family
New Adventures {Thoughts From Me}
The weather has warmed up tremendously – though we currently have a bit of a cold front upon us as I type this – and it has brought the kids, and us adults, out of winter hiding. There’s been a bit of rain but there’s been a lot of sunshine as well. We look forward to this time of new beginning, both inside our home and outside.
Camping.
It’s a completely new adventure for me that began last August before we up and moved to NC. It began with new hope and love, with meeting Donald. Camping is something he loves to do. He’s spent most of his life exploring outdoors.
Camping is something I never in a million years thought I would do. Not unless it involved a shiny RV. But Don encouraged me to give it a shot and y’all, I love it! There’s nothing better than connecting with nature or sleeping out in a tent under the stars.
The kids are loving it, too – well, Winston and Laycie at least. Emma isn’t so sure she’s ready until we have a bigger tent for the family to share. Grandma swears she has never liked camping and doesn’t think she’ll like it now. And Jack has been up and down in his health this Winter with mild tummy bugs and colds, so we haven’t yet taken him along with us. They are slowly being convinced to join us though and hopefully, in a few more weeks, they’ll be willing to take that plunge. For now though, Laycie and Winston are loving the fun with Don and I.
It’s good for Winston to be out and about. He’s learning a lot about nature, first hand. Don’s been teaching him to fish as well. Hopefully, they’ll be out canoeing soon. He and Don have a lot in common which is great for both Donald and for Winston. It’s amazing to see the transformation in them both. God’s blessing shines through.
Win’s growing up fast and his years left at home are limited. I’m so thankful he finally has a man in his life to teach him all about being a real man and I’m glad that Don is up for the task, enjoying it right along with him. It’s a beautiful thing to see them both growing and gleaning wisdom from each other.
Laycie’s right along with those guys. Every time, DaDa Don (as she calls him) takes out the fishing pole, she wants to go, too. He’s taken her several times already and she’s caught a couple of good-sized fish. She’s learning to be patient and a little bit quieter so she can one day catch that monster bass. She’s also getting pretty good at her owl calls with her DaDa Don’s help.
So this is life for us now. A lot of out of the house, sleeping in tents in the great wild yonder. ReWilding. Getting back to nature and learning to love this life God has blessed us with as well as the many people in it. Bringing home close again so these kids of mine have the love, security and life they deserve to have. Life is a beautiful thing and I’m so blessed every day with my family and my little loves.
December Update {Epilepsy Awareness}
It’s been a month since I posted on the blog. I really was feeling burnt out and just needed a long break. Plus I was sick with strep for two weeks and simply did not feel up to writing anything.
My life is ever chaotic but full. There is always so much going on. It’s never-ending but I’m thankful we have so many activities to keep us busy.
Jackson has therapy every Monday in Charleston right now but that should be ending soon. It’s for his Parent – Child Interactive Therapy and it’s been amazing for us. His therapist is so impressed with our family and how quickly we have achieved our goals. It’s been great for me too because it’s assured me that I have this Momma thing down. Parenting comes easy to me even when I feel like I’m barely keeping it together. I always knew I was born to be a Momma.
Jackson also has therapy on Tuesday’s where we always have. He’s my third child at NextStep. They are amazing to work with.
Last week, Jack was fitted for braces and shoes for his feet as requested by his wonderful therapist. The braces fit inside his shoes and help with his arch support. They keep his ankles from twisting and help him balance better. At least that is the hope. If these don’t work, he will get ankle supports to help him gain strength in his legs and feet. The goal is to prevent him from having similar issues as Emmalee has.
Laycie began back with her speech therapy last week as well. She’s officially done with physical and occupational therapy. Her speech is still challenging though so she will continue with that. I really need to get her an appt to have her tongue tie checked and discuss surgery options for it. I just dread having her suffer with having that done.
She has a neurology appt on Monday. We will see how she is doing and if she has lost any more weight. If so, she will be switching medications again which is always a challenge for her. The doctor had some suggestions for us that we will discuss at this visit. Not sure what they exactly are but I trust his opinion on the matter.
Winston and Emmalee are doing great as always. At the neuro Monday, I will bring up Emma’s followup for her feet so we can see where we are on that. I’m so past ready for the doctors to get rolling with a treatment plan.
So that is our most recent update. Life is just so busy right now and Christmas time is always exceptionally busy for us. Hope you are all well! God bless!
A Week With No Kids: Day One and Two {Thoughts From Me}
In an impromptu effort to encourage family relationships with my children, I have allowed them to travel with their Grandmother to Florida to visit their uncle (my brother) and his family. Anyone that knows me knows that this is totally out of character for me, as I rarely let my kids go anywhere that I am not, much less 2 states away from me. It was a last minute decision that I can honestly say I am pleased has happened though I miss my kids very much – I’m sure they are not-so-much missing Mommy with all the Florida fun and sun though.
It all started last year when Emma asked could they go with Grandma to Florida in which I replied no but she was so sad and so disheartened that it saddened me. So this year when time for the trip came, I first said “no” but at the last minute I changed my mind and told them they could go. I was looking forward to alone time with the kids per my original “no, you aren’t going” but I know they want to see their uncle and cousins who they rarely see due to the distance in living. Needless to say the kids couldn’t be happier!
So the weekend was spent washing up clothing, packing and gathering necessary items to send them on their way. We gassed up the Tahoe and filled it up with loads of things to keep them occupied on the overly long trip. Then early Sunday morning, we sent the four plus Grandma on their merry way. They stopped off and picked up their cousin Megan to go along on their travels too. Grandma gets a week with all seven of her Grandkids at one time! Whoo Hoo!
With the kids gone, that leaves me as a Mommy with no one to parent. You’d think I’d be living it up, enjoying this vacation that so many long for every day. Nope – I miss those four beautiful kids desperately in just the few hours they’ve been gone and have been keeping busy so that I don’t miss them more.
After the kids left yesterday, the Bestie (Tamara) and I all loaded up in Mom’s car since she has my car and went down to the beach for the first time in forever – definitely the first time this year but maybe the first time in 3 years. We sat in the edge of the water and played for several hours like young children would. It was wonderful and so relaxing.
By the time I left the beach, the day was almost over and I felt as though I’d had a relaxing massage from the beating of the waves hitting me as they washed upon the shoreline. Tamara and I also gathered some pretty shells while we were there. The whole day was just what I needed to keep my mind off of the kids being gone.
After the beach, we grabbed some Subway Subs and headed home. The rest of the night we sat around watching TV, catching up on missed episodes of our favorite shows. It was 4:30 in the morning before we finally went to sleep.
Today I woke up around 11. It was nice to sleep in. I immediately ate something and started on laundry. I cleaned up the living room and put all the out of place things away. I headed over to Grandma’s and did the laundry there as well. Just basic housecleaning that needed to get done.
I also had a wonderful surprise. The books I had ordered from my dear homeschooling friend Carole, had been delivered! The overstuffed large box was waiting for me on the porch. It was filled with books on animals, great readers, science educational stuff and more. Carole’s books are always the best! I can’t wait for the kids to return and find so many new, interesting things to read!
It’s now 7:30 in the afternoon. For the rest of the night, I will be working on pictures that I have been putting off. Tomorrow brings a new day and I will be working on more things around the house. You’d think this was a vacation from the kids but really it’s just catching up on all the things I am not able to get done when they are home with me. Lots of work that needs done while they are off having fun.
Update from us for May {Thoughts From Me}
This week has been a long one for us, not leaving me with a lot of time online. Mom had gall bladder surgery last Wednesday and that means my usual help is not available. Having her out of commission has been hard on us all.
I’m truly thankful for all my Momma does for me – she helps me every day with the kids, especially with Jackson. She’s always there to run to the store or to simply keep an extra eye out so I can keep up with the household stuff and have one on one time with each child. It’s great.
This week, she’s not been able to help out as much. Her surgery went great and she’s feeling better every day. I’m hoping in a few days she will be back to her normal self and we will be back on track again.
So until then, my posts will be short and my time limited. Just wanted to give this quick update about where we are at! Blessings to all!
A is for Apples {Blogging Through The Alphabet}
I’ve heard lots about Blogging Through The Alphabet from Marcy @ BenandMe.com and others who have joined in the past. It sounded like a lot of fun and since I am often struggling to come up with my own ideas for blogging weekly, it sounded exactly like something I need to join in with. Win, win, win! So here goes…
A is for Apples
Apples are pretty important in our house. They are one of Laycie’s absolute favorite things. She loves to eat them but even more, she loves to collect different collectible apples.
We have glass apples, apple signs, apple drawings and more. At one point the kitchen curtains were even red to match her beautiful apples which I have managed to contain mostly in our kitchen. She sure loves those apples!
When Laycie was first learning to talk, she struggled with saying the word “apple”. She would say “Bapple” instead. Completely adorable! I found it so adorable that I actually called my first iPhone Bapple for my Laycie-Lou. She loved that!
Sadly, I admit that her love of Apples has also encouraged me to buy iPhones and iPads, silly as that is. I love to see the smile on her face from each apple she finds, even the little silver one on the back of my phone. I’d do anything to see her precious smile.
Are their things in your home that you find yourself collecting because of your children? Do your rooms reflect their loves as well as their own? Share with me if you wish.
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”
— Martin Luther