Model poser!

Remember the Moebius Conference, way back before I had major surgery and Scott went on a trip to South America (more about that soon!)???

Today I got a link to the pictures the photographer, Rick Guidotti, took at the conference.  You can check them out yourself at:

http://rickgnyc.exposuremanager.com/g/moebius_2012
password: philly

But here are the [only] two of Emma, and she's just so darned cute!!:

Park Life

Super Mom

This may seem like an odd victory, but, well, I'm odd! 

The other day I decided to try a french braid on Emma - my first attempt on someone other than myself.  I think you'll agree I did a great job!!!

Even better, I was able to leave them in for two days, after which they gave a great look...

Hey, celebrate the small victories, right?!!

Too Long

Wow, time flies!  I can't believe I haven't posted in over a week.  I guess that's testament to things being pretty much back to normal!

I had my second follow-up with the surgeon today, and he said I can do "whatever I want" in response to me asking when I can pick the kids up again.  (Emma is now 40lbs, Toby close behind at 35lbs, and only 2" shorter.)  He did add "just don't go lifting 100lbs or anything.  And if you start to hurt or ache, stop."

Thank goodness.  I wasn't aware of the impact on my limitations until I took the kids to the playground Saturday and I couldn't put the kids on the swings (they still go on the high baby swings - their choice!), or push the roundabout.  

That was not phasing Emma, who asked if she could "go and play with a grown-up" as she knew they could get her on a swing.  A resounding "no" was my response!  (I think she only feels safe to do that when I'm there, I hope.)

I have a few pictures to post when I get a minute, so stay tuned as always!

Survivor

Well, I survived my first day back at work last week, and realized I needed to be more restful when I could if I want to recover soon!

On Friday I had the kids to myself for the first time in almost two weeks.  I missed them terribly while I was in my initial recovery so I was pleased.  Unfortunately I had two therapy sessions scheduled for Emma, so I had to take them out in the car!  To their credit they were awesome, and got into their seats quite quickly.  (I am very glad I have a car they can get into and out by themselves or life would be tough!!)

We had physical therapy first.  Emma goes weekly, but Pops takes her, so I only go on occasion.  I was amazed at the progress she has made and videoed some of her feats.  (Toby also enjoys going and seems quite at home playing in the background!)





Toby helps a lot because Emma will try things she sees him doing, the daredevil!


Onto Speech, and her half hour session per month is really just to check-in and make sure she's keeping up on her pronunciation.  She always gives us a good laugh at the very mature comments she makes, so cute coming from a little girl.  Toby has started to use the same vocabulary as Emma, which is funny.  The other day I said "Oh my gosh!"  Toby corrected me and said "No mommy, you should say "Oh my goodness!", as Emma often tells me!  (People who say "Oh my God" get told they shouldn't say that, immediately.)

Then Scott's cousin Bevin brought Lainey and Paige over to play.  All 4 kids disappear upstairs and play together, giving us a break. 

 That is until the girls come and tell us that Toby is punching/tackling/jumping on the bed, etc.  I lost track of the number of times I had to tell him if he wanted to play with the girls, he would have to play gently.  He can, he and Emma often play quietly together, but the boy in him wanted to show-off and fight!

We went bowling with Christina and Jeremy, and the boys, after dinner.  It was a lot of fun.  I enjoyed watching since I could not play - and because I was a little sore, I also opted out of chasing the kids down!  (FYI: painkillers do not dull the pain, the just make you happier despite it.  That was not what I wanted!!)

On Saturday Scott was working again.  Did I mention he's been working every Saturday for ages and other overtime?  He really is awesome, and tired!  When the kids go to bed (after he wrestles them through dinner and bedtime) he collapses.  Thankfully the kids were pretty easy on me again and even played together upstairs so I could watch some Olympics (my latest obsession!). 

Then, Scott and I went to see the new Batman movie with friends.  It was awesome.  I wouldn't consider it a date movie, unless you are married with kids and want to totally get sucked into another world for a short time.  No lulls in action to worry about who might not be in bed yet (Emma!).

So, I'm slowly getting better.  I can cough and sneeze now without much concern.  I can browse in a store for a few minutes without pain, and driving today was much better. 

I'm excited to say that at no time in the past two weeks have I felt angry at God or "why me?" about having gotten sick.  (And I shouldn't, this was minor compared to all that my baby girl has gone through!)  In fact I feel very blessed to have been relatively not sick, and had so many people help with my recovery.  My one regret is I didn't ask for a tummy tuck!!  ;)

Here's a couple of other cute kid pics for you...

Toby tries something Emma would never do... (yes, it's secured to the wall!)

The kids take it easy, making it easy on me!

Right before bedtime, the kids are still hyper and ask me to take pictures of their crazy poses!

Before bowling we had some time to kill, so Scott won the kids a couple of toys in the arcade.

Emma and Toby play "horse" at PT.  Emma was the horse until we said she couldn't pull the hoop with her neck!!

Emma's been on a creative bent lately.  This is her and her friends...

This is Rapunzel and Flynn Rider...

 And this was a self-portrait, I think!

God Made You Unique to Benefit Others

by Jon Walker

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world. (Jeremiah 1:5 NLT)

In Jeremiah 1:5, we’re taught that God created Jeremiah to share the Creator’s message with the nations. In the same way, God created you to share yourself with those around you.

You are diminished if you hide yourself under a bushel, keeping your skills, talents, insights, joy, and pain hidden away from others. God wants you to share yourself. He created you with a uniqueness that enriches the world when you give yourself to the community around you.

Maybe you’re a great singer, or a great cook, or a great mechanic, or a great teacher. Whatever gift God has given you, he gave it to you to give away in service to him. 

Ask God why he created you and what you’re supposed to give away. Whose life will you influence by giving of your time and talent?

New Day

Well, I made it through the night (as I'm sure you knew I would!), only to be rudely awoken at 5:30am by a rapid knocking on our back door.  I'm a light sleeper (especially with both kids next to me) so I woke up first and proceeded to try and wake Scott up with "Someone's knocking at the door!" in slightly panicked tones.  He was disoriented and not as fast as me, so I got to the door first. 

Emma apparently sat up alarmed and said to Scott "Daddy, is someone really at the door?"

I opened the blinds first, for security purposes, to see an elderly man on our back steps.  When I opened the door I saw he had his slippers on and a walking frame.  He asked to use our phone, which of course I grabbed for him.  I was scrambling my brain to think who it might be - we live on a corner of two streets and I'd never seen him in any of our neighbors homes. 

He handed the phone right back - he was hard of hearing and our cordless phone was a bit complicated for him.  He told me his phone number which I tried and it didn't work.  He told me again, with the last digits switched around.  Same thing, and each time he repeated it I think the numbers were different. 

Scott had since arrived on the scene and the man introduced himself and asked if he could sit down.  (I'd agreed to him coming in, but he hadn't moved from the steps.)  Scott helped him in and over to a chair.  While they talked, I tried the numbers he gave us again and eventually called the police. 

He was very impressed with the woodwork in the dining room and liked what we'd done with the place (which told me he lives in a house in our development).  He was really a sweet old guy and enjoyed talking to Scott.

By the time the cop arrived I had looked him up in the phone book (online - who has room for a big book you hardly use!) and there was a man with his name at the other end of our street.  I told the cop the address I found and Scott said he had already given him that address, but when he told him, the house number was the same as the number on the digital clock in the kitchen, so he couldn't be sure it was really his house!

The cop and old man left together about 5 minutes to 6, when Scott would have had to get up for work.  Emma was wide awake at this point and wanted to watch TV, so the rest I wanted before my first day back at work was cut very short!  I just hope the old guy has someone to keep an eye on him, he seemed to have dementia or alzheimers.  If he is to be believed, he is 92 - he said he was born in 1919, but told Scott he was "about 50"!

Jumping forward, after Pops kindly picked the kids up for me (Emma was upset I wasn't driving her, but it would have been too much to drop them off and drive in to work!), I headed off to work.  I had not gone more than a mile before I realized how much it could hurt if I didn't take it easy on the drive.  I tried to use smoother movements between the brake and gas pedals, but I was feeling discomfort by the time I got to work.

I am not really in pain, but there are levels of comfort!  I am still a little light headed, but not dizzy per se.  I'll have three days before I have to come back to work, so I'll try to get rest and keep healing during that time.

As for my fears (which are always worse at night, of course!), well, I'm trying to channel them into making the most of each day and treating Scott and the kids in a way they will know how much I love them.  (That's a process - I so easily get mad with little things that I forget how happy and blessed I am!)

All clear

I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon today.  I took a friend with me because the surgeon has a tendency to talk really fast and run over me!  

I was then really surprised that he was really friendly!  He took a look at my wound and said everything looks great.  He asked me a few questions and told me I could drive again and go back to work.  I still have to avoid heavy lifting and go back again in two weeks.

Everything was going great, until I got home and I got light headed.  I had gone to a meeting at church in the morning and not slept well the night before.  I ate some lunch and waited for it to clear, but as I type I'm still a little light headed/dizzy.

Throughout the evening, as the severity eased we debated whether or not I should go to the ER.  I had called the surgeon earlier and he said to go if I was still experiencing it later, but didn't sound too concerned.  Pops took my blood pressure on his machine and it was fine.

So, in the end I opted not to go.  And that of course leads to fears about what might be wrong and what might happen in my sleep.  I used to worry about leaving the kids and driving on the highway to work each day (dangerous!), but now I have crazy health concerns.

I know, this is not how God intends for me to live, in fear of something I can't control or predict. I'm still working on that!

I put the kids to bed and tried to love on them as much as possible, without them thinking I'm nuts!  (they'll know I am soon enough!)  I guess there's just no way to avoid all the scenarios you can fear, or fear itself.  Faith is trusting that, as you proceed through life, your worst fear may happen, but God is in control...

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28