Definitely Safe to Say

That today was not a good day.

When your child screams all afternoon and then still has tears rolling down his cheeks after he's fallen asleep on you at dinner time.........

Nope.

Not a good day.

But we've had a lot of not good days around here,

so I know that tomorrow could be better.

It often is.

In other news.....

We often worry that Owen's health issues will negatively affect the other kids.

But tonight proved otherwise, because while Owen did this:

(screamed through Todd's attempts to cheer him up)

the older two crazies were having a dance partay in the living room.

Who doesn't wear their brother's Easter basket on their head for dance parties?

Regular hats are so last year.

 

Saddle Up for Summer

Howdy.

Isaac graduated from preschool on Friday.

It was a western theme.

Not sure why...... I guess that's just how we roll in Knightdale.

And I reckon I was that mom. 

You know - the one who sent him to school in an orange shirt when he was supposed to be wearing red, white, or blue. 

You know - the mom the teachers are cursing while they scramble to try to find something that will make do.

Yessiree. That was me.

I reckon I was also that mom who was proud to see her little boy standing up on that stage with that there "diploma."

Yup - our days of school are quickly coming to an end.

Summer is here for Isaac and right around the corner for Emma Grace.

Our favorite afternoon activity of running to the bus stop is quickly dwindling until next August.

Swimsuits and towels are out drying on the deck and running just got a heckuva lot sweatier.

Our favorite moment:

Isaac literally counts down the minutes until his sister gets off that bus.

Next year Owen and I will be greeting two of them at the bus stop.

Crazy Weird.

So in keeping with our western theme:

Happy Almost Summer Y'all!

Detour

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
-Jeremiah 29:11

I keep coming back to this verse.
Over and over and over.
And often, I replace the word "you" with "Owen."
Because I know God has plans for him.
Plans to prosper and not harm him.
Plans to give him hope and a future.

So as I make plans I don't want to make,
as I make plans to leave in two weeks and travel 10 hours away from the rest of my family,
as I make plans to watch Owen go through five weeks of intensive therapies and medical tests,
I reflect and repeat this verse over and over and over in my head.
It's like a broken record running through my brain.

This was not my plan for my son.
This was not my plan for my other two kids over the summer.

But I'm trying my best to trust His plan.

It's not always easy, but I know He plans to prosper and not harm Owen.

And I'm ready for some prospering.

Bring it.

My counselor (yes, I've been going to counseling) suggested using this blog for support in the coming months.
So I'm going to step out of my comfort zone and use it as he suggested.

I will use this blog to keep my family and friends posted on Owen's progress.

I will use it to vent.

And I hope that I will use it to share many victories.

So blog readers and prayer warriors, let's get this prospering party started.

Let's pray for the doctors and therapists at St. Joseph's.
Let's pray for my older kids as they adjust to five weeks without Mom and brother.
Let's pray for the awesome friends and family that are stepping in to help us out with child care.
Let's pray for my husband and I to have peace about all this.

And let's pray for this guy.
He has no clue what he's about to go through.
But God made him tough.
And God has plans to prosper him and not to harm him.

God has plans to give him hope and a future.

And for that, I'm eternally grateful.

Celebrate, we did.

A long long time ago (3 days)

in a galaxy far far away (or in this house)

Isaac joined the evil forces of the dark side to celebrate his fifth.

The rebel forces ate pizza, played games, ate cake and ice cream, and went home pumped up on "yoda soda" and sugar.

Isaac had a blast and got to spend time with both sets of grandparents as well.

Thanks everyone for helping Darth Vader celebrate his fifth birthday!

Happy Birthday

Happy 5th Birthday to my Isaac,

who loves to talk and talk and talk and talk,

who always wants to hold my hand and snuggle,

who loves everything Star Wars and Transformers,

who asks me out regularly on walks or dates,

who almost always has a smile on his face,

who loves to climb and run and be 110% boy,

who taught me that love is definitely not based on blood,

who teaches me patience daily,

who is most definitely a daddy's boy,

who I love dearly.

Of whom I'm very, very proud.

Stalkerazzi

I got back from TX last night.

My trip was fantastic.

My sister is a rock star. Seriously.

She adjusts to new babies better than I adjust to a normal day. :)

And I fell hard for Little Lainey.

We joked that I was stalking her, 

but I really think I may have scared her parents a little bit.....

It was also the most one-on-one time I've had with Lukie and he is a hoot!

This is his mean football face:

(Scary. I know)

And here's the new love of my life:

I mean, seriously?! 

Can you blame me for stalking her?

Luke's preferred mode of transportation:

The kids with their dad (or Thor as we called him.)

My sister two weeks after giving birth....and already thinner than I am.

(Don't worry, I told her to bite me.)

I love Todd, but I miss my little roommate. 

She stayed in bed with me until about 1:00am each night.....

when I gave up and took her back to her mama to do all the hard work.

This is what she did when she was ready for me to put the camera away,
quit stalking her, 

and let her get some sleep:

Thank you Sarah Ellen and Stephen for sharing your beautiful family with me!

If at all possible, it would be great if you could keep them from growing until I see you again.

All My Exes Live in Texas

Okay, actually none of my exes live in Texas,

but my sister (and my brand new niece) does.

So I'm leavin' on a jet plane bright and early in the morning.

And while I'm sure I'll miss these three hooligans and all of our backyard fun,

I'm looking forward to being in the same state as my sister (or as Todd calls her, "my other soul mate") and snuggling Little Lainey.

PS - Good Luck Todd. 

May the force be with you.

The Joys of Motherhood

One of the sweetest things my kids did for me on Mother's Day Morning was to, on their own accord because their dad was already at work, make me a mother's day card.

They were hurrying because I was in the shower getting ready for church and they wanted to surprise me when I got out.

So sweet.

Except when I got out of the shower, I saw two heads bent furiously over the table scrubbing with wet paper towels. The oldest one had tears streaming down her face.

Yup.

Sharpies.

Even though they both made the card, she was the one who chose the markers. 

(The same markers that I've asked her not to use before.)

I do love the card, especially how Isaac wrote his name.

I do not love that we have tried everything to get the marker out and will now have get the table refinished.

I do still love her and I'm posting this picture to prove that she is still alive and well:

Happy Mother's Day to me.

Happy Mother's Day

If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.  ~Robert Brault

  

Happy Mother's Day to the women who changed my life.

Happy Mother's Day to the women who change lives every day.