Friday, October 12, 2012

Rapunzel she is not!

Little Princess is well a princess. 
She might be Cinderella, she likes shoes.
She might be Belle, she likes to read and dance.
She might be Snow White, fair complected, dark hair, ruby red lips.
Rapunzel she is not.
Stick her in a tower, she will not let down her hair.
She will CLIMB out of her tower and be free.
She is sweet.
She is tender.
She is kind.
She is loving.
She is compassionate.
She is STRONG!
 
There was a climbing competition at the Y this weekend.
We weren't sure how to make it work. 
Hockey Player had a tournament in OKC.
Then my head cold worsened.
I wasn't sleeping well.
In a hotel, that is not a good thing.
It was decided best for everyone if mom stayed home.
The girls were given the choice.
Then Fun Girl's cold worsened.
Little Princess definitely didn't want to be alone with the boys.
AND she had a competition to entice her away from a trip out of town.
As the boys drove south, we headed north to the Y.
 
Warming UP!
 
Stretching and demonstrating flexibility
 
 
 
Half way across the boulder
 
 
It is hard to tell in this photo, but she is hanging on by her finger tips.
She is trying to get her footing so she can inch her way to the right.
 
 
To the corner and now to cross the bridge!
 
 
Pulling up and heading to the red and yellow markers on the right
 
 
Touched at last!
 
 
One exhausted girl
750 points
She took 2nd place. 
7 point difference between her and first.
She tied her friend for second.
She chose chalk as her prize.
 

Thursday, October 11, 2012

I am soooo excited and this email is why!!!

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Jane, she is a favorite part of my week!

I first met Jane 8 or 9 years ago. 
Fun Girl wanted to learn to play violin.
A friend recommended Jane. 
She even took me to her kiddos lessons. 
Still wasn't too sure about entering the world of music lessons.
I knew in theory, I knew music instruction was invaluable.
But private lessons and the cost of the instrument had me concerned....
well invaluable, means there is a value.
A big commitment.
As always, God has provided. 
Since that day, all but our youngest have gone to Jane for lessons.
Fun Girl started with violin.
Then she added piano as Hockey Player started to play.
Fun Girl has moved on in her interests but to Jane's we go every week.
Hockey Player
Little Princess
Dad's Bud
and maybe one day The Man
Jane's home is one the children adore.
Her yard is something out of the Secret Garden.
Lots to discover,
a tire swing for waiting siblings
daffodils in the spring
cats and kittens lounging in the sun....
in her home...
piles and piles of music...
and she knows where each piece is located.
I believe every she has kept every gift every student has given her.
A testament of the love and respect given to her by all who enter her life.
 
 
Before every recital piece is played, the performer
must stand, tell his name, age, grade and something about him/herself
and the piece to be played.
Meanwhile, siblings are encouraged to get comfortable
and pet the audience.
 
 
garlands of glitter and pizzazz
sparkles and memories
 
 
momentos of a life time of teaching
 
 
When I look around, I can't help but smile.

Counting to 700......

Counting to 700...
676.  Rain and the cooler temperatures it brings....changes of seasons.
677.  Quiet of the hour
678.  Sunrises exploding in His glory

679. Early morning exuberance
680. The Man's joyful heart
681. Tears because (he) might not get to say his verses
682. A warrior who is fighting pneumonia and fatigue but doesn't stop his memory work and comes to Awana only to say his verses
683. Driving home and always seeing the flag waving at us. 
 
 
 


684.  Late bloomers
 
685.  Piano Recitals and Piano Teachers who love to teach!
686.  Cool fall weather
687.  Central heat
688.  Time with just my girls
689.  Inner and Physical Strength of my Little Princess
690.  Pumpkin Patches
691.  Playing with my children
692.  Playing with my mom friends
693.  Giggling uncontrollably
694.  The sense of abandonment of being out in the country
695.  Big wide open spaces for Dad's Bud
696.  Allergies that stay quiet while I play
697. Coming home to laundry folded and put away
698.  When hubby takes the day off to play
699.  Watching my children snuggle their dad
700.  Smiles on caregivers faces as they "play" with my Granny.
 

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

It starts with a drip...then a sneeze

It all starts here, hopefully not at the shirt sleeves.
But if they start with shirt sleeves, they are quickly directed to here.
 
 
Inevitablely, they end up here.  Normally in front of the tv during the day.
Sleeping here, at night, to be close to mommy and daddy.
 
 
And if they are truly going to be sick.
It will be at 3 am
because kids are never sick during the day.
That would interfere with play and fun.
It must be at night only. 
When a mother and father desperately need their sleep.
If the cold requires this at 3 am.....
 
 
You can be sure mom and dad call the doc in the morning.
Mom and dad need sleep to play and have fun during the day.
Not sure why kids don't need sleep for that.
Doc will do Xrays.
Doc will diagnose pneumonia in "THE MAN"
He won't hesitate.
He won't hint.
He won't say it is patchy.
He says it is pneumonia.
He looks at The Man sadly.
Cause mom dropped the ball this time.
At 3 in the morning, Mom was too sleep deprived and missed the signs of distress.
But all is good now.
Antiobiotics.
Steroids.
Breathing treatments around the clock.
 
 
And today he is playing! 
And Dad and Mom are tired.
Dad sleeps on the couch for now.
Mom types. 
Naps are soon to come.

He is armed and dangerous

This past weekend, I stayed home sick.  It was hockey weekend in OKC. We are still waiting on news if there will be any more tournaments this year. We are short on numbers for a team. Parents are thinking and discussing. So, it was with disappointment, I chose to stay home. It might be the only tournament of the year and I am missing it.
 
Coughing and blowing and sneezing in a car...in a hotel room...not fun, not fun for anybody. 
Definitely is not a recipe for good rest for every one there.
 
So I stayed home.
The girls stayed too.
 
Daddy O did his best to keep me updated.
 
First game, I received multiple texts.
Boys were doing great and winning.
First game was a win!
 
Rest and food and fun
 
Game 2
Daddy O texts with scores.  Then Daddy O calls. He is concerned about Hockey Player. Coach is not putting him on the ice. My first thought is his foot. Daddy O doesn't know. I ask if I should call coach on the bench and he tells me No.
**sigh**
All I want to do is be there, cross the ice, and check on my boy. Coach recently assured me, he remembers the rules.  I pray and wonder.
 
Another phone call Daddy O was able to attract Hockey Player's attention.
Did thumbs up and thumbs down....HP's response ~ thumbs down.
 
Sigh...so far away.
Game is over, we lost and my thoughts are on HP
Daddy O calls and reports in,
Hockey Player says, "My arm feels broken. Like all the other broken bones."
 
Any other time, I would laugh.
 
But he is in another state and I want him home.
Daddy O tells me he has limited mobility.  Hurts to move his hand or hold anything. I suggest (in my mommy way) to skip the ER. All they will do is XRay and confirm.  No bone sticking out so emergency surgery is not required. They will tell us to follow up with our doc.
 
Cha-ching $150 for the hospital.
 
Come home.  Immediate care on Sunday with out doc. We have had so many mis-diagnosises, I prefer for him to discover my kid's fractures...
 
Call one of the other hockey moms and ask, "Is Dad giving me the sanitized version?"
Yes and No.  He missed the hit, cause little brothers were distracting him.
 
I get the story.
 
HP went to the boards, his hand was on the boards
another player came in broadside to his arm
all legal
but sticks, hits and power
I know in my heart it is broken.
What IT is, is the question.
Wrist
Both arm bones
 
They come home.
Difficulty sleeping...
My boy is stoic and quiet...more so than usual.
He doesn't antagonize his sisters.
I can see the pain in his eyes.
 
At the doctors, he is all quiet and laid back.  Not really giving doc details.  So I step in, that is what Moms do, right?  Doc examines and pulls and not a single word or OW or stop. That is what I get at home.
 
I step in again and tell doc, he is too quiet for his own good.
 
Doc, very politely tells me, "I see him flinching, I know."
 
hmmmph, I guess I need to be still  Really hard to do...my 3.5 pound bag of sugar is hurt.  Did I mention I wrapped my arms around him the night before and cried. Cried and cried until he asked if he could "..go to bed now?"  I see the man he is becoming, but I also see him as 6.5 weeks earlier and 3.5 pounds in a isolette in the NICU.  The tiny bundle my body evicted way too soon.
The tiny boy I sat and covered in prayer and wore my heart on my sleeve for. The tiny baby I fought to bring home with me. I want good for him. I want for him to play hockey if that is what he wants.I want for him to be healthy and whole.
So we go to XRAY.
After XRay we are sent to the procedure room
We are put in an exam room.
I get a little excited, must not be broken.
But doc comes in.
Broken.
Not as bad as it could be considering.
One bone.
Not the wrist.
Not into the growth plate.
Much to be thankful for.
Brace for now, come back during the week to cast it.
Woohoo!  That means he gets to take a couple more normal showers.
Yeah, I love him... I just don't always like to smell him.
He is a teenage boy.
 
 He tries to do his school work this morning.  It is tough, he is right handed and it is his right arm in the cast.  We are getting a lesson in sibling relationships and when it interfere.  Dad's Bud joins us and starts to pester.  I warn Dad's Bud to back off.  But he doesn't know what that means and continues.  He starts messing with HP's arm.  Really?  I warn him.  Then I give HP permission to demonstrate the power of his arm.  Yes, I did.  What else do big brothers do, when little brothers won't back down because they are vying for territory and herd roles of leadership.  Big brothers pop them with their cast and demonstrate they are armed and dangerous and it is best to back down. 
Well Hockey Player didn't whack him.  I grabbed HP's arm and banged it into Dad's Bud's chest a few times until he said ow.  Point made.  Leave your brother alone. He has my permission to settle it.  He won't unless he has to, cause that is the kind of young man he is...
 
Brotherly Force as the last resort.
 
 
 

Pumpkin Patch at home

My children!
Each one is unique.
Each one has their mother's heart.
Each demostrate their individuality in all they do
even when picking their pumpkins. 
Naming is courtesy of my girls!
Left to Right
The Mutant,  The Character, The Alien, Cinderella
HOckey Player,       Fun Girl,       The Man,     Little Princess
 
Boo
Dad's Bud

Pumpkin Patch #3...Last but not least

Favorite glimpses of Autumn.
Taking time to Pause and Enjoy
the Now and Here
It was a beautiful day!
 





 
Another snack break :)






Pumpkin Patch #2...............

After picking our pumpkins
it is time to play!
first stop ~ the air pillow
 
 
When the kids are done playing, the moms will play!
 
 
Trying to not fall on the kiddos!


 
Hubby had fun taking pictures. 
I was trying to jump in the above picture.
But I had the giggles so bad!
I spent most my time on my bottom
Or my knees, trying to get back up!
 
Then it was time for more kiddo time!



 
Fun Girl

 
My dear friend,
 I wish I didn't have to worry about allergies..
I would have jumped on like her!
Doesn't that look like fuN!

 
Little Princess


 
Dad's Bud

 
The Man

 

 
Going down the slide~
Giggling again!

 
Ms. Molly had the perfect idea.
Wish I had thought of it.
She let her son and Dad's Bud
pedal her around the pond!

 
Hockey Player and Joseph

 
Daddy O, Fun Girl and The Man

 
Little Princess with her Daddy