The search is over . . .

**edited - Halcyon Green as a main wall color will not flow right through my house. The color itself is "revolting" against my kitchen wall color - which is what it would be touching. I use the word soft, because it is to the deep gold in the kitchen. I've actually seen this color in someone else's home and LOVED it. Frankly, it is just the wrong color for such a large space in my home with what I already got.

Back to the original post . . .

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I have finally found the perfect shade of Robin's Egg Blue. And here is my proof . . .

Don't you agree!?

This is the table I just blogged about in the last post. The "beachy" looking table isn't so "beachy" anymore! I'm dying over this color! Dying, I tell ya'! I've been on the hunt for a true Robin's Egg Blue for about 2 years now and have never found it - until NOW!

The original color is Sherwin William Halcyon Green - SW 6213. I painted the table this color because I wanted to see it "large" - does that make sense? I was thinking of maybe painting my living room walls this color. Now before you think - "dang, you are into some blue! Your tables AND walls!" The first 5 feet of the wall will be high gloss white on board and batten and the next 4 feet up would be a color. But honestly, this color is too soft for my taste. So - not going on the walls! Back to square one on the wall color.

But the table . . .

If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time {and know my love for painted furniture,} you know I stain everything after I paint it.

Special Walnut is my usual fav, but I really like Provincial as well! I mixed equal amounts of each. I brushed it on with a foam brush and then wiped it off. And I got my perfect shade of Robin's Egg Blue.

Unfortunately, I still think I distressed this one way.too.much! It looks too similar to the other blue table in the room. It's going to be a few weeks, but I'm going to repaint it the Halcyon Green. THEN, paint the table with the same stain mix. NO SANDING at all this time.

The other blue table is one shade lighter, Sherwin Williams Quietude. But it's not quite as gorgeous as the coffee table!

From this view, I really need to attach some kind of skirt to the table between the chairs. The jack you see under the table drives me nuts every time I look over there!

I have found it hard to keep the blues flowing throughout the house - there are so many shades!!!!!! So, in true Kim Tate fashion, I'm using them all! haha!

And until my kids move out, I don't see me having all the cutie stuff sitting around! All the fabulous table scapes, chotskies, breakables - they are out around here!

These kids are like animals! I'm doing good to have lamps on the tables! Even the pillows aren't safe around here!

Sniffing fumes . . .

That sounds bad!

But I am! Please, let me explain.

Everyone remember the new-old coffee table from none other than Craigs List?? Well, here she is - at the half-way point. Honestly, I sanded way too much. Really wasn't my intention. And the color is pretty, but doesn't fit into my decor. It really has a "beachy" look in this picture - don't you think? I had no intention of leaving it like this anyways . . . . . soooo, the stain is drying as we speak {and my house stinks!!} Once dry, I might re-paint and start over. I don't know - we'll see. The thing is, I'm only working on it during Big Love AND Lost - Because I can't just watch TV. I have to be doing something! I did say I'm only working on it during my 2 shows, yet I said that I just stained it - and neither of my shows were on. I rubbed stain on {and off} during a conversation with my husband. I couldn't help it - the ADHD just took over! I asked him if it was bothering him and he said no. So, I kept going and actually finished BEFORE he stopped talking! I'll show you a picture in the next few days - whether I decide to keep it like this or not. {I just need to see it in the sunny, daylight before I make anymore decisions as to what to do.}

So tell me, how funny is this . . .

Abraham Lincoln {formerly known as Hudson}

"What up Abe!?"

The fact that he actually tried it on is very shocking! I mean, this is Hudson - underwear boy! {Notice the lack of clothing?} It's amazing that he remains dressed in public! And the beard?!?! I'm surprise that didn't put him over the edge!

This boy has come a long, long way!

My turn to be the sickie {excuse for such randomness}

I hate a head cold! I normally get one once a year. And, well, . . . my number is up and it's my turn. It started to hit me on Saturday and I've just felt funky {or "fonkey" as Hudson would say} since. That was the same time it got Lawson as well. His poor nose is just straight gross!!!! Quite confident he needs an antibiotic, but I've got to get to the doctor's office.

And guess what - we are snowed in yet again! And I have NO groceries! AND I have NO IDEA what I'm going to do about lunch? Lonnie got out to go to work and said it isn't bad - BUT this homey doesn't drive with any white stuff on the ground! I've got 4 kids in tow - I don't take chances.

I have a sneaky peeky for you guys! It is cute!

Just wait to see the fabrics this is to match {the zebra is the glider/rocker in the nursery!}

Carson had a slight accident a couple of nights ago. The 3 boys were monkey-ing around when they were suppose to be sleeping. I could hear them but just tried to ignore it as I was waiting for Big Love to come on at the second time for the night {since I missed it the first time.} Normally they play {in the dark} for a few minutes, and then they go to sleep. I knew in a matter of minutes they would be snoozing. Well, then I hear Carson screaming at the top of his lungs - the type of scream that says "I'm really hurt, not crying wolf and I need immediate attention because I could possibly be in my final stages of death" scream. Honestly, even with that scream, I still meandered up the stairs thinking the tone in the scream would die off by the time I got to the room.

Well, it didn't. He told me that the book shelf hit him in the face. Basically he hit his head on the book rack that hangs above Lawson's trundle, beside Carson's bed. I felt his head in the dark and finally came upon the knot. When I pulled my had away to go turn on the lamp, I felt it . . . . the blood.

I remember thinking, "please let this be snot and not blood. Please." It was blood.

After Lonnie came home {minutes later,} we decided against the ER. He was in good spirits AND it had stopped bleeding. But what a black eye! And I'm sure this is going to scar.

{the morning after!}

I think all the kids are feeling "fonkey" because they are all laying here {quietly} watching Sesame Street?

Speaking of Sesame Street - as a kid, I thought Sesame Street was in Nashville! haha - Our city is next door. And alot of people live here in Murfreesboro and commute to Nashville for work. So, it made sense that Sesame Street would be in Nashville! {Apparently, my world was small!} That too, was before the super famous were on Sesame Street {such as Sarah Jessica Parker that is on now!?}

What did that have to do with anything - NOTHING! But I just thought of it and cracked myself up!

Since my kids are being so good, I might try to sneak in a few emails! I need to take advantage of this situation!

Random!

Excuse me, you have some hair out of place . . .

Emme! This hair is awful. Everyday, you wake up from nap looking like a hot, mess. Unfortunately, we don't stay home during the day, so I have to fix this! Daily!!!!


Concerns me because every time you have this crazy hair, I always picture Russell Brand! {Ewww!}


In other news {completely unrelated,} I have a sneaky peeky for you guys!


This painting is soooo-oooo long and this is only a tiny, smidge of it!!!

And that is brown {not black!}

I still have no sunshine! {boo hoo!} And my pictures still look funky {or Fonkey as Hudson would say.}

Short post - my dryer is getting fixed. I have to go back down stairs and entertain the repair guy. Who is also my brother! Full picture of the painting tomorrow with another sneaky peek!

Can you guess???

Take a gander as to why my son is standing this way??


Seriously . . . if it bothers him that bad - then someone needs to start using the potty!

Cone head . . .

I love when I find surprises like these. Quite certain that Carson did it - since he is the only kid I have that likes to play with last year's eggs.


Unfortunately, Em took the phone and smacked her head. Now, her 5 point crown has only 4 points.

She might want to wear the egg a little longer.

For a fat laugh . . .

Preface

Let me start off by saying that my kid is not naked! As soon as we get home, he strips down to his underwear {so he is almost naked - but not naked!} I, on the other hand, was unloading groceries from the car - hence, the reason I have on a coat.

Hudson found this spray candy at the grocery store and had to have it. I knew that they use this at school and at first he would not participate. {I really need to know if he does now. ?!?} I bought it to see how he would do for me. He picked out both flavors - fully aware that one was "sweet" and the other "sour."

For him to participate at all, is a huge step! He doesn't put anything in his mouth {including food} and this is a major step out of his comfort zone. I still see feeding therapy in our future for the next up-teen years.

sweet and sour from Kim Wheeler on Vimeo.

I have some art to post {I'll try my hardest to get those posted today!} I've not quite figured out how to on the new computer - because I'm slow like that. Contrary to popular belief, I'm scared of the computer and completely illiterate to its ways. So, forgive me as I learn this thing!

I hope you all have a fantastic day and that this video cracks you up as hard as it did my husband when he watched it this morning.

ha!

Proof they are crazy! from Kim Wheeler on Vimeo.

Carson and Hudson - a dangerous combination!

Somebody is needing an intervention!

Every morning, Hudson wakes with these words on his lips, "Does Sonic have train Wacky Packs?"


And every morning, I say, " I suppose so, unless {of course} they ran out of them since the last time we were there?!"

I finally wised up and asked him "why?"

His response, "I think my train is lonely."

"You're kidding, right?"


I heard that McDonald's has Alvin and the Chipmunks.


Lord, help me.

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!

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.

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!}

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!

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!