YUCK!

I only have a minute and NO pictures today, I promise, you do not want to witness the pathetic state of my house and children! We have got a no good, awful, very bad virus that is going around our area. On Thursday night, Marvin kept saying Sarah felt feverish, I kept denying it. Sure enough, she woke Friday morning with a fever of almost 104. She gets crazy high fevers, just like her Daddy, so I tried not to worry too much. But I knew she was miserable with her puffy eyes, hoarse voice, and disgusting runny nose because she didn't want to move. She is never still. Even when all the kids got RSV around Christmas time she wasn't acting sick. She was actually the sickest, the doctor was amazed at how active and happy she was even in the thick of a bad case of RSV. Fast forward to Friday morning, my girl would not move. She wanted on my lap and when I laid her on the couch, she stayed there! She has not stayed where I put her since she learned how to scoot. I know she must be miserable! When she talks, she sounds like the monster on Monsters, Inc. Marge. In fact, I've been calling her Marge for 2 days now! I put everyone down for a nap and then tried to disinfect everything as best I could. Sarah and Sam woke up and we decided to sit on the deck and get some sun. Sam rode his bike for about 5 minutes and then he disappeared into the house. When he didn't return, we came in to find him laying on the couch, falling asleep. Now, those that know Sam know that he moves even more than Sarah. I knew then that it was spreading! Sure enough, when he woke from his nap on the couch, he was running a fever of 102. He was hoarse and had a cough. When I asked him what hurt most, he promptly answered his elbow. Well, not exactly what I was thinking, but you know, that is Sam for you. I basically just sat on the couch all evening covered in sick kids who just wanted me to hold them all. I thought Abby was just jealous of my holding Sarah, but I was wrong again! I dosed everyone on meds and put them to bed with their vaporizers and Vicks on their feet(it really does work!) and hoped for the best. Marvin was on duty, so I was flying solo. I prayed that Sam wouldn't get croup, as he has with the onset of EVERY cold he has ever had. He did not! He slept peacefully all night long. Sarah was up several times, restless and mad that her pacis fall out of her crib(due largly to the fact that her crib is in the middle of the room so that she cannot touch any walls or outlets!). She was fairly easy to console once she had at least three pacis with her! Around 3am, Abby started crying. The something is really wrong kind of cry. I rushed in, waking sarah in the process, to find Abby had thrown up. The problem, I had picked her up before I figured that out and the yuck that was all over her, was now all over me! The joys of motherhood. I brought her into my room and gave her a sponge bath and got her dressed in clean clothes. she was mad because she wanted in her bed to sleep. She naps in my bathroom in a pack n play during the day that was still set up last night. I laid her in there and she immediately calmed and went to sleep. By the time I had stripped her crib, cleaned myself and got back in bed, it was after 4. Sometime not long after that Sarah was up again. I brought her into bed with me where we both crashed until 8am. I have heard that this virus is going around and that the fever should break on the 3rd day. That would be today for Sarah, so I'm hopeful! I'm also praying that it stops where it is and that the rest of us can stay healthy. Hopefully soon our house will be ready once again to enjoy spring and I will be writing of our adventures and posting pictures of sunshine! Until then, I'm going to go rest up!

So Much to Post, So Little Time!

Abby's first big girl pig tails!

Proof that it is not ALL pushing and shoving! THIS part makes twins worth it!

Can you tell that she is NOT supposed to be touching this?

I have been quiet here this weekend because it has been jam packed with crazy fun! Marvin got home on Thursday night. He got special liberty so that I could get away for the week end. That means he was home 3 whole days! Can you even believe it? I can't, it was so wonderful! The ship came to our side of the water during the weekend, so gone are the days of 2 hour commutes both to and from work! That should be 4 hours added time for us a day! That in itself is enough to flip for! So, we ran all kinds of errands Friday morning. Including getting my haircut! First time since my almost 2 year olds were 8 months! It feels so great! Looks better too! Then, the clothes I had ordered from Old Navy and Gap came while we were out. The girls put on a fashion show. We were laughing as they wanted to try everything on, but not take anything off! Crazy girls! At one point Abby had 5 layers on! So funny how different little girls are, they LOVE new clothes!

Abby loved trying on her new bathing suit!

Sarah did too!

The problem with the deck. Another splinter.

My Josh liked his new swim suit as well!

Abby likes the layered look!
panties, swim suit top, one piece swim suit, suit bottom, diaper

Never too cool to love Abba!

Once that was done, I left Abba in charge and went to a Homeschool certification class. According to the law here in washington, we don't need to do anything legally to homeschool through age 8. However, at that point you have to declare intent and meet requirements. One year college, be under a certified teacher, or be certified by a secondary institution. I signed up for this class to get myself certified. Legally we do not have to do it until next year, when Michael will turn 8, but with Marvin's schedule, we decided it would be best for us to get it out of the way now. I am SO glad that I went! I feel so much more ready now! So much information packed into 2 days! Earlier in the year, I was feeling a bit of a failure in the homeschool area. None of us were happy. I backed off and stopped trying to do a typical schoolday in our basement. We have decided against traditional schooling for a reason and we were miserable trying to fit into that mold. Not to mention, no one was learning much! So, we backed off and have been taking a much different approach. But, to be honest, I wasn't sure that was okay. I mean, if we are having too much fun, someone is going to swoop in and interfere, my children might not be the smartest on the block, and I might be a failure. After this class, I feel set free! I found out that not only are we perfectly okay, my children are learning at a hugely accelerated rate because I am teaching them how to learn! They WANT to learn, they want to dig deeper because they are having fun! They are learning HOW to learn on their own and that has been SO much fun to guide them through. No more fighting(at least not about school!) because they don't realize half the time that they are even doing school! I got great ideas and met some wonderful moms. Man, that took a rabbit trail I didn't expect it to! While I was away, Marvin was home with the kids. I would love to tell you that each night I got home, he was frazzled with the kids still in jammies and the house a mess, however, I can't. He blew me away! Not only did he take great care of the kids, he also took care of the house! How great is my man?! He is putting me to shame. I told him next time he could hold back a little so that he doesn't completely blow me out of the water! Today was an AWESOME day. Marvin was home, it was sunny, it was warm, church was great! So fun! We went back for a special social/business meeting tonight. We couldn't vote, but we are seriously consider joining this church and you can tell a LOT about a church in a business meeting! Our last church was great, but I have seen some UGLY ones. I told Marvin that this was the night. If someting weird happens or there is blood, we are out. I am so excited that there was neither. The more we get involved there, the more peace we have. To be honest, if Marvin was here more, we most likely already would have joined, but we are so glad that we have true peace about this and feel that this is where God is calling us to be.

Sweet Sam

my Super Sam!

Joshbosh!

Sarah

Sweet girl

Michael man!

my boys making some shade

Easter Pictures

I better get these up before next year rolls around! We had a very nice, relaxing day. After church, that is! We were aiming for the 8:30 service, but yeah, NO! We did come pretty close, but we just couldn't get out the door on time! So, we went to the 9:30 service instead. The girls played in the nursery, Josh hung out in his toddler class and Michael and Sam came to service with me, for the first time since we got here. We were a few minutes late after getting the girls settled and the only place for us to sit was the front row. Normally, our choir is split between 3 services, so they are pretty small. And the musicians as well, are spread between the different services. For the Easter morning service they pulled out all the musical stops and it was HUGE! The first things the boys said was, "Your class is REALLY LOUD!" as they covered their ears. Funny, they, themselves, were WAY louder just before getting in the car that morning! I LOVE Easter Sunday service. I absolutely LOVE to focus on the power that belongs to my God! Just gives me shivers thinking about it! After church, we made it home through the rain. I tried to get good pictures of all of the crew dressed up, which worked. As I was trying to get pictures of each child alone, I realized that Sam threw off his church clothes as soon as the group shot was over. Oh well, next year. Sarah was mad, she wanted the spotlight. She kept trying to climb in everyone else's pictures, and then when it was her turn, she just scowled at me! Oh well!

Abby showing off her pretty dress

My family ROCKS!

Sarah showing off her dress and her duck face

Gotta love life with Twin toddlers!
The pushing...

...the screaming...

...the loving looks...

...the pouting...
(look at the look on Abby's face, so not amused!)

...the shoving...

Am I the only one noticing a trend here!?!

After a brief time out, Sarah refused to smile

She's a stubborn one!

Handsome Michael, posing for pictures

He is trying REALLY hard to ignore the determined Sarah!

Handsome man!

Joshua...cool cat!

Sarah is trying very hard to be inconspicuous...it's not working very well!

Josh, posing like Michael

Cutie pants!

My baldies!

I promise to post Easter Day pictures here very soon, I promise...Mom...but I wanted to show off my bald little heads and explain why, exactly, they are bald. A couple of months back(I can't remember, but something like that), Abby Riggs(on the Praying for Abby button on the side of my blog)was having a hard time because she had thrush and the meds turned her mouth purple. She felt as though everyone already looks at her funny and now they would laugh at her purple tongue. Brent, Abby's dad, asked if we would send Abby pictures of US with purple tongues to cheer her up. I explained to the boys and they were ON BOARD(it helped that they were promised LOTS of purple sugar in order to accomplish this!). The sugar aside, they have grown to love Abby in praying for her daily and wanted to help make her feel better. Fast forward to Michael's friend and basketball teammate from last year in Charleston getting diagnosed and starting treatment for a brain tumor. Just this last week, his hair began falling out. The boys ask about Forester every single day. I am very honest with them, in very easy to digest terms. They listen to me pray specifically for the requests that are put up on Forester's blog and ask often how he is. The day that Forester's hair began falling out, I told the boys that the medicine to make him better was causing him to lose his hair and that made him sad. I showed them the picture of Forester and Micah(Forester's little brother) with their shaved heads. Sam, my very tender hearted little man made the leap to shave their own heads and send pictures just like we did for Abby and the purple tongue. He said, "We can show him it is not funny, it looks really cool, just like Grandpop is cool." Yes, my dad is very much bald and when the boys get their summer cut, they request it to be just like Grandpop. So, we did it a little early, in honor of one of the strongest and bravest little boys we know! Several people have made comments about the boys' hair, or lack thereof(all good), and they immediately tell that person and whoever else is in earshot that it is for Forester, which has given TONS of oppurtunties to share his story and ask more people to pray! So, if you missed my earlier posts about Forester, please pray. This poor little guy is being buffeted with side effects and just needs a break. He is just over half way through the first of many 6 week courses of chemo and radiation. Please pray that God would focus the medications only where they are needed and allow the rest of his body to function normally. He has no desire to eat and when he does, he vomits often. He has lost a lot of weight and needs to have his appetite back. Please join with me in prayer for this special little boy and for his family. They have truly become close to my heart in the last month or so. Visit their blog and leave a word of support for them at http://thebradburns.blogspot.com .

My plan was only to do the big boys. I hadn't even considered cutting all of my Josh's hair off, but after I was done with Sam's, he climbed himself up on that stool(not an easy task for such a little man) and would not budge without a haircut "like Sam". So, I closed my eyes and made the first cut. He is SO proud of his cute little bald head!

Silly shot

Who am I kidding? Every shot is a silly shot, what can I say, I sure do love my boys!

Twas the day before Easter

What a LONG day of fun we've had! I guess it started last night when we made Resurrection rolls in place of a movie for Family night. Let me tell you, the boys had a BLAST and what a great lesson!

You take a marshmallow(representing Jesus' pure, sinless body) and dip it in melted butter then cinnamon and sugar mixture(representing the spices put on Jesus' body in preparation for burial). Then you wrap it in a refrigerated crescent roll dough(representing the linens that Jesus' body was wrapped in after his death). Put them in the oven, following the crescent's cooking directions. When they are done, the rolls are an empty shell, the marshmallows melts away, leaving a tasty hollow treat(just as Jesus left his linens behind when He rose from the dead). They were so great, we repeated it today, only the boys told me the story as they made them this time.

After our treat, the kids went to bed early because the Easter Bunny visits our house a day earlier than most. It began because Marvin had duty on Easter way back when Michael was a baby, then the next year it was easier to get to church when we didn't have to do the Easter basket thing on Sunday morning. Now we do it for those reasons and so that we can be sure our focus is on Jesus and His resurrection all day on Sunday, without the bunnies and baskets getting in the way. It is just what works for us. So, after I put everyone to bed, I started putting Easter baskets together...and eating candy! The kids were SO excited to wake up to baskets of treats! That silly bunny hid candy filled eggs ALL over the house. They did great finding them this year! Within an hour, it looked like the bunny exploded in my living room, grass and all! It is only Easter once a year! They played and fought and played some more! After we put the little ones to bed, Sam and Michael helped me make Easter Story cookies. I highly recommend them, but it may not be for little ones. Probably 4 and up, they need an attention span for this project. We taped the stove shut and headed upstairs to get ready for bed. All in all, it was a very good day.

After Easter Bunny, before Hurricane Quiambao!

Abby is checking out her loot!

Sarah is SO excited!

Abby found an egg!

Abby and Sarah decided to work together
Abby carried the basket...

Sarah buzzed around, finding the eggs

Josh Bosh found one!

Sarah is excited still!

Hands off another as she watches her Kuyas(big brothers) run around crazy!

Josh found the jackpot, an unsupervised basket, and takes full advantage
All is fair in egg hunts!

Very proud of his egg collection

Not to be outdone, Abby shows off their eggs as well

Michael and Sam were there, I just couldn't get a picture, they were CRAZY!
Michael, excited about his finds(they were hidden better than the babies)

Sam was proud as well!

Josh, showing off his beautiful hair

Monkey see...

Sam too! Notice the nice mess in the background?!

There is an Abby under there!

Tonight, as I put my little ones in bed, I want my focus to be fully on what we are celebrating. It is so easy to get caught up in bunnies and baskets, grass, and candy. Those are fun things, but tonight I am focusing on what Jesus did for me on that cross. How He willingly suffered pain, humiliation, and death. I am overwhelmed by the feelings of being loved to that extent. He did it so that I can have eternal life, but even more, that I can live in peace and harmony in the presence of God all the days of my life! He loved me enough to go through death, a horrible, horrible death, so that I can live in Him, with Him for now and always! How AWESOME is that?! I am blown away. Tomorrow, we celebrate the victory over death, as Jesus rose again. Gives me the shiver bumps just thinking about the power in that! What a mighty God we serve! Many people talk about my "religion" being a list of things I can and cannot do. It is SO not! It is an overwhelming knowledge of the LOVE that Christ has for me. It is the longing I have to love Him back, BECAUSE of that love. I do not live a life of rules...I live a life of love. Thank God...I do not follow rules very well! I serve a wonderful God!