the week

My baby has been sick for almost 2 weeks.

I am over it, I'm sure he is over it more than I.

It started with a stomach  bug/possible food poisoning...who knows, the boy will eat anything (except what I want him to eat)  Now he has a double ear infection & is on antibiotics.  Soon...soon.  I thank God that my children will most likely not die of some treatable infection;  thanks to doctors & medicine. 

My counters have been installed!!!! Yipee!  If you're friends w/me on FB, you can 'kind of' see some pics...(not the greatest) otherwise you'll have to wait 'til I have the gumption to post them on my blog. They do look great though.  Actually, I love them :)  Thanks honey.

Abigail did an amazing job cheerleading today.  It was her first game...so much confidence, but not overly confident.  A good combination.  Isaac had his first basketball game today as well, in which he scored a few points for the team.  They both did great!  I have good kids.

Not much of great importance to report...just didn't want my blog go go to the wayside...have a blessed week. 

Family

I was thinking about family the other day.  Not just the people I live with, but my roots...my heritage, where I came from.  This was sort of prompted by facebook.  A message popped up on my screen from my cousin, Paul. I haven't seen him for 13 years.  He lives somewhere in California...almost like a different country to me...he has 2 children whom I've never met, and a wife.  I think I met her once.  His message was "hey long lost cousin...how's it going?"  Simple.  Nothing profound in that message, but as I read it, I instantly felt a pang of something...perhaps a feeling of 'I wish we were all closer', or maybe something even deeper.  Later on I learned that his daughter, Taylor, who is obviously a talented artist, won some sort of award and her artwork is going to be displayed in a California park for at least the next 20 years.  I was so proud of her, but I don't know her.  How can I be so proud of someone I don't even know?

I feel the same way about my brothers kids.  I am proud of their accomplishments.  I don't see them very often, even though they live close by...schedules just make it difficult.  Especially since we both have 5 kids.  I feel a bond with them, a desire to protect them.  Almost like a lioness in a pack of other lion mommies, protecting all of the cubs. 

I don't know where I'm going with all of this...just thinking.  Maybe just missing my long lost family.  People so far away that they are beyond my reach.  Some in heaven, some just living too far away to have a relationship with.  Family is important.  I guess maybe we just need to plan a reunion.  :) 

Say...what's going on?

We are undergoing a lot of home renovations.  Josh just ordered our counter tops, but they won't be in for a few weeks.  I am currently looking for accent tiles for the wall and a back splash or mural...it's proving to be difficult!  He has finished the floor, and it looks great...we hung some cabinets for some much needed extra space.  I also ordered some new couches, but they won't be in for about 8 weeks, so they say...I'm hoping sooner!  Being such nice weather, Josh decided to sand and finish our hard wood floor today (it seems like every part of our living space is under some sort of construction!)  He finished the sanding...so we're not allowed to walk on the floors AT ALL until he puts a couple coats of finish down.  We're being held hostage in the basement right now.  But, I still managed to sneak a few pictures that I thought I'd share.  I have such a hardworking husband.  If it weren't for him, none of this would be possible.  Thanks honey, for making my house more beautiful.  (even though it's quite out of order right now) 

The living room floor, sanded and ready for finishing. (note the very small living room, that really is about all of it!) but we like it, it's cozy

The lovely wood paneling that used to decorate our kitchen. 

The new floor, plus a pile of pillows, because there's nowhere else to put them for now!

(and the cabinets we installed as a team:)

The lovely paper is because of the lead paint I was talking about in my previous post. 

My lovely dining room has been turned into a storage room...for now. 

And so has my front porch, but that's okay. 

If anyone is in need of a couch, the one pictured furthest back is available.  It is a Victorian style floral pattern.  It is good condition, but it's time to go....because I'm getting two new couches and I don't have any more room!  Let me know if you're interested.  The one in the front is available as well, but due to children jumping on it, I'm afraid to say it is bursting at the seams.  This is the one Lisa and I reupholstered last year...apparently we did not use strong enough thread!  The color and textures are very nice though, so if you want it, you can have it! (They both have cushions, but remember, those are residing in my kitchen right now.)

Renovations are a lot of work, but I'm having fun with it.  I don't know if I can say the same for Josh.  I think he is...??he works well with his hands and honestly could have been a contractor, or something like that.  I guess it's the engineer in him.  I am very thankful for my husband;  he is such a hard worker.  

Where have I been, and other bits of knowledge.

 One would think that being away from my blog for only a few weeks wouldn't be that big of a deal.  But, I have acquired a terrible memory, so I forgot my password.  Had to get it a new one...no big deal...one in which I'm sure I'll forget if I neglect to blog or post a comment on someone else's blog in the near future.  I have too many passwords.  I even entered the wrong pin number for my debit card at Target today...twice.  How embarrassing.  I thought maybe I had Josh's card.  Nope.  Mine.  Oh well.

(kids at museum...note the name of the airplane)

We had a great Christmas Holiday.  Josh was off for 10 days, which was very nice.  Today was his first day back to work, and I miss him.  If only we could stay at home together.  Guess that is what retirement is for.  We'll get to that...someday.  We (he) got a lot accomplished while at home.  Ripped up the old floor, put in a new floor.  We hung some cabinets (together) "It's shake n' bake...and I helped"  That's how I felt about the cabinets.  He did most of the work, but made me feel good about helping.  We picked out some counter tops, hung a lot of pictures, he helped his sister with a few new things at her new house. We even managed to squeeze in a trip to Dayton to visit the Air force Museum, which I highly recommend. Even Abigail enjoyed looking at all of the airplanes. Then we stayed at a the Holiday Inn Express, which the kids love because there is an indoor pool & all you can eat breakfast.  (we are so blessed to be able to do these things with our kids)   After our trip to Dayton, Josh took the older kids out to Pittsburgh to visit his Papap, who is still not doing well.  He keeps hanging on.  Guess he enjoys the kids visits so much, he's hanging on to life.  He's 87 and has had cancer for quite a few years.

I am not very good at having the camera ready for those "special " occasions, like, you know...the important ones.  Birthdays, Weddings, Christmas, etc...it seems like it's never charged at the right time, or I forget to bring it with me.  But, I did get this great shot:

He looks thrilled.

  He does have a T-shirt that says 'Future Astronaut'  I'm not sure how I feel about sending my baby up into oblivion, but C'est la vie, what can this mother do?  I can't even keep him from trying to eat the paint chips off the wall (which is under construction)  how will I keep him from outer space?  (we possibly have lead paint, but Josh put some heavy duty paper up until we get the tiles on the wall so Jeremiah won't get brain damage in the meantime.  The reason for the possible lead paint is because there used to be a hideous wood panel wall that so finely decorated our kitchen.  I'd had enough of it, so Josh tore it down.  Anyone who has been here knows how terrifying that thing was.  We're pretty sure the paint used under it was lead based because of the time the house was built.  

Anyway, I had a lot more to say, but that will have to wait for a future post, because one of  'them thar kids of mine' needs me.  In the meantime, have a blessed week.