HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA JOSEPHINE

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Another year has passed and Anna is now 6. In that time she has gotten taller and she lost that baby face. She can ride a bike, tie her shoes and she has begun to read. She has made us very happy and proud to have her as a child. She is so sweet and loving and smart. I am so blessed to have her. I love you Baby Gal!

Welcome Home

Praise and Thanks to God for letting us bring home OvO. A big thanks to all our friends and family for your thoughts and prayers. Also thanks to the great staff at the Vet hospital at Penn. Thanks Dr. Steinberg!

OvO is at home and resting quietly. He is very happy to be home and is sitting with me now with his head in my lap! He is on very restricted exercise so he spends most of his day in his crate. Thank goodness for the pain meds he is on since they knock him out cold! It is such a nice sight to see him sleeping!

I think I will color his skin where the hair was shaved bright colors and take him out for Halloween as a quilt!

I will keep you posted on his progress...

Name change may be needed...

The kids and I went downtown to visit OvO today. We were very prepared to see him hooked up to tubes and to be laying down pretty drugged up. Well to our surprise the doctor walked into the room with OvO on a leash! He is already up and walking! I could not believe it. The kids were so happy to see him. He looked really good considering everything her has been through. I brought him some ham for a treat and he ate it up! That made the Dr. happy. He came up to me for an ear rub and I happily rubbed away. They think he might be able to come home tomorrow and OvO is already prepping himself for the trip.. He ripped out his chest tube this afternoon! If he does come home he will have to be on very strict crate rest. No ball fetching for him!



I guess the worst part of it all is the damage to his fur! I think we may have to call him Patches for awhile.



I called my mom to let her know that she and OvO now have something in common....
They both belong to the zipper club! Maybe I'll get them matching tee shirts for Christmas
(and no she didn't think I was very funny) (I did)(hehehehehe)















I do need to print a retraction to my earlier blog. Dogs actually have 6 lungs not 4. There are 2 on the left and 4 on the right. Which is rather amazing that his problems were on the left because the right side is better a adapting and compensating. The Doctor said at the end of the surgery they could see the right lungs expand and move over to the left to start taking over. How cool is that! God is amazing and I thank you all for your prayers.

OvO update...

Hi all,

We got info about OvO. He had surgery and he did well through it. The problem is that they had to remove both sections of his left lung. (dogs have 4 lungs) (you learn something new everyday.) They only planned on removing the lower left lobe but due to a congenital defect in his lung both left lobes had to be removed. They were not happy with having to do that. Also the section they had to remove did not appear to be a bulla (a cyst like lesion). They are unsure to as what it was. They say it is not cancer which is good. They are testing it to try and figure it out. So I guess it is okay news that he survived and they say he can recover and live a normal life with one lung. I just hope and pray that he is okay. I get to go and see him tomorrow. Please keep praying for him and us. He is so missed at home! My live in babysitter is gone. I now have to worry about the kids in the yard and when I take Adam to school. I even get a little nervous at night without him her to protect and guard us.

Just as a side note since this is the second most asked question as of late.......

YES HE IS STILL ALIVE!!!!! (& down to 1 tooth)

Puppy Prayer

Dear Friends and Family,

I am asking everyone to pray for OvO. He is very sick. He is in the hospital with a Spontaneous Pneumothorax. He has air in his lungs caused by a thing called a bulla which is a cyst like thing on his lung that burst and put a hole in his lung. He will die without surgery. All you who know us and have met OvO know that he is such a great dog. Please pray for him and our family. We love him a lot and do not want to lose him!

House Rules..

Our house has many rules. Although not all are always enforced as much as we should except 1:

"One of the 4 children has to make me laugh at least once a day or they have to go."

Austin was so funny as a toddler that we went and had Anna! Now it is Anna's turn.

Here is her latest and I still crack up just thinking about it.

After church on Sundays we usually go out to eat. If we don't go out we will go home and eat. We have never failed to feed the children. They seem to not remember that little fact. So as we were leaving chuch on Sunday they all started asking if we were eating where we were going to go ect. Now being sick of hearing them all whine and complain about where we were going to go John told them that we were not eating today that we would be fasting. They of course asked what that was so John said it is when you don't eat and pray everytime you get hungry.

Without even missing a second we hear Anna....

"Dear Jesus, Please bring us some food. and please don't forget the drinks"

We laughed for miles!
Kids are truly and gift from the Lord and I am so thankful for mine!

Move over Websters

I have decided to add some definitions to the dictionary or at least some further explanation of words.

My first word or words has to do with the first week of school or a glimpse of how hell's entrance test might be.
SCHOOL SPORTS: (noun, verb) A way to make a happy excited child depressed and angry.
run kids like crazy for days force parents to pay extra for physicals and force DR's to see kids then tell them that they
don't make the team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! then giving a reason for cuts....missing first day of tryouts due to ones
physical not being up to date even though the form says that the physical is good for 12 MONTHS. Which leads to my
next word.


12 MONTHS (frame of time): Any period of time not necessarily 12 actual months it could be 2 if the "Administration" feels
like it and we don’t really have to tell you it is not actually 12 months. Just assume it is not and get a physical every
month just to be sure.....

TEENAGER: (noun,verb,adjective,explictive) Have you ever just looked at the word? I see other words ANGER is one! I also
can see EAT,NAG, & ENRAGE? Please comment on this blog if you have a TEEN and you have felt any of these. Also
respond if you have heard these questions from this so called person....Where is my backpack? What?
OKAAAAAYYYYYY....???? I dunno! HUH? I forgot. Also respond if you wanted to kill said teen if only you could find a
place for the body! .

.
SCHOOL: A place a children goes and feel it qualifies as a full days work and he/she should not have to do a thing at home,
including homework.
HOMESCHOOL: A guarentee of insanity at some point. But also makes children feel as they have a done their "work" and do
not have to help out at home either


Wheeeww I almost feel better.

Back to school!

WOW summer is over! Where did it go? I know some call them the lazy days of summer but I can't seem to agree. I also don't agree with the kids going back to school being a fun and great relief as some parents feel. I really hate it. As you all know I hate getting up in the morning! Why do they have to start so early anyway! 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. is a great day. On top if the whole morning thing I still have 3 kiddos at home with me so I don't really get a break. I am not complaining about that part since I choose to keep them instead of shipping them off to the school from the movie Matilda! but I thought you would all like to hear how my first week went!




On Monday night I get Adam ready to go. He has enough supplies to start school but not what the "LIST" from the school has requested he have to start school. I REFUSE to buy anything on that list until I receive written conformation from the teachers that he WILL use ALL the materials that they have requested. I am so sick of buying everything that they ask for and at the end of the year they have only used 12 pages in the notebook! And what is up with having to buy PAPER for ART!!! SO SILLY! So Adam went to school the first day with last years binder and some pencils and lunch! I dropped him off and that actually went very smoothly (there happened to be 0 clueless people doing drop off this morning) After returning home I woke up the rest of the clan and got them moving (they were NOT HAPPY.)

We set ourselves up in the dining room and Austin went to the Kitchen. I was teaching Anna and Austin kept interrupting and bugging us. BOY this is going to be a long week! We did manage to finish and chill for a bit before I went to pick up Adam.

I pick him up and he informs me that he is NOT going to try out for football! After I finally agree to let him play ! Of course ask him why and he tells me because tryouts start today! Can someone with higher intelligence please explain to me HOW IS A PARENT SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT TRYOUTS START THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL?! IT is not posted online nor was a note sent home in the back to school packet that was full of scrap paper. (here is a money saving tip for the PTO....SAVE A TREE!) How am I to know that my kid needs cleats, and work out clothes ect for the first day school!!!!!!!!!!! HOW RETARTED!
So with that little tirade... He says that he will try out for soccer! That starts tomorrow. Another question for those of higher intelligence.....WHY would anyone start sports the first week of school? Isn't it enough that these kids are now getting up early and trying to get things organized that they don't need to run around for 2 more hours a day and worry about making the team! WHATEVER!

So we run home and get ready for the whole day to start all over again! I will post more about day 2 later since I need to go teach some kiddies

Reflections....

Happy Birthday to me!
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday dear Me
Happy Birthday to me.


I just thought I would go back and think about what I did this year....

My baby turned 5!
I became a mother of a teenager!
Came very close to killing people at Nutcracker!
I stayed out in the freezing cold for Christmas presents!
Got a new Baby Cappuccino!
Had the most relaxing vacation of my life in Turks & Caicos!
Kicked butt in Egg Schiessing!
Played sports Mom and watched Adam's track meets. In the coldest spring ever! I also watch him run cross country ! Yes I would see him for about a minute then he would disappear off into the woods!
Finished another year of Home schooling! (Praise the Lord). Was not sure that they were going to make it but not only did they finish they lived and I think they are a bit smarter.
Remodeled a Kitchen (I know you all want to see and hear how it turned out) (I'll get to it someday)
Hosted 13 girls from TCI and 2 from Maryland. I housed 10 + 1 Chaperone and 2 babies.
Took them all to NYC with Barbara
Made MoHEATtoes.
Had way too much fun with Widget
Randomly jumped into pools
Did not kill Frick and Frack!
Had a major meltdown at the Mann!
Saw my favorite ballet SWAN LAKE
Survived the 3 weeks with all the kiddos
Drove to Massachusetts 4 times!
Went to Six Flags
GOT EZ- PASS!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Relaxed for a bit
Had a great pre b-day dinner with Barbara, Mark, Snusan, and family at Sang-kee! YUMMY! Thanks Barbara & Mark!
Came home to watch TV and got lucky that they were showing PETER GABRIEL IN CONCERT on TV! How cool is that!
But most importantly this year I laughed! and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed!

Thanks to all my Family and Friends who have been there with me and for me! You made it a great year to remember!

Austin got shoes!

Happy Birthday Austin!




We had a small family party and went to see a the movie "Underdog" . It was fun.





As for presents...He got "white bread" (ask Adam) & SHOES!







MEET SHOES THE FISH

Is this God's way of try to get me to understand my Mother?

As a child/teen my Mother would complain about my hair. I have a lot of it and I would shed! My hair was everywhere. Once I even found it in the freezer!
Don't ask!?











But God having a sense of humor.......

What did my boys do??

The boys got to go on a great all MALE fishing trip! They went to a lake in Kentucky! The rented houseboats and fished with their cousins and uncles and Dad and Pop-Pop! They had fun and here are some pics. You will not see any photos of fish though because no fish were harmed duing the making of the male bonding time. (no one caught a thing!)

Am I the sole survivor?

I have to say that I did outwit most of them, I even managed to outplay them(since I managed not to get sick!) And since I am here and they are not I outlasted them too.(this is also my blog so I win no matter what)

I have to say that there were many moments that my winning was in doubt. We had lots of fun. I was even managing to get some sleep.
Here are some of the things we did after our trip to NYC.

the zoo,
2 pool parties (Many thanks to the hosts! Jennifer and Antonella!
Romeo & Juliet by the Royal Ballet
Took a class by the Royal Ballet (My favorite activity) Just Brilliant!
watched rehearsals at the Mann for the ballets! (NOT MY FAVORITE DAY!) Sorry again Barbara
Fourth of July picnic at Barker park and made crafts
A Movie,
Swan Lake by the Royal! (My other Favorite!!!)
Dinner at Vinny T's
John 54th (45th) Birthday!
Hibachi
Ocean City
Boardwalk
Rides
Mack & Manko!
Many Many Many hours in the Van SINGING!
Stayed up late making t shirts
and of course taking ballet
character and hip hop!

Many people ask me why I do it. I always answer the same way! It is fun! I love making other people happy and helping people. It is not even that hard of a job. The first few days are while the kids are learning to adjust and adapt to the schedule. This year the adjustment took a bit longer due to the lack of understanding of the word CHAPERONE.
After 2 of the older children age 40+ and 30 left things went a lot smoother. Fiona the person who came along to film the trip was a great help and I enjoyed having her around. We laughed a lot! She left the 2nd week and went to Barbara's and I was flying solo. I have to say that is best for me. Fiona was a great help but we would stay up late talking and being silly so I was not getting much rest. The kids were very good and following the routine. We would get up in the morning and get ready and then everyone would eat breakfast then pack their lunches and then clean up and we would leave. This only took us about an hour and 15 minutes! We then would get in the van and drive to class. We would sing and get very goofy in the van.

The time at the studio was spent sending them into class napping while they were in class and then feeding them lunch then shipping them back into class and I try to power nap or chill. Then we have to get dinner ready. We fed them at the studio every night. It went really really well. Annick (Barbara's chef) made the dinners and Mark (Barb's Hubby) would deliver them to us at the studio.
I really was amazing how we did it. They are all home safe and sound. I hope they are not telling too many stories of my silly acts!

Thank you all for a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious time!
What a great group of Cebu's Sweet, So cute, Singing, Senorita Snuggly, Spunky, Sassy, Silent, Silly, Small, Smiling, Story, Sensational, Sunshine, Stick, Spontaneous, Senior, and ?Cebu?.
You will have to ask if you want to know what that is all about!
and remember to DANCE DANCE YEA!!! USTA!

What we have been up to....

Well last friday 12 girls arrived from the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI). The arrived in a whirlwind! There are 8 girls staying her plus 2 girls from Maryland and 2 teachers and the lade who is filming all this for us. So the total of people in this house wiith my family is.... 19!!!!! Their first night I hosted a dinner for 36 people. The chef took care of most of the food except for the lasagne and meatballs. We all ate and then settled in for a short sleep before we got up to take 26 people to New York City. Now stop thinking that I an a looney toon. We had 18 kids and 8 chaperones. Everything went well despite being late for every activity except the last one. We took a ferry ride to see the Statue of Liberty, then off to the Museum of Natural History for movies (naps for the chaperones) then to a fabulous dinner at Sambucca's We then traveled via subway to the theater to see Mary Poppins. I have to say was one of the best that I have seen. I hate musicals and usually after and hour I am begging for them to stop singing. But not with Mary Poppins. It was so well done. It was Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. And yes all the kids can now spell it! Then we headed home and fanally arrived at 3 a.m. We slept in and then got ready for their first day of classes.

It has been a whole week already and I have to admit that I am way too tired and they are not! We did so much already and have a lot more to do....


Here are the pics of the kids They are all so cute and fun! Hopefully we will have some video to share soon.
ALEXIS 12

PHEOBE 9

SYDNEY 11

GEORGIA 9

CHRISTIN 10

RYESHA 10

STEPHANIE

MELISSA 12

KATRINA 16

THALIA 14

MARLYN 9

ALEXANDRA 9