Innocence is Lost

Today Katie once again was at the doctor's. She had another 100 temp. When we arrived at the doctor he took one listen to her lungs and she needed to be back on Albuterol, she was weezing. My heart sank and thanked God for the fever that was unrelated and thought to myself..."back to the drawing board." As discouraging as it was to hear that she was once again having asthmatic symptoms I also had such hope and happiness in my heart that God has made Katie a fighter. She had to not only give a urine sample, which she found to be quite cool that her 'pee pee' was in a jar, but she had to get blood work done. When the doctor told me he wanted blood work done to see why she still had a fever, a sweat started to overcome me. I thought, "oh my gosh, here goes her ignorance of going to the doctor." I never realized how much I couldn't stand my children getting 'poked' until now. I begged the doctor to give me a recommendation of a lab that dealt well with children and he really didn't have one. Once we walked into the lab she knew something was wrong. She immediately clung to me and I sat her on my lap. As I anticipated the worst such as a kicking screaming child Katie sat there stoically and cried softly as they poked her. Unfortunately they missed a vein and had to poke her again. By the second poke she cried a little louder but did not fight. While they were changing vials she quieted and watched, she actually found it a little interesting that that was her blood. After they were done she said firmly she wanted a sticker and a sucker and her request was fulfilled. Of course mother like, I did everything I could think of to sooth her, cuddle her, bribe her, tell her she could have lunch out and a treat at home for being a brave girl but none of it phased her, she was fine. I asked her what she thought of the ordeal and she said, "it was bad very bad. I didn't like my blood mommy, but I was brave." It amazed me that Mark and I were the ones standing there fretting about her first blood work but she was not ignorant I think we were. We have a fighter and a strong little girl that has been through so much medically in her three years. We count our blessings everyday that she is as healthy as she is and I love every moment when God uses our children to show us just how strong He can make them and how we can learn from them.

Proud Gift

While I was at the doctors today Katie stayed with Nana. When she was over there Nana and Katie went exploring in the garden, Nana told her about the plants and Katie sprinkled some bird food in the feeder. Of course she had to pick one of the lilacs for me. When I picked her up she immediately ran to get it and grabbed it smushed in her fist and proudly handed it to me. I just found it refreshing to see such a love for the little things that we, as adults seem to forget.

This Week....

This week started out interesting. On Sunday morning Katie woke up with a 101 temp. Then she kept that all day. Then at night Molly began to develop a fever as well and sore throat. Needless to say I took them to the doctors and they both had strep. They were misserable, they were very cranky and were at each other. Luckly it was a short lived illness and by Wednesday they were on the mend. The picture on the left is from Easter. The girls slept in sponge rollers and did very well as they are very uncomfortable. I remember all too well sleeping in those. I guess it is a taste of how it can be uncomfortable to be a girl. I am now 15 weeks preganant and starting to gain some energy back. I have been feeling a little bit of movement and definitely look pregnant now, there is no mistaking it. I have gotten over my Walmart experience, however they did not have 2 of Katie's letters so I have to go back. Maybe I will sucker Sally into going for me. I may even pay her. LOL!

Where Am I The Jerry Springer Show?

Today I attended MOPS as I do every 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month and we had a great craft to do. We were making block letters for our children's rooms. As I was happily crafting away I had an idea to make not only my child's inital but their whole name. Unfortunitely they were bought at Walmart. And for those of you that know me very well....I do not shop there. Don't get me wrong, I am not a Walmart hater but I do believe my convictions when it comes to their business practices which make my blood run cold at times. However, I am not blogging my dislike of Walmart but to say I ventured out to Walmart after a two year boycott and had an interesting time. Not only did the noise and the tin sounding intercom annoy me but many people rudely pushed buy without a care in the world and like most times I blow it off because people just don't realize what they do sometimes. Then Molly was wandering looking at toys down an aisle and a woman bumped into her and then proceeded to give her a dirty look. "Hmmm," I thought..."that wasn't too nice." As I continued down the aisles I begrugandly had thoughts of I wished I hadn't gone there, I knew there was reason why I didn't like Walmart and man I wish I liked Walmart because they do have good prices. Did you know you can actually get Kraft Mac and Cheese for $.60 and doritos for 3.00 (not the regular size but the family!!!) I gave myself a mental kick and said, "Jen, get over it...it's not because it's Walmart." So I got in line to check out and low and behold there stood the woman who clipped off my daughters heels and gave her a nasty look. I said a quick prayer to help me from not giving her a dirty look and started to unpack my cart when in the distance I heard yelling. I looked up to see two woman yelling at each other in the next check out line next to me. They were in each other's face and two of the woman were in nurses scrubs and obviously had a mentally handicapped person with them. (Apparently, the handicapped person was the bone of contention.) So as I covered my daughters ears from their vulgar language and I had to then cover their eyes because they started to shove each other. I thought to myself, "Where in the world am I, the Jerry Springer Show?"
Finally, the two nurses backed off and the lady causing the trouble shouted, " She stepped in front of me you big fat @#*!$%. At that moment I saw the woman she called the name's face and it broke my heart. Her face dropped and stood there in disbelief as the security took the nasty lady away, which by the way had a child about Molly's age with her. Now understand, I am sensitive to episodes like that anyway but add pregnancy to the picture...then we are talking pure tears. It just makes me sad that my child has to grow up in this type of world. It wasn't Walmart's fault but...our society. People just seem to be on the muscle and get angry at a drop of a hat. Molly said something as we drove home. I asked her what she thought of what had happened and she said it was like they were kids. Hmmmm, out of the mouths of babes. So that was my experience of Walmart after a two year boycott. Will I be back????? It's going to be hard with those dog on prices....and if they have craft stuff for less???? Nah. I'll keep trying. Now it's become a challenge to see how long I can boycott. I just had a momentary lapse. So if you venture out to Walmart that's fine save money, good for you, just make sure you have earplugs for your child's ears and strong shoes for thier feet. Oh and don't forget to pray that you won't stoop to some people's level.

Peanut

This our baby #3's first photograph. It is very hard to tell because it looks like a peanut but that is our baby. He/she was 9 weeks 4 days in this picture. Peanut is now 13 weeks 5 days, is 4 inches long, is the size a clenched fist, has fingernails and starting to get eyebrows. He/she is also learning to smile and suck it's thumb. Amazing, and only a little less then 14 weeks. As most of you know it has been a trying couple years for us. We have been pregnant 4 times in the last year and have miscarried 3 and had 1 ectopic pregnancy. We thought we were done. Guess what? Surprise!!! I am due October 20th and at this point it is unanimous, if it is a girl it will be Amanda and if it is a boy it will be Jack. Middle names are up in the air. Jen's doctors want her to take it easy this pregnancy and Mark has been a great, understanding husband/father of three to be. Jen's ultrasounds and exams over the last couple weeks have been not only encouraging but joyous. We have to decided to find out who peanut will be a he or a she. So we will keep you updated. News to come in May.

Katie

Katie just turned 3 January 1st. She is no longer a baby. She speaks very well and even though she doesn't recgonize all of her letters she knows the sounds pretty well. As you can tell in her picture she loves Mickey Mouse. We have watched thousands upon thousands of "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" episodes until we can no longer sing the theme song anymore. She had suffered with asthma for the first two years of her life and kidney reflux but amazingly she has been asthma free for a year now and her kidney reflux has improved to almost normal. She is very particular and has to have order in her life. She is my neat kid and doesn't like messy things especially herself. Katie is a joy and prays for organges, apples, teddy and thanks God for her "neck." (I guess that is an important body part). Katie is in gymnastics and loves it. She has no fear so either gymnastics is going to save her life so when she is a daredevil she is safe or give her more confidence to do more daring things. We shall see.

Welcome to our blog!!!

Molly started first grade this year and is growing by leaps and bounds. It is hard to believe that she has almost finished the school year. She is now reading chapter books and her favorite subject is science. Molly loves to ask questions and cannot stand it if it doesn't make sense. If she cannot figure out why she will have a theory of her own. Hmm, sound like anyone???? She takes ballet with my long time friend Jennifer (she is her teacher) and enjoys it. She will have her first dance recital in June. She loves her costume, she says it is so "cool" and very sparkly. She is in gymnastics and is loving it but frustrated she doesn't get it right away. She had her first meet in March she did well and got a trophy which proudly sits on her dresser. Molly is very excited that she is going to be a big sister for the second time. I quote, "I prayed and I prayed that we would have a baby and finally God said yes!" Molly's favorite things are; trees, "they're her friends," church, playing princess and dressing up with makeup, gymnastics, ballet and science experiments. She prays often that God will give her a "secret" lab.