There's Good Ooeey Gooey and Bad Ooeey Gooey

Oh, I am so sick of us kicking around the stomach bug. We can't be giving it to each other...there's too much lag time between cases. But the first incident was BR on Halloween and it's been in our house on and off for us all since. Icky...I know. Beatle woke up not feeling well on Thanksgiving day. Always in it for the food, she was trying to muscle through and said, "Mom, it's ok. It's just the squirties." We tried to quarantine her as much as possible and warn everyone to keep their distance but alas, several people are down in Oklahoma now probably because of us. When we go back for Christmas, there will probably be Wanted signs hanging around with our pictures on them. "Wanted: For Carelessly Spreading the Squirties". We were 10 miles outside of Hot Springs on our way home when Birdie started throwing up and of course BR starts working himself into a tizzy. It's one of those crisis moments where you have to get the person to lock eyes with you and talk to them in a calming voice, reminding them to breathe. We pulled over but, honestly, I didn't know what I could do for her there that I couldn't do a million times better in just 15 or so minutes. We threw a blanket over her chest and helped Beatle, the whites of her eyes now a brilliant yellow color, whiz on the side of the road. (Honestly, for girls, the best way we've found to assist them urinating on the side of the road is one parent grab her feet and the other under her pits and just let her hang in an "L" position in mid-air. Quick, to the point, and no dribbles!) bahaha! I can't believe I'm really just laying all this madness out. Beatle tooted while in mid-air. I had her pits and I got tickled so hard, it took everything I had to hold her up. What a crazy life sometimes. BR and I get equally freaked out at times to add more but here goes nothing...with our home being open for foster kids soon.

Back to the squirties for a moment, we were praying last night and I was praying for Birdie who doesn't feel well and "for everyone back in Oklahoma that is now sick because Beatle sat on their lap when she had the squirties. Amen." She laughed an embarrassed laugh and said, "I can't believe you told Him that." Like He didn't know! :)

Birdie's cutting more teeth and she goes around clacking and grinding her top and bottom teeth together. Ewww! It is the grossest sound ever! It just doesn't sound right. We keep trying to give her things to chew on but she'll still do it or find things, like our stone coasters to grind her teeth on! Ahhh! Like nails on a chalkboard!

Big News! Yes, you are blog-worthy. :) My sister got engaged at Thanksgiving! He asked in front of all of the family at Thanksgiving dinner--one of those "What are you Thankful for?" moments and KAPOW! a ring appeared. It was so special that we all got to be a part of it! We love Zac and I'm excited he'll be a brother-in-law someday. Beatle's crazy about him, too. And it will be all Birdie ever remembers--Uncle Zac. I'm so happy for my sister, SUZY, who has found a good man and the love of her life!!! I couldn't help that night to see my brother over her shoulder when we were all reveling in their exciting step. My brother and his fiancee were standing side-by-side and I thought how cool it is that love comes at all different times and all different ways--that my little sister and big brother are probably going to get married in the same year (neither couple has set their date yet because of military responsibilities and illness in the family). My brother and sister are 13 years apart. Wow! And the best part is, my girls are getting an awesome uncle and wonderful new aunt! I love both of them a lot! What an exciting time! Now...I just need to be made into an aunt! After the respective weddings, of course. ;)

Bellies, Behavior and Blessings

I'm such a boring blogger these days!!! Shame on me!!! Let me just say however, I don't know if I've ever felt so fulfilled in all of my life! I love being with my girls and my free time has been filled with keeping a nice house consistently (I think I'm in a new record), having lots of people in my home again, finally completing our foster paperwork/classes/steps (we lack one home study and are excited to get a child in the new year), playing with Scentsy, and am following the Lord's leading to a new sensitivity and reactivity to some homeless friends God has led into my life. When I breathe, I breathe deeply these days but not because I'm tired but because I am so complete and content. Life is full and I'm being used in ways I only hoped I would be just a few short months ago.

Two nights ago Beatle prayed, "God, you're my favorite. I mean, I can just imagine you and me in my bed--cuddling." :) On her thankfulness list, her teacher translated her little scribble scrabble and wrote to the side that her number one was "God" but when I looked closer at it, I saw she wrote "MIGAD". haha! But for those of you who are still hung up on making fun of my kindergartener's simple writing skills, you are missing the "MI" at the beginning of her number one answer. My God. Her God. She's thankful for HER God. That makes a mom's heart swell!

And to touch further on her writing skills, she's actually satisfactory. :) haha! We got her progress report yesterday and she was satisfactory in academic and excellent in conduct. When I told her what her report said and told her the things Mrs. Bettis said we should probably work on a little more with her writing, Beatle paused and asked thoughtfully, "It's behavior that you really care about, right?" Awww! "Yes, Beatle! We care more about your behavior than what's up in your head because we know you are smart and can learn all that when you are ready."

Yesterday, I was trying to negotiate the doctor out of sticking Birdie's finger for an iron check. Alas, he won and, turns out, she IS anemic! So wierd but I'm glad he stuck to his guns, I guess. Just some iron suplements and we should be all patched up.

Birdie turns 10 months tomorrow. I saw a lady tonight a church who is due in 2011 right around the same time I was due with Birdie. And, I started reminiscing about the big belly at Thanksgiving and the clothes I was wearing this time last year...I actually really, really missed being pregnant for a few minutes.

Some pictures!

I bought this for Beatle when she was born--many frames with a list of "firsts" with magnetic backs. One day, I went into her room to see that they were all scrambled up and the wrong label was on the wrong picture. I asked, "What happened?" and she told me that a few days before she got mad at me and mixed them all up. Oooo, she really got me back with that one. :) Hey, right now, I really do appreciate that that is as vindictive as she gets!




Some pictures from the weekend...



Sleepy Birdie...ripping her socks and hat off all night wore her out.



Beatle said she held her breath through this whole picture...

Pilgrits

Halloween was nice. My parents came to town. However, we were really confused when to trick-or-treat. Hot Springs never declared a day and everyone we talked to said something different so we wound up going both nights! :) We had a cowgirl and an Indian. Keeping Birdie's cowgirl hat on proved to be the biggest trick of the night. Beatle was so wore out from partying with my parents this weekend that she went to bed at 6:30 last night and I had to wake her up a little after 7 this morning! I couldn't believe it.

Today, Beatle came home from school telling me a little bit about the Pilgrits. :) She told me that they sailed here in a big boat a long, long time ago--like, in the 80s. haha! I had to chuckle out loud at that one.

Birdie can let go when she pulls up and stand alone now. It seems like she's achieved a lot with her mobility in the last month and so, in turn, I achieve less everyday. ;)

My sister comes to town this weekend and I'm really excited to spend some one-on-one time with her!