2 Little Helpers

I had 2 eager helpers last night in the kitchen! We made the German Chocolate Ooey Gooey Butter Cake from Kelly's Korner Recipe blog They were great helpers, but had just had a bath and ended up quite sticky from all the licking and dripping that was done! FYI - a box of powdered sugar, electric mixer, and a 2- year old and 4 -year old DO NOT MIX!!!!! What a mess - but so much fun! We laughed and giggled til our stomachs hurt (from the laughing, not the sugar - I think). It turned out great, but VERY rich!!!!!

Sorry, I forgot to take an "after" picture!!!

I am reading Jesus Who Is He, by Tim LaHaye - anyone read it? It was published in 2006, so it's not new, but I came across it in my church library this week and thought I would venture away from my normal Christian fiction and try some non-fiction. Who better to read about than Jesus? Especially during Easter week!!!!

TIME.SLOW.DOWN

Guess who's 11 months old today???? Can it really be????

Sweet Henderson is feeling MUCH better! No fever, no fussiness and not even a runny nose!!!!

I love you sweet man - but slow down - you're about to turn 1 which means I won't have an "infant" anymore - never again. It's bittersweet. Last night after helping teach 3 year old choir, the teachers were all meeting together just chatting and our director was talking about her oldest daughter going to prom and graduating and going to college soon. All the details about picking out dresses and boys and classes and all the things that go with older teenagers was exciting and a teeny weeny part of me longed for that type of relationship with Emma Claire - that going from being the "mom" to being the "friend". But then I quickly snapped out of it and realized how quickly time passes and it just re-emphasized the need to make every moment count. My children will never be this age again.

With all the dirty diapers and potty training mishaps and toys scattered all over and sippee cups spilling and going to bed with bottles (still - 2 of my children) and hugs and kisses in the morning (and when saying good-bye) and bedtime stories and kissing boo-boos and tying shoes and putting in pigtails. TIME.SLOW.DOWN.

Lord, please help me to enjoy EVERY MOMENT, good and bad, stressful and exciting. Help me to realize this is their NOW. I can never get these days back. Help me to balance love and discipline, being a mommy and being a friend, taking control and giving independence. Guide me, give me strength and endurance and patience and most importantly LOVE. Amen.

Just a few snapshots from this morning - Happy 11 months Henderson!

***and Yes, he went to school in his pajamas - Will goes to Men's Fraternity (a men's bible study at our church) on Thursday mornings at 6:00, so it's just the children and me - to school and work by 7:00 - you do what you gotta do!!!!


!!!! Can I tell you how excited Wilson was to get to wear this jersey today??? I may never get it off of him!!!!

Musings of a Princess

Last night, while we were sitting at the kitchen table, going over kindergarten workbooks - trying to get Emma Claire ready for school this August, she said,

"Mommy, sometimes, I think this eye gets worried (pointing to her eye), because it gets a tear in it all by itself."

How sweet is that??? Seriously, sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with love for this girl that I can't breathe. She is sweet and silly and sensitive and serious all at the same time. I pray that God will continue to work in her life and make her more and more like Him everyday.

(one of her more serious moments)



****I took Henderson back to the doctor yesterday, after I had to wake him from a 5 HOUR NAP!!!!!! Can you imagine???? That's pretty much how he's been sleeping since Friday. BUT, after an exam and a CBC, all the Dr. could find was that both ears are infected. He got a Rocephin shot and a new antibiotic. Hopefully he's on the mend.

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!!!!!!