Childless

We are childless again!! I spent yesterday going between worrying that S'te would have a hard time with her girls going and being afraid that they wouldn't find a placement for mine. That all worked out just fine. S'te had a kick of a time with the SW who is a PITA but she handled it well and mine got a placement that looks like it will work and was moved about 2. So all is well. S'te and I talked it over for a long time last night. It's not that the children need to be moved. It's not that they move the children. It's that they have to be so condescending and nasty when they do it. When we get considerate DCM's or SW's we are so overjoyed they are lucky that we don't just jump up and kiss them :-)

We celebrated our new status by going out to dinner at the new-to-us Sloanes that replaced the Surf on SR 60 and took kid toys over to Tom & Nancy's so the grandchildren have something to do. Tom is doing as well as can be expected - he is handling everything like a champ and so is Nancy. It is amazing just how quickly things can change. Last July we were all sitting at the Lake in Georgia talking about their plans to build a new home up there. Now Tom will be lucky if there is a July for him this year. It saddens me - but God know's what He is doing. I have to put this in my God Box and let him take care of it - I can't. Anyhow, Tom rolled out the slides and projector of the Days in the PI that were so long ago. Great pictures and it reminds us how much we have lived - and how rich our lives have been!! We stayed until Tom got tired, Jackie put the girls to bed and Nancy was surely ready to be rid of us. And we stayed out AFTER DARK!

Keith is watching Western Wednesday after doing his club meeting, a phone con, checking with the BOD President, and looking in on Tom. I went to Wednesday Coffee this morning, took apart my PC, took apart the Villages Channel 2 PC, saw that I couldn't "swap parts" so I went up and bought some new RAM to put in it. The graphics sure look better on the TV. Now all we need to do is figure out how to get the office onto cable modems so that she dosen't have to mess with the modem she has that is slower than molassas in January. Or maybe even the modem in the CH 2 PC. Not sure which. But there has to be something better!!

Anyhow, I got home, watched my soap, and headed for my MASSAGE. I've looked forward to it for - like - forever. My legs hurt, my arms are tired - I was just soooooo ready!! I didn't make it. There was an accident on SR 60 that held me up for long enough to miss my appointment. So I called from the standstill traffic and rescheduled for tomorrow morning.

So, instead I went to Best Buy. I asked if they had a "thing" that I can put my PC Maxtor hard drive in and make it an external drive so if I need it - I can just plug it into the notebook - we don't use the PC anymore - It isn't even on the internet connection - and hasn't been. I just want the drive in case there is something that hasn't gotten transfered. The little "geek" said SURE NO PROBLEM! ! He ran right over and got this little box thing for me. Looked about the right size so I thanked him for making this the easiest thing I have tried to do all day. Paid and left. Got home.

Took the external kit out of the box. It isn't the right one. It is for a 3.5" external drive.

So I put it back in the box.

Put the box back in the bag.

Put the Maxtor into the bag with it.

Put the entire batch on Keith's lap.

He can deal with them. I'm tired.

Life is so much easier with kids. I don't try to do these other things that FRUSTRATE me so much!!!

But Channel 2 is up and running :) My Sister at Knuckles Knoll updated her Blog. My foot is propped up. It is cool in here. I have so much to be thankful for.

Flag Raising

Flag Raising
Originally uploaded by Amah.

We had a really nice Memorial Day. We went to the Flag Raising and the Potluck at the Village Clubhouse. The houses in the background (behind the lake) are all replacements of homes damaged in the hurricanes 2 years ago. Screen rooms and carports are still being repaired - Katrina victims - we are still digging out too!! The Village lost about 25% of our homes. Several of the residents that had damage have either given up or sold out and left.

For this Memorial Day - please all raise your eyes and hearts to the Heavens and pray for our Men and Women in Uniform who are now defending our Country and Bless those who have already given their lives for our FREEDOMS. Thank God we can still THANK GOD!!

Late Night Thoughts

The picture is of Mr. Tom & Pastor Bert and I can't get it where I want it so~~

I can't sleep, my mind is going 50 miles an hour and I wanted to tell my story. It's not a daily log like usual so bear with me~~

We got up this morning and went to Sunday School and Church. With Austin safely ensconced with Grammy and Ms Diane in the Nursery - I attended Sunday school for the not-to-manieth- timeas-an-adult. Mr Tom, our SS Teacher, is helping us thru the book of Acts. Helping to follow Paul thru his ministry. I've always been good at geography but the Bible Geography was always way beyond me. As I sat there and listened to Mr. Tom and others - a light bulb came on. I was actually seeing the Book come to life instead of trying to read it literally - alone. Alone I haven't been able to make connections between the Books and Personalities and got utterly lost when trying to track who was where and who actually wrote what. Thank you Mr. Tom.

And then Pastor Bert started his Message. It was on Chapter 3 of James. All about the power of tongues. He told of times in life where loose tongues cost lives. And times when the power of the tongue has had the ability to hurt many people. He also talked of the power of the tongue in changing lives. Making them better. Using the power of the tongue to Bring the Word to others. I got rather into my own head as Pastor talked. God has given us the power of choice. We can use that choice for everything in our lives. I made a choice many years ago to allow my children to attend a fair. They didn't "need" to go. They had never been away from me for the 5 days they were to be gone. I made myself believe that I trusted the person that was going to be "watching" them. They wanted to go soooooo bad. I smothered my selfish instincts and told myself that they were bored, wanted to see their friends, they hadn't missed a fair in years, it was the near the end of summer and they deserved a treat for being so good and understanding with all the work and college classes that I was occupied with. All that stuff. The power of the tongue (in my case voice in my head). I justified (to myself) letting them go. And I made the wrong choice. It was a life-changing choice. I never saw my son again. God was trying to tell me - I had to work so hard at justifying it. If it was something that was supposed to happen - God wouldn't have made me work so hard to justify it to myself. Listening to that voice - the one in my head - cost me my son, hurt my daughter, destroyed my mother. It's not only the tongues that wag - it is the voices in our heads. God gave us the power of choice - he also gave us reasoning powers and our conscience - which is Him - to help us to make the Choices according to his will.

Pastor Bert was right on target - the tongue is the most powerful organ in the body. It can also be used to pass the Word. Tell the world about God and Jesus. Use that tongue to be kind to someone today. For no reason - just find one person out of your circle to be kind to. And let it be said that the voice of God asked you to do it.

Now that I've emptied mind, pardon me Pastor if this wasn't the message that you were sharing. I may have gotten lost in myself. On a more humerous note: I will miss hearing your messages for the next few weeks but we will attend Church with our family in Spring Valley. I assure you, it is a totally different style- very effective and I really do enjoy the differences for short periods and love it when I can return "home" to the heart of Faith Baptist.

A Thought

Birthdays are a time for celebration

Not a time for tears

But what happens when the birthdays

No longer mark the years

A Birthday marks the moment

A spirit enters earthly life

To share its special love and joy

And learn from earthly strife

Before a spirit comes to us,

It knows when and how it must depart

It chose its path carefully,

We are honored from the start

The sadness we now feel on such a joyus day

Is longing for our loved one's touch

It's natural to feel this way

For even though the birthdays

No longer mark a spirit's stay

Love continues on forever

To touch us everyday

I hug my precious memories

Close to my heart

And honor my beloved spirit child

Who chose me from the start.

(unknown)

This wonderful poem was sent to me last year on Jeremy's Birthday by my daughter.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my baby boy - who is now 34 years old!! I miss you as I have every day for the last 19 years 9months and 11 days.

Here are the last pictures we have as a family. You were 13, S'te was 8, and on the left is a "computer aged to 26 composition made by National Center for Missing and Exploited Children a few years ago. What a handsome man!! I want you to know your entire extended family still misses you and we are all praying daily for any knowledge of you!

Amber and Tylor left for their "summer home" about 6. They were all packed and ready to go. They were real excited to be staying with younger parents - that "do" more. I think they really have unrealistic expectations LOL because both work and the weekends will be play time. They have been enrolled in summer "enrichment programs" to help to get them the skills they need to compete in the upcoming school year.

I stayed pretty busy. No time to think or dwell. I had my discussion with God when I first woke up and he gave me enough peace and patience to make it thru the day. As well as receiving 2 get well cards and a thank you note in the mail. I've gotten 2 thank you cards in my life and both were from Keiths family. One for the coffee cup I had made for his Mom for Mother's Day and the other for the afgan I crocheted for Melody for her birthday. But receiving a "missive" from family members helped me tremendously. As well as a very long conversation with S'te (from the Money Pit) during the morning and another very long conversation with Sister Sharen (Knuckles Knoll) during the late evening. I took the kids shopping for shoes for Austin and my salad ingredients for Monday, and we went swimming for almost 2 hours where I visited with our neighbors from Canada (who got their seasons backwards) and got all caught on thier activities over the last year. So I stayed pretty busy. The Lord found enough for me to dwell on that I didn't have time to dwell on my loss.

Austin loves the water!! He also loves the little whisk broom and dustpan (a man after my heart). He has been no more "trouble" than any other 2 year old - except that he is 40 pounds and cannot express his needs - so I am playing a guessing game all the time and he likes to run from me. I think I will stop chasing him (it hurts my foot anyway) and wait until he comes back around in the circle and snag him. I'm starting to think the chase is a game to him and he is enjoying it way to much.

We also had a shareholders meeting last night with only 2 "dissenters" in the crowd. Dave Atwell is our new President and he worked very hard in holding it all together. It's a challenge. Especially when you have those out to disrupt the meeting to start with. The Village is facing a very hard couple of years. We had such massave damage during the last 3 hurricanes (to common areas - not our home) that it just dosen't get fixed overnight. It has been 2 years (listen up New Orleans) and we still have building that have not been replaced. Several of our Shareholders are unhappy about the FEMA presence and our new CAM is working diligently to make sure those families understand that our Rules are for everyone - including them!! She got a hand for the wonderful Hurricane Prep class that she put on and I'm sure she deserved every bit of it.

So you see, Jeremy, even tho' you are in my thoughts and prayers every waking moment, over the years I've learned to protect the hole that I have in my heart. The one that will be there for as long as it takes to "find" you. I love you Son. And I miss you.

Enough for tonight.

You just never know. . .

We took Amber and Tylor to their visit and got a call on our cell phone. The new placement for Austin didn't work out. He wasn't there 5 hours!!! So we have him back - again - already. So much for getting things cleaned up and organized. I don't have a clue what happened other than she said he wasn't working out. So now I'll have him over the weekend - I'm pretty sure of that. With no one else here to entertain him -

He came back just as non-chalantly as he left. I took his hand, he came in and got the soda off of the back of the counter, drank all of that as I chased him around the kitchen, I got him out of there, closed the gate and all has been as usual - right down to bedtime. I really wonder what happened. That is probably something that I will never know.

Just goes to show you - your plans are meant to vary. The Lord wants him here for some reason. It's not my job to question Him - just do my best for as long as He has decided that he will be here.

Tomorrow will be a very hard day for me. Even kids leaving, Austin staying, a Shareholders meeting, and Jeremy's Birthday. It is so hard to believe that 34 years ago - at this time - my Sister and I were timing Labor pains. It seems so much like yesterday. We were waiting for Mom to get off work so that she could drive me to the hospital. I was so excited!! I couldn't wait to hold my baby. Back then of course we had to wait and see whether the baby was boy or girl. And I had my baby boy. THe prettiest baby in the Nursery. Oh so long ago, and yet so easily remembered.

2 Left

It's only noon today and already two of our babies are gone. It's already to quiet. They will all be gone by tomorrow evening but the two youngest went today. Austin was the suprise. One of the FP's in another county had a child leave and gamely volunteered to "try" taking him. He is definately a challenge. And a very high-energy challenge at that. He finally had made contact with me (it took several days) and now to move him was hard. But I know LeAnne and she is great!! She'll have him eating out of her hands in no time. She is a younger and more energetic woman than I (that's not hard to be tho') so he will do wonderfully there. I am very happy about this placement.

There was an opening for Lonnie to be placed with his 2 brothers, closer to where Mom and Dad live, so they don't have to put themselves out to visit. So, over protests, they have all been moved to the same placement. The one good thing is that they will at least be together. His brothers are just a cute as he is. I got pictures of his "home-leaving". I'm sad about him - I had him for 5 months. But that's about my limit - after 6 - I'm to attached and have a much harder time looking at the bright side and letting them go.

The older two went on their water park adventure with their prospective future long term fp's and they just loved them. I asked them on Monday if they would rather have them for parents than us and they didn't even think before they both said "yes". Amber actually realized what they said and looked a little embarrassed afterwards and I laughed with her - so she would know that's it's ok. I understand. It will definately take all day to get their stuff together - they are normal kids and have it all over the place. So anyway, they will be moving tomorrow evening and we will have none.

I will have a full week to get my foot healed, my shoulder back in place (my replacement tenz machine finally arived), find all the things that Austin moved (hid), and get all washed and cleaned up before we go on vacation. So even without kids - I'll be busy.

Keith is feeling bad - he has some sort of recurring digestive virus or something. In true Keith fashion - he won't call the Doctor. So we just have to watch him laying in the recliner looking sick and sad. LOL

I'm looking forward to seeing my babies in San Diego. It makes it all worthwhile. So click on the "comments" button below and let me know what you are doing!!

Small Steps, Little Wonders

I am learning about Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ADS), I think. Weirdly enough the May 15th issue of Time, which arrived yesterday, has a huge write up on the subject. Now, I'm aware that Time only ever reports the upside of any subject so I'm reading on this with a grain of salt - BUT - Austin got his cup off of the cart - got a drink while wandering into the playroom - AND THEN CAME IN AND PUT IT BACK!!. Not that this is a huge thing - but in our life of constant turmoil with him - it is hope. And it means that he isn't THAT slow to learn. I personally feel as tho' this is a good sign for him. He is now laying on the floor behind me entertaining HIMSELF with 2 trucks, complete with engine noise and uh-oh's when they crash together!!! When we can't find anything he "wants" to do = he is a terror. He runs and grabs and runs and spills and runs and screams (while hitting himself in the head with his fists) and runs and runs and runs. I'm slowly learning his triggers and how to deal with him. He also is responding well to one-word directions. UP, COME, SIT. So, maybe I will be able to manage another 10 days with him. He is a large, strong 40 lb 2.5 year old. Maybe I should get combat pay :)

Lonnie is teething. He is miserable, therefore we all hurt. There is no TV show or conversation that is not punctuated with his whining. He had stopped it for awhile, but it's back - in triplicate~~

The older two have gone on a field trip to the Water Park. They were so excited to go that I don't think either one of them slept a wink last night. Amber was wanting to wake Tylor at 6 this morning and was caught 3 times trying to sneak in to do so. I finally told her if she tried again, she wasn't going. She decided to get herself dressed and take care of her hygenic stuff instead. So that little problem was solved. Tylor was up at 7 anyhow. It's not like he overslept. He did have a hard time getting to sleep - excitement - and Austin banging his head and mumbo-jumboing until almost 11 before he finally conked out.

I'm hobbling in my "boot" but my foot is feeling so much better!!
I have to have a shoe on the other foot or I'm seriously off balance. I hate to show my horribly fat legs. It seems like only years ago that I had good looking legs - time does horrible things.
If it's not where the Dr. wants it by Tuesday, he is talking a cast - oh, no,no,no. This monstrosity is hot enough. It is 9:30 AM and already 88 in the shade on the screen room (with a breeze). I can't even imagine a cast!!! :( :( :( :-(

Keith's friend Tom, who was in the Navy with him isn't doing well. He was diagnosed with some type of very fast-growing cancer about 2 weeks ago. Prognosis is about 6 weeks left. Family has arrived, Hospice is involved. Tom has decided to forgo any treatment that will make his remaining days miserable. My heart goes out to the entire family but most especially Nancy, who has been married to him for many, many years, raised 4 children with him and will be so very lost without him. I am so glad that she has her faith in the Lord to see her thru as well as the love and dedication of her family and friends.

It is so true (I had to learn it) that our children grow and start a life seperate from ours and could it be because they will have to carry forth when we are gone? They ways of God are innumerable and his life plan for each of us remains a mystery to me. Just as - why did Jeremy get taken just as I was getting things straightened out in our lives? Why has the Lord seen to torture me all of these years with the uncertainty? It's getting closer to his birthday and I get more and more morbid as this time comes each year. This year he is 34 and has been lost for almost 20. I pray daily for the strength to keep praying.

Also, 2 days ago was my Dad's 73 (I think) birthday. I tried calling both his home and cell numbers and didn't get an answer on either one. I left messages - but you can tell that we are really close - huh-. Anyhow, Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Keith's Mom loved (or said she did) her coffee cup with our picture on it. It even made it for Mother's day! I haven't had a Mother for so long - I forget to do those kind of things!!

And if you read the MONEY PIT you will see how well S'te is dealing with Rod being gone for so long - and Kiah's triumph!! He's such a smart boy - (when he's sleeping LOL).

I guess this is enough for today. More when something new happens!!

2 Days?

Has it only been 2 days? My foot feels like it's been 2 weeks. And a busy one too. Austin is really a pretty good boy. As long as you leave nothing in his reach, all the doors closed, and the sliders locked (it didn't take long for him to figure out how to open them), the baby's bottle put up, and check behind the big kids everytime they go out the door of the screen room. I've finally just locked the those doors and if they want in - they have to come to the front door and go thru the house. It only took once for the neighbor 3 houses away bringing him home that I figured out he is an escape artist.

Keith and I were "Panel Foster Parents" for the graduating MAPP class last night. The Judge for Indian River County was also there. I learned a bunch listening to his answers to the prospective fp's there. The group was mixed between foster and adoption so there were lots of different types of questions. The one that really astounded me was "Why would it take up to a year to get a 9-13 year old girl in good health to adopt. And we don't want to go the foster route, we want to adopt right away". The answer is soooooo simple. The ones that are really adoptable are the children of any age that are in good health. Family members and foster parents who've already had them for a year or two adopt them. Come on!! The children that are with large sibling groups or the children that will never leave home are the ones we are begging people to adopt. http://www.chsfl.org/adoptiondisp.php?divID=all This is a site to look at if you are willing to adopt a sibling group or older children. OKay off of my soapbox again! :)

We are winding down for the summer. We have a placement for Lonnie, a possible for Amber and Tylor, and we don't know anything yet about Austin. Placement told the PI that we would keep him until the end of the month. Placement asked us if we could help out with him for a few days. Same worker ~ different spin. It's ok - we know the Lord will help UFF out!!

Keith is planning an addition to our home. He wants to put an additional 10' on our screen room - he says it's for the space - I think he just wants to make sure they don't put another home on the area that the Village told us was our "oversized lot" that we chose because it was one of 2 "oversized lots" left. But I can live with his version. We will then have a screen porch almost as wide as our home and an additional carport. Lots of room for us two. :)

So with laundry, panels, babysitters, oh, and did I tell you - my foot is broke. Dr. says stay off of it and he will see me again on Friday to see if I need an ortho consult. LARGE HAHAHAHAHA With Austin's circles and the kid's school winding down I've been busier than a cat covering crap - and my house is a wreck, the pills make me want to sleep so I'm tired, Papa is still not back up to par, and other than that - Life is wonderful. I have the dream of seeing my beautiful daughter and wonderful grandchildren to sustain me for the next couple of weeks!!!! This is Austin watching Baby Einstein's Baby Neptune. I put the movie in the DVD out of desperation and he LOVES it. I can hear him laughing and talking back to it - so I know he is enjoying it. Lonnie is still trying to teethe- or something - and has been whinier and clingier than usual - and there he goes again!!
So - see ya later.

New Visitor

We have a new visitor at our house. He will only be staying for a day or two. He is a sweet little 2-year old that is in constant motion and totally non-verbal. As always - he came to us with no paperwork of any value - and no medication of any kind - so my initial guess is that he is one of God's special children. I closed all the doors and up my gates. He runs the "fence line" about every 5 minutes - I suppose he is looking for an escape hatch. He slept very well last night - was very easy to put to bed once I figured out that he still takes a bottle. I gave him a 4 oz and he went right to sleep - slept until 8 this morning. He pretty much stays away from the baby - which is good - but we watch constantly anyhow. He definately knows what he wants and I'm watching him throw a tantrum because Papa wouldn't give him soda. Well - he is over it now.

Mother's Day wasn't the exciting day it is supposed to be. Papa was sick (has been since Friday) so he still wasn't getting out of bed, the kids were totally bored, and my foot is the size of a football. So I gamely stuffed my toes into a sandal and we went to Sunday School and Church. Afterwards, we went to Sonny's BBQ. We've driven by it dozens of times, I love anything BBQ and Keith doesn't like the place. So since he wasn't with us, we went. Tylor and Amber don't like anything with "sauce" on it. So they wound up with $4 hot dogs & fries but I had the best bbq chickenthat I've ever had (that wasn't homemade) with baked beans, baked sweet potato and garlic bread. It was great and I made a total pig (I'm past the piglett stage) out of myself and ate most all of it. The kids did unbend to try a little of the chicken that didn't have any sauce on it, and Tylor ate a piece of the garlic bread. He suggested that "next time" I get the cornbread 'cause he likes it better. We then came home and I remembered the tickets for the Mother's Day lunch that the Social Club put on at the clubhouse. But I was completely done walking. My foot was not only football size but is turning colors and THROBBING. So I chalked it up to my old-timers CRS and got in the recliner and propped my foot up. About 3:30 one of the Ladies - actually the one with a psuedo-halo knocked at my door with a tray - full of the most wonderful goodies. Now I didn't have to fix dinner either. There was Chicken Salad on Croisant, green salad, pudding in a cloud, and some of the greatest little chocolate sticks I've ever eaten.

Then I talked to my little girl. She is so lonesome without her hubby. Her voice sounded so tired and wo-be-gone. I knew exactly what the problem was and I feel for her. I remember all the years alone thru the holidays. Of course, I was married, he wasn't deployed, I was just alone. We chatted for quite awhile and her voice sounded more chipper when we hung up. I reminded her that it is only a couple of weeks before we would be back out there - and Rod will be home in just over 2 weeks from when we leave. Of course, our presence isn't nearly as fulfilling as her wonderful hubby - but it's the best we can do :-)

The hot dog must not have agreed with Amber - I noticed a towel laid out on the carpet in her room - I lifted the towel - yuk!! I sure do wish she would've told me before it all soaked into it. So now that both little ones are down for a morning nap - I guess I will take my football foot and get down on my knees and clean up second-hand hot dog.

Better luck to all of you!!!!!

Oh, and Bless Miss Sallie at church, she found a t-shirt that was dropped after the Gibbs Family Gospel on Friday - When I got home I found that the bag that I asked Tylor to carry for me - only had 1 t-shirt in it - of course it was his. He says he didn't notice dropping anything out of the bag while he was "swinging it around" (his words). So thanks to Miss Sallie - I didn't totally waste $10.

More later,
Amah

Hobble-A-Long

I've done it again!! And I don't even know for sure just what I did. As usual - I don't remember bumping, hitting, twisting or anything. And it isn't my ankle - it's from my little toe up to my middle toe and across the top to my ankle. It hurts like the dickens and I'm not having any fun trying to walk. I did it yesterday about 4. I know that because 1) the kids were in school and the baby was asleep so I 2) decided that I had time for a short power nap (these meds make me sleepy). Anyhow the phone rang and I 3) looked at the clock and realized that Papa had gone to meet the bus and 4) someone needed to answer it. I jumped off of the couch and promptly landed on my well-padded derriere. I let out a holler that woke the baby up and was still sitting there when Papa and the older kids got home a few minutes later!! Well, last night was also the Gibbs Family Southern Gospel presentation at Church - so Papa got out my crutches - from the last time I couldn't remember how I hurt myself - and we went. Papa had a lot of fun telling people that I fell off of the couch - and he has paid for it dearly today - he has the flu. A really good dose of it. He has been ill ALL DAY - which means he laid in bed and I hobbled around to do the bare necessities for the kids. Thank the Lord it is Saturday and the older kids are such good ones!!! They fetched and carried for me - but then about noon (Papa in bed and I'm still in a nightshirt) a GAL shows up unannounced!! Said that DCF gave her an incorrect phone number and she hadn't been able to contact us to set up an appointment. So we looked like a real happy family (add to all of the above that Vinci brought all of the baby stuff back yesterday afternoon and I still have it stacked in the living room) as well as organized and effectual. I'm not sure what the woman must be thinking but I do hope to get a chance to make a better impression.

We've not done much else around here. I just go in circles every day and get nothing done. Still trying to diet (I've only gained 5 lbs on this last one) and about to totally give up and go to Mexico for that belly banding thing. I read with the big kids for about 20 minutes each per day and then I fix dinner, we get baths and it's bedtime. Today was supposed to be a swimming date - but with Papa sick, Tylor coughing, and me hobbling - it just didn't seem like a really good idea~~ Tomorrow we are supposed to go to a Mother's Day Lunch. Bought tickets in advance and everything. Enough for today Hope all is well with everyone and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL OF THE MOTHERS THAT READ THIS. You know who you are :-)

Diane

Wife to Keith, Mom to S'te (28), Amah-Mama to "Lonnie (5 mo), Amber (8),& Tyler (7)"

The new "crawler" at our house

Click for Video

Video Description

Lonnie is only a few days beyond 6 months. He is showing us a new way to "motate". I mentioned yesterday his odd way of moving from place to place. Below is a picture of the pyrimid he usually starts with. I couldn't catch it in the video - but it is sure cute!!

It's already Sunday

We had a kicked back day yesterday. During the morning the 3 older kids "helped" Papa by riding their bikes thru the lawn while he was trying to put the brick borders in for me. I took the idea from both S'te at http://elmoresandiego.blogspot.com/ and Sharen at http://knucklesknoll.blogspot.com/ but not nearly as ambitious. Not only that, I was afraid that if we went more than 1 block high the hurricanes would blow anything not tied down thru the windows of our house ~~ So we shopped and found some that I liked enough to do our yard.

Then we had lunch and went swimming. Now, those of you with kids are well aware that there is NOTHING kicked back about going to the pool with 5 kids. The older 2 were just fine but the 3 year old whined constantly. No one would play with him, there's nothing to do, I can't do that, I want, I think I'm hungry, I think I'm getting thirsty, etc - on and on and on. Then we have the 2 babies - one walking - so he can't be left out of arms reach for a minute and the other wanting a nap!! By the time I finished blowing up all the swimmies, rings, and baby floatie, I was exhausted!!! I took snacks and water for all - but they didn't want that (there were others that had chips and sodas at the next table) and with all the longing, forlorn gazes dragging the ground they were (ordered) requested back into the pool or we were going home. That lasted about 5 seconds - so we packed it all up and headed for the house - complaining all the way!! Good thing Papa is hard of hearing and I am stubborn. They then played inside for the rest of the day (all 2 hours) until dinner. It was just so darn hot out there even the kids stayed inside!!

My night consisted of Lonnie waking up at 10:45 and staying that way in 15 minute increments until about 5. Yes - that is am also, S'te. So I did get some sleep. Papa got up with the kids and I wandered out about 9:30. I have an hour to get everyone ready for church!!! In a rush I get all of their clothes out, start the diaper bag and announce that I'm headed for the shower (between the chlorine and yard sweat yesterday, I really should've done it last night - I was just to tired!). NO WATER. The water didn't reappear until almost 11 so - no church. I put the church clothes away and got play clothes out for the kids - they played outside until noon - then it got to hot. So now we are in for an all day in the house with "nothing to do". I'm tired, got a headache, and they are all bored and argueing. So much for Sunday!!

We spent most of the evening watching and chuckling (out and out laugh sounds harsh) as Lonnie trys to crawl. He has this spider-man thing going. He gets on all fours but it is hands and feet - and flops in the direction he wants to go. He will get on his hands and knees and rock back and forth while he is considering his direction and once he makes up his mind - up goes the butt and down goes the head - and flop he is that much closer to where he wanted to be. I got a short clip but don't know how to add it to this. I've seen it on other blogs but haven't found the key yet. But when I do.........

If anything more comes up - I'll let ya'll know but at this point I may wind up in the looney bin before dark LOL See ya!

Dinner

What do you fix when you don't know what anyone eats? I was going to fry a chicken, but I (in my infinite hurry) bought a roaster instead of a fryer. And I do know what a fryer is~~ So I marinated the said roaster in italian seasonings and put some sweet potatoes in the oven with it. I know that one child likes broccoli and another likes carrots - so I sauteed a mix of these with some summer squash and zuchini. I thought it all came out tasting pretty good. So did the 3 and 1 year old boys that we are babysitting for 4 days, but the 2 older ones just picked at it. Tyler said it was going to make him throw up if he had to eat anything but the chicken. He had his head held up with both hands and Amber just kind of pushed around on her plate. I tried bribing with chocolate ice cream - it worked really well with Adam (3). He ate all of his and the ice cream and asked for more (ice cream). Riley (1) came with baby food because he doesn't really like "people food" yet. He ate all of his and a jar of green beans with rice. Papa ate a large plateful and the older kids finally decided they would rather go to bed so they wouldn't have to eat anything.

I think they had a rather over-active day (for us). They had a visit yesterday so they were all wound up last night and didn't sleep well. We had to go thru all the "why's" and how long are we staying questions - again. It is so hard to try to explain - and they already knew the answers - they just didn't want to go to bed so it was really late - almost 10 before they finally sort of settled down. I don't know exactly when they went to sleep - I was having a bad spell of my own. I didn't even go with them for their visit, Papa took them. So anyway, I'd taken the meds that the Dr gave me last night and they make me sleepy and grumpy all day the next day - I try not to take them often - so Papa took them to the pool after school. So by the time they got home from school at 4:20 - got their snack - got changed - went to the pool - did a little homework while the food cooled - we didn't eat until almost 7. Our dinnertime is usually around 6 - if not shortly before. So hopefully this is why they were so tired.

By 8, Tyler (who was not the least bit tired) was sound asleep but Amber couldn't sleep. Of course when I checked on her the first time - she was up at her dresser watching herself make faces in the mirror. I explained that she couldn't sleep standing up so she got back in bed. Then she needed water. Then she needed the bathroom. Then she wanted her door open a little more. The next time it was quiet and I checked she was sitting up in bed playing with her fingers. She said she just couldn't go to sleep. I explained that she couldn't go to sleep while she was sitting up. It was best to lay down when trying to doze off. She wanted to know what doze meant and got me into conversation. That worked for a few minutes - but not for long. I woke up and quit talking to her. She was asleep about 3 minutes after she finally laid down. Next was the 3 year old. He brought all the little chairs and set them up around his bed. Tyler was sleeping so soundly that he didn't even wiggle when I turned the light on to take all the toys away from the bed. The next time I heard movement - Adam had taken his pj's off and was under his pillow and blanket playing "tent". I redressed him and he said he does not like me. OK, fine, lay down and go to sleep. Meanwhile, WB went to sleep on the floor about 6 and hasn't woke yet. Will he sleep all night?

I gave up on Tuesday and started going back to the Chiropractor. By mid-afternoon none of the joints or bones in my body want to cooperate with me. They just hurt, and my feet burn. Even just sitting with them put up - they just burn. And when I try walking on them it is even worse. I also had the echo done that Dr. Lisa has been harping about. No word on that yet - so it must've been ok. Nothing earthshattering or I would've heard something by now. I do go back to the Chiro tomorrow morning so I will be able to hold my head straight up. That's always a plus.

Papa got in touch with an attorney in CA and we will see her while we are out there. I need for this to be over so I can at least get done with the "I-don't-want-to-touch-your-shoulder" syndrome that the Dr.'s have. Then maybe with the whole picture - we can find out what the hell is wrong. I'm so tired of having a great day, 3 bad days, a good day, 2 bad days, and then maybe another great day. And I hate the anti-whatevers that I am taking to get that one great day out of the week or so. I'm tired of being tired. And I know it isn't the kids - without them I wouldn't even function. They give me a reason to get around as much as I do. And I love having them (however it probably sounds on this). They need safety and help. I have been so blessed in this latter part of my life that I feel strongly about needing to share some of the blessings that I have had bestowed on me with those less fortunate. And who could possibly be more needy than these poor children whose parents aren't able to care for them during special times of their lives. I pray daily that these parents will come to realize what they are inflicting on the unsuspecting and innocent lives of thier children.

My meds are kicking in and I'm becoming morose so I'll close for now. Keep the comments coming - I live for them!! ~~