Monday, October 27, 2008

Little Miss Wiggly Tooth Girl

It finally happened. Coming home on Friday evening, Jenna commented her tooth was bothering her. As all mothers do, I thought, "ughhh, please not a cavity!" She then felt around her tooth and announced with glee, "I have a loose tooth!". Well, I was skeptical, having heard this announcement many times before. So, I told her that she would have to wait till we were home and I would check. Of course, she was ready before I had even put my keys and purse away. She waited, mouth in checking position with her lower teeth jutted out. I touched and yes, actually wiggled her little loose tooth. Granted it is at least a month or two from coming out, but it did move, even wiggled. I told her this good news and watched her skip off (remember Jenna does not walk anywhere) and tell her sisters the GREAT news! They were excited and everyone had to have their turn watching and yes, even wiggling the tooth. After all, we have been waiting for this day to come as both her big sisters got wiggly teeth at four and lost teeth early in their fifth years. Jenna is getting close to six. The ladies set about getting ready for bed. Their dad was not home when they tucked in for the night. When he eventually came home about forty-five minutes later, out pops Jenna from her room to show her Dad what great thing has happened. She was proud as ever when he confirmed the diagnosis. She ran (not walked) back to bed. Then a few minutes later she found an excuse to get up from her bed (you know that ritual "drink of water"). As she strutted (can't just walk) through the family room, she commented, "Dad, you know, it's okay if you call me "Little Miss Wiggly Tooth Girl"
Do you think she might be excited?

(Photo compliments of big sis, Manda)

Thursday, October 23, 2008

This is new for me...

Ok. Well, in a nutshell I am stepping out in a new way, attempting a form of accountability as well as documenting the struggle I have had in my health. I know I am not alone in this. I have struggled throughout my life with the agony of weight. I have been overweight, obese, and morbidly obese. I have gone through phases of being obese, losing it, gaining it back more than double, losing most of it and then beginning the gradual climb back to what I consider to be "Never Again Land". I know this is a journey for me, not a "whew, I made it" deal. I have found this to be as much a behavioral issue as a spiritual one. I don't want to hide the realness of "it" for me. I believe whether our struggle is food, money, gossip, lust or whatever ill it may be, we can share our journey, encourage one another, gain accountability and change. That is what I intend to do. I am starting an invite only blog. I want to invite those who have shared this struggle or any other habit, hang-up or hurt that has led them to a path of destruction, whether large or small. If you want to be a reader, commenter, or follower of this new blog, please let me know and I will extend you an invitation. Even if I have no one join me, I will be doing this to document for myself the process and progression of deepen my relationship with Jesus and understanding how to have victory over destructive habits.

You can tell me in your comments or email me that you would like to join.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Collections

Collections. I really don't have a collection (unless you count dust bunnies and cobwebs that miss my eyes). Oh, I also, occasionally and unwillingly, collect dirty laundry. Sometimes too, I collect piles of folded clean clothes that need to be put away (albeit that rarely lasts for more than a day). Then there is also the collections of piles and piles of papers that seem to accumulate on my desk throughout the week. Papers from the kids school lessons, papers from work, papers for the home, etc.
But the collection I was beginning to write about were the collections of items left behind in the home by the rest of the family. Let's start with cups. Cups. and more cups. On nightstands. On end tables. On the desk. On the kitchen table. Sometimes on the counter. Nearly all contained water at one time or another. Now, they stand, posed and empty. They are collected by me or Scott and carried to the sink. Loaded in the dishwasher. Put away. Only to return to there poses a day or two later. Can I tell you a SHOCKER related to cups? Unbeknown to Scott and I, Amanda had successfully collected 17, yes SEVENTEEN, cups in her room! 17! How in the world!!! I had been throwing away some of our plastic "kid" cups and had thought that was why we didn't seem to have any left. Um. No. They were in her room! Unbelievable!
I also seem to collect with frequency hair barrettes, pony tail holders and clips for the girls hair. If I sweep, there are some on the floor. If I vacuum, there they are again. What is funny is that the girls don't wear them much. So how do they make their way to the floor? That is easy. Barbies. Barbie is always in need of a new do that gets left behind more often than not. So when I am done sweeping and vacuuming, I have a pocketful of hair do dads that need to find their way back to their home in the bathroom.
Somehow, I also collect pennies. How do pennies make their way consistently to the bottom of the washing machine? Is it me? or Scott? or the kids? I have yet to figure this one out but none the less, there they are in the washer.
So, what collections do you have? Am I alone in this world with my collections?

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Frozen Fun

Winter temperatures came the day we planned to be outside. We headed to the pumpkin patch wearing our winter coats and gloves. We met our home school group there (yes, we weren't the only crazy souls there). It was cold. Really cold. But we still had fun.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Let's talk birthdays

Hannah is now 8. Wow. The days go fast. I love that child. A lot. She is sensitive, caring, kind, quiet, introverted, strong willed, hard working and a complete joy. My little Miss Boo is not so little anymore. Hannah loves books. A lot. She is an avid reader. She enjoys imaginative play. I will often see her in her own world, taking on a character (like a mom or princess) and playing it without any reservation, completely absorbed. She is completely what she is imagining. Now, often this is something her older sister finds quite embarrassing. "Mom, make her stop." she will say as Hannah plays the "Mom Game" as they call it in the store. We have had to set up guide lines as to when this sort of play is appropriate. I look at her though, and hope that her free spirit, not controlled by the opinions of others will continue throughout her life. She is her own person. From her style of dress to the way she faces situations with either determination or tears. I love Hannah. I pray for her heart to be always connected to Jesus. She loves him already. I pray it is always that way.

Now that I have paid tribute to my precious child, I want to talk birthdays. Now Hannah had for herself this year several celebrations of her birthday. Let's chronicle her birthday. It all began 12 months ago. The day after her last birthday. She began earnest discussion about what her next birthday would be. How she would party. Who she would invite. Where the festivities would be. And so on. Then the year continued on with ongoing reminders to me that her birthday was coming. That she wanted a party. That she wanted so and so to come. Etc. Well, as a mom, I don't know about you but I listen enough to take note of her interests so I can understand what she really enjoys, but I pretty much tune out the rest. I mean at this point the party would be about 10 months away!

So, the summer comes. I begin thinking about the party situation a little bit more as the time is getting closer. Then comes the real decision time. Do we or don't we party. Well, in our home we have started having friend parties about every other year. Other than that we have a family get together every year for each child (and adult for that matter).
Now, here is what I am wondering about. Yes, I decide on a party for her. Then we have Grandma and Grandpa who want to take her out to eat with the immediate family (presents, singing, like a party). Then Scott and I plan a special immediate family pancake breakfast party for Hannah on her birthday morning. Then we have our family get together at our house with all our extended family present (with presents of course) on the weekend after her birthday. And lastly we have the kid party (this was a couple weeks after her birthday as we did a combo party with her friend who also turned 8 in September). Whew. Her birthday is in the mid part of the month. It seemed her birthday lived for a long time as we got through all these parties. Now, can I ask? How many parties does a child need? What am I creating here by having so much attention given to a child for a birthday? Now, don't get me wrong. I love honoring her. Birthdays are about my favorite. I just wonder, is it too much? What do you think? I would love a conversation about birthdays. How much is too much? Can a child survive without so much? What do you think?
As you consider your opinions and comments about this, please enjoy a pictorial chronicle of Hannah's birthday celebrations:


Dinner at TGIF with Grandma and Grandpa


The family party. Hannah received a new Webkinz dolphin. Ethan (my wonderful nephew) loves Hannah's new boots.

Our family pancake breakfast party. Daddy took the early part of his work day off to be home with his birthday girl.

Tea party fun!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

I finally heard!

Well, I finally heard after harassing the medical professionals. I was told that the last radiologist had delayed in faxing a report to my surgeon's office. WHATEVER!!! (oops, did I say that out loud?)

So, this is what the news is:

The MRI, mammogram, ultrasound has shown I have "3 lesions" that are a "category 3". Yeah, I don't know exactly what that means either. However, all the radiologists (three of them) who have reviewed the exams believe these are benign. I am glad about that, for sure! So, I will have another physical exam at the end of October to check for any changes. I will repeat my radiological tests in February to see if there are any changes. Whew, I am glad to have heard something.

Thank you for praying for me. It has been a blessing. I am nothing without Jesus.