Diary of a Quilter: Vintage Alphabet Quilt

Diary of a Quilter: Vintage Alphabet Quilt This is such an awesome quilt! I so need to make this! I think that my boys would love this and also, my mom would be too. (since she is a teacher and all!) Sooo cute!

Merry and Happy

Merry belated Christmas and Happy New Year!



Things at my house have been a bit insane these past weeks. Between working and commuting, I haven't had time for much. I worked Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday last week and when I got home from work on Thursday (I got off early yay!) I ended up taking Johnathan to urgent care and they diagnosed him with RSV and an ear infection. They gave me albuterol, steroids, and antibiotics for him. Poor guy. I took him home and we went to bed!
On Christmas Eve, we went and had brunch with my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins at Cracker Barrel. After we went there, we headed back up to Girard to exchange gifts with Marc's Mom, Dad, and his sisters and their families. That was so much fun. Let me tell you. I wish you could hear the sarcasm in my voice right now (well you can't because I am typing lol) Just imagine 7 kids and 8 adults exchanging presents all at the same time. CHAOS! After that was over, Marc and Joey went to Marc's uncle's house for the Starks' side gathering. The twins and I didn't go because they were still feeling awful. I had a few moments to myself and enjoyed some tv with no requests to watch Toy Story.
Christmas morning came and the boys woke up later than normal (which was perfectly fine by me) and we went downstairs and got them their morning bottles and sippy cup and started in on the presents. We didn't get much for the boys this year because we knew that they would be getting a haul from everyone else and because money is tight. Also because we knew that they didn't know any better. They have no idea about presents anyways, so why fuss and fret when they don't understand. We ended up getting ready and heading down to my mom and dads house to celebrate with them. We got there around noon and proceeded to open presents. This year I was all about giving presents that I knew that the people would really like, not just things that they wanted. (except dad. He is the hardest to surprise. He will just tell us what he wants and that is the best thing to get him.) As silly as it sounds, I was most excited to give Jesse his present. When mom and I went to Arcola, I picked up his present in one of the little shops there. I got him a mustard sampler pack. First of all, he LOVES mustard. I don't mean just likes the stuff, I mean he puts it on anything that he can. He also loves peppers. Habniero and jalapeno to be exact. The hotter the better. What better thing to find than some Habinerio and Jalapeno flavored mustard! There were also a few others, like garlic mustard, that he sounded like he would enjoy as well. He even asked where he could get refills! It made me happy to know that I knew my brother well enough to know what he would like and I hope that he realized that I spent time picking out something that would be perfect for him! I also made my mom a cover for her Kindle for Christmas. It wasn't perfect, but she said it didn't have to be. I wanted it to be something that she loved. Something that she knew that I took my time on just for her. I hope she loves it!

Well after opening presents and eating, I realized that Jonah felt very warm and was having some troubles breathing. I figured that he too had RSV and that he needed to be seen at the ER. I called the after hours line for my doctors office and they told us to head to Children's Hospital. We headed in there and mom and dad watched the boys. After a few Albuterol treatments, the test results came back that he did indeed have RSV as well. They sent us home on treatments and with some steroids to help his lungs. So much for a good Christmas! Oh well!

I was supposed to work the day after Christmas, but I realized that I would be so worried about the boys being sick and that Marc would get overwhelmed with everything he had to do for them and more likely than not, they would be pretty cranky, I called in. They had extra people on the schedule at work, so I didn't feel bad by calling in. We headed back to Girard once mom and dad left for church.

We got up there and tried to get things a bit organized despite having so much stuff to put away. We are so blessed to have so much stuff for the boys! We don't have to worry about clothes for a while! And the same for toys! We have way more than we need! We got the boys settled in and things somewhat straightened out and we all tried to rest. I tried to clean a bit around our bedroom, but didn't get very far.

Monday, Marc had to go back to work, so I was alone with the boys. It wasn't a bad day at all. I just tried to keep them comfortable and fed. The day went by pretty fast, and before you knew it, Marc was home and it was time to eat and get the kids ready for bed.

Tuesday I had to call into work again. It wasn't considered a second absence, so I called in. .The boys weren't well enough to go to Ashley's house anyways. I didn't want to risk her getting sick as well. The boys and I just sat around at home and had a low key day. I just prayed that they would get better! The rest of the week was spent with Marc at home just having fun. We played with a lot of their new toys and just enjoyed each other.

Overall, I had a great year. Between the boys being born and the fun that I have had with all of them, I am truely blessed. Things have been a little rocky to say the least, but I know that God has his hand in everything and everything will be ok!

Flower Sugar Giveaway!

Look at this sweet giveaway over here at Retro Mummy! The fat quarters of this material is so sweet! I would love to have this to make a quilt for a sweet little girl! Head on over here to enter!

My Review of My Very Own Kitchen

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

Features:

• Compact size
• The 19 piece kitchen set includes a microwave, range, grill area, conventional oven, dish organizer and plenty of shelf space
• Accessories include cups, dishes, silverware, pots, pans, cooking utensils, a pitcher, a cell...

My Very Own Kitchen

Very Cute! A lot of assembly required

By Mom of one plus twins from Girard, IL on 12/31/2010

 

3out of 5

This kitchen is very very cute. My 2 year old loves it! It isn't very tall or big, but it gives my son the just of what a kitchen is like. There was a lot of assembly required though. It took me over an hour to put it all together. You do have to have a clipping tool and a screwdriver to put it together. I also didn't have enough screws, but I was able to get by without them. The quality of it is pretty good as well. I do believe that it will last for a few years!

(legalese)

Thankful on a Friday...

Bah Humbug! That is what I feel like saying right now. So many things to be thankful for, but its hard to see those when doubt and depression overshadow them. My head has been in a fog for so long. I am starting to see things a little clearer with the help of some medication, but its not completely clear yet.


God has shown me that he is still there. Through my fog, I wasn't really focusing on him and what he wanted me to do. I was trying to do things on my own. Then it hit me. My blessing. I was going through the mail that had just been laid on the desk. I was trying to clean off the desk to make things a little less cluttered. I found an envelope that I never knew that I got. Figuring it was another bill, I opened it and much to my suprise, it was a check.


I didn't know where it had come from, so I called the number on the check. It was from my OB/GYN's office. I was happy! It was just enough to pay off what I owed them! So I called their office to make sure it wasn't a mistake and they told me that it was what my secondary insurance had picked up. This was money owed to me! YAY! So when I asked what I owed them (thinking I was going to use this check to pay off, or almost pay off). She told me nothing. She said that the insurance covered everything, plus I had paid over the amount that was on the check! YAYYYYYY


I was so elated. I made sure that I told Joey that this check was a blessing. I made him pray with me and thank Jesus for our blessing.

27. Thankful for God's blessing that I have been praying for.

28. Thankful for insurance which helps with our healthcare financially.

29. Thankful for an opportunity to show my son what God can do for us.

30. Thankful for a reminder that God is always there and listening to my prayers.

Ups and Downs

So we had a blast at Marc's company Christmas party last night. We got all dressed up and went to The Top Of The Met. It was gorgeous! We had a good time with some of the people there as well. One of the guys that Marc works with, his wife works here at the hospital with me so it was nice to know someone there. We also stayed at the Hilton Hotel which was only about a block from the party. It was nice to get away from the kids and relax. I just wish that I had slept better than I did! I guess that I was worried I wasn't going to wake up in time for work, even though I had my alarm set.

Here we are in front of the 100 ft Christmas Tree in the Met!

Now onto the down part of this post. I love my kids more than life itself. It sucks when I can't be there for them when exciting things happen. Today was Joey's first Christmas party at church. They had games, face painting, and they got to take home some toys! And I missed it. I had to work. It really hits me when I miss something in my kids' lives because I have to work. It's not even like I want to work anymore, I HAVE to. UGH! I can't deal with missing whole days of my kids' lives. I get them out of bed (most mornings) and put them directly in the car. Drive an hour and 15 minutes and drop them off at the sitters house. Then I head to work. By the time I see them again, they are already asleep for the night (in the car.) I might get to see them if they wake up once we get home, but its not a guarantee. Whole days I miss. It's hard to see that I actually work for a reason. I essentially work to pay for my car and that's about it. Ugh! Help me realize it will be ok!

Thankful on Thursday!

Wow this has been a week! There has been so much that has gone on! Thanksgiving was good. It was a long day, but it was good! I got to spend time with both my side of the family and also Marc's side. The twins were a bit clingy, but Joey was really good all day long. He did wake up at 130 that morning asking for milk and then he went into terror mode. He was hitting/kicking/throwing things. It was bad. He didn't calm down until I got him to drink some milk and eat a piece of candy. I think that he is having some blood sugar issues. I am going tomorrow to have his blood checked to see if he is really having some blood sugar problems.

21. Knowledge enough to realize when my child might be sick.

22. For those times when the boys just want to climb up in my lap and have me hold them.

23. For family to spend the holidays with (even though they might be insane!)

24. A friend who I GET to make quilts for her twins!

25. For mom to help me with those quilts.

26. For an opportunity to have 2 days away with my mom to refresh myself as a mom.