To the Brink of Death and Back Again

There were a couple of weeks there that I didn't think I was going to survive.

On November 7th, ZoeJane got sent home from school with pink eye. Lovely. By that night, I had a sore throat. The next day, Michael and Phoenix had caught the cold symptoms she had. ZoeJane and Michael slowly improved. Phoenix and I got worse. Much worse. He never spiked a fever, but when his normally bubbly personality fizzled, I decided it was time to go to the dr. So last Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving), I hauled all three kids in (just to be safe). As I suspected, the older two were on the tail end of colds. Phoenix had bronchitis and double ear infections. Poor baby boy. My heart broke.

Meanwhile, our original Thanksgiving plans were canceled, but I was still hellbent on cooking a big meal for ZoeJane. Because 1, they had spent so long learning about it in school and 2, she was just so excited for it and 3, because the poor girl's Thanksgiving break consisted of running around the house with her brothers while mom was near death on the couch. I probably over-did it. Turkey, made-from-scratch dressing, green bean casserole, slow cooked veggies, rolls, loaded mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce.

By Saturday, Phoenix was back to his typical peppy self. He had gone for a follow up on Friday and while he still has the ear infection (he's on antibiotics), his lungs were completely clear. And it's a good thing because he was just not having those breathing treatments. The boys go back this Friday for a belated 1-year check up, shots, and flu vaccines. It's gonna be a fun weekend.

Meanwhile, I'm still debating on exactly what direction I want to go with the blog. I can't decide how I want it to look. So, I'm standing by my usual motto of "If you don't know what to do, do nothing" until it comes to me.

I've got way more interesting things to post...but I'll do that when I have a little more time. For now, I'm working on my second glass of pink moscato (lovingly picked out by the hubbs) and considering taking the hubby to bed early tonight ;) You're welcome, ha!

Can I just get a nap?

It is entirely possible that I am dying (Not really, you're not that lucky). But if I was, I imagine it would feel like this.

Around lunch time Friday, Michael started running fever. First 100.8, the 101.6, the 102.3.....I alternated tylenol and motrin (just like the instructed me to do for his last high fever that landed us in the emergency room), and it brought it down a little...but not enough to make mama happy. I was sure we'd end up in the emergency room, but luckily we didn't have to go. Dayton came home early and came armed with the essentials. A new thermometer (because our's had had it and it was driving me crazy), juice, birthday presents for the boy (because we knew this meant we were going to have to cancel his party, which had already been postponed because big sister was sick during his actual birthday), Sprite, Cough drops, and a box of Vicks Vapor Plug re-fills. Now, keep in mind, everything except the juice and new thermometer were for me and Phoenix (Vapor plug). Michael had no other symptoms other than his fever. I pushed fluids like crazy....kept alternating meds, and finally got his temp down to 99.8. Whew!

I got Michael to bed, went to bed myself and got all comfy...snuggled up next to Dayton and started to relax and BOOM! Phoenix woke up with a gunky nose and mean cough. Cue saline drops, snot snatcher, diaper change, bottle, cuddles from mama, and a little while in his swing (that he's way too big for but still loves). Checked on Michael again, fever was down to 98.9 (yessss!).

Finally fell asleep, around 3am. Phoenix woke up at 5:30am SHARP. Wait, what's that? I'm awake and yet my eyes aren't opening. Sigh. I've inherited the pink eye. ZoeJane brought it home last Thursday and it's made it's rounds. I thought I was safe.

So, fast forward to now. I got about 30 minutes of combined sleep last night because both boys had a rough night. Michael had a cough and Phoenix.....well, Phoenix just didn't want to sleep. My chest hurts from coughing so much. My throat hurts from coughing so much. My head is pounding from having such strong coughing spells. I have ZERO energy. And frankly, I'm ready to curl up and die. If there's no improvement after the power nap I'm going to take when Dayton gets home and a night of rest tonight, I'll probably have my happy ass in the ER tomorrow.

Fun times!

Anniversary/Halloween week!

In other words, I've got a crapton of pictures for you guys.

From Phoenix's birthday on the 26th, until the end of the year...we have something going on constantly. Phoenix's birthday, our anniversary, Halloween, Michael's birthday, Thanksgiving, ZoeJane's birthday, and then Christmas! It's exhausting..and draining on the bank account, but it's a blast!

The weekend before our anniversary, the kiddo's were off to the grandparent's for a night and a fall festival at my parent's church, so we took the night off for ourselves. We had a fondue dinner (complete with apps and dessert) which was AMAZING. I'll only include one picture from that night so you guys don't start having really bad cravings ;).

On our actual anniversary, the hubbs gave me strict instructions to listen for the door. Of course, when I went to pick ZoeJane up from school, the surprise arrived and was waiting on my doorstep when I got back =). A dozen roses (a mix of pink, red, and white). The red ones are so rich and beautiful, they look like velvet. A teddy bear, a balloon. and a box of mint chocolates. And of course a card. Two days later, I got another card and two more bouquets of my favorite roses. I don't know what they're called, but they're dyed to look striped. I got a red bouquet and a hot pink bouquet.

Fast forward to Halloween. We had a Spider-Man (complete with some serious muscles), a Merida (from Brave), and a prisoner, complete with tattoos. We went to the Mall of Ga since it was so cold out (we didn't want the kids to have to completely cover up their costumes). We spent an hour and a half in traffic, only to get there are only like 5-6 stores were participating. It was disappointing to say the least. The kids barely got enough to fill the bottom of their buckets. So what does this mama do to fix it? I wait until ZoeJane is back at school, go to walmart, spend $10 on Halloween clearance candy (which resulted in a SHIT TON of candy), brought it home, stuffed their buckets and told them that Jack the Pumpkin King came to visit and drop off some goodies (we've good big Nightmare Before Christmas fans in this house). Politically incorrect to load your kids up? Probably. Did I do it anyway? Hell yes. I'm big on making sure my babies have happy holidays.

So, with that being said, here's the evidence!

Chocolate turtle fondue!

He spoiled me! <3 p="p">

Yep, I love this guy!

Merida <3 p="p">

All three babies <3 p="p">

A nutcase ;)

Mama makes it better ;)

Much better! 

What have you guys been up to?!

Happy Anniversary, Baby

Today is mine and my husband's 7th anniversary. This is always a big deal for us, because we've been one HELL of a ride! But we've managed to survive. We've been through all the nitty gritty things that most young couples encounter (especially young couples with kids), and it's brought us even closer and made me even more sure that I want to spend the rest of my days with him. Today, 7 years after our wedding, I'm still as excited as I was that day to spend the rest of my life with him.

I love you, Dayton. Happy Anniversary, baby.

Fan questions

So, without further adieu, I'll be answering "fan questions". In order:

1. What is the first song that got you into music?
I would say It's Been Awhile by Staind, but it got even deeper once I heard "Outside".

2. What does peace mean to you?
That's a tough one! I think that, to me, peace means letting go and enjoying the now.

3. Is blood actually thicker than water?
Absolutely not. I won't elaborate here. That's a whole different blog post.

4. What impact are you wanting to leave on the world?
I want to leave a safe place for my daughter...a place where she and her own daughters (if she has them) are free to make their own decisions. I want to leave the idea that monitoring your children and teens for depression is a basic step of parenting in people's minds. I want to leave my boys knowing how to treat their girlfriends or wives. I want to know that I made SOME sort of a difference, even in just one person's life.

5. When do you feel most alive?
I feel most alive when I have a carefree day with my family, when my husband has the chance to be with us, and we're soaking up life together.

6. What is your favorite time of year and why?
My favorite time of year is from the end of September, forward. That's when Phoenix's birthday is, and from there, we go to Dayton and my anniversary, Halloween, Michael's birthday, Thanksgiving, ZoeJane's birthday, and then Christmas. It's an exciting time.

7. Do you believe in an afterlife?
Yes.

8. What's your favorite quote?
One of two: "I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions."-Augusten Buroughs (This will be my next tattoo). And "A life with no risk is no life at all."-Sophia from The Golden Girls

9. Are your dreams usually good or bad?
They're usually very detailed, based on the past, and extremely disturbing.

10. What is the one thing you like most about yourself?
That I feel so strongly about women's rights. I hope to instill the same feeling about them into my own daughter, though I will understand if she chooses a different route.

Questions!

So a few days ago, I posted on the blog's facebook page that this week, I'd be answering questions. As of yesterday, I had only gotten one, which was related to a politician's recent comments about God intending rape to happen or something of the sort. But last night, my inbox got bombed with some pretty great questions. I'll be answering them at some point today. Stay tuned!

An explosion of fun facts

As promised earlier, here is an explosion of fun facts about your's truly. Because, as previously stated, we all know that I'm the most interesting girl in the world (note epic eye roll).

• I do NOT fly. I have had a fear of flying for as long as I can remember. I tried to conquer the fear back in 2006, about three weeks after ZoeJane was born. Of course, the universe decided to play a joke on me and put us on a dinky Delta connection plane. It did not end well. 
• I'm a sociology major (I get my nerd on, yo).
• Yes, I am aware, I am 25 years old and have three children. In fact, I had three BEFORE the age of 24. And that's the way we wanted it.
• I have 9 tattoos.
• There are two more that I want.
• I am very traditional in the sense that you will not mess with my man in any way, shape, or form without getting a bitch fit from me.
• I love the "f" word. But I'll refrain from using it in this particular post because I have a feeling my dad may be reading. Hi, dad! (You know you love me)
• I'm the youngest of EIGHT (count 'em, EIGHT!) kids. Think: real life Brady bunch, dysfunctional style.
• With each baby, I attempted to go natural. I ended up taking the drugs every time. Though, I made it to 6 cm with NO drugs (not even a dose of damn TYLENOL) with Michael. But only because my midwife refused me pain meds when I asked for them, stating "epidural or nothing". She's still somewhere on my shit list. 
• As a teenager, I was the virginal, anti-drug, anti-alcohol, anti-sneaking-out, pro-life, non-cussing, do-as-I-was-told-even-if-I-was-rebelling-hardcore-on-the-inside girl next door. Mom and dad, you're welcome.
• I've smoked weed once in my life. It did nothing for me.
• I enjoy unwinding and getting a little boozy. I can also throw back vodka and tequila shots better than most men. Is that a bad thing?
• My bad-ass Marine corp husband was too scared to take off my garter at our wedding reception. Dad, you've still got it.
• I was a very quiet, shy, reserved young lady...until I had children. With that first positive pregnancy test, a bitch was born. And because of that, all three of my children are happy, healthy, and well taken care of wherever they go.
• I still have all the poetry that I wrote as a teenager. I still like it.
• I've had the same best friend since I was 5 and she was 7. We've had our ups and downs, but she's my ride or die bitch, yo. 
• If I had my way (and my uterus would allow it), I would have had 5.
• My shit list is short, and I'd like to start shortening it, because frankly, I don't have the brain space to hold a grudge anymore.
• I'd love to write a book, but I have too damn much to say.
• If I wasn't such a puss, I'd have 6 piercings instead of just my ears and a hole where my tongue ring used to be. Still need to get that one re-done. 
• I am a HUGE (repeat: huge) Britney Spears fan.
• I am FIERCELY pro-choice.
• You can find out just how pro-choice I am, here.
• You can direct your hate mail for the above fun fact to carakline@gmail.com =) You're welcome.

If there is anything else that you would like to know, suck it up and wait for the next installment. Maybe I'll do a mommy-fun-facts next. ;)