. . . All My Chaosity . . .

and a sunny brand new day over here! While we were all sleeping, somewhat, last night- apparently my littlest Kupcake was having fabulous adventures. Miss Kupcake awoke this morning so excited to tell me how she went to the beach where there was sand, the sea, the ocean and her friends.  Her family was there, everyone made sand castles and she can hear the ocean in her ears.  She loves the beach!  She loves swimming!  It is one of her most favorite things.  "Did you love the beach Mommy?" "Oh the beach is Mommy's happiest place ever, only thing better might be Disneyland" Kupcake thinks we should all go back to the beach today.  Herself, her family, her friends and Ava and Abbey and someone who might be named "Tinkle"?!  EVERYONE needs to go, because Kupcake loves swimming and the beach.

 Sweet little thing found a tiny bottle on my dresser, and BECAUSE HER TINY TOE ON HER RIGHT FOOT HURTS she opened it to fix her toe.  She was really "just only watching Kipper the Dog", but her toe *was* hurting, and the bottle did smell beauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutiful.  It's now all over the dresser and her, and I'm not sure where else but I can smell it wherever I stand in my house.     

Sweet Sugar Darlin' pointed out to me today (not for the first time this week) that she "has two hands. you see?" "yes." "You see I have two hands, Mommy?" "I do." "Mommy, I have two hands" "okay" "So I need two trick-or-treats for my two hands!"   She gets two trick-or-treats when she poops in the potty (for over a month now!!) and it only stands to reason that she should get two whenever she notices that she has two hands?!  Seems logical, I suppose, when you're 2 years old, going on 17.  But I am ever so thankful that she's peeing and pooping in the potty almost exclusively all day now.  

My sweet Kupcake has been wrapping up blocks and assorted small toys from her stash. She wraps them in (used) napkins and (colored on crinkled up) computer paper- the old school kind that's attached together. We use it for coloring.  She presents them to me throughout the day and says, "Happy BIRTHday, Mommy!" and then I have to unwrap, proclaim "Thank you SO MUCH!" and kiss and hug her. I t ell her it's not my Birthday anymore, and she assures me that, in fact, it is.

it would seem that someone taught Kupcake the letters "A", "B" and "C".  We have magnetic letters on the fridge, and she frequently plays with them and assigns them random letter names.  I taught her that "Kupcake starts with K" (showed her the K), "Poppy starts with P" and so on for DBall and Mommy as well.  She remembers those easily and can show you which one goes with which person's name.  But she doesn't always remember the name of the letter, as near as I can tell. Today Dball had his teeth cleaned (NO CAVITIES!! Hallelujah!), and Kupcake and I played with a basket of toys in the room where the cleaning happened.  Then we had to leave for xrays.  In the waiting room there was an ABC puzzle (literally, only had those three letters).  She brought it to me to help her put it together.  I picked up the "A", and she said "A for .... apple!"  We placed those in the puzzle.  Then, "B for...... ball!&quo

Essential Oil Recipes I found online: PTSD blend (I put in roller bottle) 30 drops Balance (doTERRA blend) 30 drops Elevation (doTERRA blend)) 20 drops Vetiver 1" Fractionated Coconut Oil "Morphine Blend" 6 drops of Frankincense 6 drops of Marjoram or Oregano oil add Lemongrass for an extra boost I put this in a roller  bottle and fill up with fractionated coconut oil, as the oregano oil BURNS BAD IF YOU USE IT NEAT.  I cut most of my essential oils, I feel "less is better" for me and my family.  I even dilute the blends I get from doTERRA and they seem to work just as well.

Also Aball has been working 12-13 hours days on new projects at work, so my day starts when Kupcake drags me out of bed, and then after dinner I have to take Dball to karate, Scouts, etc.... good times! Sometimes I have other, more interesting experiences though.  Like this one: So after my husband left for work this morning, and left the bedroom door wide open so sun was shining on me and Kupcake's eyes, I got up to close the door and laid back down next to Napoleon Kupcake and waited for her to fall back to sleep. Since I did not fall back to sleep during that time, I decided to bathe.  As soon as I filed the tub up with fabulous hot water and epsom salts, got my shampoo and magazine and book in there, sat down in the water and turned off the faucet- Napoleon Precious Kupcake awoke and despite my calling to her from the bathroom she pitter pattered around the house crying (loudly) for me.  She finally "found" me, and decided to "watch" me

I was thinking to myself that I need to write down some of the cute things Kupcake says before I forget them.  Today she was wanting to lie down on her bed and watch a movie, but first she needed her tea set.  So she runs past me saying, "Where oh where is my tea set? Where is the sugar bowl?" A few minutes later, tea set in hand, she runs by saying, "Scary monster, roar!  Run now, come, come!" I'm just including a collage picture from May-July of this year that makes me happy-- I love all her looks :)

After Tuesday's endoscopy and biopsies of tissues in Dball's esophagus, the Dr at ACH has determined that Dball definitely has eosinophilic esophagitis .    "Eosinophilic esophagitis Eosinophils (e-oh-SIN-oh-phils) are white blood cells that regulate inflammation and play a key role in allergic reactions. Eosinophilic esophagitis occurs with a high concentration of these white blood cells in the esophagus, most likely in response to an allergy-causing agent (allergen). In many cases, people who have this kind of esophagitis are allergic to one or more foods. Some foods that may cause eosinophilic esophagitis include milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, beans, rye and beef. People with eosinophilic esophagitis may have other nonfood allergies. For example, inhaled allergens, such as pollen, may be the cause in some cases." So the Dr wants to treat the symptoms first with flovent, which fortunately we already have quite a bit on hand.  We will do this twic

My precious 2 year old thinks that whatever she needs, can be purchased at a store specific to that item.  She refers to the "ice cream store", the "cookie store" and the "chocolate milk store". Most of these places are either the local grocery store, walmart or Braum's.  Nevertheless, she persists in asking if we can go to the "whatever she's hungry for" store most days. I used to make bread for my family on a fairly regular basis, seems like.  It's been a while though.  But today Kupcake came and asked when we could go to the "roll store".  For rolls? I asked her.  Yep, the soft bread kind (I think Caillou was making bread on her show).  So I told her we weren't going to the store- but I would make her some, and she could help. And  help she did.  She left halfway through the mixing up process, but came back for the part where you shape into rolls and loaves.  She make a couple rolls for me, then started eating t

With out boys at Scout Camp this week it's been somewhat different for Kupcake and me.  I am SO glad that D and B were able to go to the camp, and D went down the zipline and everything.  I wondered beforehand what exactly K and I would all week with just the two of us. I'm thinking she had a plan all along. :) We've fed and watered the dog every day, watered the garden plants, played in the water hose, swung on the swings, swam in the pool, went to library day, cooked things, read books over and over for hours, went shopping.... we have not been bored.  K has slept through the night every night, wakes around 6:30 and I get her and put her in bed with me.  We generally get up around 9am.  Thanks to Nana we've learned that Daniel Tiger IS now available on PBS Kids through roku- hallelujah! K has learned that while she is scared of the vacuum, it's much quicker if you can convince someone else (me, usually) to vacuum your messes off the floor instead of picking th

This morning I received a call from the radiology nurse (I swear that's what she said) at the pediatric clinic.  She said D has both an esophageal ring and a hiatal hernia.  Joy!  This Thursday we have a "surgical consult" with a Pediatric General Surgeon who travels from Arkansas Children's Hospital to NWA every month to see patients here.  I'm guessing that means there is to be a surgery, we just need to go over the xrays/upper GI that are on CD (that I have to remember to pick up from WRMC beforehand) and decide when and where, and what specifically he's going to surge.  Dball is stressed out for a person anyway, and he's additionally so now thinking about the IV's and needles.  I'm hoping he'll like the Dr and maybe it will put him at ease some.  Unfortunately, having some experience with both conditions, I know that ring didn't just show up one day.  It was built up, probably in part because of the hernia.  I'm wondering how lo

I say that as though I actually update every single week.  Or, even every single month! :) Since my Dball only eats very few foods, outside of fruits, breads and desserts; I've found some vegetarian vitamins that got great reviews I've been trying to make him take every day.  He says they're too big to swallow, and they are pretty large, so often I cut them into 4 pieces.  Other days I mix them in his smoothie :). One day last week I told him "just go ahead and take it, I don't have time to cut it right now, it'll go down fine!".  It didn't.  He choked and gagged, and burped and spit up fluids, and it took a really long time for it to finally go down.  This reaction reminded me of when he was 3-4 years old or so, and I kept getting bacon and other meats "stuck" in my throat.  They wouldn't go down, I couldn't get them back up.  Each episode would last for HOURS.  I would just keep telling myself that as long as I was breathing, I

This week has dragged on so, I never thought it would end. Kupcake slept through the night for a few nights, then Tues & Weds nights she got up around 4am, got in bed with me, and never went back to sleep for real as near as I can tell.  I have been tired and cranky! Of course she has too, but my crankiness is harder on everyone than her's is.  Last night she slept in her bed til 5:30am, got in my bed, and stayed asleep until just after 9am.  THANK YOU.  Kupcake took us on a walk in the stroller this morning, and fabulous DBall mowed the front yard.  He doesn't feel he should have to weed-eat or edge.  And, furthermore, he feels he should wait until tomorrow (and cross his fingers that it rains all day) to mow the back yard. For several weeks there it was looking like the 11 y/o Scouts wouldn't be able to go to Scout Camp this year, because they made it a combined Aaronic Priesthood activity and you have to be 12 to get the Priesthood. :(  We were sad.  Bryson f

I have, at times, been under the distinct impression that the lack of visible accomplishment in my home could make it look as though I sit around eating bonbons all day.  I saw this story somewhere a few years ago, and it still cracks me up today.  Pretty much every time I read the last line, and when I see this picture- kinda drives it home.  I know the Lord wants me home with my children.  And I adore my children and love being able to be home with them every day.  But sometimes I'd like to sit around and actually eat bonbons all day.  Or read a good book, sip crystal lite, and not clean up after the kiddos all day, every day. :) "A man came home from work and found his 5 children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn around garden, The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and no sign of the dog. Walking in the door, he found ...an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over,

That is another excuse for me to eat Mexican food. I made pinto beans (Kupcake's favorite!) in the crockpot over night, chicken quesadillas in the crockpot during Church.  CANNOT WAIT! It's been an interesting week I guess.  Wednesday it was 80 ° outside, we had to water our TOMATOES THAT WE PLANTED WHEN THE FARMER's ALMANAC SAID IT WOULD BE SAFE,  then it snowed on Friday and Saturday .  Even stayed on the ground for a good bit of the day on Friday.  I'm cold, and not terribly impressed.  I don't believe it has anything to do with global warming or the like, I think the Lord just likes to keep us on our toes and let us know who's in charge every now and again. So Kupcake has had some teething issues the past week, and allergies as well.  Dball stayed home from Church today with allergies and asthma issues- he's had them for 3 days or so.  I'm SO THANKFUL it looks like it may warm up and stay that way this week.

but alas, it wasn't meant to be.  Poor Dball had them for months (years?) and I thought he handled them poorly... However he was not as bad as Miss Kupcake- wow! She arches her back, screams random things ("No! Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!", "Mommy NOOOOOWW!", "Purple blanket!" "I no LIKE!"), sounds frighteningly like the girl on exorcist whose head spins around.... it's very stressful for me.  I'm pretty sure she doesn't remember it in the mornings. It's happened a few times over the last year, but I was hoping it was more random and isolated.  It seems to be brought on by stress, mostly.  Last year she was bitten by a girl in the nursery at Church, then bitten again by the same girl at park day, and she suffered for a week or two.  This past Sunday at Church she wandered out of the nursery while parents were leaving doors open while dropping off their kids, and found herself "lost" in the lobby.  Poor thing was

Since my Dball has been to the Dr periodically throughout most years of his life (I'm generally opposed to going to the Dr if it's not pretty much absolutely necessary) I always figured they would "count" as well-child checks.  They don't.  So both my kiddos had well-child checkups this week. Thankfully Dr. Livingston (whom we've never seen before) said D needs to eat more real food.  And he's grown even since we measured him last month, and at 11 years and 8 months is 5' 1 ½" tall, and weighs 104#. Kupcake is perfect, speaks well over "2-word sentences", and  at 27 months is 35" tall and 30.6#.

sadly, no more dollars here . . . . . I went to my bariatric surgeon a couple weeks ago.  They've promised to call with lab results, they've yet to do that. I called and got some results, but they are extremely reluctant to email the report, or give me actual numbers.  They prefer to say "it's low", or, "it's high".  Very dissatisfying.  And extremely annoying. Here's what I know: drop B12 to every other day (was too high?) A1C - 6.2 (too high!!!) Thyroid (low) TSH 0.02 Free T4 1.27 Free T3 (didn't think necessary to run even though an actual Dr requested) Iron low B1- don't know yet Parathyroid- don't know yet I've started taking iron again, can't recall why or when I stopped, however I think it's helping me be less exhausted.  I guess that's the point.  Lucky me!  Also switched to "dry" vitamin D.  Don't know what that's supposed to do for me, or if it's working.

I would like to compare and contrast the controllers of ps3 and xbox360. Strength: In my opinion the xbox360 is a bit more sturdy because it is a little better plastic and its general design is more resistant. Comfort: I also think the xbox360 controller is a bit better for comfort because of its size, weight, and its texture but it is just my opinion. Battery life: I think the ps3 controller is better when it comes to battery life because you can use a rather common phone plug to charge it from the ps3 and u need to buy a separate attachment to do that on an xbox360 controller. Button layout: I also think the xbox360 controller has better analog stick placement but as I usually use an xbox360 it may just be I am used to the xbox360 analog sticks. So in my opinion I think the xbox360 controller is better.

That's just a given, but I thought I'd put it out there. I'm going to try to update my blog more often, just for my own sake ( since I can't be bothered "don't have time" to journal.) I went to the dollar store (the one where everything's $1 or less; not the Family Dollar, or Dollar General, or somewhere else where the suggest stuff is only $1, but most everything inside actually costs more).  I'm pretty sure there's some grammatical error with putting that much inside parentheses, but there you see I just did it.  I'm a rebel like that sometimes. Anyway, I went to the dollar store, looking for baskets to organize the pantry.  While we're talking about that, I see people posting on facebook, pinterest, and Mormon Mommy blogs about their neat and organized pantries all the time, but mine does not turn out looking as awesome as theirs.  Do these people not have food storage?!  Do they not buy stuff in bulk, and if they do, where is

before I forget.... Miss Kupcake was lying on my bed the other night watching TIGER (Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood) because she loves to watch it all day, every day.  B and I were cleaning up the kitchen, making birthday cakes and cupcakes in the kitchen, etc., when she popped out of my bed and closed the bedroom door. As this is not her usual routine, and she's pretty tricky for a person, when I came to stopping point frosting cupcakes I went to see what was going on in the boudoir.  I was not entirely surprised to find that she was in my bathroom, with the light on and the bathroom door closed as well, rifling through my makeup drawer.  When I said, "Oh no, that's not okay..." she simply responded, "No, ma'am, Mommy.  No, ma'am!" and trotted her sassy little self back into the bedroom as though she had never left. I do love her.  

snagged from someone on facebook... I think they apply to my kid(s), and to adults (me?! horrors!) alike.  I really like them! 1. It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren't I the greatest? 2. I will always know the password. 3. If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads "Mom" or " Dad". Not ever. 4. Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30 pm every school night & every weekend night at 9:00 pm. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30 am. If you would not make a call to someone's land line, wherein their parents may answer first, then do not call or text. Listen to those instincts and respect other families like we would like to be respected. 5. It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It's a life skill. 6. If it falls into the toilet, smashes on

It cannot be as unbelievable to anyone else, as it is to me.  I had SERIOUS PLANS- I was going to have 7 kids, the first 6 boys, then my girl last.  All before 35 y/o.  When I didn't get my Deuceball until I was 30 year old (after 5+ years of trying, and losing my Logan a little over a year prior), I cut back to 5 kids.  4 boys, then  my girl last.  I had visions of sending her off with her older protective brothers, calling out, "Watch out for your sister!" as they went about their business.  More than a dozen miscarriages later, I clearly was not going to have that many children.  I was pretty certain I was "due" another one, but one keeps getting older and doubts set in.  With all the miscarriages and other "female problems" from the PolyCystic ovarian disease, my patient and supportive OB-Gyn (and Stake President) offered  hysterectomies; which apparently is the only way I could have gotten any relief.  But I always knew in the back of my mind th