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hope your weekend
is as happy as can be!

ten

1. Adah learned how to sit up all by herself last weekend.
You would have thought she was walking the hire wire, so excited were we all in her accomplishment.

2. Camden was trying to organize a hunting game "like they play at Wynn's house" with the twins the other night. Gwyneth was not allowed to be a deer, moose or bear. So she excitedly chose elk. The boys were the mighty hunters. Jude was too impatient to wait and finally decided to track down his elk. The sounds of agony that ensued as Gwyneth the elk was being hunted were heart wrenching...and ear shattering. Jude finally trapped her and led her back to Camden. "Look at my elk, Camden!"
"Jude, you're supposed to shoot her!"
"But, I can't shoot her. She just looks sooooo sad." and he was on the verge of tears.
"We're not playing this right!" barked Camden.
Girls. They can turn anything into a soap opera.
Mama wouldn't have been able to shoot her, either, Jude.

3. I've been having some health issues for the last couple months. Girl stuff, so I won't elaborate. Among other things I feel very pregnant. Tired, nauseous, irritable. Smells and tastes turn my stomach. But after 2 very negative pregnancy tests I've decided that my hormones are just going crazy. The bigger problems are enough for me to schedule an appointment...They don't have room to fit me in until November 2oth! A Saturday no less, the only available day. Grrr.

4. I try really hard to make it through a prayer for my children each day from The Power of a Praying Parent They are really beautiful prayers that focus on specific areas and things I may not otherwise think of. It really challenges me to go beyond the basic everyday things I pray about for my children that can sometimes seem mundane. Anyway, last night's prayer was specifically about their God-given gifts; to be discovered in each of them, to be revealed to their parents, to be used wisely, for wisdom on how to develop them, opportunities to develop them, to be used only to, and find their fullest expression in, glorifying God, etc. Not 30 minutes later I got Debbie's e-mail about art lessons. I knew instantly that God wants Camden to do this. Drawing is his passion right now and we could never ask for a better or more Godly teacher. I'm pretty excited and so is Camden. Gwyneth is green with envy. "I'm not six, but I'm bigger, and that's big enough!" she humphed.

5. I'm feeling inspired again. To do lots of things. Anything really. To make beautiful things and to make my house more of a home. But with it comes frustration. I never have time to do those things. (and what's that stuff called money, again?) Right now I am a mom. And a wife when I have time. (; Someday maybe I'll have time for the extra things, but for now I just have to keep reminding myself that it's not important...nothing is as important as my family.

6. I want a big family. Really big. Before I'm old. Tomorrow I will change my mind.
Speaking of which; Robert and Nancy's baby has given me the very worst case of baby fever. What a doll she is!

7. I have revised my daily schedule, again. When I get it typed I'll post it.

8. Christmas is coming fast! It'll be the first time we've ever hosted it at our house. Can't wait! What are your plans for Christmas. Anything special you're trying?

9. Can you tell I'm tired of this post? (;

10. I have been working really hard on menu planning. Lyle said I should blog a photo of dinner every day along with the recipe. I think that means he likes it! :) I don't know about that, but I may post the monthly menu plan. I ran across this really great idea to have a seasonal menu plan by month. That way, for 3 months at a time, the menu stays the same and so does the grocery list. EASY! Then, after 3 months I switch to another menu. If you keep it the same every year it takes virtually no work. And we haven't gotten bored yet. In fact, it's hard to cram all that yummy food in. Plus, I've been making a double batch of each meal and storing half in the freezer. My goal is to not have to go grocery shopping at all (or cook!) the month of December and then again in February. Doesn't that sound heavenly?

11. You get a bonus! I have a video I really want to share but can't figure out how to resize, it's way too big to load. Help!

Adah's evaluation

So, here's the condensed version of Adah's three page evaluation...for inquiring minds.


Adah demonstrates Stationary Skills solid through 10 months. (16th percentile)

Adah demonstrates Locomotion Skills solid through 8 months. (1st percentile)

Adah demonstrates Object Manipulation solid through 12 months. (9th percentile)
(She couldn't be fully tested in this area as it required her to be independently standing)

Adah demonstrates gross motor skills at the 1st percentile for her age (lowest possible), roughly solid through 8 months. Adah demonstrates decreased tone throughout bilateral LEs. When standing, Adah alternates between locking her joints, using her ligaments for support, and increased flexation throughout knees and hips. When in supported standing, Adah demonstrates increased bilateral ankle pronation, seemingly hanging on her ligaments to maintain ankle stability. Adah demonstrates decreased postural control/strength as evidenced through her choice of sitting position (ring sit), decreased participation in coming to sit from the floor on her own, and leaning on supportive surfaces when in supported standing. It is recommended that Adah receive physical therapy services 1-2 times a week for 6 months to address gross motor skill acquisition, postural control, strengthening/endurance, balance/coordination for higher level skills, gait training, and monitoring for possible need of shoe inserts to give her a stable base of support.

*update*

Adah was a trooper for her appointment.
A sweetheart, as always.

The therapist was concerned with how she is standing.
It isn't normal and can, but doesn't necessarily, point to any number of prognosis'.
(The only one of which she mentioned was a form of cerebral palsy.)
She could just be delayed or it could be something bigger.
For now we are going to continue working with her with the help of a therapist to monitor her progress and see how she does.

And that's all we know...

sugar n spice

the girls' room is finally getting a little attention
mama loves it

keep this little cookie in your prayers tomorrow
it's her big day with the therapist
i'm a bit concerned as to how she'll handle being handled
she is always sobbing when her pediatrician tries to get within a foot of her

i am at peace with whatever we discover

words cannot describe

what I feel when I look at these.

We hadn't washed her hair for nearly a week.
Her clothes were making it through their third consecutive day.
As we were waiting for Daddy to come home
it hit me how absolutely stunning she is. Inside and out.
And so I bribed her into a mini session in the front yard.

And I'm so glad I took the time to capture this moment.
They may be my most treasured yet.
Lazy eye and all.

She begs every single day to cut all her hair off.

She doesn't like her "noodle hair", as she calls it.

She wants pretty hair, like Megan's.

"But, God made you so special, Gwyneth. Just the way you are."

Camden always reminds her.

Heaven help me, I won't allow it, though Aunt Tess tells me I'm wrong.

And I've taken to hiding all scissors within a 2 mile radius.

16 months

Adah is now the age I was when Heidi was born.

I guess she looks a little like me (;

And for those of you who think that Heidi's kids look just like their dad...Hmmmmmm....and where did they get all that mischievousness?

I have NO IDEA!

tuesday

We had such a great weekend away.
Coming home was just as nice.

Camden got really sick on the way home.
It was the first asthma attack he's had in a long time.
We used the inhaler twice and still all he could do was concentrate on his breathing,
which was so labored that his heart was racing with the effort.
Then the fever hit. I was up all night checking on him.
Thankfully he was doing well by morning.
Now all he has is a cough.
Last night I had dreams all night of him dying of suffocation.

Adah has her evaluation with a physical therapist this Monday.
Pray that all goes well and that they can tell if there is something wrong or not.
I will feel so much better just knowing, one way or the other.

We have decided to wait until next year for Gwyneth's 3rd eye surgery.
I'm losing hope that they can even fix it.
Last time we saw huge improvement, only to watch it slowly make it's way back to almost never lining up correctly with her other eye.
I say it's high-time to pray over her.

School is going so wonderfully!
In fact, I love it. Really love it.
Teaching is so rewarding.
We got such a huge compliment today when one of Camden's classmates at church commented, "I'm so proud of Camden! He loves God so much. Every week he shares with us all the things he's been learning about God and all the Bible verses he's memorized."
That my child is the Godly influence to his (much older) friends and class mates fills me with so much joy. And holy fear. Please God, let me do it right. Not by the world's standards, but by yours.

Speaking of learning.
Jude and Gwyneth have been struggling, endlessly it seems, to keep their letter and/or sounds straight. I saw this recommended on another blog and decided to give it a whirl. It's helped. Tremendously. In fact, I think I may just get the entire set.

I don't think I'm anywhere near my 10 on Tuesday,
but I'll leave ya with this;

A classic example of the strangeness that my children exhibit each and every day.

Seriously. I love that they always know just how to make me laugh!

hApPy MoNdAy

Couldn't resist picking these for my bathroom.
And there they sit, the last of summer,
waiting to greet me in the morning.

little miss

My little shadow.
How is it that it took me 4 and a half years to figure out that her love language is quality time?
Really, it's doing anything FUN. With mom.
She's always thinking up fun things to do together.
Every morning the first thing she asks is, "Where are we going today, Mom?...You always say 'nowhere'!" Then she quickly moves on to figuring out how to make her horrid day spent at home doing nothing with Mom more fun.
She is our go-getter. Always busy. Always begging to have people over for small group.
Always helping...as long as she gets to be boss.
So, I've been making a conscious effort to keep things fun around here.
Baking cookies and snuggling in bed while we watch a movie together with hot cocoa.
Getting my wedding dress out for her to ooh and awe over.
Letting her help...the way she wants.
Kittens.
Cotton candy.
Playdates.
French toast in our jammies at Grami's.
Lip gloss.
Storytime.
Cooking.
Sleepovers in Mommy's bed (when the boys are gone)

And I think it's really helped with her attitude.
She has been such a joy.
She will sometimes just look at me with the sweetest smile on her face, and for no reason at all,
gush, "I love you so much, Mom!"
"That is the best gift you could ever give me." I tell her.
It fills my heart.

And then, just when I think we are getting somewhere, she'll be a little poop again.
For no reason at all.

She has so much personality, so much energy, so much spirit, so much fire in her.
She simply can't contain it all.

And I can't keep up with her.

She inspires me. Challenges me.

And I love her for it.

loved

Camden,

I love that you love everyone as if they're your best friend and that you love Jesus most of all. That you're always kind. I love that you're confident and that no one intimidates you. That you love to laugh more than anything in the world. And that it's even better if everyone is laughing with you. I love that you always follow the rules. That you play for the love of the game and winning is just an added bonus. I love that you are so laid back and that you can't be rushed. I love your attention to detail and your photographic memory. Your passion for learning and your never ending search for wisdom. I love that you love your mama and that you look like me, too. I love your dimple, your dreamy green eyes. Your Waggoner pout and your Beck smile. Your chubby cheeks and your webbed toes. I love you, every bit, head to toe, inside and out, no matter what. And I always will.

Love, Mama

What do you love most about Camden?

Camden turns 6

Camden, while you were five you

gave your heart to Jesus
lost your first tooth
graduated to the big kid Jr. Church class
learned how to whistle
started kindergarten home school
read your first words
went on your first camp out
learned how to tie a bow
and how to tell time
and how to ride a bike


I can't wait to see what year number six holds in store for you.

May it be one grand adventure after another.

Love that I captured his baby teeth before they're gone.

He always does this and I think it might actually be the first time I've gotten it on 'film'.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Um, I'm not sure yet.

Who is your best friend?
Adah, Mommy and Kira.

Your favorite place to go?
Kira and Preston's and Grandma & Grandpa's.

Favorite thing to do?
Ride my big bike because I don't tip over!

Favorite food?

Lasagna

Favorite treat?

Gummy snakes and gummy worms

Favorite restaurant?
Pizza Hut

What do you want most for your birthday?
A watch! So I don't have to look at the clock on the wall to see what time it is every time.
(And he does mean EVERY time, 8:30, 8:31, 8:32 etc. )

Sissy Doll

Is what we call her.

And doll she is.
Wouldn't you agree?At 16 months she still isn't standing, pulling herself up, cruising or trying to walk.
Instead, she bops around on her bottom everywhere she goes.
Her doctor has referred us to a physical therapist for an evaluation.
There is nothing I would change about this girl. Not for the world.
Though, for her sake I pray that everything is okay.

Please, let everything be okay.