Just the Five of Us....ish

We got back yesterday from a week long beach vacation with just the five of us.....ish. (We did have some friends come down and share our beach house with us for one night) but the rest of the time, it was the Fischer Five and we haven't done that in about five years. 

 

It was time.

And it was awesome.

As I've said before, the kids are at that great age where they would bake all day in the hot sun and sand if we let them. They had such a blast together and we had a blast watching them.

I'll let the pics speak for themselves.

There's a plethora. 

What can I say? I like the camera and the beach and salty, happy kids.

 

 

And there were mucho surf lessons this week. And I have to say, I was impressed with my kids mad surfin' skills. Lord knows, they did not get that from me. I tried once.....a long time ago.....and we almost got divorced..... So I relish my role as photographer now that he has new subjects to teach. :)

 

 

 And this is what they looked like most nights.

And dang.

These three people?

These little souls that God entrusted me with?

They're pretty cool kids.

And I know I'm biased, but really, I like them. A lot.

Our transition back to being home has not been a smooth one. It has been full of screaming and four of us needing a lot of extra patience to help one of us understand that we're home and we're staying put for awhile and that it's okay if his toothpaste is a little bit crooked or his brother wants to play something different or his chair is not perfectly aligned at the dinner table.

And during the screaming and the crying and the needing more than I sometimes feel I have the energy to give, I come back and look at these pics and I know. 

It was worth it.

 

Beaches and Weddings

I have a to-do list today that's longer than my arm, so of course it is the perfect time to catch up on the blog.

Our summer has been action packed with trips and friends and family time - just the way we like it.

Todd's cousin, Trevor, tied the knot last weekend on the Outer Banks. It was gorgeous and fun and Todd officiated, which means he walked around a lot and said that he was "marrying his cousin" which was pretty humorous.

And of course, we had a great time with our cousins on the beach:

Todd and Kenlee? 

Nough said.

After beach time, it was wedding time:

Lachlen. Nough said.

Todd's Nana and her sister were precious. Absolutely precious. They never get to see each other and I could have sat and watched them for days. Precious, I tell ya.

Isaac and Will acting out Todd's role. Hilarious.

Love this pic!

They happy couple with the Fischer's.

What a great day and a blessing to be involved!

Congratulations Trevor and Connie!!!!

300 grams of yummy fatness.....

Owen stepped up on the scale and the nurses and I crossed our fingers and held our breath.

31 pounds is the goal - the magic number we've been waiting for over a year.

31.1

Bam! 

Three hundred grams of neocate yumminess sent us out of the 29/30 pound slump we've made our dwelling place.

There was dancing and hooting and hollering and even an impromptu muscle show.

The gain was small. 

 

But we're hoping it was a big step in the right direction.

We're starting a new medicine to help with motility after I get back from Texas so the adventure continues. But my lil' muscular trooper  is taking it all in stride.

Way to go, Owen!

And what better way to celebrate than lunch with Dad?

PS - I also had a doctor appointment that day. I too have put on some weight...... The nurses and doctors didn't do a happy dance though. What the What? I was disappointed. Apparently you're only allowed to celebrate on the little ones......... Owen stole my weight gaining thunder.

Sigh. 

 

Apparently it's time to stop stress eating.......

Celery, anyone?

All things Considered

Fab Fischer Five Update:

The creative juices aren't flowing so I'm just jumping in without an intro.

Forgive me.

The littlest has finished his year of pre-school. We will miss Bridges and Beyond; it was a great place for him to be, but I'm excited to see where the road leads next and which special teachers are going to come into our lives to help us get into the groove of public schooling with a label.

And I had this big, long, hairy post about how we (or mainly I) was handling everything that came hurtling at us last month, but when I read through it again, it just makes me sad. Because I wrote it in the midst of everything and it is grief. Plain and simple gut wrenching grief about what my boy was going through and will continue to go through. And maybe one day I'll post it, but we're moving past grief, so I'm not so much feeling it right now. Which is a good thing. And a God thing.

 Llllloooooonnnnngggggg story short: It was a crappy month, and I felt depression lingering but God is good and we are moving forward. I will say this to all the well meaning people out there (including my old, naive self) hearing that your child is autistic, no matter their level of "functioning," just plain hurts. If you know a Mama going through that, just hug her, and send her funny texts, and distract her and pray for her and with her, and make her watch Pitch Perfect so she can laugh. Don't try to point out all the great things about her child. Believe me, nobody knows how awesome that sweet child is more than she does. She just needs time to accept the hurdles of the path facing him. And she will get there, but it won't be in one day and it won't be in a nice pretty package, and it won't be without shedding a tear or two.  Please trust me when I say I am not criticizing. I've said the wrong thing so many times that I should probably just have my foot surgically removed and placed permanently in my mouth. I'm just trying to help by saying that when you don't know what to say, a hug and an "I'm here for you" goes a long way.

Here's Owen and the bigs with their great grandmother who is as precious as the day is long.

She doesn't really remember who we are, but she was damn excited to see us. And she also really wanted to know when she could eat again and I totally get that.

We had a great holiday weekend visit with Todd's parents.  The bigs are winding down their school year. Emma Grace is flying through books like it's nobody's business and Isaac is all things basketball these days. We're finally getting the hang of this whole feeding tube thing and I haven't had to change the sheets due to a feeding leak in a week now. Woot woot. And so, all things considered, we're chugging right along.

Oh and just in case you need a baby fix...........

I get to hold this sweet girl next week!

I'm coming, Ellie Kate! 

Try not to grow anymore before I can get there and kiss those scrumptious lips and smell your tufts of baby hair.

Guess What?

Hey guess what?!

(Anybody that knows Isaac knows every story starts with "guess what?")

Our lil Habesha turned 7 on Sunday.

SEVEN!

How did that happen?

And guess what? Our week was full of sporty birthday celebrating adventures that started with a Mudcats game and continued on through a party with a few of our closest friends and family at Adventure Landing.

Guess What? Adventure Landing was a little bit way too much sensory overload for the youngest so he did this:

And guess what? The diva enjoyed time with her cousin as always. They rocked the Fruit Ninja Machine like it was nobody's business.

And after an epic photobomb, we came home to pizza, cake, and presents.

And of course the weekend would not be complete without some last minute "Fischer plan changes" that allowed the diva to go camping for the night with her cousins. But guess what? Despite the rain, she had a blast!

Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate!

And guess what, Isaac?

You are one amazing son!! And I'm so glad you're mine! And I can't wait to continue watching you grow and change and become the person God created you to be. You rock my socks and make me laugh and I can't imagine life without you!

Happy 7th, Sweet Boy!

New Life

Baby Sister - 

You wait at the hospital now with your beautiful belly and your anxious smile.

We text back in forth because it's the only way I can be with you from a thousand miles away.

I would give anything to be by your side as you welcome your third little one into your life.

I can't wait to see the plans God has for your tiny one. Will she be laid back and all long limbs like Luke? Or will she be a spit-fire who gets into everything like precious Lainey? Or will she be neither? Will she be her own version of the perfect creation that God knit in your womb?

And you? I know sometimes you doubt it now, but you will be an amazing mom yet again. You will love her with the fierceness that you love your other two. You will be sleep deprived and tired and happy and anxious and wonder how you will juggle it all? Three kids four and under?! What were you thinking?! You'll ask yourself that, but juggle it, you will. And you will do it with love and grace and your amazing sense of humor.

And surprisingly enough, the years will fly though the days will be long.

And soon enough you won't remember what it was like before you were a family of five.

And from North Carolina, I will always be rooting you on like I am today.

I love you, sweet sister!

You are the best friend a girl could ever ask for. 

I can't wait to watch your two little girls grow up to form the bonds of sisterhood on their own.

They are so blessed.