That can happen?!

The past few days Howard has had a tooth ache that he has had time to time but he's noticed a little swelling and his pain level was an 8. Not cool.
Wednesday while we waited for his Mom he was tempted to go to the ER part of the hospital because of the amount of pain he was in. When he woke up Thursday morning he was in a lot of pain and his face felt funny. By 10am his face was going numb at times, he had horrible ear pain and some popping in his ear and his vision was going in and out on his right eye. He went to the dentist for the first time in 14 years and found out that all 4 wisdom teeth are completely grown out and completely messed up. His upper right side wisdom tooth was so swollen, and so messed up it was messing with the nerves in his face (seriously, that can happen?!). The oral surgeon needs to take all four of them out, but wants to start with the right top that is so infected and impacting his face and his lower left one that is broken into pieces. The dentist put Howard on a strong antibiotic and pain medicine.
So today, being wary of the nerve issues the oral surgeon took out the two teeth. Watching them numb him up for surgery made me feel horrible. He flinched so many times. Watching the oral surgeon try to get that top tooth out was one of the most gruesome things I have ever watched, hands down. I didn't realize it but apparently I got really pale and had my hands over my mouth, the dental assistant came over to me and touched me on the shoulder and asked me if I was okay. I was fine, honestly I was just so unbelievably worried about the pain that Howard was in/could be in/if he could feel it...it freaked me out but I could not stop looking (Car accident syndrome).
So, I turned my head and rubbed Howard's feet and ankles and prayed until I heard the surgeon say he couldn't get the tooth out. He said he was going to try one more thing (using a left tooth tool on a right tool for torque, I suppose) and if he couldn't get it out then he was going to have to cut it out and suture him back up. 30 seconds later I heard a pop and he had gotten the tooth, thank God. The other broken tooth on the bottom that wasn't infected took 5 minutes (maybe) to get out.

He was in pain during the entire surgery an afterward. As soon as possible I got him to take some pain medicine and he went out like a light switch. Now he has eaten lots of jello, pudding, sherbert, tea and mashed potatoes and says that his mouth doesn't hurt at all (this is only with Motrin). He says his ears are hurting him, but that's it.
Praying for a swift recovery now for him so he can have the other two taken out next month, then his perfect smile will be pain free, finally!

Waiting Game

On Wednesday, January 23, 2013 we kept our kiddos out of school and headed to College Station so we could be there while my Mother in Law had her surgery done.
Within the first 10 minutes of the road trip, my husband got pulled over for speeding. He was going less than 5 miles over the speed limit and luckily only got a warning. The rest of the road trip went wonderful. The kids played and looked around (they were all still sleepy).
We got to the hospital about the same time as Howard's parents did and were able to talk to Linda, go through the whole pre-op stuff with her and make sure she understood everything and didn't have any questions. We met with her surgeon, Dr. Ryan Walter and he was very optimistic and open, wanted to make sure we all understood what was going on, he was great. We prayed with her and over her with all of our family holding hands with her pastor leading us in prayer. She was smiling, looked awesome (her hair is always perfect) and was ready to get everything over with!
We said goodbye to her one by one and told her to have a nice nap and left her bedside at 11:40am on the dot. And then we began to wait. Howard Jr and Sr went outside for a bit after she was taken in. To see such strong men so worried about their wife and mother was heartbreaking. By 1pm the kids were starving so we headed a block away and got them lunch, some for my father in law and stopped to get Linda some flowers and a balloon. Shortly after we got back to the hospital Howard's brother Todd got there, he had to work all morning. It was approaching hour 3 when we got a phone call from the OR I ran to the information booth and took the call. She was doing great, surgery was a little more complicated than they had expected but she is doing great and they should be done in about an hour. Vague, but positive.
At 3:15 her surgeon came walking through the door. Told us that she did great through surgery. They were able to get everything they wanted to out (full hysterectomy) but during the surgery her bladder got in the way and got nicked. They called in the hospital urologist and he came in and assisted with the rest of the surgery, sewing her up and making sure that there was no leaks in her bladder and they fixed her back up. Her doctor was very angry at himself. In his whole career this has happened 5 times, this made the 6th. He kept apologizing and said that God decided to challenge him that day. He said that they were just weaning her off anesthesia when he left her bedside and it would still be a while before we saw her. He said he was going to go home and have the evening with his family and then come back up and see her. Howard breathed a half sigh of relief an said "I'm half better, now I need to see her."
At 5pm  we had checked many times and been told they were still dealing with pain management in recovery which we understood but just killed the 3 men in the room to hear that she was in pain. The surgical information desk closed so we were left wondering now, with no information or no one to ask. We kept checking with the ER to see if she had a room yet. Finally, at 6:20 she did.
We practically ran to her room to see her. We were there until almost 8. She was groggy, drifting on and off to sleep an very disoriented, pretty much what you would expect from a person who just had major surgery. The first question from me was, "Now tell me the truth, is my hair flat?" God, I love that woman. I answered her honestly (yes it was) and she groaned with annoyance. Her hands were freezing, but she felt warm. Her eyes opened the most when we told her what time of day it was. She was cramping quite a bit and it took me a while to explain to her what the big glowing green morphine button would do and that she needed to use it. She was concerned of getting to much pain medicine and not pressing it enough, like I said, took me a while but she gave in. I told her everything that happened in surgery, and she understood as best a person who just came off anesthesia can. She was not happy that she had a drain in her side still (that should come out in a day or 2) and that she had to wear a catheter for a week...actually she was pissed about that, in all honesty.
She was munching on ice chips, being snarky to her sons and husband, telling her grand kids to settle down and holding my hand, we were a happy bunch. She kept telling us to hurry up and move back, how much she loved us, and kept a hold of our hands the whole time. After praying over her we left her to get some rest and to drive back to Austin and cried half way back home. Some in relief, some in guilt for not being able to stay with her but mostly because we were so thankful for God's amazing grace, love and protection.

Today she has walked, eaten, talked, been clear headed, watched TV and spent time with extended family that drove in to see her.

It's going to be a long road of recovery for her, but the point is she will recover. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Negative!

After days of extensive testing at multiple doctors and hospitals around the Houston area Howard's grandmother, Ann has come back cancer free!
Every test they have done, they have not seen cancer anywhere. At this point they are speculating that it was a false positive and they are doing some further testing to be sure, but with everything they have done (and from what I was told was a lot) she is cancer free.

God is so good.

Eff you Cancer!

Right before Christmas my Mother in Law was diagnosed with uterine cancer.

Just hearing that word was totally devastating to her. Her Grandmother and Mother both died because of cancer. Through a few weeks and many doctors appointments and testing she found out that the cancer is affecting her uterus and ovaries and her doctor planned on performing a full hysterectomy to get the cancerous cells out of her body.
She has never had any surgery, and the risks of surgery and having cancer is just overwhelming to her. She is such a strong, amazing, God fearing woman and to see her so uncertain is shaking my husband and I to our core.
She was supposed to have surgery today, but Thursday she failed an EKG. She has since had another one and more testing an passed it. She is having a stress test as I type this to make sure her heart and body can withstand surgery.


Last Saturday we also found out that Howard's only living grandparent, Ann also has cancer. She has had cancer before (thyroid) and they removed the organ and cancer successfully with surgery. Now, her health is very poor. She has issues with mobility, talking, every day activities plus she has a heart condition. Surgery is not a likely source of treatment but I don't think Chemo or Radiation will be either. She has spent the past week in Houston getting a ton of testing done to see what the cancer is affecting exactly and what her options are. Ann is the only Grandparent that Howard has ever known. He grew up across the street from  her and he is just devastated as is my father in law.

His wife and his mother...I cannot imagine.

Linda (MIL) is tentavely planned to have surgery on Tuesday, January 22.
Hopefully we will get some answers about Ann (Grandmother) soon.
Please keep these amazing women in your thoughts and prayers, for they are loved and needed by so many.

And then there was us

Howard and I are doing well. We weather through the storms as needed and are joyous when the water has a rare calm moment. Mackenzie says we orbit each other and how that might be true, the constant flow of life sometimes keeps our eyes on other things instead of each other, that's true for any couple but that certainly doesn't mean that our relationship isn't good. It is good, and healthy, I believe.
Howard is doing well at work, as he always does. He got a raise and a great evaluation on his birthday (April 18th). Work can be a timing challenge if he has too much/too spread out of a route but that is basically the extent of it. Howard is one of those people who thrives on challenge and enjoys it immensely. He loves pressure, work wise...keeps him on his toes and makes him focus. He has never gotten that from this job, but in this economy he has a decent paying job where he is home every night (as opposed to a long haul truck driver where he is home every three weeks) and he's very good at it. Well, what's the problem? Howard graduated College one year ago and he has yet to use his degree for anything other than a wall decoration. He got a degree in business not because he just wanted a degree but because he generally loves business. He wants to be at the root of the business and help it run smoothly. He has been with this company for two and a half years and in those years he successfully graduated College and has applied for other positions within the company to try to move up and use his skills, ideas and knowledge but has yet to have any movement other than driving seniority. Over the years, he has had many talks with the President of the company, whom he trusts and truly likes as a person and a boss. Most of those talks had to do with productivity in some way and ways that Howard thinks that things can run more smoothly. The man has spent countless hours even typing these things out and giving it to the upper management. Some changes of his were implemented, but no one had the initiative that Howard had to follow them through and of course, Howard got no credit. Having so much passion and knowledge in this field it is very hard for him to sit back and watch his bosses have to deal with problems that he feels  he could easily fix. He has so much drive but no where to put it and it is frustrating him. Badly. He is trapped in a bubble and can't get out and he fears the only way to get out is to leave the company, but he doesn't want to, he loves this company. Never the less, he has applied for other jobs, but doesn't want one like he has now. Trying to find a management position has not been easy (obviously, or he'd already be in one). He still has hope that his current company will realize his potential...that's not accurate...they do realize it...they have just yet to utilize it. He yearns for that and I know he prays for them to snap to attention before he finds another company who will.
Oh, me. Geez. Well, at the end of February I started a journal. I needed an outlet for my feelings and issues and also a place where I could visualize and brainstorm. My thought process is so erratic at times, being pulled in so many directions I needed a place to focus on it, so out came the journal. I have written every day. Writing not just my feelings and issues but marking things done or not done and keeping track of my health and general well being on top of keeping track of my weight loss. Millions of people make New Year Resolutions to lose weight, be healthy, ect. I refused this year, having done it every year. I just said I wanted to turn myself around this year, go back to being me...finding me. One of those is shedding a lot of unhealthy weight that has been on my body for years. I can never recall a time where I wasn't overweight...ever. As of January I am at my highest weight ever, having daily anxiety attacks, crying all the time, constantly feeling just terrible. My thyroid was crazy, my blood sugar and blood pressure were erratic. And then it hit me. I was about to turn 28 years old and I have no idea who I am anymore but I know that my children need me...my husband needs me...I want to grow old with my husband...I have got to do something. So, I quit my vices...coke a cola and fast food. I have a deep, disgusting love for both. Then, I cut my portion sizes and started making better choices in what I was eating. Generally I cut down to about 1000-1,500 calories per day as opposed to about 4000 a day. I started to get more energy, my blood sugar and blood pressure regulated themselves. My depression and anxiety that literally ruled my every waking moment one day just...didn't. I would like to say that I started all of this on January 1st...and I did in part but really I dedicated myself to it on March 14th...during spring break where I was just fed up with myself. Since I started I have lost 44 pounds. I am very proud of every one of those pounds. The past three weeks I haven't lost anything...I haven't gained either. I am at a plateau and know I need to leap off of it by changing things up. I need to be more diligent on my calorie in take and I need more to exercise, and I need help. Exercise at home is not an option because frankly I can find  other things I need to be doing like housework, or making a kid lunch, or doing laundry...something...excuses. Walking has been what I have been doing but with the increasing heat and my intolerance to the heat and to the sun it is literally like hell on Earth for me. So, by considering what all they have to offer as a family we decided to join the local YMCA. However, with our finances we can't afford the membership cost so we had to apply for their financial aid program in hope we could get a discounted membership rate. We applied for it on Friday, May 11th and still haven't heard a word from them, Howard is going to call them tomorrow if we haven't heard from them by then. At the end of April I found out about a program through the county that helps low income adults go to college and choose from a wide variety of high demand careers and the county organization will pay for it. For college...I might be able to go to college, and they would pay for it! I am ecstatic! On June 5th is an orientation to find out about the program and set up a testing date (they need to make sure you can academically handle college) to see if I can get into the program. I am petrified and excited. School is hard, especially with my lifestyle but I want this and need this so bad.
I am so hopeful, about so many things going on right now and that is a far cry of how 2012 started for me.

Kristin

Live wire

A matter of days after my last blog post things with my Dad came to a head. Like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Hello Kitty float head.
We had gone to Houston and picked up my Mom that weekend which ended up in me just spilling my guts to my Mom about my health, depression and anxiety. Her eyes bugged out of her head, it was awesome. The trip all in all was good. It was great to see my Grandfather, steady as ever. Once we got back to Austin though, things changed, like always. My mom...sheesh, you know what, I'm not even going to go there. Lets just say she is drama personified.
My mom had been with us for about 24 hours when my Dad started being like Grumplestiltskin. Let me paint you a picture...he's 76 years old. Sleeps about 18/24 hours of the day in our living room. The only common space in our 1400sq.ft. apartment. So, naturally our kids are going to be in there too, and naturally, they're not very quiet. So he in turn gets annoyed very easily with their noise. They were being kids, around 8:30 at night and we were getting ready to put Parker down for the night. Parker loves shoes, and my Dad always leaves his right on the side of the couch, where he sleeps. So when my Dad got up and saw that his shoes weren't where he left them he got up, looked at my girls and yelled "Where are my God Dammed Shoes?!" when they were about 3 feet from where he put them. Howard hears this behavior (My dad NEVER acts up around Howard, EVER) and gets his shoes and hands them to him and says "You do not need to speak to the kids like that, ever, so please calm down" and then follows me into the room with Parker to put him to bed. My Dad gets up and follows us into the nursery, gets in Howard's face and starts screaming at him. Calling him 'boy' telling him that he can't talk to him like that, cussing and screaming. Howard very calmly puts Parker in my arms (yes he was holding him at the time) and backs my Dad out of the room, calls the girls into the room with me and shuts the door. They then go at it...my Dad is out of control...completely losing it at Howard. Howard at this point gives it right back and tells my Dad if he is going to be like this, he needs to leave right now. He went outside, and stayed out there until about 4am until he came back inside and went to sleep.

Since then, he has been pretty calm and hasn't had too many issues. He has not discussed this, nor apologized for his behavior. It's been over a month and the kids are still wary.

Thanksgiving was great. Family and friends were here, food was wonderful. Our awesome newlywed friends Jamie and Brion actually brought over a live dessert and cooking lesson....deep fried Snickers and Reese's peanut buttercups.

The past few weeks have been filled with getting ready for Christmas, getting all my ducks in a row for my PTA event in January and being sick. I can't seem to shake this cold, bronchial, sinus crap. NOT FUN.

This past weekend was spent at my Grandfather's house for our families Christmas gathering and my Grandfather's 90th birthday celebration...but that's a whole 'nother entry.

-Kristin

Challenges

Update: Last Thursday my Grandfather, Mom and her siblings were able to scatter my Grandmother's ashes into the Bay. It was an insanely windy day on the water. Some of the ashes went into the water, some blew off in the breeze. They are doing very well, all things considered. They have good and bad days.

We are doing well. Howard has been working as much as he can to prepare for the Christmas Holidays and to make up for the time he has had to take off and will have to take off in the future. I have been busy with...I was going to say the kids, but my Dad as well, doing the every day norm which seems to be more stressful than usual. Getting ready for some PTA events coming up after Thanksgiving.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, it's going to be a good one. We're having family and friends over and planning lots of great food and a really great game.

We are having numerous challenges with my Dad. So many that are so embarrassing and out of character for him I don't even want to mention it. Things are not pretty. He needs so much more help than I can provide for him but outright refuses to get help from those who can. He is a very angry person and regularly takes it out on me and the kids. I...don't know what to do anymore. The challenges that having him live with us are so far fetched. So much more than just having another adult in our tiny apartment.
It doesn't help my comping mechanisms to also have another blow to them. I had to quit taking my anxiety/depression medication that I've been on for 3 weeks because Howard and I realized that I was showing symptoms of having an allergic reaction. Looked it up...yep...I'm allergic to it. Annnnnd my Doctor won't return my calls. So I'm unmedicated, way overworked and insanely stressed. Not a good combo.

That's the theme for 2011...challenges. Thank God 2011 is almost over.

-Kristin

Wordless Wednesday: 3 minutes with the West boys

Wordless Wednesday: One Year Later

Why hello September

Um, where did August go?

Update on Sickies: Mackenzie and Maddie are 100% better except for asthma issues. Parker is pretty much 100% or he was until this weekend when he was around a cat (we all are majorly allergic) and now he has an allergy rash and a runny nose.
On Tuesday, Howard went to the doctor because he had some major symptoms. I'm so glad he went. He had a sinus infection, bronchitis and a double inner ear infection. It always seems like if there is an illness around Howard, he'll get it and it'll be 10x worse than anyone else. He is feeling back to normal now.

We just came off of a busy 3 day weekend. On Saturday we were supposed to take my Dad out for a belated birthday lunch, but that fell through because of my parents ever surrounding drama. So, after Howard got off work (he had a short day) we went out anyway and had a nice lunch and then came home and cleaned house and just kind of hung out.
On Sunday we left bright and early to go visit Howard's grandmother and parents in Wharton, Tx. The food was terrible, but the company was amazing. I love his grandmother so much. I am very lucky to love my in laws (and trust me, it hasn't always been this way).

West...Party of 9?!

L-to-R: (First Row) Maddie, Mackenzie. (Second Row) Howard SR, Ann-Howard's grandmother, Howard and Parker. (Back Row) Todd-Howard's brother, Linda-Howard's mom and...me. This was almost a full family picture but Howard's oldest brother Karl, his wife Angela and their kids couldn't make it.

We had a very nice time and a very long drive home that night. It was long enough considering the kids were tired and cranky but then, as we were making our way home, we smelled smoke. Our normal route consisted of driving down Hwy 71 through Bastrop. THIS is why we smelled smoke, saw flames shooting through the air and saw the sky and smoke glow for MILES. It's also why we had to take a back road detour in the middle of the night. But, we made it home safely thank God.

Labor day consisted of me baking a brisket (grilling is a big no-no), getting a constant update on Central Texas going up in flames via Twitter and KXAN news and cleaning out our garage. Despite the terrible flaming destruction it was a gorgeous day. Cool breeze, not a cloud in the sky, cooler temperatures (compared to the 80 100 degree+ days we've had this year) I didn't want to go inside!

What did you do for the long weekend?

♥ Kristin

Well...crap

Sometimes they are right. This conversation took place on twitter this morning.

KristinPartyof5: I don't have time to be sick (long cuss word entered here)

KristinPartyof5: Sore, itchy throat, clogged ears, runny nose, cough, glands super swollen and a low grade fever. Lovely.

HowardWest: @KristinPartyof5 I'm sorry u r sick

KristinPartyof5: @HowardWest Not your fault. I guess you are right and I do need to take care of myself lol. With everything going on, I haven't been.

HowardWest: @KristinPartyof5 u come first and then the kids and then me and then everything else. Lol

KristinPartyof5: @HowardWest Yeah...right.

HowardWest: @KristinPartyof5 See, I'm right sometimes!

KristinPartyof5: @HowardWest Yes you are and lucky for you, it's documented on twitter so you can remember this momentous occasion. LOL

HowardWest: @KristinPartyof5 LMAO

♥ Kristin

Road Trip Journal

3:30am-Time to go to sleep! Exhausted but having trouble shutting off my brain!
7am- Ugh, the alarm's going off. Snooze button pressed x2. Oooo cuddles, yay! Short lived, Howard is jumping in the shower.
7:30am- Just got a text from Howard telling me he loves me and I need to get moving. Um, brr..it's cold in here. That's...weird. Ahh, thanks TS Don for the overcast skies!
8am- Howard's waking the kids up, God help us! They're not cranky-SCORE! They're cold too, little ones are in a snuggie with Daddy.
8:50am- Leaving the house to go get my mom. Parker went nuts when Howard and the girls were loading the van.
9am- Picking up my mom and breakfast. Aaaaaand Howard just dropped the portable high chair down the stairs. Awesome, I give it a 3.2
9:05am- First tears of the day, Maddie shook her orange juice and it splattered EVERYWHERE.
9:50am- First stop of the day, Elgin, Tx. Drinks, Potty Break and WOOHOO FREE POPCORN!
10:10am- Maddie has now misplaced her paci (I know, I know...) She is pissed but will have to wait until we stop again.
10:56am- HALF WAY MARK! Brenham, Tx. 69 miles to Houston.
11:18am- Second stop of the day, found the Paci...potty break!
11:45am-IN HOUSTON, YAY!
1:00pm- we're 2 miles from our exit off the major highways. Something smells...off.
1:08pm- Code Brown repeat we have a CODE BROWN!! Parker has exploded out of his diaper, shorts and the leather driver seat is not covered!
1:55pm- we're dressed, madeup, cleaned up, hair did and ready to go. We also stopped at McDonalds to grab a snack.
2:17pm- we're here...but no one else is. Hmm :/
2:19pm- HA! Grandparents are here! Omg my grandmother is SO skinny! :(
2:49pm- All childrens in the pool. Parker's pissed that I'm not in there, but me and a bathing suit...not a good combo.
3:40pm- All the fam is here except for my cousin Shari and her family. Rightfully so too, she's a busy girl, her husband was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Seattle Mariners...this happened late Friday night. Sheesh! Parker was falling asleep in the pool so I'm going to clean him up and see if I can get him to sleep.
4:25pm-HE PEED ON ME! The brat peed all over my pants, so now it looks like I peed on myself. He is being so bad, 2 tantrums. Sheesh, still trying to get him down.
5:05pm- Thank you GOD he's asleep! Nap time for bubs, Nanny's going to nap with him so break time for Mommy!
6:20pm- Dinner's ready! Gourmet sandwiches...yum-o! Oh and Parker's up now.
6:35pm- sitting on the floor trying to feed Parker, so not happening! Dum, Dums for dinner it is!
7:58pm- Time to leave. Saying goodbye to everyone! It was so good seeing them all. My cousin stopped me to talk about my dad. Is it bad that I told her that I'd have to email her. Meh.
8:27pm- @Walmart to get gasoline and off we go! Getting onto major highways again.
9:17pm- 2nd stop at Sonic for yummy drinks and a small snack for Little Mr. I didn't eat my dinner.
10pm- 3rd stop @Loves Truck Stop for my hubby to get coffee, potty break and snacks for the girls. Their snack of choice: Tereyaki beef jerky and pork rinds. My kids are redneck ya'll.
10:17pm- We left Loves 4 minutes ago, 24oz Loves 'Bold Blend' coffee...GONE!
10:45pm- Half way point! Parker is almost asleep thanks to my singing. Oh hey, he is asleep!
10:55pm- Maddie lost her paci...again. Why do we have a paci clip on it if she doesn't use it?!
11:37pm- 37 miles to Austin. Parker's sleeping good, as is Mack. My mom is having restless legs like a big dog. She can't get comfortable. :( Maddie is awake and asking every 2 minutes or so if we're almost there and how many miles we have left. Howard has heartburn and I'm...hungry?
12:26am- just dropped my mom off at home, now time to head home ourselves!
12:36am-HOME!
2:40am- kids and husband are in bed, my turn!


I hope you all enjoyed this, thought it would be fun!
♥ Kristin

Uninvited Guests

I haven't blogged in a while and I have a good reason...

LICE!

Run for your lives!!!!!!!!!!!

Ick.

Ok, so right after mother's day weekend Kenzie comes home and tells me that her friend Abigail has lice. Lovely, I cringed. I checked her head daily, and saw nothing. The end of school comes up and Abigail wants to have a sleepover for her birthday, great! So, Kenzie spends the night there. Not 3 days after, she starts scratching and there the little boogers are!

So we do a lice treatment on both M & M. I do heat treatments and cleaning on all stuffies, blankets, pillows, mattresses, throw pillows, ect. A week later (which was yesterday) we found 2 lice in Maddie's head and a ton of nits in Mack's and MINE!

So, my mom spent the day doing lice treatments on me and the girls. All beds have been stripped for heat treatments and cleaning. Deja Vu anyone?

Ugh, I REALLY hope they're gone now.

I'm afraid to say this so... I really hope Howard doesn't get it. He has a LOT of body hair and o.m.g. Say it ain't so?!

&hearts Kristin

The graduate

On May 21st Howard graduated from college.
He was the first member of the West family to ever graduate.

And I wasn't there.

I was at home with the kids, all 4 of us were sick as dogs.

Even though I wasn't there, I am so proud of him.

Howard with his parents

♥ Kristin

I.hate.Bugs.

Thursday night I made a big TexMex dinner and Howard invited his Best Friend Brion over for dinner. It was delicious and the night went well.
As Howard and I were about to fall asleep we heard Mackenzie making noise. She has been a frequent sufferer of night terrors, she frequently talks in her sleep and sleep walks at times. I went to check on her and she was awake. She said her back and stomach hurt, oh yeah, that's the other thing, she's been having PMS cramps for a month or so. Anyway so I go get her some water and some pain reliever and no sooner did she swallow it, that it came back up. Along with her dinner. Everywhere.
She proceeded to throw up multiple times over the next two hours and then just as she settled, Maddie woke up and started doing the same thing. Except she was covered from head to toe so I had to bathe her. They then took turns throwing up and I ran from laundry room, to bathroom, to living room and then crashed in my room when a 10 minute break occurred. By the time morning broke, they were done throwing up but so weak they could barely move. At that point, I wasn't feeling all that hot and Parker was a cranky mess (aka ticking time bomb).
Then, at 11am Friday morning, my husband walked in the door, grabbed the van keys and went and got my parents. He took his lunch to come and help me. God Bless Him!
My mom got there and immediately turned into super mom cleaning, sanitizing, pampering the girls and me while my dad took care of Parker. By the time Parker woke up from his nap he was at it as well.
I didn't start until Saturday morning which of course made me miss the entire weekend, which is another blog entry. Howard didn't get it until Monday morning. Now, we are all healthy as can be but there is nothing nastier then a stomach bug.

Eww.

♥ Kristin

Launch

Lunch? Nope, Launch!

Welcome to West...Party of 5.

Howard, Mackenzie and I have been blogging/journaling (is that a word?) for the better part of a decade and we've decided to put all of our thoughts in one compiled area. We are really excited about this blog and hope that those that read it enjoy it.

♥ Kristin