Super Sunday

We had an absolutely spectacular Sunday!  Gary had planned to go golfing, but due to the need for hip-waders in just the backyard, he had to reschedule.  It worked out fine, though, because they we were all able to go to church together.  Kathy had a fantastic sermon about being annoyed (I needed that, incidentally), I got to visit with friends, it was great.  We had then decided we’d go to KC to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch/supper, so we took off.  The girls were reading and talking all the way there, and it was so nice to hear them not grumble at each other! :)  I had Orange Chicken that Addie LOVED.  That’s okay – she needs it more than I do.  We also, of course, got cheesecake that we all brought home to eat for supper.   Words can’t even begin to explain how good that stuff was. We also had to make a stop at Barnes & Noble on the way home.  Apparently I’ve trained them well, as that is their favorite store.  Everybody was happy with their purchase (3 kids’ books, one Richard Simmons video for the mama).  The ride home was equally pleasant with no cross words at all.  It was amazing!

While we did have a little incident in the evening that left Hope with hurt feelings and playing computer games with me, it was a fun time as well.  The girls’ music teacher called and told me how impressed he has been with their music progress this spring, and that he thinks they would be perfect candidates for piano lessons that he offers in the summer.  I’m so excited!  I love to play the piano (but don’t get enough opportunities to do so), and I know they will do great with it as well.  Then, while I was still happy about that phone call, we found Dumb & Dumber on TV.  That, surprisingly, is our all-time favorite movie to watch.  It makes Hope cackle like no other! :)

The final fun of the day occurred as the girls were getting ready for bed.  Addie & Hannah had been buddies all evening and went into the bathroom together.  They were in there for a few minutes before Addie came out and headed to Dad’s bathroom.  She finished her business and went back in with Hannah who, apparently, was still sitting on her throne.  Addie (remember, she’s the quiet, shy, sweet one) told her, “I’m already done, and I went in Dad’s bathroom.  You’re still on the pot.  I think you fell in the toilet and it barfed you back up again!”  That’s one we want to remember! :)

Here She Is!

Well, sort of.  I don’t put pictures of the kiddos on the blog, but I’ll share a picture of her beautiful old-soul eyes with her brand spankin’ new glasses.  Now she can see with her eyes the way she sees with her heart – clearly and completely and amazingly accurately.  She is a beauty, both inside and out.

Whirlwind Week

Wow, Friday already…  It seems like this week has flown by, but it also seems like I have been busy for two weeks straight instead of just one. 

First off, I have successfully recovered from the very unattractive hives I had Sunday.  That’s a definite blessing, especially with all the places I was this week.  Tuesday night was the girls’ spring program at school.  Poor Dad wasn’t able to be there due to a work commitment, so I got them all gussied up and took them for their first ever school program (they’ve been sick for every other one).  They were super excited to get to wear their Easter dresses again.  I have to say that they looked like little angels Tuesday evening.  I asked them on the way to the school if they were nervous, fully expecting them to admit that they were.  They said they were a little nervous, but I couldn’t tell it when they got up there to sing.  Usually Addie is exceptionally quiet, but she (along with both of her sisters) sang her heart out that night.  It was so much fun to see them sing and dance like there was nobody in the room!  I’m so proud.  Lucky for us, their music teacher is producing and selling a DVD of the program (we’ll have it today, just in case you want to come watch…).  They can’t wait to show Dad, Kerri (who’s coming this weekend – yeah!) and Meme & Papa - who picked these 10 days to take their first (and last?!) bus trip. 

Today is another B-I-G day in our house.  Addie is getting her new glasses today.  We’ve been trying to make it be an exciting thing just to scare away any apprehensiveness that she might have.  I am so excited for her to see all the things that she’s been missing.  And, besides that, she looks darn cute in those little wire-rimmed glasses.  Her dad likes the fact that they’re lavender.  They’re close enough to purple that he thinks it’s a good sign. :)  It will be fun to watch her discover things again.  Her distance vision is very poor, so she’s missed out on a lot on our drives.  I am so excited for her!

Mother’s Day

We had an early Mother’s Day celebration yesterday with Gary’s parents.  The girls spent the entire day outside playing while I got things ready for an early supper.  It was a fun day for all of us. 

Today, however, is a slightly different story.  We already knew we’d be home today, and thank goodness, because I woke up looking like half of my face was double its normal size  .  I knew yesterday that I had a rash going on under the skin on my face, but today it erupted into swollen hives.  I guess the technical term, after researching it on the internet a little, is angioedema.  It stinks.  My left cheek is swollen enough that I can look down and see it.  Needless to say, I didn’t go to church and hope to avoid having anyone see me today!  I’m taking lots of Benadryl, which requires lots of naps.  Good thing this happened on a Sunday…

The girls didn’t care what I looked like this morning.  They were so excited to bring out the gifts.  They had gone to Yankee Candle (maybe my favorite place) and Bath & Body Works to get some goodies.  They did great!  They had also made me a frame with their picture in it and a magnet for the fridge at school.  Those are the kinds of things I truly love.  I am so lucky to have such a phenomenal family.

While it’s not exactly the way I had imagined spending Mother’s Day, it’ll be one I remember.  I should probably take a picture of myself…but I’m not. 

Mother’s Day Eve

I am already receiving homemade Mother’s Day cards, and I plan to scan them in and share them, but I just, minutes ago, had them revoked.  I’m not sure why.  I think there was probably a little more work to be done on it.  There is truly nothing I enjoy more than those homemade cards.  It’s not just the cards themselves, it’s the absolute joy I can see (and sometimes feel) emanating from the girls when they present them.  Hope was the one this morning who gave me an early card.  She could hardly contain her excitement when I looked at it and hugged me repeatedly.  Does it get any better?  That’s evidence that they hopefully remember that giving truly is better than receiving.  She put so much of herself into that piece of paper and couldn’t wait to give it away.  That is such pure love.   My love for them can’t even be described.  I thank God daily for giving me the opportunity to raise these three amazing souls.  I am blessed beyond measure.  Below is a song by Celine Dion that, although I’m not a big Celine Dion fan, I used in the first video I made of the girls’ pictures.  It still makes me cry, but it also puts into words the way I feel about them. 

Disappointing Day

I had really hoped and prayed that Addie’s weight check would reveal a nice, albeit modest, gain today.  It didn’t.  She has lost 2 pounds since December.  We’ll be making a trip up to Children’s soon to visit with a specialist.  I’m trying not to get down about it, but I just want to explode with, “WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO HAPPEN THIS WAY?  WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO HER?”  That’s it.  I can talk myself down from it, but not before the tears fall.  I realize that we are exceptionally fortunate that none of the girls have any life-threatening problems left over from their preemie days.  My head knows that.  My heart, on the other hand, has a problem with it.  I read the following quote today, and it was what I needed. 

If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable; think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad.  ~ C.S. Lewis

I don’t know what the answer will be for her.  One way or another, we’re going to get this girl healthy.  Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Oh, and the picture up there is of Zoe.  This is what she looked like as we were loading up to come home from Meme & Papa’s last time.  Think she misses us when we’re gone?

The Golden Rule

I remember Miss Hodgden teaching us “The Golden Rule” in 4th grade, and it has always stuck with me.  Granted, sometimes it is exceptionally difficult to follow the principle, and I have failed more times than I can count, but at least I try.  It was included as one of our scriptures last night at M&M as we studied Abigail.  I think it bears repeating here.  I know it’s a scripture that I should probably have posted over every door of the house, but since I’m not doing that, I’ll just post it here.  The Golden Rule part of this is difficult enough, but throw in the preceding four verses, and it really gives us something for which to strive.  It’s easier said than done…  But I’m working on it. 

27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:27-31