We are scrambling around trying to get the last boxes packed and all the loose ends tied up. I think if I stopped long enough to think, I would cry....so I try not to think. The leaving of this house is going to be extremely emotional for me (and Cody, I'm sure, but naturally, he's alot less "weepy" about it) The kids started preschool this week, so that has been a welcome distraction for them. Don't ask me about what a loser I felt like on the first day back when I woke up and realized that I didn't even have anything to pack for their lunches. And when I grabbed the camera on the way out the door to take their picture that morning, I realized that the batteries were dead. Quick trip to Wal-mart after I dropped them off (thank goodness lunch wasn't for another 3 hours) and I returned with groceries and NO BATTERIES. Claire made a point to tell me that her "lunchbles" was good, but she prefers it when I make the normal ham and cheese cut in the shape of a dinosaur. I am normally the mom that makes the yummy lunch the night before, complete with a note in their lunch box or written on their banana, lays their clothes out the night before, and sends them to school with a homemade breakfast in their tummies. My entire life revolves around them, and things have been so crazy, I haven't even remembered to grocery shop. I'd say we were busy, but that's just my opinion. Maybe that is your life all the time. Or maybe, you just hate to grocery shop.
I've got to run....my "to do" list is calling. If I haven't returned and posted in a week, send a search party. The first place to look for me will be RiverCrest Mental Hospital.

I'm serious.

Sort of.

Se habla espanol

Just a small snippet of conversation from our weekend:

(gregory walks in our bedroom with a very serious look on his face)

Me: What's up sugar?

Gregory: Mom, how do you say BOOGER in Spanish?

Anyone have Dora's number? We need to track her down...

Who knew there were two 1 o'clocks in a day...?

It is 1 o'clock in the morning and I can't sleep. I keep thinking about tomorrow being the last day of summer...what can I possibly do with my children that is fun and memorable? Pack some more boxes...? I doubt that. It seems like that's all I've done this week. We are officially moving next weekend.
It is beyond insane. I think I am beyond insane to build a house.
Ask me in a year.
So, I must go look for something fun to do that doesn't include telling Gregory to get the box off of his baby sister's head.
Meredith will appreciate my effort.
Blessings for a great weekend!

And many more...on Channel 4...and Scooby Doo...on Channel 2

My heart swells with pride as I write this next sentence....Happy Birthday Bennett! For those of you that don't know, today is Bennett Mitchell Speck's first birthday. He is the amazing son of Kelly and Travis Speck, and he came into this world a fighter. We bathed him in prayer as he lay in the Georgetown NICU (in Washington,D.C.) and God was glorified moment by moment as He brought this little life from being the "sickest baby in the NICU" to the precious, boisterous little man that he is today. I know many of you that joined me in pleading to God Almighty for this baby, as he captured our hearts from the moment his name was first spoken.

I am so happy for my dear, precious friends Kell and Travis as they are able to celebrate their little boy today! Take a moment today and thank God for the Specks, and then thank Him for the way that He reveals Himself to us daily. His faithfulness is NEVER ENDING.

Happy Birthday tiny tiger!

Keeping the Sabbath Holy

17 hours and 4 plane trips later, Meredith and I returned to Sweetwater mostly unscathed. The doctors appointment was successful. The only problem he found was a small amount of congenital ptosis, which is a little bit of a drooping eyelid on her left side. Her eyesight seems perfect and we will check her again in a year. She will probably have surgery when she is getting ready to start school at the ripe age of 5, just to help the cosmetic part of having an eyelid that droops, but other than that, she is great. I knew that...I always appreciate it when other, smarter people tell me what I already know.

If you reside anywhere in the sheer vicinity of West Texas, you know that it has been raining for the last two days. It is blissful. Therefore, I will close this blog now because two things remain to be true: A) Anytime it rains, naps become essential and B) It is Sunday, therefore, it is biblical to rest.

Amen.

Fasten Your Seat Belt

Friday morning, Meredith and I will board a plane and head back to Houston to Texas Children's Hospital. She will be seeing a pediatric opthamologist for her left eye, as it is seemingly getting worse instead of better. Even as I type this post, I can feel the anxiety level rise in me as all of the emotions return from the roller coaster I was so happy to depart from...

I prepare myself mentally by researching and questioning all of the possibilities of what Dr. Stagekuller might say. I honestly believe that one of the reasons that I was so shaken by Meredith's possible diagnosis earlier this year was because of the sheer unexpectedness of it all. We were so caught off-guard by everything Dr. Clark (the original doctor that diagnosed Meredith's hemangiomas) said that I can just remember putting my hand up and asking him to "stop talking for just a moment" while I sat down and caught my breath. I have told Cody on countless occasions since then that I don't EVER want to feel that way again...about anything.

And so began this journey with God of letting go and trusting. I can research and question, prepare and ponder, but the bottom line is that I will never be able to control what that doctor, or any other doctor, will ever say about my daughter. I will never be able to control what path this journey takes me down. It has been an emotional trip so far, but one that has showed me nothing less than His complete FAITHFULNESS. I am, indeed, so grateful.

Friday morning, that flight attendant is going to ask me to buckle my seat belt. I will be happy to oblige, because with any good roller coaster, all you can do is cling to your Father, close your eyes in the scary parts, and most of all, hold on.......

Hide and Seek

My precious son's favorite game to play with me is "hide and seek". This morning, upon being asked what he would like to do special with mommy, undoubtedly this was his answer. We went through the normal routine of counting and searching, giggling, and chasing. He even told me at one point, "Mommy, you're a great hider..." Thanks, buddy. After hearing Gregory spout off ..."18, 19, 20! Ready or not, here I come!" for the 5th time in one hour, I sat back to catch my breath as he chased aimlessly around our home searching for his playmate. I thought about the excitement he shows when he does find me, and the look on his face when I discover him. It truly is priceless.

Before I became a mom, I heard one time that a parent's face should light up every time they see their child come into the room. I immediately thought to myself, "well, of course. why wouldn't they be happy to see their little one?" Now that I have my three, I find myself caught up in the reality of life. The reality of no sleep, temper tantrums, potty training, talking back, and so on. Reality that says if I hear the word, "mommy" addressed at me again in varying tones of voice and pitches, I will spontaneously com bust. But despite all of the realness of mommy hood, I still remind myself daily about that lesson that I learned so many years ago. Those babies don't understand the reality of this journey. They don't understand stress. They don't understand the 7 loads of laundry waiting to be folded and the dishes piling up in the sink that say, "don't play...come wash us..." They just understand that when they walk in the room, this mommy is excited to see them...even if we've only been apart for 3 minutes. And on those days when inevitably I forget, God is just wise-enough to give me a good round of "hide and seek" with Gregory.

Today was one of those days....and it has been priceless.

A Letter to the Siblings

Dear Claire and Gregory,

I am writing to tell you what a great time I am having being an only child this week. Although I miss you both terribly, the process of eating without two small people in my face making chicken noises has grown on me quite nicely. This morning, I looked for you when I entered the living room, only to be greeted by my rainforest jumperoo...it wasn't near as fun jumping without you both dancing around me to the tune of Sesame Street. I think Mommy is even a little sad about how quiet the house is. I overheard her talking to Daddy last night about "this is what it was like with only one child"...they both seemed a bit nostalgic. I, on the other hand, am eating it up.
Mommy and I are surprising Daddy tonight with tickets to the Ranger Game vs. the Yankees. It's my first trip to a real baseball game! After all of those nights watching it on TV with Daddy, I get to see his face light up when we watch them in person. I can't wait! We are "kidnapping" Daddy at work at 3...I sure hope his patients don't mind.
I trust you are both having a great time at Aunt Jen and Uncle Eric's house. Mommy said we are going to pick you guys up on Thursday. That only leaves me with two more days...I better run. Mommy hasn't held me in the last three minutes and I am starting to feel neglected.

All my love,
meredith grace