Different

As often as I remind myself that my kids are growing up entirely too fast, and that one day all these things I will miss dearly, I still find myself having a bad attitude about the littlest things, like reading a book for the 1,000th time, giving baths at night, "one more drink of waters" at bedtime, or toys not put away. It is very hard to remain focused on the pure joy of those moments when you are in the middle of them. However, this past week I have thought differently.

Last week when I read about baby Stellan in the hospital and seeing his sweet, baby boy face it just put things in perspective for me. I couldn't imagine what "MckMama" is going through. Yet, just a month ago I found myself in a situation with my daughter, praying over her in the Emergency Room, having MRI's, CT Scans, EEG's, and in an instant you begin to see things differently. In my case, M appears to be a healthy 8 year old little girl who happens to have a form of adolescent epilepsy. Stellan, however, is still struggling in the hospital with heart problems at only 5 months old.

When you think of how short life is, how very precious life is, how very fragile life is....it makes you see things different no matter what they are.

I choose to see things different this week...the good and the bad. I choose to see them as gifts instead of frustrations. I choose the joy in them. I'm reminding myself how dearly I would miss any of these things.

Smudges on the cabinets...I see different.

Snotty noses...I see different.

Wet beds, dirty laundry....I see different.

Bath time splashes that get the whole bathroom wet...I see different.

Reading the same book over and over...I see different.

Bedtime rituals...I see different.

Carpool rushes...I see different.

Homework challenges...I see different.

Five plates, five forks, five cups to clean every night after supper....I see different.

Smiles...I appreciate more

Giggles...I listen harder.

Giant hugs and wet kisses...I savour them.

Snuggles...I treasure them.

Tiny Toes...I gaze longer.

The smell of my baby boys neck....I sniff deeper.

The precious "morning hug" from K...I squeeze tighter.

The flash of a beautiful smile, now adorned with silver from M...I make a mental picture and smile back.

MckMuffin Needs Our Prayers

Get on your knees and pray for baby Stellan, his mommy and his family. Oh, I can't even imagine... My heart is breaking for this sweet family and this sweet boy.

Go here for Mckmama's blog:




Pray! Pray! Pray!

Growing Up

Ok, I want to know what happened to my baby girl. The one that cried a whole bunch, keeping her momma up all hours of the night. The little girl that's hair didn't really come in until she was 3 years old. The one that loved to sit and watch Baby Einstein videos over and over, and the one that I just sent off to kindergarten yesterday! ( Well, it seems that way to me.) I can't seem to find her... I think she has been replaced, all too quickly, with a big girl.

BEFORE:



AFTER:

BRACES!!!

Oh, my, how time does fly by!

Gotta Wear Shades

We seriously need to think about investing in J some new sunglasses. He loves to try on mine and his sister's and it's quite funny how he will purse his little lips to help keep my big ones on his face. Gotta love it! He cracks me up!

His teacher look:

His Bono look:


His mommy look (I guess??):




Oh, he is just so much fun when he isn't eating something poisonious or anything glass! :) The future is bright, isn't it?

A Friday Funny

Tim Hawkins is hilarious. I think it was my brother and his family that introduced me to him. There are a bunch of videos on you tube of his "spoof" songs or stand up routine. All are funny. These two were new to me today, so I decided to post here anyone that might need a laugh today. (The first one is longer than the second.)

(DON'T FORGET TO PAUSE MY MUSIC PLAYER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE)



And this one is for Wendymom. It would have been much more appropriate on your blog:



Have a great weekend.

Proud Momma

In the kid interview that I did with my girls, I couldn't help but get stuck on the questions that asked, "How are you and your mom alike?" and "How are you and your mom different?" It made me think of what my answer would be to how they are or are not like me really examining it in my own mind. So here are my answers to my girls as to how we are alike and different:

My beautiful M, We are both alike and different , both of which make me very happy and proud of you. We are similar in that we are both passionate, outspoken, argumentative, yet kind, loving and caring. Physically we both have brown hair, freckles and a warm smile. We both like to laugh, and to make people laugh. We are also different in some ways, and in the ways that make you uniquely YOU. You enjoy being the center of attention, you stand out in a crowd, you will initiate conversations with anyone. I on the other hand, like to blend in to the crowd, and although I love to talk, I don't necessarily have the confidence that you do to initiate it with someone I don't even know. You are the first born, and I am the baby in my family. We look different too in some ways. You have this curly, curly, ringlet hair and mine is neither curly or straight..just slightly wavy (enough to get on my nerves, actually). You have beautiful eyes that are twice the size of mine and they are set off with long black eyelashes. I on the other hand do everything I can to make my eyes look bigger and my eyelashes longer. I am so proud of how you are like me, but I am equally as proud of our differences because they make you who you are. I am proud of you and who you are becoming.

My sweet baby K, we too, have our similarities and differences as mother and daughter. Even at only 6 years old I can already see some of these things. I can see a lot of physical likeness with you. You have my shape face, green eyes, and smile however, your black hair and olive complexion make you more like Daddy. Your personality is extremely special. You are so content with everything, very even keel, never one to get restless or agitated. You always seem calm and reserved, careful in your actions and words. This my dear child, is a very valuable quality to have, and one I wish I possessed myself. I tend to get easily irritated in situations, restless and often wish I could take back something I said, not really ever being STILL enough to be calmed, soothed, at peace the way you do. I have a lot to learn from you in this way. You are like me in that you too do not love to be the center of attention, but you always polite and secure with your surroundings, always willing to talk to someone if spoken to. I hope you continue to grow with these wonderful qualities and characteristics which make you very unique. I am so proud of you.

Of course I am biased about my girls, but I have the right to be, don't I? A few months ago it was really nice to get an email from a new friend that recently met my daughters as they were the flower girls in her son's wedding (who was marrying our cousin) and after only being with them a few times over the weekend I think she did a really good job of summing up their personalities. I have printed and saved the email that she sent because I think it would be nice for the girls to read as they get older. Here is what she said about my girls:

"M-such confidence -such presence-a darling "Diva" who quickly adapts to "center stage" with such grace. Beautiful manners, in no way bold or cheeky but with that indescribable, incredible, confidence of a wee person who just "does" because she "can" and has been called to "do"! Long may that stay with her, the upcoming teen years can be cruel and confidence is a marvelous shield...

K--you and T are lucky that you got to taker her home!! I'd have scooped her up in a heartbeat! I swear if you look up "sweet" in the dictionary, K's picture would be beside the word. Certainly quieter than her big sister but very "centered" with a serenity beyond her years-NO shrinking violet-very willing to engage in conversation and by the end of the weekend was quite willing to initiate the conversation... "

Now, that is a big compliment and one I treasure. (Thanks PW if you're reading!)

Interesting to see your children grow up and develop these unique personalities. I perhaps should come back and read this blog entry several times during their teenage years when I'm sure to not feel quite as warm and fuzzy about their personalities or their looks.

Interview

Here is an interview with my two girls, M (8 yrs old) and K (6 yrs old). This was originally posted on Facebook, but thought it would be fun to also document it here. It's amazing to hear what they actually think of me!

1. What is something mom always says to you:
M: No
K: I love you


2. What makes mom happy?
M: Being good
K: Umm, hugging.


3. What makes Mom sad?
M: Not being good
K: Being mean

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
M: Tickling me
K: Tickling me


5. What was your mom like as a child?
M: I don't know
K: Play a lot


6. How old is your mom?
M: I don't know
K: Wait, how old are you?...Maybe forty something.

7. How tall is your mom?
M: About 5 feet
K: About 5 inches


8. What is her favorite thing to do?
M: Love on her children
K: love on me a lot


9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
M: Nothing
K: she works every time


10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
M: Love
K: I don't know


11. What is your mom really good at?
M: Files
K: She's good at working


12. What is your mom not very good at?
M: Taking care of the dog
K: babysitting us


13. What does your mom do for a job?
M: Files
K: works all the time


14. What is your mom's favorite food?
M: Spaghetti
K: steak..that's my favorite


15. What makes you proud of your mom?
M: I love her and she is the best mom I have ever had
K: she makes me proud about hugging me a lot


16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
M: Minnie Mouse
K: Daisy


17. What do you and your mom do together?
M: Love on each other
K: sometimes we play games with each other


18. How are you and your mom the same?
M: We both have freckles
K: we both have a little bit of..umm..wait...I don't know...I just don't know


19. How are you and your mom different?
M: We don't have the same hair color
K: We don't have the same eyes

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
M: Because she is always nice to me
K: By kissing me


21. What does your mom like most about your Dad?
M: Kissing each other
K: Kissing

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
M: Disney World
K: Wendy's

Welcome Spring!

We have been enjoying temperatures reaching 80 degrees and it is so welcomed. The grass has started to come up, flowers are budding and the birds are chirping. My toes are painted red and feeling free in their flip flops, saying "Goodbye" to the socks and the fuzz between toes. I absolutely love spring and the newness of everything it brings with it.

My girls enjoyed a picnic in the front yard with their dolls this weekend.

I hope they always remember and cherish these sweet sister, "girly" moments...

My little guy in his shorts! Awwww...I could just eat him up.

Here is J inside in his tent eating french fries. I have this tent in my living room. Although an eyesore for visitors, it sure does help keep him occupied while I do my work on the computer.

He has a nice little pad, huh..complete with animal print fur blanket.

Unfortunately, it will get cold again this weekend. Spring is always a big tease, but it's always well worth the wait. And I'll tell you one thing--my toes aren't willing to give up the freedom that they have recently discovered...cold or not!

Beat, Burned Out, Dog-tired, Done In, Drowsy...

....exhausted, overworked, over tired, petered out, played out, pooped, sleepy, spent, tuckered out, weary. (one of them alone, just didn't get the point across)

This week has been crazy and I haven't had much sleep.

Late Tuesday evening, right before I was going to get in my bed, my mother called me and told me she was ill. My mom has a rare disease, Addison's disease, and when she gets a stomach virus it can be life threatening because her body does not produce cortisone. So, I go over to her house and take her to the ER where we stayed until 3:00am. My day starts the next morning at 7:00am getting everyone ready and off for school Wednesday morning. Wednesday night I had to keep M up until 1:00 am because she was having the EEG test the following day and they said that she could get no more than 5 hours of sleep the night before. Needless to say, I was exhausted. I am serious when I say that SHE is the one that kept ME awake, not vice-versa. She said I would start snoring while sitting up and she would come over and clap her hands in front of my face. I don't know if I have EVER been that tired before.

Thursday morning the day began at 6:00 am, but thankfully my husband took that duty and let me get 2 more hours of sleep. Then all of us got ready, packed the car, and headed off for an hour drive to the doctor's office for the EEG test. We get there, despite a traffic jam and running on mere fumes of gasoline. We get back to the lady that will perform the test and she asks why we are repeating the EEG, since we had already had one here at our local hospital. I told her that I was informed that they would want to do their own, so she checked with a doctor and then came back in and told me that we didn't need to do it. Seriously? Are you kidding me? I sat up watching High School Musical 3 until 1:00 in the morning, barely coherent, all for NOTHING!?...And after having only 4 hours of sleep the night before?? Well, apparently, I did. Our next appointment is with the neurologist on the 19th of this month. At least we won't have to be sleep deprived for that visit!

We ended up making a day of it and going to the aquarium which turned out to be a good day and good time spent with the family all together.

I still feel a bit tired, not entirely caught up on my sleep and this weekend we spring forward and lose an hour! I am in desperate need of a hot bubble bath, a massage, a down pillow, comforter and about 10 hours of sleep in a dark and quiet room. I'll just keep on dreaming of that one!

Oink, Oink

Last night, getting the girls ready for bed, K said to me, "Mommy? This morning when I woke up I heard a pig noise."
"What? In your room?" I asked.
"Yes, it came from my mouth. A pig noise..sounded just like a pig," she replied.
"K, that was you snoring," I informed her.

That just cracked me up!

Embarrassed to say, she takes after her mommy! Maybe K and I should bunk together and saw a few logs together and my husband can get some rest in her bed!