Then and Now

Then:



This is the video I took a few weeks ago to document Phoebe's "cripple crawl." Apparently, I was using my "screaming banshee" voice to coax her across the floor. Unfortunately, I think this is probably how I really sound and not the deeper, sophisticated voice I hear in my head. She started crawling this way soon after she had learned to crawl, but she only used it on our hard floors. Then this became her preferred mode of transportation...well, after being carried, of course.

And Now:




I took this video yesterday morning, and it's amazing how much better she is walking today! I forgot how fast it happened. I'll post another in a few more days so you can see the difference. Today, she was walking across the floor to give me a high-five. Pretty darn cute. Oh, and in this video I was using my "1-900 number voice." My allergies or this cold or whatever it is seems to have settled in my vocal cords. The kids have been having similar symptoms and when I took them to the doc today, Eli was diagnosed with a sinus infection and Phoebe has a double ear infection. Some might say I should go to the doctor myself, but I really HATE to go to the doctor so I think I will just ignore them!

I Think We've Created A Monster

Okay, so I figured out how to get the pictures from Brad's iphone to the blog...with only minimal help from Brad.

This is Phoebe's new favorite thing.





Allowing her to drink out of a straw and acquire a taste for Diet Cokes with lime was probably not my most shining moment as a mom. Not because of all the bad stuff in Diet Coke, but because now I have to share! She won't let me drink one without asking for (read: demanding) a few sips of her own.

While Phoebe and I were enjoying our refreshments, Eli was helping his dad warm up for the game.

Back From The Windy City

My lack of posting has not been due to laziness on my part. I was in Chicago from Tuesday until yesterday at a Children's Ministry Conference. I went with a group from church and was supposed to fly back into town on Friday night. Due to some weather, I was stuck in Albuquerque with a friend and ended up not arriving until Saturday night around 9:00pm. Luckily, my in-laws live there and we were able to stay there. It was kind of nice, actually, because my parents-in-law took really care of us and we just spent the day doing nothing! Then, the flight to Amarillo on Saturday was an hour delayed. Of course I could have updated my blog yesterday, but that would have interfered with my three-hour nap.

The conference was fabulous. I'm working on a blog post in my head to put all my thoughts in some kind of order and I'll post that as soon as I get it together. It may take me a few days, but I'll be sure to think about it while I'm working on the mound of laundry that I have to do. Thankfully, that does not include any of my children's clothes. My sweet sister-in-law, Paige, who kept the children while I was gone, sent all of their clothes home clean! What a blessing!! Aren't other moms great?! Unfortunately, Brad and I continued to wear clothes so I'm not totally in the clear, but it's not so overwhelming.

It certainly feels great to be home. I was really glad that Phoebe put off her walking until I got home. After that, though, no holes were barred. She started taking multiple steps last night at small group. Of course, she had already taken a step or two, but this was five and six and seven steps in row! Then she started standing up herself and walking. I'm so excited and sad at the same time. It's always exciting to see your child walk for the first time, but I'm already grieving the fact that her "crippled crawl" (she crawls funny...I have a video, but I haven't posted it, yet) is on it's way out. In a week or two, she'll never crawl like that again. One of the girls at small group told Brad last night, "Today she's taking two steps, tomorrow she'll be walking down the aisle." I think that brought Brad up short since he is never one to expend emotional energy on things that you don't have to think about right now. It's both a blessing and curse. But she's right and it makes me tired. At least I can still comfort myself with the fact that Phoebe wanted me to hold her ALL DAY LONG yesterday! I'd put her down and she would fall into a heap on the floor in desperation. It's nice to be appreciated.

I have some precious pictures from Brad's iphone to post on the blog, but the computer and the iphone are not on speaking terms so it might be a few more days. I'll be sure to take some pictures today so there will not be a grandparent revolt!

Texas

Our waiter the other night introduced himself as...Rifle.

Seriously.

Gotta love Texas!

How I Spent My Spring Break Vacation, Part IV

I am finally getting the pictures from Phoebe's birthday party and Easter on the blog. You know how good intentions are...

We had the party at my parents house since most of my family lives in the Dallas area and they were the people I was inviting. The theme was "Pretty In Pink" because it seemed like everything we own for Phoebe is pink so it made sense. I had soooo much fun getting ready for the party the Saturday before Easter. I asked all the guests to wear pink and there was pink everywhere!!! Pink on the chairs, pink on the tables, pink on the cupcakes, pink on the light fixtures...I think my dad was a little overwhelmed. I wish I had gotten a really close-up picture of the cupcakes because they were pretty darn cute. Some were light pink with hot pink flowers and bright sugar sprinkles around the very edge and the other half was hot pink with light pink flowers and light pink sugar sprinkles. Sarah helped me decorate them...she's a great assistant decorator! Of course, Phoebe was completely spoiled and she loved every minute.

Sunday was Easter, and it was cold! I only took a few pictures, but my mom had made Phoebe's dress and it was beautiful. Eli looked pretty cute, too.

I Think Eli Might Need Glasses

Last night, as Eli and I were cuddled up watching Good Eats on the Food Network (Eli says it's his favorite show), the Jenny Craig commercial with Queen Latifah came on. You know, the one where she's wearing a green dress and talking about how her size has never mattered, but what's important is being a healthier you. It seems to air on that channel an awful lot...I wonder if there's a connection? Anyway, Eli looked at me and said, "Mom, that girl looks like you."

Hmmm...it makes me wonder if the boy needs glasses. I'm not sure if there is a woman alive that looks less like me than Queen Latifah. I asked him why he thought she looked like me, but he never did tell me. I guess the world will never know.


In other news, I think I broke my toe. The little next to the pinky toe on my left foot. I was getting the kids ready for bed last night and I stubbed it on the couch leg. I almost dropped Phoebe as I fell to the floor. Brad wasn't home so I spent the rest of my (rather short) evening limping around. It woke me up all night just throbbing and it hurts like fire this morning. I've broken all my toes (except for my big toe on my right foot) at one time or another so I know there is nothing you can do for it except limp around and take pain killers. Hopefully the weather will stay warm for a few more days so I can wear my flip-flops. What's really surprising is that this doesn't happen more often...considering how graceful and coordinated I am! :)

Footings and Such

The "footings" were dug last Thursday on our house. It would probably be very exciting if I knew what footings were, exactly. It has something to do with the foundation (I think), and it does show us where our house is going to be. We went out to see the land on Friday after my CT scan (and lunch at Logans...yum...it's my treat for having to drink barium for breakfast and stuck twice to give blood and four times to get the IV in my arm for the contrast).

This is a picture of Eli standing by the "fireplace." When we told him what it was, he said, "Oh, this is where I will sit when it's cold and Mom will be bring me hot chocolate to drink." Whatever, kid.



As you can see, it was pretty cold and windy and I pretty much stayed in the car. Here I am, waving (although I don't think you can tell), and the car is parked where the garage will be.



Eli standing in what we think is the kitchen. Please disregard the fact that his pants have a hole in them, and all of his clothes look almost too small. It is supposed to be spring, and I am not buying more winter clothes!



Brad took this picture from the "top" of our land (aka, the very back of the backyard) and it shows the whole outline of the future house. I'm pretty sure that while this is very exciting to us, everyone else is thinking that I had better come up with some better blog entries than this. :)



Phoebe was very impressed with the outing.

Another test day for Jordan

Brad here.

This morning Jordan has another round of exams. Yep, it has been three months since her last round. It is hard for us to believe how quickly the last three months flew by.

As always, thanks for praying for us. After we get the CDs, mail them off, wait for the oncologist in Boston to review and call, it likely will be another two to three weeks from now. Trust we will keep you informed.

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, and here is a little poem to help celebrate.

My Little Sister
by William Wise

My little sister
Likes to eat.
But when she does
She's not too neat.
The trouble is
She doesn't know
Exactly where
The food should go!

Alternate blog titles for this post: "Spaghetti Is SOOO yummy!" or "Why Phoebe Doesn't Wear A Bow When She Eats"

How I Spent My Spring Break Vacation, Part III

On Friday of Spring Break, we went to The Dallas Arboretum. It is a wonderful place (especially during Dallas Blooms) and the flowers were absolutely decadent! I went a little camera happy. We met up with my friend Jenny and her son, Colton. I think I was the only one who subjected her children to five million pictures...too bad I didn't get a really, really good one. :) If you are ever in the metroplex, I highly suggest you take a picnic lunch and enjoy the Dallas Arboretum. There isn't a whole lot to "do", but it is sooo worth the time and effort to just sit in the beautifulness of the gardens and enjoy being outside. I wish I could go back right now!

If anyone is still reading this blog, please know that there is only one more installment of "How I Spent My Spring Break Vacation, " and it is all about Phoebe's first birthday party. Then I promise to return to all the mundane and philosophical aspects of my life.

My Mom Has The Best Shoes

Phoebe seems to like my new shoes (that I haven't worn because my toenails aren't painted and it's too cold this week) and decided she needed to try them on. Sorry, Phoebolicious, it will be a little while!

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In other news, the Gleevec is kicking my rear this week. It seems like I'll have a two really good weeks where I feel almost normal and energetic and then I'll have two weeks or so where I feel like I'm 90 years old...literally. Last week and this week have been the former. I'm trying my hardest not to sweat the six (count 'em, six) loads of laundry that need to be folded, or the extremely dirty floors that I uncovered when I finally unpacked yesterday, or the disgustingly dirty bathrooms that I won't let Phoebe crawl in because of the grossness. Brad's been picking up some of the slack, especially with the kids, but not too much on the cleaning part because, you know, he already has a job. I could comfort myself if I were spending loads of quality time with Eli and Phoebe and even feel a little self-righteous about it if I were sacrificing my housecleaning to play with children or do fun things with them. Mostly it's because I'm freakishly tired and am using a lot of energy staying awake so they don't have something horrible happen to them while I'm napping. I think I wrenched my back this weekend, as well, playing tennis or bowling on Brad's new Wii and lifting Phoebe onto the slide at the park. That was truly an eye-opener. On Sunday, the weather was beautiful, so I took the kids across the street to play on the playground. It was the first time Phoebe has really experienced it and she loved sliding down the slide. It was humbling to realize that I'm so weak that it wore me out to lift her up to the top of the slide and catch her at the bottom. After about 10 trips, we sat down and played in the sand while Eli swung (swang?) on the swings. That's when I felt especially old...like the old women who are crippled from osteoporosis and a life of hard working...except that I'm thirty and I don't do much. Sigh. Enough of that pity party! I hadn't blogged about where we were in our cancer walk much lately so I thought I'd catch everybody up. We're fine. We'll get through it. Please don't feel like you have to call me or come fold my laundry or clean my house or whatever. It'll happen...eventually. The upside is, I should be heading into a few good days here pretty quickly. Hopefully my husband and my children and my house can make it until then. :)


Oh, and one more thing. I am going to (hopefully) have a blog makeover, but I can never think of catchy, thought-provoking, deep, funny slogans for our family. Anybody have any suggestions? I love quotes and words so be creative, borrow from some famous, smart, insightful people, and HELP ME OUT! I want it to capture everything our family is and make people think...I don't want much, do I?