A Week of Lasts

I recently read an article (or someone else's blog post) about remembering your child's "lasts".  We are always so focused on remembering and documenting our children's "firsts", but do you remember the last time you rocked your baby to sleep?  Or the last time your child cutely mispronounced a word?

I remember the end of the school year, every year (even when I was teaching), my mom would start about the last month saying, "Four more Mondays until summer vacation," etc.  Then, the last week, the phrase would change to "This is the last Monday of your (insert grade level here) year."  It was, as a teenager, a little annoying, but looking back at it, I wouldn't have changed it.  It made that last week of school a little more bearable, and because I knew the phrase was coming, I (as annoying as it may have been) looked forward to hearing it from Mom.

So, why am I thinking about "lasts" this week?  Well, because this is our last week as a family of three.  Our entire world is about to change and turn upside down, and I'm not so sure that any of us really know just how much it's about to change.  Of course, I think M will have the biggest adjustment as she learns that she has to share her world with someone else, now...permanently.  However, Jon and I will also have big adjustments to make as well.  So maybe saying that M has the biggest adjustment to go through may not be totally accurate.  Perhaps the adjustments will be of proportionate size, but it seems like a bigger adjustment for her because of her age/size/coping skills.

Still, I am excited about this life change coming next Thursday.  I am trying to think of ways that I can make the next several days extra special for M while hoping that it doesn't make her adjustment period even harder.  I'm also trying to do special things that are cheap or free and in air conditioning.  I'm trying to say yes a few more times than I say no, keeping the computer off my lap so that she can sit in it to snuggle, etc, all the while still attempting to correct the bad attitudes and frustrations in both of us that I have recently been modeling to her.

I would like to say that those behaviors are getting better (knock on wood), and truly I think they are.  I have had to consciously keep myself in check (which is difficult when I'm not sleeping great, the extreme heat that I can't seem to get away from, and all the other "joys" and discomforts of pregnancy).  I've also realized the importance of my actions and reactions when M displays my example.  Please don't think that I've been oblivious to the fact that children learn by example and not lectures, but there is a big difference between knowing it and practicing it.  I've known it for a long while but unfortunately have taken too long to put it into practice.  I have taken the path of least resistance too long when it comes to setting the right example for M, and now I'm seeing some rough waters heading our way.  Hopefully, with more consistency than in the past, we can navigate those rough waters a little better.

I have completely digressed, though.  This post was supposed to be about "lasts" and quickly turned into lessons I have learned in the parenting journey lately.  Oh well, I guess that's what happens sometimes when you start to blog late at night and take a break to go to bed.  Haha!

Let me close this post by encouraging you that as our family enjoys this last week of just the three of us, don't forget to pay attention to and document your kiddos' "lasts" as well as their "firsts".

Manna Bags

Yesterday morning, M and I went to playgroup with some other SAHMs from Sunday School and their kids.  The group gets together about once a month, and we do a different activity each time.  Sometimes it's just a different play place; other times we do a service project of some kind.  This month, we made Manna Bags which is basically a kit to keep in the car that should sustain a person (of need/homeless) for one day just like God provided daily manna for the Israelites while they were wandering in the desert.  It's simple to make.  Basically, you fill a gallon size Ziploc bag with a can of ravioli or soup (something with a pop-top; nothing that would require a can opener), spoon, a fruit cup/applesauce, a stick of beef jerky, a breakfast/cereal bar, a granola bar, a bottle of water, pair of socks, anti-septic/anti-bacterial wipe, travel size toiletries (soap, shampoo, etc.), and a New Testament or tract.  This is what we included in our Manna Bags, but you could put in whatever you wanted or had on hand.  The idea is that you keep the bag in your car to give to someone holding a cardboard sign on the street corner or to someone else you see in need of some nourishment.  It also provides a great way to teach children about God's daily provision for us, as well as, sharing with and compassion for others.  Here are a few pictures of M filling her bag.  Enjoy!

Preschool Program

Thanks very much to God's provision and timing, we sat on a very short waiting list in January to start M in our church's preschool for two days each week. She had two teachers, Mrs. Debbie and Mrs. Mindy, and 14 students in her class (including her). I'm pretty sure she loved every part of preschool, except her "caboose days" (the days she had to be at the end of the line). She made several friends (big surprise, right?), and one from whom she was practically inseparable. Luckily, this little friend seemed to feel the same way about M.

We enjoyed hearing about her day as she would sing for us the songs she was learning and demonstrate some of her classroom procedures--"okay, boys and girls, 1-2-3 eyes on me..." etc. At the end of the year, her class with two other classes performed a little program that lasted only about 15 minutes which was a good length for 3 and 4 year old attention spans. The songs were really cute, and of course, our little M didn't just tap her rhythm sticks to her own beat but also gave her own little performance just for us. Haha! You can see part of the video below. (I tried posting it to Facebook to no avail.)

We have her registered for the fall in the T/TH older 4's class. So far, she hasn't figured out that she's on summer break. Occassionally she'll ask about packing her lunch or could someone specific take her to school. Since she still doesn't have a concrete concept of time or days, I just tell her maybe that person can take her to school one day. It suffices and she doesn't ask anymore.

Anyway, I noticed it had been a while since I last posted (shock, surprise) and I wanted to share the video of M's program. She's kind of hard to see at first because she's front and center and her music teacher is knelt down almost right in front of her. Jon moved over and back a little way and started getting a better view at that point. Enjoy!

PS--After sitting for 30 minutes or more waiting for the video to upload, it still hadn't and I was ready to go to bed. I am now attempting to post the video separately, in it's own entry and hope that it works. Hopefully, eventually, this computer will let me share the video of my girl. :/

A Baby is Coming...from the Perspective of a Four Year Old

First of all, let me say that one post a month is bettr than no posts in 6 months, right?

Anyway, M has said a few things lately about her sister that have given me a little insight into how this whole baby thing is processing in her mind. I just had to share them. She is obviously getting excited about having a sister, although for a while we were having issues with the name (which isn't Facebook official, yet, so I'm not posting it on here yet either. :( Sorry).

A couple of Saturdays ago, we were looking at bedding and such with my parents to get some ideas of what we might do with the nursery. M found a bouncy ball that she wanted to get for "sister", which we all wondered if she was really being sweet and thinking of Sister or just using Sister to get something she really wanted. Haha! (Then, I kind of felt bad for questioning a four year old's motives.) I actually halfway considered getting the ball, until we discovered that the ball was $8 (and it wasn't really that big). We started trying to encourage her to look for something else for Sister. Anyway, everything she saw, she would say, "We could get this for Sister." I thought it was sweet. By the way, we settled on a bib that says, "I <3 my big sister."

Oh, the name issue--when we first started telling her that she was going to be a big sister and that there was a baby in Mommy's tummy, we weren't sure how well the concept was "clicking" in her little mind. However, we've had so many friends have babies lately or that have younger siblings that M plays with that we thought comparing the baby to a one she already knew might help. Unfortunately, it looked like that idea backfired because once we found out we're having a girl, she immediately started calling her by the name of her friend's little sister and would get angry with us for referring to the baby by our chosen name.

In the last few days, though, she has started referring to the baby by our name and not her friend's name. YAY! One day, she went on a hunt through our house looking for Sister's room (only she used the name). The first place she looked? Her bedroom because she told me one day that she wants Sister to sleep in her (M's) room. I showed her the baby's actual room and she said, "Where is her bed?" Now, this struck me as very funny because of the way the room looks presently. Right now, you can barely see the guest bed, much less the floor!

M has been wanting to start buying baby food for Sister and wants to help feed her when she's born. I was worried that this topic would bring up a whole new conversation that I wasn't quite ready for. However, she was pacified with the answer that yes, she could help feed Sister when she was big enough to eat baby food but that for a little while only Mommy would be able to feed Sister. Yay for her not always caring about the "why"!

Finally, tonight, M informed me that when she was a baby, she was born in Mommy's tummy (I think she meant "from"--at least, that's what I'm hoping) and her friend T was born in Mrs. J's tummy. Then, she said something about a boy-sister (I'm thinking she forgot the word "brother") was born in Daddy's tummy. Hhhmmmm....not quite, honey. I guess she thinks mommies have girls and daddies have boys in their tummies. Anyone else predicting a few "talks" around the corner for our family? And guess who will be having those "talks". Guess it's a good-thing (or a God-thing) that our church is offering Vickie Courtney's "Five Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter" Bible study.

Hope you have enjoyed these little tidbits.

Random Thoughts...Because I Haven't Updated in a While

Well, I have felt awful for at least a week now and haven't had much to post. So, here are just a few things that have occurred.

--MawMaw has been transferred to a Skilled Nursing Facility and seems to be doing well. I have only visited once so far but definitely need to get back over there soon. At least she's not totally confined to her bed now. The staff comes to get her for meals in the dining room, entertainment, and therapies.

--We were hoping to find out if this baby is a boy or girl on Feb 23, but alas, the baby wouldn't cooperate. Either we have a very modest baby or we're going to end up with two very ornery kiddos. Haha! The baby had it's legs crossed at the ankles and wouldn't budge despite the doctor's efforts. Then...it waved! So, maybe it will cooperate on March 23. If not, I'm fortunate enough that our new doc does a sono at every appointment so I figure that we'll find out at some point!

--Our family had a little weekend getaway to Tyler, Texas last week to see our college student that we "adopted" and committed to praying for during her first year of college. We had a great weekend (despite some unexpected rain and chilly temps on Saturday afternoon). We got there in time on Friday for dinner with Melanie (and felt the baby "thump" me for the first time relaxing at the hotel before bedtime), then went to the zoo on Saturday morning, the UTT v. HPU baseball game Saturday afternoon, and dinner with my great-aunt Mitzi and her husband Jonathan. I think M absolutely loved the entire hotel experience--sleeping in the same room with Mommy and Daddy, breakfast there, and swimming in the hotel pool. We came home on Sunday morning and made it to Dallas to say hi to MawMaw around lunchtime.

--M and I have enjoyed this weekend with my Mom and Dad at their house. I was overdue for a much needed hair appointment and while it's no fun to be sick anywhere, I'd rather be sick when my Mom is around (mommy's make everything better and yet I find myself wondering why M always insists on having me around when she's sad about something. Haha!).

I suppose those are all the major occurrences of late. Until next time.....

An Extra Day In Dallas

Praise the Lord! For many reasons. First, because all the ice finally melted away and roads were clear, M and I were able to go back to Dallas today to see MawMaw again. I promised her on Monday that I would bring my make-up and a curling iron the next time I went over. I hadn't quite decided yet if we were going to go today until my dad sent me this picture:



She had eggs, rice krispies, and juice for breakfast this morning. When I saw that she was eating solid foods already, the decision was made. I had to go see her. Then, just before M and I left from preschool, Dad sent me another picture:



Her physical therapist put her on what is called a tilt table. From what I understand, this table starts out flat. Then, the therapist(s) straps the person onto the table to provide support to bear a moderate amount of weight. The purpose of this exercise is to help the patient get used to bearing weight again, balance themself, and make sure they can stand without passing out after several days or weeks of lying in a bed. Today, the PT got MawMaw on the tilt table, then raised her to a 75 degree angle. He put her in front of the mirror in her room (which she did NOT want to look at) so that she could find her midline and adjust herself to be "standing" straight. As I understand it, the therapist had quite a time convincing her to look in the mirror. When she finally did, she was able to shift her weight a little bit to stand straighter.

When we got over there to see her, as promised, I got my make-up out and gave her a mini-makeover. (She may disown me if/when she finds out that I've posted all these pictures. I hope not!)



I didn't put a lot of make-up on her because I wanted it to look tasteful and not so much like a clown. I did have my curling iron with me, but I could tell it has been several days (if not a week) since someone last washed her hair. However, I may ask the nurse on Monday the best way to wash, dry, and style her hair. I hope this all doesn't sound vain and silly to be so concerned about MawMaw's hair and make-up, but I know my MawMaw and what a Southern Belle she is. I just know in my heart how much better she would feel if she thought she looked a little bit like what she has always looked like. Plus, I know how much better I feel when I've been ill and can finally shower, fix my hair, and do my make-up.

Her case manager also came in and spoke with us this afternoon about the next step. She and MawMaw's team of doctors and therapists feel that she is on target for possibly having her trache tube completely removed next week, and depending on her continued progress, a possible move to a Skilled Nursing facility around the 23rd of this month where she will receive more therapy.

As in other posts on here and on Facebook, I know this healing and the progress that she has made has only come from the Lord. I am so thankful for His healing hand on her, His wisdom given to the doctors and therapists, and the outpouring of love and prayers by so many friends of our family.

I have told several people lately that until recently (the past two years or so), God's Provision has really only been head knowledge for me. Now, I can truly say that His provision, mercy, and grace has been revealed to me in a whole new way that is much more personal to me than I could have ever really imagined it being. Every time I catch another glimpse of the miracles God can perform, I am amazed. I pray that I never view a miracle as just a wonder of modern day medicine or a "wow, I hoped that could happen and it did; interesting" kind of thought. I pray that I see every moment, every accomplishment, every step of progress as a gift and a miracle from the Lord. May I never forget who has His hand in everything.

Again, thank you all so VERY much for your many prayers for my MawMaw. They truly are felt by our family and certainly heard by our Heavenly Father. Thank you!

Mondays with MawMaw

I was able to go to Dallas again today to see MawMaw. She's really changed quite a bit in one week. She's been off the ventilator since Friday and she has a different kind of cap on her trache tube now. I'm not sure what the difference is. However, she tried to talk to me more today than she did last Monday, though, keeping in mind that last Monday was the first day she even tried to talk. Unfortunately, her speech right now is not very clear. Dad said that she pulled her trache tube out yesterday morning, had been sitting up ready to talk to him when he got to her room, and spoke relatively clearly to him. When the respiratory therapist walked in to check her, he took one look at her and said, "Something's not quite right here." That's when the RT and my dad realized the tube had been pulled out, so they had to replace it which sounded like it was pretty traumatic and painful for her to endure.

To be perfectly honest, I was hoping to have seen more improvement in a week than I actually did, but of course I am grateful for any improvement that is made. I am really hoping that the expected snow on Wednesday doesn't prevent me from going back on Thursday. With Dad, Monty, and Buzz all back to work, I'm concerned that MawMaw will get down about a drop in visitors and not work as hard in therapy. She does seem to be a little happier when she's sitting in a chair rather than laying in the bed all day. Next Monday (if I don't get there Thursday), I think I'll take my curling iron and some make-up to give her a little "spa treatment".

Thank you for your continued prayer for her, both in gratitude for her improvement and for continued healing.

Random Thoughts

I didn't want too much time to pass since my last post and we've had a few things going on, so I thought I would just do a quick random update.

We all got to stay home today together due to some pretty bad weather that Texas is not accustomed to and because the temperature is not expected to get any warmer tomorrow than it was today, we get to spend another day together at home. I was going to substitute teach for a friend but her school will be closed again tomorrow as well. I'm actually kind of glad because I certainly didn't want to try to drive on the roads in the condition that they are. We mostly had a pajama day today, too, which I think M enjoyed. Haha! I know Jon enjoyed a day of relaxing and is already planning his relaxation techniques for tomorrow. I don't blame him. He works hard to provide for our family, and we are so thankful for his hard work. We really enjoyed our day of relaxing and had a little "concert" this evening. Enjoy the two videos (one is a continuation of the other).





M and I went over to Dallas yesterday to spend the day with MawMaw (15 days post-stroke?) and got there just in time to hear Uncle Monty working with her to say some phrases. Sure enough, as soon as we walked in, she looked up at me, smiled and SAID, "Hello. I love you." As you can imagine, my heart overflowed with joy! Of course, doctors always try to prepare you for the worst or the slowest amount of progress as possible, so I was totally not expecting speech to be coming back two weeks after her stroke. I wish I had recorded it! Hopefully, the weather will be a little bit better on Thursday and I can go back over there to see her again. Monty sent a picture out today of her actually sitting in a chair. Her therapists are really working her hard and progress is evident everyday. I praise the Lord for the progress she has made because I know that her healing comes only from Him.

I think that was about all I was going to post for now.

Wow!! Let's Give Blogging Another Try

How utterly embarrassing! I can't believe it has been over a year since I last blogged! I guess I went through a very long period of writer's block? Well...last spring brought much stress and anxiety of which I didn't feel comfortable writing about online (nor did I want to bore you with a lot of complaining and whining), so I will update you on the last six months and hopefully blog a little more often in 2011. Since I am writing about the past six months worth of events, you may want to get a cup of coffee (or other preferred beverage), grab a cozy blanket, and get comfortable; this may take a while. Sorry :(

During the last week of July, I began preparations to go back to school teaching second grade again. I made copies for my Lesson Plan book and my Gradebook, started brainstorming what I would be saying in my back to school newsletter to send to my new students, and getting those new students' addresses among many other things necessary to start a new school year.

The first week of August has been a fun week for me for the last three or four years because that is the week of Fine Arts Camp at our church at which I get to teach Art to first through sixth grades. On Monday, the first day of camp, I received a phone call but no voicemail from the school. Having just bought a new iPhone, I decided to check my email to see if there was any clue there about the phone call. Sure enough, there was an email from the principal that didn't offer much information which raised my heart rate for most of the day. As soon as I had a break, I called the school back and set an appointment for that afternoon after camp was over. I found out that afternoon that because of a dramatic decrease in enrollment, I no longer had a job for the 2010-2011 school year. This news came exactly two weeks before school was to start. Needless to say, I was completely devastated, only to find out within a couple more weeks that I didn't qualify for unemployment benefits. I immediately got my name on the substitute lists for two local school districts and started checking those websites for jobs multiple times each day.

Well, a very long story made short--God showed His mighty provision and perfect timing once again in our lives. Just as finances started to get a little tight again, (somewhere around October) some wonderful new friends came into our lives and through ordinary "getting to know you" conversations, these friends discovered that some of our needs, desires, and goals were matching up with some needs, desires, and goals that they had for their small business. On November 1, Jon began working for them which gave us the freedom for me to stay home with M and substitute teach when I want to. He is still working for the doctor, but only a few hours a week from home one or two evenings each week. With this change of jobs came the opportunity for all three of us to finally be insured again and all on the same plan. This was very important so that we could work toward one of our desires.

Well, December rolled around (very quickly it seemed this year, don't you think?) and we had a wonderful time lighting the advent wreath at church one Sunday, celebrating M's FOURTH birthday, riding in a limo with friends to look at Christmas lights, helping M overcome her fear of Santa, and traveling many miles to celebrate the season with all of our family.

Now, we are nearing the end of January already and have had a very eventful last couple of weeks. Only one event was expected, but unfortunately, some of the events we have not particularly enjoyed. Last week, Jon and I took a quick trip with his famiy to New York to say good-bye to and bury his Grama who fell asleep and went home to be with our Lord at a young 87 years of age. While it was nice to spend time with Grampa and meet some of their very dear friends, the flights there and home were awful (another long story that I will save for a future post--when I experience a little bit of writer's block ;) ).

This past Sunday, my grandmother (MawMaw) had a very severe stroke and has been in ICU this entire week in Dallas. She is paralyzed on her right side and has lost all speech. However, today seemed to be a pretty good day for her. She was off the ventilator for several hours and breathing on her own, but she has to work so hard to breathe and we can see the frustration on her face as she realizes her limited communication capabilities at this time. The doctors will be putting her on the vent at night so that she can get some rest and not have to work so hard. She even smiled (on the left side of her face) at me when I was telling her about M's exciting week.

M started preschool this week at our church and is going two days a week. So far, she LOVES it!! She has asked everyday, "Am I going to school today? Will you pack my lunchbox?" Both days went extremely well. Her first day, she recognized a little girl she already knew, was already familiar with the classroom (it's the same as her Sunday school room), and knew one of her teachers who was thrilled to see her. She waltzed right in like she owned the place! The second day, she put her folder in the bucket, set her backpack in the appropriate place, held her lunch box, and waited patiently for the teacher to open the door for the kiddos. As soon as she heard her teacher say good morning, she hopped up and took off calling over her shoulder, "Bye Mommy! I love you! See you later!" I did catch her to get a hug before she got too far away from me. I'm happy that she is enjoying it so much. I was very nervous about drop off, but so far everything is going smoothly.

The one expected event in the last two weeks was our announcement in Sunday school that M will be a big sister in August! M is starting to understand a little more each day. In fact, on Wednesday, she and I went to a local warehouse superstore and while we were waiting to check out, M pushed a little hard on my tummy (with M being only 39 inches tall, my belly is pretty much right at "push level" for her). I told her that hurt a little bit and to remember she needs to be careful around mommy's tummy so we don't hurt the baby. She replied, "The baby in Mommy's tummy?" and I said, "Yes, the baby in Mommy's tummy." As if a lightbulb clicked on, she said, "Is it sleeping?" I told her it was possible, so she put her ear to my belly for a second or two, popped her head up, and said, "I think it's snoring!" I had to laugh out loud, right there in the middle of the check out line. I couldn't help it.

The last time or two that I had actually blogged, I was writing some "M-isms". Well, those are mostly gone as her speech has developed so much that almost everything she says is completely understandable now. That being said, I have a feeling future blogs will contain more lengthy stories like the one above.

Well, have your eyes crossed or glazed over yet? I hope not, but I understand if they have. I am writing this very late at night and feel that I really should come to an end on this post, not only because of it's length already but also because of how late it is. I hope that as our family is growing this year and many changes are sure to come, that I will not suffer from writer's block this year and will actually post more frequently. I promise you that not all posts will be this lengthy in content! What can I say? I've stored up six months worth of information to write about! Until next time...good night!