Really??? Poison Ivy????

Okay...so here it is....my house loves chaos.  We thrive off it.  If its not one thing, its another.  I am sure it always will be.  There are five busy people under our roof.  Boredom is rarely an issue.  Organization...well I love it but sometimes struggle too.  I don't always get the kids bathed when they need it.....that's why we have a creek, right??  <wink wink>  Not really....they usually come out of the creek muddier than they go in...lol

  Last week, in the chaos and busyness of  life, Annie and I somehow got poison ivy.  Poison Ivy....... Now where did that come from?  I've walked the creek many times and still have yet to see poison ivy.  I may not have gotten it there either....I've been a few other places too.  Well, as an RN, I avoid going to the doctor...lol.... Actually we don't have insurance and as an RN, I play resident family doctor and do it myself.  Well, after a week and a half of misery I was persuaded by my sweet husband to go to the doctor.  Argh!!! Spend money on the doctor!  

  Well, I did.  Annie and I had a 2:30 appointment.  I got the kids rounded up and headed to the car.  Hap found a flower and had to pick it....consequently "picking" an angry wasp too.  Screaming, my son ran back to the house.  We frantically flew threw cupboards looking for meds.  Hap's asthmatic and allergies hit him hard...and bee stings make me nervous.  

  Not finding "sting stop", I put his hand in a zip lock bag full of baking soda....kiss him and throw him in the car...  If we have to pay for the doctor...he'll look at Hap's hand too.  And...I come prepared with every asthmatic med known by man.

  We get to the clinic...my poison ivy rash quite apparent to anyone staring.  Who cares...I have a rash....<smile smile>  Who hasn't had a rash....lol  They call us back.  I suddenly realize I didn't comb Annie's hair or wash the PB & J off her face from lunch.  Argh!  That will look good with her rash... 

  The wonderful nurse pulls us into our room.  Hap starts coughing...his asthma triggered by the bee sting.  Mattie climbs onto the patient table and Annie and I sit in the corner chair.  Confused which of us is the patient, the nurse just smiles.  (Hap's hand still wrapped in baking soda and zip lock).  Oh NO!! Mattie also has PB & J on her face.  I smile.  The nurse asks what she can do for us.  I bare my "rashy" leg.....the nurse stares for a minute and confirms we have a problem.  I still think she is confused whether to treat us, my daughter on the patient table or my asthmatic son.

   The doctor steps in.  Asking to see Annie's rash, Annie pulls down her pants, showing him her legs.  I then realize Annie neglected underwear.  I smile at the doctor who still looks confused: should he be treating my asthmatic son, my semi naked daughter, the girl on the patient table or  their rashy mother?

 "My son is okay"...I tell the doctor... (as an "asthmatic" mom, I get used to coughing and wheezing...it's been our life).  I forget others aren't so used to it.  I can tell the doctor's not convinced.  He offers to get Hap  Benedryl....bless his heart.

So....back to the rashes.  After a minute of staring at rashes....and staring at rashes....and staring....the doctor  tells me he needs to "confer" with his colleagues.

A nice group of doctors shuffles into our room.  Poison ivy must be rare in our parts?  My sweet daughter voluntarily pulls down her pants again....again no underwear. :)  Being the sweet three year old she is, she then chooses to pass gas....her tummy sometimes dictates that.   And....bless her heart....it was potent.   Again....all I could do.....*smile*... as the doctors politely shuffle out of the room (glancing compassionately at the asthmatic 5 year old (hand in a bag of white stuff).  

  "Okay"....the doctor looks at us.  "I really think this is poison ivy."  "Go home and throw away your bar soap, and anything that's contacted the "ivy oils".   Huh??  It's been a week and a half..... (that will be half my house).  He then gives us a prescription and escorts us to the door.  

The kids each grab a sucker at the reception desk...all smiles.  I have to help Hap as his hand is still in baking soda.  We then shuffle out the door and climb in the brown durango with spilled sunflower seeds all over the floor.  Hap has now quit coughing....  We're done.

I have to wonder what the doctor thought....  I truthfully don't care....but still wonder.  It's good we don't come in often.  :)  

And I do normally bathe the kids.  <wink wink>

A Good Day

  Why does this always happen?  It's quarter to midnight, and I've got the bug to write.
  Today was absolutely beautiful.  It felt like summer...almost.  The kids didn't need coats...woohoo!  It's been six months.  I am game.  Bring it on!
  We have a lot to do this spring and are ready to get started.
We made it out the door today and let the chickens out of the coop.  We started working up the garden and found... earthworms.  This reminded us that earthworms are fun to dig and the chickens love to eat them.  We forgot about everything else ...and ran for buckets.  Maybe we were high on sunshine.  A day of digging for earthworms should be included in the "recipe for a great childhood".  I think so.  If you measure accomplishments by the number of tasks completed, we didn't do so well.  If you measure it in smiles, we succeeded.  A good dose of Vitamin D and digging in the dirt.  Therapy.  Happy kids.  Happy mom.  Thanks God!



Annie



Another Tuesday on Our Lane

Okay, its snowing outside.  I look at my little "in house" garden and say, "hum"....But you know, it really is beautiful.  The ground is white, big snow flakes gently fall from the sky.  It's peaceful...and beautiful.  My garden won't be hindered by it, it will melt and tomorrow no one will know it was there (and my garden is still in my house...lol).  I guess you could call this is a winter bonus. 
  Our chicks are moving outside today.  In a way I am sad.  They've been in the house for a week, and we have grown attached to them.  Unfortuantely Plinko, Minko, Clinko, Chinco and Stinko, etc have become a little "stinko" in the house and are bothering Hap's asthma.  Tim built an awsome brooder for them, they have their heat lamp, water and food, but they will be a ways from the house.  The barn seems really far away.  I know they will be fine.  I guess all chicks have to gain their wings at some point....lol
  Schooling is going very well this week.  I am so excited.  The lights are turning on!  The kids are getting it!!  You don't know what that does for me.  Their successes are so precious....some of them have been a long time in the making.  I am so proud of the kids.  I am falling in love with homeschooling.  Last year at this time I would not have said the same thing.  I had NO inclination to homeschool.  I guess I struggle with my confidence a little, and felt I would fail as a teacher.  God is so good though....He had other plans.  The little private school we were to enroll Mattie closed their doors.   Our only other option, as we didn't feel public school would work, was homeschooling.  I admit I was afraid...of failure more than anything.  I drug my heels and did a lot of praying.  In a way, I am glad I was afraid....I  have had to hold tight to God.  2 Corinthians 12:9 has become my life verse. (... "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.") 
 As I see lights turning on inside my kids, as reading gets easier, and numbers and equations take on meaning I know in my heart I was made to teach them.  I am their teacher; another "duh" moment maybe. :)  I love being with them...though we do have our difficult days...and days THEY wish they had a different teacher.  I love introducing them to God's creations; watching their faces when they see something new....when they learn something cool, when they "get it".  I also enjoy learning along with them....you might be surprised what you learn when you teach.  I know God doesn't call all to homeschool, but I am so glad we were. 
 Well, I need to sign off, Mattie and I need to go move our chicks and dance in the snow while it's here.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
             2 Corinthians 12:9

New Additions!

Our chicken coupe has today grown by thirty feet.  Eleven Black Copper Marans, two Welsummers and two more Rhode Island Reds.  The kids have been given the job of naming them.  We didn't really introduce them to the flock, yet....they've become the center piece of our kitchen floor.  A good old-fashion card board box and a wonderful heat lamp.  The sweet sound of baby birds filling the house.  Spring really is coming!

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. 
Proverbs 15:30

Our Day

Today was a good day.  We took Mattie to the doctor for some tummy problems she's been having, but he feels we can control them with diet, not to worry.  Hap spent sometime working with his papa today.  He's becoming the age now that his time with daddy is more important.  He has such admiration for his daddy.  He wants to build fence just like him when he gets older.  :)  Annie went with Mattie and I to the doctor's appointment.  She is so funny and has such a will of iron...bless her little heart.  As Mattie was being examined, Annie had to check out the doctor's computer.  She didn't touch anything but watched very intently.  She wrapped herself around the doctor's finger.  When we left, the doctor hollered, "Good-bye Goober" to which she replied, "Good Bye Goobers!!!" as she turned and waved to all the staff.  Needless to say everyone laughed...to Annie's complete satisfaction.  My little Miss Personality!

Spring is Coming!

  It's almost midnight, and I am sitting at the computer.  The house is quiet, and I am relishing the stillness, for just a minute longer.  I have decided to start a blog...I never thought I would do this, but decided to give it a try.  This is my first entry.
  School went well today.  We switched our homeschooling cirriculum in January.  I find this new cirriculum was initially more difficult, but am so glad we switched.  The little lights are starting to turn on now.  My kids are "getting" things and it makes my heart so excited to see it.  I love homeschooling (another thing I didn't think I'd ever do)...:)
  Hap and I planted 72 pepper and tomato starts the other day.  We planted beefsteak, red cherry and yellow bell tomatoes.  We also planted green, red and banana peppers.  I am not sure who was more excited to dig in, him or me.  Hap will be my little farmer when he grows up...he's so much like Tim.
  We will soon have some new chicks...hopefully next week.  We've ordered Maran chicks as well as more Rhode Island Reds.  I love the Reds, but have wanted Marans for awhile.  I was able to order some locally, and am very excited.  We officially have spring fever at our house!  Thank you Lord for the changing of seasons!