Little things make big smells

Me, walking into Lola's room, to be greeted by all three boys playing on the floor with Lola and a certain very recognizable smell:


"Peeeee-yoooo.  It stinks in here! Who is pootering in this room?"

Colin, looking at me and grinning: "Me and Cameron!"

All boys in the room share the giggle.  {You know the one: the stinking-up-the-room-by-f@rting-a-bunch-of-times-in-a-row-is-hilarious giggle.  Grrrrrrrrrrr.}

Me, in disgust: "Guys! Go on....get out of Lola's room. It smells gross in here now, thanks to you both!"

Colin, grabbing Cameron by the arm and taking off running: "C'mon Cameron! Let's go to our room and stink it up in there!"

*sigh*

Boys are gross.

Monday Musings

It seems to me that there are a lot of 'down' moments as a Mommy.

It's an extremely rewarding but grueling job.  Lots of feelings of inadequacy; feelings of failure; feelings of frustration.  Times I feel like I've blown it completely.  Times I feel like "Man, is it too late? Have I totally screwed this kid up for life?"

No? Just me?

{At least Carolyn gets me.  Her post the other day about those same feelings and the consequences of our actions with our children was dead on--and she could have been reading my mind as she typed!}

Well, Care, for the record, I hope it is just us.  But I believe I can say with some degree of certainty that it most likely isn't.

'Downs' come often for me.  It's nice to be having some 'ups'.

It's been a good day. A great day. A great several days.  I am in a good place right now, and for that, I am so thankful.  

I have felt God's hand on me and my family in the past couple of weeks like I haven't felt in a long time. Like, almost tangibly.  I always know in my head that God is right there in the room with me at all times--but the last couple of weeks things have been different.  I can't describe it, but it's a great feeling.  To know He is there and that He is helping me do the things He wants me to--sure, that's great.  But beyond that, to actually feel His presence?

Wow.

Things I have been praying for are starting to happen--in my life and in others'. Very specific things that I feel like are almost signs God is giving me. Prayers--specific ones, and ones I've been asking God for quite some time now--being answered. For me. For my children. For my husband.  For my family. For my friends. For my church members and for my church as a whole.

It's like God is just gently whispering to me.

"See, Devin? See? I am at work here. It may not always seem like it, but I am."

The words almost escape me.  The best I can come up with at the moment is:

It's super cool.

Ups. Downs. We all have them.  I know there are lots of hard times and difficult issues that we all deal with on a hourly/daily/weekly/yearly basis throughout our lives as Christians.

But I'm going to enjoy this mountaintop experience like no other, while God is allowing it.  I'm going to praise Him and thank Him for each little blessing He sends my way. 

And I'm going to do my derndest to remember all of this goodness the next time God leads me into the valley--and keep in the forefront that, no matter what, God is good.  All the time.

12 disciples -- Ethan's version

There is something about a child singing.  Particularly a young child, who is still working on perfecting his speech in the first place.

In this case, I am talking about Ethan. I can't get enough of his little voice.

Remember his original song about obeying his parents? I laughed about that one for days. (If you want a good chuckle on this Friday, I'd suggest watching that 90 second gem!)

A couple of Wednesday nights ago, the boys' teacher at church taught a lesson on the 12 disciples of Jesus. Being the music buff that I am, I thought we'd take all of those hard Bible names and make them easy for the boys to learn--by putting them to music. I remembered a song from when I was little that had a catchy tune, and, frankly, is probably the only reason I can still remember all 12 to this day!

12 disciples
{sung to the tune "Bringing in the Sheaves"}
There were 12 disciples Jesus called to help Him
Simon Peter, Andrew, James, his brother John,
Philip, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alpheus,
Thaddeus, Simon, Judas, and Bartholomew.

Jesus calls us too
Jesus calls us too
We are His disciples--I am one and you!
(Repeat)

So, here's Ethan's version.  He still gets a little confused on the chorus, but overall, I think he does a bang up job. 

Enjoy--have a great weekend, everyone!!

Happy eight months . . . .

...to my
electric blue-eyed

giggling like crazy
loudly babbling
peek-a-boo loving
high-pitched squealing
sort of waving
sitting unattended
big brother adoring
top-teeth-getting
{and, subsequently, drooling}
bottle refusing
self feeding
cheerio loving
pedicure sporting
scooting army crawling
hair bow wearing
very determined
unbelievably joyful
amazingly beautiful
and
thoroughly wonderful
gift

....who, incidentally, is looking much too grown up in this picture.

We love you Lola Claire!

Noooooooo! No no no no no no no. NO.

Cameron, during his bedtime prayers:

"....and Jesus, please let Ethan's leg get better. Help it get healed. I don't know how that works, but please let it be all fixed and better really soon. Yes.....help him get his cast off soon--so that I can tackle him in the yard again when we're playing football."

{Not. Good.}

Wordless Wednesday: {Soccer Studs}

Monday Musings

I wish:

• That I didn't have a three-year-old with a broken leg.
• That I didn't have a sore throat that I just can't kick.
• That my mountain of laundry didn't seem so insurmountable.
• That I kept my cool better with my kids when they frustrate the daylights out of me.
• That my house would stay in a picked-up-sort-of-state for more than 6.2 minutes.
• That I didn't constantly feel inadequate.

I'm thankful:

• That my reality with Ethan is a 'cast for a couple of weeks', as opposed to 'life in a wheel chair'.
• That I can afford to go to the doctor, if needed, and that I live in a country where they are readily available.
• That I have my very own washer and dryer, and I don't have to lug my baskets/detergent/quarters to the laundromat, like my mother did when I was growing up.
• That my children love me unconditionally. That they seem to think I'm pretty great--even if, some days, I can't figure out why in the heck that is the case.
• That I have a home filled with children who love to imagine and explore and play--and that my house actually does make a pretty cool dino land.
• That I have a personal relationship with a God who takes my inadequacies and tells me that--when I am at my weakest--that is the very time that He is the most strong.

That no matter how difficult the days may be,
life
is
good.

His leg may be broken -- but he still has his spunk

Ethan, to my friend Laura, while sitting in the grass at her house playing with a truck:

"Can you get that truck (pointing to the other side of the yard) for me?"

Laura: "Sure, Ethan....can I get a 'please'?"

Ethan looks at her--quite obviously thinking about her request--and then, even in his can't-get-anywhere-quickly-and-can-only-scoot-on-his-bottom-state, replies:

*sigh* "I'll just get it myself."

Window shopping for Fall -- TIGHTS edition

Girls are fun!

The end.

{Where do you find cute tights for your girls?}

Wordless Wednesday

Phooey

Well, I've given up on Disqus.

I'm pretty sure it is a great comment system, but I'm having some trouble with it. Some days it is popping up; others it is not. Some days it will let you log in through Facebook, and some days it will not!

More hassle than help, I say.

So, we're back to good ol' blogger comments--for now, anyway!

Do me a favor, would ya? So that I can answer questions directly to you when you ask, or have a conversation with you if/when the time arises, would you go right now and, under your blogger dashboard, input your email address? You can set everything to remain private, and yet still have an address on there that I would be able to answer to.

Thanks everyone! Have a great Tuesday.

{I'm off to baby proof my house today below the knees, as a special
little someone has just figured out how to scoot herself all over tarnation...}

Well . . . . that's a new one

Outside:

Daddy: "C'mom, Cameron...let's get all these toys picked up. Balls, bats, trucks....c'mon. Let's get it back to the garage."

Cameron: "But....I.....I can't."
*whinewhinewhine*

Daddy: "Oh? Why not?"

Cameron: "I just got bit by a queen snake."


{You'd think we'd seen a snake or two around here or something....}

Verdict:

{broken.}
{but he's still smiling...}

Big birthday for one, BIG boo-boo for another

Sunday was Shane's 30th birthday. It was a BIG day!

So, in effort to celebrate a BIG day....we played on a BIG bouncy house.

We're talking huge. See the deck in comparison in this picture?

It was a super fun morning, filled with lots of jumping....

{by kids of all ages}

....lots of screeching....

....and plenty of panic attacks by Mommy!

Every one was having a great time.

Especially Daddy!
{Having a chat with E before heading down}
It's amazing how many different way boys can come up with to go down a slide.
*grin*
My handsome old man love and his boys

After the bouncy house, we took rides on a trailer pulled by a four wheeler....

...and then bounced for what seemed like hours on a trampoline!

But here is where, unfortunately, the day turned ugly.

See E Ry? Having such a great time? It wouldn't be for much longer.

There was an accident, and one of his brothers got off balance. Brother went down--right on to Ethan's leg. There was crying, of course....but truly, Ethan seemed okay. He actually fell asleep in Shane's arms just a few minutes after this picture was taken.



We continued on with our birthday plans (not thinking anything was majorly wrong, of course)--heading to a restaurant about 20 minutes away for a birthday dinner. But, when we went to wake E up and get him out of the car, we discovered that he could neither bend his leg nor put any weight on it. He also had a knot right below his knee the size of his balled-up fist.

And, so....we ended our birthday celebration with a trip to the Emergency Room.

A few inconclusive x-rays and lots of tears later....a cast was going on.

{The doctor indicated a couple of things to us: there was too much fluid around the injured area for the x-ray to get a detailed and accurate picture; however, in his opinion, there was much more trauma/swelling/fluid than what would be present if this were simply a bruise or a sprain. So, he felt the appropriate thing to do was to put on this temporary cast until we could see someone in the orthopedics department.}

First layer of gauze

We had some very intent little brothers watching....

The nurse flipped E over and began to put the plaster into place....

And then there were three more layers put on.

Happy now that the Motrin has kicked in!
{Ugh, you can just see how much he has been crying--his little eyes were so swollen!}

Checking out his extra-large leg....

....and showing Colin.
"See Colin? My leg is almost as long as yours is."

The next day, we knew we needed to figure out a way to keep Ethan mobile. He is not allowed to put any weight on his leg at all until we go back to see the orthopedist. So, being the handy man he is, Shane came up with a little something.

Ethan, with his ears covered--Daddy's saw is loud!

Sanding the 'seat'--custom measured to E's leg!

Installing it in the wagon

{My poor baby--watching his brothers ride bikes in the driveway.

I could just cry for him when I look at this picture!}
We covered his 'seat' with plenty of blankets, so it would be nice and comfy

And soon, it was ready for a test run!

In we go....

Seems okay, right Ethan?

Cameron wanted to be the first one to take him for a ride.

He was starting to warm up after that!

Showing us where the pain was

And, finally, I think the picture below sums up how Ethan has been over the past couple of days. He is doing well, and seems to be in minimal pain, which is good....but I could not feel more sorry for the poor kid! Colin and Cameron have been so good with him, making sure they include him as much as they can, and pulling him from room to room (where ever they are playing at.)

There has been some movie watching and some Wii playing, and he can get down on the floor to play trains and cars. We have taken a bike ride every night, because we can put him in the bike trailer with his leg propped up, and he seems to really enjoy that. We take walks in the wagon, and I try to switch up his scenery as much as possible--but he is just constantly sitting! I can't imagine how hard that is on a three year old who just wants to play!


We would love it if you would keep Ethan in your prayers--we are praying that there would be no break when we go back to the orthopedist tomorrow, and that if there is a break, he would be able to get a walking cast. And, of course, that everything would heal properly so that there is no permanent damage.

We will be sure to update when we know something--thank you, everyone, for loving us and caring about our family!