Name that disease...

Since the illness in my house continues, I thought we could have fun with it. I will give you the background information, along with J-Bird's symptoms and we will see who can come up with what he has this time. It will be FUN!

J-Bird finished his amoxicillin on Sunday night(apparently irrelevant). Monday morning he came down with a fever of 102.7 (here starts the clues). He napped, didn't feel very well, but not REAL sick either. Tylenol helped a lot. This morning the first thing I noticed about him is that he had a rash on both sides of his face and I looked at his trunk and had some rash there too. I took his temp and it was down to 101. A couple hours later the rash is worse but the fever is down to 99.6. I took him in and got my answer of what is wrong with him this time. Here are the major clues...

-Starts as high fever. Goes down pretty quickly.

-Rash develops. This rash is known to be on the cheeks.

-A very common childhood illness.

-Normally kids get it between 3-4 years old. I guess home schooled kids may take a little longer to contract it.

It has two common names, and one technical name that I know of.

Ok, who can tell me what J-Bird has??? Come on and play along!

Did you know???

Here is some things I didn't know but I have learned in the last 8 days....





People can still get Scarlet Fever. I didn't realize this. From conversations I've had, most others didn't realize this either.





Scarlet Fever is basically a reaction to a type of Strep Throat.

Scarlet fever is caused by an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria.
The bacteria make a toxin (poison) that can cause the scarlet-colored rash from
which this illness gets its name.
Not all streptococci bacteria make this toxin and not all kids are sensitive to it. Two kids in the same family may both have strep infections, but one child (who is sensitive to the toxin) may develop the rash of scarlet fever while the other may not.

The rash reminds you of sandpaper. Fine little bumps mainly on the trunk of the body.





You also get the slapped cheek look (red cheeks, white around the mouth).





It is treated just like you treat strep.





Once the rash goes away the skin starts peeling, especially around the fingertips and toes. No pain, just peeling. For little boys this can be fun to gross his sisters out with.

At least this is our experience.

He's 8!!!!

No more car seats in my vehicles. The last evidence of the little kid stage is no more. My baby turned 8 today. Am I crying cause I don't have a little one anymore? Nope. Not at all. I have enjoyed getting to know J-Bird for the last 8 years. It is great fun watching him grow and learn. He is a joy and I am lucky to call him my son. Happy Birthday Jay.

A peek inside...

We were doing family devotions the other night and we were studying Proverbs 22. We came to Proverbs 22:13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” and our study bible put this clearly that the lazy man is going to make excuses for not working.

The following conversation happened next...

J-Bird--"Ohh! J-Bell is like a sloth!"

J-Bell--"WHAT?!?!?"

J-Bird--She tries to stay in bed everyday!

J-Bell--"You want me to punch you in the head?"

J-Bird--*shaking his head...smiling* "It's just an example.... and it's true!"

Can't you just see their angel halos?

Another Update

So you know my commitment about blogging more, therefore keeping my mother from wondering if we are alive or dead? Oh, you can't tell I've made that commitment? Maybe that's because I am horrible at following through when the weather outside is anything but frightful. (and for those wondering... Yes, my mother keeps up with my life here rather than the phone. Why? Because neither one of us are horribly great at calling anyone, let alone each other!)

Ok, update time...

Strawberry season was late this year. We were able to head out to pick 4 times throughout the season and have lots of strawberries and strawberry jam in our freezer. Expensive, but I'm hoping that it will last until next summer. The kids were excited the first time we went out but quickly remembered that it isn't as fun as they think. We only do a basket a person each time we go so it is not so long picking and I have time to get them in the freezer.

We also had a family reunion of sorts. Knights side all got together at the farm and spent the day enjoying each others company. The family doesn't get together much as a group anymore and it was nice to see everyone. The kids were able to go on a hay ride. J-Bird loves playing with all the boys in the family. Most of them are around his age so he is in heaven not having to hang out with girls. J-Bell and Desti also have girls there own age so they were off exploring the farm on their own.

We also took the kids camping for the first time. We cheated slightly and borrowed my moms "cabin" (a camper set up at a resort). The kids wanted to tent it, so we brought the tent and let them sleep there, while we had the bed. They had a good time and they loved taking the kayaks out to the middle of the lake and jumping off. That was the plan to avoid the leeches (it worked).

I am aiming to start school in a couple weeks so then I will be back on schedule and hopefully blogging more regularly. Between times of cleaning, going to the pool, and kayaking I have been preparing for that.

Update

I know I need to get more committed about posting. Not because I have so many interested readers who are waiting for some witty comment out of my mouth. Those people who came for that gave up a LONG time ago. I just have this need for a creative outlet, and since most of mine are geared for the 9 long winter months we have up in these here parts, I haven't had any outlet for my creative genius (ok, not so genius, but, whatever!)

So here's the update of our lives...

My two youngest were baptized on the 6th. Pastor was suddenly nervous about baptizing J-Bird when, while they were in the changing room before going to the baptistry he asked Pastor if he could do a cannonball into it. Rara went first and when J-Bird came out he had a strict warning that no cannonballs were needed. Picky picky!

We had some blue jay parents ready to be empty nesters and kicked those babies out or the nest. We had what I think was two different babies land at different times on our slip n slide and sit there for a long time, one for most of the day. We went to bed and it was still there. We are hoping that it flew away instead of becoming lunch for a neighborhood cat. I wouldn't let the kids touch it, but they enjoyed being as close as they could to it.

Other than that, if you are looking for us, you can find us at the pool, or on the river kayaking. Speaking of which, I need to get ready. We are heading out again today, this time a new river. Hopefully I'll be able to get some great pictures to share. Anyone up to going out with me???

Fishing at Dads

Shutter bug

As most of you know I have been playing with my camera a lot lately. I printed out and hung the first collection of my pictures yesterday afternoon but I'm still taking pictures. This is a hobby I enjoy.

Last night we took the kids to Prince Caspian. Near the beginning of the movie when the kids get back into Narnia and they are playing in the water there is a beautiful beach scene. The water is blue-green and clear. There are some really neat boulders and other unique landscaping.

J-bird, seeing this, turns to Knight and says, "Mom would take a picture of that rock."

My kids know me so well.

Cuddle time anyone?

This was the scene last night as we were heading to bed. Allie and J-Bird going to sleep. Allie normally sleeps with him. Sometimes she switches it up and sleeps with the girls but I don't think she gets the cuddle time she gets with J-Bird.

Favorite Friday

What is your favorite food?
I would probably say...macaroni and cheese

What is your favorite book/author/or book series? Why?
My favorite series is Dr Suess because they are funny.

What is your favorite season? Why?
Summer. Cause you can play more around. In winter you can go outside but you have to go inside to warm up.

What is your favorite memory?
Going to Action City to play Deal or no Deal

You are welcome to join me on Favorite Friday. Just let me know you did in the comments.

Birthday Gift +

For J-Bird's birthday we gave him a 3-ring binder, football card sheets (you know the things that hold football cards), and a new box of football cards. The kids have gotten into football cards this year, and J-Bird has shown a lot of interest in football as well.



All of the kids were organizing, sorting, opening the cards.



Then they came across what they all have hoped to get.



A signed card.



J-Bird is thrilled. I think it's so neat that he got one on his birthday. In the same box was a Favre card(His favorite player). The fun is not knowing what you are going to get. And getting what you were hoping for.



It's amazing that God blesses with the little and the big.

Happy Birthday Boy!!

J-Bird,

You are 7 today. I can't believe how time goes by, and yet I love watching you grow from a baby to my little man.

When I found out that you were a boy, I still had a couple of months to get used to the idea before you made your appearance into this world. Having a boy scared me. I had all sisters. Then I had 3 girls. I didn't know if I would know how to do the boy thing.

There is so much more imagined pressure on raising a son. Our goal for all of our children is to be strong in the Lord, a compassionate person, a hard worker. But we know that someday you will probably lead a family. We pray that we are able to prepare you for that role correctly.

I love to watch the boy in you. The love for the Packers. The love for fishing. The love for building things with your hands. I also love to watch you care for the weaker ones around you, your desire to do things the right way, and your willingness to play with most anyone.

Happy Birthday. You make me proud to call you son.

Wordless Wednesday

Mr. Peddle Puller Himself--

Weekend Update

Have you ever noticed that by blessing others you recieve a blessing? Sometimes, ok, most of the time it feels that you get an even bigger blessing. Such was the case this weekend.
Our church has a free garage "sale" every year, where the church body brings in unwanted items from home on Thursday and Friday, takes whatever they want those two days and then we open it up to the public on Saturday for the community to come and take what they need.
Now, I have never shown up on Saturday during the sale. I have gone to clean up, but my dislike of crowds have kept me away. Until this year. One of my friends talked me into working the kitchen with her giving out coffee, milk, bars, muffins, etc. Friday night one of the leaders saw me taking pictures and put me on camera crew.
I have heard the stories of the crowds but to see it for myself was amazing. The first people arived to stand in the cold at 6:30am knowing full well that the doors did not open until 8am. When I got there at 7:25 the line was substantial. And it had gotten below freezing that night. Brrrrr!!!
What a fun morning! We left the sale to go to J-Birds state peddle pull. He was so excited to be a "state champion"! It took f.o.r.e.v.e.r. for his time to pull. During that time we were able to sit and visit with family. Knights parents and sisters showed up, along with my parents and spouses, and my sister. One of my favorite parts of that day was when J-Bird asked to go be with Grampa. I asked which one, since there were 3 around and he pointed to his 3 grampa's sitting on a bench talking. I really don't know if my kids have seen the two sides of the family in the same vicinity in their memory so this was extra special for them. I love this family!

One of the farmers in our church has an annual corn roast. We have not been able to make it often but this year our schedule permitted and we were able to go for the first time in years. They just don't have roasted corn, grilled chicken, and a potluck but they also have horse powered wagon rides, volleyball and football set up, and last year they started a peddle pull. This is an annual event that has hundreds of people show up. Not just from our church, but different churches and with different names on the door. But we can come together and enjoy fellowship as one. What an amazing event.

This is the first time I have seen a peddle pull. For those who don't know, the rider peddles the "tractor" as far as they can as the weight moves on the pulley system making it tougher and tougher. The full pull is 40 feet and if there is a tie they add more weight and the ones that tied do it again.

All that to say that most of the family participated in the peddle pull. All but me and Rara. Knight was pleased with himself that he was right in the middle of all the men that participated. J-Bell and Desti didn't do as well as they hoped for, but they tried.

J-Bird is the one who couldn't have been happier with his pull. He had a full pull, the only boy in his age group that did that, and took home the gold, or at least the JD tractor set he picked out as his prize. And he made it look easy. This was a sanctioned pull, and therefor the top 3 in the age groups are able to go on and compete in the state competition in a couple weeks. And since it is not too far away from my house, and J-Bird REALLY wants to compete at the next one, we signed him up.

We did have plans for that weekend in particular, but how many times does your son have a chance to put "tractor peddle pull state champ" on his resume? So, if your available Sept 15th at 11am come cheer him on.

*Pictured--Upper left-J-Bird (sorry, can't really tell he's pulling)... Upper right-Knight...Lower left-J-bell...Lower left-Desti

We have a new loser in our family. J-Bird lost his first tooth yesterday. This tooth has been wiggly. Real wiggly. Yesterday before we left to go to the water park in Knights hometown, this tooth was barely hanging in there. So, he lost it at the water park. Then he dropped it. Not in the water, but I have no idea where this tooth is. Good thing that we don't have the tooth fairy thing to worry about. J-Bell plays the tooth fairy, but since all the kids know it's her, J-bird just asked her if he could borrow one of her left over teeth so she could be the tooth fairy for him. And she has been getting a lot of practice. J-Bell is losing her baby teeth to make room for her 12 year molars, Rara is still loosing baby teeth. So Desti is the only kid I have right now without missing teeth.

I was helping a friend go through her garage because she is moving :-( we stumbled across a box with her high school mementos in it. There were medals, ribbons, and a big "C" for a letter jacket for the name of her high school. Because her name is Keri, J-Bell asked if the letter was to put her initials on the jacket (home schooled kids are so blissfully unaware of how schools work). J-bird, overhearing the question, rolled his eyes and dramatically proved that it couldn't possibly be for her initials.
"Nooo. Her name is MMMMMrs PPP___!"
Should I look at this as a positive that he knows is letter sounds?

I got a phone call today. My mom's husband is in the hospital. They don't know what is wrong. Test results are coming back good and therefore they can't find what is wrong either.

The best and only thing I know to do is to turn to the Great Physician. He knows what is wrong and he also knows the outcome of all of this. Hopefully, next week this will be a distant memory and he will be in perfect health again.

Knight called the kids in to pray with us. We explained a little and said a prayer asking for wisdom for the doctors, peace and healing for Phil.

When it was done J-Bird was crying. It surprised me. I didn't see him cry the times my mom was in the hospital but now he was crying. I love to see my childrens hearts tender. When I asked him if he's sad his reply was, "I just love Grampa Phil so much!" It wasn't until after he prayed with his own words was he better. A reminder that life is precious and we need to let those in our lives know that we love them.