Who would have thought...

...that watching your child recover from surgery would tell you sooo much about their personality and how they will probably handle any situation they are faced with ? Dax had his tonsils out on Wednesday, and thankfully, he is doing very well. But, boy is he a fighter! So far, the oldest 4 have had to have their tonsils and adenoids removed. It really is too bad they aren't worth something. We grow 'em pretty big and you would think that we could harvest them or something--kind of like when I lost 130 pounds and had to have all my rings sized down. I had to pay them to do it, when actually, I think I should have been paid! I mean they got an awful lot of gold off those rings!!! Anyway, having done this tonsil-thing four times now, you begin to reminisce and notice certain patterns with your kids. When Drew got his tonsils out, they tried to calm him down after he woke up before they let me go back there. It was terrible because I could hear him crying and screaming, but they didn't want me to get scared, plus violate the other patient's privacy, so they didn't let me go back right away. When I did get to go back, Drew was sitting straight up in bed, eyes as big as saucers, screaming and scared to death. Even after he saw me, he still looked so scared and was afraid to move. This is how Drew handles things in life. He approaches everything very cautiously and is scared to make a mistake. He is always trying to make the best possible choice and has so many fears. When Dawsyn had her surgery, I remember dreading hearing her cry and scream before I could back, but this never happened. They finally came to get me and when I got back there, Dawsyn was sitting in her bed staring at some point on the wall in front of her with her little fists balled as tight as she could get them and her mouth shut tight. When the nurses or I would ask her anything the answer was always one quick, angry word, such as "NO", "FINE", and "YES". She didn't want me to hold her, she didn't want a popsicle and she felt fine!!! So Dawsyn! She still can't stand to accept help, she would rather try to handle everything on her own. If something is scary or worrisome, Dawsyn simply acts like it isn't happening and refuses to admit anything is going on. And boy does she get ANGRY! My dad calls her fire-starter and that day I was truely worried the hospital might go up in flames! When it was Delaney's turn, I was so worried for my Little Laney-Lou. She was the youngest of my children to get the operation and she was having severe breathing issues because of the tonsils. When they finally let me go back, it was an Oscar-worthy performance. The wailing and beating of fists, the crying, and thrashing about! She looked as though she was trying out for the next Lifetime movie of the month!! Nothing would calm her ...and this went on for at least 3 days! That's Delaney's "M.O." Everything is the biggest deal EVER! She has no small emotions. She is always EXTREMELY HAPPY or EXTREMELY SAD. She does nothing little or quietly. She approaches problems by getting VERY angry or trying to laugh them off until she cries! So, what would this surgery show me about my little Dax-man??? Basically--DON'T MESS!!!! We had just gotten done with our consultation with the Doctor, when a nurse came and said, "We need mom back in recovery!" Of course, at first I was nervous, but she said everything was fine, they just really needed me. When I got back there, I saw why. Dax was climbing out of the bed, and was half-way up a nurses torso, hitting her and pulling at her hair. His tubes and wires were all tangled and he was screaming and scratching at anyone who came near him. He looked like a little monkey who had gone mad! When the nurse saw me, she just shoved him at me and said, "Here's MOMMY!!" He opened his eyes, looked at me and I said, "It's OK buddy, Mommy's here". He started to cry and I said,"I don't have to leave again, OK?" He quietly whispered "OK" and laid his head on my shoulder and slept for an hour and a half. The nurses all breathed a sigh of relief. It must have been bad before I got back there because even the anesthesiologist walked by a few times and made comments about how that was much better now that Mommy was here. They even let me sit back there as the recovery room filled with other patients who were telling personal info and having dressings changed. They REALLY did not want me to leave. I think that is how Dax will handle life--he is going to come out fighting! Hopefully, he'll always choose good fights. So, I can't help but think what that means for my Baby Drake? Let's go ahead and schedule the tonsillectomy for three years from now. Maybe by then, those tonsils will be worth something!

Good News!

After sitting at Children's Hospital for 3 hours, seeing a nurse practitioner and a cardiologist, and after an EKG, we were told that they were sorry we had sat so long, but we had the healthiest kid they had seen in a while and they weren't sure what our doctor had heard, but he had an absolutely perfect sounding heart!!!! Shawn and I were both thinking, "Are you kidding??? We'd sit here all day to be able to take home our healthy baby!" So, we are very much relieved and just to prove how well he is doing, he rolled over today!!! I had laid him on his belly and was reading the paper and heard him start to cry, so I thought I would pick him up as soon as I was done with the article I was on, when I put the paper down, Drake was laying on his back, looking up at the ceiling!
And..it is officially Spring! We took a long walk down the road today and it was wonderful. I have to admit that I love Daylight Savings time. I know some people hate getting up and going to work in such darkness, but the good thing for me is that 4 o'clock in the morning looks the same whether it is Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall. But, I love that we now leave Dance class in daylight.
On Friday, Shawn took Drew to see "Diary of a Wimpy Kid". Dax and Delaney went with him. Dawsyn, Drake and I went to Kohl's to do some shopping. Drew loved the movie, but amazingly, so did Dax. He keeps running around the house doing a scene from the movie. It is a little disturbing, especially to those who haven't seen the movie because it involves him running up to people asking if they want to "See his secret freckle" and then lifting his shirt and saying in sing-songy voice-"It's got a hair in it!" He even went so far (with the help of Dawsyn) to draw a freckle with a hair on his belly! After the movie, we took Drake to get his picture on the Easter Bunny's lap. Drake did fine with it, but on the way home, Drew said, "Mom--not to be rude or anything, but that is my least favorite part of every holiday--you ALWAYS make us sit on whatever holiday it is' lap!" I pointed out that this wasn't entirely true since we don't even celebrate half of the holidays that exist in the world, but if he kept complaining I would be sure to find a "Hanukkah Harry" or "Ramadan Raj" for him to sit on their lap--even if I have to pay some strange man to put on a Yammukah and beard and have Drew sit on his lap, holding a dreidel in one hand and a menorah in another!!! He quit complaining real quickly! A few minutes later, I turned to look at my "pre-teen eight year old" sitting in the back seat with his skinny jeans and canvas shoes, untied and up on the seat in front of him with his messy hair that I am beginning to think he messes up on purpose because of the attention he gets over his dark, curls, staring at his gameboy (which he only has because my aunt gave him her daughter's old one), and occasionally giving dirty looks to his two sisters who are singing a Lady Ga-Ga song (don't ask!) next to him, and I suddenly realize that he may be a little beyond sitting on 6-foot tall bunny wearing pastel,handing him a small chocolate egg from a little pink basket yet still referring to himself as a "he" I have to admit even I have trouble swallowing that one! I can see the changes coming and I am totally aware of them--but that doesn't mean I have to totally accept them, does it??? I mean, I'm sure I can still get a few years worth of pictures on the bunny's lap as long as I can threaten him with Hanukkah Harry, right?

St. Patrick's Day!

No holiday goes unnoticed at the Adams' house! OK--we don't really celebrate Ramadan, or Kwanzaa (but believe me, Dawsyn has tried!). So, last night, Drew read the "The Night Before St. Patrick's Day" and Dawsyn read, "How to catch a Leprechaun" to the family, then they set up their leprechaun traps and went to bed (after much coaxing of Delaney because she was convinced the Leprechaun was going to break in and paint her green!--yet another moment that I question what we are really doing to our kids, but oh well--it's fun!). This morning, when they got up, the traps had gone off, but, alas... no leprechaun! However, he did leave gold (Hershey's pot of gold) hidden all over the house, he turned our toilet water green, our milk green, and a new addition this year--he turned all of the pictures on our walls upside down!!! And I still expected to get the kids dressed, and out the door by 6:30???? We were running a little late this morning, but I guess that is OK every once-in-a-while, even for someone as strict and organized as me!

Today is also the first time I took a pregnancy test a year ago for Drake. It was negative! Well, he's here now. We go tomorrow to have his heart checked with the cardiologist and are praying that everything looks good. Then, next week, Dax is getting his tonsils out, so hopefully all will go well and we can start our Easter celebrations and Spring Break!!! I am definitely looking forward to it. I'll remind myself of that when Easter Grass is strewn across the house--I really hate that stuff--you'd think the Easter Bunny would have come up with something better by now--further proof that said bunny is a MALE!!!!

Back in the Swing

Well, I have been back to work for a week now. I feel like I go on total autopilot when I first go back. I know many are wondering what my daily schedule must be like in order to raise 5 kids and work full time. So, more for the freak factor, than for any sympathy, here is an average Wednesday:
4:30 AM-get up, shower, start laundry, get dressed, make-up, try to look like I don't have 5 kids! LOL
5:30-get kids up, brush teeth, get dressed, hair, start list of their activities (piano, practice spelling terms, read, calendar, letters with Dax, etc.), let dog out, switch out load of laundry.
6:00- nurse Drake while kids are finishing their activities.
6:30-everyone in the car--drive to sitters
6:45-Drop Drew, Dawsyn, and Dax off at sitters.
6:50-Drop Drake off at sitters.
7:00-Drop Delaney off at preschool
7:15-Get to my work and get ready for students, check mail, make copies, etc.
7:30ish- students start coming
8:00-teach first period social studies (wonder what Dax is doing at Miss Sharan's, and if Drake is holding off until 9 for his first bottle)
9:00-teaching (wonder if Drew and Dawsyn made it to school alright and if Delaney is coloring in the lines like we have been working on)
10:00-my planning period at school--I am usually pumping with my door locked and trying to answer emails at the same time.
11:00-4th period social studies (Hoping Drake isn't being too fussy and doesn't miss me too much, and that Dax isn't fighting with the other kids at the sitters).
12:00-5th period social studies (trying to find time to check Drew and Dawsyn's grades online and making sure they have lunch money in their account).
12:30-lunch duty (cut out early to pump before the students come back from lunch)
1:00-7th period social studies (Hoping Delaney, Dax, and Drake are all napping like they are supposed to and that Drew and Dawsyn aren't struggling too much in their advanced math class they have on Wednesdays)
2:00-8th period Social studies--almost done for the day, try to set out work and get everything ready for the next morning.
3:00-leave school, since it isn't Mon or Fri when I rush over to volunteer in Drew and Dawsyn's classrooms, I am on my way to pick up Delaney from preschool.
3:10- pick Dax up from sitters.
3:30- either pick Drake up from sitters or meet her at the elementary school so we can both get our kids. (she is wonderfully willing to work around my craziness!)
4:00-all kids in the car and on our way home or to piano if it is Mon, choir if it is Thursday.
4:30- home, going over homework, packing lunches for tomorrow, finishing up any extra activities and those loads of laundry that were started this morning. I am also making bottles for tomorrow, cleaning my pump so I can use it tomorrow, going through our mail and answering machine messages, plus fitting in a nursing session with Drake.
5:00-make dinner, eat quickly, wash up dishes
5:30-get Drew ready for soccer, Dax ready for Kindermusik, If it was Monday, Delaney would be getting ready for Kindermusik, Thursday-girls would be getting ready for dance.
6:00-leave for soccer/Kindermusik
6:30-soccer and Kindermusik, help whatever child isn't in class with any remaining homework or reading, nurse Drake again.
7:30- everyone home, time to get baths, put laundry away, get PJ's on, set out clothes for tomorrow.
8:00-double check backpacks, do our Lenten activity, read bedtime stories, have a little family time.
8:30-Kids in bed with blessings and kisses, and re-sending whatever child is worried about something or bothered by something back to bed 3 times.
8:45-Work out!!! Usually the eliptical and some weight-lifting, also some ab work, but that isn't doing much these days with my hernia and the surgery I need to repair it.
10:00-Feed Drake one more time, make sure everything is out and ready for the next day's activities and go to bed.

See what I mean by autopilot? At the end of the day, I sometimes congratulate myself, but then realize I have to do it all again tomorrow! LOL! As long as the kids keep smiling and we can fit in those wonderful in-car conversations (I've learned that kids will tell you a lot when they are in the backseat with nothing to do but talk), I think we'll make it to June (Hopefully!)

I wonder who will play me in the TV movie???

I have reached my last weekend of freedom. I feel like I am walking the "Green Mile" as I prepare to go back to work on Monday. I still haven't figured out how I am going to take Drew, Dawsyn, and Dax to the sitters where Dax will spend the day and Drew and Dawsyn get on the bus, then Delaney to preschool, and finally Drake to his sitter's house and make it to my school by 7:15 (my sixth graders walk in at 7:30)! Add nursing and pumping to all of this and it is going to be tons of fun!!!
I was hoping this last week at home would be calm and relaxing, I know--I must live in a false state of reality most of my life to think that was even possible--but I was raised to think positive. The week started with Shawn having to call in because he got jury duty. Last week there were no trials, so he didn't have to report. This week, there was a trial and he had to report first thing Tuesday morning. So, we spent Monday evening discussing how he could answer questions so that they would dismiss him. I suggested he fill his pockets with every pocket knife he owned so he would keep setting off the metal detectors. Then, I thought he should take a Bible to read (I would have suggested the Quran, but we don't own one), finally, I told him to borrow some hunting clothes from his brother and I was pretty sure he would be set. We did not want him to get put on a trial since I am going back next week. He left Tuesday morning, whistling and twirling his hair (like he does when he gets very nervous) and I knew we were doomed! Two hours later, he called me and said, "I got put on a trial" (I think secretly he was hoping to be sequestered so he could hang out in hotel room for a week, but he'll never admit that!). My first thought was, "They saw him coming!"--Let's have the nervous, twitching, juror in the sweater vest (he refused my suggestion of camouflage). I'm sure the lawyers thought "any grown man in a sweater vest can be talked into anything!" He told me the lawyers said they thought the trial would go into the middle of next week--not good for our schedule! So, I asked him what questions they asked that he couldn't figure out how to answer in a biased way. I should have been prepared for his response--"Jill, I'm under oath, I don't want to purger myself--I can't tell you anything!" Yep--they saw him coming!!! I did consider calling the judge and telling him that one of his jurors once ordered "Cherry OR Diet Coke" at a McDonald's drive-thru because he couldn't decide and apparently wanted the teen-age, minimum-wage, possibly just out of jail, worker to decide for him because he trusted their judgment more than his own???? Luckily, the trial settled after two days and he is done.
I was happy and thought, let's just relax the rest of this week. Then yesterday, it started to snow as I was out for they day. I wanted to spend the last day with Dax and Drake and enjoy our time together. By the time I picked the kids up from school, three people had called to tell me the roads were getting bad and I needed to get home. We made it home in a record 45 minutes, with the kids crying that they wanted to come back in to school in an hour for the "winterfest" their school was having. Drew was especially upset with this because he really wanted to go and kept asking the whole way home if we could go and he didn't understand why I was saying that I didn't think we could because of the weather. We finally made it home. As I turned in the drive-way, I breathed a sigh of relief that we were safe. At this point, it was near blizzard-like conditions. I noticed that the drive-way seemed a little blown-over with snow, but apparently my estimates were off, either that or I wasn't paying attention because less than half-way up our 250 feet drive-way, the van suddenly stopped. I got out and saw the problem--the snow was up to the hood of our van. I tried to back out, but that wasn't happening either. This is when the kids started crying, saying they were gonna die, and we were never going to get home. Yes, quite a bit of drama considering we were in our own drive-way and could clearly see the house. So, I decided I had no choice but to get the kids in the house, regardless of any personal danger or exhaustion I might experience. I thought that this might be how people who have to spend days in their car, stuck in snow, living off of stale crackers and an old bottle of water, taking turns keeping the baby warm, must feel! (OK-so I know where my kids get their drama!). Anyway, I started to walk towards the house and realized the drift was up to my mid-thighs. I made it to the house and unlocked the door, turned off the alarm and decided that I would have to take the kids one at a time. I went back to the van, opened the door and saw 5 faces staring back at me with big eyes. I thought for a minute and decided to start with Delaney. Number one, she is the one who likes to be "dead weight" when you have to carry her, number two, I figured if she had to be in the house alone for any amount of time, she could be trusted and wouldn't absolutely freak out! I carried her in, one huge footstep at a time. Once we got to the garage, I let her go the rest of the way on her own and went back for Dax. I did Dax next because he was crying and scared, and quite frankly, he is the easiest to carry and after Delaney, my thighs were burning! I got Dax in and went back. Drew and Dawsyn were both fighting and crying that I take them next because it was cold and they were scared (come to think of it, I don't remember any brother/sister stories in the Titanic movie--I'm pretty sure that these two would have been pushing each other out of the way to get on the first lifeboat!--not so heartwarming, really). I decided to take Dawsyn and Snowball next (yes, we had taken Snowball to the groomers that morning so it was one more being to worry about). I told Drew to stay with Drake, who was sleeping in his carrier, blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding around him. I carried Dawsyn who carried Snowball, crying the whole way that we "HAD TO SAVE SNOWBALL!" I then went back for Drew and Drake. I figured that I could take Drake in the carrier if I covered him really well, and Drew could lean against me and I could just try to "help him walk with one arm". Half-way up the drive-way, I realized who taught Delaney the whole "dead weight" thing as he was crying, "there is NO WAY we are going to Winterfest--I refuse to come back out in this!" Glad it took waist-high snow drifts and ice pelting his face to make him realize that maybe Mom knew what she was talking about! I got the last of the crew in the house and the kids said, "our bookbags--Mom, we have homework!" So, one last trek out the door to get the bags and we were all in and safe! About a half-hour later, Shawn's brother and father showed up, shoveled the drive-way for over an hour, got the van unstuck and were just pulling out when Shawn came chugging up the driveway with ease, whipped right into the garage, walked from the door of his car to the back door (only about 5 feet) in the warmth of the garage, came in and exclaimed, "wow--it's nasty out there!" Really? I hadn't noticed!

Big Reward!

A month and a half of sleepless nights, sore breasts, working out with very little improvement in the tummy area, and wondering when I will feel sane again is all worth it when you get that first big smile! So much for January slowing down and being better than December! We had Drake's baptism, Dax's birthday, my birthday, Cassie and Carl's birthdays, and then yesterday, my little Laney-lou turned 5!!!!The day before I fell apart when I got the email saying that I could begin the process of signing her up for Kindergarten! I did my usual "5th birthday" tradition with her yesterday. We had breakfast at Tim Horton's, went to Build-a-bear and made bears for each other with a recording of her little 5 year old voice saying, "I love you". (I came home and listened to Drew and Dawsyn's bears they had made me when they were 5--too much! I swear Shawn thinks I am truly insane!). Then we went to a movie, ate lunch at the Cheesecake Factory (by far the highlight of Delaney's day!) and then took her to pick out her own outfit and she got her hair cut!! I can't believe she wanted to do it, but it is cute, just makes her look older which breaks my heart even more! She had a great day and we made great memories. So, now I am the mother of an 8, 7, 5, 3 and 2 month old. I have one month left to be home with them. I am hoping that now that we are through with all of our birthday parties, baptism, and totally cleaning and organizing my house the month of January, hopefully I can spend February enjoying time with the kids and trying not to dread returning to work in March.

HOLIDAYS

What a busy month it has been. I always miss the holidays once they pass, but this year, I almost feel relieved. It has been non-stop since November 16th when Drake was born! It has been great, but exhausting. Christmas is so fun at our house right now. I knew we were in for it when the older four all woke up at 6:30 AM on Christmas EVE morning! They were just so excited. This year was particularly busy because Drew and Dawsyn participated in the community choir and sang in the Christmas Cantata. Drew even played "Silent Night" on the piano and Dawsyn and her Dad sang "The Christmas Shoes" before the Cantata started. It was wonderful, and there wasn't a dry eye in the place. We had parties with our friends--we even let the kids have a party with their good friends, Kaylor, Isabella, Madison, and Braden, and then all of them spent the night! There were nine kids spread across our living room floor! Our house really isn't as big as it seems at times. On Christmas Eve morning, the kids opened their 3 gifts from us, then we did our usual--baked cookies for Santa, put baby Jesus in the manger, scattered Reindeer food on the front lawn, and then went to my parents house for lunch and presents. I must say the highlight was when my dad opened his gift from Delaney. I love seeing what the kids pick out for their family members at the "secret Santa" shop at school, and then trying to interpret what it really means--For instance, Grandpa Chuck and Grandpa Carl both recieved deoderant and chapstick from Delaney. According to my Dad, this must mean she thinks their kisses are rough and they smell! We went to church on Christmas Eve, which is what really makes it feel like Christmas to me. Drew and Dawsyn were in the youth choir this year and did wonderfully. Drew sang a solo and, even though he was incredibly nervous, he did great! After mass, it was off to Shawn's parents for dessert and more presents. It was really fun for the kids now that their only cousin, Caroline, is starting to get into playing with them. Next Christmas there will be another little girl cousin to play with because Shawn's brother and his wife found out that they are having another little girl in May! We then went home and put the kids to bed. Shawn and I were up until 1:00 AM doing things parents must do on Christmas Eve. The kids were up by 6:30 and because they are all a little bit older, presents were opened, wrap was cleaned up, and everything straightened under the tree by 9:00 AM. We had a great day, but were truly exhausted by the evening. New Year's Eve came quickly (even though everyone had their turn with the stomach flu during the week between the holidays) and we were ready to go at midnight with bubble wrap to jump on. That brings us to yesterday, when we opened our fortune cookies, and read through our memory box for the year. Another year over. Shawn and I both commented that last year on New Year's Drake wasn't even a thought to us. We were so sure we were done. It is amazing how things can change in one year. Hopefully, they continue to change for the better! We ended the season by writing our prayers for 2010. Dawsyn wants to be famous, Drew wants to not get so nervous, Delaney wants a puppy, Dax wants to marry Grammy, Drake just wants to learn to do everything, and Shawn and I both want the kids to have a safe, healthy, successfull year. We are starting it in the best way by having Drake baptized today and then Monday, the regular routine returns. That's when I'll need prayers! ;)