Our Epic Adventure A.K.A. our move to California!

It seems as if we have been talking about this move for ever!  It is really hard sometimes to accept that it has happened, but I am sitting in my school room in Rancho Cordova, California, so it must be true.

On Thursday, July 18th we picked up one of the trucks and started to load it.  I had to back it up in the driveway and I knew there was no way I was driving this truck to California.  It was a HUGE 26 foot Penske truck.  This is a HUMONGOUS truck!  I have an aversion to heights and boy was I high up in the cab of this truck.  Just moving it back 5 feet in the driveway made me shake in fear.  What in the world was I going to do?  We needed me to be able to drive this truck!  I said nothing to no one!  I guess that's not completely true...God and I talked a lot that day!  That night we went to Songs in the Park for the last time.  The last time is never fun! :(  Then we went to the hotel and I did not sleep well at all.  I kept waking up because of that HUGE truck.  I kept praying and asking God what was I to do?!  In the early morning I woke Paul and told him I was sorry to let him down, but there was NO WAY I was going to be able to drive.  He told me he was just thankful I realized it BEFORE we had loaded the truck.  He had to go all over the place to get my truck.  It was still big, but not HUGE.  It was a 16 foot truck.  It was a truck that had more of a van for the cab.  I could handle this!!!!

We have awesome friends that gave us so much help on Saturday loading the truck.  I couldn't get over all the people that came to help us!!!  Not only that, but people came  and cleaned our house!  I love all of you so much.  I will never forget Meredith and all the cleaning she did, just like her sweet mom Rachel.  Rachel made sure EVERYTHING was packed!  All of you were awesome!  Colby did an awesome job of making sure the trucks were packed efficiently.

Sunday, Rachel and Meredith returned and cleaned even more!  I love you two, and was incredibly blessed with your willingness to do yucky jobs!  I will always remember this:)  Later that evening Dawn and Mike hosted a great going away open house.  There were soooo many people in their house!  It was incredible!  I loved looking outside the front window and seeing all those teens playing Frisbee together!  This was a hard night.  There is absolutely nothing fun about goodbyes!  I hope I will see all of those people again on earth one day!  I told a few of the teens that I am so thankful they know Christ and are Christians because if nothing else we could cling to the fact that we will all be together one day in heaven.  I could just see them playing ultimate Frisbee and Allie catching a high throw that on earth only Connor could make.  I love all of you that were there!  I miss you all.  I have never known such a great bunch of people.  God really blessed the Lee's with all of you and we are so thankful for all of you!

Monday, July 22, 2013 we head out.  We are driving up the 110 to get to the I-10 and it is raining...not just any type of rain but pouring!  We can hardly see to drive!  This made for a really long day of stressful driving.  Some of the neat things I saw today were at least three tent revivals.  I have seen them on TV, but never for real.  We also really saw that the south is like a jungle.  There are so many trees and they are covered with vines and you really can't see through the trees.  It is just beautiful!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013 we go to Duck Commander in West Monroe, LA.  AWESOME!  It was great.  We didn't see anyone from the show, but it was still great.  We stay in Dallas tonight.  The parking lot is hard to get into with the trucks and we discover that one of the tires on the car carrier is shredded.  Paul calls and someone comes to fix it.  Thank goodness that was easy.  By this point mom is starting to hurt more in her back.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013 we are making the boring drive from Dallas to Amarillo, Texas.  Mom's back is really hurting and after we get into Amarillo I take her to an Urgent Care Clinic.  They believe she has torn a muscle in her back and give her medicine.  We are all hopeful that the medicine is going to help.

Thursday, July 25, 2013 we are driving to Denver today. Poor mom is pretty drugged and is still in A LOT of pain.  It is all she can do to walk.  We are all worried about her.  When we get to Raton Pass there is a lot of rain and at one point we have to pull over on the side of the highway.  I look out the passenger window and notice there is a mud slide right next to our truck.  It was very scary.  We finally get to Denver and we are all tired, but happy to be here.  The kids and I go visit my friend Lynette and her family.  We had fun seeing a lot of deer, and their chickens and bunnies.

Friday, July 26, 2013, today is Mom's birthday and she is still really hurting.  So, she spends her birthday in the ER.  They do all sorts of test and think all sorts of things, but in the end they just think she needs stronger pain medicine.  What an exciting birthday.  It was not the way you want to spend the day.  I again spend some time that evening with my friend.

Saturday, July 27, 2013 mom is sleeping a lot and so Paul stays with mom.  I took the kids and went with Lynette to Tiny Town.  It was a fun morning.  We even rode the train!  We went shopping and then to dinner at White Fence Farm.  Mom felt good enough, but drugged and was able to go with us to dinner.

Denver ended up being a little sad, because we didn't hardly do what we had planned.  The good was I saw my friend and Paul saw our niece RayLynne.  Also, we hoped the rest was good for mom.

Sunday, July 28, 2013, we drove to Rock Springs, WY.  This was a fun day. I saw lots of animals:  Lamas, Buffalo, Dromedary Camels, Deer, Cows and Horses...oh and sheep!  I love animals.  We went to dinner at a Village Inn.  The manager asked how many of us there were and I said 7, he looked around the almost empty restaurant and said hmmm let me see what I can do.  As if there was no where to seat us.  It was funny!  Oh one more animal....LOTS of bunny rabbits!  Mom is doing a little better today!

Monday, July 29, 2013...lets just say this was not a great day!  Outside of Salt Lake City, about 40 miles or so, we stopped to get gas.  We get back on the highway and Paul's truck has warning lights come on.  We pull over and he can't start his truck back up, so we call.  They say a truck is on it's way and will tow him to Salt Lake City.  A Highway Patrolman stops and makes sure we are ok.  He suggest I take the rest of us on into town and try to find a hotel.  So we leave Paul on the side of the road, this is not fun to do to your husband, and drive into Salt Lake.  We go looking for a McDonald's so I will have WI-fi and can find us a hotel.  Now remember, this is no easy thing to do for 7 people, a large dog and a hamster.  It is a really long story...to make it short I found a hotel, couldn't stay because there was no where for the trucks, had to cancel and then just started driving and stopping at hotels.  One rude hotel told me this is a bad week and everything is full.  First of all Mr. RUDE HOTEL MAN, I didn't pick for this to happen, I can't help that it happened and I wish it hadn't happened.  If you don't have a room say so.  If you can help me, please do.  It is at this point it is all I can do not to cry.  (I really hate how easy it is for me to cry!)  I go to the next hotel and the lady feels bad and says she has one room left if we all want to squeeze into it.  I thank her and say I will try one more close hotel.  I walk into the Residence Inn and this nice lady ask if she can help me.  I say, "Please tell me you will take a large dog and you have something for a family of seven tonight."  She says they do and guess what?  I cry!  Oh my goodness!  All this has happened and I really haven't heard from Paul and I am starting to get worried.  When I do hear...oh this is where it just starts to get unbelievable...the trucks transmission is shot!  They are going to unload the truck onto another!!!!  To remind you, the wonderful engineer Colby has organized the truck.  It takes them three times to load the truck and make it all fit.  When we unloaded the truck once here I was shocked and dismayed with how they had packed it.  Needless to say we had a few broken items.  Paul didn't get back to the hotel until almost midnight.  When he did get back and parked the truck an engine light came on in this new truck!!!  A repair man came and worked on the truck.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013, we leave Salt Lake City and are on our way to Fernley, Nevada.  It is going to be a long day.  We get 30 minutes outside of Salt Lake City and we are right next to The Great Salt Lake and Paul's truck breaks down.  We tell him we love him and he sends us on because there are literally no hotel rooms available and he has no idea how long this will take.  He is there until 5 pm.  He drives a few hours and then stops for the night.  This was a horrible, terrible, no good day.  I did not want to leave my husband in the middle of nowhere and yet we could see no other options.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013 we are just three hours away from our new home, it is uneventful the rest of the way.  Paul catches up with us today and we are finally here!!!  We have checked into a hotel to have a break at night from everything while we get our new house in order.  Oh my, this hotel is scarey and even Lucy (dog) does not want to stay here.  She sat at the door all night and moaned.  We left the next morning and just moved into the house.

My friend Emily and her son Josh came over on Thursday and helped up unload the trucks. With there help we were done around three in the afternoon.  We were so thankful for them.  I would say we are over 50% moved in.  It is hard being a way from our friends.  In all of this I keep trying to find things to be thankful for.

Things we are thankful for:
1.  that Andrew had his learners permit and could drive
2.  that everyone stayed calm during everything and just went with it
3.  that the house was ready and we could move in, that it is a nice house
4.  we got furniture to sit on! (it just came Monday)
5.  the weather here is wonderful (we don't run the air at night! today I never even had to turn it on!)
6.  that we are all together


What an epic adventure it truly turned out to be!  

Moving

Moving...it is a challenge

There are many reasons that moving is hard, some are very obvious:

saying goodbye to friends
packing
going through things
finding a new home
learning your way around a new area
finding new doctors etc.

Some of the things you don't always think of:

...leaving your kids height on the wall and knowing you will never see it again
...going places and almost always running into someone you know
...the sound your house makes
...the smell of your house
...feeling an attachment to your home and knowing there will be things you    will miss

I know God has a plan and is in control and for that I am thankful.  I will admit though that I am only human and somedays the unknown seems very overwhelming.  I think I am just going to keep my eyes on Jesus and trust in Him, because tonight I am just really sad and I am going to miss my life in Florida. 

I have lived here for 10 years in a row and a total of 14 years all together.  I can say that about no other state.  Here are the totals:

Florida: 14 years
Colorado: 8 years
California: 6 years
South Carolina: 4 years
Texas:  4 years
Virgina:  3 years
Tennesse:  1 year

I guess I am just feeling nostalgic tonight.  I wish I could stop time and yet also see what next adventure is to come.

Graduation

Andrew came up and put his arm around me!  I was watching for the start of the ceremony so I could send the graduates in and he just came up and put his arm around me!  I love him so much!

Here Andrew is giving "His Charge to His Fellow Graduates"

The day before at rehearsal.

Taking pictures!

This is the Celebration Auditorium where we held the reception.  Paul was fearless and climbed a huge ladder to hang the decorations from the ceilings.

The smile is because Paul mentioned sometimes "life is wacky" a reference to Andrew's video's called "Wacky Wednesdays!"

Love him!

speech

speech

 

 

 

 

 

Memories-Allie

We have always called Allie our princess.  Here is proof:

She was 5 years old!  Isn't she adorable? 

I found a story she wrote about a butterfly mommy and her little girl butterfly.  When she was tired of writing she wrote:  this is the end, there is no more! 

I love you Allie!

Memories - Andrew

I am busy cleaning out...getting ready for a garage sale this weekend and starting to pack up what I can in anticipation of our move across country this summer. 

I came upon the following letter written Christmas 2002.  Andrew was six and he asked to write the following:

Merry Christmas! 

How have you been?  I asked mommy if I could write a letter to everybody, because I want to tell you about Jesus.

Jesus died on the cross, and His heavenly Father sent Him to the world and He was laid in a manger and He grew up and told others about God, then He died, but He rose again.  He did this because He loved us.  I feel like God loves me a lot, to not let me die from my cancer.  I'm really glad that nothing bad happened to me, because I like being here with Mommy and Daddy, but if I had died I would be in heaven with Jesus, and that would be good.  I know I would be in heaven because I believe in God and Jesus.  I prayed and asked Jesus to come in my heart two years ago.  I hope you asked Jesus in your heart, because I want to see you in heaven.

This is my favorite song:

Our God is an Awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an Awesome God

Our God is an Awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an Awesome God 

Thank you for praying for me and sending me cards.  I love you.  Have a Merry Christmas.

Love,
Andrew Lee

What a blessing to find this and to remember what we all went through when Andrew had cancer and to see where we are today.  It brings back many memories and I am so thankful that Andrew is still here, that God's will for him to be with us:)  Love you Andrew.

 

February

Emily's 8th birthday party!  She wanted to have a LEGO themed birthday!

 The month of February has been really busy.  Between sickness, and Andrew's foot (still on crutches); getting ready for the High School Banquet, Graduation planning, co-op, PE, golf starting back, a surprise party (pretty cool to get a 39.5 party), Emily's birthday and least I forget school....It has been a busy February.  I thought I should post a few pictures from the past month.

Before the guest arrived she wanted to stop and smell the flowers.

This was her Lego man named Ned.  She came up with the name herself.

More flowers!

Emily LOVES flowers.  They are her favorite thing.  She sings about them and dances with them.

Hitting the pinata Daddy made her.

Helping to hang streamers in the wind.

Her cake was so much fun to make.

Blowing out the candles.  She really had a great party and the weather cooperated so nicely.  We weren't sure if it was going to stop raining in time for the party, but it did:)

Notice Allie's shoes...aren't they fun?

 The High School Banquet was really a neat event.  I have had so much fun shopping with both Andrew and Allie and just getting them ready!  Paul and I both attended as chaperones and it was a really special night!  Our children have made some very neat friends here in Pensacola.

Tyler and Allie

Obviously from Emily's birthday...I don't understand why blogger does this, CRUD MUFFIN AND A HALF, but I guess it is to keep me on my toes and make life more exciting!

Ok, I know they are my children, but aren't they just adorable?  I love them both so much...I am so glad they are such good friends.  Cannot believe Andrew is graduating.

I love this picture!

My son! I love him.  Notice the crutches.

Andrew -I guess I need to center people better.

Allie

Paul and I being completely silly!

Hard to believe these are my babies!

  Hopefully it shows how much fun we all have together.

Andrew is feeling better and I am so glad!!  It is good to have him up and hear all of his neat ideas and sarcastic comments!

Emily is sick!  Why does this keep happening?!  She has a temp of 102.2 and she feels miserable.  I am concerned for Allie, because she kept carrying Emily around today.  Praying God keeps the rest of us from getting sick AGAIN.

Poor Emily, tomorrow is the Valentine Skating Party and she has worked so hard on her Valentine Box and Valentine cards.  Daniel promised to take it all for her and get her Valentine's.  It is our last skating party in Pensacola, she is so upset to miss it.  We are so going to miss our friends.  I know God has new things in store for us.  It is just really hard right now, because we know what to expect here...we just don't know what to expect there.

Run for God

I have started this program/Bible study/get healthy.  It is called Run for God.  The first meeting was this past Saturday morning, which I missed, because I wasn't feeling well.  I didn't want to be behind from the start, so yesterday I got started...
                                       I ALMOST DIED!!!!

That may sound a little dramatic, but I really wondered how I was going to make it.  Here is what I had to do:

•   walk for 5 minutes
•   then for 20 minutes, run for 1 minute and then walk for 90 seconds
•    then walk for 5 minutes

So, you see you had to keep track of time, so I enlisted Allie to go with me to keep track of the time.  She was a great and wonderful encourager.  She did try to pretend to be Jillan from the Biggest Loser, but she yelled at me one time and decided she didn't enjoy the job of yelling and choose to become more encouraging.  I liked that better too.  

Allie says, "Mom, you have 10 seconds and then it is time to run."  I am thinking, "Sweet girl, she really thinks I can RUN!"  "Go Mom", Allie says in this kind voice.  I run/walk with my knees bent, my arms pumping and a bounce to my step.  "Allie, how much longer? Let me know 30 sec., 15, etc"  I survive, but boy am I out of breath!  (In the meantime, my physically fit daughter is skipping, twirling and just having a great time and not SWEATING like her mother)_Long story short, my leg begins to hurt, it hurt really bad, but I am not going to give up!!!!!  I did it.  Every two minutes I "ran" for a minute!  I did it.  We are now almost home and the tears are starting to run down my sweaty face!  Allie runs ahead a gets Paul for me because (no drama here:)  I am sure I have injured my leg and I will never be able to walk again.  What have I done?!?!

Paul comes out, with Daniel and Emily.  They are all going to rescue me.  I stretch, take a Motrin, put ice on my leg and call a friend!  By the end of the day my leg felt better.  I completly forget to take anymore Motrin.  

2 a.m. Oh my gosh!  Someone must have run me over with a car.  I HURT everywhere!  I should go take a Motrin...I can't move.  I'll wake Paul...No, that wouldn't be nice.  I fall back asleep.  I get up this morning.  I CANT MOVE!!!  I move, but boy am I sore, everywhere!  All I can think this morning is, "I have to get up and do this again tomorrow!!!!!!"

I will get up and do this again, because Christ will give me the strength.  He did yesterday.  Every time I had to "run" I sang a praise song, in my head, because you know I was out of breath and there was no way I could really sing.  God got me through it.  Yeah God!


 (thanks Allie for encouraging me, for going with me, for not laughing)






                                            

One of my hero's

     My Grandma "B" was one of my heroes!  She is someone I so want to be like.  When I make a special meal I think of her.  I can't make a pot roast without thinking there needs to be jello served with it.  I try to bake like her and make the same yummy goodies.  I try to make things special.  For example, my children her great grandchildren, have a memory of sitting at the counter in her kitchen drinking Pepsi out of little cute Coke glasses.  She made even a Pepsi special.
    She was a master sewer.  She quilted the most beautiful quilts.  When I was around 8 or 9 I was able to go from California to Denver to stay with my grandparents.  I remember going through some of my Grandma's quilting magazines and I found the most beautiful baby quilt.  It was baby blue with pink sewing on it.  I showed it to her and asked, "Grandma, when I get married and have a baby will you please make this?"  When I was pregnant with Andrew a big box arrived one day and in it was the quilt I had asked for.  That quilt means so much to me.  She made me clothes, afghans, table covers, shadow boxes with my Grandpa and so much more.
     I remember her sitting at the pool with my mom and watching my brother and I play in the water.  She watched all our tricks and told us what good swimmers we were.  She always looked when we asked her, even if we had asked 100 times!
    Her house always looked beautiful and comfortable.  Just another way I desire to be like her.  She made you feel special and cherished. My Grandma made me feel special.  She loved me and treated me like I mattered to her.  She listened to my opinions and made me feel worthy to her.  I thought I could do anything when I talked to her.
     After I got married and I would have a question about something I would call her.  She would ask me what I thought I should do and then would encourage me and direct me if I was wrong.  She always made me feel smart and like I really did know what to do, just needed a little encouragement. 
     I never heard her curse.  The worse thing I heard her say was in the car when a man turned out in front of her she called him a "Dodo bird!"  We had a good laugh at that. 
     She loved to go to Taco-bell for a taco salad, and she loved a cold Pepsi on a hot day.  She loved her family.  I am going to miss her so much.
     A few years ago I gave her a call and said I wanted to talk to her about Jesus and heaven and death.  We talked and she told me she was so thankful I cared enough about her to talk to her about what can be a delicate subject.  She told me she was a good person and knew she was fine.  I agreed with her that she was a good person, and explained again what the Bible says about believing and accepting Christ.  I don't know what she believed.  I hope and pray she believed in Jesus and that she is in heaven.  I pray for all my family and friends.  I want all of you in heaven one day.  It will be the greatest thing ever!  There is only one way to get to heaven and it is to believe in Jesus.  To believe He is the Son of God, that He died on a cross to pay for our sins.  It is hard for our human minds to comprehend (mine for sure), but it doesn't matter how good we are, we will never be good enough, we need Jesus.
     My brother called from Italy today and told me he had received an email and that our Grandma had died today.  I have no more grandparents on earth and that feels really strange.  I have my mom and I am so thankful I do.  I have a husband and I love him so much.  I have my children, what a blessing.  I have my brother, whom I love a lot and his wife, who is my sister of my heart, and his daughter, who I love as my own.  I have all of Paul's family who I love and my friends so I am blessed.  It just feels weird to not have a grandparent after having at least one for over 39 years.
    So to all my family and friends who read this, I love you.  You all are important to me.  Don't forget to tell those you love that you do.  It is important to hear it and say it!  To just assume people know how you feel about them, make sure they know.  Even more important learn about Jesus.  There is absolutely nothing more important you can do then to learn all about Him!  He loves you and He wants to be your Savior.  I love to talk about Him, so I'm here.

Update

Today is day 22 of sickness at the Lee house.  You heard that correctly day 22.  I would say Paul, Andrew, and Daniel are better.  Daniel still coughs, but otherwise is doing good!  Emily just seems real run down and just not completely up to par.  I am just tired, oh so tired.  And dear Allie, she has pneumonia! 

We went to the doctor yesterday because her throat and chest hurt.  No strep, but pneumonia.  I was even thinking while we were there, "I sure hope we didn't waste our time coming today.  I bet she is just having some drainage and will be fine tomorrow.  I probably overreacted and we could even go to co-op."  Well, boy was I surprised when he said he could hear she has pneumonia.  By the time we came home she was so worn out and started running a fever.  Today she has just laid around and is back to feeling miserable.  One day we will all be better! 

We miss seeing our friends.  We feel like UN-socialized homeschoolers right now. 

Speaking of school...we did accomplish some school this week, but for Allie it has been put on the back burner again. Maybe by the weekend.:)

Just know all of you friends out there...WE MISS YOU!!!!

Daniel

Daniel is 6 months old here.  We had gone to see my brother at pilot training, which is why he has his flying snoopy pjs on!

Here Daniel is about 2 years old and we are in California.  He has put on his Granddad's work boots and is ready to work!  I think he was worried he would get in trouble.  He didn't.

Andrew and Allie

Allie at 6 months old.  Look at her go! I loved her head of hair!  I love brushing it and making it flip!

Andrew is 18 months here.  He loved to be just like dad!  They were two cool guys with their shades!  It's hard to tell but Andrew is styling Winnie the Pooh sunglasses!

Andrew is about 2 here.  Already loves anything that has to do with rockets.  At this age it was all about bubbles, now it's about nuclear power!

I love this picture of Paul and Allie.  She looks like a little princess!  She is 18 months old here.

Poor tooth!

Apparently I am losing a filling...I really don't like going to the dentist.  I guess I will be calling in the morning and explaining I have lost part of a filling.  It really doesn't hurt, but I don't know how much they will want to see me while I am sick. 

My new favorite thing to watch..

One of the positive things I have discovered while I have been sick for the past 18 days (but who is counting) is Downton Abbey.  How come I didn't know about this?  I have watched season 1 and I am half way through season 2.  I love the characters, the accents, the beautiful dresses, etc.  It has been a great diversion from sickness.

"It" came

 Oh my goodness!!  The UPS man paid a visit to us today, and earlier than he normally does.:)  He brought a great big box right to my door.  (In my head is the song, "Oh The Wells Fargo Wagon is a Coming Into Town" from the Music Man)  I was so excited and so happy and then we opened it!  We had a drum roll and there it was...our beautiful, wonderful Keurig Coffee maker!  Do you know that when you turn it on there is this beautiful blue light that comes on?  I love blue.  The light alone makes me happy!  It came with all these k-cups...fun!  We have made three different types of coffee and two cups of hot chocolate and then I just made some cups of hot water because it is fun!:) 

my pretty machine!

Thank you to everyone who answered my question as to what type of coffee maker to buy.  You all are great. 

Blue

I was feeling blue today.  I am so over hearing us all cough, blow our noses and just sound miserable.  I am tired of being sick.  I lamented to a friend this morning and she was so encouraging to me, because she just was understanding.  She didn't tell me to get over it, she just said she understood. Thanks Rachel.

Then God sent friends in droves...offering to bring dinner, run to the store, pray etc.  We had a surprise knock at the door and it was groceries, flowers and treats for the dog!  What awesome friends. 

Then a sweet girl commented on my blog and reminded me of just how much God cares for us.  I love Jesus so much and I am so thankful that we just have the flu.  This isn't a disaster, just an inconvenience.  It isn't cancer, been there done that with Andrew.  It's just the flu.  We are blessed that we may be sick, but we have each other.  We may be sick, but we have a safe place to be, movies to watch, games to play, books to read, and even the internet to keep in touch with friends.  We may be sick, but we are able to go to the doctor.  We may be sick, but we have sweet friends who reach out to us and show us how loved we are and pray for us.  We may be sick, but we have Jesus and He loves us and cares for us!

Feeling very thankful and grateful tonight.

Wow!  Paul came home from work with his orders in hand!  It's official we are moving this summer to Sacramento.  After 10 years of being in the eastern part of the country it seems weird to think we will be out west.  I haven't lived in California since I was in 5th grade!  This should be some adventure...3 adults, 4 kids, 85 pound lab, and a little Chinese dwarf hamster moving across country!  

Trying to look at the adventure and not the sadness of leaving some of the greatest people:(

Coffee pots

Coffee is important to the two adult women in this house.  Mom and I love our coffee and Andrew is starting to join us in our enjoyment.  During the sickness in our house, the coffee pot has been acting up.  It isn't using all the water and the coffee isn't staying hot.  This is not good.  In fact with how I have been feeling it was somewhat tragic.:)

I researched, and researched some more.  Had a lot of time on my hands.  My mom was my field researcher as she checked things out at the local stores.  We even asked our friends their opinons.  We ended up with a Keurig.  I can't wait for it to get here.  It feels like Christmas all over again.  I just was notified today that it has shipped and should be here by the end of the week.  I can't wait!
 

FLU

I haven't posted anything in awhile because life gets busy.  I have been sick for the past 12 days.  Did you catch that?  12 days.  That's almost a fortnight!  (I learned that many years ago when Andrew and I used Five in a Row).  That is a long time to not feel good.  In the mean time Paul got sick about 3 days later, he's doing better, but not completely.  Today was his first day to make an appearance at work.  Then a day or so later Daniel started this terrible, no good cough.  A few hours later Emily joined him.  The next day Allie joined the crowd.  Poor girl it had only been a few weeks since she had been so sick, that we had made two doctor visits for IV's.  

Andrew and Grandma stayed strong and Andrew was even trying to help me keep up with everyone's medicine...and then he began coughing.  We finally decided we better go to the dr.  They tested the kids for the flu and Andrew tested positive.  We thought he was maybe the lucky one because they put him on Tamiflu, but so far it hasn't helped.

Grandma finally succumbed on Saturday with a nasty cough.  She went to the dr. today and they said maybe it is bronchitis and put her on antibiotics.  

Everyone is really pathetic and did I mention it looks like Christmas in our house.  Some stuff is down, in piles, but the majority is still up.  I never thought I would say it, but I am SICK of looking at Christmas stuff.

Andrew and Allie are worrying about being behind school.  Yeah, that thing called school.  WE were suppose to start back on Jan. 7th, and we did, even though I didn't feel good.  The next day people started dropping like flies.  Allie tried yesterday to do school.  She did 3 lessons in Algebra, which promptly lead to her fever reappearing.  Never thought I would live to see the day I would have to say, "Allie, stop doing school!"

We are sick of video games, oh yeah...Andrew was trying to figure out how much energy it would require of him to stand up, walk three steps, and turn on the xbox.  He decided it was too much effort and went back to laying down.  That tells you how sick he is.  Allie did pull herself together and worked up the energy to turn it on for him, but it only lasted about 10 minutes.  We have watched so many episodes of "My Little Pony", "Full House", "Storage Wars" etc...I think we are getting sick of tv.

Daniel discovered that the shower helped his coughing and so Dad went and bought him a humidifier, which if you live here you know is kinda funny..it's only been in the 70's and like 100% humidity, anyway, Daniel looks like he is living in a fog machine.  He likes that thing pointed right in his direction!  The blessing is that he has been able to rest better.

We are praying that in the next few days people will begin to feel better and life can get back to normal...I guess we will have to see what happens.

The positives of being sick this long...you get to sleep a lot, there is no guilt for not being able to keep up with everything, I got to finish a few crafts with Emily and introduce her to the magic of Shrinky dinks.  I also got to look at things on the internet, blogs, recipes etc. that I normally don't have time for.  I was able to research a Bible curriculum for Andrew and Allie and purchase it. 

Praying we are better soon, and if any of you all are sick that you also will be better soon!