10-31-10

Not exactly what you would look at and see a devotional, huh?

We found this a few weeks ago, its about very different and strange animals and God's plan for them. He loves it and reads it several times a day. We have used it a LOT while making the adjustment to his new school. The last week or so I have seen him showing it to friends and telling others about it. But not just the animals, the way God made them and how he uses them. He was (is) so excited to share.

And this morning as I was getting ready for church he came in and said, "Mom, I'm ready" with a big grin on his face. It was funny, I knew he didn't just mean ready for church. He decided about 6 months ago to accept Jesus but was too afraid to stand up in front of the entire congregation. So we took sis to the nursery, and left her screaming, chased Little Man to Kids Church (as he left me behind) and Speck went with me. When Bro. R lead the invitation I asked if he was ready. At first he said no and grabbed my hand. Then he buried his face in my side and I saw tears running down his face. So we walked to the altar. Bro. R asked him if he prayed the prayer to accept Jesus and he said yes. I had been teary all morning but at that point they were dripping :) On the way home he said "Mom, I'm so glad I made that decision. I am proud of myself. I was crying because I was scared, but as soon as I said it I had a warm feeling inside". My big guy has one proud mommy today.

Just a few pictures

I wore her her out shopping all day :)

hanging out at his fall party enjoying a few snacks

candy races at his...

and a little pumpkin painting

who needs toys when you have laundry basket and a big brother that will push you like a race car?!

my sweet ballerina

my unhappy soldier (although the mask hid it well) no time for pictures

and my baseball player who almost wasn't...he is too big for this now ;)
with a very scary zombie friend!

It has begun

So a friend and I ventured up the hill today and did a little shopping. Wish I could say it was more Christmas shopping, but today was just some good old girl time! (I did get 3 gifts) I did however get quite a bit done yesterday! Speck is almost done and Sis has about half. Poor Little Man...maybe we're just waiting to see how it all goes :) just kidding, he is WAY to indecisive to do it yet.

better ending than beginning

The drs office called and Specks blood work came back normal. They want me to watch him and make sure he doesn't develop any problems and we will "go from there". Not a great answer but I will take it!
Sis & I had a busy stay home day. She got in the shower with me but out before I did and ended up in a drawer with no clothes on!
Then she let me "fix" her hair. I dried it and used the curling iron to flip the ends.

She looks a little wild here (emptying out all the cabinets) but it really was cute for a few minutes!

The boys were a little sweeter this afternoon but it was just too much to ask for an afternoon without arguing. So they got put to work...folding the laundry. It was torture ;)

They did manage to be nice long enough to decorate some ghost cookies.
Then we took dinner to a friend and had dinner with my grandparents before the K music program.

I love my little soldier.

My middle child

is testing me in a BIG way. Part of it is just his personality, part of it is being too old for some stuff and too little for others, part of it is my lack of patience with him, and the rest I'm just not sure! This morning he got up very easily (compared to most mornings) he asked for cream of wheat so I got up and cooked. He got dressed and ate without an argument. Thats about as far as we got. When it came time to brush his teeth, he was too busy coloring. When it was time to put on his socks and shoes, he rummaged through the closet to find a jacket then went outside barefoot to ride his bicycle! By this point we were late so I hurried him in and got the shoe (& boot) on, then off to school. Minus the backpack, snack and class shirt for the trip to the PAC:) His punishment, not getting to watch the movie in the car. Terrible. Mean. Stinky mom. We had the whole discussion about who made the choice to go outside and deliberately disobey & that an attitude would not be tolerated. I repeatedly told him I loved him and tried to find interesting things to look at on the way. Nope, nothing. It was all "ugly". When he was getting out of the car I asked him if I could have a kiss. Reluctantly he leaned over and I got a very small peck on the cheek. I said "have a great day. Love you" To which he says, "you have a good day too. Keep doing what you're good at" and even though I knew better, I said, "whats that"? "BEING MEAN"! and he slammed the car door.

Dear Lord, give me the strength

Panicked but thankful

Well, the drs office just called & Specks MRI came back "mostly normal". There isn't anything torn or broken in or around his knee. Good news. But, there is an "abnormal growth", that appears to be enlarged lymph nodes, behind his knee and next to his femur, and they want to do blood work to check his white count. My stomach hurts. My hands are shaking and I might possibly be sick. Today didn't start off the best and I have been very teary eyed anyway. This just might send me spinning because my "nurse brain" is in overdrive not to mention I am a little sleep deprived. That is NOT a good combination! So, at this moment, I guess I am thankful for the bike wreck that lead to the MRI. and I am very thankful for the bible study this morning (that I probably would have skipped if given the choice just because of my mood...wrong, I know) but a very dear friend said "God has you where he wants you". Maybe this is why. He knew this phone call was coming and I would fall apart at the thought. I'm sure its nothing. I am just over reacting and panicking. Being that crazy mom. I know it will all be fine, but a prayer would be appreciated :)

weekend in pictures

he wasn't too sure about letting me take his picture so I was having to duck the nerf bullets!

Sweet hostess & host who let us invade & destroy their house!!

he loves his mom :)

she wanted to kiss him, he wasnt so sure

cracking jokes with lots of laughter & a little embarassment :o)

edible creatures in a jar...enough said

one of the great cooks and his better 1/2 (sorry J...just kidding!)

t.r.o.u.b.l.e

cheering him on as he tried to eat a frog

but not such a good result. and a few of the adults about lost it too!

so the cowboys arrived to save the day

true love, even when they top our "list" ;)

almost all the kiddos. WOW!!

after church we headed out to a local farm for some fun (thanks SS for the idea!)

helping sis feed the goats

picking a pumpkin

shooting corn (the noise scared sis to death)

posing with her pumpkin that she had to carry ALL day

even through the maze

not liking the horses too well

so she had to take a nap on the hayride

and so rotten he stinks!

The job

Its a flex position at the hospital. Ideally it will be every other Sunday night, 7pm-7am. We shall see :) I was at the point with school that I either had to quit or go back to work. There are clinical hour requirements that working in a school or occasionally for a lawyer, don't quite cover. The manager is super nice, even though the guidelines said the flex nurse has to have been working in a hospital setting within the last 5 years ( and I have been out for 6 ) she was willing to give me a try. Let the fun begin!

*my aunt went in the hospital this morning...it has spread to her rib cage

In the last 24 hours...

*I chased down a signed check that had "disappeared" into thin air (and found it!)
*I got to look at some beautiful changing leaves (when I wasn't carsick)
*I had a wonderful dinner at my favorite restaurant
*I laughed uncontrollably with my hubby
*I learned how to load a trailer (in the dark)
*I missed my kiddos (arguing, fighting, and all)
*I stayed up way too late and got up way too early
*I had an eye dr appt because my eyes are changing really fast right now and I can't see a thing
*Oh yea, and I got a job

Its good to be wrong

Little man went back to the ortho yesterday...and NO CAST! Yea :) he does have to keep the boot on, maybe for 6 months, but at least it comes off and on as we need it to. The x rays actually showed some improvement. Great news. Sis is feeling better, although not sleeping, but it could be worse. Speck goes tomorrow for the MRI and I'm sure all will be well there too. That job interview I went on a month or two ago...called yesterday and I go back in today for a second one. Hmmm....not sure what I think about that. Didn't have any bread for lunches this morning (again worst mom ever) so mad dash to WM then back to school to drop it off. And hubby and I are going on a date to night, to my most favorite restaurant, Angels. Yes, all the way in HS, but mom volunteered to keep kiddos overnight so we are going to stay and come home early in the morning.

definately Monday

Specks x ray came back "abnormal". appears there is a tear around the kneecap. he is having an MRI on Thu.

Miss Hollywood posing in her sunglasses. We were up & at the w/i clinic @ 8 am. upper resp infection.

Little man. the foot is turning again & the boot isn't helping. going back to the ortho...I see another cast in the near future :(

She has outgrown the high chair. she refuses to sit in it. kind of like putting a cat in a box, the feet stick straight out or wrap so tight around you and you can't control her. So, if anyone knows someone that is in need let me know.

from the mouths of babes

I have been called the meanest mom in the world more than once. But for some reason tonight it made me cry. Little man has been HARD TO HANDLE lately. So when I asked why he never gets in trouble at school and he always seems to mind his teacher but not me he says "because she is different. She is nicer than you. I like her better" My heart broke. And sadly so did Specks. He cried harder than I did! He was so mad at his brother and so worried about me. I was kind of surprised at myself. I am used to all kinds of things coming out of his mouth! I guess it just caught me off guard, but I'm not sure why. Where are the instructions on parenting when you need them?!

movin on up

So my boys recently informed me they weren't babies anymore. When we moved in I found cute sheets on sale from Pottery Barn and had canvases painted to go in each of their rooms. Little man had trucks and Speck had pirates.

now, for his "older" room, Speck has baseball

and little man has football. They are super cute. but still hurts a mom's stomach to see them getting so big.

now the PB sheets are folded in the linen closet for extras and they have moved up to solids instead of cutsie prints :(

random order

My inlaws came and brought my neice and nephew for the weekend.

We made smores

carved pumpkins

and he loved getting his hands dirty!

played with pop guns & nerf bullets

sis even went camping ;)

and played dress up on her hula outfit Grandma brought