My Poor, Sick Baby

My Little one is so sick. She has a bad cough and a runny nose. But she is still such a good natured baby! How did I get so extra blessed with this one? She is so sweet and very cute as you can see. Her sisters love to take lots of pictures of her so she won't ever have to feel bad about being baby number nine! We have more pictures of her than we do of our oldest!!
I am so sleepy. I have been sleeping on the couch so that I can take better care of her. We have an old couch that is broken down. Not the best for sleeping. Plus it is cold and I don't want to turn on the furnace until the guy comes next week to clean it. And hubby told me he will vacuum out the vents. Lots and lots of junk in those babies!!
Okay, so ever since I went to meet the teacher's night at my oldest daughter's high school, something has been bothering me. One of the teachers had a baby seven weeks ago and she not only teaches at the high school two days a week, she and her husband are professors who teach at a local college. My Emily told me that the baby is in day care. How on God's green earth could someone leave their precious newborn in day care? I just can't understand it. They came from our bodies ladies!! We nurtured them for nine months. But it doesn't stop there. I am sorry, I know that it is not cool to bring these things up but I am speaking for these poor babies who wake up looking for mommy. Don't fool yourself by thinking that they don't. My baby's face lights up when I come into her view. She does know the difference. She is happy, safe and secure knowing that when she is hungry, wet or just plain bored, I will be there to take care of her. She has the comfort of her home and she gets plenty of stimulation when I take her with me to the grocery store, church for Mass, or just running errands in the van with her two year old sister. I could not leave her with a group of people who will put her on their schedule. Plus babies need love, the kind of love only mom can give. No one will love your baby the way that you do.
Listen, if you are just not the motherly type...... don't have kids! Get yourself a poodle and become a big executive. If you are a mother, BE ONE. Don't tell me that it is not fulfilling enough, or that you will be bored. I have been home with my kids for twelve years now and I am far from bored!! Life is what you make it. Every day can be an adventure. Take the baby out for a walk. Go to the zoo, the mall, the park! But pull that kid out of day care and love them to pieces.
I know that I will never win any awards for being an outstanding woman in my career. But who cares. I am raising human beings, to love and nurture and care about their world and those around them. You cannot learn that in day care. If your own mother doesn't love you enough to stay home and take care of you, then who will love you. Selfish, selfish, selfish.
I should add, I am not talking about those of you who have no choice. But I will tell you what, I would go through the fires of hell to figure out how to stay home with my seven week old.
Okay, sorry not so light hearted but this is my blog, not yours. Besides, the only people who read this are going to try to get me to go to their website and look for singles! Or sell stuff from home.....etc, etc, etc!
See ya,
The mother of all mothers

I Love Autumn!!

I just love this time of year!! I totally go into hibernation mode. I love the sights, smells, the feel of fall. I love cool, sweater weather. I could never live down south because I live for the changing of the seasons.

So I have been working around the house a lot. I have filled up the freezer and I am making plans for the winter. I signed up for Flylady again because I feel like I am really ready this time. I have been keeping my sink clean and I just want a nice clean kitchen to work in. I am hoping to make some soups this fall and winter. The thought of that is so nice and cozy, isn't it? I am also going to order some firewood so we can have some nice fires in our fireplace this winter.

And I have just been enjoying being a mom. I can't believe how much I love my vocation in life. I guess I would have to love it, I have a big brood! I love reading about other big families too. I just wish that everyone could see what a blessing children are. I am not talking about people who know that they can't emotionally, mentally or physically handle it. That is different! I am talking about the Disney world going, SUV driving, two income, two kid families!

We might not ever make it to Disney World, but we have traveled as a family and boy do we have fun. Sometimes there is just so much laughter in our house. We have our own family jokes and so many fun times. I just love each and every one of those precious faces. It is worth all of the hard work and sacrifice. It brings a lump in my throat to think that God has entrusted me with the upbringing of these nine souls.

Thank you God for beautiful fall days and my precious nine children.
I love You my dearest Lord.

Back from Boston

It has been really crazy for about two months now. I want to write more than this but things are so nuts!!

Take this weekend for instance. The hubby and I drove eight hours with nine children to visit my cousin and aunt in Boston.
We had a lot of fun. We went to the aquarium and it was simply awesome. We didn't get to see too much of Boston because we had to come back on Monday, but we did get to Quincy Market. We are going to try to get back this summer so we can see some more and really walk around the city. The kids were really good, except for the two year old. On the way back to Buffalo we did make a few stops. We stopped at the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge and at the Martyre's Shrine in Aureisville.
But that was not enough stops for her. She screamed a lot about getting out of her seat, and the tension was hot for awhile. Everyone gets crabby when Amelia gets crabby!!
Home, sweet, home! I am trying to restore order to my home but it is slow moving! Plus I am a tad bit tired too. Hubby went back to work and kids are back at school. Baby and toddler are napping. All is well at the homestead! I should be getting much done!!
Okay, back to work I go.
Hi, ho, hi ho!