Sick Day Activities

I know, the fact that I am sick is not new news. And I'm not complaining (much), but this is day FIVE! So this morning I went to the doctor to make sure it wasn't anything more than just a bad case of the flu. The good news is I don't have strep and I don't have pneumonia. Just a really bad case of the flu! My kids that had the flu were down and back up within three days. Somehow they also still had energy. I have no energy.

I have been in bed for the past several days. My computer next to me and occasionally I will work on it, but really, my fingers almost hurt too much to type. (pathetic, I know) So I have watched quite a bit of TV. HGTV, TLC, CNN, Food Network. After four days of this routine, I have discovered a few things.

1. News people stretch a 10 sec news story into 30 min and really say nothing new

2. All the good food contains lots of butter, chocolate, or cream

3. People looking for a new house are unrealistic and picky

4. People remodeling their home underestimate how much what they want will cost and aren't usually willing to sacrifice to stay on budget

5. It is possible to cook in a kitchen without granite counter-tops

6. Most families who participate in pageants spend more money than it would cost to send that child to college.

7. I really want to learn to make cupcakes

8. Christiane Amanpour is my favorite reporter.

9. I now know that T.U.F.F. Puppy is. I could have lived without knowing

10. My husband is amazing and does a wonderful job caring for our children when I can't.

Too Much

Some days take too much out of you!

Dr. Visits

Kickin' Butt

Unfortunately it is my butt that is being kicked. It seems we have three or four different illnesses in the house right now. So we are boosting immune systems, spraying the lysol, and wishing for warmer weather where we could open all the windows. I'm taking Morgan and Jeffrey to the doctor tomorrow, and Mikalah's antibiotics don't seem to be kicking the sinus infection. So far, Mike and Meredith win the prize for health!

I'm just praying the sub zero temps and the snow that is headed our way for the next five days doesn't drive us all stir crazy!

Influenza A

I have always had this theory that we don't get flu shots, because we are not in a high risk situation. We got flu shots one year and we all got some strain of the flu. It was not pretty. You can't make me do that again!

Well, this year, the first time in six years, the flu has struck the Iverson household. Yesterday I took JJ to the doctor for a strep test. I thought for sure, the fever, chills, and cough were going to result in strep. Nope. Influenza A.

Others in the family seem to be fighting well. No one else has succumb yet.

And JJ...the doctor gave him Tamiflu. That stuff is amazing! Less than 24 hours later and JJ is up and running like nothing was wrong. Who knew? An Anti-Viral! I'm on to them now! No more going to the doctor and coming out empty handed!

Where to Start?

So remember way back when I said one of my goals was organizing and setting up routines for our household? Yeah, me too...

Well, this is the week I am beginning...I have finally thought my way into a plan.

Unfortunately, I'm still not 100% which room to start with.

The kitchen? It is the hub of the house.

The living room? It is the room I spend a lot of time in and the first room you see when you enter and the "hospitality room".

The master bedroom? It is my retreat, my sanctuary.

The basement family room? The room the family spends a lot of time in.

(That in no way implies that I try to spend a lot of time away from the family!)

I have long found it interesting that each person has one space in their house that they go to first when it is time to clean. Their place that once it is clean, they can think, can breathe.

If you had to pick one space in your home to start with, to organize, to decorate, what would it be?

Scripture Memory #4

I can not believe how fast this year is going! This verse is one that I think I really need as a warning signal every time I open my mouth!

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:6 NLT

So many times, a few minutes after a conversation, I think of ways that I could have handled things so much better! I want God to speak through me, not just to me after the fact!

Snow is Melting

...so can you guess what I will be doing tonight?

That's Who I Am

Right now I am finishing up some MOPS training in Denver.

I am a M-O-M!

Old is the new New

One of my favorite hymns

Be Thou My Vision

Move

What better music to play when you need to be moving!

Gone...

I will be out of reach for a few days, but will resume next monday...until then, enjoy some of my favorite songs. These are the ones I throw on when I need to keep my energy level up

Teaching Moments

As mommies, we look for those moments to take what we are doing and turn it into a teachable moment with the young jedi in our lives. When those teachable moments happen, it is a very prideful moment as a mommy.

This past Friday, Morgan and I met Mike for lunch at our favorite Chinese buffet. We greatly enjoyed the crab rangoon, sesame chicken, and jello - both red and yellow! Of course there was also the end of the meal fortune cookies. Mike headed back to work, and Morgan and I started running our errands. Mike does not like fortune cookies, so he gave his to Morgan. Once she was buckled in her seat, she broke into her cookies.

She passed her first one up to me to read. It said something like, People find it hard to resist your persuasive personality. Now, to explain that to a four year old! The conversation went something like this:

Mommy: That means when you ask nicely, people are more likely to do what you ask.
Morgan: Like when I say "please"!
Mommy: Exactly - I love it when you use your manners!

And the mommy pride grew! Yeah for taking a silly thing like a fortune cookie and using it to reinforce manners.

Morgan ate her cookie and read the numbers on the back - double yeah for working on knowing our numbers!

Then came the second cookie. Morgan passed it forward and I read it. Follow your heart and have a prosperous day. Oh sure - this should be easy to explain!

Mommy: (high on the success of the first fortune) that means that when you do the things you know you should do, like make your bed, put your clothes away, and obey mommy and daddy, you will have a good day

Morgan: well, lets just crumple that one up

Mommy pride deflated!

Scripture Memory #3

I completely forgot to post my verse for Feb. 1st that I am now memorizing:

Strength and dignity are her clothing and she laughs at the time to come.
Proverbs 31:25 ESV

Sometimes I worry too much about how things are going to work out and I want to have strength and dignity and be able to laugh at the days to come.

Delicious, Hot S'moes

There may have been a few viewings of Toy Story in the past few weeks...

Cabin fever has also caused us to get creative in our family time. Last night we took advantage of the great fire in the upstairs fireplace... ...and broke into the campfire size marshmallows from Wally World.

Something my boys would try...

Windsday

I love Winnie the Pooh. My Dad used to read it to me when I was younger and I loved the different voices he would use. Even today, I can hear his voice every time I read Tigger or Piglet.

Today the wind is blowing hard - like 30+mph. The sun is shining brightly and the sky is a brilliant blue. The wind makes a beautiful pattern in the snow. And the snow blowing across the street looks like it is dancing. It is fun to watch...from the warmth of my living room, while I am sitting by the fire.

Baby Its Cold Outside...

I am thankful for a warm house. I am thankful for a fire in the fireplace. I am thankful for warm coffee to drink. I am thankful for a functioning heater.

This Morning it was -18 degrees. Our house was built in the 1950s. The two do not go together well.

The threshold of the back door.

The corner of the bathroom.

The mail slot.

Excuse me while I put another layer on.

Tuesdays Make Me Laugh

Copied from someone I don't know on Twitter:

Learning taco bell meat is not meat is like learning cigarettes are
addictive.