I think I'm being drugged!

So, most of you know that Jon is out of town on a 4 day hunting trip. I think he's drugging me! First, to the surprise of all, I agreed to let him leave me and 4 kids for 4 days. Secondly, I haven't been upset about him leaving besides the fact that I'm really going to miss him. Thirdly, the night before he left I cooked his favorite meal, and we were treating him like he was leaving for charitable work instead of fun! I couldn't even believe how laid back and not upset about it I was either, so I accused him of drugging me! Of course, in the interest of full disclosure (and because I know it will be on his blog when he gets back), he did arrange for his mom to watch the kids so I could go to Bunco and for the big kids to spend the night at Donnie's tonight. In addition, I agreed as his birthday gift (his birthday is Tuesday!). Plus, he felt so guilty for leaving us that I milked it all week with comments like, "Since I'm going to be all alone it would help if you gave the babies their bath. I'll be so stressed out with the kids by myself if the house isn't clean!" So, 24 hours in, and I'm actually enjoying it. It's nice being kind of to myself (the twins are alseep right now). Of course, those nice feelings probably won't last all weekend. I'm admitting up front that I'm not brave enough to bring them to church by myself. I wouldn't even know how to get them in the doors! I feel so guilty about that, but they've been sick so I don't really feel comfortable taking them to the nursery. My poor Sunday School who has had to listen to us teach for the last 2 weeks with babies in tow and those who sat around us in big church when we had to leave a dozen times, will probably be glad I stayed home! So, here I sit with Will waking up, dreaming of them cooperating and being able to even scrapbook tonight (probably wishful thinking). Pray for me :) When Jon left I told him, if you are drugging me PLEASE just keep it up until you get back!

I Love My Blog!

I was trying to journal on a scrapbook page I did months ago of Jackon getting baptised. I knew he had said something amazing, but I couldn't remember what it was. Luckily, I started blogging the very month he was baptised and wrote it down. When I asked Jackson that day what it felt like to be baptised, he said, "It felt like God touched me." That still gives me goosebumps. How could I have forgotten that amazing moment? Thank goodness I recorded it and so much else from our lives on this blog. It's such a great melting place for my 3 hobbies: scrapbooking, photography and writing. I never make time to write in my journals any more or even write stories or poems which was who I was for so long. Everyone knows how addicted I am to taking pictures but am so far behind getting them developed. Like many of you, I am years behind in my scrapbooks (because of before-mentioned picture addiction!). Therefore, this current blog allows me an outlet for all of those. And, like I discovered I can use it to remember for when I do get around to getting the pictures developed, the scrapbook layout done and the writing started! So, in short- I love my blog (and my sweet friend AJ who got me first addicted to hers and convinced to try my own, I can't wait to get it published like hers:). Now, all of you be inspired to start your own so I'll have that many more to stalk like I do Heather, Sonja, Ashley, some stranger in Virginia, Deanna, and now J-Rae's!

Older Brother & Sister + Camera Crazy Mom=

I put this hat on Will and commented that he looked like a pirate. Jackson went on his own and got the hook which Ashton helped him hold at first. Then he started holding it on his own. We were all laughing hysterically (and of course I was snapping pictures) as he started waving it around.

Now if only he had a matey to change his bootie- wow, that was really bad. I apologize! I guess it could have been worse, I could have said do you know what his favorite letter is? RRRRR...I think maybe I should go to bed now before I lose all my faithful readers by acting like Jon with his silly jokes.

Speaking of Jon, he has decided to start his own blog to tell, as Hannah Montana his favorite singer would say, "The Other Side" of the Dodd story! I'll keep you posted as to his progress!

PIRATE BABY...

The Dodd Medical Luck Enters 2008...

While Jackson was spinning Ashton in my Christmas gift, an office chair for my scrapbooking desk (my other Christmas gift), it turned over and her head hit the corner of my hope chest. I have never seen anything swell as fast as her head did. I was ready to take her to the emergency room, but it never started to bleed so we went to the doctor instead. It will be fine and didn't require stitches but is likely to scar:( Oh well, at least it was to the doctor and not the hospital. Maybe our luck will be better in 2008!

Of course, she is the biggest hypochodriac/drama queen ever. When the nurse asked if she was on medicine or sick she started fake coughing because she's been trying to convince me for days with fake coughs to give her a cough strip. Tonight she told me she couldn't eat her dinner because it was hurting her head. She just told me that she wasn't going to be able to brush her hair tomorrow because it would pull at her sore head.

Wish us luck that this was 2008's first and last Dodd emergency, and I survive the drama queen's recovery!

Mission Organization

You know one of my resolutions is to be more organized, so I'm looking for some advice. The most un-organized thing in my house right now is the laundry. Believe it or not, it's not toys. The kids have never been the problem with that, it's Jon! WHEN the kids pick up they usually know where they go, but Jon is a big fan of if there's an empty spot put a toy in it, no matter if you're mixing Little Ponies with Legos! Now, thanks to my beloved label maker he's doing great! I finally have them so organized that EVEN Jon can figure out where they go.

It is a lot harder keeping up with laundry for 6! I actually really like doing laundry. I like the sorting process and the beauty of putting it in the machine and letting it do all the work for you! The break down is in the putting up laundry. We always toss it on the couch in my bedroom to fold and sort. That couch is currently a mountain of laundry. I hate putting clothes away and the mountain is so overwhelming! I'm thinking there has to be a better process. Right now I do a day of laundry where I wash as many loads as I can get through, but I never seem to have enough time to put them all away. So, I was sondering what your strategies are. Is it better to wash a load or 2 every day? I mix the kids clothes with ours. Is it better to wash everyone's clothes seperately?

I just needed some feedback so I can get this aspect organized and be able to actually sit on my couch again :)

Happy folding!

A Year in Review

I'm a little late in reflecting on the year since I was trying to catch up on Christmas. Yet, I have been mentally reflecting on it for a few weeks. I have never been so energized or excited about a new year, because I need to figuratively put 2007 behind us. That sounds awful since one of the happiest events of my life happened with the birth of the twins. On the up side, I doubled the children I have to love. I realized how blessed I am with great friends who fed my family for 3 months when I couldn't and shuttled my children around. I have learned that miracles are happening every day when I brought 2 full term, perfectly healthy babies with perfect hearts home from the hospital 2 days later. I have learned a mother's heart can increase exponentially and never run out of love to give. I have watched my firstborn ask Jesus into his heart and be baptized. I have watched a little girl grow more beautiful each day, inside and out. I have seen an incredible husband work all day only to come home and care for 2 kids, a house and a helpless wife without complainng, even once. I have seen 2 babies supposed to be just alike be complete individuals whom I love in their own unique way. I have seen 2 extremely brave aunts successfully fight breast cancer. I have been taught to appreciate any day that you're able to be vertical and care from your family!


Still, after being on bedrest for 8 weeks, in the hospital 8 times, unable to take care of my children and missing so much of their lives, confronting the fear of breast cancer, worrying about not being able to carry my babies to term, having to hear there is a problem with your unborn baby's heart, suffering through gall bladder attacks and emergency surgery, and lots of exhaustion and setbacks I need 2007 to be over. I feel so hopeful for this next year. For one thing, I have physically felt so much better after having my gall bladder out and recovering from a hard pregnancy. I also just feel so content. I finally feel in my heart that my family is complete. now it's time to settle in and enjoy them! I have made several resolutions that I am pumped up about to make this the best year ever!

Personal Resolutions:
1. Scrapbook at least 1 new layout a week
2. Be more organized


Family Resolutions:
1. Watch less TV
2. Eat healthier


Jon and I's Resolutions:
1. Read through the Bible
2. Survive 2 mobile babies!


But enough about me. Let's reflect on how far Jon came in this last calendar year.


That is him in the doctor's office when we had just found out we were having twins, and I had to ask the nurse if she knew CPR, because he looked like he might need it (this look returned numerous times in the next 9 months and still does when things get a little crazy but at least less frequently now).
Here he is a year later, the proud dad of 4 who, for all his blustering, wouldn't change a thing (I think?), the most amazing husband and father God has gifted me with. One whom, God willing, I will spend this new year and many, many more sharing our lives together.

Finally, Christmas Day

I know, you never thought we'd get here, but it's finally Christmas Day picture time, Christmas #6. I always take pics of the kids asleep before Santa comes. Those pics tell so much, how they sleep what their rooms look like, etc. And yes, I have to wake my kids up for Santa. Jon doesn't understand that as he and David always woke their parents up at the crack of dawn, or before! Please notice 3 kids sounds alseep and our Will, who is always scared of missing something, going strong already!

When we finally all got downstairs the kids just sat and stared at their gifts Santa brought. They didn't even touch anything until we made them, but at least I got cute pictures of them in their matching pj's.



I was worried that Santa days might be over soon for Jackson, but he was really into believing from the Polar Express and asked Santa for a bell from his sleigh. He was so proud he could hear it ring!My favorite gift was a coupon book Jackson made in school with his priceless drawings and writing in, plus it promised to help clean the house, we'll see! Notice the wrapping paper every where; it gets bigger every year!

The jumping exosaucer the twins got was a HUGE hit for them and their excited parents who now have something to keep them occupied for a few precious moments. It was so sad because Will couldn't touch the ground enough to bounce but hefty Wesley weighed it down enough that he could go to town bouncing. Speaking of which, Wesley was excited by the baby food found in their stocking, though he won't get it for a few more months. Jon and I just switched kids and cameras back and forth as we tried to enjoy and document! It was a scientific Christmas for Jackson as he got a volcano kit, ant farm, telescope and microscope. Perfect for our budding scientist!

I made the mistake of last year of putting Luke the dog's name on one of their gifts. Of course, they didn't forget and were wondering for months what Luke would get them this year. So, now I'm stuck buying one more gift! I decided it would be perfect if he gave them yellow lab Webkins. Well, it was a big hit, just see the pictures of them collasped in a pile on the couch after running around screaming. It was the only gift that got that reaction and the dog gets all the credit??? First Santa, now the dog- moms get nothing!

Christmas #7: We head to Mawmaw's for a DELICIOUS breakfast we look forward to all year with country ham and homemade biscuits topped with Karo syrup and butter, my mouth is watering right now! Tyler and I got the first seats at the table and enjoyed hiding the Karo syrup from Jon!

Christmas #8: Nana and Pop's. We were so glad that firefighter Uncle David got someone to work his shift so we were all together! J-Rae gave the kids Webkins. Ashton loved her panda. Do you think she liked the princess cash register Nana and Pop gave her?
Donnie and Grandmother came over that night so the kids could show them what Santa brought. We had a surprise gift for Donnie. I made her a book on Photoworks (my new obsession, try it if you haven't!) of our trip to Gatlinburg. It turned out awesome and she loved it, and after a hard year of fighting breast cancer we just love having her here for MANY, MANY, MANY more!