Where did my baby go?????

Carston turns 6 today. I can't believe that so many years have passed by since he came into our lives. I'm getting all teary-eyed thinking about it. He is such a sweet child, and I love him so much. I can't imagine our family without him. Here is a tribute to his past six years.
"Such craziness to have a baby. I don't know how this huge kid came out of Natalie....It was so weird when he came out, to finally see him. I didn't know what I was feeling really, but it was awesome." John

"It's just amazing that we were involved in his creation...I'm so curious to get to know him and his personality better." Natalie

"He brings joy to so many people, strangers included. He is filled with so much love." March 21, 2004

"Carston is such an enjoyable child. He is so good, nice, and funny. I really enjoy the time I can spend with him. He loves to play catch. Jordan got him a little mitt. He talks so much now. He says just about everything and can communicate very well. He has also started playing learning games on the computer. He's not even two and he knows how to use the mouse." April 11, 2004

"Carston woke up early so we sent him out to watch a show. When I came out, his breath smelled like garlic and there was an empty crouton box next to him." Sept. 2005

"I told Carston to come look at a pretty sunset. He said, 'Oh, he's coming.' I asked who was coming and he said, 'Jesus is coming." Nov. 2005

"Carston said he didn't like the Holy Ghost because he was scary." Dec. 2005

"Carston loves to wrestle with his daddy. Every night after prayers and scriptures he says, 'Should we do wrestle time now?'" March 12, 2006

"Carston is very excited for his upcoming birthday. He wants cake, candy, a pinata, and more candy. I was asking him who he wanted to invite. He turned to John and said, 'Can you come to my birthday Daddy?' And then he said, 'How about Mommy? Can you come?' Oh yeah, he wants birthday hats too!" May 21, 2006

"I said 'come on" to Carston this morning and he said, 'I'm coming on." John July 2, 2006

I totally ran out of time before I was able to organize this and finish writing what I wanted. Life right?

Minty Fresh

If you brush your teeth, but use toilet water to wet your toothbrush, have you helped or hindered the tooth bugs?

Macy brought me out her toothbrush and it was wet. I assumed, incorrectly, that one of the other kids had helped her at the sink. I brushed her teeth and took her back in the bathroom to put it away. She was getting mad though because she wanted a turn. So I handed it back to her, she lifted the lid to the toilet, and proceeded to dip her toothbrush. Kisses anyone?

Who needs to hear anyway?

Does anyone else hate the ever present possibility that your kid could have an ear infection???? It is like this constant suspicion in your mind. Your child is acting differently....hmmmm.....well, it COULD be an ear infection. Maybe that is why they are acting so grumpy. OR it could just be they're acting that way because they're tired or teething or just upset. Let's see, how can you tell if there is an infection or not. Ask them if their ear hurts. Okay, they say yes. Well, maybe it hurts and maybe they just feel like saying yes. Ask them if their knee hurts. Hmmm. They said yes. So does their ear really hurt, and then they thought you were playing a game when you asked a second question, or did they think you were playing a game initially when you asked if their ear hurt. Okay, let's try something else. Have they been crying for no reason and acting as though they are in pain. Yes. Okay, well that COULD mean they have an ear infection. BUT it could also mean that they are teething, or that they have a cold, or that their tummy hurts. Hmmm.... Let's see. Do they have a fever. Well wait, that isn't really conclusive. They can have a fever with an ear infection, but they can also have one with a cold, or the flu, or because they're teething. Okay, well what about congestion. Kids usually get ear infections after being congested. So every time one of my four kids gets a runny nose should I take them into the doctor? I think I'd be in there several times each week. Hmmmm....You see the dilemma? Add to that Avery's crazy ears. There's a girl who never complains of ear pain or acts like anything is wrong, but then I'll go check on her when she's asleep and find pus draining out of her ear because her eardrum has ruptured. After having her eardrum rupture five times, you can understand why I can't sit back when I have the "ear infection suspicion" and rely on their body to handle it on their own, because hers simply doesn't. And now she's going to be completely deaf. How bad would it be if I asked the doctor to put tubes in all my children's ears? I think it would contribute in large part to me maintaining my sanity. It might be kind of selfish though. And possibly expensive (I'll know more about that part when/if Avery gets tubes-what else do I do with that child and her ears? I've got to try and salvage whatever minuscule amount of hearing she has left, right?) Does anyone know how hard it would be to diagnose an ear infection if I bought my own instrument? Ugh. Dang ears.