Wow! It's so hard to believe it's time for 2012! This past year really did fly by faster than any before to me. I'm sure it's in part due to how busy we have been and the seasons of life all our children are in. I'm the only one up to ring in the New Year (except macy- our yorkie) as the older children are out with their girlfriend/boyfriend. I love sitting here soaking the Christmas tree lights in for a last little bit and hearing distant fireworks! I've made myself a mimosa and just wanted to be still and reflect for a moment on the year! It seems like we've heard of way too many tragedies or serious sickness in the last 3 weeks. It really made me aware of the blessings of health and family even more. God has really blessed us in the joys of this year in those ways as well as many others.
It's hard to believe the twins had their second birthday back in February, and now its time to plan party number 3! What amazing growth and change in their little lives over the year! Annabelle and Cade both have amazed us with their vocabulary and how they can communicate with us as little people now. It's a gift to watch them run and play not as much as babies or even toddlers now, but as small children. Oh how fast it all is going! It makes me realize a resolution to worry less about the house and just soak them up even more, is a necessity, before they're off to school and these sweet days are over!! Being organized is one thing, but missing life I can never get back is another! They'll never remember if it was all perfect or not anyway!
Precious Abigail has really come so far this year! How uplifting to watch her determination to crawl, climb stairs, and now take her first steps! The smile that sweeps across her face after her victories is absolutely contageous!It's like her little heart is dancing and sneaks up to let the world know how proud she is of herself! I just love it! Her infancy is over and toddlerhood awaits. I'm so glad she still lets me rock her every night for at least 5 minutes. I'll cherish that feeling for a lifetime! I've never rocked any of my children as often as I do her! I really believe it does more for me than it does her!
I constantly call Cade "Shane" because it really seems in my heart that Shane should still be little! It was almost unreal to watch the young man who is so grown (6ft 2in, 20 lbs) play football on Friday nights and drive away in a car during the days! Surely that wasn't us standing on the football field with him for senior night!! I still feel like at most, he should be in 7th grade!;) It was wonderful and sometimes painful to watch him through the joys and difficult times of the teen life this past year! His first prom, first serious girlfriend, first heartbreak. he's come a long way in his maturity. He has really worked hard in school, learned a lot of discipline, and hopefully felt a lot of love! He has had a great few last weeks of the year! He's dating a wonderful young lady, Kayla, and even got his first car (a garnet, or crimson,:)2004 Land Rover Discovery) just 2 days ago. Such a fun time for him! I'm so proud and ask God to guide his steps and watch over his heart daily!
Darby is offically a senior at BAMA! My goodness! It really can't be! She's about to be 21 next month! Amazing when I reflect on having her when I was 19. Her world got so much bigger this year! She studied abroad and I still can't believe I survived my baby living in South America for 4 months! Then traveling everywhere in between classes! She will be graduating at this time next year..then on to a new season of life for her! We're so thankful she has Jared, such a godly, amazing young man in her life! Once, over this past year, the house was quiet and Annabelle and I were painting when she asked me something and I answered her by starting my sentence with "Darby,..." I had to stop and just cry for a minute at how it took me back!!
Jamie and I stay so busy, I imagine time will continue to feel as if it's being stolen from us! I don't like to get bogged down with the resolution thing, but I really just want to take time to be still.. and to keep eating up every moment possible with those I love! Life is a gift and unfortunately I've seen in robbed from those way too young this year. Turning 40 on Christmas was surprising..since I'm only 32! ha ha! I'm reminded of a sign that hangs in Jamie's mom's house. It states: Don't regret growing older, for it's a priviledge denied to many! Think I'll savor that and smile!
Love to all and a very Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Summer days
Goodness, I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged! Things have been so busy but great!!
Darby got back from South America and we enjoyed a few short weeks before she jetted back off to Texas for 7 weeks! She's a counselor for a summer kids camp and is working her tail off! Part of their protocol is to have their counselors only have access to their phones and computers for one 24hr period a week! It's been harder than when she was on another continent! agh! She'll be home August 16th, so not too much longer...but then she'll be home one week and then will head off to Tuscaloosa for fall semester!! Roll Tide!
Shane has been busy with football practice for several months! He enjoyed all the spring events of his junior year! Prom was great! Such a handsome fellow! Can't wait to get geared up for football games this fall!! It's really hard to believe he's going to be a senior! Where did the time go? Still seems like I should be able to grab him up and hug him so tight just like when he was 4. I guess I had better pass though as he's 6'+ and well over 200 lbs! When I sit down and play with Cade it brings back such wonderful memories of times with Shane when he was small! I guess I'll have to hold on tight as I know this next year will fly by!
Little Annabelle has been talking up a storm! We have funny new sayings come out of her mouth, like, "no problem", and "unacceptable' like her daddy says! She and Cade both love to watch the birds in the front yard and say, "mockinbirds" go "tweet tweet"! She is singing her alphabet and counting to ten! Such a little smart one! She has also learned to match pairs from her Disney deck of cards! She's still just as crazy about her daddy! Every day she asks him to stay home with us! I have to tell her no, it's only "Monday, or Tuesday, etc! But when we get to Thursday, she seems to get that it's just a couple of days until he gets to be home for the weekend! So sweet! We still say goodbye and blow kisses from the front porch when he leaves for work! She has spent a lot of time in her garden this spring! She loves to go check for ripe tomatoes and banana peppers in the mornings! Cade pulled a green one the other day and she told him, "it's not ready" and sat it back down in the garden! They are so funny together. Cade then toddled off like any little man would after being corrected by a female! He happily picked up a stick and seemed to send the message, "oh well, guess you don't need my help, pick your own tomatoes!"
Cade does just crack me up! He's so stinkin' cute that it's hard to stay frustrated with anything he gets into! I love his new little funny ways of playing! He runs down the slope of the backyard while singing so that his little voice shakes as his feet bounce onto the ground with every step! He stops and giggles at himself! I love it!!! He also lines up his trucks on the window sill in the den by his toy cubbies! It's so cute how he does it over and over and says "Voom" when he pushes them! I took a little semi truck of his and showed him where the driver sits, then pointed to the cab where he can sleep when he gets tired, followed by the gas tanks where he fills up to make the truck go. He listened intently. Then for several days after he would bring me that little truck and repeat in his version, the information I had told him. Oh, he makes me so happy! They have enjoyed having a little pool in the back yard this summer. It's quite difficult to keep it clean with all the rain! agh! They've also really enjoyed some play dates with their buddy Chase (Jared's nephew) at what Annabelle calls the "big pool"!ha ha! So many new experiences. At the end of April we took the to Zoo Atlanta and loved how much they enjoyed seeing all the animals! Fun times!
Little Abigail has been as busy as a bee! She learned to crawl in June and is so proud of herself! She can get into anything she wants to! The twins have been squealing as she plants herself in the middle of whatever they have going on! They've adapted pretty well to moving their precious items up on the couch away from her! However, Mrs. Melissa (her physical therapist) has been teaching Abigail how to climb up on the furniture and stairs, so their victory will be short lived at best! Miss Abigail has also been cutting teeth like crazy! She got her first one on the bottom (in the middle) at the end of her 9th mth, the second on the bottom in her 10th mth. Then after her birthday, I started thinking that it had been a while and I hadn't seen any new teeth! She was a bit fussy for a spell so I assumed she was teething again and put baby oragel on the top middle of her gums where the next ones typically would be coming in. I had dismissed the comment her pediatrician had made about babies with Down Syndrome can cut teeth in different order than what we are typically used to. Around the 4th of July, I did decide finally to tilt her head back for a good look and was quite surprised to find a top right molar in and a left top molar coming in. Wow! No wonder she was chewing food so well! Now, she's still cutting the molar and her top two middle front ones are about to pop through! Poor thing! She'll have 6 total when they all break in! She does eat almost everything the twins do! She is still just the most amazing blessing! It was such a joy to celebrate her first birthday in May! We had a party on the 14th at the house. So many friends came! Abigail really enjoyed her cake. She made quite a mess and wound up with it in her hair and all over her! Her little DS twin, Alyssa made it (Alyssa turned 1 on May 22). They are just beyond precious together! It was so neat to have such support for her from our family and friends! Our world will never be the same since she arrived, and I'm so glad!
Well, there is just so much I have left out and really want to get to, but it is late and my poor husband is trying to sleep while I lay in bed typing, so I better had give it a rest! I'll have to get back in the swing of making time to capture these wonderful memories again!
Darby got back from South America and we enjoyed a few short weeks before she jetted back off to Texas for 7 weeks! She's a counselor for a summer kids camp and is working her tail off! Part of their protocol is to have their counselors only have access to their phones and computers for one 24hr period a week! It's been harder than when she was on another continent! agh! She'll be home August 16th, so not too much longer...but then she'll be home one week and then will head off to Tuscaloosa for fall semester!! Roll Tide!
Shane has been busy with football practice for several months! He enjoyed all the spring events of his junior year! Prom was great! Such a handsome fellow! Can't wait to get geared up for football games this fall!! It's really hard to believe he's going to be a senior! Where did the time go? Still seems like I should be able to grab him up and hug him so tight just like when he was 4. I guess I had better pass though as he's 6'+ and well over 200 lbs! When I sit down and play with Cade it brings back such wonderful memories of times with Shane when he was small! I guess I'll have to hold on tight as I know this next year will fly by!
Little Annabelle has been talking up a storm! We have funny new sayings come out of her mouth, like, "no problem", and "unacceptable' like her daddy says! She and Cade both love to watch the birds in the front yard and say, "mockinbirds" go "tweet tweet"! She is singing her alphabet and counting to ten! Such a little smart one! She has also learned to match pairs from her Disney deck of cards! She's still just as crazy about her daddy! Every day she asks him to stay home with us! I have to tell her no, it's only "Monday, or Tuesday, etc! But when we get to Thursday, she seems to get that it's just a couple of days until he gets to be home for the weekend! So sweet! We still say goodbye and blow kisses from the front porch when he leaves for work! She has spent a lot of time in her garden this spring! She loves to go check for ripe tomatoes and banana peppers in the mornings! Cade pulled a green one the other day and she told him, "it's not ready" and sat it back down in the garden! They are so funny together. Cade then toddled off like any little man would after being corrected by a female! He happily picked up a stick and seemed to send the message, "oh well, guess you don't need my help, pick your own tomatoes!"
Cade does just crack me up! He's so stinkin' cute that it's hard to stay frustrated with anything he gets into! I love his new little funny ways of playing! He runs down the slope of the backyard while singing so that his little voice shakes as his feet bounce onto the ground with every step! He stops and giggles at himself! I love it!!! He also lines up his trucks on the window sill in the den by his toy cubbies! It's so cute how he does it over and over and says "Voom" when he pushes them! I took a little semi truck of his and showed him where the driver sits, then pointed to the cab where he can sleep when he gets tired, followed by the gas tanks where he fills up to make the truck go. He listened intently. Then for several days after he would bring me that little truck and repeat in his version, the information I had told him. Oh, he makes me so happy! They have enjoyed having a little pool in the back yard this summer. It's quite difficult to keep it clean with all the rain! agh! They've also really enjoyed some play dates with their buddy Chase (Jared's nephew) at what Annabelle calls the "big pool"!ha ha! So many new experiences. At the end of April we took the to Zoo Atlanta and loved how much they enjoyed seeing all the animals! Fun times!
Little Abigail has been as busy as a bee! She learned to crawl in June and is so proud of herself! She can get into anything she wants to! The twins have been squealing as she plants herself in the middle of whatever they have going on! They've adapted pretty well to moving their precious items up on the couch away from her! However, Mrs. Melissa (her physical therapist) has been teaching Abigail how to climb up on the furniture and stairs, so their victory will be short lived at best! Miss Abigail has also been cutting teeth like crazy! She got her first one on the bottom (in the middle) at the end of her 9th mth, the second on the bottom in her 10th mth. Then after her birthday, I started thinking that it had been a while and I hadn't seen any new teeth! She was a bit fussy for a spell so I assumed she was teething again and put baby oragel on the top middle of her gums where the next ones typically would be coming in. I had dismissed the comment her pediatrician had made about babies with Down Syndrome can cut teeth in different order than what we are typically used to. Around the 4th of July, I did decide finally to tilt her head back for a good look and was quite surprised to find a top right molar in and a left top molar coming in. Wow! No wonder she was chewing food so well! Now, she's still cutting the molar and her top two middle front ones are about to pop through! Poor thing! She'll have 6 total when they all break in! She does eat almost everything the twins do! She is still just the most amazing blessing! It was such a joy to celebrate her first birthday in May! We had a party on the 14th at the house. So many friends came! Abigail really enjoyed her cake. She made quite a mess and wound up with it in her hair and all over her! Her little DS twin, Alyssa made it (Alyssa turned 1 on May 22). They are just beyond precious together! It was so neat to have such support for her from our family and friends! Our world will never be the same since she arrived, and I'm so glad!
Well, there is just so much I have left out and really want to get to, but it is late and my poor husband is trying to sleep while I lay in bed typing, so I better had give it a rest! I'll have to get back in the swing of making time to capture these wonderful memories again!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
The sun finally came back today! It was so great to get the babies back outside after so many rainy days! We started the day with a unique celebration. We headed to Kennesaw Memorial Gardens to remember and celebrate an old friend's son's (Shane's) life! Shane was a fine young man, a Marine, who stepped into heaven 5 yrs ago (on April 3rd) at the age of 22! Today, his family and friends attended a mass early (which we had to miss with the babies nap schedule)and then headed to the cemetery to celebrate more. When we arrived, the twins were quite curious! I spread a little blanket out on the grass where Annabelle and Abigail could sit in their delicate little smocked long dresses. Cade joined them too as he watched all the events. Each attending child was given a balloon along with some of the adult guests, to hold for a bit and then release at a certain time. The twins and Abigail let theirs go and watched as they rose higher and higher! Their eyes got even bigger as the guests opened tiny envelopes to release beautiful monarch butterflies! It was really beautiful to see! One particular butterfly decided to stay around a bit! Mrs. Amy was next to us and her butterfly sat resting on her hand for quite a long time. It shouldn't have surprised us as Mrs. Amy is Victoria's mother- Darby's best friend that was killed in a car accident a couple of years ago. Victoria loved butterflies and they became a signature item in her life as well as in those now going on without her! Darby was given a butterfly ring by Mrs. Amy along with Victoria's other close friends to always remember her by. Victoria is actually buried a few feet from Shane as everyone knew eachother so we were able to visit with her mother too and let the twins see her picture on her grave while learning to say "Victoria"! Darby would've loved it! I of course pulled out my phone, got a video of the babies touching her beautiful picture and practicing her name, and shot it off to Argentina! I couldn't help it! Darby still struggles through many hard days without Vic. I can remember that sinking feeling all the times Darby would call from college or in the middle of some other ordinary day, have that tone in her voice and say, "I miss her so much mom"! It got to where she didn't even have to say her name. I just knew! I hope the video made her feel connected to the day celebrating Shane and remembering Vic too even though she was on another continent! It is hard to believe Vic isn't here! I remember all the times she would be at the house for sleepovers (she loved waffles with peanut butter for breakfast), going to Alabama to go sailing with Nanny and papa and Darby's cousins, cheerleading with Darby and Mary, and all the dances those girls went to. Darby and Vic acutally tied for Homecoming Queen in middle school. It was so fitting as they were best friends! Shane was Mary's older brother and always looked out for the girls! Although we had moved over to Harrison High School district and the girls didn't get to see eachother as much anymore, Darby still loved and missed her so much! After she died, Darby borrowed her prom dress to wear to the Harrison senior prom! It was her way of taking Vic along with her! It's still hard to believe she and Shane aren't with us! I love their mothers dearly! As the three of us posed for a picture, one of them commented on how much we had seen and been through! So true! After the events at the cemetery, we all headed to Shane's favorite Mexican restaurant and enjoyed visiting, laughing, and remembering! The twins were passing out hugs and kisses to several of Shane's family members! It was cute!
We finally came home, got in comfy clothes, and curled up for a nap. 3 hours later, the twins woke up, eager to get outside to have neighborhood time! All the kids were out playing while most of the parents were cutting grass! Stella held little Abigail and the twins ran around soaking up the sunshine! It was good to visit with everyone! We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening out there until it was time for dinner and a bath!
While in the bathtub, Annabelle was sitting behind Cade and started to scratch his back! He froze! It must've felt great! ;) She stopped and soon he said "back" again as he scooted closer to her. She scratched it again! So funny!
We have been short on sleep this week since converting the cribs to toddler beds! Cade woke up at 5am the first morning after sleeping in it. then the second night, at 1:29am, he got up, opened his door, walked in the pitch dark across the open landing, down the staircase, across the den floor (littered with toys), through the baby gate, to bust our double bedroom doors wide open (loudly) and said, "mama"! I nearly had a heart attack! Each night has been so challenging to get them to stay in bed and go to sleep. One night they had a "lets take everything out of the drawer" party! Annabelle's clothes were everywhere! There have been some spankings and fussy parents in the Anderson house!! Hopefully it will get better soon!
Little Cade has also mastered turing the deadbolt on the front door and opening it! Off to the store tomorrow to handle that! He is so smart and logical! I crack up that his favorite little TV show is Bob the Builder! Maybe another little engineering mind like his Daddy! He smiles and gives me a proud look when he accomplishes something new..especially when its something he shouldn't! :0! I got a stool for Abigail to use in physical therapy the other day and he proudly put it next to the wall so that he could reach the light switch! If I had a dollar for every time that light goes on and off! He is picking up a lot of new words still! Friday night we got them a hamburger and fries while on the way to Costco. (It's a weekend thing, I promise I cook and we all eat together at the table on weekdays, but you know, even the good Lord rested one day out of the week) Anyway, Cade has learned to say "hamgeburger"! It's so cute!!
Annabelle just keeps me giggling! The other day I dropped a 3 ring binder full of recipes on the floor and of course they all fell out! I said, "oh no, You've got to be kidding me" as I leaned over to pick them up! Later at the next meal, Annabelle plunked down her sippy cup onto what she thought was the table. Unfortunately, it was on her open faced fake peanut butter and jelly sandwich! She picked it up, surveyed the messy bottom, and said with a big sigh and perfect inflection, "oh no, you've got to be kidding me". It was hysterical! WE laughed so hard! The other day, Jamie asked her if she loved her Daddy a little (with his hands barely apart) or a lot(with his arms wide open)? She answered with her little arms stretched as far apart as she could get them, "a lot"! Oh, that grin on Daddy's face didn't fade for hours! She's quite methodical too! When we had burgers and fries in the truck Friday, the twins held their hamburger and tucked their fry container into the side of their car seat. Little Abigail expected a cut of the yummy goods as she thinks she's a triplet. I found a little squishy fry and gave it to her. Oh how she worked it with her 2 little teeth! Annabelle wanted to give her more but I told her no, that the baby could only have little mushy ones since she doesn't have many teeth. The next thing I knew, the baby was happily chewing and Annabelle had resolved the issue! I watched her and realized she was pinching off little pieces of french fry, putting them in her own mouth, chewing it up a bit, then giving it to the baby! If you discount the gross factor, that's pretty brilliant! 25 mths...I'm definitely in trouble! She has also been really keeping her baby doll with her all the time. That poor baby has to wave bye bye to Daddy every morning, ride in the toy stroller endlessly, even get her diaper changed. She had to look at the cake Annabelle baked the other day..but unfortunatley, looked a little too closely! When Annabelle pulled her back, she had icing on her head..not to worry, Annabelle did what any good mother would...she licked it off! ha ha!
Abigail is determined not to be outdone! She makes her mark among the twins! She decided to start waving while we were at Costco! She did it 3 times to different people over about 45 minutes. I was determined to get a video on my phone and finally did! I'm sure all the people watching me try to get it thought I was crazy and that it wasn't a big deal. But when it comes to Abigail, its all a big deal to me! Most people don't realize that she has Downs just by seeing her while we're out and about. They all seem surprised when we chat and I tell them. (Because I never meet a stranger, I know). Usually only a precious soul who has devoted time to working with special needs children or those who are blessed enough to have them in their families can tell! (today the photographer at the cemetery gave a warm smile to Abigail and photographed her during the events. She later was chatting with me and I told her Abigail had Downs. She indicated that she had taught special education. I stated, "then I'm sure you could tell", she nodded, but understood how most people can't with the way Abigail functions and looks!) She said she loved working with children with Downs most and it was evident she was drawn to Abigail. That sweet baby just claps and giggles and enjoys her little life! That makes mommy's heart happy!
There are so many other things but it's late! More later! Night
We finally came home, got in comfy clothes, and curled up for a nap. 3 hours later, the twins woke up, eager to get outside to have neighborhood time! All the kids were out playing while most of the parents were cutting grass! Stella held little Abigail and the twins ran around soaking up the sunshine! It was good to visit with everyone! We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening out there until it was time for dinner and a bath!
While in the bathtub, Annabelle was sitting behind Cade and started to scratch his back! He froze! It must've felt great! ;) She stopped and soon he said "back" again as he scooted closer to her. She scratched it again! So funny!
We have been short on sleep this week since converting the cribs to toddler beds! Cade woke up at 5am the first morning after sleeping in it. then the second night, at 1:29am, he got up, opened his door, walked in the pitch dark across the open landing, down the staircase, across the den floor (littered with toys), through the baby gate, to bust our double bedroom doors wide open (loudly) and said, "mama"! I nearly had a heart attack! Each night has been so challenging to get them to stay in bed and go to sleep. One night they had a "lets take everything out of the drawer" party! Annabelle's clothes were everywhere! There have been some spankings and fussy parents in the Anderson house!! Hopefully it will get better soon!
Little Cade has also mastered turing the deadbolt on the front door and opening it! Off to the store tomorrow to handle that! He is so smart and logical! I crack up that his favorite little TV show is Bob the Builder! Maybe another little engineering mind like his Daddy! He smiles and gives me a proud look when he accomplishes something new..especially when its something he shouldn't! :0! I got a stool for Abigail to use in physical therapy the other day and he proudly put it next to the wall so that he could reach the light switch! If I had a dollar for every time that light goes on and off! He is picking up a lot of new words still! Friday night we got them a hamburger and fries while on the way to Costco. (It's a weekend thing, I promise I cook and we all eat together at the table on weekdays, but you know, even the good Lord rested one day out of the week) Anyway, Cade has learned to say "hamgeburger"! It's so cute!!
Annabelle just keeps me giggling! The other day I dropped a 3 ring binder full of recipes on the floor and of course they all fell out! I said, "oh no, You've got to be kidding me" as I leaned over to pick them up! Later at the next meal, Annabelle plunked down her sippy cup onto what she thought was the table. Unfortunately, it was on her open faced fake peanut butter and jelly sandwich! She picked it up, surveyed the messy bottom, and said with a big sigh and perfect inflection, "oh no, you've got to be kidding me". It was hysterical! WE laughed so hard! The other day, Jamie asked her if she loved her Daddy a little (with his hands barely apart) or a lot(with his arms wide open)? She answered with her little arms stretched as far apart as she could get them, "a lot"! Oh, that grin on Daddy's face didn't fade for hours! She's quite methodical too! When we had burgers and fries in the truck Friday, the twins held their hamburger and tucked their fry container into the side of their car seat. Little Abigail expected a cut of the yummy goods as she thinks she's a triplet. I found a little squishy fry and gave it to her. Oh how she worked it with her 2 little teeth! Annabelle wanted to give her more but I told her no, that the baby could only have little mushy ones since she doesn't have many teeth. The next thing I knew, the baby was happily chewing and Annabelle had resolved the issue! I watched her and realized she was pinching off little pieces of french fry, putting them in her own mouth, chewing it up a bit, then giving it to the baby! If you discount the gross factor, that's pretty brilliant! 25 mths...I'm definitely in trouble! She has also been really keeping her baby doll with her all the time. That poor baby has to wave bye bye to Daddy every morning, ride in the toy stroller endlessly, even get her diaper changed. She had to look at the cake Annabelle baked the other day..but unfortunatley, looked a little too closely! When Annabelle pulled her back, she had icing on her head..not to worry, Annabelle did what any good mother would...she licked it off! ha ha!
Abigail is determined not to be outdone! She makes her mark among the twins! She decided to start waving while we were at Costco! She did it 3 times to different people over about 45 minutes. I was determined to get a video on my phone and finally did! I'm sure all the people watching me try to get it thought I was crazy and that it wasn't a big deal. But when it comes to Abigail, its all a big deal to me! Most people don't realize that she has Downs just by seeing her while we're out and about. They all seem surprised when we chat and I tell them. (Because I never meet a stranger, I know). Usually only a precious soul who has devoted time to working with special needs children or those who are blessed enough to have them in their families can tell! (today the photographer at the cemetery gave a warm smile to Abigail and photographed her during the events. She later was chatting with me and I told her Abigail had Downs. She indicated that she had taught special education. I stated, "then I'm sure you could tell", she nodded, but understood how most people can't with the way Abigail functions and looks!) She said she loved working with children with Downs most and it was evident she was drawn to Abigail. That sweet baby just claps and giggles and enjoys her little life! That makes mommy's heart happy!
There are so many other things but it's late! More later! Night
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Bye Bye Cribs!
What an adventure this evening has been! It was that time,.....time to convert the cribs to toddler beds! The babies started climbing out at 18mths and we coerced them into stayting in at night for a few more months until Cade could stand it no more! He was flopping out at bed time and nap time over the last 3 days! It was worth the pain to him! I was so scared he was going to get hurt really bad, so Jamie took the cribs apart this evening! There was much dancing and squealing going on as soon as they realized what was happening! Annabelle jumped up and down while singing "happy happy happy" over and over! Cade just danced and squealed! We let them be a little crazy hoping the novelty would wear off and that they would be exhausted! Those little stinkers were tucked into bed at 7:30 and didn't give up until right at 10pm. agh! Round 1: Jamie opened their door to find Annabelle whispering loudly, "Cade"! Then they discussed the artwork that hangs on the wall that was painted by their (great grandmother) Ma Carrie! Round 2: Jamie peeked through the cracked door to see Annabelle tiptoe across the floor to pick up Cade's pillow that had fallen on the floor and give it to him. She went back to her bed, but the game was on. Cade hurled the pillow and she was up and running! Round 3: "need wa wa"! Round 4: Jamie opened the door to find Cade in Annabelle's bed and Annabelle in his! They must be fascinated that they've never been in eachother's beds before. Round 5: Sitting up talking! At this point I decided to lay on the floor and monitor the events for a while. Those stinkers would pick their heads up to check and see if I was still awake every few minutes! I don't know why they were having a hard time going to sleep, I could barely keep my eyes open! After 45 minutes, I left and told them to go to sleep. Shane checked in on them and they pulled the "wa wa" trick on him! After my shower I went back up and they were finally about to give up and in their own beds! Whew! At 10pm they were finally out! I can only imagine what will happen when they wake up in the morning! I should probably get some rest so I have a chance of getting up before them! I do have to admit, it was a bit sad to see that chapter of their little lives pass! Jamie commented that I will really be upset when Abigail's crib is taken down! I don't even want to think about it! She's already growing too fast as it is!
So many funny stories to share! I'll have to get back on tomorrow! Goodnight to all!
So many funny stories to share! I'll have to get back on tomorrow! Goodnight to all!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Wonderful Saturdays of Spring :)
Whew, what a fun day! We started by heading out to the Touch a Truck event in Downtown Kennesaw! The City and many local construction/ service businesses brought out their firetrucks, ambulances, and construction equipment for all the children to touch and see!! It was really neat, but did draw a larger crowd than we had planned on! Barbara Bradley (BB- an adopted grandparent) told us about it and went with us! It was so great to have her with us! She was wonderful at helping juggle the twins and Abigail as Shane wasn't with us! Annabelle was a little frightened by the horns, sirens, and lots of noise. Cade was overwhelmed by the huge crowds and all the activity. They went into a "watching, stay close to us mode" but did seem to enjoy looking at everything! We wrapped it up in 45 minutes and headed to Chic Fil A (the twins favorite lunch place:) They ate and played on the indoor playground! It sounds like a small thing, but Cade actually climbed all the levels of platform stairs and went down the slide by himself! Annabelle has been doing it for a while but Cade only does it when we go with him. It was great to see him go up and then appear grinning at the bottom of the enclosed slide. He scotted off and clapped his hands and exclaimed, "yay"! He knew he had accomplished something by himself! He was so proud! We were too!
Anoter wonderful part of our lunch time was that our friend who manages that Chic Fil A, had been wanting us to meet one of her employees for a while. We finally got to! She was a beautiful blond haired, blue eyed, articulate teenage young lady who attends a local high school and has done very well there. She is heading off to college in Tennesee in the fall! What was even more wonderful about her was that she has Down Syndrome!! Amber was amazing! She looked us in the eye, shook our hands firmly, and told us about herself and her job! There was no evidence that she struggled with any serious deficiencies...at all! She is succeeding in all regular classes!!! Wow! We are very optimistic about Abigail's future, but honestly, it's hard to know what to expect and what is realistic to hope for! We have promised ourselves and Abigail that we won't treat her any different and that we will allow her to progress as she is able ( and of course, we'll be adding in as much therapy as possible in every area that she will welcome)! But it was really neat to see a young lady who is doing so well and even going to college at a special school that far away from home! I really want to meet her parents and chat! I may have to start working on that one! What a blessing!
We came home and all got a nice nap! The twins were pooped after all he walking and then playing! They awoke, eager to get back outside! They love being outside! Yesterday evening, we had a ton of kids in our yard again playing with them! We had to keep them in and make them eat a very early dinner! They were waiting at the front door while I cleaned up from dinner! We got Abigail's blanket and toys all situated on the grass, and out we went! They loved it! I laughed so hard when I heard 5 year old Alexis scream " the babies are outside!!!" to all the other children as she rode her bike down the street! In no time, we had several kids back in the yard wanting to read to Abigail and play with the twins! Cade and Annabelle eat it up! Abigail just wants me to stay in sight! Which brings me to a neat thing that happened in physical therapy Thursday...
Melissa, the therapist, had finished working with Abigail, and had brought some fun things to show Cade! I needed to go get Cade up from his nap, but also needed to feed Abigail a bottle. Melissa offered to feed her while I went upstairs. It was going well until Abigail couldn't see me anymore. She started screaming!!! I could hear her while I got Cade up and changed him. He wakes up slowly, so it was hard to rush him to let me get back downstairs. When we started out over the open bannister and staircase, the baby caught sight of me again and stopped crying and started sucking! I sat down and held Cade while Melissa finished feeding Abigail! Melissa looked up at me and said, "That was typical for babies to do.....but not for a baby with Down Syndrome"...I just sat there for a minute recalling that all my babies have gone through some separation anxiety...then being grateful that Abigail did too! ;) little things! ahh!
On a funny note, Annabelle is on to us! We have given the twins older remote controls to vcr's, etc..to play with! Cade holds his in front of the TV and wonders why it won't work. Annabelle however, came running to us the other day holding one saying, "needs batties" she knew the back casing was off and that there were no batteries in it! ha ha! We smiled! Also, Jamie was working on the treadmill last night and had been using the flashlight ( Its a huge, heavy maglight that we keep in the drawer in the kitchen) Annabelle has never touched it before. She "held" it to help Daddy while he worked! When Daddy said that he was done, Annabelle ran to the kitchen, opened the drawer, and put the flashlight in. We hardly ever take it out, so it amazed me that she knew where it went. She likes things in their place. ;)
She also still thinks all food set before her is hot and that she must blow on it! Too bad she didn't have that "blowing" figured out for her birthday cake last month! ;) It cracks us up to see her do it! Cade looks at her kind of funny!
His favorite word is "no" even when he means "yes"! Such a typical 2year old! He is trying to be more independent. He must've walked up and down our huge hill in the front yard 20 times fetching his truck ( and struggling to walk back up with it) even though several older kids were offering to help him. He would say "no" whenever they got near him or the truck. They all snickered.
Tomorrow we're supposed to have pretty weather again so I'm sure we'll be back outside!
I'm forgetting so much, but will update as the old brain has something trigger it! lol Goodnight to all!
Anoter wonderful part of our lunch time was that our friend who manages that Chic Fil A, had been wanting us to meet one of her employees for a while. We finally got to! She was a beautiful blond haired, blue eyed, articulate teenage young lady who attends a local high school and has done very well there. She is heading off to college in Tennesee in the fall! What was even more wonderful about her was that she has Down Syndrome!! Amber was amazing! She looked us in the eye, shook our hands firmly, and told us about herself and her job! There was no evidence that she struggled with any serious deficiencies...at all! She is succeeding in all regular classes!!! Wow! We are very optimistic about Abigail's future, but honestly, it's hard to know what to expect and what is realistic to hope for! We have promised ourselves and Abigail that we won't treat her any different and that we will allow her to progress as she is able ( and of course, we'll be adding in as much therapy as possible in every area that she will welcome)! But it was really neat to see a young lady who is doing so well and even going to college at a special school that far away from home! I really want to meet her parents and chat! I may have to start working on that one! What a blessing!
We came home and all got a nice nap! The twins were pooped after all he walking and then playing! They awoke, eager to get back outside! They love being outside! Yesterday evening, we had a ton of kids in our yard again playing with them! We had to keep them in and make them eat a very early dinner! They were waiting at the front door while I cleaned up from dinner! We got Abigail's blanket and toys all situated on the grass, and out we went! They loved it! I laughed so hard when I heard 5 year old Alexis scream " the babies are outside!!!" to all the other children as she rode her bike down the street! In no time, we had several kids back in the yard wanting to read to Abigail and play with the twins! Cade and Annabelle eat it up! Abigail just wants me to stay in sight! Which brings me to a neat thing that happened in physical therapy Thursday...
Melissa, the therapist, had finished working with Abigail, and had brought some fun things to show Cade! I needed to go get Cade up from his nap, but also needed to feed Abigail a bottle. Melissa offered to feed her while I went upstairs. It was going well until Abigail couldn't see me anymore. She started screaming!!! I could hear her while I got Cade up and changed him. He wakes up slowly, so it was hard to rush him to let me get back downstairs. When we started out over the open bannister and staircase, the baby caught sight of me again and stopped crying and started sucking! I sat down and held Cade while Melissa finished feeding Abigail! Melissa looked up at me and said, "That was typical for babies to do.....but not for a baby with Down Syndrome"...I just sat there for a minute recalling that all my babies have gone through some separation anxiety...then being grateful that Abigail did too! ;) little things! ahh!
On a funny note, Annabelle is on to us! We have given the twins older remote controls to vcr's, etc..to play with! Cade holds his in front of the TV and wonders why it won't work. Annabelle however, came running to us the other day holding one saying, "needs batties" she knew the back casing was off and that there were no batteries in it! ha ha! We smiled! Also, Jamie was working on the treadmill last night and had been using the flashlight ( Its a huge, heavy maglight that we keep in the drawer in the kitchen) Annabelle has never touched it before. She "held" it to help Daddy while he worked! When Daddy said that he was done, Annabelle ran to the kitchen, opened the drawer, and put the flashlight in. We hardly ever take it out, so it amazed me that she knew where it went. She likes things in their place. ;)
She also still thinks all food set before her is hot and that she must blow on it! Too bad she didn't have that "blowing" figured out for her birthday cake last month! ;) It cracks us up to see her do it! Cade looks at her kind of funny!
His favorite word is "no" even when he means "yes"! Such a typical 2year old! He is trying to be more independent. He must've walked up and down our huge hill in the front yard 20 times fetching his truck ( and struggling to walk back up with it) even though several older kids were offering to help him. He would say "no" whenever they got near him or the truck. They all snickered.
Tomorrow we're supposed to have pretty weather again so I'm sure we'll be back outside!
I'm forgetting so much, but will update as the old brain has something trigger it! lol Goodnight to all!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
busy busy
My goodness! time has been flying since I last I blogged! So much is happening in our world!
Darby has been in Argentina now for about 6 weeks! Oh how we miss her! Her boyfriend, Jared, went to visit her last week and they had a wonderful (adventurous) time touring around! He was so sweet to carry lots of things to her from me! I couldn't let her go through a spring without thin mint girl scout cookies, or peeps! lol! The poor fellow probably packed more of her forgotten items than he did his own clothing and stuff! ;) The babies still love seeing her on skype (mom does too)! Can't believe how she's growing through this! Most young adults are a bit nervous about navigating downtown Atlants, and she is surviving in the heart of Buenos Aires (population 15million) knowing not a soul upon arrival! I'm so proud of her!
Shane is still enjoying football practice almost daily and is still so involved with the babies. ( and teaching them not so great habits, I might add) ;) He is so funny! Can't believe he'll have prom and all the other spring events coming up soon! he'll be 17 next month too! Goodness, hard to believe it! It's a gift to watch him become such a amazing young man!
and the twins......ha ha! Someone told them for sure they have now turned 2! lol! More little pushes and spats as well as hugs! I can't begin to get all the funny stories in here! Anyway, Sometimes Annabelle just has a stressful moment here and there and needs to be held! ;) She will all of a sudden come up to her Daddy and say, "hold me"! Which of course he does...with a big grin! The other day, he was at work and unavailable so she walked up behind Cade and said it! He looked at her and then wrapped his arms around her and held her for a minute or so! She then ran off to play and all was well! Such a female! I'm taking notes and have tried the "hold me" with outstrecthed arms to Jamie as well, but for some reason it seems to work better coming from Annabelle! LOL! She's also very caring and demonstrative! We have a book ( 10 Tiny Kisses) in which there is a picture of a baby crying on the first page! She holds the book close and kisses the baby every time we read it! It's so cute! She has a funny little sense of humor too! Jamie will ask her something and then say, "maybe"? She will then play right into it and say, "maybe not"! They are quite the little comedy routine!
Cade Man has a new love! On my......it's Nascar on a 52" flat screen! Jamie flipped to the Daytona 500 a few weeks back and we thought the little guy was going to have a heart attack! He stood up on his toes, stiffened his entire body, pointed to the TV, and said "Oh, oh, oh, Car, car"!!!!! We laughed hyterically! Cade was glued to it! Oh my! He has not been using as many words as Annabelle ( she's speaking in full sentences- sheez) so the speech therapists will be starting back up with him so he can tell Annabelle what he's really thinking! But again, he can do many things she can't so I'm sure they will have different strengths always! I think all women are given the ability to verbally communicate early on! :o!
Miss Abigail!..ahh! Can you hear and feel the smile coming across my face! That baby is my therapy! She is doing so great! She giggles when I blow on her tummy and neck! I love it! I have maintained my routine of rocking her 3 times a day. ( 2 times for naps and then bed time) She falls asleep in the first 5 minutes, but its heaven! The world just stops. I don't worry about being productive..the twins are napping..I don't even answer the phone! It's just sanity time! She's kind of now starting to want me to just lay her in her bed to go to sleep, but its hard for me to give it up! She has mastered the sitting a while back and now she has started the sweetest thing!! When she's sitting and I start to sing, she sways. Not a little sway, but a big sway back and forth to my voice! Oh, I melt!!!! When I stop singing, she stops swaying! ha ha! Sometimes she will sing and sway! ;) Last week in therapy, she stayed on her hands and knees in a crawling position for a long time and started practicing reaching for a toy with one hand while in that position. She seems motivated to get ready to think about crawling. We are prepared that she can throw a roadblock up and slow progress in therapy down whenever she gets the idea, but so far she seems very willing to keep trying and working! She also leaned to the side (while sitting) and grabbed the tiniest string ( the size of angel hair pasta) that was attached to a toy and used it to pull the toy to her and play. Our therapist told us that was amazing for her age and that it was such a good sign for cognitive and fine motor reasons! yay! So proud that she's driven about getting what she wants....well she is an Anderson, not sure why I'm surprised! ;) The rest of us certainly do our share of trying to get what we want! Lol! I'll deny that later I'm sure! ;) I think one of her most exciting recent accomplishments is cutting teeth! !!! I was so excited to find her first tooth around the end of her 9th month and the second came 10 days later in her 10th month! Wow! We were told that it most likely wouldn't happen until way after her first birthday. Many babies with Down Syndrome dont get them until 14-17mths. It was so exciting! We know the road ahead will be filled with difficult challenges in her little life (as well as victories) , so forgive me for being so proud, but I do plan on cherishing every little wonderful step she makes!
We have been enjoying some pleasant evenings outside in the neighborhood again! Thank goodness for the nice weather! Its so much better when the twins can get outside and play! They both say "pay pay" when we tell them its time to stop for a nap or bedtime! ;) Funny little toddlers! Its good to get to spend time with the neighbors again too! Love doing life with the group we have here on Waldenbrooke Ct. Annabelle cracked us up the other day when she chased after Samuel ( the blond haired, blue eyed, very cute, 3 yr old, youngest Newton across the street) and said, 'Samul, hold me"! He ran far and fast as he didn't understand that all she wanted was a hug! He later told his mommy that he was too little to hold her! ha ha! I'm telling myself that she was associsating him with having a brother and that surely she won't chase a boy ever
again! ;)
There's so much more, but I must go cook dinner. I've had this up all day working on it! whew, its hard to get things completed! ;)
Darby has been in Argentina now for about 6 weeks! Oh how we miss her! Her boyfriend, Jared, went to visit her last week and they had a wonderful (adventurous) time touring around! He was so sweet to carry lots of things to her from me! I couldn't let her go through a spring without thin mint girl scout cookies, or peeps! lol! The poor fellow probably packed more of her forgotten items than he did his own clothing and stuff! ;) The babies still love seeing her on skype (mom does too)! Can't believe how she's growing through this! Most young adults are a bit nervous about navigating downtown Atlants, and she is surviving in the heart of Buenos Aires (population 15million) knowing not a soul upon arrival! I'm so proud of her!
Shane is still enjoying football practice almost daily and is still so involved with the babies. ( and teaching them not so great habits, I might add) ;) He is so funny! Can't believe he'll have prom and all the other spring events coming up soon! he'll be 17 next month too! Goodness, hard to believe it! It's a gift to watch him become such a amazing young man!
and the twins......ha ha! Someone told them for sure they have now turned 2! lol! More little pushes and spats as well as hugs! I can't begin to get all the funny stories in here! Anyway, Sometimes Annabelle just has a stressful moment here and there and needs to be held! ;) She will all of a sudden come up to her Daddy and say, "hold me"! Which of course he does...with a big grin! The other day, he was at work and unavailable so she walked up behind Cade and said it! He looked at her and then wrapped his arms around her and held her for a minute or so! She then ran off to play and all was well! Such a female! I'm taking notes and have tried the "hold me" with outstrecthed arms to Jamie as well, but for some reason it seems to work better coming from Annabelle! LOL! She's also very caring and demonstrative! We have a book ( 10 Tiny Kisses) in which there is a picture of a baby crying on the first page! She holds the book close and kisses the baby every time we read it! It's so cute! She has a funny little sense of humor too! Jamie will ask her something and then say, "maybe"? She will then play right into it and say, "maybe not"! They are quite the little comedy routine!
Cade Man has a new love! On my......it's Nascar on a 52" flat screen! Jamie flipped to the Daytona 500 a few weeks back and we thought the little guy was going to have a heart attack! He stood up on his toes, stiffened his entire body, pointed to the TV, and said "Oh, oh, oh, Car, car"!!!!! We laughed hyterically! Cade was glued to it! Oh my! He has not been using as many words as Annabelle ( she's speaking in full sentences- sheez) so the speech therapists will be starting back up with him so he can tell Annabelle what he's really thinking! But again, he can do many things she can't so I'm sure they will have different strengths always! I think all women are given the ability to verbally communicate early on! :o!
Miss Abigail!..ahh! Can you hear and feel the smile coming across my face! That baby is my therapy! She is doing so great! She giggles when I blow on her tummy and neck! I love it! I have maintained my routine of rocking her 3 times a day. ( 2 times for naps and then bed time) She falls asleep in the first 5 minutes, but its heaven! The world just stops. I don't worry about being productive..the twins are napping..I don't even answer the phone! It's just sanity time! She's kind of now starting to want me to just lay her in her bed to go to sleep, but its hard for me to give it up! She has mastered the sitting a while back and now she has started the sweetest thing!! When she's sitting and I start to sing, she sways. Not a little sway, but a big sway back and forth to my voice! Oh, I melt!!!! When I stop singing, she stops swaying! ha ha! Sometimes she will sing and sway! ;) Last week in therapy, she stayed on her hands and knees in a crawling position for a long time and started practicing reaching for a toy with one hand while in that position. She seems motivated to get ready to think about crawling. We are prepared that she can throw a roadblock up and slow progress in therapy down whenever she gets the idea, but so far she seems very willing to keep trying and working! She also leaned to the side (while sitting) and grabbed the tiniest string ( the size of angel hair pasta) that was attached to a toy and used it to pull the toy to her and play. Our therapist told us that was amazing for her age and that it was such a good sign for cognitive and fine motor reasons! yay! So proud that she's driven about getting what she wants....well she is an Anderson, not sure why I'm surprised! ;) The rest of us certainly do our share of trying to get what we want! Lol! I'll deny that later I'm sure! ;) I think one of her most exciting recent accomplishments is cutting teeth! !!! I was so excited to find her first tooth around the end of her 9th month and the second came 10 days later in her 10th month! Wow! We were told that it most likely wouldn't happen until way after her first birthday. Many babies with Down Syndrome dont get them until 14-17mths. It was so exciting! We know the road ahead will be filled with difficult challenges in her little life (as well as victories) , so forgive me for being so proud, but I do plan on cherishing every little wonderful step she makes!
We have been enjoying some pleasant evenings outside in the neighborhood again! Thank goodness for the nice weather! Its so much better when the twins can get outside and play! They both say "pay pay" when we tell them its time to stop for a nap or bedtime! ;) Funny little toddlers! Its good to get to spend time with the neighbors again too! Love doing life with the group we have here on Waldenbrooke Ct. Annabelle cracked us up the other day when she chased after Samuel ( the blond haired, blue eyed, very cute, 3 yr old, youngest Newton across the street) and said, 'Samul, hold me"! He ran far and fast as he didn't understand that all she wanted was a hug! He later told his mommy that he was too little to hold her! ha ha! I'm telling myself that she was associsating him with having a brother and that surely she won't chase a boy ever
again! ;)
There's so much more, but I must go cook dinner. I've had this up all day working on it! whew, its hard to get things completed! ;)
Friday, February 18, 2011
Gorgeous day!
What a beautiful day! It was in the 70's here and everyone was getting outside to enjoy it!
We started the day with Abigail's 9 month check up at her pediatrician's office! That little stinker weighs 20 lbs! She is the height of a 13 mth old baby (on the Down's curve) and the weight of a 21 mth old. Oops! I have been cutting her back but I guess she just hasn't grown in length a lot so it takes a while to get the weight in proportion. The doctor said it was fine and just keep trying to watch it. She was thrilled to see her sitting and doing so much! They weren't expecting that! Abigail has the Anderson/Paulk drive! That's for sure! She has things to do and twins to keep up with! I really think that baby thinks she's a triplet as she sits right along with them in the bath tub and splashes as much as they do, she sits in her high chair and eats with them, she plays on the floor with them..etc! So I guess she wants to get moving with them now! LOL! The doctor got tickled at Annabelle. As she was examining Abigail and listening to her heart, Dr. McGee had to scoot over because there was this 2 yr old standing on the stool and holding on to the table to see what that lady was doing to her baby! I finally sat her up on the table next to Abigail! They had to lay the baby on her back to give her shots in her thigh and Annabelle knew what was coming. She rubbed Abigail's hair and loved on her during it! After the shot, she told me "Ah gail crying"! It was so sweet to see how concerned she is! Cade was just happy it wasn't about him today! ;)
We were so blessed while we were at the doctor's office. Cade's blood work was back from Wednesday and with the formal blood draw, his hemoglobin was fine and there were no signs of anemia! Thank goodness! We are all not sure why the toe prick sample came back bad, but are just relieved that this one came back good!
Afterwards, I took the twins over to the Avenues to return a couple of things and grab birthday presents for some twin friends. Of course, they love to stop at the huge fountains and watch the water fall. Annabelle went to my purse and got out my wallet. She wanted pennies! She had seen me give her one just once before! So funny! She doesn't forget anything! They had the best time throwing pennies in and "making wishes". Little Stella across the street asked me later when I told her about it, " do they really know how to make wishes"? She's precious!
This afternoon, they got out and enjoyed sidewalk chalk with the neighborhood kids! We got a surprise visit from Jared, Darby s boyfriend! He had come home for the weekend to get his yellow fever shot and pick up some things for Darby as he will be flying to Argentina to see her in early March! He played outside sliding down the hill with the twins and Stella as well as drawing on the sidewalk. Annabelle was so excited to play with him! They chatted, although my suspicion is that it was mostly one sided. I told him if he wanted to know what Darby was like as a toddler, she was a lot like Annabelle...always having a lot to say and things to do, and her way of doing them! LOL! They were precious playing! Cade got tickled at the kids rolling down the hill and blessed us with his great belly laugh! The twins really didn't want to see Jared go! Annabelle gave him a huge hug (which she doesn't do often) and wrapped her arms around him until they were clasped together behind his neck! Cade man blew him kisses and gave him a big hug too! Shane and Jamie got home just as he was leaving and got to say hello! Somehow, I felt like I was a bit closer to Darby just getting to see him! funny!
We wound up being outside for over 2 hours! Stephanie from across the street held Abigail the whole time. It was so nice to be back outside again! How we've missed it! We blew off cooking for a while and just relaxed! As Annabelle says, "How nice"!
Shane headed off to his dad's for the weekend! We'll miss him but are sure he'll have fun! We have a playdate/ belated birthday celebration with Joanna and Ismini tomorrow downtown as neither of us could make the other's parties. The two twin sets were born within 4 days of eachother, so bring on the 2's for all of us! We do wish we could see all our family in Florida this weekend! Lots of people coming in for special events! I know the week has been long and exhausting for Jamie, so we'll just have to get down there as soon as we can!
Wishing everyone a wonderful, beautiful weekend!
We started the day with Abigail's 9 month check up at her pediatrician's office! That little stinker weighs 20 lbs! She is the height of a 13 mth old baby (on the Down's curve) and the weight of a 21 mth old. Oops! I have been cutting her back but I guess she just hasn't grown in length a lot so it takes a while to get the weight in proportion. The doctor said it was fine and just keep trying to watch it. She was thrilled to see her sitting and doing so much! They weren't expecting that! Abigail has the Anderson/Paulk drive! That's for sure! She has things to do and twins to keep up with! I really think that baby thinks she's a triplet as she sits right along with them in the bath tub and splashes as much as they do, she sits in her high chair and eats with them, she plays on the floor with them..etc! So I guess she wants to get moving with them now! LOL! The doctor got tickled at Annabelle. As she was examining Abigail and listening to her heart, Dr. McGee had to scoot over because there was this 2 yr old standing on the stool and holding on to the table to see what that lady was doing to her baby! I finally sat her up on the table next to Abigail! They had to lay the baby on her back to give her shots in her thigh and Annabelle knew what was coming. She rubbed Abigail's hair and loved on her during it! After the shot, she told me "Ah gail crying"! It was so sweet to see how concerned she is! Cade was just happy it wasn't about him today! ;)
We were so blessed while we were at the doctor's office. Cade's blood work was back from Wednesday and with the formal blood draw, his hemoglobin was fine and there were no signs of anemia! Thank goodness! We are all not sure why the toe prick sample came back bad, but are just relieved that this one came back good!
Afterwards, I took the twins over to the Avenues to return a couple of things and grab birthday presents for some twin friends. Of course, they love to stop at the huge fountains and watch the water fall. Annabelle went to my purse and got out my wallet. She wanted pennies! She had seen me give her one just once before! So funny! She doesn't forget anything! They had the best time throwing pennies in and "making wishes". Little Stella across the street asked me later when I told her about it, " do they really know how to make wishes"? She's precious!
This afternoon, they got out and enjoyed sidewalk chalk with the neighborhood kids! We got a surprise visit from Jared, Darby s boyfriend! He had come home for the weekend to get his yellow fever shot and pick up some things for Darby as he will be flying to Argentina to see her in early March! He played outside sliding down the hill with the twins and Stella as well as drawing on the sidewalk. Annabelle was so excited to play with him! They chatted, although my suspicion is that it was mostly one sided. I told him if he wanted to know what Darby was like as a toddler, she was a lot like Annabelle...always having a lot to say and things to do, and her way of doing them! LOL! They were precious playing! Cade got tickled at the kids rolling down the hill and blessed us with his great belly laugh! The twins really didn't want to see Jared go! Annabelle gave him a huge hug (which she doesn't do often) and wrapped her arms around him until they were clasped together behind his neck! Cade man blew him kisses and gave him a big hug too! Shane and Jamie got home just as he was leaving and got to say hello! Somehow, I felt like I was a bit closer to Darby just getting to see him! funny!
We wound up being outside for over 2 hours! Stephanie from across the street held Abigail the whole time. It was so nice to be back outside again! How we've missed it! We blew off cooking for a while and just relaxed! As Annabelle says, "How nice"!
Shane headed off to his dad's for the weekend! We'll miss him but are sure he'll have fun! We have a playdate/ belated birthday celebration with Joanna and Ismini tomorrow downtown as neither of us could make the other's parties. The two twin sets were born within 4 days of eachother, so bring on the 2's for all of us! We do wish we could see all our family in Florida this weekend! Lots of people coming in for special events! I know the week has been long and exhausting for Jamie, so we'll just have to get down there as soon as we can!
Wishing everyone a wonderful, beautiful weekend!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Construction
I'm so enjoying all the wonderful tidbits that being 2 brings! I have always told Jamie, this was my favorite "age of discovery" for Darby and Shane! The last few days have really brought out such a boyish side of Cade!
Shane typically drives the Buick to school in the mornings and back home. We've all been juggling taking him and picking him up as the car has been in the shop all week. There is some serious road construction going on all along our route to school! Lots of bulldozers, dump trucks, even a huge crane where they're building a new bridge. (County Line Rd). Needless to say, little Cade has been in heaven! The first morning I started pointing them out to him as we passed. After dropping Shane off, we came to a place where morning rush hour traffic backs up badly and it takes a bit to get through. I rolled Cade's tinted window down in the Sienna and told him to look. There was a huge bulldozer/ skid steer thingy right next to us using its large bucket to pick up dirt, swing it around, and dump it in a waiting dump truck. When Cade saw it, he started saying, "oh oh oh" and shaking his arms and legs. He was about to come out of his skin! The best part was when the operator spotted him, he smiled and kept going about his job! (with great pride) I'm sure he realized he had made a little guy's day! I bet he felt really important! That was early in the week, so every day it has been the same thing..in the afternoon, football holds Shane late, so I don't hit trafiic and Cade feels robbed, ha ha! He says, "more more" Annabelle has gotte into it too now! I'm sure the road crew looks for that little boy each day! ha ha! He really plays with his bulldozer and trucks when he gets home. It's the cutest thing!
Speaking of football, I had a conference for Shane this week and a baseball coach was sitting in on it and voiced that he had hoped Shane would come out for baseball, but heard how the football coaches were fighting over him. I had no idea, but several of them were trying to grab him for different positions. This fellow explained to me he's one of the strongest kids in the school and runs like a deer. He only played football in 7th grade and hasn't since. They are all excited that he's come out. Before it just seemed like there were so many kids on the team that he figured he might not get to play a lot, but I guess that was before he was 6'2" and 225. Should be a fun ride! He's such a great guy! Such wonderful things were said by all the teachers. It was really great to see him doing so well and being so in charge of his own future! I'm so proud of him. He's juggling alot with his schedule and yet his grades are better than ever! Think that young man has been maturing and growing up before my eyes! So glad he has never lost his amazing heart! He'll be a strong man with a soft heart! He's beyond wonderful with the babies, even little Abigail!
Miss Annabelle is definitely keeping us all straight! I was loading up all the babies in the van to run errands and made sure they had their sippy cups of water ( they like to take them in the car). I even packed a tumbler of ice water myself and sat it on a nearby surface in the garage so I could lift Abigail's carrier up. I started to back out of the garage and headed down the drive. Annabelle started frantically saying, "wa wa, wa wa"! I told her she had wa wa and not to fuss. She was tenacious! By the time I got to the end of our street, it hit me! She was telling me I had left my water in the garage! really? She's 24mths old! I didn't say anything, but drove back and raised the garage door and got my water. As soon as I brought it into the car, she smiled and happily said, "wa wa"! The world was right! Oh my!!! Too bad she wasn't around when I left my coffee in there on my way to Shane's 7:30am conference! pooh, I really needed it! She is reminding me so much of Darby lately. She is constantly talking and asking things. She practices repeating everything I say! I heard her say "outside mommy" several times yesterday, and i expected to look and see a little brown haired, green eyed toddler because it sounded just like Darby! oh wow! Pulled hard at my heart strings..missing those days with Darby and so glad I get them again with Annabelle!
Cade has been blossoming too! He received this really great car puzzle that has a small magnetic circle in the center of each piece (car piece). Then there is a ltow truck piece attached to a long string with a magnet tied to the end. The idea is to place it on top of each piece and lift the piece out of the puzzle. (or "tow" the car) It's quite hard and he struggled when we first brought it out. Think its a 3 and up age. My dad showed him how to start up high and come down on top of the piece. It is hard for him as he has to hold the string up high above his head and straighten his arm out completely to do it. But he persistently tries and lets it stop swinging and eventually it goes where he wants it, but it requires focus and a lot of patience! He does it over and over! He's so proud when he finishes! He finds it humorous that Annabelle can't do it! I have to smirk a bit too as she can do anything or figures it out!!! They do have their own different strengths!
I am praying over Cade even more as we have just learned yesterday at his 2 yr check up that he is anemic. We had to go to the lab immediately and have bloodwork done. Hopefully it will be something that can be corrected easily. I hate for him to have to go through things. He is so loving and strong!
Little Miss Abigail continues to surprise her therapist and us! Melissa came today and thought there was a good chance again we could be facing a battle to get Abigail into the correct position on hands and knees to get ready to learn to crawl! Apparently this usually brings a lot of resistance! Our goal is to get her to tolerate this postion, on her own, for 30 seconds. We were braced that it could take quite some time to work up to this! We put her on her tummy and Abigail was already pulling her knees up under her and rocking to make something happen. Melissa stimulated her stomach muscles to help support her body and then she let her go. She stayed there, not being supported, for 14 seconds!!! Whoo hoo! We were so excited and shocked. No extending or trying to straighten out! yay! So happy for her! Melissa will be gone on vacation next week so we get 2 weeks to practice. Then we'll try to get her to try to lift a hand to get a toy without toppling over. (since that will be required for crawling) God is so good! This baby has a strong drive! She will teach us all in many ways! Go Abigail!
I did get to skype with Darby briefly this afternoon!! It's wonderful, but hard to not be able to hug her! The sunset from her window is just gorgeous! I'm so jealous of the 90+ degree weather she's having in Argentina. (At least we're going to have a warm weekend here so we won't be looking a gray icky skies)! Her smile just warms my heart! I'm so happy she is able to have this experience! She has midterms tomorrow! I know she's going to do well! It's hard to believe she was just toddling around behind me the other day! Her world is so big now! She and I love old fashioned snail mail, so I sent her with a bundle of letters (one for every week she's gone) and a Valentine's Card, Birthday card, and an Easter card, all tied with ribbon! She left a long message for me in a journal we have shared through her college experience. We have taken turns possessing it and writing letters to eachother as a memoir of the changes and emotions of this season in her life. It started with the first one I wrote and left on her college dorm bed! I hope we have enough room left in it to conclude over graduation. Oh, how I love that little girl.
Ah, well! It is late ( 11:25) and I must sleep! ha ha! Love to all!
Rebecca
Shane typically drives the Buick to school in the mornings and back home. We've all been juggling taking him and picking him up as the car has been in the shop all week. There is some serious road construction going on all along our route to school! Lots of bulldozers, dump trucks, even a huge crane where they're building a new bridge. (County Line Rd). Needless to say, little Cade has been in heaven! The first morning I started pointing them out to him as we passed. After dropping Shane off, we came to a place where morning rush hour traffic backs up badly and it takes a bit to get through. I rolled Cade's tinted window down in the Sienna and told him to look. There was a huge bulldozer/ skid steer thingy right next to us using its large bucket to pick up dirt, swing it around, and dump it in a waiting dump truck. When Cade saw it, he started saying, "oh oh oh" and shaking his arms and legs. He was about to come out of his skin! The best part was when the operator spotted him, he smiled and kept going about his job! (with great pride) I'm sure he realized he had made a little guy's day! I bet he felt really important! That was early in the week, so every day it has been the same thing..in the afternoon, football holds Shane late, so I don't hit trafiic and Cade feels robbed, ha ha! He says, "more more" Annabelle has gotte into it too now! I'm sure the road crew looks for that little boy each day! ha ha! He really plays with his bulldozer and trucks when he gets home. It's the cutest thing!
Speaking of football, I had a conference for Shane this week and a baseball coach was sitting in on it and voiced that he had hoped Shane would come out for baseball, but heard how the football coaches were fighting over him. I had no idea, but several of them were trying to grab him for different positions. This fellow explained to me he's one of the strongest kids in the school and runs like a deer. He only played football in 7th grade and hasn't since. They are all excited that he's come out. Before it just seemed like there were so many kids on the team that he figured he might not get to play a lot, but I guess that was before he was 6'2" and 225. Should be a fun ride! He's such a great guy! Such wonderful things were said by all the teachers. It was really great to see him doing so well and being so in charge of his own future! I'm so proud of him. He's juggling alot with his schedule and yet his grades are better than ever! Think that young man has been maturing and growing up before my eyes! So glad he has never lost his amazing heart! He'll be a strong man with a soft heart! He's beyond wonderful with the babies, even little Abigail!
Miss Annabelle is definitely keeping us all straight! I was loading up all the babies in the van to run errands and made sure they had their sippy cups of water ( they like to take them in the car). I even packed a tumbler of ice water myself and sat it on a nearby surface in the garage so I could lift Abigail's carrier up. I started to back out of the garage and headed down the drive. Annabelle started frantically saying, "wa wa, wa wa"! I told her she had wa wa and not to fuss. She was tenacious! By the time I got to the end of our street, it hit me! She was telling me I had left my water in the garage! really? She's 24mths old! I didn't say anything, but drove back and raised the garage door and got my water. As soon as I brought it into the car, she smiled and happily said, "wa wa"! The world was right! Oh my!!! Too bad she wasn't around when I left my coffee in there on my way to Shane's 7:30am conference! pooh, I really needed it! She is reminding me so much of Darby lately. She is constantly talking and asking things. She practices repeating everything I say! I heard her say "outside mommy" several times yesterday, and i expected to look and see a little brown haired, green eyed toddler because it sounded just like Darby! oh wow! Pulled hard at my heart strings..missing those days with Darby and so glad I get them again with Annabelle!
Cade has been blossoming too! He received this really great car puzzle that has a small magnetic circle in the center of each piece (car piece). Then there is a ltow truck piece attached to a long string with a magnet tied to the end. The idea is to place it on top of each piece and lift the piece out of the puzzle. (or "tow" the car) It's quite hard and he struggled when we first brought it out. Think its a 3 and up age. My dad showed him how to start up high and come down on top of the piece. It is hard for him as he has to hold the string up high above his head and straighten his arm out completely to do it. But he persistently tries and lets it stop swinging and eventually it goes where he wants it, but it requires focus and a lot of patience! He does it over and over! He's so proud when he finishes! He finds it humorous that Annabelle can't do it! I have to smirk a bit too as she can do anything or figures it out!!! They do have their own different strengths!
I am praying over Cade even more as we have just learned yesterday at his 2 yr check up that he is anemic. We had to go to the lab immediately and have bloodwork done. Hopefully it will be something that can be corrected easily. I hate for him to have to go through things. He is so loving and strong!
Little Miss Abigail continues to surprise her therapist and us! Melissa came today and thought there was a good chance again we could be facing a battle to get Abigail into the correct position on hands and knees to get ready to learn to crawl! Apparently this usually brings a lot of resistance! Our goal is to get her to tolerate this postion, on her own, for 30 seconds. We were braced that it could take quite some time to work up to this! We put her on her tummy and Abigail was already pulling her knees up under her and rocking to make something happen. Melissa stimulated her stomach muscles to help support her body and then she let her go. She stayed there, not being supported, for 14 seconds!!! Whoo hoo! We were so excited and shocked. No extending or trying to straighten out! yay! So happy for her! Melissa will be gone on vacation next week so we get 2 weeks to practice. Then we'll try to get her to try to lift a hand to get a toy without toppling over. (since that will be required for crawling) God is so good! This baby has a strong drive! She will teach us all in many ways! Go Abigail!
I did get to skype with Darby briefly this afternoon!! It's wonderful, but hard to not be able to hug her! The sunset from her window is just gorgeous! I'm so jealous of the 90+ degree weather she's having in Argentina. (At least we're going to have a warm weekend here so we won't be looking a gray icky skies)! Her smile just warms my heart! I'm so happy she is able to have this experience! She has midterms tomorrow! I know she's going to do well! It's hard to believe she was just toddling around behind me the other day! Her world is so big now! She and I love old fashioned snail mail, so I sent her with a bundle of letters (one for every week she's gone) and a Valentine's Card, Birthday card, and an Easter card, all tied with ribbon! She left a long message for me in a journal we have shared through her college experience. We have taken turns possessing it and writing letters to eachother as a memoir of the changes and emotions of this season in her life. It started with the first one I wrote and left on her college dorm bed! I hope we have enough room left in it to conclude over graduation. Oh, how I love that little girl.
Ah, well! It is late ( 11:25) and I must sleep! ha ha! Love to all!
Rebecca
Monday, February 14, 2011
Clarity
We had a wonderful time with family and friends at the twins birthday party yesterday! Just wish we could've moved Monticello and Tallahasse, Florida to about where Marietta is so that all our family could've been with us! Ha ha! The little ones had a great time playing at Little Bears, an indoor playground! I can't believe they're two already. These days are so busy that they are gone in a blink! Seems like they're going even faster than when Darby and Shane were little! Wish I could just bottle all the laughter and little squeals we heard! Cade and Annabelle both were still trying to figure out why everyone was singing to them and how to blow out the candles! The sweet innocence of childhood! I do think they enjoyed it! Abigial napped during a good bit of it! That sweet baby will sleep anywhere!
Well, my little monkeys have been up to their usual tricks. I have to say that double trouble is definitely at play when weekend recovery includes repainting walls and steam cleaning carpets! Somehow, they came to possess an ink pen..my guess is that it was at Shane's computer desk upstairs. I was on the phone with my parents quickly and then Jamie for a minute. I could hear them playing and giggling on the landing/ open room upstairs. They have toys there and are allowed to be there. I did not realize that I had 2 little Picasso wanna be's on the midstair landing drawing their best circle scribbles all around on the walls! This was a time when I regretted how well they share! Clearly they were trying to top eachother's efforts! I kept thinking there had to be more than one pen..but no, only one. They were passing it back and forth!
Another evening last week...Cade was getting into trouble for some mess he had made on the floor in the den. I watched from the kitchen as Jamie stood, bent over, pointing to the carpet, saying, "Cade , this is no! no no no! His face was turned more in my direction. He was so caught up in the moment that he didn't realize that Annabelle was on the other side of him, bent over, incessantly pointing at the carpet, saying "this is no, no no"! Jamie finally loudly stated, "unacceptable" ( because of course any 2 year old understands that word ,lol) Without missing a beat, we heard an echoing 2 yr old version of "unacceptable' from the little female Jamie! It is very hard to remain composed when you see such a mirrored reflection. Expressions and all! We cracked up and reminded her that Daddy needed no back up! ;)
That girl has a mind of her own for sure. One afternoon, Shane was just getting home from football conditioning and came into the kitchen to say "hi" while I was cooking. He asked where the twins were. I told him they had gone into my bedroom and that we needed to retrieve them as I had been waiting until I wasn't handling meat. He went to fetch them for me and came back with only one. Indicating that he would help me find Annabelle as soon as he got a restroom break, he opened the door to the guest bathroom off the foyer. (we have to keep the door shut so that the toilet doesn't call to the twins ). He jumped back, startled, and called me. I came to find a small little blond sitting on her potty seat holding a magazine and looking at us like we had barged in and stolen her privacy. Shane and I laughed so hard at her seriousness and at the fact that she was fully dressed, diaper and all. She didn't bother to move, but simply wanted the door shut again! oh my! I wonder how she got in there in the first place!
Shane and I get in more trouble trying not to laugh at her than for anything else! ha ha! Love that teenage fella! So proud of him! Can't believe he's almost 17. I still can't stop calling Cade, "Shane" on a daily basis! It was just yesterday that he was that size! I still get a goodnight kiss from him everyday too! Love those boys hearts for their mamas !
Annabelle also keeps me in line, no doubt! I had to unload all the babies and some groceries from one of the big race car buggies at Publix this week. I was in a hurry to get her strapped in her car seat as those buggies roll terribly and Cade was still in it and it was starting to move. I clipped the top part of the 5 point harness together and told her I would finish strapping her in in a minute. I ran after Cade and caught him only to see a smile emerging! I tickled him, plopped him in his seat, and made silly faces while I strapped him in. I chatted with an employee for a quick second as he came by and took my buggy back to the store. I got in the front seat, hit all the side door close buttons, and began to back up. Annabelle started frantically yelling "strap in , strap in, strap in". I started shushing her and then put together what she was saying. Wow! I told her sorry and once again remembered how she inherited her father's memory and logic! What will she be like at 5, or 16. Oh, I need a nap!
Just this morning, Jamie was planning on taking Shane to school and only commented to me that my son was still upstairs. Annabelle started saying, Sha Sha..which is what she calls Shane. Lots of reasoning/processing going on in that 2 yr old little head.
Cade has been so much fun to watch. He has learned a bit how to push Annabelle's buttons. It doesn't happen often, but he gets this evil grin when it does. Thank goodness they still get along so well, but this terrible 2 thing may be blowing in from the North to aggravate that a bit!
He has really started trying to sing along with a few songs in lyrics other than his typical "lawrl, lawrl". It is so cute. He sways back and forth and grins along! I love it!
He still expects his toy remotes to work on the tv, and is a bit frustrated when they don't. If you let him see the function of anything mechanical even one time, he's hooked and will tenaciously attempt to repeat it.
He still loves his books and puzzles on trucks, cars, firetrucks, etc. He will still go sit and look at his books alone by the window and ponder those amazing bulldozers and excavators! He crosses his little ankles and you can just tell he's thinking and enjoying it. The other day, he was in Shane's room and was drooling over the small ferraris and specialty cars in the closet that Shane had saved from his own childhood. While I wasn't looking, he swiped them all. Later that day when I went to tuck him in for a nap, I saw 6 or 7 little cars mixed in his crib sheets. He had stashed them there through the slats in the crib for safe keeping to play with at nap time. He can delay gratification for sure as that was several hours after the fact. He isn't as revealing about his planning as Annabelle, but oh the wheels are turning fast in that little mind. Ha ha! (there was no way he could've carried all the cars into his room from Shane's room in one trip..hmm)
He is still so affectionate. Annabelle tolerates my frequent kisses and hugs, but little Cade comes looking for them! That little guy knows how to give "good love squeezing" too while he's holding onto you! haha! Good thing I'll be the only woman in his life! LOL
Little Abigail is making so much progress! Therapy is going great! She's been sitting up so well for about 6 wks and is now working on trying to learn to crawl. Learning to crawl is harder for babies with Down's syndrome than learning to walk, per her therapist. But it's extremely connected to cognitive development and must be learned. The goal was originally to help her accomplish crawling by her 1st birthday in May. Her therapist told me last week it will most likely be before then. God is so good! I was just smiling, and then......I realized... that I will have 3 that will not stay where you put them. Wow!
She has started giggling more and it just melts me! She never seems to mind how ridiculously much I snuggle on her little neck and hold her tight to me! Really, one might think its just over the top, but she just feels so good! As her Aunt Sylvia once exclaimed, (with teeth clenched as I do)" How do you keep from just eating her"? I'm sure Abigail feels the same way about her Aunt! ;)
Some days are quite hectic and challenging although I would never trade it. I have fought so hard to keep the gift of clarity and wisdom from what I call "the other side"..the place where we were. With no toys in the house and no little feet pattering around, and no little giggles. We had tried for over 2 yrs to have the babies and it was so saddening to think it might not ever happen. Today was one of those days that the Lord brought someone across my path to shapen that clarity again. A manager at Toys R us walked me out with the twins and Abigail ( I think to really just play with them as I only had one puzzle to carry from an exchange). We chatted about how close in age they all were and about Abigail's Down Syndrome. (everyone says I never meet a stranger). After a few minutes, she blurted out that she had never been able to have children. She and her husband had tried for quite a while with no success. He then died. By the time she had remarried, she stated the time had passed and just shrugged her shoulders. She said that was why she worked there, to see children. We continued to have light conversation, but my mind had gotten stuck there. Big tears rolled down my cheeks as I pulled out. What a different hand life had dealt her. She seemed at peace with it, and I'm hoping she was blessed in other ways, but it pulled deeply at my heart. I drove by the office and then on to the park for a quick playtime in the sunshine with the rest of the world. I usually strap Abigail to me and can corral the other two into a general area. The playground is large and fenced but with so many people there today, my comfort level was out of whack. After 15 minutes I had decided the twins were wanting to play too far apart and it was becoming stressful. I had given them the 5 minute notice, but I knew they would kick in the turbo to run from me and want to stay. I try to give them at least 45 minutes to play, so this was going to be way too short. My plan was flawlessly executed. I grabbed Annabelle off the swing, threw her on my right hip, walked by an unexpecting Cade, swooped him up on my left hip (like in an old western where someone is pulled up on a horse ;), and kept walking. Whew, nobody was upset or crying. So there I was, (in a state normal to me) with Abigail strapped on my chest, a 2yr old twin on each hip and (as I put in on FB), a million eyes on my back, as I left. One fellow jumped up to get the gate for me as I headed to the van and I wasn't sure if I saw admiration of my skills or just a freakish pitying panic in his expression. Who cares, after my afternoon visit with that manager, I could've walked home with them hanging on me!
Love to all!
Rebecca
Soon I will blog about Miss Darby in Argentina. My heart has been too full of missing her to "go there" recently! ;)
We missed Darby terribly as she is in Argentina for her study abroad semester!
Well, my little monkeys have been up to their usual tricks. I have to say that double trouble is definitely at play when weekend recovery includes repainting walls and steam cleaning carpets! Somehow, they came to possess an ink pen..my guess is that it was at Shane's computer desk upstairs. I was on the phone with my parents quickly and then Jamie for a minute. I could hear them playing and giggling on the landing/ open room upstairs. They have toys there and are allowed to be there. I did not realize that I had 2 little Picasso wanna be's on the midstair landing drawing their best circle scribbles all around on the walls! This was a time when I regretted how well they share! Clearly they were trying to top eachother's efforts! I kept thinking there had to be more than one pen..but no, only one. They were passing it back and forth!
Another evening last week...Cade was getting into trouble for some mess he had made on the floor in the den. I watched from the kitchen as Jamie stood, bent over, pointing to the carpet, saying, "Cade , this is no! no no no! His face was turned more in my direction. He was so caught up in the moment that he didn't realize that Annabelle was on the other side of him, bent over, incessantly pointing at the carpet, saying "this is no, no no"! Jamie finally loudly stated, "unacceptable" ( because of course any 2 year old understands that word ,lol) Without missing a beat, we heard an echoing 2 yr old version of "unacceptable' from the little female Jamie! It is very hard to remain composed when you see such a mirrored reflection. Expressions and all! We cracked up and reminded her that Daddy needed no back up! ;)
That girl has a mind of her own for sure. One afternoon, Shane was just getting home from football conditioning and came into the kitchen to say "hi" while I was cooking. He asked where the twins were. I told him they had gone into my bedroom and that we needed to retrieve them as I had been waiting until I wasn't handling meat. He went to fetch them for me and came back with only one. Indicating that he would help me find Annabelle as soon as he got a restroom break, he opened the door to the guest bathroom off the foyer. (we have to keep the door shut so that the toilet doesn't call to the twins ). He jumped back, startled, and called me. I came to find a small little blond sitting on her potty seat holding a magazine and looking at us like we had barged in and stolen her privacy. Shane and I laughed so hard at her seriousness and at the fact that she was fully dressed, diaper and all. She didn't bother to move, but simply wanted the door shut again! oh my! I wonder how she got in there in the first place!
Shane and I get in more trouble trying not to laugh at her than for anything else! ha ha! Love that teenage fella! So proud of him! Can't believe he's almost 17. I still can't stop calling Cade, "Shane" on a daily basis! It was just yesterday that he was that size! I still get a goodnight kiss from him everyday too! Love those boys hearts for their mamas !
Annabelle also keeps me in line, no doubt! I had to unload all the babies and some groceries from one of the big race car buggies at Publix this week. I was in a hurry to get her strapped in her car seat as those buggies roll terribly and Cade was still in it and it was starting to move. I clipped the top part of the 5 point harness together and told her I would finish strapping her in in a minute. I ran after Cade and caught him only to see a smile emerging! I tickled him, plopped him in his seat, and made silly faces while I strapped him in. I chatted with an employee for a quick second as he came by and took my buggy back to the store. I got in the front seat, hit all the side door close buttons, and began to back up. Annabelle started frantically yelling "strap in , strap in, strap in". I started shushing her and then put together what she was saying. Wow! I told her sorry and once again remembered how she inherited her father's memory and logic! What will she be like at 5, or 16. Oh, I need a nap!
Just this morning, Jamie was planning on taking Shane to school and only commented to me that my son was still upstairs. Annabelle started saying, Sha Sha..which is what she calls Shane. Lots of reasoning/processing going on in that 2 yr old little head.
Cade has been so much fun to watch. He has learned a bit how to push Annabelle's buttons. It doesn't happen often, but he gets this evil grin when it does. Thank goodness they still get along so well, but this terrible 2 thing may be blowing in from the North to aggravate that a bit!
He has really started trying to sing along with a few songs in lyrics other than his typical "lawrl, lawrl". It is so cute. He sways back and forth and grins along! I love it!
He still expects his toy remotes to work on the tv, and is a bit frustrated when they don't. If you let him see the function of anything mechanical even one time, he's hooked and will tenaciously attempt to repeat it.
He still loves his books and puzzles on trucks, cars, firetrucks, etc. He will still go sit and look at his books alone by the window and ponder those amazing bulldozers and excavators! He crosses his little ankles and you can just tell he's thinking and enjoying it. The other day, he was in Shane's room and was drooling over the small ferraris and specialty cars in the closet that Shane had saved from his own childhood. While I wasn't looking, he swiped them all. Later that day when I went to tuck him in for a nap, I saw 6 or 7 little cars mixed in his crib sheets. He had stashed them there through the slats in the crib for safe keeping to play with at nap time. He can delay gratification for sure as that was several hours after the fact. He isn't as revealing about his planning as Annabelle, but oh the wheels are turning fast in that little mind. Ha ha! (there was no way he could've carried all the cars into his room from Shane's room in one trip..hmm)
He is still so affectionate. Annabelle tolerates my frequent kisses and hugs, but little Cade comes looking for them! That little guy knows how to give "good love squeezing" too while he's holding onto you! haha! Good thing I'll be the only woman in his life! LOL
Little Abigail is making so much progress! Therapy is going great! She's been sitting up so well for about 6 wks and is now working on trying to learn to crawl. Learning to crawl is harder for babies with Down's syndrome than learning to walk, per her therapist. But it's extremely connected to cognitive development and must be learned. The goal was originally to help her accomplish crawling by her 1st birthday in May. Her therapist told me last week it will most likely be before then. God is so good! I was just smiling, and then......I realized... that I will have 3 that will not stay where you put them. Wow!
She has started giggling more and it just melts me! She never seems to mind how ridiculously much I snuggle on her little neck and hold her tight to me! Really, one might think its just over the top, but she just feels so good! As her Aunt Sylvia once exclaimed, (with teeth clenched as I do)" How do you keep from just eating her"? I'm sure Abigail feels the same way about her Aunt! ;)
Some days are quite hectic and challenging although I would never trade it. I have fought so hard to keep the gift of clarity and wisdom from what I call "the other side"..the place where we were. With no toys in the house and no little feet pattering around, and no little giggles. We had tried for over 2 yrs to have the babies and it was so saddening to think it might not ever happen. Today was one of those days that the Lord brought someone across my path to shapen that clarity again. A manager at Toys R us walked me out with the twins and Abigail ( I think to really just play with them as I only had one puzzle to carry from an exchange). We chatted about how close in age they all were and about Abigail's Down Syndrome. (everyone says I never meet a stranger). After a few minutes, she blurted out that she had never been able to have children. She and her husband had tried for quite a while with no success. He then died. By the time she had remarried, she stated the time had passed and just shrugged her shoulders. She said that was why she worked there, to see children. We continued to have light conversation, but my mind had gotten stuck there. Big tears rolled down my cheeks as I pulled out. What a different hand life had dealt her. She seemed at peace with it, and I'm hoping she was blessed in other ways, but it pulled deeply at my heart. I drove by the office and then on to the park for a quick playtime in the sunshine with the rest of the world. I usually strap Abigail to me and can corral the other two into a general area. The playground is large and fenced but with so many people there today, my comfort level was out of whack. After 15 minutes I had decided the twins were wanting to play too far apart and it was becoming stressful. I had given them the 5 minute notice, but I knew they would kick in the turbo to run from me and want to stay. I try to give them at least 45 minutes to play, so this was going to be way too short. My plan was flawlessly executed. I grabbed Annabelle off the swing, threw her on my right hip, walked by an unexpecting Cade, swooped him up on my left hip (like in an old western where someone is pulled up on a horse ;), and kept walking. Whew, nobody was upset or crying. So there I was, (in a state normal to me) with Abigail strapped on my chest, a 2yr old twin on each hip and (as I put in on FB), a million eyes on my back, as I left. One fellow jumped up to get the gate for me as I headed to the van and I wasn't sure if I saw admiration of my skills or just a freakish pitying panic in his expression. Who cares, after my afternoon visit with that manager, I could've walked home with them hanging on me!
Love to all!
Rebecca
Soon I will blog about Miss Darby in Argentina. My heart has been too full of missing her to "go there" recently! ;)
We missed Darby terribly as she is in Argentina for her study abroad semester!
Friday, January 21, 2011
So nice to relax on the couch this evening and know that we have a couple of days ahead that Jamie will get to be with us all and enjoy some family time!
Today was full of steady errands. The sweet babies all enjoyed a nice warm bath and good nap this morning before scooting around town. We arrived at Shane' s school to be welcomed by many large eyes as the double mountain buggy stroller and baby carrier paraded through the doorway! Shane is so precious and had explained that before our conference that he should meet me at the door to assist! He's so thoughtful and didn't mind pushing the stroller through the highschool halls. Not many 16yr old boys have that heart! Our world is definitely quite different from those of others in his phase of life! ;) So glad he loves these little ones! I was so proud when he approached me the other day and mentioned that he was interested in starting a non profit group to help those in need ( he spoke specifically about those with special needs, even Down's) It was precious to see him step further into this beautiful world that Abigail has introduced to us! Just to see a larger vision emerge in him to intertwine with his incredible thoughtfulness and rare heart. I love that boy beyond words!! By the time we left, there were several people who had gathered around us chatting and asking questions due to what I call the "shock and awe" effect we tend to create. ha ha!
We continued to run around and finally get back in the afternoon in time for their second nap! A rather uneventful day but always exciting with this many! We enjoyed wrapping the evening up with two little ones dancing on their stage ( the fireplace hearth) in a rather cute sway and bounce. Cade left the stage at one point to which Annabelle called him back and pointed next to her. He returned as a good brother would! Their little personalities are peeking out even more! It's such fun to watch! I had put Abigail on our bed earlier today while I was on the phone sitting next to her! Shane had rescued Annabelle from her nap and she climbed up on the bed and lay her little head on Abigail's tummy. Abigail found this rather funny and giggled at her! This went on for some time with Annabelle picking her head up to watch the baby laugh and then putting it down to make more giggles come! It was the first time that Abigail responded with so much enthusiasm. Usually its just with a smile or coo! It clearly tickled them both! My precious girls!
Abigail did have a great appointment with the opthamologist the other day! He said everything looked perfect. No issues! He doesn't even believe that she will need glasses at a young age. That was nice but of course we were so relieved that there were no cataracts, glaucoma, or issues with the function or structure of the eye! It's truly amazing all the testing these little angels undergo with the Down's diagnosis. I am learning that my heart feels the struggle of all children we know with Down's and their parents, even though Abigail may not share the same struggles in certain health areas so far. This common thread among families, mothers, fathers, grandparents, friends, of those whose lives are impacted by someone who has Down's Syndrome is very strange and hard to confine to words. There is such a bond, yet an awareness that our loved ones have many similarities as well as many differences..and what a celebration all of those are!
Abigial just melted me again tonight (she does on almost a daily basis) as she has developed some precious routines. I have trained all my other babies to be placed in their beds at a designated bedtime, after teethbrushing, praying, favorite lullaby cd, etc. They all have thrived on it. However, with my sweet Abigail, I have preferred to hold her close and let her play with my hair until she falls asleep..which only takes a few minutes! The way she does it is priceless. She starts up high on my hair and gets strands between every finger. She then slowly and gently pulls her fingers down through my long hair, eases her fingers out at the bottom, and then starts up high again. It's all so gentle and for lack of a better description, "very controlled". Sometimes she will stop at the ends and pull it close on her cheek to rub around. Oh my, I may never cut my hair. We first noticed this start with her Aunt Sylvia during a visit, but I didn't realize how it would develop. It's amazingly nurturing to me! Wow, I thought I was supposed to be comforting to her! ;) I guess it's just a small part of the many surprises the Lord sends me through her! Such a simple thing...that reaches to my soul! :)
Yesterday was a one of those "smiling but tired" days! Jamie felt it too. I knew he was feeling it too because as we tucked the twins in for bed, he started his bedtime prayer with , "Dear Lord, we thank you for this food. Bless his heart, he stopped, and looked up at me with a strained smile, and exclaimed, "I'm so tired". we got a good little snicker and I do believe he was in bed pretty soon after. Some days are just like that! ;)
There are so many other funny stories but now I am very tired as it's gotten late. lol! I will try to get more of them into the blog in the next few days.
Love to all!
Today was full of steady errands. The sweet babies all enjoyed a nice warm bath and good nap this morning before scooting around town. We arrived at Shane' s school to be welcomed by many large eyes as the double mountain buggy stroller and baby carrier paraded through the doorway! Shane is so precious and had explained that before our conference that he should meet me at the door to assist! He's so thoughtful and didn't mind pushing the stroller through the highschool halls. Not many 16yr old boys have that heart! Our world is definitely quite different from those of others in his phase of life! ;) So glad he loves these little ones! I was so proud when he approached me the other day and mentioned that he was interested in starting a non profit group to help those in need ( he spoke specifically about those with special needs, even Down's) It was precious to see him step further into this beautiful world that Abigail has introduced to us! Just to see a larger vision emerge in him to intertwine with his incredible thoughtfulness and rare heart. I love that boy beyond words!! By the time we left, there were several people who had gathered around us chatting and asking questions due to what I call the "shock and awe" effect we tend to create. ha ha!
We continued to run around and finally get back in the afternoon in time for their second nap! A rather uneventful day but always exciting with this many! We enjoyed wrapping the evening up with two little ones dancing on their stage ( the fireplace hearth) in a rather cute sway and bounce. Cade left the stage at one point to which Annabelle called him back and pointed next to her. He returned as a good brother would! Their little personalities are peeking out even more! It's such fun to watch! I had put Abigail on our bed earlier today while I was on the phone sitting next to her! Shane had rescued Annabelle from her nap and she climbed up on the bed and lay her little head on Abigail's tummy. Abigail found this rather funny and giggled at her! This went on for some time with Annabelle picking her head up to watch the baby laugh and then putting it down to make more giggles come! It was the first time that Abigail responded with so much enthusiasm. Usually its just with a smile or coo! It clearly tickled them both! My precious girls!
Abigail did have a great appointment with the opthamologist the other day! He said everything looked perfect. No issues! He doesn't even believe that she will need glasses at a young age. That was nice but of course we were so relieved that there were no cataracts, glaucoma, or issues with the function or structure of the eye! It's truly amazing all the testing these little angels undergo with the Down's diagnosis. I am learning that my heart feels the struggle of all children we know with Down's and their parents, even though Abigail may not share the same struggles in certain health areas so far. This common thread among families, mothers, fathers, grandparents, friends, of those whose lives are impacted by someone who has Down's Syndrome is very strange and hard to confine to words. There is such a bond, yet an awareness that our loved ones have many similarities as well as many differences..and what a celebration all of those are!
Abigial just melted me again tonight (she does on almost a daily basis) as she has developed some precious routines. I have trained all my other babies to be placed in their beds at a designated bedtime, after teethbrushing, praying, favorite lullaby cd, etc. They all have thrived on it. However, with my sweet Abigail, I have preferred to hold her close and let her play with my hair until she falls asleep..which only takes a few minutes! The way she does it is priceless. She starts up high on my hair and gets strands between every finger. She then slowly and gently pulls her fingers down through my long hair, eases her fingers out at the bottom, and then starts up high again. It's all so gentle and for lack of a better description, "very controlled". Sometimes she will stop at the ends and pull it close on her cheek to rub around. Oh my, I may never cut my hair. We first noticed this start with her Aunt Sylvia during a visit, but I didn't realize how it would develop. It's amazingly nurturing to me! Wow, I thought I was supposed to be comforting to her! ;) I guess it's just a small part of the many surprises the Lord sends me through her! Such a simple thing...that reaches to my soul! :)
Yesterday was a one of those "smiling but tired" days! Jamie felt it too. I knew he was feeling it too because as we tucked the twins in for bed, he started his bedtime prayer with , "Dear Lord, we thank you for this food. Bless his heart, he stopped, and looked up at me with a strained smile, and exclaimed, "I'm so tired". we got a good little snicker and I do believe he was in bed pretty soon after. Some days are just like that! ;)
There are so many other funny stories but now I am very tired as it's gotten late. lol! I will try to get more of them into the blog in the next few days.
Love to all!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Snowpocolypse 2011!
My goodness...We can't recall a time when we had snow on the ground for such a long time in Atlanta! It's finally almost all gone now, but since my last post, there has been up to 5 inches around our house! It was especially fun in the beginning! Such beauty and that quiet stillness during that first night as the soft snow came down! The silence was broken fairly early the next day by all the children's squeals and laughter as they hurled snowballs and tried to steer their little sleds down the hills as best they could ( remember, these are precious Southern children..sledding is not a common past time) :). Unfortunately on the first day, little Hadley drove her sled right in to a mailbox after navigating our hill. She was alright, thank goodness! The twins (and mommy and daddy) were right out there sledding with them all! Such fun. Jamie actually went around knocking on doors gathering all the kids and parents so that we could enjoy eachother's company just as we had during the spring and summer evenings on Waldenbrooke Ct. It was a wonderful time! All the kids were on alert to hear about each following day's continued cold temperatures and that breath holding moment when the news reporters would get to the C's in their alphabetical listing of school closings! Cobb County was out from Monday to Friday! Then of course the following Monday was MLK day so even an extra day off! There was the daily ritual of sledding down our hill and the Edward's, as those are pretty much the only ones in the neighborhood! This snow storm brought ice on top of the snow so the sledding was a bit more dangerous. Cade wiped out and scratched his little face up pretty badly! Finally we all opted to sled on the road instead as the hills were just too fast!. Each morning, I would hear this little knock and by the time I could get to the foyer I would see at least 4-5 children with big smiles bursting to ask to borrow our sleds and hill! We loved it! The twins could only stay out a little while, and when they went in for a nap, Daddy and Shane would join the other bigger kids and played so hard that you couldn't distinquish the difference between them! One young lady ( whose father is quite the outdoor enthusiast) came zooming down the road on her fourwheeler pulling a huge inflatable that would normally be pulled behind a boat! Upon realizing that she was having a hard time pulling the kids on it, she disappeared, only to return on a bigger fourwheeler! ha ha! the children loved it! Sweet days when no one could go anywhere, but just all be together! I think we kept a continual fire everyday, and wore out the chile recipes and brownie mix! All the neighborhood ladies are so good about sharing groceries when one is out of something! I think we all owed eachother something (not that anyone ever expects anything in return) by the time the snow was gone! I saw eggs and milk swapping hands on the street! What a sweet place to live! I must say that after the week, we were all a bit ready to explore a little farther than the neighborhood! ( not even any mail to retrieve for the week) It was a bit humorous to observe human nature. The men ( all of us actually) had a great need to be productive after so many days of sluffing off the schedule and work, so at the same time, they all started shoveling the driveways! The same father, Jerry, who is the outdoor guru, brought out his bobcat and cleared his driveway, then the street, then the entrance..the children still seemed to plead, "please, no", but it was time! We were all relieved as most the neighborhoods around had terrible streets through the weekend. The whole storm has been dubbed "Snowpocolypse 2011". Quite an adventure! I can't believe it was the twins' 5th time seeing snow in their little lifetimes ( although one time was while we were in Scottish Rite with Cade and there was no opportunity to play).
Shane was extrememely happy to get back to school yesterday! Since he had been out half the week before the storm due to the flu, he had endured about as much home time as anyone could take!;) Although he never complained, I could just tell! I do remember what it was like to be a teenager and be cut off from friends and the social life. LOL! At least this generation has facebook and cell phones! It was really different all those years ago when I was his age! He is staying after school for football conditioning every day and has that pained look upon entering the door from all the soreness! He's such a wonderful young man! I'm so glad he always has time for hugs and mom's affection. Last night I went up[ to do my final covering up of the babies and he had already beat me to it. So sweet!
Darby finally was able to get on a flight back from UNC, where she had been visiting Jared! I didn't think she was going to make it back for some time! She got to play in the residual snow with the twins for a bit! She had never been home during any of the previous snows to enjoy the sledding or events with them! So good to have her around! We're trying to prepare our hearts to say goodbye to her on February 3rd as she heads off to Argentina and Peru for her study abroad! Goodness, how we will miss her! Thank goodness for skype! She got her typhoid and yellow fever vaccines yesterday! Another trip to the dentist and I think we'll be close to wrapping up the to do list!
The little ones have been active and seem as ready to get out as all of us! We went for a ride on Sunday and decided to go by the park. Even though it was cold, there were a ton of people there, attempting to cure their families of cabin fever :) Annabelle cried as we left! We promised we would come back soon! The rain now has moved in yesterday and today..hard to get a break with this weather. I do believe the Lord must be intending that all families work through any conflicts by spending time together. ha ha!
Annabelle's playtime is evolving and its a great gift to watch! She has started really playing with her baby dolls, not just loving on them! ( Jamie was afraid she might be making them fuss at eachother, Lord help us, we do "love loud" every now and then :) ha ha! On the contrary, she has been putting them in her little toy highchair (that Darby used for her dolls from her childhood) and in the stroller to push around the house! It is fun to see her interact with them. She holds them and sways as if she's trying to calm them, as I do Abigail. I love it! She also throroughly enjoys her chips and salsa still. We were so excited to use a Christmas gift card to the Mexican restaurant the other night and she kept saying "chips and sasa" as we were getting into the car to go. She could make a meal out of it! I still can't handle how spicy it is! Cade likes to go there for the balloons and teddy grahams! ha ha! Sweet times!
Annabelle will also now proudly tell you that she is "dada's girl". Oh my, Mother's just have to clean up the boo boo's I guess! Daddy's are everything else to their baby girls! However, we did have another slight show down between her and her dada! He was telling her it was time to take a nap the other day and she hesitated. She was having a simply wonderful time playing with her doodle pro ( like a the old etch-a- sketches) and didn't see the need to be interrupted! He called to her a couple of more times and when she realized that he wasn't going to give up, she very slowly tucked the pen back into its holder, cleared the screen, and tucked the toy away...as if to say, alright, now I am ready, therefore its okay! Again, Jamie couldn't help but smirk through the stern expression he was trying to give her! Sheez!
Cade has been a lot of fun! He keeps sneaking into areas where he knows he's not supposed to be. Someone inevitably leaves the study gate open and he's in there trying to crash the hard drive, or at least email the girl down the street ( just kidding, there will be no emailing any girl down the street, unless its to see when mommy's order of girl scout cookies will be in ;)! Annabelle came and tattled on him for the first time..she told me ," Cade bafnvejfnhow" I asked again, what? and got something similar...I finally figured out she was telling me he was in the bathroom and about to turn the sink on full blast while standing on his tippy toes and stool! Well at least I'll have another pair of eyes on him, unless she's teaming up with him! He was just precious last night at dinner..for whatever reason he acted like he wasn't hungry when we all were seated at the table. he got a bit fussy, so we put him down out of his booster seat and told him there would be no other food that night! After we prayed and he had meandered in the den for a couple of minutes, he returned, no doubt led by his little tummy, and we put him back in the seat. He saw us all eating and got upset. He put his hands together and wanted everyone to pray. He thought we had skipped that part and wanted it corrected! We had to pray again to make him happy and went on with dinner! Such a silly little one! He still has a terrible habit of standing right in front of the tv. It's a 52inch, so its not like he can't see it..In fact, I don't think he can from that close of a range. We keep telling him to back up ( sounding like our parents ), but it happens again everyday. Oh my! Well, we'll keep working on some of these things! :)
Little Abigail is my sunshine! She enjoys being sung to and of course, being held still! She can pull the biggest smile out and smack you with it at any time! What a blessing as it has changed the course of my day many times! She is sitting so well and playing with her toys! The physical therapist told me that I just don't know how phenomenal it is for her to be doing all that she is at this point! I'm so proud for her! We have another opthamologist appointment for her tomorrow! I expect it will go well! We see the ENT again on Feb 2nd! I'm sure it will be time to prepare for tubes in her little ears, but at least that will be her first surgery. ( amazing for a baby with Down's). She has started giggling more when I blow on her neck and snuggle into it! It's so cute! She is pure joy! I could just breathe her in constantly! I don't know how we got so lucky to have her!
Well, nap time is almost over, so I think I'll have a quick cup of coffee and start working on clean up and dinner! Love to all!
Shane was extrememely happy to get back to school yesterday! Since he had been out half the week before the storm due to the flu, he had endured about as much home time as anyone could take!;) Although he never complained, I could just tell! I do remember what it was like to be a teenager and be cut off from friends and the social life. LOL! At least this generation has facebook and cell phones! It was really different all those years ago when I was his age! He is staying after school for football conditioning every day and has that pained look upon entering the door from all the soreness! He's such a wonderful young man! I'm so glad he always has time for hugs and mom's affection. Last night I went up[ to do my final covering up of the babies and he had already beat me to it. So sweet!
Darby finally was able to get on a flight back from UNC, where she had been visiting Jared! I didn't think she was going to make it back for some time! She got to play in the residual snow with the twins for a bit! She had never been home during any of the previous snows to enjoy the sledding or events with them! So good to have her around! We're trying to prepare our hearts to say goodbye to her on February 3rd as she heads off to Argentina and Peru for her study abroad! Goodness, how we will miss her! Thank goodness for skype! She got her typhoid and yellow fever vaccines yesterday! Another trip to the dentist and I think we'll be close to wrapping up the to do list!
The little ones have been active and seem as ready to get out as all of us! We went for a ride on Sunday and decided to go by the park. Even though it was cold, there were a ton of people there, attempting to cure their families of cabin fever :) Annabelle cried as we left! We promised we would come back soon! The rain now has moved in yesterday and today..hard to get a break with this weather. I do believe the Lord must be intending that all families work through any conflicts by spending time together. ha ha!
Annabelle's playtime is evolving and its a great gift to watch! She has started really playing with her baby dolls, not just loving on them! ( Jamie was afraid she might be making them fuss at eachother, Lord help us, we do "love loud" every now and then :) ha ha! On the contrary, she has been putting them in her little toy highchair (that Darby used for her dolls from her childhood) and in the stroller to push around the house! It is fun to see her interact with them. She holds them and sways as if she's trying to calm them, as I do Abigail. I love it! She also throroughly enjoys her chips and salsa still. We were so excited to use a Christmas gift card to the Mexican restaurant the other night and she kept saying "chips and sasa" as we were getting into the car to go. She could make a meal out of it! I still can't handle how spicy it is! Cade likes to go there for the balloons and teddy grahams! ha ha! Sweet times!
Annabelle will also now proudly tell you that she is "dada's girl". Oh my, Mother's just have to clean up the boo boo's I guess! Daddy's are everything else to their baby girls! However, we did have another slight show down between her and her dada! He was telling her it was time to take a nap the other day and she hesitated. She was having a simply wonderful time playing with her doodle pro ( like a the old etch-a- sketches) and didn't see the need to be interrupted! He called to her a couple of more times and when she realized that he wasn't going to give up, she very slowly tucked the pen back into its holder, cleared the screen, and tucked the toy away...as if to say, alright, now I am ready, therefore its okay! Again, Jamie couldn't help but smirk through the stern expression he was trying to give her! Sheez!
Cade has been a lot of fun! He keeps sneaking into areas where he knows he's not supposed to be. Someone inevitably leaves the study gate open and he's in there trying to crash the hard drive, or at least email the girl down the street ( just kidding, there will be no emailing any girl down the street, unless its to see when mommy's order of girl scout cookies will be in ;)! Annabelle came and tattled on him for the first time..she told me ," Cade bafnvejfnhow" I asked again, what? and got something similar...I finally figured out she was telling me he was in the bathroom and about to turn the sink on full blast while standing on his tippy toes and stool! Well at least I'll have another pair of eyes on him, unless she's teaming up with him! He was just precious last night at dinner..for whatever reason he acted like he wasn't hungry when we all were seated at the table. he got a bit fussy, so we put him down out of his booster seat and told him there would be no other food that night! After we prayed and he had meandered in the den for a couple of minutes, he returned, no doubt led by his little tummy, and we put him back in the seat. He saw us all eating and got upset. He put his hands together and wanted everyone to pray. He thought we had skipped that part and wanted it corrected! We had to pray again to make him happy and went on with dinner! Such a silly little one! He still has a terrible habit of standing right in front of the tv. It's a 52inch, so its not like he can't see it..In fact, I don't think he can from that close of a range. We keep telling him to back up ( sounding like our parents ), but it happens again everyday. Oh my! Well, we'll keep working on some of these things! :)
Little Abigail is my sunshine! She enjoys being sung to and of course, being held still! She can pull the biggest smile out and smack you with it at any time! What a blessing as it has changed the course of my day many times! She is sitting so well and playing with her toys! The physical therapist told me that I just don't know how phenomenal it is for her to be doing all that she is at this point! I'm so proud for her! We have another opthamologist appointment for her tomorrow! I expect it will go well! We see the ENT again on Feb 2nd! I'm sure it will be time to prepare for tubes in her little ears, but at least that will be her first surgery. ( amazing for a baby with Down's). She has started giggling more when I blow on her neck and snuggle into it! It's so cute! She is pure joy! I could just breathe her in constantly! I don't know how we got so lucky to have her!
Well, nap time is almost over, so I think I'll have a quick cup of coffee and start working on clean up and dinner! Love to all!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Again, the bustle of all the holidays has kept me from posting! It has been a precious time that I'm so grateful for! We continued to enjoy lots of family time as Christmas drew closer. We decided to take the children down to see the Lights of Life display at Life University. They so enjoyed it although it was bitter cold and windy. We rolled the windows down and heard constant oohs and ahhs and "prippy" (aka pretty) from Annabelle and "more more" from Cade! We got so tickled..it was a great present to us to remember how exciting the beautiful lights are to children seeing them for the first time.
We enjoyed so many things about the season. It was quite an event to take the children to the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church. As I've mentioned before, we've had such strict doctor's orders to keep Cade out of the nursery, so the bigger and more crowded the services, the harder it is to go and keep 22 mth twins and a baby from getting too excited. Its so hard to express how grateful we are for all we have been blessed with!
I know I will remember so much later that I should've included, so it may take a few entries to get it all down. :) We had a very quick but great visit with Harvey and Barbara on Christmas Eve before the church service. They are so precious to us! Barbara seems to find the perfect things for the children (and everyone). She started the twins book collection before they were ever born and continued to add to it this year! She is amazingly thoughtful- so is Harvey! ;) She showed the babies all her "special decorations" that sang and danced and lit up! I was on hand patrol as each one was more magnificent to each of them! She tenderly taught them how to press little buttons and make things work. They amaze me how they've adapted as our world became quite busy and have welcomed these three little ones! It was so good to see them!
Christmas Day was so sweet! We had all the children here (all 5) and just enjoyed our time together. The twins were so excited but a bit overwhelmed as to why they should discard the first present and then move to the next. So we realized it would be better to open gifts in phases. 1 or 2 at first, then after a few hours, another couple, etc. It seemed to help. Their favorite items from Santa were: Annabelle- a rocking horse that neighs and makes sounds- of course, she loves horses! and Cade: a huge tonka firetruck that doesn't light up or anything..its the classic old fashioned one- he was so excited. They didn't open those until late in the afternoon. Abigail just seemed to love the lights and interaction with everyone! We had yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast and a crock pot roast with potatoes and carrots to eat throughout the day! Of course there was birthday cake for dessert! ( Jesus and I, you know) I mean that in the most reverent way, I'm truly humbled to be born on a day that historically such amazing love and sacrifice was expressed! It was just low key and relaxing! As if the day had not been wonderful enough, we got an extra present in the form of the first White Chrtistmas in Atlanta since the 1880's. How beautifully fitting that it was Abigail's first Christmas and first snow! We borrowed our sweet neighbors' sled and had a terrific afternoon in the heavy snow! The twins were about to drop but kept wanting to go "again"! We let them unwind in a nice warm bath when it was over!
We headed out to Florida the day after Christmas to visit our family down there! Ma Carrie is unchanging and steadfast in her sweet spirit and open arms that feel just the way they did the last time they embraced you and sent you home- along with that walking, hand on you, praying over your safe travel that she does while you're making your way to the door to leave! Oh, how I can't wait to get to her house every time we go! It's not that its magnificent by the world's standards, although it's very nice, it's just that it's so filled with her love and rich memories and family! Her kitchen walls, her refigerator, and her hallways are filled ( I'm not kidding, with family 8X10 pictures from all the years: weddings ( of those still married and those not- whom she would sweetly host in a minute), senior portraits, familt portraits,- back to her own parents and siblings. ) - My kinda girl!!!! She wouldn't dare want anyone to not be displayed there! She prays over us all continually! What a tremendous comfort, because if God ever heard anyone's prayers, it's Ma Carrie's ;) Little joke, So grateful He hears all of us ;), but she lives out His mercy and grace daily and encourages those around her as they walk this life! She's someone you can't imagine not having encountered! Make no mistake, the woman has more internal and external strength than anyone you'd ever meet! (nevermind that she's about to be 93 in Feb)! I think I've mentioned her before in my blogs, but I could just go on and on about her! I do so hope to keep a spirit like hers, along with her since of humor, though my life!
Anyway, it was such fun to see Daddy ( Jamie's) and Sue Sue and of course Sylvia and and Kevin and everyone! I unfortunately started feeling a bit congested the second day we were there! Little did I know where that would lead! The twins remembered everyone and warmed up quickly! Jamie's mom and Aunt Betty and Aunt Linda came over and had a nice visit with the twins too! Lots of good visiting and yummy food - always at Ma Carrie's! A week of that and I brought home a few extra pounds! ;( but it was worth it! As Thursday night approached, one by one, I was up rocking feverish babies. Thank goodness Jamie's Daddy was able to get to the store and get us some Children's ibuprofen when we thought there was a chance they might be getting sick.. In a small town the stores still close early. Not a Walmart close by! LOL! I love it for that reason! Anyway, it was a wonderful time despite the sickness! Friday morning we pulled out quickly and headed back to the ATL! We made record time coming home and unloaded only to reload in 15 minutes ot head to Children's @ Scottish Rite! Annabelle had a 104.2 fever and Cade and Abigail weren't far behind around her with 102. Lots of tests and a chest xray for Cade all to result in the flu for all and an ear infection for Abigail! I never had a fever but had bronchitis so that was 4 of us down! By Saturday, Jamie started feeling sick and by Wednesday, I had all babies and Shane back at the doctor. Flu still for everyone..so 6 of us down. Darby attended the huge Passion conference in Atlanta the 4 days after we got home and is in NC now or would be sick I'm sure! Wow! We are all finally starting to get over it after all this time! So much for the flu shot! We have left a trail as Jamie's daddy is sick and my mom who babysat for me to go to the doctor now has it! Pooh...I feel so bad for sharing! Way to ring in the new year with Tamiflu and a Z pack!
We have had sweet little things happen during the time we've all been at home too! At dinner each night, Jamie, Shane, and I hold hands and pray before we eat. We have just now adjusted the booster seats to allow the twins to sit at the table instead of next to it. last night, Annabelle started to put her hands together as she normally would, but during my prayer she reached over and grabbed her Daddy's hand to hold. Oh my, I saw some watery eyes! So precious!
She has been a bit funny too! In the past when we would ask who has a dirty diaper, she always would say, "It's Cade"! Poor defenseless little fellow, we would go right to him. Usually it was her, so we stopped falling for it! I asked the other day again, and this time she didn't miss a beat as she replied, "Ahhgail"! The poor baby has now been sucked in! Silly girl!
She does have a strong, stubborn side for sure! As she and her Daddy were getting up from a nap today, she wanted them to both go into the den right then! daddy wanted to wash his hands and take a minute. She started fussing and he got a bit frustrated (we don't always do the sick thing all that well). Anyway, he wanted her to apologize for fussing at him. She was not going to! Oh my, this went on for some time. He finally had to go to home depot and was asking her nicely ot apologize. She still wouldn't and waved bye to him! While he was gone, I had called my parents and they were talking to the twins on speaker phone. I guess she warmed up and wanted me to call him after we got off. I did and got his voice mail. She was spouting out, "hi Daddy, I sorry" but it didn't record at the right time. He called us back in a few minutes and she apologized several times. He did too and told her he loved her! ( I was realizing at 23 mths today, she came up with all this by herself....refusing to apologize, then missing him, figuring out I could get him on the phone, apologizing because she was ready, and greeting him with hugs and more apologies when he got home) I'm so in trouble! It was a bit humorous to see...well.....I'll just let it go!
She did spend the rest of her evening charming us as we stumbled across a movie called "The Dreamer" with Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell! It was a great little movie about a girl, her horse, and a long shot at the breeder's cup! A great watch if anyone's looking for a family flick! Anyway, she got so excited everytime the horse would be on the screen! She would say "neigh" and dance! When the horse was racing she squealed, danced and clapped her hands! It was so precious! After the movie ended she kept clapping and smiled at us! She was so happy and went and climbed on her rocking horse and rode her little heart out! Pure kissable moment!
Cade man has cracked us up too! He loves that the gate in front of the fireplace is gone now that the Christmas decorations are gone. I had kept pillows in front of it before, but hadn't put them back yet. ( I just got all the 6 trees and tons of stuff down finally by the 7th. With 3 sick babies, it was a little at a time!) Anyway, he loves to stand on the fireplace as if it's his stage and the world is his audience. He has furthered his charming little smile and knows it! I can't count the number of times I grab him and kiss him though the day! He loves his cars and trucks and books about them both! He and Annabelle love to play chase and have the best time! (my sister called me shortly after we got home and was babysitting Allie! She was a bit perplexed and asked me how do you keep a 2 and 1 1/2 yr old entertained. To which I replied, "with a twin"! LOL.. and its true!) This is a time that twins are easier than a singleton. I hear them laughing and playing so much daily..as as long as they don't turn their minds to mischeif, it's so great! :)
He also has been standing on the couch as if it were a stage! When we tell him to sit, there pops that little grin again! Silly thing! He still sings the same way..."larwl, lawrl, lawrl" It's so funny! He does have the most loving little heart! He stops and loves on Abigail randomly just because! He's very tender! He hands out kisses much more freely than his twin!
He enjoys bouncing around in the huge inflatable jumper Santa brought them! Such a boy!
I've got to wrap up as it's after midnight and there is more than 2 and 1/2 inches of snow on the ground already. I'll need energy for playing tomorrow! I can't believe we've got snow again already! Such fun!
Love to all!
We enjoyed so many things about the season. It was quite an event to take the children to the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church. As I've mentioned before, we've had such strict doctor's orders to keep Cade out of the nursery, so the bigger and more crowded the services, the harder it is to go and keep 22 mth twins and a baby from getting too excited. Its so hard to express how grateful we are for all we have been blessed with!
I know I will remember so much later that I should've included, so it may take a few entries to get it all down. :) We had a very quick but great visit with Harvey and Barbara on Christmas Eve before the church service. They are so precious to us! Barbara seems to find the perfect things for the children (and everyone). She started the twins book collection before they were ever born and continued to add to it this year! She is amazingly thoughtful- so is Harvey! ;) She showed the babies all her "special decorations" that sang and danced and lit up! I was on hand patrol as each one was more magnificent to each of them! She tenderly taught them how to press little buttons and make things work. They amaze me how they've adapted as our world became quite busy and have welcomed these three little ones! It was so good to see them!
Christmas Day was so sweet! We had all the children here (all 5) and just enjoyed our time together. The twins were so excited but a bit overwhelmed as to why they should discard the first present and then move to the next. So we realized it would be better to open gifts in phases. 1 or 2 at first, then after a few hours, another couple, etc. It seemed to help. Their favorite items from Santa were: Annabelle- a rocking horse that neighs and makes sounds- of course, she loves horses! and Cade: a huge tonka firetruck that doesn't light up or anything..its the classic old fashioned one- he was so excited. They didn't open those until late in the afternoon. Abigail just seemed to love the lights and interaction with everyone! We had yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast and a crock pot roast with potatoes and carrots to eat throughout the day! Of course there was birthday cake for dessert! ( Jesus and I, you know) I mean that in the most reverent way, I'm truly humbled to be born on a day that historically such amazing love and sacrifice was expressed! It was just low key and relaxing! As if the day had not been wonderful enough, we got an extra present in the form of the first White Chrtistmas in Atlanta since the 1880's. How beautifully fitting that it was Abigail's first Christmas and first snow! We borrowed our sweet neighbors' sled and had a terrific afternoon in the heavy snow! The twins were about to drop but kept wanting to go "again"! We let them unwind in a nice warm bath when it was over!
We headed out to Florida the day after Christmas to visit our family down there! Ma Carrie is unchanging and steadfast in her sweet spirit and open arms that feel just the way they did the last time they embraced you and sent you home- along with that walking, hand on you, praying over your safe travel that she does while you're making your way to the door to leave! Oh, how I can't wait to get to her house every time we go! It's not that its magnificent by the world's standards, although it's very nice, it's just that it's so filled with her love and rich memories and family! Her kitchen walls, her refigerator, and her hallways are filled ( I'm not kidding, with family 8X10 pictures from all the years: weddings ( of those still married and those not- whom she would sweetly host in a minute), senior portraits, familt portraits,- back to her own parents and siblings. ) - My kinda girl!!!! She wouldn't dare want anyone to not be displayed there! She prays over us all continually! What a tremendous comfort, because if God ever heard anyone's prayers, it's Ma Carrie's ;) Little joke, So grateful He hears all of us ;), but she lives out His mercy and grace daily and encourages those around her as they walk this life! She's someone you can't imagine not having encountered! Make no mistake, the woman has more internal and external strength than anyone you'd ever meet! (nevermind that she's about to be 93 in Feb)! I think I've mentioned her before in my blogs, but I could just go on and on about her! I do so hope to keep a spirit like hers, along with her since of humor, though my life!
Anyway, it was such fun to see Daddy ( Jamie's) and Sue Sue and of course Sylvia and and Kevin and everyone! I unfortunately started feeling a bit congested the second day we were there! Little did I know where that would lead! The twins remembered everyone and warmed up quickly! Jamie's mom and Aunt Betty and Aunt Linda came over and had a nice visit with the twins too! Lots of good visiting and yummy food - always at Ma Carrie's! A week of that and I brought home a few extra pounds! ;( but it was worth it! As Thursday night approached, one by one, I was up rocking feverish babies. Thank goodness Jamie's Daddy was able to get to the store and get us some Children's ibuprofen when we thought there was a chance they might be getting sick.. In a small town the stores still close early. Not a Walmart close by! LOL! I love it for that reason! Anyway, it was a wonderful time despite the sickness! Friday morning we pulled out quickly and headed back to the ATL! We made record time coming home and unloaded only to reload in 15 minutes ot head to Children's @ Scottish Rite! Annabelle had a 104.2 fever and Cade and Abigail weren't far behind around her with 102. Lots of tests and a chest xray for Cade all to result in the flu for all and an ear infection for Abigail! I never had a fever but had bronchitis so that was 4 of us down! By Saturday, Jamie started feeling sick and by Wednesday, I had all babies and Shane back at the doctor. Flu still for everyone..so 6 of us down. Darby attended the huge Passion conference in Atlanta the 4 days after we got home and is in NC now or would be sick I'm sure! Wow! We are all finally starting to get over it after all this time! So much for the flu shot! We have left a trail as Jamie's daddy is sick and my mom who babysat for me to go to the doctor now has it! Pooh...I feel so bad for sharing! Way to ring in the new year with Tamiflu and a Z pack!
We have had sweet little things happen during the time we've all been at home too! At dinner each night, Jamie, Shane, and I hold hands and pray before we eat. We have just now adjusted the booster seats to allow the twins to sit at the table instead of next to it. last night, Annabelle started to put her hands together as she normally would, but during my prayer she reached over and grabbed her Daddy's hand to hold. Oh my, I saw some watery eyes! So precious!
She has been a bit funny too! In the past when we would ask who has a dirty diaper, she always would say, "It's Cade"! Poor defenseless little fellow, we would go right to him. Usually it was her, so we stopped falling for it! I asked the other day again, and this time she didn't miss a beat as she replied, "Ahhgail"! The poor baby has now been sucked in! Silly girl!
She does have a strong, stubborn side for sure! As she and her Daddy were getting up from a nap today, she wanted them to both go into the den right then! daddy wanted to wash his hands and take a minute. She started fussing and he got a bit frustrated (we don't always do the sick thing all that well). Anyway, he wanted her to apologize for fussing at him. She was not going to! Oh my, this went on for some time. He finally had to go to home depot and was asking her nicely ot apologize. She still wouldn't and waved bye to him! While he was gone, I had called my parents and they were talking to the twins on speaker phone. I guess she warmed up and wanted me to call him after we got off. I did and got his voice mail. She was spouting out, "hi Daddy, I sorry" but it didn't record at the right time. He called us back in a few minutes and she apologized several times. He did too and told her he loved her! ( I was realizing at 23 mths today, she came up with all this by herself....refusing to apologize, then missing him, figuring out I could get him on the phone, apologizing because she was ready, and greeting him with hugs and more apologies when he got home) I'm so in trouble! It was a bit humorous to see...well.....I'll just let it go!
She did spend the rest of her evening charming us as we stumbled across a movie called "The Dreamer" with Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell! It was a great little movie about a girl, her horse, and a long shot at the breeder's cup! A great watch if anyone's looking for a family flick! Anyway, she got so excited everytime the horse would be on the screen! She would say "neigh" and dance! When the horse was racing she squealed, danced and clapped her hands! It was so precious! After the movie ended she kept clapping and smiled at us! She was so happy and went and climbed on her rocking horse and rode her little heart out! Pure kissable moment!
Cade man has cracked us up too! He loves that the gate in front of the fireplace is gone now that the Christmas decorations are gone. I had kept pillows in front of it before, but hadn't put them back yet. ( I just got all the 6 trees and tons of stuff down finally by the 7th. With 3 sick babies, it was a little at a time!) Anyway, he loves to stand on the fireplace as if it's his stage and the world is his audience. He has furthered his charming little smile and knows it! I can't count the number of times I grab him and kiss him though the day! He loves his cars and trucks and books about them both! He and Annabelle love to play chase and have the best time! (my sister called me shortly after we got home and was babysitting Allie! She was a bit perplexed and asked me how do you keep a 2 and 1 1/2 yr old entertained. To which I replied, "with a twin"! LOL.. and its true!) This is a time that twins are easier than a singleton. I hear them laughing and playing so much daily..as as long as they don't turn their minds to mischeif, it's so great! :)
He also has been standing on the couch as if it were a stage! When we tell him to sit, there pops that little grin again! Silly thing! He still sings the same way..."larwl, lawrl, lawrl" It's so funny! He does have the most loving little heart! He stops and loves on Abigail randomly just because! He's very tender! He hands out kisses much more freely than his twin!
He enjoys bouncing around in the huge inflatable jumper Santa brought them! Such a boy!
I've got to wrap up as it's after midnight and there is more than 2 and 1/2 inches of snow on the ground already. I'll need energy for playing tomorrow! I can't believe we've got snow again already! Such fun!
Love to all!
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