Hello there...

I haven't blogged in a while and today is the perfect day for a blog. You see, I have laryngitis and can't talk out loud. It's driving me CRAZY but at least it's kinda forcing me to blog in a way.

I've decided that Mark can't go out of town without me anymore. Not because I'm possessive or jealous or anything. It's just the last time he went fishing with the men from our church, we all came down with a stomach bug and I had to ask him to come home early. Now this past weekend, Mark went to Florida to visit his sister, Shannon. He had a great time and I'm glad he was able to visit and get in some R&R on his own. But while he was gone I got pink eye and a cold. Fun. The pink eye's been circulating though our girls for a couple of weeks...I thought we'd finally gotten rid of it and then I got it. That was the day he left for FL. The next day I started feeling like a cold was coming on. You know that feeling? By the time Mark got home Monday evening, I was pooped and not feeling good at all. But I kept thinking it's just a cold, right? I had the flu a few weeks ago, so this is nothing. Then this morning I woke up and absolutely could not speak. No sound would come out of my mouth at all. It's been so frustrating, plus it hurts. (Yes, I'm whining...it's my blog and I'll whine if I want to!) : ) I called the doctor's office to make an appointment and it was comical trying to tell them my name and what I needed. Phone calls I've been waiting on have been returned today and I couldn't answer them. I had to write down my order at Smoothie King for lunch and hope they didn't think I was weird. I am feeling a bit better now that I've got 3 prescriptions in me after seeing the doctor. It's just killing me cause if you know me, you know I love to talk. Today is Cassie's 5th birthday and I can't even sing to her!! I whispered "Happy Birthday" to her his morning and I think she's secretly enjoying my lack of words today. She's been picking up the pace with bossing her sisters around. It's funny to see her try to act like me. Funny and humbling...I don't really sound like that, do I? : )

Yesterday I made cupcakes for Cassie's class today. I made them right before she got home from school and they were cooling on the counter. They were the little tiny ones that are like 1 bite. She & I ate a couple of them and then we had rest time. The babies were sleeping and I needed a nap with not feeling well, and Cassie was supposed to be watching a video in her room. When I got up, I went into the kitchen to ice the cupcakes and guess what...there was ONE stinking cupcake left in the pan. ONE! Out of 24! I found 16 wrappers hidden in her room. She didn't lie about it and I didn't feel good so I just didn't have the strength or heart to punish her more. I'm sure her tummy hurt at that point. Mark was so mad when I told him. But it was so funny. Here's my skinny minny 5 year old who won't eat most of what I cook but has polished off nearly a whole pan of mini cupcakes! I still can't believe she did that. Ha ha! So for punishment, she didn't get to bring anything to school for her birthday. That was a big deal because she'd been looking forward to that. But I certainly wasn't going back to the store to buy another mix and make more cupcakes. Not a chance! I'm going to make regular cupcakes for her birthday party this weekend. Apparently I'll have to hide them if I want them to make it to the party. But after yesterday and all the hoopla that surrounded her binge, I doubt she'll ever do that again. : )

Mark came home early from work today. I am so so so so glad about that. It's really hard to take care of kids without being able to speak. I'd never thought about that before. Actually I don't think I've ever lost my voice so completely before, so I've thought a lot today about how much I do appreciate my voice. Just being able to get my point across or get someone's attention. That might sound silly but I really am more grateful for that ability. Thank you Lord that my voice will come back in a couple of days!

More about Cassie's birthday to come... : )