week 4/52

Wow...what a week! Last Sunday, we were greeted with "YEAH!! The Mauch family made it to church!!" We have been sick SO much already this fall and winter. I think we have been to church 3 times in the past 3 months!! Today was no different...Emily started with just our run of the mill, winter runny nose on Monday, and by Wednesday she looked like the Incredible Hulk...face covered with green!! (Be glad I didn't take any pictures of it, cause it did cross my mind!! I haven't seen a nose like that EVER!) Nathan felt a bit warm on Tuesday and that poor kid has gotten nailed! I finally took him to the doctor on Friday, though his fever had been gone for over 24 hours, he had started wheezing. So Friday the good doc ordered nebulizer treatments every 4 hours as needed and we have been doing so all weekend with little improvement. I will take him back in the morning, to see if there is more we can do. I wish you could teach a 7 month old to hawk a lougie (no idea if that is how you spell that)!! You can just hear the congestion in the back of his throat...poor guy! Since the majority of my week has revolved around caring for the peanut, I asked Brian to snap these shots today! You can imagine how much a 7 month old baby who is having problems breathing enjoys having his arms restrained and a mask held to his face for 10 minutes every 4 hours...we have tried many things to make it more enjoyable...Emily and Kelli jumping up and down showing him sparkly noisy toys works well, but the best trick is to put on a Praise Baby dvd and for me to whisper or sing in his ear.....You will see in the first shot the fear in his eyes, but a little bit of calm with mommy close in the 2nd one...





Praying you feel better very soon my sweet boy!!

Week 3/52

I was sitting reading to the kids, all four of them were on my lap...and again, I thought...this would be a great project52 picture. But Brian was gone. Well, I decided I didn't want to waste another photo opportunity, so I pulled out the tripod and got the timer set! =) After this photo was taken, there was a serious meltdown by the two younger kids (probably induced by me trying to get them back into the original position!) So I put Nathan down and tried again, but Emily was not interested...



Then something happened that upset Kelli, so in this one she is lying on the floor crying (joining Nathan who has been crying since I put him down) and Emily has had enough...I love how Andrew gets the comedy that has just unfolded (and just ignore the fact that he is picking his nose!!)....so much for my picture perfect moment! =)

Week 2/52 (finally)

The picture that I would really like to share this week was never taken. It was all set up. Everyone in their places. But it didn't get taken. Here is the scene...Kelli is curled up on the couch asleep, Andrew asleep on the floor right by her, Brian is in his recliner, also asleep, and I am lying on the floor snuggled with Emily, who is, yep you guessed it, asleep....I was not asleep, but I was near sleep. Lying there, thinking man I wish I had the energy to get up, get the camera and the tripod, get the settings set, because this would be a PERFECT project52 photo opportunity. What I didn't tell you is that snuggled up with Kelli was a bowl, as well as with Andrew, and as well as with Emily. Brian and I didn't have bowls, well not cause we didn't need them, but because 3 is all I have, and well when an adult has the stomach flu, they are expected to make it to the bathroom =). Yes, all 6 of us (even Nathan, who in this scene was already feeling better, and sleeping soundly in his crib) came down with the stomach flu this past Friday. It was WRETCHED!! (pun intended) It started with Kelli. She complained about her stomach hurting, I thought she was faking, so we went to run errands anyway...sorry to the person who parked next in the space we were in at Michaels...So we came straight home, I got her settled on the couch, bowl in hand, movie playing and continued on with my day....Around 11am I started to feel a little icky, but I was thinking it was just because I was hungry and didn't get alot of sleep the previous night, because I was up with Nathan who was "spitting up more than normal" (I think I was in denial). So I got something to eat, put Emily and Nathan down for their naps and then it hit...and it hit hard, for 4 hours. I really don't remember ever being so sick in my life. I really thought I was dying, and I was praying my heart out that Brian would get home before Nathan woke up from his nap. Unfortunately, he didn't, so then my prayers turned to "Please God, don't let Nathan put something in his mouth that he will choke on while he is playing on the floor, because I cannot even lift my head to see if he is okay. Brian got home and sent me to bed, bless him! Andrew had been at a friends house all day (and yes, I did call the mom and tell her what was going on, and she said she thought it would be okay if he stayed?? And really I was thankful, as crazy as I thought she was!) Brian had given Andrew tickets for the two of them to go to a Motorcross race that night, and Brian knew that he couldn't leave me with the kids so he called his dad and asked if he would take Andrew. So Keith came and got Andrew around 6pm and off they went! Brian came and got me at 730pm, said he couldn't get Nathan to stop crying and that he couldn't deal with both him and Emily. I naively asked what's wrong with Emily? Well of course it had hit her too...so I get up, brush my teeth, go in Nathan's room and get him and head downstairs, while I am coming down the stairs the phone is ringing....guess who? It's Keith. Yep, you guessed it, Andrew tried his hardest to make it to the bathroom at the Sears Centre, but the flu bug hit to hard, right in the aisle.....So I am a little panicky now. How in the world is Brian going to take care of 5 puking people??? So I am contemplating what we need to do, and I look over and Brian to ask him a question and I can see that he is looking a little green....I said, "Babe, are you going to be sick?" And yes of course, he was. I called my parents, not sure of how we were going to manage, but certainly not wanting anyone to come into this germ palace, so asked them just to pray. And that they did. And as always, God heard and answered. I progressively felt better and was able to send Brian off to bed and deal with the kids through the night.....So like I said above, had I had the energy to get it done, I would have had the described photo, but since I am sure you understand why I don't, I choose these ones.....These are from a spontaneous sledding expedition on Tuesday of last week at a sledding hill where Brian grew up sledding! This is the first year that Kelli enjoyed herself, which made it a blast for all of us! It is also the first year that I wasn't so out of shape that I could barely make it up the hill, which made it much more enjoyable for me! =)

Week 2/52 is coming soon

Okay...I will be a few days late with this weeks post...but I have a good excuse...we all had the stomach flu. And when I saw all, I mean all. All 6 of us, at the same time, it was horrible as I am sure you can imagine. So I have my photo taken, I promise, and I will post it tomorrow. But tonight I need to get to bed at a decent hour so I have the energy it takes to make it through the day tomorrow! =) Goodnight!

Week 1/52

I have had fun this week, thinking about what I want my project52 pictures to look like. I don't want all of the weeks planned out, but I do have some particular images I would like to capture. Like this one....

Sitting in this chair, is where I spend at least 2 hours a day. And no matter how busy my day is, I am guaranteed four 30 minute breaks with this (not so) little guy. I love how he still snuggles in, and holds onto my hand, or reaches up and touches my face, or smiles while he is drinking...I just love feeding time! I also love the minutes that immediately follow feeding time. I love them because he is either sleeping, or at his happiest! =) If he is sleeping, I love to just hold him for a few minutes and snuggle him close, before laying him down. And if he is happy, I love how he plays with me and interacts with me!

My favorite is when he burrows his sweet little nose right by my nose...

Nathan requires the bulk of my attention throughout my day, and usually is the one who zaps my energy. But these sweet predictable times in the lazyboy make it all worthwhile!

That last photo is the first photo where you can see one of his 2 teeth! =)

Will they wonder, "Where was mom?"

Have you ever looked back at photos and wondered, was I really there? I took 100's of photos and I am not in even ONE! It's a chronic problem with moms. I would like to say my biggest excuse is because I don't want to let my kids use my "real" camera =), but the real reason is that most days I am not what I would consider "picture ready". I am a bit embarrassed by that...but when I think about it, the main reason I don't find myself picture ready is because I have 4 beautiful children and with 4 kids, it's not always practical to be picture ready, right? Someone please tell me that's right! =) So this year I have determined to have pictoral proof for my kids, that yes, I did "attend" their life. So this first week of the new year, I am starting a new project. A project that will take a year to complete. A project that will include me. It will include me and those 4 precious "picture readiness speed bumps" who I call my babies. Please no haters 'cause I just called my kids speedbumps...I love them with all my heart! My goal for this blog is to post at least one picture each week and the only requirement is that it must include me and at least one of my children or Brian. It doesn't have to be all of me, but I have to somehow be evident in the photo. This is important to me. And I think my kids will appreciate it, even if it's not until they are older. I want them to see that I was present. Even if not picture ready. So even if no one else reads this, or you think it's a silly idea, it's okay. It's for my kids anyway....

A look back at 2009...

If you are curious to know where I got this idea...I followed this sweet lady's project 52 last year....inspiring! I only hope I get some photos as good as hers!