Brotherly Love

Gabe nodded off this afternoon, while we were watching tv, even in anticipation of Curious George.

His little arm went limp & I could feel his head lay a little heavier against me.

What I wasn't expecting was for Flynn to walk up & act like she was at the mall approaching a stranger's baby,

"Ohhhhhhh, look how cute he is!"

"Yep, he is cute."

"Awwww, he's so sweet, he's sleeping."

So, I laid him in his bed for his (short) nap. And next it was Flynn's turn to turn-in.

She was looking particularly cute with her thick lashes resting on her cheeks, so I bombarded her with kisses & whispered in her ear that I love her & that she's a good girl (I figured there needs to be times when she doesn't hear, 'no', 'leave him alone', 'that's naughty', etc.).

She must've been feeling the love. She looked at me & said, "Wasn't Bubby so cute when he was sleeping??"

"Yes, he was."

"Oh, he was so sweet."

"He is sweet Flynn. And he loves you so much."
silence.

"Flynn, he loves you, know it?"

"Well, he does love me. But not all the time. He is mean sometimes and scratches me & hurts me."

Glad to know they have a normal, healthy, siblingship.

Mystery of the Binky Snatcher

As Gabe approaches two (our designated age for taking his binks away), we have limited his binky time to sleeping times (& church, to keep him quiet).

When we get him up in the morning, we have him throw his binky back into his bed (he usually complies, as he LOVES throwing things).

The last few days, I've seen him now & again, strutting around, or playing, with a binky in his mouth. And I've wondered, how in the world did he get it? I know when he throws it down, I double check to make sure that it's out of his reach.

Yesterday, (or 'last day' as Flynn has dubbed it) I went into his room where he was playing, to check on him, and there I saw it. He had his arm through one of the bars on his bed, sheet in hand, giving it a tug.

He has been pulling his sheet hard enough, to get the binky within his reach.

This might be harder than we thought.

A Little Reflection

Now this part is strange & kinda funny too, as it can show you the evolution of my many thoughts. Below in red, find what I had planned to blog, then in black, find my reflection:

"I have high expectations for myself. I believe that I extend that to others, which is a huge mistake & a major stressor.
But I'm learning, even at 28 (okay, 33), I'm learning.
Here are some things I've learned lately:
There are some times when you shouldn't stick your neck out. There's something to be said about not raising your hand in class, not signing up to volunteer, not speaking out. Albeit, all of those things aren't typical Amy-style, laying low has its benefits.
Now I'm not suggesting, Looking Out For Number 1, or "Numero Uno", but maybe there's a happy medium? I know I was raised to serve, hard work & helping others is in my nature, but perhaps I need a period of just doing for me. Doing what is asked of me?, sure. But thinking of things I can do for other people instead of for me & my family?, no."
Wow. Talk about Anti-Christ!
Gees Amy, do you think Jesus helped other people for a thank you? For a pat on the back. For a positive result of some kind?
Nope.
Matter of fact, He got killed for it.
Perhaps it's a maturation of thought... but I have to reach the point where I serve, I give, I do selflessly for other people, then, that's it. The process doesn't extend to what the recipient does or says. I'm sure Jesus would've loved a thank you note when he healed the blind man, but that's not why he did it. And I have my doubts that he went & blogged about it.
In the bible, it's pretty plain about this topic:
Colossians 3:23:
Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters.
I guess there should be no misunderstanding there... and if you really do as it says, there should be NO disappointments, as the pay is great & the retirement is unbelievable!
I always have lots to learn.

My buddy Zach

I have a little friend.

His name is Zach.

He has embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (cancer).

His tumor is in the chest cavity on the right, back side and lung.

Zach just finished 2nd grade, he is 9 years old.

I've never met a braver kid. And his mom, she's like a rock.

You've never met stronger people.

Zach's dad is not really in his life.

He has two older sisters who love him dearly.

Zach loves critters. He has birds, cats, I think I saw a dog there, hamsters, and I think a reptile or two. He collects coins. Has a huge car collection. And is a typical boy, with the exception of the fact that he's been forced into some kind of maturity due to what he's had to go through.

Zach loves visitors, and gifts (I give him one a week), and hates hospital food.

He's been in treatment for a couple of months now.

Chemo & now radiation, each and everyday.

He seems to almost be proud of him wounds.

And although I have nothing to do with his upbringing, I am proud of him.

What a cool kid.

He has a caring bridge page, that I'm sure he'd love if you signed.

http://www.caringbridge.org/mo/zachman98/index.htm

Read it. And remember their battle. Not only should you pray for him each & everyday. But you should think about what they're going through. Squeeze your kiddos a little tighter. Tell you spouse you love him when you go to bed. And remember how precious life is.

Mucho Stache

My friend Lynn, who was responsible for bringing you the monkey butts, didn't believe me a few years ago, when I told her that I do nothing to my upper lip.


But driving to church a week ago, I saw it.


Nothing short of a handlebar growing up there.


So, I made the decision. It was time to do something about it.





So I consulted the professionals.





And, I'll be dealing with that tonight.



Wish me luck.

Can't Keep a Straight Face

My family is & has always been silly, like to the point that others don't appreciate or understand us. We can't just pose normally in photos. In serious venues, we crack jokes.

No one is safe from being poked fun at by us.

So, why should I not be suprised when Flynn made these faces recently, while I tried to snap a pic of her & her friend Isabelle.

Isabelle is looking at her like, "I don't think I'm coming back over here....this girl is crazy."

Check out Bubby, he's nobody's fool.

Then, it just wasn't enough to make a face...she had to hurl herself backwards.

Dude Looks Like a Lady

This one will make Daddy cringe...

Bubs has taken to trying on shoes. He loves the thrill of wrestling with the shoe to get it on, then balancing his way across the room, usually dragging a great deal of shoe behind him.

Even MY shoes...

Crazy 'Bout a Ford Truck

Our friends, the Azars, blessed us with this new ride-on toy.
What more perfect thing to go cruising down the newly-cleared yard!

PeeWee Picasso

I try to be a good SAHM/WAHM.... I try to offer my kids activities & art projects. I work with Flynn on her letters, shapes, patterns, math skills.... I monitor tv watching.
I always think about if they were in day care, what would they be doing? I'd want to offer them the same.

Like fingerpainting outside.

And She's OFF!

This day must come in every Mom's life...
The day their baby
goes to preschool.

sniff-sniff....

Because we can't send her to conventional preschool, with the chance of her being accidentally exposed to something, we had to jump at this chance...

Daddy is teaching summer school at the elementary school (on his middle school's campus) & noticed some VERY small tikes walking through the halls to their classrooms. So he inquired. Apparently, four year olds, going into Kindergarten, attend summer school at the Pre-K room. The teacher invited Jeff to bring his little girl! Jeff talked extensively with her about Flynn's situation.... she reassured him there were other allergies in there that they were dealing with. Since Daddy will be in the building, we decided to chance it. She'll spend the 1st half of the day there, and I will pick her up at lunch (can't chance that one).

She was so excited. Bound out of bed. Quickly got dressed. Ate her breakfast in a hurry. And didn't complain about me pulling her hair when I fixed it.

Of course I got out the video camera, and she sang 2 songs, recited the alphabet, counted down from 10, and rambled on about how Bubby will be taller than her soon (this is a fact!).

She waved goodbye to me, as I was pressed against the window....

and she never looked back.

Dad's Day '07

Not much can take a moment like that away...

Last year I posted a pic of Daddy with Flynn, this year it's the moment I held Gabe & Jeff gave me that look like, "I love you & the fact that you just pushed that big noggen from your loins."

Well, there was a little more emotion than that going on.

Anyway, it's Father's Day & I'd be amiss if I didn't give my hearty, grateful thank you to my daddy & the daddy of my kids.

Both whom give my children the kind of love they deserve from the men in their lives. And who give me the respect & the help that I appreciate so much.

I love you Jeff...and I love you Dad.

Happy Father's Day!

Hot Buns Contest

There's some dive across the street from Walmart... called the Magic Carpet or something cheesy & gross like that.
Tonight, their marquee read, 'Hot Buns Contest'. Upon reading it, hot husband turned to me & said, "Hot Buns Contest....You should enter."
I laughed weakly & said, "Yah, right."
He started to argue with me about my derriere & that's when I reminded him...
"Day Old Bread."

Some of My Prayer List

Here are some of the things I'm diligent to pray for...

My own relationship with Christ

Jeff's relationship with Christ

Flynn's & Gabe's relationships with Christ

Our marriage

Flynn's allergies & healing

My Aunt Alice

Zach

Traveling safety for everyone

Flynn's husband

Gabe's wife

Nieces & nephew

Our cousins' & friends' kids

Flynn's career & purpose in life

Gabe's career & purpose in life

Our finances

Jeff's career, coaching, teaching

Decisions we have to re our house, etc.

The finances & financial decisions of our entire fam

Eagle Point

EP's children's dept

All the kids/babies under my "care"

My own 'nitty gritty', like my lack of patience, anger, shortness

(I could go on...and on...)

My health

There's actually a VERY long list, but that's I guess a condensed list

(for the times I don't have a LONG time to pray)

Helpful Hints

Never put an open, extra large box (or any size for that matter) of baking soda on a high shelf in your cabinet.

And also, it's really hard to clean off cabinets, burners, floors, and people.

Monkey Butts

I got these photos from my friend Lynn, who took them at the zoo last week.

Lynn is funny. She & I met at Missouri Southern State my first semester there.

Our first conversation was about poop... it's no wonder if you know either of us, that upon hearing that topic, we knew we'd be good friends.

She lives in Texas now with her hubby & cute boy & we've managed to keep in touch for over 10 years now. I was delighted to see these disgusted photos on her Instant Messager & immediately asked her to send so I could share with you....

Aren't you glad??

The good thing about monkeys?

They just don't care. They have a neurotic, retentive need to pick bugs off each other...and they don't care who's watching. This picking is their nature & I'd imagine that when God made them with this habit, He did so under the pretense that they wouldn't be stuck behind a pin or sheet of glass with humans watching their hiney-picking.

Well, I guess He knew that'd be happening, being He made the universe, knows the future, and all that other omniscient stuff.

Anyway, these primates are kinda cool like that if you ask me. Not the bobo-scratching stuff (well, maybe that too), but the ability to keep doing what they're supposed to, despite the fact that people are watching in disgust (or in my case, delight) at what they're doing.

Everyday, everywhere, people are worried about what other people think. Individuals feel the need to do or not do according to what a family member, a friend, or even a stranger, thinks they should be doing (or not doing)...

I'm pretty sure there's only one person we should worry about pleasing.

It's not the group of people watching us from the other side of the zoo glass.

Now you know how I love my hot hubby & my kids (so cute they could win a contest)... and you're wondering why they wouldn't be grouped into the ONE I should please. But the truth is, that all falls under the 'God umbrella', in that if I'm working on pleasing Him, I'm most likely pleasing them. Since the bible is full of stuff like, taking care of your kids, respecting your husband, etc.

I'm glad... that the person I was made to worship (the being rather), cares about all that stuff.

Remember that, the next time you see a baboon inspecting the hemorrhoids of another baboon.

And only I could somehow turn monkey butts into talking about God.

Adding Again...

but this time it is tres positive!!

After several hours of boob poking & prodding, the prognosis is 'lumpy breastitis'...

I am a-okay.

Thank You God!

I think it wouldn't hurt for every mom...really, just anyone... to have to spend a day wondering how much longer they have to live.

I think it makes things sweeter.

Anyway, we've had our share of drama for the week... for the month...actually, for the whole year!

I can hardly post w/o a pic, so enjoy the pic of the sweeties last week at Grant's Farm...

I Hated to Add Today...

As I know this entry will pop up over Mae West & I think that picture should be on top of the blog for a while...
but...
I'm worried.
I just saw the dr for a lump in my breast & am now getting ready to leave for a mamogram.

As soon as I had a moment, and considered blogging, I talked myself out of it... knowing that if I wait a few hours, I'll have 'real' info; perhaps nothing to even blog about.

But I think thoughts & reflections are important (otherwise I wouldn't blog) and I consider it part of my prayer life (meditation)...

I truly believe that God allows us to walk through certain shadows & valleys... I'm sure everyone agrees that it builds your faith, your trust, etc. Even non-believers quote that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

So, here I am with lots of thoughts (most worrisome thoughts), coursing through my mind.

You know, before 4 or so years ago, my health didn't concern me that much. Sure, I wanted to be healthy, but what happened to me ultimately, didn't WORRY me.
I'm not afraid of death, as I know where I'm headed & the glory that awaits me there.
BUT
I do not want to leave these two wonderful kids, who so depend on me... and whose lives would be more full with two parents.

So, that's what I'm thinking about this afternoon....

But on the way home from dr #1, I told God,
'I trust You Lord.
No matter what.'

And I do.

YeeHaw

When I brought this hat & 'accessories' home from a garage sale,

Flynn was thrilled & quick to run & get on her ropers (hand me downs from Cousin Mo),

so she'd have somewhere to put the spurs.

Notice those skinny legs coming from her shorts.... all boo-booed up,

covered in band aids.

Mae West never looked so good.

Put Them in a Padded Room

JEFF Man they're being crazy.

ME I know. I wish we could put them in a room with padded walls & let them go crazy.

JEFF Yep, that would be good.

ME Hey, what would happen if we put them in the pool (unfilled) & they ran around.... would it harm the pool? It is really soft with all the sand & dirt under it. And the walls are rubber!

JEFF I think that'd be just fine!

Quit Growing Up Already, Would You??

These legs belong to Gabe... a picture taken last month, when he fell asleep in the recliner.

For some reason, his legs looked awfully long to me. And they are.

It's scary actually, how quickly he's growing?...which just isn't right.

Isn't there a rule about the baby staying a baby?!

That would make me feel better.