Labor Day Eve

It's late Sunday night
and I meant to go to bed an hour ago
...when I found myself asleep
in Sweet T's bed with him. He had asked me
to lay down with him and I did since his roommate
was downstairs playing cards.
I didn't mean to fall asleep
....but that music was so relaxing
....and I am really tired.

It's been such a whirlwind here since I last wrote to
you, Dear Reader. Craziness. Baby J was still not well
on Wednesday--which turned out to be a really
ridiculous day in so many ways. I hate to even recall it.
Let's not even talk about how I started things off with a
dead van because I left the keys in it and the radio playing
all night. I don't want you to know I would do such a
stupid thing. I took my Baby J and his brothers to be
kept by my mom while I took Lovely K to the orthodontist
(and to get her ballet shoes for the new lessons starting this week).
While I was out with Lovely K (after the orthodontist visit)
she began to break out in hives all over.
It looked like an allergic reaction.
By the time we got back to my parents' house to pick up
the boys, she was covered in whatever it was.
We gave her Benadryl.
Baby J was sicker; he was so pitiful and pathetic
and it was that kind of dull look in their eyes that
causes you concern. He had a fever and he just laid around
and stared. So that night I was concerned with both
of them and the next day, Thursday, took them to
the doctor. It seems the ear infection that Baby J
had had in his left ear the previous week had packed up
its bags and moved to the right ear. So we just
continued the antibiotic he was taking and continued
with the Tylenol. He cut two more teeth in the last two
days too so that, I'm sure, enhanced his yuckiness.
The doctor just confirmed that Lovely K was having
an allergic reaction and she had a very faint positive
to a strep test, so we started a little pack of antibiotics
for her to get that out of the way. She continued to
break out and have some swelling.
My in-laws came in on Thursday.
We did not go to home school co-op on Friday
(which was kind of a nice break) because of our
illnesses. Friday morning we went on the long trek
to our chiropractor. The our regular doctor wanted
to see Lovely K again Friday afternoon because her face
was swelling. She looked rather pitiful that day.
By the time we got done with everything we needed
to do that day, we picked up pizzas for supper on the
way home. It was a long day.
Then Saturday I took Big E and Sweet T to my
mom again. She was taking them to a family reunion
with her and my father while the rest of us when on a
purposeful trip to College Town to get some things.
The main thing I had to get was Lovely K's attire for this
ballet class she is starting. I was so glad to find exactly
what we needed at the first place.
And the price seemed decent.
That was just like a little load off of me
to have that taken care of---just a couple of days
before they were needed.
By this day (Saturday), Baby J is fine.
He's happy again and he was such a good little shopper.
Lovely K's face was still a little swollen
but her hives were gone until nightfall.
At some point in the weekend, I talked to the
orthodontist's staff and they think they Lovely K was
reacting to the cement they used to
bond to new brackets on her teeth Wednesday.
And all this time that other stuff was going on,
major work was being done in the basement.
Just wait until you see the pictures.
If you don't look at the ceiling,
it looks great.

So we ended our time in College Town at Publix,
my favorite grocery store, buying a load of food for
dinner today. I came home and made several dishes
for our Sunday dinner and then we went over to my
older brother's house briefly. The guys were watching
some football game they were all excited about.
My mother-in-law and I just went and ate supper
(that we didn't have to fix! always a good thing)
and visited for a little while and then came home to
bath children and do more prep for today.
Sunday morning I got up and vacuumed the
whole downstairs which seems like an odd thing
to do bright and early on a Sunday morning
(but it was the thing that didn't get checked off
the list all week long and it had to be done).
We went to church
and all my family came to our church today
in stead of the ones they attend.
We had a dedication ceremony for my precious Baby J.
He fell asleep during the singing at the beginning of
church and he slept through the whole thing.
It was nice to have all the grandparents there for this.
I think they have all four been there
for each of the children's dedications.
Then my mom and Lovely K sang a song together
in the church service. That was really a joy to me to
see that. One thing that was so amazing was looking
at Lovely K up there and realizing
that she is a young lady
...she's just grown up so much lately.
She's still my goof-ball, of course, (she's like me)
but she is indeed growing up.
But at the same time she was bobbing her head
as she sang in this way that made me think of
the little three year old version of her.
Oh, that child---she has been such a joy to my life.
Such a blessing.
All my kids are.
I look at these four beautiful babies
the Lord has given to me and I am just amazed.
Over-flowing with thankfulness.

After church, my parents had to leave immediately
(my father had to preach a funeral several towns over).
But everyone else, including the "bonus grandparents"
Mr. and Mrs. Popsicle, came over for lunch.
We had grilled chicken, potato salad, seven layer salad,
baked beans, autumn apple salad, honeydew, rolls
....I think that's all we had for the meal
.....and then I had made a butter pecan cake and
Mississippi mud for dessert.
We sat around and talked for a long time.
My younger brother and I got to telling tales and
laughing our heads off.
It's so good to laugh like that,
to the point where you just about cry.
I know that I am so very blessed to have
the family I have, the life I have,
the daily load of blessings that I am given
absolutely and totally by grace.

And now it's even later
and I am even more tired.
I just thought I'd tell you about my weekend.
I hope yours was lovely.
It's not over, you know.
Tomorrow is Labor Day.
I'm so glad we don't have school tomorrow.
I'm not ready.
Did I mention that
I'm TIRED?