Tuesday Thankful

Today I'm thankful for my kiddos love for each other. There have been several displays of it today so far, and it just melts my heart!!!

This morning I went down to make sure the boys were getting ready for school. And all three boys were down stairs talking. Dallas was trying to get his shirt on, but had an itch in the middle of his back he couldn't quite reach. So Kaleb says "I can get that for you" and proceeds to rub his brothers back. And said "I'm rubbing it so I don't scratch you. Does that feel better?" It was so sweet!!!

And then I came upstairs, and Dallas was sitting on the couch rubbing Kendyl's back, because she "didn't feel really good." He sat there consoling her, and she was starting to wake up more, and "feel better."

I love how my kids love each other. They may fight like cats and dogs from time to time, but as a whole they get along VERY well! I'm very blessed with such wonderful kids!!!

November pictures of my kiddos!!!

Here are some of my favorites from this weekend! All the kids were dressed up to go to an early Thanksgiving celebration. We celebrated early with Todd's family because his grandma is getting ready to go to AFRICA with Church! We're so excited for her to have this opportunity to attend this missions trip! So my kiddos were all dressed up, looking good. I HAD to take some pictures!!!!!

I love how the twins are looking at the boys in this one!!!

This was my first attempt with all the kids and dogs together!
Easier said than done!!!

Dallas

Gabe

Kaleb

Kendyl

I'm so thankful my kiddos put up with my picture taking habit!!! How can I resist taking pictures of them though! THey're just so cute!!!

Monday thankfuls

Today I'm very thankful for the LACK of road construction around my house!! I know it probably sounds really petty to be thankful for that, but it feels like our lives have been bothered by the construction for SO LONG NOW!!! They're finally done. . .finally! We've been dealing with this for about 6 months now! They collected the last of their signs, collected the last of the barricades, and collected the last of the machinery! Its so EXCITING! Our street looks like a street again, vs. looking like a gigantic mud pit. It really is something to be thankful for!!! My kids can play outside again with no worries of being in any ones way!!!!



YAY!!!

Things I'm thankful for!

This is something I started doing on my facebook page. . . but I wanted to put it here too, so that I had it for me for later!!!

The goal is to come up with something each and every day that you're thankful for, until Thanksgiving rolls around. And I feel that I have a lot to be thankful for, so I'm going to give it a shot!!!



Today, I am thankful for FRIDAY!! Friday means the start of the weekend, and time at home with my beautiful kiddos, and usually, my wonderful husband!!!! I'm thankful for the different more laid back pace of the weekend, and the family time that happens!!!!



What are you thankful for today?

Struggles as a parent.

There are some things that as a mommy, I find heart breaking. The number one thing on that list is tears on my child's face. There's something about a tear running down those precious faces that just brings me to my knees! I know that through life they're going to have struggles, and challenges to face. I also know that tears will happen right along with the joys. But man. . .the tears hurt.

Today we found out that Gabe will be changing rooms in school. The enrollment numbers for 2nd and 3rd grade are so high that they've hired a new teacher for each grade. Todd and I have been praying that it would be Dallas (in 3rd grade) to get moved, rather than Gabe (in 2nd grade). Dallas is so easy going, and takes change and adapts to well. Big changes like this are harder for Gabe. But we knew that the likely hood of Gabe getting moved was higher. He and his cousin Kyle are in the same class, and have been having issues with it. So we knew. . . We knew it would be one or the other, and knowing that student wise Gabe is the harder student, we had a feeling it would be him moved.

There are some benefits that are going to come with this move. . . He will be down sizing from a class of 28, to a class of 20. That will of course leave more time for the teacher to focus attention on the students that may need it, and give more one on one time for each child. This also does split Gabe and Kyle. I know the boys love being in the same room, but I think the individuality of different rooms will be a good thing for both boys to have. They have kind of used each other as a crutch to fall back on. Neither have really branched out and met more kids in the class, because they have each other, and they know each other.

I'm just feeling for my Gabey. He bawled when I gave him the news. He went through the list of usual 2nd grade worries. But the top on his list were the "what if I don't know anyone" questions. He's very shy, and doesn't put himself out there like Dallas does. It takes more effort and work for Gabe to make friends. He's slow to trust, but has such a strong friendship when you are at that level. I know he'll be fine in the long run. . .but still. The tears. They crush me every time. I'm their mommy. I'm supposed to be able to fix the hurt, and fix the worry. I'm the mommy. I'm supposed to be able to protect and be the strong one. But I find that as they grow older, and the problems become more complex, its harder to know where to step in, and where to let them experience life with gentle guidance, prayer, and reassurance.

At this point all we can do is sit back and pray that everything transitions smoothly. That Gabriel feels comfortable, and secure in his new room, and that we don't see any set backs academically from him. We know he's already struggling a little. . . so we're really hoping the smaller class size will help him some. And at this point we'll just pray that his sweet, loving nature shines through and that he is surrounded by friends that will truly enrich his life.


On that note. . . I figure I'll share Dallas and Gabe's school pictures this year!!!

Dallas: 8 years old, 3rd grade

Gabriel: 7 years old, 2nd grade

And again I say, its been forever.

Wow. It amazes me how so much time can lapse between visits to this blog. It amazes me how life seems to speed by in a hurried rush that doesn't allow for me to sit down and let my mind relax. I find these days that that is what it takes for me to be able to update. And I find that most days I just can't let my mind slow down enough to empty out!!

I'll start by updating about the things I've recently talked about. . .namely my aunt. She's come SO far in the last three weeks! She's finally out of the coma, and has been moved to a rehab hospital on the other side of town. She's starting to mouth words (can't talk due to the trach they have placed in her) and is recovering physically each day. There is still a very long road a head of her, but she's AMAZING! She still has days that are spotty with who and what she remembers. But I have all the confidence in the world that that will improve with time.


Todd and I are doing well. Things are starting to get really really busy for Todd. He has many commitments with church which keep him gone a minimum of 2 nights a week. He's involved in many different musical things, which suits him VERY well. We miss him while he's gone, but I'm so glad that he's able to do things that he loves!!!

We're still struggling with the whole medical insurance thing. We had applied and had our kids on MA as a back up medical plan. They went through Todd's as the primary, and MA as their secondary to help cover the medical costs that we simply can't afford with how insanely expensive his medical is. . . and then I got an income from doing day care. . .and it puts us 100.00 a month OVER the limit to get help. Its been DEVI STATING to us. It takes away the freedom to take my child to the doctor if he needs to be seen. Because right now we have 900 going out the door in premium each month, and we still have to meet a 5,000 deductible. Its insane. I hate being in this place. As a parent I want to be able to take my child to the doctor whenever they NEED it. And right now we wait as long as humanly possible because the cost is a minimum of 175.00 per trip. Money I just don't have.

Other than that, I think we're finally starting to feel settled into the house. We have most everything unpacked, and we've even been able to start working on the basement some. For the last several months that has been the dumping grounds for anything and everything we haven't wanted to deal with just yet. The unfortunate part in all that was that the boys had to walk through that to get to their room. But its now about 70% cleared out and I'm feeling pretty good about the progress. The goal is to get the basement sheet rocked, and finished, and the basement bathroom finished by February so that I have throw a party here for my husband who will be turning the big 30. . . we'll see how the progress goes!!!



The kiddos. . .I think I'll update on them one by one.

KALEB:

My bubby boy. Where to begin! He's such a sweet little boy! He's so loving, and caring. And his love for animals grows more and more each day!! On the flip side of that loving caring little boys is a temper waiting to happen! You can see that temper flip in two seconds flat. I think its because of his deep emotions that we see these flips!!

Kaleb is really enjoying preschool! He's getting to know the other kids, and I think he also really enjoys having Kendyl there with him!!! His conferences went really well! They're going to look into getting him some speech therapy, but other than that, he's right on track!!!

A couple weeks ago I found a lump on Kaleb's belly. I took him to the doctors immediately. This lump is about the size of a pea, just up and right (his right) of the belly button. The doctor seems to think that it is just a fatty cyst. We have to see a specialist to be sure, but for now there is no immediate concern.

He continues to be into animals, Diego, and Tigger and anything blue. But has now added Cars, and Buzz light year to the list!!!

KENDYL:

My princess!! Kendyl is turning into a real girly girl! But the funny thing is, I think she'd be the most content if she could be dressed up like a girly girl, wrestling in the mud with the boys!!! She can hold her own with those three!! And she also knows just what to do to keep them wrapped right around her little finger!!!

Kendyl got her ears pierced in August, and has just now hit the point where she can switch them out for other earrings! And she's LOVING it!!! Anything pink or purple is good with her! Its so cute to see her whole face light up with excitement over them when we change them out!!!

Kendyl is becoming quite the mommy's girl! She is forever telling me how much she loves me, and even told me this last week that when she grows up she wants to be just like mommy! I know that these days are short lived, so I'm eating it up!!!

She still continues to be into Tinkerbell, and anything girly that's pink and purple, my little ponies, and necklaces. But has added to the list, earrings (now that she has pierced ears!) and barbies (since her aunt got her one!).

GABRIEL:

Mr. Gabe. Where do I start with him? He continues to be one of the biggest challenges I face day to day. He's very much like Kaleb in the fact that he's one of the sweetest boys you'll ever meet. But the SECOND things don't go his way, WATCH OUT! The temper that this little man possesses scares the living whits out of me. He gets angry, and ANYTHING around him can become his next victim if he's in the right mood. I'll lash out and hit a sibling, he'll slam doors, he'll make faces behind my back (or so he THINKS they're behind my back.). The list could go on. These rages seem far and few between, but its still something we're struggling with!

Gabriel is SO passionate about the things he loves. He loves fiercely and with his whole heart. We see this often times with family, and friends. He loves so strongly that it takes nothing for him to be heart broken at the drop of a hat.

Gabriel had his conferences last week as well. And things DEFINITELY need to improve this year. I think a big portion of what we're seeing right now is difference in teachers from last year to this year. Things that last years teachers took more in a free spirit-that's just Gabriel-light this teacher wants fixed NOW. His writing for example. Its something he struggles VERY much with. This teacher wants to see him working towards improving that day by day. And we agree whole heatedly. He's a very smart kid, and excels very much in math. Reading he is still a head, but unless its something that Gabe is passionate about, he has NO desire to read about it.

He continues to be VERY passionate about donkeys, sharks, batman and pirates. He's also still very into the color blue.

DALLAS:

Mr. Dallas. . . Where to start with him? Dallas continues to be our tender heart. He's a very emotionally driven child, and VERY into the emotions of those around him. He's very in tune to if someone is upset, and what he can do to help make it better. He has an amazing talent for brightening peoples days!

We're working with Dallas on appropriate talking times, and when he's just simply sharing too much. Dallas has ALWAYS been a talker, and could talk to a brick wall for 4 hours and STILL have something new to say. Its one of his blessings, but can also be a curse for him. He will often tell people he doesn't even know way more information than they needed. We're working with him on filtering the things that come out of his mouth. We don't want to take away from his natural God given ability to be comfortable with anyone, at any time. But sometimes when his mouth gets away from him he's hurting feelings of those around him, or offending someone depending on the case, and he doesn't even realize it until its too late.

Dallas had his conference last week as well. He continues to soar above most of his class mates, and six weeks into the school year has already completed 85% of the third grade standards. The teachers goal is to continue to find things to challenge him and keep him plugged into the class. He isn't alone in this excelled studies. There are a few other kids in the class in the same boat, so they are often times grouped together and allowed to work together on the things that are more challenging.



All in all life has been pretty good. There's been ups and downs but honestly, where in the roller coaster of life will you not find those!?!?! We deal with our struggles day to day, and keep putting one foot in front of the other marching farther on, one day at a time!!!

There's been awesome progress with my aunt!!!

And while she still remains in the ICU, there's been progress! For the first time in almost two weeks, she opened her eyes!!!! She's starting to come out of her coma and is giving us signs that she's coming back around!!! I'm so excited!!!


Here's the link to her caringbrigde site!!!



CaringBridge


I'm SO excited!!!!