FSA's are NOT worth the hassle!

I'm just in a venting mood right now! We have started using our FSA (Flexible Spending Account) card on our medical expenses. All the money that is put in the account is pre-tax, so we originally thought it would be a good thing. Well, now that we started using it, we have been getting these letters in the mail from the FSA people saying that they need to see copies of receipts for each of these things to verify what we used the money for, and apparently credit card receipts don't work: they aren't detailed enough. So I had to print off the EOB (Explanation of Benefits) from the insurance for each of these transactions (each one is like 3 pages long) and fill out the form for each one.

When I called the FSA person, I told her that we were told in their information that receipts would only be requested occassionally. But she tells me that that is true IF we don't use the preferred providers, which we were never given. So she tells me that it's on their website...and she guides me through the 8 steps of clicking to get to that list. !!! Well, I see this list is only major, nation-wide stores and pharmacies. So I asked her if that meant that for every time we went to the doctor's office we'd have to fill out this paperwork? And she said yes. She continued on saying that there is one other option: we could pay for the visit out of pocket and then get a detailed receipt and submit a claim form after the fact for reimbursement. I said, "Well, honestly, that doesn't help me much because either way I have to fill out paperwork to use the money that is in this FSA account." She said, "Yes, that's correct." Grrrrrr!!!

So, after looking through all of it, printing out the forms that I needed, printing out the EOB's, and filling out the forms, I wasted 2 1/2 hours of my day, and still didn't get them all done for a couple of reasons. One, I have to have Terry's signature on all forms for submission. And two, 3 of the claims haven't finished being processed by the insurance yet, so I don't have EOB's for them. Hopefully, they will finish soon, as we only have 30 days from the date of service to submit claims back to them.

It's all just so frustrating and really raised my blood pressure this morning. But I'm trying to remind myself that we're lucky that we even have insurance, cuz so many people don't. I should be able to handle some paperwork for the sake of having insurance. I just don't think it's worth the time simply for pre-tax money. We're not talking that much money saved in the long run if you figure in the value of my time.

Lord, please give me patience!

The weekend

Well, we ended up spending the weekend in Salem. I didn't think at first we would go anywhere with the roads like they were. But really everything ended up being completely dry! :)

Janice isn't doing so good. She's still so very weak and doesn't have the strength to stand or walk. Her appetite is better, and for that we're thankful. :) But none of us are sure how long she'll be able to stay at home before being forced to enter a nursing home. None of us want that, but feel we may have no choice.

Chase seems to be doing better. They were to remove the feeding tube yesterday and were hoping he would get to begin eating again by last night. ;) Praise the Lord for this! Hopefully this will lead to him gaining some weight back and being allowed to go home.

Not much else to tell! LOL

*****Newest update on Chase: He is getting to 'eat' again! :) He took about 2 ozs this morning and will get to eat again this evening. I was told that today during rounds, the nurse and doctor even mentioned the 'd' word: dismissal! :) (Just in passing about what is required for dismissal, but still...it's progress and we'll take it!!)

Report Card!

Well, it's not the normal time for report cards, but for us it is! :) Brent just finished Unit 3 in his workbooks yesterday and I got his latest grades inputted last night. So this is everything up until the end of Unit 3:

Phonics:
Unit 1 - 97% A
Unit 2 - 96% A
Unit 3 - 97% A

Reading:
Unit 1 - 95% A
Unit 2 - 97% A
Unit 3 - 98% A

Writing:
Fall Semester - 99% A

Math:
Unit 1 - 97% A
Unit 2 - 97% A
Unit 3 - 96% A

I haven't been keeping as good of track of Science and Social Studies, but it is there. Each week, we go to States Studies with our Homeschool group and they learn about 1 or 2 states per week. And on Science, we use science stuff from the MO Conservation Dept and from Apologetics Press. But those are more informational and not something I can really grade very easily at this time.

Family Updates

First, I'm so sorry it's been awhile since these updates. I have been doing the BASIC computer time that is required of me and just haven't had time for updating. So, just to warn you, this will be a bit longer than normal. I have many things to update you on! :)

CHASE
Since the last update so much has happened. First, I have a picture, which you can see. He made it through the weekend just fine; they got the seizures under control. Hannah had told me on Sunday night that they would be trying to take him off the seizure meds to see if things were getting better. However, on Monday morning about 7 AM, Chase started having blood in his diaper. Thankfully, he was in the NICU with constant nurse attention, so they caught it immediately. He started running a low-grade fever, but they were monitoring him. Well, on Tuesday morning he started vomiting and they ran a test and found a gas pocket near his colon and they would have to do surgery almost immediately. However, it wasn't emergency surgery, as he was still stable. But they were going to transfer him to a different hospital, cuz the specialist was over there that day. Well, after waiting a while, Chase went into surgery about 3:30.

During all of this, Terry and I decided to go up and visit with everyone that was up there. Things were so emotional and we just thought it would be nice to be up there. Well, when we got up there, we found out that Chase made it through surgery just fine. The colon had a small hole in it and they had to remove about 2 cm of it. However, due to the amount of infection in the colon they couldn't reattach the two ends and had to put in a colostomy bag. They said that he will be in the hospital for about 3 more weeks and have to have the colostomy for 6-8 weeks. :( So discouraging and scary for H&J.

So far this week, Chase has continued to do well and everyone seems to be adjusting. Terry and I just keep saying over and over that it's not fair and we wish we could take their pain/frustration from them, but we can't. I think that is the hardest part of all of this...we can't do anything. We feel helpless.

Janice
Janice is now home, with full time nursing care. It was a tough decision to make, knowing that her Medicare coverage had run out and figuring out which would be cheaper for her to pay for: home care or paying for hospitalization. Home care ended up being the better way to go, in all areas. Emotionally and financially. We were supposed to go in and 'relieve' Donna for the weekend (with Darlene in St Louis and us down here, she's been at J's house each night). But we're stuck here with all the ice and snow...just like last weekend. :( SO! Depending on what happens in the next 12 hours, we MAY go to Salem tomorrow or we may have to put it off another week.

Mom and Dad
Dad has known for a couple weeks that he was changing jobs...but I haven't been able to tell anyone cuz of not wanting it to 'leak' to the wrong people about where he was going. But, now that he's started the job (this week!) I can share: Dad is now a counselor at Pathways, which is a substance abuse place for adolescents. He is LOVING it so far and we're so excited and happy for him (and mom!). I pray that he continues to love his work!

Mom had an interesting situation at work this week. The center had decided to make a blanket policy and mom decided to not sign the policy paper. Well, since she refused to sign it and since she took a stand against a really stupid policy, she was suspended for 3 days. And they told her that if she didn't come back in and sign that policy within that 3 day time frame, she would have 'abandoned' her job. SO, since she had no intention of changing her mind (and dad was in full agreement with this), she packed up all her stuff and left. For good. It was so weird for her to not have to go back to work on Thursday. Of course, now she has to start looking for a job, but hopefully and prayerfully, she will be getting a job that is much better (and for a much better company) that what she had before. :)

Ice, Ice, and More Ice
We had an ice storm last week....and now we have another one this week! We are now iced in again....things are even more slick this time than last week, but this one isn't causing the power outages that some had last week. (Fortunately, we even avoided the power outage!)

I'm getting pretty 'cabin feverish', as this will make the 3 week in a row that the boys and I have been stuck in the house with no outside diversion (except for being able to go to worship on Sunday). Of course, we've had some diversion if you count Chase, Janice, and Mom and Dad...but for some reason it just isn't the same! LOL

Latest on Chase...

I just got a phone call to let me know that Baby Chase has had about 3 more seizure's today. It's so very scary and we're hoping to know more this afternoon. They are doing a test to find out if the blood-bruise is on the inside of the skull or outside of the skull.

Hannah is being released this morning and is going down to Cardinal Glennon to be with Chase...

Plesae keep praying.

Chase update

I have more news about Chase...no pictures yet, cuz everyone has been so busy with things (you'll see why in a moment).

Terry told me this morning that Chase was 8 lbs 12 oz, just a few ounces smaller than Brent was when he was born, and that they were all exhausted.

Around noon, I hadn't heard from anyone (no pictures or anything) and thought I would call Darlene to see how things were. I coudln't get her, so I called Hannah's cell to see if Jeremy had it and I could talk to the proud Daddy. Well, Hannah answered and she sounded very sad. I asked if she was okay and she told me that Chase had had a seizure last night about 1:30 and they flew him over to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. Apparently, they found he had a bruise on the brain (blood on the brain) that they think was caused from delivery and that at this point they don't think there would be any lasting damage. Hannah said he was fighting the nurses and didn't like to have his blood drawn! But she is still in the hospital and wouldn't be released for another day due to her own complications.

Then later this afternoon I talked more with Darlene and found out that they also see now that they broke Chase's collarbone during delivery. She said that Hannah had been ready to push and they made her wait last night for 15 mintues cuz the doctor wasn't there yet! Apparently they squirt some fluids back up on the birth canal to relieve the pressure off of Chase while they waited! Then when they finally let her push, the dr had to twist and pull on Chase's head to get him out...hence the broken collarbone! Good grief! And Darlene said his little forehead was all deformed cuz he kept hitting the pelvic bone...he was just too big. We're still trying to figure out why they didn't go ahead and do a C-section long before this time...there is no reason for Hannah (or Chase) to have had to go through all that!

Gr....the medical profession aggravates me sometimes!

Please pray for Hannah and Chase (and Jeremy). They are all exhausted and torn as to where their place should be. Hopefully this will all be over within a few days and Hannah and Chase will both be home!

Baby Chase has arrived!

We are so very thrilled that Chase Kenneth Collins has made his way into this world! :) We've waited so long to meet him....and now due to weather, we'll have to wait a bit longer. LOL

Mommy and baby are doing well....

Is it possible??

Wow. Okay. So I now realize just how many days it's been since I last updated this blog. Way too many! The boys did FABULOUSLY at their tournament and I will have a separate post (complete with pictures) in a day or two. :) (Just dangling that carrot for you...)

This past week we've been hammered/smacked/way-layed/bombarded by the flu bug that has been so mercilessly passed around. Monday night Clayton started it all off by saying his tummy wasn't hungry for supper...okay, no prob. But while we were eating, I asked him to come over to me and he said, "I can't mom...my legs hurt too much." Strange. So by the time I finished eating, I went to check him and he was asleep (at 7:30) and I could tell by just touching him he was burning with fever. So I took it anyway and it was well over 102. So I gave him a breathing treatment, some cough meds, and some tylenol and he went to bed. He woke up at about midnight and was still burning with fever. So I took him to the living room, got him more meds, some water (which he asked for....a major oddity for him in the middle of the night) and snuggled in with him on the couch. The cough just kept getting worse and we were concerned with pneumonia (due to Clayton's history of everything going straight to his bronchial/lung area) and so I took him to the dr Tuesday morning. The nurse took one look at me and Brent and said, "How have you two kept from getting all this??" (Shoulda known she was jinxing me!)

Well, lo and behold, that very afternoon, Brent and I both ended up coughing and going downhill very quickly. By the nighttime, I was feverish and Brent was on his way. Then on Wednesday mid-morning, I talked to Terry on the phone and he was pretty sure he had a fever too and would be leaving work early...did we all want to go to the doctor together? LOL So we all went and the nurse just laughed when she saw us in the room together. Course, then she looked at Brent (who by then was asleep on the exam table) and just went to work. So after all that, we're all on meds and came home to drink TONS of liquids (we had NO appetite) and get as much rest as we could. We were all in bed asleep by about 6:30 Wednesday night!

This flu is just awful.....we are all so achy and hurting all over! Argh! The pains that comes with this are nothing to sneeze at, that's for sure. No way that I layed, stood or sat made a difference. I was in pain regardless. We were all simply sleeping in 45-90 minutes increments but doing this for 12 hours at a time. What a few days it's been! But now we're on the mend! :)

Oh, before I forget! I was SO bummed last weekend. I was informed by Armchair Interviews that they no longer need me as a reviewer. Apparently, I wasn't reviewing enough books often enough or something like that. I was really upset at first. Mad, too. I truly enjoyed reviewing books for people. It was fun and gave me some new genres to check out. But the more we looked at things, the more we realized that perhaps this is God's way of letting me know I have too much on my plate right now and need some things to back off...so He helped me with one of them. :) So much as I would like to, I haven't sought out another reviewing site to sign up for yet. I'm gonna give it some time and see where things are in a few months. Maybe I need a break with everything else we have going on. Ya think?? LOL

Janice is back in MoBap....she had fluid on her heart so they took her back up there. Hopefully she'll get to go back to Salem right after this is dealt with..... :)

Terry had a follow up appointment in St Louis today. The dr thinks that he's healing well and has scheduled another followup appointment for the middle of April. I have to say I was a bit disappointed in this...I was hoping that she would schedule the surgery...but no luck. But she said that by April he should be scarred over to the point that we can make some more definitive decisions. LOL

Okay....off to check my healing babies. One I know is asleep in my bed (Clayton!) and the other is waiting for me to finish with the computer! :)

Thursday, January 24 (Catching up)

Janice was transferred to Salem on Monday...PRAISE GOD! We are so thankful for that. Now she is where friends and family can more readily see her and visit with her. :)

Terry is making slow progress. Originally, he was to return to work today, but that was only a tentative date. He is still taking the pain meds, and as long as he's doing that, he isn't supposed to be around the machinery. So for now, it has been pushed off to Monday. I am hoping he is able to go back to work, for his sake and mine. :) I love him dearly, but having him home this much is not as fun as we once thought it would be. LOL

The boys have a TKD tournament on Saturday and we've been preparing for that. They have had their normal classes each week, but have been practicing extra hard here at home and been going through constant practice of the details while in class. There is so much to remember! So many bowing times, so many moves, so many rules.... things thy don't normally have to think about. I am pretty sure Brent will do well, but Clayton has a harder time remembering that many things...so we will see. Either way, they will get trophies and/or medals for simply participating. Really, the part that concerns me most with Clayton is sparring. He doesn't like to get hit during the normal sparring in class and that kind of sparring is gentle compared to the kind of hits he will get at tournament. But, all we can do is our best (that's what Brent keeps saying) and encourage Clayton to go back regardless of how this Saturday turns out. LOL

Sunday, we're supposed to have a birthday party at a roller skating rink and the boys are VERY excited to get to use their new skates! We will have to see how Terry is doing before deciding on that venture!

One thing to be thankful for: we have done school EVERY day during this little 'butt issue' of Terry's. Believe me, for us that is a phenomenal achievement! Most times, I would have just said, "two week vacation" and been done with it. But I really think that being consistent with schoolwork has helped the boys stay on track with attitudes and with routine in a situation that is far removed from our normal routine.

Now, off to watch some football! :)

Insights into schooling...Things I've learned today

We decided to go ahead and have school this morning and I'm glad we did. I got Clayton started on his stuff have to say he is really getting the hang of more/less and patterns. I was really excited when we were doing the more or less paper and I started him out counting each object and thinking about which number was higher or lower (which is how we have done it in the past couple of weeks). Well, we did that for a couple and I let him do the next one by himself. He did it in his head! :) Now, for some this is no big deal. But for him this is a major accomplishment. To 1) count the objects in his head without using the pencil to point at each object, and 2) to decide in his head (without saying the numbers out loud) which one was more or less is just phenomenal progress. :) I was SO pleased!

Brent did very well with his schoolwork. We've been working really hard on lower-case letters...he absolutely hates to write them and prefers upper-case letters. But he's made a HUGE effort over the past 2 weeks to ONLY write with lower-case when doing schoolwork. And it's amazing at how the simplest of praises will make him try even harder to do better! I commented on how good yesterday's work looked (he did school with Grandma yesterday since I was gone) and he just BEAMED! :)

Next after Brent finished his phonics workbook, we moved on to a part of English/language: we learned about adjectives today. Wow, I never thought something could be so hard to explain and understand. I had to come up with about 3 different ways to explain them until Brent would finally understand how to find an adjective in a sentence. (Of course, then he would point at the verbs and try to call them adjectives, and since we haven't talked about verbs, it was a bit confusing! :)) Well, we continued on and he slowly got it and was able to work through 8 (simple) sentences on his own underlining the adjective and then drawing an arrow to the noun it described. Very cool!

And I have to be amazed at how well he does math. To some it's not so big, but he is farther along in many areas of math (for his age) than I was at that time. He does things in his head! He had a measuring part today where it was a picture of a triangle and it asked how many inches the longest side was, the shortest side, the third side and then what the distance was around the triangle. On the longest and shortest sides, he was fine. No problem. But then he got a bit confused on the the "third" side question. I had to remind him how many sides a triangle has and then it dawned on him (I could actually SEE the light bulb turn on over his head!) and he realized that the third side was the one he hadn't written about yet. Then when it asked about the distance around it, he started to measure each side again....I stopped him and said, "You know, there is an easier way to do this...." He just looked at it...stared at the numbers for a second and then said, "OH! It's 9 inches!" He just added it all up in his head. Anyway.....cool for me, the teacher. LOL

Now that school is done and daddy is flying high on his pain meds (he said he's enjoyed seeing the puffy clouds and geese flying by him while he's up in the sky!), we're off to the movie store to rent some movies for the weekend!

Answered prayers! (soon)

I just found out tonight that Janice is supposed to be transferred to Salem on this next Monday (Lord willing)! We are so excited and thankful that Terry's sisters have been able to get things lined out with the hospital and get her moved back to her hometown. Then we see how well she continues to do (she's been walking with her walker every day this week...which is a HUGE accomplishment for her!) and we're praying that she continues to progress so well.

Thanks to all for the prayers!

Terry's surgery today...

Hello to all. We finally made it home about 7 PM this evening and I got Terry settled in .....he is on Percoset and boy is he HAPPY! LOL He keeps looking at me saying, "I love you....I love you...." and I'm thinking, "I love you on Percoset!" :)

But I digress.....

He had his surgery this afternoon and came through it fine. The surgeon came out and talked with me and explained that they opened the fistula and realized it was on the exterior side of the gluteal muscle (the butt muscle) and she just knew at that point that there had to be more due to the amount of pain it had caused. So, she began probing and using the ultrasound and found a secondary fistula tract that went under the gluteal muscle and was much larger/bigger. She decided that if she were to cut the muscle away (as was originally planned) and create the trench, it would take too much of the 'controlling' muscles away and cause incontinence problems. So, she has put in a seton and we go back in 4 weeks to finish (hopefully) everything.

So, since we thought we were having closure through this, and now we aren't, we're a bit disappointed and depressed. However, we are thankful that the surgeon made the decision she did in thinking of Terry and his age. :) So the day has been bittersweet, but is ending on a happy note since he is 'happy' with his medication! :)

We thank you all for the prayers and concern and ask that you continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we continue with this 'endeavor'. Perhaps by spring he will be healed!

Countdown has begun!

Well, Terry is entering the final countdown for the surgery tomorrow. I'm just as nervous as he is. :) I have faith that it will all be okay and we'll make it just fine. The Lord is faithful and will have us in His care!

The boys are definitely feeling the tension through all this. Brent has been only half-listening to things....(whether it is intentional or not, I haven't determined. There is a part of me that thinks he could truly not be hearing things b/c of his mind being preoccupied with other things. But then again, he could be using this time to 'play' mom and dad....) and Clayton is getting a major attitude that I'm having to call him on. He's getting a little big for his britches....which could be a phase and could be him just acting out cuz he thinks he can. Oy....it's so exhausting!

Mom is coming down tonight to spend the next few days with us so that I can focus on Terry and his healing without having to deal with the boys being underfoot. I just know how they have been in the past 3 months, I don't need them inspecting every little thing like they've been doing. LOL

I have finally gotten all of 2007 files out of my file cabinet and am set up to start filing 2008. :) That's a HUGE thing for me....I normally don't get that all done until tax time!

Brent came and got in bed with me this morning, something he doesn't EVER do....but this morning he woke up with a bloody nose. :( Terry said, "I'm confused as to why he's getting bloody noses" and I reminded him that it is winter, after all, and he is also MY son...meaning he has inherited my luck with nose problems. (I was plagued with bloody noses as a kid because my veins in my nose were so close to the surface that anytime I blew my nose or got it bumped (even lightly) it would bleed.) Anyway, it didn't last long, but it wasn't a very good way to start the day.

We've been working really hard to get back into a school routine. There is a part of me that wonders why I'm trying to do anything with all the surgery stuff that's going one. But then again, I know me. Last week would have been surgery, this week would have been surgery, and then next week would be recuperation time, and then the next week there would be some excuse as to why we could get by without doing school. So I just decided to plunge in and get started. And if we only get 3 out of the 5 days done, so be it. It's still better than we would have done had I allowed for excuses. :) So I feel better and I guess that is what matters at this point! LOL

Better get my lesson finished....and then on to Bible class!

Follow-up on T: after consultation

Well, on Friday morning the boys were up and ready to sit and eat breakfast (fully dressed and ready to leave) by 5 AM. What troopers they were! Of course they were both sleeping on the way up to St Louis, but who can blame them? :)

We arrived at the medical office about an hour before the appointment, so we took some time and just went leisurely about our business and were actually able to see seen at an earlier time. :) They have decided to do surgery on Terry this coming Thursday in St Louis. It will be general anesthesia (tubation required) and is called a fistulotomy. The way the dr explained it to me is that they are going to take the tunnel they have right now and blow the roof off it and create a trench. You can look at the link above and learn more if you wish.

Please keep praying for us....

Terry's procedure

WARNING: If you are bothered by "TMI" stuff and medical details, you may want to skip this post!

Last night when the medicine kicked in, we noticed that the toilet seat was getting wet every time he would go to the bathroom. We were puzzled by this, b/c the only explanation was it was coming from the wound-hole, which we thought was mostly closed up. We figured we would just know more in the morning.

We were up VERY early this morning to get Terry to the hospital by 7. They got him right back there and had him IV'd up and gowned. They gave him an enema (I know, ewww) and the nurse was a bit shocked b/c the enema oozed out of the wound-hole, which she wasn't expecting. They had him back to surgery by 8:15 and back in the room with us by 9. Dr. Sharlow came and talked with us a bit later explaining that the fistula was circular instead of straight through, which is why it wasn't closed as we all had thought, and that b/c of this, he couldn't track the fistula. He was sending us on to a rectal specialist (who sets out in life to become a rectal specialist???) and that she would need to do a rectal ultrasound to track the fistula and close it off. (Just sounds more painful to me!) So we see her for a consultation on Friday morning in St Louis.

But now, poor Terry. His hiney-hole (not the wound-hole) is really sore and we're thinking that is either from the enema or from Dr. Sharlow prodding to find the fistula area. Or both. Plus, they have repacked the wound-hole with an iodine filled gauze because it was infected now as well (which makes me feel really bad....I've been the 'nurse' that has been helping him through all of this). I'm supposed to pull the gauze out about a 1/2 inch per day and cut it off, and other than that we continue with the gauze pad covers like before.

He's tired. He's sore. And he's frustrated. He just wants this to all be over and it looks like we're talking an even longer recuperation time. I wish I knew what else to do to help him.

Here we go...

Well, tonight is the night for Terry's prep work for his procedure tomorrow. :( It's gonna be a LONG night for him and me. Since his original wound is still open, anytime the meds kick in from the Miralax drink, I have to be right there when he is done in the bathroom. And if his night is anything like the night I had when I had my colonoscopy a couple years ago, neither of us will get much sleep tonight. :(

We're to be at the hospital at 7, which means we'll most likely be home before noon...which is nice. Terry said he doesn't expect me to have to stay home from church tomorrow night, but we'll see.

The boys are back in full swing with school and I'm trying to keep things in order. It's so hard for me...I'm not a good manager of most things. Maybe one day.... LOL

I will post more tomorrow or the next day regarding how Terry is doing following the procedure and hopefully be able to report on what they find.

Christmas is OVER! :)

Well, the holiday season is finally over. Hehe. I say finally because we've literally been celebrating since Thanksgiving! The kids have received so many gifts (great gifts!) that they will be busy long into the year! I think the BEST gift they got this year was one that was completely unexpected and NOT asked for on their Santa lists: roller skates! Brent got blue and Clayton got pink (YES, pink....those were the only two choices and besides, he LOVES pink!). They spent Christmas day and the day after in skates. Literally! I had to make the boys take them off to go to bed...they couldn't understand why they couldn't' sleep with the skates on! HA! But it was quite interesting to see them figure out how to move on the skates, but they did quite well.

Terry got me an MP3 player, which is something I have been asking for for months. He never could understand what I wanted with one until he saw the excitement on Brent's face when he got an audio book and realized I could upload the book to the MP3 player for traveling! So much use will come from it...I'm so excited!

We had a great time with the extended family in St Louis in Janice's hospital room. Yes, 16 of us piled in her hospital room to exchange gifts last Thursday night. It was a short holiday for her, but one I know she enjoyed. We sang Christmas songs and worship songs (she asked for that...she hasn't been to worship since the first of August due to the hospital stays!) and she really enjoyed it all. She got teary-eyed with it, but it was a good thing. :) On Saturday, we did the Smith Christmas and got visit with Lenell for a few hours and catch up with her before she leaves for the Ivory Coast.

Now, we're just trying to remember what a routine is (we have gotten our days and nights mixed up with all the late nights!) and put everything away. Terry goes in for his colonoscopy and surgery next Wednesday. Tuesday should prove to be interesting....the prep for it. If you've never had a colonoscopy, find someone who has and ask them about the prep for it..... It isn't fun! After that, it's a couple weeks of recovery time. Hopefully I can maintain a semblance of a routine while he's home. :)

Happy New Year everyone!

A great mail day...

You just HAVE to love getting the mail when you get 12 pieces of mail in ONE day and not ONE of them is a bill but ALL of them are Christmas Cards!!!!! That was a good evening to sit and 'read' the mail!

Quite the week!

This week has been sort of boring for us...but I'm so tired, regardless. :) We (the boys and I) have spent most of the week working on cleaning and school. But that is typical. I'm just doing more cleaning than normal.

Brent has been sick this week...just a sinus/head infection. It's made his voice a bit croaky and he's been coughing a lot, but I think he's feeling better.

During this time of Brent being sick, Clayton has helped out more with the emptying of the dishwasher. The other day, he and I were working on it together and he asked me to do something for him that he couldn't reach. He said, "Thanks mom. You know, we're supposed to do nice things for each other, that's why I'm letting you do me this favor." LOL He was so serious, but it was so funny.

This morning, it was a typical Thursday morning for us: CRAZY! Thursdays are so busy that we have to literally hit the ground running. Well, I got the trash bundled, got Terry's lunch and breakfast done, got dressed and was sitting down to check email, when I heard 2 cars start outside. So I looked out the window....Terry had my van pulled up in front of (and facing) his car with the hoods up on both. He was having to jump his car.... :( So I went outside and asked what happened and he just turned and looked at me and said, "Thanks a lot!" See, I had borrowed his car last night for church (it was already warmed up) and apparently I didn't turn the lights off completely. The switch was almost to the off position. So, his battery was dead. :( So he got to scrape off his car AND my car (which I thanked him for!) before he could leave for work. Well, off he goes and I hear him drive away. Then I hear the lock on the front door...he's coming back in. He had stuck MY van keys in his pocket and drove off with them! Of course, he HAD to bring them back...we were leaving in less than 30 minutes. Argh! What a morning.

Well, it gets better. :) We had ice coming down tonight and so everything was covered over. I asked T when he got home how bad his car was covered tonight and how hard it was to get into. He just grinned. Apparently, he tried opening the door and nothing. He kinda pounded on the door to break the ice. Nothing. He used the edge of his key to cut into the ice on the edges...Nothing. He finally held the handle and put his fingers at the top and just pulled with all he had. Still nothing. Hmmm. He said he finally decided there had to be something wrong, but to be sure, he would check the locks. He had never unlocked it to begin with!! The poor thing has had such bad luck with cars today. :(

(And really, I'm NOT laughing at all!)

I better go get the kids to bed. I need to get my contacts out and hit the sack myself.

Christmas at Thanksgiving

Last weekend was a full one for us! It started on Thursday morning with Terry and I going to see his mom in Chesterfield. I had made her some fried chicken adn we filled a sandwich bag FULL of it...she ended up eating the entire thing while we were there. I had estimated that there was about 1 to 1 1/2 chicken breasts in there...so she had a substantial amount of protein! We were all thrilled that she was eating, and so was the staff at the facility. :)

We came home and had Birthday dinner for D and got the kids ready for bed...afterall it was 'Christmas Eve' for them. They got their new PJ's from Grandmas and went to bed...they were ALL asleep within 30 minutes, which is odd for them....they all like to lay in bed and talk and play and giggle. But that night, they went right to sleep.

The next morning was Christmas for them. Below are some pictures:


Mom helped us get our decorations out and she and the boys put the tree together.


Left: Clayton was so intent on getting the branches just right! Right: Clayton opened his stocking to find a gift-card attached to a cute frog! All the kids got gift-cards with different animals attached.


Above left: Brent got his first chapter books (Magic Tree House). Above right: He received a remote control truck from his cousins. VERY cool! Left: He is SO excited to receive his FIRST Bionicles. Obviously, he's a bit excited! LOL

Anyway, we had a blast and played many games. Terry still spent a good majority of the weekend in bed, since he couldn't sit in the chairs for too long a time. hehe But in the end, we were all ready to end the weekend. Between exhaustion and illness, it was time for us to all go our 'respective' ways...mine was straight to bed that night! LOL

I hope you all had a GREAT Thanksgiving!