Mama Vivas - It's a Vivas Thing!

Oct 22 2009

One of THOSE weeks!

Kristin over at We Are That Family is celebrating her 2 year blogoversary and has asked us to share a THAT Family moment. I thought of linking up the THAT Family Tree Society blog that made me part of THAT Family, but then I changed my mind. I do that. Instead, I thought I'd share one of THOSE most memorable moments!

Thursday & Friday:

It was a week to remember. A very long week. Hubby had been out of town and was finally in the air and on his way home. After a long day, I was finally able to jump in the shower. The Drama Queen, almost 2 at the time, was sitting on the carpet right outside my shower talking to me. When I got out, she informed me she'd just swallowed a penny. Ok. She looked fine. She was breathing. I started to dry myself off. She repeated that she had swallowed a penny…and it hurt. I placed my finger in her mouth and felt around. Nothing. But her eyes were huge and she demanded I take it out. And off to the ER we went, dragging along her then 10 year old brother with us. (The other children were gone that night.)

At the ER, vitals were taken and declared fine, so we were ushered off to a *closet* room so we could double check with an x-ray and go home. In the meantime, the Talented One had been picked up and taken to his Tia's home. I'd left a message on hubby's phone that we were at the ER but everything was fine.

Until they took x-rays. And the technician ran out of the room. Literally, leaving us standing there. And then he ran back to inform me not to move or startle her and that he was calling an ambulance.

NEVER do that to a mom!

The coin was lodged in her throat and she needed to be moved to a children's hospital for surgery, via ambulance. So, I called hubby again and let him know that it wasn't fine after all. And a good friend for prayer, who was wonderful and immediately came to wait with me at the hospital.

And the ambulance came and we drove off with hubby following behind in his car while the Drama Queen waved happily from the ambulance. And she had her surgery and the penny was removed and all was well.

For a couple of days. And then my other good friend went into labor and I spent Monday at the hospital with her.

Tuesday received a call from hubby just after dropping off B-boo at gymnastics. He asked me to meet him at the ER. Not funny when you've spent three of the last five days there. He was serious. The Talented One went back to his Tia's. I went to the ER. The staff there said we looked familiar. We explained we were the parent's of the coin swallower. They said they'd been wondering if it was a quarter. Nope, a penny. Hubby had a badly sprained ankle and so they did a half cast thing and wrapped him up. And I took him home.

Wednesday I woke up to an almost dead Chinese Water Dragon and a very upset son. What's a mom to do? I took the thing to the vet. He told me it was going to die. I cried. Yes, I cried over a lizard. I told him I'd do anything to help keep the little guy alive as we were having a very hard week. It didn't work; the little guy didn't make it.

Thursday we were up early as it was my turn to watch Tia's kids. Things were going smoothly, so the Talented One agreed to watch the little ones play in the yard while I managed to get hubby in the shower as he was starting to smell. We managed to get the splint off when we heard a blood curdling scream. A scream like that is never a good sign. I ran down the stairs with hubby hopping and screaming behind me. As I rounded the corner, the Talented One stood in the doorway with the Drama Queen held tight to his chest. It looked as if a bucket of blood had been poured over them. Oh…and the scalp on the back of her head was hanging down.

I grabbed her, a towel, the keys, and ran out quickly before hubby could see it. And off to the ER we went again. I can't tell you how I managed to somehow drive a stick shift to the hospital while holding pressure to her head and wiping the ants off of her. Not only had she managed to fly off of the swing backwards and land on a 2 by 4, but she'd landed in an ant's nest to top it off! (The swing set was removed from the yard immediately!) As we ran into the ER, they took one look and opened the doors and rushed us back. The conversation went something like this.

Me: "I need a doctor right away."

Nurse: "Ma'm, we need you to calm down."

Me: "I am calm, but we need a doctor right away."

Nurse: "Ma'm, it's not that bad. You need to calm down."

Me: "It's bad. I've seen it. I'll calm down when you get a doctor."

Doctor: "Let's have a look. I NEED A NURSE RIGHT NOW! THIS CHILD NEEDS TO BE SEDATED! WE NEED A CAT SCAN!"

I calmed down. 17 staples later, we headed up to the CT department. Poor little old lady was sitting half asleep on a chair outside the room because she'd been taken out of the machine because of my daughter. We're sorry. You see, we're just THAT kind of family and we were just having one of THOSE kind of weeks.

Oct 21 2009

Scary Creatures and Such

It's been one of those days, you know? A sense of humor is really needed at this point and a good laugh even more. Therefore, when we entered church tonight with two big gift bags and asked a friend to watch them for us, I took great delight in her sudden fright! (Hey, that rhymed!) Wondering why she'd be afraid of two simple gift bags, she remarked that she didn't trust me since I had a *critter cage* in my hand.

Oh that.

Well, the simple explanation was that the youth pastor needed an aquarium and so I was bringing in one of ours. She didn't believe me, saying something about how looking at the pics from the Talented One's birthday still scared her.

When we came back, she was still standing a few feet away from the bags, asking if there were reptiles in them. I explained to her that, no, they were just blankets, although one of them did have turtles on it.

Anyway, it was pretty funny in my book.

And then I came home. And as I sat down to relax, I noticed a GIANT BLACK COCKROACH making it's way across the floor towards me. I did what any mother would do and demanded that the Talented One come here immediately.

Apparently he knows the cockroach tone, because he responded that he was not coming over to get a bug. Wrong answer. As his mother, I have the priviledge of using blackmail when it suits me. He came over…with my shoe. And I screamed; because it looked like he was going to scoop the thing up and toss it at me.

I screamed.

He screamed.

We all screamed for ice cream.

Ok, we didn't get any ice cream, but the other kids came running downstairs to see what all the commotion was about. By this time, the giant bug had made it under my footstool, where my feet were no longer resting. The Smart One joined in and helped get the thing.

Then the Talented One teased me for a bit by holding the napkin full of bug guts towards my face.

Yuck!

I hate cockroaches. I really do. Especially the big ones.

Even the little ones.

And to my friend who I had so much fun with tonight. I apologize. Really. I'll try hard not to ever tease you with your fears again.

Oct 19 2009

Twins

A set of twins. Born to different mothers, but so much alike. There have been times that, if their backs are to us, we've even confused them. It's not just the hair, but the attitude. They both hate to have their pictures taken, but that doesn't stop me. They both have to have perfect hair. They even picked out the same glasses without realizing it! Twins…separated at birth.

This was the boys earlier in their friendship.

Notice the two of them on the bottom right corner!

Notice the hair…and the jackets.

Again, with the hair!

Ok, this is where they differ. One likes snakes, the other doesn't. Can you tell?

And sometimes, they'll even pose for a picture…if it's worth it!

Oct 16 2009

Willing to do Anything!

Some people are willing to do anything to be on my blog!

I'm ok with that….cause it means I get free labor, lots of laughter, lots of fun! And pictures.

This would be Rice Crispie treat preparation for the Drama Queen's Birthday! B-boo reminds Punky how do it. Now they know what they are doing. Punky brags to Twin who wants to be on blog that she will beat him to it! (This would be the twin to the Talented One. Sometimes I get them confused.)

Yes, you have to be willing to smear butter on your hands and play with melted marshmallows!

So…what's a guy to do? He learns how to make rice crispie treats so that he can be on the blog, too!

Am a brilliant or what?

And then there are cupcakes…we can't have a party without them!

Notice thebrilliant colors and wonderful photography! I tried to convince her to become a food photographer…but they all laughed at me. I thought it was a brilliant idea…much better to take pictures of beautiful food instead of dead bodies. (Forensics and all that!) The party was a success…but that's another blog!

Oct 15 2009

Living the Dream

Do you ever look at your life and think, "I really had no idea I'd someday be living this life?"

How can we know, really, what we'll be doing? I look at my kids today, and I wonder how they'll turn out. I remember when my oldest was 8, he wanted to be a Forest Ranger. From there he wanted to be an Air Force pilot. Then he turned to Civil Engineer, and finally, he's nearing a degree in hospitality. He wants to manage a resort somewhere in the boon dogs. So, it's not quite a Forest Ranger, but close to his heart, still, because he loves being in the outdoors away from it all.

I wonder how my next son will turn out. He's got so much talent in him. And a heart for others. I remember when he was little, he would go up to strangers and ask them if they knew Jesus. There's so much out there for him, it will be interesting to see where it goes.

There's B-boo. From the time she was itty bitty, she made her own fashion statement! We laugh at her whenever she wears matching socks because she just doesn't normally. Things have changed for her so much in the past two years. She has a new passion for Forensics (and not the debating kind)…yuck. We laugh and tease her that she'll be the best dressed forensic scientist that there is! She's the one that seems to have it all planned out; it will be interesting to see what happens!

Next, there is the Smart One. The boy thinks too much. He can figure things out in his head. He loves to just sit and think things up; figure things out. I remember when he was four, we were working on our house. Hubby was trying to pop up tiles and having a hard time getting to them. The Smart One just watched him for a bit, and then said to Dad, "If you turn it around and move over here, you'll get them out easier." Dad did; and it worked. He was amazed at the common sense in such a young child. His fine motor skills are amazing. He can make the tiniest origami things I've ever seen! He says he wants to invent something. He loves math and science; and drafting. I wonder what he'll end up coming up with!

Then there's the Drama Queen. I wonder how long it will take her to figure something out! She has a passion to try out everything in life! She loves, loves, loves to sing! And to dance. And she talks of becoming a doctor. And she wants lots and lots of children. And she'll probably try to do it all!

My son once asked me if I was doing what I wanted with my life. I told him that even as a little girl, I always wanted a big family with 8 kids and a home to go with it. I don't have 8 children, but we're certainly close to it!

I had no idea I'd learn to cook around food allergies, research endometriosis, restless leg syndrome, Celiac disease and Reactive Attachment Disorder; become a nurse, doctor, vet, home school mom, chauffeur, foster aunt and much, much more!

I had no idea of the pain I'd feel when they hurt or the joy I'd feel when they smile.

Of the skip in my heart when I see hubby, even after years of marriage.

Hubby and I were talking last night about where we are. Sometimes we look around and think, "I didn't see it happening like this." We may not have fancy cars and a room for each kid, but God has definitely filled our dreams. We have the big family; the foster children, the loving home; wonderful children, great friends; joy. He's given us all we've needed and more. And that's what I look forward to for my children.