Big tooth day

Yesterday, could have more appropriately titled "Tooth Day".

Ellie was up all night long screaming about her mouth. She had cracked a front molar and it had decayed. It was causing her a lot of pain. I went to work and I was able to find out that a. we qualify for finacial assistance based on our family size, income level, and lack of dental insurance and b. the Dental Clinic has emergency hours.

I hurried home and grabbed her and took downtown to the Dental Clinic. I have not been to downtown Children's in over four years. They quickly sized her up and chose to remove her tooth. They strapped her to a papoose board and numbed her up and basically pulled her tooth out in two sections. After it was over, she sat up and looked at the dentist and said "I don't like you". She's nothing if not honest.

Back at the homefront, Shannon head butts Lauren and one of her bottom teeth which was hanging by a thread came out. Don't worry all of Shannon's teeth are intact

The tooth fairy has yet to come as she is exhausted.

Nurse Ellie to the rescue

Bob is very sick with strep today. I couldn't get off but don't worry Nurse Ellie took care of him today. She felt his forehead every hour and said "you sick Daddy". She also took her bear to the doctor for daddy so he wouldn't be scared. Only 15 more years until she heads off to nursing school

Trunk or Treat

A church in our old neighborhood does an annual "Trunk or Treat". It is trick or treating but in the cars thus the trunk part of the name.

Shannon understood this year. She wasn't sure why I shoved her in this strange outfit and then threw her in her stroller. However, she soon got two pieces of candy and yelled "nummies" for the rest of the event.

The big girls loved it.

Anyway, presenting my pack of princess. Lauren at 5, Ellie at 3, and Shannon at 1.

Eli's homegoing

A friend of ours daughter was born with a severe heart defect that was undetected until 3 day of life. At some point, she suffered permanent brain damage. She had 4 open heart surgeries in her short 8 years of life.

Eli went Home on Sunday night peacefully and without warning. There was no warning, no IVs, and her parents made no descisions. She simply went to bed and woke up with the ability to run, jump, and dance. Eli, who loved music so much, can now sing.

I am horribly sadden for her family. There is a mother who misses a child, an empty bed, and a family who is one member short.

I am not sad for Elli. I know where Elli is and I know that Elli is where she is not because of what she did but because of Whom she knew.

Because of that fact, we can hope because we know that this life is not the end. This life is simply of shadow of what is to become.

I strive to teach my children many many things. I try to teach them kindness. I try to teach them to turn off the light in the bathroom when they are finished. I try to teach them that vegetables are not icky. I'm desparately trying to teach my Ellie that she cannot fly.

However, the only thing that is important that I presses on my heart daily is to teach them to know and love God. Not to know God as in to know VBS Bible stories but to know God and His Holiness. To know God, to Serve God, and to Obey Him.

I am mourning for Eli's family but Elli is not an angel and she is no longer trapped in a body that does not work. Elli has been made whole and Elli is finally in the image of the One who made her.

I'm Shannon, I have a lot to say

I can say
jump
cup (pup)
mommy (very demandingly)
Da-dee (emphasizing the last sound)
El-lee
up
mine (can you tell she has two older sisters)
baby (anything smaller then her)2z

Balls, balls, everywhere

I took Shannon to a "pumpkin patch" on the lawn of the college my mom works at. She saw balls everywhere and needed to try to lift all of them up.



sweet pumpkin face


my pumpkin among the pumpkins



Got to pick up that ball

The tooth fairy comes to our house

Lauren was at school yesterday and bit into an apple and out popped a tooth. I thought we were a few months away. We did not have that tooth but then again we couldn't find the other two either.

I guess we better start practicing "All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"

Got our costumes

The girls are very excited about Halloweeen. Well, Lauren and Ellie are, Shannon's just excited because they are. Lauren is going to be Belle, Ellie will be Tinkerbelle, and I think Shannon will be Cinderella

We were discussing how I'm going to take out the wagon so Shannon could ride in it when we go Trick-or-Treating. I asked Ellie if she would like to ride too. She thought about it and said very politely "No, thank you mommy". I told her it would be a far walk.

At that point, she stuck her hand on her hip and said "No, Mommy I have wings, I going to fly"

I could see the wheels turning in her head as she imagines herself flying around the neighborhood.

I might have to go check on my ER coverage. I see another visit in our future.

We've moved

We've acutually been here almost a month and I still feel like we just got here. Half of our stuff is still in the garage. I think there might be 4 or 5 pictures on the wall.

I hate moving. My new plan is to live in this house until our credit is restored and then buy a house. After we move to that house, I am never moving again. My family can bury me in the backyard if they want.

A typical box-packing experience for me is

1. Decide to put something in box.

2. Label box with room identification like Kitchen, Bathroom.

3. Leave and find out why Ellie is running around without clothes on.

4. Throw some more things in said box

5. Figure out what child has tape and forcibly remove tape from child's hand.

6. Go back and repack the things that Shannon has thrown out of box.

7. Search for one more thing to put in box.

8 Figure out who has stolen my marker and who has tattooed which sister

9. Take Shannon out of Box

10. Take the Things Lauren has added to box out

11. Tape box

12. Feeling proud go fix lunch and contenplate packing another box

13. Hours later, remember something that I desperately need is at the bottom of said box.

14. Vow to never move again.

3000 days

I've been married for 3000 days.

It seems like so long ago that I committed my life to Bob and we made a covenant to our God.

Marriages seem to be easily broken right now. Now, that I have been married this long I know that marriage is hard and is simply not for the weak of heart. However, the rewards of mature commitment are great.

I have long since forgotten where I stop and Bob begins. We are so many stories, so many inside jokes that are inside other jokes (the origin neither of us can remember).

It has been a hard road these last 3000 days. However, it is because of our struggles that I have learned about forgiveness. I have learned about love.

So, Bob can we have at least another 3000 days