First Sickness

So, Violet has been sick this week.  She started acting fussy and running a low fever last Monday, so we went to the doctor.  We were there three and a half hours.  We closed the place down!  She had a mild ear infection and because she's still so little the doctor ran a CBC.  That CBC set off alarms because her white blood cell count was high.  This led to Violet needing a blood culture and a urine culture.  

Ugh, ugh, ugh.

It was terrible.  

Violet met "The Pricker Lady"... that is, the woman who draws all the blood at the doctor's office.  Yes, my boys call her "The Pricker Lady" right to her face.  They've done it for years.  She swears she's been called worse.  She was so gentle with Violet.  Thankfully she was able to get what she needed with only one stick, despite the fact that Violet was a little dehydrated.  And the blood culture came back normal.  We still had to make two additional trips to the doctor for Rocephin shots.  She had three in all, and they turned her into one fussy baby.  This week has been a hard one for our baby girl.  :(

Thankfully, she seems to be feeling better today.  Less crying and more smiles, which is always a good thing.  We are all so glad she's feeling better and thankful that we all survived  Violet's First Sickness.  

Thankful

It hit me just the other day that at this time last year, The Hubs and I had decided that maybe we might possibly want another baby.  On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, in fact, I sat with my sister in the Kroger Starbucks and told her my dream.  Truthfully, I didn't think it would happen, at least not for awhile.  It took months and months to get pregnant with Jordan, and that was six years ago.  Even when Chris and I prayed together about the future of our family, I had my doubts.  That was at Thanksgiving.  I became pregnant in December. We found out in January.  And now, 10 short months later, we have an almost-3-month-old daughter.  

Yes, God is faithful.  He heard the desires of our hearts and made it happen.  And He was quick about it, too!

True to the holiday, I've been counting my blessings this week. Just like the song my Mamaw used to sing... "Count your blessings!  Name them one by one.  Count your many blessings, see what God has done..."

I am thankful for all of the usual things... my family, our health, our home, etc.  But I'm especially thankful for God's unending faithfulness to us.  He has provided for us in the most amazing ways over the past few months.  Several times over the past year, He has taken away and we were left asking, "why!" only to see His plan work out later.  When we've had a need, He's met it.  More than once, He has supernaturally given us what we've needed.  Even with Chris being out of work, we haven't wanted for anything or had to go without.  Only God can work this stuff out!  

Do we deserve it?  No.  But somehow He sees fit to keep on blessing us, and we are eternally grateful.  

And so, on this Thanksgiving, I am thankful most of all for my loving, faithful, Heavenly Father.  

Many Thanksgiving blessings to you all!

Mom's DAY Out

Yesterday was Mom's DAY Out.  My friends and I decided months ago that we absolutely had to not only see Breaking Dawn Part 2 on opening night, but also attend the Twlight Marathon.  Surprisingly, our husbands were all very supportive and made arrangements to take off work and stay home with the kids.  I think they were all just relieved that Twlight will be officially over once we've seen BD2.  Ha ha!  They don't realize that Twilight will never be over for us!

I was a little nervous about leaving Violet for the whole day.  We left at 10:00 a.m. and didn't get home until 1:00 a.m.  It was a long day of Twlight, and we had such a good time.  Chris was a pro at taking care of all three kids.  I can speak from experience and say that it isn't easy, especially if you're not used to it.  The house even looked the same as it did when I left it, which means that they all picked up after themselves.  As far as I know, the only thing that went wrong was the misplacing of Violet's pacifier.  It went missing for a few hours.  I sent Chris a text asking if he had looked for it in the car and received this reply:  "It was right here and now its gone, just gone.  I can't find it!!!!!"

Ha ha ha!  Luckily it was found a few hours later and everything else went smoothly.  

We were all so thankful that we were able to go to the marathon.  It was so fun so see all of the movies on the Big Screen one more time, and Breaking Dawn Part 2 was absolutely amazing.  My heart is still pounding from that surprise ending!

The only person missing is Jody.  We missed her so!  It just wasn't the same without her.  

Are we a little sad that it's all over?  Yes. But as we like to say, Twilight will never be over as long as we keep it in our hearts.  

Young Poet's Society

Yesterday was the day.  My kids had been fearing this day for the past 10 weeks and honestly, so had I.  

The dreaded poetry recital at co-op.  

I've always been terrified of public speaking.  I'm not good at it.  I'm so self-concious and I hate being the center of attention.  I think it all stems from way back in seventh grade when I gave some kind of oral report in Mrs. Jarrard's science class.  My zipper was unzipped the entire time.  Fun.  I took the required "communications" course in college.  My instructor said everyone in her class would learn to love public speaking.  Wrong.  Somehow I made an A, even though I froze up on my last speech and completely forgot what I was supposed to talk about.  

Back to my kids.  They're so funny.  They don't mind singing in front of a crowd.  They do this all the time.  However, when I broke the news to Shaun that he was going to have to memorize a poem and a scripture to say aloud in front of our homeschool co-op, he freaked. And I secretly freaked with him.  I know how I would have felt about this in sixth grade.  Who are we kidding?  I would still feel the same way if I had to do it today!

I thought about not making him do it, but at the end of the day I decided to be responsible and parent-like.  I chose a four-line poem for him to memorize.  He picked his own scripture-  one that he had already memorized from church.  And we learned them.  

He was actually okay until the day of the recital.  He was so nervous yesterday!  The recital participants went on by grade, and then in alphabetical order, so he had a long time to wait!  The younger kids went first and said their poem as a class.  Here is a picture of Jordan with a few kids from his class, taken with my cell phone.  I can't find my camera anywhere!

This picture is deceiving.  He didn't say a word of his poem!  Afterward, he said he was just too nervous.  Stinker!

A bit later, it was Shaun's turn.  He had asked that I come and sit near the front so that I could cue him if he needed it.  My stomach was in knots as he made his way to the stage- I was so nervous for him.  And bless him...he froze.  Like mother, like son.  I whispered the first word to him and he remembered what he was supposed to say with a smile on his face, but he was so embarrassed and my heart hurt for him.  I was so, SO proud of him for staying up there and finishing even after he had a rocky start.

Of course, he wasn't the only one who messed up.  There were a lot of mistakes made by lots of other kids.  I reminded him of this when everything was over and he was saying that he sucked.  I also stressed how proud I was of him for sticking it out and finishing strong.  

At the end of the day, I was glad I made them do it.  Shaun lived through it, just like I knew he would.  The first time is always the hardest and we talked about how easy it would be next time since now he knows what to expect.  He just looked at me when I said that part.  Ha ha!

Violet's 2 Months Old!

Violet turned 2 months old last week.  She weighed 11 pounds at her doctor's appointment and is around the 50th percentile marks in height and weight.  She has been sleeping much better at night, as long as she sleeps in the bed with her parents!  

She still eats about 3-4 ounces but now she wants to eat it every 2-3 hours.  

Violet has been very busy this month:

She went to the nursery at church for the first times on Sunday and Wednesday service.

She also experienced her first Halloween, her first hay ride, her first "sickness", her first get-together with my Twilight friends,  and her first hockey game.  My friend Jessica commented a few weeks ago about all the life experiences Violet has had and she's not even 6 months old yet.  I guess she's right...we've always just taken her along wherever we go and she's a great sport about it!

I just know that there's lots more that happened this month, but my brain is tired and I'm not thinking clearly.  I'll have to add more "events" as I think of them!

In the meantime, here are some of my favorite shots from her 2 month photo shoot.  I'm blessed to have a BFF who is a photographer!

And, even though I feel silly posting this after these amazing pictures, here is Violet on her "actual" 2 month birthday.  

My Little Strong-Willed Scientist

In addition to loving art, Jordan has also really been interested in science lately.  One of his favorite things to do lately is to "make an experiment".  This usually entails wearing "science goggles" at the kitchen table and mixing up this and that in a graduated cylinder.  I try to throw some actual schoolwork in the mix.  I'll tell him to add 10 ml of water or 5 ml of salt.  Or something like that.  

Today, while I was reading with Shaun, Jordan announced that he was going to "do some science".  I told him to not use any food in his experiments.  Imagine my surprise when I walked into the dining room after Shaun's reading lesson to find lemon pepper seasoning all over the table.  As in, a whole container of lemon pepper seasoning.  On the table.  And the floor.  And in a graduated cylinder mixed with water and some red liquid.  And peanuts. He used peanuts too.  About half the peanuts in a large Planters container.  

So, we had a little talk about wasting food and disobedience.  I asked him what he thought his punishment should be for his crimes.  He suggested a time out.  I had something better in mind.  My little strong-willed scientist is going to have to do chores to buy me some more lemon pepper seasoning and peanuts.  He's also grounded from science for a few days.  

Grounded from science.  There's a sentence I never thought I'd hear myself say. 

Reading

The kids and I went to the library yesterday. Jordan picked out some "Magic Tree House" books for me to read aloud to him.  He has really taken off with his reading lately, but he still likes to be read to.  Who doesn't?  Before we started the book, I said to him "Just think Jordan...you're so smart and you've been working so hard on your reading.  One day soon, you'll be reading books like these to me!"  

He just kind of nodded and asked me to start reading.  So I did.  I was halfway through the first page and he nudged me out of the way...and began reading the book by himself.  

He finished chapter 1 with just a few prompts from me.  I bragged and bragged and asked him if he was tired of reading yet.  And he said no!  He read another chapter, again almost all by himself.  

How I wish I had been able to take a picture of the look on his face.  He was SO proud of himself, and of course I was SO proud of him, too!  He not only read, but he was enjoying himself.  Usually when we read he's ready to stop way before whatever we happen to be reading is even over.  

My dream is to pass on my love of reading to my children.  I know, I know.  My oldest kids are boys, and most boys just don't want to sit still long enough to enjoy a good book.  Shaun is just now beginning to tolerate reading.  He hated it before because he struggled with it so much.  Now he, too, is finally taking off with it.  It must be the year for books in our house, and I couldn't be happier.  

A Sunday Absurdity

After church today, I was holding Violet while waiting on the elevator.  A woman I've never seen before noticed my sweet little baby.  She's so adorable, this happens all the time.  A day doesn't go by without a random stranger telling me how beautiful she is.  I smiled politely at this stranger and thanked her for noticing my baby's beauty.  Then she asks if she can hold my beautiful baby.  

Really.  

A complete stranger.  

Wanted to hold my baby.  

My jaw hit the floor.  I just couldn't believe it.  Who does that?  I mean, Violet is irresistible and all, but please.  Just admire her from where you're standing!  Who asks to hold a stranger's baby? Well this lady does, apparently, because while I was staring at her dumbfounded, she asked again.  I picked my jaw up off the floor and said, "Well. I don't know you... so no. I'm sorry".  And of course this hurt her feelings.  But really.  Who asks to hold a stranger's baby?  

One of the things about going to a big church is that there's just no way to know everyone who goes to church with you.  And really, just because a person goes to church doesn't mean that person is good.  We have tried to train our kids to not talk to strangers.  This includes strangers at the mall, at Kroger, the library, and even at church.  Because you just don't know!

So really, this situation today was no different than a random lady walking up to me in the produce section at Kroger and asking to hold my baby.  

It wasn't gonna happen.  

Of course, at that moment the elevator decides to open and I'm forced to ride downstairs with this stranger that I've offended. Fun, fun times. 

Did I overreact?  I really don't think I was out of line.  One of my friends commented that perhaps I should have given her an excuse such as, "I'm sorry but I'm taking her to the bathroom for a diaper change right now".  I'm not quick enough on my feet to think of lies off the top of my head like that.  So I was just honest.  

I told The Hubs and he just shook his head.  When we were younger and stupider, he would have said I was overreacting.  But now we're grown up and oh-so-mature and he completely agreed with me that it's never okay to let a stranger hold any of our children.  She could have taken off with Violet, sprinted down the hallway, dashed down the stairs, and escaped with our precious daughter.  Never to be seen again.  Or, a more likely scenario, she could have spread some evil flu germs to our sweet baby girl.  

Neither are chances I was willing to take.  

Don't Forget to Vote!

Yesterday Shaun's volunteer group met to make posters reminding the community to vote.  We are so thankful for Mrs. Gigi, who put the group together and volunteers her time to work with our older homeschool kids.  

Working hard on their posters.

The group is really for middle and high schoolers, but they let Jordan make a poster, anyway.  :)

Most of the group.  Someone declined to be in the picture.  

The kids had a good time.  It was nice to get out of the house and do something different.  They discussed the importance of voting, and various aspects of "election etiquette".  

"Arting", Hearts, and The Art Club

Yesterday, Jordan suddenly decided that he's into art.  We came home from swimming and he immediately brought his pencil box full of markers and crayons to the table and began "arting".  

You've never heard the term "arting" before?  Well, it simply is "the act of making art".  

Jordan "arted" until it was time to go to a birthday party and then he scooped up his supplies to take with him so that he could "art" in the car.  We had many, many new pieces of art by Jordan by the end of the night.  

This morning, he was at it again.  Only instead of drawing pictures he was into writing notes.  I was in Heaven watching him sit still and work voluntarily.  Here are two samples of the many, many, many notes he wrote today.

"I love Mommy.  Jordan loves Mom. Jordan"

"I love Violet.  Jordan loves Violet."

I love all of the little hearts he drew for "love".

He also wrote notes for Pop, Susie, and his cousins.  Of course he had to run next door to deliver said notes.  When he came home he announced that he was having an "art club".  

And that's just what he did.  Teddy and Hippo came to the Art Club's first meeting.  They had Cheeze Its for snack.  "Arting" makes one extremely hungry. 

I've had the most fun watching him create today!

Halloween 2012

We had a relatively low-key Halloween.  As usual!  We just don't make a big deal out of it the way we used to.  The kids did get more use out of their costumes this year than they usually do.  I think they dressed up in their Halloween gear three times:  we did "Trick or Treat on the Trail" last weekend, a Fall Festival at our homeschool co-op on Monday, and the Fall Festival at church last night.  Halloween fell on a Wednesday this year, so we didn't even have to worry about Trick or Treating... which I loved!

My little family and I spent the day together.  We slept in a little bit and then just lazed around.  It was nice to not have to rush around for once.  We went out for a late lunch together and then I dropped Chris and the kids off at Party City because he didn't have his costume yet.  While they were in there, Violet and I went to vote early.  I decided that I love, LOVE, LOVE early voting.  We were in and out in about 15 minutes, including the long walk in and out of the building.  Before I became a SAHM, I worked in the new Hall County building.  It was weird being in there again even though everything inside was different.  

Like I said, there was no waiting time to vote, but apparently I wasn't fast enough because my three boys grew bored at Party City and decided to walk to Publix.  I found them at the corner of the Publix parking lot and the street, waving to cars in their costumes. It's never boring around here, folks.  

We went to church after that.  Here's a shot of the ninja and Darth Vader.

These two absolutely hate having their picture taken and I had to bribe them to get this one shot.  Jordan was originally going to Spiderman.  I bought the suit weeks ago.  When we were getting ready yesterday, he went out to the car and found this old Darth Vader outfit that used to be Shaun's.  And that's what he decided to be.  Even though the Darth Vader suit was super old and worn out and didn't have a mask.  I didn't say a word, just uttered a prayer of thanks that I found the Spiderman suit on sale and paid next to nothing for it.  

We didn't buy an official costume for Violet. I knew we weren't going Trick or Treating and she doesn't go to the nursery at church yet, so she didn't need a costume for the Fall Festival.  Call me cheap, but I just didn't want to spend money on something that she'd never get any more use out of. I think she looked pretty cute anyway, though.

My sister-in-law gave us the "My First Halloween" onesie and we had a black tutu. Add in the crocheted hat and a pair of baby tights and you have one adorable baby.  So that's what she was..."adorable" for Halloween!

We all had fun at the Fall Festival, except for Jordan.  He got too cold and talked his friend Tiffany into bringing him inside to me.  He helped us out in the preschool game room. Here he is getting ready to hand out balloons.  

This makes me smile.  I think he would have floated away if he had been outside.  Ha ha!

This picture was taken last weekend at a Pumpkin Carving party.  I was pretty impressed with all of these.  Chris carved the one on the upper left.  

And that was our Halloween 2012!