Story Tellers

Do you ever have nights where your kids tell you something & you think holy crap balls - what are we going to do about this?

Well last night was that night.

After Everett was in bed and asleep, Aubrie informed Jade that Everett got in a fight on the school bus on the way to school yesterday.  Apparently it was so bad that the bus driver had to have a high schooler break it up as she was driving down the road.

That was all we got.  No one called from the school, Everett never said a word about it.  So Jade & I are sitting there puzzled.  What the crap - I can't believe the school didn't call us & what really happened.  Did Everett start a fight or did another kid start it and he finished it?  He's VERY impulsive, but he never just starts fights with strangers.

So at breakfast we ask Everett about it & he claims to have asked a boy to move that was in his spot, he pushed the kid, and then they got in a big fight.  We then proceeded to threaten him with his punishment that he'll get a spankin' with the paddle next time & if he keeps it up they will ban him from the bus.  He was devastated.

So after they left on the bus this morning, me paranoid of what they were doing, I told Mom the saga.  She suggested I call the bus driver, who happens to be the same driver that drove me to school.  So I call her up, and she is as surprised as I am, because none of the above was true.

They seriously embellished the entire story. 

He has been good on the bus, just a few moments of standing in the seat looking at the people behind him, but he just turned 4 so that isn't shocking.

So yes tonight, we discuss lying.

They are full of wind those two kids of mine, big windy stories...I wonder where they got it!  Ha!

Everett's Headed to Preschool

Last week Everett cried hard that Aubrie was going to school & he wasn't.  He went to school last year and he was sure all his friends were there missing him.  They were not.

Today is his first day back & he also gets to ride the bus with Aubrie.  He was very excited.

We went over all the bus rules.  Aubrie claims to be an expert about the bus after 4 days.

He has on his new shoes - they are turquoise & he loves them.  Aubrie's are purple with a rainbow & lights.  They are both thrilled with new school kicks.

Jade stayed again today to see them off.

He walked them out while Ollie and I waved from the porch.

I can't wait for him to get home & fill me in on all the details!  He's with Ru this afternoon & headed to the pool, lucky boy.



My Hearts...

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

                                                                        e e cummings

Thank you dear Jamie for beautiful pictures!

All photos are by Pix by Jme

Penelope Jane

She made her debut last night at 6:30 PM

She's a chunk at 9 pounds 1 ounce & 20.5 inches long.

I think she looks like Maggie Jo.

Maggie said today her hair is buzzed & blonde, but I'm betting she has a red tint to it!  That's my hope anyway.

I am DYING to kiss on her again, but party bonus - she lives in my basement (condo) so when they arrive home tomorrow - Maggie is going to want a nap, or a shower, or to eat & I'm the fill in wet nurse - ha no not really, but she'll smell it on me I'm sure!

My kids are anxious for their arrival - the hospital won't let them visit - Aubrie is crushed.  Tomorrow they will finally meet LP and then annoy the day lights out of sleep deprived Maggie - pray for us all :)

Guess who has two thumbs & loves babies - this girl!!

Day 2 of Kindergarten

Aubrie is hilarious.

Friday and yesterday she got off the school bus running & waving the entire way back to the house.

Friday her big concern was "Why do all the kids on the bus think I'm so cute?"

Well, obviously it's because she is cute as a button, plus add in glasses & her personality & she's a doll.

Yesterday she comes home, on the second full day of kindergarten mind you, and she informs me that she "Found the boy she's going to marry!"

SAY WHAT?!?!?

Apparently he promised her a hundred puppies, kitties, and parrots...and he's funny.

That is a pretty tempting deal I must agree.

So what is his name? 

Well I don't know, and she doesn't know either - yes hilarious.  She is hilarious.  All I know is he had brown hair and a green shirt, and he sat relatively close to her.

And what was her favorite part of the day?

Well duh - lunch.

She.was.starving.  She ate chicken nuggets.

That wraps up day 2 with my big girl.

The bus

Almost every bad word, phrase I learned in life, I learned on the bus.  A few came from my Dad - ha!

So it kills me that she's old enough to ride the bus.

They pick her up at 7:05.

Jade walked her out on Friday.

Today she wanted to walk out on her own.

I have teared up both days.  When will it stop?  Probably not this week because Thursday, sweet Everett Mason will board the bus with her. 

That means every day by 7:06, it will be just me and Ollie.

Everett will bus home after preschool at 10:30.  Aubrie will bus home at the end of the day.  They are growing up so fast.  I thought I was ready for it, but it appears I am not.

Ollie please stay small forever.

On a different note, Maggie Jo is headed to the Dr. today.  It is her due date for Penelope Jane.  Pray that Penelope comes soon!  Maggie is tired, and Aunt Annie is ready for a second baby in the house!

Kindergarten

Today my first baby started Kindergarten!

She was so excited she was up early for her, I normally pry her out of bed!

Then, she was unhappy that I was going with her and that it wasn't a real day of school.  Today was just a meet & greet with her teachers.  Tomorrow is the first real day where they have recess, lunch, and she rides the bus to and from - ugh I'm nervous about the school bus.  Every bad thing I learned, I learned on that same school bus route that she's climbing onto tomorrow! 

Everett took a picture of us, clearly she's not thrilled about it, and of course a fly would land on my arm at the exact same time he took the photo - priceless.

What is better than your first day at school?  Well duh, pictures with your two favorite cats & your brother still wearing his pjs and a black eye.

Here is her school - she is pumped!  I know she will love it, but it's hard to see her growing up so fast. 

Downsizing

To say I'm thrilled is an understatement!

Since I had Ollie, I focused on her health constantly.  I let go of myself.

I was sad I hadn't lost my baby weight, but made zero effort to change it.

All that changed July 11th!  I joined a Beachbody 30 day challenge & I haven't stopped from there!

I'm down 8 pounds and last I checked 5.5" - that was last week so I'm sure I'm down more now!  I try to avoid the scale & just measure every couple of weeks.  I take pictures every 15 days and that is my motivation because the lumps are quickly melting away!

I feel great, I have energy, I see muscles again.  I am addicted to Shakeology.  I am looking forward to my next set of pictures - crazy I know!

The best part by far are in the pants!  I went from wearing size 12 womens, to size 9 juniors.  That's a big deal!  I have much more to go, but with eating healthy, Shakeology, and exercising daily - I will be there.

Thank you Chalene & TurboFire.  I am a huge fan now and I will continue to push play. 

I still struggle - with what you ask?  Well, it is really hard every day to fit in my workouts, and I struggle with 3 kids to find the time.  However, I  have fully committed to finding the time & since I told my mind to make the time - I have.  Mind over matter right?  I also struggle to make sure I consume enough calories - I need to eat roughly 2000 a day with exercising & nursing.  Honestly eating healthy to fuel my body equals a lot of smart food & a lot of calories!  I still have a lot to learn about healthy eating, but it's a start, a life style change that I much needed.

So stay tuned because I have more inches to shed to get to my goal!

Stellar Day

Today this little bundle of sweetness turned 4.  Yes, you heard me right, he's 4.  I don't know how or when it happened, but he grew up on me.

He's still wild as cats as Aubrie says, and he's still my sweet boy.  I'm cherishing the hugs that I have left in him because before I know it, hugging his Mom won't be cool.  Darn, time freeze needs to become a possibility soon!

This little chub had good reports in St. Louis.  She does not need glasses - woot woot!  Her heart has a minor VSD by the patch, but she can go off all her heart meds & we don't go back for 6 months.  Hopefully the VSD will close on its own, but basically it's not something to worry about because her Dr. isn't concerned with it - can I get a praise the Lord?

Seriously 6 months without a cardio appointment - oh my gosh - I am on top of the moon for reals!

Then I got to squeeze on this little sweetie too!  I have been dying to meet her for so long & I have prayed for her continuously - I was thrilled to meet her and her mama!  Pictures from them to come!

It's been a good day indeed!  I must run because my birthday boy will be home soon & I have hugs & kisses to give him when he walks through that door & probably 4 spankin's and a pinch to grow an inch or 3.

Headed To St. Louis

Tomorrow is a big day for us!

We are headed back to St. Louis for Ollie's follow up visit.  It's a day packed full of appointments.  Please pray for us that everything goes smoothly and we get good news all around.

We are starting at the Down Syndrome center for a 6 month followup.  We will also see Dr. Johnson, her cardiologist.  I'm hoping we get an echo and find out about the leakage of her valves.  Last we knew it was mild.  We are praying it doesn't get progressively worse which would mean another surgery at some point.  When he last saw him, he said our next echo would give us a better idea on a future surgery, so this is probably tomorrow so pray for very mild leakage!  Then we are heading to the opthamologist for an eye exam.  She has nystagmus, which means her eyes shake sometimes when she focuses.  It's typical in children with DS and is because of low muscle tone.  However, some children also need glasses and with Aubrie's poor vision it's always a possibility.  I think Ollie would be adorable in glasses, but we really don't want another set of specs if possible!

So pray pray pray & also pray for baby Vada who is in St. Louis now for seizures, and for baby Grace who is having open heart surgery tomorrow for an AV Canal.

A Party For All

Everett turns 4 on Tuesday.  Caroline turns 2 on the 20th.  So what did we do?

A combined birthday party!  Since baby Penelope is due on the 22nd and could come any day, we wanted to get the party in and celebrate!

Everett wore the official birthday cake hat and showed off his new digits.

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I can't believe this boy is 4 - where does the time go?

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All the kids huddle around Jade for some precious Daddy time.

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Maggie bought the two birthday kids some killer shades.  I took the picture multiple times & captain blinks a lot blinked every time!  I think she just wanted to show off her killer lashes!

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Aubrie was more excited than anyone.  She was thrilled for a party - any kind of party makes her day the "best day ever!"

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Even Ollie got in on some hat action, but she wasn't fond of it!

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We had two cakes.  Everett was thrilled to blow out his candles!

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Caroline mostly spit blowing hers out, but Aubrie & Everett helped her.  They are always willing to help when it comes to opening someone elses gifts too!

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Ollie spent some time loving on her Pa.

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And Trudie moped because she ate so much cake she puked...

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It was a righteous party!!