Joy of Spring

These were taken after church on Sunday. Lily Wen and Graeme loved playing outside after mass. Lily Wen was having a great day with her wild woman hair (we braided it wet the day before and just brushed it out right before church!) I just wanted to share the Joy that I am blessed to have in my life every day! EnJOY!

Spring has arrived and we are looking forward to lots of time outside!!!!!!!!!!!

Blogging Injury

I have been a little absent from the blogging world this week as I have officially been injured. My right arm has been hurting on and off for 2 months now and it has gotten progressively worse. I finally sought out a medical opinion on Monday and was informed that I have tennis/golf elbow which occurs due to repetitive motion. Hmmmmm……could it really be blogging/facebook/e-mail elbow? You see after the wee ones go to bed, I turn on my favorite previously TIVOed show and settle on my chaise lounge with my laptop in lap and spend my quiet time blogging, chatting live on facebook and responding to e-mails. When I discussed this with the doctor, he stated that this could definitely be part of the injury. He also felt all the lifting that I do with a toddler and soon to be kindergartener is exacerbating the injury.

He said that I should avoid these repetitive movements. Seriously? Seriously! The course of treatment was a Cortisone shot right in the elbow which was not so bad at first. A few hours after the shot, I could not use my right arm at all. It made getting Lily Wen and Graeme through their nighttime routine really interesting. (i.e. Lily Wen, could you wash Graeme’s hair for me? Hey Graeme, hold that book a little higher so Mommy can read to you. Graeme, let’s see how big you really are…can you climb in your big boy bed all by yourself?) Yes, Monday and Tuesday nights were really interesting at our house.

Today, I have partial use of the arm so things are looking better. I hope the Cortisone helps because I just can’t imagine giving up my obsession!!!!!!!!!

Graeme and 2 Lilys!

On Friday, I picked up Graeme from daycare and we headed to pick up Lily Wen and Lily D. They were hanging out at Lily's house after dance. Graeme was excited because we were picking up "2 Lilys"! Lily was spending the night with Lily Wen. They had so much fun and we were so busy that I only got a few pics! Our friend, Ann and her baby, Jonathan, came to visit. Jonathan was home from college and we love seeing him. He climbed right in the Princess castle with Lily Wen, Lily and Graeme.

Lily looks so cute in this pic!

Lily Wen and Graeme are sitting on Jonathan.

This is what the castle looked like with all four inside. It was falling down.

Jonathan fixed the castle!

Graeme, J.D., Lily Wen and Lily

On Saturday, Jon and Heather (Lily's parents) kept Lily Wen and Graeme for me so I could get some things done. I think they all had a great time. Heather took the following pics and shared them with me!!!!! THANKS Heather!

Super Cute, aren't they?

Lily Wen and Lily are showing their braids and Graeme will not be left out of a shot!

They are stylin' with their shades on!

Shouldn't they all model kids wear!

There he goes!

Still Posing!

Time to be silly!

My oldest wee one!

Wee One 2!

Jon and Graeme Slide....I love the look on Graeme's face!

Still smiling but getting tired!

Lily, the Superstar!

There they go!

Heather....stop taking my pic...Please!!!

ADORABLE!

Wee One 1 and Wee One 2

I think Lily is tired of pics too!

Heather thought with this pic that Graeme was done smiling for pics for the day...

there was the beginning of one....

She said he just couldn't hold it in!

Future Rockstars!!!!!

Thanks Jon and Heather! Graeme took a 3 hour nap after the play date!

A New Day! A New Game!!!

Tonight was Graeme's debut as a basketball player! It was the annual K-3 basketball game. Lily Wen cheered her brother on.

I think I have the cutest kids in the world!

Graeme goes on the attack in a little pregame practice.

The game begins. He is not quite sure what to do but it looks like FUN

He takes it to the goal and he SCORES!!!!!

He's got the ball again!

Look at him go!

After he scored, he played...with his shorts

with his tummy...

those shorts again....

with his ears.....

and finally with his shirt!

Then, he got back in the game!

Celebrating the Victory!

Jie Jie Cheers!

The Cartwheel!

She even smiles as she flips!

They are already talking about next week.

Just Me and My Wee Ones (could that be the new title of the blog?!?!?!?)

What a day!

One of those days. I have just really had one of those days. I should have known when I got stuck by a train this morning when bringing the wee ones to daycare that it was going to be interesting.

My speech assistant was sick. She caught the stomach bug so it was just me at school. Bless her and hope she is feeling better.

I realized that I was past due on some evaluations and was pushing to get through them when the phone rang and it was daycare. Graeme was having a temper tantrum. I could hear him in the background and then I was told that he was hitting, kicking, scratching and spitting (this was a new one). WHAT!!!! The daycare provider asked me to please come.

I get my group of kids back to their rooms, throw the confidential files in the cabinet and lock it, tell appropriate people and head out the door in 10 minutes. Now, I have a 25 minute drive to daycare.

I race to get on the highway. I see a group of dogs up ahead and am watching to be sure they are moving. I have a car on my left side and another car on the shoulder when one of the dogs stops suddenly in my lane and doesn't move. I slam on the breaks and everything in the car flies forward when I hear the thump and squeal of the dog as my car goes over him. Thank goodness for SUV as the former BMW sat so low it would have creamed the dog.

The dog goes under the middle of the SUV and is knocked around but runs out of the back and takes off. I being me chase after the dog in my car to be sure it is all right. I turn up a drive with MANY posted....Keep off Property signs and decided this is far enough as I watch the dog climb the mountain chasing another dog.

As I am shaking, I U-turn and head back in the direction of daycare. By the time I get to daycare (still shaking over the dog incident), I walk in and Graeme is sweetly wrapped in a blanket and being rocked to sleep by one of the daycare workers. Where is the posessed child that I was called about? Why was there not another call to state that he had pulled himself together?

I discipline Graeme (breaks my heart but come on this behavior has to STOP). He lays on his mat and goes right to sleep. I then ask about his behavior chart (a positive reinforcement chart that we started when he was having tantrums about 3 weeks ago). I was told that they had stopped it because he was doing so well. Now the bells in my head go off and I am dealing with MOMMY GUILT for said discipline. this is the second tantrum this week and come to find out they stopped the chart this week. The chart is going to be reinstated with follow up at home and hopefully, I won't have any more days like this

I did try to explain that I really couldn't leave work and come to daycare. Graeme has good behavior with me and the deal is that he has to learn that he has to listen to them. If I come in, he is still listening to me, right?

I did have some wonderful friends who noticed that I was on the edge and they invited me and the kids to dinner. It was a great evening with some fellow Moms who care who helped problem solve.

Pizza Hut only charged me for me because they thought Lily Wen was 3 like Graeme. I tried to explain she was 5 and pay but they wouldn't have it. As long as she didn't hear that they thought she was three, I think we will be okay. Who knows what kind of tantrum that would bring?

The weekend just can't get here soon enough. I'm praying for good behavior from the wee ones and a dog hittin' free week for me....too late you say....well the rest of the week could improve.

Magic on Ice

We had to drive through some ice and snow to make it Disney on Ice. It was so worth it.

Initially, Graeme was terrified.....at least for the first half of the show.
The Genis were amazing!
The front row seats were wonderful...here is Aladdin!

The Beast

Lily Wen was mesmorized!

Belle and her Prince

Margaret, Lily Wen and Graeme (with a little help from his Jie Jie)

Her first Minnie ears!

Half time, no characters on ice and Graeme livens up!

Lily Wen with Goofy over her shoulder

Graeme is relaxing and enjoying the show with his Becky

Jiminy Cricket

Mulan and the Dragon

The Incredibles

Simba

The Princes and their Princesses

Mickey Mouse

My Princess Lily Wen shaking hands with a Chinese Prince

Lily Wen and Clark

It was a magical day and we all had a lot of fun. Graeme was not traumatized by his first Disney experience. He ended up having fun and even came forward at the end to see the characters. I couldn't get a picture because I was holding him. I can't wait to take them to Disney World.

"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse."

-Walt Disney

Mark and Kellie...update

Mark and Kellie continue to need our prayers. You can visit them at Mark's Kidney Transplant Blog and leave them a message. I am sure they would love to hear from those that have shared with me warm thoughts and prayers. As of this morning, there was still no blood flow to the donated kidney. They were taking Mark into surgery this morning to remove Kellie's kidney. I know that they are both heartbroken but faithful. Mark has a kidney disease so the doctor's expect his kidneys to continue to function with limited functioning until he can heal and then look at another transplant. I can not imagine how either of them are feeling. I have just had them in my thoughts and prayers all week! I am hoping to see them when we are in Lexington this weekend.

The kids and I are heading out tomorrow morning. Disney on Ice hear we come!

From Fancy to Fun...all in a weekend

Update: Our friends Kellie and Mark both remain in the hospital. The transplant team is hoping Kellie will get to go home soon. Mark is in great spirits but his body is not utilizing the donated kidney to its full capacity yet. Please keep them in your prayers and specifically that the kidney continues to increase function.

So we had a wonderful and busy weekend. Lily had a birthday party Friday night for her friend Eliza who turned 4. It was a "Very Fancy" party and working with info from my past, we gave Lily a fabulous 80's side pony tail. Cute isn't she?

The girl can pose!

Lily Wen, Victoria, Eliza and her big sis, Laura
Don't worry about Graeme...while the girls partied, he was hanging out and getting spoiled by good friends, Ann and Bobby!

On Saturday, the sun came out and it was WARM!!!! We spent most of the day outside. The kids had so much fun and you get the feeling that Spring is on it's way.
My little acrobat

Front view!

Can't get enough of that grin!

Run, wee ones, Run

Trying to keep up with his sis!

She is flying!

And there they go again!

Friends in Need of Prayer!

Yesterday, a dear friend of mine did the most amazing thing. She donated her kidney to her husband. He had been living with kidney disease for much of his adult life. Kellie is a co-worker and a friend who has been there for me in joy when Graeme came home and when life became difficult as Wes moved out. I love her. I just saw the following on her blog posted by her mother Tish:

"Kellie has requested that I update the blog on her behalf and ask for your continued prayer. Initially, the outcome of the surgery seemed successful. Although Kellie and Mark were in a great deal of pain following the surgery, Mark's body was producing urine through Kellie's kidney, his hypertension was decreased without medicine, and he reported feeling much better. He even walked down to Kellie's room for a snuggle this morning. However, during a routine scan of the donated kidney function, results indicated an abnormality with blood flow in the new kidney. Thus he had to go back into surgery to allow the surgeons to view the transplanted kidney to determine the status of the kidney. The kidney appears healthy, but there continues to be concern with blood flow. He is presently in the recovery room. We are asking now more than ever for your prayer as we are fearful his body will reject Kellie's kidney."

Kellie and Mark are the parents of this sweet boy, Mark Thomas and they are requesting prayers. I knew so many of you would understand. Thank you!

Go Big Green!

I think my last post was too heavy..no comments..an indication! So we will lighten things up a bit. Tonight Lily Wen cheered at her K-4 basketball game and SHE LOVED IT! I lost count of how many splits and cart wheels she did tonight. Enjoy the pics!

Lily Wen strikes the pose!

Lily Wen and Graeme snuggle with Becky (Graeme is not feeling well)

The whole group

They are so cute!

Lily and Lily Wen

Our friends, John, Lily and Heather

Mom and her little cheerleader

Lily and Lily Wen

I know it is blurry but I love this shot!

Embrace YOUR Grace

I had one of those days. I was waiting to get some news about one of the children that I work with. I can't give too many details but there was a court case today that decided the fate of this sweet precious 2 year old and her 9 siblings. Would they stay in the safety of foster care or be returned to their biological family? They were returned under a temporary order. I am beyond frustrated and filled with worry for little ones who can not care for themselves that are being placed in home where they have been previously neglected. Pray for the children and that they will be watched over and protected. So after the day that I had I chose to watch one of my new favorite shows that I had previously recorded...Saving Grace on TNT when I heard this quote. I am highlighting the parts that I would love to scream out.

I want to bust the world wide open the way you do when you’re filled with youth. I want to engage with people and lovers and fellow cops. I want to be physical and I also want to ask the big questions. I want to taste the taste and fix the problems. I want to run head long into chaos and bad guys and darkness and pranks and fun and laugh, laugh, laugh. I want to be the best friend and I want to be the greatest Aunt (MOTHER) and the most complicated daughter. I want to be the mystery in the room. I want to be known. Embrace your grace.
-Grace Hanadarko
Saving Grace

That about sums it up.

Our Starfish is Thriving

Many of you know that we are sponsoring Antonia, one of the babies at the Starfish Cleft Home. All of the babies that entered this wonderful home are fully sponsored which is amazing. They are now considering opening their doors to more cleft affected babies so if you have it in your heart to sponsor, you still have a chance. Here are the latest pictures of Antonia!

I just can't get enough of her eyes. This has really been a great experience for Graeme because we get to talk about how his lip used to look and how he looks now. I love watching her grow and thrive!!!

The Joy of Friendship

It is wonderful to be blessed with good friends. Heather and John are helping me out in a big way. You see, Lily wanted to take dance again but I had no way of getting her to the classes so Heather and John are taking her for me! They pick her up at daycare and take her to the class and then she goes home with them for time with her best friend, Lily. I just can't thank them enough and then, I got these pictures from the after dance party! I love my friends.

Lily Wen and Lily having dinner and a movie.
Could there be more cuteness in one room?

They are completely transfixed on High School Musical 3

Lily Wen can't take her eyes off of Troy Bolton to even pose for the picture.

Good to the last drop!

I hope they are always this close!

Lily and Lily Wen hug Meagan who was home from college for the weekend.

Striking the infamous High School Musical pose. Oh the Joy!