color coded kids.

I have read LOTS of organizational tips for having multiple kids. One of the main things that keeps coming up is color coding your kids. Like for when they are all in sports, just put the sport time on the calender marked in their "color". Everyone knows their color, so if they see something on the calender in their color, they need to be ready. Well, we are not there yet...my kids need to learn the date first. But keeping on that same theme, I like the idea. No fights over cups, no whining that one gets the blue cup when they got the orange cup...it could work. Well, I have started applying some of these ideas into my life...and I like it. The chore I hate the most, is folding laundry. I hate it. Its never done, and my love seat in my family room has a never ending pile waiting to be folded, or needing to be put away. So I have gotten each of the kids their own laundry basket. When its full, its their responsibility for them to bring it down to me (Tara needs help, but Tori and Jake can do it on their own (they are pretty small baskets). Yesterday was the first day it was brought down to me. Well, I washed the laundry (all 4 baskets fit into my washer at the same time), then folded it and put it into the appropriate basket for the child, pink for Tori, blue for Elijah etc. I like it. I think it really streamlines the process of putting it away. I think it also has great potential as the kids get older, and closer in size I can was their basket separate so I don't confuse whose is whose clothes. Now, I still don't like doing laundry, but I think I like this color coding thing. Hmm, maybe I should get Jim a laundry basket? Next step, markers in 4 different colors, and cups...baby steps, baby steps.

Colds

I don't like colds. Well, I don't think anyone really "enjoys" colds. Me, its rather a despise. They freak me out. You see, 2 weeks ago when I started to get the "aches", the scratchy throat, the nasal congestion. I panicked. I was bathing in purell, staying away from my kids (as much as I can, I am there mama, they still need food, and there boo boos kissed), and praying that this cold would keep away from the kids. It didn't. Tori was the first to feel the sniffles, I kept praying in fear that Tara would get it too. She did. I don't like colds. Tara started feeling bad last Monday. Just a bit winey, and with lots of boogies. Since then its progressed. It usually does. You see, Tara has been hospitalized 21 times in her last 2 1/2 years of life. 16 of those times have been from colds...the common cold. A cold for Tara does not mean sniffles, and extra cuddles. It means pressure on her chest (as it usually turns into some type of pneumonia), its means extra visits to her pediatrician, it means no sleep for mommy, as Tara's heart does not like colds, and she has funk arrhythmia's, which means monitors going off all night long. I don't like colds. "We" are leaning how to keep her home (not at the hospital) during colds. When I say "we" I mean all of us (mom, Tara, Ped, cardio). She scares us...all of us. Normally Tara sats are GREAT! Like 98-100 great. Sleeping a bit lower sometimes, but for the most part, great. Today ALL day she has been 92-93. Last night when she was sleeping, 84-87. Not good. She is still holding her own. Acting normalish (a bit more tired, and cranky). I am trying. I like her home, she is fun, my other kids are fun, my bed is more comfy then the Cheds (chair/bed) at the hospital, snuggling with my honey is way more fun the pacing the hallways of the pediatric floor with a sick girl. I know that with Sats like she has now, if I took her into the ER we would be admitted. I am not ready to do that. I am learning, "WE" are learning. I am optimistic that we will be able to over come this cold without being admitted. Greater is He. I will praise Him no matter what. I made that decision during worship at Thursday morning bible study (sometimes when this happens I have to just sit and marvel at all He has done.). He is greater, more than I'll ever need, He is greater. If He never chose to heal Tara completely (which I don't think is the case), He is still Greater. When He does choose to heal Tara completely, He is greater. He is more then I'll ever need, He is greater. Either way I will praise Him. Why, because He is greater, and more than I will ever need. What about you? What do you need Him to be greater than? Health? Greater. Finances? Greater. Relationships? Greater. Loss? Greater. Fear? Greater. Worry? Greater. Greater is He, and more than you will ever need. I like that.