Swim Day

Finally found an activity that agrees with all of our youngsters. Matt and I took the kiddos swimming at the Apex yesterday, with the help of a few other adults! We roped Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Sammi into coming with us, you can never have too many eyes and hands when the boys are involved. We encountered our first and only melt down in the family dressing room due to Brenden not wanting to put his swim trunks on. I almost called it a bathing suit, but I stopped myself knowing that would bring some grief from my husband. Brenden assumed that since I was taking his clothes off it meant was going to get swim naked, and it made him pretty mad when I started putting something else on him. Once we were able to take care of that little disagreement, he was off like a shot when he saw the water. Apryl and Alexys went off to the big water slides and to play in the big people area...the other area is for "babies"! A good thing about the apex is that it is big enough to have two different areas for the ages but it's not too big for us to be able to keep track of the girls. The boys and Addy were lucky enough to be escorted by five adults, and I use that term adults loosely. Mostly because I like playing at the water park as much as they do, and perhaps so do Grandpa and Grandma. We all know how adult-like Matt is! The boys liked splashing and swimming, but Brenden especially loved jumping off the wall into the water. I tried a few times to get Garhett to jump, but he would get as close to the edge of the wall as he could, then carefully walk into my arms. B-man on the other hand was climbing out of the water and immediately turning around to jump into the water whether or not someone was waiting for him. He could have jumped off the wall all day long. Brenden even went down one of the big slides with me, something I think Garhett would have hated doing. It is just fine with me that Garhett is a little more cautious than Brenden, that way only one be jumping off the roof a few years from now!

Addy's...Balls??

Lately there has been much talk about balls at our house. I too, immediately jump to those balls! In reality even though there are some of those balls at our house, it is Addy talking about two balls that have become her new best friends. She is all the time talking about how she is bouncing her balls or playing with her balls! I went in to the living room and asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'm playing with my balls!". I just smiled and left all the comments racing through my head to myself, especially since we are working on the language thing! Then, while she was waiting at the table for dinner she shouted, "I'm bouncing my balls on Apryl's face!". That got a good laugh out of everyone now that her sister's understand the double meaning. They then chime in with, " Addy, go show Daddy your balls!". A few seconds go by and we hear, "Hey, Daddy, look at my balls!". That was the last thing Matt thought he would ever hear from his DAUGHTER! I am not sure why she is proud of her balls, but you would think she was a boy almost! On that note, we also have our two year old boys looking for their Woodys! Come on people...Toy Story!! "Woody, Woody!" they will say while watching the movie. Oh man, imagine when they start wanting to show people their Woodys!!

Potty Mouth

Recently our youngest lady has started talking like she is a sailor. I am the first to step up and take responsibility for her new found language skills. I know that I can be somewhat lax on the words I choose and should be more aware of who is around when I am talking. I did teach her to call her Grandma Nora a "biatch", and at the time it was very funny. Then, Addy thought she could call anyone a biatch, the checkout lady at the grocery store, the mailman, etc... Just the other day while I was driving she called another driver an idiot, that helped me to realize another place I may need to watch my choice of words! That same night when we were at home, I heard her say to her Brothers, "come on idiots, let's go play!". Another time she said to her Dad, "can you get me some milk stupid man?". Her older sisters laugh and Addy feels like she has done something funny and wants to do it again. What they do not find too funny is the fact that her new nickname for the both of them is "dumbass". I can't see that name going over too well with her teacher this fall, unless her name is actually Ms. Dumbass. So, this is the start of getting rid of the inner sailor in Addy and maybe the one in her Mom. Hopefully this will inspire others in our house...Matt....to try and curb the urge to use our favorite swear words. I have to admit though, sometimes "poop" just does not cut it!

Magic Trix

Now that our family is pretty much back to normal, they are up for doing silly things again. Being silly and having fun is one of the biggest reasons I wanted to become a Mom. So, last night I found a couple of simple magic tricks for the girls to learn and then show one another. It was neat to see how genuinely interested they were in performing a trick for the other sister. They had their Dad and Addy as part of the audience as well. Lexy went first and had her Dad volunteer. I could tell that he was really trying to figure out what she was doing. It was great to see Alexys smiling the entire duration of her magic trick, it was easy to see that she was enjoying herself. She did a great job and pulled her trick off without a hitch, and even got to do it a second time because Apryl was dying to figure out how she did it. Next, Apryl performed a card trick. These always get Matt thinking. He likes to spoil the surprise of the "magic" by doing everything he can to find out what the "trick" is. Apryl also did very well and pulled her trick off without any hitches for both Matt and Lexy. Matt says, "it's just a math thing!". Well, yes my hubby is a genius after all. Of course there is a reason why the magic is just a trick or an illusion, but not knowing is supposed to be part of the charm. That is essentially how magic works! For the girls it didn't matter if their Father figured out how they did their tricks or not, they simply enjoyed having every one's attention on them, and the probably liked being able to fool their Dad a little bit also!

Another Day Off

Our kiddos are home again, but only because it is Presidents Day. I am happy to report that they are ALL feeling better and returning to their former selves. Apryl is still having small headaches, but they are manageable, which gives me hope that there is nothing more serious going on. Other than that, we are looking forward to our truck rally this afternoon with the boys. We don't actually go to watch a truck rally, we make our own in the living room. Occasionally the rally spreads down the hallway and into several rooms. The boys have so much fun doing "boy" things even if it is with their Mom and their sisters. It gives me the opportunity to perfect my monster truck and tractor sounds, which pretty much just make the boys laugh. Apryl has made an obstacle course for the trucks with pillows and blocks, but I noticed that the boys have helped to rearrange things a little. Zorra isn't much help either, since she seems to think the best place for her to lie down is in the middle of the course. She is being very brave, any minute she could be involved with some sort of head on collision with a miniature John Deere. Everything else aside, it is so nice to have things getting back to "Morrison" normal.

Getting Better??

I would love to say that all five children are feeling better since they are, I just feel by saying that it could jinx us. The boys and Addy and Alexys are pretty much back to normal. We are out of the runny nose+cough+sneezy phase and back to terrorize the house phase. The break that was afforded to the cat during their illness is definately now over. She has been seen less and less as the boys get better. Alexys and Addy are playing like usual and also arguing like usual. They have stopped feeling sorry for one another and are okay with yelling at each other. Apryl is also doing a lot better. She is going to be taking migraine medication for the next week along with the meds for the strep. She too is returning to her normal self. I could hear her downstairs singing last night at midnight. I thought she had gone to sleep long before that, so Matt went down stairs and told our oldest two to hit the sack. I don't think they need to push themselves to stay awake all night. I am ready for this week to be over, Friday took so long to get here. Let's just hope Matt and I stay healthy. It is too early for a beer or a glass of wine??

Five Out of Five

Took the boys to the doctor on Tuesday and they too were positive for strep throat. I wasn't surprised. I also couldn't decide if it was that bad of a thing. Is it better to have all five sick at the same time rather than dragging it out for weeks? I remember hearing stories from my Grandparents about how they would expose their non sick children intentionally just to get illnesses over with. Even talking to my Dad yesterday he clearly remembered being exposed to chicken pox when a cousin of his was sick. Now, there is a shot for chicken pox and none of my kiddos have had that...the one thing they haven't had! We seem to be on the mend with four of the kiddos. Alexys went back to school and her nose has given her a break. Addy is returning to her sweet little self, and the boys, who didn't seem too sick to begin with are doing great. The four of them even played outside for quite a while yesterday afternoon, while Apryl watched them from the couch. She is just not getting any relief. I had to take her to the urgent care again for her migraine. This time she had to endure many neurological tests. Her doctor tells me they are trying to rule out a tumor, I felt my stomach drop. Then, we are told she may need to have a spinal tap to check for meningitis even though she isn't really presenting like she has meningitis. Apryl was lucky enough to start to feel better with IV meds and they decided not to do a spinal tap, thank goodness. So, for now, she is on some pretty good drugs to help with the migraine and we are to give them a week. After that if the migraines continue she needs to seen again. So everyone keep her in your thoughts and your fingers crossed!

Three for Three

Yesterday was a fun filled day for everyone...NOT!! Even though our oldest two daughters were still not 100% they both insisted upon going to school because they were having Valentine's Day parties. Before we got to school Apryl said that she thought she would need to see a doctor when school was over, so I went ahead and made her an appointment. Then I got to thinking and called the doctors office again and added Addysen to the appointment as well. I felt like, "enough is enough with this crap!" My Mommy was able to come over and hang out with the boys while I went to the school for the V-Day parties for a bit. I took the girls out of school ten minutes early and headed to the doctor, because when I saw the rash that Apryl was now sporting I was pretty certain she had strep throat. We got the doctor and let me tell you every kiddo in a 50 mile radius must be feeling like sh*t because they were packed. Fortunately, we had an appointment. We got back to our room fairly quickly and the girls were swabbed right away. By the time their Dr. came to the room their tests were both positive for strep and their Dr. decided that Alexys better be tested as well. So, of course she is positive also. During this time poor Apryl is starting to really suffer from a migraine. I mean she is writhing in pain and crying. I was at a loss of how to help her. She now is being checked for meningitis. Thankfully, it is just a sever migraine. So sever that I end up taking her to the urgent care at Children's later that night. No medication was helping her and I couldn't stand to see her suffer like that. The only problem was that I had to get the medication for Addy and Alexys before I could take her, and her meds also even though she couldn't take them due to being so nauseated. Finally got her to the urgent care and they helped her out right away. She was so dehydrated, it took five tries to get an IV started. She looked like a pin cushion. They were able to find a vein up high on her arm that would cooperate. After some time, okay, hours, she was feeling better. We got home after eleven, which isn't too bad for a trip to the ER. Trust me I know! I am keeping them both home from school and taking the boys to the Dr. today. Keep your fingers crossed that the boys do not have the same crud!

Blueberry Spill

Well we still have sick kiddos, and I am thinking a trip to the doctor might be in order. There is only so much I can try to make them feel better, and not much seems to be helping any longer. Aside from the kids being ill, they are whiny and cranky. Spending day after day with these kiddos and their colds has taken its toll on their Mother. I am now also cranky and having sympathy pains. I could swear my throat is trying to hurt because Apryl has a sore throat. I ran a fever for a few hours in order to relate to Addy and her fever. I can take a little sickness as long as it goes away as fast as it came on. Five sick people with a bunch of demands wears on even the most patient of person. Addysen must have entered into her "terrible three" phase somewhere along the duration of this cold. She has been such a pill today! She breaks down at the drop of a hat lately and can carry on whining and crying for hours. It drives me crazy to say the least. Tonight she wanted to eat a pudding cup which was fine, while she was getting her pudding out of the fridge she spilled a pint of blueberries. The berries rolled all over the kitchen floor. I went in to help her pick them up, but she had already squished a good portion of them with her boots she was wearing. She also was refusing to help me pick them up, so this irritated me. I hate when I feel so frustrated with my kiddos. I feel awful for a long time after shouting at them, and it makes me feel like a bad Mommy. On top of everything she doesn't feel well. I guess I will not be winning awards for best Mother any time soon!

Some Days...

Boy oh boy, some days are just so much more trying than others. For whatever reason today has been exceptionally challenging. Maybe the planets are out of alignment or something? I have been busy this week tyring not to overwhelm myself with party planning for a party we are having this Saturday. I like to get as much preparation and cleaning done as possible before the day of, that way I am not a total nut job when Saturday arrives. I actually like cleaning and getting things ready. Details and little things like that make me happy, weird...yes. Today was the same, but every time I finished a chore I had given myself, the boys and Addy has created a new one for me! Both boys smeared Bag Balm all over the stairs and the wall going down stairs. So, if anyone is not feeling well sitting in our stairwell might make you feel better! Then came the great toothpaste heist. I am not sure what it is about that damn toothpaste lately, but we practically need a liquor cabinet of sorts just for that! They all three recognized that their Mother was unusually busy, and seized the opportunity to wreak havoc! I did notice them of and on throughout the morning, I felt as though I was keeping a good eye on them. When I would see Addy or a boy I felt comfortable that they were being good. They even followed me up and down the stairs. But, now that I am thinking about it, it appears that they were keeping an eye on me!! I know what they were doing, "hey while I am coloring on the wall with this schmutz, you go and check in on Mom. When you get back I will go and smile at her, then you can eat some toothpaste!" Perfect, my children are obviously geniuses!

Little Angels

We have sick kiddos again. All five have shared a nasty little cold virus with one another. Yesterday I had everyone home trying to keep up with their sickly demands. Apryl and Alexys missed school, well maybe they didn't "miss" it necessarily, but they did stay home. Garhett and Brenden were extremely cranky and hanging on my legs while I was trying to get things done around the house. If I went into the kitchen, they would stand at the gate and cry until I could come back and sit with them. Addy rested most of the day in our room. For some reason anyone who is sick tends to end up in Mom and Dads room. I guess they feel comforted when they are in there. Today I got to start things all over again. I have a list to remind myself of the times when I have given each person medication, otherwise I know I would forget. I did however send the girls to school today. They were only having a half day anyway, and I figured they wouldn't need more meds until they got home from school. Mean Mom I know! Lexy looked terrible when she came through the door and I drugged her right away, but Apryl said she was feeling better and didn't need anymore medicine. Hopefully tomorrow brings us kiddos that are feeling better. We are actually looking to be in the sixties temperature wise this weekend, and we need to be able to enjoy it!

Bugs N' Other Things

Today was a great day! Matt and I had time alone with just our three little people, and we took advantage of it. We started out early and headed up to the Butterfly Pavilion. Even with Garhett and Addy not feeling well, they all had a pretty good time. The boys were amazing when it came time to hold Rosie. For all of the Colorado parents who have been to the BP before, I am sure you are all familiar with Rosie. For those of you who are not familiar, Rosie is a tarantula. YES, a spider! I had no intention on holding Rosie, and neither did Addy. In fact, she wasn't even willing to move in Rosie's direction. I did maintain my composure for the sake of my boys. I did not want them to be scared just because I was. It was great to see them go right up to her and want to touch her. No fear! They also liked all of the other bugs, from the cockroaches to the scorpions. Yuck! I was creeped out, like a typical "girl". I was as happy as Addy to move on from the bug room. Next they got to check out a sea star not a star fish! I was quickly corrected by the very passionate employee...not a problem! Then, same said employee thought it would be a good idea to have the boys touch the sea star! "Gentle." he says. Obviously he has not been reading my blogs! He followed that great advice by giving the boys projectiles. I sure hope that sea star was not too traumatized! We then moved on the butterfly room. All three kiddos were totally awestruck by all the butterflies buzzing around their little heads. They were trying to follow them all over. The butterflies were even brave enough to land on the ground near the children. However, there was one casualty, Garhett squished a poor unsuspecting butterfly who was basking in the sun. I had to assume he or she didn't feel a thing, and then I slid it out of the way so it wouldn't be completely trampled on! Garhett just kept on his path not even noticing what he had done!

Up and Running

Okay!! We are back again! A little trouble with my old computer was keeping me from logging on and being able to share our daily happenings. Fret no longer, I can once again share with everyone! It was weird how much I missed being able to write about things that go on in our home. I didn't realize what an outlet this is until it was gone...kinda how a lot of realizations are made throughout life. Our little old family of seven is still plugging away and everyone has been just fine. Our boys are totally on their own in their big boy beds, and to our surprise they have done remarkably well. I can only remember one time when they tried to sneak out of bed to play. Other than that, it has been a really smooth transition. All five of our kiddos like their sleep, they take after their Mother that way. I can fall asleep anywhere! Matt doesn't even bother taking me to the movies anymore, he says it is a waste of money! Our Boomba, (or Addy for those of you who do not know her as Boomba) is now signed up for pre-school. It was nice to get her ready for school seeing how excited she is. For me though, it is just another step towards Motherhood being over. Yes, I know that may sound a tad dramatic, but each milestone my kiddos hit feels like something is being taken away from me personally. The older they get and the more self-sufficient they become, the less they need me. Now I am always thrilled to see my children succeed, change is just so darned hard sometimes. Although having them change from diapers to underwear was really easy! Anyway, it's nice to be back, and we are all looking forward to the Super Bowl game tomorrow. I think in the picture, Brenden is demonstrating to Garhett how the Broncos must have been wearing their helmets this last season!