Ultimate…Uh…Flu Party?
March 6, 2008 by Janne 
Print this post
Not really the post I had intended for my Ultimate Blog Party post. Nope, we had plans, Baby. The girls love tea parties so I was going to host a sweet little tea party, complete with adorable little homemade goodies from the book Tiny Treats: Fun Foods to Make And Eat
So we still partied — flu-style. Our sweet little Ultimate Blog TEA Party has now become a Flu Party.
The day was spent napping on and off, watching movies, blowing noses…
Oh there was still a TEA party, but it looked more like this:
Yup, nearly everyone in pajamas, and being all but bribed to smile. Sugar is out of the question while they are fighting an illness, so tea treats consisted of cut-up apples. Tea was strictly medicinal; plain tea with honey and lemon juice. And let’s not forget this lovely immune-boosting concoction:
You can see how much 10-year-old Dinky enjoyed it!
For supper, I used a flu-suffering Mama’s best friend.
Yes, when you live in a super-sized family, a slow-cooker meal requires the use of two extra-large crockpots.
Crockpot Mediterranean Stew
(from cookingcache.com)
- 1 Eggplant — chopped
- 2 Zucchini — chopped
- 1 Red or green bell pepper — Seeded/chopped
- 1 Onion — chopped
- 3 lg Tomatoes — chopped
- 2 cn Garbanzo beans — (14 oz.) Drained/rinsed
- 1 cn Artichoke hearts packed in Water — (14 oz.) Drained/quartered
- 1 tb Oregano
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Salt
- Crushed red pepper flakes — To taste/opt
- 1 pk Egg noodles — cooked
Add all ingredients except for noodles to the crock pot and stir well. (Sometimes I also add a Tbsp. of tomato paste for a thicker stew.) Cook on low for 8 hours. Serve over the cooked noodles.
After supper and baths, I figured I’d make the girls feel better by painting their toenails and giving them a makeoever (see the part about my bribe, above 
), but before I had a chance to take pictures, this happened:
Poor little Curly-Top. She was the last to get the virus, so she is the one who still feels the worst. You can tell little Rey is feeling better today though!
Are we party animals around here or what?
Just a brief introduction, in case you are visiting me for the first time via the 2008 Ultimate Blog Party. (Yeah, yeah…I know introductions should come first, but I’m scatterbrained. What can I say?).
My name is Janne. I am the thirty-something wife and the Christian Mama of nine children ages 16 down to 2 (several of them on the autism spectrum). I have been homeschooling since 1997.
I created this blog in 2004 to capture fun memories and homeschooling adventures for our children. I have since discovered the amazing WONDERFUL fellowship of so many like-minded people through this little endeavor.
I hope you will take the time to hang out and visit a while, and that you find some small blessing along the way.
New to the Ultimate Blog Party? Please join in! Not only is there great fellowship to be had, but they are also giving away some fantastic prizes this year! My top three picks would be:
- Story Package provided by Cherish Bound
- A rocking horse from A Rocking Horse to Love
- Bead Dangle Photo Tile Necklace from Elemental Memories
And if my top three picks are already chosen, I’d love any of the following (in order of preference):
17, 54, 15, 11, 50, 3, 14, 61, 19, 59, 55, 72, 60, 39, 29, 34, 20, 21, 63, 62, 70, 44, 33, 37, 22, 26, 84, 36, 46, 64, 57, 76, 77, 79, 78, 53, 10, 9, 16, 85, 30, 41, 18, 49, 13, 4 or anything else related to children, motherhood, parenting, and Mama pampering since I have children of all ages.
Note – I am posting this a day early – only because I feel sooo sick, that I am afraid I may not be up to blogging tomorrow. The Ultimate Blog Party officially runs from March 7 – March 14.
![[Bloglines]](http://janne.cc/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/bloglines.png)
![[del.icio.us]](http://janne.cc/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Facebook]](http://janne.cc/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Google]](http://janne.cc/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[Kaboodle]](http://janne.cc/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/kaboodle.png)
![[LinkedIn]](http://janne.cc/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/linkedin.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://janne.cc/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://janne.cc/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Twitter]](http://janne.cc/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://janne.cc/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://janne.cc/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
8. oh amanda 9. Natalie 10. Adventures In Babywearing 11. Janne 12. Yen 13. PamperingBeki Jewelry 14. Karla~Looking towards Heaven 15. Our Happy Happenings 16. Deb [...]
I am so sorry to hear about your sickness! However, I love your blog and will definitely be back for more! My prayers to you for health and wellness!
MacKenzie
http://www.mamakenzstudio.blogspot.com
[Reply]
your kids are absolutely awsome!
happy blogparty! greetings from austria!
[Reply]
Aw, poor little kids!
I’m glad that they are feeling better…I love how you made the best out of an icky situation.
Happy party!
[Reply]
Wow! Nine kids with the flu? I feel sorry for myself when I dealing with just one sick kid. Hope everyone is feeling better now.
[Reply]
Hi Janne nice to meet you!!! You have a beautiful family
[Reply]
Wow. I have four boys, and I complain about vomit quantity when we’re flu-ish. You, with nine, I’m just sayin’, my heart goes out to you and yours, feel better soon!
Thanks for coming to the party in spite of it, as well. Do germs carry via internet? No? Ok then, yes, glad you came!!
[Reply]
Hope everyone is feeling alot better… besides everyone being sick… they all looked happy enough… take care and party hearty…
[Reply]
take care!! glad to have stopped by your blog….wonderful family you have. please stop by if you have a chance and happy party!
[Reply]
Hi and nice to meet you! Im sorry the kids were ill and hope they all feel better now!
[Reply]
Wow! 9 sick kids. You are my hero. I only have 3 and I can barely make it through the day when they all get sick.
Hope everyone gets feeling better. I enjoyed your flu party
[Reply]
Oh my goodness! nine children! What a blessing. I would love to have nine children. I have two. I think a large family is so neat. Hope everyone there is well and feeling much better today. God Bless~
[Reply]
What A Party Thank you This Is Great
[Reply]
Your kids look too happy to be sick. They must be a joy when well. Excuse me if I don’t come all the way in. We are battling a little sickness around my place too. So far, just Mom affected.
http://www.monkeybarrelpress.blogspot.com
[Reply]
Happy Blog Party!
[Reply]
Wow! I love your blog, I love your style, I love your precious pics of your sick kiddos! Your heart just comes through in your blog…so in love with life and the gift of children! Well, nice to meetcha! I pray you’re feeling better by now along with your gang. this is my first time blog partying…it’s been so neat to read other moms blogs, but yours is definitely a top pick. i’ll be adding you to my bloglines!
happy blog partying and peace to you in Jesus!
Sheila
come visit me too at http://www.timothymoms.blogpsot.com
[Reply]
Nice to meet you! I am expceting my first! I can’t imagine having more than one right now!
[Reply]
Wow nine sick kids! I am sorry. I hope you are all feeling better soon. Nice to meet you!
April
[Reply]
Hi Janne
How nice to have met you on my blog ;=) I’m very lucky in regards to McKenna using paper and not anything else. I started her Craft time with paper taped on the tray of her booster seat.And then we just progressed from there.She is usually at the table crafting while I fix dinner or a snack.. I’m impressed with nine children. I honestly think one is quite nice..We have a friends baby once a week. I hope all the party animals are feeling better soon…have a great day.
[Reply]
Thanks for stopping by my blog and entering my contest! Good luck!
[Reply]
When I visited here before, I didn’t realize you were from Alabama. (if it’s written here somewhere, i guess i just missed it) I’m actually from Hartselle, and the majority of my family still lives in the Hartselle/Decatur area. I think you’re probably the first blogger I’ve met that’s from the Huntsville area. It’s always fun to meet people from the region. I moved to South Alabama, because my husband is orginally from here, and he’s going to grad school in Pensacola, FL. I love being close to the beach and all the shopping areas down here, but I still miss my old stomping grounds.
[Reply]
Guess who won prize #48?
Yep it’s you! Please be patient while the prize donor is contacted. They will be in touch with you soon. Congratulations!!!!!!!
[Reply]
9 kids! Thats great. I have 5. I look forward to reading your blog. It seems to be of great interest to me
[Reply]
Your children are totally beautiful. You are so blessed. We only have six. Thought I’d never say that… the “only” part. Most people have trouble with the number of children I have and think that six would be a burden. They are so wrong. We homeschool every day… ok, almost every day except when we are sick. I can totally understand what your family has been going through. We’ve been through this twice since early January. Seems like the virus went around the family twice before giving up. I’m so glad to see the weather changing. We’re so over this. The Ultimate Blog Party has been a nice distraction and the big plus is meeting other like minded moms. If you get a free moment, stop by surebaby.com/blog and leave a comment to enter the Bath and Body Works, contest. See you around!
[Reply]
Ahhh—sorry you were all so miserable.
[Reply]