Yard Sale

Well, we are having a yard sale today. Lord knows we have WAY too much baby equipment lying around here. With no plans to have anymore children in the immediate future or even near future we decided to try and sell most of it. It's going pretty well out there for a cool, brisky morning. I am hoping Drew will allow me to take the left overs to good will so that the "stuff" doesn't take residence in our basement any longer. I am inside now after having put the 3 youngest down for naps. I am quietly waiting in my room for them to drift off to sleep so that I can go out and help some more. It's been fun for the kids to wander around outside and play. Well, I should get back to it.

Homechooling with a Fresh Start

Well, I'm sure other homeschoolers out there can relate. With a lot of changes that we have had going on in our family along with weeks worth of sickness, homeschool has been on the back burner. I just couldn't get myself to take on the battle. Sometimes it is a full force battle to get 3 kids to ccoperate and have somewhat decent attitudes about homeschooling. Everyone wants their own personal attention and will misbehave to get it. Anyway, I have decided to give it another go. Today we started fresh. The started by a simple task...coloring. I just wanted to test their level of cooperation. Amazingly we survived one coloring project. They colored while I started reorginizing our homeschool cabinets and drawers. Then towards the end it got a little ugly. That's where we are right now. I put all the kids in a special time out by themselves and told them that mommy needed a timeout too. They are just rude to eachother lately. I think it's mostly age related for D.J. He has been a jerk to everyone. Anyway, I couldn't tolerate it any longer. I am about to get them settled again at the table for our reading lesson and devotions. This time our unit study will be science related. We will be talking about how things grow and learning a little about gardening. It's seemingly fit as we are about to get our garden going again this year. I am asking Grandpa Dan to come and do a special lesson for the kids after Drew gets our planter boxes built. Anywho...I should get them all out of time out now. Chow.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone. Well, it turned out to be a home day, that's right-we missed church. Joe was up all night Saturday and I was in no shape to attend anything in the public. Sorry I can't really divulge why as it would be considered TMI. Anyway,, the kids still managed to have a good day. We watched the church video on the crucifixion/Easter (the kids were bored, but it set a good tone). Then later in the afternoon, G'ma and G'pa Trish and Dan came over. They had Easter goodies for the kids and made a scrumptious Roast meal. Grandpa made an Easter bunny cake which tasted like wedding cake. It was fun watching the kids hunt for eggs (inside). YEah...what's up with the snow?/? Anyway, here are a few pics.

Park Pics!

Visiting Docs

We cringed as we purchased plane tickets to Oregon. Drew and I and Joe (since he is considered a lap child) will be traveling to Oregon from June 25-July 9 to look at towns, visit docs, and figure out what the heck we are going to do come February. Our fantabulous helper/nanny Amanda will be taking care of the kids for a week or so, but I need to farm them out to different people for the second week. Any takers??? I'm considering calling sister Atchley who is awesome with my kids, but it's weird to ask. By the way, if any of you are willing to "trade" I would take your kidlets for a week or so either before we leave or after we return. It would be better probably if it was before we left since my kids will probably be regressing for some time after we get back.

Joe Health Update

The following pictures indicate what an allergic reaction to amoxicillin looks like. Joe wasn't unhappy or itchy, but it was painful for me to look at. It took 2-3 days for the drug to leave his system and the rash faded away.



Anyway, as some of you know Joe has been throwing up every few nights. He hasn't shown any symptoms of the flu or being sick other than that. We are trying to rule out different food allergies. I'm wondering if he is allergic to the spices in the organic baby food??? I don't think so as I fed him some last night and we had no throwing up episodes. He also is gaining weight extremely slowly. Remember he was a 9 pound baby. He is 19 pounds currently at 13 months and is riding around the 10th percentile. Anyone have any ideas???????

Knock on Wood!!

It seems I have spoken too soon. Joe puked 4 times last night. Twice in our bed and twice in his crib. The poor guy had to get hosed down in the middle of the night. Drew and I scrammbled around changing linens and were awake for a long night. Then, when Megan got up she complained that her ear hurt. I think she might have an infection. Drew will look in her ear tmrw once he gets his medical bag from school. The rest of the kids pretended they were sick to get extra loves. When are we ever going to be healthy again???

Upswing!

I am delighted to report that my munchkins are on the upswing. Their behaviors seem to have turned the corener over the past few days. I'm so glad we get to feel like a normal family again for a while. (Anyone with RADs kids knows exactly what I'm saying here, everybody else will just have to take my word for it). It could be a combo of the nicer weather and the fact they are adjusting to our new helper. I am also happy to report that after 5 weeks we still adore her and she is doing a fabulous job. Music time went pretty well today. The jr. primary got to hunt eggs and find songs inside. The Sr. primary played pictionary where they drew a song and sketched it on the chalkboard while everyone guessed it. I think it went over well. Megan came down with a cold, but I'm not complaining. I'm just glad it's not the flu. However; wouldn't it be nice if everyone was healthy for a change? Drew survived boards! I survived him being gone ALOT over the past 2 weeks. We are hoping to work in the yard tmrw. That's about it for us.

Phew!

What a week this has been. It was long; that's for sure. The kids have enjoyed getting out in the fresh air. We celebrated Drew's 29th b-day yesterday. We got to go out on a date (wooowwooo)! I was and am still nausiated and trying to kick this flu bug that's been going around our family. The smell of the movie theatre popcorn was almost too much to handle. Anyway, we saw "Jumper". I would give it a 6.5 on the 1-10 scale. Pretty good, but it didn't leave me feeling like it was worth the $9.25 a ticket. Joe screamed and screamed for grandma and grandpa while the other kids kept creeping down the stairs and refused to go to bed. Drew survived his first set of boards but has a full day tomorrow. We are gearing up for a yard sale next weekend if the weather permits. Joe had an allergic reaction to amoxicillin, and here also is a picture of Megan's b-day cake. I'm not at all a cake decorater, so thanks to Wal-Mart and the fact that it was valentines time it was easy to make a heart cake which she requested. Thanks for letting me borrow your pans LeAnn!

Our Piano Has a New Family

I'm so glad I posted the piano becuase now it is going to a nice new home. You snooze you lose :-). I am a little sad to see it go because music brings such a nice feeling to the home. I have used the piano a great deal for our daily homeschool. We usually start off with a few songs. The kids have grown to love singing. D.J. now asks if he can sing the songs by himself...he insists everyone else be quiet and listen to him. I am glad they love music. Anyway, as we prepare to get our house ready for sale...we need to simplify a bit. We decided we didn't want to move accross the country with all of this stuff. I'm quite the fan of used items (especially now that we have 5 munchkins). Kids can be hard on furniture and thigs. I do like to fing good quality/prices and feel like we got a great deal though. I'm sure we'll be able to replace a lot when we move home. Drew and I are getting ready for our trip home in June for 2 weeks. We will decide where we will be living, precepting, and working. So, if anyone is brave enough to take 1 kid (except Joe will travel with us)for 1 or both of the weeks, please let me know. We need to find safe and loving places for the older 4 kids...it is TOOOOO expensive to take them along to Oregon. Last summer it cost 2,500 closer to 3,000 by the end of it and we are still paying for that trip. If anyone is inclined for the extra blessings we would be grateful. I'm getting ready to take Joe to the park to play with Lily :-)

Do You Want our Piano?

Hello everybody! Just wanted to let you all know that we are looking to get rid of our piano. Somwhow while out here in IA we have accumulated a LOT of stuff. We are getting ready to have a few yard sales. Need to start scaling down as we prepare for the move and to sell our house. Anyway, the piano has a lot of character and has blessed our family with music. For as old as it is, it's in pretty good tune. The upper registers are a little sharp. Let me know if you want it. IT will take a few guys to move it, but we have a trailer. Thanks!

Busy is an Understatement!

Wow! It's amazing how much is done in one day at the Isaksen house. Many of you know that we are blessed to have Amanda help us out 20 hours per week. Doing everything on my own literally breaks my back. Anyway, she hasn't come over since Wed. and Drew has been at board review. Meanwhile back here at home...Joe has been sick and CLINGY...did I say clingy? What I meant to say is that he would permanantly attach himself to my body if possible. He has been up for nights and nights in a row now. Drew and I are so tired that we both feel throbbing sensations under our eyes and stomache cramping...which I don't know if thats sickness or stress? Hmmm. I've been trying really hard to make sure that all he has to worry about it school this week. Normally he is great about pitching in with the kids and house. The kids have been in a rut lately with all of the changes. The holidays are chaotic for them and drudge up loads of crap (emotionally speaking). And if you can remember we had a nanny for a while that we ended up giving the boot. NOw they are adjusting to a new person. Changes and being stuck inside are taking its toll. Homeschool has been non existent over the past few weeks as I just cannot go on. The children fight me and are very oppositional. I decided not to fight back on this as I want them to embrace learning. Whatever. If I thought they would do any better in school I would send them in a heartbeat. Truth be told, they are not remotely ready for school. They can't even cooperate with the MOPS leaders for 2 hours every Other week. I just get frustrated trying to teach them and feeling like a failure as they continue to do all that is possible to remain DEtached from Drew and I. I feel isolated in the fact that no one that I currently know could possibly fathom what it is like to pour your heart and soul into children who outwardly show you with their behaviors that they cannot accept the love. I wish I could be normal and enjoy getting together with other ladies while the kids play. This is not a pity party though...I love my darlings even if they can't really love me back. (I'm speaking of my older 3). I know the Lord blessed us with them to be in our family and I guess I just have to trust that He will lead us as we continue to parent them. IN other news, I would like to report that I aced my 1st 2 classes and am going strong in my second set. Phew! It is a little strange getting back into a student mode. However, it is a nice diversion from mothering. Anyways...sorry for the vent...but you are the one who decided to keep reading, so there! Hope everyone has a great weekend...and no, there will not be an Isaksen sighting at stake conference this weekend. Drew has board review and even with his help it was a nightmare last time. However, we have BYU tv, so that will have to do. Good night all!

Remembering and missing home

This is the Portland, Oregon Temple. It is the place I met my husband for the first time, the place I did baptisims, received endowments, got married, and later sealed to my children. It holds a lot of wonderful memories. I look forward to being close to it again. I love the fountain and beautiful flowers too. Oregon Valley is known for it's beautiful flowers. It's a great climate. We are counting down now as we have less than a year to move home.

Busy week ahead!

Yes well, it will be a busy one! This month is going to fly on by with everything that is going on. Drew has board review this week and into the weekend, I have finals due by Wednesday, and the kids have their schedules. Next month Drew will be going to a few seminars as well. It's sort of fun having the kids to myself all weekend in a way...because it's different. It end to play more games and have pizza and things for them. I'm stoked about the warmer weather! Woohhooooo! I'm also excited about the progress with the new chiro. Thats it for now!

Check out my Slide Show!