Funny Levi Sayings I Don't Want to Forget

When told no to more m&m's Levi told me his tummy was sad. And more m&m's would make it so happy!

At HEB, Levi pointed out many Santa's, I commented "Santa is everywhere these days."

He replied, "No, God is everywhere!"

He still regularly talks about his Huns. They do a lot of the same things that we are doing. My favorite right now is that he'll ask me a question, like "When we spill a lot of water, we have to clean it up, right?"

"Yes."

"Oh, cause my Hun's didn't know that. They beat us home in their race car."

According to Levi, there are 3 Huns, all named Levi who are 3 years old. He will often ask me a question and say Oh, cause my Hun's didn't know that. It makes me smile every time.

Drinking IBC root beer

Today

Drove to the fancy mall.

Levi and Annika fell asleep on the way there.

Levi transferred to the stroller and stayed asleep the whole time.

I did some returning and exchanging.

As I returned a pair of boots, the man at the store asked if anything was wrong, I said no, just too small.

He checked the size on the box and said "41! Too small?!"

Way to win a customer, buddy.

Then asked if I wanted to look around for any gifts.

Since I have skis for feet.

Airplanes

A while ago, Levi started telling us that he was going to have an airplane party for his birthday.

So we did.

His favorite colors are green and orange.

Apparently, the pictures I took were of the decorations.

The Invite. Designed by Drew.

Complimentary In Flight Drinks.
Designed by Drew.

Complimentarty In Flight Snacks.
Designed by Drew.

Your Choice of In Flight Meal.
Designed by Drew.

Decorated by Drew.

Assortement of planes for party favors in a suitcase.

Paper Airplane Factory.

Checked Baggage.

Birthday Boy.

Blowing.

Airplanes in the Clouds.

Levi,

I think everyday since you've turned 3, you have said to me "Mom, I'm still free!"  And when we have said something like when you get a little bigger, you can do this, you quickly reply "But, I'm free!"

When you first started talking about your airplane party, you were so convincing that you were going to have one, we couldn't not throw one for you.

When Daddy first showed you the invitation, the plane was blue.  You said, "Dad, I wanted a green plane."  Drew tried to convince you that the plane was really great blue, but you knew exactly what you wanted.  Airplanes.  Green and orange.

You were a really impressive, incredible two year old, I can't wait to see what three brings!

You are a delight.  You are entertaining.  You make all of us laugh.  

Sometimes, we call you Chip because of your chipped tooth (Sage was holding your legs and dropped you on your face- that's the story you tell and it's the truth).  Sometimes, you'll say, "I Chip Yebi!"  

You love to tell me stories as we drive around in the van, a lot of times they involve poop.  

We love you, Chip Yebi!

Love, 

Mama

Adored

Huns

The Back Story:

Levi started talking awhile ago about "The Huns".

Sometimes, The Huns would come with us places.

Sometimes, they drive their own cars, orange and green and will beat us to our destination.

Sometimes, The Huns were people.

Sometimes, The Huns were dogs.

Every once in a while, he'll ask me if I know where The Huns are.

Monday, I was emptying some boxes out of our bedroom and got them ready to take them out to the recycling.

Levi and Annika were eating lunch so I took the opportunity to take the boxes outside.

Levi came running out.  But, I'd already finished.

As we walked back in the house, he started whining and crying a little.

"My Huns were in the box!  You threw my Huns away!  You threw them away!"

I assured him that I checked the boxes and they were empty.

He reaffirmed that I had indeed thrown them away.

I insisted the boxes were empty and his Huns were somewhere else.

Somehow, it just dropped.

I haven't heard about The Huns and if they did or did not survive my box throwing out.

I'll keep you posted.

Annika turned 1 (almost 3 months ago, who's counting)

Pink cupcake
Pink frosting
Princess

She needed some convincing to put the pretty in her mouth.

Mom remembered the bow! At the end.

Annika with Annika Louise. Her scripture is Ephesians  2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.  Annika means grace.

Daddy with his mini me.

Aunt Krista (who was here for your birthday!) got Ani her first cowgirl boots.



Thanks to my friend, Kelli, Annika celebrated her birthday in style in this sweet cucake bubble, like a true Southern belle.  Kelli drove it to our house the day of her birthday, so I made her stay for dinner.

I served a yummy homemade macaroni and cheese (recipe on the back of the Velveeta box), applesauce and broccoli.  A perfect 1 year old birthday dinner.

Annika,

You are so loved in our family.  You are the perfect princess even when you copy Levi and growl.  At 1, you aren't walking yet.  At 14, almost 15 months, you are trying so hard to get it.  You take about 2 or 3 steps and then fall on purpose.  Then you look up and make sure we all saw you and clap and smile for yourself.  And you do it all over again.  The other day, I videotaped you for 5 minutes doing that process.

You are very cautious.  Daddy says it's because you have to watch out for Levi.  And you do.  The first 2 times you stood up to your stroller walker, you got knocked down.  The first time you crawled up the stairs, you fell down them.  The second time you fell down the stairs, Levi was waiting for you at the top and you had some "help".  Now, when you want to come downstairs, you sit about 4 feet away from the top of the stair and yell until someone comes to carry you down.

Recently, you have started to sign "eat" and say "E!" at the same time.  I figured out tonight that means drink too.

You are a momma's girl.  And I love it.  The times you want daddy are when he has something to eat and when you don't want to go to bed.

We are amazed at your girlness.  You pick up a baby or a stuffed animal and you put it on your shoulder and pat its back.  Then you put it in your stroller walker and push it around.  I saw you pick up one of your brothers little bags with a car painted on it and put it on your shoulder like a little purse.  

You have a pink bear that Nana gave you when you were born that you really love.

I have loved watching your little personality come out and I can't wait to see more.

Annika, you have 3 big brothers wrapped around your finger.  They adore you and the feeling seems to be mutual.

Love you forever,

Mamma

Confession

I hate Halloween.

I hate the planning for the costumes.

I hate buying costumes.

I hate all the scary stuff. 

I might have changed my tune this year.

Because of a borrowed zebra. But mostly because of the sweet girl inside the costume. 

Because of a really happy, jumping Buzz.
A tough Jengo Fette.
A sweet Boba Fette.
And the cutest zebra ever.

And a fun neighborhood that trick or treats early, just for the neighbors.
(That's our house! I need to write an I love our house post.)

Fire Ants

I have two fire ant bites on my left foot.

It's red, swollen, itchy and fiery.

It hurts to walk, to bend my foot.

It hurts to wear my flip flop or any other shoe.

I know that I get bad reactions to fire ants.

I avoid them at all costs.

Yesterday, at the park, Levi walked into a fire ant pile.

Immediately, they start crawling on him and biting him.

He screamed.

I ran over.

Saw the ants.

Scooped him up and started brushing them off of him.

Knowing full well that I would probably get bit somewhere.

But, I had to rescue Levi.

I had to protect him.

His safety was more important than my pain.

And I would knowingly and willingly do it all over again.

As I walk around today with some pain in my foot, I was struck.

Jesus does that for me.

He runs into the fire ant pile to rescue me.

And He would do it again.

And again.

And again.

That's grace.

8 minutes

She tells him to go upstairs and get his underwear on and brush his teeth.

She sets the timer for 8 minutes.

He hears, go upstairs.

So, he does.

He wanders into the bathroom and looks around.

He decides to brush his teeth.

He carefully smears the toothpaste on his toothbrush the counter.

Then puts the toothbrush and the glob of toothpaste in his mouth.

And spits.

Resulting in a pile of toothpaste in the sink.  Stuck to the side.

Happy with his fresh breath and sparkling teeth, he wonders into his room.

Thinking he'd like to please his mama, he takes off his pull-up and puts on underwear.

His pull-up lays abondoned on the floor.

Then he sees some legos.

And lays down to build them.

In his underwear and pajama shirt.

His mama calls sweetly in a sing-song voice up the stairs "So-on, what are you doing?!"

He yells "I have to poop!"

Alarmed and sighing to herself, she starts up the stairs and goes into his room, flinching, wondering what might be awaiting her.

She sees that little boy laying on his stomach, in his underwear and pajama shirt building legos.

She says "Well, go poopy!"

She walks back downstairs to check the rest of the kids.

She hears him yell "DAD!"

And thinks, "Phew, I don't have to wipe him!"

25 minutes after she sent him upstairs to brush his teeth and put on underwear, he comes downstairs.

Still in his pajama shirt and underwear.

Brown Bag

The house is quiet.

Lunches are in the fridge.

Dishes have dripped dry.

Dishwasher is delayed.

Too many lights on.

Drew had a meeting at 8, left at 7:15.

The throes of showers, picking up and nursing Annika.  It was relatively calm when he left.

Sage in the shower.  Kolby on the computer.  Levi watching Kolby.  Annika nursing snoozing.  Me iPadding.

It stayed that way for .25 seconds after he walked out the door.

Life.

I get really flustered on home school days.  I just want to get all the school work done.  And quickly!

Sometimes, I need a brown bag to breathe into.

I want to say I drop to my knees instead.

Sometimes, I bark at them.

Do your handwriting!

Levi, be quiet! I'm teaching your brothers!

Where's Annika?

Are the bathroom doors closed?

I'm learning.

They're learning.



Linking up with just write.

Distractions

A leak in our pool

A left behind homework folder

Stolen car seats

Algae growing in our pool

Annika throwing up and then waking up STARVING in the middle of the night

Levi throwing up

Temperature gage coming on in the van

Hitting a parked car

Not all in that order but all things we've dealt with in the last couple of weeks.  Six of them just this week.  And it's Thursday.

It's like Satan is trying to see what he can throw at us to get us off our course.

It's exciting!

It's exhausting!

By the grace of God, we're making it.

By the grace of God, we'll continue to not just make it but to thrive.

Here's what I'm grateful for this week:

1.  The leak being reasonable to fix.

2.  Having the correct chemicals in our garage to clear up the algae overnight.

3.  A husband smart enough to deal with the chemicals for the pool.

4.  A friend lending us a car seat so we could order some new ones.

5.  Having the means to order new car seats.

6.  Annika getting sick after we finished school on Tuesday.

7.  And waking up for a longer period of time in the middle of the night when I didn't have to teach at home the next day.

8.  Levi being the easiest patient ever.

9.  Throwing up in his bowl all day long.

10.  Chrysler Helffman Dodge not charging us to look at the van and fixing the leaky coolant thing.

Expectant

Jesus!

That was the first word Pastor Curtis wanted to say at our first core group meeting for Bayou City Fellowship.

It seems so long ago and just yesterday all at the same time.

A couple of days before Curtis sent out the invitations to come and hear about his vision, Drew and I went to Pastor Curtis and Amanda's house.

We kneeled on their living room floor, invitations in the middle of the four us, spread all around.

And we prayed.

We prayed that these friends of ours would catch the vision.

We prayed that God would rise up the leaders for BCF.

We prayed that each and every person would have clear wisdom and discernment whether they were to come and be a part of this church plant.

We prayed expectantly.

We expected God to move, to work, to do miracles.

And He has.

And we continue to pray expectantly.

We are going to be meeting publicly for the first time on Sunday, September 11, 2011.

We pray expectantly that God will fill our meeting place, Houston Christian High School at 10 am.

We invite you to come worship our Jesus with us!

We invite you to come pour out your life as we serve our community.

We are expectant with anticipation.

Check out our website. 

If I know you in real life, call me, email me, text me, dm me, ask me!  We want you there!  And we want you to bring your friends!

Consider this your invitation.

School Days

So, yesterday school started!  Sage went to first grade. Kolby to kindergarten.  I wasn't over the top emotional about Kolby starting kindergarten, maybe because Sage just started last year?  And I wasn't emotional about Sage starting first grade.

I was incredibly nervous about teaching them at home 2 days a week.

Seriously, Sunday night, Drew and I sat on our dining room floor while I bawled and told him all my worries.  He was really sweet and just held me.  One thing he said was "If you would listen to yourself, you would realize these worries aren't really a big deal."  He said it lovingly.  And he was right.  I might have been crying because I bought them rolling backpacks (school's suggestion) and then I worried about how they would get them up the stairs and I wouldn't be able to help them and I really shouldn't have wasted our money and maybe I should order them new backpacks.  Really, I really cried over that.  Mostly, I was so nervous about today, teaching them at home and what Levi and Annika would do and how I would help Kolby to focus.

And today came.  I woke up at 5:15 because I knew I needed some serious time with the Lord before I started teaching my children.  I pray that I keep that attitude all year because I need Him to teach through me every Tuesday and Thursday.

Only one time did I bring my hands to my cheeks because everyone was talking at once, asking a question.  Much like I feel in a store when I'm trying to find something and they are all asking for something at the same time.  Flustered.

But!  We got through everything we were supposed to.  Before lunch.

Boy, I wasn't ready for that!  My adrenaline dropped and I was pooped.

God's given me grace to keep going.  We even got to swim while Annika and Levi napped.  It's so much more enjoyable to swim without holding Annika!

So, yes, it's the first day, but I really loved it!

I know there will be hard days, but at this moment, I can see, it will all be totally worth it.

5 Minutes, No Editing

We did it!  We moved.

Technically, the moving company moved us.  They showed up at 7:30am, packed our 1800 square foot, 3 bedroom town home, packed up our 5x7 storage unit and drove it across town, unpacked the truck and were done by 3:30pm.  Amazing and worth every penny.  They also set up the beds.

The day before we moved, we closed on our old house at 9am.  The buyers closed on our house at 3pm.  We got word that their funding cleared, papers were all signed and we closed on our new house at 4pm.  It was flawless and amazing. Praise Jesus!

We painted the boys' room from pink to light gray. (Yes, they still share a room, it's quite large)

Sage turned 7.  We celebrated as a family at Chuck E. Cheese.

10 days after we moved, we left to visit our families.

Annika learned how to pull herself to stand on furniture.

Drew's sister came home with us for 10 days.

I attended co-teacher training for our new school.

Annika turned one.

Annika learned how to climb up the stairs.

The next day, Annika fell down the stairs.  (Somehow she stopped herself about 4 steps from the bottom of the floor which is tile, Praise Jesus!)

We have a lot of painting to accomplish.

I'm living in a state of overwhelmed, trying to make a to do list each day that is manageable and things that are important.

What hasn't been important is unpacking Drew and my suitcases from vacation.  Our room needs an intervention.  An intervention called, put some laundry away and finish unpacking the night stands.  I don't know about y'all but our night stands have a way of turning into a bunch of random crap that doesn't really have a home with a lot of books piled on top and around them translating into really fun boxes to unpack.

I don't know how much I'll be writing on here.  I feel like there is stuff that I can't/don't want to share and it is heavy on my mind blocking other words from flowing.  Life stuff, kid stuff.  I don't want to over share stuff about my kids and have them regret it later in life.  I don't want to over share my stuff and regret it later in life.  Like tomorrow.

Here's what I can share.  I need to order a book.  A book called Raising A Sensory Smart Child.  I read the reviews on Amazon and our occupational therapist recommended it.  And I just. don't. want. to.  Maybe because it would be admitting there is more going on.  Maybe not.  Maybe because I'm tired.  Maybe because I wonder if I'm giving him excuses for my poor parenting.  I don't know.

I do know my 5 minutes is far from over.  I have laundry to fold, school books to ready, flash cards to tear apart, and the list goes on.

Ramblings

A week from today, we will be signing the contracts to sell our current house and buy a different house. (Lord willing.) 

A week from tomorrow, the movers will show up to pack up our house and (Lord willing) move us into our new house the same day.

A week from Monday, Kolby and Levi start everyday swim lessons for 2 weeks. (great timing)

A week from Thursday, I will have a 7 year old. (I don't want to talk about this.  For a myriad of reasons.  1)I'll have a 7 year old. 2)We have bought him one gift. 3)We may or may not be moving into a new house the day before.  We may be moving on his actual birthday. )

Sage lost his second tooth on Monday, the 4th of July.  We went to Lowe's to get the final things needed to finish fixing our house for the buyers and he showed me how his tooth could lay down flat.  I told him I wouldn't pull it but I wanted to touch it.  Then I told him I take it back, I did want to pull it.  I put my fingers on it like I was going to yank and it fell out in my hand!  I pulled his tooth in the middle of Lowe's.

Levi is fully potty trained!  You probably already thought I did that back in December.  We gave it a really good try but he just wasn't quite ready.  He went back to diapers after a week.  We kept talking about how when Sage and Kolby were done with school, he'd start wearing underwear all the time.  I kept thinking we'd do the 3 day method again.  And then I looked closely at our calendar and realized that we didn't have 3 days at home. I decided to just go for it.  And he did so great!  I expected accidents and there were some, but nothing horrible.  I'm not so sure having him potty trained is easier, I would say it's more difficult to take him to the bathroom out in public while trying to hold Annika, but I love not changing the diapers!

Annika.  She has 6 teeth and crawls everywhere.  She looks exactly like Drew.  Except prettier.  She shakes her head no to make us laugh and also when we tell her no, no, usually about putting something in her mouth or touching the stereo.  She waves, blows kisses, signs milk and all done. 

Sage swam on a swim team this year!  He started knowing how to swim but not the greatest.  It was a modified doggy paddle.  One arm would come out of the water and one arm stayed under water.  By time trials, after a month of practice 6 days a week, he was swimming a good front crawl.  He would bring his head straight up to take a breath instead of rolling his head to the side.  He swam a 25 yard freestyle in 34 seconds.  His first meet, he was in the second heat of swimmers (meaning the heat ahead of him were all faster swimmers and his time didn't count toward team points) and he got first place!  He was so excited.  He moved up to the first heat for the rest of the meets.  He continued to improve all season and was invited to the Meet of Champs!  He swam the fastest he had ever swam in the semi-finals, 23.4 seconds and got 7th out of 34 boys!  He got to swim the next day at the finals and got 8th out of 8.  His relay got 6th out of 8 in the finals.

We are so proud of him.  I was nervous about signing him up for such a big commitment.  For the month of May, we picked him up from school, had a snack in the van and headed to swim team.  Kolby and Levi played outside on the swing set and in a huge pile of sand.  When school got out, he switched to morning practice, so for the month of June, we were at swim practice every morning at 8:30.  I told him when I signed him up, that I didn't want to fight him on going to practice, we would be going everyday and there would be no arguing or complaining.  Not once did he complain about going to practice!  I was proud of the way he would listen to his coach's instruction (and mine!) and then improve.  He loved it so much that we're looking into doing swim team year round.  (He asked)

I have high hopes of writing more. 

I also have high hopes of waking up at 5:30am so I can start running again. 

I also have high hopes of Annika sleeping through the night without me forcing it.

I also have high hopes of decorating our house really cute and showing you all the before and after pictures.

I think I need to sleep less. 

I hope this comes out right

This morning was our last Sunday at First Baptist. 

We loved our time there.  Our first day was June 8, almost 3 years exactly.  When we came, we felt like we were drinking from a fire hose after being in a drought for 3 years.  That first Sunday, I was worried that people wouldn't have room in their hearts for one more friend.  3 years later, I can't count the number of  friends from First Baptist.  The people are incredibly wonderful. 

Our Sunday school class this morning sent us out with a prayer time.  Drew and I got up front and Drew started to tell them how much we love and appreciate them.  He got choked up.  I said a few things after being adamant that I wouldn't say a word.  I told them how they have spurred us on in our faith, how they are a class that is pursuing hard after Christ and they bring everyone along with them.  We love and appreciate every, single person.

Drew told them that we weren't leaving because we needed a new church, we love our church.  We are going to start Bayou City Fellowship because the city needs another church, the city needs more people to know about Jesus.  This new church isn't for us, it is all for the glory of Christ!

It is with great sadness that we close this chapter at First.

It is with great excitement that we start this new chapter at Bayou City Fellowship. 

Appropriately, we met with our core group for Bayou City Fellowship tonight.  It soothes the sadness of the morning.  It ignites the excitement. 

We are believing and expecting Jesus to do great things. 

When Drew and I were babies, still in college, not married or even engaged, we came to Dallas (with other people) and went to a conference called Destinations.  Towards the end of the conference, they asked people to commit to living in a big city and serving God.  We stood up.

Here we are Lord, use us!

I'm giving myself 5 minutes

5 minutes to write whatever comes to mind.  10:02. Go.

This morning, we took pictures of our house to get it on the market (it's been a slow process).  And by we, I mean, Drew took them and I went from room to room clearing it out before he got to it and then I went back and put everything back in its place.  So, what will be depicted in the pictures, will not be real life.  It will be what we would love for real life to look like except, not so much, because that means that we wouldn't have 4 little people in our lives or if we did, they would be robots or cats, maybe cats would make more sense and then they wouldn't be people, because they'd be cats.  You probably saw where I was going with that, didn't you.

Anyway.  The pictures were taken and we think the listing will go live Saturday.  Except maybe not because that was before Drew was taken out by some strawberries at dinner.  Or so he thinks.  He ate some strawberries for dinner.  I took Annika on a quick walk (that makes me sound cool and healthy except this was the first time it has ever happened and it was seriously a 5 minute walk, much like this blog post).  I came home and gave her a bath and started nursing her (which means I nursed her as long as she wanted and read blogs on the Ipad).  And then I kept hearing the boys laughing and talking loudly and kept wondering why he wasn't putting them to bed.  It was, after all, inching towards 9! Yikes, that's late for our kids.  Finally, I decided Ani was done nursing (which means, I read all the blogs that I wanted to) and I took her up to her bed.  And then I checked on Drew.  And quickly determined that I didn't want to be too close to him and then read the boys a Franklin book and 2 short chapters about Hudson Taylor from Hero Tales.  Google that.  It's a really neat book. 

10:09. 

To summarize, we took pictures, Drew got sick.  The end. 

A Rare Evening

It's 9:00. 

I'm sitting on the couch.  I've been on my laptop since 8.  This is so weird.

I finally added a picture and changed my name on twitter. 

And, I might post something in the middle of the week!  I know!

Maybe you aren't as excited as I am.  That's okay.  It's the little things in life for me.

Annika might be crying.  She is.  Dang.  Maybe she'll go back to sleep. 

She's not stopping. 

I'm hitting publish.

And then I'll go check on her.

Which will lead to laying down in bed to nurse her.

Which will lead to falling asleep. 

I'm still publishing this.

Sorry for wasting your time.

Until the next rare evening!

Friday Five: Change

1.  We're planting a church!  The quick, basic details are that we are planting a church, here in Houston with our good friends, Curtis and Amanda Jones.  It's so fun to look back and see how God has been preparing our hearts for this for a long time, like since before we were married long.  It is an exciting journey of faith and keeping our hearts and minds focused on Him.  Not for our glory but for Christ!  You can read Amanda's story in three parts here: A New Vision  Part One   Part Two  Part Three

Hopefully, someday, I will write out our back story and how our story weaves into theirs. 

2.  Sage and Kolby will be starting a new school!  We will be doing a school that is a classical, university model school.  On Mondays and Wednesdays, they will go to school and on Tuesday and Thursday, I'll be teaching them at home.  It was a hard decision and an easy decision all rolled into one big decision!  I'm nervous and excited! 

3.  We're getting our house ready to put on the market!  By that I mean, packing up books and toys and moving some things into storage so our townhome looks nice and clean and spacious!  

4.  We have an offer on a house!  It could very well fall through still but we're taking steps to move out of our townhome and into a house!  I'm really excited.  And could get overwhelmed.  But, I'm really trying not to.

5.  Annika is so close to crawling!  She is inchworming her way around and is this (imagine me pinching my thumb and pointer finger together) close to crawling.  She gets up on all fours, rocks back and forth, moves a knee, moves the opposite arm and then goes to her tummy and reaches for the desired object. 

It's Not You, It's Me

Dear John,

Just kidding!  I'm not writing a break up later two months after I stopped postin.  See, I didn't mean to stop posting.  I just don't know what happened.  I wrote and then I didn't write anymore.  I wrote one post and then got overwhelmed with trying to add pictures, so I stopped. 

I keep over thinking it.  How do I start writing after 2 months?  What do I say?  It has to be spectacular.  I need to have a reason as to why I haven't written.  But, I don't have a reason.  The reason is, I just didn't get on my computer to write.  I guess the words haven't been there.

And I started thinking about my blog and what I should want it to be.  I would love for it to be a record of our family and the things we do, the places we go, the stuff we see.  And it is, but then I compare it to others and think I'm not doing that great of a job.  And then I think I should be making money with my blog, after all, I have been writing on it for nearly 5 years.  Is that right, 5 years, maybe almost 6.  Yikes!  And I start comparing myself to other bloggers who have been blogging for that long.

See that nasty word up there?  It isn't a 4 letter word but it should be.  Compare.  When I compare myself, my blog, my decisions, my looks, my clothes, my kids' clothes, even my relationship with God, I fall short of everyone.  Lies run through my head like a little kid on a merry go round.  It starts out slow, with one or two lies and then the lies just keep spinning around and around and around and around in my head.  And when I finally jump off, the merry go round of lies doesn't stop, it just keeps spinning and I'm left laying on the side with my balance messed up.  I try to shake off those lies and walk away but I don't walk straight.  I sway to the left and to the right, I stumble, I might even trip.  And those lies are still swirling around right behind me.  They are at the top of my mind, but worse, they have sunk into my spirit.   

Whew, that feels better!  See, I write to find out what's going on in my head.  And there it is.  Kind of ugly, huh?  

Just pretend this last sentence is a pretty little bow on top of this jumbled post.  I'm going to post it and try to get back to writing.  As always, not everything will be serious and not everything will be pretty and fun, but it's me and my life.  And you're welcome to come along for the ride if you want!

Groundhog Day 2011

Wednesday, Kolby told me about the groundhog. 

He told me that the groundhog lives in a hole.

And goes to the bathroom where he lives, in his bedroom.

And he didn't see his shadow.

This might be insignificant to you, but a huge step for us.  You see, I really have no idea what Kolby does at pre-school everyday.  Sure, I know the letter of the week, it's not hard to figure out that they are going straight through the alphabet.  But his day to day activities, he doesn't tell me much.  And the little bit that he tells me, I don't always understand.  I usually listen to a monologue coming from the back of the minivan and at the end I nod excitedly and say "Cool! Neat, bud!"  I read his facial expressions for what he thought of his day and hope that I haven't agreed to something that I shouldn't!

So, yesterday when we were talking over Dominoe's for dinner, he told us about the groundhog.  And then he told us what he would do if a robber came into our house.  He would get the gun and shoot him. (The gun, being his finger)  Sage's plan is a little different, he would pee and poop on the robber.

Through this whole speech delay thing, my main concern has been that Kolby will shut down, that he would stop trying to talk to us.  I have worried that he agrees to what we interpret him saying instead of us understanding. 

But, now, now we're getting somewhere! 

I See You

I see you looking at me

as I walk through the mall

pushing a huge double stroller

that carries a car seat

and a screaming toddler

while my two boys follow along.

I pretend not to notice

you watching me

as my toddler screams.

I pretend his screams

don't affect me.

But they do.

I'm annoyed.

I'm frustrated.

I'm frazzled.

He's disobedient.

He's disrespectful.

He's two.

I pretend not to hear him

hoping he'll stop.

I pretend to be peaceful

hoping I will be.

I pretend to be what I'm not

hoping to become what I'm pretending.

So much of life is like that.

November 2009.  Not much has changed.  Except he's louder.

 

A Joke, By Sage

Knock, knock

Who's there?

Car.

Car who?

Knock,knock

Who's there?

Car.

Car who?

Knock, knock

Who's there?

Car.

Car who?

Knock, knock

Who's there?

Airplane.

Airplane who?

Aren't ya glad I didn't say banana?

Flower Power

I did a quick photo shoot with Annika the other day.  I added the big flower to capture the difference between the one month pics I took.  For the record, she is 5 months.

Her brothers came in and were being silly trying to get her to smile.  She loves them.

Then they wanted a picture with Annika.  I didn't dress them up or comb their hair, just laid them on the bed and snapped some pics.  I think this is one of the first I took.  They love her.

Levi has started telling everyone "Dis my sishter!"  And "Where's my sishter?" 

Annika,  you are one loved baby girl.  Your brothers all dote on you, tell you how beautiful you are and love to make you smile.  They delight when you roll over, smile at them or giggle.  You have added a new dimension to this house of boys, a really great dimension.  I still look at you and think, "I have a girl! I can't believe it."  Somehow, you have turned into a really perfect baby.  You are just calm and content all the time.  You rarely fuss in your car seat anymore.  You love to be in your jumper thing and watch the action.  You're content to swing while I fix dinner.  When we grocery shop, I always carry you in the Ergo and you will often take a little cat nap.  If we are going in somewhere quick with just a few things to get, I'll leave you in the car seat and you are content to sit in the cart and see the world.  You enjoy facing out in the stroller.  The last two days, I've laid you down wide awake for a morning nap and you haven't fussed, just fallen asleep.  You wake up one or two times a night, you're pretty unpredictable.  But, I love to get you and bring you into our bed where you nurse/sleep for about an hour and then I take you back to your bed.  I won't complain when you do decide to sleep through the night, but I won't complain now either, I really like those snuggly times. 

My Titles Are Getting Lame

You know how the other day I wrote about my day?  Yeah, when I started, I thought, what would be a really fast post?  I'll just write what we did today.  2 hours later, I pushed publish. 

2 hours!  2 hours of my life I won't get back.  But, oh the memories!

Needless to say, I won't be writing about my day tonight.

I write posts in my head all day long, but when I have time to write my mind goes completely blank.  

Some funny Levi stories:

I was feeding Annika and Levi came over and she of course, stopped eating, looked at him and smiled.

He said "She all done, your p**is!"  (Read that in a high pitch voice and picture a little smile on his face.)

I mumbled something about it not being that and go play with your toys. 

Drew made Levi go to the bathroom before he went to bed.  Levi went.  Then said "Your turn!" 

That Was Fun

My husband has an arm span of 6 feet 8 inches.

That fact is interesting when the commentators on ESPN talk about a college basketball player having a span of 6'6.

He ain't got nothin on my man!

Except a college basketball scholarship.

How's that for random?!

That last post was fun, thanks for all the comments!  And the use of craptastic apparently was appreciated.  My mom taught me that word.  Just kidding.

I'm going to write out what we did today just because some day I want to remember what our days were like.

Sage didn't have school today but Kolby did.  Go figure.

I started the day at 7 when the boys are allowed out of their room.  That's right, I said allowed.  We have a Good Nite Lite.  It's a moon all night and then it turns to a sun (a time set by you) when they are allowed to get up.  We do allow them to get out of bed and use the bathroom but they have to get back into bed until Mrs. Sun comes up.  (I don't get any money if you click that link and buy it.)  Also, we didn't discover it, our friends did and shared the wisdom.

No, I will not be delving into all the details of everything that I type.

And actually, I had been up with a certain, sweet girl from 3:45 to 4:45 but that doesn't count as starting my day.

Where was I?

Right, I got up at 7, with the boys.

Actually, they got up and went downstairs to look for Drew.  Because he's way better than mom.

When they didn't find him, they started wreslting in the living room. 

I came down and offered breakfast.  No one seemed to hear me.

I switched the laundry.  And offered breakfast again.  Still no response.

I emptied the garbage.

Then they ran obnoxiously loudly up to their room to do who knows what. 

I followed telling them to be quiet and not wake up Annika.

And offered breakfast again.  And told Kolby to change his pullup.  And went downstairs.

To convince Levi to use the potty.  And change his pullup.

He does a number two!  I had to tell him I was getting a clean pullup and then take a little bit to get back.

Sage came downstairs dressed.

I labored over pouring cereal and making hot chocolate.  And made coffee.

I went back upstairs to see what Kolby was doing.

He was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt playing with something.

I got out a pair of jeans, told him to change and come downstairs, his hot chocolate was ready. 

When everyone was eating, I went upstairs to get dressed.

I sent Sage back downstairs to monitor Levi and help take his bib off.  (Levi will yank it off, thus defeating the purpose of the bib when he spills the contents all over.)  Best. Bib. Ever.  He's used it since about 9 months, he's 2.  Well worth the money.  Anyway!

I heard all 3 of them come upstairs to play in their room.  Or hide under my covers and try to scare me.

I hear Annika talking in her room.  (YES!  She's in her own room!  She still sleeps in the pack-n-play.)

I get Levi dressed.

I get Annika dressed and change her diaper.  I realize her clothes are too small.

I take her downstairs to nurse her.  I contemplate keeping her in the outfit even though the pants are right below her knees.

I finish nursing her.

I decide to change her clothes.

I put her in a new outfit and think she looks like a boy.  I find a white bow.  And a pink bib.  (She is a drooly mess.)

I get the grocery bags.  And check my list again.  And put it in the diaper bag. 

I tell everyone to get socks and shoes on.

I buckle Annika in the carseat.

I tell Kolby and Levi to get their socks and shoes on.

I get Levi's socks and shoes and make him sit down and put them on him.  I tell Kolby to get his shoes on.

I take Kolby's shoes and put them on him.

I spend 5 minutes getting rain jackets out for everyone and making sure they are on.  (It didn't rain all day)

Everyone is standing by the door as I get my jacket and shoes on, get my keys, make Sage carry the grocery bags, make sure Kolby's backpack is in the van (yes, from Friday), pick up the dry cleaning and the letters I need to mail and Levi runs back to the living room protesting that he needs his truck. 

I explain that the truck has to stay home, he can take The King. 

He throws a fit.  I tell him we're leaving.

I open the door.  He's still throwing a fit.  I say good bye.

He cries harder and louder and runs in front of me yelling "Nnnnooooo!!!!"

I pick up the garbage to take out.

I tell him to stop throwing an ugly fit.

We walk to the van while everyone proclaims that it's raining on their hood.  It was misting.

I tell Levi to be careful walking down the stairs.

I tell Levi not to jump in the puddles.

I tell Levi to get in the van, get in his seat and sit down.

I throw away the garbage and then put Annika in the van.

I put the diaper bag and dry cleaning in the van and put the grocery bags out of the way.

I walk around and buckle Levi who hasn't sat down yet and gets mad when I pick him up to sit him down. 

I get in the van.  It's 8:41.  AM.  Success!  Kolby will be on time to school!

We drive to school.  Praying for our day as we exit the freeway.  (I like to pray for the kids before we drop them off and exiting the freeway is my cue)

We drop Kolby off.  And drive to HEB. 

I put Annika in the Ergo.  Get Levi out of the van.  Make sure the door gets shut and we have the diaper bag and grocery bags.

We get a car cart.  And get our groceries.  Doubling back a couple times after I forgot something and then changed my menu. 

We made one bathroom pit stop for Levi.  It was a half success.  Damp pullup and he went a little. 

Finish getting groceries. 

Walk through the toy aisle. 

Pay for the groceries.  Do the Buddy Buck.  Sage gets 10 points.  Levi gets an Instant Winner.

Turn the cart around to collect his prize. 

It's a bracelet.

Wheel the cart to the van, get Sage and Levi in the van.

Unload the groceries.  Buckle Levi.

Return the cart.  Take Ani out of the Ergo.  Buckle her.

Drive through the parking lot, across the street and go to Costco.

Repeat process of getting Ani into the Ergo, walk into Costco, get a cart.

Milk, eggs, bread, butter and gogurt.  Peruse the clothing.  Get Sage a pair of shorts.

Pay.  Decline getting pizza at 10:30.  No ice-cream either.  Or a churro.

Drop some things at Goodwill.  Mail letters.  And drop off dry cleaning.

Get home.  Get kids inside.  Annika into the bouncy seat.  Set the boys up with yogurt.

Carry groceries inside.

Get Levi a banana. 

Tell Levi he has to eat the banana since he asked for it.  Tell him to stop throwing an ugly fit.

He cries.  He tells me he's all done crying and eats most of the banana.  Give up that battle.  Wash his hands.

Put groceries away.

Make 3 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Pack Cheetos naturals, blueberries and a yogurt for me.  3 Capri Sun lemonades, leftover from taking half birthday treats to Sage's class on Friday, and a Diet Dr. Pepper.

Tell the boys it's time to get shoes back on and pick up Kolby.

Drive to pick up Kolby and think about all that is undone at the house.  Dishwasher full of clean dishes, dirty dishes on the counter, 2 loads of laundry to fold. 

Pick up Kolby.  Drive to therapy.

Set lunch out for the boys.  Get Annika out of her carseat.

Nurse her.  Eat my lunch at the same time.

Notice Levi doing the duty in his pullup.  Remember I only have 1 clean pullup. 

Finish nursing Annika.

Give Kolby his shorts to change into.

Help him with his knot in his shoe.

Change Levi telling him he needs to use the potty like a big boy. 

Send Kolby back.  Pack everyone up.  Head to Wal-Mart. 

Stand in line to return some things.  Get out of line to take Levi to the bathroom.  Talk to Sage about his attitude.  Get back in the line that hasn't moved but added people.

A lady talks to Annika and touches Levi's hand.  Pray to help me love people instead of getting irritated that she touched my child.

Smile at her and nod (she didn't speak English).  She plays with Levi a little. 

Sage and Levi pretend to eat pretend money.

Peruse Wal-Mart.  Get a good chunk of Bunco ready for February. 

Look at the toys. 

Sage convinces me to help him buy a creator Lego set.  (He had $5 burning a hole in his wallet, he's been bring it everywhere.)

Annika is done with her carseat.  I get her out, hold her and push the cart one handed.

Use the self checkout, while holding Ani, and helping Sage pay. 

Do two transactions.

Wrap Annika in her blanket.  Get outside and realize the sun came out and now it's really warm. 

Remember that I haven't changed Annika's diaper since that morning. 

Change her in my lap in the van. 

Sage says he has to go to the bathroom really badly. 

Tell him to hold it. 

Realize we have about 1.5 hours until we pick up Kolby and we are probably 25 minutes from home.  Realize it's not worth going home. 

Drive through McDonalds to get us a treat. 

Pull into a parking spot to get a bib on Levi and stir the McFlurry's.  (Isn't the point that they come all mixed together?)

Think about how I would have never given Sage a McFlurry in his carseat or anywhere else when he was two.

Drive back to therapy.

Sit in the van and listen to Adventures in Odyssey.

Think about how badly Sage had to go to the bathroom. 

Go into therapy.  See Kolby, who tells me he isn't done. 

Look at a West Elm catalog.  See a rug I like, and throw pillows and curtains, a side table, a basket.  A new shower curtain and bath mat for the kids' bathroom, new duvets for the boys' room.  And think Shiny!  And how materialistic I am.  And how I really don't need any of it.  Take the catalog to show Drew.

Nurse Annika.

Wait and wait some more.

Trace Levi's hand.  And his other hand.  His foot.  And his other foot.

Still nursing Annika.

Kolby comes out!  His OT said he did great.  Asked about transitioning with him.  She gave me an idea to give him a ticket when he transitions well.  Think about all the work that sounds like, think it sounds like a good idea, think it sounds like a lot of work.  Think about talking to Drew about that.

Help Kolby get his shoes on. 

Watch Levi hit Kolby.  Kolby cries. 

Scold Levi.  Tell Kolby to use his words.  Tell him what words to use.  Levi says "sowwy."

Think oh man. 

Get everyone out the door and to the van. 

Kolby cries because there are gummy bears on his seat, he blames Sage.  I explain that they were there from last time at therapy, on Friday. 

Buckle Levi.  Notice Annika's carseat is not level.  Fix it.

Listen to Levi yell and Kolby cry because Levi's yelling.  Think about how it's only 4.  Wonder when Drew is getting home. 

Explain to Kolby to use his words.  Tell him what words to use. 

Call Drew.  He says 6.  I say 6?!  He says 5:30 or 6.  I say when should I have dinner ready?  He says 5:45.

Take a longer way home so I don't have to pay the toll. 

Levi falls asleep.  Consider driving around so Levi can sleep.  Realize that would defeat the purpose of not paying the toll. 

Get home.  Unbuckle Levi.  Tell the boys to carefully climb around him.

Tell Kolby to get his backpack and his jeans.  Tell Sage to carry the lunch bag. 

Collect the diaper bag, my phone, and the Wal-Mart bag. 

Make Levi wake up to walk in the house.  Hold his hand.  Get yelled at for holding his hand.

Get inside.  Finish nursing Annika, check email on the iPad. 

Hold Annika and talk to her.  She fills her diaper.  Get stuff to change her. 

Realize it's been a week since she got a bath.

Take her upstairs to give her a bath.  She pees on the rug.  Give her a bath.  She cries (weird, I must have had the water too chilly).

Get her pajamaed and lotioned. 

Realize it's 5:30 and I need to make dinner. 

Settle her in her swing. 

Start browning hamburger.  Eat the last brownie. 

Listen to Annika cry thinking she'll fall asleep. 

Get Levi to leave Kolby and his legos alone.

Help Kolby use the words to ask Levi to leave his legos alone.

Get Sage to bring Levi's Megoblocks downstairs. 

Get Levi to leave Kolby and his legos alone.

Direct Levi to the living room to play with his Megablocks.  Watch as he dumps them out.  Walk away. 

Notice that he walked away too.

Finish browning the meat.  Drain.  Add taco seasoning.

Get out lettuce.  Cut it up.  Wash it.  Dry it off.  Put it in a bowl. 

Notice Kolby cleaned up his legos without being asked.

Decide to make queso.  Get velveeta and Rotel out of the pantry.  Chop up velveeta, add Rotel and put it in the microwave. 

Set the table.  Get out the yogurt, salsa and cheese. Put a jar of olives by Drew's plate.

Drew gets home.  Give him a kiss.

Call the boys to the table.  Pour milk.

Eat dinner. 

Annika wakes up crying.  Shove a couple more bites into mouth.  Pick her up.

Ask Drew to take her so I can eat one more taco.

Eat two.

Take her back. 

Ask everybody's high/low for the day.

Tell Kolby to not talk with food in his mouth.

Tell Kolby to not take a bite until after he answers.

Listen to Kolby cry and tell me that I hurt his feelings.

Tell him he hurt my feelings by crying at me instead of answering my question.

Figure out he says no casts for his high!  And his low.

Try to explain highs and lows.  Again.

Ask Sage.  High: getting his Lego creator set.  Low:  didn't hear it.

Finish dinner.

Ask Drew to hold Annika while I put the taco meat in the fridge. 

He tells Kolby and Sage to get pajamas on.

He tells Levi to go upstairs.  He tells me he's going to go change. 

He takes Annika.

I put away the meat. 

Then put the cold stuff in the fridge.

Then clear the table.

Put the dishes in the dishwasher.

He comes back downstairs. 

I make a bad joke about how everything cleaned itself up.  And I just finished putting the meat away, while I wash the pan I made the taco meat in. 

He hands me Annika.

I say I didn't get to wipe the table off.

He cackles and leaves.

I follow. 

He reads to Levi.

I chat with the boys and tell them good night.

I take Annika downstairs.  Change her diaper.  Nurse her to sleep.  Read blogs on the iPad. 

Think about the toys on the floor as a blessing, not an annoyance tonight.

Pray for Joanne and family.

Cry a little.

Hold Annika a little longer.

Drew comes downstairs.

Lay Annika down.

Wipe off the table.  Sweep the floor. 

Get a load of laundry out of the dryer.  Put one in the dryer and start another one.

Fold two loads of laundry. 

Reply to a couple emails and some comments. 

Post my verse to the LPM blog.

Start writing this.  Realize it's now 11. 

Carry my wear self to bed.  Praise Jesus that tomorrow won't be exactly like today. 

And trust him for the grace and patience to get through tomorrow.

(I'm not going to go back and edit, not even spell check.)

My Attitude Has Been...

Craptastic. 

Ever since I wrote my last post. 

I'm not blaming it on the post. 

In fact, I've been struggling for awhile. 

Maybe it's the 4 kids thing.  Maybe it's the I just had a baby thing (5 months ago, that counts as "just" right?).  Maybe it's the adjusting to kindergarten routine thing.  Maybe it's the adjusting to a new normal of lots of therapies thing.  Maybe it's all of them combined. 

I do know that I've been craving chocolatey cakey something all week and I just put a pan of brownies in the oven.

I do know that I felt better last week when I was exercising some.  (I started the Couch to 5K running program, by started, I mean I did it like 3 times last week and loved doing it and just haven't had time this week).

I do know that I would love to know who's read this little ole blog!  And according to some, it's National Delurking Day!

So, tell me a little about yourself.  How did you find my little corner slice itty bitty piece of the world wide web?  What do we have in common?  Tell me anything, what you ate for breakfast, what your favorite snack is, what your favorite color is.  Just tell me something! 

I Don't Know What To Title This

If you've read my Twitter updates, you're already in the know.  But here's the rest of  the story.  Paul Harvey, anyone, no? Ok, moving on.

We drove to the big D on Sunday.  We planned to get up early and be there about 12:30 so we could lunch with my aunt and uncle.  But, then the alarm went off, or it didn't and all we heard was rain, lots of rain, raining. 

Sleeping in until the kids woke us seemed like the better option.  A whole hour later (insert something sarcastic here), we got up. 

Drew loaded the van while it poured rain and then came in to shower and get dressed.

And it stopped raining.

And we loaded the kids making sure we had the essentials of Diet Dr. Pepper (for me), gum (for Kolby- he is addicted- something about a sensory thing- okay the others like it too, but he always asks for it, like always, like he wakes up in the morning and asks for gum, chews a piece for an hour, spits it out and asks for another, maybe it's because it is was the first word that he could pronounce correctly so he got it whenever he asked for it or the sensory thing, whatever), suckers (for Yebi), the laptop, the iPod touch and the iPad (all for our sanity).  We also took (without realizing) Adventures in Odyssey.  (I listened to these growing up, on the radio, they are so good- entertaining and makes you use your imagination.)  Drew and I enjoy listening to them too.  Anyway.

We drove through some hazardous weather conditions, we almost called off our lunch but we made it.  Yes, we are from the midwest and we tend to hunker down when we see sleet and a temperature of 32.  And we get nervous about the other drivers on the road, obviously, we are superior being from the midwest. 

We made it.  We ate lunch.  We were glad we stopped.  Not only were my aunt and uncle there, but both of their kids and most of their families.  I hadn't seen them in at least 10 years.  And sadly, I've lived 4 hours away for almost 3.  My bad.  Also, my aunt is an amazing cook, she had turkey, yummy potatoes that my grandma used to make and my mom makes, corn, peas, cheesy broccoli, rolls and then 3 different desserts.  Her grandson ratted her out when I said how yummy the chocolate cake was when he said "Oh it was just from the freezer."

We stopped by our hotel and dropped off our luggage and then headed to The Village Church Northway Campus.  We were about the oldest people there.  And we're not old, or so we tell ourselves!  Also, our kids made up 50% of the childcare.  And, it was the first time we put Annika in the nursery.  In a different church, I'm kind of strange like that.  

Now, I'm skipping straight to the doctors appointment the next day at 11, because my word, I've used a lot of words.

He watches Kolby walk then run then takes some x-rays of his feet.  Then he talks to us, for about 20 or 30 minutes.  It comes down to, we took Kolby out of his night brace about 2 years too early.  I really want to defend us and say that we were told to discontinue use of the bar.  And then I want to follow that with, we weren't seeing a Ponseti certified doctor.  (IF YOU CAME TO MY BLOG BECAUSE OF CLUBFOOT, CLICK THAT LINK!!!)  And now, back to what the doctor was saying.  He said that the casts that we did with Kolby this summer helped tremendously.  He said that Kolby has really good dorsiflexion in both feet.  It could be better, but for a CF kid, it's really good.  He also said that yes, Kolby has an awkward gait.  And that just may be the way he walks.  And it's not a big deal.  He said the one thing that we could do to improve the dorsiflexion would be to lengthen the Achilles tendon.  He said if it were his kid, he wouldn't do that right now.  The risks don't out weigh the reward.  For now.  We're not ruling it out for the future.  We just have to see what happens.  He also said he doesn't like the orthotics that Kolby was wearing (for only 2 weeks, whew), they hold his foot, his muscles and tendons in a position that is bad for CF kids.  With CF kids, we want the foot turned out at as much as possible, we want those muscles to be stretching, not held in one place. 

I didn't let myself dream for one second that we would all walk out of the doctors office.

I didn't let myself think through details/logistics of what life with a wheelchair would be like.

I had determined to wait and see.  And I had such peace about it.  A peace that surpasses understanding.  I did worry, but I kept giving it back.  I physically lifted my arms and told God, this is Yours, You say to come before you with all requests with thanksgiving.  I told Him I would praise Him, no matter what.  Not to my glory, but to Yours. 

I literally wanted to shout "WAHOOO!!!!" in the parking lot.  I constrained myself. 

But, my heart was shouting. 

Thanks for caring, for reading that long, too many details review.  It was the best doctors appointment ever.  Also, Kolby was disappointed that he didn't get casts.  Go figure.

I Don't Know Where to Begin or End

We've been potty training for 9 days.  Monday night, I gave up.  I found an old pull up of Kolby's and put it on Levi.  I thought it would at least do the job until I could get the right size Tuesday morning.

Tuesday, he woke up dry.  I bought pull ups anyway.  I opened the package and put two in the diaper bag. 

That day, he continually peed in the potty.  I was almost convinced he just wanted me to waste that $10.  But, alas, he didn't!  He has done so incredibly good but I have been happy to throw that pull up away twice today!  So, we're not stopping with the potty training, we're just going to drag it out awhile.  I was hoping to get 'er done in three days but knew that he's still quite young.  And I'm totally okay with it.

Although, tonight, he yelled from his bed that he had to pee. 4. times.  I think somoeone has figured out how to control the flow. 

So, remember when I wrote The Next Step?  We got the orthotics and Kolby adjusted amazingly well.  I don't know why I was so amazed, he has adjusted amazingly to everything that he's gone through.  Anyway, we just went to see his physical therapist after 2 weeks vacation, and the first time to see her after Kolby started wearing them.  I admit that I was a little excited because Kolby had adjusted so well to them and thinking she was going to gush about how perfect they were and how much they were going to help. 

"Well?!"  I said. 

After a long conversation, she explained that Kolby has been walking on the outside of his foot, like toward his ankle.  And the orthotics that we just got and paid a really pretty penny for (okay, insurance did, but whatev) are holding his feet in that position.  Awesome.  Not really, not at all.  At the end of an even longer conversation, we agreed that we needed to get Kolby seen by a doctor.  I talked through with her that I was so underwhelmed with our doctor here.  He just kind of was like eh, they look as good as they'll get.  While at the same time, not really watching Kolby walk all that long.  So, we decided to call the doctor that we saw when I was 38 weeks pregnant with Annika. 

And to make this long story a tad shorter, we're going on Monday to see him.  The physical therapist says that most likely, it will be both feet that need casting, that most likely we'll need a pediatric wheelchair with leg rests, that most likely, it will be 6 weeks. 

These are not for sures.  These are worst case scenarios. 

On a lighter note, because I want to change the subject and not draw out all my thoughts on that last subject, Sage told Annika the other day that she is the prettiest girl in the whole world, even if she is bald! 

Sage made a calendar at school for us for Christmas.  The other night, he was writing family members birthdays in it.  He started looking for Aunt Krista's birthday, Oct. 20.  He said "Hey!  Who wrote 50, 51, 55, 53...?!"  He had written the 2's backwards and then couldn't read them and tried to blame it on someone else! 

Sage received his first Bible for Christmas.  We gave him an ESV and Drew had told him that Pastor Gregg uses a different version as they talked about following along in church.  The other day, Drew said something about the same thing being in his Bible.  Sage asked "How come it says the same thing, you said everyone uses a different version?!" 

Levi sat in his car seat today, grabbed one hand with his other hand and started hitting himself and saying "Why you hitting yourself, Yebi?" 

Then he counted to eleven tonight at dinner. 

Kolby is always the first (read: only) kid to notice when we take a different road than normal in the car.  He seems to have every route we drive regularly, memorized! 

I look through the pictures on our camera and want to cry for all that I haven't written about.  I am an amazingly blessed mommy!  And please know that I have been taking pictures of our sweet girl.  She is quite adorable.  Let's take a minute to brag on her.  She rolls from tummy to back and back to tummy.  And she's been doing it since she was 3 months old.  Although, she hasn't figured out that she can do them both.  Like she rolls from her back to tummy when she is on the floor and then she cries.  She is ready with a smile for almost anyone.  She wears really cute bows.  Not everyday, but often enough to make my heart happy.  Today, she wore a pair of zebra print skinny jeans.  I had to shake her into them and peel them down, but oh, the cute!  She is finally enjoying rides in the stroller and tolerates the car seat (she even falls asleep, but don't let her know that makes me happp).  She wakes up twice a night.  (Don't talk to me about that.)  She loves to sleep with me.  I really love for her to sleep in her own bed.  (I wake up so stiff from sleeping in such weird positions as she is always cradled in my arm.)  She has slept two nights in her own room.  I miss her.  I might bring her back.  It's not like it's helping her (or me) sleep better.  She drools all. the. time.  She sucks/chews on her hands, fingers, blanket, burp rag, shirt, or her favorite giraffe.  She is starting to spit up less (wahoo!).  We discuss almost daily if her eyes are going to be blue or brown.  Maybe she'll end up with one of each!  The small amount of hair she has looks darkish, although it is starting to look blondish, or it could be just the light reflecting off her bald head!  

I had told myself that I would start writing when we get the kids to bed.  I had told myslef that I would make this a happy only blog.  But, life isn't always happy, so I'm going with what we have.  And guess what?  It's pretty stinkin great.