Festival of the Trees..

More activities are being crossed-off our list!
Last night we enjoyed another family activity going to the Festival of the Trees.
We love going here, and it has been a couple of years.  We usually try to go on a Saturday when Merrill has (more like had..) the day off.  Those days are not as plentiful as they used to be..  so we went on a weeknight, figuring it would be better than a Friday night.
It was crazy!!
Parking was quite the feat, and we got a good, long, cold, brisk walk in.
Well worth all of it though.
The kids loved it, we loved it, and it is a worthy cause...

We saw so many gorgeous trees and wreaths..  we saw Gracie's tree...

  Located at C2, in case you are interested.. :)

And some amazing gingerbread creations.

I didn't want to lug around the "big camera", so I brought the Cybershot, only to discover that since we don't use it that often, and I really don't think about it until I need it, the battery was dead.  My camera phone did okay, but, well, you know...  it really doesn't matter, does it?

 If Miss Ashley would just hold still...

The only thing I would do differently, NOT purchase cotton candy (aka pure sugar) for the treat enjoyed on our late ride home.

3

Nope, this isn't a birthday post..  I don't even have one close to 3...  I SHOULD, but then again, by MY family plan, I should merrily be preggers with #5.
But back to 3..
It is just my number lately I guess..
It is the number of cubs that showed up to Pack Meeting the other night..  you already know how much I love that (read sarcasm), then to have 3 boys and 3 leaders show up. 
It was great.
:P
Then there was last night..
We were enjoying another nightly holiday activity, frosting our sugar cookies, when Peyton, aka "Little Climber" named appropriately for her newly acquired skill, pushed her chair up next to Merrill and began her ascent to the counter top..
She enjoyed playing with the frosting tips and couplers for a good, long while, and then, at some point quickly thereafter, she fell.
Onto the hardwood floor.
On her right side.  (You know, the one with the arm was previously broken?)

She was acting guarded and funny with her arm.  She wouldn't reach for anything with it, not even her beloved binky, and that was when I made the decision to go to InstaCare.
Again.
That made it my 3rd trip to this particular facility.
In 3 days.
3.
We had no wait, saw our favorite doctor (love you doctor C!!) who also happened to treat her for the buckle fracture in August, and by the time he sat down and started his evaluation, she was using it.
He guessed soft tissue damage as she didn't act like she was in pain when he squeezed it in various places.
There were no x-rays taken because too much radiation exposure to children in these developmental stages (she has had 3 x-rays in her life these past few months..) isn't good on the bones.  So he sent us with orders for x-rays, in case she acted differently today.
She hasn't.
So far, 3 still happens to be my number.
I am praying it doesn't roll over to 4.
I am questioning it though, as last night, she capped her evening of activity off with a new trip, up the chair, pushed so expertly to the counter, to get to the chocolate covered cherries Jaclyn dropped off while I was visiting the doctor's office for the 3rd time (thank you Jacks!!), and found Peyton attempting to open the box of yumminess with a steak knife..
Pray for me!! 

One birthday party, Two Thanksgivings, Two trips to the doctor, seven loads of laundry, and one fixed computer..

How's that title for ya?
Here's your official warning, there are a few posts to follow, not that you are interested in ALL of them, but I just wanted you to have a heads up.
If you can't sleep, are genuinely bored, or are really curious as to where I have been, you can read it all here.
The hiatus isn't solely due to my mystery illness, it was courtesy of Windows Vista.
How I hate Vista...
But it is gone now.
Thank heavens...
Really, if I could have been blogging, whining and commiserating with you all over how sick and awful I felt, I would have been here, but Vista kept me from such fun.
I look forward to catching up on everything, re-loading fonts, re-loading all of my digital stuff, and catching up on "The Office".
Honestly, what would we do without the internet?
The little break was nice though..  with the exception of missing "The Office"...  those were some of the worst withdrawals ever!

Doctor's visitS...

Emphasis on the "S" there..
It's no secret, I haven't been feeling well lately and just to prove it, I went to the doctor twice, in two days.
It has been a puzzling illness..  but as I researched my symptoms repeatedly (until my computer decided it didn't want to anymore..) it kept coming back to me that it was something with my ears.
I kept brushing it off, because some days, I would wake up, and despite a little dizziness, I would feel fine.
Other mornings, I would get up, and feel awful.
It was quite puzzling.
I really wanted to just get back at life, and I think that was part of the problem, I was pushing myself into it.  I confirmed I was not preggers, and went on wondering what would make me feel this way.
After missing church the previous Sunday, I decided I was not going to miss it this last Sunday.
That was bad.
Sitting in RS for that 45 minutes was awful, but two (three now that I think of it) separate conversations there, again pointed to something with my inner ear.
Julie kept the girls there, and Merrill took me to the doctor.
We got to wait 45 minutes to see our favorite (read the major sarcasm here) doctor, and was basically told that I had what I originally though I had, Benign Positional Vertigo, this decided after making me prove how off my balance was during a bunch of ridiculous tests.
His remedy, the aforementioned Meclizine and get this, PHYSICAL THERAPY.
That would require both time and money, two things that are not in abundance this time of the year..
Not to mention, that had nothing to do with what my gut was telling me.
I kept bringing up the possibility of an infection, to which he basically brushed off, and told me there was no way to tell unless they did an MRI (cha-ching!)..  I was near tears. 
Before he left the room to get the prescription, he asked if I had hoped the outcome would be different, if there was anything that I had thought was lacking.
Why does he open the door for me to tell him he is an idiot?
I didn't say anything.
I will accept the pats on my back...  now.
He came back and handed me the prescription, Merrill the referral to the physical therapist, and again asked why I looked so sad.
Um..  could it be because I have been dealing with this for over a week, and I feel like I am not being listened to, instead brushed off?  Oh, and by the way, I would like to have my life back, instead of appointments with a physical therapist to teach me exercises on balance and to make sure I hadn't had a stroke.
His words.
It didn't look like I had, but it wasn't entirely impossible at my age.
Does he KNOW what he is doing?
After getting me home, and in bed, crying, Merrill left to take care of the prescription.  He got back just in time for Julie and Nate as they dropped the girls off and I got some food and drugs then was wiped out.
That is one of the major side-effects of the Meclizine, drowsiness.
How am I going to get better with that?
I wasn't.
The next day, I woke up feeling dizzy, drowsy, and still that nausea.  The Meclizine is supposed to take dizziness and nausea away.
I was also feeling frustrated, did I mention that?
I called to get an appointment with anyone but HIM, and managed to get an appointment with a doctor that was in the same office as my primary doctor.
The receptionist asked what I was being seen for, and when I told her the brief overview, she said, "Are you serious?" 
Yup.
Needless to say, I got in, had this doctor spend more time than ANYONE ever has with me, going over every possible reason this could be going on.  My ears have never been examined so much in my life.  He suspected an infection, sent me with a couple of different prescriptions and hope.
With some more inside information from my mother-in-law as to the wonders of Advil Cold an Sinus, information from her ENT (NOT a physical therapist...) I am doing SO much better today.
I am back at life, FINALLY, and able to function.
I am thankful to have my crappy insurance, thankful that I listened to the promptings I was given, and thankful to those who have been so helpful.
Now can anyone help me with all the laundry I need to catch up on? ;)

Thanksgiving-ness..

This year, we had two Thanksgivings.
Merrill (the anti-social weirdo that he is.. love you Merrill!) dislikes family gatherings of all kind, so he opted to work Thanksgiving, thus leaving me free to take the children to my family's Thanksgiving dinner.
It was a nice day, but just didn't feel like Thanksgiving.  We have had almost 10 years of our own Thanksgivings, and that is what I am used to..
It was nice, just not what I am used to Thanksgiving being.

The girls enjoyed running around and playing with all of their cousins.  Everyone was there, except Joe and Jaclyn, who were hosting Dixon and Kaitlyn (Darlene was out of town with MiKell who was cheering in the Macy's Parade..) but they came later.  I did have to have a discussion with Lynn before going to mom and dad's about how Josh is her cousin for all intents and purposes at this time.  They are not blood relation, but that is just too confusing a concept to try to explain right now.  There is too much talk about kissing and such.  Lines must be drawn!
We all enjoyed seeing how Promises tummy is now poking out, holding baby Chace (whose name Peyton has not stopped saying since...) and enjoying all the good food.

 The kids ended-up playing in the basement, telling stories in the dark, by the light of flashlight, something Lynn and James came up with, I am sure. 

 They all got so cold, Lynn and James decided to make use of the blanket that was available to them.  The blanket was also serving the purpose of covering all their Christmas toys, toys from Grandpa and Grandma.  Mom decided to check on them at just the right moment, but they had no clue what was lying next to them, now uncovered.
We stayed a while, then came home and went for a swim down at the hotel.

We had our own Thanksgiving (and it really felt like it this time..) the next day complete with all of our traditions..
Sparkling cider..

Putting up the tree..
Watching "It's a Wonderful Life"..
Making a gingerbread house..

And eating it the same night is our new tradition, thanks to Peyton. :)

 

I wasn't feeling well (still) and didn't really feel like standing and washing all the China, so we didn't partake in that tradition, and I felt guilty wanting it to be perfect for our first Thanksgiving in the house..  but then again, it really wasn't Thanksgiving, and I soon got over it. :)
As for decorating the house..
We did have to make a few alterations to our tree..
We do not have our 14 foot + ceilings in this house, and therefore, had to trim off 7 inches of the center pole.  We also had to leave off the two bottom rows of branches. 
It was kind of sad.
But it all works!  Hopefully I can get some pictures soon...
I was looking forward to starting off life in our new home right with the holiday season, get it feeling like home, making memories right away..  ya know..  so far, it's working out pretty well.
We enjoyed watching more Christmas movies throughout the weekend.  We especially enjoy hearing Peyton say "HOHOHO!!!"  She sounds an awful lot like the nasty Santa on "A Christmas Story".  She also loved "The Santa Clause" and even said, "Bye bye Santa." at the end.
So many blessings to reflect on this year..  we are so blessed.

The party..

She really did turn seven..
She was very specific about her day, from how she wanted her cake decorated, to the treat she wanted to share with her classmates.
I am sure her teacher thinks I am stoned..  I was so dizzy when I went to her class..  I am sure I looked crazy!
She chose her favorite dinner, chicken Alfredo with fettuccine of course, then the grandparents came, and gifts followed.

A caboodle?! I guess she really is getting older...  mom filled it with jewelry, lip glosses, eye shadows, dazzle dust, and fake nails.  Lynn was in heaven!

She has had such an attitude, we threatened her with nothing but underwear for her birthday... she loved it.  Don't let that look on her face fool you. ;)

Then we decided (well, okay..  after she didn't throw the terrific fit I had imagined she would over underwear..) we gave her her real gifts..

She has been dreaming of a Belle dress-up for months now, and I will admit I was a bit hesitant to get it, for how big she is now, but she loved it..  it does look small on her, but she loves it!

Any guesses how long these nails lasted?

7..

Can this really be happening?
Lynn is seven..  really?!

It seems just like yesterday...
I love this girl!!  I love watching her grow and learn, it is a blast!
She is the best older sister..  she can also be the sassiest, most teasing, aggrivating sister too.  She is coming into her own little mommy phase though, taking good care of her younger sisters.
We are so blessed to have little "Lynnie-Lou-Hoo" in our family.
Love you Honeybear!!