Winding Down in April

What a day.  All before noon we had 100 bags of mulch and 2 yards of sand delivered, Lila ate a bunch of sand and some more covered her.  I threw her in the tub and let Bob work un-interupted (mighty big of me, no?).  I proceeded to fold the 5 loads of laundry in the living room....until I had to clean up the poop Lila felt the need to deposit.  I needed to clean the tub and toys anyway so really it just motivated me.  ACK.

Lina immediately climbed the mulch mountain to play dolphin trainer.  Seriously.  The girl could have a box and would somehow make that into SeaWorld.  Lyd just scurried around and did whatever Lina told her.  I guess Lina is a good trainer. : )

Trinity had a community event this afternoon and Lyd's little friend L and family met us.  We immediately ran into the two other little girls from their class so it became an unplanned play date.  The planners were expecting 2000 people.  I am going to go out on a limb and say there was maybe 500.  OUCH.  I don't even want to know the financial numbers of that.  NOT GOOD for Trinity at all.  Great bands, food (fabulous wings), and beverages (talking beer truck and kegS of beer).  The comt worked hard and planned for MONTHS.  I hope they aren't disappointed.  There were a lot of events going on in the Downtown area.  People can't do everything.  The flip side of this- I paid $20 for all you can jump on the jump houses and the girls got every cent out of that.

Spring and butterflies.  When Lina was 4 one of the first books she read by herself was about caterpillars and butterflies.  It is something that has always fascinated her.  Her 4 year old preschool teacher did so much with that unit also.  For Lina's 5th b-day it was a butterfly party.  She received a butterfly pavillion and we have bought caterpillars twice for this thing.  It really is neat to watch the life cycle of these creatures.  Lila enjoyed it and once we had butterflies she would stand at the door and just say "fy, fy, butter-fly" over and over.  The child doesn't have many words, but that 3 syllable word she busted out.

Here are the girls tormenting observing: Victoria, Alice, Laney, Jill, and Suzy (YES, everything gets a name in our house).

After a week of butterfly life,  Friday I decided it was time to free our little painted ladies....which was met with tears from Lina.  Lydia likes them from afar.  After much discussion with Lina she agreed it was time.  She decided to sit in front of the house to watch....through her tears.

I LOVE Lyd's face here.  LOL!

Well.  wouldn't you know.  Sweet Victoria decided it was time to take flight, but not before making one 6 year old's night...

So Lina was thrilled.

Daddy and Me Day

Bob just handed me his card from Daddy and Me Day with Lydia.

My dad's name is Dada.
He is 5 years old and has red eyes and black hair.  His favorite food is green beans.  My dad is special because he tickles me and I love him.


A little background.....about 2 weeks ago Bob had a horrible allergy attack and his eyes were RED as red can be.  They were awful and clearly it left an impression on Lyd.

Catching Up and Deep Thinking

Going for one long blog update.  Get comfy.

First the great update with Lila....for now.  I received Lila's report from early intervention with the diagnosis of "hypotonia" and a few other big words.  I got online and looked them up. I KNOW not to do that, but I did..  Muscular Dystrophy is what popped out at me and what I was expecting from our trip to the orthopedic this week.  (I still need to do that blood test which will rule out any worry).  The orthopedic not only said he didn't think MD, but he also didn't recommend shoe inserts.  Well, alright!  We were there for over 2 hours.  YAWN.  I did NOT prepare for that length of time at all.  So very thankful for my iphone that is loaded with a whole page of toddler friendly aps.  Lydia Jean was wonderful the entire time.....even playing nicely with a sweet little girl with a prosthetic leg....to which Lyddie says "I like your leg".  Lila also had a hip x-ray and that is all perfect now.  We do not need to follow up with that again or even think about it.  That I can do.

Lydia has been in rare form these days.  I must write out some of her funny "Lydia-isms".  Lyd has a REAL hard time with being in bed at night alone....and when someone tells her you are not alone that Jesus is with you.  It literally ticks her off.  "I am tired of that Jesus that I don't see" and doesn't buy into anything we tell her and show her.  She has also memorized the Pledge of Allegiance...for the most part.  We have finally corrected "and to the republix".  It's the "One nation under God invisible....."  see?  God is invisible.  It's an all day conversation we have.  Love her.

Lydia's class is 8 boys and 4 girls.  Last week Lyd shared with us that "E came out of the bathroom and his business was showing, and it was this sprayer, and we told him to put that away" all said in a very angry voice and scowly face.  I bit my tongue and just said "that's what little girls should always say to little boys" : )

And one more Lydia silly....gosh there are so many.  Sunday after church Bob had a discussion that he needed to have.  I needed to cross the street and get in the car.  Mary Beth was standing there and I asked her for help.  She asked if Lydia could help her cross the street to which Lydia responded (while pointing to Mark, her husband) "you can ask your dad".  And the crowd goes wild.  Poor Mark.  She didn't mean it that way.

Deep thinking.  This story of the mom who put her son on the plane back to Moscow.  Ack.  It just breaks my heart and brings me to my knees thankful (evermore so) for my girl.  I can't imagine the despair this woman felt to do what she did.  Day after day and night after night of fear and frustration.  My heart breaks for this little guy.  My heart breaks for all the families that are knee deep in process and will now, well, who knows what will happen.  The children so close to a family.  A family so close to a child.  It's awful.....

Which leads me to Lina.  She's been doing great.  I see a little bit more of a mature little girl.  Lina received her report card last week and it was glowing.  I am very proud of the student she is.  Lina loves to learn.  We are looking forward to a girl's weekend (just me and Lina) the end of April to Texas.  We will do so much in that weekend.  We are flying to Houston and staying with the Heitshusens.  We will meet some of my Hannah friends.  Then we will drive to Austin stopping at Blue Bell Creamery.  Once in Austin we will go visit two ladies that are still working at Lutheran Social Services of the South that we knew while our adoption process AND finally celebrate our Amanda's graduation from Concordia....and her becoming a teacher!

Dental update.  ; )  I went yesterday for a cleaning.  A CLEANING.  Sheesh.  I took 2 ativan and was a rock star!  I had no fear.  I didn't completely enjoy it, but the massage chair, tv, and music all helped.  The only thing with drugs- I was useless for the rest of the afternoon and in bed at 7:30 for the night.  Not good when you are the stay at home mom.  My friend Debbie stayed with the girls and an old friend from Trinity days, Marge (and referred me to this dentist), took me.  It takes a village!  I don't go until June for some fillings.  July for implant check....and I think August will be the actual implant.  What a flipping fiasco..

I had a PTA meeting tonight where voting took place for next year.  I am staying on the Executive Board as Corresponding Secretary and have teamed up with my friend, Ann, to head up Fundraising/Merchandise (got some super cute monogrammed things) and the Kindergarten Round-Up (the registration day).  A little involved, but not crazy.  I hope to be involved in Lina's classroom also as much as the 2nd grade teacher allows.  I have been spoiled in Lina's classroom so much this year.

So while we have been busy....all is good!

Hello and He is Risen!

Spring break was a great week and comes to an end tomorrow for Lina.  While I completely enjoyed the "non-schedule", teachable moments....and lounging jammie mornings; I am looking forward to our routine coming back.......for 9  more weeks. 

Let's see.  We went to the beach, had a play date, went shopping, out to lunch, girls had a babysitter play day, and I took Lila to her Early Intervention apt.  Oh, and I went to the dentist (un-medicated) for a quick check on the ol' extraction and all is well.  I don't see the oral surgeon until July now- whooo-hooo!  Whewww.  Good stuff.  All good stuff.

So.  The low down on Lila.  She is little.  Yes, we know that.  Her team at the center was fabulous.  We were there for over 2 hours and Lila was awesome the entire time.  Her disposition is so pleasant.  I hope that stays.  ; )  Lila blew the ladies away with her fine motor, problem solving (come on, she's 2 what kind of problems does she have??  kidding), letter/sound recognition, and hearing test.  The one doctor was concerned with her low muscle tone and how her legs kind of turn in.  SO. Lila will have physical therapy once a week for at least 6 months, needs to get fitted for a shoe insert, and have some blood work done to check for some muscle enzyme to make sure we are not missing anything in the muscle growth/development.  It's funny.  We made this apt AGAIN because Lila wasn't talking or real physically active.  Well in 2 weeks her language has exploded and I kid you not in the last 2 days she climbs.  EVERYTHING.  The head doctor joked that I should just schedule apts because clearly that is all she needs is scheduling.  : )

He is risen!
I love Easter.  I kind of like Easter a little more than Christmas.  WHA? Don't get me wrong, Christmas is amazing and a miracle and you couldn't have Easter without Christmas, but the story of Easter is what is all about.  Although it completely irritates Lydia that we can't have "the real Jesus that we can see and touch" because she does not buy that Jesus is in our hearts.

Lina and I went to church on Good Friday.  Trinity does a real deep service including you nailing a nail to a cross.  Can't bring myself to do that.  I don't know why.  It's weird.  We looked up the verses as they were being read and Lina was fascinated with how dark it was getting.  She went and nailed her nail.  I was going to just cut out.  Nope.  Lina wanted to go.  She went with Carmen and was very concerned that my sins were not forgiven because I did not nail them to the cross.  : )  So we talk about that for a long time that night....assuring that all our sins are forgiven.

We went to sunrise service this morning.  Lina's choir was singing and she was playing the xylophone.  We had to be there at 6:15.  We live about 20-25 minutes from church depending on the day and time of day.  Bob LEFT for church at 5:00AM since he is the sound geek/tech.  Why, yes, I did get myself and 3 girls out the door by 6:10 AM and Lina was getting robed at 6:23.  I'll let you do the math and the speed.  Lydia was madder than all get out that we "were going to church in the dark and outside".  Add in there the grass was wet and there is nothing like an irritated Lydia.  ; )  The kids did a great job.  We enjoyed a pancake breakfast at church and then headed home.  Lila fell asleep on the way home, jammied Lyd up and snuggled her, and we slept for an hour before Bob and Lina came home.  Jammied Lina up and and snuggled her and we woke up an hour after that.  A nice little nap.  Or two.

We enjoyed an egg hunt, dinner, and playing with cousins and grandparents tonight.  It was a beautiful day outside!