Working from home, a blessing and a curse

Today I was thinking about what a joy it is to work from home.  No long commute in the cold weather, I'm able to be home -- well, all the time.  The best part of my day is when the kids get going off to the bus. I see the big yellow bus pull up, and they get inside, and I know they are not my problem for 8 hours! 

Then, there are sick days.  My kids are normally pretty healthy, except for Lauren's broken ankle, and Kennedi's pneumonia, and Madelyn's... ok, so my kids are normally in school!  Yesterday Madelyn was coughing so hard that I couldn't stand to listen.  So, I knew that it wouldnt' be good to send her.  This morning, same thing.  The same with Kennedi.  I thought to myself that I wouldn't want someone else sending the same germs to school for my kids to contract.  So they're home.

Speaking of contracting... the other disgusting little bug, quite literally, going around the school is SCABIES.  Oh yes, I said Scabies.  Little mites that burrow into your skin and cause itching and rash.  Yeah, they itch, they are bugs burrowing into your skin!! That makes me itch just thinking of it! 

Speaking of itching, I had lice once.  Yes, I did.  I came home from my first time at camp... and a week later we discovered that I brought home friends.  Lots of them.  I had long hair, and they were everywhere.  At that time, my grandparents were staying with us.  I gave that beautiful gift of life, or rather, living things, to my grandfather.  He wasn't impressed.  Neither was my mother who had to fumigate the house, and me!  The next summer when I returned home from camp, my mother was waiting in the yard with a hose and a box of RID.  Seriously.  I  never made it into the house.  She deloused me in the yard, and took all of my clothes to the laundromat and scalded any little hitchhikers to death.  We never did get lice again... and I am hoping we don't get them with this generation!  All of my girls have long, thick hair.  If we get lice, they're going to get shaved heads.  I'm not even kidding.  So if you see a picture of three girls sporting bald caps, you'll know what we brought home.

Back to home... I love the peace and quiet of a day alone.  Except for the cat.  And the dog.  And the goats.  But, hey, at least they can't give me pneumonia, influenza, scabies or lice!

Chalk up another good day at the Johnson Funny Farm; it's not quiet, and I'm not alone, but we don't have anything we can't deal with.  Wait, did I just see a rash on my hands?!?

school board

So this was me last October -- running for school board!  I'm sure that most of you know that I was successful in this endeavor and I am now a full fledged member of the Floodwood School Board.  In fact, this year I'm Vice Chair!  I know, I know, it sounds SUPER important.  But, while it certainly is important and necessary, it's not all it is cracked up to be!  I went in knowing it would take time.  Everyone told me that it's more work than you think.  Boy were they right!  It's never just a monthly board meeting.  There are committee meetings, conventions, training, auto-graph signings... wait, that last part isn't true.  NO ONE has asked for my autograph... yet!

I have said, and will continue to say, that if you have a vested interest (or three) in the school, and are capable of doing this job (job.. a term I use very loosely, since job indicates pay), then you have a duty to do it.  So, I'm doing my duty.  I'm doing my very best to keep the good things we have, and to improve our school for EVERYONE.  Not just the Johnsons.  In fact, I think that my kids and I get LESS benefits since I've joined the school board!

School Board -- NOT for the faint of heart.....

To add to the chaos that is our life, here is Lauren with her new accessory -- a short leg cast.  She broke her distal fibula (aka ANKLE for most people).  She twisted it in a basketball game on Thursday night.  She had really been having a good season and was improving as a player.  But, alas, all good things must come to an end.  She will continue to observe practice and put on a jersey to sit on the bench and cheer on her team.  A quote from her on Facebook "you can't get rid of me that easy, a broken ankle won't keep me away!".  Atta girl, Lauren; atta girl!

I'm back!

 Hello everyone! That is, if there's anyone out there still interested in the craziness that is the Johnson Funny Farm!

I have realized that I miss blogging so I have decided to return. I'll make this post short, because creativity and the iPhone for typing don't go together like peas and carrots...

My hope is that I can make you laugh, keep you interested, and hopefully inspire someone. And it's easier than a journal!

Happy Friday, my friends!

Introducing Baby Cleo

Well, we have yet another new baby on the Johnson farm! Her name is Cleo! Don't tell the others, but I think she is the cutest one yet! See for yourself....

The story of little Cleo's birth is pretty good! On Saturday afternoon we had let the babies and the moms out to frolic. Eric and I were remarking on the fact that Maggie looked like she was ready to go anytime. I checked on her Saturday night at 11, and nothing was going on. Sunday morning the girls and I got up and headed out to church. I asked Eric if he would go check on the goats because I was in a hurry. Part way to church Lauren texted him and asked how the goats were doing. He sent a picture of Maggie and Cleo!

Cleo was sleeping under her heat lamp, all clean and dry. She was already able to stand up and find out where to eat. That was the easiest delivery I've ever seen! haha. So we decided that sh was born sometime early Sunday morning, January 30. 20 days after her half-sisters, Ali and Belle.

Speaking of Ali and Belle, they are 3 weeks old and getting very frisky! They are jumping all over and wanting to get out! I do let them out when it gets over 20 degrees. This morning it's only -16, so I wont' even open the hut to see them. I have to peek through the cracks. Tomorrow it is supposed to be 28, so i think I will introduce the sisters to each other. Let's hope that Maggie is pleasant. That may be too much to hope for....

Goat Coats

It is very cold out there! I have decided that the babies need a little extra warmth. I'm pretty sure they would be fine without it, but what the heck. Here is a picture of them in their coats!

Forecast is calling for -10 tonight and -25 tomorrow. I suppose Maggie will decide that this is a perfect time for HER to have some babies!!

Stay warm!

Big News on the Little Farm!

Hello friends!

Big news here on the Johnson Farm! We finally have babies! As you've seen, little Ali and little Belle have joined us! They were born last Monday, January 10. We were so excited to have them! They were anticipated, but kind of a surprise. Let me take you back....

On December 12, Eric called me out to the goats to tell me that he thought maybe they were going to have babies. I had given up all hope of having them after having spent all spring and summer thinking they were in labor every other week. I had just decided that Pete was "slow" and wasn't interested in girls. And I'm OK with that! But, it doesn't help to increase the herd.... at any rate, I wasn't really thinking babies!!

On Sunday night, December 13th, the coldest night of 2010, Tigo, our fainter, gave birth to premature twins. A boy and a girl. They were born with heartbeats, but never took a breath. it was a very hard loss for us. I even tried to give them mouth to mouth (Eric urged me to never tell anyone that.... I didn't listen). Tigo is doing just fine now. I think she just didn't want to care for babies in the winter! And after all the work I've done, I don't blame her! haha.

So I figured that Gympy was going to be next. I thought maybe soon after. But it was a month later. A month of checking and double checking every day to see if she was making any progress. Finally, last Monday, Lauren came in the house screaming that she could hear baby goats. Lo and behold, I got to the hut just as they were standing. Still wet. What a sight! I was so happy.

On one more sad note, we lost our favorite goat friend, Frank, this fall. Not sure what happened, we just found her in the hut one day. It sure was a loss. But, the babies are helping to heal us!

I plan to keep everyone updated as more things happen.... did I mention that Maggie is ready to have babies anytime??? Keep watching!!

Kandi