Secret Santas

Today, I witnessed the spirit of giving in my children and couldn't have been more proud of each of them!

After breakfast, we explained to the kids that we would be doing Secret Santas this year and had them each pick a name. We told them that they would each get to buy a special gift for their secret sibling, and during the weeks leading up to Christmas, it would be nice if they would do special things for that person: help them pick up their room, read a book together, etc. Everyone was so excited to get started.

So, one by one, I took each of the older kids to the store and had them select a special gift for their sibling. I was amazed at how insightful the kids were in their gift selections and how much thought they put into picking just the right gift. We even had to travel to 4 different stores for Samantha to find the particular gift she wanted to give her secret sibling.

And because I took each kiddo one at time, they would come home, proud as a peacock and ask me to make sure the other kids don't see what they bought. Of course, later on I hear Mason tell the girls "I got Ben a telephone!!!!" So the cat's out of the bag for that one, but I guess I should just count myself lucky that Ben doesn't understand English yet. :)

We will wrap the gifts tomorrow and I'm hoping to put them under the tree as a reminder of how fun it is to GIVE instead of receive, but I'm not sure if the kids will be able to keep their mitts off for 2 more weeks. They're already asking when they can open them. We'll see how it goes.

Regardless, it was just so awesome to see the spirit of giving come alive in our kids and to see how well they really know each other. I had some good conversations with each of the kids and it reminded me of how very important they all are to each other -- despite their daily bickering! As a parent, I am convinced there is nothing more rewarding than seeing your children love each other and form that special bond that only siblings can provide. We are truly, truly blessed.

Halloween 2009

Just wanted to post some pics of the kids from Halloween this year because I know some of you didn't get to see them in all their glory. This year, the girls chose what they wanted to be all by themselves. It was fun: us girls spent an afternoon together making their costumes -- well except for sewing Emily's tail. Thank you mom for that!! (I just can't get excited about sewing for some reason.) You can't really see it in the pictures, but we made Emily a dog collar, with the name "Thunder" on it. She decided that she was "Thunder the Dog."

Poor Mason kept saying he was going to be "Ton-Tom" (Thomas the Train) but mama had already decided he was going to be a fireman solely because we had all of the components already on hand in our dress-up bin. I contemplated making a Ton-Tom out of cardboard and letting him go as that, but I've been waiting to use that yellow slicker for a costume for years now and I wasn't going to thwarted again! Ha ha. And Ben of course wore the standard-issue jaguar costume that all of the kids have worn on their first Halloweens.


















































The kids got SO MUCH candy this year.... on the Wednesday before Halloween, school had a "Trunk n' Treat" where everyone decorates their car, tailgates for supper and then the kids go trick or treating from car to car. They also have games for the kids. At first I wasn't going to take them because Ryan was out of town for work and I was a little nervous about maneuvering the entire crew in that setting (getting 4 plates made up while carrying a baby), but I decided to just go for it and I'm so glad I did... we all had a blast.

So between that, and then actually trick or treating, Ryan said it's a good thing we have dental insurance!

If I have to stop this car...

So, there are certain things that, as a kid, you just can't wait to be able to someday say to your own children. And then you actually have children and you realize that you never want to hear yourself actually say those things because that would mean – God forbid! – that you have become just like your own parents. You know what I'm talking about:

"When you're the mom, then you get to decide."

"Don't stand with the door open. You're letting all the warm air out!"

"Don't dirty another shirt! Do you think I do laundry for my health?!"

"If I have to stop this car, you are in big trouble mister!"

And of course, the ever popular:
"Just wait until your father gets home!"

In the last month or so, I have suddenly found myself saying those things! I'd like to blame it on the fact that my kids are getting older and are the ones driving me to say them, but somehow I have this feeling that I am just genetically programmed to become the people that raised me. Which, I should point out, bothers me less than I thought it would.

I have always known that I am like each of my parents in certain ways. I just never thought I would actually repeat - verbatim - the very things they used to say to me. Parenting is funny that way. I think it's God's little way of making sure that even though you may not have appreciated all that your parents did for you when you were young, or understood that they only had your best interests at heart, you definitely get it now.

And with any luck, someday my children will get it too. :)

Wanted: Sleep

Tired mom of four is looking for sleep.

Last seen almost 6 years ago.

If found, please call.

The Swine

So I think we are finally done with our bout of a little something they call swine flu. At least I hope so!

It all started with little Ben on a Sunday evening, by Tuesday Emily had it and on Friday it had gone to Mason. Somehow, Samantha escaped it! Yay God!

It seems like a very predictable virus; I could tell exactly when each child was going to get it and the progression it was going to take. They would get tired, cranky, and not have much of an appetite. By the next day you could bet that they would have a fever and be listless on the couch with body aches, sore throat, cough, headache, and a tummy ache. After about 48 hours of this, the fever would peak at its highest (with our kids this was around 103-104) and then it would slowly come down and symptoms would go away. The cough and congestion seems to be the thing that hangs around the longest as all of them are still congested and stuffy but they definitely have their energy (read: naughtiness) back!

I think Ben was affected the least. I'm not sure if this is because he's still nursing and is getting all the yummy antibodies my body is producing as I fight it off, but I am relieved for it all the same.

We had a little bit of a scare with Mason having a 104.1 fever that wouldn't go down and a night when he was pretty out of it. He wouldn't communicate with me or make eye contact, he just laid there looking off into space which was scary. Once the fever broke though, I could tell he was on his way to recovery.



Then on Sunday, we brought Emily into urgent care because despite having been "better" for 2 days, the fever suddenly returned with one heck of a cough and she was having a hard time breathing. They took a chest X-ray and thankfully it is not pneumonia... they told me to give it time and give her a decongestant to loosen everything up and hopefully she'll be good as new in a couple days.

All in all, I think we weathered it well. It's definitely not something you want to get, and if you are not in good health or are elderly, I can see why there would be a fear about getting it. But I do think if you are the normal, healthy adult with no other underlying conditions, people should be able to come through it OK with lots of rest and fluids.

So, let's hope this was our "Big One" for the season and that we can stay healthy -- and naughty -- the rest of the year!

UPDATE: The next Friday night, we had Emily back in the ER because her fever spiked again and she was having a really hard time breathing. It was a bit scary. After another chest X-ray, she was diagnosed with pneumonia and put on antibiotics. Things are looking better now! Hooray!

A Servant's Heart

I'm funny.

Not funny, as in ha ha funny -- because I'm not funny, I'm hilarious (that was just for you Jan) -- but funny as in woe to the person who has to try and figure me out. I suppose namely my husband.

One day I can be completely content to "serve" my family -- cook, clean, launder, wipe -- and the next I can go to the total extreme over something as simple as getting asked to get a drink of water: "You're 2 years old already dude! Learn how to pour your own glass of water!" :)

Now, you'd think that I would be least likely to want to "serve" when I'm tired and stressed out, right? Wouldn't the normal person have every right to ask for help in times of stress?

Oh no. Not me. Take for example this week. The kids are really sick with.... something. (The doctor said the dreaded "S" flu, but that's another story.) I have been maxing out on 3, maybe 4 hours a sleep a night. You'd think that I would be dragging my rear and being ill-tempered towards anyone who asked me for assistance. But no. I find myself relishing in the opportunity to serve them. I have 4 loads of laundry sitting here that I can't wait to fold. I feel like putting on an apron and washing windows. I even contemplated making a cake from scratch for pete's sake! Something about being sleep deprived is just bringing out the Susie Homemaker in me.

Maybe it's a case of feeling needed. Maybe God's finally giving me that "servant's heart" I've been asking for. I don't know. Whatever the case may be, I hope it never leaves. I sort of like being able to give freely without resentment... and I'm sure my husband likes it too!

Overheard

I was in the middle of changing Mason's diaper today when I got interrupted by the phone and let him walk around without a diaper on for a few seconds while I answered it.

I walked back in to the room to hear Emily say:
"Mason! Don't stick it in the fan!! It will get cut off and you'll have to stay in the hospital for days and days!"

School is hard

We are not adjusting well.

It has been 3 days now that we've had to get up early and be out the door by 8:00AM and by 7:00 at night, everyone has had it. Yesterday, I came home from work and from 3:00 on, I listened to at least 2 of the kids cry simultaneously all evening long. It was like they were tag teaming me; when one got tired from crying, 2 more jumped in to take their place. It was crazy.

So, at 7:00, I announced "jammies and clean-up", by 7:25 they were all in bed, and by 7:35 they were all sound asleep. I have never, ever, EVER looked so forward to bedtime as I did last night.

Today started out better... everyone was smiling and happy. But by 10:00 Mason was falling apart again already, and by the time Emily got home from school at 11:00, I couldn't wait for nap time.

So, that's where they all are... even Emily! I am enjoying a few minutes of quiet before the 3:00 hour comes and we start all over again. Right now I am in robot mode and just making it from one sleep time to the next. If I put it in that perspective, that I just have to make it through 5 hours at a time - give or take - it seems much more manageable.

One of these days hopefully everyone will adjust and we'll get used to the new schedule. But until then, I may have to invest in ear plugs. Or I might go by the old adage: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!!

First Day of School!

So we made it! We have one day down and what, 179 to go? While I do dread the thought of doing this day after day for the next 9 months, I must say that the day went very well.

I dragged my behind out of bed first so I could make sure I was completely ready before the rest of the crew got in motion. I think that was the best thing I could have done. I was able to focus solely on the kids -- cleaning up messes, diverting sibling quibbling, re-directing nervous energy... I was able to run the whole morning like a well-oiled machine.

Until 7:30 rolled around and we had nothing left to do. Shoes were even on. And so we sat in the living room just watching the hands of the clock tick by. Then the "can we go yet?" started in, and Mason began running around the house creating a chain reaction, which made Ben get fidgety and spit up on my clothes. I started second guessing myself... wondering how we could possibly be ready ahead of time and what was I forgetting?

At 7:55, it was "go-time" and we all piled in to the van and headed to school. We waited with Samantha until the bell rang and then headed back home.... long enough for me to drop the boys with grandma and go BACK to school for orientation for Emily. And it turns out what I was forgetting was all of Emily's school supplies. Ah well.

All in all I think it was a good day. I just can't believe we have to do it all again tomorrow!!!

Here's a photo of the big kids. Poor Ben was in the house chillin' while I was trying to capture the moment! They were all so excited... even Mason!

My Boys

So, I'm back! Sorry for the absence, but I think we've been experiencing a case of the "quick! summer's almost over so we need to spend every waking second outside because soon we will be stuck inside for 4 months!!!" Anyways, we're here, all is well and we're just soaking up the last little drops of summer.

So I was laying in bed this morning feeding Ben and I got to thinking about "my boys". Let me preface all of this by saying that I love my boys dearly. My heart sometimes feels like it would burst if I would love them any more. But I didn't always think I'd feel that way.

Mason is the most perfect epitome of why I was afraid to ever have a boy. To me, boys were loud, rowdy, messy, destructive little balls of energy and I really didn't think I had the heart for it. I'm not a person who copes well with loud rambunctious noises and, well, everyone knows how I feel about messes.

So, when Samantha came out a girl, I was secretly so relieved. In my mind, a girl represented playing quietly with dolls, coloring, sharing all sorts of "quiet girl fun." And so it was... we not only played quietly together, she was also able to quietly entertain herself. And then of course, we had another little girl, our Emily. While she was a little more "active" than Sam, my vision of a nice peaceful home remained in tact.

And then God dropped in our little bomb whom we named Mason. And our home has never been the same. This boy came into the world making noise (his constant crying) and lots of messes (his constant spit-up) and it hasn't quit in all of his 2 and a half years. (Well, the spit-up has thankfully, but not the noise and the messes!) Yes, he has moments where he plays Barbies with the girls, but inevitably, the boy in him comes out and the Barbies end up taking their car off the cliff known as our staircase. He's just completely, totally, 100% "a boy".

And now I can say, I love, love, love being the mom of boys. I was just telling my mom today how blessed I am to be able to be a mom of both boys and girls. There's just something so special about having a son. I envision always being close with my daughters and doing girl things together, but as my friend Jan once said "There is nothing in the world like sweaty little boy hugs." And she is so right.

My house is no longer the quiet, clean, peaceful place it used to be. And with another baby boy coming up through the ranks, I am bracing myself for it to get louder and messier before we're through raising all of them. But I am learning to adapt and cherish the "boyness" in them. I'm learning that it's much more fun to actually get dirty in the mud than it is to worry about the mess that it will make. It's a lesson I'm learning from my son.

Outdoor Mass

Our parish picnic is this weekend and this evening, we attended the outdoor mass. What a circus!!!

So it's 258 degrees outside and I'm already straining to hear Father speak during the homily because of the outdoor sound system. Suddenly I hear this "VWIP!" Pause, pause, pause. "VWAP!" Pause, pause, pause. "VWIP!" Pause, pause, pause. "VWAP!" I look down and Mason is sitting in the stroller where Benjamin just was and is pushing the umbrella of the stroller down over his body and back up again. I give him a glare and he says "Boo!" and then giggles in delight. I wrangle him out of the stroller only to hear Emily shout "Ben just puked!" Great. I bend over and ask her to please not use the word puke in public as I feel the warmth spread between my sandled toes.

Ben starts crying so Ryan decides to put him back in the stroller and walk him around the tents to see if he'll go to sleep. I think to myself, OK. Good. Now I only have the 3 older ones to watch over. And just as I finish that thought, Emily starts playing with the stroller and Mason folds up his little chair he was sitting in. And then unfolds it. And then folds it. And then unfolds it. I fight the urge to grab them all by their little hands and drag them out of the tent and instead swipe the chair out of his grasp and tuck it under my arm. This "circus" goes on and on throughout the entire mass, but you get the picture.

I always look forward to the outdoor mass because for some reason, I have this very incorrect notion that the noise of being out doors will cover up the noise of my children. But every year, I am reminded that when children are outside, they want to PLAY! Never mind the man wearing the robe up in front and the people bowing their heads during the consecration! Not even the familiar songs we sing make them realize that even though we are outside, we are still "at Church".

So, I am already looking forward to next week when we can file into our usual pew and worry about our kids' voices echoing in the rafters and breaking the silence. Because even though it SEEMS loud in church, their behavior really is so much tamer than it is outside.

I guess it's just as it should be.

The Hansen Kids Say the Darndest Things

The Hansen version of "Kids Say the Darndest Things"!

1. We had a visit from the tooth fairy and Samantha informed us that the tooth fairy didn't bring as much money as she thought she would. (4/8/09)

2. When I told Mason it was time to go to bed, he pointed at the clock, shook his head and said "Dis cwock work anymore." (8/6/09)

3. Emily said that I did the laundry in the dryer and the "wetter". (6/9/09)

4. Mason praying: "name Falla, Tun, Hody Pewpit, 'men." (6/5/09)

5. Samantha says that heaven is a really big brown house in the sky where everyone lives together without shoes. (4/18/09)

6. When we realized that Mason "whispered" by putting his ear up to your ear and then talks in a normal voice. (5/5/09)

7. Ryan and I were trying to decide what to do about Mason's "difficult" behavior lately and Emily overheard us and suggested that we sell him to someone who eats children. (9/29/09)


That's all of them for now, but I'm thinking maybe I'll see if I can keep this an "updating post".... I'll update it as the kids give me more "material".

Fruits of my labor

After laying in bed last night thinking about all I wanted to do this weekend, I decided the girls' closet was one thing I wanted to tackle.

Here it is before:It was a total disaster: clothes that no longer fit, TONS of hangers, random things that really belonged somewhere else, and a whole bunch of stuff that is now in the trash!

So, after some re-organization, here's what it looks like:
But then I still thought it would be nice to have some sort of a "door" or way to close off the mess if we didn't feel like looking at it. So I went and bought a tension rod and a curtain panel to kind of finish it off.I'm not 100% sure I like it... I may go and get another panel and some cute tie-backs to dress it up a little, but at least I feel like I made a little progress.

Aaaaaah it feels so good to be able to get some things done!!

Insomnia

I can't sleep.
I can't sleep because I don't want to waste a single minute of this weekend!

See, Ryan took the 3 older kids up north to see Grandma and Grandpa "Shipoke" this weekend, leaving me here with only Ben. Only 1 child!!! Do you know what this means? It means that the toys I put away after the kids left today will actually stay put away. The floors that I plan on sweeping and mopping tomorrow will not be littered with little people footprints 5 minutes later! I don't even have to cook if I don't want to! I won't need to refill sippy cups, referee an argument or remind kids to flush the toilet and wash hands ALL. WEEKEND. LONG.

Now, I suppose I am sounding like a mother who doesn't enjoy her job, but that is not the case at all. I am just reveling in the uncommon feeling of "ME-ness". What do I want to do with my time? How would I like to fill my day? To be honest, it's almost overwhelming. I feel almost schizophrenic in the possibilities... should I get some good cleaning done? Some weeding and yard work caught up? Or would I rather drink coffee on the porch and read a book while Ben naps? What about the scrapbook I meant to start but never did? (Or maybe tackle the closets I mentioned a few posts back! Ha ha!) I just can't stay focused on one thing at a time because I'm already thinking about what else I'd like to do.

The funny thing is, is that no matter how much I enjoy myself this weekend, I am absolutely positive that come Sunday night, I will be aching for my crew to come home. I know I will be waiting anxiously in the living room looking out at each passing car hoping it's them. And as they bound into the house with their muddy shoes and backpacks full of "stuff" to be put away and clothes to be laundered, I will be so thankful to have all of it back. All of THEM back.

Prayer Time

Our prayer time before meals is getting longer, and longer and longer...

Now that we have 3 children that can talk well and can understand what it is to pray for someone, our prayers are getting quite lengthy. It starts out innocently enough: In the name of the Father.... but wait, we went too fast for Emily!!! So we start over again.... V-E-R-Y slowly so everyone can keep up.

Bless us, Oh Lord and these Thy gifts... "Pray Aimee!!!!" Mason shouts.
"Yes honey, we can pray for Aimee in a minute."

Which we are about to receive... "I'm going to pray for you Mommy!" Emily wants us to know.
"Thank you Emily. Just a minute."

From Thy bounty... "But I was going to pray for you Mommy!" Sam cries.
"You can pray for me too Samantha. Hold on."

Through Christ our Lord, Amen. Whew! We made it!
"OK, everybody, now who would like to say something?"

"Pray Aimee!" "Bless Mommy..." "No, Emily, I was going to say that!"
"One at a time guys."

And so they go around one at a time praying for friends, family, pets, and sometimes even their blankets. Sometimes they start out saying they are going to pray for one person and then midway through, decide that that person doesn't need their prayers and they start all over praying for someone else. I get prayed for alot... haven't quite figured out if it's because they love me that much, or if they seriously can see how many prayers I need!

They may start out praying that their friend will stay safe and it turns into an entire story about how they hope God will let their friend go camping and have a campfire with s'mores and maybe they can even build sandcastles on the beach after they go swimming with their new swimsuit on.

So we sit and let them pray while our food gets cold and congeals on our plates. I think once Ben can talk, we might even have to start prayer time BEFORE dinner is even ready!

But that's OK. I don't imagine God is tapping the toe of His foot waiting for it to be over. I imagine Him looking down on our little family gently nodding His head thinking "It is good." :)

Case in Point

Tonight Ryan and I were talking about our lives and about how stressed out we are. We were discussing the stresses of our jobs and then the stresses of home life and how we just can't keep up lately. Let me give you a rundown of some of the "projects" we have going on around here:

1. We have a hole in the bathroom wall from repairing leaky plumbing behind the tub.

2. There is a hole in the ceiling in the downstairs bathroom due to water damage from the leaky plumbing behind the tub.

3. The drain in the tub that belongs to the leaky plumbing behind the tub simultaneously refuses to hold water OR let water drain out. So there's always just this annoying inch or two of water in the tub while you're trying to shower -- unless you've mastered the "stand-on-one-leg-like-a-flamingo" maneuver in which one foot is used to hold the lever down that lets the water drain. Conversely, if you would actually like to have water in the tub, you have to stuff a wash cloth into the drain to keep the water in, or it is a slow leak and the kids are soon sitting in a tub of bath toys and no water. This is fun stuff.

4. We have a dug up, muddy rectangle next to our garage that was meant to be a vegetable garden this year, but has quickly turned into a "weed garden" because we simply never had time to plant anything. However, the kids do find it amusing to go dig in this dirt from time to time, so I suppose there is some positive to this.

5. Next, let's talk closets, shall we? The boys' room closet is used to store my wedding dress that has never been dry cleaned and still sports a fine black ring around the bottom signifying the great time I had out on the dance floor that night, along with a multitude of bridesmaids dresses. It also holds a few dozen blankets we've acquired over the years that never seem to emerge from the closet. However, if on some blustery winter night our furnace goes out, I've got us covered!!

The girls' closet is full of books, dolls, barbies, jewelry boxes, and oh yes, a few dresses that do actually still fit.

Anyways, Ryan and I were discussing all we have to do and commiserating with each other on how "we will get through this together" and "one thing at a time honey" when from the kitchen we hear "Mom!!!!!! Come quick! Mason made a mess!!!!!"

Apparently the cute little munchkin pumpkin honey bunch was thirsty and had attempted to pour himself a glass of milk. However, Samantha said he had filled the glass too full and was trying to thoughtfully put the milk back in to the jug as opposed to taking too much and then wasting it of course. Long story short, there was nice soggy puddle on the kitchen carpeting for me to clean up.

Case in point. And who says you shouldn't cry over spilled milk?

Getting Some Air

So, for those of you who are not on Facebook, I wanted to make sure I shared this with you too because I think it's worth at least a giggle or two.

First, let's note that it is HOT here today... the kind of hot where just sitting still in my house was making me sweat.

Enter the box fan. We positioned it at the entry way to the living room to try and draft some of the cool air from the air conditioner into the room.

So, I was temporarily out of the room and when I walked back in, I saw Mason -- butt naked -- bending over with his little rear end pressed up against the fan.

I guess he was a little hot too.

Cleaning Day

So, Thursday. Technically my "cleaning day". Otherwise known as my own personal mission to see if I can get the vacuuming in before too many toys hit the floor. I've been known to leave the kids stranded in the kitchen with their cereal bowls while I make a mad dash for the carpets. I realize that may sound completely OCD to some of you, but seriously, it makes my life so much easier not to have to vacuum around cows, babies, balls and blocks.

Today, the cleaning got me thinking: Why is it when you want your children to help you clean up (ie. pick up their toys) they will grumble incessantly, but when you DON'T necessarily need their help (ie. scouring the toilet) they insist that they really need to help? I mean really. Can it be any more fun to try and clean a small area like the bathroom with little people constantly under foot? And by the time the kids are truly old enough to do any good, I am 100% positive that their desire to help will be a thing of the past.

Although I do have to say that Ryan and I have mastered the art of "Help Enlistment Tactics", otherwise known as HET (pronounced heat). Here's how it works:

Without applying HET:
M&D: Kids, can you please pick up your toys and bring your shoes into your room?
KIDS: (in unison) I don't want to. But I'm tired. I didn't make that mess. (my personal favorite)

With HET applied:
M&D: Who wants to pick up these toys and put the shoes away?
KIDS: (in unison) ME!!!!!!!!!!

Our kids are still young enough to think that if we start a sentence with "Who wants to" that it's definitely something they want to be a part of. Who wants to help mommy fold laundry? ME!!!! Who wants to pull weeds? ME!!!!!!! Who wants to give mommy a back rub? ME!!!!!!!!!!!

Admittedly, HET does have its drawbacks. Sometimes there just isn't enough "work" to do to make sure everyone gets a "turn". If one child gets to pick up daddy's dirty socks, there had better be a dirty shirt and a dirty pair of shorts to go with them! But in a house of 6 people, there generally is not a shortage of work to be done if one thinks long enough.

I'm just wondering how long we have until the kids can't take the HET?

The Blue Folder

Do you know that I have an entire folder dedicated to filing articles about activities, games and crafts for the kids and I to do together? I have this strange obsession with clipping articles from magazines entitled "5 Ways To Reuse This Magazine", "Moms Bag of Tricks", "Keep 'em Busy Fun!".

And do you know that I have never once successfully used any of these articles? I rip it out, file it neatly into my little blue folder and then tuck it back into my nightstand, positive that the next time the kids and I have a free moment, I will remember the really great windsock you can make with a toilet paper roll.

Now, in my defense, I have tried a few times to actually do some of these crafts. But each one always requires one essential craft supply that I just don't have on hand. Toilet paper tube: check. Glue: check. Twenty 10" strips of 1/4" ribbon. Doh!

I mean, who has this stuff on hand? Is there some basic Mom Rule that I am missing about keeping styrofoam balls and rick-rack on hand? (Gee, now that I think about it, my mom always did have those things in her sewing kit.....)

Each time I haul out the blue folder, I can see the girls' eyes widen with excitement. "It's the blue folder! The fun blue folder!" their expressions clearly say. But then when I lamely have to explain that "Mommy doesn't have googly eyes for the Pine Cone Critters" I just know that settling for making cut-out butterflies out of paper plates doesn't quite compare.

So, tonight as I head to bed, I will surely glance at the little blue folder and once again promise myself that "I am going to purchase some staple craft supplies next time I am at the store, for crying out loud!" But as for tomorrow, the kids and I will be at the table, still trying to think of something fun to do with all the popsicle sticks we've been saving.

Into the Mind of Mason

Lately, Mason has taken quite an interest in using the potty. Of course we are exploiting that to its fullest value! But, most recently, he has figured out how to exploit us right back!!

We give Mason a treat if he actually goes on the potty. He can't just sit, he has to actually go. Well, the little stinker has figured out that he gets more treats if he only goes a little bit at a time -- multiple times -- as opposed to letting it all out at once. So, he'll sit down and go, exclaim "Canny!!!", eat the Tootsie Roll, and no sooner than he's done chewing will he announce "Potty! 'gain!" And so it goes until his bladder is completely empty.

Right now, I'm indulging in his little game and letting him think I don't know what's going on, but I'm "so" on to him. I'm just taking a little time to strategically plan my next move. :)

I have to be on my "A-Game" all the time with this one. The other day, I noticed he had blue dots all over his leg from a marker. Knowing full well he put them there himself, I said "Oh-oh, who colored on your leg?" He rolled his eyes and said "Emmy." So, I call Emily into the room and giving Emily a wink I say, "Mason, who colored on your leg?" He pauses and says "Sammy." So, I proceed to call Samantha in to the room. I ask Mason again, "Who colored on your leg?" At this point, I expect him to say "Ben" and know that if he does, I won't be able to keep from laughing. But Mason is one step ahead of me again and he knows that Ben isn't big enough to commit this offense, so he sighs, looks at me with those big blue eyes, shrugs and says "I don't know Mama."

Although hours later, when I scrubbed at those little blue dots, he looked at me again with those big blue eyes and said "Sorry Mama."

4th of July

So, despite the rough start, we actually ended up having quite a fun weekend. On Friday night, we were originally going to go to the Appleton fireworks, but because of Sam's surgery, Daddy went and bought some fireworks for us to do in the yard. We got everyone in their jammies and headed outside with the necessities: blankies, stuffed animals and a snack. Mason was a little "scaywed" at first, but he eventually warmed up. Even Ben stayed awake to enjoy the show.


Then on Saturday, after a day of yardwork, we asked the kids if they would rather go see fireworks or have a campfire in the back yard. They chose to have a campfire and s'mores! As you can see, Mason really liked them!

And although Samantha wasn't able to have a s'more, she did get her share of roasted marshmallows! :)

Samantha's Ordeal

Well, we've had quite the week. Samantha was having some trouble with healing from her adenoidectomy/tonsillectomy and it finally came to a head on Thursday night.

She was having her 3rd bleeding episode and this time we just couldn't get it to stop. So we called the Dr. and he said that he would meet us at the ER. I think by this time it was 8:oo at night and Ryan, Samantha, Ben and I all head to the hospital. (Mason and Emily stayed with Grandma and Grandpa.)

Once in the ER, he took a look at it and said aloud what Ryan and I suspected: she would have to go back under and get re-cauterized. This is what we were trying so hard to avoid, but despite our best efforts, we just couldn't prevent it. Samantha was so scared, but was trying really hard to put on a brave face. She didn't ask alot of questions -- which is rare -- but I think it was because she didn't really want to know. As if we didn't talk about it out loud, it really wouldn't happen.

At first, they wanted to get her IV started in the ER. I quickly put a stop to that. Surprise, surprise, but she doesn't respond well to a strange man grabbing her tiny little arm, holding it out straight and probing for a vein with a needle in his other hand. So, they agreed to bring her right up to the OR and we would put it in up there. She got to take a ride in the wheelchair up to the surgical floor and I tried to ease her fears by driving the wheel chair myself and threatening to pull a Mario Andretti on her. I don't think she laughed once.

We got up to the surgical floor and had to wait for the on-call anesthesiologist to arrive. After she arrived, we talked about the possibility of getting the IV put in after Samantha was "put out" with some laughing gas first. Because Samantha had eaten within the last 6 hours, this was not an option. Samantha would have to be awake for the IV. Ryan and I knew this was not going to be easy for her, so we talked about the possibility of giving her some "happy juice" like she had received on the day of the original surgery to help relax her. The anesthesiologist said that would be fine and Samantha said she would drink it.

But when push came to shove, Samantha wouldn't drink it. And the more we pushed, the more she resisted. I don't blame her. Looking back on it now, she had a doctor, 3 nurses, a mom and a dad all hovering around her, talking to her at once, trying to get her to drink a cup of stuff that tasted horrible. Add in her fears about what was going to happen and there was just no way this kid was going to drink it. So, as Samantha sits on my lap crying, I hear the anesthesiologist say "It's time. We can go without it."

And so begins the most difficult thing I have yet to endure as far as parenting goes. Here I have my little girl on my lap, who is so, so scared and I have 2 nurses pulling her off of my lap while I feel her little arms gripping me around my neck. I see her face crumble as she starts yelling "Mommy! Mommy! I want you Mommy!" as she is wrenched from her arms. I remember saying "You guys are going to make her bleed!" and then of course the vomiting starts. When Samantha gets very upset, she throws up. And so this, along with blood in the stomach do not make for a pretty scene. I will spare the gruesome details, but let's just say they were going to need a janitor to come in and clean up the mess.

I suddenly know that I can't "stay strong" any longer and rush into a corner with my back to Samantha and burst into tears. What's done is done and the quicker they get this over with, the better. Except that I realize I am holding her little blankie. The one thing that when she scrapes her knee can comfort her and dry her tears. She needs her blankie!!!! I whip around and reach out to give her her blankie at the same exact time she vomits blood again and I see the blanket go red. Her mouth is full of blood and all I can do is cry and whisper "She's bleeding." They take her out and I fall into Ryan's arms and cry.

During all of this, Ben has been content to sit in his car seat and sleep... thank you God!!! But now that Samantha is gone, Ben starts to cry. He is hungry. So, I nurse my little baby and as I feed him, I pray that my baby girl is being strong. I knew she had to face getting the IV all alone.

The whole procedure only took about 30 minutes and soon they were telling us we could go up to her room on the pediatric floor. We were talking to the nurse about how to get up there when I see them rolling Samantha into the recovery room and she's moaning and crying saying "Where's Mama?" I know she's still a little out of it from the aneshesia, but I couldn't help still wanting to rush to her side and comfort her. But that would have to wait. Ryan and I went up to her room and waited for about another half hour before they bring her into her room. She's fully awake and I hear her ask for me again. "I'm right here sweetie" I say.

The nurses get her situated, check her vitals, and then leave the room. In the darkened room, there is the steady churning of the IV machine and I lean over my little peanut. She opens her eyes, looks right at me and says "I'm sorry for making you cry mama."

Ugh. My heart just broke for her. I literally felt my heart just ache. Here she is apologizing to ME when I feel like I wanted to apologize to her that I couldn't somehow save her from everything she just had to go through. We cried together and I held her little hand.

It was a long night, but she did really well when all was said and done. We're back to square one in terms of the abstaining from regular food and any activity so that will be the hard part now. The doctor said it is extremely rare for anyone to have to come back a second time for re-cauterization so we're feeling very optimistic. The weekend will be a calm one, full of -- hopefully -- lots of rest for all of us. I think we are all pretty beat.

Worthwhile moments

So, it's day one and we already have "material" for the blog!

The afternoon ended in quite a flurry of activity again today. We had just gotten home, Ben was crying in his car seat, Mason was "hungeeeeeee" and Samantha was complaining that her tonsils were hurting. Upon further examination, yes indeedy, Sam was bleeding.... again. That poor kid! It's been 6 days since surgery and she's had 2 bleeding episodes since then. Thankfully, it stopped again on its own without a trip to the ER.

And my poor dad! I called him both times and made him come and sit with me while we got it under control. As a 31-year-old woman, it still feels good to have daddy come to the rescue! :)

Dinner time brought a welcome laugh to the household. Emily, Mason and I were sitting at the island eating and they each decided they needed to sit right next to me. Like RIGHT next to me. So "next to me" that each of them pushed their plates so they were touching MY plate and their stools were touching my stool. Every couple minutes, I'd feel a head (or 2) resting on my arm. Needless to say, I had no room to actually pick up my own fork and eat, but it sure felt good to be so loved.

And so in all the crying, craziness, yelling, and refereeing THOSE are the moments that make it all worthwhile.

Off we go!

OK, so I'm starting a blog!!

I'm not really sure what I am going to talk about or that I even have anything profound to say, but I like to write, I LOVE talking about my kids ;) and I thought it would be a great way to keep family and friends updated on the lives of the "Hansen Half Dozen."

Ha! That name for our family... Ryan thought of it and I thought it was quite clever. Not that I think we are all that interesting to warrant such a name and join the likes of "Jon & Kate Plus 8", or "Seating for 12", or "Octomom" for that matter. But, it's cute and clever, and it's a lot shorter to sign cards with this name rather than Ryan, Rachelle, Samantha, Emily, Mason and Benjamin. :)

Anyways, Ryan is always telling me I need a hobby, so I've decided this is going to be it! I figured it's as good as any, right? It's free. It's portable. And it will always be there for the next time I have time for it!

Most of it will probably be writing about the funny -- and maybe not so funny? -- things the kids do, but who knows what it will morph into. We'll see where the road leads.