A Lifetime of Love

Opening his book last night All ready to go! Th started Kindergarten today! He didn’t get to bed last night until 9:30pm, but I wasn’t too concerned because he fell asleep yesterday afternoon for about 1 ½ hours after we got home from swimming. I gave him his book, and he loved it! He couldn’t wait to read it. This morning he woke up eager and ready to go. He quickly dressed and ran downstairs for breakfast. After breakfast, he brushed his teeth and combed his hair, and was happy he had some time to watch “Curious George” before we had to leave. I did okay with my tears while we were in our neighborhood, but as soon as I hit the main road, I got teary-eyed. I tried not to let my emotions show, but apparently I didn’t do such a good job. Th asked me why I was crying, and I just told him the air was blowing in my eyes and making them water. He was full of questions on the way to school, and was getting more nervous the closer we got. He didn’t want me to walk him inside, but I insisted j...

I am having a rough week. As my pregnancy progresses, the first day of school for both Th and myself looms closer, and the reality of my situation becomes clearer, I am becoming more overwhelmed with all that needs to be done. The problem is, I have a limited supply of energy and it's difficult for me to spread it out. I either exhaust myself with the kids and am too tired to do what I need to do, or I exhaust myself completing my tasks that I am too tired to deal with the kids. Today has been the worst in a long time. I lost my patience so many times because it seemed like every time I got the kids occupied with something and proceeded to start my work, they would start to fight or argue or someone would get hurt or someone would destroy the other's track or take his/her toy or look at the others the wrong way or any other possible thing you could think of to cause me to stop what I was doing to go handle the situation. I spent more time walking between my bedroom and the play...

It’s been a busy week for us. Monday night we promised the boys we’d take them bike riding in our church parking lot on Tuesday because Th wanted to learn to ride without training wheels and our neighborhood is too hilly. However, the worst storm we’ve had in months hit Tuesday night, forcing us to retreat to our house. We have been in a drought for a year and the night we want to do something fun for the kids, it doesn’t just rain, it storms! The storm was so bad that lightening struck TJ’s building at work, causing him to be extremely busy on Wednesday and work a 12-hour shift. We couldn’t go bike riding Wednesday because we go to church on Wednesday nights, so we finally made it there last night. Of course, it was overcast and threatened to rain the entire time we were there, but nevertheless the kids had fun and Th learned to ride his bike sans training wheels. Speaking of Th, I am so proud of him. We did the same thing last fall, and he was just so afraid of falling that he would...

I added some new links to my blog list. I've been reading them for a while, just haven't added them until now. Check them out when you can! ************************************************ Not much going on here. I'm sick, along with Ta and T.G. We went to Carowinds on Friday, a birthday party yesterday, and spent the afternoon hanging a chalkboard that TJ made me for my birthday. Yes, my birthday is in January. Yes, he finished it in June, only 5 months later. He still needs to build a frame around it and we joked that the frame will be my anniversary gift. . . next year. The kids and I are doing some fun things this week. Tuesday is my luncheon with the senator. I am excited yet nervous, especially because I am battling a cold. TJ is coming with me, and I decided to bring Th with us, too. This is a rare opportunity and I want him to experience it with us. I have a sitter coming to stay the day with Ta and T.G. I am nervous because I have to get up in front of a bunch of ...

I have survived my cold, although I seem to be regressing instead of progressing. I am back to blowing colored stuff rather than clear, and my chest is still really tight, especially at night. I'm still taking my antibiotic, but maybe I need a different one. Who knows! Ta had his birthday party on Saturday and he was very excited because his friends from preschool came. Plus, he's been wanting this huge digger/excavator ride-on toy from Northern Tool & Equipment. He asked for it for Christmas but we substituted it with a 4-wheeler. It worked for a little while but then he was back to constantly talking about the digger. So, we bought it for him for his birthday and TJ put it together Friday night. He woke up to it on Saturday and had a blast! I brought cookies to his preschool this morning (his choice) to celebrate his birthday today. He was the special helper of the day and got to pick from the "birthday box." He was very excited to have TJ and I there with him...

Conversation I overheard this morning between my boys. . . Ta: “Where’s the crale?” (in his Southern accent) Th: “Where’s the whale?” Ta: “No, where’s the crale?” Th: “Where’s the mail?” Ta: “No! Where’s the crale?” Th: “Where’s the nail?” Ta: “NO! Where’s the crale? A-R-H-O-T-B. Crale.” (he’s attempting to spell what he’s trying to say because he overhears TJ and me spelling things when we don’t want the kids to know what we’re talking about.) Th: “Oh, where’s the grill?” Ta: “Yes, where’s the crale? It was really cute to overhear. It put a smile on my face and made me chuckle a bit, and I’ve been thinking about it all day because to hear them get along together is something that occurs few and far between (as anyone who has young children understands). ************************************************** T.G. had her ENT appointment this morning. Not sure when, but she will be having tubes put in both ears, her adenoid removed, and a procedure called an outfracture done. The doc explai...

I know about AD/HD. I know about the symptoms and treatment options. I have studied and even worked with kids who have this exceptionality. And I know Th does not, although he does have the hyperactivity part down to a 'T'. Th has an excellent attention span for a 5 year old. He can sit and draw or color for a good 45 minutes to an hour. He does not have trouble watching television (unfortunately!) or a movie, nor playing games. He likes to read books and have books read to him. But, he is constantly moving while he does all of these activities. I never worried before because I just knew that he was an active child. I am not really worried now, either, but I am becoming more concerned, especially the closer he gets to entering kindergarten. His current preschool teacher has even talked to me about it, especially because it has gotten worse since returning from the Christmas break. She, too, agrees that he is just an extremely active child and so far it is not disrupting her tea...

Well, apparently we are in for the long haul. The stomach bug has claimed another victim- T.G. I now have Ta and T.G. who can't keep anything down, and I feel nauseous myself. Poor Ta, after getting another bath this afternoon because he vomited all over the kitchen floor (again!) said to me, "Me need medicine for my mouth. No more throw up. Me not like it." Have you ever seen your heart crumble right in front of your eyes? I did after hearing that comment. I can't give him anything for I fear it would only make him vomit more. And poor T.G.! She doesn't know what's happening, and unfortunately I can't predict when it will happen, either. She got me, the playroom floor, and the hall floor all before I realized she was actually vomiting and not just "spitting up". Duh! James 1:2, "Count it all joy. . ." Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to learn kindness and compassion as I watch them suffer.