We're home

I'm tired!

We went to church this morning with Chris' mom. It was nice to have us there together. After church, we came home and ate a leftover lunch then headed home. I tried to get the kids to bed early, but it didn't go too well. We'll see how well getting to school goes in the morning.

I just can't believe that tomorrow is December!

Thanksgiving, again.

We were having a good time!

Look! Chris is smiling!

Dessert shot.

Chris' uncle John and his wife Carol.

Chris' sister Carolyn, Chris' mom Nancy and Chris' brother Ricky.

The kids played so hard today outside and inside Grandma's house. They were FILTHY at the end of the day. If dirty means they had a good time, they had a BLAST!

Also, today was Holly's 29th birthday and I was glad to have the opportunity to talk with her. I sure do miss her...

B.A.G.

I must give credit where credit is due. I stole this idea from Debbie and Doug Carter several years ago, and I am glad that I did. What would I do without them? :)

Melody's BAG:
B - The opportunity to serve my husband and children in my role as wife and mother and the Eustis Ward Primary children.
A - Managing to remember my blessings amongst my trials. (most of the time)
G - To become less stressed over the little things.

Chris' BAG:
B - Being able to hear out of one ear.
A - Keeping the firm going another year!
G - Lose weight and be healthier.

Brennan's BAG:
B - Having a good school year.
A - Improved in helping his family.
G - To continue to improve.

Kerstyn's BAG:
B - My family.
A - Getting in Order of the Dolphins.
G - To stay in Order of the Dolphins.

Lauklan's BAG:
B - Doing well in first grade.
A - How to read!
G - Get baptized.

Greyson's BAG:
B - Learning how to write my name.
A - Learning how to be a big brother.
G - Go to elementary school for Kindergarten.

Aislinn's BAG: (completed by Mommy)
B - Having a father who holds the priesthood.
A - Getting potty-trained and going to pre-school.
G - Get through surgery well and being healthy afterwards.

Thanksgiving Day

Not too much happened in the Shipley house today. I finished up the cooking/baking that I started yesterday. I made 2 chess pies, 2 hams and 2 green been casseroles. I took half of that over to the Bell's for their Thanksgiving dinner.

I thought it was very sweet that they would invite us over to their house when it was already going to be full with family.

After eating we came home and Lauklan and I hung up the remaining lights. I just wanted to put up 4 strands right above the front door. Of course, that is where it is the highest, but the kids helped me as much as they could and I got them up.

Not 5 minutes later, Aislinn pulled on the extension cord and ALL the lights came tumbling down!

So, I did it again. Thankfully, they are still up. I sure hope they stay that way.

Really cranky!

The kids Thanksgiving school holiday started today and I had grand plans.

We were going to have breakfast, run errands, and have fun.

Well, we did the first two things, but DID NOT have fun!

Aislinn is in such a bad mood! She fusses about EVERYTHING! I am praying that this is because she feels bad because, if not, we're in BIG trouble! But, I'm sorry to say that I think it's because she feels bad because she was never this rotten before!

I begged Chris at lunch to not work late tonight because I needed to get away. Thankfully, he came home around 6 to help me out.

They're in bed now and I always look back and wonder if it was as bad as it seemed.

Let's just say, "I sure hope that it wasn't as bad as it seemed!"

But, even when it's rough, like it was today. I am thankful for them.

All of them.

And yes, one day, I'm gonna miss this!

I've lost my mind!

I started back to the gym on Saturday. I froze my membership about a month ago after I didn't go since May. But, as soon as I froze the membership, I missed being able to go and I noticed that my clothes weren't fitting the way the used to. (funny, huh?)

Well, on Saturday, my first day back, I did 50 minutes on the stair climber at level 2. On Monday, I did 50 minutes on level 3. Today, I decided that I would do a cycle class.

What am I, crazy?

My thighs are STILL burning! I'm not sure I'll be able to move tomorrow.

Smart, real smart!

To a different subject - Aislinn is still not herself. She started again tonight with the frequent need to urinate. I'm concerned that maybe this antibiotic isn't working. However, the fever hasn't returned so that is good.

Goodness gracious, this child is giving me a run for my money!

Happy 10th Birthday Kerstyn Rebekah! (and Aislinn update)

Kerstyn with the birthday cake that doesn't have her name spelled correctly! It's ok though, because it tasted really good the kids tell me!

Early this morning before school, Kerstyn had to pose for the birthday picture with the showing of hands how old she is.

I sent Kerstyn to school with cookies to share with her class. She really seemed to like that because she usually doesn't have school on her birthday. So, this was a treat.

The birthday person always gets to pick where we have dinner and Kerstyn's pick was Jeremiah's. We had a pretty good time and then came home to showers/baths and of course, cupcake cake.

Publix apparently can't read their own writing, because Kerstyn's cake said KerEtyn instead of KerStyn! I was in too big of a hurry to fuss so we just decided to ignore it. :)

Aislinn update -

She seems to of perked up a little this afternoon but was not so great tonight. Hopefully it was just because she was tired. I spoke with Dr. Montanae (her nephrologist) this morning about what was going on. She told me that the reason the ER doctor didn't give her the IV Cipro was because he felt she wasn't that sick! Dr. Montanae then said, well he doesn't know Aislinn like we do and he didn't know that she doesn't act nearly as sick as she really is. SO - Dr. Montanae told me to call her if Aislinn didn't start to get better or got worse and that she would have to admit Aislinn to the hospital again. The urine specimen last night showed that she does have the infection again. Apparently the antibiotic that Aislinn has been on the last 10 days did not work.

What is worry some, among many things, is that Cipro can damage the liver. The doctor says we don't have a choice right now since it is the ONLY thing that works!

I pray that we can get through this. I mean, I know we will, but what will we have to do to get there?

Please pray for sweet Aislinn Grace's little body. That infection is sure persistent!

Just got home

It's a little after 1 a.m. and Chris and I just got back home with Aislinn from the Emergency Room at Arnold Palmer.

I finally got to speak with the nephrologist around 7:30 and she said that she wanted us to take Aislinn to the Emergency Room so that she could get a urine sample and start her on Cipro (antibiotics) again. She told me on the phone that she wanted to do it by IV, but the doctors in the ER didn't do it.

Aislinn's urine is deteriorating which means her health is also. We had gotten a clean urine specimen last week and now, it is off again, so we were right to be concerned about her. I just know when my child is not doing well, and she isn't. She was complaining that she had to go to the bathroom all the time and she was very cranky!

The nephrologist now knows that she will not respond to any antibiotic EXCEPT the Cipro. I sure pray that she will continue to respond to that, or I don't know what will happen.

They also treated her asthma while we were there. I hope to get everything under control soon.

They did great!

The Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation was today.

The children were amazing. They sounded like angels.

See, I had nothing to worry about.

On another note. Aislinn is not doing well. She is having asthma and is complaining that she is in pain and needing to go the the bathroom frequently. She is also just not being herself. We are concerned, to put it lightly.

I called the nephrologist's office about 45 minutes ago and we are waiting for a call back. In the meantime, we had family prayer and are hoping for good news.

A little early

This is blurry, but you get the idea.

I was on a mission today to get the tree up and the Christmas stuff outside. Well, I got the tree up and some of the stuff outside but we still have to hang the icicle lights off the roof.

I was afraid if we didn't do it today, that we wouldn't get it done until about 2 weeks from now. I just hate to go to all that work and not get to enjoy it for very long.

The kids are ready for Christmas to be tomorrow. Uh-oh.

Marvel

The family 'wall'.

I received all of my prints from the photo shoot with Katelyn yesterday in the mail.

I bought enough pictures to disperse to all. It seemed like it, anyway!

I'm just sitting down to write after I dated each picture and the ages of each person in the picture. I stood for a minute or so and just looked at my wall that you see above.

I can't believe it!

That is my family. All of us.

Chris and I did this. (With the help, of course, from Heavenly Father.)

I just looked, and looked, and cried.

I am blessed. We are blessed!

I'm in another funk.

Blah!

That's all I can say!

Blah.

On a good note, I spoke with Kenney yesterday. I called her on Tuesday night to see if she could come and take care of the kids while Chris and I are with Aislinn in the hospital. I was starting to feel concern about who would watch them while we have to be in the hospital with her. I pondered it, felt out all our friends and family, and then felt that I had to make the call. I called Kenney's cell phone and left her a message pleading for help. I hesitated to ask her because I know that they live 4 hours away, she has a full-time outside the home job, and Nana, and Alyssa... you get the idea.

But, I called and asked. Yesterday when she called me she told me that she and Dad had talked about it and that she would come and take care of the children. I started to cry, and I am right now. I told her that I don't have the words to express my appreciation for that. She is putting everything aside to help us. And she's doing it because she wants to. She said, "That's what family is for."

It reminds me of when we were in the hospital the end of last month. How Debbie Carter just said, "I'll take care of the kids!" She did. She even packed lunches when I forgot to tell her to do it. She still loves me after Greyson played with matches and almost set the house on fire. I got phone calls of love and concern. My friends just called to say, "What can I do?", and "We love you and are here for you."

This Thanksgiving, I have a TON to be thankful for. You all reading this, it's you!

Thank you.

Thank you.

THANK YOU!

Interesting.

I'm not feeling so blah anymore... my blog must be therapeutic!

An act of service

All of the Eustis Ward Primary children from ages 8 - 11 did some service to fellow ward members last night. We actually had more than just the 8 - 11 kids because we had all of my kids and Camryn was there with Ethan. So, it was most of the Eustis Primary.

We sang I Am A Child of God as our opening song and I was caught off guard at how strong the spirit was when the children started singing. I talked with the kids that were in my car later in the evening when we were delivering cookies about that spirit that I felt. They said that they felt it too. We all commented how wonderful it is that the spirit can be so strong, even in some one's house!

We proceeded to bake cookies and just have a good time while we waited for them to be done. We ate as many as we could, then headed off to Sister McGrath's grandmother that lives in a nursing home to deliver one of the plates. She seemed pleased to have us there and we sang her I Am A Child of God and then left.

Hannah Boatwright's house was next and I hope that Hannah appreciated it, but it was hard to tell. Anyway, she knows that we miss her and are thinking of her, I am sure.

We had a good time and the children seemed to really enjoy just being together.

It's getting chilly!

We played and played today! The kids were running around like they had all the energy in the world! It was cute to watch.

It's going to be in the 30's tonight and tomorrow night. I sure miss my fireplace!

The Polar Bear Club and an accomplishment

Just within the last few weeks, Aislinn has learned how to ride a bike with training wheels. My baby sure is getting big!

It was in the 30's last night. Greyson didn't care that it is only in the high 50's right now. It was time to swim!

Oh my!

What do you think?

Aislinn

Greyson

Lauklan

Kerstyn

Brennan

Chris and me

All the kids

Family 2008

Katelyn McGrath took these pictures for us out at the farm in Sorrento. I was so excited to get them done and even more excited to be finished! Katelyn did a great job considering how hard it is to have all 7 of us looking in the general direction of the camera. Thanks Katelyn!

Why cry?

We had our last attempt at rehearsal this morning for the Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation. It was not as good as I planned, to say the least!

We only had about 30 minutes that we could actually be in the chapel because of the other ward starting their sacrament meeting and the children actually did sing very well while we were there. However, they don't seem to want to stand still or keep their arms down.

After we left the chapel, we went to the Primary room and continued to practice. I became quite frustrated after Brennan read his talk. I'm even not sure the word 'read' is good to use.

I ended up crying after that one. Not the happy cry, either!

We ended up cutting several verses out of a few songs and cut a complete song out of the program. I'm ready to be done with this. I thought that I had escaped the stress associated with doing the program, but I was WRONG!

I'll just continue to think, "Next week at this time, it will be all over!"

Talks

I helped the children write their talks for the Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation a few hours ago. I called them all to me individually and talked with them about their individual topics. We talked about what we wanted to say and then we read it together.

Greyson will follow the prophet.

Lauklan looks forward to being baptized and confirmed.

Kerstyn talked about prayer and when she was reading it to me so I could help her work on fluency, inflection, etc. she started to cry. That made me tear up. When she finished her talk, I hugged her tightly and asked, "You know what you're feeling right? What is it?" She replied, "The spirit". Yes, yes indeed!

Brennan knows that the Savior lives and that he will come again. He knows that the atonement is for him and that when he chooses the right, he can return to live with Heavenly Father again.

I was strengthened by just listening to the children.

I might, just might be getting something right?

I sure hope so!

Parent fireside and MANY laughs

I laughed more tonight than I have in years.

Not kidding, years!

Chris, Lew and Jose were just cutting up like crazy at Chili's last night after our parent fireside and we had a great time together. The food was ok, except for Debbie having a french fry in her blue cheese dressing and Frances never getting her rice and beans. The service was awful, but we sure had a great time laughing and cutting up. It was really nice. I commented to Chris after we got home that I hadn't heard him laugh like that in forever. Hmm.

The parent fireside was really good. A little long, but good. We were given tools to help our children develop their own testimonies and encouraged to stay strong, focused and dedicated.

I really enjoyed listening to how President Carter's girls felt about developing their testimonies. He gave us a list of 20 things that they said that were the 'not so obvious' things that helped them develop their testimonies.
1. Their parents dedication to service in the church.
2. The parents took church very seriously.
3. They were dedicated church goers each Sunday and that they were there to learn the gospel.
4. They went to church while on vacation - never missed.
5. Family traditions of a righteous nature.
6. Church activities were mandatory.
7. Mother and father must be one.
8. Family responsibility and accountability - they didn't want to disappoint their parents.
9. Support of church leaders - ALWAYS!
10. Talk about gospel principles and spiritual matters.
11. Sing with and read to their children.
12. Temple centered home.
13. Respect for sacred things.
14. Encourage bearing of testimony at even at a young age.
15. Consistent Family Home Evening and family prayer.
16. Father interviews.
17. Love of God
18. Treatment of each other in the family.
19. Discipline followed by consistent consequences.
20. Going to the temple.

I listed all of the points because I know that I will want to look back on this. Who knows how long I will have the papers that I took notes on, but I know that I will have this blog forever.

I am thankful to my local leaders that they take the time to tell me things that I need to hear in regards to my family's eternal progression.

Busy, but fun

I worked this morning after I dropped off the last 2 kids. From work, I went right back to pick up the youngest 2. We played at home for about an hour and a half then headed off to start the pick-up of the older 3. I came home with Brennan, Lauklan went down the street to play with a friend and Kerstyn arrived about 4 with Mary from school.

From 4 until about 5:15 we had a presidency meeting to finalize the program, figure out the treat for the kids after the presentation and get another activity for the kids planned for next Wednesday.

When finished with that, I went over Kerstyn's homework and we headed to Suzy's to pick up Lauklan. Suzy was gracious enough to fix us dinner and we stayed there talking, playing and eating until about 7:30. That is WAY late for me to be getting home to start baths, etc. but we did fine. The kids had fun, I had fun, and now they're all in bed.

Let's do it again tomorrow!