company that creates storybooks online. You import your photos into your own account with them and then you can use them along with some journaling to create your own storybook and publish it. It comes to you hardbound. I love them. And if you really like to create you can use their premium account and get over 30,000 embellishments to use on them. If you'd like to check it out a little bit you can go to my website and do so. www.heritagemakers.com/310654.
I really need to start sewing some more. I haven't finished my favorite quilt from Camille. Oh and I need to thank Janiel for the blog swap! She sent me a gift card for $5.00 to Bath and Body and a $10.00 gift card for Cold Stone. I've only been to Cold Stone once, but it's Summer and anything cold would be great at this point! And Bath and Body? Puh-lease, that one's a no-brainer! Who doesn't love Bath and Body?! (If you don't like it, you probably shouldn't tell me because I'd have to rethink our friendship. Absolutely un-American. Sheesh...)
Well...that all for now. It's about 1:15 a.m. and I'm tired. P.S. for those of you who missed me, thank you. You made me feel important! I love it!!! I'm loved! LOL

One week of vacation!

So...my husband and I decided that we wanted to do some fun things with the kids this week since it's summer vacation for them. Today my husband took them to the local rec. pool that has an awesome slide and a beach area that makes it fun for even infants since the water is only about 1 inch at the end. It also has toy area in the little kids section that has a small slide for the little ones. The kids had a great time and there was only one small almost drowning incident! Emma (my four year old) wanted to watch the big kids up close and personal and went straight down when she crossed the little buoys! Luckily the lifeguard did her job and got down to saving a life! She pulled her right up and yelled at her to stay in the kiddie pool! Emma did just what she was told! (Good little girl!)
Tommorrow we are going to the free movies at Regal Cinemas at 10:00 a.m. (For those of you who don't know about this program, Regal Cinemas Host free summer movies at select theaters. You can go to www.regalcinemas.com and with a little searching can find the link to search in your area. It's a first come, first serve. Have fun!)
And after that we'll take them back to the rec pool and let them swim some more! And then...we'll have family night and write some letters to their brother Wade who is in Bootcamp! We got our first letter from Wade and it made me cry to read them. I miss him so much! He is so funny! He says that he's still a hottie McHot pants even with his buzzed haircut! Supposedly, the girls there have a sign language that they talk about the boys in bootcamp with, and one of them told Wade what the signs are. We also got a call from one of the members of the church, in the Ward where Wade is stationed, and he told us that he had a message from Wade. It went something like this: "Hey Mom! I went to church today and brought Horton, my buddy from bootcamp! Love you!" The Brother then asked if I wanted to reply and he would give my son the message if he saw him next week at church. My reply, "YOU ROCK, SON! I love you!
Isn't that the most wonderful thing? These members who help those boys contact their parents and leave small messages. It totally made my day! I forgot that Brothers' name, but I will forever be grateful to him.
Well,I'll let you know how the day went tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it! Gotta remember to take my camera!

The hits keep on comin'!

First of all, I just want to thank all the people who commented on my last post. That was a difficult one to write and I truly appreciate those that wrote, because it really helped me out. Thank you soooo much. Every one of you made me feel a little better. Now, on to the rest of the story...
You ever feel like you just get kicked when your down? Well, geez louise! My whole house is sick. And listen, having 7 of your kids and you sick is not fun! Please...let me reiterate this...it is NOT fun for the whole house to be sick. Some have a respiratory infection, some have bad colds, some have earaches and those that aren't sick are sunburnt,because they got to go the rec pool with their Aunt. Thanks Aunt Becky, we love you!!!
It's a little bit after midnight and my poor husband is at Urgent Care with my 4 year old daughter who has a horrible earache. Why didn't we take her earlier you ask? Well, that would be because she didn't complain about it until about 11:45 p.m. Talk about bad timing, huh? I don't know how my husband is going to get to work in the morning. He has a reputation for falling asleep at the wheel. Funny story, one night when I was pregnant and got hungry at about 1:00a.m. and wanted something to eat, I sent Kelvin out to get me something to eat. (Places are open 24 hours here) About 10 minutes later I get a phone call from the local police who asked me if my husband had a medical problem. I started to say no, and then I remembered he has diabetes, so I told them that Yes, he has diabetes. They then told me that I needed to come pick him up because he was in no shape to drive. So...I had to wake up my sister to drive me down to McDonald's which is no more than 3 min. away, so I could drive my husband home. I was really worried until I found out he was sleeping while he was driving and only going about 3 miles an hour. That's why the polices pulled him over! He was going to slow!!! They didn't believe him when he said he was just tired.
Another funny story that happened tonight. While my husband and I were getting the medicine for my daughter who has a respiratory infection, my other daughter who we thought only had a cold, started crying and told her sister Laura to call us and tell her Mommy, "My ear is broken" Yup, she's the one with the ear infection. Oh! Did I tell you that this was the second time that my husband has been to the Urgent Care today? Poor man...I love that he'll do this for his family. He's such a good man! I love him dearly.(so cliche, but totally true!)
Well... I'll let you go for now. My tales of woe will be brief I hope. The summer months are here and we don't have time for this crud!

My Son

I've been avoiding posting for a couple of days because I feel like I don't know how to express myself about this issue. My oldest son Wade has decided to go into the Navy. He went to bootcamp this last Tuesday. You know, when he was little he was the most adorable little guy. He wanted to go to church every week and he loved the gospel. He was always sooo loving and positive. When he did something wrong, he would come and put his arms around me and tell me how sorry he was. If I cried he would hug me and tell me everything would be o.k. (A little tearful here)
How does a Mom who has raised her children in the gospel get past the fact that her son doesn't want to go on a mission. How do I get past the feeling that somewhere I must have done something wrong. I know, I know, it's their choice. Our Father in Heaven gave us free agency. But those Moms with little Sunbeams, look at your little boy....you just know that he's gonna be your little missionary. I felt that way too. For some reason, Wade decided not to go. He's had problems since he was in High School and has made some really bad decisions. Some that might follow him with consequences. But he's a good kid. And I love him sooo much. I know that I shouldn't be so affected by this, but it has broken my heart...I cry about it all the time. I try to forget about it but I can't. For some reason, I have always felt that there is something important that he's supposed to do. And then I think, is he supposed to do it on his mission and he's not going. Will some family have to wait another 20 years before they receive the gospel. Shoot, I want to go for him.
And I'm gonna be honest here, I hate that my family judges me about it. My parents, even though they don't realize it, make me feel like I'm a bad Mom. My nephew is going on a mission and I'm sure that my sister-in-law pities me a little. I pity myself, and how wrong is that? Is this a pride issue? Sometimes it might be, but for the most part, I'm just so sad for this missed opportunity. I'm so sad that he isn't following what our Prophet has asked each young man to do. It makes me want to do that much better, to read the scriptures more, to hold Family Home Evening more often, and above all to show my children how much I love them and teach them that their Father in Heaven loves them too. And how important it is to follow His Teachings. To remember Him always.
Well...I've had to accept his decision (Wade's) and since it's all done, I might as well get over it and be O.K. I am proud of him. He's a good kid, for the most part, with complications. What teenager doesn't have "complications"? The Navy will be good for him. And since he's there I sure feel a little more patriotic. I think of the military in a different light. And I love him. Unconditionally. Without reservation. I love him so much...

I'm in Mourning...

O.K., so I tried to not be bothered by this, but I just can't do it! My 4 year old son has given my 2 year old daughter a haircut. (He will never be a cosmetologist) He cut all of her bangs off all the way to the back of her head, leaving only about 1/2 inch of a comb over part in the very front. And then he took sections of hair all over the rest of her head, but mostly on the right hand side. Look at her from the left side and she looks beautiful, but turn her to the right...well...scarecrow comes to mind. I've tried to use the long piece as a comb over ( you know, like those old guys who have a bald head and use a long piece of hair on the side that they comb over so know one knows they are bald? wink, wink...) I've tried it and it isn't working! And when I try to put her hair in a pony tail or two, the short hair pokes through every time!! I have to go into mourning...so those of you who commisserate with me, show me love here because I am soooooooo sad. I'm getting my camera back from my sister this weekend and I'll take a picture and post it. (After my son Wade shows me how to again.) I need to commemorate this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad HAIRCUT!!

Yee Haw!!!!!

My braces are off! I am so excited! Could my day get any better?! I had ceramic braces on the top and the regular metal ones on the bottom. When the Dr. took the top ones off, I thought he was breaking my teeth off at the same time. Ewwwww...the sound of the crunching was horrible. It really sounded like he was crunching up teeth. I brushed my teeth right after and checked for any breakage and WOW! They looked great! No breakage! It hurt when he did the top ones, but the bottom brackets came off painless and quick and no weird sounds. I can't help but run my tongue on my teeth over and over. I know, weird. But like I said, I can't help it.
Then it was time to go to the OB-GYN. No procedures, just talking. I guess I'll need to get surgery to either put an IUD in or get a hysterectemy. I vote the latter since I won't be having any more kids. Let me tell you, the grieving process for that one has been long and hard. I love having kids. (The proof in pudding is that I have 10 of them.) Sometimes I get so sad that I have to take a moment and cry about it. Silly when I already have so many. It's such a fun thing. Every one of them is soooo different. And I love all of them so very much. I've been pregnant for so much of my adult married life that it seems weird that I'll never do it again. But at least I can be a better Mom to all of them.( I was a very sick pregnant person and checked out a lot during this time)
I'm taking some sewing classes on Tuesday nights. I absolutely love them. I think that Camille kind of inspired me to want to do it. I loved her quilts and I wanted to make some for all my kids. I really needed some classes so that I could understand what the directions were talking about. Has anyone ever heard of a Hong Kong finish? I know what it means!!! You know what the best part of this class is? It's free! The lady who is teaching there, is giving the class free because I work there! Is that not the most exciting thing you've ever heard?!! Hello!...the class cost is almost $300 dollars! Hec yeah! I'm excited! And lovin' every minute of it. There's also an intermediate class and a pattern making class. All free! It's a Yee Haw kind of day