I Hate Strep!!!!

Chris got strep a few weeks ago and I was so glad that he was away on a business trip and could be isolated in his hotel room while he got better rather than being here with us sharing his germs. Unfortunately, Caleb still got strep...... In all fairness, it is that time of year and it is running rampant in the schools, and it has been two weeks since Chris had it, so he probably did not give it to Caleb. I still hate it though! I turn into the psycho sanitizing mommy, carrying around my bottle of clorox cleanup and wiping down every surface. I throw out toothbrushes and toothpaste (although my last doctor told me we could just throw the toothbrushes in the dishwasher on sanitizing cycle) and by the time strep has run it's course through the family, we have spent about $1000 on doctor visits, medicine, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. I have had it twice now.....never did get strep as a child that I can remember.....and it is the most miserable disease anyone could ever have! I try to avoid it at all costs! So now my hands are raw from cleaning and chemicals and repeated washings in the hope of avoiding that nasty little germ! Wish me luck!

Playing Catch-Up

I haven't made the time to blog lately, but I still wanted to catch you up on what we have been doing.

Caleb was one of 12 scouts who went on the 50 miler bike ride over Christmas break. Only two finished the entire 50 miles and we were so proud of Caleb for being one of those two! You may not know that in December, Caleb was finally diagnosed with late lyme disease. It had progressed to transient arthritis in his large joints that would come and go over periods of a few days at a time. He has been unwell for the past 6 months, so it was incredible that he could do this bike ride after being treated with medication for lyme disease for only 2 weeks. Way to go, Caleb!

Savannah has been going to a kids skating group where they teach pre-school age kids to skate during the day when the big kids are at school. She is having so much fun! Especially since they play all her favorite songs and turn on the disco ball!
Joshua celebrated his 10th birthday with a Nerf Gun party for a bunch of his friends. It was FREEZING outside, so we were very thankful for our basement that they could be crazy in! There was a lot of ambushing going on, and I was fortunate to escape with my camera intact!

Samuel became a cub scout and passed off his Bobcat. He is so excited to finally be a part of the fun! He has been going with me to cub day camp since he was 2, so it is about time!
And not a moment soon enough, Joshua moved up to Webelos and passed his cub shirt down to Samuel! He will have plenty of room to grow into his shirt since I brought home a medium and large for him to try on before deciding that he was definitely a medium. So I packed up the other shirt to return to the scout office and sewed on all the badges. When Joshua tried it on, we realized that I had accidently packed up the wrong shirt and sewn the badges onto the large!!!! Oh well.....maybe it will encourage him to grow!
And last, but definitely not least, Samuel has returned to the pool! When all he wanted for Christmas was a Webkinz, Santa decided to give him a membership to the local YMCA swim team. He has LOVED being back in the pool! He already competed in his first meet where he collected 2nd place ribbons for all 4 events that he swam in! For those of you who know USA swimming, he is currently competing in the BB division.

Babysitting Fun

Sometimes its a little boring being the last kid left at home with mom all day. Savannah has missed out on being able to help take care of a younger sibling, so she was thrilled when I offered to babysit a friend's 16 month old twins today. She had so much fun being silly and making them laugh! Almost made me want to have another baby........OR NOT! I think I will just borrow these two every now and again!

It's Been Awhile......

So now I guess its back to life as we know it! I have been playing around a little with Facebook over the Christmas Holiday and realize now how much easier it is to update there rather than on a blog. I am debating whether or not to keep my blog up; but in the meantime, here are a few pics from Christmas (oh, and look me up on facebook if you have an account).

Here is what I made the kids teachers for Christmas.
Samuel's teacher got the Apple bag and Joshua's teacher got
the flying pig! She collects flying pigs and she could not believe
I found something so unique for her! Little did she know, I made it!