GAME NIGHT!!!

Last night was game night in Athens at my brother's.

We Bowerees LOVE game night. :)

But we almost didn't get to go. Audrey is sick, and has been exposed to RSV. Which means there is a possibility she has RSV. Which we don't want to give to my cousin's 6 week old baby.

I called my aunt and told her we weren't coming and what was going on, and she said they would just leave when we got there, since we haven't gotten to make a trip to Athens since Christmas. I hated that they had to leave, but I am glad we still got to go see everyone else.

I also hated not being there for the big announcement.....

CHRIS AND CHRISTIE ARE EXPECTING!!!!!!

Of course, my sister-in-law loving me as she does, I already knew this. (The little crazy told me at Ty's birthday party last month.....with every one else around.....so I couldn't holler and get excited.) But it would have been fun to have been there when everyone else found out. Especially since they used the game to tell. :) Anyway, we are all so excited!!!

We had a good visit, anyway, spending the night with Chris and Christie and spending most of the day at my parents' today.

I love getting to visit with my family, but I am so glad to be back home!

Doctors, Doctors Everywhere

What a week this has been!

Of course, Wednesday Ty had to go to the cardiologist. Thank goodness everything was alright there. Then Thursday, he and Audrey both had their well visits with Dr. Parmer. I am so glad that it was a rainy day so that Jeremy was able to go with me.

Both kids did well at the doctor's. They are both growing so much! (and of course, Troy is, too!) Ty was 41 lbs (which puts him in the 75th percentile) and only lacked 3.5 inches being 4 feet tall (90th %)! Audrey was 18 lb 8 oz (95th %) and 27.25 inches tall (95th %).

Audrey had to get 2 shots. She got so mad about having to be held down. She turned beet red and screamed her little loud lungs out. After we let her up she was fine. Just like flipping a switch.

They think Ty may have to have glasses. We are supposed to have an appointment being set up with the eye doctor sometime soon. This should be fun.

He also said he thinks Ty has something called PFAPA syndrome, and that this is what is causing him to keep getting fevers. He gave us a prescription for a mega dose of steroids to try if it happens again.

Yesterday, Audrey got to coughing pretty bad. She had had a runny nose the day before, but nothing major. And we also found out our friends' kids have RSV....so hoping that's not the case with Audrey, although we are treating it like it is for now. We are going back and forth about whether to take her back to the doctor tomorrow. We have been giving her medicine, per the on-call nurse's orders last night. But I still don't know if she needs to be checked out or left alone, if it doesn't get any worse. One of the tough parts of being a parent. *sigh* She has coughed till she is hoarse. And Troy is coughing and snotting, too.....

Wonder what tomorrow will bring???

Thankful .Thursday....Week 1

So, here is a new thing....Every week I am going to think of 10 things I am thankful for and share them with you. I got the idea from Curious Georgi. :) Here goes!

1. Cloth Diapers. 'Nuff said. :)
2. The ability to function on just a couple hours sleep for several days in a row.
3. The wind up swing. Really. It's a mommy's best friend when you are trying to cook or grab a few minutes to your self.
4. That all 3 kids took a nap at the same time once this week! Hallelujah!
5. Jeremy's job. Both, because he has one, and because he can pretty much take off whenever he needs to.
6. Sweet boys who love being big brothers.
7. Good reports from the doctors.
8. Visits from friends. :) Sometimes you just need it.
9. Visits to family.
10. Chocolate milk. It's providing a large percentage of my calories right now.

The SAHM Blues (a song of my own composition)

(in the back ground plays the "Bad to the Bone" beat)

When I was just little
All I wanted to do
Was get hitched and have babies
When I got out of school
Well I had those babies
When college was done
And now for my babies
I'm stayin' at home.

Mom stays at home
Mom stays at home
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
Mom stays at home

For just a little while
I sewed with a friend
But it gotta kinda tiring
Staying up nights on end
So now I got one job
And one job alone
Taking care of my babies
And stayin' at home

Mom stays at home
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
Mom stays at home

Sometimes I feel useless
And my brain it gets bored
It's losing the info
That it once stored
I think "What am I doing?"
Sometimes I feel so alone
Yes this is the down side
Of stayin' at home

Mom stays at home
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
Mom stays at home

But then I remember
How important it is
To teach and to raise up
My sweet little kids
Don't want anybody
Else raising my own
Oh, I am so glad
I'm stayin' at home

Mom stays at home
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
M-m-m-m-m-m-mom
Mom stays at home

Turn That Frown Upside Down

The boys came out of class at church tonight with frowny faces on their papers. :(

I know they are boys, and boys will be....well, boys. But lately they have been becoming increasingly wilder, more out of control. Not wanting to listen or pay attention. Interrupting adults. Running like crazy people. I don't know if it is a stage they are going though or what, but their behavior has just become unacceptable. Jeremy called Miss Pam tonight on our way home from church to see what they did in class. They were interrupting her, not listening, not singing, and talking about things other than class material (i.e. Tom and Jerry - and I can't help but laugh). In all fairness, it wasn't just them. It was the class as a whole acting up. Which would mean less if they were older. But they are only 3 and 5. It is so hard when you are that little to behave when the other kids don't.

When we got home, Jeremy gave them a stern talking-to. Their DSIs got taken away for today and possibly tomorrow. )We considered not letting them have them back until Sunday, and only if they got smileys instead of frownies. But we decided that would be more punishment for us since we are headed out to Athens Friday afternoon to spend the night.) They were also told that if this happened again, there would be spankings involved. And the frowny face papers were hung on the refrigerator as a reminder to hopefully be replaced with smiley papers Sunday. We will see how things go.

Tyler does pretty well learning his lesson with a firm scolding and a little spat. All you have to do is hurt his feelings and he has a change of heart. Although he is pretty stubborn when he wants to be. He once went 17 hours without peeing.

Troy, on the other hand, I think you could beat half to death and take away every toy he has and he still wouldn't care. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with him.

Looking for smileys on Sunday!

Great Doctor Visit!

For a little bit of background....

For the past 4 or 5 months, Ty has been running a fever off and on. No other symptoms, no pain anywhere, just a fever. It generally is normal in the morning and starts going up around dinner time or a little after. It usually lasts about 4 days, and comes back somewhere between 10 days to 3 weeks. We have taken him to Dr. Parmer, his pediatrician, with it twice. The first time, he ran an x-ray looking for a sinus infection, but all was clear, and he didn't see anything else visibly wrong. The last time, he told me to just keep a record and watch it for a little while and let's try to figure out if there is a pattern or noticeable trigger. So that's what we have been doing.

I got to thinking, he had a coil put in the artery going to his heart last year, and I wondered if there might be an infection or something going on there. So I asked Dr. P about it and he told me to go ahead and call the cardiologist just to make sure.

Fast forward to this morning. We went to see Dr. Israel, the ped cardiologist. Thankfully, he said everything looked good. The coil is in there like it should be; there are no visible problems; and if there was an infection of the heart, the fever would be constant, not come and go. So I feel a lot better about that.



Now if we could just figure out what's causing these doggone fevers.

While we're on the subject of the cardiologist, let me say that I love Dr. Israel's office. I have never been in a doctor's office where you get in and out so quickly. I have never seen anyone in his office staff-wise other than him and his receptionist. He doesn't book 3 or 4 patients for the same time slot. This morning we were in and out in less than 30 minutes. We sat in the waiting room for about 10 or 15, and then were in the back for about 10. It's great. He calls you back himself, does whatever it is he is going to do, and you leave. If only you could get in and out of other offices that fast!

Priorities and Needs

Matthew 6:33 "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness..."

Okay. I realize here Christ was talking about not worrying about material things. Which is completely true. But it should also be a "whole life" application.

God and my desire to serve Him should always be first in my mind. If I follow His word in all things, everything else will fall into place. Not saying that everything will be exactly the way I think it should be, but things will happen that will help me stay on the right track in serving God. There are things that happen in my life all the time that I can't help but wonder, "What reason does God have for this happening to me right now?" I have come to the conclusion that on the other side of my troubles, not only will I be wiser, but I will be better equipped to help someone else who may be in a similar situation. That old saying, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger" has truth to it. We will have troubles. We are promised that as followers of Christ there will be hard times, though everyone's hard times will not be the same. But in our times of trial, we should continue to seek God and righteous living, even if it seems the world is against us. There may be some changes you have to make. But it will all be worth it in the end. And truly, if we honestly do our best to imitate Christ and follow in His paths in life, our life here on earth will end up being richer, too.

Which brings us back to material things, and I may get a little off subject here. God promised to feed and clothe us; He never promised a mansion, or 2 extra cars, or money in savings. He promised to meet our NEEDS. I think sometimes we get our needs and wants confused. I heard someone talking about priorities not long ago, and, although he was making a point, the 3 things he mentioned were the car payment, the light bill, and the cable bill. I certainly would not put those three as my top three priorities. The cable bill is obviously way down on my list, since at our house we don't even have the local channels. But my point is, what are your priorities? What do you "know [I] can't live without"? Cable? 2 cars? Electricity and running water? A house with enough bedrooms that no one has to share? What are definite needs, and what are "it is so nice to have"s? There again, if we are seeking after God, the material will become less important to us, and we can be like Paul and learn to be content no matter what state we are in.


Loving Father, Thank you for knowing my needs, both material and spiritual, and for providing for those needs. Please continue to bless me in such a manner that those things that I receive and the things that happen to me in life will always help me on my path to serve and please You, and to be able to help others along the way as well. In Christ's Holy name, Amen.