Reflections on our family year 2010

The year 2010 was filled with a whirlwind of activity and travel.  We began the year with a trip to Florida last January and it seems that we have been "traveling" since.  When I say travel, I don't mean out of town.  We just seem to be in the van constantly traveling from one activity to another.  From co-op to art class to homeschool choir, to religion classes, to American Heritage Girls and on...and on....  You get the picture.

So what's wrong with that?  Well, nothing really.  If it weren't for the fact that I still haven't had the time to train the girls in many ways that I need to, to prepare them for life.  Right now they enjoy being at home and learning new things.  Things like cooking, sewing, baking, knitting, scrapbooking, card marking.  The list goes on.  I am passing up the opportunity to bond with my girls through teaching them to sew and do these other activities in order to provide them with the wonderful activities that are offered in our homeschool community.  At the ages of 7 and 11, I need to concentrate more on training at home and less on "social" activities around town.

This does not mean that I "intend" to withdraw from all outside activity.  This means that my new motto for the year of 2011 is "Living Intentional".  I should be doing all things with intention.  I need to map out what my true intentions are for my family and home school for the new year.  If something does not fit in with that plan, then it doesn't go on the schedule.

I will be reflecting over the next week.....stay tuned.  What are you planning to change up next year?

A Christmas to Remember.....

We had a delightful Christmas after a December full of flu and colds around here.  The sickness brought online shopping and very little time to shop for cookie and candy ingredients.  Oh how I wish I had followed Flylady's advice and had all my shopping and planning done by Thanksgiving.  Even with the delays, I was able to finish the shopping in time and get gifts to distant relatives.  Thanks Amazon.com!

We went to my parents house here in Georgia for Christmas.  There was a total of 19 of us running around for the four days we were there.  Always something to do or someone to talk with.  Lots of game playing, movie watching and just plan fun!  And the day after Christmas - It Snowed!  

 Here are a few pics.  Happy Christmastide!

C-Sunshine and K-Doodle who is holding a book C-Sunshine gave her that Mommy wouldn't buy for her a few days before Christmas.  Aren't sisters great?

K-Doodle with her big sis Amber who is sporting her new "Indiana Jones" hat.

C-Sunshine on the Stilts she wanted so bad for Christmas.  Thanks Nanny!

And here is my beautiful mother being the silly mommy I love so much.

Hope your Christmas was beautiful.

Flu Fighting Advice

We have been busy fighting the flu with C-Sunshine for the past couple of weeks.  She is finally better and back to doing some activities outside of the house, but just doesn't have her energy back.  I thought I would put down a few thoughts I had while she was at battle.  Things that helped this 40 something year old brain keep track of things and made life easier.


First let me say that it was a nasty strain of flu.  Came on quick as they normally do, with a high fever.  Then came the nausea and vomiting for a day or two along with the high fever.  At one point, her fever spiked to 104.7.  Very scary.  Fever stayed for about 8 days.  During those days, C-Sunshine dropped nine pounds!  To someone who is only 79 pounds to begin with, that is huge!


Anyway here are my thoughts......
Prepare now.  Have on hand, lots of tissues, Tylenol, Advil, Lysol and Clorox wipes.  Also stock up on soft foods for those days following such as apple sauce, mild soups and maybe some Pillsbury rolls.  C-Sunshine only drank minute maid lemonade for two weeks during and after her bout.  Seemed to keep her hydrated.  She didn't want anything carbonated.  Whole fruit lime Popsicles were also a favorite during her re-hydrate time.  Also, I used Thieves essential oils on wrists each day.  I am still using this along with our daily dose of vitamins with a bump up on vitamin C.


So far, no one else has gotten sick.  I Lysoled everything (even C-Sunshine, not really - kidding) each day.  I washed C-Sunshines sheets every other day if she wasn't in them.  On HOT.  Very HOT.  I used the Clorox wipes on all stair railings, light switches, door knobs and bathroom fixtures.  Anywhere that C-Sunshine had been.  Eventually when she was able to be out and about, I followed her with Lysol and wipes and made sure to get keyboards, remotes and refrigerator door handles.  I also washed towells everyday to try and keep the germies at bay.  Mind you, my hubby had a bad cold at the same time, so I was really fighting hard here.  Unfortunately, I think I got his cold.  Couldn't Lysol his breathing at night.  :)


When I was in the thick of it, doing battle with a high fever, one of my saving graces was a plastic basket that I set up to hold all of the meds, thermometer, probe covers and a notepad and pencil.  When I had to get up in the middle of the night, I could just grab the basket, take her temp, give meds and write down what the temp was and what time she took meds.  I kept a pretty detailed list of temp, time and meds.  This made it very easy to give her doctor information over the phone.  I opted not to take her to the doctor until after 7 days and only after she developed a cough I could not control.  She got zero sleep, so I took her in to get a stronger cough med.  Which she hated.  And only took once.


The fact that I had a few meals in the freezer (from Mealing Making with the ladies) came in handy during this time.  If I hadn't, it would have been pizza everynight.  I was getting zero sleep.  Crock pot meals were the bomb during this time.  Although....not during the bout of naseua.  The scent of dinner lofting in the air would NOT be pleasant for someone approaching "the throne" for the fifth time that day.


Well, I hope my rambling will help someone....sometime.  Hopefully no one reading this will have to deal with the flu.  Prayer is also important.  Calling on Him to help you through and care for your precious one.  That is probably the best advice.


I am hoping to enjoy the rest of Advent, sickness free?  Hoping and praying here.


Blessings.....

Becky Kelley - Where's the Line to See Jesus - OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

An Early December Daybook Post

Outside my window...
A cooler, very sunny day outside. That sun is deceiving. It was only 21 degrees this morning.
thinking...
about Advent and Christmas. How that this year, I am totally unprepared and not stressing about it. I am busy enjoying the family and doing things together. I am sure the panic will set in, but I am hoping to retain the peace of knowing that all the hub-bub is NOT what Christmas is. Celebrating the birth of Christ is. And he doesn't care about all that other stuff.
I am thankful for...
that C-Sunshine is feeling better today after battling the flu for the past four days, running a 104.7 temp at one point!  All our plans for the week were put on hold.  No busyness.  I have had time to do laundry, read to K-Doodle, make list for future Christmas shopping.  A chance to stop and breathe.  In between caring for the stomach distress that came along with the flu bug.  Yuck.
From the learning room...
Just K-Doodle and Mom in there this week.  We are working with phonics, doing some First Communion notebook work and math.  Oh, and lots of cozy reading and hot chocolate.
I am wearing...PJ's
I am creating...
gifts for the girls for Christmas..  Can't mention here.  They read this blog.
I am going...
to get to go shopping tonight.  Pat is going to stay with the girls and I am going to buy some crafting supplies to make gifts using this idea from Patty over at Reasons for Chocolate.  I am going to make these for several family members and CCD teachers.
I am reading...
recipes
I am hoping...
that no one else gets sick.  My hubby has a bad cold, C-Sunshine has the flu/stomach bug, whatever it is.  K-Doodle and I have washed our hands so much they are cracking.  :)  Today I am boiling the sheets and Lysoling everything, including C-Sunshine and my hubby.  (not really, but I have thought about it.)
I am hearing...
a Christmas movie the girls are watching on Netflix,
Around the house...
Tidying and dragging out more decorations for the Advent season and Christmas.  The tree is up, but that is about it.  I am too sleepy.  I need more coffee.
One of my favorite things...
a day at home with no plans.  My girls like this too.  Hmmmm......what does that tell me.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
If we are well, homeschool choir practice and then performance.  We missed the Little House Christmas play today and tea with friends.  I am not really sad about that.  Why is that.  I plan to "dig in".  Get the fixin's for the season, sip tea, wrap presents, listen to Christmas music, go to Mass and work on lesson plans for next week.
Simple Woman's Daybook.