Monday, February 23, 2009

Monday Stuff

Well it's Monday again! Weekends seem to go by so fast. I didn't get much done this weekend, really didn't go anywhere other than a quick trip to the grocery store.

On an up note, Nikolas is doing much better! He actually ate lunch and breakfast today! He's sitting here next to me on the couch playing Victoria's DS, he is going to be so happy on his birthday when he gets his very own DS!

I am sick now. I feel lousy. I am trying to fight it off. I think I will be heading to bed a little early tonight. It's kind of hard to be sick or to rest with six kids in the house.

We are having an easy dinner tonight. I made a spiral ham yesterday. Well a 1/2 of one. I got a great deal on it at the store and it was pretty tasty too! I made a macaroni and a potato salad to go with it, because I didn't feel good yesterday morning and felt if I got worse as the day went on at least I had some sides. So there is enough ham and salads leftover for tonight's dinner. Easy!

The wind is crazy outside. When I was sitting in the parking lot waiting for Dom to come out of school it was creepy scary how much it was blowing that heavy truck! Oh I am so ready for spring!

Victoria had her first babysitting job for me today. I was in a real bind with getting Dominic a ride home from school. I didn't want him walking with the winds and he still has a nasty cough. I didn't know what to do because I didn't want to take Nikolas out yet because he still is sick. So I decided she was ready. I was probably gone a total of 15 minutes and I luckily got Ella down for a little nap before I left, and Nikolas just hung out in his bed watching Batman. She did a good job. She had it all under control and I think she felt a sense of importance. I have always had a thing about asking the older kids to help with the younger ones. I have felt like I chose to have them, I should be the one doing all the "motherly" things with them. Still I was in a bind and we are a family and family helps one another out, right?

Friday, February 20, 2009

Road to Recovery?

I took Nikolas to the pediatrician this morning and we came out with a bunch of new prescriptions but hopefully he will be on the road to recovery soon! I sure hope so, I hate seeing him so sick. So far nobody else is showing any signs of anything and I hope it stays that way but I am still not being optimisitc.

I am ordering dinner out tonight. I am too tired to cook. I am hoping my Mom can make a quick run to the Walmart for me as I will be running out of Tylenol and Motrin. He has been going through so much and it really is cheaper at the Walmart.

Gabriella looks like she is tired. She hasn't been sleeping well because she can hear Nikolas crying and it is bothering her. She is also bored out of her mind. She misses her playmate! She tells me about 10 times a day that Nikolas is her best friend. She should be fun next yr when Nikolas is in school all day.

It is so cold and windy outside. I don't think it would feel as bad if the wind wasn't so crazy. I think we are due to get 1-3 inches of snow on Sunday night. I am so ready for spring to get here already!

Victoria is in a horrible mood today. Everyone is bugging her which in turn is bugging me because she just can't ignore any of it. I am really not liking this puberty thing very much. I think girls are 100 times worse than boys. Fun fun as I have two more girls after her to go through. Maybe I won't notice it as much with Shaina because Victoria will break me in and well by the time Ella is that old I will be too senile to know my name! I will probably be buying Maxi Pads and Depends in bulk from Sam's Club!

I checked all the kids appt times for March. Maybe I will just get a tent and camp out in the woods across from the doctor's office since I will be there at least once a week the entire month of March. Nikolas, Victoria and Dominic all have well visits and Shaina has an appt to get her last Gardisil and Hep A shot. Then we have CHOPs in March. Oh and I forgot, some dentist appts too. It's just a busy month.

Well my battery is about to die at any moment so I guess that's a sign that I should wrap this up. Hopefuly when I next post I will be able to report that Nikolas is back to himself again! :)

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Still Sick

Nikolas is still so sick. I think we are headed into the doctor tomorrow morning. The asthma medications just don't seem to be helping. He's crying for hours straight. The only good thing that has happened is the fever isn't bad now, he's staying around the 101 range at highest. He's sleeping right now but I don't expect that to last for more than 20 minutes.

Dominic came home from school and went to sleep. So not like him. He said he feels fine, he's just exhausted. I hope he's ok and telling me the truth.

Tonight is a roast in the oven with potatoes and carrots cooked right in it. I am sure they will be less than thrilled but I am so exhausted and I really don't care. It's dinner, right?

It was snowing out before. It looked like styrofoam balls falling from the sky. So strange! I called the kids out to see it. It was really neat!

I have so much more to type but it will be time to get dinner on the plates soon while he's still sleeping here. Hopefully everyone will be feeling better soon and I can start really getting into this blogging.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

My Sick Boy

Nikolas still isn't feeling well. His fever is finally down and very controlled but he's just miserable and now the asthma is kicking in, which I assumed would happen. Well we made it this far without a single illness this winter, so I guess something had to give sooner or later? I keep debating if I should take him in to the doctor. I am pretty sure he has what Dominic and Alex had but he's younger so it's just hitting him a little harder. I am so afraid of going into that office and picking something worse up....a stomach bug, strep etc etc.

So far so good with Ella. I am finding it very doubtful she WON'T get it, but it still hasn't reared it's ugly head with her. Maybe she will defy odds and be fine? I doubt it but I sure hope so!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

A Child's Smile

When I was pregnant with Nikolas a friend made two blankets for him. When I opened the package, it made me smile to know that someone was thinking of the two of us and took the time not only to send them, but to make them herself. Little did I know at that time how much a big part of our life one of these blankets was to be.

There was one blanket, a white one with little blue bear figures on it and somehow that became the special "Blankie". That's his name, Blankie. :)

I don't know why he chose that particular blanket, the other one was just as beautiful and nice and bright (and we still have that one too) but there was obviously something special about Blankie.

Blankie has been many places with us. He can't sleep without Blankie and this is the only one of my children who has had such an attachment or an attachment that has lasted this long. Blankie has been to Disneyworld, Blankie has been to Hilton Head Island. Blankie has been in MD, NY, NJ, DE, WV, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL and of course PA. If one of our trips involves sleeping over somewhere, Blankie is along for the ride.

Blankie is his comfort when he is sick. He HAS to have Blankie. Well last night when Nikolas was sick he threw up on Blankie. I cleaned him all up in the tub and put Blankie in the washer. I have a front load and the load averages 60 minutes and I put it on for the Super Wash to make sure it was nice and clean...then the dryer. He asked for Blankie numerous times and I could only tell him that Blankie was getting a bath, just like he had. He had finally fallen asleep, not so happy that he didn't have Blankie.

Early this morning I went to the dryer and got Blankie out. I walked into Nikolas' room and you can't believe the smile that was on his face! He hardly has said anything since he's been running the temp, but he managed to get out "MY BLANKIE!" Then he had the biggest smile on his face as he nestled it in close to his face and under his chin.

I just checked in on Nikolas about 5 minutes ago. He's peacefully sleeping in his bed, Blankie right there with him. Two friends reuinted again.

Exhausting Night

Nikolas had a pretty rough night last night. His temp kept going so high. This morning he seems a little better. Oh I hate winter months! Ella did share a little of his drink on Sunday so I was thinking she might get it, but I think she might have sealed the deal when she grabbed his cup off the table last night and took a gulp! Never fails! Those two NEVER share drinks!

Dominic went back to school today. He was out last Thur. and Fri. due to the virus. They didn't have school yesterday.

I DVR'd Medium last night. I really enjoy that show. I wanted to make Nikolas happy last night so we were watching cartoons when it was on, maybe some time today I will get a chance to watch it. Victoria and Shaina usually like to watch it with me too.

Kind of a short post this morning because I am feeling exhausted!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Introducing The Six Pack

I started this blog last night assuming everyone that will read will already know all about us. I guess that's not always the case though, right? So I will tell you a little bit about the kids.

Dominic is the oldest one. He is 16 years old and a sophomore in high school. He enjoys basketball and PS3 games. He likes the Call of Duty games and the NBA games. He's really a good kid, he is! He likes to cook, believe it or not but he hates cleaning up after himself! His famous meal is breakfast. He has all the other kids trained. If you opt for the full breakfast you will be served first, however if you choose this or that from it you must wait til the end to be served. He's kind of like that character from Seinfeld, you know the soup guy, but he's the breakfast guy instead! :)

Victoria is 12 years old. She can be a hormonal nightmare at times. She can also be the most thoughtful and caring of the older 4 kids. She's gone through a lot in life with illnesses , hospitalizations and allergies but we don't like to focus on that. We want her to remember all the fun times in life! She's quite spunky. She loves amusement park rides. She's not afraid of anything! She loves animals. You can always find her with at least one of them. She is also our artistic one. She recently developed an interest in sewing. My Mom has been teaching her a little as her mother (me) doesn't know how to sew a button back on to something! So one day she went around the house gathering all of Bella's and Wags' (our dogs) ripped toys and she repaired each of them! She made two furry little friends very happy!

Shaina is the 3rd born, kind of a typical middle child! She is 11 yrs old. She has the cutest little giggle. Shaina is a charmer and she's very likable. She loves playing Singstar! Shaina is really into that TV show The Saddle Club and she has Victoria and Gabriella interested now too. Shaina has always had a big love for horses. She loves purses and you will often find her carrying one around the house. I have no idea what she has in them but she always keeps one close to her side.

Alexander "Alex" is our 4th born. I was in labor for 36 hours with that little stinker! He's 9 yrs old. He's a really lovable kid. He LOVES the beach! He enjoys vidoe games, movies about super heros and his action figures. He's really into Ben Ten right now. It seems like if there is trouble around, Alex is in the middle of it. I don't think he intends to be, he's just always in the wrong place at the wrong time! :) He's the kind of kid that will get you a drink and then dribble the drink all the way across the floor, so as helpful as he's being, he's also causing quite a mess! Still he has a good heart and he means well and it's so hard to get angry with him.

Nikolas was quite a little surprise. He's 4 yrs old. He will be 5 yrs old next month and for some reason I am having a hard time coming to grips with this! I did great when all the other kids turned 5 but it's just different with Nikolas. He has a little round face and a great big head! He even jokes about it because it's hard to get his head through the holes in shirts! He is so comical! He comes out with the cutest things and keeps us laughing. He is quite good at Singstar and can sing just about every Abba song on there. You should hear him sing "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing"...he even gets the Whoo's! in there! It's so funny! He's quite the little entertainer. He's extremely social as well, not shy at all!

Gabriella is the little caboose. She's 3 yrs old now. Where did those last three years go? I am still trying to figure that out. At present she's really into Dora the Explorer, Gullah Gullah Island , Imagination Movers, Yo Gabba Gabba and the movie Mama Mia! She would watch that movie over and over if we would let her. She can sing every song from it and actually knows a lot of the dialogue. She's a spunky little one! She loves pretty dresses and pretty nightgowns. She got an American Girl Bitty Baby from Santa. She loves it, she was less thrilled with the matching PJ's. John told me that after spending $30 on them, if she didn't wear them I better put my big butt in them because SOMEONE was going to wear them! Luckily she does make me happy and wears them sometimes. She's a very strong willed and stubborn child. She should be a joy as a teenager, but maybe by that time I will be too senile to know what is going on in the house! :)

I will tell you a little bit about John and myself in future posts.

Spoke Too Soon

Well I guess I spoke too soon. When Nikolas first woke up, he didn't appear to have a fever, then I saw his cheeks all flushed and he was just acting funny. Well I took his temp and it was 102.8. I gave him some Motrin and he's just here watching a movie, all covered up. He even asked Ella if she could play quietly, so I am assuming he has the headache the other two boys talked about too. Thinking about it now, only Dominic and Alex had it and now Nikolas. Could this be a male only virus? Nah, that would be too easy!

President's Day

It's President's Day! That means no mail and no school (well for Dominic anyway). The girls don't have virtual classes but I think they will work today anyway. It's only slightly after 7:30 and already Victoria felt the need to stick her nose into Shaina's life which is causing aggravation for me. I don't undertstand sometimes why they just can't mind their own business. Anyway, working on school will keep them occupied for a while.

Nikolas came out of the bedroom crying this morning. I thought maybe Alex wouldn't let him play with one of his toys or wouldn't turn on the show Nikolas wasnted to watch. WRONG! He's sick. He's all stuffed up. He doesn't feel like he has a temp. I guess here is round two now! He was sharing a drink with Ella yesterday so I am guessing she's next! I guess that's the way it is with six kids in the house, there has to be more than one round of the illness. The only good thing is that it's not a stomach thing, those are the worst!

I have no idea what to make for dinner. I am thinking either checking to see if there are enough meatballs/sauce leftover or if not then doing a chicken parm with the leftover sauce and a side of pasta. Easy enough, right?

I saw on the news this morning they are calling for a wintery mix Wednesday into Thursday morning and then a clipper storm Saturday into Sunday. I will believe it when I see it. I find it funny that a meterologist can be wrong so often and still secure their job. Any other person who makes that many mistakes would have been fired long ago for sure!

Gabriella is watching Gullah Gullah Island here right now. She loves that show. I do have to admit they do have some catchy tunes. Dominic used to love that show too! It's on at 4:00 a.m. so of course we have to DVR it for her as there is no way I am waking up at 4 a.m. to watch a big yellow polliwog!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Just Starting Out

Well I have been meaning to do this for some time and it seems like I never have the time to actually work on it. A friend urged me tonight to start and I figured now is as good of a time as any. I am hoping that I can keep up with things and just write down some of my thoughts and life with six kids.

Today we went to the Pocono's. It was chilly but a bright and sunny day. We had five of the six kids with us as Dominic is getting over a respiratory thing right now. He seems to be doing ok, just some lingering nasty cough. I am sure he was much happier home and playing video games than out shopping with Mom and Dad anyway.

We were on the hunt for new sneakers. It is amazing how fast little feet grow! Nikolas knows what he wants and went right for the Air Jordan's. Alex and Gabriella also picked out Nike's. Victoria knew what she wanted and only explained them as "hip hop" shoes. So after going to numerous stores we finally found the perfect pair in Journey's. This only leave Shaina. She didn't like anything at Nike, nothing supposedly fit right at Journey's. Well we ended up in Sketchers and she got a pair of Red's in there. She had a pair once before and really liked them. So everyone was now happy! I went to Aerospotale and dropped some more money. I can't seem to leave that place without spending money but the older three like the clothing there and it's not that bad as far as pricing goes. Then I found my weakness. Little kids clothing. We went into Heartstrings and Ella got a few cute little "girlie" dresses. She also got what she calls her "Saddle Club" nightgown. She's very happy tonight.

Saddle Club....both Victoria and Shaina are really into that show right now and they have quite a few of the DVD's. Gabriella also is into them since the two older girls are and she seems to like to follow in their footsteps.

We got home and watched Madagascar 2 on DVD and it was really cute and we enjoyed it. I am sure I will get to see it like 100 more times! We had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and it was just a really nice day!