Fumble

I have dropped the ball with blogging this month! Don't give up on me you silent but faithful blog-followers! What a month it has been, as I'm sure it has been for you too!

Two weeks ago, we had a breach in security early in the morning...that's what we call it around here when bathroom or bedroom doors are left open, a perfect opportunity for Birdie to rifle around and find a shoe to go throw in the toilet or trashcan--her favorite pastime of late. Birdie kicked the door in on Brent in our bedroom, I was a few steps behind her but we found Brent on the phone on his knees praying instead of getting ready. It was hard news that ears were about to hear; a beloved uncle had died. It's hard to know how to react when you feel sure that their suffering is over, they've found peace in heaven, but life for us won't be the same anymore. Beatle was particularly close to her great-uncle and we figured she'd take it hard. Later that day, we pulled the old, check-her-out-of-school-and-get-some-ice-cream trick but she's a smart cookie and she knew something was up. I thought I'd leave it to the professional to deliver the news and it was Brent's uncle. He just said it. No real build-up or gentle let-down. Not even a hug when she was crying! I had to swoop in try to save this situation and later I asked to see his qualifying creditials again. Ji-mi-ny! We will miss Uncle Jim.

Have you ever been in so much suspense you can hardly handle it??? In the last month, we've been reading "The Hiding Place" aloud for about an hour each night. It's been super fun and we just finished tonight. But, a few nights ago, when the story was reaching it's climax, Beatle could hardly take it; she flopped on the ground and said, "I'm so nervous. I've got to cover my eyes!" We just died laughing. With an oral story, you're eyes won't spare you, my child! Then, the next night, we were playing Sorry on the floor and it was anyone's game--just a card could be a game-changer. She starts writhing next to us with that nervous giggle/shriek as Brent draws his card and she says, "I can't take this! I'm giving myself a wedgie!" Seriously, so intense that you resort to a self-inflicted wedgie??? Bahaha! I lost it when she pointed that out.

I've had this artsy-crafty idea for a mobile for Birdie since she's never had a proper one before. I gathered sticks, spray-painted them white, used jute rope to hold it together and glued on these Parisian-inspired, pink birds. It was really pretty (although, I can admit now that the scale was a little larger than desired once we got it in place last weekend). I was putting the girls to bed when I thought I heard something crunching. Beatle was chatting it up with Baby across the room so I asked her to be quiet and we strained our ears. Now that I'm retelling this, I feel like I'm building up to a National Lampoon Christmas Vacation story. Anyways, whatever it was didn't do it while we were quiet so I was about to give up when I looked into Birdie's bed more closely when I saw there was a pile of sawdust in there! Judging by the way it fell, I found a hole. Finally, we heard it crunching again. Typical me, I just put Birdie to bed anyways and resolved to talk to Brent about it in the morning. As soon as I did this morning, Brent was like, "Termites!!!" His mind was going a million miles an hour and he was telling me horror stories. Not worth it. The mobile is in the trash, my little birdies are back on my craft table and my Birdie woke up with sawdust in her eye boogers for the last time.

Tomorrow, we set out on an adventure of a lifetime. We're going cruising, baby! It's one thing to go on an awesome vacation but it's another thing to have someone else foot the bill--talk about relaxing!!! Thank you Big Poppa! I've turned into such a cheap-o thanks to Dave Ramsey that it's even hard for me to enjoy vacations as much as I used to because I'm constantly thinking about the dollah billz flying out the window. I got an email the summer of 2007 from my dad wanting to do this and I think we're all so giddy that it's FINALLY here! Family, fun, and the beach. Seriously, heaven on earth. Can't wait!

And, great news! Beatle is going to first grade!!! I'm SO relieved! We plan to get her some tutoring this summer so she can stay with it and maybe next school year, it can come a little more naturally for her.

Oh, and I never did model. I chickened out. (And, of course, I dropped the weight once the deadline was off my back...I have NEVER succeeded when I "need" to lose weight for something. It just makes me stress eat.) But, it all worked out for the best because I can't imagine me even competing with the lady who wound up doing it. She did so good and was having so much fun!

"Hey, Meth Teeth! Are you guys going to bring the cupcakes to May's birthday party?" I was groping for a parent's name as he walked by while I idled in the car rider lane with my windows down. Really? Meth Teeth? Well, I didn't bellow it out my window. In fact, I didn't say it at all but, to me, he will henceforth always be referred to in my mind as Meth Teeth and I really needed to know if they arebringing the cupcakes.

Beatle had a school musical tonight. They sat out about 150 less chairs than they needed, no lie. I have yet to be in that gym when it didn't rank in the Top Ten Worst Experiences of the Year. We took the babies. I had Dum-Dums ready in the diaper bag should they start losing their cool...I should have broke them out for me as soon as I saw the chair situation! We were still 10 min out from the program starting when the two of them start going hog wild. At that moment, Brent and I realized that the best bet for our family now is to split up and just send a representative to video so he took the girls home and I clawed my way to the front for a good video footage like the other good Kindergarten parents. They let out some bleachers and I was in pretty good position but right before the younger ones started their program, a mom moved in beside me while the Mimi, Honey, or whatever hip name she dubbed herself with and the 3-year-old granddaughter flanked me. All the audio I kept getting was this mom, breathing down my neck, whining to her mom about how she couldn't see anything. The Sweetie kept commenting about how she loved the music teacher and how she was "da bomb" because she was getting into it and the girl kept kicking my back. Finally, I realized that the audio was my only shot at EVER knowing what this musical was about because while Beatle had started off strong, my video was now just of her standing there and occasionally yawning. So, I jumped ship and moved down the bleachers and the other mom slid the three inches over to take my still-warm seat. Then, I found myself in another predicament when the song ended and a mom and dad had returned to their seats after going "mobile cam". I asked if I had taken their seats they both said "no" but after I started realizing who belonged together, I started feeling weird. I was now sitting between the husband and wife and the wife and her mother. It was SO weird! I wanted to just leave the whole, darn musical but I stayed after insisting that the wife and I switch places.

Oh, so much is going on with Baby and I'm not sure how much I can/should really blog about right now. The good news first, she stood on her own, letting go and everything last Thursday! it was so exciting! We've never known her as a bi-ped. She was much better after this last visit. The caseworker and I put our heads together about why she was withdrawn last week and I think we've figured it out. I got a call this evening that Baby won't be having her visit with mom tomorrow because mom went into labor. Baby's a big sister as of tonight! I didn't know if I should visit mom in the hospital or not. What's the proper etiquette on that? I was making excuses to BR about it when Beatle chimed in with all of the love and wisdom you'd expect to get out of a spiritual leader when he/she rebukes you. We were flabbergasted. She was telling us to imagine how we'd feel in that hospital room, feeling all alone and thinking of all her babies. And, it wasn't till that moment that I realized that she really doesn't have anyone. She loves her kids and doesn't do so much as even smoke, she's got her problems, I know, but we all know parents like that but the big difference is that family or friends step in and provide that social support that all single moms need. She doesn't have that at all. We, undoubtedly, did a great thing tonight by taking her a devotional, a journal, and more pictures of Baby. We listened to her labor story, her description of how perfect he is and were the first ones to see him (and she had him a few hours before). Reflecting on Beatle and Birdie's births, there was such joy surrounding it; and while I felt many things, alone was NOT one of them and I wouldn't have had it any other way. My feelings of pity and saddness only grow when my mind returns to her at this time in her life. I can take NO credit for what we did tonight. Thank you, God, that my daughter knows you and she knows compassion for lonely people...even Meth Teeth. Sorry, I had to lighten it up, I was getting weepy.