Saturday, May 16, 2009 - Update

My new wheels

What a long day! We purchased a new vehicle today. . .a 2009 Honda CR-V. That's always quite a stressful and exhausting experience because you're always wondering if you got the best deal. A big thanks to my mom (and dad) for watching Olivia all day long. We looked at a few comparable vehicles and the CR-V had everything we were looking for. It was a little hard for me to give up my Civic, but we were really wanting something a bit bigger. I even had to say good-bye to my car (yes, I say good-bye to inanimate objects. . .but I'm not as bad as my dad and his Casio watch "Cassie.") I patted her on the dash and said, "Well, we had some good times." Then, I started thinking. . .let's see. . .you drove me to all of my doctor visits as I tried desperately to become pregnant. You drove me to the hospital when I gave birth at 23 weeks, 1 day. You drove me home from the hospital. . .without my babies. You drove me to the hospital the night I lost my son. You drove me to my son's funeral. You drove me back and forth to the hospital for 105 days. Yes, you drove Olivia home from the hospital, but that was after a grueling 2 hour wait at the eye doctor and we had to drive home in the sleeting rain on slick, icy roads. That was definitely not the homecoming day I was hoping for. Let's see. . then there was the mishap with a relative's car (not my fault) the mishap with the generator (okay, that was my fault) and the grocery cart. Boy, come to think of it. . .we didn't have any good times at all!! I think my Civic "drove" me through some of the darkest days of my life, but at least I'm slowly coming out the other side. It was a great car, though, and its reliability and gave me one less thing to worry about. I look forward to better, brighter days in my new CR-V!

Friday, May 15, 2009 - Update

How cute is she?

Oh. . .glasses and toddlers. That's a battle that most parents don't expect to fight. Honestly, she's pretty good about wearing them. She has good days and bad days.

Happy girl!


I've had to keep from laughing lately. She'll be wearing her glasses and walk out of the room. I'll quickly hear a "clink" noise. . .and then she'll wander back into the room without her glasses.


" La-de-da. . .maybe mommy won't notice."

But, look at that guilty face! Then, I'll go find her glasses with Olivia following close behind me.

"I don't know what happened! They just disappeared off my face!"

Well, at least she knows that she SHOULD be wearing them and that mom and dad think it's important. That's a step in the right direction.

Where'd They Go?

I don't know.

Does anybody know why my links aren't showing up? It really bothers me as this is how I check all of my favorite blogs. The first person who helps me get them back gets 10 points to be used however they wish. (For make believe things of course.) I believe that Stacie is currently in the lead? Thanks for your help!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 - Update

Hello everyone!

Ducky? Are you in here?

My new favorite snack. . .dried cranberries!

After Olivia wore her glasses amazingly well on Monday . .Tuesday it was a bit more of a struggle. Nothing is ever quite consistent, I guess. Today, I find myself wondering not only if the glasses are going to work for Olivia, but if counseling is going to work for me. I'm a very introspective person who doesn't really need someone to help me figure out what I'm feeling. If I have questions about something. . . I buy a book on it. I'm supposed to try not to catastrophize things or assume that future outcomes are going to be bad. I realize that I probably do that, but when you've been through one of the worst experiences imaginable, how do you not? When I ask myself, "What's the worst that can happen?" and I know personally what that is, how do I train myself to think more positively? I feel the need to examine every possible outcome to every situation in order to prepare myself for anything. You'd think I would have learned that no matter how hard I try to do that. . .it doesn't help. Giving birth at 23 weeks and losing my son was never an outcome that crossed my mind when I was pregnant with my twins. So, any situation is either 1) never going to be as bad as you imagine it to be or 2) so bad that your mind can't even wrap itself around the possibility. Hmmm. . .that doesn't really help in my quest to stop catastrophizing things.

Anyway, Olivia is doing well. I enjoy watching her play with her toys and toddle around the house. I bought myself some Craisins and found that Olivia loves them. They truly are her new favorite snack and I'm not complaining about that (although they do have quite a bit of sugar.) Speaking of sugar, any advice on brushing a toddler's teeth? We've been using a toothbrush for some time in order to get her used to it. Now that we need to get serious about brushing her teeth, she wants nothing of it. She pushes the toothbrush out with her tongue and I'm having the hardest time brushing her teeth. I can hold her down, but I can't do anything when she pushes the brush away with her tongue. She's getting molars in and I really want to keep them brushed.

Kayleigh Freeman

Many of you have been following Kayleigh's story. She went to be with the Lord last night. My heart is breaking right now for this family. The only comfort is knowing that she is safe and happy and made whole in heaven with my sweet little boy. And, that we'll again be with those who have gone to heaven before us. Our life on earth is but a tiny speck of time, but we'll spend eternity in heaven. Please say a prayer for this precious family. Losing a child a something that no one should ever have to endure.

Monday, May 11, 2009 - Update

I'm wearing my glasses like a big girl!

I'm so proud of Olivia. She has worn her glasses for most of the day today. We took her glasses in this afternoon to be adjusted as they were a bit too big. Now, it's a lot easier for her to keep them on. They no longer keep falling down on her nose.

Her physical therapist and vision teacher came out this morning. Her PT couldn't be happier with her progress and is not coming out again until August. Her vision teacher gave me some suggestions to help keep Olivia's glasses on. She has seen many kids who are not successful with glasses and Olivia is not exhibiting any of those signs. She has every reason to believe that Olivia will start wearing them like a pro and after today. . .I'd believe it. Even if Olivia does have to have a second strabismus surgery, her glasses will help strengthen those muscles to help make the surgery more successful. Please continue to pray for Olivia and her vision.

Insomnia

Well, I'm unable to sleep tonight. I had a headache all day and took an Excedrin too close to bedtime, I guess. Anyway, I thought I'd share what I've been doing at 1:30 in the morning. Kinda fun! Try it out yourself at www.loonapix.com.

Sunday, May 10, 2009 - Update

On this Mother's Day, I am so grateful to be a mother. That's something that I will never, ever. . . . .not even for a second. . .not even when Olivia is a moody teenager. . .take for granted. This is actually my third Mother's Day. I had recently found out that I was pregnant with triplets on my first Mother's Day in 2007. Ryan had a bracelet made for me that had an A, B, and C on it. He also chose the random colors: pink, blue and green. I would later have a girl and a boy in August (birthstone is peridot. . .which is green.) So, this bracelet is very special to me and it will always remind me of my very first Mother's Day.

My mama will never forget how much she prayed and yearned and cried for a child.

She is so grateful to have such a silly girl like me and also for a son who is waiting for her in heaven. Even if she is never blessed with another child to call her mommy. . .she feels more than grateful to have me. I was the answer to mommy's prayer. She must think I'm pretty wonderful.

Okay, now I'm just embarrassed of all this attention.