Two for One Special

It started out as "Happy hour". The kids were playing with the neighbor kids, having a grand time. I believe "Horsie" was the name of the game. Emma was the rider, Tyler was the horse. It must have been a rodeo, but I don't think Emma made it the 8 seconds.

I was putting away the laundry when I heard Bella and the neighbor kids run in and begin yelling for me. They were all so excited and speaking at once as I came down the stairs to see what all the fuss was about. All I could make out was "Emma, blood, tooth, and a lot of blood". I followed them over to the neighbors and there was Emma was in the care of their dear grandmother who watches over them.

They weren't kidding about the blood. There was a LOT of it. We've lost a lot of teeth in this house with three kids, but this was the most I've ever seen. Sure enough, there it was, the top front tooth, been loose for months. We were all so happy and full of yells and excitement congratulating her.

But then Edna says, that other one is about to go too. As we all calmed ourselves to see, it got very quiet. We could have heard a pin drop while we watched her wiggle it with her tongue, but instead we heard "it". We actually heard it grinding. Ugh. I tried, to no avail to yank it out, so Edna got it. Poor little Emma, her eyes were so big, but her face was so scared, and she was so quiet. So here she is, now two teeth gone, and bleeding all over the place, and she goes over and hugs Tyler for helping her get her teeth out. Tyler's head is okay, but she'll need to wash her hair.

So here is little sunshine, all cleaned up and toothless.

The neighbor boy Carson and her play FBI Agent almost every day. So, since Miss Emma was such a sport, went through such trama (boy, are her gums bruised too), and lost TWO teeth. She and her partner will have fun with the walkie talkies the tooth fairy will deliver tonight.

Mother's Day

As I watch them every day, they amaze me with their love, acceptance and joy in the other.

We spent our day in Eagan at Lebanon Hills, one of our favorite places to go,

on a Nature Hike (as we like to call them).

Bella created a "Scavenger Hunt" list and she marked off all the fun things we found. From flowers to puppies and all the tracks and animal homes in between.

Her simple joy and beauty take my breath away.

Now 6 and almost 10, these two are growing faster than I am prepared for.

Here was a burned out hollow tree, they all "just fit".

What a treasure find.

After that we went to Shaun's restaurant to eat. This mom sure doesn't want to cook that day, (or any day really). Plus, then we could see dad.

Grandma Hinson joined us for the day and we were all nostalgic of cabin campfires

as we roasted marshmallows for smores - AT the table.

WAY COOL.

And yummy.



Another wonderful day celebrating the three gifts I was honored with.

Now almost 12, 10 and 6, this day has gone from coloring and playdough

to 2 hour hikes and fires.

Can't wait til next year.

I hope all the wonderful women out there enjoyed their day.

I sure did.

Hallmark might have created it, but my kids define it.
Thanks God, for thinking enough of me,

to give me them.

Aww...

My little Emma. The child is such a gift.
Just a quick note today to share her thoughts, and remember them later, as I tend to forget.

We've been listening to country singer Carrie Underwood lately. I don't have a radio in my van, the antenna came off in an ice storm in Iowa a few years ago. So we buy our tunes and I STILL haven't spent on CD's what it would have cost me to have it fixed. Besides, this way, no commercials, and not being totally aware of the awful things that happen in the news of our world isn't so terrible.

So Emma and I are getting into the car to go to school, and as she buckles up, she makes her song request. With a smile and a please. She wanted the song, I believe titled, "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood.

A beautiful song. I still almost cry every time.

And Emma chimes in and says, "Mom, can we listen to that Townhouse Song".
I DID cry at that one.

I love that kid.

Her little innocence always brightens my day and reminds me, today, that this time in our life, this time in our townhouse, is just temporary.

My Gambling Problem

This is my baby.

One of my all-time favorite pictures of us.

He changes my life, everyday.

I have a dream.

To one day write a book.

Well, actually, publish a book.

I get a few ideas here and there. I really hope to do it one day.

For the fun of it, I'll share an idea I had today.

If I were to write a book that would include the following story, it would be entitled...

"My Life as a Poker Mom - Dealing with the Cards."

(Or something like that.)

A few months ago I shared our story of Anthony's upcoming surgery. Which was scheduled for Monday. After the news, I resolved to quit my housecleaning job, make a "recovery - friendly" home (since we just moved), prepare for childcare and get ready for a week in the hospital and 8 weeks with him in a cast and a year of therapy. And so we set out.

But, "just in case", we scheduled an appointment for a second opinion, as this surgery and recovery is very serious. Many encouraged this. I wondered.

I wondered... why go through a second appointment to hear the same news.

Or worse... what if they say NOT to do the surgery.

We went through major tests, x-rays and measurements. This surgeon never wanted to do any surgery until after those tests were done. I figured they proved serious enough to change his mind and it was a done deal.

But... against my better judgement, I rolled the dice and made the 2nd appointment.

I mean... what are the odds that his co-worker would disagree with him?

Pretty high I guess.

Not only did he think that Anthony didn't need the surgery, but that if he did, he would choose a totally different one.

What kind of "hand" is this?

Do we roll the dice again on a third opinion?

And do what, break the tie? No thanks.

I'm in a big enough tailspin.

This is my kid.

One doctor says it will affect the severity of his future arthritis (which is a given anyway).

One doctor says his hip won't actually pop out, unless he falls really hard.

One doctor says that he could just be used to the pain he is in and can't tell us about it.

One doctor thinks if we do it now, he will heal faster, another says one leg could grow longer than the other if we do it now.

And sooo many other things, no need to repeat them all.

I don't know WHO I would lay my money on. (If I had any.)

But this is my kid.

So we now have 4 doctors involved, his pediatrician and DS specialist got copies of the reports and are waging in too.

Since the stakes are so high and no one can place a sure bet here, we have decided to postpone the surgery, if at all, or if even the same one, until the fall.

We need to monitor him much more and make more accurate observations for how it affects his daily function, before we can be sure that this surgery is right for him ... or not.

So we wait, and watch,

and pick up the cards we are dealt.

And we try to gamble on how this leg will affect a future none of us can predict.

I am reminded of a song I used to sing when I was a little girl

in the backseat of the car along with my parents...

I will need to "know when hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em.

Know when to walk away, know when to run".

I have a gambling problem.

First of all, I don't play, I can't keep track of all the rules and I am in over my head.

(Can't you tell, I am making references to cards AND dice.

- Much like my parenting - I have no idea what I am doing.)

I want to "know", that if we put Anthony through this, he will get the big payout.

I want a sure thing.

Do we "walk away"?

I want to "run".

This is my baby.

How does any parent actually choose this?

And so begins the "shuffle".

Anybody know where I can find the rule book?

A-Haa - Moment

I had a "a-haa" moment today.

For tax purposes I had to add up all my out of pocket expenses and mileage for

Doctor appointments for the family.

We drove 1908 miles last year for a total of 99 appointments.

That is an average of 8 appointments a month.

Now I know why I feel like I am always running around.

A-HAA!

This is my little Emma. She sparkles and she shines.

And that hair goes with her personality so much.

She got her haircut recently and the hairdresser "straightened" it for her.

It was fun and cute... for a day.

Like playing dress up, except with hair instead of crowns and twirly dresses.

But wow, does she look different!!!

We brought back the curls after one day of wearing it straight.

That was plenty.

She said that curly was better than straight. Bella interpreted that to mean in general.

(Bella has stick straight hair, and the stylist curled hers, of course it did not stay.)

I explained that Emma just meant she liked HER hair better curly,

the way God made her hair to be.

To which she jumped in and said,

"yeah, and I trust in God."

All the Best Things Come in Small Packages

So, it's been a week in the new townhouse. And as it turns out... I think we really like it. We might even love it.

As I said in previous posts, it is small. God has provided for what we need, and there isn't an inch left for anything more than that. And there have already been some real neat surprises that we have been blessed with.

Here's a top 10.

10. The kids are learning to clean up more, because if they take out one thing, it's a mess already, so they have to put the first thing away to play with the next.

9. Bella is learning to use the internet and research places to play this summer and things to do, since we don't have a yard here, we're going to play in MN's backyard. So far on the list is Stillwater, Taylors Falls, Duluth, Mankato, Cannon Falls, and many state parks and local playgrounds.

8. The close quarters is beginning to show as the bickering with the girls has begun to increase. However, they are learning to get along, work through their differences, and pick their battles.

7. Cleaning this place is a snap. Outside of the all the boxes and furniture in the garage haunting me, I am actually finding that I have time for things like card games, baking cookies, reading stories, and taking walks. I think there's a word for this - Relaxing? Yeah, I think that's it.

6. Laundry! They have the washer and dryer in the closet right next to our rooms. We have no room for the laundry to pile up, so it gets done. And there's no space to leave baskets that tower with clean clothes to dig through. Things are actually going in the drawers! And as I put things away, I am discovering how much I will save this year on clothes, because now that they are all where they go... turns out they all have plenty of clothes!

5. We all "just fit". And it feels like it fits like a glove.

4. We have a gas fireplace that warms the whole place, the space, and our hearts as we read stories next to it before bed.

3. There's just enough space for the kids to shoot some baskets on our over the door basketball hoop upstairs. I am listening to them all laugh as I write this.

2. The master bath has a tub with jets, everyone loves it. Anthony calls it the "car wash" bath.

1. We are all interacting more!!! The kids are playing more together, Anthony is less isolated, and learning more social skills. The girls and I are having more little talks while I do laundry and they play in the hall with their legos, or horses, or whatever. shaun and I are also spending more time together, having breakfasts, lunches, and evenings holding hands on our little couch. He used to use a seperate bathroom to get ready in the morning, but I have to say, I love that we share one again. It's fun to talk and laugh together before the kids get up. Plus, I can tell him in the morning all those thoughts I used to keep him up with at night.

I know it helps to know that this arrangement is only temporary. It won't be forever. And right now, it's kind of exciting to think about choosing our next home. Location, yard, privacy and size. Our dream is a home in the woods, and now we hope that it's small too. Not this small, but small. Like that country song, "love grows best in small houses".

Boy, does it ever.