Category Archives: Family Life

I’ve been so busy! I have no idea where to start on my catching up! Maybe a quick update on everyone and then I can share some pictures from the last few weeks! 🙂

J3 (4) has been dealing with an illness lately – some pretty high fevers. 🙁 But he’s also becoming quite the waterboy! While he’s technically not swimming, he loves to dive his head down in the water and tread water – if he could just figure out how to kick he’d be moving! Here is a recent pic of J3 watching his cousin’s Tball game:

J2 (8, almost 9!) has just been enjoying his summer! He and Carson (his local cousin) have been enjoying lots of imaginary play. He’s not looking forward to school starting in a few weeks – and I guess we’ll be going to Sacramento at least once a week for his speech therapy. I’ve been trying to order his curriculum for this fall – what a crazy experience THAT has been! Here is a picture of J2 and Daddy that we took last weekend on a picnic:

J1 (10) has been enjoying the computer lately – thankfully we have a PC that we use for schoolwork. It was really messed up earlier but Eric got it working – and then I was able to set it up for the internet with some great parental controls and J1 has been creating Neopets and such – I need to remember to send him an email today! If you are a friend and want to email J1, you need to email me first, because only those I approve can send him email…but he’d love to hear from you and it’s great reading and writing practice! Here is J1 and one of his adventures this summer – a lemonade stand! (more pics later I hope)

(note the 2 different prices – depending on the color of your cup – which were the SAME size! LOL)

Eric (older than me!!) has been enjoying his summer, working like crazy to get his curriculum figured out, already finished the newest Harry Potter, continues to battle his diabetes, and just took a temporary office job that was offered him for the rest of the summer. We weren’t looking for anything, but the Lord brought this to him and he took it. A little extra money is always nice! Searching for a pic of Eric – here is one with his brother on the 4th of July – was THAT a HOT day! Ugh!

Me (39 in 12 days) well, just so you know…there will be NO picture of me. I take the worst pictures! Ugh! Plus I’ve had it with being overweight! So, until I lose some of this weight – no pics! Hopefully I’ll have something to post soon! I finally had my sleep study and I had severe sleep apnea. I’ve had my CPAP machine for two nights and I’m sleeping really well! I’m still working for the Homeschool Magazine and really enjoying it! Let me clarify – I’m not writing anything – I’m doing lots of behind the scenes jobs that fit my organizational and computer skills! And, the people are the greatest!! I’m also still doing webpages for local nonprofits – I’m currently working on the Yolo County YMCA webpage. I’ll be sure to share the link when something is ready to go online. ok…I’ll give up…here is a pic of me and baby Kaya:

What? What are you complaining about – that’s my arm! LOL

Ok…here are random pics from our summer! Enjoy!!

The boys celebrating their first sale with Grandma O

J1 and Uncle Brett enjoying the 4th of July

My niece, Becca, getting ready to enjoy the fireworks in Meridian on July 9th.

My SIL, Christy, and her daughter, Kaya

One of my attempts to capture a picture of the fireworks at Meridian

J1 in a tree at Sugarloaf State Park

Ok…this will probably be enough to get you by, right!?! 😉 LOL I promise to be better about writing!

Today we are having a small family BBQ – just Eric, the kids and me. I’m preparing BBQ ribs, corn on the cob and a simple pasta salad.
Tomorrow we are having a larger gathering – at this point we plan to be with Eric’s folks, my mom, my brother, his wife and baby girl, Eric’s sister and her 4 kids….and I’m not sure about Eric’s other sister and son or Eric’s brother and his kids. We’ll eat, swim, slip-n-slide, eat some more and eventually head to the town’s fireworks display towards evening. For tomorrow I only need prepare a potato salad and watermelon- which reminds me that I need to head to the store! Hope everyone (in the US) enjoys their Holiday!!

We were leaving Sunday (after church and a BBQ at my FIL’s house – yummy) and my mom noticed that J3 had goosebumps in the 85plus degree weather and was burning up. We left anyway asking Jesus to keep satan away and let us have a good family adventure. At camp it was apparent that he was not getting better. He moaned most of the night and climbed into my sleeping bag – where there really is only room for me!!!
Today after lunch I started to fret about his fever not breaking and not being affected by the ibuprofen. We decided to go up the hill to our room (huff, puff) and pray about what to do. Well, J1 threw a complete FIT and I decided…we were going home. Everyone is very disappointed to be away from Daddy. We were able to see a Dr this afternoon and J3’s temp was 104 (YIKES!!) but he didn’t have anything else going on like ear infection or sore throat so we are thankful!
But we sure miss Daddy.

Someone stop the ride I want off!! It seems I’ve just been going from one wild experience to the next. Let me just share the highlights. Earlier this week we received confirmation that our oldest was diagnosed with ADHD. The first attempt at medications produced some VERY scary side effects. Please, if you don’t agree with giving our child medication – don’t share it with me. I’ve been beat up every which way this week. My husband and I have been in much prayer about this and have decided at this time that we will use this avenue to help us. It turns out that this was simple to fix, but watching my child become that manic was shocking.

Then today while ordering HS curriculum for son #2 I had to explain some of his special needs and what our current IEP is for his education. (this is a company that helps you choose curriculum from various publishers so they need to know a bit about your children) The lady starts to say my son is autistic. At first I’m humoring her – no one has ever suggested this before….but eventually I start to wonder and grow anxious. By the time I get off the phone I’m a mess. I know my boys were damaged in the womb, but I HATE labels! They are who they are…they are growing at THEIR rate and learning and I don’t want some silly label to define and limit them, but it appears everywhere I turn lately I’m faced with more labels. Now I realize how ridiculous she was thinking she could diagnose him over the phone based on my descriptions of how he communicates.

Today I also took son #3 to be evaulated by a team of special education teachers – I’m praying that his speech is his only issue – but I won’t know the end result for sometime due to their school schedule.

Don’t get me wrong there were some good times this week – I was able to get a pedicure and talk to the local YMCA about designing a webpage for them (bartering sports for the work! 🙂 But I feel like satan has realized that I’m vulnerable when it comes to my kids and he is doing his best to hurt me there. Or maybe this is just life and I’m not up for it!

I’m so glad we are going to camp next week – DH will be Camp pastor and we are along for the ride. There should be lots of opportunities for prayer together, reading and cuddling.

I got this idea at “Keeping the Home” Blog – if you like it and ask your kids – please let me know so I can read the responses!

Tonight I asked my boys “Why did God put _____ on the Earth?”….here are their responses:

J1 (10) said…
God put J2 (8) on this Earth so I could have someone to play with and help me when I’m hurt.
God put J3 (4) on this Earth so we can have another brother. If we both (J2 & J1) get hurt he can come tell you (mom).
God put Daddy on this Earth to marry Mommy so he could be our Dad and Mom our Mom.
God put Mommy on this Earth so we didn’t have to go to another foster home and to take us to the emergency room when we are sick and to marry Daddy so she can help out our family.

J2 (8) said…
God put J1 (10) on this Earth because he makes me laugh.
God put J3 (4) on this Earth because he’s a good tattletale and he’s a good digger.
God put Daddy on this Earth so we could have fun and see movies together and to sit with me and buy me LOTR movies.
God put Mommy on this Earth to make good meals – my favorite foods. She helps usdo stuff. If I get angry I can tell mom. If someone hurts me I can tell mom. And, she plays with us.

J3 (4) said….
God put J1 (10) on this Earth so I could have someone to play with.
God put J2 (8) on this Earth so I could have someone to play with and he’s good to hold beeker (the bird).
God put Daddy on this Earth because he’s good at loving me and play with me.
God put Mommy on this Earth because Daddy needs help with the work and you get married to Daddy.