We made it! Thanks to U. Fred's enormous help, we are back to the 21st century. Our computer contracted a virus (maybe the strep that was going around the house!) 2 Thursdays ago. After much hassle moving files to a flash drive, down the computer went to U. Fred's computer infirmary to be healed. After several days of intense surgery, the computer was back on it's feet and healthier than ever! (Albeit, it was formatted and back to its original factory state!)
Lessons learned with no computer for a week and a half: 1) As much as I hate to admit it, it is close to impossible to live in this society without a computer/Internet. I rely on it for everything: research, communication, recipes, bill paying, checkbook balancing, watching movies, obtaining directions, checking weather, keeping track of the hurricane that is about to supposedly tear your yard apart, etc. Of course, we don't have TV either, so we were considerably off the grid! 2) Life is simply and sweeter without a computer. I really didn't think I would say that, but I'm so much less distracted, less "busy", more in tune to my children, and get more done without a computer!
So, what then is the compromise? I can't live without a computer, but living with it can be cumbersome to a degree. The compromise would be limited use of the computer for necessary endeavors. For starters, today I'm going to list my hopes for accomplishment on this blog to keep me accountable. I'm almost sure I won't get them all done, but they say "Shoot for the moon and if you miss you'll land among the starts!" (Or something to that effect!)
Without further ado:
~Walk to a YouTube video
~Shower
~Fold (too many!) loads of laundry. There's at least 5 loads of clean laundry waiting!
~While folding, listen to a talk on Family Life Live or one of the equivalents if it's quiet enough in the house!
~Make muffins for Pete's lunch
~Take the kids outside
~Make a chore list with the kids to entice them to help out!
~Go to the chiropractor, Bob's (to use a $10/$10 coupon...don't you love those!), and K-mart to return something (all while Pete is watching the kids)
~The usual: make/clean up lunch, put out fights, clean up after mischievous children...namely a little man!, take a nap
~Post a follow up on here...probably tomorrow
Guess I'd better get started! Off to take a "walk"!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
So it Begins Again!
After a lovely hiatus of being sickness free (minus lovely morning sickness of course!), we're under quarantine again! This time with Strep Throat! The kids started with cold symptoms 2 days ago. Last night I got a call from a friend that her kids had strep with only cold symptoms, and of course our kids had played together recently! So, it was in to the doctors office for us as I personally know of someone who had lifelong severe complications from untreated strep.
Three throat cultures later, they all have strep! Thankfully, they have no symptoms other than a cold and have been started on antibiotics, so they should be strep symptom free by tomorrow about noon and no longer contagious after that. Of course, bringing 3 kids to the doctors is always an adventure and this visit proved to be just as adventurous! Naomi had complained of ear pain as well, so the doctor tried to check her ears. There was so much wax in her ears, the doctor had to scoop it out with a tiny Q-tip. That did NOT go over well! I had to hold her head, hands and feet down, while she screamed and flailed! In the meantime, Timmy decided to climb out of his stroller, climb up on a stool that twirls, put the doctors pen in his mouth and then fall to the germ infested ground! Luckily he didn't get hurt. He did break the pen and start wailing! So now I had two screaming children! I calmed them down and put Timmy on the exam table next to Naomi. Of course, as soon as I turned my head to help with Naomi, Timmy fell off the table! It seems to me something else happened as well, but I can't remember!
We left the office without further incident. While we were in Acton, we decided since it was such a nice day, we would visit the Acton Arboretum. It's such a beautiful spot! The kids loved it and it gave them a chance to be outside without contaminating anyone! It also gave me a chance to appreciate them after our not so pleasant experience at the doctor's office. I love that they get such sheer enjoyment out of the little things we take for granted! Moths, dogs, bullfrogs on the logs, beautiful flowers, a tree that broke in half and fell creating a bridge you could walk under, a tree stump whose middle had completely worn out over time creating a house as big as them, large boulders to climb on, boardwalks to walk on, a bridge, a pond, a pergola...etc! That definitely brightened up our day!
Another bright part of the day is that our house is being painted! Wohoo! The first coat is on the house and the second coat is to come tomorrow! We love the color and can't wait to see the white trim on it! We went with a grey/green, white trim and cranberry doors.
After a "quick" trip to my doctors office this afternoon (can any trip with 3 children be considered quick?!), I was thankfully negative for strep. She did call in an antibiotic for me to take if I develop symptoms to avoid a redundant trip! She thinks I'm likely to come down with it as well, though I've managed to avoid it in the past.
Anyway, the timer just went off on the oven, Pete is due back from getting a tooth pulled (which cracked in the process and will need a referral to an oral surgeon!), then it's baths and off to bed for three whinny children who are tired and probably don't feel 100%. Then a big sigh of relief for Mommy and Daddy!
A day in our life!
Three throat cultures later, they all have strep! Thankfully, they have no symptoms other than a cold and have been started on antibiotics, so they should be strep symptom free by tomorrow about noon and no longer contagious after that. Of course, bringing 3 kids to the doctors is always an adventure and this visit proved to be just as adventurous! Naomi had complained of ear pain as well, so the doctor tried to check her ears. There was so much wax in her ears, the doctor had to scoop it out with a tiny Q-tip. That did NOT go over well! I had to hold her head, hands and feet down, while she screamed and flailed! In the meantime, Timmy decided to climb out of his stroller, climb up on a stool that twirls, put the doctors pen in his mouth and then fall to the germ infested ground! Luckily he didn't get hurt. He did break the pen and start wailing! So now I had two screaming children! I calmed them down and put Timmy on the exam table next to Naomi. Of course, as soon as I turned my head to help with Naomi, Timmy fell off the table! It seems to me something else happened as well, but I can't remember!
We left the office without further incident. While we were in Acton, we decided since it was such a nice day, we would visit the Acton Arboretum. It's such a beautiful spot! The kids loved it and it gave them a chance to be outside without contaminating anyone! It also gave me a chance to appreciate them after our not so pleasant experience at the doctor's office. I love that they get such sheer enjoyment out of the little things we take for granted! Moths, dogs, bullfrogs on the logs, beautiful flowers, a tree that broke in half and fell creating a bridge you could walk under, a tree stump whose middle had completely worn out over time creating a house as big as them, large boulders to climb on, boardwalks to walk on, a bridge, a pond, a pergola...etc! That definitely brightened up our day!
Another bright part of the day is that our house is being painted! Wohoo! The first coat is on the house and the second coat is to come tomorrow! We love the color and can't wait to see the white trim on it! We went with a grey/green, white trim and cranberry doors.
After a "quick" trip to my doctors office this afternoon (can any trip with 3 children be considered quick?!), I was thankfully negative for strep. She did call in an antibiotic for me to take if I develop symptoms to avoid a redundant trip! She thinks I'm likely to come down with it as well, though I've managed to avoid it in the past.
Anyway, the timer just went off on the oven, Pete is due back from getting a tooth pulled (which cracked in the process and will need a referral to an oral surgeon!), then it's baths and off to bed for three whinny children who are tired and probably don't feel 100%. Then a big sigh of relief for Mommy and Daddy!
A day in our life!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
"I'm Nomie"
Conversation between Pete and Naomi today:
Pete: "Naomi you look like a Purple Princess!"
Naomi: "No! I'm Nomie"
P: "Oh are you Princess Naomi?"
N: "No! I'm Nomie!"
P: "Oh, you're just regular Naomi?"
N: "No, I'm Nomie!" (said very emphatically!)
Pete: "Naomi you look like a Purple Princess!"
Naomi: "No! I'm Nomie"
P: "Oh are you Princess Naomi?"
N: "No! I'm Nomie!"
P: "Oh, you're just regular Naomi?"
N: "No, I'm Nomie!" (said very emphatically!)
Monday, August 8, 2011
Heartbeep
As some of you know, this new little bundle is being stubborn about showing off his/her heartbeat via Doppler. When I went for my appt 3 weeks ago, we could not find it. My midwife sent me for an ultrasound and the baby looked good and healthy with a strong heartbeat! She had me come back in 2 weeks to look for it again, and still not heartbeat! We decided since I'd had a nice strong ultrasound 2 weeks before, to wait on another ultrasound and have me come back in one more week to try again. Today was the day! At first we still couldn't find it! (I'm 13 weeks along and child number 4- I should be able to hear it by now!) Finally, the baby must have shifted and finally showed off it's heartbeat! Cheers went up in the room from the girls as they declared that we had heard the baby's "heartbeep!"
Monday, August 1, 2011
Dog Days of Summer!
Pete gives a lesson on how to install a caulking tube in a caulking gun
Timmy takes a dunk on a HOT day
Raspberries and hydrangeas from our neighbors
Timmy sprays people with the hose
Olivia turns 5!
Olivia turned 5 on friday! Happy Birthday Olivia! We love you and thank God for you every day! We pray that you will always stay close to Our Lord and Our Lady and join them in Heaven one day as a saint!
Her "big gift"- a greatly requested iron and ironing board! Wish it really worked!
Her "big gift"- a greatly requested iron and ironing board! Wish it really worked!
Cake #1!
Birthday cuties :-)
Seeing her cake for the first time the day of her party!
Uncle Dan takes the girls on a ride! Nome's even got in on the action!
Blowing out singing candles
Madeline Has the Chickenpox!
Sr. Agnes Mary gave Olivia a cloth Madeline doll for her birthday that Gram had made for Sr. Agnes' 1st grade class. Apparently Madeline has the chicken pox today! They're on her belly. Have no fear though...Dr. Olivia is taking care of her. She removed the "bones from her tummy last year because he belly was all chickened up". Then she brought her to stay at the doctors for a long time!
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