No Wonder I Am Tired

Ok, I'll admit it: It's hard to be 31 weeks pregnant with #5...and that is when things go smoothly.

I knew it was probably just a matter of time - -given Kenzie's curiosity, love of climbing and getting into things she shouldn't. Yesterday was that time.

I was busy trying to fax some important documents and get dinner ready. I thought Kenzie was downstairs with the other kids. Greg was busy in the office as well. About 5:30, I heard her crying and calling for me. It was then that I discovered that she wasn't downstairs - -but upstairs in my bathroom. Imagine my dismay when I rounded the corner and first, smelled a terrible smell (turned out to be liquid wart remover), then, I found her crying, on top of the bathroom counter, soaking wet with stuff all over her mouth...and pills everywhere.

We quickly decided that since we had no clue as to how much, if anything, she had ingested, we better take her to the ER. I grabbed the bottles of Tylenol, prenatal vitamins and Sudafed and we took off. I was quite certain I was going to go into labor given how fast Greg was driving. It was a long/quick trip to the hospital. He kept telling me to relax - that he drives like that all the time (going straight through intersections on left turn green arrows, etc.) Yes, well, he may drive like that...but he doesn't do it with the whole family in the car...and our Pontiac Montana certainly isn't a police cruiser.

Long story short: we got to the hospital, the 3 older kids colored quietly for an hour while Kenzie was hooked up to monitors, etc. Greg's parents cut their dinner at Outback short so they could come and pick up the other kids. (We were very grateful!) Greg called a neighbor and asked him to go upstairs to our bathroom to count the remaining pills. (It didn't cross my mind to grab them all.)  Kenzie had to have an x-ray, a catheter and two rounds of blood drawn before (6.5 hours later) it was determined that she was probably ok. She either didn't take anything (she alternately told us she ate the pink and red ones...or that she'd licked them.) or had such a small amount that no levels of toxicity were detected in her x-rays, blood or urine. 

(It turns out the stuff all over her face was paint - from Addysen's room. There's a story for a different day. AND...she had managed to open a brand new bottle of Tylenol - - I found the silver foil wrapper when we got home. The girl is into everything!)

Yes, we were very lucky...and we are very grateful. Aside from being particularly grouchy and tired (all of us)...all is well. We're heading off for naps now...and hoping the trauma of this experience was enough to keep her out of the bathroom...and off of counters. 

What are the odds?

This Is Why We Don't Pay For Professional Photographers

At least we're only out time...not money.

A Boy, His Dad and A Fishing Pole

"It is often those we live with and love, the ones we care about the most who elude us."

"Even now, when I look back on the Montana of my  youth, I long to understand what happened there, and why."

"In Montana, there are three things we're never late for: church, work and fishing."

"Why is it the people who need the most help won't take it?"

"...but you can love completely without complete understanding."

"From boys to men, in life and in love, all memories become one..and a river runs through it."

Granted, these pictures aren't from, "A River Runs Through It" ...one of my favorite movies. But, I'll take these boys over Brad Pitt anyday.

For the Record

Just FYI for those of you who have inquired regarding the Lord of the Dance video (see below)...No -- I did not post that video because Greg ticked me off or because our marriage is in trouble. I just figured that if our pathetic lives can bring a smile to someone else's face...we've done our part to spread sunshine and make this world a little bit better.

And just so you can all rest easy...there WILL NOT be any video documentation of the upcoming birth of our new baby. Rest assured, Greg is not one to seek revenge or retaliation. 

Wanna Win This?

www.handbagplanet.com

Ahh...Good Times

Do you remember when times were simpler?

* In the days before 12-16 hour shifts?

* Before 15 minute/child/day reading logs and 30 minute/child/day math fact practice?

* Before nightmare tenants and three mortgages?

* Do you remember when we used to set our heat at 70 degrees during the winter -- when we were WARM and still paid less than $100 per month?

* Do you remember what it was like before gas and milk were each $4 per gallon?

* Before banks collapsed and 9/10 houses ended up in foreclosure?

* Do you remember when there weren't bags under our eyes, gray strands in our hair or rolls around our mid-sections?

* Back when we watched movies and stayed awake? Or played card games like Phase 10 till all hours of the morning?

* Do you remember what it was like before 2-year-olds knew how to say the word "LOSER"...let alone, use it in correct context when expressing their frustration towards their parents?

* Do you remember when school lunches cost $1.15 -- rather than $2.25? When McDonald's hamburgers were .29?

* Or when October 31st was called Halloween - -and not the Fall Festival? When the Halloween parade was just that...rather than a "Book Character Parade?"

* Do you remember when it seemed hard to get out the door with one child - - as compared to 4 3/4?

* Or when we didn't take up an entire pew at church?

*Do you remember what it was like to drive a car with a whole bumper and 2 headlights?

*Or when I used to like making dinner and kept up with the laundry? (ok - -so that NEVER happened...)

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE WHEN WE DANCED?

I do - -and it was good.

She Must Be Her Father's Daughter

Try to ignore the quality of the production...the camera wasn't working right, the tape was messed up...and I was trying to keep track of Kenzie as well as video from the back of the auditorium.

But, since Addysen has been asking about it for months...here is her version of "Rock Star" from the school talent show (back in May!) (I'm not sure why the video cuts off early...but you get the idea.)

Special Visitors

We all like to be spoiled. And this past weekend, when Greg's Aunts Kathy & Karolyn came to town for a visit...that is exactly what happened.

They were only here from Thursday -Sunday -- and  yet, in that time, they managed to hit more stores than I usually enter in a month! 

The kids (10 out of the 13 Kerr grandkids that were in town) were treated to a shopping experience like no other. (At least -- it was a shopping experience unlike what MY kids are used too. They weren't told "no" over and over -- and weren't continually told to hurry up and make up their minds.)

Kathy and Karolyn let each of the kids pick out a new Halloween costume and here are the results... (notice, these are not our normal "elastic-band-mask, see-through-material-make-up-your-costume-from-whatever-is-in-your-closet" outfits.)

Miley Cyrus Commander Cody

Queen B Princess K

Here is the rest of the crew -- with Karolyn & Kathy

The girls were also treated to manicures and pedicures. I should have joined in...I can't even see my toes these days!