Act of Kindness #15

This week is teacher appreciation week at the kids' school.  This year I decided I was going to do what I could for them because I've really appreciated all the work they've done with my kids.  Sam has struggled with math this year and her teacher has really tried to help her.  Nash's teacher is a first year teacher and she's worked her tail off.  We just love Caleb's teacher too so we've included her as well.  I bought a variety of items for each teacher.

 For Sam & Nash's teacher I bought several different playground toys they could keep for their class.  I know that when I was teaching I was always looking for deals on good playground toys for the kids.  One day the kids took a dodge ball.  One day the kids took a football & a Frisbee.  One day they took 3 jump ropes.  These weren't the cheap dollar jump ropes either.  These are the long jump ropes that the tall kids can use & not get hit in the head with.  The ones you can play double dutch with if you know how. 

For all three teachers I made a fleece blanket.  I got 2 yards of a plain anti pill fleece and 2 yards of a printed fleece (micro fleece for two and an anti pill for one).  These turned out super cute.  I tied both layers together so each side is a different design/color.

 

I also made a cute little thing I found on pinterest for all three teachers.  These turned out really cute.   The crayons were a beast to peel.  Note to self - the cheap crayons peel super easy.  Crayola Crayons are a monster to get the wrappers off of!  I could have put them in really hot water and let them soak until the wrappers fell off, but I didn't want to wait for the crayons to dry.  I got thinking after I did Caleb's teacher (Mrs. Beddes) that I should have done an S for Miss Shannon instead of Mrs. Beddes because he calls her Miss Shannon.  I was excited when I found a three pack of the shadow boxes at Michael's for $12.  That made it nice!  They were a weird size though because they weren't as big as an 8x10 but they were bigger than a 5x7.  I have seen these done with the wrappers left on and used brand new crayons and just cut the crayons in half.  I liked using the crayons we had at home better.  It gives the letter more character (I think).

 

 

I also donated $10 to the room mom teacher appreciation gift fund.  No idea what was purchased with those funds.  I think Sam said her teacher got movie tickets.  I just hope the kids' teachers feel appreciated because we really do appreciate how much they've done for our kids this year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Act of Kindness #14

The kids' school is doing a fundraiser for the Humane Society.  Sam asked if we could send some donations.  We went through Charlotte's stuff and found some things that we could donate.  Here's to making a puppy or kitty happy!

Mystery Object

Not sure which kid is going to finally do me in, but I'm getting closer to the edge every single day!  Today was Nash's turn.  I took all four kids to the ENT (basically because I knew I wouldn't have time to go back to Hyrum to get them & get to dance class on time).  Generally speaking I love my ENT.  The office visits, however, leave much to be desired simply because it is almost always a minimum of an hour and a half and sometimes as long as 3 hours (not exaggerating).  Today we were going to see Lindsey (the PA) for a follow up on Nash's allergy shots.  He just recently finished his first vial so we had to make sure nothing needed to be changed.  After we talked about allergy shots she asked if I had any questions or concerns.  I told her we had been at InstaCare on Friday and that Nash had had a really bad ear infection and wanted to know if she could please check it to be sure all looked well.  She checked his right ear and it looked great.  

She looks in the left ear and says, "Um..I think there's something in there."  

Me: "Something like a tube or something like a mystery object?"

Lindsey: "Something like a mystery object."

Awesome.  She gets out her microscope thing so she can see a little better.  She tells Nash she's going to gently poke to see if she can see what's going on and to let her know if she hurts him.  Nash of course proceeds to say "OW!" about ten times.  She got her tweezers and told Nash she was going to try & get whatever it was that was in there.  A few seconds later out comes this:

Me: "Nash!  What the hell have you been putting in your ears?!"

Nash: "I don't know what that is!  I haven't put anything in my ear!"

This thing is the size of a pencil eraser and squishy/foamy.I'm thinking art class?  And then Lindsey says, "I have some more good news for you."

Me: "Crap.  What?"
Lindsey: "It looks like the tube is behind the ear drum and the ear drum has healed up."

Me: "Again?!  Are you serious?!"

I got a sympathetic look.  "You were the one that figured it was behind the drum last time!  Dr. Blotter said he'd only had that happen once in his career!  That's been less than a year ago!"

Lindsey wanted to do a pressure test to make sure the pressure behind his ear drum was in an ok range.  The test was quick and painless.  The pressure is fine.  Lindsey: "So, when do you want to schedule to take it out?"

Me: "What does taking it out involve?"

Lindsey: "Surgery."

Me: Big. Fat. Sigh.  "I guess lets schedule for next week when his dad is home if we can."

Lindsey: "I guess the real question is, do you want to put another one?"

Me: "You mean lucky number 16?"

Lindsey: "Seriously?  That many?  I knew you'd had a lot."

Me: "Yes.  15 sets of tubes, 4 adenoids & 3 tonsils."

Lindsey: "Wow."

You know it's bad when the PA is amazed at your stats.

So, we have scheduled surgery for next Thursday (Feb. 28).  At least I won't have to miss work because Travis will be home.  I talked to Travis and I think we are in agreement - don't put another one in.  This one was in for less than a year.  I don't want to go in and take another one out in six months.  I'd like to be medical debt free sometime in the near future!  You know, like before the kids graduate, move out, get married or I die!

45 days

45 days...That's how many days this year (all of them) someone at our house has been sick.  I was sick exactly ONE of those days and that wasn't until 3 days ago!  Now, if you figure in the three weeks of sickness we had at our place in December (week before, week of & week after Christmas) that means I have been dealing with sick kids for SIXTY FIVE days.  Not.  Even.  Joking.

And the real getter is that it hasn't been the sniffles.  Nope.  All four kids & Travis got the stomach flu during December.  Come January we had croup, and a stomach flu wrap up before we got hit with the influenza.  I believe we also had an ear infection in there.  Then we had the influenza with all four kids. After we got rid of the influenza we had more croup.  We also managed to get a concussion (and subsequent CAT scan) for Brooke.  This past Saturday when we were suppose to have Sam's family birthday party Caleb ended up with pink eye.  On Sunday I got the pukies half way through church.  On Monday morning Nash said he didn't feel well but I chalked it up to it being a case of 6:45 am on a Monday I don't wanna go to school-its.  Turns out the poor kid really didn't feel well.  He called at 9:30 am when I was about 15 steps from my truck & headed into work.  Puked all over the bathroom floor at school.  He spent Tuesday at home too.  I was woken up at 2:30 am today to Nash gasping for air - thank you again croup.  Brooke then woke up with a fever & borderline croup cough as well.  Today I got a text while I was at work telling me "I think Brooke has pink eye."  Girlfriend totally has pink eye.  So much for spending time lysoling EVERY SURFACE IN MY HOUSE last Saturday.

My girlfriend told me today, "Don't worry, this too shall pass."  Yea, I don't think so.  I told her I'll let her kids be sick for 65 days in a row and then tell her the same thing & see if she still has a smile on her face.  I'm ready to go lay down in the middle of the road and not move...ever.  I seriously don't know what I did to offend the heavens, but it must have been a real doosey.

On the bright side, we'll spend all our flex spending for the year by March 1 and meet our deductible for the year.  That is a bright side, right?  Maybe this year we'll hit our max out of pocket too?  We were just shy with one (or was it two) of the kids in December.

My boys go ice fishing

Travis has never been a fan of the idea of ice fishing.  Before today, he had been exactly ONE time.  I on the other hand, LOVE ice fishing.  My dad took us every winter when I was growing up.  I loved playing on the ice with my sister and the dog.  I loved having a little hole to keep the ice off of and pulling my fish up through said hole.  I've tried to get Travis to take my kids ice fishing over the years, but to no avail.
Today, however, the skies parted & he took them ice fishing while it was snowing!  They went out to Hyrum Dam (even though the Polar Plunge was taking place).  Took took Sam & Nash while I took Caleb to Instacare.  When I got back with Caleb Sam was ready to come home so he brought Sam home and took Caleb.  He said they missed a lot of fish but they had fun.  Caleb was the only one that caught anything AND he caught it on the spiderman fishing pole he got for Christmas!