Wordless Wednesday

The triplets

Tuesday's Topic - Ry guy

Last week.   or was it almost 2. hmm.  any hew.  Ryan and Nathan were loading my couch cushions in the middle of the floor and at some point decided it set the perfect scene for a boxing match.
My little haymaker hit one below the belt knocking Ryan clean off his feet whacking his head in to the ropes aka the book shelf.
It wasn't a long cut.  Just had some depth to it.  After describing it to the nurse she had me come in.    They glued it shut.  also glued his hair to his head.   still stuck today.
I'm pretty sure that next time I'll just stay home and apply the super glue myself.   Save everyone the time.

WHILE we were there..getting his head glued up....I mentioned in passing that he still had this limp thing.   I had mentioned it the year before and we decided to just keep our eye on it.    Imagine my surprise that a year later....still there.    (I promise I'm much more attentive that I'm making myself sound in this post)
Thing with his limp is....it's not always noticeable.
Our ped thought by my description that it sounded like a hip issue.   So in we went for x-rays.
Nothing.
That night we asked him about his leg and asked him what hurt (which we've done several times) and he pointed to his foot.
We went in and had x-rays done on his foot.
Nothing.

   He did great considering that he's my most hesitant child.

She sent us in to have his blood drawn.    She was checking for inflammation markers that would rule in or out rheumatoid arthritis....which was such an ugly outcome that I almost didn't have his blood tested.  but I did, and..
Normal.

Why I love this picture.   Because he's in it.  and then because Ryan got to choose his prize out of the prize box and the color of bandage for his arm.    The nurse first offered green or blue but then re phrased and offered whatever color.   He picked the pink with purple hearts.  :)   And I love that nurse for letting him choose.

So now we head to see an orthopedist.    Middle of March.
We have no idea why he limps.    I'm certain it's because he's a twin.  and if not it's because of his donor. :)
Which rules out my eating watchamacalits my entire pregnancy or kneeling on him whildst trying to change his diapers as a mobile infant/toddler.   No wait.  it was Nate that I had to pin down.   So yip.   it's his donor.

The GREAT news is.   While waiting to x-ray his foot they noticed a slight fever and so I mentioned that he said his ear hurt an hour earlier.   She looked and badda bing....ear infection.
Now TELL ME !  When are you SO SO lucky, that you are ALREADY IN the doctors office when you need a doctor for something.   I mean, beside the reason you are already there.
NEAT right.
We left with pictures of his perfect little foot and a prescription for antibiotics for his ear.  

Now I'd like not to find anything.  but at the same time, I'd sure like to know why he limps sometimes.  I mean, besides his donor.  I kept trying to convince the doctor he did it to be a cool punk yo yo daddy.  Maybe, just maybe...that'll be the case.

Ryan was carrying around the microphone to the wii.    He sings his own super hero theme song wherever he goes...it was only suiting that he have a microphone this time.
He was sitting in my lap and let me sing a song with him. (mind you we were not singing to the wii...but upstairs in a chair to our own tune)  I chose Mr. Postman by the Carpenters.   After only a sentence he pulled the mic away from my mouth.   I ever so gently pulled it back and continued.   He pulled it away again...with more force this time....so I once again carefully placed my hands over his and pulled it back to my lips.   He flipped the switch on the side and said, "mama, it's off now. don't sing.  it's off !"
When I didn't listen and only sang louder, he pulled it away and stood up.  
I showed him by flippin the old stand by microthumb out and finished my song.
Nate thought that singing into your thumb was cool and happily joined in.    Ryan walked a few feet away.....flipped it back to the on position and finished his song.  his way :)
LOVE THAT KID !

Finally....enough snow to play in.

We finally got some snow in the valley.   Enough for us.    We jumped on it yesterday before the sun could melt any away.    Lucky for the kids, it's still here today.    Unfortunately....my body hurts too much to go back.  uuuuuuwwwhhhh

I love Ryan's face here

Snowball fight mid flight

Nate

double decker bus me and Spencer

Cam....excuse me, pardon me, comin through.

Spencer

Nate dog

Rollin Rollin Rollin

issall good

sliiiiiiide and stop.   with a smile

At one point...and I'm not sure when it happened....we decided that even going down double decker on our stomachs wasn't exciting enough.   We decided to try a surf/snowboard style ride on our sleds.

J was the first to go down :)....rolled and flipped.....sadly no video.

There is also no video of me making it to the bottom.   on my feet.   (sigh)

Wipe outs are way more fun any ways :

Spencer surfed too.   He went down without anyone even paying much attention and made it all the way to the bottom standing.   We had him do it again....and of course he fell 1/2 way down.    Just know that, once again...the biffs are better than the bests.

Valentines Day !

When I was just 8 years old.....my dad gave me a pink plastic corsage for Valentine's day.

I still have it.   I got as far as walking over the first 3 boxes in my storage room and was balancing on a closed stool when I decided not to take a picture and post said corsage - or - what's left of it after 30 yrs and several moves later.   You'll just have to take my word for it.  It is was lovely.

Since then, my dad has given me flowers on almost every Valentines day.

This year was NO exception.   Papa got a job and wasn't able to deliver them on Valentines day so he delivered them a few days early.  

and although the card included everyone.  in my mind...they're still To: Karen Love : Dad

There were SOOOO many flowers that I was able to split them up in to 3 vases (Syd requested a special vase just for her room)   Are these not GORGEOUS !  The man has great taste.

The bow and flower adorned by Syd

This Moment Friday

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember

Boom she gotta hair do.

I've heard it several times that Sydney looks like me.  That Spencer looks like me.   I personally see Nate dangling like a ripe apple from my family tree.    It's always been hard for me to see it....until the other day that is.
I was at my parents house looking through a family scrap book and came across this picture of me in Kindergarten.

I held up a picture of Sydney and it was very clear that she wears my genes.   only her genes are glittery and bedazzled and SOOO much cuter than mine.  Spencers too.  (Way to Go other genes !! yeah! )
Can you see it ?
It was fun to compare pictures.    I've always seen my brother in Spencer's face....but putting pictures side by side...they really don't look at all alike.


Whildst on my journey back in time.   I also came across this picture.     oooh the 80's.   check out the circumference of that hair.   wowza !

9th grade promotion. I was 14.  Each one of my hairs had been strategically placed and spackled down.
(it took me an hour to do this...ev.ery single day)  I'm so glad that the 80's are over.
I really did have a bit of OCD back in the day.  Every hair had to be perfect.   wing span equal on both sides.   uuuuh.
So crazy....such wasted time and hairspray.  Allnet, red can.

My mom made my dress.   I felt so grown.  :)
I still have this dress.....my goal is to be able to fit it around my hips again.   zipped up or not, I could care less.....as long as it's around me......sadly that couldn't happen today.

This is me revisiting the dress in 07

I've always said that having children made my heart grow 8x's it's size, thus my not being able to zip it up.
whatcha gonna do.

Whatchyer Worth Wednesday

Weeks and weeks I've been without a vacuum.   WEEKS PEOPLE !
It needs a specific part and after spending 6 weeks at the vacuum doctor....and paying $60.00 to have it "fixed" under warranty, J brought it home only for me to figure out that the part that needed to be replaced wasn't touched and we basically paid $60.00 for them to do nothing.
UGH !
It's been weeks since then and I'm still waiting for the part to arrive at my house.
You can only imagine what it's like to have 5 little kids and no vacuum.   5 kids who take no concern at ALL when dragging dirt and crumbs into my house and all over my carpets.  oh and lets not forget the dog.
I've been sweeping the carpet and rugs with my broom.    Which surprisingly, works well, but come on.  I don't want to sweep my carpets anymore.

In other news, I found out how much I'm worth.    I'm worth a LOT more than I thought someone else might think I'm worth, of course not worth more than I thought I was worth, because I think that I'm priceless. :)
Per year :  (figures reflect minimum amount)
Private chef - $52, 260
House cleaner - $6,136
Child care - $31, 200
Driver - $4,168
Laundry service -  $936
Lawn maintenance/yard care -  $1,560

Total salary = $96,261

Plus I'm sure this is a total based on a family of 3 or 4.   With my family of 7 I'm figuring this salary would go up quite a bit.  
This puts my salary at just over $100 grand.    I told J this and she just laughed and said, "you better find someone to pay you that then"
I gave her the stink eye and walked away.   I'm pretty sure she knew that she was wrong.   and also lucky.  and would have left to get a cashiers check if it weren't for that yummy homemade chili in a bread bowl that I made for her dinner last night.

Instead of fighting with her about it, "where's my money, show me the money, I want what's comin to me Eddie"   I just hired a personal assistant to help out.  take the brunt off .  I'm also paying her the same way I'm being paid...with sarcasm and hollow thank yous.  :)

Normally happy to help Syd's about as thrilled to do it for free as I am.

**updated**
I knew that if I complained loud enough the universe would hear me.
My vacuum part was delivered via the USPS today.   Now I get to go vacuum my floors.
Only, now, I'm not excited because I realized that I'm not getting paid enough....or even at all.

Ah well.   such is life !!
eeeeeh !! My VACUUM is fixed.   YAAAAY !
It's the little things in life.