Whipper Snapper

Mondays are the most popular day around here. That's the day our boys get to play with their cousins on PS4. Apparently they get to play games a whole lot more than our boys do. 

I was sitting on my bed trying to fill out applications. That's my 24/7 job, that isn't really a job that makes money now a days. The boys were in the living room playing PS4, with their cousins. 

They talk so loud! Of course I can hear everything they're saying. Isaak called his cousin, "A young whipper snapper". He said it more than once. 

Later I asked Isaak where he got, "A young whipper snapper" from? He said that his other cousin calls him that. Apparently it's a thing they do while they play PS4. Goofs! I haven't heard that term, since my Grandpa said it, I think. 

Mondays

5 Boys!

A few weeks ago I watched 3 of my nephews along with my own kids.

A House Full of Boys!

I had Edison (age 4 1/2), Isaak (age 10 1/2), Elijah (age 10 1/2), Mica (age 13), and Evan (age 13 1/2). A house full of boys! My sister and brother in law went to St Louis  to a conference for Emerson (age 6) who has Trisomy 18.

I wasn't very on top of my picture taking game. It's hard when most of the boys don't want their photos taken. I'm also just bad about taking pictures when it winter time, for the most part. It's dark out, and difficult to get good lighting.

Nap Time

I took that Friday off. We ran errands and washed the car before my nephews got there.

The nephews came, they played outside, then came in. Travis got home from work. He asked me to have them keep it down, so he could take a nap. I said, "Ya right! You really think you're going to get a nap in the living room with 5 boys in the house?"

Nap time never really happened for him.

Game Time

The boys like this game called Pandemic. It's a survival game. Different wide spread illnesses occur, and you have to try and keep them under control. The game is team based. Everyone has to work together to win or loose.

They lost. It still was fun!

Sleep Time:

The youngest one - Edison goes to bed at 7! It kind of dampened the fun we could have had. Our house isn't big enough to put him in one wing of the house, while the rest of us hung out. We have 3 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen with a kitchenet, and a bathroom. Downstairs is an art studio, a laundry area, and a storage room. 

Edison was excited to sleep over! 

Isaak read to him. I always did say that Isaak would be a better big brother than Mica. He's empathetic, and will stand up for people.  He also is a people person. Mica is more independent, bookworm, and goes with the flow - to not piss people off.

Edison said, "Aunt Wissy (Lissy) I have my Whitening (Lightening) McQueen sweeping (sleeping) bag. I’m spending the night for 2 nights here with my brothers." I said, "Yes you are! I think we’ll put the bigger boys outside under the stars though." He looked at me so odd.

We watched Incredibles 2 before bed. Thankfully I won that movie, and it went in Isaak's stocking.

Everything went great as long as Elijah and Isaak were together (10 year olds), and Mica and Evan were together (13 year olds). When they all get mixed up Isaak sometimes gets picked on because he's the younger one in the big kid group. Then he gets sensitive. It helped that the boys had their new and old Kindles. They could share them.

Breakfast:

I made snowman pancakes for breakfast. I knew Edison would appreciate my creativeness. I wanted to do more, but Travis was breathing down my back about spending too long on something we were going to eat anyway.

Basketball Games:

Elijah was supposed to have 2 games, and Isaak 1 on Saturday! I felt a bit like we were going to live at basketball games that day. How do people do it will lots of kids?! My parents were going to help. Then the schedule got switched to just Isaak having a game on Saturday, and Elijah having his games on Sunday. 

We did find out Isaak's team was in too high of a league, for just coming from the Y. We're now lower, and winning games! It's so good to not have that negativity in our lives. The balance of winning some, and losing others is important. 

13 Year Olds:

I am so glad that we could leave the 13 year olds home alone. They got to hang out. We couldn't fit them all in our Subaru. 

What do you like to do if/when you have a house full of kids?

Random Tid Bits

1. I wish I could share good news about my nephew Emerson. He's been in the hospital for seizures. They've tried different meds. Nothing so far has helped. In fact things have just gotten worse for him. His 2 minute seizures are now 15 minutes! All these meds have side effects.
   
   Little Emerson has needed extra O2, a catheter had to be put in because he couldn't pee - they don't scan his bladder right because it is shaped funny, he was blocked with stool, he's sleepy but can't sleep well, he his thyroid was on the low side, he had a fever, he got a huge rash from one med that they have had to stop. Some doctors are all about helping Emerson, while others won't even show up. My heart melts for their family.
   
   I'm taking in Emerson's 3 brothers this Friday for the Isaak's school Fall Festival.
   
   
   



2. Isaak keeps getting papers like this sent home: 




To me it's crazy to grade 4/4, but whatever he's doing well.


3. Isaak got into Show Choir. I'm so glad he's taking his own path, and not following in his brother's footsteps. Mica did great! Isaak is Isaak. They are two different people with two different personalities. 


4. Mica to is doing well. He got a postcard in the mail from his math teacher saying how he's doing so great in class. Mica seemed proud! That was good.
   
   It inspired me to talk with my good students, and tell them how proud I am of how hard they work. I don't think it's going to go to their heads. They worked for it, and deserve it.


5. I'd say I'm ready for a relaxing weekend, but it will be a busy one: The boy's school Fall Festival with 3 cousins tagging along, an overnight with cousins, flu shots on Saturday morning, basket ball game Sat. morning, a friend get together somewhere in there (she's visiting), the boy's Leadership Camp Sat. night, and maybe Sun. will be a clean-up craft day.
   
   What do you have planned for the weekend?

We Need a Bigger Couch

This weekend we took in our nephews: Evan (age 12), Elijah (age 9) and Edison (age 3). 

It's great that 2 of my nephews are only a few months apart from my boys. We used to watch them a few days a week when they were itty bitty. They are certainly not strangers to the Apel house.

Their brother Emerson (6) is still in the hospital battling seizures. They keep trying different meds, which have all kinds of side effects. Emerson has been sleepy, but can't sleep. The boy needed O2. He can't go to the bathroom, so they put in a catheter. His skin and lips are dry. Then just tested his thyroid, and it's on the underactive side. My sister keeps wanting to know the meds they put him on, and why. They look at her with a blank stare. She has her masters in nursing education. She keeps that under wraps just in case they expect her to do everything for Emerson. A few doctors are talking about sending him to an Epilepsy Center, which the closest one my sister would send him to is in Cleveland, Ohio. YIKES!

With all that stress we tried to be upbeat with Emerson's brothers. 

I forgot how much a 3 year old loves to help! He gathered produce from our garden with Travis. He helped me make a cake for Cake Walk at Isaak's school, and he helped me make Lego Gummies. Edison was much more excited about chores than my boys. Ha!

It's good Edison had fun. I can't imagine the stress in his little life with his mom and brother always at the hospital for a week. It doesn't look like they are coming home anytime soon.

Edison loves Isaak! I asked Edison, "Where's Isaak?" He responded with, "You mean my buddy?" I said, "Ya him." He went to get Isaak for me.

These boys seem to all get a long very well. 

It looks like we could use a longer couch! I'd love to go shopping for a Living Room Furniture Set! I'd love to get a 5 Piece Sectional Living Room Set! Then the boys could spread out a bit.

If I had a sectional, I'd have plenty of room to put the boys in blankets, and toss them up onto the couch. Isaak still thinks he's small enough for a blanket toss. Trust me he's getting heavy. My nephew Edison is the perfect age for that though! It is pretty fun!

What piece of furniture would you like to replace? 

Easter Greats

Greats:

We had our big family Easter on Saturday.

Everyone brings different things to eat. I made a veggie tray and green tea matcha sugar cookies. There were only 8 small cookies left, so the kids must have loved them. There was a whole buffet of desserts. Travis made a rice dish.

All the littles with my Grandpa. He's a Great Grandpa to all these kids - except one. Isaak's in the light purple shirt, and Mica's poking out behind him. He has 9 grandchild (including me), and 15 great grandchildren. The girl in the red pants in the back was put into this group, but she's a grandchild, not a great grandchild.

My Aunt Becky puts on a big Easter Egg Hunt. I added a few things to the hunt that I've gotten for review: Glow in the Dark Rings and yo-yos, and cat and dog dry erasers. 

Here's my parents with their grandchildren:

Do you have a big family get together?

Nephew Time

Last week was hectic for sure. My 5 year old nephew Emerson went to the hospital again. I can't even count how many times he's been in this year. He's the nephew I have that has Trisomy 18, which is too much of the 18th chromosome.

It started with him going in awhile back because he wasn't able to breathe very well. He went in and out of the hospital about 3 times for that. My sister wondered the whole time if it was from a hernia he had - possibly it grew. Instead of checking that, they were looking into small seizures he was having. That wasn't his main problem. The hernia was. The hernia was finally fixed. It was pressing on his lungs, and colon. The surgeon doctor decided to put in a tube that would help flush him out when he needed to go to the bathroom. Before the hernia grew he had no problem going to the bathroom.

Since then the flush tube has been a huge problem. We all wish it was never put in. His little body doesn't want to accept this foreign object inside him. He's fine while he's on antibiotics, starts to go off them, then he's a mess. Recently the antibiotics were making him sick. He starts draining through the tube, he gets a fever, his white blood cell count goes up, and he's not himself.

After a few days in the hospital he's fine again. The IV fluids help!

It's a back and forth affair.

Last week at the end of the day I went over to watch my other 3 nephews, and my 2 sons to help out. I was supposed to pay my sister back with a date night. Instead it was a hospital trip night. One nephew was closed into his room because they thought he had Strep Throat. He ended up testing positive to that. Yuck! That's like the 2nd or 3rd time he got that this year. When it rains, it rains hard! He's the one that's Mica's age.

I really only had to watch 1 kid with all 5 I had to be responsible for. Mica, Isaak and my nephew Elijah played and played. No fights! I love watching Elijah and Isaak play together. They are such great buddies. They are only 2 months apart.

They played basketball, on the trampoline, and some video games. They included Mica too. I wanted to get a good photo of just them though.

The one I had to watch like a hawk was Edison - the almost 3 year old. He usually wants nothing to do with me. We became friends after a little time. We made faces at each other. He's really into Back to the Future, so we watched that.

Edison looks like his brother Elijah above!

Edison and I finished the evening out by reading lots of books! He kept handing me Sandra Boynton books, which I've made up my own songs to them. Edison enjoyed me singing to him. He kept say, "Again!" But his favorite word is, "What?" 

Elijah had his big friend birthday on Friday. The only thing he asked for was Orange Fluff for dessert. His Dad was too busy cleaning, and preparing for his party to get the fluff. We checked 3 store's deli sections. No Orange Fluff. I call it "Orange Crap" because I don't like the stuff. Ha! 

Emerson's (the one in the hospital) old Occupational Therapist came in to see him when my sister was feeling really low. My sister told her about the many hospital visits, some doctor's not making time to see him, and missing Elijah's birthday, and him not getting the one thing he asked for. That sweet girl went home to make Orange Fluff. She brought it to Elijah the next morning for breakfast. It's so crazy how something so simple can bring tears to your eyes. Things can be so dang frustrating, and turn your emotions around like a snap of a finger. Then you feel blessed. Orange Crap turned into Orange Fluff Gold in my mind.

What has made you feel blessed this week?

WW: Family Gathering {Linky}

We had my oldest nephew Ethan's birthday party this weekend. I try and come up with interesting ways to give money. This time I put $20 in a money maze. You have to get this tiny ball through the maze before you can open it up. I have to say that I kind of messed this all up. I put money in 1 of the 2 we have. I forgot which one I put the money in. I had to do 2 mazes, found out the money wasn't in either of them, and was glad I had extra cash laying around. 

My Dad and I making faces:

My youngest nephew Edison made a face too:

My sister was dog sitting this Labradoodle named Moose.

The cousins enjoying an app:

E.T.

What a weekend!

On Saturday we had a family get together. My nephew Emerson was fussy the whole time. My sister took him to the doctor's office. They determined it was his 6 years molars coming in that was bothering him. I held him. It seemed like the only time he'd stop fussing is when I blew raspberries on his cheeks - in the spots where his molars are coming in.

In the night Emerson got worse. He was super fussy, was having trouble breathing, was cold, and when my sister Terra checked his heart rate it was all out of wack. They called my parents over to take care of her other kids, and rushed Emerson to the ER.

They ran some tests, did some x-rays, and came up with no answers.

I took in my other nephews on Sunday. It was a packed day for sure! The youngest Edison is only 2. We had potty training going on. He repeated everything the boys said. Edison wouldn't go anywhere without his brother Elijah by his side. Elijah had to go to the bathroom with him. Edison said, "You pee too!" Edison had no accidents.

We built a giant train track for Edison.

Here they all are:

My oldest nephew Evan was pooped! He had a Boy Scout sleepover. 

We went to the hospital. I didn't know if I should take up my two. As if I want them to get whatever nasty germs there are in the hospital. It was kind of hard not to. We had a potty seat in our car. Evan hadn't seen his parents all weekend because of the Boy Scout sleepover. Edison was asking for Mommy and Daddy all day. We washed our hands at every elevator stop. 

The lady at the front desk couldn't believe how many boys there were. We had to spell out all their names because they are unusual names for the most part. I think at first she was thinking, "Oh no! Look at all these kids!" She quickly realized that they are good kids. 

Emerson was still fussy. My sister was dead tired. Isaak asked why his finger was glowing. I said, "He's E.T. phoning home." My brother-in-law laughed and said, "Actually he's E.C. Emerson Charles." I explained the real reason why Emerson's finger was glowing to Isaak.  

The hospital still doesn't know what's wrong with Emerson. He did vomit in the middle of the night, and seemed much better after that. He slept pretty good, and went to the bathroom on the toilet. He's a little more smily.

My sister with Emerson

It takes 24 hours to get blood samples tested, so maybe something will turn up. With kids like him that have Trisomy 18 they kind of have their own unique systems. They get Pneumonia really easily. Emerson does have a hernia that she thought may be the culprit of the problem, but the X-rays showed no real threats. He does throw doctors for a loop at times. 

Evan their oldest son went home, and threw up. I'm hoping it was just because he didn't sleep and eat well because of his Boy Scout event. I used to get stomach issues after a weekend where I had an overnight. It seems like every Thanksgiving and Christmas one family has the stomach flu. I hope we're not next. 

Kids

I love kids for the most part. I always have. Sure there are days where I want to trap myself in a quiet room, but I think we all have those days.

There was one time where I felt really bad:

On a bus in Atlanta a kid kept staring at me. Now usually after I smile, they smile too. They won't come to me, but they'll smile at me. Then if I make a face, they'll laugh. Well the kid on the bus many moons ago didn't laugh. They flat out started to scream cry like someone hit them. I wanted to hide, but instead confessed that I was just trying to be friendly to the kid, and scared them. I didn't dare tell the mom that I was making silly faces at their child. I 
apologized.

The Mom huffed, and puffed and blew the bus down. Ok not really.

I felt like she gave me the death stare. You'd think after apologizing that she'd be ok. Nope! I hope she didn't think I was a creeper that was trying to win over her kid, and kidnap him. No, No, No!

There were a lot of times where I didn't feel bad at all:

My cousin's kids are the types that won't come to me at first. They kind of giggle, and run away.

I crawl over to them and say, "BOO!" They giggle some more.

Then we exchange silly faces.

After that we're the best of friends. I even let them use my camera.

WW: Stuck {Linky}

This last weekend my oldest sister invited us over for lunch. We all brought something, and spent a few hours together.

The boys love spending time with their cousins. 

They played foosball. Mica knocked the bar out of place. He put his hand and arm inside the table to fix the bar, and his hand got stuck. 

Three different kids came up the steps saying, "Mica's arm is stuck!" Three adults went downstairs, and I said, "Hey wait here's my camera to take a picture." I'm such a punk of a mom! I would have so been the type to tickle him, while he was stuck to. 

My Brother-in-law is a firefighter that gets stuck calls sometimes. He told Mica how to move his arm to free it up. Minus a bruise he's ok.

After that the kids went to a park.

They came home and played a game on a phone.

 

Overnight Guests

My kids spent the night at my sister's house many weeks ago. I like to return the favor. Not just for them to have peace and quiet, but also because the kids enjoy it. I'm not sure how peaceful it is for them anyhow. They have 2 other very dependent kids: Emerson that has special needs, and Edison that's not even a year. 

It just so happened that my dear husband has Fridays off. He had a day planned of all kinds of errands he needed to get done. He was downtown. Bam our Honda Pilot wouldn't turn over. It wasn't a locked steering wheel; it was some other issue with the key. We were having another issue with it, but were waiting to send it in until it needed an oil change, or that recall part came in. Luckily he didn't have to get it towed. He took it in, and then got a ride from Honda to our beloved home.

Long story short there's a few things wrong with it and it will be about $3,000. That's when I want to cuss big time! Mother bleeper! Not to mention I found out the cost today on our anniversary. Happy 13 years...oh you owe $3,000 + the cost of a rental due to the fact that hubby works no where near me now. :(

Dad got home after a LONG afternoon. He got about 1/2 the things he wanted done, done.

Then my nephews came over. I had a wonderful coupon for Abby's. I pick up 4 sandwiches, 1 large fry, and 2 meals for Dad and I for about $18. Not to shabby. Then we all got green beans.

I got a call from the library, "Is Mica coming to the Avatar Lock-In?"

Source

Ya I forgot that I signed Mica up for that 3 weeks ago. There was an extra opening at the Lock-In, so Evan and Mica went. 

I guess they both ate 3 or 4 more pieces of pizza. WTH! They ran it all off playing laser tag. Yep they play laser tag in the library. 

I was a little worried because Mica's friend from school was there with his brother. I was worried that my Nephew Evan would get left out. Nope Mica's friend's brother was the one that was left out. I hate hearing that. :( I dislike when kids get the shaft! On the up side they were both hot from running and running. They had fun.

Isaak and my nephew Elijah played so well at our house. Usually Isaak gets dissed with the big kids around. Not this time. They went swinging outside, they drew pictures and played tick tac toe on their Boogie Boards, played with moon sand, and dyed Easter eggs. 

In the morning I made Cherry Coffee Cake (Mica begged for that one), we had our dyed eggs, steamed greens and fruit smoothies.

Elijah said, "I can't eat this egg Aunt Lissy. It's just too pretty to eat." He took it home in a baggie.

Just in case you haven't been around a bunch of little boys in awhile, this is what it's like:

Cousin Time

My youngest nephew Edison was crawling around in circles. All the boys were following him. I wish I would have gotten the camera out sooner. The other photos I got were blurry because the kids were moving around so much. Isaak loves Edison so much. He's a real baby magnet.

Mica and my nephew Edison

My Nephew's Evan and Edison. Edison's brothers that are Mica and Isaak's ages come up to grab their brother. It's like they are mini parents.

Are you a baby person? I am.

WW: Planet of the Gorillas {Linky}

We went to the zoo with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.  We were celebrating Grandpa Spiehs' birthday.

I tried getting a shot with the older cousins in the picture, but those shots didn't really turn out. Here are the younger ones:

From left to right: Cousin Elijah, Isaak, Cousin Evan and Mica

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