Trying to make this post long enough so I can get rid of the last one!

Okay so I'm kinda getting tired of that old post being there-from 8 MONTHS ago! We are starting our home school tomorrow so I probably should be getting a little more ready for that, but here I am. We have cleaned our office so much-probably still a lot could be done, but I'm happy with what we have done so far. We've got another desk in here for the kids, a bookshelf that was cleaned out and now holds a lot of school books. The kids picked out some fabric for me to recover some old cork board type things. That way they each can have a little space to display their work or whatever they want to. Hopefully we are ready for this. I'm excited about it-I need to learn some too. Someone asked me if I was qualified to be a home school teacher-I said I had my diploma. (I think most states just require a high school diploma.) She thought I meant college, but I said high school and she thought that was hilarious apparently. She wasn't incredibly supportive, but I guess I should get used to that. I think I am fully capable of giving our kids a great deal of knowledge, and more important knowledge at that. I have plenty of books to help me out, many people around me that are happy to help, a very intelligent husband, and many prayers going up on behalf of my kids and our home school. I think we can manage!

Daniel started working nights last week. From 7 pm to 7 am. When he gets home, he eats and then goes to bed until about 2 or 3. Sometimes he gets up to eat a quick lunch. It's a good thing he is a heavy sleeper, or we would have to figure something else out. Let me just tell you what I think about the night shift-it STINKS! Even on his 3 day weekend that he got, he was still having to maintain somewhat the same schedule so he wouldn't be totally messed up again when he went back to work tonight. Plus, I have a harder time going to bed without him, so I end up staying up later and then I don't get up as early. It is a permanent change too, so that gives me less hope. If it was just for a couple of weeks at a time, at least I could see an end, but it's just going to be like this. I don't know-I'm a little discouraged about it, but maybe it'll get better as we get more used to it.

So at some point, I am going to put some pictures and videos up here, but I haven't got the time right now. There are some really cute ones that I would love to share though. Check back in another 8 months! Hopefully it'll be sooner though!

An open letter

Dear Shellie's Mr. Home Invader (I'm assuming you're a mister because you kicked down her door),

Kindly return her memory card from her camera and if you're feeling generous, also all the pictures on her computer. You can keep the computer, the tv, and the camera, but she would like the others back. You can stick them in her mailbox in broad daylight, like you kicked in her door. Shame on you for violating her privacy and stealing away her precious memories.

Everet

I wanted to write a quick post about all of Everet's new developments. I say new, but it's been so long since I've written about them that they may not be so new anymore! His newest thing I think, is that he loves to climb on everything. If he sees something with a potential to get him up higher, he is on it, trying to go as far as he can. He can climb up to stand on the toilet, if the step stool is out in the kitchen, he's on the highest (of two) steps. He's tried climbing into the bathtub head first, but I was there to catch him. And if something or someone gets in his way, his wheels are just turning trying to figure out another way to do it. So after I kept telling him not to go head first into the tub, he hiked his leg way up there and grunted and almost made it in, but didn't have enough momentum. He's so ornery. I can already see it. Was I really that naughty when I was little to deserve four, FOUR ornery ones?! (Don't answer that, Mom!) I'm going to blame at least part of it on Daniel!

He is understanding more and "talking" more. He points to his eyes, ears, and mouth when you ask him. The kids were talking about eyes last night at the dinner table and I looked over and Everet had his finger inside his eye pushing his eyelid way up saying, "Eh, Eh." Ummmm, sometimes he's not the sharpest tack, but he knew what they were talking about. Maybe pain just doesn't bother him! He has been saying "toes" for a while, but he says it "go go," or sometimes, "coco." Also if you tell him let's go, he says, "go" and waves. He knows how to say the b sound, but most of the time, he says d instead. Like bye bye is more "dye dye." He says hat (ha) while putting his hands on his head. He also says hands the same way, but rubbing his hands together. We passed by the sink yesterday and he did this. He wanted to wash his hands. He says cat like "AT" because he's real excited about seeing our many neighborhood cats. He says Hi and also blows kisses. He loves to give hugs and says, "mm, mm" while he's hugging. He says "ruff ruff" for the dog, and "oooo" for the cow. Of course he says "mama" and "dada." I'm sure he does more, but that's all I can think of right now.

If he wants someone to hold him, he runs over and either grabs their legs or he'll stand there and shake and grunt with his arms at his side like he is just too excited to know what else to do. He also does that when I get the candy basket out! He's starting to get to where he likes other people to hold him besides me, or he'll go and play without me for a little bit, but he's still a mama's boy. He had a double ear infection last week, but we have hopefully gotten that taken care of-just a bit of a runny nose now. He is 24.6 pounds I think and 30 inches tall. A big, stocky boy.

We are going to Abilene this weekend for Nathan's birthday party/Davidson's Thanksgiving/Skillet concert PACKED weekend. Then after we get back Sunday night or Monday morning, we will unpack and repack to go to Pecos Wednesday. So I need to get busy I guess! Hopefully I can get this video and some pictures to load up quickly!

The video didn't really stop on a very flattering picture, did it? I thought this was cute and it also shows a little of what he has to put up with every day!

He climbed inside the drawer all by himself. When I first saw him, he was just sitting there looking at me as if everything was completely normal. But when I got the camera, he had already gotten up.

Pictures

I'm finally posting some new pictures. I got my new camera just in time for Halloween and Ema's birthday. The kids will not be taking pictures with this one!

Eli loved being this dinosaur/dragon. He wore it the whole 4 hours at the fall festival and through trick or treating-even in the jumpy cage!

Ema was a disco girl or rock star. She added some gloves and the scarf.

This was the best picture we could get of our little pumpkin because he's always on the move!

This is Elena's princess costume before she cut the sleeves off. We had trimmed them down, so she thought it would be okay to make it short sleeve.

Ema had some cupcakes from school. I thought this was funny!

We visited Grama at her office where she was a Certified Basket Case! She is so creative!

Now on to Ema's birthday parties...

Our friend, Amy, decorated this cake for Ema's concert party. I was VERY impressed, and Ema loved it too.

This is just one picture of the chaos. Trust me, it doesn't do it justice! It was CrAzY!

This is the kids watching the concert video that Daniel put together. They all had glow sticks or necklaces. We tried to have a mystery dinner. Daniel did a great job getting it all together, but sometimes you have to scrap things because of too much chaos. That's the only word I can think of to describe it!

Then the next day, we had a family party.

This is Ema with a gift from Great Grandma Dominguez in California. They share the same birth month, so Grandma gave Ema her birthstone ring. I'm not sure how old it is, but it is very special and Ema was much more thrilled about it than she looks in this picture!

Kyle and mommy & daddy gave Ema a nice guitar and not just a toy this time. She was really excited about it because she loves music so much. Hopefully she'll be able to pick it up easily! She also got some accessories for it and an exciting DVD to help learn the basics.

SO we had a big, busy weekend, but it was lots of fun. Ema got so many nice gifts- activities, nice clothes (the pants fit great by the way, Grandma and Grandpa!) and she got quite a bit of money and gift cards! We bought a pop-up camper last week and we HAD to sleep in it on Friday night! So Shellie, Elena, Ema, Eli and I slept in the very cold camper! Next time, we may be firing up the propane heater! On a totally unrelated note, I'm sure, all of us are fighting sore throats. Hopefully we can all keep from getting full-blown sick!

This is good

I thought this was pretty good. And this is even better.

We have take off!

This is what Elena did on one of the first days of school!

This was what we saw across the street when we went out for school one morning.

I meant to write this sooner, but haven't had a chance. I guess it was about 3 weeks ago, Everet started taking a little steps here and there, but he was really cautious about it. Then he worked up to taking maybe 3 steps at a time, but crawling was still his main way of moving. It was kind of like he would forget that he could do it so he kept on crawling. Last Sunday, he got it all figured out. (Coincidentally, it was the same day the Ema took her first steps 7 years ago.) We'd look up and he was just walking everywhere. Now he hardly ever crawls. He can walk all through the house. It's so cute how he shuffles his feet like an old man! Now he doesn't really want to be held unless he's tired or trying to get away from someone (ELENA), especially if we are somewhere new. Like Hastings last night, he was pulling everything down off the shelves, so I picked it all up, picked him up and he'd start doing the floppy baby move where he puts his arms up and tries to slide out of my arms. You know the move. It's fun and exciting to watch him grow, but at the same time I think, "he can't be walking already. The house isn't ready yet and neither is his mommy." But I do like the fact that I can set him down somewhere and not have to worry so much about the germs he'll get when he puts his hands down on the floor!

Ema and Eli started school on Aug 18. They are both really enjoying it. Their teachers are great-Ema's is a really bubbly exciting teacher, and Eli's is an older grandmother type which is good for him. Eli's class has tickets every week that allow them in to "Fun Friday." If they get a warning, they have to move their card, and if they keep up the wrong behavior, they get a hole punch. If you get 3 hole punches, you can't go to FF. He was telling me that a couple of people had to move their cards, but he didn't have to. I honestly don't know what he'll do if he ever has to move his. He is a strong boy, but he's very sensitive too. If someone speaks harshly to him, he goes to his room for a while. In that sense, I feel kind of like he may not have been ready for kindergarten. But he is so smart-he knows all his letters, shapes, colors, and he's been reading for a while now. He's always surprising us by reading things to us. At the beginning, we didn't know if he had just memorized things and was repeating them, but he was reading signs that he had never seen before. He is learning to write better now-more controlled. He is enjoying it very much.

Ema is also doing well in school. She is an excellent reader and speller. She gets into a little bit of trouble from talking or mothering the other kids. She tries to help them with their work, but the teacher is trying to get them to be independent learners too. Her teacher is trying to come up with some things to challenge Ema, because she gets bored easily. Especially with the beginning of the year review things. She is hopefully going to start the Rosetta Stone Spanish course that the school is doing and the teacher is going to have her test for the gifted and talented program. That would allow her to go to another location and do something fun and challenging with a group of other kids. I was in AA (Academically Able-do you think the people who came up with that name really thought it through?) but I remember how fun it was to get out of the classroom and go work on the computer or something. I can't remember much of what we did-just the getting out of class part. Of course, now the computers are already in the room, so they have to leave the building to find something new and fun!

Elena is enjoying the quiet time during the day, but she gets bored pretty easily. She's always asking me to play dolls with her. I do a lot, but I do have to try and get my jobs done too. Then she follows me around saying in a sweet, motherly (and sometimes British) voice, "daughter, you can't do that. Daughter, you have to sit here." And then there are the other pretend games like "bwetend you are a bad guy and you got me." or "you're Jenna and I'm lena, no you're Kyle, no you miss Jonana." and my favorite, "I was a princess, and you saw me." Whenever that one comes up, I cringe because-well I don't even know how to explain it. I pretend to be the prince and see her and come up and try to talk to her, then she goes and pulls a Snow White on me and runs away. Then I have to go chase her down and try and talk to her, and she keeps running. She also throws in some Ariel because she can't talk either. It gets a little annoying. But overall, we have fun together. She's got such a silly personality-she makes me laugh quite often.

Everyone is back home now after daddy took them to Town & Country, so I better get off the computer. I'll try to get some pictures on here too. Oh they posted at the top and now I'm too lazy to move them around! I posted some on Facebook too.

Funny lines from the 1984 Transformers

*Deactivate your mouth.

*Your knowledge is only overshadowed by your stupidity.

*Autobots, TRANSFORM.....Not you, Bumblebee.  (You kind of have to see the cartoon with this, but Bumblebee starts to follow orders, and then has to stop halfway and transform back to his robot self.

*I've got the plan, it you've got the cast-iron manifolds for it.

I was laughing at another one last night, but it's hard to put in words.  I thought the decepticon guy said "Rubbish," but it's actually "Ravage" or something.  A dog robot comes out of the guy's chest compartment.  But he talks in a weird computerized voice and he pointed and said, (in my mind) RUBBISH.  And then it took a few seconds for anything else to happen.  I just thought it would be funny to use that line sometime.  

It's all in the way you ask

I was getting something out of the cupboard with Eli in the kitchen with me. He was just talking and happened to get a glimpse of the small bag of marshmallows rolled up in the cupboard. He said so sweetly, "let me see if those marshmallows are any good." I started laughing pretty hard and he instructed me not to tell Daddy, but he got to check the marshmallows for me. So I can sleep better tonight knowing that our marshmallows have been checked, and that they are in fact still good!

Get...Smart?

Some of you may know that we cancelled our satellite subscription a while back and haven't missed it since. We have bought a few tv series on dvd so we could have something small to watch every now and then, you know, to break up the movie nights that we have! We don't want to get burned out on movies or anything! 

Anyway, Daniel bought me the "Get Smart" series from 1965 and we've been watching those. It's just amazing how far tv and special effects and all that has come. It's funny to watch because of how lame it can be sometimes. Like when the tough Asian guy comes after Smart, and Smart brings him to the ground with one chop to each shoulder. 

I was really laughing at one episode where Smart and Agent 99 (his pretty sidekick) have to go undercover at a spy school. They have to find out which agent in the school is really a KAOS infiltrator. Smart gets all of his secret codes to allow him access to the school that is made to look like an ordinary house. He has to give the code to get in the door, he then is under high alert until his security clearance goes through. He is using a fake name (which I don't understand because the infiltrator is at that school to get the secrets from their agency. He already knows that everyone is a secret agent-why use the fake name? Maybe I'm thinking too hard!) He can't let anyone know that he and 99 already know each other either.  When they go out to the back yard, it looks like a rec center or something; people sitting around the pool tanning, old ladies sitting in chairs, people playing games. Then the head guy announces, "it's okay, he's a secret agent too." And everyone goes back to what they were doing before the new guy showed up; the old ladies take off their very convincing disguises and start combat fighting, others are weapons training and target practicing, and such. (Am I over-using the semi-colon... David..., anybody?!)  So then Smart gets introduced to some other sinister looking agents and it's time for his weapons training.  They demonstrate how the weapon is used and then Smart, in all his secret agent brilliance, shoots it the wrong way and breaks out the neighbor lady's window.  Before you know it, the neighbor comes busting through the hedges yelling at them for breaking her window and how they are going to pay for that.  Honestly I don't know what all she said because I was laughing too hard.  How did that lady's security clearance go through so fast?  They sure went through a lot of trouble securing the premises.  Where was the "postman" or the "blind guy" who were supposed to be guarding the hedges?  I think we've found the infiltrator!  I just thought that was hilarious and felt like sharing it with someone!  Of course, I will take lame old tv shows to inappropriate new ones any day!

He loves his Daddy!

Daniel just called me on my cell phone from a different phone number and told me to go find Everet. It was such a weird request-it scared me a little bit, although I don't really know why! He was just rolling on the floor in the living room with Eli and Elena while I try and work in the office for a few minutes. He said "does he still have it in his hands?" He had his bottle, but the phone was near him. He had called Daniel about 8 minutes before and was talking to him. What a smart kid, huh! He had found the redial button, knowing that I had called Daniel last, and called his daddy! I thought that was funny! Well, back to work. Someday I will be back in Bloggerland!

They are mad to me

"Mom, there's a bug!"

"What kind of bug?"

"A mad one!"

Elena has this complex about everyone being mad "to" her.  Maybe because people get mad at her a lot for being such a pest!  The other day, there was a mad butterfly outside.  I laughed for a while about that one.  What would a butterfly do to make you think it was mad?  She kept saying, "I dote wanna hee that mad budderfwy."   It turned out to be a plastic bag stuck in a tree in the neighbor's yard and it was blowing in the wind.  We were in the dentist office the other day and two girls were looking at her and she was upset that they were looking mad to her.  

EVERET SLEPT FOR 7 HOURS STRAIGHT LAST NIGHT!  I was so excited.  Eli woke up around 3 so I still had to wake up (sort of-I remember sitting on his bed and actually dreaming about something while I was sitting there.  I don't wake up easily.)  I kept checking Everet though to make sure he was still breathing because he's never slept that long.  He's been sick with a virus that could lead to RSV, so we've been doing breathing treatments with him.  He won't hardly stay still for those.  I know that didn't help him sleep though because it makes him a little restless.  Anyway-I don't know what we did different, but I liked it!  Maybe it's the cereal he's been eating.

Just a couple more funny things before I forget:

Saturday night, we were finishing supper.  We had let the kids down and Elena was getting ready to take a bath.  I told her to wait for me to come in.  She came out to the kitchen naked, so I told her to go back to the room because I didn't want to see her out there naked.  She said, in her sweet little 3-year old voice, "but my bottom is not wooking at youuuu."

Then right after that, Eli was actually eating chicken noodle soup (because it was shaped like Cars) and he was picking out the carrots.  We tried to convince him that he liked carrots and he said, "but I don't like them melted."

The other day at Wendy's, Eli wanted a drink of Daniel's drink.  He asked what it was and Daniel told him to try it and find out.  This one may not be as funny in type.  Anyway, he tried it and his eyes got big and he exclaimed, "ROOT BEER!"  "NOPE, it's cherry coke!"  It just made me think of a big buzzer going off.  YYEEEEE-YOU'RE WRONG!  (This one's for Tracey to remember)  LOSER!  [Note:  I'm not calling my son a loser nor was Daniel meaning to crush his spirits!]  It rolled off of Eli, but Shellie and I were laughing for a little bit.  

Okay-I didn't mean to write for this long.  I'll be back in another two months!

Oh and tomorrow is our 10th wedding anniversary!  I love you Daniel, always and forever!

Funny things I've heard recently

"AAAhhhh!  Don't put me in the juicer!"  Said by Eli, talking for the toy dolphin.

"I'm the mom and you're my fwe-fart."  Elena trying to say 'sweetheart.'

"MANIAC!"  The kids imitating Mr. Bean.

"Elena and her coat of falling colors."  Ema said this about Elena's coat of many colors that she made in Bible class.  The fabric strips were falling down.

"Did he burp?"  Eli always asks right after Everet burps.  

A boring post because I just need to write something!

I see that I haven't written in five weeks so I thought I'd try and post a little.  I made a list last night of the things I wanted to get done today.  It was as short as I could make it, but still had about 7 major and minor things to accomplish.  I did a few loads of laundry, filed some papers, did the payroll and my major accomplishment, cleaning and mopping the kitchen and dining room all while taking care of 3 and 4 kids!  These kind of productive days don't happen very often. I actually got the counters completely cleared off (well except for a few dishes that are drying) and Ema and Eli mopped the dining room.  Ema has really been trying to help lately (bless her heart!) so I've been trying to step back a little and tell myself that I'd rather have her learn to do it, than worry about it being done perfectly and turn her away from wanting to help.  She loves to wash the dishes and do laundry.  She is not so helpful when it comes to her room though.  It's not as fun.  I spent almost all day Saturday cleaning, tossing and organizing in there.  I moved a bunch of toys into the "let's see if they forget about them" box because the toy box was overflowing.  Now there room looks really nice-and the best part is Ema loves it that way and is excited about keeping it that way!  Yea!  Also the dollar at the end of the week probably doesn't hurt either.  

We watched "The Happening" yesterday.  I didn't want to watch it Saturday night when Daniel brought it home because I didn't know much about it.  I just knew that those kind of movies are a little creepy and I didn't want to be scared to walk out of my bedroom in the middle of the night.  It really wasn't that scary, but I didn't really like it.  I especially didn't like the end when it turned into a "mother nature is fighting against the horrible humans" movie.  Sorry if I spoiled the ending for anyone.  We kept having to pause it though because the kids would come out when we could tell something gory was about to be on.  Then we'd have to try and coax them back to their rooms.  "Go see what Eli's doing,"  "I think Ema has candy hidden somewhere, go look for it."  We didn't really say the last one.  Anyway-I wasn't impressed with it.

Elena is afraid of monsters under her bed.  I told her we cleaned them all out, but she's still calls me almost every night.  "Mooommmy,  I need youuuuuu.  Dere's a mosser unner my bed." I have to reassure her that it's okay.  I let her look at books and that usually occupies her enough that I can get out of the room.  She is great at not going to bed though.  

"Mooommmy, I need go poooottty."   

"You just went."

"Oh, maybe I need go kiky." (stinky, because I don't like the other words for it!)

"Go to sleep, Elena."

After a few minutes, "Mooommmmy, I need a gwink."

This is all very frustrating to me because she used to lay there, get her blanket over her, kiss us goodnight and we were done with it.  She'd go right to sleep.  Now we think that since her bed looks right to the door and we can't shut it until after Ema goes to sleep because she gets scared, that it's making it hard for her to go to sleep.  After we went to the park the other day, she did go right to sleep-maybe I just need to get more activity into their days.

What else is happening here?  Hmmmmm...oh somebody left. . . . (this is for Shellie-hopefully you will remember what I'm talking about and laugh and laugh!)

I think I need to get to bed-I don't really have anything interesting to say.  Our holidays were great this year, but they seem so long ago!  Maybe I should have written sooner!  I will try and post some pictures next time.  Right now, the bed is calling me!  Goodnight!

Thanksgiving, kitty, and lots of spit up!

I haven't written in a while so I thought I would quickly post something.  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving this year.  We enjoyed ours although it never seems to be the same as when we were younger.  We always stayed home because we had a lot of family in town.  I just remember how nice it was to have everyone home, which happened every Saturday, but it was different.  It was nice to wake up on a cold Thanksgiving morning, Dad had a raging fire in the fireplace, Mom had the turkey in the oven and the house was clean.  Then after a while all our family would start showing up.  We would eat and eat and usually spend most of the evening playing Canasta.  We didn't play until we got older, but it was just fun talking and joking and seeing some older ones throw little "fits" when they lost!  I really miss that kind of Thanksgiving. Ours was still really nice this year.  We went to Abilene and had Thanksgiving dinner with Samantha's new side of the family.  Their tradition is playing football after dinner, so Daniel got to play.  I wanted to watch, but I had to feed Everet.  Then when I was done, Ema said, "Daddy's hurt!"  Daniel had dislocated his shoulder again so he was sitting there (not in pain)  I guess just that odd feeling of not being able to feel his arm.  Samantha's sister-in-law is a nurse and was trying to ease it back in, but it wasn't working.  So we thought we were going to have to go to the doctor, but then it slid back in by itself.  After a while, we went back to Samantha and Kerry's house and tried to play cards.  It doesn't work real well with 4 little kids running around and clamoring for attention.   It was still fun though.

This week is back to "normal" for us.  We had a kitten meowing outside our bedroom window all day yesterday.  We went and found it.  It's probably 2 months old or so and is all grey.  We let the kids put it in the back yard for now because they have really been wanting a pet.  Cats are less maintenance than dogs so maybe this will suffice.  Ema got up extra early this morning and was out there in 30-4o degree weather feeding the cat.  I heard it all last night and then I heard it in a different spot.  Ema was carrying it around the house.  I use the excuse that I am allergic to cats, which I am, as a way of keeping animals out of the house.  I can't stand to have animals in the house, especially after being in my parents' house.  They don't have cats, but the previous owner must have had a few that ruled the house.  Our house's previous owner had one too and I have found big fur balls in the vents.  Nice.  So anyway she had to take it back outside even though "he was so cold."  I know.  I'm heartless.  This morning I've had the treat of listening to Elena meow back and forth with the cat at the back door.  Sometimes Elena sounds more like a tiger cub. 

I had to take Everet to the doctor on Tuesday.  His congestion just seemed to be getting worse. Especially at night-he could hardly breathe so he and I were up for quite a while.  The doctor said his lungs and throat were clear (it didn't sound that way to me though!) He asked if he spits up.  YES-all the time.  He said the congestion is probably due to spit up going up his nose a little and I guess irritating the whole area.  He suggested that I try cutting out dairy products in my diet to see if that helps him stop spitting up.  He may not be able to digest the protein or the lactose in the milk.  So I have refrained from eating the cheese and cereal that I love so much and I haven't seen a difference in his spitting up.  It is so frustrating.  It doesn't matter how much or how little I feed him, when he burps there is almost always something with it.  And not just a little on the corner of his mouth, we have to have a towel to clean it all up.  And if he burps a few times in a row, or has the hiccups, it is worse.  I just don't know what else to do.  How long would it take to get the dairy out of my system?  We have his 2 month checkup next Wednesday, so I'm waiting to see if it gets better by then.  I've been having him sleep in his car seat at night so that he's elevated (I do take it out of the car, for those of you who might be concerned!) and that has helped him sleep better.  At least we're getting a little more sleep, but I'm just really tired of cleaning up spit-up.  I saw a clip from "4 Christmases" where Reese Witherspoon gets thrown up on.  They whisk the baby away and she is just left standing there with her arms out trying not to touch anything and she says, "What do I do?!"  Vince Vaughn is gagging and trying not to throw up.  The whole scene just feels so familiar.  Daniel doesn't gag, but Ema does and Elena screams, "he spit up."  Eli yells it.  And whoever is holding him stands there stunned (although we kind of expect it now) trying to figure out what to clean up first and why won't this towel DO WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET IT TO DO!!  That's the frustration building.  Some of you may have heard Daniel or me talking this way!  We don't really expect the towel to clean it up by itself-it usually happens that Everet is laying on the towel in some way that restricts us from getting it all the way to the spit up before it is on the floor, couch, our pants, or whatever.  It probably is a funny scene to watch.  Sometimes I'll be singing to him or talking happy and then interrupt it with "aaahhh maannn" because it goes everywhere.   Okay now I've talked way too long about spit up.  

On a side note, I didn't "quickly" write this post as I had intended.  The boys woke up and after feeding them and the kitty and getting drinks for them, it has been over 2 hours since I started it.   So much for that!

Pictures and things

I thought I would try and post some updated pictures. This one was just when we were trying to get a family picture. I thought it turned out pretty cute. We've been staying pretty busy for the past couple of weeks so I'm hoping this Thanksgiving week will be a little more relaxing. We are going to Abilene on Thursday and we get to stay in a motel with an indoor pool. The kids are excited about it and I have to admit that I am too, even though I really can't swim. It's still fun to play in the water! We will actually be there for a little longer than usual and I'm hoping not to plan too much to cram in those days.  We will be taking time to see our new nephew, Nathan James for a while.  The pictures are adorable, but I'm sure they don't do him justice!  It's much better to make a visit.  Arly's family is there so we will let them have more time with him since they live farther away.  I'm excited though!  We're coming back Saturday afternoon instead of Sunday because it is always so hectic on Sundays to try and get everyone ready for church, and pack up and check out of the motel before 8:00 our time. The kids are usually hard to deal with because of the time difference and just being away from home and so we just decided to come back and have a calm day at home. Now I just have to get the laundry done and pack for 6 people. That's not stressful at all!

This is just a cute picture of Ema after her Halloween party at school.  She got her face painted and we had to take a picture before we washed it off and ran in to change into a Snow White costume.  This is when she had both of her front teeth still.

This isn't the greatest picture, but it shows that she had lost one of those front ones and that other one is just barely hanging on.  We were trying to get her to pull it before her party, then we tried to convince her to let one of the grandmas do it.  But she didn't want to.  Finally the day after this party, after church, we spent over an hour wrestling with her because we were afraid she would swallow the tooth or something.  I thought the police may have been called on us because of all the screaming, but we finally got it out.  We were all so frustrated-it was ridiculous.  Now they are out and she was messing with another tooth one day.  I told her, "Don't you dare try to get another one loose.  We need a bit of a break from the last two drama episodes."  We keep meaning to take a picture of her, but haven't gotten a good one yet.  This picture also shows Aunt Mantha's favorite gift of sugared gum that Daddy bought!

The first three pictures are this past Sunday.  He has really started smiling and talking.  He's to the point that we have another way to console him.  Not just feed him, change him, or put him to sleep.  He loves to be talked to.  Right now his tummy must be hurting because nothing is working.  He's also been very congested the past few days and there's really nothing more we can do for him.  It's frustrating.  After I re-read this it sounds really grim, like we're just trying to keep him comfortable on his last days!  I meant we can't do anything else besides the humidifier, and cleaning out his nose.  

I finally broke down and bought a sling because I wasn't getting around to making one and I was afraid the material I had wouldn't work right.  Ema wanted to wear it, but it's too big for her, so I let her try this one that a friend had made, but was too small for her and me.  It's still too big for Ema, but she enjoyed holding him with it while he slept in her arms.  She's a pretty good helper!

My kids have resorted to eating dry oatmeal and watching Cars for the second time (it's REALLY scratched up so it skips through most of the movie!) while I've been doing this-among other things like taking care of fits, accidents, diaper changing, etc., etc.  I hope everyone has a very happy Thanksgiving!  Oh-and I will post pictures of my other 2 kids one of these days!

Happy Birthday Ema!

Today, despite the gloomy national news, we are celebrating Ema. Seven years ago today, we were in Midland Memorial having our beautiful Ema Cheri. She was finally born at 6:26 pm. She was 7 lbs, 1 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. One of the first things said in the delivery room was "He" is a "she" because they kept calling the baby "he." I can still remember the feel of her soft, warm, tiny head in my hands. I just can't believe that was seven years ago!

Ema, you are such a special girl. You are creative, silly, ornery, energetic, stubborn, caring and thoughtful. You always want to be doing something, whether it's making a project out of paper cups and sticky letters, or just going out and getting a drink with Daddy. You are so smart and have an excellent memory. You keep us on our toes with your quick thinking. When we were trying to pull your tooth the other night, I said, "Let me try to pull it and you just talk to Everet." The look on your face was priceless and you said, "how can I talk to him while you have your finger in my mouth?" You are such a sweet girl. You love to make cards for people, even if a lot of them say the same thing, you know that someone may need a card and you make a few for them. You are usually pretty helpful with Everet like holding him when I just need to do something. I can remember you even helping with Eli and Elena. The older women at church were surprised, and a little scared about you carrying Elena around, but you've always been pretty careful. My hope for you is that you will always focus your energy on doing good for others, and that you will always be as confident in your beliefs as you are today. Your stubbornness might get you into trouble at times, but hopefully it will come in handy when you are faced with bigger issues. I promise you that I will always be there for you to help and support you and most importantly, to pray for you. You are one in a million and I hope we can always show you how special you are.

I was trying to think of some funny or neat things Ema has done. There are so many so I may come back and forth adding them as I think of them. Feel free to add your memories of her in the comments. I have a bad memory, so I always appreciate when someone reminds me of something.

I remember:
-reading "The Fox Book" with her when she was about 2. One of the pictures has a huge woodchuck next to a small fox. I read "the fox pups go out and meet their neighbor, a [giant] woodchuck." We laughed together for so long. We still read it that way and laugh.

-playing Barbies with her and making up silly conversations for them.

-her screaming at the top of her lungs in the middle of the night because there was a dinosaur with "shaap teef" in her bedroom. We didn't watch Jurassic Park anymore after that.

-going for walks on the dairy with her, feeding the calves, looking at all the cows.

-fainting in the emergency room as I watched her get her first stitches.

-her wiggly worm dance she did when she was about 6 months old. She put her hands behind her head and wiggled her body from side to side. So cute!

-she has always loved to read. She is one of the best readers in her class. She even was reading a card written in cursive to me yesterday.

-she has also always loved singing and listening to music really loud. She likes to make up songs too.

I probably could go on, but I need to get some other things done. I am going to make cookies and take them to her class in a little while. I am still having trouble getting into our old pictures on the computer, but I am amazed at how much Everet looks like Ema. They actually all look quite similar. All of them are as beautiful and handsome as they can be!

We love you Ema and hope you have a wonderful birthday!!

Conversations

I was just in the kitchen with Elena and she said,
"you know what?" (her new phrase) "Dalton say da da, and I say BE TWIET DALTON."
(Me) "Well that was rude."
(Her, laughing) "Yeah, I know it."

She just cracks me up sometimes. Ema came home the other day with a cheer she learned from a friend at school. It goes something like, "to the back, to the front, to the side, to the side, let me see your butterfly." Elena says, "watch this, mom" and jumps around laughing and says "front side back, wha me hee your butterfwy." I don't think Ema does it when she does the cheer, but Elena kinda shakes her hiney on that part. I know it's not supposed to be cute or funny, but it is a little bit! She's actually shaking her whole body, but that is the part that shakes the most. She is a big ham.

Ema has been dressing up for school this week. They are having their drug free week and each day is a different theme. Some seem like they are stretching it a little bit but oh well. Like "crazy against drugs" where they dress crazy-Ema wore 2 shirts, 2 different socks, and her hair in 2 low ponytails. She actually looked really cute. Tuesday she wore her chef's hat and apron because they were supposed to dress up as who they wanted to be when they grow up. Today she is wearing a Snow White dress that someone made and handed down to us. (The theme is our stories are drug-free) She thought she was supposed to dress up as a character that they've learned about this year, but I told her it could be anyone. (Really, how do you dress up as the Pied Piper or Anansi the spider? I need a picture.) Anyway she was self-conscious about it this morning and was afraid she wasn't dressed as the right kind of character. So I had to call one of our friends to avoid walking in with her in my pajamas, messed up hair, and spit-up on my shirt. Then she was okay with it because Ms. Terri said it could be any character from any story. She just reminded me so much of myself this morning. I am the type of person that doesn't like to look different or stand out. This is one reason I don't like Halloween because I always HATED trying to figure out something original and neat to be, and then wondering if anybody else was actually going to dress up. I guess most people go through that. Anyway I am proud of her for doing it.

Eli is still thinking he's going to be a rhinoceros for Halloween so if anyone has any ideas on that, please enlighten me! As usual I have waited for the last minute to figure something out. I put a pumpkin suit on Elena yesterday and she said, "I wook funny." I don't know if she'll wear it or not, but it was cute.

Is it just me, or do other people burst out laughing when nobody else is around? Please tell me I'm not crazy-maybe I just don't get out enough. I was cleaning yesterday and just thinking about things. The scrub brush I was using has rubber bristles and it can be used for many different things. I had ordered it from the FlyLady website that Kristi told me about. People on the website said you could use it for combing pets, or massaging someone's head (I know-random) along with all the other great cleaning uses. Anyway Daniel had a shaved head so he was sitting there and I rubbed his head with it. If you know Daniel, you know he just sat there, unimpressed.
(Me) "Does that feel nice?"
(Daniel) "I guess."
(Me) "They said it's supposed to feel nice."
(Daniel) "Okay. Yeah."
(Me) "It worked really good on the toilet too."
If you know me, you know I like to see how people react to things I say or do. Daniel is hard to get a reaction from. He might have thought it was funnier if I could have kept a straight face through it, but I couldn't. So he just smiled and let out a small chuckle. I love it when I can actually make him laugh, but it doesn't happen very often. Anyway I was thinking about that yesterday while I was cleaning and cracked up all over again. Then there is the other story that makes me laugh so hard. (If you all have other things to do, feel free to go. I didn't intend to write so much, but I'm getting a kick out of myself!) We were sitting around with our friends talking about hospital stays or something. One couple was saying that he had kidney stones and spent a miserable time in the ER and so the next time he had them, he knew what it was so he didn't go. His wife was telling the story and she said, "He was too stubborn to go to the ER again, so he just laid in that bed until he passed it." Daniel quietly leaned over to me and said, "note to self, don't buy a used mattress from the Carsons." I guess laughing is my stress reliever so I'm glad I have these stories to fall back on, when nobody is around to make me laugh.

I've wasted enough time now, but I will leave you with one final piece of advice. If you are ever in a car accident and it suddenly gets quiet, don't take your seat belt off. . . . you may be airborne. (I've been laughing at this one for 12 years. It never gets old to me!)

Finally some pictures

I know a lot of you have seen these already because Shellie and Arly have some up, but here they are anyway. We've got some more on our camera, but the battery won't stay charged up. This is going to be short because I am having to do everything one-handed. Left-handed even because Everet is comfy in my right arm for a few minutes anyway. He's been a little fussy lately so if I can't do something with only one hand, it hasn't gotten done. I try to get a few things done when Daniel gets home, but have been pretty tired lately. Go figure.

A quick review of the last 2 weeks: A very quick (for me) surprise labor and delivery, surgery to assure this doesn't happen again, a bunch of family visiting and helping (thank you all SO much), a 10-day vacation for Daniel (so nice to have him here-the kids couldn't understand why he went to work this week), a week of weakness and soreness (I had to hold my belly to laugh), a clingy, slightly jealous 2-year old, supper being brought to us almost every night (incredibly helpful), first times back at church apparently with sick friends, 3 of the 6 of us throwing up (I also can't tell if Everet is spitting up or throwing up-it's been spewing today), Eli and I have managed to avoid it. We had a trip to the doctor today for an unhealed circumcision and yeast infection. Eli also had one a few days after he was born-maybe because of the penicillin I had to get during delivery? The girls didn't get one though-weird. We've had many "get out of his face" scoldings, lots of just sitting and holding, and a bunch of sleepless nights. It has been great though. That's all I can think of right now. Hopefully we'll get into some kind of routine soon. And I think I need to go and get me one of those slings to hold him in. I haven't been to Wal-mart in 3 weeks people! That's a new record for me! And our bank account appreciates it!

As I Fall to Sleep...

Some recent events have caused me to think upon and remember some great truths, some great promises and the love we have (or should have) for each other. It may seem strange to some but these thoughts have been stirred up from depths of my heart by, of all things, a hard rocking alternative Christian band; Skillet. Those who have the enviable pleasure of knowing me also know that Skillet is by far my favorite band - and I listen to every album they have released to date every day. I’m not kidding either – every album, every day. My iTunes library will attest this fact. Maybe it’s the name, the face melting guitar rifts, or the true beauty of many of their songs – I don’t know for sure but something connected with me that fateful day back in 1996 when, at the ACU Campus Store, I gazed upon the music rack and saw for the first time, a CD with a skillet emblazoned across its cover and a band named after a cooking utensil. I was hooked, they had me – and my wife thanks them every day for snagging me.

But today, as I faithfully listen, something came to mind. The song was Will You Be There (Falling Down) and the first few words are:

As I fall to sleep
Will you comfort me
When my heart is weak
Will you rescue me

Will you be there
As I grow cold
Will you be there when I'm falling down
Will you be there

Those words I’ve heard and sung hundreds of times over the years – but this time they reached into me, grabbed hold and shook me, bringing to my mind the recent death of a friend and brother.

He was a good man who loved his God, his wife, his daughter, his granddaughter, his family and all his friends. He had turned his life around, giving himself in submission to baptism to become a child of God and recently had been selected to serve as a deacon in our congregation. About four months ago we played softball in the local church league. About three months ago he found out he had cancer. Almost three weeks ago he fell asleep and almost two weeks ago we remembered his life.

A few days before he died, in Bible class Sunday morning, we asked his wife how he was doing. He wasn’t doing well at all and hadn’t eaten in three days. She was trying to be strong and provide for the man who had provided for her for so long. And through the words we could all feel the depths of sorrow and pain that she suffered. That day I was selected to pray on her behalf. An honor for me to say the least and one of the hardest, most painful prayers I have ever offered to my Lord. I asked for strength, for mercy, for love and above all – healing.

Knowing our God is the Great Physician with the power to restore his body and heal our pain, I pleaded with God, begging Him to give our brother back to us. This is what we want were the words I spoke, acknowledging our own personal desire. Then I asked for strength and understanding whatever the outcome may be, knowing that in all things Gods will is done, knowing that God understands our pain – He gave His Son – and in the end God shall wipe away all tears, there’s no death, no pain, nor fears. Three days later about 7 am, he left this life.

The song simply asks God will You be there. The answer is a deafening, unequivocal and resounding YES! God will be there, He is always there. And He did answer my prayer. He took the pain away, and He is healing us, every day. We miss our friend and brother, husband and father, but we know there is no more pain, and we know that God is there and will always be there. And I praise my God for again teaching me how great and awesome He is.

As I write this another song has played and ‘stirred the pot’ you might say. The song is titled Rebirthing. Here is the chorus:

Rebirthing now

I wanna live for love, wanna live for you and me

Breathe for the first time now

I come alive somehow

Rebirthing now

I wanna live my life, wanna give you everything

Breathe for the first time now

I come alive somehow

My friend was a Christian. He lived for the Lord and died in the Lord. He had been and has been reborn. Through the terrible pain of his cancer he has now been reborn, where there is no pain. In my mind this has now been compared to birth. As you know Syndi is pregnant with our fourth child, due about October 7^th. As I remember the births of our first three children I can’t help but draw a connection. Through the terrible pain of childbirth a new life is born. I don’t know what it was exactly but something connected with me on those beautiful days when, at the hospital, I gazed upon an infant and saw for the first time, a life with me emblazoned across its face and a child bearing my name. This child is my flesh and blood, having been woven together by God and now placed in my care. I was hooked, they had me – and I thank God every day for snagging me.

From pain, came life. God has taken our sin away and allows us to be reborn and become His children, but this could only happen through the pain and suffering and death of His Son becoming the ultimate perfect sacrifice. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ we are born again, reborn, to be children of God – emblazoned with the blood of His Son.

These events also brought to mind something that happened awhile ago. Syndi wrote about it at the time but it has now come back to teach me. Really it isn’t about the specific event per say, but more about the pain that was endured, can and will be endured, and the ability I have to do nothing about it. I can’t take it away, and I can only try to prevent it. In the end all I can do – is be there.

At the time it happened – Ema had two teeth pulled without the full benefit of anesthetics – I could do nothing but hold her and try to comfort her, when what I wanted to do was take the pain upon myself (and gleefully shove it down the dentists’ throat). But I also knew that I can’t do that, every parent wants to but we can’t. We don’t like it but pain makes us grow, makes us stronger and better able to deal with life. And so we sat, in tears, and I held my beautiful daughter. The following day I couldn’t help but write…

Within my heart was kindled;

So must be writ, the impassioning within.

- Stained with Tears -

And stained . . .

. . . I am.

The tears have come;

And falling hard upon my chest,

they beat . . .

. . . with longing cries.

And cradled in my arms, So tight . . .

We weep;

. . . but why? Why?

I’m here my child,

My love,

My all,

Held in my arms,

My love to heal.

You are my child,

My flesh,

My blood.

For all and ever and aught we bear;

the life, the joy, the pain we share.

And this, my child, to you I swear

I give my love, my all

For you my child, I give my life.

and I – now stained . . .

. . . my tears

. . . my blood.

Something within me drew a connection to the pain I felt through the pain my daughter felt to the pain my Lord and my God felt in knowing we were lost, sinful, dead, yet He gave His Son to suffer the pain of death – withholding His own hand, knowing He couldn’t take the pain the away – so we could be reborn through the blood of His Son. Again I praise my God for teaching me how great and awesome He is.

One last thought. The day before my friend passed away his wife said something I will never forget and hopefully will live and demonstrate on a daily basis. In speaking of her husband and the effects that cancer and morphine had upon him she pleaded with us not to take for granted our spouses and the time we have with them. Three days later she lost her husband. But she knows the love they had and wonderful marriage they shared.

It is my prayer that I have not, and nor do I ever take my wife for granted. Our marriage is truly wonderful. She is my best friend, my confidant, my life, my love, my very self. She is my everything; my angel; my immortal beloved and I love her so deeply, so fully, so powerfully – my soul aches, longing to be near her. From the beginning my love has grown and will only continue to grow.

I will love you, you and no other, my whole life.

Wasting Time

I am trying to find other things to do right now so I don't have to tackle the big mess in the kitchen. You can see that I've changed my blog a little bit. I was trying to get a cute thing on it, and I followed the directions, but I can't get it to work. Oh well. I had a doctor's appointment early this morning. Everything is fine right now. Still waiting for another few weeks though. For those of you who don't know, we are having a boy. I know I got on my soap box about that, but we were pretty sure anyway, and we were having such trouble coming up with names (still haven't decided), and I really wanted to get rid of some things, like the mounds of girl clothes we have. So we are excited that it will work out so well with bedrooms and play mates and stuff. I also figured out that the age difference between Ema and Elena is almost exactly the same as between Eli and this one.

We are hoping to have a yard sale this weekend if I can kick it into high gear. Next weekend is Daniel's birthday, and then after that, I'm just hoping I will be recovering by that time and not still waddling and I won't be able to have a yard sale. We have been putting it off for some time now and I would LOVE to get the stuff out of our garage. I finally ordered our bassinet last week only to find out that it has been discontinued. I found it still in stock on amazon so hopefully we will at least have that soon. I don't understand why it would be discontinued because it has 4.5 stars and is not too high priced compared to some I saw. It also is a multi-function thing. Hopefully it will work out.

Ema is still enjoying school for the most part. We got her 4-week report today and the only area she needs to work on is listening and paying attention. Kinda like at home. I need to go grocery shopping tonight and get busy on some things. I'm just not real motivated right now. I guess that's all I have to say right now.