How does a Mom stay healthy?

So, yesterday afternoon Alex started to complain of a headache. I thought she was trying hard to earn a sticker for a good quiet time - and she fell asleep (two days in a row!). Well, she woke up and complained again of her head hurting, and had a 102 fever. She pretty much laid around all evening yet did eat dinner good. She kept complaining of being cold too.

The girls went to bed about normal time (8:30) and Dylan woke about 2 to eat. Taylor got up at 3:30 and turned the living room lights on, but went back to bed (huh?!). Alex then asked for a drink. Wade's alarm went off about 4, Dylan woke about 4:30 and refused to go back to sleep in her own crib until about 5. Alex & Taylor woke up at 7. Uhh.... I am so tired!

Alex woke with a fever, but after taking a bath it appears to be gone. She ate a waffle and cup of milk for breakfast and seems to be doing well. She was disappointed I called school saying she couldn't go - but better to be safe than sorry!

So, what are your tricks to stay healthy?

Time to update...

I am not really sure what I am writing about.
I guess 3 things have happened this week at our house.

1) The husband got on board with losing weight, so I have done good this week. I am at 179.4 as of yesterday morning. This is where I was a few weeks ago when I stopped trying. My origional goal was to be at 165 by Nov. 1st (this was at 2 lbs per week). I will not make it, but I will keep trying!

2) We finished our list from insurance. We had hail damage to our house 8/2 and got it all accomplished in the last 2 weeks. We hired out having our roof and gutters replaced. The husband repainted the trim on the north side of the house. He also pressure washed and refinished both the front and back decks. We also had to replace a utility door into the garage. I would say that all of this has our house looking better than when we bought it. (Seriously, the old gutters leaked on the walk to the front door creating ice in the winter and the decks were very peeled. The garage door was cheap to start with and did not have trim on the inside - so it is all taken care of now!) And, with the husband's labor, we should get money back from the insurance claim!

3) My 5 month old has gotten her first tooth, the lower left one. She got it like a champ!

Happy Birthday Alex!

My birthday girl's pictures in very random order Alex & Taylor playing in the leaves in their party dresses.

They do have whistles on their necks.

What kind of a crazy lady gives whistles as party favors?!

The chocolate chip number pancake.

This is a yearly tradition.

Alex smiling as we all sang her Happy Birthday.

Birthday party #2, singing to her...

Well, this was her cake I made her.

It was very good.

Chocolate cake (so moist and yummy!), with strawberry frosting, stawberry whoppers around the bottom and pink M&M's all over the sides. AND the princess crown on the top!

I am so proud that my first baby is now 5!

Let it be fall....

Here are some annual fall pics. We have a huge tree in our front yard, so it leaves for lots and lots of raking every fall.

Here is Alex and Taylor's cute faces as they are burried in the leaves.

A not so skinny Mama throwing Taylor into the leaves.

Dylan posing in her own mini pile of leaves.

(She took a nap and slept until they were mostly picked up!)

Wade playing in the leaves with Alex & Taylor

Alex & Taylor jumping in the leaves.

I hope these stay as lasting memories for them.

The girls at the pumpkin patch this weekend.

Random thoughts

So, as a SAHM there are those days that you cannot wait for the H to be home to help. Do you ever have those days that you just want to send him back to work? Yes, I know that I yell at my kids too. However when you are sleep deprived, sick and cranky - trying to hear your shows - it does not help. DVR the TV and watch it later. In the meantime, take a little patience because they really are only kids.

Our whole house has been sick. The kids and I got it 2 weeks ago, got better and the H left for the weekend. He returned and re-infested all of us. Lucky us. I hate when babies have colds. I feel so helpless. A two year old can verbalize what is wrong, a baby just wants cuddles.... Our baby is a drool monster... with a cold, she is an excessive drool monster, yet still adorable!

So, I started Christmas shopping this week. I bought 2 items for the H and 3 items for my 3 neices. I need to hide everything together or I am going to start losing things.

We also have our oldest ones birthday this week. I hope we are all healthy for it!

Yesterday we embarked on what has been a yearly tradition in our house. The raking of the leaves. This also involves throwing the kids in, burying and jumping in the leaves. Our tree out front is far from bare and the neighbors trees behind us aren't missing a leave... 4 bags down and 16 to go (I got 20 bags of leaves last fall). I will download pics and post them soon.

A fun fall photo shoot...

So, all 3 girls have stipey pants this fall.

None match but all are cute. The dress Dylan is wearing with her leggings was mine and my sisters when we were little.
They thought for a ground shot they should all hold hands.
I am not sure Dylan would aree!
Kind of a mug shot of Dylan.
We borrowed the neighbors tree for this one!

This may be a Christmas card shot.

This is next to the apple tree in our backyard.