Gotta Love This...

I was just looking at pictures of London when she and I were in the hospital on the computer with Autumn when she says, " You look so beautiful." I said, "Really? You really think I'm beautiful?" and then comes her sweet but painfully honest response, "Even though your fat your still beautiful" Gotta Love It!!! Just had to share. I am so far behind I'm scared to update my blog but I will try soon.

The morning after ... the EPI-PEN!!!

Well, I guess it was getting a little dull in the Smith household. We hadn't had a life-threatening emergency lately so I guess it was our due.

Short Version:

Noah was outside with his sisters playing at the end of the cul-de-sac last week (Monday). After a while, they came into the house and Noah was rubbing his eyes like crazy. I took one look at him and knew it was his worst reaction to SOMETHING?? ever! Underneath his eyes was swollen out at least an inch. I yelled at him to wash his hands and face and lay on the couch. I ran for the Benadryl!!! I gave him 3 teaspoons -- his dose was 1 or 2 teaspoons but he really needed some and fast. I ran back over to the couch to closer evaluate the situation. I heard him wheeze and asked if he was having difficulty breathing and he said a little. As I looked at my baby boy I had a scary feeling that I would need to give him his epi-pen. I called one of my friends, Gayla, she had given her son an epi-pen last month and is in nursing school too. Next was a series of miracles:

1. Gayla was home (She is busy and hard to get a hold of)
2. I found Noah's epi -pen
3. The epi-pen was not expired

I told Gayla what I was seeing (face progressively swelling, eyes almost swollen shut, and difficulty breathing). I asked "Am I going to need to give him his epi-pen?" Gayla was like, "I think you are going to need to give him his epi-pen." She talked me through it with Noah panicking in the background because he could tell I was going to give him a shot! The girls were great and had him squeeze their hands while I gave the shot. The first time it bounced right off his leg but the next time it went in real good. It was kind of freaky because you have to hold the epi-pen to his leg for 10 seconds after you give it. Well, fourth miracle ... it worked!!! Breathing resolved and slowly swelling decreased. The worst swelling was his eyes -- the white part of his eye was swollen out past his eye socket and this I noticed after the epi-pen when I was looking at him from the side.

I called the Dr. and they said to bring him to the ER but after consultation with my two friends and with me in my pajamas, with 5 kids and swimming lessons and swimming fun scheduled with friends I decided to just observe him at home. After all he was breathing fine now.

Noah's thoughts, "It was scary when you were talking on the phone and talking about the epi-pen."

I didn't even think of taking a picture that day but managed to take a picture of Noah holding the epi-pen box the morning after.

We know he was playing in a cornfield for a few minutes outside and the corn husks did touch him all over his body. I guess that is what he was reacting to -- still not sure but definetly no playing in the cornfield anymore.

Update to this post to follow with more excitement to come ...

Calling Everyone Who Eats!!!

I have a challenge for anyone who eats, cooks, and or breathes air. I just found out some more foods my kids are sensitive to and therein lies the challenge. If you have any ideas of any meal, snack, dessert that meets the following or most of the following requirements please let me know:

1. Gluten - free (no wheat, gluten, flour, malt)
2. No Nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, paprika, eggplant)
3. No Soy
4. No Corn
5. No Eggs
6. No Peanuts or Tree Nuts

Thanks in advance!! It's getting to be a real challenge to feed this brood! Although Brooklyn decided to eat AIR for supper and found it quite tasty!!!

Today is the day I am going to SNAP!

Today is the day I am going to SNAP! Why?

I can't go into it or you would snap too!!!

Autumn's Classic Sayings ...

I love this girl! She is so sweet and hilarious all rolled up in one. Just a few of her classic sayings over the past few weeks:

1. We had a Family Home Evening about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We talked about how much Joseph Smith sacrificed to get us the Book of Mormon and how much he loved Jesus. We also watched part of the talk given by President Holland at conference a youtube mormon video that talked about Joseph Smiths sacrifice. At the end of FHE Autumn says:

"If some bad guys had me in prison and they told me that you could get out of jail if you said that you didn't believe in Jesus or they would KILL me --- I would say you just better KILL me because I believe in Jesus."

Doesn't that melt your heart!!! I cried!!! This is what being a parent is all about and makes everything worth while!!!!

2. Tonite we were talking about funerals and if the kids would go to their grandparents funerals (hopefully not soon). The girls have been to at least one funeral and Noah has not. In other words, he has not seen a LIVE dead person.

Brooklyn says, "It's like their sleeping they are just dressed up -- not wearing pajamas"

Eric says, "It's like Mom on Sunday afternoon."

Autumn says, "No it's like Mommy going to bed except without snoring."

It always seems like I end up being the brunt of most jokes in our household.

Another BAD Sunday ...

You know it's bad when you wake up on a Sunday morning and...

1. You try on the new skirt you just bought and say to your 9 year old, "I don't know if I like this skirt, it makes me look fat" and she says "It's not just that skirt Mom, you look fat in pretty much anything you wear!"

2. You go to cut your bangs just before Church so you can see - all the kids in the car - you look at the clock and it's 8:58 am. Church starts at 9 am.

3. You are putting makeup on - on the way to Church, not buckled in (yikes!), and pull in 5 minutes late into the parking lot ready to run into the Church only to be stopped by a policeman!!! And I quote, "Did you not see me trying to pull you over on Burlington Beach, my lights flashing and then hear my siren?" All I could say was "No - sorry!" Anyways, I was clocked going 46 mph in a 30 mph zone. I wasn't trying to speed. He must not have seen me without a seatbelt on because he didn't mention it. Thank goodness!!! I normally wear my seatbelt it was just crazy this am. Anyways, I got a warning - not a ticket which was totally amazing. I never get out of tickets! I told Eric it was probably because I was going to Church and Heavenly Father knew I would snap if I got a ticket.

4. We were in such a rush for Church I didn't change the baby's diaper and figured I would change it after sacrament. During sacrament Eric gets my attention and asks if I had changed London's diaper?? ... then points down to the huge wet spot on his pants.

5. I came back into sacrament after taking London to the bathroom and Noah was up standing in front to give his testimony and not saying anything --- finally the Bishop whispered to him and then he came back and sit down. I didn't know what was going on and was really embarassed for him. Come to find out he had a frog in his throat and couldn't start his testimony. He did later that day.

6. London started acting crazy and crying in sacrament so out I go again and I was not too happy ... Sister Berry followed me out and took London for me -- she knew I was having a bad day since she saw the cop pull me over at Church.

My one major highlight of the day was that I got to hold Odessa Richardson (only a few months old) for Relief Society. When I came to get London to go to the bathroom, Odessa was crying and I offered to take her to Relief Society with me. Niki (mom) has three kids and is the nursery leader and one of her kids is nursery age, one almost nursery age and then the baby. It was so fun to hold her baby and I had a few people who thought she looked good on me!!! What a beauty! We will miss you Niki!!!

Needless to say this was my day from 6:40 am to 12 noon. Sundays do seem to be a challenge for our family but I'm sure we'll survive. Had to record this for posterity because otherwise I would want to block it out.

Mother's Day Weekend

Today has been a great day! Well, to be honest, it has been an AWESOME weekend -- What great kids and husband I have! Here's the highlites:

FRIDAY

- Tiny afternoon nap while Brooklyn watches London (I cashed in an early Mother's Day coupon)
- Dad grabs pizza for supper because I'm tired (Mother's Day weekend begins)
- Scrapnite! All night party with friends, treats and my favorite hobby

SATURDAY


- Sleep in a little
- Eric goes grocery shopping with London / I go to primary activity with other 4
- Eric makes luch for me and all the kids
- Long afternoon nap --- it was awesome!!!
- Bike supervising outside with 3 middle kids
- Eric makes supper (Salisbury Steak -- very good!)
- Movie (Sherlock Holmes - I didn't care for it too much but Eric really liked it)
- Dairy Queen Blizzard (Turtle/Carmelly one)
- Falling asleep in Eric's arms


SUNDAY

- Sleep in a little
- No early Sunday meetings for Eric (this is really a treat since he normally leaves at 7:00 am and I am responsible to get everyone there for Church at 9:00 am.)
- YUMMY and big Southern Breakfast (biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, pancakes, hashbrowns ... this is not a diet weekend)
- Really cute cards and coupons from the kids (ex. job coupons from Brooklyn and Noah, Autumn's card said "I will love you dear Mom even when your old I will speak kindly to you" and Autumn filled out a info. sheet on her Mom that is hilarious (see picture of it).
- Super awesome surprise from Eric! (Albanese Candy Factory assortment and a LEATHER COUCH to arrive on Wednesday). It was a big surprise - I was not expecting it at all but what was really funny was that when we were watching the movie Saturday night I was telling him about how more comfortable a new couch made of leather would probably be. We had looked at one about 3 weeks ago but didn't end up getting it. I thought maybe one day...
- Allowed to read my book in peace this afternoon
- Sunday dinner (Roast, potatoes, carrots, onion, corn, salad)



Thanks for an awesome Mother's Day Weekend Eric! I love you!!!!!







Noah writes, "You'll always be my mother mom no matter how short, or tall, big or small. I'll always love you and I hope you'll always love me to. I love you for you mother and it's because your the greatest you can ever be. Love, Noah."



Brooklyn writes, "mother I just want to give you something you can use and is not expired tell Jan. 1 so here it is your present." (4 job coupons)

My mother is the most wonderful mom in the whole wide world.

She is as pretty as A RAINBOW

She weighs 100 lbs (I love that girl!)

She is 50 FEET tall

Her favorite food is MEAT ON A BONE

Mom is happy when I GIVE HER KISSES

I wish my mom would TAKE ME TO BUTTERFLY PARK everyday

I would not trade my mom for MY SIGN-IN JOURNAL

Love, Autumn

Autumn writes, "Happy Mother's Day. I will Love you Dear Mom even When your old I will speak kindly fo you."

Eric's Card says, "Happy, Mother's Day from the guy who made it possible for you to celebrate today ...

... and believe me, it was a pleasure!

(wink, wink)

Love You

Happy Mother's Day Laura

Your leather sofa will be here on Wednesday. (What an awesome surprise!!!)

I love you!!

Love Eric

**Being a mother is great and something I have always dreamed of. It is a great priviledge and even though there are many ups and downs -- I wouldn't trade it for the world!**

POTTY TRAINING HELL! HELP ME!!!

I am in potty training HELL! London has been diaper free for about 3 weeks (except bedtime). She has been doing pretty well but today has not been good!!! I think today is the same or worse than the 1st day we started. She was only having a few accidents a day and a few days with no accidents. So far today, it's not even noon, she has had 5 or 6 accidents (one being #2). She has yet to master #2 at all in the potty but #1 had been going pretty well.

The problem is she doesn't even care if her underwear is wet or she is standing in pea. What 2 year old doesn't want water to play in?

I hope I make it to bedtime! Wish me luck!! Any tips for a stressed-out Mom trying to potty-train a I love to make water (pea) and dance in it 2 year old?

My husband the comedian ...

Last night after Family Home Evening my tailbone was killing me!! We were in the girl's room and I was sitting on the floor for awhile. I couldn't get up!!! It's probably because I'm fat and old but I blamed my tailbone --- it was really hurting! Eric couldn't even yank me up so I was going on and on about how my tailbone was broken or cracked and how was I going to ever get up.

Well I decided to try and get on my knees and up from there. One more time I said, "My tailbone must be cracked!" Noah asks what a tailbone is and we say it's like your bottom. Then when I turned my back to everyone to leave the room Eric says, "Oh my gosh, your butt does have a big crack in it!"

Well, I gotta admit it was pretty funny!!! And the kids got a real kick out of it -- laughing all the way down the stairs to get our treat.

Family Home Evening is never boring in our house!!!!

SCARLET FEVER?!?!?!

Well, it was getting a little boring at the Smith house. No medical emergency, except the fake 911 call, at the Smith home for over 1 month. So...

1. Take one Autumn
2. A sore throat (so sore Autumn and I hit CVS at 4 am this morning in search of throat cures -- $10 later none of which worked or she would take!)
3. Fever of 101.2
4. Rash all over chest and back and some on face and hands


You have a VERY bad case of strepe throat with rash (aka. Scarlet Fever!) Scary huh?

Sounds more scary than it is. Just treated the same as strepe throat with anitbiotics but I think a little higher dose than normal. She has been home from school today and will be tomorrow for sure too.

I have to say that people at Church should love me for making that baby stay home Sunday. She had a fever Saturday night but felt ok in the morning but I thought it might be better for her not to go to Church in case she did have strepe. A good Mom moment!

Well T.V. and ice pops have been a hit today and so far everyone is holding their own. Everyone took a nap -- we all didn't get much sleep last night!!!

Any well wishes for Autumn? Wish us luck!!!!

The DRAMA of just one day ...

Well it's only early afternoon on Sunday and we already have had plenty of drama -

1. Brooklyn would not get ready for Church. I tried to get her out of bed to go in her P.J.'s and she hung on for dear life so... I drove to church with 4 kids and sent Eric home to get her out of bed, dressed and to church. Definetly 9 years old going on 15 years.

2. London has been doing very well potty training but you can't be perfect and had a #2 accident when Daddy was in charge after church. The underwear and #2 went straight into the garbage. Daddy said it was not salvagable. Mommy was at a scout committee meeting.

3. Autumn asked if she could call a school friend. Accidentally or curiously --- the verdict is still out --- 911 was called instead!!! As soon as Autumn heard them ask about an emergency she hung up. They called back and Eric answered. Eric explainned it must have been one of the kids (we have 5). Then the police came! SWEET!!!! Not only did she come to the door and talk with me I could tell she wanted to look around inside the house. So she did and saw everything was ok. Which is good -- it could have been worse! Eric heard the knock on the door and headed straight for the bedroom for me to deal with the police. Gotta love it!

Well, it's 4 pm and we still have 4 hours left before bedtime. Can't wait to see what happens next!

I think I'm In HEAVEN!!!

Sit down for this!!!

The kids and I were downstairs cleaning the basement and they were actually doing it and singing a song from the movie "Pippi Longstocking" and NOT fighting!!! I have to say this must be what the Celestial Kingdom is like. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Even Brooklyn noticed that things were running smoothly for that moment (rare in our house). What an awesome 30 minutes of the day -- can't say much for the rest of the day but I figured I better document this moment for posterity in case it never happens again!!!

Pampers make me SNAP!

Sorry to all the pampers lovers out there but I just have to say they drive me crazy!!! We usually buy Huggies but last time Eric went to the store for diapers he got Pampers and I thought no biggie!! It was a biggie!!!!! It seems like I have to change London way more often and they just ballon up like crazy. What is your favorite diaper?

You Will Get A Kick Out Of This!!!!!

Autumn just came home from kindergarten and London was being really screechy! Screaming and running around the house and screaming for things etc.... You get the picture. I jwas just serving up their lunch when Autumn asks innocently,

"Mom is it just me or is SATAN always with London?"

I just about died! What a classic!! I just had to share!

Any guesses on my answer to her question?

Laura

Lost Some More!!!

Well I weighed in yesterday and found out that I lost 3 more pounds! I have lost a total of 4lbs! Not a ton but pretty good for two weeks. I am losing my exercise motivation already! I only exercised 1 day this week. Please help! Give me your exercise ideas! I usually use the treadmill so any good ideas for this would be great.

Laura

Is It Possible to Lose 40 lbs by 40?

That is the question. Is it possible for me to lose 40 lbs by 40? If I do then I will be 40 and weigh under 140 lbs. Won't that be cool?

I was on my treadmill today and I thought that I needed to come up with a goal to help me lose weight or I am not going to stay motivated. So I got to thinking and realized my 40th birthday is coming up in November (10 months) from now and I started figuring out that maybe I will be able to lose some serious weight by then. So I came up with the mantra "Lose 40 by 40".

What do you think? Can I do it?

Weight Update!

The news is good but not great! I have lost 1 pound only this week. However, I think I am about to bleed out ... so that being said I am doing pretty good since I can usually gain 5 lbs at that time of the month. My other clue is my severe grouchiness!!! Let's hope this is not permanent!



Weight - 177.8 lbs (loss of 1 pound)

BMI - 32.5 (loss of .2)


I have realized that I eat due to stress alot!!! And of course my life is constant chaos!!! I have exercised every other day except weekends but not more than 20 - 25 minutes on the treadmill. I probably need to increase that a little. Also ...

I need good snack ideas!! I love to eat after I put the kids to bed 8-10pm at night. I know this is not good!! but I usually have three snacks so just cutting down to one snack a night would be a huge improvement.

Let me know your favorite (being good) snack ideas!

Laura

The Honest Truth is ...

I'm scared to put this on my blog but tons of people have said that it has helped them be accountable. So to anyone who follows me and knows that my love language is words of affirmation I need lots of encouragement and support because I need to be skinnerish -

January 22/2010

Weight - 178.8 lbs (Don't scream too loud with fear!)

BMI - 32.7 (OBESE - Noah saw me checking and asked what obese meant - I told him super-overweight and he thought that it was pretty funny for Mom to be in the super-overweight category but thought that it was even more funny for me to say I was trying to just be overweight)

Exercise - 20 minutes at 2.5 miles on Treadmill (I did this tody for the 1st time since before Thanksgiving)

Intial Goal Weight - 163 lbs (Then I will just be overweight)

The Dr. has told me also that my cholesterol is high and I have two months to bring it down or I will have to be put on medicine. Any suggestions?

Wish me luck and I will update often!!!

Thanksgiving In Alabama

We drove to Alabama for Thanksgiving. We had a great time! Here are some highlights:


Aunt LeAnne and Aunt Bridgette give each of the kids a birthday present. Girls received Build - A- Bear animals and outfits, Noah got Lego's, Book and Pinata, and Ryan got several textured balls. Thanks so much!!!

Ryan loves his new balls from his Aunts.

Uncle Jason and London bond!

Noah is recovering after a hive attack. He was playing in hay with his cousins, unbeknownest to Mom, and after a great photo shoot with his cousins in the hay he came in with tons of hives. After a monster dose of benadryl and a bath and a new set of clothes he took a long.... nap! We wanted to go to the hospital in Alabama but it just didn't work out! Psyche!!!!!!

Ryan, unsupervised, made his way out to the barn and proceeded to take off his shoes and socks and play in the dirt. This is right by the barn and can I just say is a place where you NEED shoes. Yikes!!! Where were his parents?

Brooklyn and her cousin, Kayla, play on barrels outside. All the cousins had tons of fun with this activity. It was definetly a highlight of the trip.

We had fun playing games together. Autumn is with her cousin Sean and Aunt LeAnne in this picture. The game is "Guess Who" and was a hit!

Here is a picture of the group who went to Chuck - E - Cheese to celebrate cousins birthdays. Aunt Rachel had the great idea of having all of our kids names on the cake since we live so far away. Uncle Wayne gave us a great coupon for the tokens and it was a steal of a deal! Where were most of the dads? Watching the Alabama/Auburn game of course!

What trip to the farm is complete without a bonfire? We roasted (burnt) marshmallows. It was a little more than a marshmallow could handle!

The kids loved going out to the barn with Grandpa Smith every morning and evening to collect eggs and milk the goats and feed the animals. They love farm life!!

Just before we left Grandpa gave the kids a pony ride. London totally FREAKED out but It was a huge highlight!

** Look at the right side of my blog for two cute video clips of our trip**

1. Pony ride led by Grandpa Smith. London totally FREAKS out!!

2. Just before our trip we made up a cute MORMON song and used the same tune as a song Autumn learned in kindergarten. We performed for the Aunts in Alabama. It is too cute!!

We had a great time and will be back soon! Thanks everyone in Alabama!!!

Laura

Wii Woes!!!

The Wii has taken control of the Smith household! Wii tends to want to rule our lives. I need to develop a policy but I am not sure what would be good.

Do you let your kids play Wii every day, if they are done their chores for the day then they can play, in the morning before school if they are totally ready, only once a week, never? Since I know everyone reads my blog I do not doubt I will have several ideas or suggestions. Hurry before Wii takes over the Mommy -- I must say I do like Mario Kart!

Help Us!!!!

Laura

Kindergarten Field Trip

I got to help chaparone a field trip for Autumn's class in November just before Thanksgiving. We got to go to a local feed shop and learn about birds, birdhouses, what they eat and for a finale see a live turkey. It was tons of fun!

This is Autumn signing in at the beginning of the day.

Autumn is not so sure she wants to be a bird. Dehydrated worms do not make the top of her snack list!

Autumn is still not so sure about the bird business.

This was the baby turkey we got to see up close and personal.

We got back to school and the kids sang a few songs as a group. What a cutie!

Drawing a turkey and writing one sentence about the experience.

Autumn has a flair for writing.

Beautiful Brown Sugar Beach

Dear Mommy -

Thank-you so much for leaving the bag of brown sugar open on the cupboard today! It was so tempting ! I couldn't resist throwing it all over the kitchen and creating an edible beach indoors for me to run between my fingers and toes. I love it when you leave open bags of flour and sugar and rice and powdered sugar and ... around the house. Today was awesome and I had a great time! I can't wait until my next edible beach!!

Love You,

Ryan

Don't you just love the sugar crusted cuffs of his jeans?

I wonder how that sugar feels on his foot? Now that is a sensory experience if I ever saw one!

This was in November 2009 and so far I have kept most items closed and not out on the cupboard but sooner or later I will forget and Ryan will have another day at the beach!!! I don't even get mad anymore because he is so excited and has so much fun with the various items he throws to the floor to feel with his toes.

LOVING Leaf Pictures!!!!

I took these pictures in Novemeber and I just loved them! Leaf pictures are so fun! I am way behind in my posts but these were too cute to leave off my blog. Some of these are blurry but I just couldn't resist their cuteness -- blurriness and all. Enjoy!!!!

Did you like it? Leaf pictures are AWESOME!!!!