Look at that Face

Know why she is crying? My child has suddenly decided that the only way she is happy is when she is running through the house NAKED. She doesn't even want to wear her diaper but we all know where that leads! Clean up everywhere.

Yesterday was spent with speech and then shopping. Ashton and I headed to Target to snag a few really good deals and then to the mall. He was in need of new shoes for school and we also managed to find a few good deals at American Eagle. I bought my boy a size 10.5 shoe. How can that be? He's taller than me and so thin. I hope he bulks up soon and with a diet of a gallon of milk every 2 days and anything else that he can find to eat he really should be putting on some weight. Let me warn all of you mothers of little boys - plan ahead. Your grocery budget will hit the roof at about 11 and when they reach 13 you really should have a second job lined up!

We have another busy weekend ahead. I work tonight and Ashton is "going out" with his some of his friends. This will be the first time he goes to see a movie with a girl so that's big news. There are 4 of them going to see a movie and of course it's killing me. Tomorrow he has a birthday party and then we are having dinner with a former pastor and his family. I am so excited to see them and can't wait for them to meet Emma and see how big the boys have gotten. They are so dear to our family! Sunday is church and we are having our connection group (small group) at our house Sunday evening. So needless to say, I have a lot of cleaning to do.

So that about wraps it up. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Washing My Mouth out with Soap

I'm pretty sure my husband wants to wash my mouth out with soap because of the bad language I used in my post yesterday. He was quick to point out that I shouldn't have used a particular word and I'm sure that he is right. However, I also think he has forgotten about Brady's fifth grade year and how AWFUL it was and how I thought I might lose my ever loving mind. So sorry if I offended anybody but the last time I checked I'm human and that just happened to be the word that popped into my mind. I'll be honest, you can't be an ER nurse and not let a bad word slip on occasion. So there, I confess. Throw my to the lions, off with my head, hang me at sundown.


Okay, now that I have apologized to the 10 readers that I have, let's get on with the day.


My girl is loving her orthotics. I have not gotten any pictures of her in them yet. She wears them a few hours each day and screams at me and fights like a cat when it's time to take them off and check her feet. So far things are going well. She is getting some redness on the outer aspect of her left foot. I would have thought it would have been on the other side. It's very interesting how her left orthotic is made. It has a prosthetic material made into the short side to cushion the area where she is missing all of her toes. They did a great job making them and she loves wearing them. We have not worn them at all today because she turned her little chair over this morning and it hit her foot and left a huge knot on it. Poor little thing. She also has another one of those horrendous bug bites on her shoulder that I'm sure will end up popping open and draining. She is having some really weird reactions to our crazy American bugs.


She also managed to open a container of cream eyeshadow this morning and paint her chin a lovely silver. She was quite proud of herself.


Emma had a good day at speech and a satisfactory day at O.T. Her speech therapist was very happy with her results today. Her regular O.T. was out of town today so she saw someone else. It wasn't that great of a visit and to be honest I could have done the same things at home. Oh well.


So that about wraps up my exciting day. How was yours?

My Future Gymnist

Brady went camping with the youth group last Monday and this is what he looked like on Tuesday afternoon after I picked him up. Ashton didn't look much better but he managed to stay away from the camera. They had a blast and Ashton is driving me nuts asking for a paint ball gun now. He was bruised all over but thinks it was so much fun. Guys are such weird creatures.

Emma has been doing so well feeding herself with one certain fork. Of course I can't find this utensil anywhere in the store so we are holding on to it for dear life. Mashed potatoes! Yummy..

I have my pictures out of order, but this little ladybug stamp was her reward from gymnastics yesterday. We decided to give the mommy and me class a try and she loved it. I apologize for the quality of the pictures that BO took, but you can tell by the look on her face that she is enjoying herself.

She really liked going in circles an followed directions very well.

She still doesn't understand how to jump. We have been working on that at home and she doesn't use her legs to jump she just bounces up and down with her body. When we came home from the class we practiced doing tucks, pikes, and stradles. She was cracking me up!

I called last week to check with the local gymnastics class and see if they had anything for Emma's age. They did and we went yesterday evening. She blended right in and seemed to really like it. Another little girl from our church was also there so that was nice. The other girls had their shoes and socks off and were ready to start. I had taken Emma's shoes off but left her socks on. She couldn't stand it! She kept putting her foot up to me and saying "Off". I'll be very honest, I didn't want to take her shoes off. I am not ashamed of her feet. They are beautiful in my eyes but I know that others don't see it that way. I just want to protect her from stares and from all of the attention that I know she will get when people look at her feet. Well, we threw caution to the wind and took off those socks and she was thrilled. One of the little girls in her class (who was also 2) looked at her feet and told her mom "Boo boo." I said, yes she does have a little boo boo.

So you see, the foot thing is really about me. Again, it's not that I'm ashamed or embarrassed. I just want to protect her. It's hard enough when you have only 2 fingers and people are looking at you. Then to reveal that you only have 3 toes, it just adds more to the situation. But I realize that how I react to her situation is how she will learn to react. So next week when we go to gymnastics, the shoes and socks are coming off immediately so she can be just like the other girls. I never want her to think that she's not just like everyone else and if I try to protect her too much in the end I may be doing more harm than good.

It's tough. As a mother I don't want my kids to have to suffer from anything but that isn't realistic. I have felt the enormous pain that goes along with seeing my boys hurting, physically and emotionally. Let's face it, middle school is a b**ch. Pardon my French. Kids are cruel and hurtful and sometimes adults are not a lot better. So when I see someone staring at Emma and whispering, the momma bear in my wants to rip them to shreds, but I can't always protect her. My job is to build in her the strongest self esteem possible and pray, pray, pray. That's my job with all 3 of my kids.

My other job is to help my kids see that not everyone is alike. I have seen an amazing change in my boys since they have a sister that is "different." They have a deeper compassion for people. I watched Ashton play with a little boy last week at our OT appointment and he was so sweet to the little boy. I've heard Brady talk about how he would protect Emma if he heard anyone talking about her. This is the same kid who doesn't believe in fighting and wears a John Lennon "Give Peace a Chance" t-shirt. I hope that my kids and even their friends who hang out here have a wider world view and realize that not everyone is "perfect" by man's standards but God doesn't make mistakes and those kids who might not look "normal" are perfect in His eyes.

Look What I Can Do When Mom Isn't Paying Attention

Emma was being her usual stubborn self yesterday afternoon and wanting a bottle. I refused and offered her a cup which she politely declined. I sat the cup on her little table and started working in the kitchen and looked up to find her just drinking away and looking at me grinning and clapping her little fingers together. She is a rat!

Today has been one of those days that I really wish I could just clone myself so that I could accomplish so much more. We started our day with an orthodontic appointment at 9:30 on one side of town. Emma had Speech at 10:30 on the other side of town. I ended up leaving Ashton at the Orthodontist while I jetted across town for speech. We finished speech and headed back across town to get Ashton and then to O.T. at 11:30. During all of that the Orthotist office called and we scheduled an appointment for 3:30 to get her orthotics this afternoon. At present, Emma is taking a quick, much needed nap. Way too much going on today!!!

Ashton is tentatively scheduled to get his braces off in September. Can I get an AMEN! We have had braces since third grade. I am so ready for it and I know he is.

Playing Catch Up

We spent the July 4th Holiday as we always to with my mother's family. It has been a tradition for over 50 years and one that my boys always look so forward to. Unfortunately I had to work Friday night and didn't get to enjoy some of the fun but I was able to be there on Saturday and see some of my family. Emma loved it all and took it all in. This is a picture of my Aunt Francis and Emma. She is my mother's oldest sister.
Emma loved the 4 wheeler. Her face doesn't really show it but she liked it a lot.

This is my Uncle Floyd with Emma. He has always been the one the kids love to tease. He is not in good health now but was doing well over the holiday and had not had the chance to see Emma yet. She loved him.

Lily and Emma. Quite the contrast in hair and eye colors:)

Crossing her leg. She has gotten into a habit of crossing them and looks so cute.

Uncle Harvey and Emma.

Playing a sunglasses routine with my cousin Todd. She would move hers up and so would he and they had quite the little game going.

Chip in mouth. The child is hooked on chips.

I have numerous pictures of my nephews and my boys on the way home after the 4th. I thought this was adorable.

So I am at the grocery store and Ashton calls me to tell me that there is a snake crawling up the office window. Of course I tell him to stay inside but what does he do....goes outside to take a picture. By the way, we don't know exactly where the reptile is now. I suspect under the front porch and I am NOT looking forward to a surprise meeting.

Bragging rights. My husband did the Publix run for me yesterday on his way home from work. I had given him the list and the coupons and he did a great job. All of this was only $6.90 after coupons. I am so proud of my man!

So I've been playing Susie Homemaker the last few days making pickles. I made squash pickles first and they all sealed and look so yummy. I made bread and butter pickles yesterday and 2 jars didn't seal and today 2 jars have unsealed. What's the deal? They taste delicious!

More Trip Pics

Playing football with Ashton while we wait on Dad and Brady to finish a ride. He actually won her the football at one of the games. Ashton has really become the sweetest big brother and Emma is loving him so much. Not bad for a kid who didn't want to adopt a sister.
When the sun is really bad you have to wear 2 pairs of shades.

Have a great 4th!!

Road Trip

No, our family has not dropped off the face of the Earth. We just took a quick road trip for a few days and are now back home. There is no place like home, although we enjoyed Holiday World and the beautiful country side of Indiana. We also made a brief stop at Mammoth Cave today and enjoyed a tour. Emma did surprisingly well and seemed to be fascinated with the cave.


This picture was an attempt to show Emma's hair after we take it out of pigtails. It looks hilarious.
Her favorite ride may have been the luggage cart.

Her favorite ride was certainly not the canoe ride. She screamed the entire time.

She loved playing in the splash area. It took her a while to build up the courage to run through the fountains but once she found her courage she loved it.

"I know there must be a way to catch this water."

The boys rode most of the rides and didn't realize that we caught them riding a "little kid" ride. They were so cute sitting together and actually sharing a kind moment with one another.

Carousels are the most fun of all when you ride with your favorite guy.

I really love my daddy.

Trucking with my dad.

We had the opportunity to hook up with Angel and her gang and Mason and Emma were just too cute together. Mason was loving wearing Emma's hat but she wasn't so sure.

Mason and Emma having a little moment together.

Santa Clause was a hit with Emma. Let's wait and see what December holds.

Sniffing and then eating popcorn. She has started smelling everything before she puts it in her mouth.

A moment with Mom.

When too much fun has been had!!!

We made a "quick" trip to an Amish Village that had a flea market in one of the buildings. Emma found a wagon and she is now the proud owner. I attempted to tempt her with a .50 cent doll and thought that I had her persuaded. She took the doll and immediately placed it in the wagon and away she went. We bought both items and she insisted on pulling the wagon all the way to the car. This girl is STUBBORN.