Welcome. If you’re coming today via the UBP 2014, I am Leighann, mom to four children and wife to one.. ain’t no sister wife in this house ’cause this mama don’t play that.
Natalie’s 9, Ainsley’s 7, Ryan’s 5, and Piper’s 4 months tomorrow, but who’s counting. And really by the time you get to four, you’re lucky if you can string a sentence together properly. You can find more about our family on the About page.
I’m a writer by trade and love to connect with new people online. On this blog I share a little of everything – family life, recipes, crafting, traveling reviews and opinions. My hope is that others find encouragement that they aren’t alone in this motherhood thing.
I also hope that those facing tough situations can find strength in our family’s story. Our son, Ryan, has several serious and uncommon heart defects – the two most prominent are ectopia cordis (he was born with his heart outside of his chest) and hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS; his right ventricle doesn’t work). He is the FIRST survivor of a combination of these types of defects so we’re pretty proud of him. He also visited the “dinosaur museum” this week. He’s the one in the middle with the red, long-necked dinosaur on his t-shirt (can you tell the majority of my kids are girls, since I have no idea what that long-necked dinosaur is called?) You can read all about him here.
If you’re here for the party, let me know you stopped by. I’d love to be able to visit with you too. If you’re a regular reader, let me just tell you how strange this week has been. Since my accident last week, I cut my thumb while slicing sweet potatoes. I can’t remember the last time I cut myself on a knife. It’s hurts somethin’ fierce since apparently I use my thumb to do e v e r y t h i n g.
I got glass in my other hand yesterday morning while cleaning because I broke a glass putting away dishes. It was a tiny sliver, big enough to see and small enough to pull out with a pair of tweezers. Since I had the tweezers out, I plucked a few stray brow hairs and a rogue chin hair before plucking out the piece of glass. Multi-tasking at it’s best if I do say so myself.
I used the same pair of tweezers last night as Ryan had a tick burrowing into his head (note: reminder to check all your kids who are starting spring sports as ticks love to lay eggs in fields). I’ll be calling the pediatrician this morning to see if he needs checked out. The good news is that it was a sizable tick, definitely not a deer tick, but I’m not playing games with this thing. I’d rather be safe than sorry though. The girls thought it was the grossest thing they’d ever seen and I’m not going to lie that watching it wiggle as it tried to dig into his scalp made my stomach turn. Thank goodness he sat still for me while I extracted it and displayed much less drama than his sisters did. Yuck! I’m gonna see that thing in my dreams tonight.
Then the girls dropped a pyrex bowl in the bathtub (why in the world they thought it was a good idea to play with a glass bowl in the bathroom I’ll never know). The glass shattered, of course, and sprayed Ainsley’s foot with microscopic shards. One or two of which cut her. It was awful. But she lived and so did I after nearly having a coronary trying to clean the shards off her foot without furthering injuring her or getting more glass in my hand. It was about this time I started thinking how ridiculous that last few days have been.
Lest you think all was lost, I was able to get my hair cut on Thursday… while nursing and holding a 4 month old because we all know how relaxing that is. And fun. Add a 5 yr old boy sitting off to the side into the mix and you’ve got yourself a regular day at the spa.
I was also proud of myself for getting my yard cleaned up on Wednesday afternoon. I told the kids they were allowed to gather AS MANY STICKS as they could to make a fake fire up on the hill near their home-made teepee. You know, live like the natives of old. They thought this was the best idea they’d ever heard and that I am the nicest mom ever to let them have my sticks.
I’m hoping they pass on this awe to their sister who so far is not impressed with my mothering skills.
Nope. Not impressed at all… hope you guys have a great weekend.
Comments (16)
Yikes I think your week was enough for the both of us. This week has been crazy busy it just flew by. Doctors appoints getting fussed at by my doctor, starting a new med since my colestrole is just over 300, told to diet and walk so after this weekend that s what I am going to do. I bought some beef burittos from Taco bell and well I have to eat those and not waste them, just saying Sunday is a good day to start.
My OX generator is sounding like it needs tune up or I need ear plugs, they will just take it and bring me another one. Found out if I use it for 3 years paying monthly then I can use it as long as I need for free after that, you would think I would just get it for free then…
Daddy and one son are camping this week with the church Pow Wow so that means I dont have to cook LOL
Not laughing at your week….but you crack me up!
Wow, are you sure you’re not a nurse by trade? Accidents, cuts, glass, and ticket extraction? Wowzers! Glad ya’ll are safe! That is soooo funny that you got your kids to pick up sticks by telling them they could have a fake fire haha
I got my bangs trimmed yesterday because they were obstructing my view and I miss my old hairdresser ;/ my bangs look terrible! they looked like I cut them myself which I didn’t because I’ve learned my lesson ;/
Wow, and I thought I had *my* hands full with three! I love your honesty and sense of humor! So great “meeting” you, Leighann!
Now this is a momma being real! Glad to meet you!
Your Four Hobbits certainly do keep you busy Leighann! (Glad to see that Abigail got your header changed) 🙂 Hey, I bought your e-book/devotional and it is awesome! Just wanted to tell you how impressed I am. I think everyone with little kids will love it…especially all of the activities. But I loved it too and I am 63 years old! Love, Linda
I think you need to stay away from glass as it is not your friend this week! I’ve had a sliver of glass in my foot before and it HURTS!
And you’re brilliant with the sticks! How did their fake fire turn out?
Stopping by from the UBP14. Hope you have a great weekend:)
They made two piles of fake fires. One in our firepit for a weekend night soon. The other near their teepee. They literally were in heaven as they raced each other to see who could get them the fastest. Ha!
Wow, many things happening all at once. But I guess that’s the way it is in a large family. We are only 4 and I think it’s difficult to divide my attention to three people who wants to talk with me all at the same time (WHY is that btw?!?!?!?)
Loved reading your blog and “meeting” you.
Rough week to say the least! Hope next week is better. Love you and your family. I read your blog everyday! Thanks for sharing your family with us. Love that Ryan a great smile and little boy!! Keep the faith!! Catherine.
Oh girl. I love the truth and reality that is coming through this post. You are a straight to the point and tell it like it is kind of gal. I love that. We can definitely be friends.
Stopping by from UBP!
PS. Love your stylist’s face. Looks like it was a relaxing day at the spa for her too 😉
Oh my gosh I laughed so many times as I read this. Love your family. Bummer on the glass shard. I did that a week ago only the shard was in my head because the glass broke on top of it, long story, but it hurt. WOW what an amazing little boy you have! Found your blog via the UBP and I just signed up to stay in touch because I enjoyed it so much 🙂
http://www.jenerallyinformed.com/
First, I have to say, what a week! Enough to give any mom a bit of a nervous breakdown there at the end. So glad you got that day at the spa! 😉
My nephew was born with HLHS — he turned 16 this past year. God bless you!
Hope you have a wonderful time at the party!
Looking forward to following you on Pinterest!
I love your humor and how full of life you are. Stopping by from UBP14 and I am so very glad I was able to meet you.
Thanks for stopping by, Jolene.
This is your “regular reader” from Annapolis, MD! Sounds like you had quite a week! Mine was much less eventful…highlight was the warmer weather and golfing for the first time this year.
Gail
Annapolis, MD