Happy Mothers Day

Women are innately mothering, whether they have bore children or not. We mother our friends, husbands, siblings, coworkers and friends kids. Whether they want it or not! To all of the women reading this today - Happy Mothers Day.

I had a great day today. I didn't wake up until 7am, when I got up to pump, a little later than usual. While I was sitting quietly in the living room I could hear Toby playing in his crib. scott was still sleeping, until Emma woke up and shouted "DADDY DADDY!" Scott called back - "Coming Em."

When I walked back upstairs Emma was heading to our room and I met her on the landing. Scott had taught her to sign "Happy Mother Day!" Then both kids came back to bed with me for a cuddle. After about 45 minutes I was ready to go back to sleep so Scott took them both downstairs!

I was awoken at 9.15am when the kids and Scott brought me my cards and woke me for church. I took a leisurely shower and got ready just in time for my breakfast - white chocolate-chip pancakes with vanilla ice-cream and hot syrup!


We headed out to church at 10.30am, the latest ever! (We recently started having two services at 9.30 and 11am, instead of one at 10am.) Most often I am in the soundbooth during church services, Emma in the nursery and Scott holds Toby. Today I felt like it was a good time to let Toby go into the nursery for the first time, just an hour.

The service was great, another awesome message about living life without giving in to fear - I'll share more later. And as you might expect the kids were fine. At least I assumed so because I couldn't find them or Scott after he went to collect them!

Turns out Scott had taken them straight to the car because Emma was having a meltdown. She'd been having such a great time in the nursery - sitting in the baby swing! - that she'd flipped out when Scott took her out.

We came home and put Emma right to bed and she fell asleep right away. Toby also napped, allowing us to enjoy lunch and the Phillies!

After lunch we headed over to Christina and Jeremy's to join their family BBQ. Then we went to our adopted family, the Thompson's, for more BBQ! While there Emma was treated to a fancy new hairdo from Nichole...
Both kids have been dealing with runny noses for a week or so, and Toby has had a little cough. We are chalking it up to seasonal allergies as most people are suffering but this weekend Toby has been progressively getting worse. Today he started gagging when he coughed a few times and coughed up some phlegm.

Before bed we gave him saline breathing treatment on the nebulizer and put the humidifier on, but it isn't helping. He's still a happy chap, but does not want to go to bed! We'll have to figure something out.

I changed two diapers all day, handles a couple of feeds, but for the most part my interaction with the kids was just hugs, kisses and loving. And so it ends, a great day with a strong reminder that a mother's love is more important than how much she gets done in a day.

It's here!

Mother's Day is so close I can smell it!! In fact Scott gave me a little preview last night by letting me wear my earplugs to sleep and he would listen for Toby. Toby has been sleeping from 11pm to 5/6am pretty regularly lately, but then Scott has also got up early with him a few times. It's been great.

I have been looking forward to Mother's Day. Probably more than my birthday!! Scott makes sure I don't have to do anything on Mother's Day, for the kids or round the house. He makes me breakfast and treats me like a queen. I think he's hoping the kids will take over when they are old enough!

Mother's Day is really the only day of the year I get "off", and don't feel like I'm abandoning my duties.

When I think about it I wish I could go back and do the same for my mum when I was a kid. Mother's Day really didn't seem much different than other days, except for the gifts we would buy. In fact, it really means more to have a day to relax and feel appreciated for all the things we do that go unnoticed.

For the mothers reading this, including mine, you may feel like you give your all and no-one notices, but that's not true. Your Father in heaven not only sees all you do and is pleased, but He loves you more than you can imagine.

While some days we feel like we are no more significant to those around us than the color of the grass, each task you perform out of love for your family, no matter how mundane, is hugely significant. You may not hear "Thank you" for every dish wiped or sandwich made, but those acts of love matter.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:34-40

Let God's perfect love fill your heart today, and rest assured that you matter to God.

Bending the rules

Emma doesn't have many rules that we have to enforce. She simply functions within the rules.

One rule that we treasure relates to bedtime. Emma knows that she is not to get out of bed until Scott or I, or a nurse, give her permission. The rule has a practical reason - she has a wire taped to her foot! I guess the secondary rule is that she is not allowed to untape the wire. Lately we have had to put socks on her and specify she is not allowed to remove them - the tape was too tempting.

ever since she moved in to the toddler bed last July we have no issue on the rule. In fact Emma will stay in bed for hours even if she is awake! Most often though after a while she falls asleep for a nap, or for the night.

If her pacifier, blanket or stuffed mouse fall on the floor we hear "MUMMY, DADDY" until we respond! Other than that she just chills out.

Today Emma had a brief nap in the car on the way home, but that was 2 hours before nap time, so I put her to bed as usual. I could hear her talking up there (usually Spanish to Dora, or a Baby Signing song!) and let it go as she'd fallen over earlier and bumped her head so I was a little relieved there was no concussion!

After an hour or so it went quiet so I figured she was asleep. However, Scott went upstairs some time later and I heard "Hi Daddy" on the monitor. Scott called down to me "you'd better come and see your daughter!"

I went upstairs and into her bedroom. She looked up at me through her messy hair with such an air of guilt and said "All done sleep!" The undertone was "What? I didn't get out of bed!"

Her blanket and mouse were strewn across the floor as was the cover of a book that she had up on the bed - the basket of books having been within reach of the bed!

Her socks were off and the yellow t-shirt that had been hanging on the end of the bed was around her waist. That is the neck of the t-shirt had been pulled over her head and down to her waist!

Sure, it's hardly a sign of juvenile delinquency, but it was pretty funny!

ENT

Emma had a follow-up with otolarynology (ENT) today. Since we had to leave at 7.30am I told Emma's nurse it was okay if she woke up early. The nurse has been dying to play with Toby too, so when he woke up at 6.30am I took him into Emma's room to play! Despite the noise Emma didn't want to wake up and stayed asleep untiL after seven when I had to wake her up!

If you recall, two months ago we took her in due to a few ear infections. At that time she had fluid in her left ear and some tests showed possible hearing loss. At today's appointment we anticipated more tests, and as I had both kids, Scott also came to help. Of course this time we only had the basic ear checks and were out in 45 minutes!!

There is still fluid in that left ear, though the right ear looks fine. The doctor is going to ignore it for now, but if it is still there in two months, when the hearing tests are repeated she will recommend getting the tubes put in.

The surgery for that is apparently no big deal. We've certainly been through "bigger" surgeries, but still I would really love to avoid it! Not least because we now have Toby and I feel bad that he is always being dragged around, missing naps and the like.

Today the appointment was at 8.20am, so we had no time for breakfast. We grabbed a bite in McDonald's in the hospital, and I had an ulterior motive. Emma's speech therapist wanted to see how she would do with pancakes. She loved them!

Then we stopped by the NICU to see nurse Taryn, and anyone else who might remember Emma. Emma put on quite the show, doing sign language demonstrations, color quizzes, giving hugs and drawing pictures! It was great to go back and let them know how much we appreciate them and how far Emma has come.

Going to the hospital is a pain and can be frustrating, but I have a fondness for the place that was home for a while and the great people that work there!

Emma has another appointment on Tuesday afternoon, so we are going to have lunch with Taryn first!!

Bowling

Today we went bowling with my friend Kenda and her kids Kaylie and AJ. Emma was excited to go bowling again and since we get two free games every day, I'm sure we'll be going a lot this summer.

After a few frames I let Emma carry the 6lb bowling ball herself. I couldn't quite believe she could carry something so big and almost 25% of her body weight. But she did, time and time again...

Considering that she has low muscle tone in her upper body due to the Moebius Syndrome this is pretty incredible. And to see her pushing the ball with her left arm - the one that is weaker and used less, was a double bonus!

In addition to the exercise, Emma is learning about taking turns, waiting and also sportsman-like conduct - she claps and cheers for everyone!! I'll try not to make her competitive like me! I did clap a little louder the time she got a spare!

I did not tell her to do this!!

It was also special that she was able to eat the same snacks as the other kids, chocolate-chip Teddy Grahams, thanks to Kenda! Emma liked them a lot.

Speaking of which Emma ate ground beef (minced beef) last night. Not pureed, actual chunk of it, with spaghetti rings! She's also put crunchy puffs in her mouth and chewing them right up. I can't quite believe how well she's doing, but I'm encouraging it as much as I can.
Toby is such a great baby. He is totally content to sit in his stroller and play with his toys or have a bottle. I know this won't last, but for now, he is simply the best!

My heart is getting very hopeful that the sleep study in July could eliminate the need for the CPAP and nursing. I've also figured out how we could eliminate the night feed, leaving only daytime bolus feeds to wean her off the tube. I may be getting ahead of myself, but it gives me the energy to keep going!

Too much

We think our kids are incredible, hilarious and downright awesome - no secret!! I'm probably nauseatingly proud of my kids, celebrating their every achievement. I don't care though! Here's some Emma-isms to amuse you...

I don't know if I mentioned before that Emma knows her entire alphabet - not the song or in order, but knows all the letters. In fact she can spell some words that she knows. She can spell STOP, or can tell you the word when you spell it out. The same with her name!!

Just lately she's adopted the phrase "up next" which is what Nick Jr. puts next to the next show!! she uses it alot now. When I feed Emma and Toby together, after her turn eating she says "Toby, up next?" Today at bowling, "Me, up next?" It's pretty cute.

On the way home I had to pick something up from Nanna's house. Emma waved to Nanna from the car and when I pulled away she said "In!" I explained we couldn't stop and she started to cry. When we pulled up at home she said "Me upset." I had to check that's what she said because I've never heard her say that, she normally says "Me crying." I asked why she was upset and she replied "No Nanna!" So cute.

We came inside and Emma started counting to 3 in Spanish on her fingers. Then she said some other words. It took me a few seconds to catch on, and then I asked "Are you counting to three in Chinese?" "Yeah." She has a few other words in Chinese she knows, but more in Spanish!!

If we tell her someone is coming over or we are going to see someone, she asks "See me?" "Yes, to see you, of course!!"

5 days in 5 minutes (or so!)

I know, it's been a while since I posted anything important/funny/vaguely interesting! It's not that nothing has happened, I've just been too busy to sit and write or even load pictures. It's 4.30am and I happen to be up (!) so I guess this is a good time!

On Saturday Scott and I went to dinner at our favourite restaurant in the city. When we arrived and checked in for our table someone grabbed me from behind with a "surprise!" I thought who could be bumping into us downtown! Scott had invited our friends Brian and Chrissie as a surprise. They live in another state so we don't get to see them much, and they missed my big party last year, so it was really cool. Good job Scott!

It's been 80-90f since Friday and on Saturday night we discovered our minivans air-conditioning doesn't work! If you live here you would know how big a problem that is. We have the big Kia warranty so we are hoping it's covered - it goes in on Thursday!

Given the heat I put Emma in a cool dress for church on Sunday. Dressing her is so much fun and easy to do. No surprise she is ready first and has to wait for us. Here's how she amused herself waiting on Sunday - and none of these are staged!!

Our closet!

Daddy's slippers

Mummy's shoes

Church was awesome and I went again for the Night of Prayer at 6pm. The series PB is preaching on is really powerful. If you can't hear it, I strongly recommend you read Fearless by Max Lucado. I can't say it will be as good, but it is worth it.

On Monday, it was hot and we just had a quiet day at home. Melissa came in the morning for a therapy session, which gave me a breather to handle some insurance issues on the phone! Scott worked in the evening, so I gave the kids a bath each and put them to bed.

Emma is so funny at night when she is not really tired as she talks to herself. some nights we here her singing from Baby Signing Time, "New day. Sunny Day." Other times it's "Hola Dorya, Hola Noots." (Dora & Boots!)

On Tuesday morning we hit the library as usual and Emma had fun. I watch her in awe every time as she sits in the middle of the rug and gives her full attention. Regardless if every other kid is sitting with their mom! She is so self-confident and friendly - I'm so proud!!

After that we hit BJs for some supplies and Toby had a big milestone - his first time sitting in the shopping cart! As you might expect, I have disinfecting wipes in my car, co the whole thing was sanitized! Surprisingly he did not even try to chew the cart!

Melissa was back for more therapy Tuesday afternoon, and we sat outside on a blanket while she had Emma working. They drew our family on the driveway in chalk! Meantime I got bitten many times and vowed that sitting on the grass is just not an option!!

After bedtime Emma started to show signs of pain. She had a big poop, but all the crying and sweating suggested that there was more and she was constipated. After a while I picked her up and laid in my bed with her, which calmed her down.

As we lay there (I was dozing off too) I felt quite sad that I couldn't just say " It's okay, you can sleep with mummy tonight." I don't think I ever have. I guess I could have, but I wouldn't have been able to give her the feed overnight, or put the CPAP on. The nurse might have enjoyed the night off though! One day soon.

And there you have it, up to date pretty much. Today we're going bowling again and tomorrow we have a follow-up at the hospital with ENT. I pray there is no reason to consider getting tubes in her ears. I'll let you know.

So I'll leave you now (and go back to bed) with a picture of Toby that really shows a lot of his personality...

Bowling Pictures from Friday

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