Loganville Autumn Heritage Festival

Brendon woke up super early for the opening day of shotgun for deer.  I think he was super excited about it because he had a pretty restless sleep which made me not sleep well either.  Olivia slept until about 8:00 which was great for me! Then we had breakfast and played. Brendon came in after 10:00 and saw lots of deer but not on our property.  He even saw two small bucks fighting in the field behind us.

Then we got ready to go to the Loganville Autumn Heritage Festival.  We usually go every year and have lunch and buy some goodies.  We were sadly disappointed by the festival this year.  There were lots of vendors doing advertisements and not much crafty stuff to buy.  There were not a lot of food vendors besides chain restaurants...if we want Papa John's pizza or Chic-fil-a we could visit their restaurants.  We didn't buy anything...goodies or food.  So we decided to leave and went and had lunch at Chili's.  Olivia ate really well while we were and had probably the best restaurant behavior we have had in a long time.  She even colored!

After lunch we came home and I left to go to Athens to pick up my race number for tomorrow.  I am running the Athens 1/2 marathon tomorrow.  I am hoping to redeem myself from the last disaster.  The best part of the race is the finish.  We finish at Sanford Stadium =)  Kim, Dean, and I strolled around Athens which was nice.  It is such a great city and I love their downtown area. 

Then I came home and we had dinner.  We stopped over the neighbors' house quick to wish Rick a Happy Birthday! Then we watched the beginning of the Georgia game! Go Dawgs!!

Eating lunch at Chilis

Henry update and Valley

Update about Henry from his mom Jessica:

We're home! Praise God! Henry took off like a shot when we walked in the door, playing with Miri and exploring all the toys! We've been absolutely floored by the amount of toys, books, stuffed animals, and craft supplies that have been sent by you!! We cannot thank you enough, what a blessing it is to watch the kids explore box after box, Henry even marvels at the cards, wanting me to read each one

to him and smiling and saying "awwww" when I finish! He slept great in our big bed, though he kept looking for hospital bed buttons to adjust it!

Before signing off for today I wanted to share one observation. I have often wondered what it would look like to wander through the "Valley of the Shadow of Death," with someone so close to me. And now home with a terminally-ill child, I believe we've entered the valley. And some of my assumptions were correct - there are pockets of darkness, fear, dread, and a deep sadness. But I was mistaken about one thing. This valley is not desolate. By God's grace our valley is flooded with your prayers and tears, your support and cheers. Most of all it is flooded with the light of our Father's love. This valley may be many things, but it is not a lonely place. Thank you for flooding this valley with love. We cherish every word, agree with every prayer, delight in every gift.

We pray for your peace and joy today.

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I have to agree with Jessica about the valleys in our lives.  There are many times when we think we are at low points in our lives.  It is at those valleys when family, friends, and sometimes people that you do not know flood your valley.  Our valley has been filled a few times.  Jessica reminded me of that in her message that she sent to me, here is the line that she wrote that let me know she was in our valley, "I cried with you when you experienced loss and have reveled in seeing Olivia grow up and cheered her arrival into this world." With Jessica saying that it made me realize how many lives we touch with our sometimes serious, funny, boring blog.  So if you have someone in a valley, make sure to try to do something to fill the valley with love or hope. 

We had a regular day today.  The sniffles were better.  It did help that she got Baby Vicks on her feet  and chest last night.  I also ran the humidifier.  I didn't see her nose run at all today! Brendon and Olivia ran some errands this morning and they were giggling up a storm when I got home.  She was such a happy baby! Brendon experienced his first pee pee in the potty! I didn't have any luck today.  Olivia and I ran to Walgreens after dinner and I treated her to some ice cream...who doesn't like an ice cream treat on a Friday! So we came home and had some cookies and cream ice cream and then played outside.  I taught her how to put something in her sweatshirt pocket! It was pretty fascinating to her and she learned the word pocket.  We put lots of acorns in my pocket and her pocket.  We did have to do one minute of time out tonight after her bath.  She kept kicking and then kicked me so hard on my arm that it will probably bruise.  I put her in her crib with no animals for 1 minute.  She didn't cry but she didn't look happy either.  I explained to her that we don't kick and especially don't kick our mommy or daddy.  I know that it probably made no sense to her but hey... I tried!

Also her new favorite word is read.  When she sits on the potty chair she has us read The Potty Train book.  Cute book...but I have probably read it a gazillion times!! She holds up books now and says, "Read!" Her new favorite author seems to be Eric Carle.  Most of his books are pattern books which are great.  She catches on pretty quick and can sometimes fill in the blank if I stop reading.   She will now sit and listen to us read a book, which is much better than how she used to be.  I love that she loves books =)

We are not so messy anymore...this is what the living room looked like after she went to bed.  We put some toys away but she has become much better at cleaning up.  Most of the stuff on the floor is books =)

Runny Nose and Tooth!

After Olivia's nap today she had a runny nose! Bizarro! She sneezed a couple of times this morning and then got a runny nose.  No fever though.  Her top left molar has broken through finally so that may be the cause...I am hoping!  She has been up the past 2 nights - twice Tuesday night and once last night.  Olivia went pee pee on the potty once today before we left for Kindermusik...but nothing else...she sat on it for quite awhile tonight by her choice but no magic.  We still went to Kindermusik since it was clear and no fever.  I could tell she wasn't her happy self at class.  But she did walk up and down the stairs to get to class barely holding my hand and stepped all by herself onto the curb.  I decided to give her some Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup for dinner and she loved it! I know that always made me feel better when I was little.

Little Henry was supposed to come home today! I haven't seen anything posted on Facebook.  Jessica did post the cutest video of Henry playing a drum set that the hospital gave him.  Talk about pure joy and happiness from him. Keep praying for Henry that his days are filled with lots of love and laughter while he is home!

Day Off

Today I had the day off since I worked the full day yesterday and Malissa worked all day today.  I slept in until 8:00 a.m.! In this house that is sleeping in!! I woke up with Olivia today and let Brendon have a few more minutes to sleep.  Olivia and I had breakfast together and she mostly just wanted to eat mine.  When we finished Brendon woke up and he ate.  Then we played for a bit and then I went for a run.  Olivia took a morning nap and while she napped Brendon worked on painting the back of or house to match the front he painted this summer.  After her nap we ate lunch, went to Target, went to the jewelry store, and went to Gymboree.  We saw Griffin and the rest of our friends.  Two of the other moms asked me today if we are moving up to the next level and I said Olivia wasn't old enough yet...they were surprised that she was only 18 months...which she will be 19 months this weekend. I think it is the hair that makes her look older! One mom said Olivia talked really well and that is why she thought she was older.  I told her thank you and we have worked on her talking a lot because I was worried for awhile when she wasn't talking.

After Gymboree we came home and Olivia found the movie Marley and Me while perusing one of the cabinets...and taking everything out.  She has a book in her room about Marley that has pictures from the movie.  She knows John, Jenny, and Marley from the book.  So I put the movie in to show her the characters.  We watched about 3 minutes of it so she could see them.  It was so funny to hear her saying the characters names and pointing to them.  What was nice is that she told herself to clean up the mess and she did!

No potty on the potty chair today.  We tried a few times but nothing today! Oh well...will try tomorrow!

Whoa... Marley and Me

Kissing Marley

Long Day without Mommy!

Today I took my students on our class field trip to Washington Farms in Watkinsville, Ga.  What a great place for a field trip! It was so nice out today...it was a nice fall day.  We picked pumpkins out of the pumpkin patch, learned about pumpkins, saw some animals, and went on a hay ride.  It was a great day but a LONG day.  Brendon stayed home with Olivia until I got home at almost 5:00. I was so tired but so wanted to squeeze on her.  I think she missed me too.  Since I worked all day today, I get tomorrow off!! Yippee!!

Olivia and I had a great dinner together.  Some nights are better than others.  Then we played upstairs.  I really didn't feel like going outside since I had been outside all day.  I got out some big paper and traced Olivia.  Then we colored part of it.  I labeled some body parts and wrote her name on the shirt.  She practiced coloring...she likes to make circles and we are working on lines from top to bottom.  She prefers the circles the most.  She is also starting to use her right hand more when holding the crayons...who knows if she is a righty or a lefty! I am exhausted....probably going to bed early!

P.S. I had a pee pee in the potty chair after her bath tonight!! Not sure if Brendon had any luck today with it!

Playing with paper!

Finally can reach the light switch at the bottom of the stairs

Big paper drawing and coloring

A little reading before her bath

Pee Pee in the Potty...Twice!

Yesterday when I went to the consignment sale I bought a potty chair...I figured what the heck.  I know what you are thinking...ewww...a used potty chair.  But I could tell it had been cleaned and well taken care of and for $5.00 my heart wouldn't be broken if she didn't like it.  We showed it to her yesterday and she wanted to sit on it.  We tried before her bath last night to see if she would go.  She sat on it for a good couple minutes and nothing happened.  I told Brendon I thought before the week was over that she might go on it.  Well before her nap today I had her sit on it just to see if anything would happen.  I gave her the Potty Train book that she likes to look at and then all of a sudden she went! I was so surprised and didn't expect it.  I tried again after her nap but nothing happened...she was saying pee pee when she woke up but I think she already went.  She actually cried when I took her off the chair! Then before her bath tonight I tried again and she went again! I am so surprised.  I wouldn't say we are officially potty training but hey...if she wants to go on the potty chair... be my guest!

Someone forgot to put the rocking horse in the attic...Loves to rock on it!

Loves to get her own snacks!

Loves to sit on the potty seat with her clothes and diaper on!

Before her bath...shortly after this picture she went again!

Henry update and Done with Christmas Shopping for Olivia

Here is the latest update on Henry posted by his mom yesterday.  I have to say she posted some of the sweetest pictures of him and his sister Miri!

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation." (Psalm 95:1 NIV)

We write this update with joy. We're thankful today for the tremendous motor/mobility improvements Henry is making in Rehab therapy.

Today he WALKED all over with little assistance - a tremendous feat after 4 surgeries and 3 weeks in a hospital bed! He even rode a tricycle (nearly plowing me down!) all around the rehab floor. His mood is good and we're enjoying just "being four."

Yesterday Henry & Miri were reunited in a moment too precious for words. I can only say we cherish deeply the tenderness between them.

When the anger/fear/sadness begin to creep in we often turn toward your positive comments/notes/cards. It is very humbling to receive the gifts and attention, it's hard to accept the generosity of others, but we are deeply thankful. Your support has allowed us to more easily focus on the care of our little ones - a truly priceless gift.

Anyway, we just wanted to update with some of the positive progress we see and to thank you again for the outrageous love and support.

 

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We had a kind of a lazy day today.  We were tired from yesterday.  I went to the very large consignment sale this morning and I can happily say that I am done shopping for Olivia for Christmas.  I did get some pretty good deals.  I bought a little bit of clothes but not much since it was fall/winter clothes and  her closet is stuffed with that stuff.  I found some stuff that may be good for spring or else fall next year.  The best deal I got was a rocking horse.  I have been looking at a few online and at friends' houses.  I got a Fisher Price Rock and Go pony for $10.00! It looks brand new.  Olivia even got to test it out and loved it.  After that came home and had lunch and started the long process of unpinning and untaping all the stuff from the sale.  By the time I was finished it was time for Olivia's nap! While she napped, I quickly read the paper and then went for a run. Got home it was dinner time and then Brendon went hunting.  It was a busy and not so busy day!