Juvenile Delinquents

We have been sleeping in tents in the yard for a week now. Putting up different tents to make sure they are in working order and ready for any of our camping excursions this summer. I don't have the heart to erect tents in beautiful weather, have my children(especially the younger ones) ask earnestly if we can 'camp out' and tell them no.I haven't been sleeping well in the tent. Whether it's the train, cars coming and going, neighbors out and talking late, or just my dog barking like Cujo, there have been many things interfering with my ability to sleep. (My dog has been put in the laundry room more than once this week at night because of her barking. I think she must be in some different protective mode because we are outside or something....Silly dog!)
So the night before last I was up from midnight to about 7 after having been abruptly awakened by my dog's aggressive barking at some real or imagined threat. Was pretty tired all day yesterday and got to sleep about midnight last night-after securing the dog in the laundry room first.
I'm going to preface this next bit by saying that, Some might call me a control freak but I make it a habit to know where my children are and what they are up to. That's our job. Also, we live in a very small town and keep to ourselves pretty much.
At about 4 am I awakened with a start to a bright light that was shining through the window in my tent and a mans voice saying 'excuse me'. It was the sheriff, wondering if I had any children and if they were out here camping with us. He went on to explain that there were three teenage boys who had been 'messing around town all night'. Did I know where my boys were. I of course did. The 14 yo was in the tent and the 15 yo had gone inside because allergies had been causing him to cough. By this time I was standing outside the tent talking to him. He made some comment about how when he was young and camping with his parents he would have snuck out to go 'mess around' after his parents fell asleep. I could tell at this point that he might have the impression that I am a parent whose children could be troublemakers but have me completely 'snowed'. "Would you mind just checking to see if he is in the tent?" No I don't mind...leaning over near the door of Weston's tent calling his name and fumbling for the zipper in the dark. Weston answered and I'm still not finding the zipper... Then something like "would it be alright if I just look at him (to see what he was wearing)?" Still I didn't mind, but was starting to be a little offended. I mean I know this policeman doesn't really know me from Adam, but we were doing a family activity and that is what raised his suspicions? He didn't even know I had teenage boys until I told him. Anyway, I got the zipper open and there West was with the squinty, mushed up, bewildered face of someone whose been asleep for awhile, wearing his Blue Ridge football jersey and burgandy checked pajama bottoms. I then asked the officer if he wanted me to go get the 15 yo from inside the house. He told me it wasn't necessary. I think, more than anything it was the clothes Weston had on that finally convinced him he was looking in the wrong place. I don't know what the 3 boys were doing that had the sheriff looking for them , but I suspect it was more offensive than just 'messing around'.
If I had more time I'd have Weston don one of our convict costumes and post a photo of him....

It took me an hour to fall asleep again...

An Afternoon at the Tandy's

Jacob fell down the stairs and had to be taken to the ER with a concusion. Morgan, Kay, and I got to spend the afternoon with Catherine, Cora, and Aaron. We didn't see much of Aaron, he spent some time with a friend. But Catherine and Morgan listened to music and did blindfold makeovers.

Cora and Kay played nicely all day, and the all seemed to have a good time, even with concerns about Jacob.

Kaylyn tried to wear Mr. Potato Heads glasses and we couldn't pass up some photos of that!

Baking in a Cardboard Box.

When I was young, I remember my mom doing all kinds of cool things. Things that other moms just didn't do. She even showered in the rain once (with her clothes on). From her I learned the great lesson, to not be afraid to try anything. This year I am going to go to girls camp, for the first time in ages. Well at least 16 years. I always loved girls camp and have the excitement of a child looking forward to it. I was thinking this week of the things my mother did with us for girls camp. Bringing back memories of her as a leader wearing a double brimmed baseball cap with the lettering "I'm their leader, which way did they go?" on it. Much to my complete embarrassment then and a sweet and joyful memory now. My mother was something of an army Sargent, but a sargent with the biggest heart and open love for others. She was strict and loud and bossy, and patient, and gentle spoken, and open minded. She was often the person you needed her to be at the time, even when you didn't know that's what you needed.

Anyway, I decided to bring back one of those memories and share it with my girls. Morgan and I built a fire, and took a cardboard box, aluminum foil, and duct tape and made a reflector oven. Morgan threw together a muffin mix and we baked muffins in a cardboard box. Even my 15 year old was impressed, and, as you can see by the blueberry mush on Kaylyn's forehead that she enjoyed them too!

At one point we did turn the pan 180 degrees.

A muffin broken open to show it is baked through.

Family Photos.

We have a working camera again! I'm sure our youngest child is going to wonder why there are fewer photos of parts of her childhood.... Between business and burgled and broken cameras we are spotty picture takers at best.

Last week we went out to take some posed pictures of the kids. I don't know why I envision photo shoots as being an experience where our children all stand/sit/lay/kneel, or whatever position we ask them to be in, then look at the camera and just smile. Every time we take picture it takes FOREVER to get something where even some of the children are looking and smiling at the photographer simultaneously! I've been a mom for nearly 16 years now....love pictures of my children....but seriously dread planned photo shoots!......(I'd seriously rather clean my toilets.)

Anyway, we did get a shot or two and about time, it's been awhile since we had them all sit together for a picture.

As you can see, some looking and smiling, some looking down or away. Moving limbs, pasted smiles.

Even looking constipated...sorry Jen! :D

But patience wins out and we finally get one. Just so you know, there were dozens that were taken that I am not displaying. Oh, and I REALLY wasn't very patient but I was persistent! :D

They always want some goofy shots at the end too. (Like we didn't get enough of those in the process!) :D

"Huge Sigh"

Marital Bliss

Okay, fair warning for anyone who becomes ill at sappiness...omit this read.
We had a busy day, up at 4 again to leave early for an appt with the 'diabetes educators' in Peoria. We got back just in time to pick up Kaylyn from Kim's(thanks again Kim! she would have driven m nuts today!!!), pick up the girls from home and school(two stayed home this a.m. with one throwing up), leave a quick note and cash for Jame who was coming home and leaving again, and drop off a couple kids (one of them being the sickest one from this morning)at the farm. We headed out to county market to take advantage of a two day sale they were having.
Thomas met me there and we purchased a few groceries at a savings of about 57%. Yay! We went our separate ways again and as I was driving home I realized I hadn't even thought about dinner, and it's 5:30...So my lovely brainstorm was 'Friday night pbj's'! Sounded great to me. Least expensive pizza at that time on a Friday night would be the 3 for 5.55 each at dominoes. (We've done that deal a time or two....or once or twice a month.)
The thing that made my day is when I called Thomas to run the idea of 'Friday night pbj's and movies in our PJ's' by him, not only was he OK with it, HE WAS THRILLED!
It sounds like such a simple thing but I think those are the kinds of things that make life so enjoyable when you're married. I have heard before that 'there is nothing sexier than the sight of the back of a man at the sink washing dishes'. I would add to that, the sound of a man who can be excited about pbj's for dinner!
To top it off, I got the loaf of bread for free and the jar of peanut butter for 99 cents and we used less than half of that! I made the jam with produce from the farm so not super cheap but made by me with produce locally, and cheaply, harvested!
So dinner for 8-50 cents plus the investment of the homemade jam. (grapes and carrots too). I am a happy girl! And I am so grateful for such an easygoing husband!

Diabetes Strikes Again!

Yesterday, Weston's was diagnosed with diabetes. It was 5 days before his 14th birthday. I ran him into the doctor's yesterday morning office for a quick ear check. He had been having pain in his right ear for two days. We also asked the doctor about a few things that have been of concern for us recently for Weston. Without going into detail about all of his symptoms. (Some respect for a teen boy who would rather not have all his personal data broadcast...) We received a call from the pediatrician telling us Weston's U/A showed no sign of infection but was abnormal and that he had diabetes. He told us to take him straight to the ER/ED where they were expecting us. We spent several hours in the ER before he was admitted to peds. We were up most of the night and Weston's blood sugar was monitored and we received diabetic education. He's been released this evening with a follow up appt with both his pediatrician and a pediatric endocrinologist.
When I did a quick glucose test for him before we headed to the hospital last night, his blood sugar was 447. His hmgA1C was 12. They are treating him as if he is type 1 and have told us he will be on insulin for the rest of his life. His current regimen consists of blood tests 5 times a day, fast acting insulin injections 3 to 4 times a day, and a long acting insulin injection at bedtime. So a minimum of 9 sticks a day....
Weston has really taken all of this in stride. Every day our children amaze me in so many ways and Weston has never been an exception to this. I am sure we will learn more when we go to see the specialist.
Thanks for checking in!
Michele, and all the Eliasons :D