Where oh where?

Where oh where does that high pitched, ear shattering scream come from?

We haven't had a screamer until now. I don't like it at all.

This afternoon Sam and I and the three young ones went to Columbus. We had a ton of errands. Shoes for the three, pants for Sam, a stroller for Jake, a new spikey ball for Jake's surgery on Monday and a kitchen trash can.

That last item has been a huge project for over a week now. I get caught up on the dumbest things and can't seem to find something and get on with life. I guarantee I have managed to see every "stainless steel" trash ever made now.

I am sure that child screamed 50 times. Our day was really long and Blake was having a long day also. He picked up Jesse and they met us at Smokey Bones for supper. Sure beats the sandwiches and chicken soup I had planned.

I felt so bad for the people around us. It is one thing to listen to that wonderful noise when it is you precious angel. It is another thing to hear that noise from the little brat next to you.

I am so out of ideas on this one. I have tried saying no, covering his mouth lightly and saying no, ignoring it, pulling my hair out, ear plugs and the list goes on.

Tonight I am just hoping a good night's sleep will solve the problem.

Jake is learning his colors but is fascinated by the word "yellyo". Everything is yellyo. He knows he is wrong, because if I say try again he always comes up with the right color.

Anabeli was able to find a yellyo ball tonight. He screamed and smiled so big. The rest of the evening he would look at it, smile and say "mine yellyo ball". He is now sound asleep with his head on the yellyo spikey ball.

I wish everything wrong in life could be fixed by a yellyo ball. :)

JAKE IS HAVING SURGERY

Jake is going to have eye surgery for his strabismus (crossed eyes) on Monday!!!

We are so thankful to God for such a quick date. At his appointment a week ago we were told it would be at least the end of March maybe even the end of April before they could get him in!

Today I received a call about 1:00 saying someone had cancelled for this Monday and the doctor requested they call for Jake!

Now I know it could have been a coincidence to get him in so soon but there are a few other things at play here.

1- Ann is home now so babysitting on such a short time frame is not an issue for her.
2- Blake works at a hospital based clinic on Mondays. It is almost always really busy and then he comes back to finish hospital patients in Marion. The day can drag on into the evening sometimes.
When he called the office to check his schedule, it turns out it wasn't very full at all and he can reschedule his day without a big hassle! This is great. I was a little worried about him going under anesthesia since his history is so confusing for everyone.

So there is no doubt in my mind that God has worked it out for us long before the call.

To me that is the coolest part of this. God had all this planned out for us a long time ago. Long before we even saw the doctor last week, long before Jake came home God looked ahead and planned all this out. How neat is that?

Once again I am amazed at His ability to work in our lives. The nurse told us the doctor specifically requested us!

Just yesterday his therapist, Miss Laurie, told me how she had become so attached to the little guy.
"You just can't help but fall so in love with him." she said.

We so know the feeling.

I REMEMBER....

February 15--- 20 years ago Blake asked me to marry him.
We were so busy at the time every weekend.
We went out with friends, worked on the house he owned, went out to eat, went to the movies, shopped and the list goes on and on.

Fast forward to today:
1- We enjoyed a quiet morning and were able to sleep a few minutes later because all the kids were sleeping.
2- After everyone was up we spent a fun filled morning of hanging out with all the kids at one time or another.
3- Went to Sam's basketball.
4- Reasoned that since we were half way to the nearest Chipolte why not go on and eat an early supper at 4:30??? That is extremely early for us.
5- Took Sam to the sporting goods store and made it home before 6:30.
6- Played with the kids, bathed the little ones, etc.
7- He is going to read and I am going to rest and work on a grocery list.

BORING???? Compared to our weekends 20 years ago? You bet.
We were happy then enjoying that life. We are happy now enjoying this life.

Right now I can't think of any other way I would rather enjoy a Saturday.

IS IT EVER GOING TO WARM UP?

OK I know I will regret this post in a few months but I am beginning to wonder if it will EVER warm up.
We are supposed to get 2-4 more inches of snow today. I am really tired of the cold weather.
It takes so much longer for bath time with each child. All three need to be covered in baby oil to keep skin soft.
Going anywhere is a hassle with coats, mittens, hats and all the usual things.
Yesterday I just had the two boys when I took Marvin to the doctor and it was still a long haul.
Thankfully Jake likes the stroller and I don't need to carry him . Marvin is such a slow walker I thought we would both freeze in place.
Today the snow is already starting to fall and it should continue all day.
Looks like a good day for a pot of chili after Sam's basketball game.
I really don't like 90 degree weather but at this time I am so tired to be cold, dry and sick I am willing to suffer the heat.
Spring will come. I keep repeating that phrase several times a day.
I hope I start believing it soon.

UP, UP UP AND SINKING FAST

I was up this morning at 1:45, 2:30, 3:36, 4:58, 5:22, and 7:45. The times are stuck in my mind.
Marvin cried off and on all night with a sore ear. I had some "sore ear drops" but they expired in 2006 so I am not sure how good they really were but it did buy us a few minutes sleep.
He had an appointment at 9:45 this morning to confirm the obvious. He has an ear infection. The PA said it was "really red" and he acts like it hurts.
The good side is he has been started on antibiotics. We were able to get a new prescription for ear drops. He only occasionally complains now. And I am hoping for a good night's sleep and so is he.
This is only his second ear infection EVER! The first one was when he came home from Guatemala at 7.5 months old. This is a huge accomplishment as far as I am concerned.
I was the kid that always had cotton in her ear because she almost always had an ear infection and this was wayyyyyy before tubes. :(
We are going to have an early supper of mashed potatoes and gravy and turkey (Marvin's favorite) and then an early bedtime. Mama is sinking fast.
Tomorrow will be better. I keep telling him that.
After the appointment he said, "Mama I tried to be brave. Was I brave?"
Yes sweet boy. You were very brave.

GREAT NEWS FOR LIL B

I received information today that Lil B will get to stay at Eagle's Nest a little while longer!!!
Praise God.
His next hearing is at the end of April but as of right now he gets to stay in his home.
Please continue to pray for all these kids!

FETCH

We have a little white dog named Caesar. He is cute but can be somewhat annoying.

He loves Ann and with Ann home all day he sits with her while she studies.

Sometimes he wanders down to play a little with the kids. He really likes Jake.

A few weeks ago Jake and Caesar spotted a lone Cheerio on the floor at about the same time. They looked at each other and took off for the Cheerio.

Caesar made it there by a hair and scarfed the Cheerio. Jake, not to be outdone, grabbed the dog, opened his mouth, removed the Cheerio and popped it into his mouth before I even knew what happened!!!

It was so gross. But I also knew at that time Caesar really would look after Jake and they really seemed to bond over that shared Cheerio. If I were Caesar I might have decided to practice my biting on that little boy.

Our family room is huge. We have two sofas facing each other in the front and behind the sofa is a gigantic play area. The boys were back there playing while I was at the "beauty shop".

While I was allowing me new 4 year old stylist rip my hair out, umm I mean style my hair, I heard Marvin say, "Fetch dog." Jake just laughed like crazy.

He has been trying to teach Caesar to fetch for quite a while.

He clapped and said good boy. This went on for a few times and then he said, "Speak like a dog. Go ruff, ruff." Silence.

"I said speak like a dog. Go ruff ruff." Silence except for laughing.

"Oh well fetch the ball." The ball came rolling by me and the dog right after it but I was shocked.

The dog was a little boy named Jake just laughing away. He fetched the ball and took it back to Marvin just giggling like crazy.

I asked Marvin, "What are you doing?"

"Playing with my dog."

"Oh. That's not your dog. That's your brother. "

"I know but I want a dog right now, not a brother."

Lil B

Lil B,

We are trusting God for you. I believe He knows what is best for you and is working in your life.

I am praying so hard for you.

Today has been such a sad day for me.

I am still waiting to hear from Eagle's Nest on the status of Lil B.

He had an interview with the powers that be in Guatemala to discuss his staying at the Eagle's Nest.

When I received the information from Claire I immediately started to pray for all the children at the Eagle's Nest.

It sounds as if the government is trying to take away all the children and shut down the orphanage.

What a mess.

These little guys and dolls are receiving great care from Larry, Claire and the staff. They are well fed and healthy. This is terribly hard for me to understand. Why would they want Lil B to be removed from the only home he has known the last 15 months?

I ask you join me in remembering to pray for all the children left in Guatemala. It is terrible to think of what they must be going through without parents.

ELECTRIC IS SO GOOD

Electric is good, very, very good. It is amazing how much we take for granted our conveniences that people around the world do not have!!

Ohio has had the worst wind storm. Last night our winds had gusts of 74 miles per hour. It was horrible. You felt as if you were going to be blown away.

Thankfully we did not have snow but rain during this time. I can't imagine how snowed in we would be if the temperature had not been 45!

Last night at 9:52 our cable went out. We are HUGE Lost fans and this was devastating. We missed the last few minutes of the show. Blake and I only watch one show on TV other than the news! That is it. Nothing else. We can't wait for Wednesday nights.

OK no cable, no internet, no land line phones. We can live.

Around 10:00 I ran the bathtub full of cold water to make sure we would have water to flush the toilets if the electric went off.

10:17 the lights start to flicker. I say to Blake "I need to get up and get some candles out in case we lose the lights." 10:19 Marvin comes down scared from the wind. 10:21 I am still sitting on the bed and the lights go out. No candles. Not good. Our house is pitch black.

Jake immediately starts screaming. The wind was so strong at that moment it sounded like a freight train. So I take off to the upstairs with my cell phone lighting the way.

The two older boys were asleep in the basement. Ann and I grabbed Bell and Jake and took them down to our room. Ann decided to sleep upstairs.

So because I was lazy I had to gather the candles from the closet in the dark.

All night long the wind was howling. The temperature in the house at 8:00 AM was 56.

Now the big problem in the country is no electric, no well water. No water, no shower, no flushing the toilet add to that the loss of electric and no microwave, teapot or toaster.

It was an adventure. Thankfully my parents and sisters, who live three miles away, had electric. Blake and Jesse went and took showers at my parents and then it was off to work and school.

Sam got his braces on today, pictures later, so he and I went to my sisters around 10:30 for showers before the orthodontist. Of course the three little ones planted themselves immediately in front of her TV.

The lights came back on at 2:19 PM. Praise God!

It is amazing to me how we forget to be thankful for the things we grow to expect such as lights, a warm shower, clean water to brush teeth, warmth. These are things we take for granted that other countries do not have even have.

Last night as the wind roared around us I fell asleep praying, thanking God for a well built home that could stand strong in the winds and shelter us from the brutality of the cold air. Yes it was cool inside but it was even colder outside as the wind was blowing. We were able to protect our children from the cold, harsh winds.

I shiver to think how hard it would be as a parent without a way to protect my children from the cold winds.

God blesses us so much in this country. We want to stand and complain and not work for what we get. Many people expect a hand out and not a helping hand. Many would rather survive on government programs than have gainful employment to pay for what they need. Many gripe about what is wrong with this country rather than look at what is good and volunteer to help fix the bad

I am proud God saw fit to allow me the luxury of being born in America where warm beds and a roof over our heads is typical. Sometimes I forget how much He has given me and forget to thank and praise Him for all He gives me. It takes a night without electric to put things into perspective.

DREARY DAY OUTSIDE, BEAUTIFUL INSIDE

Well today was a dreary day. No sun shine but it was warm. Rain but it was warm. Foggy but it was warm. Dark but it was warm. Catch a pattern here? It made it up to mid 50s today! I am so happy to have a warm day I hardly noticed the other things.
We had to be in Columbus for an 8:30 AM doctor's appointment for Ann. It is an hour drive in traffic AND all three little guys had to go.
What was that girl thinking when she made the appointment????
We decided to make a day of it and I was so thankful for the warm weather.
Ann is such a sweet young lady and I couldn't be happier about spending the day with her but I do have to admit lack of sleep from the backseat had its moments.
Jake of course was almost perfect. Anabeli was tolerable and Marvin is at least still alive at this point in the evening.
He is becoming a very impatient child lately and when you are four of six that is not a virtue. We spent a great deal of time talking about being a peacemaker today and waiting our turn.
After the appointment we hit three great resale shops. It was fantastic.
Anabeli was able to get three matching outfits for $5.00 each that look brand new, three pairs of denim shorts for 2.00 each and a few shirts. I was thrilled.
Shop three is a Plato's Closet. If you have teens this is a great shop. I think they are a nationwide chain. The one we go to is in a wealthy part of Columbus which helps with Ann's fashionista ways.
Sam managed to get four pairs of designer (or at least Ann says they are) shorts and two pairs of jeans. This is a big deal since he is a 28X30 and that is so hard to find. I felt like I had hit the jackpot.
Jesse and Ann go their fair share of clothes there too. Nope we aren't too proud for second hand or garage sale things. The cheaper the better for us.
I find that very sad. Everything we bought looked brand new or maybe four washings. These were clothes with an "original" price tag of at least 75.00 if bought new. The store was filled to capacity.
Where are these kids getting the money for 200.00 jeans and 100.00 shirts??? What does it say to them to see their things hanging on a rack for 10.00-15.00?? Do they see the waste in the price or do they notice the items are still like new?
What will these same kids do when they go off on their own? I can't think of too many jobs with a starting salary that can support the life they are accustomed to living.
Lately we have decided to cut drastically all aspects of our lives. Are the kids feeling the pinch?? Yes. But that is a good thing in my mind. Life isn't always the best of every possible material thing. Sometimes it can be downright cruel in that area.
But when you look at family values, family memories and God's will I think our lives are right on track.
Yes we got some good deals but more importantly we had a good time today just being together.
When I think of Ann starting to leave the nest I am overwhelmed. I am glad we have days like today where we can laugh, bargain hunt and just have everyday fun for memories.
She picked lunch at her favorite place, Olive Garden. As we sat there waiting on our food I told the little guys the stories of Annie's life.
Annie loved the Olive Garden when she was young. She called it "Garden Ollie" and at that time we lived 10 minutes from "Garden Ollie".
Several nights daddy came home and she would beg to go out to eat. It didn't matter if supper was ready or not. When she would say, "Daddy go to Garden Ollie, puhleese. Daddy I wuv you lots," we were out the door. She still knows how to play her daddy.
For some reason when she was about two and a half she even removed all the silverware and stuffed it in the diaper bag. I don't know why. She doesn't know why although she did try to blame it on "baby Jesse". He was blamed a lot around that time.
I opened it a few days later when we were getting ready for another outing and found it. The next time we went SHE had to return it.

M and A laughed at the thought of big sis being so silly.

Even though it was dreary outside my memories were able to make it a beautiful day.

This is what I wish for my children. Beautiful days of recalling childhood memories.

WE LOVE YOU LOTS ANNIE GIRL!

Quick Post

We have been super busy the last week or so.
Jake has been evaluated and will start preschool in a week or two. :( I am trying to be upbeat about this but it is killing me inside. He is too little to leave his mama.
Marvin had major dental work done today and came out like a champ. I am so proud of him.
Anabeli is busy being the princess.
Sam had a basketball game Saturday and practice tonight. Lots of running.
Jesse is pondering what to get girlfriend for Valentines Day. I suggested a rose. Nothing to expensive or committal. He is only 15.5. He is starting to get ready to take the test for his temps on March 13. He will be driving by the end of September.
Ann is now officially a senior. Once again, I am breaking down. She went to online schooling about two weeks ago and is chugging right along. We need to start planning a graduation party for June.
Between all that, Jake's two therapies a week, Jake's nasty cold, various doctor's appointments, etc we have been extremely busy. Man, life is never boring here!
On the plus side, it has been very warm (in high 40 and 50 range) for several days. After church yesterday we all jumped in the car and drove about 20 miles to Chipolte to enjoy the weather and each other. Well at least some of us enjoyed each other. Others just did a lot of eye rolling and goofing around.