Hey! You're Just Like Me!

Earlier today I was at Central Market gathering a few items for our impromptu, kid-friendly New Year's Eve shin-dig at our house. As I was preparing to pay I noticed the woman and child behind me in line. The child was in a stroller and may have been about 7 or 8 years old. The little girl appeared to have cerebral palsy and was asking her mother in an affected voice to hurry up. I immediately wanted to bond with this woman and her daughter. I longed to run up, hug them both and tell them that I also had a daughter with cerebral palsy...that I was just like them...that my daughter, who is old enough to walk, may never...that we get curious looks while at the grocery store...that we are trying to get by the best that we can.

I was afraid that this may have come across as rude or intrusive, so I didn't say anything. On my way out the door, I looked back and almost went back but didn't. Should I have? How would you feel?

Ice Skating Princess

Kat Kat decided she wanted to do something special with each one of the triplets on their own. She took Mack to see the trains at North Park and took Sophie ice skating (Grace gets her trip later). To my surprise, Sophie picked ice skating for her trip. We have never been and I'm not sure how she knows about it but that's what she wanted to do. I was very excited for her but a bit sad...someone else would get to do this with her first. I guess I feel guilty that I don't spend more one-on-one time with each child. Grace gets her one-on-one time through therapies only and the other two just don't get any. I'm so thankful for Kat...we are so blessed to have her in our lives but I really need to start being a better mommy...I need to start spending time alone with each...just how do I do it...I feel I am spread so thin....

Maybe next year

Hello 9-1-1

Monday afternoon we were playing with our friend Evie in the backyard. Four 4-years olds and lots of fun. The kids were pretending to make food with sticks, leaves, flowers and various nuts berries. I was helping them gather the "goods". They made a beautiful spaghetti soup and we called it a day so I could go in and make a real dinner. The kids were watching television quietly and then I hear Mack say "help me, help me". Not being a mom that jumps to the worst conclusion automatically, I calmly picked him up and started talking to him. He then started shaking and turning blue and was really warm. He said his tummy hurt and after asking, I discovered that he had been eating the flowers and berries that I specifically told them NOT TO EAT! THEN I panicked and called 9-1-1. The paramedics came and the neighbors came running over. Needless to say, all is well now and we don't know exactly what happened because the paramedics said he would need to ingest a large amount of berries to get really sick...maybe it was the pecans...and he never threw up. I slept (didn't sleep) with Mack that night and just made sure he was breathing every few minutes. Our first 9-1-1 call and hopefully our last.

The Famous Spaghetti Soup

Hello Lover

I'm in love!! And no, Shelly, Kat and Coleen, not with Robert Pattinson! And not with Edgar Allan Poe pictured below...even though he has that mysterious tortured soul thing going on that I always liked.

I am in love with my very own sweet Kindle. Little did I know when he/she/it arrived in my mailbox as a birthday gift from my sis, bro, mom, etal, that I would be so smitten and that we would become so close. I long for the times when it is completely quiet and Kindle can rest in my hands sending me pieces of shocking, funny, sad, dramatic literature...we laugh and we cry. I am even thinking all the holiday travel will not be so bad now because I have Kindle. I can read while Abe drives and if I finish a book...I can just download another!!!! As an added bonus there are even some of the classics that you can get for free!!!! Free I tell you!! I have even purchased the cutes reversible orange/blue case and light. All is right with the world when I am with my Kindle.

So, if there is someone you really love, get them a Kindle for Christmas...unless you get jealous ;)

Muck and Mire

I think I'm finally coming out of my funk...at least let's hope so for my husband's sake. I can't really explain why, but I tend to get a little out of sorts as the holidays approach. I become overwhelmed with all the activities and expectations...mine and others. My routine is messed up. I can never find the perfect gifts. I always spend too much money. There is a lot of packing and unpacking as we travel about. I miss my dad. We are considering scooters for Mack and Sophia for Christmas, but what about Grace. It all just culminates in one big pile of funk. Abe just doesn't understand..."we have so much to be thankful for"..."we are so blessed" he continues to remind me. YES I KNOW!!! I know that we are very blessed but let me work through my funk. It's the only way, just let me deal with it.

In the midst of all my mire, my kids continue to grow and amaze me. They continue to love me unconditionally while I feel at my most unloveable. They are so excited about Christmas and everything it brings...Jesus, Santa, lights, cookies and of course, presents. Grace continues to get stronger everyday even though I am quite lax on her exercise routine. She is currently standing 20 seconds unassisted!! Here she is standing with a little help from the sofa. Thank you God for the blessings....I'm starting to see the light.