He needs to be able to be a pig....

 

 This weekend we said goodbye to our pig, Sparty!  He has been a lot of fun, but in the end he needs to be able to be a pig!  He wants to get into everything, eat whatever he can get a hold of (even if it means knocking things over) and makes lots of messes.  We have loved having him for the past 2 years.  But at this point in our lives we don't have the time to dedicate to training him.  With younger kids, it's hard to keep everything Sparty wants to get into, out of reach.

We have been debating finding him a home for some time, but we couldn't just give him to anyone.  We wanted him to go somewhere that he would be loved, well taken care of and be able to be himself!  Back in December I had messaged McKee Ranch on Facebook to see if they would like him, but hadn't heard back from them....until last week.  They replied and told me they would love to have him.  It felt right, he would be on a farm with people who love animals!  It would be perfect for him!

Many, many tears were shed, hugs were given to Sparty and to each other.  Last minute I questioned our decision, but deep down I know it is what is best for Sparty.  He is going to love being on a farm!  It doesn't mean it isn't hard, or we aren't going to miss him.  He has been such a fun and unique pet.  We are going to just have to make some trips out to McKee Ranch to visit him....you can too!

Perforated ear drum...hearing loss...and more!

Today Haden had an ENT appt.

This all started before Winter Break for school, they did the hearing test at school and I was there helping.  Haden failed the hearing test in his right ear.  So we schedule an appt. with the pediatrician to get a referral....we got the appt. and the referral and were on our way.  I set up an appt. with the ENT and they were booked quite a ways out.  Sadly his appt. was during the time he was sick, so we had to reschedule.  The day finally came and Haden was extremely nervous of the unknown of what was going to happen.

We got there, the nurse looked in his ears and determined he needed a hearing test before seeing the doctor.  So off we went....

Haden was nervous but kept himself together and just what he was suppose to!

They put him in this little room (I remember doing something like this when I was younger) and had him put headphones on where he listened for the beep and also repeated words the nurse would say as they changed the volume.

Come to find out the poor kid has ringing in his ears.  He told us he didn't, but it was very apparent  he did when he was having the test and pushing the button when the nurse hadn't even pushed it to beep in his ear.

Then we waited for the doctor to come in.

The doctor came in and checked his ears, nose and throat.  He has a perforated ear drum in his right ear with significant hearing loss and slight hearing loss in his left ear.  We talked about possibilities of why he has a perforated ear drum and when it might have occurred.  There wasn't a known injury and from the looks of it, it wasn't punctured from an object or anything.  The doctor said it was a chronic perforated ear drum.  We have NO clue of when it happened, there was no bleeding or a time where he was in a pain complaining of his ear.  The doctor then ordered a CT scan to see what is going on behind his ears before we decide what actions to take next.  So now we wait for them to get the approval for the CT scan and get him in for that.

It is crazy and the poor kid can't hear!  So we wait and see for now....

Will you be my Valentine?

Valentines was a crazy but fun day this year!

Each kid was allowed to pick through a list of ideas I had to give as their Valentines at school.

Grant picked this and he loved how they turned out!

'I hope you have a fan{tache}tic Valentines Day!  Love, Grant'

Haden picked these ones, so I went to work and made ones with lego guys he wanted.

'May the Force be with you on Valentine's Day! From: Haden'

Cole also picked these ones and he was able to give his input on the lego guys we picked for them.

'May the Force be with you on Valentine's Day!  From: Coleman'

Delaney of course wanted something girly...which I love!  This is what she picked this year!

'Happy Valentines Day!  Love, Delaney'

Grant and Cole were the only ones who needed Valentines boxes...they picked ones that looked like DS'.

For the teachers gifts they got a box with candy in it...'Have a 'sweet' Valentines Day'.  Then each of the pieces of candy had a little saying on them to go with the candy.  Sadly I did not save the sayings...some I remember are:
- You are O'fish'ally the best (swedish fish)
- I 'skored' with you as my teacher (skor candy bar)
- Thanks for putting up with us 'nuts' (pistachios)
- You are 'Magnificent & Marvelous' (M&M's)

For the boys we sent them to school thinking they were going to be buying lunch...they were not too happy about it!  Jeff then surprised each of them, at their different lunch times, with Burger King.  They were thrilled and loved it!  Then after Delaney got out of school, Kahle and Delaney wanted Burger King as well...so that's where we went!

Love these handsome men!!!

Me and my favorite girl!!!

After school Cole and I went to the store to grab a few things.  I loved being with him one on one, and listening to him talk and talk!  This sweet kid also told me 'Mom, you're my secret Valentine....well I guess it's not a secret anymore!'  I LOVED being his secret Valentine!!!

We also had this funny conversation:

Cole - 'Mom, did you ever notice that cars look like they have faces?'
Me - 'I did, it's funny, huh?'
Cole - 'Yes! And they talk to me!'
Me - 'They do? What do they say?'
Cole - 'I can't hear them, the windows rolled up.'
....so I roll down the window...
Cole - 'well they talk in wind, so I can't understand them!'

Love this kid!!!

Some of the amazing Valentines Jeff and I got from the kids....

This one made me cry because he has been struggling with a few things lately and I worry I am not doing enough for him.  Glad to know that I'm doing okay in his eyes...which is what matters!

Grant gave this to Jeff!

Mine from Grant!

This is from Cole....see the heart with his hands (love this)!

'Valentine Handprint
By: Coleman Nicks
I used my tiny hands
to make a little heart.
This Valentine is special,
a perfect piece of art.
I give it to you Mom.
Will you be Valentines
to ask you to be mine!'

This is from Delaney....

The heart pieces were her hands traced and put together to form a heart!


One of my favorite traditions we started this year was the 'I love you hearts' we did for each kid. Starting 7 days before Valentines, Jeff and I each filled out a heart with one of the reasons we love them and taped it to their bedroom door. Giving them 14 hearts by Valentines. I love how much the kids loved them too!!

 

I also did daily Valentines for the kids and for Jeff....I seriously loved surprising them each day with something special!!

We ended our day with a nice steak dinner and then drumsticks for dessert.  Yum!!

We hope you had a Fantastic Valentines Day!!

 

Ulysses S. Grant

Grant's class just got finished doing their Presidents reports and his amazing teacher does a 'wax' museum....where they get to dress up as their President and give a short speech on their lives.  It is a lot of fun!

Grant was so excited to get Ulysses S. Grant because they share the same name :)

Grant dressed up as Ulysses S. Grant...holding a $50 bill and a 'book' that he wrote shortly before dying.

This is what Kahle looked like during the speeches....He was so tired and totally crashed on the floor.  We moved him under the chairs so he wouldn't get stepped on.  Cute kid!

Ulysses Grant, Abe Lincoln and Richard Nixon

Abe Lincoln and Ulysses Grant

Here is a video of Grant's speech....I am so sad though because it is hard to hear!

His speech said:

Hello, my name is Ulysses S. Grant.  I was the 18th President of the United States from

1869 to 1877, serving 2 terms.  For my first term my Vice President was Schuyler Colfax from 1869 to 1873.  For my second term my Vice President was Henry Wilson from 1873 to 1875 dying while in office.  I was born April 27th, 1822 in Point Pleasant Ohio where I was given the name of Hiram Ulysses Grant.  I enjoyed farming and caring for animals.  I went to the U.S. Training Academy where there was an error in paperwork that listed my name as Ulysses S. Grant instead of Hiram Ulysses Grant.  Not wanting to be turned away, I changed my name to match their records.  Before my presidency I helped end the Civil War by leading the North to beat the South.  As President I helped push through the 15th Amendment which states that any American citizen has the right to vote and cannot be denied based on race, color or being a former slave.  I kept 2 horses while living in the White House, my horses names were Cincinnati and Egypt.  I also had 2 dogs name Faithful and Rosie.  One time as President I received a speeding for driving my horses too fast.  I was up for a 3rd term but I lost due to the actions of my administration.  I wrote a book called Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant which sadly I did not live to see printed.  These books can still be found on the All Time List.  On July 23rd, 1885 I passed away from throat cancer.  My picture can now be found on the $50 bill.  I was tone deaf and could not recognize any of the songs of the time. Military music was especially annoying to me. I once told a reporter, “I know only two tunes; one of them is "Yankee Doodle," and the other isn't.”  This is just a little bit about the life that I lived, to find out more about me go to your closest library. 

Grant did an awesome job...so proud of him!!! 

 

Our Sickest Winter EVER!

Oh my gosh can Spring come any sooner?!  We have been dealing with sickness after sickness and I am done! 

It all started 2 weeks ago today....Cole was running a fever and felt awful.  He had a cough, hoarse voice and a fever.

Sunday he was still running a fever, so he stayed home from school the following Monday....Kahle wasn't loving sharing 'his' time with his brother.

Sidenote:  I was driving golf carts for World Market for 2 weeks, in the evenings.

 

I was on my way into work to trade off with Jeff (he was working the morning shift at World Market) on Monday and I get a call from the school that Grant is a greenish color and is in the nurses office.  Great!  He hadn't mentioned not feeling well or I would not have sent him.  I told our nurse that I was almost to work and that Jeff would be there in the next half hour to pick him up, I apologized and she told me just whenever we can get there.  Jeff got there to pick him up and he was running a fever and did not feel well.  Jeff got him home and took care of him.

 

The next morning (Tuesday) about 4:30/5 am Haden came into our room telling us he didn't feel well.  Feel his head, he was running a fever.  Got him some medicine, a drink and tucked him into our bed.

Cole had not been 24 hours without a fever, so he had to stay home another day.  So it was me and the boys.  Here they are waiting to pick their sister up from school...They are crazy!  I called into work to take care of the kids, my amazing Dad said he was fine coming to watch them, but let's be real...who wants to watch someone else's sick kids?  Especially when it was a stomach bug type of sickness.

Wednesday Cole had been fever free for 24 hours, so he was able to go back to school.  We cheered for the small triumphs!

Thursday was just these two...my oldest and youngest.  Grant was able to go back to school and yet again we cheered for another small triumph!

Friday morning this sweet face crawled into our bed complaining she didn't feel good...running a fever and her tummy didn't feel good.

Haden had been fever free all day on Thursday until later that night..so Friday he had to stay home yet again.

Friday before I was to head into work, this happened!  It is rare for this 5 year old to fall asleep on us...so I savored the moment for as long as I could!!

We took the weekend to rest up, and get ready for the following week!

Monday came and everyone was doing good and all 4 kids were back in school!  We celebrated, we were so excited!!  Once again celebrating the small triumphs!

This is how excited Kahle was to have me all to himself!

I was suppose to start another week long job driving carts, but I just had this feeling like I needed to not.  I was so torn because I did not want to cancel so late on them, but couldn't ignore this feeling.  So I did, and honestly I don't know if we would have made it through this week if I had been working.  Jeff worked double shifts all week, and sickness hit our house again!  This time Delaney, Kahle and I were battling tightness in our chest, slight fever and body aches.

Tuesday night Delaney wasn't feeling great, barking cough, felt warm but not high fever warm.  Wednesday morning you could tell she felt awful, so I kept her home and called to schedule her an appt. for Thursday (they were booked and I knew she wasn't going to school on Thursday anyway), I also scheduled one for Kahle.

 

At the beginning of their appt. they were doing good, but soon after this picture Kahle was asleep in my arms and Delaney was laying on the chair.  This is how it had been for them, they would play and they just be exhausted minutes later.  Delaney had a sinus infection and a yeast infection, Kahle had a sinus infection and double ear infections.  No wonder they didn't feel good!  I was told to keep Delaney home on Friday from school and to not take them to church either, just to give their sick bodies time to get better after taking the medicine.

The doctor they saw was not our normal doctor, in fact we had never seen her before. But I have to tell you that I needed for the kids to see her for myself.  Jeff had been working doubles, we hardly saw him and that was hard enough (manageable but hard) but I was sick on top of it.  I was exhausted, felt awful and still was running a house on top of it!  This sweet lady, complimented me on how gorgeous my kids were, and I have to agree with her, they definitely are!  She also complimented me on being a great Mom and an amazing Mom.  I did not feel amazing...In fact the night before I had a bad night and my poor kids had to be on the receiving end of it.  I was ready to break.  So to hear that from her, I seriously almost cried!  I needed to hear that!

Then that night I texted a 'whiney' text to my sisters.  They came through in a Huge way, in making me laugh and cry and laugh until I cried.  I needed that and I am so grateful to have sisters who understand me and know how to make my night better!

Friday came and my dear friend Lorey called up and said we are on our way to bring dinner over.  I hadn't even thought of dinner yet.  It took a weight off to not have to worry about it, and to have them here hanging out was lots of fun!

Everyone seems to be doing a bit better...I am still fighting something and may have to be seen, but part of me just hopes I will get better over night.

I am just hoping we have had our share of sickness and the rest of the year can be smooth sailing....I can hope right?!  :)  Although I do have to say I didn't mind having my kids home, except I wish they hadn't been sick.