Posted in Random Thoughts
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See more Wordless Wednesdays over at 5 Minutes for Mom! |
Posted in Random Thoughts
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Go visit Connie over at Smockity Frocks and check out her adorable "Strawberries and Gingham" apron. She is going to be giving one of these away on January 26th!!! Thanks Connie!! |
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Monday: Jambalaya and Salad Tuesday: Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas Wednesday: Clean Out the Fridge Night Thursday: Potato Soup and Salad Friday: Breakfast for Dinner: Egg-white Omelette with Turkey Bacon and Fruit Saturday: BBQ Sandwiches with Baked Fries and Fat-Free Brownies Sunday: Jake's Choice
See other Menu Plans over at Laura's!! |
Posted in Kids
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Today we celebrate the life of our 5th child...Henry Larsen Doriot...fondly known as "Gus". Gus was only here with us for a short time...16 months to be exact. Gus was awaiting a liver/ small bowel transplant but his body could just not hold out for a donor. Today would have been his second birthday. We are sad that we are not celebrating with him today but we rejoice that he is taking part in daily celebrations in Heaven! Gus was profoundly and bilaterally deaf due to the extreme high doses of antibiotics he received early in his life. It was next to impossible to keep hearing aids in this kid's ears! He would have gone on to get a cochlear implant if he had survived.
He loved to watch Signing Time videos. Here he is sitting in his bumbo practicing his "signs"...or maybe he's just trying to pluck out his hearing aid!
The little "punk" signed "daddy" first...not "mommy". I will be talking to him about this when I see him!!
He had many "girlfriends". Here's Courtney his Personal Trainer...
and Laura, his Synagis Shot Girl...Synagis is a med to help prevent RSV or to lessen it's attack....too bad those gazillion dollar shots didn't really help Gus. He contracted RSV in the hospital and that is what led to his major pulmonary bleeds. PLEASE, wash your hands! lol!!
And now, the beloved Nurse Janice from the 2nd Floor. The love was deep, folks!!
Gus often had to get blood transfusions....blood was fondly renamed "red soldiers". Here is a picture of the soldiers marching...
When he wasn't busy getting his "red soldiers" he would be out roaming the halls with his brothers and sister...in his "Gus Bus"!
When Gus was at home, his sister would take him around the house for a "tour". He was so small that he was able to fit in her doll stroller with no problem.
He loved to fly. We flew to Pittsburgh several times to see his transplant team. We would often get bumped up to first class because Gus was such a flirt!! This is on one of the flights.
He even liked to "fly" in the pre-surgery area. In this picture, Gus is waiting to go in to surgery to have his central line replaced. Look at that cute little hospital gown...awwww...cute! We had so much fun with him!
At the beginning of March '06, Gus cut two teeth and we could not control the bleeding. We ended up moving back into the Ronald McDonald House so that he could await "the call" to fly to Pittsburgh for a transplant. This was before he was intubated.
Here I am with Gus right before he leaves us to go Home. We are on the edge of eternity in this picture! Gus died on May 31, 2006. He was among his entire family and his favorite nurses and Chaplain Sandy. A great peace filled the room as he left. I thank God that he allowed me to be Gus' mommy. It was such an honor to take care of this precious child. I look forward to our reunion!!
Henry Larsen Doriot "Gus" January 18, 2005--May 31, 2006 Please consider organ donation. There are a lot of children who die on the waiting list because parents do not donate their child's organs. Organ donation is something you should decide before you are in the situation where you need to decide quickly. It is not something that is easily talked about but let me reassure you that talking about it doesn't kill you or your child! |
Posted in Less of Me
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I tried this recipe this evening and it was pretty good. Not "crab legs dipped in drawn butter" good but "better than rice cakes" good! I served a salad with the enchiladas. I'm not sure about the rest of my family but I am stuffed. We have a BIG problem with salad dressing...as in we use too much! I have started measuring out the dressing and tossing each salad individually and then taking it to the table. Tonight, I cut the dressing in half and no one complained!! In all honesty, I couldn't really tell...in fact I think my salad tasted better than ever! lol!! Enjoy!
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Posted in Homeschool
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School started late today so we had to skip our read aloud time. We focused on catching up on some things that we were falling behind in...like science and history. Pete fixed us a nice lunch of Chicken and Rice...wasn't that nice?! That rhymed.... Nik: Grammar: adverbs Science: tools that astronomers use, astrolabe History: different regions of the US Math: ratios
Jake: Grammar: adverbs and note-taking Science: fertilization of flowering plants History: The Constitution, Bill of Rights,George Washington and his cabinet... we tried a new way of taking notes today and I think it really helped Jake retain a lot of this info! Math: review
Belle: Grammar: letter Y and Z, wrote short sentences History/Geo: Australia and Antarctica Copywork: a line from the "Field Daisy" Math: line addition and number words
Gee, when I write it all down, it doesn't seem like much!! It sure did feel like a lot! lol!! |
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Visit other WW over at 5 Minutes for Mom. |
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Samuel Finn Doriot January 9, 2004 19 weeks gestational age--cord accident
Butterfly A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam And for a brief moment it's glory and beauty belong to our world. But then it flies on again And though we wish it could have stayed We feel so lucky to have seen it.
Author Unknown |
Posted in Kids
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This day, six years ago, we were welcoming our sweet little girl into the world. Pete, my mother and I had left for the hospital early in the morning because it had started to snow...I was scheduled to be induced first thing that morning. Dr. Pelletier was the on-call doctor...he's our favorite. By the time we got to the hospital there was about an inch of snow on the gorund. We all couldn't wait to see her!! I was in labor for about 5 hours. Labor was a breeze, really it was! I slept through most of it!! Of course it helped that I had quite a bit of Stadol on board! lol!! My mom stayed with me while Pete ran to the bank...we had to call him back though because I wanted my epidural and I wanted him there...to feel my pain! lol!! Around noon, our sweet pea was born weighing 7 pounds and 14 ounces. She came quickly with no complications. She was beautiful and small (my boys were whoppers!) and cuddly...I just thought she was wonderful!! Now, she is six and she is is such a sweetie!! She is very focused:
learning how to draw up meds at Wellmont She is helpful:
helping make laundry detergent She is great at math:
She is a Daughther of the King:
She is a great nurse!:
Giving Gus his meds You may not want to let her brush your hair!:
She is very dramatic:
She drinks out of the milk jug!:
She sticks by you through the thick and thin:
And these are just a few of the reasons why I think she is just GRAND!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET PEA!!!!!! |
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my good friend Sonya over at The Sugartree Adventures. I'm thrilled that she has decided to start blogging with us!! WooHoo!! |
Posted in Kids
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DD1 came to me today talking about our dog eating the "chanticleer" that is supposed to go into her new dollhouse. DS2 comes in and says "Did you see that chanticleer? It is so cool!"....What???!! There's a rooster in the dollhouse? Nope...that would be a "chandelier" in the new dollhouse...and yes, the dog did chew it up! lol!! I personally think this "chanticleer" is really neat! One day I'm going to have an all pink room!!
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Posted in Quilting
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We have decided to create two quilts to send to Blankets of Love in memory of Gus and Sam. Both of their birthdays are in January. This evening we started making the strips out of my scrap pile. We are going to be making "chinese coin" quilts and binding them in black. Here's some of our strips....
Everything was going well until Pete decided that he needed to show the kids how he could throw a cheeto up in the air and then catch it in his mouth....because, you know, that's very important when you are putting together a quilt! Jake snapped this picture just at the right time...see the little cheeto up near the ceiling?? I think we'll be able to get these sent out by the end of the month if I can keep our house "cheeto-free" lol!!
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Posted in Random Thoughts
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Me on the left...Crazy Tanya on the right! lol!!
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Posted in Homeschool
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Here is a photo of the flowers that DS2 and I dissected this afternoon. I just love my scalpel...it came from one of Gus' central line repair kits from the hospital!!
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Posted in Homeschool
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Yipee!! We started school on time this morning!! During breakfast we talked about I John 3:18..."Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions in truth." Pete had to go take a entrance exam for nursing school in the afternoon...he passed and was allowed entrance! lol!! QOTD: Life is an adventure in forgiveness. ~Norman Cousins WOTD: flummery TDIH: the euro debuts Read alouds: Twelfth Night from this book, Saint Ursula Reading 3 from this book, and various poems from this book.
DS1: Bible: Elisha LA: self-test, copywork from the poem "Mischief "by Jane Taylor, 3 new words from SAT list, adverb review Math: reviewed percentages to decimals to fractions, self test 2 History: self-test 1 Science: Isaac Newton, measuring the sky Art: freewriting using a Hogarth painting, cool and warm landscapes Music: listened to Handel
DS2: Bible: telling the truth LA: note-taking, cursive "Pp", copy work from "To a Lady" by Anna Laetitia Barbauld, spelling w/s Math: fractions review History: Articles of Confederation, discussed report to be done Science: flower dissections Art: freewriting using Hogarth painting, cool and warm landscapes Music: listened to Handel
DD1: Bible: discussed how the earth is full of God's glory LA: line leader letters, matching big letters w/ little letters, copywork from "The Field Daisy", listened to "The Tortoise and the Hare", practiced writing "Ww" Science: read One Bean by Anne Rockwell History: read about Africa Art: freewriting using a Hogarth painting, cool and warm landscapes Music: listened to Handel
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Posted in Homeschool
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We had an abbreviated school day...slept in and then had company in the afternoon. At breakfast we had a mini-lesson about Zacchaeus. In the evening we meet up with our friend Crazy Tanya and her daughter...who is making this really cool scarf out of eyelash yarn....and had 1/2 price appetizers at Applebee's.
QOTD: They can conquer who believe they can. ~ Virgil WOTD: hootenanny TDIH: 1521 Martin Luther Excommunicated Read aloud time: Reading 2 of Saint Ursula from this book, All's Well That Ends Well from this book, and several poems from this book.
DS!: Bible: Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa and Nadab LA: reviewed abbreviations, adverbs, copywork from "Why the Bear is Stumpy-Tailed", QOTD in cursive Math: decimals to fractions History: Early US Reading: The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum
DS2: Bible: Living happily with others LA: Unit Test, cursive "Oo", copywork from "The Sheep and Pig Who Set Up Housekeeping", spelling exercises and adverbs History: American Revolution Test..unit test
DD1: Bible: Who's in Charge? LA: reviewed vowels, copywork from "The Young Minnow Who Would Not Eat When He Should", read aloud was The Lion and the Mouse Science: Plants and their parts History/Geo: Europe
To help DS2 prepare for his American Revolution test, we played our game we created called "Revolution". It is basically a trivia game...there is no strategy involved...just have to know the answers! LOL!! We will be adding questions to the game as we work through our history lessons. I guess the name of the game will change as we progress...hmmm...hadn't thought about that! lol!!
The "Common Sense" cards are the questions. You move around the board and gather things to give to Gen. George Washington. Each item is assigned a value. The winner is the person with the most valuable "pile"...we are still making some changes to the rules....overall though, we have fun play the game! |
Posted in Random Thoughts
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This video is for my dear friend Judi who is teaching herself how to crochet. Visit her and send encouragement her way!! I first saw this video over at Craftzine. |
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For more Wordless Wednesday go to 5 Minutes For Mom. |
Posted in Homeschool
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We started this morning with a bowl of oatmeal and a mini-study on Job. Pete had just returned from work and was able to lead our discussions...I like it when he's around to do that!! DS2 asked if our pets would be in Heaven which lead to the reading of a chapter from Randy Alcorn's book Heaven for Kids. A nice discussion followed. Pete went to bed and the kids and I headed for the schoolroom.... At 10:30 we stopped for apple muffins and The Merchant of Venice from this book, several poems by Edgar Guest from this book, and Reading 1 Saint Ursula from this book. I use The Home Educator's Tutor for the Saint Ursula readings. DS1: Bible: read about Jeroboham and Ahab Language Arts:
Math: reviewed decimals and place values History: read about the different regions of the US Science: studying stars...read about Galileo, Brahe and Keppler Art: visited Olga's Gallery to view William Hogarth collection Music: review of instruments and their families Reading: The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum
DS2: Bible: illustrated a verse and read about the ant Language Arts:
Math: Test on Polygons and Circles History: discussed Benedict Arnold, Nathanael Green, Rochambeau and the Treaty of Paris Science: discussed the male and female parts of the flowering plant. Art: visited Olga's Gallery to view William Hogarth collection Music: instruments and their families Reading: The Yellow House Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
DD1: Bible: worked on memory verse Genesis 1:1 and made a collage of God's Creation Language Arts:
Math: none today because the math book has traveled to some unknown destination...hmmm... Science: worked on penguin lapbook History: studied about Asia and the Great Wall Art: visited the Olga Gallery to view William Hogarth collection Music: instruments and their families Reading: Bob Books!
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We are remembering Emma and her family today as they celebrate her short life here on earth. Today would have been her first birthday. You can read more about Emma over at my other blog, Gus' Gang. |
Posted in Random Thoughts
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First posts of each month of 2006:
January...Wow...It's been awhile! February...A Favorite Song March...Infusion Field Trip April...I was posting over at the Caringbridge Site.
May...Again, I was posting at the Caringbridge Site.
June...still at Caringbridge!
July...Petite Pink Lemonade August...I splurged... September...Back from AQS show October...Corn Dog November...My Dog got Mail December...Dogs Like Massages too!
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Posted in Quilting
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when it comes to making binding for my quilts! I just hate to do it but I refuse to buy the pre-made stuff.....uggghh! So this evening I decided to be a big girl and just go ahead and make the binding for a quilt that will be going to a sweet family that lost a little baby girl this past year. I started this quilt while the little girl was still alive. I decided that I would go ahead and send it to the family because it was a quilt made for their little baby...it just can't go to anyone else!
ready to fold...I like double fold binding (French fold) and I never cut it on the bias...I'm a maverick quilter!
folded and ironed...ready to be sewn on...
on the quilt...I wish I had chosen a darker fabric...what was I thinking??!!
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Posted in Books
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Posted in Books
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I took the Challenge and was not able to finish my list...but I gave it a good try and I read several books that I would not have normally read. Katrina over at Callapidder Days has asked us to give a summary of our reading adventure....
Best book read this fall....Heaven by Randy Alcorn. This book has been a "life-changer" book for me! This past May, my 16 month old son, Gus died while awaiting a liver/small bowel transplant. Since then, we have started a small ministry called Gus' Gang and one of the things we do is send care packages out to grieving parents...this is one of the books we have decided to send in the package. It is my hope that this book will encourage others who are grieving...that it will bring some comfort and give hope!
A close second would be My Dream of Heaven by Rebecca Springer
This book gave me a wonderful and beautiful image of heaven....very nice read. I wanted it to go on forever.... Book I could have lived without... 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper
Maybe my expectations for this book were too high...I didn't care for it. I wanted more writing about Heaven! Best thing about the challenge.... I really liked reading the other lists and discovering new authors and books...like Jodi Picoult! For the next the challenge, I am going to do more read-alouds with my kiddos and I am going to read through my bookshelves. I have a lot of books that have been hanging out on the shelves that I haven't read yet...I need to read them, decide if I want to keep them or pass them on to others. Thanks Katrina for the fun challenge!! |
Posted in Random Thoughts
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My mom and grandmother came up today to visit and drop off some gifts. I was treated to a wonderful Turkey Ciabatta sandwich and a salad at Applebee's...it was really nice to get out by myself! When we got back to the house, the kids decided to show off our new family member...Hyacinth, the Hamster. She was put into her hamster ball and we all took in her complete cuteness. And then....we forgot about her! Nik found her several hours later jammed behind the chair in the den...unable to get herself rolling again. I felt so bad...I'm glad she has a tiny brain and has probably forgotten our oversight by now....
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