Bird Feeders and Rabbit Teeth

Yesterday, my SIL, Ellen, brought her 4 children over after school to visit and play - of course the kis had a blast, as always!!!! Wilson donned a pair of "play" work goggles - look at how they are upside down AND caught his upper lip - showing his "rabbit teeth" - it was so funny - I haven't laughed that hard in a long time - and he even left them on long enough for me to grab my camera!!!!

The pictures really don't do it justice - it was stinkin' hilarious!!!!!

This little guy is still very sick - we were tricked into thinking he was better when the fever went away for about 30 hours, but IT's BACK - 103 as of last night and you can tell he feels horrible. His nose is pouring and his breathing is labored. I'll be calling the pediatrician first thing this morning (as soon as they're open, b/c technically right NOW, at 5:30 am, IS first thing this morning).

I helped the children make bird feeders (using what we had in our home). Their lessons in church on Sunday were on Creation and noticing God's creatures and nature, so this was a fun way to get them involved - not that they need much encouragement - they ALL have a natural fondness for God's little critters!!!!

We just gathered a few pine cones from the yard and spread peanut butter on them and then tore up little pieces of bread and stuck it to it! I didn't have any yarn on hand, so I used two pipe cleaners instead. I chose red, in hopes that it would attract some pretty birds!!!!

Notice the bread smeared with peanut butter in the "humans" (as Emma Claire would say it) hand. Really, anytime she's referring to people, she ALWAYS uses the word "HUMAN" it kind of freaks me out sometimes - the other day we passed a horse farm and she said, "Look! There are humans riding those horses!!" Not people, but humans - what 4 year old says that?

There is a 90% chance of rain today, so I hope the birds (and squirrels) get hungry fast!!!!!

A New Day

WARNING!!!! This post could easily have been 3 posts - especially picturewise, but here goes!!!!

First of all, Henderson woke up fever free today!!!!! It broke late yesterday afternoon and he hasn't had any tylenol or motrin since Saturday at noon. He was pretty fussy and lethargic today though, you can still tell he doesn't feel great, but no fever is a good sign. He hasn't had much to eat or drink - a total of about 6 oz all day, but he's had a couple wet diapers, so that's good. Hopefully tomorrow will be even better.

Today was the finale of "Annie" and we got a babysitter and took Emma Claire to the show! IT.WAS.AWESOME!!!!! Emma Claire has been singing and dancing all afternoon - she is determined to be up there for the next show in the fall ("Alice in Wonderland" is what I've heard) - we'll see about that. We have alot of work to do, but I know it's something she would enjoy, so we'll give it a try! Her cousin, Chandler, who was a little orphan, did great - they all did great!!!!

This is Will and I and Emma Claire, Will's mom and dad, Will's sister (Ellen) and her husband (Stan) and Chandler and Patton

We had front row seats!!!!!

3 little orphans, glad to be finished and enjoying the cast party!!!

Enjoying some snacks at the cast party!!!

Henderson eyeing Daisy's food - he no longer goes after it, but he sure does "think" about it!!!

Pajama clad Emma Claire watching "Bible Man" - have you ever heard of these videos??? They're GREAT and she loves them - they are loaded with scripture and teach a lesson with every show - very "super hero" like!!!!!

Wilson and I played a game of "camera hide and seek" - since he LOVES to get his picture taken - this picture just cracked me up - while hiding under the table, he kept telling me to take his picture - that's the only way he likes it- if his face is hidden!!!!

I knew he had to come out sooner or later!!!!

Got ya!!!!!

Look ma! No hands!!!!!

I think I'm going to try it!!!!

One step, and DOWN!!!!!!

Sick

Little Man is not feeling so great - his fever is hovering around 104. Motrin brings it down to around 102 and then at the 6 hour mark it goes right back up. We are at 36 hours of fever right now - it got as high as 104.5 last night. Can ear infections really make it that high?

I have never had a child with fever that high. My biggest concern right now is that he's not much interested in eating or drinking. I'm going to try some fun juice boxes or something - anything to get fluid in him so he doesn't end up dehydrated and on an iv.

Please pray that it truly is only an ear infection and that the antibiotics will kick in and make it all go away soon.

Remember to pray for baby Stellan.

It's gone....but is it really???

SO.... the squishy bump (as I like to call it) is 90% GONE!!!! Poof! like that it is pretty much gone...

BUT

he now has an ear infection....

do you think the fluid drained down into his ear????

just a thought!

hopefully it will clear up soon

(this picture was taken WITH the bump, I haven't taken any today)

Wilson like to practice his "cheese" smile in the mirror!

but he won't practice it while looking at me with the camera

Sister girl learned long ago how to "cheese" it up!

I must talk on the phone like this alot.....(that's a play cell phone)

I hope you all have a great weekend!!!! TGIF!!!!!!

Miracles

God is working a miracle - maybe not what we may think is "right" or "good", but in His way, all things work for good for those who love Him. Go read Angie's post about this, for she is far more eloquent than I could EVER be - and hit the floor in prayer for baby Stellan and trust God.

This one's for the record books....

(His anyways)

Tonight, before Emma Claire's soccer game and my tennis match, I took the children to McDonalds for a healthy pregame meal!!!! I kept Henderson in his bucket seat, just to be safe, and we ordered our food and ate. That little guy pictured above, was an ANGEL!!!!! He sat in his chair the ENTIRE time, did not get up even once. He hardly even said a word and he ate 2 WHOLE nuggets (and some french fries to boot)!!!!! I couldn't believe it myself - he's never EVER EVER EVER eaten that much meat in one sitting!!!! And to stay in his seat (right beside me) the WHOLE time - it was a miracle I tell you, sent straight from God above.

And this little guy, is the sweetest, most loving, happy little man I know. He just lights up every time I look at him and I know he loves me so much and I love him equally. He is growing like a weed - hard to believe his first birthday is just around the corner. SLOW DOWN TIME!!!!!


I know it's hard to tell from pictures, but if you look back at some old pictures of Henderson (okay here is a good one - see below, taken about a week earlier), you will see that he has a PERFECTLY round head. The squishy soft spot is now 11 cm x 12 cm on the right side of his head (your left) - it was 8 x 8 cm last Wednesday when it first popped up. The neurosurgeon was not at all concerned and the Pediatrician (who was concerned in the beginning) was happy to hear what the Neuro had to say and told me she's seen them take over a month to go away. There is no going down in sight here - does anyone know anymore about this out there? I would love any encouragment or advice you can give!!!! He acts PERFECTLY normal - eats good, sleeps good, plays hard, has great balance, happy 99% of the time - but it is HUGE (and squishy, remember??? - so gross)!!!!!!

Emma Claire's soccer team played great - they had a little more competition this time, I even heard that Emma Claire pushed a little boy that was in her way (this happened in the last few minutes of the game, after I had left to go to my tennis match) - she's a fiesty little thing - but I had a talk with her about good sportmanship and playing hard, but being kind. Happy Wednesday to everyone and don't forget to pray for baby Stellan.

Urgent prayers needed!

Please pray for baby Stellan - from MckMama's blog - go there and read all about baby Stellan, who wasn't supposed to survive birth b/c of a heart defect - but God performed a miracle. Now he is in the hospital and it is VERY serious! PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!!!! I can't imagine how his parents are coping, but God gives us peace and the ability to hang on when we think we are at our last thread. Pray for Stellan, the doctors and their family - for God's hands to slow down his heart and to bring peace whatever the situation.

Intentional

"Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity." Colossians 4:5

Being intentional...that is my focus these days....whether it is with my children, my co-workers, friends, husband, family, stranger, neighbor....am I making the most of every opportunity? I've read other people's blogs about this, heard sermons on it, listened to music about it - seems like everywhere I turn, this is what God is trying to teach me.

We live a VERY busy life. I am a type A "doer". It's not easy for me to just "be". Yesterday I hid Easter eggs for the children and enjoyed popsicles in our backyard, I watched the children ride their bikes and laughed with my little one in the bath tub. I work part-time, I am "crazy psycho" about keeping my house clean (all by myself - with my dear husbands' help of course), 1 out of my 3 children is involved with ballet and soccer (what in the world will it be like when all 3 are playing?), we are very active in our church, I run in the mornings and play tennis and my husband plays basketball.. we are VERY busy - and it's all good stuff, but where is the time to just "be"? I'm not really sure - I don't have any answers or solutions aside from just "dropping" it all, but I don't think that's the answer.

What I have come up with is to make every.moment.count. Look my children in the eyes when we're talking and really "listen" to them and "read into" what they're telling me or asking me - because often it's alot more than what I just"hear". Take joy when my 10 month old is on his knees holding his hands up with that big grin instead of thinking of all the things I could get done if only I had 2 hands to do it. Don't worry that my feet and hands and clothes and nose will be covered in pollen when I finish and go hide those EGGS - that's what a sink is for! Don't fret when my 4 year old wants me to pray for her instead of her praying for herself sometimes....after all, isn't that how she is going to learn to pray?

There will always be cleaning and laundry and ironing and vacumming and many more things to do - and I WILL do them, b/c that is how I serve my family and I truly believe they benefit from having an orderly household and it makes me happy to have those things done...but I can't forget that life can change in an instant and to make EVERY.MOMENT.COUNT.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!"

Lamentations 3:22-23

Spring has Sprung!

Let me start with a little advertising.... This adorable monogram came from http://www.thepattonpatch.com/ - you can find the link on my side bar. This is Will's first cousin and we went to her son, Jack's 4th birthday party Friday (Louise and Jack are pictured above)- the shirt Emma Claire had on there was done by Louise too. If you like what you see....Go get you some!

We started off the weekend with Jack's birthday party - the children had a great time!

My little love bug found a bug of her own - she ain't afraid of anything -she called it her "inch worm" - I have no idea what it's really called - I didn't get close enough except to get a picture. I made EC throw it down and clean her hands before she ate cake. She did and then her aunt Ellen told her to come stand beside me and let me look in her hair and low and behold - there he was - inching his way up her head. We got him out and she threw him down and a few minutes later I saw him crawling up her shorts...that little guy loved his new friend and didn't want to be left behind (no pun intended)....but I assure you - he was. No worms in our house!!!!

Yep, still there

Notice Wilson's change of clothes....he had a little accident.....

lot's of cousins all around!

Today we enjoyed the beautiful weather riding bikes and playing outside with cousins again

He's a mess, but he sure likes to eat!!!!

He learned how to ride his bike - TODAY - and he did so good - only fell off a couple of times, once skinned his knee and the other nearly fell down the sewage drain - now wouldn't THAT have been a good story - life is not boring around here!

We started off today with a pancake breakfast at a local diner to raise money for the upcoming production of "Annie" - it was delicious and the entertainment was even better!

Notice Will and Henderson were not present - it will be quite AWHILE before we feel comfortable taking him to a restaurant again.

Stubborn Wilson WILL NOT look at the camera when it is ME behind it!

Aren't they so "for real" looking???? And they sing as good as they look!

The play is this upcoming weekend!

Crazy girl again....

I think he ate a whole 3 bites of pancake!!!

I hope the sun is shining where you are and you're making the most of the day God has given you!