Cute as a bug

Laney tooted one day and I said "you are a stinkbug" she then says " I'm not a stinkbug I'm a lady bug"!

photo update

Some summer fun...

(that is me!!! look at that air under my board!)

Love it!

Laney is officially potty training! Of all the underwear in this house she LOVES the boy ones that we have! It could just be that I am her mom but I think it is the cutest thing to see her run around in these! Go Diego Go!

She has been doing really well. She initiates 80% of all bathroom trips in a day! Hurray! I hope it keeps up because as most of you know, Frances has been a challenge in this area to this day! Surely I deserve one fairly easy one, right mom?

Lessons from school

This morning Frances found a penny. She gave it to me and told me she was paying me for signing her up for afternoon Kindergarten. I asked if she liked afternoon kindergarten, she said "YES!". I asked why and she said because she got to stay home and be with me in the morning. Frances is not a mommy's girl so this was a special comment, had to put it in writing before she did something to make me forget:)

Today is day three for school. She is having fun but was disappointed yesterday at recess when she was told they couldn't do the monkey bars. She is a huge monkey these days!

My neighbors came over with their lawn chairs to wait for the bus.

Here she comes!
Here she is with Marcie eating the m&m's she brought:)

First Day of School

Kindergarten, ready or not, here she comes!!!

Notice the crocks? Not sure if this is a cool thing or she is trying to set a new trend. And I know the flowers are really cute but I don't get any say in how many we wear or where they go anymore. I realized today also that I need to make sure I like every outfit she owns because I don't get to pick out her clothes anymore (but I still get to do the shopping). It was not a sad departure but I did not jump for joy either (kinda hard to jump when you are sitting in your car). I did; however, stop and get myself a nice cold diet dew to help spur me into a cleaning frenzy. I am actually looking forward to turning up the radio (not so loud that it wakes the little ones) and doing some cleaning! (don't tell my hubby). Later!!!

Second Annual Girls campout

Last night I slept in the tent with Frances. We did this once last year too. I know watching a movie is not very fitting with tent camping but it was something we did last year and repeated again. We just used the portable that goes in the car. Popcorn, candy, lots of bug noises but no two year olds!!!! Next year we will have to use the two room tent! It wasn't a blast but I would do it again:)

sanity check...back up to about 75%

I am so greatful to a friend for lending me her crib tent! I had been searching online for a used one to buy (very hard to find) when I decided to make a plea to my facebook friends. Hurray! less than 24 hours later I was winning the battle of bedtime with laney! She is not too bothered by the tent and is sleeping much better! It was such a fight because she kept crawling out and wouldn't allow herself to relax. Now she is only crying for 5-10 minutes and then sleeping like a baby! She never asks for her paci and does not try to suck on anything else in exchange (except for once when I was changing her diaper and she sucked on her big toe and called it her paci) :) Now if only I could get Charlie to stop sucking his thumb!!!

Pros of a private backyard

Tonight the kids played in the sandbox while Mitch and I did some yard work. They were in desperate need of being hosed off before even being allowed in the shower. We stripped them down and they had such a blast running around the backyard naked! The girls have such cute tan lines and then our pale bucky boy, well the poor thing just isn't as cute naked. It was a fun way to end the evening.

THE Fehr's Save the Goldfish...

Well....I guess we should have called the Wonder Pets. I sent Mitch a text yesterday telling him the fish were dropping like flies. There were 3 of our 21 goldfish floating in the pond. He called me and said "I guess I put to much algea killer in last night". I said "oops". :) I put some in this morning. I could see more and more fish start to turn upside down and float to the top as we spoke. Frances helped me to quickly get a 5 gallon pail and fill it with fresh water. We caught all living fish and tried to save them. We even rigged up some oxygen for them by using the portable inflator for the water toys and a straw. When Mitch got home he hooked up the filter and pump from out fish tank onto the 5 gallon pail. They were looking okay for now. This morning, not so good. My garage smelled worse than a walmart fish deptartment! There are still a few living but I don't know if they will make it. Looks like we need to visit a walmart fish department!

On a final note...we do plan to communicate better, at least when it comes to giving the kids medicine!!!

Bye Bye Paci

Today is the first day of no more paci for Laney. I did allow her to have it until breakfast as she got out of bed with it. After breakfast I took it and talked to her about being a big girl and how paci was going bye bye.

Our first paci-less nap was a little rough but better than I expected. I discovered that not only can she get out of her crib but she is tall enough to open the door and knows how to do it! I had to go put her back in bed many times and in the end she fell asleep with me holding her. She never once said anything about wanting her paci, it is like she gets it. (yeah right, wait till bedtime tonight huh?)

haircut

I cut Frances' hair this week. She doesn't hold still long enough to know if I did a good job or not:) I always thought I would have a girl with long hair but short hair just seems to work best. Must be why my mom always had me in short hair too!

up and at em

They say breakfast is key to a good day right? Well, Laney had me up a little earlier than normal today. I got her some strawberry milk and snuggled her in the chair while I went to shower. Got some laundry started too. So far better than most days:) I made a bagel with cream cheese and gave her half and then sat by her to check FB. She handed me her bagel at some point to hold. A little while later she wanted it back. I seriously looked all over and couldn't find it. I don't remember eating it! Guess I better make sure she gets breakfast too huh?

vacation

We spent a week with family at a lake in Iowa. It was a lot of fun. There was a beach, an indoor pool, two outdoor pools, miniature golf, movie theater, crafts, and we had two boats with us! Here are a few pictures. Thanks for the great time Grandma and Grandpa!!!

Then we stopped at Mitch's brothers for the night on the way back home. The kids loved riding the tractor and pushing their "monster trucks" down the steep driveway!

Look who's two!!

We had a nice family dinner followed by yummy cake and then presents for Delaney's second birthday. Delaney got a new sprinkler so it was off to the backyard for the rest of the evening. The sprinkler was fun for all the kids! Then we got out the slip-n-slide for some more fun. The kids aren't quite sure about how to run and slide so Mitch got out an old wakeboarding handle and gave them a ride. It worked great!! By the end of the night our birthday girl was very tired and ready for bed!!

She loves it so much but after our next road trip it WILL go away:(

That's my girl!

This morning I sang happy birthday to Delaney and she smiled and said "i want ice cream!" Think McDonalds serves it for breakfast?

Fun with Fondant!!!

My little Laney turns two tomorrow. Today Frances and I made a birthday cake while the little two took naps. I am quite pleased with how it turned out! Now I am thinking...I hope it makes it through the night! I need a nice cake box and big walk in cooler like the "Cake Boss". Not sure how I will store it till tomorrow when we are ready to eat it but I wanted to share while it was still a success! What happens to brown sugar when left out? Will it still look like sand? We will see how it looks tomorrow night at dinner!

paci plus

My little Laney (almost 2) is not allowed to bring her paci out of her bed anymore. So in the morning I sometimes get a little extra time to myself. She woke me up saying "mommy! out!" I went in and told her she had to leave her paci if she wanted out. She let me know that she didn't want out then. I just left the room and started doing stuff. She has been in there for over 45 minutes! Now I hear her older sister is awake and they are playing toghether through the crib bars. Maybe I don't want to take it away when she turns 2!!

Fun times in TN!!!

Lots of pictures! We had a great time vacationing at Norris Lake in TN with another family. Wish I could share some of the great pics of our little guy (a.k.a. buck). he had a great time and my dear friend Nicole got some fabulous pictures of him!!! We are all doing well and hope to see you all soon!

the things they say...

reading a book to Frances tonight...
Me: read a Berenstein Bears book where sister bear "stomped up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door"
Frances: I would never behave that way!
Me: You have.
Frances: (thinking before responding)...I haven't stomped up the stairs.
Me: Couldn't help it, I died laughing....we don't have stairs!!!!

BOAT

We got the boat out of storage last week. It sat in the driveway so we could get it ready for the water. All three kids love climbing in it while we work. Our little guy really really liked it! Every time I would back out of the garage he would repeat over and over "boat, boat". He would even wave and say "bye boat". So last night was launch night. We hooked up the trailer and truck and were ready to go. He did not want to get in the truck but the boat. Obviously no understanding of how this works. We drive to the marina, Mitch and the girls hop in the boat while me and C drive back around to the dock. We were afraid he would freak out on the moving boat and wanted both of us adults present. This was a mistake in some ways because he never understood that the boat came off of the trailer and into the water. We then met the rest of them at the dock and went for a ride (which I am certain was C's first ride ever). He loved it!

Now we just need to get the trailer out of the driveway and into storage somewhere. I am so tired of hearing "oh no, boat. Where'd it go? oh no, boat". He is obsessed!!!

space cadet

The other morning I was frustrated with Frances and while she was in time out I told her if she didn't shape up I would send her to the moon. She proceeded to cry even harder and wailed..."I don't even have any space clothes!"

Sounds like a good one to tell her future husband someday!

New way to nap

For those of you who know Frances well, you know that she does not nap and has not napped for a long time! Well, today at lunch she did not like what was served. she was only asked to taste it and she was going to be allowed something else. No Way! Her option then became to try it or take a nap with the little ones. yep, she took a nap! Hmmmmm...looks like we are having special lunches every weekend now!!! :)

odd family

The number of members that is. We are up to five in our house again. We have a two year old boy staying with us. He is only five months older than Delaney and is at least 2-3 times her size. I don't think I am allowed to post pictures of him at this time. He has been with us for almost two weeks now and the transition is going well. We obviously have more adjusting to do but it is going great all things considered. he is a healthy and developmentally normal child. he is all boy and man are two year old boy tantrums amazing to witness. It is like watching a natural disaster occurr! Anyhow, our house has become much louder and busier. The floors are now scattered with trains and pieces of train tracks. The girls are in heaven! They are playing with the trains as much if not more than him. So that is what is new in our family. I am never very good at keeping up on my blog but now I have one more excuse:)

Spring Cleaning...

What a day it has been already! Thanks to my two youngest (I will update in another post about that) getting up early today I have already begun my spring cleaning! I have mopped the kitchen floor and cleaned behind and under the fridge.

What a good wife huh?

More like what a bad mom...I was so tired that I dozed off in the chair while I thought the 1 and 2 year old were watching Clifford. Somewhere in my dozing I was aware of the very happy sounds of a laughing toddler. I knew our little guy was running back and forth from the kitchen to the living room and having a blast, that is something we make a game out of at times so I didn't think much of it. So I finally realize that I have dozed off and open up my eyes. What do I see??????? It looks like there is water dripping from him...it didn't even take two seconds for me to realize what had happened. I had forgotten to lock the water dispenser on the fridge door! I run out to the kitchen and holy cow!

So...needless to say, I mopped the kitchen floor and cleaned under the fridge:)

value

Today at my Bible study I learned that we shouldn't define our value based on what others say. I just discovered one reason why I should.

Frances walks into the kitchen with a doll in arm and feeding it a bottle.

me: You are doing such a great job of holding that baby and feeding it like a real one!
Frances: I know.
me: where did you learn to be such a good mommy? (okay, so it is a leading question)
Frances: when Delaney was a baby I watched you and said in my head that when I am 5 I want to be like that.

Gotta love the great moments!!!!!!!!!

room share take 2

So the girls are going to share a room again. I have always figured they would at some point as we only have three bedrooms. It is nice to have a spare room for guests but also helps us feel more ready to accept foster children as needed. We are waiting for news about a 2 year old boy that may be coming to stay with us!

So we got a loft for Frances' bed. It is neat. I am really pleased with the way the room came together! There is plenty of room for playing in there and it looks great! Last night was the first night they both slept in there (I just moved the crib yesterday). I was very worried as it did not go well in the past. Frances had a hard time leaving her sister alone when unsupervised. That is the reason they weren't sharing anymore, it was almost like a punishment for Frances. So...it went really well!!! Delaney was so tired yesterday as she woke up earlier than normal. So she went to bed first and was already asleep when Frances went to bed. Frances left her alone!!!! Delaney did wake up around 4 crying, I went in and covered her up. At 4:45 Frances hollered "Mom" I said "what" she said Delaney is crying and bothering me and I am not ready to wake up" (thank goodness). So I brought Delaney into my room for some early morning snuggling (which turned into sleeping in until 6:50). We will see how tonight goes as they will most likely go to bed at the same time!

The "ceiling" of the loft. Hannah Montana fabric and Christmas lights!

The top board of the loft has been airbrushed with a cheetah design.

Little boy B update

I went to visit last weekend. He looked better than I had expected. He was no longer paralyzed but sedated very heavily. He had not actually woken up yet when I was there but he fluttered his eyes and moved his hands and feet. he even gripped my finger and held it while I talked with him.

I talked with his mother this weekend and he continues to improve. He is now off the ventilator completely and is just receiving oxygen via the nose thing. (real medical huh?) he also was able to have his final chest tube removed. They will continue to x-ray and make sure the air does not return to his chest. He has a feeding tube for about another week, until he is breathing better on his own. He also still has a couple iv's for medication. He is awake and smiles but is very sleepy. Mom gets to hold him so that is great! It has been one month today!!!! What a haul but I am so glad to hear he is doing better!

good news!

I talked with byron's mom today and he is doing better. Still don't know what the overall prognosis is but he went from 6 tubes in his chest down to just one! His lungs seem to be healing and the air in his chest is diminishing! He still has one tube in to help him breathe but they are decreasing the amount of oxygen he receives and he is working to breathe independently! He is also starting to wake up! He opened his eyes today and has been moving his hands, feet and tongue.

I am heading up to see him tomorrow. I will update more after my visit! Thanks for all the prayers!! (His mom and dad seem to be getting along really well too so more good news)

update

So I got a hold of his mom. He is not doing worse but not improving yet. He now has four drainage tubes in his chest with hopes of eliminating the air. Honestly, that is all I know. :(

Prayers please!

I don't have an update on Byron. I did not call yesterday, trying to give a little space as I am not really certain what my role is. I have tried calling numerous times today and this evening but get no answer in his room. When I call the nurses station they can't tell me if his mom is in the building, has been in the building or if he is even still a patient. Just praying for good news. His mom is walking around with an enlarged gall bladder so her own health is in danger as well. Thanks everyone!

Amazed...

I am always amazed how when I make, or take, the time to read devotions they always relate. If not directly to me, they make me think of someone else that I should share it with. This is what I read today...

Secret Things
The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of his law. Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV

O God, why are You allowing this to happen?
Have you ever asked that question? As humans, most of us sometimes do. Whether it;s a big tragedy or a string of difficulties, we want to know the purpose. There are times, though, that such knowledge is for god alone. His purpose might be simply to strengthen our trust in him. Perhaps if he revealed the reasons, they still wouldn't make sense to us. They are for God to use for His glory. There are times, too, that if God revealed the bigger picture, we would be so frightened it would do us more harm than good. The important thing to remember is that God will never give us more than we can handle through his grace.
Some things God keeps hidden, but He brings to light those things that will help us to be obedient to Him. Our true purpose is to glorify Him and to have close communion with Him. His Word is packed full of everything we need to accomplish this. The proper question is not so much "Why is this happening?" but "How can I approach what is happening in a way that brings glory to you?" That is what will truly make us stronger.

update on little boy B

Some of you know that we got word that B was in the hospital. Here is what I know...

-on the 1st he stopped breathing intermittently so his mother took him to the nearest hospital (a 15 minute walk)

-Not sure at what point he was transfered but he was transfered to the University of Chicago Children's hospital ICU.

-He has a severe case of RSV and pneumonia.

-There is fluid in his lungs and air in his chest cavity

-He has been medically paralyzed for the past three days while hooked up to many machines to help him breath and administer medicine.

-The Dr.'s cut him to get some of the air out of his chest cavity

-He had a blood transfusion last night (due to some low blood count)

-he now has a feeding tube as well

-Oxygen levels seem to be improving.

I am not a medical person at all so I don't really understand it all but that is what I have to relay. He still needs lots of prayers! I would also ask for prayer for his parents. I hope this is something that will bring them back together and help them see the importance of a healthy functioning family. They both say they believe in God, I just hope this will strengthen that relationship as well. They are still financially unstable and it has been a challenge for the mom to feed herself while staying with B at the hospital as they have no funds. Keep that in prayer as well. Thanks for all the prayers! I know they work!! All things are possible with God!

baby update

FYI:

Our little guy returned to his mother. They were heading north to stay with a relative. We wish them well. He was so happy and great to have around. We will miss him but are glad we could have helped for the time we did. Thanks so all our friends and family who loved on him!!!