What was I thinking????

I went to kiss Amanda goodbye as she headed to school with Scott yesterday and I noticed that her right eye was weepy and beet red. I asked her what happened. Her response, "Nothing, Mom." Typical 13 year old...ugh! So, I tell Scott to wait and I drag Amanda in the bathroom, make her take off her contacts and put on her glasses. She was livid at the thought that she had to go to school with glasses on. Heaven forbid! I think she'd rather have plucked her eye out with a spoon. So, after telling her that I was in charge, she pouted out the door, glasses on her face.

When I picked her up in the afternoon, the weepy eye was almost closed shut, red and just plain gross. This morning I happened to have an appointment for the little ones to go to the doctor, so I called the doctor's office and asked if Amanda could be seen at the same time. Of course, it was no problem, since I think we have purchased the doctor's BMW from all our visits.

Bright and early today, I trot into the doctors office with my brood following. The appointment was scheduled right at naptime, so I knew it wouldn't be a fun one. After finding seats for everyone, I sat pondering whether I should give the little ones a heads up that it was a "shot" day. Two for the boys, and four for Anna Grace, since she is still catching up. I figured I wouldn't since the crying would start then and there.

About 20 minutes later, we are called in. We take up the entire hallway where everyone is weighed, measured, and temps taken. (By the way, they ALL weigh 27 lbs and are within an inch of each other.)

The nurse then herds us into an examining room. This particular room had, of course, only 1 toy in it. Sharing is still a learning process, especially for AJ. I brought toys and some other stuff to entertain them all, but as expected, they all wanted the new toy. Some may call my next move cruel, but it stopped the screaming. In the midst of their arguing over who touches which button, I stopped them and told them that I had something to important to say. The 3 little faces froze and looked at me. Kai immediately said, "Shot?" Well, at that point, I couldn't lie. So, I said, "Yes, everyone is getting a shot today. BUT....it will be fast! A REAL fast one!" Then, the crying began. It stared with Kai, then Anna Grace followed, and AJ had really no idea why everyone was crying, but once one does it, they all do. So, he joined in.

Fortunately, the nurse came in. I sat Kai on my lap and told the two younger ones to watch what a big boy Kai was. Ummm.....wrong! He wailed and screamed bloody murder. Next was AJ. I gotta say. This little guy is so darn tough. No crying. The needle went in as I held him against me and told him, "We're almost done." He said, "Done?" By the time I answered. It was over. He hardly whimpered.

Anna Grace, and righteously so, screamed till I thought the veins in her neck would explode. She got two shots in each arm. It broke my heart because she kept saying over and over, "Mama! Mama! Mama!" Poor baby.

Finally it was over. The doctor came in and agreed with my motherly diagnosis that Amanda had pink eye. We got our prescription and we were off to the pharmacy for more Motrin (note to self: buy stock!) and Amanda's eye drops.

So, now I sit here with a teenager whining that her eye itches and me reminding her every few minutes not to touch it and to go wash her hands again. And with 3 little ones with fevers ranging from 100.5 to 102, and all of them cranky, whiney and crying. Ahhhh yes, the joys of motherhood.

What was I thinking when I scheduled all 3 of them for vaccinations on the same day?

Praising God....

and thanking everyone that lifted up our little Kai to the heavens. We just got back from the doctor and he told me that Kai's palate is 100% intact!! So, no corrective surgeries needed! I am ever so grateful for everyone's prayers and of course, to our Lord, for watching over my baby boy. I know it's because of your prayers that his palate is intact.

His diet has now been expanded a little bit to softer foods, instead of full liquid. So, he will be able to now have pancakes (soaked in syrup), shredded cheese, soft rice and a few other yummy items that he has not been able to eat, but loves.

We return to the doctor on the 10th and hopefully then he will be allowed to begin eating normal foods and soon thereafter, return to school. We have a "playdate" for an hour at school this Thursday, with his classmates.

Today marks ten bliss-filled, wonderful years that Scott and I have been together. For those of you that do not know how Scott and I met, we met on internet. I was going through some tough times ending a marriage and my oldest son had recently suffered a life threatening accident. As much as I wanted, and needed the Lord in my life, he wasn't front and center at the time.

Late one night, in a chat room using Comic Chat (I laugh even thinking about it now), I met this man. He lived in Connecticut, was divorced and had a 9 year old daughter. He was dating someone at the time and just seemed so genuinely nice. I remember time slipping away so quickly that night. I headed to bed and when I glanced at the clock it was 4 a.m! I couldn't believe it. I remember thinking to myself, "what a nice man!". He remembers me saying, "I don't cook"...heh! The rest is history. Nine months after that night, he left everything behind and followed his heart....to Florida. Then, two years later, on his parent's anniversary, in the center of Quincey Market in Boston he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. It was a moment when time stood still. It was December 16, 2000. The snow was falling outside and the sun was just rising. Shop keepers were opening up their stores and it all just seemed like a fairy tale. I felt like Cinderella when the glass slipper fit her foot. It's been that way for 10 amazing years.

I am no stranger to marriage and if I had not met Scott, would probably be giving Elizabeth Taylor a run for her money. But this man stopped me in my tracks. One of our first conversations was about the bible and God, and at the time, he didn't even go to church. But his knowledge so impressed me. He is everything I had ever envisioned a husband, and father, should be. He is smart, kind, loving, gentle, supportive, a hard worker and wonderful provider. (I will leave the more personal stuff out, but let me just add that the thought puts a smile on my face!)

The Lord used Scott to lead me back on that narrow path, that I had been missing for so long. After my Lord and Savior, Scott is the one that is my rock and my strength. When times are tough, he lifts me up and when there are moments of rejoicing, he magnifies those moments so that they appear 10,000 times better than they are. He is my prince charming who carried me away to a life that I could only have dreamed of. He took everything from me that has ever caused pain in my life and had sheltered, protected and loved me to no end. I am indeed the luckiest woman in the world.

Honey,

I tell you often, but I want to remind you again that you are the biggest blessing the Lord has ever given me. You make everything so much sweeter than it is. I love how you love our children and what a fantastic father and husband you are.

The dictionary says that a father is a man who exercises paternal care over other persons; paternal protector or provider and the definition of husband is a master of his house. Well, your picture should appear next to both those definitions, with neon lights flashing all around you. Your children adore you because you have earned that love and respect. My family loves you and you know that I cannot fathom a day without you. Jesus has graced you with the cement that binds us together as a family. Without you, our home would only be a house. Thank you for ten incredible years. I love you more than words could ever say.

Forever your wife,

Ohilda