the makings of a rough snow day

Snow Day #3

1. Wake up at 7am to crying 2-year-old with a fever over 102.  Promptly get him Motrin & distract him with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

2. Wait patiently for 8am to arrive so a dr. appointment can be made.  Call at 8 to find out office is closed until 10.  After 3 phone calls, finally get appointment scheduled for afternoon.

3.  Get really worried at lunch when Trigger gets very shaky & won't eat anything.  Fever has also come raging back.

4.  Take him to the pediatrician (Scott did this) and find out he is positive for Type A flu. Get prescriptions for Tamiflu for both boys.

5.  Call family doctor for prescriptions for the grown-ups.  Await return call to confirm that Tamiflu is safe for nursing momma to take.

6.  Find out from pharmacy that insurance is denying coverage of the medicine, stating that we filled a prescription for the same medicine within the last calendar year.  (Not true; the last time we had Tamiflu was in October 2009)

7.  Make a million phone calls and finally get all 4 prescriptions approved by insurance and ready to be filled at the same pharmacy.

8.  Listen to 4 -year-old whine that little brother has gotten to choose the TV selections all day.  Explain that he would not want to trade places.

9.  Pick up prescriptions from pharmacy & pay $200 for them!!!!

10.  Praise God that this sickness did not show up in our house in the two previous days while we were stuck at home.  Thank Him for the delightful days of family time that we experienced this week.  Pray pray pray that the Tamiflu works quickly to relieve Trigger's symptoms & keep the rest of us from getting it!

"Oh Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me."  Psalm 30:2

the makings of a delightful snow day, part 2

Snow Day #2

1. Start the morning with cartoons.  (Phineas & Ferb is the one that we all love, grown-ups included)

2.  Have lots of playtime.  (Action figures were the choice toys in this photo.  Many others not pictured)

3. Schooltime!  (A huge benefit of homeschooling: when the boys want to do school, we can.  Weather does not affect our schedule)

4.   Convince the dog that she absolutely must go outside today.  (Be sure to put on her coat to help her stay warm.  Then get annoyed when she discovers the neighbor dog is out & now you must convince her it's too cold to stay outside & she must come in.)

5. Wear sweats or pajamas all day long.  (Be sure to also repeat step 9 from previous day: Enjoy lots of snuggle time & take every possible opportunity to kiss on squishy baby cheeks!)

6.  Take photos of Sprout in snow.  (Make good use of the two snowsuits baby received as gifts; take pictures in both outfits.  But do it all very quickly because it is seven degrees outside!)

7.  Take other snow photos.  (Leave the kids inside where it is warm.  Try to stay out of husband's way while he shovels a path.  Marvel at how AMAZING God is!!!)

8. Since it is too cold to play outside in the snow, bring some in!  (Do not be surprised that this entertains them for over an hour.  Do be surprised that the snow doesn't even come close to melting in this time.)

9.  Eat snow ice cream.  (8 cups snow, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, less than 1 tsp vanilla; eat fast, it melts quick!)

10. Dance & sing praises to God, for He is good!!  Sing "Sweetly Broken" by Jeremy Riddle, which my kids call "At the cross you" at the top of your lungs!  :)  (sorry I do not have pictures of this, I was worshipping too!)

At the cross You beckon me

You draw me gently to my knees, and I am

Lost for words, so lost in love,

I'm sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

EDIT: I just read this to Big-Rig and when I got to #10 he said, "That's the best one of all!!!"  I love these precious children!

the makings of a delightful snow day, part 1

1. Make Star Wars pancakes for breakfast.  (or at least attempt them, even if it takes 3 tries to finally get some that even sort-of resemble Darth Vader & Yoda, let the boys eat those first, and make the rest of the pancakes just plain boring circles)

2. Enjoy lots of fun activities like play-doh mixing & watercolor painting. (try to choose activities that are not 'everyday' activities.  choose the ones that are normally too messy or too time-consuming.  those are the most fun for snow days.)

 

     

3. Get plenty of rest. (do this whenever needed throughout the day.  this step is very important, do not skip it.)

4. Smile for mom's camera so she'll get it out of your face. (be warned, this may or may not work.  super cute smiles may result in more camera-time.)

5.  Of course, play in the snow! (this activity has an often frustrating prep/clean-up to playtime ratio, so be prepared for that.  wear as many layers as you can stand.  make sure the 2-year-old's boots can stay on his feet before you send him tromping through snow up to his chest.  he will not like it if the boot comes off his foot in the snow....)

6. Look for many cute photo opportunities in the snow. (take over 50 pictures and get mad at yourself when uploading them to the computer.  then decide it was all worth it when you get a photo like this one! look at those eyes!!)

7. Be sure to participate in all classic snow activities.  (including snowball fight, snow angels and eating snow)

8.  Drink hot chocolate. (with marshmallows, of course.)

9.  Enjoy lots of snuggle time.  (be sure to take every possible opportunity to kiss on squishy baby cheeks!)

10.  Praise God for his beautiful Creation!  Thank Him for food and a warm home in this storm, and for being our Shelter through any storm.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

"Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit tress and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children.  Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens." Psalm 148:7-13