The last two days have been exhausting. I have been working hard on getting the house ready to be sold. I've washed curtains, dusted, vacuumed, boxed things up... and tonight I got the entry ready to be painted. It's been fun. Especially with the little ones still feeling yucky. Ian's doing much better and I think Billy's worst days are over... but Carley's had it rough today.
I can't wait for Carl to come home tomorrow night. I could use a break.

What a day!

Well, I called Billy's doctor and he was on vacation... then I called the doctor who was covering for him and he was in surgery- and would be all day... so I was told to take Billy to the ER. Well, a friend (who is very pregnant and has two boys of her own) graciously offered to watch the little ones when I couldn't find anyone and we spent 3 hours at the hospital. It was such a relief not to have to take Ian and Carley. After reading magazines, drawing on the bed paper, playing the rhyming game, making a chicken out of a blown-up glove and blowing drinking straw papers all over the small room, the doctor splinted Billy's arm. It took forever. Once we got home and had lunch, the kids all took a nice long nap.
Tonight I managed to box up some of the kitchen- just 7 boxes... I have a lot more to go. Looks like I need more boxes. I've already had to refill the tape dispenser. I'll try to start earlier tomorrow. There's so much to be done. Hopefully on Saturday the entryway will get painted. I'm working on getting some volunteers.
You should have seen the kids smile when Dad called in a bedtime story tonight. They needed that. It's only been 2 days and we're all really missing Daddy. Well, more tomorrow.

Uh-oh... Billy's cast has slipped around

Well, last night at about 3 a.m. Billy started crying and compaining about his fingers being gone. I gathered him up on my lap and lo and behold his cast had turned 180 degrees on his arm. His fingers slipped inside and the thumb has no hole to emerge from now. So, we're headed in to the doctor this morning.

Ian has pneumonia

So, this morning I got a call from the ER and after a second look at Ian's chest x-ray, they've determined he has pneumonia. He's absolutely miserable. I started him on antibiotics this afternoon... he takes them 3 times a day. He's still on breathing treatments and ibuprofen and tylenol to keep the fever at bay. Billy also has a fever and is doing nebulizer treatments also. It looks like Carley is on the way to joining them. So, it's been rough around here today. Can't say I'm getting much done.
On the happier side of things, Carl enjoyed his first day of work. After a long drive filled with ice and snow he made it safely there and said it was a good day. I got to call in to work because of my sick little ones.
Well, I'm off to bed. I'm sure I should try to stay up and clean... but no thanks. Maybe tomorrow.

Yes, we're still around

In case any of you are still checking for updates.... I just wanted to note here that we are still around and doing well. Many things have changed in the last 2 months (since I last posted). Carl left Furniture Row December 22nd. Our job hunt has led us in many directions, but we have decided to pursue Banking. Carl begins his new job at Wells Fargo tomorrow in Waterloo, Iowa. I will stay behind with the kids to sell the house. Carl will come home on the weekends. I'll be listing the house by March 1st (that's the goal).

Last week we finished the laundry room and closet for the guest room. After much mudding, sanding, priming and painting- the major projects are complete. Now my goal is to paint the entryway and the guest room. I also need to wash the carpets, curtains and clean. I've been filling boxes whenever I can to reduce the clutter. Carl will be taking the boxes each week to Waterloo to a storage unit. It's been crazy around here for the last week or two.

And besides all the moving struggles, the kids are sick. Billy and Ian have been running fevers and coughing constantly. Carley has had a little cough, but luckily no fever (yet).

Oh, and I'm working at Target temporarily. Not so sure how I will keep it up now, but I'm on the schedule and have a sitter. Hopefully I can make it work until the move. Then, I'm considering transferring to the Waterloo Target. So, there's the update. I'll do my best to write more soon.

Pictures are of:

Billy and Ian helping mom pack the toy room.

By the way, Ian almost fits in a diaper box.

Carley with cheese on her nose.

Carley playing in the bath tub with new toys.

Wow, I'm awful at journeling online and by hand.

It's been almost a month since I have posted new information... so I thought I better get back on the ball. No need to wait for New Year's to start doing things right...

Carley recently got her first tooth and has been enjoying some real food... homemade chicken pot pie, spaghetti and meatballs, muffins, pancakes with bananas and many others. She loves to feed herself. She has been standing for forever and recently figured out how to walk behind a push toy. You can tell she's really proud of herself. Her newest talent is fishy face...fun!

Billy hasn't been doing much that's new, except asking questions. He's adding many new words to his vocabulary every day... I can hear it growing. He also thinks that na-nee-na-nee-na-naa is fun to say and sticking his tongue out is funny. Great.... I have been enjoying playing school with him when school is cancelled due to inclement weather. He has a Christmas program Thursday.

Ian is learning to use the potty- in his own time. He also has been loving pretending to be Super Why and WonderRed, from his new favorite show (Super Why). He always wants to be a hero, any kind. Which contrasts well with Billy's bad guy complex. Ian is such a sweetheart with the most darling smile and giggle. I'm sure God gave him those attributes so I wouldn't kill him when he screams NO and NEVER.

Skittles has recently been hanging out with us more. He's usually within a couple of feet from me. He still doesn't want to join me on the couch yet. But he has learned that snow and ice are freaking cold... when I send him out he does his business and is ready to come back in. Almost no accidents now.

Carl has a recent corporate visit and that went very well. He is fighting a cold with aches and pains- could be the flu. Oh, and by the way, he dropped a bunk bed on his head when unloading a truck at work... no surprise, he's fine. I always knew he had a hard head.

As for me, I've been struggling with getting enough time to sleep. When I have free time I choose to read or sew and then don't get to sleep. Then, when I'm ready to go to bed, my mind isn't. But I have been reading a lot.

Well, more soon.

Autumn in Iowa

The leaves are down. The trees in the yard were beautiful for about 1 week. We've already had our first snow, though no accumulation. Here are some pictures of our little ones playing in the leaves while Dad and cousin Justin were picking them up to take to the dump. I'll write more... eventually.