Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thanksgiving

I'll be sappy and use this time to be thankful for all the blessings I have in my life.

I am thankful for my wonderful, handsome husband. He is always there when I need him. He always helps me when I need help. He is a financial wizard, wonderful provider and awesome father. He shows me a love like I have never known. I don't know what I would do without him. I am truly grateful for him.

I am thankful for my six children.

Amanda ~ she has grown to be a beautiful, intelligent young lady. And while she frustrates me at times, she couldn't be a better daughter. She helps me with her younger siblings. She helps around the house. And though she screams and pouts and displays all the "wonderful" qualities of teenagedom, she is truly a blessing to me. And I'm sure she wouldn't believe me, but I love her like no other as she is my first child.

Anthony ~ he is growing leaps and bounds. Taller than me and almost as tall as his dad. And while he and his father don't always get along, I'm sure Rich loves Anthony like no other because he is his oldest son. He is a strong, young man, who is willing to help * most times * and he is highly intelligent going for a 4.0 during his high school years.

Sarah ~ she is such a joy to be around. She is a no nonsense kind of girl, just like her Great Grandma J. She loves her little brothers and loves to mommy Nathan. Just the good parts, not the stinky ones, like diaper changing. She also loves to help in the kitchen. She is such a pretty little girl. With a mind of her own, she won't bend to anyone's will but her own. She is very stubborn and if she doesn't like something, she won't hesitate to tell you so. She is working on getting and keeping straight A's on her report card.

Zachary ~ he is such a little stinker. He is such a smart little boy, but he doesn't apply himself as he should. He's is such a smart little boy, but he's a slacker, so his teacher says. I think it's a way for him to get some extra love, he may fill he's missing. He is always vying for attention being in the middle of the pack, especially with his younger brothers needing more of my time. He is friendly and kind and reminds me the most of his dad.

Nicholas ~ he is a blessing in and of himself. He has overcome so much adversity. Whatever is thrown his way, he finds a way to survive. He has a will to live, plain and simple. He is a friendly, precocious little guy. He always wants to know "why", I believe that is simply the fact that he's six and exploring this world around him. Learning to read in kindergarten is just another adventure to him.

Nathaniel (Nathan) ~ he is the light that shines in all our lives. A little guy from the start, losing even more weight in his will to survive. He preserved and still keeps going to this day. He, like his brother Nicholas, has shown us true miracles. He is the youngest and will probably command my attention for quite some time. I can see alot of Rich in him too. He looks like Rich, especially when he makes certain facial gestures. It's odd seeing my husband as a little boy.

All three younger boys (Zach, Nick and Nate) have acted more like their dad than they will ever know. When life was bad and he got kicked around, he just got right back up and kept on fighting. That is what each of these little boys have done from the day they were born. Life throws them curves and they just keep playing. It's amazing to me how they just keep going. Zachary was our smallest baby at 4 lbs and 13 ozs (his twin sis was 5 lbs and 1 oz). He struggled to make his way here, so did Anthony, I lost alot of blood giving birth to him. Nathan was 7 lbs 7 ozs and lost so much weight that he went all the way down to 6 lbs. That's alot for a little newborn. I have already dicussed what amazing feats Nicholas has surpassed. All my children have this amazing will to live, to fight, and to get back up and do it all again. I love my family. I don't think I say that nearly enough. I'm very proud of my family and I love each and every one in it. I'm so happy I have such blessings in my life - all seven of them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 16, 2007

Backpack, Backpack

Backpack, backpack; Backpack, backpack
On your back I'm loaded up; with lots of things to do.
Anything that you might need; I've got inside for you.
Backpack, backpack; Backpack, backpack.... Yeah!

Okay, Sorry about that I just can't say backpack without thinking of that Dora the Explorer song, LOL!

Anyway...

My laziness has finally caught up to me. At the beginning of the school year, we bought the kids school supplies, just like everyone else does. Only after about six weeks of school, Nicholas spilled something on backpack. So it was laying on the floor in the laundry room waiting for me to clean or wash. It eventually got buried under a bunch of clothes. With six kids the laundry can get out of control if you don't stay on top of it. Well, I hadn't done the laundry for a couple of days and Nicholas was just taking his stuff to school in a plastic bag. Not so bad unless you consider the fact that he had to use the bag for about 3 weeks.

I know that was pretty bad, right? Not quite yet.

On Nicholas' birthday I finally found the backpack and washed and hung it up to dry out. Guess what Nicholas' teachers decided to get him for his birthday.... Yep, you guessed it, a backpack!

Talk about embarrassing! Rich said they probably thought that with six kids we couldn't afford to buy him one, LOL so they bought one for him.

I don't think my face could get any redder. Except for the fact that Nicholas decided he wanted to take his Jack Sparrow backpack to school, instead of the one the teachers bought.

Friday, November 09, 2007

Trick or Treat and Emergency Rooms

A week or two ago we did our Trick or Treating around our neighborhood. The day started off great, but I still didn't have a costume for Nathan. So I ran off with Nathan to find him one. Rich was going to run and get some more candy before everyone started stopping by our house. In our usual late, last minute run (it started at 2 and it was 1 when we started). Rich likes to make sure he tells everyone that he was always on time, even early for everything, before he met me. I'm always doing things at the last minute and I'm always late for everything.

Anyway, I found Nathan a lion costume at Old Navy. They had a kangaroo one as well, but the lion one fit him best. It was half off, can't beat a deal like that. Then as I'm getting in my car, Rich calls to tell me his car battery is dead. The battery has a hard time keeping charged, because the kids always leave the lights on in his car. So he couldn't buy the candy yet. I tell him that we have some candy in our room, because they did t-o-t at work and I brought home some candy for the kids.

At any rate, I tell him I'm done with the costume, so I'll get more candy. I never buy Halloween candy, Rich always does it. So imagine me standing in Walmart with a whole, aisle of nothing but candy. I call Rich to ask what kind to get. Then I call him again and again. Until I finally grab something I think is good. We always buy m&m's and candy bars. But I couldn't figure out what to get, as in price to quantity ratio. I'm so bad at math. Which is what makes me laugh about Rich, I could in a store where there is a sale, and call him to ask him what the price would be with the discount. He really is my calculator man, LOL!

I'm on my way home with candy and costume. I'm running late it's 2 now and already started. So Anthony is passing out the other candy and Amanda is getting the twins and Nicholas in their costumes. When I get home Anthony is relieved because he was running out of candy. Amanda and Sarah are fighting in the bathroom. Nicholas is ready. I find out later that Amanda used my eyeliner to draw a beard on Nick (he was a pirate). Nice, huh? Zachary went t-o-t with his best friend and his parents. Anthony and Amanda didn't t-o-t, they are way too cool to do that. Anthony kept passing out candy and Amanda went to the library to research for a school project.

We were only a half hour late and still had alot fun. While we were out, we ran into Zach and his friend and parents. They asked it Zach could play at their house when they were done t-o-t. I said yes, because I love that little boy and his parents are so nice.

About a half hour later the phone rings and it's K's mom. She said Zach fell down and hit his head on the sidewalk. He got back and started playing again, but after a while he and K noticed their was alot of blood coming from Zach's head. So they brought Zach home. They felt so bad and even offered to take Zach to the emergency room for us. But I told them we would take care of it. Rich stayed with the kids and I took Zach. He ended up with three staples in the back of his head.

What a day!!