My "Quiet" Life

We have been busy.  I don't like it.  I don't like to be going all the time.  We have resolved to be still after this weekend.  We are going to celebrate Maryn's 5th birthday with our families, and THEN, we will sit still until the end of June.

Maryn turned five on Tuesday of this week.  I can't believe it.  She is 5.  Wow.  Time flies when you have a lot of kids!  It flies and flies and flies, and I wish sometimes it would slow down.  I have tried to make it slow down--spend more time reading with them, playing with them, and cooking with them.  Maryn has fewer meltdowns now than she did even a year ago.  She is maturing.  She is so smart and sweet and nurturing.  She loves to color and draw and ride her bike.  

We bought her a Hello Kitty! backpack for her birthday.  She was thrilled (even though it wasn't a "square backpack with Hello Kitty! on it" but rather a stuffed Hello Kitty! with a zipper for hiding things).  

She also loved her strawberry cake with strawberry frosting and a Hello Kitty! on it (even though I forgot the strawberries AROUND Hello Kitty!).  She is a details-girl.  :)

Lucy is my shadow.  If I don't keep her nearby, I can just about guarantee that something will have crayon on it, and if not that, then something will be wet or sticky.  She is a messy girl.  But, she is funny.  And cute.  And easy to laugh at.  And her grin melts my frustration most of the time.  

She is a mile-a-minute-joy-frenzy.  I will gladly repaint the interior of this house to enjoy her more--and scold less.  Don't get me wrong--she gets her fair share of time-outs and scoldings.  I just forget sometimes that she is TWO and not FIVE or SIX.  Two year olds are messy.  (Must repeat as often as necessary!)

Sam's last day of school is tomorrow!  I am so glad!  We will keep reading, of course, but we will say farewell to math and structured handwriting until August.  I can't believe it--I did it.  I taught my son for a whole school year.  And he is doing well.  SO well.  I do not regret keeping him home.  He is so imaginative, creative, brilliant, and fun.  I have half a mind to get rid of all his toys because he is constantly making toys out of paper and tape.  He doesn't need toys!  

Sam has struggled with fear (in many arenas) since he was nearly three.  We are working on it, but when it rears its ugly head, it isn't so easy to defeat.  One day, he was scared of bugs--out of the blue.  The next day, he's fine.  I looked out the window yesterday and saw all three kids chasing toads that had gotten on the deck.  I think there were about four of them hopping all over.  I had to grab my camera.  No fear of toads!

Felix and Milo are laughing and "talking" to us all the time, now.  It's so fun.  They are so cute.  Their naps are haphazard lately, and that is challenging for me.  I just make do and walk away when I get frustrated.  They really are amazing babies, though.  I couldn't have asked for better babes.  They are forever making a fool out of me as I repeatedly do whatever will make them laugh or smile.  

I am so blessed.

My Wee Valentines

My heart is full.  I never dreamed I would be able to love so many people with so much intensity.  They are all so unique and require such different kinds of love.  I never tire of their smiles.  I am never exasperated by their giggles.  Some people are glad not to be me because I have five children, two of them twins.  I'm glad they're not me, too.  I wouldn't trade this for anything.

I can't imagine my life without my strong and hilarious, Samuel.  He brings us so much joy and laughter.  His wit and wisdom are evident at an early age.  He has a strong sense of justice, and he is the best big brother.  He has taught me so much about grace and forgiveness.

Maryn is the child who helped me become a mother--one who knows her baby, one who listens, one who meets her child's needs without trying to fit her into a box.  To this day, I cannot put Maryn in a box.  She's my sweet, loving, and passionate child.

Sam and Maryn's relationship is so great.  Yes, they fight, but they are the best of friends.  I can't wait to see them grow older together and watch the bond deepen.

Lucy is our joy-bringer.  She brings light and life to our family.  She is a constant reminder of God's redemption to me.  This little one is going to do mighty things for Him.

Felix means "happy," but so far, he has been pretty fussy.  This can only mean one thing--he is an overcomer--a victorious conqueror!  I have no doubt he will live up to his name.  He is seriously precious, and he makes some of the funniest faces.  I have no doubt he will fill our home with strength and laughter.  His shifty eyes are my favorite.

 Milo has the sweetest spirit.  I can't even describe it.  I just feel so much sweetness oozing from him when I'm with him.  He is mellow and generally content.  I have a feeling he is going to be a perfect balance for Felix--strong and supportive and loving.  I love his sweet snuggles.

And I don't want to miss any of it.

4 Loads of Sick Laundry...and counting.

This week has been exhausting. I had an appointment with the OB on Thursday which entailed a 10 hour day for the kids and me. All is well. My iron and glucose are fine, the babies are growing fine, and there is nothing alarming going on. The highlight of the day was hanging out with my college friend, Amanda. It was fun to be with her if only for a little bit. I love that about old friends--you don't have to try; they already know you!!! Plus, she taught me some knitting, and that is great.

Lucy got a stomach bug at 1:30 Saturday morning. She was sick again at breakfast yesterday, and again at breakfast today. I wish it would go away!!! Other than those times, she's been fine--a little sleepy, but fine. I slept several hours yesterday. I don't know if I was catching up or what. I busted my tail getting the house cleaned up for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law who were going to come for a visit, but then when Lucy got sick, they couldn't come. I think I overdid it. I feel much better today. So far! I am hoping and praying no one else gets sick. I have little energy anyway right now, and like most people, Dave has to go back to work on Monday!

So, here's to a quiet day at home! I hope we all can rest and stay healthy.

Homeschooling Progress: 7 Weeks Down

Sam is doing really well with homeschooling. He is so smart (which I knew because I'm his mom, and of course, I am biased!). No really, though, I am so impressed with God's design of the brain. Sam is soaking up so much in a short period of time. Because I did the Beginning Reading from Hooked on Phonics with him prior to starting school, the entire first semester of his phonics curriculum has been review (with the exception of a couple of lessons on sentences).

Sam finished that first semester of phonics LAST week. We reviewed what was necessary and flew through the rest. We are finally slowing down now that we have made it to long vowels. I would be thrilled if he finishes the phonics curriculum by Christmas (or before the boys arrive, whichever comes first), and then he can just READ, READ, READ!!!

As for math, we aren't going quite as fast, but it has been really neat to see him learn. I am discovering what is hard for him and easy for him. I am also discovering what kind of approach I prefer. He loves real-life application. He's not content counting manipulatives (though he does), he really wants to do something that is REAL. We have made toast together, used the computer together, and I've noticed how much more quickly he learns by doing. It is so neat to see him in this new light.

Handwriting is fine--he does fine on his worksheets, but he forgets to apply what he's learned while drawing for fun. I suppose it will translate eventually. Other people experience this? We're doing Handwriting Without Tears, if you didn't know.

He has memorized seven verses so far! I am so encouraged. I am re-memorizing them with him. One day, I noticed Maryn was learning them too, just by listening to Sam recite them. So great!

Maryn is almost finished with the Beginning Reading Hooked on Phonics. I ordered some books for her to give her something to do for awhile. I got the Bob Books and the Now I'm Reading books. She has shocked me with how quickly she has picked up reading. She is not as proficient as Sam yet, but she will be in no time, I'm sure. I wanted to get him really comfortable with long vowels before I go any further with her. I am not ready for her to catch up with him yet!

I am really amazed and encouraged by my experience so far. My kids are learning so much in an hour a day. I am thankful for this opportunity. I am loving my time with them, watching them grow and learning more about who they are. They are a joy and a blessing.

By the way, Lucy will watch a Backyardigans Sing-A-Long DVD, and that has helped immensely! I've also found that snacks help keep her occupied as well!

Diseases, Books, and My Exciting Life

Not too much has been happening here...well, nothing exciting anyway.

Last week, all three of my kids had hand/foot/mouth--a nasty virus that has sores in those three body parts. Lucy was the worst, and it was miserable. She didn't sleep well (translated: we didn't sleep well), and she was just very fussy. I am so thankful they are all better now.

We had a friend who is a missionary in East Asia come stay the night with us this week. It was nice to visit with her and hear about what God is doing in her part of the world. He is really moving among the church there and is drawing more to Himself.

I read another book by Wayne Jacobsen--So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore? It was really interesting. Too many thoughts to go into here and now, but I will say, I agreed with far more than I disagreed with. It is not a proclaimer of house church or no church or anti-traditional church. It is all about US as THE CHURCH living in community with one another--transparently and honestly--loving people and making Jesus our focus instead of buildings, programs, classes, methods, or men. It was very encouraging, and it is exactly what I needed to read right now. I do recommend it.

I'm reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett right now for book club. I am loving it so far. It is really well-written, and I can tell it is going to be one of those books that I am going to want to own. If you're wondering, it is about some black maids in the 60s who have been raising white children for years as nannies, but they are also discriminated against by their employers. A white woman comes along who wants to see change, and the three of them together embark on a journey of change during the civil rights era.

Lucy starts speech therapy next week. I am glad. However, in the last month since her evaluation, she is already saying new words and trying oh so hard to say many more. I'm very happy for her. We're still trying to decide whether we want to pursue developmental therapy. We really feel like the speech will help her in her weak developmental areas. I am hoping she does really well with speech in the next three months, because once I hit my third trimester, traveling an hour twice a week for therapy just may not be reasonable--it just depends how well my pregnancy is going.

We go to the doctor I found on Monday. We are very excited. We are not expecting to see their genders because I will be almost 15 weeks. It is possible, but I am not getting my hopes up. We are very thankful for the doctor we found. He is so reasonable and kind and supportive. Now we just have to pray all goes well and that the babies stay head down throughout delivery! :)

Well, that's about it for me. I hope your week is going well!!!

School in July...almost as fun as Christmas in July

School has officially begun at our house.

You say, "It's only July, Amanda. Stop and smell the roses."

Well, yes, that is true, but I think I will wait to stop and smell the roses when the babies arrive in the winter. We started early so that I will be able to take some time (a couple of months) off when they get here.

Sam is in kindergarten this year. We are doing A Beka Phonics and Reading, Bob Jones Math for K5, and Handwriting Without Tears. It's pretty low-key, takes 45 minutes to an hour a day. And Sam is zooming. We are doing two phonics lessons a day right now because it is all review for him (because I did Hooked on Phonics with him in the winter). The math is all review too, and I think it will go faster as I get a feel for the teacher's guide and how much I want to put into each lesson.

Maryn has a packet every day that I made for the whole year. I bought those ginormous workbooks from Sam's Club (at Joanna's suggestion!!! THANK YOU, JO! BEST IDEA EVER.). I ripped out all the pages and made packets for each day and stapled them together with coloring sheets from the many coloring books we have lying around the house. She is proud of herself for getting to do school too. I am also doing the Hooked on Phonics with her as well. She is getting all her sounds down right now.

We are also doing a bit of Bible memory as well and discussing the meanings behind the verses we memorize. It is amazing how quickly kids memorize.

It has been great so far. I'm very proud of both of them. The hardest part so far has been finding things for Lucy to do. I don't do school during quiet time/naptime because I need that time to unwind or nap. She doesn't quite have the dexterity for coloring yet, and her attention span for TV is way too short. If you have any ideas for a nearly 20 month old, I will gladly take them. This girl is way too busy and into everything!

Well, naptime is over; this post is too. :)

A Really Uninteresting Post

I don't really have anything interesting to say. I hope to contradict myself, but that would be surprising.

I feel time is flying pretty quickly. My kids are growing. My belly is growing...mostly with fat. No really. It's funny to me that anyone would assume there's a baby in there since it is only the size of a plum. My belly is sure a lot bigger than that! It doesn't really bother me, but I don't want to wear maternity clothes yet. It was exciting to wear them with Sam (which I didn't get to do until I was 20 weeks). I'm wearing maternity stuff today at 10 weeks...I also need to do laundry. I just don't enjoy the looks on people's faces when I tell them I'm still in my first trimester. The cashier at Wal-Mart thought for sure I was four months pregnant. Ha! My abs just aren't what they used to be. :)

I'm considering giving the potty a try with Lucy. She almost peed on it last night. By almost, I mean she stood up from it and peed on the floor. She started crawling out of her bed yesterday. I have never had this issue. Neither of my big kids did that. She is a monkey. She is so tiny too. It amazes me she did it. As a result, we are going to move her to a toddler bed soon and put the big kids in bunk beds. So, this weekend, we will be shopping for bunk beds. I was hoping for a twin/full combo. But DANG, bunk beds are not cheap! I also want sturdy wood ones instead of metal construction. It wouldn't be too bad if we didn't have to buy the mattresses too. I saw a few on Craigslist that looked appealing, but we're not super thrilled with buying used mattresses. Does that gross out anyone else? If you live in my area, do you have any good recommendations on places to buy them? I have looked at several stores online, and I've found a few things that I like, but it looks like the cheapest is going to be about $800 for everything. What I want to buy is about $1200 total, and I just can't stomach that! And it appears, most folks on Craigslist want you to take their mattresses too.

I am thankful my kids have places to sleep. And a roof. And food. And more toys than any of us want them to have. I'm such an American.

A Round of Therapy for Everyone!

Well, not everyone. But two of my kids are going into therapy. Not psychological therapy--I'm sure they'll have a day for that when they're older, but hopefully not!

Sam has started physical therapy for his leg. He is still walking around like he has a cast on his leg. It is straight out. We've been doing exercises mainly to help him gain confidence. The therapist said he has the range of motion he needs, he just also needs a good dose of "I can do it!". He is very afraid of bending his leg too far, and so he fights against it. He did much better with the PT than he did with us. But, we still get to do his exercises with him three times a day. I am praying he gains this confidence soon and starts to walk and run normally.

Lucy is being scheduled for a developmental evaluation (because several of her gross motor milestones were a bit late) and a speech evaluation (because she is a little behind on her speech). This is the kind of thing I thought I would freak out about, but I am not. She is SO smart--she's a little mimic, and she understands all the commands I give her. I think her hearing is fine--she responds to me from another room even if she can't see me. It could be that she's just mellow like her dad, and she doesn't care too much about keeping up with brother and sister. Either way, the sooner she gets help, the better. If you wait until after age 3, it is less corrective and more compensatory.

I am 9 weeks today, and I am feeling pretty well. This has honestly been the least sick I've felt in any pregnancy. I have moments, but I've figured out how to manage them better and keep myself from getting there. I'm still pretty tired, but even that is not as bad this time. I am going to be very busy the next couple of weeks with appointments--I've got Sam's PT appointments, Lucy's appointments, and I have two risk assessment appointments and a midwife appointment.

I am getting the sewing bug. This is a good thing because I have a few projects I have yet to finish. I feel like a heel when I promise something and don't come through. Sorry, Christy, I really haven't forgotten your purse (and I'm actually having a fabric dilemma and may need to go shopping!!!). I have grand plans to sew. I don't have much free time to do it since I nap during naptime now. :) But, as my energy returns, I am sure I will be sewing more than I should.

Today, we are headed to the library because they are having Kindersongs today. I think the kids will enjoy it. Now, I must go brush my teeth!

Milestones of Varying Sorts

Milestone #1--Halfway through the Couch to 5K plan!

I can't believe I have made it to the halfway mark. To celebrate, I hurt my ankle. I am not really sure what it is, but more than likely, it is joint weakness (because I'm hyper-mobile). I am resting, and NOT running today.

I am also modifying my plan. A friend of ours, Lee, is a super runner--like a running genius or something. He's also in Physical Therapy school. He is looking over my plan and seeing if it needs to be modified. He explained that these plans must be taken with a grain of salt because each person responds differently to a regimen and may need different things. My goal is to run the 5K without walking, but we will see what happens after he makes his recommendations. He did give me some exercises to do to stabilize that joint.

Milestone #2--I have forgotten to talk about Lucy. She is walking!!! She's been walking for about 3-4 weeks! We are so thankful. Although, now, she wants to walk everywhere and doesn't want you to hold her hand or pick her up. :)

Milestone #3--Lucy is weaned. I know there are varying opinions on how to wean and when to wean. It wasn't (and isn't) easy for either of us, but it is done. :( and :)

Milestone #4--I finished the baby gift--a quilt! I made it for my friend, Kristina, and her new baby girl, Ali. I fell in love with it. I do every time I make something. I'm working on the sweater for Gayla's dear Lilah. Pictures to come.

Milestone #5--Sam finished the Beginning Reading set of Hooked on Phonics. He was so proud of himself. I'm looking for other material for him to teach further. They have revamped the Hooked on Phonics sets since I bought the last one, and I wasn't sure I liked it as well, so I want to go another route. He needs to learn blends and long vowels and silent e's and that sort of thing. If you have ideas, I welcome them.

Milestone #6--I don't know if I ever announced it, but Maryn is completely potty-trained. Finally. Once in a blue moon, she may have an accident while playing and distracted, but she is golden. Day and night. I'm so thankful and proud!!!

I think that's all for now. A big post is coming up this week...stay tuned (no, I'm NOT PREGNANT).

Week 3--Couch to 5K

This is Day 16. I was supposed to run this morning. But, because of Daylight Savings Time, it was pitch black. So, I will have to wait to run until this evening when Dave gets home. Dave has agreed to join me, and I think we may sign up for the Dino Dash 5k in Little Rock on May 22nd. The kids will be able to have a blast there too. I just need someone to watch my kids while we race (any Little Rock takers?). The proceeds all benefit the Museum of Discovery downtown.

I'm looking forward to longer days for sure. At least my kids slept until 8! I'm sure they'll figure out soon enough that 8 is merely the new 7 and start getting up at 7. :) Here's my schedule for this week (the numbers represent minutes, not miles!):

Monday: Walk 5, Run 6, Walk 5
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Run 4, Walk 5, Run 4, Walk 5
Thursday: Rest
Friday: Walk 5, Run 7, Walk 5
Saturday: Rest (I may run again on this day just to push myself)
Sunday: Rest


I'm looking forward to this week, Wednesday especially. I wonder how that will go with me starting off in a run?

Lucy's weight check was today. She gained about an ounce and a half. We're going to continue with what we've been doing until her 18 month appointment and then go from there. The worries are taking a backseat for now. She is otherwise healthy and happy. Just little!

I am so thankful for my husband. I just want you to know what a blessing he is to me. He esteems me and loves me. He is far from perfect, but he has grown and is growing so much. Even on his bad days, I can see God giving him grace. The other day, I just strongly sensed the Holy Spirit telling me that a major part of my role with Dave is just to love him to death. Just love him.

So, I've been acting on love impulses with him--if I have an idea, I carry it out without debating about it. I think this is blessing him a lot. He's had a lot of hard days recently with his work, and it is so nice to make our home a haven for him, to surprise him in the middle of the day with a treat, or just a visit to get hugs and kisses from the kids (and me!).

What do you do for your spouse? I find all too often that I am making a list of things he isn't doing for me without realizing that I'm not doing them for him either! It shouldn't be so one-sided! We are both responsible for our relationship.

So, in true Flylady fashion, I say, "Get off your franny and stop feeling sorry for yourself!"

And as Ghandi said, "Be the change that you want to see in the world."

This can apply to all of our relationships. Not everyone will reciprocate, but your relationships will be better for it. Find a way to serve your spouse today--with NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Just love them tangibly. Comment back once you've done it and report how it went for the both of you!

Day 15--Couch to 5K--New Shoe Trial

Even though today was a rest day, I just couldn't wait to try out my new sneakers (by the way, do you call them "tennis shoes" or "sneakers"?). My GPS got confused and said I ran 6 miles...said I ran 2.5 minute miles. That was not even close.

I went 1.23 miles, 15 minutes. I fudged a little on the timing. I walked 5, ran 6, and walked 4. I was feeling pretty good and strong about the running. I maintained my pace pretty well even though I had to climb a hill halfway through the running portion. I don't know what is normal. When I run, I average about 8:45-9:30 minute miles. I would love to be a 7 minute miler, but that seems far, far away.

I feel great. I was feeling a little puny after a rough night with Lucy. She threw up 5 times. Poor child. It was so pitiful. Dave bathed her while I cleaned up her bed. With the time change, I was tired. Dave took the big kids to church with him. He led the S.S. class today. It was nice to have a quiet house and rest with Lu Lu. She has kept everything down today (mostly water, bread, and applesauce). I'm glad she's feeling better. I just hope no one else gets it! Me especially!!! It's extra trying when mamas get sick.

Dave is going to join me in the running this week. I'm so excited. I think he is going to enjoy himself. We're talking about running a race together a couple of weeks after the one I'm scheduled to run. We'll see if he wants to.

About the shoes---they performed great. I was quite pleased, though I think I may have had my laces a tad too tight. One spot was rubbing a bit and felt bruised. Hmmm.

This week is supposed to be beautiful and sunny. I'm ready for it! Spring comes on Saturday!!!!

Day 13--Couch to 5k

1.2 miles this morning. 5w/5r/5w. It was hard this morning. I'm not sure if it was because it was misty outside and uber-humid or my shoes or just the fact that my body is rejecting the idea of exercise. I'm having some pain in the muscles alongside my shins. I'm thinking it is due to my shoes or from running uphill and downhill.

My grand total for the week is 3.4 miles. I may run again on Saturday or Sunday just for fun. I get my shoes tomorrow, so I'm wanting to give them a try and break them in for the coming week.

I came down with the sniffles again. Afrin is my friend for the next couple of days.

Lucy has a weight check on Monday morning. I am hoping she has gained. She feels heavier to me, but that could be my imagination. Our scale here at home is really inaccurate, so I don't trust anything it says. She is eating better and eliminating okay. I've been giving her acidophilus every day hoping to help her digestion. Please pray for her if she comes to mind. I'd appreciate it.

My coffee is delicious this morning. I think it is because I am so tired! Well, that, and it is Starbucks, so we can't really go wrong.

I don't have much else to say. My head is a little too foggy. 2 weeks down in training--8 to go!!! How's your progress?

Reflux Revisited

I took my sweet Lucy in for a weight check.

2 ounces in one month. Gained. That's it.

I was told by a doctor friend that it should be somewhere between 5-8 oz a month following their first birthday.

She's 15 months now. She doesn't choose to walk on her own, she has to be coaxed. I don't think it is lack of ability as much as it is fear or timidity. :) She looks so nervous when you try to get her to walk. She needs a little confidence! She is picking up new words fairly quickly, and I suspect she will follow more in her sister's footsteps in her verbal skills.

Getting her to eat is a struggle. At first, she was eating alright but not drinking whole milk. So, then I decided to go for dumping the Carnation Instant Breakfast in her whole milk to enhance the flavor and provide some extra protein. That worked. She started drinking more milk, but she started eating less food. I've even caught her with spit-up on her shirt a few times. So, the idea that she may still be struggling with reflux has resurfaced.

She struggled immensely when she was 1-3 months. She refused to nurse a lot. She wasn't much of a spitter, but you could tell she was in pain. We assume she eventually got used to nursing with reflux because we didn't keep her on the Axid for too long. Then, we began to introduce food, and she was not interested. She was more interested in what was on my plate than baby food, so I finally gave up with the baby food. But I notice now, most of the fruits and veggies she was getting from her baby food were probably quite acidic.

We moved to table food, and she struggled for about a month getting the skills to chew and maneuver it in her mouth. She was doing alright. But, then I was worried about her not drinking much whole milk. She was still nursing 2-3 times a day, but still...

Cow's milk is acidic. It is not basic, contrary to popular belief. Both milk and chocolate can really irritate someone with acid reflux. And I was giving her that chocolate Carnation in hopes of getting her more of what she needs. But then she stopped wanting food. Vicious cycle!!!

So, my 15 month old weighs a whopping 17 lbs 14 oz. I have shed many tears over this, but I think I am on my way to a happy place. I'm not truly convinced she NEEDS the whole milk. She will eat yogurt and cheese (and I may sneak heavy cream into her oatmeal). We have her on Prevacid solutabs for a month. We're going to see if it makes a difference in her appetite. If it doesn't, then we may do some testing to rule out other issues. We want to be as conservative as we can without missing something important. We want to do everything we can to help her. I hope whatever happens, we find out that she's just herself.

But I still feel like I need to enhance what she will eat so she can get the maximum calories out of it.

I took Mckmama's advice. I went to Whole Foods and bought a few things to boost her food. I got some flax seed, some flax seed oil, some steel cut oats (twice the fiber of whole grain rolled oats!!! and an extra gram of protein!), and some more tahini to make hummus. For breakfast, I made the kids some oatmeal with the steel cut oats, a tablespoon of flax seed, and of course water. After it cooked, I added some cinnamon, a little brown sugar (didn't have honey), and some heavy cream to thicken it up!

She ate half of it. And she ate a whole container of Yo-baby whole milk yogurt.

This is huge. After her meal, I offered her a sippy cup with milk. She knocked it away.

She is still nursing 2-3 times a day. I feel really good about that.

She may refuse lunch, but for now, she ate her breakfast, and I couldn't be more pleased. We may discover that reflux isn't the issue. I hope that she's just small and finicky and ornery. Please pray for her--pray that she will begin to eat more and gain more. Regardless of growth charts, I know she isn't eating enough. I see what goes in her mouth and what ends up on the floor. Thank you for praying.

If you have a reflux story you want to share with me, I would love to hear it.

Toaster Oven Romance and an Itty-Bitty Girl

I hate my toaster oven for toast. It's ironic that it is called a "toaster" oven because it is horrible at toasting bread. It burns it and it is uneven. It could be that it isn't a top of the line toaster oven. I think it would be good to have one with a moving element or a large area element to evenly toast bread. Toasters are much better at toasting bread.

I love my toaster oven for heating up day-old rolls or leftover pizza. It returns it to its yummy former life unlike the microwave that turns bread into rubber. I also love how I can make open-faced sandwiches quite easily without using the large oven. It is also good for heating frozen rolls for two people instead of using the large oven.

Does anyone else feel this way?

We took Lucy in for her 12 month appointment (at 14 months...we're a bit behind). She's small. Her length and head were pretty good, but her weight was low. However, I am now not worried. The growth charts most doctors use are based on formula-fed babies. I've known this for several years. The World Health Organization (WHO) did a study with nearly 8500 breastfed babies from many ethnicities and countries (including the US). Mothers were not allowed to smoke during or after pregnancy, and there were dietary standards that mothers had to maintain. The goal was to obtain an international standard for breastfed babies both in developed and underdeveloped countries. I plotted her growth on a breastfed chart from the WHO, and it was so much less alarming as I saw she was much closer to her own curve. Breastfed babies grow at different rates than formula fed.

Also, her weight began to drop at the typical 9 month mark when most breastfed babies plateau. She has also become increasingly more active, and we were in the middle of a transition to food. It has taken her some time to get used to eating food (she hated baby food from the beginning and wanted whatever we were eating). Now that she is more accustomed, we have high hopes that her weight gain will improve, but as an added caution, I have her on a high caloric diet full of good fats and proteins.

And, I found a sippy cup that she likes. Hallelujah.

She also didn't like whole milk, so she gets some Carnation Instant Breakfast in her milk (which she loves). She still nurses morning and night, but she is embracing "Big" Girl status. :)

I am not worried anymore. About that.

It's this ice that is headed our way! Let's hope we only get snow so our power won't go out!

I guess if that happened, we couldn't use the toaster oven.

1979 was a good year.

The madness has continued. I have loved it all. Almost.

I got into a stinky mood while we were in the hotel room in KC. I just couldn't bear being cooped up in there during naptime. Naps never happened (as they don't in hotel rooms), so we ended up going out and working on some Christmas presents for the grandparents. I can't say exactly what we worked on because the grandparents read the blog. :)

We were able to go to IHOP (International House of Prayer) in KC and spend some time in the prayer room, worshipping with our brothers and sisters. It was truly a blessed time. Lucy had several people offer prayers for her--which was so special. I look forward to seeing those things materialize in her life.

We went out for dinner with some of my former students (now friends!), Tim and Anna. We took them to an Indian restaurant for their first Indian experience. The food took FOREVER and Maryn broke a plate, but it was some of the tastiest Indian food I've ever had. I think Tim and Anna enjoyed themselves.

We headed to NWA (Northwest Arkansas) for Lucy's birthday party with our families. It was fun and so good to see everyone. Lucy received a lot of clothes and some sweet little toys just for her (not ones she's inherited from her brother and sister). :) I also received some lovely presents. I am so blessed.

The blessings haven't stopped.

Dave distracted me on the way home, and took a detour to Ft. Smith where we stopped to stay the night with our friends, Brian and Megan. He tricked me! I was so glad he was able to...he slips up and I'm too nosy. Not a good combo for surprises! Our kids are having a blast playing with Alice's toys, and it has been fun to visit with our friends.

We leave here after lunch and head home where a few more things await...

This has been the best birthday ever. It isn't the stuff I've gotten but the time and thoughtfulness of my husband that has been the most special. Dave learned a long time ago that my birthday is a big deal to me. So, he rose to meet the challenge!

Lucy Claire is my favorite birthday present, for the 2nd time! She is such a blessing of a child. I can't help but recall the beauty of her birth--the pain I embraced, the lessons the Holy Spirit taught me. You can go back to this time last year on my old blog to read about it. Children are a blessing from the LORD. A blessing and NOT a burden. Thank you, Lord, for my precious children!!!

Thank you, birthday well-wishers (here and on Facebook) who have reminded me that I am loved. I love you, too.

I'm 30!!!!

Friends, Old and New

This is gonna be a long one, folks.

I've blogged about my friendship with Angela in the past on my old blog. But, since she is the oldest friend in this post, I'll start with her and refresh your memories.

Angela and I met in the 7th grade at church camp. We discovered that we both had a crush on a boy named Ben. It bonded us pretty quickly. Our friendship began, and the next year, I began to get involved with the youth group at her church, so we saw one another more frequently, and we shared a friend, Tricia. So, there were numerous hanging out opportunities (and chances to talk about Ben).

Ninth grade came, and Angela came to my school. We were in class together and maintained our friendship. We then shared another friend, Allison. We still went to church camp every summer and hung out. She home-schooled after that, but we still saw one another at church functions and sporting events. We talked on the phone from time to time, and I went swimming at her house several times. It was a typical high school friendship.

Then at the end of high school, she moved far away to Washington D.C. and started the adventure of life on her own. We lost touch. And then, about three years ago, our friend, Allison, told me Angela had a blog. I had a blog too, and so we caught up.

Angela is (and always has been) a very encouraging person. She was not a fan of strife in relationships. I can't remember ever getting into a fight with her. She's a peacemaker--and now this plays out in her professional life as a photojournalist. She is giving a voice to the voiceless through her photographs. It's incredible the many places she's gone and the things she's experienced. I am so honored to know her, and I was even more honored to attend her wedding to Craig (not Ben! :). Check out her blog if you want to be inspired to love people because that's what will happen!

Of course, Angela and Tricia introduced me to Allison. Allison is funny. Very funny. But she doesn't mean to be. That's what is so great about her! Alli and I became very good friends very quickly. We both shared a heart to know God. Our times at church camp together were so very special and holy. Alli was one of the few people in high school who spurred me on to love and good deeds. She was a constant source of encouragement and friendship. She was very good at accepting me, warts and all. I have so many wonderful memories from high school with Alli.

One of my favorite memories is riding around in her purple convertible singing Fleetwood Mac tribute songs at the top of our lungs. We studied God's word together, we watched a lot of "Dawson's Creek" together, and we spent entirely too much time arguing about how I didn't wear enough makeup and why Alli would only eat Snackwell's cookies instead of Oreos. I wore her down on the Oreos eventually.

We lost touch briefly after college, but we soon reconnected. I am so glad I know Allison. I'm also so proud of her as a wife and mommy. I was so glad we got to spend an entire evening hanging out before the wedding. It was so good to be with her again. She married a funny man, and she has an adorable, wide-awake daughter. I'm so proud to call her my friend.

I had to put a pic of Lucy in here. She was such a good little traveler. She rolled with the punches, slept when she could, and had an overall sunny disposition. But then again, that's my girl. Isn't she pretty in her party gown?

Joanna. Sweet Joanna. I met Joanna through my friend, Carrie, who just said, "You have got to look at her blog. Her pictures are awesome, and she's a believer!" That's what I did. I went to her blog, began commenting on her thoughtful and beautiful posts. I can recall many days when I would read one of her posts, and it would edify me to no end!

We began messaging back and forth, and I knew she was a kindred spirit, a bosom buddy, a soul sister, whatever you want to call it. I so wanted to go to Angela's wedding, and what an added perk when I found out that she had asked Joanna to be her photographer (they met through my blog)! We were going to meet!

It was arranged. We talked on the phone for the first time, and even though I was at a baby shower, I was so excited to talk to her, that I hated to get off the phone. One night, we chatted on the phone for a couple of hours. It was awesome. It was like we had known one another forever. And it felt so special, because I know how she hates talking on the phone (ahem...I LOVE to talk on the phone).

When the time came for me to finally meet her, I got nervous. I had wondered if she would like me as much in person as she did through the blog or on the phone. I worried it wouldn't be the same. And it wasn't. It was better.

We hugged instantly, and it was like two sisters who hadn't seen one another in a long time. She had warned me that she might be kind of funky because her mind was on the wedding. She was delightful. I totally and completely loved her even more.

She sweetly carved out time to hang out with me the morning of the wedding. We had breakfast in the hotel restaurant and chatted about our families, our lives, and God. She photographed Lucy and me for a little while in the hotel lobby (pics--and a humbling and incredibly kind post about me--can be seen on her blog). She set me so at ease in front of the camera. I have NEVER liked pictures taken of my profile, but the one she took is so good! She says I'm photogenic, and I say she's an amazing photographer!

It was such a gift to be able to meet Joanna. I do hope we don't have to wait until eternity to meet again. And, it's nice to be able to say that I've finally met an internet friend (and I'm still alive).

Joanna was not the only internet friend I had the pleasure of meeting while I was on my trip. I also got to meet Katie. Katie and I met through xanga (though I'm not sure I remember how). As I read her blog, I realized we were cut from the same cloth. Here are the things we have in common:

We were both English teachers.
We both have stair-step children (though she has four and I have three--for now).
We both had our kids in this order: boy, girl, girl (and then she has another boy--which I'm hoping for us!)
Our third child is a girl and they share the name Lucy along with lots of hair and a sunny disposition.
We're both anal.
We are both opinionated.
We're both a little clumsy (sorry Katie, but it is true).

I know the list could be longer. Katie lives outside of Baltimore. When I booked my flight, I realized I had a layover in Baltimore on my way home. So, I gave her a call, and we set up a meeting at the Baltimore airport. She had to cancel because her son was scheduled to be baptized that Sunday. I was so sad, but I couldn't really expect her to miss that to meet me!!! :)

Then, due to the heavy rain, they had to reschedule his baptism (they baptize in a creek) for another week. I was thrilled! So, when we met, it too was like old friends coming back together. We had a nice chat at Starbucks for a couple of hours. We talked about books, schooling, our kids. It wasn't awkward or weird (at least for me!). It was wonderful to meet Katie and see her face to face. She's everything I knew she would be, and I hope we get to meet again.

Friends are a gift from God. I have a brother, but no sisters. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful friends who are like sisters to me. Our Father knows what we need, and I'm grateful for the many women He has supplied me with in my journey.

Hebrews 10:24, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Thank you, friends, for a lovely weekend I will never forget.

Thoughts

Time for a list.

1. This past year has gone by so quickly (minus that whole being pregnant thing). It has been an important year for me. I faced several challenges, and I believe I grew in them. I'm so thankful for the faithfulness of a Father who teaches me so diligently and patiently.

2. Lucy is truly a bundle of joy. There's something very unique and special about her disposition. I anticipate seeing how God uses her to bring life and wholeness to others.

3. Sam is starting to grasp little bits of what it means to know God. Little bits. I continue to pray for more fruitful conversations with him. His little heart is so beautiful.

4. Maryn has increased the volume of her screams--especially in the last few weeks. I think the lack of order in the house (due to the move--boxes, etc) are coming out as frustrations. I'm discovering that she needs to have constructive control over certain things. I'm thinking of some ways to give her things to be in charge of--feeding the dog is one of them. Will take other suggestions. :)

5. My life is too hectic right now. Too much to do. Too many places to go. I'm looking forward to the country life.

6. Sweet Lucy has been a bit of a poor sleeper the last few nights. She's teething (though they haven't broken through yet--just swollen on the top) for her top teeth. Night before last, I got up SIX times with her. Last night, I didn't even count, but I know I got roughly 4.5 hours of broken sleep. I'm sleepy this morning, but I already feel God's grace on me. Thank you, Lord.

7. I'm getting as much packed as possible today. We also have to pack for our summer "retreat". We leave Thursday afternoon and come back Sunday after lunch. We close here on Monday, moving van loads us up on Tuesday, we drive to Arkansas on Tuesday night, and close on our house there Wednesday morning. Yes, all in three days. CRAZY.

8. It's 9am, and I haven't eaten or had my coffee. BUT, I did get important stuff in the mail, give Lucy a bath (she was all sticky from the dose of Tylenol she spit out in the middle of the night), and washed a load of clothes (containing sticky sheets and blankie).

With that, I close.

Randomosity

Not sure if that's a word, but who cares, anyway? I can only have so many posts titled "Random".

I bought two pairs of eyeglasses (aka spectacles) at http://www.zennioptical.com/. One pair was $8 and the other pair was $9. Shipping is a flat fee of $5 no matter how many pairs you buy. That's a grand total of $23 plus tax. It took about 3 weeks or so to get the glasses. They are good quality. They are actually better than the cheap $90 glasses I bought at Wal-Mart 8 years ago. This is their price for frames AND lenses. I'm not joking. There is no middle-man, no advertising, and they come straight from the factory. They are not name-brand unless you consider their name, "Zenni", a brand. I'm very pleased with my glasses. When you order, it helps to have an old pair of glasses around so you can measure the dimensions you want for fit. You also have to obtain your prescription from your eye doctor including the pupillary distance (not normally on the prescription, but they can measure you for it). By law, they are always required to provide this prescription, and pupillary distance is a part of it. Your doctor shouldn't charge you for this. I highly recommend Zenni Optical. And I'm not being paid to say this, I am just satisfied with their customer service. They've become popular because of satisfied customers. I hope you'll give them a chance. I haven't taken pictures of myself with them on, but rest assured, they look rockin'. I'll have Dave photograph me soon in my spectacles.

I did finish the three skirts I was making. I'm quite happy with them, and they are serving me well to keep me cool this summer. It was 94 yesterday with a whole lotta humidity. I have plans to make more once we get settled in our new house. Oh, and they cost about $8-$9 each to make. I could make them even cheaper if I went thrifting for fabric (or used some free fabric I already have!).

Emerald Green Seersucker (my favorite one--love this fabric--it flows well and is very breathable and SO comfortable)

Brown Linen (reminds me of some skirts my roommate, Meggie, made in college)

Lightweight Cotton Print (love the antique look here)

In other news, Samuel got a haircut. I think it had been 8 or 9 months.

Before:

After:

He's adorable either way. We're partial to the longer style, but it is summer and as I mentioned before, IT IS HOT.

Packing and moving is going fine. I'm okay with it. Not too overwhelmed with the packing--mostly just the goodbyes.

And, Maryn is feeling lots better. She's more herself. I'm so thankful.

And, here's a video of my sweet Lucy. She LOVES to kick more than anything else. Sorry it's sideways. I always forget that.

Update

Sorry I've been MIA lately. I've got SO much going on. My head is spinning from so much activity. So, here's what we've been up to:

• We went to Arkansas to celebrate Maryn's birthday with our families. None of my pictures are visually pleasing enough to show you. It was way too dark at the pizza place.


• We got to see our friends from med school, Jake and Melissa and their three kids. It was so good to hang out with them.
  

Our kids together (the only picture where you can actually see all their faces).

Amanda and Melissa

Dave and Jake

• We counter-offered these same people on the house. They really want it. After a couple of times back and forth, we've reached middle ground. We have a contract! I refuse to get excited until the appraisal is completed. Inspection went well so far as I could tell. We will get everything in writing as to what they want repaired.
• We will close on the house before we move to Arkansas. It will be nice not to have any loose ends here in Oklahoma. I'm packing again since I'm not showing the house. It's going quickly. I've been told to hire people to do this. I'm at home a lot, and I actually enjoy packing. It's not been that big of a deal. In fact, I leisurely packed 13 boxes today (of various sizes). We have more furniture than we had before, but we really don't have that much more stuff. (sigh of relief)
• Yesterday was Senior Day. We were out all day in meetings talking about our soon transition out of residency. It was a very helpful and productive day. I realized how many people I need to set aside time for to say good-bye. Graduation is in 23 days!
• I've had four friends give birth in the last three weeks. Insane. I've gotten to visit lots of babies...still one I need to visit (can't wait!!!).
• We had to get the speed sensor replaced on our transmission. Very tricky with one car... Thankfully we have good friends to transport us.
• Have a cold or something. Not bad, just annoying.

That's about it. If you think of me, say a prayer that I will be patient and productive. MWAH!

Real Estate and the Rapture

I had an epiphany sometime last week.

Keeping your house clean when you're trying to sell it is an awful lot like being ready for Jesus to come back! It could happen at any moment, and you want to be prepared!

My house is staying clean. I'm not sure how I got to this point, but I'm here, and I'm thankful. I'm doing a load of laundry every day. I make sure the house is ready to show before I go anywhere (this only happens about once a day). I keep clutter away. I make the kids put their toys back quickly. I'm into a rhythm, and it's nice. I hope this industrious spirit follows me back to Arkansas. :)

We received an offer yesterday on our house. But, it was totally insulting. They offered $6500 less than our asking price and also asked the following:

• Pay their $5000 in closing costs (For realz?--our closing costs in AR on a more expensive house are only $3500!!!!--comparable real estate market too!!!)
• Pay to repaint the exterior of the house in a color of their liking (Sorry, charlie. That's a couple thousand bucks.)
• Pay 1 point of their interest rate (hello!!!!! interest rates are at an all-time LOW!!!)
• Buy a home warranty (we're not completely opposed to this)
• $1000 home repair addendum (this is pretty standard)

We rejected the offer without even countering. They submitted a new offer later in the afternoon, but the only thing they changed was the purchase price. It was still not enough to compensate for their closing costs. We can't tack their closing costs onto the sale price without either chancing that the house won't appraise at that amount or without us being upside down on the loan. We said, "No way, Jose!" It felt good, too. Our house is still getting a lot of attention and showings, and it has only been on the market for 1.5 wks. We're not desperate.

After some discussion, I believe they are out of their price range if they need THAT much assistance on our house. So, anyway, that was crazy, but we're hopeful that the real buyer will come along soon.

Lucykins is 6 months old. Where has the time gone? She's my lightweight baby. Her weight is in the 15% but her head and length are both 50%. She's looking great though. She has rolls, and that's good!!! Maryn is 50% for everything. Nice to know. I need to take some pictures...

My parents are coming over today to play with Sam and Maryn and take Maryn to Build-A-Bear for her birthday. That was their gift to the grandkids this year for their birthdays. I think it's really cute. Maryn most definitely will choose a princess bear...it'd be fun if she surprised us!

Well, wish I had more interesting things to talk about, but I don't. :) Have a blessed day!