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

Feeling a Little “Grouchy Smurf”

Do you ever have one of those days?  I’m having one of those days when I’m just on the verge of being a little grouchy, but instead of it sneaking up on me, I’m totally aware of my grumpy tendency today.  I don’t know what the cause is.  I can’t pinpoint anything that has made me lean toward the grumpy side.  Granted, we did have another of our arguing trips home from school.  Everybody’s fine when they get in the car, but in the 7 miles between school and home they get on each other’s nerves.  A little of that can go a L-O-N-G way.   As I’m typing, all three girls are (for the the first time today, seemingly) getting along.  The twins are playing on the keyboard and singing, which in itself is one of the most beautiful and happy sounds I could ever hear.  Add to it that Addie is currently in her pajamas with a fancy stocking cap on, and really, how could I be anything less than pleasant? 

I had a nice afternoon doing “Christoga” with my exercise buddies.  It was a slightly cheesy Christian yoga DVD that was really pretty fun.  I loved the “holy rollers” – yes, you had to be there…  I’d recommend it, but I suggest you keep your eyes closed.  It’s slightly less odd that way…

And, in light of my grumpy day today, I’m posting one of my favorite end of the day songs.  It’s a great one - “Red Sky” by Brandon Heath.  Listen to the words, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.  Here’s to “the promise of a better day to come.” 

Another Normal Week

You have to understand that a “normal” week around here means that the unexpected and unintended have occurred once again.  It’s frightening, just a little, when abnormal becomes normal.  So we have, indeed, had another “normal” week around here.

Addie started in with an earache (no other symptoms) Monday evening.  I took her to the doctor Tuesday and ended up having to get her both ear drops (which I’m now saving) and then Zithromax in order to clear up her lingering sinus infection.  I thought she was over it, but the doctor said her sinuses were a mess. Hopefully now we’re getting her back to normal. 

We also had the excitement of the girls’ first (they were sick last year) field trip on Friday.  They had been very excited about it, so when Friday finally arrived, we were ready go to.  I got to go with them, so I was a little less excited and a little more apprehensive, but their excitement was palpable.  When we pulled up to the school Friday morning, we noticed smoke coming from one of the windows of the old school/current museum.  We also noticed some of the district officials, so we knew it couldn’t be good.  Long story short, lightning struck the chimney and started a fire in the building.  By the time we left for our field trip (a little behind schedule), the parking lot was full of fire department vehicles.  We did, eventually, make it to Kansas City and had a great time at Hallmark & Kaleidoscope.  It was, as we decided on the way home, organized chaos, but not all that organized.  The kids seemed to have a great time, though, so that was the important thing. 

This week we will just plan to have another “normal” week.  I have to take Addie back to the doctor for a weight check on Thursday and will take all 3 girls with me so Addie & I can go to the eye doctor Friday.  Maybe if I plan on a chaotic “normal” week we’ll have a nice, quiet, perfectly abnormal week! :)