I'm Back - For Now...

So let's just say it was a rough week last week. It was horrible. Collin got hit with the SWINE FLU. It's a nasty flu, to say the least. Poor little guy was down for a good week. But I will say this: Everyone is totally freaking out over it. I don't want to say people are over reacting, because it is a miserable flu. But, my experience with it was just that: A horrible flu. It went away and we didn't die. So rest assured, if you get it, you have a 99.9% survival rate. Now back to my sick story...

Ty had a fever just a few days after Collin came down with the Swine (a tall tell sign of it), so I RAN to the doctors office and BEGGED (yes, I even turned on the tears - not that it was hard...my life was in sick shambles...read on...) for the Tamiflu drug for Ty. My awesome doctor agreed and I walked away with the Rx. The liquid Tamiflu was not easy to find, by the way. I had to call 10 different pharmacies before I found it. But I got it and it truly was the miracle drug. It nipped the virus in Ty right away. He never really got sick. I was soooo grateful to only have one sick child because, I too, was dwindling quickly.

Everyone just kept telling me that I probably had the Swine Flu too, but I knew it was something different. I called my OB and after some testing they found that I had a bladder infection. I knew it was something else! I was sooo sick. Well, they put me on Tamiflu and an antibiotic to heal me. I wasn't healed. I was getting sicker! By Thursday, I called my OB crying and told them how sick I was. They sent me to the ER. After more tests, they discovered my bladder infection had turned into a full blown kidney infection that required IV antibiotics! I was bummed about having to have an IV in my arm, but relieved to know that I was going to feel better soon. It took 4 days of being on the IV, but I must say, I'm finally feeling much better. I'm having some other issues, like I think I'm having some Gall Bladder issues, so anyone who has dealt with that, please call me so that I can discuss my symptoms with you. LOL!

So, anyway, in case you were wondering why I had not emerged from my house for over a week, other than to go to the pharmacy, the doctors office, or the hospital, now you know. Hopefully I will continue to get better. I was supposed to go to Girls Camp this week, and my doctor's nurse started to laugh at me when I asked if I could still go. She told me I "was crazy, and that it wasn't sanitary up there in all the dirt when you're recovering from any kind of urinary infection." I joked that my bathroom (up until today) was probably not much better. That's what happens when your sick - messy house. Anyway, this post is just for posterity's sake. Sorry to bore you with our family sick drama. We really are doing better.

The Bully, The Martyr, and the Mother Failure.

I'm finally getting a taste of what it's like to have a naughty bully for a child. I have had several friends that have battled this with their children and I have honestly always felt bad for them. I have never judged my friends thinking they were bad parents. I simply was just grateful that my child was not the bully. Well, what goes around, comes around. Here's a quick example of my latest challenge...

Introducing my Bully:

And the Martyr:

So the Bully decides it's a good idea to bite the Martyr on the shoulder as hard as he can. The Martyr screams as loud as he can. I observe the enormous and deep bite on his shoulder and unleash my wrath on the Bully. I spat his mouth and his bum (lightly - I promise) and sent him to his room. (I know that this is not the proper way to handle this situation, but I was acting on emotion and had never dealt with this before.) So the Bully screams like I have just bit him on the shoulder as hard as I could and he continues to cry as I put him in his room. I return to the Martyr to comfort him as he is still crying.

I say, "Are you OK?"

And he says, "I'm sad because now Ty is sad."

Me: "I was just punishing him for hurting you."

Him: "Well, I'm OK mom. I just feel bad for Ty."

Me: "He'll be OK. He knows that I love him. He just needs to learn that it's not OK to bite."

The night passes and the drama ends. The next morning I walk into the room just as the Bully is opening his jaw ready to clamp down on the Martyr. I run over to break it up.

I then say to the Bully: "No No. You do not bite your brother." - No violence this time. Calm.

The Bully laughs at me and runs away - of course.

I turn to the Martyr and say "If your brother tries to bite you again you need to yell for me to come so that I can spat his mouth again."

The Martyr replies after a moment of silence and looking at the ground: "Well then I'm not going to tell you mom, because I don't want you to hurt him."

I GIVE UP! Clearly I'm supposed to learn a lesson here, not the kids. I guess I need to find another way to punish my little Bully so that Collin doesn't feel the need to be a Martyr and continue to protect this nonsense! Suggestions parents of Bully's??? It's especially interesting to me because my Bully is 2, my Martyr is 5, and the Mother Failure is...well old enough to know how to handle this situation, and yet doesn't.

Random Cuteness....

Nothin's cuter than a grown man on a wiggle car racing his son!

Another day, another one of Collin's genius outfits that he insists on wearing to Preschool. The soccer socks and shin guards are the latest addition to these great ensembles.
This picture is really just for my amusement. This is Jesse's "stressed" face. I just so happened to be holding the camera when I witnessed one coming on. I know when I see this face that something is not right in Jesse's world. Love ya babe. Too cute.

Collin and Ty with their usual crazy antics around the house. Funny boys!

A mother loves nothing more than to come in and see her small children nestled in bed, being quiet and sweet. I love moments like these.

Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!

We had a fun Easter. The boys woke up and found their easter baskets. The Easter Bunny had brought them these little "Fur Real" animals. Collin has been asking for a pet duck for a while now. I'm not sure where he got the idea from. Since I refuse to have a real duck for a pet, he got this fake one that quacks and flaps it's wings. Good enough. Ty finally got a "real" puppy. He loves it, and it doesn't need to be potty trained. So, we're all happy. The Easter Bunny knows us well.

Here I am with my little Sunbeam class on Easter Sunday. They were a little hyper-active on Sunday, thanks to all the easter candy, so we went outside and had a little run around time for them to get some energy out. Aren't they cute?
Here they are again playing "follow the leader". So cute! I love these little people. They make me laugh. I'm enjoying my calling right now.

Spring Fever in St. George

This past weekend we went down to St. George with my family. The weather there was perfect! We stayed in a large home near Green Valley. All of the kids had so much fun playing with there cousins. It was a spring "tease" because we came home to snow! Bummer.

Scarlett & Me enjoying the warm weather.

Ty's swimsuit kept falling off, it was too big. We finally just left him in his swim diap. White trash- I know.

Hiking in Snow Canyon

Steve entertained us all weekend.

Family Photo in Snow Canyon

Cutest Boys!

Brotherly Love

I tried to sneak up on them...It was such a cute scene. Collin was reading Ty this story, and right before they saw me, Ty moved his head, which was rested on top of Collin's head. I love moments like this when they're best buddies. It actually makes me really want to have more kids.

The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf

Have you ever had a child that was seriously ill? You know the kind where they lay around on the floor and won't move because they are so sick? Temperature hovering around 102*? This goes on for a couple of days and finally you decide that maybe it's not just a cold. Ya, that's my little Ty. So, then you rush him to the Doctor and on the way he suddenly perks up a bit, and by the time you enter into the doctor's office and spot the fish tank, his temperature has dropped completely back to normal? And then by the time the nurse calls you back to the room, and the Doc enters the room your child is running around the room like it's a playground? "I swear, he was deathly ill an hour ago!" Ever happen to you? Well, it happened to me THREE times this weekend! So, after a "hyper" doctor visit on Friday, a phone call to the on-call doctor on Saturday, another "hyper" Instacare visit and X-Ray on Sunday (which I was in full tears exclaiming "He's sick, I promise!"); and finally, another "energetic" visit to the doctor on Monday. Side note: In between each of these visits Ty would go home and be sicker than a dog. I finally convinced my doctor that my child was ill; with the help of a low-grade fever and some x-rays that finally declared that my child had viral pneumonia and a double ear infection. But this was not before my doctor diagnosed my little Ty with an "Amazing left-handed curve ball" because Ty was more interested in playing ball with his doctor than laying down so that Doc could check out his ears. Our great pediatrician finally handed me a Rx for some antibiotics and probably wanted to say, but didn't, "Now get out!" - as Ty cries out "Wolf, Wolf!" and I repeat after him, making me look dumb. What a weekend! Has this ever happened to any of you? You now have my sympathy. I believe you if you tell me your child is sick.

The "Licensed Character" Disclaimer

Okay, so I have never been a fan of any kind of "Licensed Character" item. I always swore that my kid would never be the kid wearing the "Spongebob" shirt or the "Spiderman" light up shoes. Now that I'm a mother of two boys, I am faced head on with this dilemma. I still do not approve of it, and yet, I've gotten to the point that I just don't care anymore. Last year Jesse's sister bought Collin some "Spiderman" sheets for his bed. Collin was in Heaven! He was in love with his new sheets. I couldn't help but just be excited for him. I try to remember back to my days of loving "My Little Pony" or "Cabbage Patch Kids". I know for a fact that I had a couple of "Licensed" shirts that I loved wearing.

So, basically what I'm getting at here is, If you see my kid wearing a "Licensed" shirt or pajamas, this post is my:

"OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER" -

I KNOW, I DON'T APPROVE OF IT EITHER, and I know we look like we shop at Wal-mart and K-mart, and just so you know, WE DO.

So Anyway, I hope you all have a great New Year.

Happy New Year 2009!

We celebrated New Years Eve with my family. My parents made steaks and baked potatoes for everyone while the kids played Candyland and Rockband. It was a noisy evening, but hey, that's what it's all about, right? (I'm totally ready to be in my 30's obviously). Jesse had to work from 9pm-4am, so he missed the big celebration. Although, he said that he had plenty of partying to deal with that night!

Ty having a "Rockin' New Year"

All of the kids posing for a New Years Photo

Grandma Deanne making some noise at "12:00am" - Yes, as you can see by the clock in the background, it was actually only 10:00pm. We celebrated with the East Coasters this year so that the kids could be in bed by 10:30pm. Mommy needs her alone time.
The boys were loving banging on the pans and were a little confused why I was encouraging it, but were happy to oblige.Happy 2009 Everyone!

Our Christmas Card

Christmas Morning

Collin completely forgot that it was Christmas that morning. He came into our bedroom and climbed into bed with us and did not mention a thing about it. Jesse and I kept looking at each other laughing because he had no idea what was awaiting him out in the living room. Santa was good to our little boys this year because they were good for their mommy and daddy (most of the time)!

Collin walking out amazed at all of the toys, and discovering something much bigger in the dining room...A miniature bounce house equipped with balls!Collin also enjoyed several laps around the house on his new scooter.
Ty discovering his new grocery cart and groceries, while gripping the popper gun.Fun in the bounce house! Ty was in HEAVEN!
Later that day we went over to Holly and Matt's house to enjoy some time with Jesse's family. Justin and Julie braved the awful weather and made it to Salt Lake safely. Holly got nearly two feet of snow at her house in South Jordan, while our house in West Jordan got a mere few inches! Santa brought Lauren and Lindsey the cutest American Girl dolls that looked just like them!

I don't have any pictures of this (because I'm the family photographer), but Jesse surprised me with a new IPOD for Christmas! I'm so behind the times, but I'm thrilled with it and I'm having so much fun downloading all of my favorite songs! We had a great Christmas and we are so grateful for all of the many blessings we enjoy all year long!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas Nativity

Placing baby Jesus in the mangerCollin as Joseph Grace as Mary
Eme as the Angel
All of the kids were so cute as they acted out the Nativity scene as we read Luke 2 and told the story of Baby Jesus.

This is what Christmas is all about!

Gingerbread Cookies

One of Collin's favorite things to do is to cut out cookies.

Ty was just happy to get to be involved and he ate himself sick!
Doing a great job.
Into the oven they go! Another fun activity accomplished. Now for the clean-up!

A Visit With Santa

We had our Annual Clegg Family Christmas Party last week. Santa made an appearance (as he always does) and the kids were all so excited! This brings back so many fun memories for me as a kid. It's so fun to re-live all of this through my own kids.On our way to the party that night Collin sat in the back seat thinking hard about something, and finally he said, "Mom, Santa will know I'm telling a lie if I tell him I've been good this year. I'm going to tell him the truth. I've been naughty. I've been a little bit good, but mostly naughty. I'm going to tell him that. Do you think he'll be mad at me?" I thought that was so cute! I told him that he had been a nice boy and that he could tell Santa that. I love that Collin has so much excitement for Christmas. It makes this time of year so much fun. Ty, of course, is a little bit clueless to the whole Santa thing. He didn't cry when we put him on Santa's lap, but he just looked at him like he was a crazy person.

Wish Upon a Star, On the Toilet...

A Mother/Son toilet moment to be remembered...

Collin (while sitting on the toilet): "Mom, will you let me go outside when it's dark so that I can wish on a star that I can stay a little boy forever?"
Me: "Sure."
Collin: "Thank you for letting me do that."
Me: "You're Welcome."(...while wiping his little bum...)
Collin: "Sorry that you have to do that because I know it's yucky. Mom, if there's another wishing star, I'll wish that dad doesn't have to go to work anymore so that he can stay home and wipe my bum."
Me: "That's a great idea! I'll second that wish!"

Decorating the Tree

The boys had so much fun tonight decorating the tree. It's going to be a long month with Ty and the tree. He wants to pull everything off of it! (Which is actually fine. I don't mind that. Everything that he can reach isn't breakable. I'm more worried about him pulling the entire tree over on top of himself!) Oh well - What do you do? Happy Decorating to you all! May your holiday season be merry and bright!

Collin carefully placing an ornament

Ty loving the new "toy" in the house!

Collin placing the star on the tree with the help of Jesse.