Crazy Kids

So.....how's your day going? I'm trying to clean house and get ready for Abe's family coming tomorrow. It is a real challenge because I have three little helpers. Here they are acting crazy.

What you don't see in these videos is the part where Mack and Sophie start running in circles...through the dining room, living room, kitchen and back to the breakfast room. They are screaming and laughing and Grace laughs as the run past her. Then she looks up at me and says "I need to run. Mommy, I want to run with them". That's the part that sucks.

The Ones That Didn't Make the Christmas Card

I think we took about 50 photos in all.

Made with Love

No school this week so I'm trying to keep the trio busy. Today we made chocolate covered pretzels. Kat came by to help and I'm so glad she was there. I think the kids got more chocolate on them and in their bellies than we got on the pretzels.

Party at ACCDAT

Friday afternoon we had a Christmas party at A Child Can Do All Things.  Below is a photo of me and Grace and some of the other kids and moms.  I am so thankful for the other families that we have gotten to know.  Each child has a unique story and we all deal with "special issues".  These woman are so strong and are there to hold each other up when you think you can't do it alone...I love these ladies!
Santa came and Mack told him he wanted a truck.  Really Mack...the 50 we have aren't enough?!
Sophie had a hard time deciding what she wanted.  She said a teddy bear.  I think she panicked. (Grace refused to sit in Santa's lap)
This is Agi, one of the conductors from Hungary.  She is a new addition to the team and is amazing!  I didn't get a photo of the other Hungarian conductor, Timi (but I will :)  She has been at the school almost since the beginning and we love her!
Kasey is another conductor from Michigan.  Gracie talks about her (and the others) nonstop.
Grace with Hailey, Carly and Caroline...some of her best friends.

Pre-School Program

Friday was a big day for us. We had a program at pre-school and a party at ACCDAT (not to mention it was the last day my Starbucks would be open). I was very excited about the program. The teachers had been telling me how Mack and Sophie had the songs down really well and Sophie's dance moves were...well, beyond interesting. In addition, Grace had been invited to participate in the program even though she had not been in pre-school during December.

Well, Sophie and Mack saw me as they were walking in and ran to me and clutched on as if there life depended on it. They did sing the songs, but only for me. Grace, however, rocked the house. She did awesome.

This is the only photo I got of Mack while they are walking in to begin the program.

Look for Sophie in the front row (right side).  I convinced her to go up with the other kids but only for a moment....

(Look at all the parents that rushed the stage to get photos.  It was hilarious.  I think I might have been a little frightened myself)

She then decides to crawl off the stage to me.

Grace has so much fun.
This is after the program.  Bekah has been Grace's aide at school and we love her! (The big bows are starting to slide off the head.  I need to work on that)

Crawling!!!

Most parents take it for granted that their child will crawl, speak and walk.  However, some of us cannot assume that our child will even crawl one day.  These are NOT small things to hope for.  They are HUGE!!

Well, GRACE IS NOW CRAWLING ON ALL FOURS...no more commando crawling!!!!!!!  We have been working on this for what seems forever!!  When I picked Grace up from Conductive Education on Tuesday, she crawled out to me.  It was such an amazing feeling.  I wanted to cry.  Of course, I didn't because it would make her cry (she has such a soft heart and cries if someone else does) but I did jump up and down and clap with joy.  It wasn't easy and was/is a lot of work but she is so proud and so am I.

Amen and Party On!

Sophie has added a new ending to our meal time prayer.  

This morning before school, all three kids were sitting in the floor cooking dinner for Elmo.  When it was time for him to eat, Sophie said the prayer (is it bad that my kids fight over who gets to pray).  It ended like this "....in Jesus' name, Amen.  Yeah!  Party!!!"  The arms were waving in the air.  Hmmm....I think God likes a good party, don't you?

My Brilliant Daughter

Even though she was having a bad hair day, she could still spell the heck out of it!

I Am Second

Have you seen this?!  Are you second?

Every Season

Every evening sky, an invitation

To trace the patterned stars

And early in July, a celebration

For freedom that is ours

And I notice You

In children’s games

In those who watch them from the shade

Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder

You are summer

And even when the trees have just surrendered

To the harvest time

Forfeiting their leaves in late September

And sending us inside

Still I notice You when change begins

And I am braced for colder winds

I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come

You are autumn

And everything in time and under heaven

Finally falls asleep

Wrapped in blankets white, all creation

Shivers underneath

And still I notice you

When branches crack

And in my breath on frosted glass

Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter

You are winter

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced

Teaching us to breathe

What was frozen through is newly purposed

Turning all things green

So it is with You

And how You make me new

With every season’s change

And so it will be

As You are re-creating me

Summer, autumn, winter, spring

Christmas Story Time

Last Monday through Wednesday the kids and I were looking for things to do...there was no school or camp.  One day we rode the bikes around in circles in the house, pretending we were going to Grandma's or NiNi's.  Sophie had loaded up her bike basket with a Christmas bear and book.  During one of our journeys she decided to take a pit stop and read the Christmas book to her bear.  She plopped done in front of the tree, sat the bear beside her and began reading.  She is such a little mommy.  (Notice the Christmas bib she wore when she was a baby...it is worn everywhere...gotta get in the spirit of the season)

And Now For An Encore...

with sister Sophie. I tried to film Sophie singing by herself but she kept running around behind me, as she is singing, trying to see herself in the camera. She is definitely my diva daughter.

Grace Performs...

one of her favorites.

Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree

Last night we put up our Christmas tree.  Since we start, what I like to call our annual Holiday Road Show...4 cities in 30 days (well, actually 2 cities but we have to hit them both twice ) Thursday morning I thought we should go ahead and decorate.  The kids had so much fun and Mack even said the tree looked "Amazing!"  (and then he had to go to bed early for throwing and breaking an ornament...we broke 4 in total).  Happy Holidays Everyone!!

3 Steps Forward...

and 2 steps back. Sometimes it feels like 3 steps back and that we are starting all over. Grace finished her September Conductive Education doing really well. Sitting up well, walking well, great attitude. Now she is afraid to sit up, she is complaining about her right leg and has become most difficult at times to get along with (especially with me). I was feeling so great about things in September. We had the right therapists, the right equipment and things were really, really moving forward. And now I fell like I just can't do it all! Is this the way it is with CP? I guess I thought things would always continue to get better. I guess I really don't know what I'm doing or what to expect from this journey. I guess I feel like I'm letting everyone...especially Grace...down.

Binky Free!!

Kat Kat and the Kids

I know...I know!!  I haven't posted in a while but quite honestly, I've been in a funk (more on that later).  I just wanted to announce to the world that the Lieck household is BINKY FREE!!!!  I wanted to accomplish this before we started our road trips for the holiday, so we started last Friday.  We explained that the binkies would be going to little babies who need them.  Mack, Grace and Sophie all seemed to agree this was a good idea (Sophie even suggested we give them blankies has well)...that is until it was bedtime.  After going to bed without their binkies there was about an hour of screaming and gnashing of teeth.  I seriously thought the neighbors would be calling CPS.  Saturday night was better.  At least that is what I was told, I was conveniently out town :)  We still get an occasional "I want my binky" and Mack has torn his room apart looking for one but we have all survived.  WOO HOO!!!!!

Really Cool Parking Pass

I did something today that I have been putting off for quite a while...I picked up Handicapped Parking Placards for our cars.  I just didn't want to do it...I just kept thinking that we would never really need these...that is was all just a really bad dream and one morning Grace would walk, unassisted, into the breakfast room and ask for bacon (she loves bacon) and life would be normal.  There would be no walkers, AFOS, standers or other special equipment and Grace would play "Ring Around The Rosy" without someone holding her up and doing the walking for her.

I know that this placard in our car will make things easier.  Especially when I have all three of the kids and have to get them all and Grace's walker to our destination.  I know this is what we/Grace needs but I'm going to call it our "Special Parking Pass for Really Cool Kids" because you see...that is really what it is for.

Trick or Treating Fun

I'm such a bad photographer...I didn't get any photos of the 3 together and they were pretty darn cute!  We had a blast at the Walkers' party and the white kitty costumes now have chocolate all over them.

Mack was very hesitant...okay adamant...about wearing his costume, but when he got it on he loved it.

Although Grace doesn't look happy here, she really had a good time.

Sophie has decided..."I want to be a kitty forever" and she means it.  She has even been napping in her costume and doesn't want to take it off which is pretty impressive since it is 80 degrees here.  She is very dedicated to her part. 

Mack, Mommy, Coffee and Cookies

Grace gets a lot of my attention...it's a given. We spend a lot of time on the road to therapies as well as working together on things at home. Some things and people get neglected. Mack is one of them. Yesterday, I droped the girls off at the house to spend a few minutes with my sister-in-law while Mack and I went to Starbucks. He was a little unsure about the situation but settled right in with his huge cookie and chocolate milk. We talked about school and acted silly. It was so nice and we'll have to do it more often.

These photos were taken with my camera phone and are a bit blurry but I think his smile says it all.

Miss Iowa is Coming!!

I'm so excited!! Abbey Curran, Miss Iowa, is coming to ACCDAT's (Conductive Education of Dallas) spring luncheon fundraiser in February! She has cerebral palsy and is the perfect speaker to have for the theme of the lunch..."A Hope for A Brighter Tomorrow". Let me know if you want tickets.

Watch her on the Ellen show.

Playing Beauty Shop

Sophie insisted on fixing Grace's hair today. There was a lot of brushing and teasing of the hair and Grace just keep saying "I'm helping Sohie". She was so sweet and patient.  It didn't turn out half bad.

I'm So Not Ready For This!

I need to what?  I need to be preparing my children for "that talk"! Really?!  My children are 3!!

Last week at bible study (Bad Girls of the Bible...very cool study), someone mentioned how we are living in a sex saturated society and that we, as mothers, need to begin teaching our children at an early age about sex.  The point was...our children will start learning about it from others at a very early age and we should be the one to talk with our children...we should be their loving authority on the issue.  I totally agree but I had no idea that kindergartners could be talking about this stuff.  One mother even mentioned that her five year old came home saying that a 5 year old friend watches her 16 year old brother have sex.  What!!!!!  That scares the crap out of me!!!

Well, all righty then.  In true Type A form (yes, I used to be really Type A...I've mellowed a lot) I started seeking assistance in this area.  Yes, I had been discussing body parts with my kids, using the medical terms, but I did not think I would need to consider anything further than that for, let's say....10 more years!!!  It is so upsetting to me and angers me that we have to take the innocence of our children away so early in order to help preserve their virtues...in order to lay a foundation before their friend Sally Jo tells them about sex in the first grade.  Oh yes, it happens!!!   

This morning I attended a lecture conducted by Mary Flo Ridley

entitled "Shaping Your Child's Sexual Character". It was really help and I highly recommend that you see her speak or order her DVDs if you can.  She had some great advice on how to begin structuring a foundation with your children on the subject which will enable you to have those talks when you need to.  Okay NiNi, please don't be freaking out...I am not about to have the "sex talk"  with my three years olds but Abe and I are definitely forming a plan to get to that point some day.  Oh dear Lord...help us!!

Riding in Circles

Mack and Sophie are extremely active and are many times running circles around the house.  Grace will say "I want to run" or "I want to chase Mack" and I try to accommodate her the best I can.  She wants to mix it up with her brother and sister so badly.  Last week while waiting for daddy to come home so we could go to Neighborhood Night Out, I put Grace in her tricycle and pushed her behind Mack and Sophie.  Sophie insisted on pushing...here are few photos.   The first picture is Sophie in the fire truck at Neighborhood Night Out.

Sorry there has been no blogging of substance for me for awhile...I'm exhausted.

Pumpkins

I love Autumn!  It's my favorite time of year.  Here are some photos from a pumpkin patch with our friend Sydney. 

Mommy's Books

Sophie insists on reading "Mommy's books".  This is what I found her reading last night.  Hmmm, wonder what she thinks.  I prefer the Great Gatsby myself.