Just Because - Grateful

#7 coming late July

Linking up with Rosie

The Storm before the Storm

The tale of what lead up to baby J's arrival...

The weeks before he was born was a flurry of ALL the doctor appointment I can possibly handle. And my patience continues to grows during doctor appointments. Though it never fails to boggle my mind why appointments are scheduled and you still end up waiting 20-45 minutes to even get called to see the doctor. I mean, I GET it there's paperwork and processing and things that come up and stuff and stuff but my time is valuable too, you know. I digress because nothing's going to change and I ought to be thankful rather than whiny.

Honestly all the doctor appointments really started piling up right after we got back from the beach - the second week of July. Between biweekly OB appointments and ENT checks and dentists and someone getting a tooth pulled because of an abscess - oh and I don't think I've mentioned this but maybe I have.... there were several heads that had lice in our house at the end of July - which was terrible and I don't think you can fully understand the implications of lice unless you have had kids who have had it and you are constantly wondering if you nitpicked well enough and olive oil and yellow Listerine and apple cider vinegar are your BFF for days. On top of an extremely busy pool season plus being a thousand weeks pregnant... I probably need therapy to process all that happened between July 4th and J's arrival.

In fact I think the last three weeks had been even more medical-filled and we have the stacks of bills to prove it. So thankful we live in a time and place that we can get all this stuff taken care of but man has it been exhausting.

Ear aches
Check ups
Waxy ears requiring colase to get it moving
Dental check ups with cavities found
One of the two cavities filled
OB appts
And the hardest hitter... an abscess on a leg that came out of nowhere

I found the abscess late Wednesday night (8 days before baby J) and I was fully prepared to go to the ER that night and dragged Lee home from his Bible Study - I was totally freaked out because at that point I had no idea where it super painful spot came from. It was not black and blue like a bruise but it was basically untouchable.

After doctor appointment 1 of 5 for abscess - what else do you do when you get some news you don't want to hear because your 39.5 weeks pregnant and ain't nobody got time for an abscess... chocolate milkshakes of course

Thursday, Friday and Saturday were sprinkled with pediatrician visits to the point where I wonder when the credit card company is going to call to confirm they are legit transactions.

When part of your treatment plan is taking hot baths and because you're number 4, mom never gives baths because showers are way easier... relish in lots of baths!

Saturday afternoon A and I trekked up to a children's hospital to get the thing drained. Now I imagine draining with a needle and some sort of suction device. Well, let's just say that's not exactly what happened.... at all. I was pretty unprepared for the 20-30 minutes of screaming and tears and MAMAAAAAAAAAAAS that is freshly in my mind.

He was so hungry and so pitiful 

After two popsicles and watching Thomas on the iPad while soccer was on the TV, A was pretty unfazed. I made the long walk to dig the van out of the parking deck (why would a MAJOR hospital only have about 20 parking spots for both the ped ER and regular ER). On the way in I discovered the van is in fact taller than 7 ft 4in courtesy of the plastic bar thing which I scraped the whole way down. SWEEEEEEEEET

I made good on the chocolate ice cream promise I made before/during the hospital visit and we got dinner while we were there and I drowned all my emotions of the last 6 hours into my cheeseburgers and fries (and then proceeded to feel terrible the next day but it was totally worth it).

Such a long day!

Sunday was quiet which also happened to be my due date. A's abscess still looked pretty bad especially with the hole from the ER in the middle of it.

Monday held another doctor appointment. A new medicine (not without its issues of course) and hope that we might not have to go back to the ER for another draining of this crazy thing - next time they'd sedate him which I wished they had done the first time. Though, I have to admit, I love to block out L&D but seeing A go through what he did - I have a bit of a different perspective and thinking, if he can do that, then I can do L&D.

Tuesday was uneventful during the day. Tuesday evening Lee and I squeezed in one more date night without a third wheel - which was so nice, and then Tuesday night I couldn't sleep. I was semi-convinced I might be in labor but not convinced enough to do anything about it. Wednesday morning I told Lee I wanted him to go to the pediatrician with me and A which was the final check before another trip to the ER or a wait-and-see because the medicine was working. Then we'd go to the OB to see what the deal was - even though I was to be induced the next morning.

I kept thinking to myself - come on and just hold out until everyone and everything is in place and planned for - PLEEEEEEEEASE.

Well my plans were foiled because my OB couldn't see me until 1 - he was in surgery. A's appointment went well and we did not have to get the abscess drained. So Lee was on kid duty for the rest of the day and I went to work for a few hours and then trekked to the OB.

While there the nurse used the doppler and discovered that baby's heartrate was in the 180s - which is pretty high - especially considering the week before it was in the 130s. So off to the ultrasound room which confirmed everything appeared to be fine and also I swear the tech said something about 'baby girl' - and I was pretty much validated in my assumption that this baby was in fact a girl (so I clearly misheard her). Then my mind floated to the girls name and how I liked the first name but wasn't convinced of on the middle name - much like M's middle name which I have come to adore. Then the 20 minute fetal heartrate monitor. I'm pretty sure I had more than 2 people ask me if I had any caffeine that day to which my reply was, I had only had water and I wasn't hungry.

With the option to go to the hospital then (I wasn't dilated - but maybe in early labor) or go home and drink a bunch of water and eat something decent, I opted for the latter and headed home a bit more assured I wasn't in active labor - I hadn't been in natural labor since R - so 7.5 years ago and I think I was worried I was going to forget what it felt like.

That night Jibbe stayed the night just in case we had to bolt to the hospital - which we didn't but it felt better knowing if we needed to I wouldn't be waking up neighbors and waving them on to our house as we sped out of the neighborhood.

So that's our story and I'm sticking to it. In hindsight the last 3 Saturdays have had completely different feels.

This Saturday - coaching A's soccer game with baby J by our side. I think coaching is semi-therapeutic for me

The Saturday before - sitting in the pediatricians office doing the happy dance that I was NOT in the hospital with baby J and getting the play-by-play updates on M and A's soccer games, wishing I could watch Lee with all five big kids out on the soccer fields, watching Lee single-handedly man the house and the laundry and antics

The Saturday before that one - wanting to be the one to take A to the pediatrician to the final check on the abscess, coaching M's soccer game, getting a text from Lee that said the ER was in our near future, experiencing the ER, coming home crying thankful that A was okay but emotionally drained from everything he went through - mama's of sick kids, I don't know how you do it. A wasn't even that sick or in the hospital for long and it sucked the life out of me.

So who knows what crazy adventure will happen to our house next but for what we've been through, I hope we get a little down time before

Pascha 2019

He is Risen!

Well we survived Holy Week and all the church services that go along with it. I'd be lying if I didn't think we'd do terribly because Palm Sunday was ROUGH. Next year I need to remember that my children can get palms AFTER church. There was so much controversy surrounding the palms and who had what and why was this one bigger and let's rip the palm in half to get two palms... Church endorsed liturgical distractions I tell you!

Pascha was actually quite chilly - but dry. It rained ALOT Holy Week. I had to do a quick swap from sandals to tights for the girls but at least it wasn't raining and so the post church feast of City Chicken and Pascha cheese and lots of feast worthy goodies went off without a hitch. I told Lee I wanted to bring a pepperoni pizza but that plan got nixed because it was totally impractical and it wouldn't be fresh. 

Then we headed to my parents for basket hunts - some of which ended up hidden on the roof? and more really good food. The big girls stayed a few days and dyed eggs and made Easter cookies - which were some of the best if you ask me or Lee. The house was eerily quiet on Monday night at 7:30 - A and C were in bed and Lee and I just kind of sat and enjoyed the peace. Thinking back at one point or another it was always pretty quiet around 7:30 when E and R were 3 and almost 2. 

The volume around the house will certainly not be lowering anytime soon and come September it will be increased by one little person. Baby number six will be gracing us with his or her presence a month after school starts! We are very excited and honestly I am actually ready - as ready as one can get - for another baby. C is great but she isn't a baby any more. She is almost two with a lot of sass and spunk and opinions. I think everyone is on Team A Needs a Brother which is the only reason I'd even consider finding out boy or girl (but I didn't). Given our track record there's really only a 20% chance this baby is a boy and A has already declared this baby - his baby brudder. 

7QTs - Sweets, Sports, Squirrels

Linking up with Kelly ... there's been a mountain of happenings this week!

---1---

The tail end of this week swirled with amillion and a half baby comments. 

ExampleS...

When the next one... 

What if you keep on having babies...

Andrew needs a little bro...

How many carseats can you fit in your van?...

Well its about time for the next one, right?

Are pregnant? You/re not pregnant, right?

OH MY GOODNESS

I kinda cannot handle it. Do I look pregnant? I mean i know we have five kids but gracious. There is not another baby to speak of at this point in time... but on God's time maybe we just might have another one or two or three or I don't know. I just cannot think about it because life is crazy^loca. We will loving and graciously welcome and be blessed by any future Kibbe babies. But for now let's not talk about BC or TT or Vs because we don't do that. And let's not be surprised in 3 or 6 or 9 or 12 months that there is another Kibbe baby because let's face it babies are A-mazing and they seem to be in the cards these days. My mom and mother-in-law totally pegged me for it when I was pregnant with C so if you are DYING to know when I'm pregnant then ask them.... because you know how we keep things under wraps until 14ish weeks.

Anyhow... happily Kibbe party of SEVEN... (that's insane!?!?!?) for now. 

But if I cannot come up with a quick and witty follow up to baby innuendos... well whatever 

---2---

More and more soccer.... 

M took about a zillion videos after her practice this week. All of them lasted about 1 seconds so whatever. The weather has been bizarrely chilly so Papa was home to man 3 of 5 so it was M and E and me for the long haul. 

---3---

Big news for little peeps...

C started MMO this week. She's doing great and I'm getting the hang of this whole having to drop a kid off at daycare thing - like with names on bottles and snacks and stuff - the kids preschool converted from half day into half day and full day about 2 years ago so the state regulates the rooms and there just a lot more paperwork but still the same great atmosphere... It is taking some getting used to but C is actually in a class of kids all less than 12 months and I half expect her to crawl up to me one day when I pick her up.... but for now no. She's also got one nice shiny tooth in the bottom of there little bitty mouth. 

It has also been a big week for A... This guy has been interested in using the potty / accepting of my potty treats (aka bribery). He actually came and got me today and said potty and walked me into the bathroom. So turning a corner maybe? I'm not getting my hopes up but I'm also not trying to totally ignore him because he is motivated and interested. 

---4---

We are out of the Lenten meal schedule and onto some of the weekday favorites... (except by Lee but he is hungry so he eats it anyway)

TACOS!!!

Which brings me to my main point. The meat and more importantly the grease. The grease from the ground meant from a store is kind of a watery goo. The grease from the 1/4 cow we got from 15 miles down the road is straight grease. We'll be welcoming another 1/2 cow here before too long and we're trying to use all the meat we have before the new one. Lee cooked brisket today (hello temp sensor cooker) and it was a-mazing. 

---5---

This picture pains me so...   

The cleats I had since high school finally bit the dust last week. like dry rotted and the pegs fell off during practice. #ripcleats   Also those cleats hurt my feet because they were way small so after some price and SIZE shopping these are the new keepers. Trying to not memorialize my old cleats too much but gracious... babies will do a number to your foot size and also I need a new pair of Brooks running shoes and those are more expensive than these cleats!

---6---

The last 28 hours have been a barrel-o-monkeys.... 

Thursday evening was R tee ball and E soccer practice. We stopped at the Dollar General for marshmellows because R has bake sale for pizza luck the next day and Rice Krispy treats are my game for bake sale. BUT DG was not taking credit cards and I carry about .24 cents in cash around so that was an 8:15 P to the M bummer. I wen't out and got the necessary mellows after showers.

Lee woke me up to make them. I was happy to get to make them because when E had pizza lunch and 2nd was on bake sale duty it was the FLU OF 2018 around these parts so they settled for store bought goodness. 

On top of the pizza lunch (which I have never been to) there was a fiesta wrapping up our school's annual fundraising campaign which I somehow ended up co-chairing. So Sno-Balls it was

A and M snuck in

A got a Sno-Ball and a half because the lady doing it gave him another half after he and I polished off the Blue Raspberry because he kept asking for purrrrr-plllll. 

As if pizza lunch and Sno-Balls weren't enough. E got an extra blast of sugar because it was one of her classmate's birthdays. 

Basically for me that meant

7:38 - leave house

12:14.99999 - pick kids up from preschool

12:38 - get home

1:17 - leave for sno-balls after doing lunch for littles

1:43 - get to school 

1:45 - wave the snowball guy into parking lot

3:18 - leave school after snowballs and stuff and talking 

4:02 - leave for R and M's last swim lesson

4:35 - start swim lesson...listen to E whine about how hot she is (even though I brought her a bathing suit) and keep A from walking into pool

5:45 - go to park

5:59 - toss E into soccer clinic; Lee exchanges A and R (who is going with friend to bubble funness)

7:29 - Get home, wonder where Lee is (hello busy brew mill and dinner pick up location)

8:24 - get A in bed

8:50 - send girls to bed 

BECAUSE...................................

---7---

Saturday kicked off Spring Sports Season 2018... 

Soccer for E

Teeball for R 

Soccer for M

Spectating for A and C

We did lunch in between the soccer and tee ball games (praise the LORD we live close to the fields) but still we opted for eating at the field. Lee and Jibbe were able to be at both soccer games (again Thank You Lord) because I was coaching. And E's group is kind of really intense which is really fun and nerve racking at the EXACT SAME TIME. 

M's team is cute. They are the Flying Squirrels. M wanted to be the squirrels but Flying Squirrels sound way cooler. But also she and I tell E and R we eat squirrels for lunch everyday and it drives them crazy so it is kind of an inside joke between me and M -which I love. M scored 2 goals and after a sluggish start pepped up and looked great. 

R had tee ball for the 4th season if I am not mistaken.

They're going to get married one day. 

C was a trooper but was sooooooo  so so very done when the tee ball game started. 

A was pretty restless too and melted down on the way to the van which was excellent because Papa wasn't there to intercede so it was double fisting A and a stroller because that's how we roll sometimes

R had a good hit in the game (but then forgot to run)

E had a good game. She ran a lot and played goalie for a quarter (chip off the old block). She cried about the ref-ing and complained that she didn't want pink on her jerseys but SE LA VIE... pretty par the course for her. Her team won a good game and it is such a joy to coach even if my other kids are melting down

E is trying to wrap up a bunch of badges for AHG. 

#mayiscoming

Which is exciting and nerve racking at the same time. 

Here's to it all.

MayHem and Almost MayDay...

Alternatively, the month that ALMOST (but didn't) break me. I wanted to chronicle the sheer craziness of this month in a single post so that in a few years with a few more activities and at this rate a few more kids, I can look back and reflect on what I thought was really, really hard. 

May 1, 2017 

I purposefully didn't change over the April calendar to the May calendar because I just couldn't. That April calendar was pretty full. May was fuller and I just couldn't bear the thought of seeing it. Spring sports, after school stuff, end of year stuff, Lee's work schedule... Once I finish this post I will most happily put up the more reasonable June calendar. 

There are so many things about this month that I want to remember because they were fun or character building or the kids loved it or whatever. But I really could not have done it without family and friends stepping up and helping. 

May kicked off with me being in charge of a teacher luncheon at school. I asked a friend (which I NEVER DO) to pick up R and M from school and feed them lunch so I could just have A to mess with for lunch. I had to take off work (again a stress point that I recognize) and get it done and boom it was over. Just like that. No problems. All the food showed up and I believe a good time was had by all. 

Being a Monday M had soccer and being May Papa was not there to go to the game. He's a pool man by day and a deacon in his free time. M had soccer several Mondays in May. Fortunately Jibbe came to the rescue for at least one or two games and some super kind mom (you know how you are!) helped keep A at bay during the games. E and R learned that they can goof off that the games just not RIGHT IN FRONT OF ALL THE PARENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO WATCH THEIR 3 YR OLDS PLAY. There was lots of growth and teachable points (and threats - because let's be honest). Did I have to coach M's team in the spring, while 30+ weeks pregnant. No. Of course not. But I like it. I really like it and that's why I don't mind it adding to the madness. 

E has been attentive to her herb responsibilities but I think she killed a Japanese maple I asked her to water... but whatever. 

Everyone was dragged around town to various things. A usually screamed when we got in the car but once he was free to roam the great outdoors he was happy. Activities were missed because I'm only one mom with one minivan minibus and learning that you don't always get to do things that you want to and making a sacrifice for someone else's practice or game or whatever is not a terrible thing to learn when you are 6. 

We had much later nights that I would like to remember. E's 7 pm soccer practice was EASY for Lee to manage picking her up but that meant a later night for her and meant me being on bedtime patrol for the other 3. I know I take for granted Lee cleaning up the kitchen while I get everyone in bed in the fall and winter because just when I thought the night was winding down and everyone is quiet I remember the mountain of dirty breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, water bottles and pans that are waiting to be cleaned. Though I have found, there is some gratification I get in having the house cleaned up by the time Lee rolls in the house. I know he appreciates a clean kitchen and while he may not say it, I know it. Just like I appreciate all his HOURS of hardwork he puts in everyday and I probably don't tell him enough that I appreciate it. Having a cleaned up kitchen let's him know I care and so I don't mind doing the dishes nearly as much during the summer. 

I've learned that I can always do a little bit more when I'm doing something for other people. I can power through just a little bit easier when it's not about me but serving. 

Even though I might reap some of the benefits : ) 

Please note the weather machine says it is raining 7 inches an hour. This was on a Friday morning AFTER Lee had left at 5:45 for work. It doesn't seem like he has caught a break this year with weather and staff and workload. There's loads to be thankful for because it has been a feast of a year. He kept saying - just let's get to Memorial Day and things will be more reasonable - like not working 6 days a week and 60-70 hour weeks. I'm still convinced that it will be July 4th before that happens but we'll see. I just keeping praying to St. Joseph and realize that worrying and stressing isn't helping anyone. 

All the while the normal school and preschool and work stuff is going on. The kids ask when Papa's getting home and might catch a glimpse of him in the morning. R has struggled with him being gone the most probably. Even though she's not the first to give him a squeeze or need to tell him all about her day... There have been multiple times she just comes down or is melting down and says - she just misses Papa. Yeah me too, me too. 

The first Friday of May we went to a company pig picking which was so fun. 

A loved the balloons 

And the girls loved the piñata. 

I am so grateful for the people I work for (at both jobs). I really really do. Family is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS first. That is an irreplaceable work environment that probably is not the norm. In two - yes two - short weeks baby #5 will be making an appearance and for the fifth time (barring anything insane) we'll be setting up camp in office for a few months. Something I really must remember to no take for granted. 

This would be Lee pulling into the yard past 9 pm on the same day he left at 5:45... 

There's been loads and loads of laundry to be done and when Lee's working full force his clothes require the full force laundry treatment : ) I still have not figured out how to do wash during the week without it sitting for 2 days until I realize its there and then it stinks so I have to rewash it and then it sits in the dryer and requires extra fluffing because everything is so stinking wrinkly. 

The kids have banded together and realized that I need help. This is E trying to put A unsuccessfully in the swing

Then there are moments like this that make all the madness worth it. They absolutely adore this man and so do I. 

We managed round 3 of the Rocket Mile and forced me to reflect on parts of my motherhood. 

I've killed my fair share of flies and in this case horsefly (because not taking chances with the towel with this one) but praise the Lord we have not had any snake encounters to report. 

Of course we had to celebrate E's birthday - again that was one for the books of family coming together and helping us out. 

Sometimes we'd patronize the playground after soccer and tee ball games just because we had a few extra minutes to spare. 

Mother's Day was tossed into the mix of May. Honestly if our family could permanently transfer Mother's Day to December that'd be great. 

This month I learned just how mischievous M is. She's the one I'm going to have to keep my eye on over the next few months. 

In addition to taking myself to the doctor a few times this month - because ain't nobody got time for that - A went to the doctor and there is a chance that he might need tubes in his ears. More on that next week. 

There's been lots of afternoons outside and complaining that its too hot. I keep telling them just wait until summer but I don't think they believe me!

My sanity has been saved more than once by raining afternoon that have canceled sport games and practices. It seems that the rain comes just at the right time so that I don't totally lose it. I have found that having a dinner plan for the week is CRUCIAL. Whether we stick to it 100% is questionable but at least having things on hand to cook rather than scrambling at the last minute is definitely a saving grace. 

R visited her school for next year and I didn't have a total emotional breakdown. If we had been less busy I probably would have. 

R and M wrapped up preschool for the year

I finally let them turn on the sprinkler and have some fun because they pretty much deserved it. E had Field Day and Grammy came and stepped up so that E would have someone there - and she might be on the hook for future Field Day's now that a precedent has been set. 

The sports season seemed never ending because of the rain we've had but the girls really do enjoy it. So despite all the traipsing around - even though the ball fields are less than 5 minutes from the house - watching them makes it worth it. 

E went to a swim clinic and I didn't realize how much she liked it until I read a journal entry that came home from school. 

R literally made a new friend. 

There have been dance parties and parades louder than I could possibly imagine. 

There's been playing in the rain because I just don't have a good enough excuse as to why not. (even though the clothes really should have been washed the same day - that was a lesson learned). 

I've nested a bit and sorted the mountain of clothes that really just needed to be put in appropriate bins. The baby bin has been drug out and the infant bucket seat unearthed but still no hospital bag packed. Let's see other things that can be gleaned from this pic. Andrew actually spent another week in this crib because the crib in M's room was broken until the following weekend because Lee has been a hair busy. Also, the curtain is now finally ready to go back and get fixed. I really like our shades but they are a bear to fix and this one has been broken for ohhhhh.... about a month or two. 

We had a nice Memorial Day complete with Papa, pool opening, cookout and Sno-Balls. 

Then the flurry of all things end of the year set in the last few days of the month...

End of American Heritage Girls for the year. 

End of the Year celebration at school. I took videos since Lee couldn't be there. It is so hard knowing that the kids want to see their Papa at these kinds of EOY stuff because their friends have their dads there. But E kind of gets it but that doesn't make it any easier. Yeah, it's a bummer... I know, I know, I know, I KNOW

We've ventured to the pool sans Papa and lived to tell about it.

And then on the first day of June we wrapped up E's soccer, R's tee ball and M's soccer in a triple header of a night capped with Papa seeing EVERYONE play. 

But on any given day, during the month of May you could probably find.... 

Some amount of clothes that needed to be washed, 

My kitchen needing attention, 

Okay lots of attention, 

Me and the kids and the bump flying through Sam's, 

and wondering where in the world all the cargo space is in this massive van. 

We were probably running a few minutes late, but not terribly late.

You probably could hear the squawking minibus brakes when I back up because I need to ask about that when I take it in for service. 

I probably was second guessing myself about where to park the van because I swear the entire soccer fields have watched me try and park that monstrosity - and it ain't pretty. 

Me raising my voice at the kids and subsequently regretting it because they miss their Papa just as much as I do. 

You might even catch us going to the dump and singing the Dump Song (because we have one) since Papa's been too busy to go himself. 

But at the end of the day, at the end of this crazy, crazy month I'll probably never be able to remember all the good, all the grace, all the growth that has come from these experiences. God is so good and has certainly given us these moments. Even though I think He gives us more than we are able, He never fails to see us though it all.