Where I Come From?

Erica has developed a new fascination with where things come from. She's moved into areas I'm not sure how to explain to a 2-year-old (especially with her interested 4- and 8-year-old brothers listening closely to my answers...)

Q (Erica): Where do cows come from, Mommy? A (me): Their mommies.
Q: Where do chickens come from? A: Eggs.
Q: Where I come from? A: Silence (with me hoping she would move on to something else since I don't have a quick answer for this one.) The silence did not work.
Q: Talk to me, Mommy! Where I come from? A: From my belly. Her response: No way! I not live there. That not my home. I not fit in there. Me: Yes, you did fit in there when you were a baby. My belly was really big. Her: No way. I fall down and get hurt (meaning that she would fall out of my belly.) Me: Don't worry. The doctor made sure you were okay and she didn't let you fall.

Time to change the subject! But, she does now believe that she came from my belly. And, she'll tell anyone who asks.

The Nativity Tea Party

Here's a Christmas story you may not have heard before. Today, Erica was having the tiniest tea party using the parts of the Playmobile Nativity set. No, those are not gold, frankincense and myrrh...that's a teapot and milk. And, did you know the set even comes with a princess crown and magic wand. Oh sure, the original intent may have been for the regal king to use it, but now it has new purpose for the 2-year-old princess in our house.

At least she knows the baby's name is Jesus.

The Great Diaper Decisions

I have probably logged over 10,000 diaper changes - (4 kids x 1055 days in diapers each x 5 diapers a day)/2 parents changing diapers = 10950. At a minute per diaper change, that's over 180 hours of my life changing diapers...more than a solid week of time. That is both amazing and just a wee bit depressing.

Thank goodness my last baby has found a way to make diaper changes fun, funny and new. For her, diapers are a fashion statement. The 'who' on the front of the diaper is of great importance. In our house, the 'who' is one of the Sesame Street characters. So, the game can go a few different ways. 1 - Mom picks the top diaper off the top of the pile, keeping the identity of the 'who' hidden from Erica. Then, Erica has to guess who it is. Sometimes Mom gives clues (he's orange with blue hair...ERNIE). 2 - Erica pulls out every diaper from under the sink and hunts for one of her favorites. And, who are her favorites you ask? That would be either Zoe, Cookie Monster or Big Bird. 3 - The most sophisticated version of the game - Erica asks who is on Julia's diaper so that they can match. Or, even better, both girls are next to each other getting diaper changes, matching diapers and the who on the front of both is Zoe. Now, that is sisterly bonding.

No matter how the game goes, Elmo is always on the back.

Okay, I agree - all of those stinky diaper fumes have gone to my head, and I am that much closer to being totally nuts. And, yes, I do need to get out more. But, sooner or later (and I'm hoping for the sooner), my baby will be potty trained, and our little diaper game will be over. So, I'm smiling while it lasts.

Maybe we have a Pampers commercial here...

Conversation with Luke

Here's what was going through Luke's mind today during mass:

"Mom, when I grow up, my name will be 'Dad'."

Long Pause

"Well, I want my name to always be Luke...Luke Dad."

Another Long Pause

"And, first I have to get married."

Yes, Luke - you should get married before you have those 8000 boys you keep talking about.

His other vision for his future. His name will be 'Grandpa,' and Erica will be his 'Grandma'.

Funny Things Said

Luke:

As I'm trying on a frog costume - "You're getting all greened up, Mom."

As we're getting ready for movie night to explain why he's turning off all the lights - "It's a movie theater! The light will come from the TV."



Erica

At lunch at St. Paul's (after Luke sang in church) - "I smell sum-din. It's Grandma's beer." Uhm, I think you mean coffee.

He's Four?!?!

All of the sudden, he's just not a little boy anymore. He's gotten taller and smarter and bigger...he's just, well, older. I remember his birth vividly - fast labor, very quick delivery, and there he was. He was so darn cute - no mushed up face or cone head or any of that. Just so doggone cute.
His arrival added so much joy to our family. He was a content, happy baby. And, he made it easy to move from 'man to man' to 'zone' defense since Mom and Dad were outnumbered.


I was a neurotic first time mom with Alex, and Julia brought a whole different set of worries. But, with Luke, I just enjoyed every minute. Maybe that is why he is such a happy little boy that simply loves life. Or, maybe God knew just what we needed, and he sent Luke. Whatever the case may be, he sure adds just the right mix of love and laughter to our family. Maybe Alex wouldn't always (usually) admit it, but we sure are glad he's a Rosner.

After all, where else would we get these kind of pure joy smiles?

And, can you believe it...those boys do have at least a little bit of brotherly love.

So, Luke, thanks for being you - our jabber-jawing, sweet-smooching, trouble-seeking, mess-making, good-sleeping, joy-finding middle child. We love you and don't know what we'd do without you!

Happy Birthday, Lukie!

Seizure Free Day - Hurray!!

Over the last week or so, Julia's seizures have been worse. We had nothing to explain it - she seems to be recovered from her sinus infection and healthy otherwise. And, we're back to the 'magic' medication combo that worked wonders late last fall. So, we were stumped. After 6+ years of challenging seizure activity, you would guess that I would be used to this guessing game. But, whenever her seizures act up, I get a knot of stress in my stomach. It just hangs there and casts a cloud over me.

Then, today came like a breath of fresh air - an entire day with no sustained seizures. Just a few myoclonic jerks, but nothing like the last few days. She woke up in a great mood, stayed in a great mood all day, was more active and excited than she has been in weeks - just a happy day. Even a couple of cat naps that did not end with a seizure. The knot in my stomach is loosening a bit.

I am hoping and praying and hoping and praying that this is not an isolated day, but instead will become the 'normal' for her.

Whose Toes are They?

Yesterday, while Luke was putting on his sandals, he said, "I'm trying to get my toes in just the right place, but they keep wiggling around." So, that makes me wonder - who is in charge of the toes?

Today, the boys ran in the sprinkler and played with the hose. When I told them they could spend the afternoon doing that, they were so excited. Luke said, "You are so nice, Mom." What is it with kids and water...it never gets old for them. It was fine until Luke got me soaked...I guess it was a good excuse to get into my jammies at 4:30 in the afternoon.

Six Words

A little while back, I read a book where people gave their 'story' in six words. So, here's mine.

Too much worrying ruins nearly everything.

I've come a long way, but I still need to obsess less and relax more.

Routines and Sleep

Number one lesson learned during Week 1 of summer vacation - do not stray from routine bedtimes for more than a day or two. If you do, you run the risk of crazy, crabby kids. Last week was busy, especially for Alex. Monday - Great America, Tuesday - Sleepover by Grandma and Grandpa, Wednesday - Ducky's Birthday, Thursday - Start of summer school and Complete Meltdown, Saturday - Another Complete Meltdown and Sleepover at Jacob's, Sunday - Yet Another Complete Meltdown. Poor kid was so out of whack, we made him take a nap on Saturday and Sunday.

Thursday might be the worst day in my parenting history. Alex and Luke were at each other even worse than usual, the lawn service came so we couldn't go outside and Julia had a monster seizure in the middle of it all. Deep breath in, slow breath out, repeat. I thought Aubrey was going to make a run for it. But, she held on, the boys were bribed into a little bit of peace with a promise of a trip to visit the Hanus boys, Julia stopped seizing and went to dozing...we made it. Matt came home, got the vibe of the house and gave the kids bathes before dinner so we could put them all in bed by 7pm.

We did have fun at the Hanus', though. They have a four-wheeler (I rode with Alex after Cheryl did), a golf cart, baby chicks, a big play center...we definitely need to go back on a day when the kids are not crazy-tired.

Moral of the story - kids need sleep. You can skip sleep to have more fun for a little while, but if you do that too often, you ruin all the fun.

Accidents Happen

Luke had his first post-potty training accident today, and it was #2. See, it goes like this. We're outside - I'm hanging up laundry and he's playing where the water from the sump pump comes out. He's not supposed to be there and he knows he's not supposed to be there, but the draw is irresistable. So, he's gotta go poop, but he can't go inside because his shoes are wet from playing in the water in the place he's not supposed to be. One thing just leads to another, and then there's poop to clean up. But, on the up side, his face always gives him away - I can tell with a glance when he's been up to something. And, he has not yet mastered lying, so we usually get the truth from him. Lord help us if that boy learns how to cover his tracks.

Girl Stories

Julia has really been 'discovering' the right side of her body. Over the last few days, I've really noticed her looking towards her right. I love when she looks at me as I come to get her out of bed in the morning. And, she's looked to her right side to check things out in other positions, too.

And, tonight she spent some time grasping and even shaking a maraca. She gave it some big shakes with her left hand and some little shakes with her right hand. And, I must add it was hilarious to watch Erica try to put the maraca back into Julia's hand after she dropped it. Finally, after a couple of unsuccessful attempts at jamming it into Julia's fist, she announced, "Julia done." That Erica is quite the mother hen. It is absolutely heartwarming to see her love on Julia. As often as I think of how nice it would be if each of the kids could have their own room, I always end up more grateful for how close the girls are, due in part I'm sure to the special bond that comes from sharing sleeping space. Even the boys will typically turn off their fighting once they're in bed for the night. Turns out this house is just the right size.

My Boys - The Wheels are Always Turning

Alex - Still gives me a hug and a kiss every night when I tuck him in. I hope he never gets 'too old' for that. But, that's not the story that fits this post. Here's that story. Within the last couple of days, I've had to pull over for emergency vehicles twice while Alex as in the car. So, Alex asks me how many times I've had to pull over in my life so far. While I'm thinking about it, he guesses 50. I say, "Hmm, probably more like 20." His immediate reply, "Oh, that would be about once a year." Umm, yep, that's exactly right. And, after further review, I think his guess of 50 is closer - after all, one per year isn't all that often. Especially if you consider two in the last two days. And, let's not mention the two times I pulled over for an emergency vehicle and it pulled over right behind me...yes, speeding tickets, and no, there were no kids in the car with me, and yes, I obey the speed limit now (and least MOST of the time). On a related note, Luke calls officers 'police cops'.

Luke - Has strep. It must be a mild case because he doesn't seem to feel all that bad, and there's none of the terrible whining we saw the last time he was sick. And, he was a very brave boy when they did his throat culture. Funny story from our visit to see Dr. Griswold - while we're in the exam room waiting for the doctor (just Luke and me because the rest of the gang stayed by my parents), Luke tells me to sit in the chair without arm rests. I told him I wanted to sit in the chair with arm rests. So, he crawls on my lap, points to the armless chair and says, "That chair is for people without hands." What made him think of that? And, why does it make me crack up every time I think about it?

Snapshots Continued

Okay, I know most kids do it, but I thought we had Luke buying into the whole idea that only Grandma Stern can give haircuts. Wrong...a couple of days ago, he gave himself and Erica haircuts. He used a kid's safety scissors (at least he used an age appropriate tool) and he did in the bathroom (at least it was easy to clean up the mess). But, he took a pretty big chunk right out of the middle of his bangs, nearly down to the scalp. And, he got a chunk of Erica's bangs on one side, which we can camoflauge a little bit. His reason for doing this: 1 - his bangs were in his eyes, 2 - he wanted to look like Ryan (who just got a buzz cut), 3 - he did not do this, but we're trying to find the guy that did it. At first I was pretty upset, but I've kind of gotten used to the way they look. And, it's just hair, so it will grow back. Now if only I was sure that he wouldn't try to do this again. I guess I should be wishing that he won't come up with even bigger trouble...

Here's more of the snapshots in time...

Erica

• Likes to say "Hey, Matt" to get her daddy's attention
• Obsessed with Calliou. We record the daily episodes (she usually watches one in our bed while I shower in the morning), and a Calliou video is the first thing she looks for at the library
• Needs to have her chair right next to mine while we eat so she can put her feet on my leg
• Calls Luke "Gook-ger"
• Loves to swing. Wants to go higher and touch the trees
• Tries to take off her PJs every night - we either pin the zipper or pin the top to the bottom (snaps aren't enough of a deterrent). If she gets the jammies off, the diaper follows. Then she will pee in her bed. Then she will cry. Then mom or dad will speak firmly to her. Then she will cry harder.
• Starting to use sentences, like "Gook-ger, go away!" or "Puppy scares me" or "Carry you" (which really means she wants to be carried)
• Loves to play with her kitchen set and food
• Has a long list of things she must have at bedtime: blankie (both pieces - so much for cutting it in half so we'd have an extra if one was lost), Abby, bottle (for Abby), cup of water (for herself), ice cream (plastic ice cream cone, or the plastic chicken drumstick in a pinch) and duckie (the stuffed duck that's as big as she is). Then, she wants to snuggle for a while, then you need to rub her head for a while. She's quite the con artist.
• Favorite foods: Baked beans, watermelon, Cheerios, muskmelon, mac 'n' cheese
• Loves the color purple. Starting to learn all of the colors.
• If you ask her how old she is, she says "Two" and holds up all five of her fingers. This is followed by "Macy three".
• Likes to play with the dollhouse she got as a hand-me-down from the McLaughlins
• Very opinionated about what she wants to wear - tries to pick her own outfits
• Fascinated by babies. Considers anyone her size or smaller a baby (sometimes even kids that look bigger and older than her to me are called babies).

Kids - A Snapshot in Time

Little things - important to remember. Slip your mind so quickly if you don't write them down. So, here is a look at the little things that really tell you who they are right now.

Alex -

• Checking out on school. The boy is just ready for summer vacation. It's hard to push for him to plug away at his homework, especially when the weather's nice. He's done such a great job this year that I don't think we need to worry if he slacks off a bit during these last couple of weeks.
• He's loving the Nintendo DS he got for his birthday; although, thankfully, he's not as totally obsessed with it as I thought he would be.
• He make up jokes (at least he claims he made them up): Pete and Repeat were sitting on a fence. Pete fell off. Who was left? Repeat... InchMe and PinchMe were in a boat. InchMe fell out. Who was left?
• Fights with his brother nearly constantly. Those boys have some fierce sibling rivalry.
• As much as he fights with Luke, he is so sweet and loving with Erica. He just adores that girl. I guess it's easier to get along with her because he doesn't see her as direct competition like he sees Luke.
• Gets along great with other kids, but also content to do his own thing. For a while we were worried that he was too much of a loner, but I don't think that's the case. He's the kind of kid that doesn't mind playing alone sometimes - he'd rather do what he wants by himself than do something he's not interested in with someone else. His teacher said he is a leader that won't do stupid things just because other kids are.
• Is very mechanically inclined. He understands Matt's machines better than some of the operators do.
• Still a hard worker. Happier to be doing a project than playing. Begs Matt to let him cut the grass (he can start the mower and mow some of the more open flat areas).
• Gives me hugs and kisses when I tuck him in at night. As much as I felt really sad and worried when we found out that he was missing several permanent teeth, it did start a wonderful nightly ritual. We brush and floss our teeth together almost every night, and then I tuck him in. It's just 5-10 minutes of one-on-one time, but it has been a true blessing.

Julia

• Still getting back to healthy. Ear infections followed by pneumonia followed by a mystery bug...it's been a rough couple of months for her. It sure does make us appreciate her personality and good spirits when it's been a while without having her really shine. It is a true blessing that she is such a strong little girl and that she is so easy going. She rarely fusses, never cries and just keeps plugging along, sick or not. So many lessons to learn from that girl.

Luke -

• So full of life that he sometimes sucks it right out of the rest of us. It's nearly impossible to keep up with him, so the best we can do is try to keep his energy focused. Because otherwise, you will have: melted popsicles behind the couch (or a half-finished yogurt drink or Cheerios or crumbs from a granola bar) - a boy needs his snacks along with a nail clipper or two - a boy needs to be well-groomed and take care of his 'nail problems' (nails that snag or are too sharp); dish soap smeared on the window sill and furniture - a boy needs to help his mom clean; books with the pages 'glued' together with toothpaste - a boy needs to do his craft projects; Luke and Erica sneaking out of the house - a boy needs to show his sister how to escape to the sandbox - there really is never a dull moment with that boy!
• Most trouble is followed by an explanation that begins "I just..."
• So full of love and so happy that it's easy to forgot how much trouble he can get into.
• Does not take a daily nap, but he should. He gave them up back in April or so when we moved him out of his crib. Once he was free, it became nearly impossible to keep him still enough to take a nap. He does make up for it at night though and usually sleeps from 7pm to 6:30am.
• Recently overheard him talking to himself saying, "I don't know everything. Someday I hope to know everything."
• Also said, "Erica doesn't know everything. I'm going to teach her everything I know."
• Makes friends so easily. It's not unusual for Luke to know more people than the rest of us. He doesn't just tag along to his big brother's stuff, but makes them his own - he's got friends at Alex's soccer, friends at Cub Scouts, etc. Not to mention his friends from school, neighbors, grocery store clerks...you get the idea. He's a true charmer.
• Uses big words...like "The mail has arrived," and "I need my helmet to fit properly." He was an early talker, and he still has really good verbal skills.

Okay, early to bed for a change. I need to add more to this list (didn't even get to Erica yet). Maybe tomorrow...or the next day.

This and That

1 - It feels so good to have everyone HEALTHY again. It has once again been a long winter of illness - countless ear and upper respiratory infections, some stomach bugs, pneumonia for both Matt and Julia...it was rare day this winter that there wasn't at least one person sick in this house. Countless prayers have been said asking for good health, and I'm hopeful that we're through with the ick of winter (now if only the weather would stay warm...)

2 - Luke is potty trained!!! And, once it happened, it just happened. I could guess that it was the new Dora seat that we bought or the M 'n' M bribes or the quarters from Grandpa, Grandma and Mr. Morrow or making him wear underwear instead of Pull-ups or banning him from the Gator until he stayed dry. But, I think that none of those 'incentives' made a big difference. In the end, potty training happened when Luke thought it should happen, and not a day sooner.

3 - I'm going to lose 15 pounds this summer. Maybe putting it in writing will make me stick to it. I haven't been walking regularly (I'll blame that on the weather), but I'm ready to get my walking shoes back on. And, with my addiction to allrecipes.com, I should be able to find some yummy and healthy recipes. It sure would feel good to feel good.

4 - I LOVE my new camera. Even using the auto settings, it takes really nice pictures. Now, I just need to figure out f-stops and apertures so I can really master that beautiful piece of equipment.

5 - My kids really needed haircuts. Audrey and Mark came down this weekend, and Audrey gave them all a long-overdue cut. Erica had her first real haircut, and she did a pretty good job sitting still. Her hair was so wispy and fine, but I was still a little sad to see the length go. But, she looks like a little pixie girl with her new 'do.

Art Fair - Times Two

Sometimes it is not so easy to have kids attending two different elementary schools. Two sets of teachers and staff to figure out, two Christmas concerts, parent/teacher conferences in two places...just some logistical challenges.

Tonight was one of those duplicating nights - both Alex and Julia had their science and art fairs. We weren't sure what or if Julia would have any art projects on display because we're not sure how much time she spends in art class with the rest of her 5K friends. And, she couldn't point out her work or scope out the school in advance to find where her things were displayed. But, we the visit was a success. We found two of Julia's projects and several others done by her friends. We also ran into her classmate Caitlyn and her family - in fact, Julia is invited to her birthday party in a couple of weeks. After Julia's show, we went to Alex's. He had four projects in the show, and he's very proud of his work. He had a really neat picture of Pooh and Tigger, a banner, a name drawing and a googly eye picture (one character had a Pokemon tail...he is obsessed with Pokemon). Alex is always so excited to serve as the tour guide. We saw where Mrs. McCudden's room is (where he goes for his reading enrichment group). And, Alex took Luke to the bathroom - a success except Alex said he was so busy watching Luke to make sure he was okay, he peed on his shoes. Oh, my.

Even if it was a duplicating night, it was worth the double effort...now, what's going to happen when Luke and Erica hit the circuit?

Luke says the funniest things - now, get rid of those diapers already!!

When something goes wrong - "Oh, sunken ship!"
As he was ready to put two large sections of a puzzle together - "Prepare your eyeballs, Mom."

And, on the potty training front - it's coming along slowly. We did get a new Dora seat for the toilet, and that seems to interest him. And, a crazy but nice success - he insisted on going potty at Dr. Colan's office today. Complained that the toilet was too big (he did look very uncomfortable) - then, finally decided to stand like a big boy (just barely tall enough. As much as I wanted to tell him to just go in his diaper because it would be so much easier (for me), it was worth the extra effort when he actually went.

Julia is 6!

I know that my mind works in weird ways. I create stress where there doesn't need to be any. But, for a couple of reasons that exist mainly in my own head, this birthday has weighed heavy on my heart for a while. First, although no one can tell us how long we will have Julia with us and medical advances can give her many more healthy years, I've heard that the many Aicardi girls die between the ages of 6-8. So, even though Julia has been very healthy and we've been seeing better seizure control than we've had in years, this birthday marks a scary kind of milestone.

Second, when Julia started kindergarten and began to be more included with her 5K class, I said that my biggest goal for the school year was for Julia to have a friend birthday party. It was really important to me that Julia have a regular birthday party - cake, games, the whole thing. I just wasn't sure to make it all work out. Even the invite list was a bit challenging - after all, I can't just ask Julia which special friends she would like to invite. Luckily, we have been blessed beyond measure to have Julia be a part of a class that includes some truly exceptional kids. Back in December, Julia was invited to her first friend party. Maya Morris will forever be etched in my heart as a very special little girl. Not only was she the first to invite Julia to a birthday party, but I think she truly sees Julia as just another little girl rather than the kid in a wheelchair. I think this because when I called to RSVP for the party, I mentioned that Julia was in a wheelchair just so there would be no surprises. And, that was the first time that Maya's mom had heard that Julia had special needs. I guess Maya had never thought it was important to mention it because it's not the first thing she sees about Julia. Kids are sometimes so much smarter than us grown-ups! Maya's party was at the bowling alley, and Julia and I both had a great time. All of the kids treated Julia like one of the gang - no one made us feel like it was a hassle to set up the bowling ramp when it was Julia's turn (in fact, they all wanted the chance to help Julia bowl).

Julia attended her second party during spring break. The birthday girl was Ashley Schoen, and her birthday is just a few days before Julia's. Another great experience.

And, then Sunday was the day for Julia's celebration. Maya and Ashley both came, along with Aubrey (another 5K friend) and Caitlyn (Julia's best buddy from OHI - to make it more special, this was Caitlyn's first birthday party). The day could not have been better. The girls were so patient and into the activities we had planned. And, so thoughtful. Buying gifts for Julia can be challenging. Yet, each of the girls gave Julia a very well-thought-out gift. From birthday cards that included music to a princess keyboard to a framed scrapbook page with photos of the party guests, each gift was truly a gift from the heart. And, a complete hit with both Julia and her siblings - Alex has tried to adopt the soft MushaBelly bird, Luke thinks the pink and purple 'hairball' is just his thing and Erica has fallen in love with the Abby Cadabby doll.

Such a good day, such a good experience...such a good reminder that the heart of life is good. It gives me happy tears every time I think about it.

Spring is Here?

I took Luke and Erica to the park today. It was *almost* warm. Highlight - swinging. Erica likes to go higher than Luke, although he went "higher than a cow". Oh yeah, evidently I was the cow for comparison. Not sure where he comes up this stuff. I swear they would have stayed in those swings for an hour if I'd have kept pushing them. Although Luke was clear - don't push him as high as Erica. She just giggles like a maniac - push higher = more giggles. She's a daredevil.

Easter

We had a nice Easter. Finally, it was a Sunday where we were all healthy, so we began the morning with 7:30 mass. The kids were well-behaved (at least as good as it gets for them). I was especially proud of Alex since he was really excited to find his basket. The Easter Bunny left him a treasure hunt, and the first clue was under Mom's pillow for him to get only after church.

Best memory of each kid:

Julia - Looked so grown up in her Easter dress and headband (she slept most of the day, and we were grateful that she was just resting rather than having the sleepiness be the lead-in to some kind of bug)

Erica - OOOooooh - what she said about every item in her basket.

Luke - Kept telling us the "Easter Beagle" had been here. Also told us over and over that Jesus died on the cross to take away our bad choices.

Alex - Thought Mom was the Easter Bunny until he discovered that was impossible - the Easter Bunny came back while we were in church and hid Alex's basket in his bed. He's at that age where the Easter Bunny and Santa just don't make sense to his logical brain, but he still wants to believe.

All four - they all got "Crocs" in their baskets. It will make me happy all summer to see those cute shoes on their feet.

As always, Easter brings special memories of the days that Alex and Julia were born. It's still amazing to think that we've been given two of our very own Easter miracles.

Thank you, Jesus!

MER

More Hints

One of my favorite activities in high school was being a part of the yearbook staff. You would think that it would have dawned on me that I would like scrapbooking many years before I figured it out - after all, what is the yearbook besides a collective scrapbook?

And, the yearbook was also my first taste of what I would do in the career I chose - marketing. Putting together the yearbook is very similar to creating a promotional brochure or press release...strong copy, good pictures, a story to share.

Now, crazy as it sounds, I never realized back in high school that I should look for a career and a hobby that would build off what I enjoyed doing. Lucky for me, I eventually stumbled on marketing, and then years later, scrapbooking.

Lesson learned - do what you love. Work can be fun. It's possible to make a career out of doing something you really enjoy.

Winter Camp

Last weekend (Leap Day Weekend), Alex and I went to Camp Rokolio in Kiel for Winter Camp. We 'power hiked' through knee high snow, we went sledding, we slept in really uncomfortable bunks (Mom shared a room with three other ladies, one of whom was a very loud snorer), we played games, we shot mini marshmallows with a shooter made from PVC piping...we had a blast! Alex is now claiming it was just 'okay', but it was really a lot of fun. I really enjoyed spending time with Alex, and it was also rewarding to spend time with other adults (we played games after the kids went to bed).

Sign me up for Winter Camp 2009!

MER

Ji-Normus

What's that, you ask? Why, it means that something is really big in Luke-speak. When gigantic or enormous just doesn't quite do it, you say "ji-normus".

And, speaking of Luke, here's an update on the potty front. Grandma E bought him a Thomas calendar, and he gets a page to put on the top of his bunk bed every time he uses the potty chair. Four pictures since yesterday (and at least that many diaper changes, so we've got a less than 50% success rate so far.) But, it's progress.

There Were Hints

For the longest time, I thought that the woman I have become was not very much like the teenager I was. That girl was going to be a career woman, and here I am - mother of four. But, when I think about it, the stuff at the core of me now is very much like that girl I was. Here's what I mean:

Pro-Life - Way back in middle school, I did a research paper about abortion. I was very much against abortion then, but I didn't know that I would someday be tested in a way that rocked my very soul. When we found out that Julia had some brain abnormalities at our 20 week ultrasound, one of the options we were given was to terminate the pregnancy. And, I was so shaken and scared about what we'd learned, I felt like I just wanted to run. To further complicate things, we had to make a decision quickly because we could not terminate the pregnancy once we reached 22 weeks. So, for a couple of days, I felt like I had this enormous decision to make. Crazy thoughts went through my mind - could I be sedated if I terminated the pregnancy? Could the baby be sedated - after all, I'd felt her moving... For me, those awful days of trying to 'decide' still remain the most difficult part of our journey with Julia.

Then, I finally realized that there was no decision to be made. Although abortion was an option we'd been given, it really wasn't a choice for us at all. No matter what, we already loved this baby. And, it hit me - having this baby might change my life more than I could even understand then, but aborting our baby would destroy my life. So, yes, even when my faith was put to the test, I can say with 100% certainty that I am pro-life!

Part 2 and more to come.

Gotta Get It Done 'round the House

Editted to update on 10/6

1. Growth chart - to hang in the hallway just outside the kids' rooms - No Progress
2. Artwork Display - Wire and cool hangy thingies in the hallway just outside the bathroom - No Progress
3. Area by the cubbies - new light, paint the garage door, shelf with basket for stuff to go downstairs, better shoe/boot storage, maybe a solar tube - No Progress
4. Master bedroom and bathroom - complete decorative overhaul to include new flooring, new furniture, painting, new bedding - Nearly completed
5. Kitchen - remove wallpaper, paint back wall, decorate above cabinets, knobs for cabinets, under-cabinet lights, new canisters (and, it wouldn't hurt to re-organize the cabinets), new light over the kitchen table, maybe a solar tube - Purchased knobs for cabinets
6. Main bathroom - Shelving by mirror, knobs for cabinets, new flooring - Purchased knobs for cabinets and new toilet

Quote of the Day

"I wish trains could hug," said Luke longingly.

That boy sure does love his trains. We go over the tracks every day after dropping Alex off at school. Most people hope that the gates are up and the lights are not blinking. Not us. It makes the day if we actually see a train. Kids sure give you a different perspective on things.

Whooo, whooo - see ya down the tracks.

Top 10 Things I Love About Erica

1. She likes chocolate for breakfast. Specifically, crushed Oreo cookies on top of yogurt. It's crazy to think that we didn't let Alex have chocolate until he was two, and now we're letting the baby have it for breakfast. We've certainly eased up on our parenting standards over the years.

2. She is a snuggler. Nothing beats those little hands curling around your neck and her head nestled into your shoulder. Although, she does have a knack for wanting snuggle time during the busiest parts of the day. I guess you have to take it when you can get it.

3. Her eyes sparkle when she smiles. My dad always said that I 'talked' with my eyes. She does the exact same thing.

4. She loves her big sister. She's always ready to give Julia a big kiss, she squeals with delight when Julia gets home from school and she's a little helper, covering Julia with a blanket, bringing her toys and 'assisting' with giving Julia her meds.

5. She is very easy going. Maybe it's because she's the fourth child, but she is usually pretty willing to go with the flow.

6. She is so happy. She wakes up with a huge smile every day, and she keeps on smilin'.

7. Easy going and happy - yes. Pushover - no. She can go toe to toe with her brothers, she knows how to throw a good tantrum when she 'needs' to (complete with foot stomping and occasional lamp tipping) and she can be really loud when she wants to make a point. Way to stand up for yourself, little lady.

8. She is a daredevil. She loves to rough house with Daddy. With some coaching from big brother Alex, she started climbing up the slide and sliding back down by herself when she was about 15 months old. She enjoyed bumpy thrill ride on a trailer pulled by a tractor just after her first birthday -she hung over the front of the trailer giggling away while Luke cowered in his seat. We had a blast going sledding, even with snow flying in her face. She definitely likes to live on the wild side.

9. She's got a little bit of girly girl in her. Wearing a dress, fancy shoes, tights - yep, she loves it. But, she's got a good streak of tomboy in her. Pushing tractors, getting dirty, hanging out with the boys - it's all good. Just the perfect mix of sugar and spice. (And, I've gotta say it - I LOVE how your little ears stick out - too cute!)

10. She has an early love for two things I am passionate about - books and photos. Her first favorite book is 'My Car,' and she has nearly worn out the pages on the few family scrapbooks I've actually completed. Finally - someone to appreciate the 30,000+ photos I've taken.

I love you small fry, sweet potato! -Mom

Signing On

Here it is - the first of what I hope will be many posts. Goodness knows there is more than enough to write about. The gang is always up to or into something. So, here goes...the good, the not-so-good, the funny...the day-to-day in this crazy household.