Simple Pleasures...

There are some things in life that can be described as simple pleasures... things that bring a slight smile to your face or pee your pants laughter
... but nothing that you'd ever blog about...  You know, it's new sheets on the bed or a warm towel right out of the dryer!!

Some that I've experienced recently...

It's walking up the stairs and having my neice, Emily say, "Thanks you Aunt Kelly for making me this tutu.  I love it!"  :)

It's getting on Facebook to find out that you've been "punked"...

Oh, Fonda you know you love the Cyclones!!

It's sitting next to my husband on the love seat and resting my head on his shoulder.

It's watching Antoine sing, "Hide your kids, hide your wife..." with Ben and Michael.  That still cracks me up.

You have to listen to the remix song!!

It's squinting my eyes and looking at a Christmas tree.

It's getting a picture of all five kids looking at the camera at the same time.

I just love this picture!

It's making funny faces at Jack and having him crack up... and then sitting with him as he winds down.

It's hearing Hannah pray every night for Rachel Dake.

It's listening to Benjamin explain how people got into the TV and how Jesus made some people out of the TV and some people in the TV.

It's playing this terrific game that Dan and Rebekah taught us... You know you write a phrase followed by a picture... until everyone is rolling on the floor laughing...

 How did those crazy Indians make it out of the river and the box and get into the washing machine?  Crazy, crazy, crazy Indians!!

It's knowing that my nephew, Drew loves cuddling with his favorite Aunt Kelly!!!

Drew is behind that hand... man that kid loves his aunt!

It's getting an amazing angel made out of an At Home America lemon, sequins, feathers, pipecleaner and blue eyes!! Fabulous!

 I'm pretty sure no one else in the world got on of these babies on Christmas Day!!

It's knowing that my husband is the best and that there's no one in the world I would rather be with.

We're pretty much amazing! 

These are just a few of my favorite things...

It Is Well With My Soul: 4Him

The Good? The Bad :( And the Unspeakable.

There are moments in life when you know that no matter what is said next you will never remember.  Because what was said previously is so heart wrenching that your brain graciously begins to shut down a fog builds around your mind and heart to protect you from what is to come.  I have had few moments like that so far in my life and while I know that it will most likely happen again my fervent prayer is that a protective bubble will form around those in my life who share my heart.

Huntington's Disease.

Less than a week ago I had no idea what it was.  Interesting how in the matter of a few days I have soaked up all the information I can get my hands on.  What is it?  What does it do?  Why does it do it?  What can be done to prevent it or cure it?

Oh.

...that's not good.  To put it simply it's unspeakable.

Rachel is 27 years old.  Which causes me some confusion... well, not that she's 27, but what that means in terms of HD (I will abbreviate Huntington's Disease as HD from now on because I'm lazy like that).  From what I've read Adult-onset HD is usually discovered around mid-age.  The U of I defines mid-age as 30s and 40s.  For those who are diagnosed at an early age it seems as though the symptoms are much more aggressive and horrific. So 27?  Mid-age?  Never hoped so until now.

HD is defined as a disorder passed down through families in which certain nerve cells in the brain waste away, or degenerate. (source University of Iowa website).

According to Mayo Clinic:
Early signs and symptoms of Huntington's disease often include:

Personality changes, such as irritability, anger, depression or a loss of interest
Decreased cognitive abilities, such as difficulty making decisions, learning new information, answering questions and remembering important information
Mild balance problems
Clumsiness
Involuntary facial movements, such as grimacing


Later signs and symptoms of Huntington's disease can include:

Sudden jerky, involuntary movements (chorea) throughout your body
Severe problems with balance and coordination
Jerky, rapid eye movements
Hesitant, halting or slurred speech
Swallowing problems
Dementia

Young people who develop Huntington's disease may have signs and symptoms that mimic Parkinson's disease:
Muscle rigidity
Tremors
Slow movements

So now that I have a better grasp on symptoms I begin to wonder what causes this and quickly learn that it's a genetic disease that messes with proteins in the brain ... whatever that means.  In short Rachel's mom, grandma and great-grandma all had/have it. You see there's a 50% chance that you'll pass the gene on to your child... and so Rachel has made the choice to never have children biologically.  Heart breaking.  As if the diagonoses wasn't enough.

Currently there is no cure for Huntington's.  I believe that Rachel called it "a death sentence"...

There are a few treatments that help with the symptoms and she will begin a few in January.  One side effect is vomitting and will cause her to rapidly lose weight... which of course can cause other health issues.

Before she left for home last night we were able to circle around her, lay hands on her and cry out to God who is able... more than able... to do much more... so much more... than we can ever imagine or hope or dream ...

And so for those who read this I ask that you would pray not only for healing, for a cure, but for grace and strength and for His mercies to be made new every morning.  That she might know that Jesus is Savior, Healer and Sustainer and that for as long as He gives her life that she might glorify His holy name.

So I leave you with this favorite hymn:

It Is Well With My Soul

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Rickey.org Street Corner Symphony Down on the Corner

5 Years Ago Today...

Just one year and 9 days after delivering Emma Elizabeth Driscoll we were back in the hospital getting ready for a scheduled c-section.  It was a hard pregnancy for me mentally.  Emma was only around 4 months old when I found out I was pregnant AGAIN!  I was supposed to be pregnancy free in 2005, but God obviously had very different plans for us.  Towards the end of the pregnancy I began to enjoy the idea of having another baby.  We were going to have our first son!
I arrived at the hospital around 5 am... which meant that I was up by 4 am getting ready to go to the hospital.  I had to shower before I got there and wash with special pre-surgical soap.  I wasn't scheduled to go into surgery until 7, but the nurses had to prep me before I went in for surgery.  Let me tell you, those few hours of prep for surgery are some of the most uncomfortable and embarrassing moments... actually that's all I'm going to tell you.
Going into surgery is always a little nerve-wracking for me.  I am nervous, excited, half-naked and cold... very, very, very cold.  For some reason in the operating room I always want to cry... long before they even set me on that freezing cold table.  Perhaps its the knowledge that life is going to change.  It's going to be harder, better, more full and for a few days painful.
When they put the spinal in I would always look through a window to watch Ben, watch me.  He wears his brave face... but even in his strength there is no mistaking that he is scared and hurts for me.  It's this moment when everything changes for him.  He's about to have another baby and his wife is about to have another c-section.  Life gets pretty real for him in those moments as I begin to get even colder.  They paint my back with that copper colored ice cold solution that inevitably runs into the crack of my bum which causes all sorts of sensations that no one really wants to hear about... and then as though playing some sort of evil joke it stains my backside for weeks and I'm utterly incapable of washing it.
Now comes a stressful part for me.  It's the "Can you feel that?" quiz.  You see at this point I'm literally strapped down to the table with a blue screen in front of my face so that I can't see them cutting into me (whew)... but then comes the pin that they poke you with and ask, "Can you feel that?"
Barry is in charge of the anesthesia at this particular hospital and he wears bright colored scrubs... he always assures me that there's no wrong answer, but somehow I feel like he might try to trick me.  "Can you feel that?" he asks.  I can't.  But, what if he's not even really touching me?  I mean it's possible right?  Ben will look at me sometimes and nod in away that assures me that he really did touch me... he knows that I'm paranoid.

So as the surgery starts my worse fears are realized.  I can feel them cutting into me.  Not the usual tug that you feel... not the "It might feel like you're getting skin taught in a zipper" feeling (that I never had)... this was them cutting me open and me feeling it.  It was dulled, but horrific all the same.  I begin to cry.  I wonder if I'm imagining this because this doesn't really happen.  I started to talk, but can't.  Somehow I feel like screaming or crying out will only intensify it... or make it more real.  I turn my head to look at Ben and will him with my eyes to look at me.  He finally does and his face twists in horror.  "What's wrong?  Are you ok?"  I barely whisper, "I can feel it."

My hero gasps and looks at Barry, "She can feel it.  She can feel them cutting."  The next few minutes are a blur.  I'm getting nauseous.  I just want them to put me out.  I know that I should want to see my son's face the instant that he is set free from my womb... but I'm going to die if I have to feel anything a second longer.  I vomit.  I feel them pulling Benjamin out.  I look at him long enough to see his face and then close my eyes in a sweet surrender.  Not long after (at least in my world) I awaken in the recovery room feeling very tired and sick... and anxious to see the boy who's entrance into this world I know I will never, ever, ever forget.

He still has the large forehead...

Seeing him and all of the fear that I had about having another baby faded... as did the botched c-section pain (at least for awhile).  My sweet baby boy had arrived and he stole my heart.

Today we celebrate his 5th birthday and it was a fun day.

He came into my room this morning and I wished him a Happy Birthday right away.  He replied, "Happy Birthday your face!"  I should have never laughed because he's told everyone that who's wished him a Happy Birthday since then... including Grandma Cyndee.

We did tell him that he was getting a Barbie for his birthday since he wanted everything else that Emma got for her birthday... Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwhiches for lunch and Mac & Cheese with hot dogs for supper.

Look at that face!  Trying so hard to pretend like he's glad that he got the same Barbie pool that Emma got!  Loved it!  Fortunately for him it wasn't his real gift!  By the way, he's wearing a Spiderman robe that the Kapler's gave him earlier in the day for a birthday gift.

His real gift was a set of 2 pound weights.  He's been asking for them for awhile now.  He's under the impression that he needs to work out to get skinny!  We try to convince him that the word he's looking for is strong... but he's not buying into it!  Love Gabe's face in this picture!
We're still waiting to have cake since it's Weds. night and the older kiddos had to go to Awana.  He wanted a Super hero cake... which he told me after I bought a cake... so this was our spontaneous super hero cake!

This last face reminds me of Popeye!

Oh, the other thing that Benjamin asked for, for his birthday was a mo-hawk.  Which turned out incredibly crooked... but that's ok he loved it and Daddy says that the mo-hawk might need to be gone by Christmas!

 And I'll just finish with some random pictures from the day...

Told you... random.

Counseling... maybe? Funny... yes!

"Once upon a time there lived a lion named Hannah. Hannah lived in a cave. She ate meat and humans.

One day when she was playing with her friends when some humans came by we were so scared we got our moms and dads. Then we ate them up. And when we were done we went to bed.

The next day we were surrounded by millons of humans but we ate them all up. They capt on comin and camin and camin.

Two months past, when it was over the lions won the war. The End."

By Hannah Driscoll
Age 7

Baskin Robbins Ice Cream and Cake Commercial

My Baby Girl Turns 6!

After finding out that I was pregnant with child number two I immediately hoped that it would be another girl.  There was nothing that I wanted more than a sister for Hannah!  My sister, Krista, is my best friend... though it hasn't always been that way (perhaps another blog for another day!) and I wanted the same for Hannah.  And so my prayer was answered on December 6th of 2003!

Emma Elizabeth was as beautiful as she was feisty from the day she was born!  The girl is spir-it-ted!!!  And yet at the same time she is incredibly gentle and compassionate and truly lovely.  She is my encourager and my baby girl.  My Lou.

She loves Jesus, Barbie, Hippo, Gus, Monkey, un-matchey clothes, bling-bling and her best friend, Hannah.  Emma loves her baby brother Jack and tries to entertain and love on him more than any of the other Turkeys.  And she makes us laugh... oh does the girl make us laugh.  And recently she becomes extremely embarrassed when we bust out laughing when she says something funny... ahhhh, mother like daughter!

On her Golden Birthday, as per tradition, Emma was able to pick what we would have for lunch and supper.  For lunch we had Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches and Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes.  She wanted a Christmas tree Birthday cake, but I couldn't find one and I'm not a talented cake-baker...

For supper she picked her favorite (as well as Daddy's favorite) meal... Mac and Cheese with hot dogs, raw carrots and broccoli with Ranch Dressing and Garlic bread.  And for her actual birthday cake we found a snowman ice cream cake.  Oh, and Julayne blessed us all with a song and dance called the "Ice Cream Cake"... I guess it's a commercial?

 I bought it at Walmart and while it's not the most fabulous looking cake it was pretty delish... tasted exactly like a Dairy Queen cake... perhaps cheaper... not absolutely sure on that though.  She also received some Barbie stuff tonight which she loves and I will continue to live my childhood out through her as Barbies were something that I always wanted more of... someday I will tell you of my friend, Maggie's Magical Barbie World.
Until check this out... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpzwbcrKDFs

Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays and the debate goes on and on and on...

Dear Christian friends,
There is a war in this world.  The war is not one that we can see with our eyes.  It is a war that battles for souls, for lives, for our children, for the glory of God.  It is a war that has the most serious of consequences... it is not for boarders, for oil, for weapons of mass destruction - at least not in the typical sense.  It's not a political war or a war between MSNBC or Fox News... it is not even a war between retailers who say, "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays"...

Retailers have nothing to do with Christmas.  It is about the humble birth of our Lord and Savior.  It is the answer to prophecy that foretold of a baby born to a virgin.

It is the knowledge that this baby who Herod tried to kill would one day grow and be the way, the truth and the life... and this baby would one day die on the cross to save us from the wrath of God.

 So while we are easily offended by those who wish us a Happy Holiday and we toss and turn at the thought that perhaps they will take Christ out of Christmas ... we forget... we forget the basics... Boxmart and Waldo's Supercenter may tell its employees not to say Merry Christmas (which is a violation of their constitutional rights) they simply cannot win the battle before them.  If Christ is the Lord of the resurrection is he not also the One that will one day lead his armies to the destruction of Satan, his demons and his followers?  
Please friends, let us remember that Boxmart doesn't determine the meaning of the Christmas season... and try as they may they cannot remove Christ from any aspect of this world.  Instead let us love others into the kingdom and daily show them what a follower of Christ is and how we respond to those who foolishly oppose the cross of Christ.
Merry Christmas!

The Grinch WON'T Steal My Christmas...

Today I went to a Basket Bash in West Des Moines.  Perhaps someday I will take the time to describe what a Basket Bash is, but for now I will stick to a story that I hope will stick in my mind for years to come.

The theme of the day was not allowing The Grinch to steal your Christmas.  There are so many things in this world that is warring to steal the joy of the season and it's all at the hands of The Grinch - aka. Satan.  In this time where we are to remember the birth of the most wonderful of miracles I often find myself wrapped up in an overwhelming weight of stress to provide the perfect Christmas for 5 of the most precious people in my life.  I worry that what we wrap under the tree won't leave them eewwwing and ahhhhhing ... that when the last gift has been open somehow they'll be left disappointed.  And if somehow I fail them in this area they will grow up not wanting to have a large family because perhaps they'll continue this legacy of letting down their babies. 

And today I heard Thelma Wells speak...  and she told a story from her childhood.  She was four years old (the same age as my Chubba) and living with her great grandma.  Her great grandmother would lock her in a closet all day... everyday.  There was no food.  There was nothing to drink.  But there were large cockroaches.  And rats.  And so all day she would spend her day in the dark closet not knowing what was running over her feet.  In the evening her great grandmother would take her to church... 7 days a week.

One would think that she would grow up bitter and angry and hating church and most of all hating the God of the church that her grandmother attended.  Instead she learned hymns and at the young age of 4 she put her trust in Christ.  When she sat in that dark closet she did the only thing that she could... she sang those wonderful old hymns.  And today she lives with no scars, no bitterness, no anger and no trauma.  Her God was bigger than that closet and He protected her.

And so perhaps on Christmas Day my children may not have the biggest, the best, the most... perhaps they will be disappointed... but I will teach them about my Jesus.  I will teach them about real joy, the kind that lasts and doesn't have anything to do with wrapping paper and bows.  I will love on them and hug on them and make sure that they know about unconditional love.  I will pray for them and let them know that there is more to life than what we see and feel... I will committ to respect their daddy and I will refuse to give up on my marriage, so that God will be honored in my family.  And we will laugh and sing and dance and hold hands...

Hannah the writer...

In Hannah's free time she has decided to write letters.  Lots of letters.  The first letter she wrote was to me and here's what she wrote:

Dear Mommy,
I know how hard it is with 5 kids.  That's why i like to help you.  I'm sorry that in school i quit.  Pleasle take my apology?  Your the Best Mommy ever.  I Love you.  Emma Love's you.  Congratulations!  that's all.
Love Hannah

I cried like a little baby when I read the line about her quitting in school.  The girl is really hard on herself when it comes to doing well in school.  She rarely quits, unless of course it has to do with Art.  Also I'm not sure why she congratulated me at the end... but I'll take it!

Here's a letter to her friend Anika.

Dear Anika, I hope your having fun in school.  gess what i'm leanring latin this year. My Mom is selling at home America.  It's were you host a party.  Emma loves Honey Nut Cheerios.  I got a new winter hat and a pair of gloves wint with it.  Me and Emma share a room like you.  Here's a peom Roses are red, Violets are blue, And i love you.  Love Hannah.

I love that she mentions At Home America and Honey Nut Cheerios.  Honey Nut Cheerios are on the same level in Emma's world that At Home America is in mine!!  I hope that Ben doesn't get a hold of this letter before Hannah has a chance to give it to Anika or Hannah will be erasing the line that says "Me and Emma" ... he's a stickler for "Emma and I". 

And now a letter for cousins in Idaho:

Dear Rebekah, Dan, everybody.
We are realy good.  Pray for the Kapler's because Christian is a way and Tanya had a baby boy named Josiah Adolf Kapler.  We miss you a lot lot lot.  Din't you know Mama works for the at home America?  gessing no.  At home America is were you host a party.  We love you all. 
Love Ben Kelly Hannah Emma Benjamin Gabe Jack.

Hmmmm. There's a theme in these letters...
Don't you love how she wants the Frank's to pray for the Kaplers because the baby boy is named Josiah Adolf Kapler!! ;)  Too funny.

She's also becoming quite the author of short stories!  Here are a few that I just found and read this morning:

"Benjamin and Hannah Emma Gabe"
Once upon a time Benjamin went to Hannah's house.  Emma and Gabe were already there.  Benjamin said let's ride our bikes.  So everybody went and got there bike.  everybody met at Benjamin's house.  his house was on fire.  And everybody helped Hannah called the firefighters.  It was Sunday 11:30 am.  Benjamin called the ambulance.  The end.

Ahhhhh... what happened?  Why the ambulance?  Why did Hannah need help dialing 9-1-1???  Cannot wait for the sequel to come out!

And perhaps my favorite:

"Hannah's First Lamb"
Once upon a time a Girl named Hannah was veay veay veay happy because she was going to the vet with her mom and dad.  When she got there she brought home the lamb.  The thing she allwas did was play with her lamb.  that's it.  A few week's later the lamb died.  The end.

Awww.  Poor lamb.  Wonder if it died Of Mice and Men style?  :)

*Hannah age 7, 2nd Grade

Ohhh Facebook, how you have deceived so many...

I know that we've all seen the Facebook statuses that say stuff like, "I bet we can't get 56 trillion people on Facebook to say that they love Jesus... Remember that if you deny Him that He will deny you!"  And as a Christian I think to myself... "Seriously?  If I don't put this status up to make others feel guilty then I'm not going to heaven?  Honestly?  I lose my salvation because I didn't copy and paste that status update?  So what you're telling me is that someone who is an atheist or is agnostic can copy and paste that status update and now they're in?"
The Bible is sure in trouble if the new authority on salvation comes from Facebook... No, no wait... WE are all in a lot of trouble if Facebook trumps the Bible on the way, the truth and the life.

Here's another one that I almost fell for tonight...

Change your FB profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood. The goal is to not see a human face on FB till Monday, December 6th. Join the fight against child abuse, pick your cartoon character then copy & paste to your status and invite your friends to do the same.

 Seriously had my picture of Smurfette all picked out...

 

And then I thought to myself... "How does changing my profile picture to Smurfette help fight child abuse?  Are child abusers going to get on Facebook and realize that there's not a single human face pictured and think, "Hmmm.  I'm not going to beat my child today because I remember these cartoons from when I was a kid!"
I would have loved it if the status just read, "Hey change your FB profile pic to your favorite childhood cartoon character!  Why?  Because it'll be fun!"

"No. Not drugs, good parenting."

Recently, while at an expo, Ben and I took our kiddos to set up.  I was under the weather, but Ben was willing to stay for me as long as I would set up the display.  Our kids were instructed to stand against the wall and wait quietly for us.  That's exactly what they did... though Jack would wander away a bit.  When he did wander one of the older Turkey Bottoms would take his hand and quietly lead him back to his allotted place.
It was one of those moments where you look up and you see your kids, really see them, and think... man, they're wonderful.
We had lots of compliments... some people said that their kids would never stand there for as long as they did.  Others simply said, "Your kids are so well behaved."  After a few compliments I started telling people that we drugged them... Ben heard me and he chuckled... then later he used that line himself.  But, the lady he told responded, "No. Not drugs, good parenting."
It's not the first time we've received this kind of compliment... and so I've decided to write a blog with all of my parenting secrets.  I'm not saying that we're the perfect parents -- um, so far from it -- but this is what we've learned so far on our journey with five kiddos.
First and foremost, we are a Christian- Bible believing set of parents.  That means that everything that we do (and don't do) is because based on biblical principles.  We believe in training a child in the way he should go so that he will not depart from it later on in life when he/she is out of our home.  And get ready for this unpopular statement... we don't spare the rod either.  But, there is more to parenting then using a rod.

For those of you who don't know us or get to experience our family on a day to day basis here's what you don't always see... We're an incredibly fun family!!  We have 5 kids because we enjoy them!  They crack us up with the things that their little heads come up with... if you need some evidence you should read my Facebook statuses from time to time!  They are incredibly smart also!  In a large family you may not always get the attention that you want when you want it - or need it.  So we have always encouraged the kiddos to be problem solvers.  Think of way that you can accomplish what you need if Mommy is elbow deep in dirty diapers or feeding a baby or a hundred other random things that come up in a day at Turkey Bottom Haven.

At a very young age everyone in our family is given duties.  Currently our three oldest turkeys pick up the table after every meal.  One will wash the table, one will sweep, one will help take dishes out of the dishwasher, they put the chairs back to the table, rinse dishes, etc. etc. They also fold laundry and dust.  The girls  run the vacuum (and at times fight over who gets to run the vacuum).  They clean their own rooms and make their own beds... even Gabe makes his own bed.  Gabe cleans his room, throws dirty diapers away, carries things to the laundry room as needed and helps with general picking up around the house.  While some may think that it is laziness on our part to have our children have so many duties we strongly believe that it instills in them a strong work ethic.  They will never be spoiled or entitled... at least as far as it is up to us they won't be.  I really believe that this is good parenting.

Each one of our children also know the rules.  The most repeated phrase in our house is, "Listen and obey right away!"  Obedience is something that all parents need to demand from their children.  Obedience doesn't squish their ability to be creative or whatever mumbo-jumbo you'll hear new-agers saying.  Instead obedience saves lives and keeps people out of prison.  We are not here to raise children.  That bears repeating.  We are not here to raise children.  If your end goal is a 30 year old child you have missed the mark.  We parent with the intent to equip our children to become God-fearing adults who will live to impact their world for Jesus... we do not raise children to one day populate prisons and harm those around them.  I am not being over-the-top here.  Disobedient children become disobedient adults and their parents play a major role in that.  So I say again, each one of our children know the rules.  They must know the rules so the rules must stay the same.  I see so many parents who think it's funny one day when their child picks up an inappropriate word at home and repeats it ... and then they get to church or out in public and all of the sudden it's not so funny and the child gets the beating of a lifetime.  How is that right?  Here's a better rule... if their behavior would bring shame in public it brings shame in the home... and should be punished.

Punishment is not fun for anyone.  Good willed parents do not like "bringing the thunder" with the rod.  I don't like it when my children hurt.  I especially cringe when I know they're going to get in trouble with Daddy.  But, this brings me to my next two points.  Mom and Dad you must win.  Ben's dad told me this early on in our parenting and it's true.  There are battles to be won in parenting.  You will get tired.  You will get discouraged.  You will get off track.  You will think that you will never get that child to listen and obey right away... but the only way that is true is if you give up.  Once you give up, you lose the battle and Satan wins a victory in the life of your child.   My adorable little Emma is a perfect example of this... I remember days when it seemed like all I did was spank her.  She would going into screaming fits of rage.  She would bring an attitude never seen before and she would place herself in open rebellion and disobedience.  I would cry as I put her over my lap.  But, I also would pray and pray and pray.  I prayed that God would first bring her under His authority and then under her parents authority.  I prayed that God might help me to break her of her disobedience, but not break her spirit.  I knew that her strong will and desire to stay the course will one day be her greatest character traits... so long as it was placed in the right direction.  Today she is growing in the wonderful answer to that prayer.  I cannot remember the last time I spanked her ... and that's great for all of us!  Once you've determined that you will be a battle-winner you must also determine that you will be consistent.  Every time a rule is broken you will bring correction to your child.  While I've repeatedly mentioned spanking as a form of correction we do use other forms of punishment such as going to bed, not getting snacks, taking away toys that they love... Yelling is not a form of correction.  I'm not saying that we don't ever yell, because (perhaps to our own shame) we do yell.  But, yelling at a child accomplishes nothing.  Kids are smart.  So if your rule is no snacks without asking and they gobble up a box of Oreos without asking and you yell at them in return... so what??  They got to eat the Oreos and no real punishment was given and at the next opportunity they will gobble up another box of Oreos and another and another.  And now YOU have taught them that disobeying you is okay.  This may not seem like a big deal now, but one day that child may outgrow you and you've taught them that disobeying you is okay and the older and bigger they get the harder it will be for you to train them in the way they should go.

So I'm not revealing all of our parenting secrets today... but would love to hear what you've found works for your family!  I think down the road I'll also write a blog about our epic parenting fails... but that might have to wait until they're all 18 and on their own as the proof is in the pudding! :)

The flu... chunks. Except when it doesn't...

With being the lone survivor of all things sick this week I was pretty sure that my Super Mom cape was showing.  I tried to play it down by saying things like, "Well, I must have missed the flu bug when I was sitting in the hospital with Jack."  In reality I knew what was going on.  I'm bionic.  For those of you who are unsure of what I mean by bionic, I simply mean, having extraordinary strength, powers, or capabilities; superhuman.  We all know that moms don't have time to be sick, so perhaps we're all a little bionic... but I'm super-bionic...
Then on Thursday night my cape was ripped off and reality reared its ugly little head.  And, to be perfectly honest, I blame Ben.  Thursday as he was going to bed he did the ultimate no-no.  You see, when 1 person gets sick in my family I start making rules.  Rules that have gotten in the heads of my little ones and will probably scar them someday... but all the same.  Rule #1 No kissing.  We are an affectionate family and kisses are given not only at bedtime, but periodically throughout the day.  Until the moment someone shows any signs of sickness.  I call a ceasing on kissing and no one is allowed to get near me with their lips.  Heartless?  Perhaps.  Practical?  Absolutely.  You see my Turkey Bottoms are 7,5,4,2 and 1 and that's a lot of kids that can't take care of themselves if mom goes down.
So Thursday night as Ben gets ready to go to bed he kisses me.  And not the type of kiss that you give your grandma.  And as soon as he walks away I literally gag.  I panic and think, "I'm going to get the flu!!"  I guess my bionic intelligence was working overtime, because by 5 AM Friday I was puking.  Puking is a truly terrible thing.  At one point I was puking so violently that I thought I might choke and die... which at that point wouldn't have been completely horrible.  Now when you add puking to liquid pooping it gets worse.  Okay, too much information I realize that... but how much worse does life get when you're sitting on the toilet and puking into a bucket?  Not long after this I had nothing left to give the bucket, but that never stopped the dry heaving which is painful.  Bring on the cramps and the general "discomfort" in my stomach and now I can't get comfortable enough to sleep.  So I drift in and out of consciousness without ever really feeling like I was getting quality sleep.  Add on top of this that Ben watched 40 war movies with lots of loud shooting and I'm ready to jump out the window.  For reals.
So I finally fall asleep and wake up in the weirdest state of chills that I have EVER experienced.  I knew that I had the chills prior in the evening when I had 2 quilts on and a space heater pointed at me and Ben was sitting in his chair without a shirt on... So anyhow I woke up with the chills and literally half of my body has a sheet on and is sweating, while the other half without the sheet has goose bumps.  How does that even happen?  Ben tried to explain it to me today and was saying something about my body trapping heat, blah, blah, blah... but my superhuman intelligence shut off and he might as well have been explaining it to me in Greek.
The good news... I'm on the mend... no chunking or heaving on this fine Saturday.  I am reminded that God's mercies are made new every morning! 

Christmas Gift and Decorating Ideas!

I'm including some gift giving ideas as well as just some pictures of my favorite things from At Home America!  Enjoy!

Above I have a couple of pictures of our Absolutely Red Heritage Bowls.  In the top one you have the two mixing bowls with a cookie jar mix and cookie cutters.  Which would be a perfect gift for a neighbor with small children (or grandchildren).  I had a complete brain fart in the second photo which I intended to add some white mixing spoons with the cookie jar mix.  Again a great gift for a teacher or friend... perhaps the mother-in-law who has almost everything.  You could also include a stack of recipe cards tied in Christmas ribbon!

This decorative plate would be a nice gift for newlyweds, grandparents, wives, anyone you would love to have a long future with you.  It's pictured on the Wright Brothers Clock stand (which is one of the ways that clock is so incredibly versatile).  I was thinking today that newlyweds rarely register for Christmas items which makes decorating somewhat costly in the first years of marriage... so why not give Christmas decorations as a gift that they will get years of enjoyment out of?

Above is the Westminster Lighting Company Antique Copper Lantern with removable tealight holders.  On its own it's an impressive lantern.  But to "jazz" it up a bit for Christmas try this...

By adding a bit of rafia and a few pieces of the Silent Night, Holy Night Nativity set you now have a complete stable set!  If you're wondering why the Baby Jesus is missing, it's because He doesn't come until Christmas and is placed in the manger before unwrapping Christmas presents!

Can I just say that I.HEART.THE.SHEEP. in this Nativity?  'Cause I really, really do!  My neighbor, and new friend, Carol got this nativity set with her hostess credit.  She collects nativity sets, which I think is wonderful!  Honestly, I want to start a tree collection (actually more of a tree farm), but how much better to have a reminder in each room of the house what Christmas is actually about?  Love it!

This picture isn't the best because it makes my walls look grayish when in reality they're more sagey.  I love this combination of wall art.  I wasn't completely convinced from looking at them in the catalog that I would like these pictures, especially the Heartfelt Favorites Christmas Memory (the bottom picture) but I really like it in real life.  So of course the same thing is happening with this picture that you can't get the full effect, but trust me on this... it's fab.  Once you decide to trust me on that fact that it truly is fabulous, you'll want to book a party and get it free (it's one of our booking bonus items and you'll want it)!
Oh, and the stars on the wall stay up year around. They're handle pulls that I bought at an amazing store in Waverly called Millie Mays... unfortunately she's gone out of business. :(

One of my favorites is the Rustic Reindeer and I love them paired up and surrounding the tree.  They really are fun!  And I should note that my fingers are beginning to cramp so my descriptions might (will) be getting shorter.

More lanterns, this time with a stand!  Love these also!  They're huge!  The top one The Chateau by Gaslight has 8 ball ornaments and a star ornament just a little smaller than my hand... it's no where near full that's how big it is!!  The second lantern is called the Chateau by Moonlight lantern and it's pictured with two of our Forever Glow candles which are battery operated, but still have a vanilla scent to them!  The candles are 4x6" and 3x4" and you never have to worry about them around kiddos.  Plus they flicker so they look like "real" candles.  Genius.

Lastly I have pictured the 24 Pocket Countdown Tradition which is stretched above the entry of our kitchen and just shy of the length of our dinning room.  It's huge.  Each pocket is 5 1/2"SQ.  So assuming I did my math correctly (and that's a big assumption) it's 11 feet long when the pockets are side by side (no swooshing). Of course there's plenty of room for 5 pieces of candy for each of the Turkey Bottoms, but what I'm most excited about is writing out 24 for Bible verses leading up to the birth of Christ to share with the kiddos.  Can't wait!

Ok, so that's all for now folks!  Love what you see?  Order online at www.athome.com/kellydriscoll or email me at kellydathome@hotmail.com to book a show and get your favorites free!  November and December are double hostess points months... meaning you double the amount of free homewares earned!  Think of all the Christmas gifts and decorating you can get done for free!!  :)

NOT THIS AGAIN!

Last March Jack and Gabe were admitted to Covenant Hospital for RSV.  Jack also had croup, bronchitis and pneumonia on top of the RSV.  Gabe was hospitalized for 4 days, Jack was 7 or 8.  It was a hard time.  The boys had excellent nurses and a great doc, but it was too long to be away from the rest of the family.  The boys were in isolation and the other kids couldn't visit much.  It's hard not sleeping in your own bed and having nurses come in every 2 hours.  It's hard having sick kiddos.

Jack woke up this morning with breathing difficulties.  He's had a cold for at least 2 weeks now.  We haven't had him at church because colds for him always turn into something more.  On Tuesday of this week I really felt like maybe he was turning a corner and I even felt confident enough to take him to Awana.  Again this Sunday (today) we kept him out of church.  We decided on Saturday night that we'd all stay home from church because Gabe has been throwing up and anyone with a Facebook account knows that everyone has a 24 hour flu.  Ben worked today, so everyone would stay home.  As I was getting Jack dressed this morning I saw that he was having trouble breathing.  His nose was running and I immediately got the nebulizer out for a breathing treatment.  It seemed like it helped and he was able to sleep.  When he woke up I could tell that he was still struggling a bit, but it was time for lunch and I would give him another breathing treatment after he was done eating.  He never touched his food and was crying hysterically.  So unlike our Jack... he always eats and hardly ever cries!

Since it is Sunday I was going back and forth trying to decide if I would take him to the ER or wait for the morning to go to the doctors office.  Julayne walked in around 1:30 and mentioned that she thought Jack was doing so much worse.  His breathing was very labored and he was wheezing.  I stopped cleaning up from lunch and asked if she would watch kiddos so I could run him over to the ER.

At the small hospital in our hometown there's no receptionist on Sunday (which always struck me as odd since you would think more people would come in on the weekend) so you go directly back to the nurses station in the ER.  Immediately 2 nurses were waving a doctor down and an EMT came out from no where to check him out... that's how loud and labored his breathing was.  There were no rooms available and they were racing around to find a room.  An elderly gentleman named, Cliff, came out of his room and said, "That baby needs this room more than I do.  I'll wait in the waiting room."  Thinking of it now brings tears to my eyes.

Over the next hour and a half Jack had the usual oxygen monitor hooked to his toe, a nebulizer treatment and a chest x-ray (which was and always is horrible).  Immediately after that they gave him a shot.  Still unsure what the shot was... note to self ask nurse to look that up for me.  Immediately after that they strapped him to a board so that there was a strap holding his head in place, his chest in place, his arms in place and his feet in place.  They did this in order to put an IV in.  I was already crying at this point and left the room, but could still hear his deafening cries from the hallway.  The nurses will tell you that they cry more from being strapped down than any pain from the IV, but when you walk in and see a towel with your baby's blood on it you know they're liars.  After the IV came the RSV test which doesn't seem painful but they insert fluid into his nose and catch the drainage.  At least I think it's his nose... after as many RSV tests as he's had you'd think I'd pay more attention.  But, by this time I'm always so upset that I think I go into a fog that allows me to function while being somewhat unattached to what's going on around me... or else I'll end up on the floor in a pool of tears.

Before the lab results and chest x-ray come back the doctor tells me that no matter what he'll have to be admitted to the hospital.  The nebulizer treatment helped the breathing, but with 3 minutes afterward he was already retracting and needing more help breathing.  So, I think, "Oh, no.  Not this again."

Once the chest x-ray comes back we are pleased to hear that there is no pneumonia.  They did see a problem in his abdomen ... something called (spelled phonetically) an ill-ee-us.  Basically its a lazy bowel.  It should correct itself but for today it means no food or drink... IV fluids only.  This meant two things.  The first is that even though his throat is sore, he can't drink.  Secondly, he would have to go to Covenant via ambulance since the IV was started at the ER.

The labs came back negative for RSV and influenza.  Still having problems breathing so another neb treatment is given.  While waiting for the "rig" to come Nana Susan shows up with a Diet Coke for me and hugs for Jack.  Jack was very eager to go to Nana ... he was upset with Mama.  As a matter-of-fact he had hugs and cuddles for the Doctor and Ben when he arrived ... not so much for Mama.

The ambulance arrives and Jack is placed on a huge gurney and looks dwarfed and especially sad.  He was not a fan of them buckling him in and who could blame him?  We stick around long enough for them to put Jack in the back of the ambulance before I'm racing to the car to get home to pack a bag.  I'm not sure what's in the bag... but it was done in the matter of a few minutes.

Upon arriving in the hospital we go to the all to familiar elevator to the 4th floor ... as the doors open the EMTs that brought Jack in are leaving.  Arriving on the peds floor we can hear Jack crying.  Upon seeing us he calmed down some.

It took a long time before he finally calmed down enough to fall asleep and when he did his oxygen levels kept dipping and I knew it was only a matter of time before he would go on oxygen.  The "magic" number is 92.  If it stays at 92 they keep him off the oxygen.

I know the quality of the pictures is pretty crummy, but I didn't have a camera so I was using the web cam.  The top number is the one that holds my attention.  When it goes down any further a yellow light will start to flash and it will beep letting everyone know that Jack runs  the risk of becoming more distressed.  He eventually went on oxygen which was horrible.  He hated it and would try to rip it off of his face.  So the first hour with oxygen on I had to hold his arms to his side.  Which lead to more screaming.  Not fun.  I repeat not fun... absolutely miserable and had both Jack and I in tears.  Before he went on oxygen we got a call saying that Hannah had thrown up 3 times in 25 minutes, that Emma had started throwing up and Benjamin was complaining of a sore belly.  Ugh.  Ben left so they would have at least one parent at home.  Besides, it's just not right to have Julayne clean our kids puke up.

So after Jack finally fell asleep a nurse graciously came in to change his diaper at midnight.  Really?  He screamed for 3 hours and finally fell asleep and you think it's a good idea to wake him up to change his diaper.  If I had any more energy I would strangle you.  I'm not sure that either one of us got much sleep after that.  We finally get out of bed exhausted at 6:30 am.

Jack was coughing and had a sore throat, but with the order to have him on IV fluids only there was little I could do.  Except what any mama would do... I totally gave him drinks of water after coughing fits... lazy bowel or not, my babes was in pain.  The morning was more of the same.  Another x-ray (Chinese torture is what I like to call it) that had him in fits.  But the good news was that all was well and he could go back on solid foods and liquids.  You should have seen him shovel Cheerios in.  The poor guy was starving.

After breakfast he finally fell asleep again!

But guess what?!  Another nurse decided that she wasn't pleased with his O2 levels and decided to move him.  Hmmm.  The end result... more screaming.  I was t.i.c.k.e.d.  I'll fast forward a little.  He was taken off the oxygen and things looked pretty good.  Until he fell asleep again and again after 15-20 minutes the nurse decided he should be suctioned out.  What kid sleeps through that?  I was s.u.p.e.r. t.i.c.k.e.d.

Not long after, we are offered the option of going home since he doesn't need to be on the IV, and I took it.  We discussed the dangers of going home with the flu at our house... but decided Jack was already exposed and so it was worth the danger just for the little guy to get some uninterrupted sleep.

So we are home and it's about time for nebulizer treatment.  Praying we stay home.

Feeling the Favor of the Lord!!

I'm not feeling real great tonight, but I thought I would take a little bit of time to post pictures from my At Home America Open House.  I don't ever have a camera, so I'm very thankful to Tanya for taking pictures!  The top picture is my Ma, Me, Mom #2 and Tanya.  I should note that Ma's vest and Mom #2 are wearing fabulous sweaters and are NOT wearing ugly sweaters... at least that's what they tell me.

Julayne was the winner of the Ugly Sweater Contest.  In this picture you cannot see her fabuglyous red tights!  She is sporting a multicolor jingle bell necklace and matching earrings... that jingle when she moves her head... and you would be shocked at how much a person moves their head!!  She also had a wardrobe malfunction with her shoe!

Now, Ben says that I look like an old lady... but I know he's really thinking she's one hot mama!!  I mean look at the pure unadulterated lust and simple admiration pouring through his eyes!!  True love.  It brings tears to my eyes and he must have felt it too, because whenever I caught him staring at me I could have sworn I saw tears in his eyes too.  Pure, true love...Proverbs 18:22 says, He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.  Obviously on this day Ben is feeling the favor of the Lord!!

Barely survived a deer attack.

If I've failed to mention (and we all know that I haven't) I'm having an open house this weekend unveiling my Christmas goodies from At Home America... you know the ugly/fabulous Christmas Sweater Par-tay!!  Well, I have a vision for my 7-Tier Bowl Rack with Baskets...

When you look at in the photo above it's used for laundry/cleaning supplies which is one great use for it... but I've seen it with poinsettas coming out of it and I love it!  The end result is a super festive poinsetta Christmas tree!! But, honestly I'm not sure if I'm going to have the time or the money to buy enough silk poinsettas before Saturday morning rolls around.  I keep forgetting how many Christmas decorations we lost in the floods this past summer.  And before I go into a rant about losing 10 Christmas stockings... man did they smell... I will start getting to the point of our great pinecone hunt.
In complete Turkey Bottom style we decided to go on a nature hike and pick up pinecones along the way.  I wanted to see what they'd look like in the baskets.  Ben takes us to a county park and we trek through the woods.  We go down a long path and before long discover that there is not a single evergreen tree in the entire park!  We decide to finish going down the path and back to the van before we go to another park looking for pine cones.   On our way back Ben picks a short cut that leads us through thorny overgrowth and down trees.  Poor Gabe keeps tripping ... but in the most adorable fashion.  He would fall down and jump up and say, "I ok.  I ok, Mommy."  On the sixth fall (not exaggerating) as he's laying sprawled out on the ground he looks back at me and says, "You alright Mommy?"  I laugh and assure him that I'm just fine.  "Alright, Mommy?  You alright?"  He asks again.  In the meantime Benjamin has a stick-turned-gun and is shooting all of the bad animals and telling a long drawn out story about how if a deer tries to bite me he will kill it with his gun... but it's not a real gun Mommy... so if a real deer really tries to bite me or even eat me... I will be ok because he can beat the deer with his stick that really is a stick and not a gun.  By the grace of God a deer never attacked me.  Whew...did better then the guy in the clip below!!