When Did They Grow Up?

It seems to have happened over night. One moment Jasmine was my baby, my only child and then in what seemed like a blink of an eye she has grown into a preteen. She is no longer clinging to my ankles and hasn't been there for quite a long time. She has her own personality that's often makes me wonder where she's picked up certain traits from. She begun seventh grade and has now officially been abducted by your church..!!..? Wait.., what!?! 

That's right, this morning our drive way was full of vehicles and people who were here to take my daughter on a initiation of sorts, into our church catalyst group.

They woke her up and took her off to enjoy her first day as a FUPC catalyst member. 

 She was excited and I was so proud of her, who she is and who she is becoming. She is going to be alright, this girl really has her head on straight and I couldn't be prouder to be her Mom. 

You know that saying, "It takes a village"? Well, I never really believed it until recently. The more (healthy, positive and well rounded) family and friends that are involved in the upbringing of a child's life, may actually be better than I once thought.

And then there was this picture of Vada that made me realize I must be walking around with my eyes closed because I didn't see her change from my baby girl to my toddler...

but look at this girl who is now very much a little girl who has grown considerably this summer, maybe even over the last couple of weeks!

And she isn't the only one! We went to our 2 & Under group at GiGi's today. Its been awhile since we've been there due to all of the summer activities, but all of the group had gone through huge changes! Two kiddo's had started school, one was in her second year of preschool, the other was just beginning. (some of the kids in our group are over three years old but because of the small amount of children that age we kind of combine our groups which is great because they are all friends.

And today the group welcomed a new friend who is pretty close to V's age but younger! There are a couple of babies in our group that attend off and on but before this addition Im pretty for sure that V was the youngest by about six months and for awhile there her age difference was evident. Now she is no longer the youngest or the smallest (I think and besides the babies).

And what about Miss Kiliegh? 

Well, she is at her dad's this week but I have noticed drastic changes in her over the summer, as well. She has embraced what it feels like to be the oldest sibling (at her dads) and I think that she really likes what that feels like. She is a little less shy and knows herself more than she did last year at this time. She started fourth grade and for the first time she has a male teacher whom she says that she really likes. 

Have I mentioned lately that I love being a mom?
I love what family is and where my family is going!

On the Night You Were Born

Yesterday Vada and I went to Barns and Noble, actually, we went to the mall and then because it's located inside of the mall (and also because of our love of books) we had to stop in. We read all kinds of books and Vada did some exploring of the children's section, while capturing the attention (and hearts, I'm sure) of many. We left the store with one new book, On the Night You Were Born, by Nancy Tillman. Have you read it? We have a lot of books like this one, books that give me the goosebumps when I read them to my girls, because they come close to putting into words just how much I love them. This one however, is one of my all time favorites, now. Let me tell you why...

Last night was a long night for me, Vada too. We didn't get a whole lot of sleep because Vada kept waking up. She doesn't have a fever and she has no signs that she is sick but over the last week and a half she has cut two of her two year molars and she now has two of her front bottom teeth cutting through. I think that has a lot to do with my lack of sleep and her restlessness. Anyway, I woke up this morning and Vada and I headed over to a friend of ours dry cleaning business. On the weekends Justin usually goes over and cleans for them but today he had to work and last night we went to the movies and didn't get home until late, so I did it for him. By the time I finished I had about an hour left until our second service at Church started. I still needed to clean up and change so Vada and I went home. By the time we got here I just wanted to get into my "comfy clothes" and take a nap. I was seriously contemplating doing so when I caught Vada playing with the book that we had bought the day before. I sat down and watched her while she turned the pages and babbled out loud, as if she were actually reading to me. I took a couple of pictures because I thought it was so cute and after a couple of minutes Vada closed the book and handed the book to me.

Everyday at Vada's nap times and then at her bed time we have been reading different versions of Children's Bibles. As I was holding onto the book that she handed me I thought of those stories and I knew that I needed to get off of my butt, get dressed and go to church and I did.

One of our Elders gave the sermon today. He started out by reciting a poem that sounded very familiar to me. I listened to be sure and then once he had finished I leaned forward to my friend sitting in the pew ahead of me and said "How crazy is it that I just bought that book?" This was the poem from the book that I had just bought, the one that reminded me of my love for my children. It was the same book that reminded me of Jesus' love for all of His children and it for whatever reason it had made its way to our church sermon. It felt as if Jesus himself were thanking me for coming today and I knew that I was right where I was suppose to be.


I never did take a nap today. Instead I came home and played with Vada and then cleaned while she was napping. All day I had a warmth in my heart and a smile on my face. And now this book holds a special meaning to me that no amount of words could express...

Some people believe that things are coincidental but that's just not me. I believe that God "speaks" to us in different ways and that if we slow down and pay attention we might just "hear" what He is trying to tell us. Its funny how His messages reach us and that today his came to from a children's book.

On the night you were born,

the moon smiled with such wonder

that the stars peeked in to see you

and the night wind whispered,

"Life will never be the same."

Because there had never been anyone like you...

ever in the world.

So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain 

that they whispered the sound of your wonderful name.

The sound of your name is a magical one.

Let's say it out loud before we go on.

It sailed through the farmland

high on the breeze...

Over the ocean...

And through the trees...

Until everyone heard it

and everyone knew

of the one and only ever you.

Not once had there been such eyes,

such a nose,

such silly, wiggly, wonderful toes.

In fact I think I'll count to three

so you can wiggle you toes for me.

When the polar bears heard, 

they danced until dawn.

From faraway places,

the geese flew home. 

The moon stayed up until

morning next day.

And none of the ladybugs flew away.

So whenever you doubt just how special you are

and wonder who loves you, how much and how far,

listen for the geese honking high in the sky.

(They're singing a song to remember you by.)

Or notice the bears asleep in the zoo.

(It's because they've been dancing all night for you!)

Or drift off to sleep to the sound of the wind.

(Listen closely... it's whispering your name again!)

If the moon stays up until morning one day,

or a ladybug lands and decides to stay,

or a little bird sits at your window awhile,

it's because they're hoping to see you smile...

For never before in a story or rhyme

(not even once upon a time)

has the world ever known a you, my friend,

and it never will, not ever again...

Heaven blew every trumpet 

and played every horn

on the wonderful, marvelous 

night you were born.

On the Night You Were Born

By: Nancy Tillman

Family Camping

I have never felt like I belong anywhere (other than my with my family) as much as I do when I am at our church. That's why I was thrilled when I found out that they were doing a family camping trip on the same night as my thirty first birthday. With Justin at work I thought it was the perfect place to be to celebrate being blessed with another year. I decided to take V to Justin's parents house because I knew that the temperature was suppose to drop into the mid thirty's since she was already not feeling well I didn't want to make her feel worse by exposing her to really cold weather. I did miss Vada and Justin but at the same time I was also grateful for the "big girl" time that I had with Jasmine and Kiliegh. I can not remember the last time that the three of us did something together, especially something like this...

No More Excuses

Why is it that I never forget medications for my husband or children but I almost always forget my own? How is it that Vada has only missed a physical therapy session due to illness but I cant get myself to exercise again? I stay on my girls to take showers everyday but sometimes I skip a day. Is it Poor time management? Motherhood? Procrastination...? I think, honestly, its a combination of all of those things and then some. I love my children and I think that I do a good job at mothering them but when it comes to taking care of myself.., sometimes I lack in that area.

My hair is falling out. I am gaining weight and my skin is dry. I have Hypothyroidism and these are all things that happen when I don't take my medications. Besides this morning, I cant remember the last time that I actually took my two tiny pills that make all of the difference.

When I look at myself I feel as if my skin is just hanging off of my body. I know nice image, right? I gained over sixty pounds during my pregnancies (All three of them!). After I had Vada I had postpartum edema and swelled up like a balloon. I actually weighed more after I had her than I did in my final weeks of pregnancy. Although, two weeks of diuretics took care of it. I was also on over twelve weeks of "strict bed rest" and from what I have been told for everyday down it takes two to recover. Twelve (weeks) times seven (days) equals eighty-four (days of bed rest). Eighty-four times two equals one hundred and sixty-eight (days to recover), which means I should have been recovered and been ready to exercise when Vada was around five and a half months. That's a long time to recover and that mark for recovery was hit and then passed an even longer time ago! So I have made a decision. Instead of saying all of the things I want to do, like my old routine of running three to five miles a day or my Insanity workout, Tracy Anderson Method workout or even my Winsor Pilates workout. I am only committing myself to one small thing, at least to start with... Ten minutes of elliptical exercise. Yes, I am that out of shape. Ten minutes get me sweating and breathing hard. That'll be my plan for one week. Its short enough that I cant make excuses and at the very least, its something. So I don't sabotage myself i'm not even going to speak of my next steps. I am going to focus on today and my baby steps back to a healthier me. This morning's ten minute "workout" was accomplished and I had my little motivator playing next to me the whole time. For now on there will be no more "I'll start tomorrow." excuses. For now on, even if it is only for a short ten minutes, I am getting my butt on the elliptical and I am doing something that makes me feel good about myself and the time that I have.

 ---

Two days ago was Vada's eighteen month birthday. The funny thing is that I have been saying the same thing for several days now. On Thursday I told my mother in law that Vada and I celebrated it with some ice cream. Thursday was the first of September. I guess I was just so excited that I lost track of what date it really was. Vada was born on March 2, 2010. Therefore, Friday was in fact the correct day!

Since we already had some ice cream, last night we had fall vegetable soup (made recently) and broccoli with potatoes. The soup is my favorite and even though I call it a "Fall" soup I make it throughout the year because I like it so much! Vada likes it too, in fact I have never seen her eat so much at one time! She finished almost all of both bowls.

After dinner we did something new...laundry... oh wait, that's not new but riding in the basket, for Vada is! She was giggling like crazy!

---

Last night, before bed Vada caught up on some reading. Justin and I have been trying to budget in a new vehicle, one that is appropriately sized for our family and Vada wanted in on the decision making aspect of the deal. She's still deciding.

---

This morning was the third Sunday in a row that I have missed church. Not. Like. Me. The first Sunday we went to Saint Louis because of Vada's seizures. Last week was because of the cold that she caught the prior weekend and this Sunday was also because of that same stinking cold. Yeh, she has had it for three weeks! It's not contagious, at least none of us have caught it. She's not running a temperature and hasn't this whole time. I have brought her to the doctors and he has said it's just a cold and it should pass on it's own. Now, it's settling in her eyes and she has a lot of congestion that oddly enough comes and goes throughout the day. So I am thinking its time to bring her back in and re-examine her.

Anyway, instead of taking a coughing, runny nosed and watery eyed little girl to church this morning, Vada and I stayed at home, did laundry and listened to one of our church sermons on podcast. I'm grateful for the podcast recordings because I don't feel complete throughout the week when I miss church. Listening to my pastor's voice and hearing the messages that he preaches helps when I cant be there in person and especially, when I am out of town, sitting in a hospital. While missing church was not the highlight of my day I did enjoy this morning with my baby girl and she seemed to enjoy helping with the laundry.

---

Two days ago I posted something that I later in the evening, removed. It had to do with raising money and the Down syndrome awareness walk that is coming up this October 1st. I removed the post because I spoke (or in this case wrote) too soon. Therefore, because the walk is now only twenty-six days away and we have yet to collect any money I want it to be known that we are still collecting money and it will be donated (one way or the other) to the QC GiGi's Playhouse and it will also be donated in honor of "Team Vada 2011". When more information is given to me and when it is set in stone I will share all of the details with you but please, if you want to donate, don't wait! Contact me and I will get you any information you need!

Bubble Baths and Randomness

Right now I am in the bath, a bubble bath actually! I know, I know...a little more information than you probably needed or even wanted to hear but it's the second time that I have been able to take a bubble bath this week! Both times I have consider each bath a gift from my husband who just happen to top off this bath by bringing me a tall glass of iced Organic Easy Now tea, which I plan  to sip on as I melt into the water and the aromas of Eucalyptus and Menthol (No, I'm not sick, I just enjoy the scents). Justin has even told the girls that they could not come into this particular bathroom until I came out. For all of you Momma's out there I am sure that you can understand how sweet that restriction is! Children seem to need you more when your trying to do something, like talking on the phone, cooking dinner any yes, even taking a bath.

Being a parent is a constant jog! This week alone, I am accompanying my girls to five days in a row of swim lessons. They also have activities at church once during the week. Kiliegh has a dance class. Jasmine has two soft ball games, Karate classes and then on Saturday, were taking her to camp, in Wisconsin, which I might add is a minimum six hours of driving! Therefore, something that seems so small like taking a bath (for mere relaxation purposes) seems like a luxury to me.

Even though things are crazy busy, I am really enjoying this time with Justin and the girls-where were doing things as a family. It's nice to not have to worry as much as I used to. It's even nicer being able to incorporate Vada in our every day activities verses finding someone to take the older girls somewhere or needing to have someone come watch Vada so that I can.

The balancing act between everything that the girls have lined up in a day/week and then the things that I need to do leaves me very tired. Therefore, any extra interests of mine I keep putting aside, like blogging. I have however, begun sleeping in my bed again which makes falling behind on hobbies well worth it! Up until about a week ago all of my nights ended with me sleeping on the floor or on the couch because little V had her sleeping schedule messed up. We co-slept with her, which I think is wonderful to experience together. Now however, putting her into her own bed has become somewhat trickier than it may have been if I just put her there when she first came home. I loved cuddling with her while we slept and when she was less mobile and I love the bond that her and I have so I dont regret co-sleeping with her one bit. Having her sleep with us made my nerves less of a mess. I knew she was breathing and doing well through the night when she was next to me and it also made night time feedings much easier. Now, however, she is all over the place and even with a guard rail up I am nervous that she'll crawl to the foot of the bed and fall off (and our bed is high up). Since I have been so tired I am scared that she'll crawl past me without me waking. So, it's time for her to sleep in her own bed and for the most part once she is asleep, she doesn't seem to mind the transition. It's harder on me probably because I wont let her cry herself to sleep. I don't like the idea of it. So getting her to sleep is a little time consuming than it may be if I did do the "Cry-it-out" method-which is fine.

I have also been focusing a lot of my attention on nap times. I am hoping that if I get Vada's naps figured out the sleeping through the night, (which hasn't happened since she was around five and a half months old-prior to her seizures), will follow. Either way, I feel as if were on the right track to getting blissful full nights of sleep, for V and I both!

It's been a week since the "quarantine" has been lifted and boy oh boy have we made our rounds with Vada. Well, sort of.

We went to the Farmers Market again. There the girls tried some fresh peaches, watermelon and even Vada had a small taste of fudge.

We walked through every part of the market as well as the inside portion. When we ventured to the far back of the outdoor market we found a tent where a nice couple was spinning wool straight from a live (and fully comfortable) Angora rabbit. It was an impressive sight to see. The girls however, were more impressed with the animals themselves.

Before leaving the house on this particular day Kiliegh had emptied her whole piggy bank into her purse. I bet the thing weight at least five pounds and not once but twice Jasmine helped her count out five dollars in loose change for two separate jewelry purchases. (I haven't seen the braclets since.)

One night we met our church's youth group, their parents and some of the church staff at Happy Joe's and we all hung out, ate pizza and caught up on each other lives a little. I realized again during this get together that my social skills are shot! Being house bound for the last two years has done something to my abilities with interacting with others. I now have no idea what to say to people, what to talk about or even how to start a conversation let alone carry one. I guess that just means that I need to be around people more. Either way, it was nice being surrounded by this group of friends, we all have a past together so the conversations were lighter and more care free.

Heidi's daughter Hailey is actually the reason that we go to FUPC-of Moline. "Hail's" inviting Jasmine, my oldest a few years ago to youth group with her. Jasmine went several times with Hailey and her family before I became interested and the rest is history.

Heidi and I as well as Jen (one picture below Heidi) were all in the same "small group", Sunday school class and even Women's bible study class when I was going on a regular basis (before my pregnancy with Vada). Also, Heidi was Kiliegh's reading teacher for two years.

Jen (below) like I already mentioned is in a lot of the same functions for church. She has two sons who are both Jasmine's and Kiliegh's age and they live four blocks away. Joe (her oldest) and Jasmine have spent a lot of time riding through the neighborhood on their bikes this summer. I like that Jasmine has nice boys to play with.

During my pregnancy Jen kept me well stocked with Dvd's and Panera. She constantly offered to walk our dog, take the girls to church amongst many other helpful things. She is a good friend and neighbor.

This is Rusty. He came to our church a couple of years ago from Texas. He works with the youth and does an amazing job! He is patient and kind and a strong leader to our kiddo's. He also brought with him his wonderful wife and two children. Just recently they had their third child Lylah.

This is Vada and Lylah interacting together.  The head on the left is Sarah, Rusty's wife and then head on the right is me.

Well, I can hear a fussy baby in the background calling for me, so I need to finish things up and attempt more "catch-up" on another day and time. Before I call it a wrap, I want to make sure that I mention  My cousin Terrie. She is around my age has struggled with weight issues for quite sometime now. She is a working mother of two beautiful babes and a wife of a pretty great guy. Recently, she started the Weight Watchers program and for the first time in a long time (maybe her whole life), she is seeing some pretty substantial results! She has decided to start blogging about her journey through the up's and down's of weight loss-blogging can be so therapeutic. Her blog is not intended to promote or endorse Weight Watchers in any way but since she is a active member in the program it is one of her primary topics in her writing. If you are interested you can check out her blog here.

Another new blogger is my Jazzy girl. She is my oldest daughter, an eleven year old sweetie who happens to have a lot of sass but a lot more heart than anything. She thought after watching me for some time that blogging sounded like a fun thing to do. I have no idea where she is going with it or even if she'll stick with it but I thought I would share her link anyway.

Kiliegh, my middle daughter saw that Jasmine, her big sister had started a blog and decided that she too wanted one. I'm still contemplating on that one but I did open up a typing program on the computer and told her to get in some practice and this is what she decided to write about. Cute huh?