STILL Working on the Kitchen!

This is a picture from behind of my husband last Saturday. What the heck is he doing? (you ask) Well, he has just pulled the fridge out from the wall and is taking off the wallpaper since this was not something I could easily do while he was out of town.

We had a nice date of washing walls while the kids interrupted us every 36.2 seconds and I remembered why I had not done the washing and sanding myself over the summer (the kids get into all sorts of trouble when I'm doing so).

We used to go out for expensive dinners and to the movies and dancing at dance clubs (go, techno music!) on a Saturday night. Now we do this. And it's all good.

(This post was for Christine, who insists she wants updates on my kitchen stripping-3-layers-of-wallpaper-washing-sanding-spackling-sanding again-painting-getting new windows fun.

For more fun, also see:

Stripping Wallpaper While Holding a Baby

Toddler Eva Stripping Wallpaper

Happy 3rd Birthday, Sam and NICU Reunion 2012

Samuel was born 3 years ago TODAY! Here's his birth story, and it has some humor to it even though it was a very sad week that he spent in the neonatal intensive care unit. We missed the first two NICU reunions that the hospital holds, mostly because Aron was working both years and I couldn't fathom taking all 5 little kids to a super busy place outdoors plus, let's face it, I was still sad about the whole situation. Of course I am grateful every single day that he lived because some kids who have meconium aspiration don't. It stumps me every day why he got to live and other kids don't. Then I wipe the tears away and move on, giving all my kids extra hugs.

So this year we finally went to the NICU reunion! Instead of being held at a park, it was held at our local children's museum called Wonderscope. A pass there goes for like $7 per person plus we got a free hot dog/chips/cookie/drink meal so we could not pass it up! And Sam even got a Rock Star t-shirt! Here are some pictures!

Sam had on his cool guy sunglasses and his Mischief Maker shirt.

Here we are with our free meal. When you have 5 kids you take all the free food you can get!

Me and Samuel. He recently potty trained all by himself and insists on doing things all by himself. I joke that NICU kids are tough.

They had all sorts of cool blow-up bouncy things!

Joel helps Sam get into the bouncy train! They also did a bounce house and I chatted with another NICU mom. It was interesting to be around a bunch of people who went through something so emotional and life-changing. I sailed through childbirth four times, then the 5th hit me like a ton of bricks. You can have PTSD from NICU experiences. I've written 2 articles about NICU life during and after to try to make sense of it all and help others.

Anyway, the other mom had one son. He was in the NICU 7 weeks. Before he was born she had had a daughter who was born early and died in the NICU. What strength that she went on and had another. I don't know that I am so strong. I looked the death of a child in the face and I don't want to go back there.

Sorry to be such a downer. It's Sam's birthday! I am happy he is with us! Above, he loved the golf ball room at the museum! He loves life and eats it up!

Here he is at the end of the night. We wore his butt out and he crashed on the couch! We thank God every day for all of our children and that they are all alive and well. We are grateful for every day we get to spend with them. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAMUEL!

Callie the Fashion Designer

These are paper dresses my 7-year-old daughter Callie cut up and taped together using scrapbook paper. She also made a ball gown and danced around the house with it attached to herself.

These are her top secret sketches!

What do your kids like to do in their free time? I like to give my kids plenty of time after homeschooling and chores and all our fun running around to BE BORED. That's how I discovered I like to write! Callie is great at this fashion design thing and dresses herself so cute all the time!

Wordless Wednesday with Linky: A Day at the Zoo

Eva's not ostracized; she wanted to sit there

Walking in "Australia" at the Kansas City Zoo

After a nice carousel ride

Tackle-It Tuesday: My Weight

I took this of myself in my swimsuit in July. Since then I put on about another 5 pounds drinking  one huge, luscious coffee chocolate milk every day.

Here's me with clothes on, lettin' it all hang out.

Okay, I understand that I'm not obese. Realistically I'm only about 42 pounds over what I weighed when I got married, what I weighed during most of my 20s.