MM: "They'd be BAGELS!"

Ok, I have this warning of Blogger's schedule outage at 4:ooPM PDT tomorrow, so I'm cramming in as much posts I can today that I don't want to forget!

IAN has been cracking us up with his jokes, I remember two, so here they are... (if you think it's funny, let me know, if not, oh well, he's 7!)

Ian was in our bedroom and we were telling him how much we love him when he wiggled out, but before he left, he took something, used it as a microphone and says,

"Once there was a skeleton made of bones, and he only ate bones... (the sheer randomness threw Charlie and I into fits of loud laughter). Then, he continued with, "he tried to eat chicken because it has bones, he ate beef because it has bones, but he couldn't drink water or milk because it just went through him. Why? Because he is a skeleton made of bones! And since he has no brain, he forgets that he is a skeleton made of bones!"

He woke up just a little bit ago asking to use the bathroom. Before he went back upstairs, he says, "Mommy, I have a short joke to tell you." I said, "ok".

Ian: "Why are seagulls not allowed to fly away to a bay?"

Me: "Why not?" (really puzzled)

Ian: "Mommy, if they fly to a bay, they won't be seagulls anymore, they'd be BAGELS! (Bay Gulls)"

Gotta love him! Where does he get this stuff? Hee, hee...

Birthday Fun & Love Dare Challenge- Day 14

Part 3 of Ian's Birthday fun- the dinner party!

We were going to feed the missionaries anyway, so we went ahead and invited our family friends, the gorgeous Heather Wolfe with her son Chase whose birthday also happened to be today. We had the cake to say both of their names. Our next door neighbors, the Lindahls and their three children came after dinner to help us eat the "ever so colorful yet another chocolate cake!" So in total, we had 15 people in one tiny apartment! I wouldn't have it any other way, it was great!

Lisa's boyfriend Daniel got him a package of Legos, we found him more cars on clearance for his Turbo Driver computer game and the Lindahls got him wooden cut out cars to color and a Crayola Color Explosion kit. He had a great time listening to all the laughter, well wishes, and of course, more gifts!

Our menu for tonight:
Vermicelli with Polska Kielbasa & Basil tossed with Garlic & Olive oil Sauce
Broccoli & Tomato with a thin Scampi Sauce
Wheat Dinner Rolls with Homemade Honey Butter
Red and Green Grapes
Calamansi juice (Filipino citrus drink)
Birthday cake



Yesterday was both quiet and fun. Going to church refreshed my love for my children as well as my husband. Let's see how tonight fared.

Day 14

Love Takes Delight

"Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 9:9 KJV

DARE:
Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse. Do something he or she would love to do or a project they’d really like to work on. Just be together.

What I Did:

We had a lot of errands today for Ian's birthday dinner, but when we got home, we watched some Smallville together before we tackled the living room and the kitchen.

I am so exhausted! But it was so fun laughing with everyone and seeing Ian enjoy everyone's company. It was a great day...

Birthday Dinner and Love Dare Challenge- Day 13

This morning, when Charlie came home from work, he brought in the package of Ian's gifts from his parents. "Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!" Inside, were more Hot Wheels and GeoMag set that he just loves.
Here's Ian showing off his package from the Mathews grands.
We asked him to wait to open it until after we got back from church. I have never seen him so patient! (I do have a strict policy on being patient about gifts; my little life lesson on avoiding greed)
We also treated Ian to a pasta dinner and chocolate cake tonight. Pasta for wishes of long life and a chocolate cake to celebrate another sweet year to come as a 7 year old. Tomorrow, more eating!

Here he is showing off the birthday cake I baked for him. Charlie made it look beautiful with his awesome frosting job! On the TV, our home videos showing all the "chocolate" cakes I've baked on each of the kids' actual birthdays. Or... the FREE cakes I've gotten from Basha's!

This one is called Triple Chocolate Fudge and instead of water, I used milk to make it more moist and chocolatey. The frosting is milk chocolate and the filling is chocolate cheesecake.
Yes, I do love my children despite the dangerous birthday cakes I make, lol!

It's not my fault, after they choose their cakes, I am bound to make them!

Here, he's sporting Jasmine's gift of a new stuffed puppy named, Nikon. (In the background is our resident diva, Cece Mahal.) I know, it sounds like the camera brand name! It is a very cute puppy, so he gave him the nickname, Niko! (fits, right? lol) Doesn't he look adorable in his new Sunday outfit? Very ready for Spring!

Day 13

Love Fights Fair

"And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand."
Mark 3:25 KJV

DARE:
Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement. If your mate is not ready for this, then write out your own personal rules to “fight” by. Resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

What I Did:

I apologized for all the times I got mad (normally during the "pre-Aunt Flo" visits I noticed) and really tried to learn from those experiences on how I can be more patient. (Time to call "GYN"?)

Happy Birthday, I-Dude You're 7 today!

I-Dude is 7 years old today!!! Since today is Sunday, he gets to celebrate his special day three different days! Yesterday, we took him to Chili's for lunch, his choice, where he gobbled up mac n cheese, mandarin oranges and shared with all of us, a scrumptious chocolate molten lava cake! (we ate in less than 30 seconds!) :-) Also at TRU for toys, he got a balloon and a shoutout over the intercom and Target for new Sunday clothes. Today, I'll make him a cake and a special dinner, tomorrow we have some friends coming over to help him celebrate all over again!

If you look at the line up of pictures, you will see a big "I". Clever, huh?

So here is I-Dude; Mr. Man and I's...

very handsome,

happy,

easygoing,

sometimes rockin',

always thinking,


and often inventing,

very friendly little big boy!!!

"Hello, everybody!"

We are so happy to see him grow up HEALTHY AND HAPPY despite his sensitive respiratory system. He is just a delight to have and I often find myself stealing kisses off those "oh so cute" cheeks! Mr. Man just loves to pick him up so he can steal some, too!

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY, I-DUDE!

WE LOVE YOU!

We'll take Bronchitis for 100 Please

I know I've been having fun with my other blog, but a day can be a mish-mash of emotions, happenings and trials, right? Of course, I'm right!

Today is such a day...

IAN came home from school yesterday, exhausted and with a threatening high fever- again! We gave him Tylenol and let his little soul sleep until it couldn't anymore- about 4 hours... So today, he didn't go to school and we headed off to the Urgent Care near a Target and an Office Depot since we also had errands to do. Charlie, though aching for sleep from having just come home after a 10-hour shift, pulled himself together like the trooper that he is and drove as carefully as he can to our intended destinations. That was at 10:15AM

Due to good traffic flow, we got there about 10:30AM; after signing in, we waited for about 20 minutes (I'm sure it was more) for IAN's name to be called. (The whole time, Ian was upset at the fact that there were no kids around and he wanted to go to the one close to our apartment- in reality, that one was just as bad). Charlie, needing to stay awake indulged his son, and took him for a tour of the place. We went upstairs, down hallways and empty office rooms. It helped. A lot. (Thanks, Mahal, I love you!)

We go back in and waited a little bit more. Then, "IAN MATHEWS", "IAN" rings out and we're off to the triage room. He weighed 46.6 lbs. 45 inches tall. Yep, he's still on the small side. (I hate it when he gets sick; he loses weight, pounds at a time! It's like going back to square one, it's maddening at times- like today!)

Then, we wait for 1, 2, 3 hours! Why? There was only one, count it, one doctor! Was that enough to ruin our day? No, of course not, that would be too easy! No, we have to have the doctor confirm the wheezing, give him the Pulmicort/Xopenex breathing combo in this nebulizer which of course the attendant left the moment it was turned on and didn't come back! We had to tell her that the darn thing was done. Did they come running? No, we still had to wait until the doctor shows up with another assessment of his lungs.

As we wait:

Ian: "Daddy, spell transportation."

Daddy: "B-U-S".

(Both Ian and I laugh heartily)

Ian: "Daddy! That's not how you spell transportation!"

Daddy: "You're right, it's "T-R-U-C-K".

Rattle... Rattle... No wheezing anymore, but now there's rattling. Could be pneumonia.

(Me yelling at "Brain": "I don't want pneumonia, his system can't handle pneumonia! He will lose so much weight and be lethargic for days. It can't be pneumonia! We'll take bronchitis, yeah, bronchitis is so much better. Please let it be bronchitis! Are you listening, Brain? I want bronchitis!)

Must be cautious. X-rays ordered. Next room. Fitted with crotch protector. Told to pose and hold just right. Three times. One more because he shifted slightly. Good job. Back to the room. More waiting. Hungry Mommy. Hungry Daddy. Hungry Ian.

The technician goofed and didn't give the films to the nurses for the doctor. More waiting.

Doctor comes back in and says: "No pneumonia, but there are infiltrates that could be viral which is typical of bronchitis." (Yes! Did you hear that, we got bronchitis! Yay!)

We finally get to the prescriptions and the good doctor argues with me as to what kinds of medicines work on my children! ("WE DON'T DO ZITHROMAX! Can you hear me, doc? It doesn't work! All three systems linked to my genetic line do not respond to Zithromax!")

I win the round and he gives us Amoxicillin and OraPred. Taking that last step outside of that building was the best part of the day! Filed under ONE TIME WONDER unless in emergencies and we are closest to it.

We got home twenty minutes before Jasmine got off the bus and reached the front door. EXHAUSTED PARENTS- our new slogan of the year!

Background Tidbit: Last April, I wanted to look for a job, got all the online printable applications ready to be filled out. Ian had to be picked up from school, because he was not responding to Tylenol at school. He was sick with wheezing and sinus infection. This year, Sunday morning, my next door neighbor told me about a work-at-home opportunity with a local business. I started the application process. Monday at 3AM, Ian crawls into our bed with a 103 fever!

Any ideas as to what this means?

Sickie Sunday

(One of his silly smiles; at his school Winter party, Dec 2008)
Jasmine and Ian are both sick today... Jasmine with a hoarse throat and Ian, he was hit with something at night but it didn't mess up his system until about 3AM today. Good thing, Jasmine's energy is up after a good rest though her voice is still funny, but Ian when he gets sick...

We are talking 102+ degrees F for a fever. Even now, even with the Tylenol/Motrin combo he normally needs, only give him relief for a few hours. I can't stand it when he's sick. Part of me feels numb from having gone through this since he was a baby, and part of me turns into this Wonder Mom that just goes crazy looking for what's best for him, to make him best comfortable.

Which means, no one is allowed to stress him out. He gets command of the remote. He chooses his munchies (within reason of course!). He takes over the couch (can't get to him fast enough upstairs). I wish he can just fight it like normal kids can, but he can't. Not yet; don't know when he'll ever be able to. For everyday that he's not sick, I am super grateful, because on the days that he is, I feel so helpless-like I did when he was a baby...

Great IAN info: He loves to tell me and Charlie, "I love you", he thinks I'm so soft all the time, he wants to be as smart as his sisters (and he is), loves Legos, HW and Build-a-Bear. He loves mashed potato and any soup with potatoes. Also a big fan of cabbage, broccoli and Filipino food. He's so precious to us, sometimes, Charlie and I notice that we tend to him a little more than the other two. But then Jasmine or Lisa does something that equals out the love.

My tender-hearted boy, my baby. I hope you feel better soon. You too, Jasmine. Love you both, Mommy.