Rainbow
J+M+J
This winter week of January is very cold, so here is a little reminder of the summer. This rainbow came very early in the morning, and I was up because I was sick.
A+M+D+G
Journal
When It Rains, It Pours
J+M+J
One person can’t get sick in this house without at least two others getting sick. Now John, Alex and Joseph are on antibiotics for strep throat. When it rains, it pours.
Joseph in the Bath
J+M+J
Joseph took an unexpected bath tonight. He wanted to take a bath, so, he just invited himself in.
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Catch-up
J+M+J
I haven’t blogged for a few weeks, so I’ll just catch up in this post.
Early January, I’m pretty sure we had the January thaw. The January thaw is a warmer period in early January for the great plains region (in other areas it comes later in the month) that usually follows very cold weather.
I had fun putting together a puzzle that I got for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Dykhius:
The next week there was the spelling bee. I got second place in the written test and third place in the oral spell down. I got out on the word rebellion (I am really mad at myself) making the same mistake I made in the city spelling bee last year, not spelling it with two l’s.
Then I came down with the worst sore throat of my life. I had body aches, a headache, vomiting, a fever, and a horrible sore throat. I couldn’t even drink water! It turned out to be Strep Throat.
I got on an antibiotic and it went away in time for my grandparents on Dad’s side to come over. Dad made a big Chevy’s (a great mexican restaurant) dinner with salsa, corn pudding, churro beans, fajitas, and guacamole from recipes in the Chevy’s cookbook. It tasted great! We opened up presents and I got this to add to my mounted atlas moth:
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The Summer Catalogs are out!
J+M+J
Yesterday some summer clothing catalogs arrived. Hmm… The companies must send out seasonal catalogs two seasons ahead. Summer in winter, fall in spring, winter in summer, spring in fall.
Second Stitches Episode
J+M+J
Today I was happily playing with a couple of stuffed husky dogs, when I heard Alexander start crying and Landon calling for Mom. I rushed to the boys room and saw Landon pressing a tissue to Alex’s head. Landon lifted the tissue long enough for me to see the cut. The blood, sudden fear, Landon’s yelling for Mom, and quickness of the glimpse made the wound seem to take up half of Alex’s forehead. I took immediate action. My first step was the logical, predictable thing for am almost-teen to do when she sees her brother seriously injured and is the oldest person around the room. I screamed at the top of my lungs. What is it about girls and screaming? I didn’t think about screaming. It must be instinctual. It must be imbedded in our minds from the days when-oh, never mind when. Wherever that impulse came from, I screamed. I think that was the loudest, most sincere scream I have ever done in my life. OK, enough about my scream. Next I got Mom. She took one look at the cut, (which I now realized was a whole lot smaller than I first thought), and said that Alex needed stitches. So she took him to acute care. (Something unrelated to this blog post about acute care: when I was little I thought it was called cute care and was only for little kids who were cute.)
When Alex and Mom got home I learned a little about the trip. Apparently Alex had his charms on. He talked a lot and had an interesting conversation with the nurse when she was putting on a disinfectant. He said, “I do not like that stuff because it is cold.” The nurse told him, “Oh, I like this cold stuff because it helps the owie not hurt so much.” Alex protested, “But I do not like it!” “But you need it to help the swelling go down.” “Oh, OK” Alex talked as if he knew what swelling was and if it would help it go down, well, it was necessary. After a while, Alex just got too cute, and the nurse went to get him a little hot wheel car. Alex liked that, so when the doctor came into the room and told Alex he as going to fix his head, Alex declared, “No, her is going to do it.” When the doctor was stitching him up, Alex was being held down, and the nurse was covering his eyes. Alexander did not like that at all. He couldn’t feel anything, but he screamed and screamed and fought. Mom said that was when she found out how strong Alexander was. The doctor said, “I’m almost done.” and Alex screamed, “No, you are done, you are done.” Alexander also screamed during the operation, “I’m going to go pee! I’m going to pee on the floor!” I wonder if he really had to, or was he just saying that to get away.
I put Alex in my bed to play nurse and I told him I would get some candy for him. Then I got him toys and blankets and pillows. I asked, “Alexander, is there anything you want?” Alex responded, “Yes, umm… candy!” Alex enjoyed the multitude of surprises he got tonight, but right now he is misbehaving in his bed. So, off I go to referee.
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New Year’s Celebration
J+M+J
Dad took us to eat at a delicious Chinese restaurant for supper New Year’s day. After that we went bowling. While we were waiting for our food, we looked at the chinese zodiac place mats to see what animal we were. Dad said, “I’m a tiger.” Alex looked surprised and declared, “You’re not a kiger, you’re a Dad!”
After bowling, Dad asked if we could see the machinery in the bowling alley in action. The man he asked took us back and showed them to us. They were loud, but I am glad we got to see them.
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2008
J+M+J
Well, 2008 is here and it must have brought the frigid weather with it. The temperature widget on my computer says it is currently 2F, with the possibility of getting down to -10. It also says that it feels like -30 outside, taking into account the usual South Dakota wind. Happy new year!
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Dedication of January
J+M+J
January is Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.
Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus
V. Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Christ, have mercy on us.
V. Lord, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear us.
R. Jesus, graciously hear us.
V. God the Father of Heaven
R. Have mercy on us.
V. God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
R. Have mercy on us.
V. God the Holy Spirit,
R. Have mercy on us.
V. Holy Trinity, one God,
R. Have mercy on us.
V. Jesus, Son of the living God, R. Have mercy on us.
Jesus, splendor of the Father, [etc.]
Jesus, brightness of eternal light.
Jesus, King of glory.
Jesus, sun of justice.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary.
Jesus, most amiable.
Jesus, most admirable.
Jesus, the mighty God.
Jesus, Father of the world to come.
Jesus, angel of great counsel.
Jesus, most powerful.
Jesus, most patient.
Jesus, most obedient.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart.
Jesus, lover of chastity.
Jesus, lover of us.
Jesus, God of peace.
Jesus, author of life.
Jesus, example of virtues.
Jesus, zealous lover of souls.
Jesus, our God.
Jesus, our refuge.
Jesus, father of the poor.
Jesus, treasure of the faithful.
Jesus, good Shepherd.
Jesus, true light.
Jesus, eternal wisdom.
Jesus, infinite goodness.
Jesus, our way and our life.
Jesus, joy of Angels.
Jesus, King of the Patriarchs.
Jesus, Master of the Apostles.
Jesus, teacher of the Evangelists.
Jesus, strength of Martyrs.
Jesus, light of Confessors.
Jesus, purity of Virgins.
Jesus, crown of Saints.
V. Be merciful, R. spare us, O Jesus.
V. Be merciful, R. graciously hear us, O Jesus.
V. From all evil, R. deliver us, O Jesus.
From all sin, deliver us, O Jesus.
From Your wrath, [etc.]
From the snares of the devil.
From the spirit of fornication.
From everlasting death.
From the neglect of Your inspirations.
By the mystery of Your holy Incarnation.
By Your Nativity.
By Your Infancy.
By Your most divine Life.
By Your labors.
By Your agony and passion.
By Your cross and dereliction.
By Your sufferings.
By Your death and burial.
By Your Resurrection.
By Your Ascension.
By Your institution of the most Holy Eucharist.
By Your joys.
By Your glory.
V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
R. spare us, O Jesus.
V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
R. graciously hear us, O Jesus.
V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
R. have mercy on us, O Jesus.
V. Jesus, hear us.
R. Jesus, graciously hear us.
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, You have said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek, and you shall find, knock, and it shall be opened to you.” Grant, we beg of You, to us who ask it, the gift of Your most divine love, that we may ever love You with our whole heart, in word and deed, and never cease praising You.
Give us, O Lord, as much a lasting fear as a lasting love of Your Holy Name, for You, who live and are King for ever and ever, never fail to govern those whom You have solidly established in Your love. R. Amen.
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New Year’s Eve
J+M+J
Goodbye, 2007. It has been a great year. I can’t believe it is over. We went to mass because it is the vigil of the feast of Our Lady, Mother of God.
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Little Angel Ornament
J+M+J
I got this Christmas ornament in a rather peculiar way. I was walking in church around Christmas. An elderly lady I had never seen before walked up to me, put the angel in my hand, and walked out the door before I could say anything at all! I wonder what she did that for.
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Winter Wonderland
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I took these pictures a few days ago. Isn’t it lovely?
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Sleeping Beauty
J+M+J
I just finished watching my new movie that I got for Christmas, the ballet Sleeping Beauty in my nice, new, warm, and blue bathrobe. Oh, it was a beauty! (ha) The dancing looked very difficult and lovely. It made my blood pump. The fairies in it had lovely solo parts, and it was amusing at the part when Aurora pricked her finger. She went around the courtyard, showing everyone her pricked finger. She must have been so protected that she had never pricked her finger before! There was lots of jumping, and it made Alexander, Joseph, and John Paul want to jump around also. They jumped and spun and did anything else they thought was ballet-like. I love ballet!
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Christmas Day
J+M+J
Christmas was VERY WHITE. So white and snowy that my Grandma and Grandpa on my Dad’s side had to turn around half-way to our house. We were sad, but we didn’t want there to be an accident. The roads were very slippery as we drove to Mass, and we had to go slow. When we came home later, we ate the large dinner. Then we opened gifts. I am going to post more about them later. Have a Blessed Christmas!
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