NO MORE DIAPERS!!!

We just received a $30 a month raise at our house...
No more diapers or pull-ups!
Harrison after only a year and a half of trying is finally potty trained.
I was starting to think he would be entering college with a pull-up on.
I take the raise part back, we now probably spend more in toilet paper and plumber bills!

A little change in my life

 
  

It was one of those days when you wake up and need some change in you life....so what else do you do besides cut your hair!

Sad Death

I know most of you will find this stupid to be upset about, but to me it is a big deal....
One pot of my tomatoes died this week. It was tragic. I had about 10 tomatoes on the two plants and both of them went belly up.
I discovered this whole gardening thing was not as easy as I thought.
I had 4 problems that I could figure out...
Poor drainage
Over watering
Bugs/fungus
Not enough sun light
So, I am trying my best to fix the problems for the other two plants. Hopefully, I can keep them alive long enough to at least eat one of the tomatoes.
If not, I expect all of you who have success with the gardening thing to share yours...I can provide basil in exchange!

My cuties

 
 
Those are some good looking kids....
Don't you love Julia's nose ring!

My city garden

 
 
 
 

So here is my first attempt at gardening. I am proud of the fact I have actually grown something! I should have plenty of tomatoes and basil to get me through the summer.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. It is a special day to honor the men in our kid's lives. They are so vital to our families.
I was blessed to have the greatest father! He has always poured love into my life and continues to do so. I love to spend time with my father. Growing up we would take long "drives" to go look at his projects. This was a special time with him. Even though he was working, it made me feel special to get to have alone time with him. He would teach me about grading and easements and silt fences....lots of useful information for me now!!!
Now that I am older I enjoy our time when we go walking together. It is fun to connect and share about life. I think we challenge each other to think about life and God in new ways. I love you dad and am so thankful for your role in my life!

My kids are also blessed to have a great father. I am thankful that Paul shares in my beliefs of wanting to be the ones to raise our children and teach them values. I think of what an incredible job he did when he was home with the kids when I went back to work. The first day leaving Julia with him when she was 4 months old. He wanted me to write out a basic schedule, but nothing more. He said "mom's are not born knowing what to do...I can figure this out." And he did. He did a great job and then had two at home by himself. He many times did a better job then I did. I was always so impressed how he could take a 2 year old and an infant out of the house. I couldn't even manage that!

Lastly, the most special father's day gift of all....Happy Father's Day to Scott Dideon who traveled to China this week and got to meet his son Winston at the orphanage today. You have to read this amazing story from the Dideons.

My beautiful Girl

 
Just wanted you to see how beautiful my girl is getting.
I love those big brown eyes!
Besides her physical beauty, she is developing a very gentle and kind heart. 

Babysitting Fun

 
 
Last weekend we had the pleasure of babysitting Leah and Lily.
They were fun to have over. Harrison is in love with Lily and wants to have a baby of his own. We promptly told him we could borrow this one any time, but there will be no more babies in this house!

I miss these days...

 
 
 

Flipping through some pictures tonight and realizing how much I miss these days.
Life seemed easier when the kids were smaller. I suppose it didn't at the time, but now I think about it and it was a whole lot easier. I miss their cute little baby faces.
They are growing up amazingly fast. As much as they drive me crazy right now, I know I need to try to appreciate this time I have with them.

Update on "the bumps"

Two weeks ago I blogged about Julia's rash that was diagnosed as Molluscum. At that time she had hundreds of blistery bumps all over her legs, red bumps all over her face and arms. I was shocked a few minutes ago when I looked at her legs to put medicine on them. I would like to report that she has no bumps on her face and arms and 5 left on her legs and they are almost gone!
The doctor and all of the medical websites say there is no treatment....there is!
I gave her acidophilus internally to boost her immune system, I gave her colloidal silver internally and some externally for the first week. I gave her grapefruit seed extract internally and despite the warnings, I put it on externally. Lastly, I used a tea tree oil ointment to help soothe and heal them. I really think that putting the GSE on the bumps the last few days have made them really dry up the most. I wish I would have taken pictures of her legs to show you the dramatic difference.
I am greatly encouraged and hope by the end of the week she will be as good as new, just in time for the pool to open!!!

Happy Mother's Day

I heard little footsteps at 6:30 this morning. Julia was sneaking into the kitchen to make me my first breakfast in bed. After almost an hour of cooking by herself (Paul checked on her once to help her find the jam), I had the most gourmet breakfast you have ever seen! Two slices of bread with lots of jam and sliced bananas. With a side of milk in a coffee cup with one of the good straws!
It was the sweetest thing ever. I was a little afraid of what she was making for an hour, but proud of myself for letting her do it on her own.

I want to say a special Happy Mother's Day to all the new baby girls in my life....
Liesl and Keeley, Lorie and Lily, Sheridyn and Maicey, Jenn and Ella, Jenn and Laena, Grace and Jordyn!

An Artist is Born

Julia has become quite the artist. She also watches a bit of TV if you couldn't tell by her subject matter.

Unsure how to title this!

I am frustrated and sad right now.
Julia has had this "rash" since January. It has gotten worse over the last 2 weeks.
I finally took her to the doctor on Friday and they diagnosed her with Molluscum.
It is a form of pox virus. According to the doctor and most of what I have read online there is nothing we can do for her. Time is the only healer. However, the time tables are anywhere from 6 months to 4 years!!! Our doctor made a dermatology appointment, but the first the pediatric dermatologist could see her was June 16!

This stuff is all over her legs and is spreading to her arms and face. She itches like crazy. The more you itch the more it spreads. Tonight I was putting some herbal remedies I am trying on her and she just laid there in pain wanting to itch. It breaks my heart to see her so uncomfortable. The literature says it is not itchy, but due to the fact she also suffers with eczema she has itching with it.
I am also getting paranoid to touch her. Some information says it is "mildly" contagious while other things say "very" contagious. One big thing is that she should not go swimming with this. What are we going to do??? That is our biggest activity during the summer. We can't expect her to not go swimming!

I have been reading like crazy on the stuff. I don't get it. Apparently it is really starting to become a growing problem. It is mainly on children 5-10 years old, but adults are getting it like an STD.
There are lots of homeopathic recommendations out there. I am trying colloidal silver and tea tree oil on it. Tonight was the first night so we shall see what happens.
On the brighter side of my child's life she lost (or I should say I pulled) her first tooth. She was excited tonight because the one next to it is now loose as well.
It is so hard to see your children suffer. It is also frustrating to not be able to do anything to help them.

Happy 100th Birthday Papa!

This weekend the kids and I went to Atlanta for my Papa's 100th Birthday!
We had a great time with my family. Friday night we had a party with the neighbors for his birthday. Apparently when you turn 100 you not only get a card from the President of the United States, but you also get 4 birthday parties and lots of whiskey! If that isn't incentive enough to live that long I don't know what is!
I love you Papa! Happy Birthday. I am definitely glad he was born.

Snuggle Bug

It is fun getting to have a new baby around without having to keep it!
I finally got some quality snuggle time with Lily. I think she likes me...I definitely am in love with her. She can come sleep on my shoulder anytime!

More fun with Lily!

Debra and I had a great visit with Lily and family last night.
She is so beautiful...just like her mama.
I can't wait to love on them some more!

The miracle of childbirth!

There is nothing more beautiful in this world than seeing a baby being born.
I had the honor of seeing little Lily come into the world today.
It is always such an amazing process.
Lorie did great and had a quick and easy delivery.
I will forever be grateful for each birth I have had the pleasure of attending. It always reminds me how precious and wonderful life is...and how great the creator!

Easter

If I would have posted earlier in the day you would have heard a nice Easter message....right now all I can think of is
"DEATH to the person who created Easter Grass!!!!"
(and maybe to the son who has decorated our entire house with it)

Two thoughts for today

God gave me these two thoughts today....
Both come from books I am reading.

Romans 8:1
He NEVER sheds light on our weaknesses or shortcomings for the sake of condemnation. God makes us aware of hindrances so He can set us Free!

"Lord help me to be disciplined enough to obey you the way you want me to so I can become the person you created me to be."


We talked about our life as a story this week in small group. We tried to think of the themes for our life. I realized that one of my themes is obedience.
God desires my obedience. Obedience is very hard. (as pointed out by my children who live in timeout.) I am trying to obey. Perhaps I need some timeout myself.

A Blessed Get Away

This weekend I met my parents and my brother at the cabin in Elijay.
I had a great time with my family. It is so nice to get away from Nashville and enjoy nature. I wish the weather had been a little better so I could have gotten outside more. I have a really bad case of spring fever!
I am so blessed to have wonderful parents and a great brother!