Momma ain't got time for that!

So December was fierce.  For three of the four weeks of Dec. at least half of the Eber household was facing some sort of ickiness.  Be it cold, cough, fever, diarrhea, or runny nose, we were a mess.  I think I missed more church in December than I did the entire rest of the year.  Poor Sam went to school one day with some diarrhea.  He had a choir concert that day and could not miss it!  But sure enough by 9am that morning, I got a call to come pick him up.  As I picked him up from school, he sobbed to the principal that he would miss his choir concert.  Poor Ms. Petty just tried to encourage him and tell him that there would be other concerts.
The week before Christmas, Kurtis had to go to D.C. for a week.  I was not happy with the timing (to say the least). And of course, the day after he left, we found out Zeke had the Flu A strain.  I had to sit on him to get his medicine in him and the tamiflu gave him massive diarrhea diapers.  It was just the month of poop at our house!
Thankfully, everyone was healthy for Christmas and we had a great holiday.  The kids got at least one thing that they asked for and we just had a nice time with family.  We did celebrate with my family on Christmas Day and I have to say it was a lot for the littles.  It is so hard for them to have Christmas morning from Santa and then extended family Christmas.  They were a little over-stimulated with everything and 3 of the 4 had meltdowns by the evening.  Still, it was (and always seems to be) the best part of Christmas seeing them excited and happy and enjoying their toys.
January started fairly calm and I had high hopes for the beginning of 2015.  But my cough from Dec came back....with a vengeance.  After 10 days of coughing to the point of being unable to breathe and my chest/back/sides hurt, I went back to the dr. to be told: pneumonia.  I've never had pneumonia!  I tend to get the little bugs that fly around every few years but this is crazy!  I literally cough until I can't breathe, my sides and back feel on fire and I'm e-xhau-STED!  I have very little energy and sometimes I breathe heavy after folding the laundry!  Worst still, the dr said it would take 4-6 weeks before I would feel back to normal!  Now, asking a lady with 4 kids to rest as much as possible is laughable at best but it's more that February is busy.  Next week I have 4 classroom Valentine's Day parties to attend, including being the Planner for Izzy's class party.  I also have Izzy's birthday party, her baptism, and the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet all within 8 days of each other.  Sure, I can do this.
Now all this long explanation of the last few months and crazy scheduling amid sickness and you're probably thinking "geez Greta, let's hear something positive".  Well, here is comes.
This sickness has been perfectly timed.  It can at a moment where I actually had two weeks off of my toddler music class so I could rest.  It came when my folks could help pick kids up from school so I didn't have to go out much.  It came at a time where we actually had very little planned during the last two weekends so Kurtis could manage kids and house while I sleep on the weekends.  It came at a time where I wasn't afraid to ask for help and able to get some dinners brought in for us.  Granted, our anniversary dinner was cancelled but we can reschedule.  I missed the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby but Kurtis was able to take the kids and the parent in charge of the Derby was actually one of the moms who takes charge and plans all of it anyway.  It was easy for me to duck out and rest and she was all ready to take charge.  I've seen the little blessings along the way.  I've managed to see through the fog and see the silver lining.  I've really been aware of how I do matter and this is just a way for me to take care of myself.
I don't have time for sickness; I've got kids/house/husband to raise.   I don't have time for rest; I've got a loooooooong to do list.  I don't really have an afternoon to take time off; I've got a lot of Cub Scout things going on.  But I also have a lot of friends  who want to help. I have a husband who loves me and wants to take care of me the way I take care of him. I have kids who try (in their own way) to be helpful and want Mommy to feel better.  I have so much more than just time.

another Kal-ism

Daddy: "Kal, can I have a kiss?"
Kal: "No, only Mommy gets kisses and hugs.  You just get hugs."
Daddy: "What?!?  Why?"
Kal: "B/c you have 'spikes' that hurt me."

a Kal-ism

Kal cut his toe on something this evening.
Me: "just hold still so I can clean the blood off and see how bad it is"
Kal: "you have to cut off the foot! Use a fork or a sword whichever is sharper. I'll hop around!"
Classic Kalen moment

Year in Review

2014:
Kurtis and Greta celebrated 10 years of marriage in Jan!
Kurtis turned 40!
Greta started sewing Raggedy Ann dolls and such.  She also got to attend THE Raggedy Ann Rally in Arcola, IL where Raggedy Ann first started.  She met some amazing friends that are also collectors and feed her crazy obsession.  She also became Cubmaster at church and continues to find her niche in it.
Sammy turned 9 and got braces!  He joined the 4th grade choir and sang in a trio in his first concert.
Izzy turned 7 and got to go to the American Girl store for her birthday and had lunch there.
Kalen turned 5 and started attending preschool every day!  He loves it.
Zeke turned 2 and has just begun talking more.  He enjoys music class that Mommy teaches every other week.
We got a puppy!  Oren is now 5 months old and gets into everything!  He and Zeke are best buds.
The cars both broke, a few times.  Greta's sewing machine blew up and had to be replaced....as did the frig.  We are a blessed family and though there aren't too many huge up or downs, we're just happy to be together!

ending 2014 as parents of 4 kids

This is how "old" people celebrate New Year's Eve: Kurtis and I are sitting on the couch. 
Me:"hey, it's going to be midnight in 10 minutes.  Should we watch the ball drop?" 
Kurtis:"sure, why not? what channel?" 
Finds channel, watches ball drop, leans over and kisses at midnight, continues to sit on couch and watch Carson Daly talk over drunk and happy people. 
Me:"we really need to go to bed." 
Kurtis: "why on earth are we still awake?"

Zeke teaches music

While going through my lesson for tomorrow and Zeke keeps getting instruments out of the bucket, handing me one and then standing next to the door.  He points behind him and says "Momma!  Go!"  When I stand behind him, he shouts at Daddy and then Kurtis gets in line.  Finally when he's satisfied, we follow him and march around the living room while playing our instruments.  Future Drum Major in our house?

I believe in Santa Claus

Yesterday Santa Claus came to Izzy's school during lunch to visit with the kids.  Izzy informed me later "It was the real Santa.  Remy pulled his hair and it was real, not a wig!"

While watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, I stopped everyone and told the kids "Look!  Santa is on the end of the parade."
Kal: "That is NOT the real Santa!"
Me: "Of course it is, why would you say that?!"
Kal: "His reindeer are statues, not the real reindeer."
Me: "well, the real reindeer are resting up for the big flight at Christmas so Santa is using statues just for today."