Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

Today is a "shout out" to my niece Elizabeth. She is 6 today - she is exactly 6 months to the day younger than N. And they were born in the same hospital - how crazy is that considering we live 4 hours apart and N was adopted? - I think it's super cool!

Elizabeth is a big sister. She has 2 little sisters and 1 little brother. She is very smart and excels greatly with her reading and math! N loves her and is very sad when we don't get to see them very often.

And most importantly of all, she has introduced my kids to the joy of playing......



PUPPY!



Elizabeth, I hope you have a great day!

Love, Aunt Jennie

trip to urgent care

We woke up Sunday morning to sounds of little L. She came and climbed in our bed and spent 10 minutes relaxing before quietly saying she was hungry. While eating breakfast, she starts crying hysterically. Now, I know this could just mean that her milk is not the right temperature or her napkin is placed at the wrong angle, but this time it meant.....

She had a horrible sore on her foot - all puffy and gross and huge! I noticed when she got down from the table, she was only walking on her tip-toes on that foot. It was definitely hurting her.

So, we head on over to urgent care at Scott and White. Fortunately for us, there was only one other person waiting - unbelievable! They took us right back and the doctor was definitely concerned. He told us she would have to have an xray to see if he could tell what was causing this, but that regardless of the xray he would more than likely have to "dig around" in her foot. Okay, gross, but okay.

In about 20 minutes he came back and announced they didn't have any of the numbing cream that would make this bearable for our sweet little 3yo. AHHHH! Not sure why urgent care wouldn't have this! So we head to xray. When we get back we have the attention of all the staff on duty. Now, remember they don't have many other patients.

The dr. has in fact seen something on the xray, and big brother N is fascinated. He wants to see the xray too. So, the dr. prints out 2 copies for N and emails a copy to me as well. I can't believe a dr. is taking the time to do all of this, and then he reveals why.... he is putting off what he is going to have to do to L.

We go in the procedure room. I am sitting on the "operating table" holding L. Lance is holding her foot with a nurse holding her toes. Another nurse is holding her other leg while a 3rd nurse is blowing cold air on her foot. This cold air is the only thing numbing my sweet gal while the dr works. He take a scalpel (AH!) and starts digging around. It's amazing the strength of a little girl when she is in pain. It took all of us to hold her still during the process.

So, what was in her foot causing all this pain?.....a piece of glass. The only thing I could think of was that 2 weeks ago the kids were wrestling and knocked over a lamp. The lightbulb broke. Of course I vacuumed it up, but you are never sure you're getting it all. The dr thinks the glass has been in there 2 weeks and her body just now pushed it out.

L did great for all the trauma she had to undergo. She was so cute at dinner last night, reliving it. In her words...

"My foot was hurting." "The sharp pencil (scalpel) was trying to hurt me." "I didn't like the sharp pencil, it was mean." "Now my foot feels better"

She is on antibiotic for a few days and then hopefully all will be well.

N's take on the whole ordeal...."well, Mom, at least it didn't happen to me."

sleepover?

photo courtesy of Flickr - not mine!

N wants to have a sleepover. He is 6 yo and is full of energy (as most of you know!). In theory, this sounds like a great idea, but in reality....I'm not yet sure. I'm pondering the idea. N gets excited when one friend comes over, but more than one AND for ALL NIGHT?!? Will any sleep occur?

Have any of you braved this world yet? Any advice? How many boys would you recommend? If N had his way, he would invite 10-12. I'm thinking 1-2 would be perfect.

I want him to have fun experiences with his friends and I'm so glad that he makes friends so easily - I'm much more reserved than he and it takes me awhile to develop friendships - but a sleepover!?!

To interfere or to not interfere, that is the question....

I have a problem. A BIG problem. I can't stand to watch children being mistreated, either verbally, physically, or thru neglect. I've gone thru some issues this past year with one of my neighbors whose parenting values are VERY different from mine. I had been able to turn my head the other way until one of her children hurt N - then I could no longer turn the other way. We have since made peace with the situation, but I will always be very cautious when her children are around.

But, I also have trouble seeing total strangers mistreat their children. I feel like God places me in situations where I need to be used to help an innocent child. Last night was one of those times. I took my kiddos to the local "water" park. This is a city park that has water features - awesome in the HOT Texas Spring/Summer/Fall. When we were getting ready to leave, a family drove up and proceeded to get out of the car - 3 adults and a newborn. They all walked over to the picnic pavillion. Imagine my surprise when I discovered a little girl about L's age still sitting in the car. No carseat in the car, no seatbelt, and in a car alone over 100 yds from these adults. If I had been a child abductor, I could have easily pulled her out of her car and thrown her in my SUV. By the time I had buckled my kids in, the "mom" had come back to the car to get her cellphone and then went back to the pavillion. Not a word to the child. While she was still getting her phone, the "dad" came over and said "what's going on?" The mom said, "She doesn't want to get out." I hadn't heard her ask the girl anything. They both left again. I decided to write down the car's license plate and description. I pulled away but parked just a bit down the street where I could watch for a minute. (I told you I have a problem!) I got my kids back out and we played at the regular park adjacent to the water park. That little girl sat in that hot car for over 45 minutes. I ended up calling the police. It was bothering me too much. Why did they come to the park? The newborn certainly wasn't playing. The 3 adults sat at the picnic tables and talked - couldn't they have done this at home? Or in the car with the little girl?

I don't know their story, I don't know their struggles, and yet, I felt compelled to speak for the little girl. The police took over 30 minutes to get to the park after I called. By this time, the family had been gone for 5 minutes. No carseat, no seatbelt. I was sad.

Also, at this same park, there was a mom yelling at her 3 or 4 yo son. She was cursing at him and yelling, "What is wrong with you?" "Why are you so stupid?" It breaks my heart. I'm sure she doesn't know any better, I'm sure she doesn't know what that is doing to his poor little soul.

Why do I do this to myself? Why do I involve myself in things that aren't any of my business? It's a struggle...how do you find the balance between meddling and really having concern for others?

Why don't I focus instead on being the best mom I can be? To do my job to the best of my ability? To have the perfect blend of discipline and fun? Why, because I'm not perfect, just like these other moms aren't perfect either. Oh, to be a parent, it's the hardest job ever. The most important job and the one with the best benefits ever!

End of Year Activities

It's that time of year! Things are coming to a close on this school year and that means lots of parties, concerts, etc!

This is our first year to be completely involved in the end-of-year rush.

We've always been keyed into the high school graduation and all that it brings for our students. I cry along with the parents every year during the video that Lance makes for our church. It gets more emotional each year since we've known these students 7 1/2 years now. We've seen them transformed from 5th grade children to 18 year old adults! I enjoy helping Lance select songs for the video - things that touch me as a mom and I haven't even gone thru 1/3 of what these parents have!

So, for this year, our end of the year commitments are:

the 50's day song/dance at N's school - this should be super cute - he's already been practicing his Elvis dance. He really wants to buy an Elvis CD now - so cute!

the church choir program - he's been quite the little entertainer each year - although, he has matured greatly since the great debacle when he was 4. He was literally screaming the words at the top of his lungs and the entire church was dying of laughter. Lance and I were also laughing, but also a little embarrassed at how comfortable he seemed in front of everyone.

finishing out the soccer season and the resulting team party complete with trophy.

Mommy Makeover Day at N's school....this is going to be hilarious I can just tell - I received the invitation from N on Monday - the instructions are to come to school with a towel, makeup, brush, fingernail polish, and mirror. N tells me, "you are going to get a massage!!" I can't wait - what a precious time with N this will be - I'm sure much laughter will be occuring!

We are looking forward to our summer activities as well - swimming lessons for both N and L and some library time to keep up with our reading over the summer.

N really wants to take gymnastics in the fall. Lance and I really want him to continue with soccer, but I think we've about agreed to let him try the gymnastics and then see what he prefers. My rule is only one activity at a time per child. I want them to both have mostly unstructured play time in the evenings/weekends. They have plenty of time for busyness later in their lives - childhood is for play and creativity. L is going to take dance in the fall - we are trying to coordinate times with a friend of mine so that her daughter and L can take together - should be very interesting indeed!

Hope the end of the school year is a great time of celebration at your house! Enjoy the memories! Don't stress out! That's my motto!

Strong Willed Child

I have one of these. A strong willed child. She is beautiful, she is sweet, she is adventerous, and she wants what she wants when she wants it.

L has an opinion about everything and her opinion is ALWAYS RIGHT. She likes certain cups to drink out of, she likes just the right amount of milk in her cereal. She doesn't like to brush her hair (except today when she wanted ponytails!), she doesn't like to wear socks with her tennis shoes. Oh, and she still wants her cassie (pacifier)! This, at 3 years old.

Lance and I have struggled a bit with our strong-willed child. We are both first-born types who always wanted parental approval and tried our best to behave. I think Lance succeeded better than I! N, our eldest child, has always been a pretty happy-go-lucky type kid. He might get mad about something, but it doesn't last long and he's pretty easy to redirect. Not L! She is our challenge!

She always wants to eat the minute we walk in our house - no matter the time! She loves to take bubble baths in our master bathroom with the water right up to the edge of the tub. She likes to tattoo herself with chalk and water everyday! And you know what?!?!? We love her. I love her to pieces - she is my darling gal even when she is driving me crazy, b/c you know sometimes she just does. I know, I know, a mother should never admit this, but I will. Sometimes I just don't know what to do for L. I want to make her life easier and happier, and I just can't sometimes. When she gets her mind stuck on something, she won't let it go!

So, I'm choosing to think, this could be a very powerful and great attribute to possess in her teenage years. Boys - no! Drugs - no! At least this is my prayer for her. That she would be strong-willed in all the "right" areas. Her momma is pretty "strong-willed" too and it has kept me out of alot of trouble, although I do think it has brought me some trouble as well. But, all in all, I'd rather have a daughter that is strong-willed and won't let people push her around than one that is easily influenced and convinced to do things that aren't right.

So, if you see Lance and I looking a little ragged, a little stressed, or with a few more wrinkles or gray hair, it's probably because we're wrangling with our "strong-willed" darling! We wouldn't trade it for the world. And, plus we're probably learning something, right?!?

Date Night Recap

Friday night was date night! The kids were at the church for Parent's Night Out and Lance and I had a few hours to ourselves. The question was....what are we going to do? Usually, I've had these evenings planned way ahead of time - that's just how I am - a planner. But, this time I was feeling a little puny and not completely in the mood. It seems we weren't the only parents feeling this way. A quick survey in the church hallway was that no one had a clue what they were going to do!

So, Lance and I went and had a pedicure together. I LOVE pedicures. Lance had never had one. I wasn't sure if he'd be up for it, but he was! The massage chairs are great. We got to have an hour long conversation with no interruptions - it was awesome! Now, some guys have been making fun of Lance, but I think they are the ones missing out!

After our relaxing pedicures, we went and had dinner and then headed to Hastings to pick out a movie for the next evening. We rented Juno. Very quirky, but very well done! Has a little of the Napoleon Dynamite vibe to it, if you know what I mean.

All in all, a great date night. No movie (which is normally our favorite thing to do) and yet we had great conversation. The type of conversation that is very hard to have around our house until 10pm and I'm a zombie. It was great to have conversation when I'm still awake and can piece thoughts together!

Yeah for date nights!