HAHA--Just teasing

Like I really have time to blog...just ask Mom. My house is a continual mess. I fight and struggle just to maintain walking space, clean clothes and washed dishes. School is going good, though. Victoria and Austin both have been applying themselves to learn and do their best. Makes me so happy and proud of them. All 3 big kids are having the best time in AWANA this year and are memorizing lots of Scripture.

Samuel is seeing an ENT this week because he is speech delayed and a test with an audiologist showed possible problems. We will know after tomorrow if he has a hearing issue or is just lazy because there are 3 older siblings to do all the talking for him.

November

For now I am going to put some pictures on here and come back later to rearrange and add captions. I figure if I at least put the pics up, I'll be able to recall more when I get around to writing.

New Blog Entry Coming Soon!

We have had a super busy, event filled month. I've hardly been on my computer all month. I do plan to upload pics very soon and type out all the fun I can remember. Just thought I'd get on here quickly and say so, in case anyone has been looking and wondering if I had dropped off the face of the earth. ;)

Dr. Visits and Hilarity

Well, I finally have a diagnosis for at least part of my problems. Chronic Fatigue and Fybromyalgia for the tired and achy. I still don't know about the digestive issues. At least we are getting there. Stinks not having any insurance. We do have some medical reimbursement, but it takes 3-4 months to get the money and in the mean time we are out A LOT of $$$.

Samuel was showing signs of having an ear infection, so even though he had not run a lick of fever, I took him to the Dr. on Thursday and sure enough he had two infected ears. One was pretty bad and the other was just starting. Now for the funny part....

First you have to know that the past couple of weeks Byron and I have really noticed Samuel preferring to use his Left hand for picking things up, throwing balls, swinging his bat, feeding himself, etc. and we have talked about it a lot. We have left handed sil's, but no left handed blood relatives that we know of.

So as we were leaving the Dr. office Austin asked in all seriousness, "Did the Dr. check Samuel's arm?" I was like, "HUH?" A said, "You know his right arm bone is all messed up and that must be why he keeps using his left arm! Did the Dr. look at his arm to make him better?" I just had to laugh. Victoria and I tried to explain to Austin that left handed is just as normal as right handed, that God makes people both ways, but I'm not sure we have him convinced, yet. He is so concerned that something is REALLY wrong with Samuel. I told him Aunt A. and Aunt M. use their left hands. He's coming around, but still not convinced. I think it is hilarious, though!! I had no idea he was so worried about Samuel not using his right hand/arm like the rest of us in this house.

Arboretum Pictures

We had a fun day at the Arboretum!!

The "big" cousins playing church.

Leah

Victoria hanging out the wash!

Church is over.

Maggie and Mrs. "Kimmo"

Samuel, Hannah, Whitney & Tyler

Samuel exploring!!

Michael, Tucker & Austin in the hay maze

Tucker, Leah, Austin, Michael & Victoria
Austin??

Samuel slept through the pumpkin patch

Much better--happy faces

In the pumpkin house

cute, creative pumpkin house

Where Does It Go???

Time just flies. I turn around an weeks or months are gone and I really feel like I've missed something along the way. Children change so fast. They grow, mature, develop new skills. I was just comparing picture from about 8 months ago to ones I just sent out to family and friends last week. My children have changed so very much.

Here are a few current pictures of them.

Samuel "talking" on the phone.

Victoria diligently doing her school.

Austin working hard on his school, too.

Leah doing her "school".

Samuel and Daddy taking a walk.

Leah with her first "big" injury. :( She came off her swing face first into the grass and dirt beneath. Once she was cleaned up she proudly announced, "I'm a tough girl!"

A couple of days ago we went on a field trip to the Arboretum. It first started out as an outing with church friends. I invited both my SILs and their kids and we ended up have a family gathering with my mom, the lady she cares for and one of my sil's mom as well. There were 16 of "just us". It was a lot of fun. I got a few good pictures even though Samuel fell asleep before I could get my "pumpkin" pictures. My kids have been begging me to go back there again.

My in laws are moving again. They moved down here about 3 years ago. Now they have put all their stuff in storage and are going on a hunt for where they want to live next. Hope they find just the place they want.

New School Year

We started school Sept. 1st. I know what a "mean" Mommy starting school on a holiday. Our plans for that day got cancelled, so I figured, "Why not". That gives us one more day to work with when it comes to interruptions as the year goes by. Victoria is doing really well with the DVD program I am using with her this year and Austin is starting to catch on quickly to his work, too. Right now they are both still excited about the school year. That makes it so much easier on me when they are not griping and complaining. Makes the whole house a happier place to be. Leah REALLY wants to do school, too. I'm letting her sit and participate in Austin's lessons and give her pages from a preschool book that are relevant to what we are learning. I'm guessing she will be reading and writing some before the year is up.

Samuel is just happy to run, roam and growl. Yes, a deep growl is his new fav thing at the moment. He will even attack you with a big hug after he "chases" you while growling. He has had his hair trimmed over his ears and in the next month or 2 HAS to have his first hair cut. Right now he looks like he's working on a mullet and we are not even going there....the 80's are over and don't bring them back. ;)

I'm still working on getting to the bottom of my health issues. I really don't think I have anything serious, but there is certainly something that needs figured out. Mommy of 4 little ones needs to be 100%. My next dr. appointment is this Friday.

I'll come back before the week is over, hopefully, and get a few recent pictures up here including my kiddos at their desks doing school.