When'd you get so smart?

C. and I were lying in bed last night while I was reading. This was our conversation:

C.: What's this book?

Me: It's called, A Journey Without Maps, by Graham Greene.

C.: What's that mean?

Me: It means he went on a trip and he didn't take a map.

C.: Where did he go?

Me: West Africa.  Liberia, actually.  It's a country in Africa.

C.: Like where [Sunflower]'s from?

Me: Yes, she was born in Africa too.  In Ethiopia.

C.: Why did he go there without a map?

Me: I don't know; I'm trying to read the book to find out. (He was to have been asleep by this point...)

C.: I think he didn't take a map because he didn't need one.  He already knew where he was going.

Me: Huh. (That's quite the abstract thought for a three year old.)  Maybe.  Let's read the book and find out.

The next time I wake he'll probably be writing compositions on the affect of Graham Greene's conversion to Catholicism in his writings, so I need to sleep less, pay more attention, and savor all of these childhood moments.  They grow so fast!

A Sunny End-of-Quarantine Kind of Day

I've been inside for a week.  

These sunbeams are nice, but I want to feel them on my skin.

Can't we go out?  PLEASE?

YAY!!!

I want to feel the flowers tickle my toes,

Share some hammy gossip with the turtle-give him the real scoop on the chicken pox,

Play clapping games with my big brother, J.,

and squeal into the fresh air!

Oh, I'm so glad these chicken pox are gone!  Spring blossoms, potting soil, a cool breeze, prickly grass and crickets await me!  If only I could get this walking thing figured out, I'd own the yard!

Better this than polio!

You know how the fine print on the vaccination papers that the doctor gives you says, "1 in so-many-million may actually contract X unpleasant disease from this vaccine"?  Well, though Sunflower got the bare-necessity vaccinations in Ethiopia from the US Embassy in order to get her entry visa, we waited to vaccinate her again in America until about 10 days ago.  Her blood work on arrival proved she was in starvation mode when she came home with low calcium levels, anemia, low bone density, extremely malnourished blood counts in all areas.   Her chronic diarrhea continued for 2-3 weeks after we got her home and switched her to soy before she even really began to thrive.  I didn't think that was the time to inject her with polio, rubella and tetanus and hope her frail little body could properly process the vaccine.  

But she's more than caught up now, so we began the well-baby series' this month.  Yesterday, she woke up with a rash that got worse as the day went on.  It started on her stomach. "Chicken Pox," I said aloud.  We went to the doctor last night, and sure enough, the vericella vaccine trigged a "wild strain" (her words) of chicken pox.  "It should be mild," she said.  Followed by, "But this is all over her...".  I thought, "Mild.  Right.  Like the flu I got from the flu shot a few years ago was 'mild.'  I didn't get out of bed for a week!"  The doctor said this happens sometimes as a fluke or with those with weak immune systems.  Yes, we're VERY glad we waited to begin the vaccinations because like I said, better the vaccine trigger a wild strain of chicken pox than peculiar breed of polio.  

I won't post pics of her body; I"ll spare you that, but she is covered and itchy with the low-grade temp. and runny nose that goes with chicken pox.  She hasn't lost her smile though! Which is good because right now with her "only a mother could love that" face, at least her teeth are gorgeous!  (The camera doesn't pick up the spots well, but believe me, it makes me itch looking at her.)

The boys have pretty teeth too and are full of smiles!  J. celebrated a friend's birthday at school today, and C. had a week's break from occupational therapy because his therapist is pregnant, and I didn't want Sunflower and her pox in the same building as the OT's embryo.  We'll try again next week.

So, "Yes, I have a freakishly wild strain of chicken pox, but life is still so, so good!"

Music time!

Hey, C.  What do I do with all this stuff?

"Just watch me, Sunflower. I'll shake this and you bang on that."

"Come back!  We need to practice!"

"What can I say?  She's a natural!"

The Ultimate Lose-Lose

She really wanted to eat that snowball...but it froze her little hand.  So, Tim took it away from her.  But she really wanted to eat that snowball...but it froze her hand...  Yes, we felt kinda mean eventually and helped her out.  But it was a little funny.  Just a little? ;)

J. laughing in a snowball fight with Dad

Belated Birthday Pics

She LOVED cake!

"What am I supposed to do with this bit of fiery chocolate???"

We made penguins

Threw snowballs at a snowman, and some other crafts.

There were lots of balloons, stories penguin coloring pages, cupcakes, and twenty friends!

Presents too, of course!

Thanks to everyone who came!  There were some great pics, but I don't put pics of other peoples' kids on the blog, so this was the best I could do!  She loved it!

Give till it hurts

I don't post this to shock and awe, but to remind us all that our day isn't so bad.  Even if our stocks are dwindling away with our retirement funds, our cars are broken or out of date, our closets don't have one outfit in them that we feel like wearing today, or we ate left-overs...again... and passed on milk this week because of increasing prices, it isn't so bad.  And as we're reminded of how blessed we are, may we reach out in compassion and shine Jesus' hope to the world that is living in utter darkness, even if it makes our life a little uncomfortable.

(BTW, I wouldn't have your little kids watch this.  The shocking end of innocence need not precede adolescence in my mind, but that's just me.)

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

What a difference 6 months makes!

(The day we met in Ethiopia)

Sunflower, thank you for teaching us about perseverance, God's timing, the fun of all things girlie, exceeding expectations and funny faces.

(1st snow last week)

We love you!  Happy 1st Birthday!!!

Tim home, snow and a new president. What a day!

Simple Woman's Daybook

I've read many Simple Woman's Daybooks but have never done one.  This woman's blog is very peaceful and in need of some peace, I'm doing my own daybook today.  Feel free to do your own by following the directions on her site: The Simple Woman's Daybook.

For Today...January 12, 2009

Outside My Window...The sky is icy blue and the trees are barren.  A horse neighs occasionally; otherwise, it is quiet.

I am thinking...about how best to spend my time.  How much to give to the kids vs. my own pursuits, and are those two even separate at all?
I am thankful for...my marriage and the opportunities it affords me.
From the learning rooms...The kids are at school.  A brick and mortar building outside of the home, and I often feel terribly guilty about this.  It's a private Christian school and only part time, but I still wonder if I'm doing right by them by sending them out of the home for education. Would I be doing right by me by keeping them home? The music room is quiet though, and has been too quite for too long.
From the kitchen...babbling baby eating a banana.
I am wearing...a black hoodie and pajama pants.  It's twenty degrees today.
I am creating...a short story, set in the southeast region of the Unites States about two elderly widows and their brush with the magical.
I am going...to put the baby down for a nap and continue writing until time to get the boys from school
I am reading...Love, by Toni Morrison in an attempt to overcome my frustration with her writing.  I'm still frustrated, and she's a Nobel Prize recipient.  Who's to blame?
I am hoping...and praying that the missions ministry I began with a friend at church takes off.
I am hearing...a baby bang on her highchair.
Around the house...a naked Christmas tree, waiting for Tim to get home and take it apart; stacks of Psychology textbooks as Tim gets ready to begin his doctorate; piles of folded laundry waiting for me to put away; comfortable, lived-in clutter, not dirty.
One of my favorite things...the extra-hot Peppermint Mocha in my hands.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...occupational therapy, speech therapy, breakfast with a girlfriend, gymnastics, writing, reading, and music lessons.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing:
Ice, football, and Dad to recover from a bump on the head.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Merry Christmas

Sleepy babies after holiday parties

The boys sang, "We Three Kings" at their Christmas program, so now they call all bright stars, "Star of Wonder."  Here's Sunflower putting her first "Star of Wonder" on her first Christmas tree.

They have the nervous bite-my-lower-lip look going on, except Sunflower.  She's just saying, "Who in the world are YOU?"  But they all three made it on the jolly old guy's lap which is quite an accomplishment!

We're off for holiday travels, so MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours, and HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO!

The race to the big red bow

We are in the final stretch now of preschool Christmas parties, fundraisers and performances; occupational and speech therapist end-of-year eval.'s and gift giving; Christmas card addressing and gift buying; baking for three teachers, four OT and speech therapists, and Sunday school teachers; laundry, lists, and packing for travel; dog kennel vet visits, re-assuring the boys that even though WE don't have a chimney, Papa DOES, so Santa will in fact be able to get to them; keeping one drawer stocked of clothes that fit this rapidly growing baby; wiping the nose of whoever has the rotating cold this week (yay, me!  What a week to get sick!); work parties, Santa photos, and explaining to the children for the millionth time, "We do all of this for Jesus' birthday.  On Jesus' birthday, the world has a BIG party, and we call it Christmas."  Whew!  And what a party it is to plan for!!!  Here's to hoping you and yours have/take time to offer a bit of yourself to Christ this season as we all so hectically prepare for the big day.

She laughs when she sneezes,

and we all laugh with her.  Awesome.

A Thanksgiving to God for His House by Robert Herrick

Lord, Thou hast given me a cell 
Wherein to dwell; 
An little house, whose humble roof 
Is weather-proof; 
Under the spars of which I lie 
Both soft and dry; 
Where Thou my chamber for to ward 
Hast set a guard 
Of harmless thoughts, to watch and keep 
Me, while I sleep. 
Low is my porch as is my fate, 
Both void of state;
And yet the threshold of my door 
Is worn by'th' poor, 
Who thither come, and freely get 
Good words, or meat; 
Like as my parlour, so my hall 
And kitchen's small; 
A little butterie and therein 
A little bin, 
Which keeps my little loaf of bread 
Unchipp'd, unflay'd; 
Some brittle sticks of thorn or briar 
Make me a fire, 
Close by whose living coal I sit, 
And glow like it. 
Lord, I confess too, when I dine, 
The pulse is Thine,
And all those other bits that be 
There plac'd by Thee; 
The worts, the purslain, and the mess 
Of water-cress, 
Which of Thy kindness Thou hast sent; 
And my content 
Makes those, and my beloved beet, 
To be more sweet. 
'Tis Thou that crown'st my glitt'ring hearth 
With guiltless mirth; 
And giv'st me wassail bowls to drink, 
Spic'd to the brink. 
Lord, 'tis Thy plenty-dropping hand 
That soils my land; 
And giv'st me, for my bushel sown, 
Twice ten for one; 
Thou mak'st my teeming hen to lay 
Her egg each day; 
Besides my healthful ewes to bear 
Me twins each year; 
The while the conduits of my kine 
Run cream (for wine.) 
All these, and better Thou dost send 
Me, to this end, 
That I should render, for my part, 
A thankful heart, 
Which, fir'd with incense, I resign 
As wholly Thine; 
But the acceptance, that must be, 
My Christ, by Thee.

P.S. 

C.'s favorite part of Thanksgiving was chewing on the bones.  Who knew cartilage could be so tasty???  And Sunflower started crawling two days ago.  We're overjoyed at her great accomplishment...and with how much more complicated life is now for us! :)