We arrived at the pool at 1:15. At 2:20 he walked away from these 'fire hoses' for the first time. I am not exaggerating. At all. He kind of likes them.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Friday Park Date
I love Friday Park Dates. And maybe someday my kids will be old enough that I'll actually get to sit and talk with the mom's.
There were 11 kids of 5 moms, and then 2 cousins and 1 friend along for the morning. (The picture is missing Jalen who wasn't in the mood, and Sully is turned away and Clayton is hidden by Paige's head who is also turned away. But there were 14 of them, they did ok!)
And now we are off the pool!
duh
I forgot the thing I'm most thankful for right now.
Three kids in this house can go to the bathroom without any supervision from their mother.
Its heavenly. Heavenly I tell you.
What am I going to be like when they are all doing that?!?!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Thankful Thursday
I decided to revive Thankful Thursday.
1. We are having our house painted and the workers arrived this morning...they are almost done! Pictures to come.
2. It is finally warm out. We went to the pool for an hour before naps today. Lauren, Avery and Sullivan are all MUCH braver than they were before lessons. Especially the girls. Lauren will now do all the slides, go under and is getting the hang of swimming to the side. Avery loves to go under and search for toys and do the front float. Sully is constantly seeing if he can put his face under and keeping it under longer and longer.
3. My husband called me at 3 and said, "Get a babysitter, I'm taking you out for supper tonight." Pretty excited and thankful for that!!!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Wallet
I talk a lot about my dad on here. And I dont know what it is but lately I feel like I could post about him or about loss in general, every week. Maybe its the time of year, the time of year that we lost him, the time of year that we celebrate his birthday, the time of year when we all get together and have picnics and BBQ's and fun. Maybe its that my brothers are all coming home and Im so excited to see them but I hate getting together without my dad there too.
Sometimes I think I'm doing so well, being so 'strong'. And then its like the wounds are fresh. Like when you have a cut and it has healed up and the scab or maybe a scar remain. Then for some reason you do something, something happens and the scab tears off or the scar gets reopened. And there it is, the wound is fresh, and deep and maybe even more painful than it was when it was new.
Not that things aren't a little better, they are. I can sit and think about my dad now and smile. I can laugh at his old jokes and sayings. But I cant picture his smile and not cry. I cant remember the way he'd look at his kids with sheer joy and not feel jipped. I cant look at Sullivan and not feel angry that he never got to ride in Papa Richard's truck and 'fix' things with him. I cant kiss Contessa's cheek and not realize that my dad never even got to touch that soft soft cheek. I know I am lucky. He walked me down the aisle, he held my my 3 older children, he saw me do so much, I got to share so much of my life with him...but I still feel angry, ripped off. Resentful that my extended family has a gaping hole in it. And while I know my God is in control, I also know that some of this I am not meant to understand until we are all together in Heaven, so the waiting is hard.
And I try not to write about it too much. Writing is my outlet and it makes things feel more real, and some of the things, I dont want to feel any more 'real'.
Then the other day I started thinking, you know if I dont write about this, if I dont force myself to remember, to relive it, to reopen those wounds and FEEL, then I'm not being true to myself and I'm not allowing myself to really remember him. I'm not allowing God to do the work in my that He is trying to do. And I'm keeping a side of my dad from my children and a side of loss from them even a side of myself. I want them to know that its ok to hurt. That 3 years after losing someone you love, its still ok to stand in a department store and cry like it was yesterday...and so that leads to the story of the wallet. And in telling it I know it will hurt, the scab is ripping off, but I also know that someday in the future it might help my children to feel 'normal' as they grieve some tragedy. I also know that in telling it, I'll be reminded of my dad's smile, the smile he used to show when we'd give him gifts...he loved to give and receive gifts. And I know that in the hurt, my God is there.
The Wallet:
This past weekend we were in Dillards and I was waiting for Jordan and Sully to come out of the restroom and the girls were playing near me in the clothes racks (Dillards employees love us). I was browsing through some ties and things and came to wallets. I try very hard to avoid the wallet section in the men's department. But I came face to face with it and I was in tears. Standing in Dillards, crying ... Lauren and Avery started asking, what's the matter mommy!? I hugged them and said I was just having a moment and then, luckily for me, God sent Sully running out of the bathroom to announce that he'd gone potty like a big boy, AGAIN! I scooped him up and hugged him tight and left the wallets behind.
Sometimes I think I'm doing so well, being so 'strong'. And then its like the wounds are fresh. Like when you have a cut and it has healed up and the scab or maybe a scar remain. Then for some reason you do something, something happens and the scab tears off or the scar gets reopened. And there it is, the wound is fresh, and deep and maybe even more painful than it was when it was new.
Not that things aren't a little better, they are. I can sit and think about my dad now and smile. I can laugh at his old jokes and sayings. But I cant picture his smile and not cry. I cant remember the way he'd look at his kids with sheer joy and not feel jipped. I cant look at Sullivan and not feel angry that he never got to ride in Papa Richard's truck and 'fix' things with him. I cant kiss Contessa's cheek and not realize that my dad never even got to touch that soft soft cheek. I know I am lucky. He walked me down the aisle, he held my my 3 older children, he saw me do so much, I got to share so much of my life with him...but I still feel angry, ripped off. Resentful that my extended family has a gaping hole in it. And while I know my God is in control, I also know that some of this I am not meant to understand until we are all together in Heaven, so the waiting is hard.
And I try not to write about it too much. Writing is my outlet and it makes things feel more real, and some of the things, I dont want to feel any more 'real'.
Then the other day I started thinking, you know if I dont write about this, if I dont force myself to remember, to relive it, to reopen those wounds and FEEL, then I'm not being true to myself and I'm not allowing myself to really remember him. I'm not allowing God to do the work in my that He is trying to do. And I'm keeping a side of my dad from my children and a side of loss from them even a side of myself. I want them to know that its ok to hurt. That 3 years after losing someone you love, its still ok to stand in a department store and cry like it was yesterday...and so that leads to the story of the wallet. And in telling it I know it will hurt, the scab is ripping off, but I also know that someday in the future it might help my children to feel 'normal' as they grieve some tragedy. I also know that in telling it, I'll be reminded of my dad's smile, the smile he used to show when we'd give him gifts...he loved to give and receive gifts. And I know that in the hurt, my God is there.
The Wallet:
This past weekend we were in Dillards and I was waiting for Jordan and Sully to come out of the restroom and the girls were playing near me in the clothes racks (Dillards employees love us). I was browsing through some ties and things and came to wallets. I try very hard to avoid the wallet section in the men's department. But I came face to face with it and I was in tears. Standing in Dillards, crying ... Lauren and Avery started asking, what's the matter mommy!? I hugged them and said I was just having a moment and then, luckily for me, God sent Sully running out of the bathroom to announce that he'd gone potty like a big boy, AGAIN! I scooped him up and hugged him tight and left the wallets behind.
But the reason for the tears stayed with me....here's the reason for the tears:
So in 2006 I must have been ahead of the game. I bought Father's Day presents for Jordan, his dad and my dad in May. Wow, way ahead of the game!
So in 2006 I must have been ahead of the game. I bought Father's Day presents for Jordan, his dad and my dad in May. Wow, way ahead of the game!
I bought my dad a wallet. We'd all been making fun of his, it was falling apart and looked terrible and things would fall out of it. Not really serving its purpose anymore.
So I picked through the wallets at Younkers and found the perfect one. Not a real exciting gift but I knew he'd like it and I knew he'd be happy when we stopped making fun of the one he was using.
Then at the beginning of June, my dad died. A few weeks later I came across the wallet and my heart sank as I realized I'd have to return it. I considered keeping it and having Jordan use it but I knew I really never wanted to see the thing again so I vowed to return it.
Later that summer I went to accomplish that task. Normally when you return things they just say, here's your money back. But this particular clerk was intent on doing a great job as a sales woman that day and she said, "Well, what's wrong with it? Do you want a different color? We have lots of different styles? Why dont you just exchange it?" on and on her questions went.
All the while my heart is beating faster and faster and the tears are getting closer and closer to spilling out.
Finally they did and I sternly informed the clerk that it was for my father for Father's Day and he had died 2 weeks before the day so I couldn't exactly give it to him. She starred at me stunned, apologized and remained red in the face until I walked away, shaking, crying and very sorry for having snapped at her but wanting more than anything to change the past and have that wallet in my dad's pocket rather than on that check out counter.
So Lauren and Avery, that was why I was standing in Dillards this weekend crying. And I want you to know that sometimes hurts dont go away in a short time, sometimes they never go away. But God is there, He's standing beside us, He might not be calming the storm, but He is there to calm us, to hold us close and He has promised, that someday, someday he'll wipe the tears away but until then, its ok, to be sad.
Finally they did and I sternly informed the clerk that it was for my father for Father's Day and he had died 2 weeks before the day so I couldn't exactly give it to him. She starred at me stunned, apologized and remained red in the face until I walked away, shaking, crying and very sorry for having snapped at her but wanting more than anything to change the past and have that wallet in my dad's pocket rather than on that check out counter.
So Lauren and Avery, that was why I was standing in Dillards this weekend crying. And I want you to know that sometimes hurts dont go away in a short time, sometimes they never go away. But God is there, He's standing beside us, He might not be calming the storm, but He is there to calm us, to hold us close and He has promised, that someday, someday he'll wipe the tears away but until then, its ok, to be sad.
Revelation 21:3-4 "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Monday, July 20, 2009
POOP PARTY
I've discovered that there is little I wont do for a
3.5 year old who is potty training.
Sullivan wanted a poop party after day 2 of no accidents,
and I obliged.
We even sang, "Happy Poop Party to You."
(I cannot believe I didn't video tape that!)
And don't worry, those are tootsie rolls.
County Fair
My mom and I took the kids to the County Fair tonight...
Tess LOVED it.
She is our animal lover.
You should hear her squeal and watch her kick her feet when she gets anywhere near an animal!
I almost took these two little beauties home with me.
Come on, look at those eyes!
And this one, well he was just so cool looking!
The dream-weaver
Uncle Robert gave Avery a 'dream-weaver' for her birthday.
She had us hang it above her head over her bed and she said that she was going to look at it to help her from having bad dreams. (cute)
Well yesterday Avery came into the kitchen with her hands on her hips in true Avery-style and said,
"Well, I guess that dream-weaver is just a decoration. Because since I got it I've had TWO bad dreams!"
Then she stomped off.
I had to go back and get her and have her repeat it to me because I wasn't sure I'd really heard her correctly.
She is so hilarious to me.
She had us hang it above her head over her bed and she said that she was going to look at it to help her from having bad dreams. (cute)
Well yesterday Avery came into the kitchen with her hands on her hips in true Avery-style and said,
"Well, I guess that dream-weaver is just a decoration. Because since I got it I've had TWO bad dreams!"
Then she stomped off.
I had to go back and get her and have her repeat it to me because I wasn't sure I'd really heard her correctly.
She is so hilarious to me.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Productive
As this weekend wraps up I am feeling so fulfilled!
Just one of those weekends where we actually accomplished some things on the to do list like cleaning out the garage and for me, going through all my clothes and coming up with FOUR bags for Goodwill.
We also had some good family time and some fun with some friends and the kids.
Of course the best part of the weekend was that Sullivan is basically potty-trained! He went all day today with no accidents, I rarely had to remind him to go AND he went much less frequently than the 2 previous days.
The true test will come tomorrow when he's at daycare but I am feeling confident.
And I'm telling you, if he can do it, any kid can do it! ;)
Now I'm off to snuggle with the handsome man waiting for me on my couch.
Good night!
Attempts
We are having the most beautiful day of the summer. Its like mid-70's and sunny, with a light breeze. Perfect.
Of course I wanted some pictures...here's Contessa and Sullivan's take on it...
Sully - Im going to try screaming in the baby's face, surely that will make her look at the camera and smile.
Sully: Or we could try squeezing her head really hard, I hear that works.
Sully: Or I could just make a silly face and do everything to look unphotogenic on my own!
Contessa: Seriously Lauren, save me from this kid!
Tess: I truly cannot believe we are related...
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Mother's of Boys
Really, I'm asking.
Do they really go this much?
We went up town to some of the shops. Me and the kids.
We were gone maybe 1 hour. At most.
He went 5 times and then was RUNNING into the house when we got home to go again.
10 minutes later he went again.
The poor kid (and his mom) are going to be exhausted if this keeps up.
Do they really go this frequently? Will this calm down once he's all the way trained?
Really, I'm asking. Grace, Jody, Cassie, Trina, Meghan, Courtney...I need to know!
Boys
In comparison to girls...little boys must just pee a lot!!!
Thursday I started serious potty training with Sully. We tried when he turned 3 in February and it was a complete flop. complete flop.
He's been showing more signs over the past month and I always make him go after diaper changes and before and after bed etc.
And he starts preschool in the fall and he's almost 3 and 1/2 now AND I cannot change 2 kids diapers any longer.
So, we're doing it. We've vowed to never put a diaper back on him unless its nap time or bed time.
AND...
He's doing GREAT!!!
He has a different mindset this time. He is excited about it and doesn't want to wear diapers. Its true, its pointless to try until THEY are ready.
Yesterday he was dry all day until 7 pm. But we had Kirkpatrick's over and they were playing hide and seek outside and eating ice cream. A few too many distractions.
This morning when I went in to get him up he said, "I'm holding it! I need to go!" He RAN into the bathroom and went forever. And his diaper was DRY!
We are definitely making serious, serious progress. I think we'll actually be ok never putting him in a diaper again...as long as I've got an extra change of clothes with us for awhile!
But back to my original topic, really, are all little boys like this? I swear he goes like every 10 minutes?!
Weird.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tess's college visit.
Like her older sister before her, Tess has made the wise choice to become a Hawkeye when she goes to college. So after her appt. today I took her on a college visit.
We love that Hawkeye!
Doing a little reading up on the school...
She's so advanced and so in love - she can already write!
Ha, ha, Daddy!!! We love playing jokes on you!
Just cant wait to get in for my first game!
Beautiful little Hawkeye girl...
And we're home
Tess and I are back from our trip to Iowa City.
The trip was quick and basically pointless. Everything we did, could have been done over the phone.
The office did not receive the CD with Tess's VCUG test and ultrasound on it so she couldn't look at the tests. She read the dr.'s written notes and from that is saying that there is a 1% chance Tess will need surgery for her reflux.
The CD has NOW been mailed and should arrive next week...the dr. will review it and call me either way after that. I'm expecting to hear from her in 2 weeks.
Frustrated? Yes, I called on Monday to ensure that they had everything they needed and the our Dr.'s office said it had all been sent. Well I guess not.
Anyway, frustrations aside I am blessed. Tess isn't going to need surgery. We will go back in June of 2010 to redo the VCUG test and see if she is outgrowing the reflux like they suspect. The dr. is confident she will be at that time.
It is impossible to visit the U of I Children's Specialty Clinic and not leave feeling like you are blessed beyond measure. I have 4 children. None of which have any serious health issues. When you are at the U of I that makes you a minority. It is heart breaking. Truly heart breaking.
Want to feel blessed? Sit in that waiting room for about 3 1/2 minutes.
Thank you Lord for blessing me with my four complete miracles.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
THANK YOU!
Dont you just love my new header?!
And don't I just have the most creative, talented bff?!
Thanks Melanie...
And don't I just have the most creative, talented bff?!
Thanks Melanie...
Monday, July 13, 2009
for ME!
How would my life change if I woke up each day with this verse on my heart and in my mind?
"...By this I will know that God is for me." Psalm 56:9b
(Thanks Courtney)
"...By this I will know that God is for me." Psalm 56:9b
(Thanks Courtney)
Old
So Sunday night we had a friendly kick-ball game with the Kirkpatrick's.
I believe it was the first time I've run in a full out sprint in years.
I also believe there are 3 or 4 important ligaments and tendons in my thigh and hamstring that will never, ever be the same.
Sad.
Truly sad.
Oh, and the girls won.
And Jason threw the ball directly at my head, so maybe it wasn't all that friendly. Or possibly the adults playing were a little too competitive about it.
Did I mention the girls won?
I believe it was the first time I've run in a full out sprint in years.
I also believe there are 3 or 4 important ligaments and tendons in my thigh and hamstring that will never, ever be the same.
Sad.
Truly sad.
Oh, and the girls won.
And Jason threw the ball directly at my head, so maybe it wasn't all that friendly. Or possibly the adults playing were a little too competitive about it.
Did I mention the girls won?
Friday, July 10, 2009
And Dopey
Somehow sweet Adele got stuck being Dopey. But oh my the cuteness!
These two babies stole the show. As we went down the street people would say, Oh they all look so great, what a great idea for a float. Then they'd see the babies...it was all over from there. The gushing just didn't stop. Yes, they really were just that cute!
These two are so fun together. They get excited to see each other! They kind of grab for each other's faces and steal toys from one another and tonight when Adele would lean over in the wagon to pick something up, Contessa would steal her hat off her head. So cute.
And yes, someday they are all going to want to murder us for doing this to them!
And that, is half the fun!
Sleepy
Are you even kidding me with this ADORABLE Sleepy?!? Try to tell me there is something cuter, come on, try!
She totally looks like a real dwarf in this picture. Love it.
I still cant believe she never messed with the beard or hat!
Bashful
Bashful was, well bashful. Alexa is not really one for crowds, people staring at her, or the unknown. So this was not really her cup of tea. But she was very cute and once the parade started she needed a new name...Future Homecoming Queen. Suddenly she turned it on as we walked down the street. She was waving at everyone and saying 'hi'. VERY cute.
Grumpy
This smiley boy CHOSE to be Grumpy.
He thought this was a 'grumpy' look. He never really looked grumpy, more fiesty and crazy!
Sneezy
Sneezy REALLY wanted to be Snow White and had some trouble understanding what we were really doing. Of course in her mind, "Why would you be a dwarf when you could be the princess?"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)