Well, this is fun....

We, at the Laundry Pile, have raised the warning level! We are now at Orange Level.

I called The Professor last night and said, "I'm calling to warn you. I'm digging in. I'm just going to sit with the Littles - which means I won't be cooking dinner."

The Professor, being the wary & wise person that he is, responds with a leery, "O o o Kay"

Then last night, the stomach bug hit Mini-E. That was actually interesting. She doesn't sleep on the top bunk. But at least we didn't have to clean the floor. Just run the washer. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE having an automated washing machine?? I about lusted after my cousins' situations...they both have 2 washers. And then I changed my mind. They also have 6 or 7 children (I forget and I'm too Lazy -- I mean, busy -- to go count the kids in the pictures.)

Mini-E actually asked (by way of gesturing) to watch a movie. So we watched an episode of the BackYardigans. She didn't want to sleep - so I finally put her down and she played for a good hour and a half. Then she was staggering around like she was drunk and I took that as my cue that she was sleepy. I was right.

This morning, J-man decided to send his bedding to the wash but MAN - he's happy. The Professor said "He's awfully chipper for someone who's sick." He's the happiest sick kid I think I've seen. Granted, again, I'm looking at a G who is just SITTING.

JUST sitting, is not normal. I'm surprised he can do it. He can sit. But there's usually SOMETHING that's wiggling on the boy. Right now - he just sits. I bought him a new coloring book. I had to stop at the Dollar General to get saltines (He was telling me he was hungry) and while there - I bought him a new coloring book.

Mr. Potato Head coloring book. He LOVES it!

Last night, while watching Mini-E play, I picked it up and found a page to color (one I didn't think he'd want to color) and proceeded to color for a moment (or two) and looked up to see Mini-E with a book and a yellow crayon. Still not sure where she got it. She would jabber at me and then color in her book. Then look up at me and then color some more.

It was precious - and I had to point it out to the Professor that she was copying me. Melted my heart. She's going to be 15 months old on the 14th. And my goodness she's getting so big. Last night she said "Bounce". It sounds a lot like "bou--" but she did the motion with it (bouncing up and down). I told the big kids this morning that she was talking and we needed to try to listen to her.

Yesterday, Mini-Me discovered (because I had taken her car seat out of the van to clean it) that she could sit in the seat with her feet on the van floor. *Gasp* *Sniff* "MOM. Does this mean. That I can. Ride WITHOUT. a. Car seat?" She never actually yelled...but she the excitement level in her voice was. still. there.

I told her I'd have to consult my notes. (I have a flyer from the Highway Patrol people)
She asked me THREE times before I finally had a chance to look.
According to them, she is physically able. *sniff* Wasn't it just yesterday she was Mini-E's size??
She is feeling GREAT. Her eyes sparkle and the dimple in her cheek is back.

I forgot where I was going with this -- I guess this is the equivalent of Blogger small talk.

I've spent a tiny portion of the morning sending a few e-mails to cancel our weekend commitments. How 'bout that? We may not get out of our jammies all weekend. ;-) But that's okay. I"ve been doing laundry. At least they'll be clean jammies.

Just one of "those" days...

I thought of all kinds of post titles for today. Things like:

"I could cry but my face would get all wet..."

"I declare it Jammie Day"

"Brownies are good for nausea, aren't they?"

Then I decided it was just one of those days.

Which reminds me of the question: "Who's 'they'?"

Our adventure actually started yesterday. I had prayed for a bubble of protection around the rest of the kids so that they wouldn't get sick (we have a LOT to do next week) and apparently the bubble burst.

I took G & J-man to the Pediatrician. J-man's ears are clear of infection and G is strep-free! We leave the Doctor after he glances in Mini-E's ears, because she chose that time to spike a small fever.

Every one seems to be feeling well. We grab dinner and begin the drive up to The Professor's work place. On a busy stretch of highway, Mini-E chokes. She's coughing and that's the cue that everything is fine but she kept coughing and it was starting to sound worse so I pull to the side of the road. Just as she throws up. At least she's not choking. I get her cleaned up, praying for protection from the high-speed projectiles that are cars on a highway, get a new shirt on her and we go on our way again.

We get to the Professor's work place and now I'm feeling queasy and we decide to head home.

We do not live in a mega-opolis like Dallas, or New York, or even Phoenix. So a snarl in traffic is not the norm. Yesterday we hit a huge one. It was MILES long. Slow going in the traffic and I was trying to figure a detour we could take to make it home while avoiding the traffic. There really weren't that many options, especially considering where we were on this stretch of highway.

So we creep along. I would gauge it about half way from the start of the snarl to what would be the end of the snarl (at 5mph), Mini-Me throws up. Luckily, I had an empty cup to catch most of it. Ick. I had to pull over to help her. J-man, who had been asleep in the car, woke up shaking.
I guess it had been too cold in the van, but it was a bit freaky.

It was not my shining moment, here, stuck in traffic. I had words with The Professor. We eek back into traffic and creep to the end of the traffic snarl - and get home.

I stay up late getting laundry done. Mini-E wakes up at midnight. We tag team rock the baby and I head to bed.

3am.

Really - bunk beds and sick stomachs are not fun. This time G throws the contents of his stomach over the side. I give him a bucket, not very sensitively, and wake The Professor for clean up detail.

Poor G. I was really glad for that bucket. His stomach tossed about 3 times until 5 am. And then again at 7am. I've got a call in to the pediatrician for something to help ease the nausea. He's got to keep some form of fluid in. His face is as green as his camo jammies.

G is sitting in the recliner covered in his blanket and sipping water.
J-man has decided this looks like a sweet deal. He has his blanket, a pillow and his cup sitting nicely on the couch.

The downside? Mini-E has figured out that if she pulls on the blanket, J-man shrieks and hollers in a most entertaining fashion. Ooo COOL - he'll even holler if she gets CLOSE.

Mini-Me?? She's fine. She had a brownie for breakfast.

We're camping out today.

Avoiding people.

Changing our plans.

Watching movies.

Playing computer games.

Though, I'm thinking if Mini-Me can have brownie for breakfast, we might be able to talk about division by 2's.

It's just one of those days.

I'm glad Jesus loves me.

I'm glad that His grace is sufficient.

I'm glad that He is still the God who heals.

He's still bigger than the tummy bug.

I'm glad that I have running water.

I'm glad that I have a washing machine

I'm glad that I have a dryer (it's raining outside)

I'm glad I have Today.

You know what? I just realized that I really meant that.

I'm glad I have Today.

A Random Wordless Wednesday

In which Mini-E meets "A" new Friend. (pun intended)

Edited to add: A is NOT my baby just a very NEW friend (pun intended again).

I wonder what Mini-E's thinking.

For More Wordless Wednesdays visit 5minutes for Mom or the Wordless Wednesday Headquarters.

Yes, I joined today because I had this fabulous picture and couldn't think of an entry for today.

"Lazy" just doesn't sound like a great blog entry.

Postponing Dinner to enter

This is the best gift ever and I really want to win - but I also want to share the fun.

5Minutesfor Mom is giving away an iPod Nano nestled in a box of chocolates!

You can click the button or hop on over to join in the fun!

It doesn't get easier than this!

Should one of my friends win (you know, instead of me) would you please share the chocolate?

Tackle it Tuesday - My First Ever

It is indeed, my first Tackle It Tuesday.
Why did I choose today to join in?

Because I needed the boost to get this done.

I have a box. It's a fantastic box. It needs to get mailed to Uganda. To my friend Holly who wants chocolate.

What's my hold up? I keep thinking of things to put in it. I wanted to write a long letter and put in it (it's a short letter). I wanted to buy her the hazelnut coffee but kept forgetting.

Enough! - Today's the Day!!
Today's the day I tackle it!
It WILL get sealed, labeled AND Mailed!!

I wonder what the postoffice would think if I asked to take a picture of them stamping the box. Maybe I can take a picture of the custom forms as proof that I sent it.

I got it sent! The area she is living and working is not restricted - and it's going Express Mail! It might not take FOREVER for the box to arrive. So, Holly!! Keep an eye out! I'm totally pumped. It only cost about $60 (compared to UPS's cost of $200+) and it won't have to go by GOAT.

So I now mark this as Tackled!!

I'm Thrilled!

I'll quit before I come up with more "t" adjectives - 'cause it might become tragic.