Kids Are Funny!

I love to laugh. We do it a lot around our house. I tend to have a quick wit. Chris has a dry sense of humor that catches people off guard. The kids got a combination from both of us. They also just make observations that we find hysterical on occasion. They all get us from time to time. Nathan and Matt are at an age where they are catching on to more adult humor. Abbi notices girly things and gross things and reacts in hysterical ways. Benjamin got the biggest dose of humor from both Mama and Daddy and we end up in stitches quite often. Here are a few examples:

Nathan (age 5) was outside with his Daddy. Chris looked up and said, "I see a red bird!" Nathan looked at his Daddy and said, "I see a redneck!"

Matthew (age 3): We were in Lowe's looking for foam insulation. He looked up and saw the large rolls of attic insulation all shrink-wrapped and packaged together. He then looked at me and said, "Mama! That's a big ol' roll of toilet paper!"

Abbi (age 6) was testing me quite a bit that particular day. I finally told her she was "annoying me". She said, "ME? Annoy YOU? Nonsense..."

Benjamin (age 5): After our recent vacation, Chris was complaining about having gained some weight. Matthew then said something about his nickname being, "hubby". Benjamin said, "No! His nickname is chubby!"

Matthew (age 10): I was frustrated with Matthew for trying to discipline his younger brother. I asked, "Did you give birth to him?" Matthew answered, "That's highly illogical!"

Benjamin (age 5): Nathan had been aggravating him and he said, "I wish I was a girl cause then I could hit Nathan cause boys can't hit girls!"

Benjamin (age 6) I had asked him several times to go to bed. Around the fourth time, I finally said, "Benjamin, will you PLEASE go to bed?!" He answered, "Whatever you say...Sweet Cheeks!"

We get these things and more quite often. I am beginning to feel I should carry around a notebook so I can write all of these things down when they happen. I know I will never remember all of them, later. However, I do appreciate my children for all the good laughs they have given us, so far!

I Am A Nerd

I have to admit that I am a nerd. I am a bookworm. I love Science. I like to learn. I buy books so I can read them and read them again. I get excited about things that make people look at me funny. I like watching TV shows that teach me things.

Before our move, I had the heartbreaking (to me!) chore of thinning out our books. I took three bins full of books to the used book store. I mean literally, three large Rubbermaid totes. We put books in yardsales, as well. However, we still have a dozen shelves of books right now as well as at least two more totes in the basement full of books. I had to keep some of them! I had to keep books that the kids would want to read (which they do! YAY!) I had to keep the classics. I had to keep the books that Chris wanted to use as references. I had to keep the books that I wanted to use as references. I can't make it without some amount of books! I have purchased books since we moved, too.

What do I read, you ask? Everything. I am the type of person who has to decide for myself. I need to read it instead of listening to the hype. I want to know what gets everyone up at arms. My books run a WIDE range! I recently went to Border's Books and bought three books. One was on the creatures in the deep ocean. One was on Inca and Aztec history. The other was a Christian fiction novel written by an author I like and the second book in a series I had begun. I love book series. I like to read continuing sagas. I also like numerous authors. I have read all the Harry Potter books. I have read all of the Percy Jackson books. I also read Janette Oke and Tracie Peterson. They are two of my favorite Christian fiction authors. I read Dan Brown and Frank Peretti. I read John Grisham and Ted Dekker. I avoided the "Twilight" series forever. Then I found a copy of the first one, got started reading, and couldn't put it down. I devour books. Chris gets really jealous of my ability to tune out and tune in to my book. Yet, while, I am reading, I still know what is going on with the kids. I can watch TV and read at the same time. It makes him crazy (not a far trip...).

I love to watch the Science Channel, Discovery, Animal Planet, TLC, etc. I enjoy being taught about how things happen. I like learning about new animals found in the jungle. I relish learning of theories behind development of various species. I thrive on watching shows about Egyptian history and the discoveries made in Egypt. I get excited when I get the opportunity to watch a show teaching the history behind the Bible or the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

I thoroughly enjoy taking my kids to places where they can learn. I like to plan day trips to dairy farms. I make plans for them to get dirty picking vegetables at a vegetable farm. I spend time with them going to gold mines and panning for gold. We have grubbed for gemstones. We have gone to zoos. We have gone to aquariums. We plan to go to the Amana Colonies. We plan to go to Living Heritage Farms. I am constantly looking for ways to have fun and learn at the same time. I can't help it. I am a nerd :)

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

I have always liked thunderstorms. I enjoy watching them roll in. I like seeing how the clouds darken and change. I like how they cool things off. I like watching the patterns of the lightening. However, I think I have had enough.

We need time to dry out. We need time to clean up. We need help cleaning up. When I say "we", I mean Iowans. Those of us in Ames are really struggling with this water. I made a couple of trips today and was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of water. There are fields that look like lakes. There are streets that look like creeks. Records are set and records are broken. I took this excerpt from the Ames Tribune:

Update, 7 p.m.: Skunk River sets record crest

The South Skunk River crested Wednesday more than a foot above record flood level, according to the National Weather Service.

The South Skunk River crested at 26.7 feet near U.S. Highway 30 at about 10 a.m. The previous record was 25.6 feet, set on June 26, 1975. Flood stage is 20 feet.

The river was at 26.2 feet and falling at 5 p.m.

The river rose to 19.3 feet at West Riverside Drive. The record level was 20.9 feet on June 17, 1996, and flood stage is 14 feet.

Squaw Creek at Lincoln Way came within inches of the 18.5-foot record set on July 9, 1993. Flood stage is 9 feet.

The creek was at 18.5 feet and falling at 5 p.m.

Both waterways are forecast to fall below flood stage Thursday.

The next chance for rain is after 1 a.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

• • •

We are literally surrounded by water. The Skunk River is one one side of town from us. The Squaw Creek is on the other. I couldn't even get out of Ames to go to Boone, the town my school is in yesterday. Water had receded to the point this morning that I could go over one of the roads that was closed yesterday. Chris was able to work today, but, it was modified routes. There are still roads that are inaccessible.

Now, we are hearing more storms are on the way. Starting tonight and into tomorrow. We have flood warnings until 7:00 tomorrow night. There have been EIGHT water main breaks. The water restrictions are starting to get to me. I honestly don't like having to use bottled water to cook. I made the kids re-use bath water last night. I then made them leave it in the tub to help flush toilets. I boiled water for us to store. There have been companies donating water, and that is wonderful. Lesson learned on the water. From now on, whenever I see bottled water on sale, I will be purchasing and stocking up.

However, the expense of having to purchase unexpected things like paper goods I wouldn't normally buy is getting to me. The seepage in the basement has really frustrated me now. We had so many boxes down there that are now ruined. There were also thing stored in those boxes. I plan on spending the day Saturday sorting through and working through the mess. Unfortunately for me, Chris has to work Saturday. I am going to have to do it with the children's help. We are also going to have to put out a lot of money for plastic totes. I apologize if I sound whiny here. I am just getting frustrated. I am ready for the rain to be over. I don't want to have to worry about what is in the basement being ruined by a little bit of water seeping in.

I know that we have been blessed way more than some other people. We are still in our home. We have not had to evacuate. We do not have standing water or mud in our basement. My family is healthy and safe. Thank you, Lord for these things. Help me to continue to be grateful for the gifts we have been given. But, Lord, please, we have had enough!:)

A Test of Faith

This week has been possibly the most difficult one since our move. In the seven weeks we have been in Ames, we have had three hailstorms, two tornado warnings, multiple thunderstorms, two power outages (one for 41 hours), and now the flooding. The one thing I keep hearing from people is, "Welcome to Iowa!" However, I am learning, that this really is NOT a typical summer.

Today, my emotions have run the gamut. I have had fear, relief, worry, stress, exhaustion, and exasperation. However, the most predominant emotion I have felt has been thankfulness. The office Chris works out of is just a few miles from our home. He was called in around 1:30 this morning to help sandbag the place. Then, he was asked to drive the shuttle and help evacuate stranded students. When he got off work, I had to experience the fear and worry. He couldn't get home! Every road he took, he ended up having to find another route. It took him nearly three hours to get home. I was very relieved when he made it!

I was exhausted before I ever got out of bed. I had stayed up late reading and listening to the storm. I do like thunderstorms. I finally went to sleep a little after midnight. Then the phone rang for Chris to go to work. Then, he called around 6:00 AM to tell me he was stranded. Benjamin was in my bed and restless. Then, Chris called again about 45 minutes later to say he was still stranded. Then, Benjamin woke up. Well, I had to give it up and get up, too.

The flooding started getting worse. There are three highways in/around Ames that are closed. We are essentially locked in right now. Luckily, there are a lot of places within walking distance for us. However, supplies are difficult to get through. Then, came the water main break.

There is a water main that runs under a creek here in town. The creek (Squaw Creek) has flooded to such a point that the ground underneath it shifted. The main burst and now creek water is mixing in with the clean water and we are under water restrictions. I boiled water on all four burners, filled as many things as I could with water, made tea and filled ice trays. The news said for people to not take showers or flush toilets. That is a little exasperating.

Thankful. Yep. I am thankful. I am thankful that our house is mostly dry. There is just a little seepage in the basement. I am thankful that we have plenty of food for a few days. I am thankful that the Fareway grocery store chain set up a transfer truck full of water and was giving away two gallons of water per family member for every vehicle that drove up. I am thankful that my family is safe and dry. I think James said it best, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds." (James 1:2 NIV) I am considering this a joy because, I know God sent us here. I know we are here for a purpose. And I know, we wouldn't be facing trials right now if "someone" weren't scared...

My Baby Boy II

Benjamin was a very easygoing baby. He only had ONE little quirk. He REFUSED to be weaned. He could drink from a cup, eat solid foods, had a mouthful of teeth, but did NOT want to stop nursing before naps or bed. He would scream and scream and scream until my heart broke. In the end, this turned out to be a very good thing for him.

We got one of the scares of our lives when Benjamin was 16 months old. We were having a normal spring/summer. Benjamin had been outside playing along with the rest of the children. We were walking up the back stairs of our house and he yelped. It was a warm day, so, he had on shorts and no shoes. I looked for what had made him cry out. He had a little scratch. It barely broke the skin. It didn't even draw blood. I didn't think anything about it. Kids get scratched all the time. This was my fourth child. I had seen WAY worse with the older two!

Around five or six days later, Benjamin seemed kind of listless. He started running a fever off and on. He didn't really want to eat, just nurse. I figured it was no big deal. He was always around other kids, so, he had probably picked up something. The next day, he was running more fevers and spiking. I noticed a rash on his leg. The scratch had healed completely. But, the rash looked funny. It was red and raised, and mottled looking. I didn't like it and Chris didn't either. We called the doctor. They told us to bring him in a side door because of the rash. They didn't want to expose other children.

When we got to the doctor, the doctor took one look at the rash and said for us to take him straight to the hospital. He called the pediatric unit and told them we were on the way. My baby had developed a staph infection from that little scratch! Benjamin had no fever at that moment. The hospital was less than 0.2 miles from the doctor's office. We went straight there, parked, went inside and up to the second floor. Benjamin started feeling REALLY warm. We sat down, a nurse took his temp and it was 104.9! He had spiked that quickly!

I was terrified. Benjamin was crying and wanting to nurse. I started nursing him. He sat up, and lost most of it. Here I was, covered in it, and no other clothes to wear. Chris had to leave and go get clothes and such for both of us. Some kind nurses found some scrubs for me to wear while I waited. My poor baby was so sick!

They started him on antibiotics immediately. He didn't respond well. They had to try multiple sites for his IVs. Every night, Chris and I had to take turns sleeping in the hospital crib with him. The hospital rules were he had to be in the crib. However, HE wouldn't sleep without touching one of us. For the first couple of days, the only nutrition he got came from nursing. He wouldn't or couldn't eat.

The doctor had to try four different antibiotics. Benjamin still didn't respond to the treatment. He kept spiking fevers. He kept getting sick and the rash was spreading. In a last ditch effort, the doctor put him on Vancomycin. Benjamin had also yanked out every IV and they finally had to put the new one in his little forehead. Vancomycin is one of the strongest (and most expensive, over $1,000 a dose) antibiotics out there.

It finally worked! He had been in the hospital 8 days before the Vancomycin was used. In all, he was hospitalized for 10 of the longest days of my life! He acted like he had never been sick by the time we left. In the end, I guess God knew what he was doing by making my child so stubborn I couldn't say no to the continued nursing. It helped save his life. However, I finally got stubborn with him a month later and got him weaned :)

Iowa

Iowa is beautiful. I am learning some about the history of the state. I still have lots to learn, of course. Things are very wide open here. And flat! Every once in a while, we come across some rolling hills, but for the most part, it is pretty flat.

The town we are in, Ames, is really nice! The University of Iowa is here. It was built in the 1800s! Agriculture is a huge field of study for this school. There is also a college of veterinary medicine at ISU. The school mascot is the Cyclone. I will never forget my beloved Dawgs, though. Ames is so SQUARE! Most of the streets run parallel or perpendicular to each other. Literally three lefts make a right. You are always headed directly in one of the compass directions when driving around here. Not like in the south where you are headed north, turn right one time and are suddenly headed south!

There is corn EVERYWHERE around here! I keep teasing Chris telling him to stop on the side of the road so I can run over and pick some real quick. There are stands on street corners where you can get fresh corn all week. On certain days, there are Farmer's markets where one can get all kinds of fresh vegetables. I found a couple of places that let you pick your own vegetables and fruit. I LOVE doing that! The only thing better would be having my own vegetable garden!

The weather here has been VERY unpredictable! For the most part, we have been having some mild days. However, our first two nights, we were welcomed with hail storms. We have had a couple of days every week that have been in the 90's, then thunderstorms blow through, cool it off a bit, and we have mild again. Tonight, when Chris and I walked, it was 86 degrees, but the heat index made it feel like 101! So, we have storms moving in tonight. Hopefully, we won't have to go without power for 41 hours again!