Chapter 13

Well, tonight was Trick or Treating for us! Such fun- great weather- cute costumes- tons of candy! Wow!

The kids got more candy in an hour than they will eat in a year! Seriously, it was obnoxious! I think they got over 80 candy bars alone, besides the hard candy, tootsie rolls, suckers and crap, oh, I mean other candy! We had a lot of trick or treaters come to our house, too, so I passed out nearly all the candy we got at the Trunk or Treat we had last weekend! Not to mention the bags of candy I bought besides that! It is always fun for me to stay at the house and pass out candy, and I love that Dana takes the kids out to get theirs. I really love that he does that for me, and they really love that time with him.

Celeste has learned to say "Trick or Treat", and if I could audio the sound for this, I so would, because it is really darling. I got a couple pics of her going to the neighbor's to get her first pieces of the night. Our neighbors are so generous, I think they gave her 5 pieces, because "she is so adorable", and I imagine that is the response she got at every house...you be the judge- check out the candy pic!

Also tonight for the first time in years, we carved the pumpkins. I really don't love doing this, but my kids love it, so I helped them before the crazy candy begging started. I let Alex draw and carve his own, check him out, and I let Leah draw the face on hers, and I carved it- it is a sad face, and she thought it was great! I nearly burnt my hand getting the candle in, and I did actually cut my finger while attempting to push out the mouth of the one I created! See, I told you I rally don't love this activity! Nonetheless, the kids love, love, loved, the finished works of art, and honestly, I loved putting them in the trash tonight, since pick up is tomorrow, and there are few things more gross than rotting pumpkins!

Chapter 12

Today was "watch week" for Leah's dance class, so I seized the opportunity to take a few pics of her in her new dance class. This year instead of gymnastics, she gets jazz, and she really loves that! She was really groovin today and having such fun- hope these pics showcase how adorable of a dancer she really is!

A Perfect Piglet

 

Today was a huge Halloween day for our kids!! It all started at 945 this morning in Leah's Kindergarten class! The sugar high for the day began that early! Crazy! Celeste and I went in for the party, and it was a lot of fun for the girls! I love that so many parents are involved at this age- so many parents are willing to do whatever for their kindergartner! But just wait till 2nd or 3rd grade, there is no room mom, and the teacher is doing all the work! That is what happened in Alex's class this year. Oh, lots of parents are willing to bring treats and snacks, and even come and hang out, take pictures, even (ahem, that's me, by the way), but aren't really willing to put together crafts or games- so the teacher does it all! Too funny, but so true! Still, it was fun! After school the girls went to a friend's house for a party, more candy, and then we had our Trick or Trunk Halloween party at church from 6-8ish. More candy, more treats, more sugar....I think Celeste ate 6 suckers today, and 1 piece of bread! (truly not out of the ordinary for her!) I actually got her to wear the Piglet only by bribing her with a sucker- she bought it, and look at the cute pics of her! Overall, a really fun day, but more candy and treats than I care to mention! Oh well, I guess I should let it go, remember that Halloween is fun and only once a year, and enjoy the candy myself!!

Chapter 11

Today is Wednesday, and I am so glad the week is half over! So much has happened this week, and there is still much to happen! First of all, on Monday, Celeste woke up with a hacking cough, and started wheezing, so I took her to the doctor, and she has bronchitis. 3 precriptions later, and she is doing much better!

I was having a reoccuring bout with my cheilitis, so I had to get a prescription, and apparently start having a better diet (according to my DR, I have a Vitamin A deficiency - how do you get that?! A poor diet, she says!) So, I have to eat better ( I DO eat, I said, you did weigh me, I am NOT malnourished! She said, I know, you eat, but you don't eat WELL! She is from the Ukraine, so imagine how her accent sounds to me when she says these things! How does she know?! She is right, though, and I will eat better so the face eating bacteria doesn't overtake my whole face!!) Thankfully the medicine is working quickly, because it is embarrassing to be in public - people do stare, ya know?!

Alex had his first karate class on Monday. He did really well, but is having a hard time yelling at his opponent before they begin! He is just a little meek at first, but he assured me he was working on it! The studio offered the karate suit for 40 bucks, but since I am cheap, I said no, but found one on ebay for 5 bucks! I am good! Ebay can be really great sometimes!

 

Leah is gearing up for her surgery in 2 weeks, though we hope the chalazion pops before then! Keep saying those prayers!

Dana's parents, however, have been having trials with the fires in California. They have been evacuated for several days now! I wish they would just come back to Ohio! That would be great! I wonder what is going to happen when the fires do concede. It will be interesting to find out how much damage they caused, and how long it will take to rebuild and fix things. So far, their house hasn't been damaged, and they should be able to return soon!

So, its been an interesting week so far, and like I said, it's Wednesday, so there is more to come! I will post some Halloween pics from the kids' class parties and our Ward's party on Friday!

Chapter 10

We just got back from our wonderful weekend at the farm with my Grandparents! The weather was beautiful, the kids were hardly around, (they were with the horses, or my Uncle John), and I got lots of quality time with my Grandparents, who I love and adore and am eternally grateful for! We chatted a lot about family, and I love hearing how much posterity they have! I am one of 15 grandkids, and now there are 20 great-grandkids! Amazing, that it all started with these two 17 year olds who fell in love 60 some odd years ago! How I love them, and how I treasure the times I have spent with them, and the times my children have spent with them. Priceless.

Circleville Pumpkin Show

Chapter 9

Well, today is Wednesday, the 17th of October, (already?!), and yesterday I took Leah to Children's for her surgical consultation-yep, she has to have surgery on that Chalazion. I sort of resigned to that before yesterday, but the pediatric opthamogist, pretty much said that too. There is, however, a chance, slim though it may be, that it will pop on its own and I can cancel the surgery! That would be terrific! I am so praying for that, not because I don't trust the surgeon, but that I don't want her to go under anesthesia if she doesn't have to. It will be fine either way, so the surgery will be on Wednesday 7 November. She isn't nervous, she is so brave! The funny about yesterday's visit, was when they dialated her pupils! I have had this done before, so I knew what an odd feeling it is when you can't see up close anymore and the details in objects become obsolete (so thankful for good vision!). But watching my 5 year old experience this was something I hope to not forget! She kept blinking, trying to focus, on my face, then finally after a few times, said, "Mommy, I just can't see you up close anymore!" It was darling! I just smiled and laughed inside, because it was so cute! She is a trooper, I tell ya, she was so great during all the gamet of exams they put her through. Her vision, thankfully, is not being affected by this massive bump on her eye, (and the doctor said it was way larger than many he has seen), so that is good. The other part is that she is very succeptible to get them again, since the oil glands could continue to clog once she has had one. Odd. Anyway, to remedy them off, every day, for forever, she will have to wash her eyelids with a warm washcloth with baby soap. We did this last night, she whinced because it is a tender area. But we did it, and hopefully it will help this one and ward off any other future ones. I will fill in as time goes by...

Last night we had Curriculum night at the school, which was fun for the kids. Dana's only comment is that "we have to move!" I know what he meant, but I still really like the school and the kids really are doing great and have amazing teachers, for that I am grateful! We got the pleasure of taking Autumn's babe Ellie with us, she caught the eyes of many onlookers, which I am sure was because she is so adorable, but also because some may have thought I am crazy enough to have another so close in age to Celeste. I am crazy, but not that crazy! It was still fun and they all had a good time.

We are heading to the Circleville Pumpkin Show tonight, so I will post some fun pics later. And I will let you know when the Orkin man visits and destroys the fleas-ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Yes, they are still here! I hate, hate, hate it!!!!

Blog later,
Kelly

Chapter 8

This is a photo of the chalazion on Leah's eye- isn't it huge?! We found out yesterday that it will have be surgically drained!! LALALALA- that is not what I wanted to hear! I am not excited about that, but I want her to get better, the crazy thing is driving her crazy! She goes to Children's Opthamology next Tuesday for a surgical consultation- I am hoping for surgery next week, but it is a busy practice, and it could be later. Just for reference, a chalazion is sort of like a stye, but it is on her upper lid, and isn't going away with warm compresses, so it will have to be drained, while under anestheia. It is not caused by bacteria, but from oil glands that aren't draining on their own. She will probably be more succeptible to get them again. At this time, I don't know much more, but will find out lots next Tuesday. I will post more info- if you want to know more about chalzion's, link here. http://eugeneeyecare.com/conditions/Eyelid_Stye.FS.Chalazion.html
The thought of your child going into surgery is not a happy thought, but I do believe modern medicine (my grandma told me today that when she was a child, the doctors probably didn't know what to do about them, so they let them stay there!!) Wow, we are so blessed to have the technology and education through our doctors in these days! I often say that Heavenly Father knew I would not have survived had I not been born later! I seriously would've been lost somewhere! I know I was spared for a reason! Keep Leah in your thoughts and prayers, and I will get back on it soon!

On a good note, tonight Alex was awarded a "Character Education Award" from his teacher at an awards ceremony! His teacher says he goes above and beyond what is expected of him in the classroom- very nice compliment! Here is a cute photo of him with his award certificate and with his principal. Enjoy - and notice, he isn't smiling with his "toothless grin"- he prefers the lip smile! Still too cute!

Pumpkin Patch Pictures

Chapter 7

This is the picture that makes this crazy week worth it all- these 4 amazing creatures, whose smiles light up my life- I so love them! I love the simplicity in their eyes, and I adore their laughter more than I can say- they love to pile up on Daddy, and have fun with him- it is my favorite part of the day!

Chapter 6

Well, it is now Thursday, and the drama from Monday has died down a bit- thank goodness! I was about to lose my mind- well, what is left of it! Here is the latest- the plumbing in the shower is fixed! Yah! I am so happy to have running water again after not having it for 2 days! It was a simple fix, actually, with a high price tag! I learned a lot, I must say, so when this happens again, which is bound to, since the cold water didn't get fixed, I will know how to replace the part, and can pay myself the price plumbers charge! I am no expert, but seriously, it isn't rocket science! So, no more water leaking and no more grinding sounds! However, it isn't all perfect, here is a pic of the new installation: notice the hot water handle sticks out farther than the cold! Well, that is the new piece, and I couldn't make it match the cold, because the cold water handle is stripped out!! Oh, well, we will change it in time, but for now, I am grateful for the hot water and no more leaks!!

Now, about the fleas: well, I bought a new vacuum today- thanks to 30% off at Kohl's courtesy of Jennifer! Check it out- it works wonders! I will be vacuuming those pesty fleas with ease from now on, and no more bags to change!! It was killing me to change it daily, since they are not cheap!! I am loving it!

They say money things come in 3's, so in that fashion, I must note that the left headlight on Dana's car went out this week too! Hip hip hooray, since they can only be replaced at a Kia dealership for the grand price of $55! Woo hoo! But we had to do it, since he does drive in the dark sometimes! The thing of it is, that we already replaced both the headlights on this same car since we have owned it! Each time, the price is different- funny how car dealers can pretty much charge whatever! This was happened to be the cheapest, so I am grateful!

Now, I can relax, and enjoy the simple things again, like Celeste saying, "hee haw" for the donkey statue she found on the way to Alex and Leah's school! I wish I could record her voice for this, because it is so stinkin cute!

I am grateful this week for friends who listened to my crazy tales and whining, and grateful that things worked out well, and the lessons I learned that will come in handy later! Thanks to you for being my friends- I am blessed!
Kelly

Chapter 5

Well, it is Monday, and what a Monday it has been already! Today began with a huge list of things to accomplish, and let's see how much I have done: well, I called Frontline this morning, since it has been 2 weeks and my poor kitty still has fleas! They said to vacuum, vacuum, vacuum everyday for 3 months, and not do anything else, since once the fleas jump on our cat, they will die. Hello? I thought I killed the fleas with treating her, right?! No, there are still live ones in my house- aaahhhhh! So, change the vacuum bag EVERYDAY, everyday, I say? Yep, she says! I say, uh, that will be very expensive! She says, that is the only way! SO, needless to say, I will be buying a BAGLESS vacuum this week- yipee! Well, after that, I started the laundry, so exciting, washing all the blankets again from the cat, and the endless pile of clothing from the weekend, and then the plumber comes! Great, I think, my tub fixed! Well, he takes the fixtures apart, finds that its a simple washer missing, causing the terrible sounds, and puts on new ones. We in that process find that a part that is supposed to be round is oval, which, now that the washer is in, is now leaking!! Ahhhhhh! Another problem, that I now have to fix on my own! So fun, right? So, after paying him 42 bucks for that, I have to replace this part for another 30 bucks and do it myself! So, now it is 1pm and the laundry is not done, since I had the water shut off for 2 hours, and now I am folding, which is killing my routine!! But the water dripping in my tub, till I get the new part will have to wait, because I have to do a market research study this afternoon for 60 bucks so I can pay for part of this great Monday!!
So there! Wow, I actually feel better about my day now that I have written it down! Amazing! Now, I am off to make some money since I have much to pay, and the best part, Dana doesn't even know about any of this yet! Won't he be happy?!!
Blog later!
Kelly