Sick kids

Spring break is meant for fun times....right? Wrong! When you are 5 years old it might mean that you spend half of the week sick with the flu. Hayden came down with a fever on early Monday morning and was sick until Thursday. Matilyn got sick on Wednesday and was sick until Monday. And now Hayden has been sick since then....baaaadddd spring break!

But don't you worry! While Hayden was well, he went to Throckmorton with his Daddy and went fishing. They also went looking around for prey with a fresh new B B gun (yes you heard me right, and, no, I didn't OK this decision!!!!!!!). They had the greatest time! Hayden caught lots of fish (to the point that he told his daddy that he would wait until he caught his first fish to catch another one himself!). Then, Matt saw a rattlesnake and shot it with a shotgun. Hayden was allowed to shoot the same snake with his gun and saw it as a great discovery. From Matt's account, the trip was a success and they had great "guy" fun. They ate ice cream for meals and laughed a lot.

Now, Hayden is on the mend from his latest sickness and can't wait to get back to school. He has hated that he has had to stay home and just lay on the couch. I just hope that the illnesses are all over and that we can thoroughly enjoy the rest of our spring and summer.

A few funnies: I was at Wal-Mart recently with Hayden and he was sitting in the cart. I was pushing the cart through the way and he heard a sound. He said that I "tooted". I swore that I did not. He fought with me saying loudly for all of the customers to hear that I had. I finally had to admit that I had (I hadn't) so that he would stop loudly accusing. Thanks, kid!

Spring Break

So sad to report that Hayden has been sick today. He woke up in the night and seemed fine, but when I touched him he was on fire. 103 degrees. No complaints. I gave him some medicine and he slept through the night and woke up with the same. He spent much of the day on the couch with a pitiful look on his face, never complaining, just a sad look. I would give him some Motrin and his fever would break. He would play for a while and then the fever would come back. He said that he hurt all over. Guess the flu shot had lost its potency. He was good enough to go to dinner at his favorite place(Cici's) and came home energized. He was very ready for bed and when I checked on him he was really breathing fast. He hasn't coughed all day or I would be worried. I just think that he tries to breathe through his nose and that it tends to close at night (like mother, like son). I just pray for his health and healing now. I want him to enjoy his Spring Break and I pray that none of the family picks up his awful germs. Fat chance, huh?

We had a wonderful weekend with the family. Both Halter and Jaime (with Robert) came in for the weekend as we were celebrating both the 58th birthday of our Mom and the 40th anniversary of our parents. We had a very special photo session with our whole family that Jaime coordinated at the Botanic Gardens in Fort Worth. I expect high quality photos that last through the ages. Although it was 40 degrees and misting rain, I have to say that the whole family looked beautiful and that I believe that the pics will be perfect! The gray clouds only accentuated the green grass and plants that were around us. We will all have Jaime to thank for the coordination of this event and making this happen. She is, after all, the event coordinator of the family. Thank you, Aunt Jaime for all the work you have done!

The kids enjoyed their aunts and grandparents over the weekend. They loved spending time with all of them and having attention showered over them. I am so thankful for all of the people that love my kids. It just reinforces what I am trying to do with them.

My birthday!!!

Today was my birthday. It should be a day of pampering and fun, but instead it was a day that I spent with requirements for school. So, of course, I was happy when the day was over and I could come home to my family. I was happy to spend the day with my family. Matt suggested that we find a sitter and go out on a date, but I thought that it would be better to just spend the night with my whole family.

When I walked through the door, the kids were wrapping their presents for me. Hayden made great pains to hide his present from me while Matilyn required my help to finish wrapping my present. The present from Hayden was one of his trains, which is so sweet considering how much you love your trains. The train was "Lady". I know that there was no real thought put into which train he gave me, but it still has a message. Matilyn gave me the photo book that Granny just gave her on Sunday. It was full of photos of the birth of Hayden. Both were beloved presents because they were from my beloved.

We had a great meal together and then bedtime. I am so thankful for my family and on my birthday I just can't help but think that there is no greater gift than the love of my family. I thank God for all of them and wish for a blessed year. Who cares about the number, really?

The weekly update

Isn't it funny how the greatest, worst, funniest, etc things happen at Wal-mart (more about that later). This week started with a big decision to fire my cleaning lady. Since I was not going to be studying, I kept Matilyn home while I cleaned. She and I ran errands and she played while I cleaned. I felt very productive and very June Cleavor. I think I did a better job than she did and I saved us some money (important since I can't work as much these days). She and I had some good cuddle time during breaks. I loved this alone time with her!

Later I picked up Hayden and we all went to Wal-Mart for some groceries. Hayden acts like he is on crack when we go into stores. He picks up everything and asks "do we need this". It's not just junk and treats, it's cans of veggies, obscure produce, meat products we never use... So I spend my time in any grocery store saying "no, no, no....get back here...stay close to me please...stop fighting over space in the cart!!!!" By the time we left there I felt like a crazy woman. As we passed the little rides and gumball machines in the lobby, they asked if they could have a treat. I told them that, no, treats are for kids that behave very well in the store and that they hadn't made the cut. To this Matilyn replied that I was not "letting Christ rule in my heart" because I wasn't letting her have whatever she wanted. Teach me to let her learn scriptures!!!!!

On Tuesday I had my first clinical for grad school. I was very nervous, but it turned out fine. I visited older people in their homes and afterwards made my parents promise me that they would stop aging now. I can't imagine seeing them as they go from healthy working people to dependant pts. I told them that they would have to die at the ripe old age of 105 just after I have left this life. I can't imagine ever being ready to see them in that state.

On Wednesday, Hayden had a field trip to a concert about Cat in the Hat. He stated that he had had the "best day ever!" I was very sad that I was unable to go with him since I was in school, but they required that any parent going have enough space for 4 kids. Couldn't have gone anyways.

On Thursday, I had school and got home early enough to enjoy my family. The weather has been so great. They love to just play outside with their friends. Today, after I picked up Hayden, we went shoe shopping. We were in Famous Footwear when a man walked in with a doo-rag with skulls and a T-shirt with a cross and more skulls on it. Hayden remarked (very loudly in his funny tone of voice) that this man "must be a pirate". He kept saying, "Hello Mr. Pirate!" Very loudly. Thank God the man never responded or even knew he was referring to him.

Tomorrow, I am working and Matt is taking the kids to Stephenville to visit family. They are so excited about this. They went to bed without problem knowing that tomorrow holds such exciting things.

I love chronicling (is this a word) all of the funny things that happen in the life of my family. I know that we will all appreciate this someday!