Prayers Please

I'm not sure when I'll be posting again. Our family is going through a lot right now. We are dealing with so much and I'm not even sure where to begin. I wasn't going to even post about it, but you know, I'm going too. I need to. My 'followers' as well as my closet readers, have got to have some sort of knowledge that could help us get thru this.
My FIL is currently in the hospital with what is believed to be Bi-Polar. He is 80?? years old. The signs have been there for years but as I'm learning, some families just do not communicate or want to see the signs. It's been a very long road, over 50 years, and it finally has come to a head. But not with lots of hurt feelings, frustration and bitterness. Sleepless nights, early AM calls and all night 'baby sitting' by my husband and his brother. He finally is in the hospital, has been since Monday AM and DH JUST called and said he has taken his medicine. Before he was throwing it behind his bed, trying to dissolve it in his hand and just refusing to take it. He had to be committed. It's just amazing what I've learned about DH's family and even DH. I can honestly say that he is handling it better then I'd ever imagine. He's talking openly with me, we've stayed up till after midnight almost every night this week, talking. He has such a sense of relief to finally have this come to a head. I had no idea how much anger?? he had been repressing for years, or maybe even embarrassment? over his father and his behaviors.
Some of those behaviors are very very strange and I'm not completely sure they have to do with Bi-Polar. That's why I'd like to email someone that knows a lot about this. My husband's family has been talking to a Psychologist but yeah, just need a real life persons thoughts rather then this doctor. Who is very qualified no doubt.

That being said, should I happen to not post for awhile, it's b/c of exhaustion. He gets out Monday and we honestly do not know what could or is, going to happen. His threats were we've seen nothing yet. Not sure what to expect but also hoping that the medicine(s) will start working and these thoughts/threats will becoming nothing more then just that.

Dreary, Rainy Day

Why can it not rain during the night. I tell you the weather here in Iowa has felt more like March then June. It's been very rainy and cold. We have yet to be to the pool and my garden is growing lousy. Today, Friday, it has been raining since 1030 AM. Prior to that it was drops here and there. We still managed our play group at the park, at least the kids got some exercise in.

On our way to the park, I noticed a sign for a tractor ride. Ever heard of them? Bunches of old tractors go on a tractor ride through out the country. They started coming by our house @ noon and at about 3 was probably the last time we saw a couple. It was really a lot of fun. Just wish it wouldn't have been raining. Those poor guys (and some women) on those tractors were just soaked. Rain gear or not, they were soaked. C'man and I did watch about 10 of them at the end of our driveway. Otherwise we just waved from our front door.

Here's some pics:

The best was the green tractor pulling the red one. I thought it was a John Deere, which is what we drive. DH later informed me it was some other kind of green tractor. I thought green = John Deere. None the less, it was a fun time.

Tonight, if it stops raining, we're going in to a nearby town where there is a tractor and car show. Just something to do more then drewl (how the heck to do you spell that!?) over them:) We may meet up with another family for supper. BUT it has to stop raining.

Saturday I'm selling my purses in the park where a kids day will be going on. I hope to get rid of MOST of them! Heck I'd love to sell them ALL but that's not possible. I'll be offering $5 off, have a large bag of 1/2 price ones, and then my facebook fans get an additional $2 off:)

I hope to do really good.

OK well I guess this is a wrap.

And Then There Were Three

Really?? Can this really be my life? You all seeing how freakin crazy my life is? Well it just got crazier.
This afternoon I was staining windows in C'mans room. Something I have put off for oh....6 months?? I HATE it. But anyway, I'm finishing up and in drives my BIL with ducks in the back of his truck. I couldn't get my staining gloves of fast enough, wondering what the hell he was doing. (sorry but that was exactly what I was thinking)
If Miss A hadn't been napping AND i wasn't upstairs, I'd yelled and jumped out the window. I rushed downstairs, thru the house, muttering 'oh NO you don't' or 'what the hell' I get out there to see him walking with THREE DUCKS and ONE BLACK CHICKEN.
Being held by there feet he says: 'This is ALL I HAVE LEFT'.

'Excuse me?? Pardon me but what are you doing with them HERE?? I HATE ducks. I even want to hate these chicks.'

My 14 yr old niece was with him or I'm most certain I would have been freaking out more. THEN my brain kicks in and I have a suggestion.
I tell him 'I have a deal. You can keep them here IF you go get that building I'm going to make in to a chicken house down at the neighbors'

He grunts, groans, mutters something and I say 'seriously they are not ALL going to stay in my garage. I'm not cleaning up after 3 ducks on top of my already messy chickens'.

He tells me DH can go get the building. I reply ahhhh Haaa that's the problem. He won't/can't/to busy/ and I want it NOW:)

He leaves and if I had a stick I'd been shaking in the air as he left. THREE stinken ducks quacking and it's driving me fricken nuts.

Oh wait, there's more. I get this idea to list them on this free recycle website as well as on facebook. Well guess what, I have a taker. My lovely Jen. I tell BIL of my new founded home for them and he replies: 'I don't think so, I'm taking them back as soon as I figure out what's killing them'

DRATS!!!!!!!!!

Not sure how many days that means but 5 hours later and I'm still going crazy listening to those things quack. Did I mention yet how annoying they are??

Well now they are in there own cage. Remember how chickens will peck to death an animal that is wounded, well that's what they are doing to the one duck. Oh and another duck had it's eyes poked out by this varmet! I'm told that the scene in the chicken house was awful. Whatever animal is doing this has NO mercy. They found chicken pieces up in a tree, above the garage, and who knows where else. What amazes me is know one heard this!? When DH and I lived over there we heard right away if something was in the chicken house.

They are kind of thinking it's a Wiesel?? I have no idea what that is but it sounds awful b/c they are known to bite the head off AND suck the blood out. How awful is that!!!!

That's my story for today. I tell ya, if I had the time, I could blog a story about every day. Inevitably there is always something. I'm heading off to bed. I have to go laugh myself to sleep b/c I still can't believe this is my life!

Tomorrow is C'mans Bible School program. I can't wait:)

Good Night Moon

We, DH was able to go too, started our reading program Tuesday night. To be honest, it was rather dry and boring. I remember back in the day when I took a babysitting class as well as in school, being taught how to read a book with expression. The lady talked to us about that, how to have your children snuggle with you when we read books increases there chances of staying put and allowing them to choose the book. All of this was already going on in our house. With the acception of DH reading with no expression and very loud (LOL).

That being said, we did get lots of freebies. Everyone walked away with a door prize, we got a great supper and the kids had fun. Well Miss A didn't want to leave DH's side but C'man will have a blast when he gets to go. There are over 9 boys and Miss A is the only girl! The boys are all real close to C'mans age. We, or rather I, will continue to go back. Needless to say I'm fairly sure DH won't be returning. It's something fun, and different, for us to do not to mention that it's one less night I have to cook supper.

The give away book this time was Good Night Moon. How many of you have heard it? Read it? HAVE it?? If there is someone who does NOT have this book, let me know and I will mail you the copy I got. We have 2 copies already and C'man LOVED the book. Miss A thinks it's ok but would much rather read Fancy Nancy.

Leave a comment and I'll get in touch with you.

C'man is at Bible School up in my hometown. It's just Miss A and I. Tuesday night we have this Storyteller Program. Not sure what it'll be about but it includes supper AND childcare. It's a 5 week session and it's provided thru a grant our County got. I'll have to report how it is at a later date.



Here's some pictures tho of the last couple weeks:


These are from Memorial Day weekend when we went to the Lakes and when to Arnolds Park. We got season passes this year. I'm sure there will be many more pictures of times spent at this great park!

Gonig Batty

After my last ranting post, I am feeling better:)

Now on with life. As you can probably tell from reading my blog, there is NEVER a dull moment around here. That proved true once again on Monday. Early Monday AM I woke up to DH standing beside my side of the bed with a tennis racket in his hand. He woke me up out of the most beautiful sleep to tell me there was a bat in the house!

About one hour later the bat was lost. Our day began as usual with breakfast, blah blah. ACCEPT that today we had to be on the road by 730AM to get C'man to Bible School at my parents town. We were running pretty close to schedule TILL....the bat came back. It chose to reappear while DH was buckling up the kids. I was standing at the kitchen table doing a last look to make sure i got everything when out of the corner of my eye I saw the bat trying to dive bomb me. I flew under the kitchen table so fast that I gave myself a floor burn. In the preceding minutes I screamed and screamed, and well you get the idea. Needless to say the more I screamed the more the bat flipped out. DH never came to my rescue till i finally made a run for the garage. I told him 'bat, the bat back' i was so out of breath. He never heard me scream but the dog did and she was flippin out b/c she KNEW the bat was back.

I sent DH up to get diapers and i made my way out to the van. But not before venturing in to get my coffee of which DH kept making me think the bat was back. I was so freakin hot i could have taken a cold shower. I HATE/DESPISE bats. A couple hours later DH reported he had got the bat. It was hiding on top of our cupboards and was peaking over the edge at DH.

DH laughed so hard at me, but that's OK b/c i have never laughed so hard as when he is trying to swat a bat. It can be 2AM (like it always seems to be when they come out) and I can laugh so hard that i darn near pee my pants. It's something I should catch on video but never will b/c I know I'd get whacked with the tennis racket if the thing came near me.

We don't get them very often, like maybe once/year if that. But what a horrible experience when we do. I will NOT let him sleep upstairs. He must stay on bat patrol for a couple nights. Of course DH prefers the couch over the bed any ol' day so he's not out to much.

Do you all get bats? Any stories??

That Daughter of Ours

I feel like a broken record as I know I have blogged in the past about this, as well as posted things on my facebook. I'm truly at a loss of what more to do with her. She starts of her AM, very early i may add, screaming. She's mad that the gate is up (i don't want her going downstairs alone). Then she's mad b/c DH is either gone, or leaves while she's awake.
Ahhh....DH. Here in where my problems are. She is SUCH a daddy's girl. I don't mind that, really, BUT she and her for that matter can not say good bye. She has a fit when he leaves and what does he do, stops turns around and tries to comfort her. I just want him to leave. I also want him to get more stern with her. At night time (I'd prefer he not even be around at bed time b/c things go WAY like 100% smoother, w/o him) she whines to be read to. He reads. That's OK if it's just one book and not past 8pm. Then she doesn't want him to leave and he hugs, tells her whatever, and it just drags on and on. She throws a fit, he runs back in. Then she wants a sippy WITH ICE! He gets that of course not realizing that it sweats therefore making her bed a wet mess.
So yeah, I'm really needing him to step up and discipline her. She needs to know that daddy can discipline and say no too. I'm ALWAYS the one doing it all b/c I'm with them all the time. When he's home they sit and watch TV, hang out, etc.
I'm sorry if this is making no sense but today has just been a really bad day. The last week I've woken up at 545AM to her screaming about one thing or another. Today was really bad b/c i had her in our room watching TV. DH was downstairs getting ready for work and he came up to get shorts. Rather then just sneak in and out, he had to make a big deal of talking to her. She flipped out when he left. What followed was a big ol mess. She screamed, hit, kicked and eventually I was crying in the bathroom. C'man wakes up, gathers his wits and says 'I gotta get outta here'. I thought ME TOO!!
I told DH about this and am hoping that if not for me, he will do it for C'man and really try to be an active part of the discipline with Miss A.
I know I've heard other mom's say too that the dad always gets all the fun. We are trying to cook supper, do laundry, blah blah all day long with the kids under foot. Daddy comes home and it's like the super hero is here.
DH is now gone to the farm. Another fit ensued. C'man and her our out in the garage doing I don't even want to know what, with the chickens. I'm afraid I'll freak out when i find out what's going on but I'd best go look.
PRAY FOR ME!! I'm REALLY needing it. My patience are being tested.

Netflix

How many of you are Netflix subscribers? We are and really enjoying it:) They sent to me in the mail coupons for a 'free' month trial.
I have 4 and would be more then willing to offer them to anyone that would like them. One/household. I can do it via the internet by just emailing you the priority code. Email me @ likelabs@yahoo.com if you are interested.

On the sick note, I tried to do full feed this evening for supper. BAD idea. So back to as little as possible and lots of water. I did get some organic/natural form of Gatorade today. That Gatorade was AWFUL. It gagged me to drink it. Like drinking cough medicine.

Feeling Yucky

I'm under the weather over here. I was up last night vomitting and you know the 'other' thing. Poor DH had to come to my rescue. Fanning my aching naked body with my arse in the stool and my head in a bucket. He was laughing so hard at me and you know what? I didn't give a rootin tootin!!
I'll be back when I start feeling better.

Losses of a Pet

It is with much sadness that I post tonight that our Chocolate Lab, Mocha, died this AM. A week ago tomorrow (Friday) she had surgery to remove a tumor. She was just never the same. I couldn't find her this AM and eventually she must have mustered up enough strength to drag herself closer to the driveway. My FIL came over and helped me load her in the van to rush her to the vet. We both knew she probably wasn't going to make it. I stopped @ my niece's work to pick her up and by the time I checked on her she had died. There I stood sobbing in the parking lot.

Mocha we were a great dog. You really were. I never feared strangers hurting us b/c she was vicious. She didn't like stray cats either. She was a good momma to 2 liters of pups and a very faithful companion to my husband. She LOVED to run on the gravel road. Man could she run. She helped faithfully when we moved cows. She was a very sensitive dog. I feel bad b/c i was not always very patient with her. I would get cross so often trying to manage 3 dogs and 2 kids.

Will miss ya girl!!! Maxine will be in heaven waiting for you. I loved ya!!!

Baby Boji totally knows her momma is gone. Such sadness for him too!!

I'm Cross

That's right. I think cross is a rather kind word for my mood this week. I've been woken up at 615AM by gravel trucks barreling by using there jake brakes for a good 1/3 mile. Lovely!! And even more so when you have 2 exhausted children sleeping. Or after 1 hour nap for Miss A they wake her up. Then there's the fact they do not stop at the stop sign, run others off the road (they stop for nothing) and they just go faster and faster.
I had enough and called the County Engineers office and the State Trooper. I wanted to tell them that if they don't slow down I'm going to get a bunch of nails and put them on the road!! I did tell them I'm 2 jake breaks away from hopping in my van and driving down the the gravel pit and giving them a piece of my mind. But i know they'd walk away chuckling and thinking what a B**** I am. But gosh darn it. We need to use this road too. We have farmers going up and down this road, 83 year old lady that uses the hwy to back out on to, and the heck with getting the mail. We haven't gotten it for 2 days! The more loads they haul the more $$ they get.
I'm going to start keeping track of what color trucks are not stopping. Since they are contracted out it's all different companies. Oh and I did call a County Supervisor last night and left a message. I'm not sure if he got down there this AM and jacked them up, or if the stinker ones aren't trucking today, but they seem a little quieter.

Then there's this dang wind. Holy moly it's like hurricane strength. I water flowers from the wrong direction and I'd be soaked. Oh yeah and b/c of the trucks and this wind?? you should see the dust they are making. I'm glad I'm not down wind from that or I'd have a bone to pick about that. Like spraying the road down to cut down on the dust.

Wait there's more. My kids are at each others throats. They are fighting over a Little Tykes pickup, they are hitting one another, but then just a little while ago Miss A was sitting at the piano singing 'In a Rich Man's World' off of Momma Mia. Totally cute. They sing songs from that movie ALL THE TIME!! I shall get a video of it some day.

This afternoon I have to take C'man to the doc. He has a bump on the back of his head. It moves!? My MIL thinks it may be a cyst. One of her boys had one. Of course they said it was nothing to worry about. But for piece of mind, I'm getting it checked out. The appt is @ 1. DH is delivering mail so I had to find someone to stay with A. Everyone was busy accept my mother. She will be coming to stay with Miss A.

And then there are the dogs. They take a lot out of me when they are around. Kdee AKA Fat Dog continues to be obsessed with the chicks. Mocha had a tumor removed on Friday and hasn't ate since then. She's licking her stitches which is upsetting her tummy, so the vet said. Of course DH told me none of this and i was about to take her to the vet this AM. Like i didn't have enough going on that I'd have to load up at 100 lb dog, 2 kids and drive 25 min to the vet. I called him back and said I simply can not do it. He told me to cut out the bottom of an ice cream bucket and put it over her head. I did so and hopefully it'll work.

Good grief, wind again. It's just awful. I can't remember it ever being this windy for so many days. It's hot too, 93 today!! At least there is NO humidity but you can't hardly be outside b/c of the wind.

So do you see why I'm cross?? There's plenty more but I'll spare ya. I think I feel a little better. Now I have to see what my children are doing. They are v quite.

At It Again

Oh these chickens. Remind me of these days when next year I want to get more. I have to make sure i NEVER forget these moments with them and I think my last moment is me putting A&D Diaper cream on there BUTTS!! Yes folks you heard it right. Now let me back track.

Last night I went out to make sure they had water and food and discovered one of the chicks bleeding from its back end. It was DISGUSTING. I came in and said to DH 'the chicks are to little to be laying eggs right?' (go ahead and laugh) He said yeah and I told him what I saw. He did NOTHING! He said after the B-ball game. I'm like HECK NO there is something wrong.

He went out and said it was probably to far gone but I proceeded to put it in an old fish aquarium in hopes of possibly saving him.

This AM I went outside and sure enough, dang thing was dead. I dump it out in the garbage (oh yeah, DH is gone by now so once again I'm left to do the dirty work). I start feeding the remaining ones and oh my gosh there is another dead one!! No lie it looked JUST like this!!

So I get the dust pan thing, scoop it up and back to the dumpster. REALLY is this happening!!! Call DH and he says to call the feed store and find out whats going on. They tell me it could be the following:

1. Environment (dirty, to many, etc) I know it's none of these b/c i clean that thing every other day

2. Food-they are eating starter food yet so it's not that

3. and guess what, I can't remember the 3rd

But it ended up they are picking on one another. Those stinken black chicks are evil. But where she lost me was when she told me to put Vics Vapor Rub on the bloody spot to prevent further pecking.

Excuse me? You want me to rub what, where???

I investigated more and saw that more were bloody. I thought fine I'll fix you all. Of course, I couldn't find the Vics so I used, yes, A&D. I thought I'd put it on all of them. Easier said then done. I couldn't remember who had it, they were flapping everywhere and i was getting madder and madder.

Call DH and tell him that's IT the black chicks are evicted as of 10:05 AM TODAY! Go pick him up, (he's planting) bring cages over, load em up, bring them to the farm and they are now in there new home at my BIL's. I forgot to mention what a site I must had been catching them dang things. DH commented that he thought he'd NEVER EVER NO NEVER see the day I, his wife, would be catching chickens. And let me tell you the language out of my mouth wasn't awful, but not anything i'd want C'man repeating.

The other ones?? well needless to say i have the hurt ones separated and will see what happens. I thought that maybe just putting the A&D on there wings would be enough, but it's not. ONE has it on the bloody back end and I gagged, winced, and just about puked doing it. Really this is ME doing this? I have LOST IT!!

And there claws/feet?? Those things are ugly. Seriously they are starting to freak me out. Ewww

Tulip Festival

I'm from a very Dutch community. So Dutch that in our area we have a Tulip Festival. I was home these past couple of days and my mom and I took the kids to it. The first time I've been there in TEN years!! (guess what, not much has changed either).

While in High School our band marched in wooden shoes!! In fact when I was a Junior we marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade!! SIX long miles in those dang wooden shoes. I still have the soars on the bottom of my feet to prove it.

Last night was fun b/c I got to see the band march. As much as I despise those dang wooden shoes they do make the most amazing noise shuffling down the street in them playing Championship. Also I must add that band doesn't sound near as good as in my years and the years to follow. Seriously. I think they said there was 140 members and back in 'my day' we had 210 i want to say.

Here is a video of them:

The parade was LONG, as always, and fairly boring. But Miss A just loved waving to the people/kids on the float. After the parade it was downhill. Needless to say, we never made it to the rides. I went to get some Dutch goodies and Miss A presumed to scream uncontrollably. Mr C'man was in a world of his own just wondering around. I was constantly saying 'come here' 'no' 'where you going' blah blah. We came home exhausted and defeated.
BTW the looks my mom was getting while Miss A screamed were something else she said LOL!! You would think these Dutch people would understand her temper being that I think it's all Dutch!!

Here's some more pics of the evening:

Middle school band sounded better then some of the other bands. They train them young to be marching in High School.

Dutch Dancing prior to the parade

Helping Papa

You know what's best about a give away AND my kids sleeping? I'm able to do lots of posts and save them for the weeks/days to come:)

Papa was over here pulling out a fence. C'man loves to help and I think, no I know, papa loves the help.

I think C'man's face says it all right here! Actually this picture they were getting ready to go check cows.

This is what we find when looking for new calves. .2 seconds after taking this the baby took off and freaked us all out! Always have to keep an eye out for momma too!

Calling All Adoptive Moms

Oh man, I'm trying to take this all in at the moment. I just opened up an email from C'mans BM's MOM. Got that?? It's been YEARS since we've heard from one another. I'm going to ask for you honest help here. I'm even going to post the email. I know you may not be familiar with our adoption arrangement and really, there isn't one. OK enough let me just post it:
Hello,Not sure if this e-mail is still current, I just wanted to check. This is K...A mom. I wanted to just say hello. I think of you all every day. I couldnt sleep thinking about Mothers day, and wanted to send you the Mothers day Thank you. I have been re-married and we have a grandson also named C. I have a friend that is going through adapting a little boy right now, and it makes me think of what we all went through. We also discuss on many occasions what a wonderful thing it was.I hope all is well with your wonderful family! I never want to intrude, and it will never be an issue. We all know that it was a wonderful decision. I am just asking if I could get some pictures of your family. I have wanted to ask many times before, but I didnt want to intrude or make you feel uncomfortable.I do have a new e-mail address and it is you dont feel comfortable, I understand........I am just personally asking, maybe more for my parents for just some pictures of your family.thanks and I wish you a wonderful Mothers day!!!

Thoughts?? let me just say i'm by no means not happy to get this email. Honestly not many days go by that we don't think of BM and even her family. That being said, I've always felt that it should be BM's choice if she wants pictures. However, I know she is not going to contact me. Not a Mothers Day, B-day, etc goes by that we don't wish to have some sort of contact with her. To meet with her. Show her our beautiful boy. Is this a sign? An answer to prayers that I have since stopped praying for some sort of contact?

Mild anxiety attack. Your thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated and if you could be so kind to send other moms that can relate, over to my blog I would really really appreciate that.

I can't call my mom right now, they are out in Washington DC. DH is at the farm.