Ahh...December

I love this time of the year. I really do. I don't love that we seem to spend 90% of our time sick this time of the year, but aside from that, I really love it. I love having the Christmas lights being the only lights on in the house. I love the cozy feel of the house. I love having everybody home (even when they're arguing...). I love the excitement in our house. I love spending the entire day baking (did that Saturday). It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

We have spent the last week+ sick. We were able to enjoy my birthday with a trip to KC to the Cheesecake Factory, so that was fantastic. That night I slept on the air mattress with the twins while Hannah slept with her dad. It's a good thing it worked out that way, because Addie woke up with fever at around midnight. It was just the beginning. The following morning Gary informed us that he had had a sore throat for a few days. Within a short amount of time, we were all complaining of sore throats, runny noses and coughs. All the girls in the house went to the dr last Wednesday. Ironically, while I was concerned about the girls' ears (Addie's having tubes put in January 6 - did I mention that earlier?), it was my ear that had the infection. At that point they were all just fighting viral stuff. They stayed home all week. They are going back this morning to get checked out again.

I spent all day Saturday in the kitchen. Addie spent all morning sitting on the counter next to me helping me make sugar cookie dough, peppermint bark, caramel puffcorn and cinnamon rolls. She's quite the little helper. At one point while she was sitting on the counter and I was at the kitchen sink, she told me, "Come here, Mama. There's something I HAVE to do right now." I wasn't sure what she meant, but when I got there she wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a big smooch. If that's not a taste of heaven, I don't know what is. We spent some time having a family Wii Fit Plus competition then delivered cinnamon rolls and looked at Christmas lights. It was great! FYI, our little town has the best Christmas lights I've seen this year!

We're looking forward to this week. They have school today and tomorrow (hopefully we'll get there later today) and then will be off until January 5. We've got plans to make a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve before we go to church. We'll also put together a breakfast casserole so we can throw it in the oven Christmas morning. I bet you'll never guess the big Christmas supper request at our house. The girls want homemade pizza. Sounds like the beginning of a tradition to me...

Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk...

I finally got to go to a KU basketball game! :) It was a real treat for almost all of us. I think I saw a hint of physical pain in Gary's face at various points while we were perched in awe at Allen Filedhouse. Hannah told me on the way to school yesterday that she was more excited about going last night than she has ever been about anything ever before. That's pretty impressive, because that child gets excited over EVERYTHING. Her sisters were slightly more reserved about their excitement because they have, after all, been to a KU football game. They were playing it cool. We met Gary in Lawrence at 4:45, went to eat, parked (less than a block away, no less) and walked into Jayhawk heaven. It was great. The girls were in absolute awe, and I have to admit that I had goosebumps during the Rock Chalk chant. I did feel sorry for the opposing team when KU was on a 34-0 run on them. I apparently wasn't alone because when Alcorn State finally made a shot (their FG % was down to 14 at that point) the entire place erupted in cheers. That might've been the only time Gary clapped... Anyway, it was a great time and one we'll never forget. Sometimes it's those little spur of the moment fun times that mean more than the well-planned activities. It was the evening I needed! :)

December Already???

I'm ready for Christmas. Well, I'm ready mentally, but not physically. I have a few - very few - presents bought, none wrapped and few good ideas, but I am ready for the good times. I fully intend to enjoy the next few weeks if it kills me.

The last month has been pretty crappy, to be blunt. The Monday before the girls' birthday Addie came down with a stomach bug that hung on for 5 days. She then successfully shared it with Hannah and Hope which derailed the whole birthday party for a week. Hope then immediately brought home a cold of some sort that has slowly made its way through the entire household resulting in sinus and ear infections for everybody. We have all been on antibiotics now, so hopefully we'll rid ourselves of this lovely invader. On the plus side, most of us (everybody but Gary who ended up staying home with a sore throat, going to the doctor and being just generally miserable) had a fun Thanksgiving. We spent it at Meme & Papa's house (as well as Donna & Jim's) and were blessed to have good weather and lots of fun. Saturday night the twins & I went to Ernesto's with Donna's family (minus Jonathan who also picked up the beloved VC bug). Hope was an absolute crazy person on the way there. At one point she told Kerri, "Nanner, nanner, fur on fire..." On our way home she was, again, Little Miss Witty. I commented on how dark it was outside and Hope, just to be disagreeable, said it was light. Kerri said, "Alright, Miss Smartypants, do you know how to spell light, then?" Hope replied, "S-U-N-N-Y. Sunny." She had us laughing most of the way there and back. I have a feeling she's going to be our quick-witted one...

Seven Years

Seven years ago today at 10:14 (Hannah) and 10:15 (Hope then Addie) we were blessed beyond measure. I honestly had no idea what we were in for in the months ahead, but I learned immediately how unconditional love feels.

Gary & I told the girls last night what we remembered about that morning. Prior to their birth, my most vivid memory is of getting prepped for surgery and specifically getting that horrible epidural that made my nose bleed. I remember being introduced to all 20+ doctors & nurses early on and having an anesthesiologist perched next to my head telling me everything was okay. Hope was the one who came into the world screaming. Hannah made a little squeal, but I don't remember Addie crying at all. After recovery I was wheeled through the NICU on a gurney so I could see all three girls. I have to admit that one of the things I remember feeling most grateful for that day was that I was no longer having to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes. Isn't that bizarre? Anyway... There were certainly dark, scary days after their birth and days when I was scared beyond my wildest dreams, days spent tearfully holding one hand on a rump and one hand on a head, hours spent praying, singing and waiting for improvement. There were also little victories that we delighted in as though they were major accomplishments. The move from oscillator to regular vent for Addie was a big deal. The oral feeding of a few drops of milk for Hannah was big news. Hope being calm for an afternoon was huge news (I remember one day when Hope's nurse spent the greater part of her entire shift with one hand on Hope's head and the other on her rump in order to keep her calm - she was always a drama queen!). Even for all the difficulties, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world. We have been blessed in so many ways because of these phenomenal little angels. I am still amazed that God has entrusted us with the task of raising these three phenomenal souls. Happy Birthday Eeny, Meeny and Miney (aka the Pair and a Spare!)! I love you more than sleeping on a rainy day! :)

Jayhawk Football

I married a K-State Wildcat who might actually bleed purple. That's probably why it amazed me when he accepted the 8 tickets he was given to yesterday's KU/OU game. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that we would EVER go to a KU football game when they weren't playing K-State. We took the twins (Hannah was totally disinterested) along with Jim, Donna, Jonathan and my friend Nancy. It was so much fun! The girls were in absolute awe during the entire game. I'm not sure they said three words, but they took in everything. We were five rows from the field toward the south end zone and had a great view. I asked them on the way home last night what their favorite part of the day was and was told by both of them that the game itself was the greatest thing. It was so much fun to see them experience that. I hope we can convince Hannah that it's a fun thing to do next time. Meme said that Hannah spent the first half of the game perched in front of the TV saying, "Go Jayhawks!" Her dad thinks he has really failed miserably now that all three girls are Jayhawk fans, and especially since the twins' first football game was spent in a sea of crimson & blue and not purple. Now, if we can just get some KU basketball tickets... :)

15 Days and Counting

The girlies are counting down the days until their birthday! They're putting in requests for presents (thank goodness!) and I have one - yes, just one - gift bought so far. The whole "sick for two weeks" thing put me a little behind. Now that I think about it, I probably need to do some cake baking this weekend. I might also need to nail down what cakes I'm decorating this year. At last check, Hannah wanted a T-Bone the dog (from Clifford) cake, Hope wanted a chocolate lab (woo hoo, no problem there - chocolate frosting!), and Addie wants a Rainey the yellow lab cake. On the plus side, I won't have to mix a ridiculous number of frosting colors and they're all reasonably easy to decorate. On the minus side, I have to bake and decorate three cakes. I guess that's the price I pay for having three kiddos with the same birthday. The joys definitely outweigh the difficulties! :) I'll have to talk Meme into make frosting since my stand mixer decided at some point this year to just give up and die.

The girls have today and tomorrow (along with the weekend, obviously) off of school. We're planning to do some cooking and crafty things while we have some time to do that. A friend of Gary's called last night to see if we wanted his 4 tickets to the KU/OU game Saturday, so he's going to go with Jim & Jonathan. He wants me to go as well, so if it all works out I will go too. It would be fun... I'll let you know what happens! :)

Another Monday

Well, against all wishes (mine included), the girls are at school this morning. I'm just sending them for half days this week (we only have 2 1/2 days of school this week anyway) in an effort to try to keep them from crashing. We went for a short walk yesterday afternoon that left everybody coughing, blowing and generally tired. At this point, I think it's best for them if they increase their activity slowly.

In the short time that they're gone this morning, I'm washing at least one bed, making a quick trip to Wal-Mart, and going to the library to get them some fun new books. It'll be a good surprise, I think. Hopefully I can get everything done by then...

We're now counting down the days (18 as of today) to their 7th birthday. I have done no shopping yet, but I do have an idea as to what they're going to get. It doesn't seem possible that they're already almost 7. I feel like they should be around 3. Time really does fly when you're having fun! :)