Wunk's Home for Naughty Children

FAAN Walk

2010-08-21T13:26:00.005-05:00

Please join me and my family in our efforts to support the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward a Cure. FAAN provides much needed education and advocacy to families and individuals dealing with often life threatening food allergies. They have provided much needed funding to agencies like Medic Alert, to provide medical ID bracelets along with call in service for medical responders, free of charge to children. Please read more about their mission statement by clicking here.

We found that when Abigayil was diagnosed at 10 months old after a near fatal reaction to milk, that there was not a lot of information readily available for dealing with this type of medical issue in such a young child. That was, until we were referred to FAAN a few months later. FAAN has personally helped myself and my family in our ongoing quest to provide for our 3year old daughter, Abigayil. Abigayil suffers from severe multiple food allergies to dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and many common food additives. FAAN has provided the networking, recipies, recall alerts, and allergen alerts needed to keep her healthy and growing. My hope is that together we can raise enough money to keep this going for many more families facing the distress of food allergy and anaphylaxis.

The butterflies love her allergy alert bracelet too!

I would love to give something back to this wonderful organization. My family and I will be participating in the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network: Walk For the Cure on September 19th, 2010 in Lincoln, NE. Please help us reach our family goal of $150.00 by donating online at the Team Safety MAP walk page. You can click on my name (Sarah) and use the Support Me button to make your donation. Thank you for your support!

Intersted in participating in a local walk? Check out the 2010 Walk Locations page and sign up for one in your area.

Ellie's first (and hopefully last) self haircut

2009-06-03T15:30:00.005-05:00

All I can say is I am thankful to have a neighbor who is a hairdresser, AND she was up early on a Sunday morning. Next time Ellie is up to go potty at 2am and she takes a little too long, I might go check a bit sooner! She also found a little drink mix packet and ate it (hence the Joker/Dark Knight makeup job). ACK!

It's That Time of Year Again

2009-06-03T13:01:00.005-05:00

It is time once again to pull out the picnic and camping gear and set out on many family adventures. This is our picnic/camping "party ball" that I put together. I remember trips as a child and my mom had something similar, only not as functional, and much higher priced. It only served 4 (maybe 6, I dont remember!) Anyway, this lovely little self contained feeding and eating aparatus has full place settings for 8 and is highly portable for those last minute "bring your own table service" outings. It's also environmentally friendly as there is no trash to throw away.

It starts out like this:

Opens up into this:

And conveiniently goes back to this when finished:

If you are just picnicing for the meal, you can just close it all up and bring it home to wash. When I am camping, I always throw a pot of water on the fire when cooking so I can wash it up for the next meal. The cake taker can also be used as a serving bowl and serving plate. I usually stick the handle into the groove of the picnic table to keep it flat. Just make sure you are not putting hot foods into it.
Contents:
1 cheap cake taker ($4 @ Walmart)
8 bowls ($1 for 2 @ walmart)
8 divided plates ($1 for 4 @ Walmart)
8 7oz cups ($1 for 2 @ Walmart)
8 sporks by Light My Fire ($2.99 ea @ Scheel's All Sports)
1 little tube of baby silverware ($? @ Target in the baby sundries)

Avram is 10!

2009-05-09T17:05:00.004-05:00

Avram had his 10th birthday party today! I can't believe how fast time flies. Unfortunately my camera battery died, and the backup battery was not charged. I missed him opening his gifts. I did get the battery charged enough to get cake pics though! Thank goodness for rapid chargers!

The cake I made...I was in a hurry and biffed a few things up, like the i instead of an I, and the letters got bigger as I wrote. Oh well! Avram liked it just the same.

What is playing at a theater near you?

2009-01-22T22:13:00.002-06:00

Kevin and I were out the other night...and spotted the funniest thing. A new movie! We have never even seen the previews! What a find! I think it might be about some animals who have dreams of escaping the zoo, to become racecar drivers! How exciting!

Science City

2009-01-19T22:22:00.003-06:00

Science City is one of our favorite spots in Kansas City to visit. Here is one of the great exhibits for your viewing pleasure.

All you need to do is stare at the center of the vortex, and try to not look away, or fuzz out of focus. It will be good, I promise!

Try it again and look at something else near you.

Quotes from a 3 year old

2009-01-02T23:22:00.005-06:00

"MOM! we CAN'T take the decorations down! I don't want to ruin Christmas! (stern sing-song here) Mom, Santa will be mad."

With folded arms and a big pout, "Santa just bringed me a BOX!" upon unwrapping a gift, to find a plain brown box which needed to be opened to disclose what the gift really was. This has since become the thing to say whenever opening something in a plain box at our house.

On the way to preschool one morning:
"Mom, if you kill me, you will be sad." To which I asked if she was scared of mommy...,"Nope, but you will be sad if you kill me." "sweety, mommy would never kill you.", "yeah, you would be sad." Let me tell you, this one gave me shivers! I was thinking I needed to call a psychologist, but no need for alarm here! I had thought about it all that day, and remembered later that I had told the boys to please be quiet so I wouldn't crash the car and kill everyone...as we drove on icy roads into the blinding sunrise.

While listening to Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" on the radio..."Mom? How do santa babies get down the chimney? They can't even WALK!"

"Dad! You're not a doctor!". After being told 'no more monkeys jumping on the bed'.

Wake up with the King

2008-11-08T09:41:00.004-06:00

With a quiet smile, my little three year old girl climbed into my bed this morning. She looked like an angel, sweet as can be in her pink polkadot princess jammies. Curious as to what she was smiling about I asked if she had a good sleep. She replied, "Mom, I have been thinking about Jesus.". Her smile curling up even more, "I drew Him a picture!". Giggling I asked, "What were you thinking about Jesus? "He loves me, so I was thinking about making Him pictures.".

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all wake up in the morning, with the quiet and warm assurance of Christ's love? The scriptures have taught us to 'be as a child'. This surely must be what was meant, having the faith of a little one, knowing that the Lord's love surrounds us. We might offer up a prayer...although I am sure he loves the pictures just as well.

That's not chapstick!

2008-10-09T20:49:00.001-05:00

Note to kids:

Please do not leave the glue sticks out. Especially the disapearing purple ones. The little girls think it is chapstick.

-Mom

ARGHHHHHHHH!

2008-07-16T18:33:00.006-05:00

We went out last night, like we do every Tuesday night. We hung out at Ahnah's until just after midnight waiting out the storms. It didn't do much good though as we wound up driving into worse storms heading home. Lightning was striking rapidly and very close to where we were driving! Kev made the comment, "that's a little too close to home!". Little did we know...

ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

I can't complain really, the house it OK, power is back on, we just lost a very large tree in the front yard. We really were blessed that it fell completely parallel to the sidewalk. We were even more thankful that the other half stayed up during the rest of the night's storms. That part of the tree leans towards the house.

We do need to thank the men from the city's crew that were over first thing in the morning. Talk about service! Some 10+ men armed with chainsaws, trucks, payloader and industrial chipper made short work of the mess. The sad thing is my yard is trashed, and we lost the majority of our shade/wind protection for the yard and the house. I need to totally re-do the landscaping. Everything was planted for full shade...and now we're full sun.

For the beauty of the earth...

2008-06-21T21:35:00.002-05:00

This is the glorious greeting we received driving home from Mom-mom and Pop-pop's this evening. The children were in awe. What a peaceful and comforting view. I wish we could have gotten a full shot. We had a full double rainbow. You can see a little bit of the upper one in the picture. It faded all too fast!

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise!

Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no. 92

June floods

2008-06-20T23:44:00.002-05:00

I totally forgot to post this before! This was June 6th, not far from our house.

http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa37/loves2smock/?action=view¤t=063fd1b0.pbw

Sorry I can't get the slideshow to show on here!

We're off to see the wizard!

2008-06-20T23:29:00.003-05:00

Technically, no wizard, but we are going to Kansas City (yes I know it's in MO, but our hotel is in KS!) Kev and I decided to leave most of the kids at home with Laura, the worlds greatest nanny-sitter, and take Ellie and Abbie along. Matthew will be at Medicine Mountain Scout Ranch in SD while we are gone too, Laura's got it easy this week! It's not California, and Sea World, and Disneyland, and all that neat Stuff that Nate and Doreen got to do, but it's still fun! I hope I can remember how to get around still! Ellie is looking forward to going to the zoo this time. She SWEARS there are KOALAS EVERYWHERE in KC. She said it last time we were there too, only I don't remember seeing any koalas! Anyway, I am looking forward to being able to get around a little easier without so many kids, and seeing the things we didn't have time to on our last visit. At this point I really can't imagine driving a small car around, and going places with just the 2 little girls, but I am sure I will manage!

Kevin

2008-05-04T16:12:00.003-05:00

I've been tagged to tell about my sweetie, so here's the run down:

What is your husband's name? Kevin, AKA: Kev, Kevi

How long have you been married? We will hit 14 years on June 25th.

Who eats more sweets? Right now he does. All the sweets I like have milk and eggs in them. Stupid milk, stupid eggs!

Who said I love you first? I really don't remember, I want to say he did.

How old is he? 15+20-2

Who is taller? Kevin, by 12"

Who is smarter? uhhhhhhhhhhhh, I think he is. He probably thinks I am. It really depends on what kind of smart is needed!

Who can sing better? I think I can...but I don't know, because I can't hear anyone else sing.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? we both sleep on the right side. The wrong side is full of shoes and dust!

Who mows the lawn? Kev does. I love mowing, but it's too difficult to do with kiddos the trying to help, and the little girls wanting to be held and needing to be supervised outside (no fence!). That and it's a fairly large task. It's a huge lumpy bumpy yard!

Who cooks dinner? I do. He stopped cooking when we went dairy/egg free. We call it "ingredient free". LOL

Who drives? If we are together, he does, so I can hear him talking to me.

Who kissed who first? I honestly don't remember, it was over 14 years ago! I remember the kiss though! Maybe he kissed me first...I don't remember! How bad is that?

Who asked who out? I did. Just don't tell my mom! Hahaha

Who has more siblings? Me, he's an only child.

Who wears the pants? I like Doreen's answer, but I really have to say I do.

What is his love language? Don't know - I'll have to read the book.

I won't tag anyone, everyone I know has already been tagged I am sure. Who reads my blog anyway? Leave a comment so I know!

Please note...

2008-05-02T21:59:00.002-05:00

Please note that this is MY blog. If you don't like my title, you really needn't fret, simply click the red X in the corner. I had it installed just for that purpose. If you do like it, you probably know me personally, know my sense of humor, and where this came from. Maybe you have no idea who I am, and you still like it. Good for you! You have a slightly demented sense of humor too! Truth be told, everyone who has kids, has naughty kids. They simply vary in their degree of naughiness. Naughty at my house is a funny thing. We celebrate underarm mints, CPBs, and peanut butter eating under the bed.

webbed toes are awesome!

2008-04-12T22:41:00.001-05:00

We have a lovely campfire smell now

2008-04-10T19:24:00.003-05:00

Don't let your kids read and cook.
That's all I have to say about that.

Easter Basket

2008-03-22T15:15:00.002-05:00

Here is my latest Cricut creation! Happy Easter!

It's aliiiiiiiive!

2008-03-06T00:03:00.005-06:00

Well, technically, its not alive...but it's done! Now on to 4 dresses and another quilt I need to finish! It never ends!

10 random things about me

2008-03-02T22:33:00.003-06:00

I will play along and pretend to be cool like everyone else (they are cool, I am pretending, I didn't mean to say that they were pretending to be cool like I am. Pretending that is, not that they are not cool like me because I am not cool, I am just pretending to be cool, whilst everyone else really is cool...did that make sense?)

1. I am not one of the cool kids.

2. I really can't stand to wear shoes. I wear birkenstocks year round, rain or snow or sunshine...and as soon as those can come off, they do!

3. I dont have any cool tattoos or body peircings...but I have some really big freaky scars from my many many surgeries.

4. I have a 2nd belly button (see #3) Ha ha ha, NO, I won't show it to you. Only special people have seen it.

5. I am profoundly Deaf. No, it's not the reason I appear to be ignoring you.

7. I had a 7th cesarean section and (barely) survived. Yes, you CAN have more than 3 of them...no, I do not reccomend it.

8. I get hit on by lesbians a little more often than I'd like. I have no idea why either. I mean seriously, when a woman is obviously heavy with child, with 5 other kids in the suburban, waiting to pick her husband up at work and decides to check the oil...what makes you think you can come up, reach around with both hands and ask if I "need a little help under the hood"?!?!?! Seriously ladies, I don't swing that way.

9. I saw a plastic surgeon the other day...his comment was, "your husband isnt here so I will say it, you've really got some nice curves under there.". Why THANK YOU! Underneath the flab and fat and lumps, and scars, I look great! It's what every woman wants to hear! That goes right up there with "wow, you used to look like that!" upon the arrival of my sister, Ahnah, visiting home from BYU. Oh and my sisters and I were checking out the birthmark on Abigayil's back, and I said "just like mommy's.", Kev pipes up with "what, the fat blubs?". To his defense, he thought we were discussing the girlie's chubbs...LMAO

10. I have a fabric fettish. I justify it as the ability to be able to supply clothes and quilts for a year in the event of a disaster. Everyone should have a year's supply of fabric!

I don't know anyone, so I won't tag anyone. Again, not one of the cool kids!

a little frog in her throat

2008-02-22T21:38:00.002-06:00

We went to the doctor today...she just had a frog in her throat.

Cute Chicks

2008-02-18T23:07:00.004-06:00

so you got glasses...

2008-01-25T22:49:00.000-06:00

Ok, so my sister and I were comparing glasses today. She's never had glasses (well, as an adult anyway) and I never wear mine. This is why I never wear mine! Hello Wanda! No offense meant, I am just not quite ready to start looking this much like my mom!

On a totally different subject, Matthew had his first scrimage game last night! He shot the winning basket! Nothing but net! woohoo! He's the kid who only comes up to everyone elses's shoulders. I was nervous about letting him play, but he's doing alright so far!

Just because she's cute

2008-01-19T21:40:00.000-06:00

Ellie is now a princess...

2008-01-19T19:03:00.000-06:00

Today we celebrated Ellie's 3rd birthday! She said, "Today is my birthday! Today I is a princess!". Sure enough, she donned her princess attire and pranced about whilst pulling brightly wrapped "princess packages" out of a seemingly bottomless bag of gifts. Here are some pics, enjoy!

Why little girls must ride in carts...even if they are "big now"

2008-01-14T22:48:00.000-06:00

Ellie, Abbie and I went for a quick trip to Walmart this afternoon to get some bananas. After steering Ellie past the pears and grapes we starting bagging some bananas up. Simple trip, right? Wrong. As I am bagging, I hear an all too familiar little voice heading away from me. I look up from my search for the perfect, not-too-green-not-too-yellow bananas, to see Ellie with running with arms flailing after a white haired woman, yelling, "great grammaaaaaaaa! stop! I'm Ellie!". In shear horror I bolted with the cart, greatful that I had Abbie buckled in. I snatched Ellie up a few steps before she dove into this woman who was most assuredly, not great gramma. Great, do we really need to go into this in the middle of the produce department? "Ellie, honey, sweety, that's not great gramma. Do you remember great gramma died, and went back to live with Heavenly Father?" "She came back to see me. She was sleeping in that bed." "No sweety, that wasn't a bed, and she wasnt sleeping. That was a special box that they burry you under the ground in after you die." "oh, is gramma dead?" "no, gramma is at work." "is mom-mom dead?" "no honey, mom-mom is at work too" "Oh, great gramma is at work mom, she just sleepin in that bed." "let's go find some pears, huh?" There was another couple checking out the fried chicken and listening in to this convo with my soon to be 3 year old, and giggling.

I know it takes a looooooooooong loooooooooong time for little ones to understand the concept of death, but I honestly didn't think Ellie would even remember the funeral, or even great gramma for that matter. We were only able to see her a handful of times in the past year. I know better than to underestimate children...I just assumed that because she never said anything about great gramma ever, funeral included, that she would never bring it up. Oy.

We get busy sometimes

2008-01-13T23:34:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I haven't posted in a bit...it's been a tad bit hectic. Hectic is really nothing new, just an excuse I like to use for being lazy, which is nearly an every day occurance.

Back on January 3rd, I had a wonderful idea to have a family outing. Kevin was off work, and the kids did not have to return to school until the 7th. Things could not have been more ideal. I planned a trip to a local pizza buffet, then on to the Children's Museum. To add to the day's idealness, I also had "kids eat free coupons", and it was a free day at the musuem. Lunch and activities for 8 people, for under $15. We got about 15 minutes into eating, and realized we truly are playing russian roulette in our attempts to feed a highly allergic 12 mo old. We gave her diced eggs. Aparantly Abigayil and eggs don't mix. She started out with hives on her mouth, then started pulling at her neck and wheezing. Great, flashbacks to a few weeks ago. We called the doctor, stabbed her with an epi pen and gathered up the rest of the kids (by gathered them up I mean we dragged the middle 3 out kicking and screaming about wanting to eat, and not having had any icecream yet) and got into the burb to rush down the street to the ER. As soon as we got everyoen buckled in, Abigayil projectile vomited all over the car. Joy joy, at elast it got the food out of her belly. The ER was a wonderful engagement of more medication stabbing, oxygen masks, respiratory therapy, IVs, and children huddled in the corner sobbing and on their knees praying. Oh I forgot the nurse that didn't actually believe that she was in anaphylaxis for the 4th time in as many months ran out the door yelling something to the effect of, "we need a doctor, she's dying". That is EXACTLY what a room full of scaren children need to hear to prevent them from panicking. We did eventually get Abigayil stabilized and moved her up to the peds unit. This is how we do family outings here at Wunk's Home for Naughty Children. Great isn't it?

I was very impressed with and inspired by, Matthew. He was terrified, but did not panic. Instead he quietly dropped on his knees in prayer and supplication for his tiny sister, and instructed the other children to do so as well. Oh the faith of children! It was not until stong hands were laid on her little head by Daddy and Pop-Pop that she started to make a recovery. My mom asked me a few days later, "What do people do without the priesthood?". They die. I am always in awe that our Heavenly Father is mindful of us, all we need to do is ask for His help. He does hear the prayers of his little, and not so little children. I am thankful for the restored power of the priesthood on this earth, and for his restored gospel. I am thankful for parents who have shown me to pray, and to trust in the Lord. I am incredibly grateful for a sweet and loving husband who holds the priesthood, and for my father for teaching him how to use it. In all this has been a faith building experience. I just pray we can hold off a while before having any more of these kind of faith builders!

On a lighter note...Matthew informed me this past Monday that he signed up for basketball. He also informed me that he is the smallest boy playing. He is excited to be doing something other than shoot hoops in the back yard. He has his first game at the end of the month. I hope he actually gets some time on the court! We still do not know why he has stopped growing. The endocrinologist at the children's hospital in Omaha, NE, said that his initial blood work came back within the normal limits, but he did feel a bit of a goiter. Before anyone pipes up, yes we DO use iodized salt. He goes back in April for further testing.

That is all for now. I had a million things to share, but my sleep deprived brain doesnt function anymore, and alas, Abigayil is awake and signaling that she does indeed require my presence and built in feeding aparatus in her mouth STAT.

Wunk's Home for Naughty Children

2008-01-01T15:41:00.000-06:00

WELCOME to the best place on the web to hear about what goes on in the life of a grumpy housewife and mom of six. I am Sarah. I will be your host, while you journey through this small glimpse of what really happens behind the scenes at Wunk's Home for Naughty Children.

A quick rundown of the Home's residents...

Kevin and Sarah Married in June of 1994 and founded the Home. The Home is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The founders of the home are well versed in managing children's mental health and pharmacological needs. They are currently engaging in hands on training for the management of asthma, food allergy and anaphylaxis and children's endocrinology. Sarah works full time during the Home's open hours. Kevin brings in additional funding sources by working as a machinist for BNSF Railways when he is not busy at the Home, or working with the local BSA troop. All male residents are strongly urged to be an active member of the Boy Scouts or Cub Scouts of America.

Matthew is the oldest resident, and by far the most difficult. He is nearly 13, and began living at the Home in March 1995. He is active in Boy Scouts, and enjoys playing clarinet.

Annie was received at the home late December 1996. She is now 11 and starting to enter that exciting time of life, called puberty. Redheads and puberty are a volatile combination. I reccomend avoiding it at all costs. She enjoys beading and knitting, and has won local fair competitions with her handwork.

Avram, aka: Bubs, joined the bunch in May, 1999. Avram's interests include toads, snakes, making horrible messes that "some crazy guy" keeps setting him up to take the fall for, and eating peanut butter under the bed.

Kaleb, who will be 7 next month, often accompanies Avram in the pursuit of amphibians and reptiles, and eating peanut butter under the bed. Kaleb hopes to be a shark trainer one day. He currently is a purveyor of small handmade quilts, stuffed turtles, and penguins.

Ellie is one of our youngest residents, awaiting her 3rd birthday this month. Ellie aspires to be a princess, and actively prances and gallops about as part of her formal training.

Abbie is the latest arrival at Wunk's Home for Naughty Children. She celebrated her first birthday last month. She enjoys nursing and actively supports the right to be fed at all hours of the day or night.

Unfortunately, the Home had to close it's doors to new residents following some life threatening health issues upon Abbie's arrival. The Home wishes to thank Frankenwomb for it's many years of service. Frankenwomb permanently retired on December 15th, 2006.