Happy Mother's Day

Our church had a Mother's Day banquet and it was really, really nice.  It was great to see the JoyDome filled with women of all ages.  Some new moms, some expectant moms, moms who had been around awhile, grandmothers and even some who weren't moms but just wanted to celebrate being a woman.

We had a great speaker and good food.  And we got to have our pictures taken.  It isn't normally something I like to do.  I don't know why.  But, I was really glad we were all able to go and spend some time together . . . 

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

One of the really great things about living in a college town is being able to watch some great college sports, live, every once in awhile.  Our baseball team made it to the regionals on the road to the College World Series.  It happened to be played in town.

I got a wild idea to go.  In fact, the whole family went including grandma and Sissy.  It was beautiful night.  One of the really great things for the kids was Jameis Winston, the Heisman Trophy, winner plays on the team.  And before the game he spent at least 10 minutes signing the kids balls.  (The two pictures in the middle.)  So we have two in the house now!

Also, Boop left our seats in the bleachers to hang out with the kids under the seats to catch foul balls.  And he caught one!  I am pretty sure that was icing on the cake for him.

Unfortunately we lost two games and didn't advance to the CWS.  But, we had a great time at the game anyway . . . 

The Move

Almost two weeks ago, on a Thursday night, after ballet, all of us jumped in the car and headed to Grandma's house.  For the last time.  The really great house that she was living in was sold and she needed to move.  So, she thought it was a great time to move to where we live.

We packed her up on Friday, drove 5 hours and moved her into a great little apartment on Saturday.  The house she was living in was beautiful and big.  So, it has been a little bit of an adjustment trying to figure out where everything goes in her cute new apartment.

Since she has been here she has been able to hear Nature Girl sing on Wednesday and be there when they left for the bike trip.  Saturday, after we finished our stuff at home, we were able to go to her house and help her move some things around.  And last night we all celebrated her birthday!

I know she loves being able to be a part of what is going on in each of our families. . . .

Christmas, Finally!

We had a wonderful Christmas.  I feel it was laid back and full of family and food.  Little by little each year we are trying to do away with the trappings of the holidays.  Really trying to focus on the birth of Christ and all that it means for us as we celebrate.

Hubby had to work Christmas Day so we had our big meal with all the family at about 3 o'clock on Christmas Eve.  It was buffet style because we just can't fit everyone around a table anymore.  What a great problem to have!!  We ate early enough so the dishes were done and the kitchen cleaned so when we got home from church we could just relax and eat dessert.

Our church has a very simple service.  We sing hymns and families place ornaments on a Chrismon Tree.  So we participated in that.

We came home, built a fire, ate dessert, opened some presents (the traditional PJs, popcorn, hot chocolate and new movie).  And just hung out and visited and eventually turned on A Christmas Story.

The kids had a tough time sleeping.  Of course.  Hubby had to be in bed early so Sissy and I hung out on the couch waiting to be Santa's elves.  I think we were asleep by 1ish.  And morning came early.  Hubby was able to get home by 7:30AM in order to open presents.  And the kids had a blast.  It went by so quick though.

All the family was over and we hung out and played games and watched movies and ate when hubby got home around 5.  All in all, it was a successful Christmas Day.  Although, have I mentioned how fast it went by. . . .

Memory Lane

It will be 5 years ago tomorrow that EG joined our family.  My 40th year was awesome!  In January, I went to New York City with my mom and sister.  About 6 weeks later I found out I was pregnant and in November my fourth baby, third baby girl was born.

I remember a day or two before I found out I was pregnant.  We had friends over and were sitting around eating pizza out by the firepit (it was February.)  I had horrible indigestion.  Pains in my tummy that were unreal.  I still, to this day, think it was because I was pregnant.

Anyway, a couple of days later, I called my sister to bring me a pregnancy test.  She hung around to find out the results but opted to leave when it came time for me to tell hubby.  He loves his kids but he felt our quiver was full.  And this was a little unexpected!  And to make matters more interesting, my due date was at the same time hubby took his annual hunting trip.

When I shared my joy with him, all went well.  We were scared but excited.  I was old so there were a few more health concerns but other than that it was a normal pregnancy.  We decided this time around we did not want to know gender.  And that part was really exciting!

November 14th, five years ago was a dreary, cold day.  But, it was the day!  I had been stressing all week because the 15th was my due date and hubby was leaving the following Thursday for his trip.  I called hubby home from work, arranged childcare and off to the hospital we went.  I was riding in his 4x4 pick up truck.  Not a comfortable ride, whatsoever, for a woman in labor.  And, to top it off, we had to get gas.  We had left the van at home because my family was going to follow us if they decided to keep me.

My fourth pregnancy and delivery was by the book.  Everything happened just as they always talked about.  (None of the others really had for various reasons.)  I was definitely in labor.  My room was like a revolving door.  The kids and my mom and mother-in-law and my sister coming in and out.  My water had broken so some of my labor was pretty hard.  But, given past experience, I had a ways to go.

Poor Boop was in the room with my mother-in-law when I finally asked hubby to have them leave.  The nurse had gone to get me an epidural.  I had previously decided I didn't want an epidural but caved in the end.  But, while she was gone, baby girl number 3 decided to come and the pressure and the overwhelming feeling to push was crazy.  For about 4 minutes, I was certain hubby was going to deliver the baby because there was no one else in the room!

Eventually the nurse came back, the midwife and my mom and sister.  I ended up pushing for about 45 minutes.  I was tired and in pain and a little bit frantic.  I finally was in the zone and a few minutes later baby was born.  I still to this day remember my reaction to having another girl.  At first I was shocked.  I was soooo convinced she was a he.  Shocked turned to love at first sight and we have been inseparable every since.

The girls were happy it was a girl.  Boop cried but soon got over it.  She was healthy and we loved her.

That first year was rough.  I did things with her, for her I did not do with the other kids.  I slept in the same room with her.  (Poor Boop had to sleep on the floor in the girls room for a long, long time.)  She slept in the bed with me.  We slept in chairs together knowing I would get to sleep from 12-5.  I knew she was the last and I just needed sleep.

Because the kids were pretty active in ballet and tumbling, we were always on the go.  But, she was a good baby.  We would all go the grocery store and doctors appointments.  Of course, the big kids were fabulous which made it easier.  I wore her in a Peanut.  I remember almost every night after dinner walking around the house so she would get her 20 minute cat nap.  Just enough so she would be happy while I took care of the other three.  At 7 1/2, 5 1/2 and 3, they were pretty independent but I still did a lot for them.  That changed pretty quick!

EG is sunshine and love and life and joy and giggles beyond measure.  She is tough and strong and determined and sassy.  She has kept us on our toes in more ways then one.  (She has been to the ER and urgent care more times than all the other 3 put together.)  She has kept us young and given us gray hair all at the same time.  She calls me her "snuggle bunny" and loves to hug and be near me.  Day and night.

She has helped to teach me what is really important in life.  And it is her, daddy and all the other children that make our family complete.

Happy, happy birthday to my special baby girl . . .

Weekend at Grandma's

Again no pictures.  I forgot my camera.  Nature Girl didn't take pictures and Little Mama took pictures but dropped her camera, on accident, in the water at the beach.  So, a written commentary is all I have.  Bummer.

Anyway, we left Thursday after daddy got off of work.  We had decided that the drive down on a Friday morning and then turning around Sunday morning to come home was just not enough time to really enjoy being at Grandma's.

So, we got to her house Thursday night around 11PM.  After driving through the most horrendous storm I can ever remember driving through.  Daddy had been up since about 4AM so about 9 PM he had me drive.  And right as we hit the causeway about 1/2 hour from my mom's the bottom fell out.  The wind was blowing so hard that the rain was coming down side ways.  Branches were flying in front of the windshield and I was driving with my hazards on.

We called my mom and when she called us back with the weather update there was an advisory to stay off the bridges.  Well, that was too late.  We were half way across the causeway with no way to turn back.  On a good day, you can see the beautiful water on both sides.  Thursday night the only thing I could see was the little reflector lights about two feet in front of the car. I  was so thankful to be off the causeway in one piece.

The plan had been to swim at Grandma's for a little bit when we got there.  But, we were pretty late getting in and by the time we got settle it was probably close to 1AM.  Way past my bedtime!

We were up bright and early the next day to go to the beach and look for shells.  Unfortunately, Little Mama became sick, so she and I had to stay home and rest on the couch.  But, by lunch time, though, she was ready to go.  Strangest thing but oh well.  I was just glad she felt better.  She LOVES to swim at Grandma's.

We spent the rest of the day lounging around the pool.  And my mom had some friends over for dinner.  My mom's friends granddaughter is just a couple months younger than EG.  Every time we visit the little girls get together for a play date.  This time they spent the whole time swimming!

Saturday we went back to the beach in the AM so Little Mama could hunt for shells.  We walked for about an hour.  It was sunny, breezy and beautiful.  We did a little shopping after that.  There are some stores in the area that we just don't have where we live.  Mostly stores that hubby likes, pertaining to his hobbies.  One shop was a woodworking store and they were doing a demonstration.  Boop was able to participate.  He made a fabulous pen out of a block of wood.  He shaped it, sanded it and stained it.  Then put it all together.  It was really cool!

Next was swimming back at Grandma's and just waiting for her to get home from work.  We had pizza for dinner and walked the beach at sunset.  Then off to ice cream on the Inter coastal.  The kids were wore out from swimming and shell hunting so we popped in a movie and just relaxed for the night.

Sunday was up, pack and head back home.  We had a nice, mostly uneventful, relaxing time.  It always seems to go by so fast. . .

Ballet Recital - Part 2

About a month ago the girls' ballet studio had, what they called, an informal showing.  If you were a dancer and you wanted to pick a song and choreography a dance and then perform it in front of your fellow dancers and their families and your family, you could.

Both my girls decided to participate.  Each of them with a friend.  (They did fabulous by the way!)  At the end of each dance, the director of the studio opened it up for comments and encouragements etc.  It was such a wonderful time for the dancers.  They got to showcase their talents, not just in dancing but also in choreography etc.  And then be encouraged by other dancers and teachers and parents.

There were many times during that night that I wanted to say how much it means to me, and I would guess all mothers of daughters who dance, what an honor and privilege and a blessing it is to watch a daughter dance.

As I watched my girls dance again, this past Saturday, my heart just swelled with love for them and the gifts they have.  They enjoy it and they are good at it.  And it always goes by way too fast!

Love, love, love to watch my baby girls, all my baby girls, dance . . . 

Mother's Day

Thirteen years ago this weekend, I sat in my mom's church attending the Mother's Day service.  And I was in tears.  With a heavy, heavy heart.  I remember thinking, as I saw the mothers being recognized with their families, that I would never have the joy of being a parent, being a mom, having a baby.  The thoughts at that moment in time were devastating.

The Friday before Mother's Day, I had traveled down to visit my mom and to go to an appointment with a woman's specialist.  My hubby and I had been trying to become pregnant for over a year.  The specialist told me and my mom, after I gave him my symptoms, that in order for me to have a baby I would have to harvest, my then 14 year old sister's eggs and blah, blah, blah.  I knew right then and there, that wasn't going to happen.

My husband and I wanted children, but we also knew that we would never go to extremes to have them.  For many different reasons.  Needless to say I was devastated.  And on that Mother's Day morning I was so sad, thinking about my childless future.

The following week or so, the specialist's office called and said that my blood work had been normal.  But, by then, the damage had been done.  I stopped taking fake hormones or whatever they doctor likes to put woman on to help them get pregnant and I just called my pastor and asked him to pray for us.  We really had no choice but to carry on life as normal.

We had hobbies and friends and jobs.  We started thinking about things we would do, not having children.  I honestly don't remember being super depressed.  I am sure I was.  But, I just don't remember it.  Probably because about 3 months later, I found out I was pregnant!

We joke to this day, that we were just about ready to buy the old-man-down-the-streets fishing boat when I found out I was pregnant.  We were stunned to say the least.  I remember waking hubby up and trying to explain what was happening (at the time he was working night shift.)  I remember calling the doc's office and desperately wanting to come in and have them verify it.  Which they graciously did.

I remember people saying "that specialist had no idea what he was taking about."  And that may be true.  But, I know that my babies are a gift straight from God.  And His timing and His plan, on looking back, had a purpose for me and my husband.  Oddly enough, we never had a problem after that.  Ha, ha!

As I get older and my childbearing years are drawing to a close and as I celebrate, yet another wonderful Mother's Day, I cannot be thankful and grateful enough to the Creator of all things, to have blessed me so richly.

There is no greater joy that I have had and will continue to have, then being a wife and a mother to my precious family that God has so graciously given me . . .

Easter Part Two

One of the cool things about Easter this year was the fact that we did not have to buy Easter outfits!  I know that sounds crazy but I was soooo excited not to have to worry about what the kids were going to wear.  Because the big girls were in the program, they wore their costumes and Boop wore a pair of khakis and a shirt and EG wore her flower girl dress from the wedding she was in in September.  And everyone looked lovely!

No pictures though.

We had the Lord Supper and a breakfast at church and then the second performance of our Easter Drama.  After church my mom, brother, sister, her boyfriend and all of us had our annual Easter basket and egg hunt. Always so much fun.

Me, my mom, my brother and sister.

Every year for Easter we have the same thing.  Ham, hashbrown casserole, asparagus and rolls.  This year I changed it up by doing the PW Green Bean Casserole.  It is a new family favorite for the holidays I think.  It was really, really good and easy enough to make.

I think we all had a really nice, relaxing day . . . 

Grandma's Surgery

So, Grandma had surgery yesterday.  And everything went pretty well all things considered.  She is taking it easy today and should be even better by tomorrow.

The kids were with me the entire time.  And now I am going to take a minute to brag on them.

It worked out that we could actually fit Grandma in the back of my van if we took out a seat and the three bigger kids sat in the way back seat.  (We had practiced on Monday taking Grandma to Hobby Lobby.)

So, on Wednesday we took Grandma to her pre-op appointment.  The kids all had either a book or flashcards or a math sheet.  Something to do while we waited.  All the nurses said how cute and how well behaved they were.  One nurse asked if we homeschooled and I said yes.  She said she could tell.  I am not entirely sure what she meant but because I felt they were so well behaved I took it as a compliment. ;)

During the pre-op appointment they had a fire drill.  While the security guard was making his rounds, he kind of jokingly asked them if they shouldn't be in school.  We all just smiled and laughed. ;)

Then yesterday, surgery day, in the pouring rain, we all took Grandma to the surgery center and sat with her in pre-op for over an hour.  The nurses and the anesthesiologist came in.  The kids sat quietly while all the questions were asked and answered.  They stayed out of the way and didn't talk while the others were talking.

Sissy came to relieve us and we ran home to have lunch and clean up Grandma's room.  I wanted to go back to talk with the nurses and doctors after surgery and Little Mama wanted to be there when Grandma was done.  So, after all our chores were done at home, we went back to wait.  Again, the kids brought a few things to keep them entertained.  The waiting room nurse was very kind to them and they chatted with her for a little bit.

When Grandma made it to post-op and I needed to get instructions from the nurse, they all stood quietly while I talked.  Well, by that time I had to hold EG but she did so well.  Sissy took her for a little spin around the area so I could concentrate on what the nurse was saying.

Never once did I have to worry about what they were doing.  They had spent the better part of the last two days at the surgery center and they were awesome!  And I am glad they could be there for their Grandma.  I know that it made it just a little bit easier for her being surrounded by her grandkids. . .

Additional Student

One of my little worries when Grandma came to recoup with us was the possibility of not getting our much needed school work done.  I had planned, numerous times over the summer, to officially start school way before traditional school.

Even though we were somewhat effective in doing just that, it really wasn't with the consistency that I had hoped for.  And that made me just a little bit concerned.  But, as I am learning (and just mentioned to a Meals on Wheels client the other day), in our home life is school.  And that is becoming more and more true.  My school day is going to look a little bit different than what I originally had thought.  At least for the next few weeks.

This week we were able to start back with a little consistency.  At least more consistency than in the prior weeks.  One of the coolest things, though, is that I have an extra pupil.  My mom is loving to "learn" right along with the kids!

Sometimes she is the recliner and listening to the stories I read the kids.  Sometimes we go into her room and read Science and our book club book.  Right now she is tucked away in her bed reading our Anatomy book all by herself.  And just this morning she had out our flying birds of the 5th day and was doing an experiment with LM.

She has a favorite book about John and Abigail Adams and when I told her I only read that book about once a week she was bummed.  But then she said "I guess I could read it on my own."  We were taking about early church history yesterday and I have offered her a book that we are reading on early church martyrs.

She is an extra hand with math so that is nice.  And she encourages the kids to sit still and pay attention.  (That is nice as well!)  She also lets them know how great they have it by being educated at home.

There is always something for me to do and I have been pretty busy with trying to do school, manage the house and take care of my mom.  But, one of the blessings is having another very interested and willing to learn student. . .

New Respect

I am not complaining.  And my mom has been great.  But, I have a new found respect for families who take care of a parent 24/7.

We have a plan here.  My mom is determined to do things on her own.  She loves us and loves it here but she does want to go back home at some point.  So, we know there will be an end.

Again, I am not complaining and I have it easy and my mom has been great.  But, I can not imagine having to care for someone, well except the kids, 24/7.  Get food, showers, going to the restroom etc. All those things we take for granted that we can do as adults.  To have to need help with most of it.  And to provide the help for some of it.

The kids are great.  The first two nights each girl stayed with my mom so if she had a problem in the middle of the night they could help.  Or come get me.  Last night she slept by herself but she had her phone and I had mine in my room so if she needed me all she had to do was call.  I know that sounds funny but it works.

Sometimes it is so loud in the house and there is so much going on that if my mom yells for me I can't hear.  So she calls me.  It works.  The kids help to bring food, water or help with clothes.  As I told a friend, we have been given an amazing opportunity to really show the love of Jesus to someone else.  We all have had to step up the serving of others a notch.  To all in the house.

We have a great patient so far.  So that helps!  I am not sure how long she will be here but I know we all have the same goal in mind.  To heal.  To get better.  And my mom is very determined.

But, it does give me great admiration and respect for all of those who are raising families and caring for a parent. . .

One of Those Weeks

This is a posterity post. Just because I have had a crazy week filled with so much stuff and I want it to be remembered for some purpose or other.  Maybe to appreciate those slow weeks.

Monday morning the local lake for our women's book club get together.  Monday afternoon Olympics and laundry.

Tuesday the girls started a mini ballet camp put on by a friend's 13 year old daughter.  Dropped the big girls off.  Took the little guys to the grocery store.  Picked the big girls up, ate lunch and headed to our harmony class and sign language class.  Had our friends for dinner because they still had no water.  The big girls went home with their friends for a sleepover and I kept the boys.

Wednesday morning laundry.  Picked the big girls up from ballet.  Ate lunch at Chick-fil-A and then I made an executive decision to skip church.

Thursday was dentist day for all and then big girls to ballet.  We went back at noon to watch their wonderful mini recital.  The afternoon was the removal of a cyst on my face (by a plastic surgeon so as not to leave a scar.)  Then our friends, who still did not have water, came for dinner.  Their big kids stayed with us for the night.  During dinner I got a call that my mom had fallen and broken her knee cap.

Friday - unexpected trip to Clearwater with my sister and kids to pick up Grandma and bring her home.

All day Saturday and Sunday morning at Grandma's getting her packed up to come stay with us.

Today is Monday and the kids were evaluated and they all passed!!  (Yay!!)

Grandma will be with us for the next couple of weeks so she can recuperate and heal.

Hoping this week is just a little less eventful. . .

Winter the Dolphin

This past weekend we went to visit Grandma.  It was time for a visit AND we wanted to see Winter the Dolphin from the movie Dolphin Tale.  For those who don't know, the movie was about a rescued dolphin whose tail needed to be amputated.  Then was replaced with a prosthesis.  We saw the movie last summer and it was fabulous.  One of my all time favorite movies!

Anyway, the movie was filmed on location very, very near to where my mom lives.  So, we thought it would be a great family treat to go see the actual dolphin at the Aquarium.  And visit the actual movie set.

It was hot and it was busy but it was so worth the trip!

The kids in front of the houseboat that Hazel and her dad lived on in the movie.

The nest where Hazel would hang out.  She was homeschooled in the movie so that was cool.

Boop has a thing for sharks and all kinds of swimming ocean creatures.  So, this whole trip was really cool for him.

They took the kids' picture in front of a green screen.  We never did find time to go look at the pictures to see what exactly was on the green screen.  It was fun trying to explain to them what a green screen was though.

There were a lot of tanks to look in and see various types of sea life.  The first one had sting rays, a couple nurse sharks and a few different types of fish.

They had touch tanks and on display they had all different types of coral and crabs etc.  

They had different areas with sea turtles and otters.  The Aquarium, inside, looked just like the movie.  Except with way more people!

Winter!  and her trainer/physical therapist.  She was in a tank all by herself and would come up on the shelf so people could see her.  While we were there she did not swim around much.

They gave about a 10 minute talk on the real Winter.  Her real story isn't like the movie.  She was found as a very young dolphin on the West Coast.  She was rescued, but not by a boy.  A prosthesis was made by a company that had heard about the dolphin.  It is true about her spine and the way she compensated for swimming etc.  Still a great story about a miracle dolphin!

Picture of Winter and her friend from under the water.

The Aquarium was not very fancy.  In fact, it looked like it was not ready at all for the popularity of Winter, that I am sure came on with out much notice.

There was a really funny bird in the movie named Rufus.  Little Mama took a picture of this bird at the Aquarium.  We were not sure whether or not this was the bird from the movie but it looked a lot like him.

Winter's face.  So sweet.  There were three other rescued dolphins at the Aquarium, Hope, Nicholas, and Panama.  Christa was in the movie and from the Aquarium, but she recovered so they released her back to her home.

Winter only wears her prosthesis about 5-10 minutes a day.  She has "physical therapy."  This is her trainer and the prosthesis.  Dolphins' skin is so delicate that it sheds quite often so as to keep it slick so the prosthesis can not stay on long.

Touch tank with sting rays.  

Nicholas doing tricks for us.

One of the neat things about our field trip is that it included the entrance fee to the place where they actually filmed some of the movie.  As we walked in they had all the directors chairs from the actors in the movie.  I thought that was cool.  The chair where Harry Connick Jr. sat and Ashley Judd.

The kids are in front of the garage scene where Sawyer fell asleep at the computer while researching dolphins.  It was filmed on that exact location.  I thought that was really cool.

The doctor's office/lab.

The indoor nest where some of the scenes were shot in front of a green screen.  There were at least a half dozen real scenes from the movie that we could see and various props such as Hazel's clothes and the chair and fishing pole that the old man was sitting in in the beginning of the movie.

One of the cool things they just added was a thing called The Hurricane Experience.  We walked into what looked like Sawyer's living room and it had sound effects, physical effects and scenes like we were in a real hurricane.  It wasn't for the faint of heart.  It had 20 mile an hour winds (which are really minor) and cracking noises of live electrical wires, things hanging from the ceiling like flying through the air, "wild animals" loose like snakes and alligators.  It was totally cool!

We had a really good weekend.  Walking on the beach and finding shells, swimming in Grandma's pool, visiting with friends and a little shopping.  A great weekend get away . . . .