I will die . . .

. . . a slow and painful death after I show you all the final outcome of this table!



For now I only have a sneaky peeky {because I'm not quite done!}

But my Nannie is going to have my hide because I painted it! Although it was painted brown in the first place!! After I had saved my pennies, I talked to the guy who has refinished some things for me in the past. He told me it wasn't worth refinishing!?

I'll explain the details when I post the final picture! But let's face it - this is my style anyways! {And my budget!!}

Fluid like water!

My sister came by with my step-mom and aunt. They love to watch Em go down the stairs! Allyson videoed it with her phone! Sorry for the not so great quality, but I thought you guys would love it!!!! Yes, that is me in the red shirt pushing one of my kids out of the way!!

Introducing the "One-legger!" {haha!}



I'll get this on video {without Hudson screaming!} and try to post again later {before she actually comes down stairs correctly!}

Facts . . .

I did it. Finally. Under the pressure of friends and family. AND the fact that I woke up to yet another fever blister this morning!!! I do believe that is my 8th one since the week before Thanksgiving?! I only get those when I'm stressed. And I don't really get them very often {even with 4 kids!?} So, yes - I'm stressed.

What did I do, you wonder? I stopped accepting orders that is what I did. Until further notice .



Bummer for you? I don't know, but a huge bummer for me. I'm afraid I might have just killed my business! But I've got to get caught up! I personally hate placing an order and it taking for-evah to get! And yet, I'm doing it to all you guys!

Let me tell you my dirty secret . . . during the whole month of December, I didn't work as hard as I could. No, really I didn't. But you know - when one of my kids would ask me to hold them, I did it. I would stop everything I was doing and hold them. Not for "a minute" but more like 30 minutes. Seriously! And I have all those kids. And they all wanted their 30 minutes. And I just gave it to them.

Not just that. But when they would ask me to play play-doh. I did it. With gloves on mind you - because I have horrible sensory issues {such as Hudson,} but I did play with them. We played with that mess so much that a lot got thrown away because it just got nasty! Just gross, I tell ya'! But it has been replaced, so please don't worry.

And we colored. So much so that none of the crayons have tips anymore. Of course that has alot to do with the fact that Em kept throwing them down on the tile floor and breaking them off - but hey, they still worked and we still colored {for longer than 30 minutes!}

I did alot this December. Things I know I'm suppose to do. And do you know, I still got done with all the orders that "had" to be finished before Christmas! I was still stressed out - but I did it anyways. This month has been amazing to me and for me.

I also found a stack of orders that were placed at the first of the year! I have no idea how they got misplaced. I'm sure it was something I did. I just don't know what?! I still have not emailed these people to say "sorry" and " by any chance, do you even want this order?" I'm afraid I'm going to get the "kiss-off" email - I really don't want that kind of email. That is probably the reason I'm stressing!

I will not stop painting. I'm only getting caught up.

*With all my current orders.
*All the gift cards I gave as gifts. {I'm sure they want their gifts!}
*Emails {I haven't confirmed about 20 orders!!}
*Updating some things with small words.
*Studio needs major improving.
*and so much more . . . .

I really thought the past 4 months would give me the time I needed. It didn't. Just the plain truth.

But I'll still blog {changes, I hope, you will see here, too!} And definitely paint!

If you have any questions, concerns, comments, positive affirmations . . . please email me or comment.

I'm not going anywhere.

I just want my kids to have memories I don't.

Thank you all so much!

- kim!

Christmas Crack revisited . .

Did anyone catch the comment I made about my Dad in my Merry Christmas post? Well, let me explain - after I made the "Crazy" Cookies - now referred to as "Christmas Crack" {hahaha!!!!!} - I tried to convince my Dad to try them. He politely said "no thank you" about 5 times. BUT then when someone would come into the kitchen, the man would offer them to everybody else!!!! As in he was saying, "Try these, let's see if you throw up or go into some kind of convulsions or possible die." You have to know him - we would crack up every time he would offer them up! No matter who ate them and said they were the best thing ever, he still didn't believe us!!

The only reason I'm bringing this up is because Allyson {my sister} just posted Christmas pictures on facebook.


This about sums it up. I was trying to convince him AGAIN to try a small bite AND I'm sure he is turning me down. But the look on his face in the picture has that "I think I'm going to ralph if she ask me one more time to try one of these" look. haha!

His birthday is in January - I'm totally making them for him then.

"Crazy" Cookie Recipe . . .

I have a story about these cookies. Years ago, a long, long time ago, I worked a job where I got paid. Those were the days I received cold, hard cash for doing a job I loved. I had a nice comfy chair that set behind a gigantic desk and I got paid to talk on the phone {or at least that is what my boss would say!!} Seriously, I worked at a dental office and I did love my job. The funny thing is when you work in a place like that, people always brought in sweets for us to eat. Chocolate was a huge one. I actually loathed chocolate until that job. Then I just got so use to eating it that I barely remember a time when I didn't?

Well, one December {pretty sure I was pregnant with Hudson,} a patient came in with these Crazy Cookies. Me, never being the one to turn down a sweet, grabbed one up and basically embarrassed myself by shoving the entire thing in my mouth. Once the flavor settled on my tongue AND with my mouth full, I looked at the patient and said, "Did I just bite into a saltine??" as crumbs flew out!


To answer that, Yes I did . . . and it was one of the best flavors I've ever tasted!!!!!! And thankfully she shared the recipe. And you will thank me after you take your first bite! {Have I ever steered you wrong with a recipe?? Think back on that potato salad?!?! Hmmm hmm, that's what I thought.}

I'm quite sure these were called "Holiday Cookies," but with the saltine as an ingredient, I've changed the name to "CRAZY cookies"!!!

Crazy Cookies

*2 sticks of butter {NOT margarine}
*1 cup sugar

I'm sure you can see why they are sooo good?! Butter and sugar . . . and a lot of it!

*1 sleeve of saltines
*12 oz milk chocolate chips {or any flavor chips - white chocolate, butterscotch, etc. . .}
*optional - 1 cup of nuts {any kind}

I'm not a fan of any kind of nut so I omit this one!

Turn oven on to 400. Line Cooke sheet with foil. {Cookie sheet needs to have sides.} Line cookie sheet with crackers. Boil Butter and sugar for about 3 minutes - stir the entire time. Pour and spread over crackers. Bake in oven for 5 minutes. Pour chocolate chips over crackers and spread as they melt. Immediately sprinkle with nuts and press into chocolate. Cool in refrigerator to harden. Break into pieces.


You can thank me later.

Merry Christmas . . .

What a Christmas. I'm quite certain everyone got what they wanted!

Hudson with his Leapster2.

Lawson with his marble maze!

Carson with his Batman Cave AND toboggan! He didn't take that thing off his head the whole day!?

And Emme finally got to see Santa . . . that is what that sweet baby wanted more than anything! I wish I had recorded it. We are still laughing at her reaction!

I just gorged myself with these {Dad, I hate you wouldn't eat any of the "Crazy" cookies - completely YOUR loss! But I'm planning on making them for your birthday next month! So you will get another chance. haha-hehe!!!}

And several little people are now asleep with some new toys in the exact spot they were just playing.

Fantastic DAY! And a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas.

Only in Tennessee . . .

****edited at bottom****


. . . . would someone build a castle.

and actually live in it!!!!

Since Carson is obsessed with castles, he was yelling, "that's my home!"

haha!

*** after a few comments - it seems it's not just Tennessee! You guys are cracking me up! {Check the comments} there is a castle for sale!

Ainsley . . .

This is the last one before Christmas! I really told myself that I was NOT picking up a paintbrush until tomorrow morning . . . but I was just fooling myself! I still have a goal that has not been met - and the end of the year is a but a week and some days left! I'm a huge goal maker - don't always meet them, but strive none-the-less!

The dots are ivory, cranberry, pale pink and a citron color. My room was a little too bright this afternoon when I took the picture.

I love the room this painting is going in! The walls are a pale/muted pink and the furniture is an ivory color. Like normal - I do not have permission to use these photos, so they might disappear!

The painting may go over the changing table or . . . .

the crib! Check out the mobile?!?! Love it!

I did wrap the dots around the sides.

I have painted for this fabric before in the past . . .

But that canvas looked like this!


Makes it easy when the paint colors have been matched to the fabrics! {Yes, I used the exact same colors!} Crazy how different the two canvases look after they both came together!!!

Playdate . . .

I'm done! Oh yeah - that's right! Finished! Finished 1 day before I did last year! Because I finished yesterday around 4:30 in the afternoon! Of course I was suppose to ship yesterday . . . didn't quite happen - ERRR! But I'm about to print out FedEx shipping labels and then head to FedEx!!

The funny part is where and how I finished!! I worked on my last painting {which I'll post either later today or tomorrow} at one of my bestie's house. That is what I said. I loaded up all 4 kids, all the painting supplies I would need and headed to her house in Nashville. I had to drop off the the 3 16x20 Classic Collection paintings you see above yesterday morning. The drop off was somewhat close to her house . . . so we figured we would let our kids exchange gifts NOW instead of waiting till we did our annual Opryland Hotel Christmas light par-TAY.

I didn't expect to make this visit all day . . . but we did. I really thought we would do snack and leave - haha! We not only did lunch, but dinner, too!

Between the 2 of us, we have 8 kids. Yes, 8. Since July of 2004, we have added 8 kids to our mix.

We are fully aware that this is a playdate for some people - say 6, maybe 7 moms . . . but this is our playdate of only 2 moms. haha!

MEET

Jake - You will always know what is going on in every room with this kid! He likes to "inform" us of everything. The good and bad.

Hudson - This kid has issues with remaining dressed - no matter whose house we are at. Notice the pants are missing?? He also loves standing in front of the TV and screaming at it! Makes for fun times.

Will - If the room goes quite, this kid is NOT in it. Or he is asleep {fat chance!} Look at that twinkle in his eye!

Carson - We will all say has got to be the quietest kid in the bunch. ONLY because they have so many "new" toys. Every single time we leave, he tells us what he wants for Christmas {or birthday?!}

Lawson - Has got to have his "numbers" when he is at the Spence house. And he will drive us NUTS until we find enough "numbers" for him to carry!

Alaina Claire - This girl is the observer. We normally don't hear much from her . . . she just watches the crazies.

Emme - Loves AC. Idolizes her. Covets all her baby doll toys. Loves the hand me downs we {use} to borrow before they both started wearing 18 months . . . at the same time! She too, observes, but with funny looks and all the while sitting in a doll stroller.

Eli - Our newest member of the group - AND let me add the final member of our group. Has to be the happiest baby! We have learned that talking about Disney World really tickles his fancy. He will crack up at the mere mention of the Best Place on Earth. I'm sure he is really excited that we are going to attempt to take all of them in the fall!

Ask us how we do it and we will tell you that we just let them run crazy.

Like normal, we had a blast! Thanks Rachel! And Hudson woke up this morning and asked if we were coming back over today! When I said no, he was totally understanding. He then asked if we could come over after you went to the grocery store! haha! {Obviously, that was why we were not coming over today!}

Breagyn . . .

Talking about forever for me to get back to you with some art!!!!

So I lied . . . this one does have dots! But not so many. I knew that I wanted this one to have stripes {predominantly!} But I really didn't have a real plan when I made that "no dot" promise!!


Breagyn is a{n almost} 9 year old. I had to make this one appropriate for a tween! The color combination is fantastic!

I painted the exact pattern on the side that you see in the center.

By the way - this one is for Cora's sister.

Yes, another incredibly short post . . . I have to figure out what is left for me to do before the holidays officially kick off here at our house!

She is . . .

going to kill me for these one day!

Notice her big-fat-daddy-knot on here head?? We got an ambulance visit for that one!

Nothing but fun times here at the Wheelers.

And I honestly mean that!

Hannah Holstein . . .

I did it! I finally did it! I ordered the clock!!!! The clock that I've talked about for 2 years. The clock that will look fantastic in Hudson, Carson and Lawson's room!

The moocoo!

The silly part - I ordered it for ME for Christmas for the boys' room! haha! Because I'm just that kinda momma!

A New Wheeler in Town . . .

I can't believe I'm even typing this . . . really, I can't.

This is when I feel like we should be labeled as "Suckers" while my husband swears it should be considered "Good Will."

Do you remember forever ago when I made some funny comment about thinking of getting my dog a dog?? Some of you won't because you are new to me and my blog, but I know some of you will. Especially several who know me in real life.

And for those who know me in real life, these is going to come as a shock because I was embarrassed to tell anyone this . . . .

but we got a new dog.


Meet Dusty. Who really sat and cocked his head into this pose when I pulled out the camera!

Lonnie just got home from Kentucky where Dusty was currently living.

His real name is Paytons Bragger. But he is called Dusty for short.

Do I like the name Dusty? No. But we'll worry with that later.

Let me explain. This little guy needed a home. That is why I say we are suckers and my husband says it is good will. As most of my real life friends know, every dog {except for our sheltie, Tiddles} have all been strays. I swear, it is as if we have a neon sign hanging above our house. All strays show up on our door step! Now, since we moved into this neighborhood, we haven't quite had the problem. {This area is a "step up" if you know what I mean.} Now, I say quite, because a shih tzu did stay here over night one time, but we found the owners the next day.

This dog, "Dusty," was born out of a line of champions in hopes of being a champion. Well, as of his first birthday {November 29th,} he is well over the champion height. The breeder knew that we had shelties in the past and asked if that was still our breed of choice {which, YES, it is!} She said she wasn't in the "business of raising" dogs - she was in the business of "champions." She really just wanted to find him a good home . . . . for FREE!!!

Since she was positive this was going to be her next champion, he has been training this whole year for it. And let me tell you - this joker is well behaved!!! Tiddles is a good dog - but this one is way better in the behavior department {just not quite as cute as Tiddles if you want to know the truth - haha!}

Dusty

He does have a little issue with his eye - an infection that has cleared up, but has caused a little haze. We have been told that it too will clear up over time. But if it doesn't - really who cares! He can see out of it and we are not into glam shots around here {unless your name was Frenchie . . . .}

Frenchie

Okay - so I had a really sick obsession with this dog. She was before kids and we all know how we treat our dogs before the babies start coming along. {And for the record, I miss this dog so much. I swear if I believed in reincarnation, she was once the nicest little old lady that everyone would have wanted for a grandma!} For those who know her, tell me that isn't so!!! I should probably start a facebook page for her or something {just kidding!!!!!}

Tiddles

So, Tiddles has a new brother - currently named "Dusty" {have I said that I don't like that name??} Suggestions would be fantastic! Do leave me some in the comments!

Too bad Tiddles hasn't met him yet! Lonnie has went to pick her up from getting her do done. She will be elated, I'm sure! That is one dog loving dog!! I'll let you know how their first meeting turns out!

Which will be in a few short minutes!

Sources . . .

**Edited to add the sprays!

I'm having some folks ask me where I got some of my Christmas things . . . soooo, I thought I would share!

The pink, turquoise, green and red Christmas trees that belong to my kidlets ALL came from Hobby Lobby. The pink one was from last year. And the other 3 are from this year. They had a pink one this year - BUT it looks like the other 3. My pink one is taller AND better made than the boys' trees {and I'm quite certain it was the same price!!!}


The string of beads on the pink tree came from Hobby Lobby. I noticed the last time I was there that they had a ton of colors to choose from. They have an interesting quality - I'm going back and buying more . . . the pink and pearl colors. I have absolutely NO IDEA what I'll use them for, but they are definitely worth getting for Em's room in the future!

The stockings came from Target - unfortunately they do NOT have anymore at our store and online! I only know this because I was really going to get a couple more and had bookmarked the page. Welp, homey here waited too long and the jokers were gone when I went back to get them!!! So, the 2 reds and the 2 greens will just have to do!! For those who inquired, hopefully they have some at your store! I've bought some great ones at {but where else} Hobby Lobby over the past several years. This is the first time that I've ever bought some that actually look alike. Normally they only match in color - and of course fit the "wacky and tacky" theme I try hard to keep!!


The sprays on my Christmas tree ROCK!! I'm talking about the wirey like pieces that have the flat discs attached to them. I found those THIS year at TARGET! {I see a trend in my shopping!} Apparently, if you can't find it at Target or Hobby Lobby, I won't have it?! hah! Seriously, I got them in the section where they sold all the fantastic decorations that would look awesome on a white tree! Our Target still had them - a ton of them! Selling them at $3.99 each!

I hope that helps!

Hudson's biopsy

It was just brought to my attention that I never posted the results on the blog about Hudson and the biopsy results! I posted on facebook and twitter - and, well . . ., I guess I took it for granted that you all would see it?!?! I'm sooo sorry! So many of you prayed for him and us as he went through such an ordeal - it would have been nice of me to atleast tell you all the findings!

We did get them back in a timely manner and they did read minimal change disease. It is the best of the worst we could have gotten. The best being absolutely nothing was wrong with his kidneys, just the strips that tested his urine were bad {yeah - wouldn't that have been nice!} And the worst being, . . . well - who wants to talk about that!

Basically his kidney's do not filter correctly. So, he pees alot of protein. It is something that he should and will outgrow between the ages of 5 and 8. Hopefully with little to no damage. Normally, the only way for damage is if it is left untreated. His kidneys still look perfect in the ultrasounds and the biopsy. Which is a fantastic thing! But they really don't know why the medicine at such a high dose has not kicked it into remission. ????

We are still on the steroids, but are actually weening him off. He has finally tested "trace" for protein in the urine, so that is our sign to start this process. It will still be about 5 months before he is off of them completely because his daily dose is so high that it will take that long to slowly get him off of it without him going through DTs! He also started a new medicine that transplant recipients take when they receive a new organ. It helps their body accept the organ and heal as if it was originally their own. This is actually a much better form of treatment for Hudson because there should be NO SIDE EFFECTS as long as he is at the right dosage! Whoo-hoo! He will be on this one for 6 months to a year.

Now, why did they not give him this a year ago?? Because they say steroids always works! And the fact that if he takes too much of the new one, it could damage his kidneys by causing permanent scarring. This means he has to have blood drawn ever so often to check his levels.

So far, so good.


He is still puffy and swollen. I noticed he was very swollen yesterday. This is caused from both the steroids and the nephrotic syndrome he has {which, like I said, is minimal change disease!}

But we have a diagnosis - AND that is exactly what I was wanting! Now, we know how to attack this mess.

I can't thank you all enough for all the prayers you covered us with. The biopsy was a little rough because of all of Hudson's sensory issues. But he came out of it all like a champ. Including taking out his own IV and removing the bandage from his back within 3 minutes of waking up.


The first words out of his mouth were, "I need a mighty kids meal from McDonalds. And when I'm finished eating, lets bounce up out of here! Sound like a good idea to you?" hehe - And I have no idea where he could have heard anything like that before!! Funny though - he even uses the same inflection in his tone that I use when I say it! haha!


I love this kid!

Cora . . .

Keeping it short . . . . because my kids are running around like the crazies they are. But I wanted to show you guys some more art! {I promise the next one is not dots!}


I really love this name.


Can you guess my favorite letter in this one??


I did the dot border on this one.


Kept the sides very simple stripes.


{I love my camera and this lens! Even though I have no idea what I'm doing with either!}

I have to pick up my studio before I can do anything else. It shouldn't take me but about an hour. Both tables are covered as well as the floor. Every time I walk in here, I trip - literally!

I'm also still going through emails - so if you sent me a message, I hope to be done with those by the weekend.

I hope to be back tomorrow with a "stripe" one that will be going to Cora's sister!



{My spell checker said that I have no misspellings?!?!? That is a first!}