Hi everyone...you thought I forgot about my blog, didn't you? Well, I didn't...I have just had a lot going on. Little man got over Scarlett fever, we had to be out of town for the memorial service, and as soon as we got back we had to deal with a stomach virus. We are all ok now...but I am still climbing over mounds of laundry.

I just wanted to share what has happened in my Little Man's life...it was pretty devastating at first...he cried...begged...but now is much better. You probably can't guess...you may be thinking something bad (we have had a string of bad luck)...no, it is not bad although he may argue a little. We took down the crib! So it is official...I do not have a baby any more. He is not even in a toddler bed...his is in his BIG boy bed. Can you believe it? He is getting used to it...It only takes us about an hour or so to put him to bed now. I read him several books, sing several songs, and then I am instructed to 'sit'! Here are the kids on his big boy bed.

I also wanted to share some photos of the girls at dance...they are getting excited because their recital is getting closer. They love to dance...sweet girl loves ballet (such a princess) and Big girl loves jazz (very active). Here are some great poses for you to see.

I know I am biased...but you have to admit...those girls are cute!

Talk to you soon!

Saying Goodbye

Hello Friends and family.

I know many of you are already aware of this...but I just wanted to post this in case someone does not know. Early Monday morning we lost our Mammaw (the kids call her GiGi). She just had a birthday and I think she was 93...she lived a long life. We all loved her dearly and she loved her great grand babies. We will be saying goodbye to her this weekend.

So just keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this time in our lives. I know we will see her again.

We love you GiGi!

Are you serious?

OK...first things first...Little Man is doing so much better. Several of you have inquired about him and I just wanted you to know that he is doing great. Still on antibiotics...but he is back to himself...tackling the cats, chasing his sisters, jumping on the beds, climbing on the furniture, playing in his food...all those good things that little boys do.

Sweet girl is doing great as well...she seems to be back to normal after the holidays...today she even changed clothes 4 times...so she is almost back to her 6 outfits a day. And yes, she spent most of the day in a swim suit.

Big Girl is back at school and going strong...she even told me today that the Christmas Break was hard on her because her teachers really missed her...so modest!

Many of you that know me have probably heard me say "Are you serious"...it is just a phrase I say a lot. I guess because so many things happen in my life that I need to question if that is 'serious'. I know daddy has heard it over and over again (I don't nag...I just ask him if he is serious...you know when he throws his shoes in the floor, or puts the ketchup on the shelf instead of the door, or drinks out of the jugs in the fridge...can you hear me honey...'Are you serious?') Ok enough about that...remember...I don't nag!

Just today I had a good friend as me if I wanted to go sky diving...and my first response was "Are you serious"...well, she is. The scary thing is that I am thinking about it. I just have to convince my hubby that it is needed therapy...

I have a question for you all...especially those with kids...Did you know that your kids DO actually listen to you? Sometimes I forget that they listen to me. I guess I should say...they listen when they want to. And did you know that they learn to talk by listening to you? Yep, (ok...can't blame little man for that one) they pick up on things that you say only once and things that you repeat all the time. I am still wondering how they decide to pick up on what to remember. I am sure you are wondering what in the world I am talking about...

This afternoon (daddy was out of town) we decided to watch a movie and order pizza before Little Mans bedtime. So I am trying to get things together (pick up a bit) and Little man wants to show me how strong his arm is...of course he can't find a ball...so he just uses a bottle from the girls baby doll and boy does he have an arm. I can't remember the last time something hit me that hard in the head! I still have a headache...and a slight bump. As it hit me...you can guess what I said "Are you serious?"...then I had to nip that in the bud...disciplining a toddler is one thing...but a boy toddler...that is near impossible. But we managed.

So we have ordered the pizza and we are about to start the movie...but it is not working. What is wrong? Mommy is losing patience...Sweet girl has lost her patience (I am ready to watch a movie now!). So mommy has to be a technician...trying to fix the VCR/DVD...Ah ha...found the problem...someone, I am not going to name any names but HE put a DVD in the VCR slot. Big girl was standing right next to me when we discovered the problem...I looked to my Little Man and just as the words are about to come out of my mouth I hear...'Are you Serious?'...Am I dreaming? What is going on? So I look at Big Girl and she is staring at Little Man...Are you serious? I just lost it...I couldn't even scold Little man for the mess up because I was laughing so hard. I told her I guess he seriously wanted to watch a movie and didn't want to wait!

Boy...kids are so funny sometimes...we really need to stop and enjoy the 'little things' because they really are the BIG things in our lives.

It's not a surprise

Hello friends and family...I am writing tonight with a heavy but uplifted heart. As many of you know by now my Little Man has scarlet fever...same virus as the strep virus...but he is a little sick. He is still his happy go lucky self, playing ball and running around...but he looks sick.

When he woke up Tues morning...is head was a bit red (which I thought may have been a slight sunburn from the weekend or an allergic reaction to something) but he did not have fever so I took him to my mother's day out group. That whole day his face seemed to continue to swell and redden and I gave him benadryl. When he woke up Wed morning his face was really swollen and his eyes were swollen...and as I changed his diaper I noticed the rash all over his tummy. So we headed to the doctor.

When the doctor came in I showed her the rash and explained the other symptoms...and she said the rash was a classic strep virus rash. When she looked at his throat, it was fine...but she did the test anyway and while she was doing the test she said that he may have scarlet fever. My response...after the shock...was to ask if people still even get that.

So...she explained to me that it probably started with strep throat but that it was not treated. HELLO...what is she saying...that I did not take care of my kid? So as she was talking...I became a little defensive and that turned to guilt and disappointment in myself. What kind of mother would not realize that their baby was sick? Why didn't I see the symptoms before it lead to something a little worse?

Now, I know what you are thinking...it is not my fault...kids just get sick. The frustrating part is that I tried to think back when Little Man was sick...but I can't really remember any time. He never quit eating or drinking and he never ran a temperature. Now when the girls had strep they had high fevers and the would not eat or drink because their throat hurt so bad. But Little Man did not show any odd signs. So maybe he has a higher pain tolerance? Who knows.

Anyway...he is on antibiotics now and the girls have been so great. Helping mommy, reading to Little Man, and Sweet girl helped me with the laundry today. Of course, last night at bed time both girls complained about a sore throat and headache...I will wait a day or so before I jump to conclusions.

When I found out that I was going to miss my mom's group because my son was still contagious I was a bit sad. I even mentioned it to daddy to see if he might be willing to take off work to stay home so I could go play. Just kidding...I know my kids are more important. When I was talking on the phone and explaining our situation...Big Girl over heard me. So when I got off the phone she came over to sit with me...and she said 'Mommy, you can keep me home from school and I will watch Little Man while you go have fun with your mom friends'. How sweet is that...impossible...but sweet. I thanked her and explained what those friends mean to me. That really made mommy feel better.

Then today, while I was missing my moms group and looking at a sick baby...Sweet Girl ran up to me and said "I love you mommy"...of course it was followed by "Can I have some chocolate milk"...but it still made me feel good.

So through my doubt and frustrations, guilt and anxiety, and feeling inadequate about being a mom...I realized that I am right where I am supposed to be. It was not an accident that I had 3 kids...God planned that...and it was not a surprise to him that my Little Man would get this illness. One of my mom friends (you know who you are) told me on the phone on Wed...'This did not surprise God'...Thanks for those words. He knew this was coming and he knew how I would feel. So he sent a few people...including my precious kids...to have those words that just helped me out. Lifted my spirits and helped me realize...I do what I can. No, I may not be super mom (remember those are the moms that have nannies), but with Gods help I do what I need to do.

Of course I love my kids and do anything and everything to take care of them...I guess it was just planned this way. Maybe I needed to be reminded that God is in control...even when my babies get sick, maybe I was supposed to stay home for several days and just love and hold them, and maybe I needed to hear those uplifting words. Remember...things are not a surprise to God!

Looking back, looking forward, and looking upward!

Hello everyone and Happy New Year...what a nice break I had from the computer. I guess that is why I have not posted much...when you are on the computer as much as I am and get a break...it is easy to just let the computer sit there. Well...I am back to work and Big girl is back to school. I really missed her today.



As most of you know, our lives stay pretty busy. We are already filling up our calender for the new year. January is already full and we are working on February already. Big girl is going to play basketball this year. Well...I don't know if you can call it basketball...I think they have to learn to dribble first. Anyway...she is so excited and the games are 5 Saturdays in a row. So at least we wont be traveling for a while!



Ok...it is official...I can no longer call him Baby Boy...he is so big now. He talks in sentences, and tonight when he was playing hide and seek with the girls and daddy...he started counting with them. I have tried to think of names that better suit their personalities...but that is hard...so I am just going to call him Little Man! He is already due for another hair cut (I am not happy about cutting those curls).



So now I have to brag...yep you heard me...I am going to brag a bit. This weekend my wonderful hubby worked in the yard building me something he would rather not have. A GARDEN!!! I have always wanted one, have had small areas where I have grown certain herbs and veggies, but this will be my first real garden! I can't wait...of course daddy says he doesn't like anything but potatoes...and since he grew up with a garden...he refuses to weed! But that is ok...I am ready for the task. You have to see it...but it is a fenced in area to keep the dogs out...and he even decorated the fence. I do have to say I have the BEST hubby!



Big girl had fun starting back to school today...and she came home with a library book...she can almost read the whole book herself. She is really starting to pick things up...she even read my shirt the other day...'Mommy, that says Big Brown Bat' (yes, I had a bat shirt on)! We are so proud.



Sweet girl really amazes me...thanks to her big sis...she is so smart. She is counting, already writing several letters, and she is spelling a few words. I guess daddy and I are going to have to stop spelling words around them. Her big news is that she moved up to the next class at church. Now this was a big move because she LOVED the teachers in her class. She would even ask sometimes if D was going to be in her class...and if she would see A there. She would run and hug them...and D would hold her all the time (spoiled)...but she made the transition ok. She likes her new class and they get to do art projects...so I think she will be fine.



Ok...just a bit more on Little Man...I already mentioned that he is talking like crazy...he also loves candy (imagine one of my kids liking chocolate)...so he has figured out how to move a chair over to the table and climb on top to get a Hershey kiss (we have moved them to a new location). He also loves peppermints...and knows right where mommy keeps those as well, but he hasn't figured out how to get to them. His new thing is ice...he loves to eat ice...so anytime the freezer opens...he runs and grabs a piece. Needless to say I find several puddles along his path.



So we are all doing great...NOT AVOIDING ANYONE...and seem to be back in the swing of things. I just want to leave you with a few thoughts. Sunday our pastor talked about looking back, looking forward, and looking upward. He mentioned that the past sometimes seems to haunt us, or bring us down. You know...all those things you regret, that you wished you had done, all those 'if only's...and many of you know that I am a worrier (yes, I admit it). But what he said really stuck with me. You can look at it two ways...yes, you can be depressed, disappointed, discouraged and wishful that you could change the past...but the fact it you can't change what has happened...so instead of letting those things bring you down or make you feel like you have failed in some way...but to look at the past as stepping stones...or rather successes that have brought you where you are today. Isn't that good? So all those times I did fail, or wish I hadn't done...they were just steps to get me where I am today. So we can look back and remember those bad times and good times with a contentment to see where we are today...and I just like to sit and think about how wonderful my life is.



My pastor also talked about looking forward...having goals and dreams and being wishful. Of course we have those long-term dreams and goals and it is ok to keep those...but to also make short-term goals. Seeing things happen in your life is amazing. Those of you that know me...just think back at where we were a year ago, 2 years ago...what a change.



And I will end with saying that we should also be looking upward. Having that relationship with our Father to carry us through all the bad times and being there for the good times as well. Sometimes we get so busy in our everyday lives that we forget what our main focus is...and that is God. If we put him first and work on that relationship...everything else will fall into place in His timing.



It is so nice to know at the beginning of what seems to be a hard year ahead that my God is in control!



I love you all!