March Madness

As I sat here trying to figure out when Kaden could have his next dose of Tylenol (which also happens to be the last teaspoon of both "i b Broken" and Tylenol both) I realized something. This family may have singlehandedly supported the pain medicine industry this month.

We completely (started AND finished in just this month) used:
3 Children's Tylenol bottles
2 Infant Tylenol Bottles
1 1/2 Infant Ibuprofen
1 Children's Ibuprofen
at least 50 Adult extra strength Tylenols
and some amount of Adult Advil

AND I don't just feed my kids (or Luke) pain meds! Other than this surgery for Kaden-they ONLY got pain meds for fevers above 100*. Maybe I should look into getting a prescription for these meds? Then I could get a tax write off at least. LOL. Maybe April will be less painful month all around???

My Funny Boy

Yesterday I told Kaden to go look out the window to see if Daddy was home. He asked why and I told him that Daddy had texted to tell us he would be home soon. He ran over to the window-looked for about 20 seconds and then I heard a loud GASP. Then: "Cinders and Ashes! Daddy's NOT there!"

I knew it would come to this. He's officially watched too much Thomas the Train Engine.

Also, lately, at breakfast-when he doesn't want to eat what he has (and when calling it "bones" hasn't gotten him out of eating it)- he says to me "Mom, I'm too full. I've been eating ALLLLLL DAY." and will usually follow with several other comments about how long and tiresome it is to eat.

He's still my funny boy. Even if tonsil surgery did change the sound of his voice so much that I barely recognized it at first!

More Kaden-isms -I B Broken

Today Kaden had his tonsils and adnoids taken out. He was a real trooper. We went in at 9am, and he went back into surgery around 9:30am. (He was a little nervous-and the sedative just made him cranky...but he did fine.) At 10ish he was out of surgery, and at about 10:30am we could go back and see him. He was pretty laid back, and a little scared. He wanted OUT of the gown and back into his PJ's. He also wanted the bandage off his hand-which was bloody-which freaked him out. Then he wanted to sit on Daddy's lap- NOT in the bed. But they kept telling us he got the best waker-upper award for the day.

Anyway, so all day he's been in pretty good spirits. He's drinking and eating very well, and wanting to up and about running around playing. So much for keeping him down for 7-10 days. I'm shooting for 3!

Anyway...so tonight he's had a low temperature around 96*, so we've been watching him closely in case he goes any lower. He got tired of me taking his temperature, so the last time I had to bribe him. Now, Kaden loves his tylenol-but we can't give him any- and I usually say when he's done getting his temp taken he can have tylenol. So this time I told him he could have ibuprofen. Well-I forgot. (Bad Mom!) and pretty soon I hear him exclaiming, "Mom! I need my I B Broken!"

I think that's a pretty appropriate name. Next time Luke's sore from bball, I'm gonna ask him if he's taken his "I B Broken" medicine.

I never thought of Kaden as a city boy...

Well, we're in Lewistown visiting my parents...it's been a cranky day all around. So we went to Pamida and to visit Grandma and Grandpa at there offices. While in Pamida Kaden saw a guy walk by who had cowboy boots, a cowboy outfit, and a cowboy hat on. With every ounce of excitement with in him he exclaim "A cowboy! MOM! A REAL cowboy!"

It was so hilarious. He was beside himself with excitement. I guess he thought cowboys were only in the movies. (And here we live in Gillette...has he REALLY never seen a cowboy?) Also, I bet that cowboy was so proud to have been proclaimed a real cowboy (that's an honor in some parts, you know!)

Worry

Last night I was awake from 2-4am. I hate being awake in the night-especially during busy weeks like this one. AND it's the 3rd night in a row, on top of several previous nights of little sleep from being up for sickies. Anyway, that wasn't the point of this blog. The point was, while I've been awake I've had a lot of time to think. Now, I wouldn't say I'm a "worry-wort" or anything like that...but I do have my moments. Last night:...about the bridal shower I have coming up (I always stress about these things, and after they are done I always wonder why! Specifically this time-that I'll get what my family has and not be able to do it!) About Kaden's appointment with the ENT Specialist today...and while thinking about that Kaden would cough and I'd be reminded that his fever was still going strong and his Pediatrician told me if it went 48 more hours we needed to do more testing (we are now down to 6 hours...it's not looking hopeful!) and I just started to worry. I thought about the what-ifs. What if they want to do surgery right away... what if they can't do surgery til he's well (HE'S NEVER WELL!)...what if's about surgery...And then I would stop myself. I'd start praying (if you've been in contact with me within the last 6 months in anyway there's a good chance you got prayed for!) And it's kinda neat, God's brought several songs to my mind that I didn't even know I knew the words to! But all of that reminded me of one thing...

Matthew 6:25-34. Specifically vs 27 and 34 which read "Who of you by worry can add a single hour to his life?.....But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness..."
So many times we are told don't worry. It's wrong to worry. Just stop worrying. But how? By seeking Christ. It works. I'm here to tell you! And it's amazing how it doesn't just stop the worry...it reaps many more blessings and answered prayers. Because instead of wasting time worrying you are praying-thus having prayers to be answered! Or you're singing...and God gets to pop that song in your head that you never thought you knew (it's a blessing!) It's just so cool. The annoying thing is that the devil doesn't stop giving you something to worry about...so it's a constant battle.
This has been my constant challenge for about a year. When the gallbladder pain started and it felt like I was going to die-and no answers! Then surgery! Then tests on my heart and brain, then a lump removed-where we hoped it wasn't cancer and worried that it was. When Kate was tested for a problem with her bladder-which they had expected since I was 20 weeks pregnant. And now with all this sickness and facing yet another surgery-this time for Kaden and his tonsils. It's minor. But I tend to worry. He's my little boy-it's so hard not to! But I keep going back to these verses...

sick sick sick

My family is sick. It's so sad to see them all so sick and feverish. On top of that it's been a super busy weekend and week. I don't even feel like I can properly spoil them AND I'm super afraid I'm going to get it. Fortunately- after both Luke and Kaden being tested today- we know it is NOT strep or influenza. Just a good 'ole kickin' butt sort of a virus.

Good news: we have an appointment set up with the Ear Nose and Throat doctor for Kaden's tonsils. It's this Wednesday (as if we needed to add more to the week!!!) The longer it goes that Kaden is sick ALL THE TIME, the more comfortable I get with the idea of him having surgery. I just hate seeing my little boy so miserable. I'm ready to be done with antibiotics for the poor kid!

Here's what the week looks like:
Sunday:
Sunday School
Pass out nursery schedules
Deliver some PC orders
Bev and Adam leave
Dave Ramsey course at 6

Monday:
Laundry, deliver some Pampered Chef orders,pay bills due by the 15th, and clean the house for cooking club
Luke Dr appt at 1
Kaden dr. appt at 2 (lasted an HOUR!!!)
Book study at 4:30 (thankfully, it cancelled!)
Cooking club at 6-9ish

Tuesday:
clean the house again for cooking club, finish laundry,
make some meals for Luke to have while I'm gone
do Dave Ramsey homework (we won't even TRY to keep up with the Beth Moore...)
Cooking club at 6
Bible Study at 7 (which I will miss)

Wednesday:
Clean up from cooking club,
Bake coffee cakes for MOPS
Test Bridal shower recipe
Answer a BUNCH of emails
Kaden ENT Appt 2:15
Pack Pampered Chef items for Bridal Shower
Pack Kaden, Kate, and me for trip to MT

Thursday
Deposit Cooking club checks
MOPS (my group responsible for food)
leave right after for MT

Friday-
Prepare for bridal shower (takes more than you might expect!)

Saturday-
make food for bridal shower

Sunday
Bridal shower

THEN, and only then, I can get sick, still preferrably never. I'm tired. Exhausted really. I'm heading to bed now.

I Hate Taxes

I thought taxes were worthy of a blog. A Hatred Blog. I don't care if I'm getting money back. I still hate them. I will always hate taxes. You can't change that so don't try. Yes, even if I got a million bucks back. I would hate them. See what I mean? DON'T TRY.

I wish there was the opposite of a "heart" to stand for "hate" but I know it wouldn't do it justic.

Today I've spent a literal 2 hours searching for my tax junk (aka documents) and finding my write-offs for Pampered Chef, Charitable giving (which, in and of itself just makes me cranky..not the giving-the fact that it's a tax write off...), medical bills, interest paid for my mortgage...etc.... You know...it's just stupid.

I HATE TAXES.

It's not even so much that I paid them in the first place. I guess I don't even mind that-it's a part of life...so deal. But, the concept behind those who make an honest living feeling like they have to search all around, make sure they get their write-offs, and "claim" what's "theirs"...GRRRRRR.

Not that I'm gonna let it stop me from getting as much as I can back. Oh no. I will play that game to the best of my ability. And hate every living second of it.

I'm done now. And I hope nobody actually made it to the end of this post. It wasn't worth reading.

A day in the life...

How did it become March already? And not just March, but almost the MIDDLE of March!?
Kaden has been on antibiotics since the first of the month. I took him in for a red eyeball (that looked like he'd poked it) and he came out with a double ear infection, meds for his eye, and a referral to the ENT doctors. I was happy. I had decided there was only 1 doctor in that office that I am willing to see-and I told them I would only take an appointment with him. I've never been pushy enough to do that before. Boy did it pay off!! The other doctors won't even talk about the poor kid's tonsils. The antibiotics haven't helped the tonsils at all (they are still "kissing" as the doctor called it.) But I think it must have helped his ears because he seems to feel better. I am excited to be moving forward in getting Kaden's tonsil problems figured out. But as the realization comes that he will have to have surgery it really makes me sad for him.
Katelyn is little miss toothless still. She attempts to get them-fever, crabbiness, swollen gums, diahrea and all...but she will NOT chew on things. I keep telling her that I'm pretty sure if she'd chew on something it'd help that tooth pop through. Even if I try to put my finger on her gums she will just get mad and scream at me. And yes, I've tried them all. The cold icy ones, the soft squishy ones, the food ones, all of it. I figure-she'll have teeth by kindergarten, so I won't worry about it now. Sure wish the fevers would stop though. They always make me nervous that they are more than teething...like the UTI's or something.
Today Kaden was on his play phone talking and I tried to ask him something and he said to me "Mom, not now, I'm on the phone with someone." So I asked him who and he said "It's daddy" and then went on to tell daddy that "Mommy says hi." and all about what he wanted for lunch. It was great!
Katelyn has some new words. Ok, so only 2. She says "bye bye" (SOMETIMES) mostly she just waves hi and bye. And she claps her hand and says "Paaaaa-b" for Pattycake. Now aren't those just the most useful words? Her favorite game is definitely pattycake! Kaden is now into Rock-a-bye-Baby...only because we drop him at the end I think.
Well-the baby's crying and that's all I can think of to update. I'll try to have more funny stories next time!