This is MY life. The life I chose.

There are quite a few reasons for my lack of blog posts lately, none of which are very exciting. In computer years, my computer is almost as old as my sweet Granny. I think computers age the same rate as dogs. Actually, much quicker. It seems like every time I purchase a piece of technology, it's outdated before I even get out of the store. So, my huge honkin' Dell desktop, that we bought when Her Highness and Thunder were itty bitties, is now a dinosaur that has a mind of it's own. Many times, blogging is not what my dinosaur has on it's mind, so out of frustration, I turn the thing off and go back to the laundry pile. But tonight, I decided to give the old com-pooter a try, and she decided to cooperate. Yippee-skippee.

Other reasons for fewer posts include, but are not limited to: staph infection(s), bladder infection, random fever virus, stomach bug, ear infection(s), baby cutting SIX teeth at the same time, strep throat, croup, croup, croup and CROUP. And no, I'm actually not throwing a pity party this time. These are just the facts. And, with each mention of illness stated above, aside from the bladder infection and teeth cutting, each illness infected two or more family members at a time. This is what happens when you live in a daycare center. And in all honesty, it really hasn't been that bad. Just time consuming. And as always, there are moments each day when I have to remind myself, "This is my life. The life I chose." Trying to wrestle three wild boys, to squirt bitter antibiotics down their throats, along with giving steroids and breathing treatments, plus trying to remember what time and who got Motrin last is enough to drive even the most organized mother insane. And we all know that I was never that mother in the first place.

Even with our plague, we've celebrated a couple more birthdays, enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving, and decked our halls with boughs of Mommy, as The Storm loves to sing. You know, since their Mommy is named HOLLY. Totally off the subject for a moment, which, I'm not really all that sure that there ever was a true subject for this post, but anyway.... If I had a nickel for every time I was asked if I was born at Christmastime, well, I'd have about 15 cents. But that's not the point... One of the times I was asked that, I was in the grocery store and noticed the check-out girl's name tag said "Holly." So, I said, "Hey, I'm a Holly too!" And she goes, "Awww, you must be a Christmas baby!" And I'm like, "Nope, August. Summer baby." Confused, she asked, "Then, why would your parents name you Holly??"

It seriously took a moment to figure out what she was talking about. I mean, perhaps if we were discussing the name Noel. But, Holly??

And now, this post is going to take another random turn, but I have to include this...

Bert just walked in and stood over my shoulder for a moment, reading the paragraph I was typing. Afterwards, the following conversation took place:

Bert: Holly is kind of a funny name for you. You know, you really don't look like a Holly.

Me: Oh, really. Well, who do I look like then, BERT.

(Sarcastic emphasis on his name. We've had many a discussion on that one. Bert. BERT?? Does he really have much room to discuss names here?)

Bert: I don't know, Megan? Or a Tracy. Oh, or a Nicole!

Sigh. This is my life. The life I chose.

So, to settle this little debate, we'll let you decide. If not Holly, who do I look like??

Does this look like the face of a MEGAN??

TRACY???

NICOLE??

Where was I??

Oh, Croup. I always (wrongly) assumed it was a pediatric illness. Did you know adults can catch it?? I didn't either. But, I'm here to tell ya, you can and it stinks. I'm still raspy like Bea Arthur, and checking to see if a lung hit the floor with each coughing fit, but I'm feeling much, much better. Thanks for asking.

And if you do indeed find yourself barking like a seal, running a fever, and begging your six year old for a hit off his nebulizer, chances are, it's croup. Fun times. And if you do have croup (while you are still on antibiotics for strep throat, that you had exactly one week prior) and your husband is left in charge of the children, and all the grocery shopping, chances are, your kids will be seen in public in outfits such as these:

These pictures really don't do those two justice. Okay, so the one of Hail might. But, that's DIRT on Lightning's head. And he has on pajama pants. These pictures were taken AFTER they ran several errands with Bert.

And, if you do indeed find yourself sick with croup, while trying to recover from strep throat at the same time, you may grow very sick and tired of being sick and tired, and try to find other way to pass the time... such as creating a photo journal with your iphone. One that you title:

A Couch-ridden Mom's Eye View

In closing, to keep the theme of totally unrelated randomness going, I shall leave you with a note we found on Her Highness' door. It reads: do not nock on the door inless emerginsee or we are going to do something FUN!

Same goes for me.

Love Always, Holly-Megan-Tracy-Nicole-Big Momma