Ah, Christmas.

I don't know why there's a tree in our house, but I know that it's special.

Putting on the first ornament.

I Believe

The reason for it all.

Our decorating is complete.

Amahl and the Night Visitors

I wanted to encourage all of you to see Amahl and the Night Visitors presented by Opera Kansas. Why? Well, for one. . .it's a great Christmas story. And, my nine year old niece, my beautiful niece, Julia, is the star of the show. She will be playing the part of Amahl!! My sister-in-law, Laura, will be playing Amahl's mother and my niece, Rebekah, is a shepherd. I am so excited!! I can't wait to see it! I'd love for all of you to come out and see it too.

'Amahl and the Night visitors'

What: One-hour opera by Gian Carla Menotti

Where: Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center, WSU campus

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday

How much: Tickets are $12, discounts available. For more information, call 316-978-3233.

Our Thanksgiving Day

We spent this Thanksgiving with the Glunt side of the family. . .we alternate back and forth each year. We had a great time and I'm still stuffed. Olivia surprised us with how much she ate. She tried so many different things. . .it was like something I only dream about. Her favorites were the turkey and Aunt Laura's frozen cranberry salad. Olivia always loves playing with her cousins. This Thanksgiving was bittersweet because Ryan's brother's family (Joel, Laura, Julia and Rebekah) is moving to southern California after Christmas. That's a long ways from Kansas, where we call home. It makes you pause and remember how important family is. I treasure the time spent with both sides of our family. Olivia couldn't ask for better cousins, aunt and uncles and grandparents. We definitely have a lot to be thankful for.

Alex and Julia pulling the wishbone.

Hmm. . .what to try next. . .

Olivia and Grandma Mary

Ryan and his cuddly moo-cow. . .hee hee.

Katie reading Corduroy with Olivia. Sure, it's a Halloween Corduroy book, but it's her favorite.

The Lost Is Found

We found the turkey book! It's a Thanksgiving miracle! It was just waiting for all turkeys to be consumed, I guess, before it made it's reappearance. Now, it is safe for another year. It was hiding out in a plant all this time. Now, our hearts won't break when Olivia asks for her turkey book.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007

2008

2009

He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart.
~J.A. Shedd

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Constant Reminders

I've been doing really good lately. I remember times when I literally couldn't leave the house. It was so tough to watch other people carrying on with their lives when mine was falling apart. I wanted to scream, "Don't you know that I lost my son and my daughter is fighting for her life!" It was difficult to even go to the grocery store. I am much better about things like that and can find many joys in my life. There are constant reminders, however, of what I lost. One, for instance, happened yesterday.

I was leaving a store with Olivia and trying to finagle my way out of the doors with a stroller. I don't know why every store doesn't have automatic doors. Anyway, a kind lady came rushing up and held the door open for me. She smiled and said, "I remember those days. And I had twins, if you can imagine that." I smiled graciously and walked away with tears in my eyes. This sweet lady had no idea that her words would stab me right in the heart. Of course, I know what it's like to carry twins, to experience love multiplied, to give birth to twins. I don't know what it's like to raise twins or push them in a stroller or hold them both in my arms. I'll never know. Constant reminders are around me every time I see a boy Olivia's age. Every time I look at toys or clothes for little boys. Every time I hear someone call out "Logan!" Every time I see boy/girl twins. . .and it will break my heart every time. But, I am also reminded of the miracle that I have and the sweet little boy who is waiting for me in heaven and my heart is pieced back together.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - Update

We had a playdate today with my friend, Angie, and her daughter, Hannah. Playdates are quickly becoming a highlight of mine. I love visiting with friends and watching Olivia interact with other children. By the way, Angie is a travel agent specializing in Disney vacations, so if you envision one in your future. . .Angie is the one to go to. Olivia has been saying "Hannah" all afternoon. It's too cute. We had a great time and we hope to get together again soon.

Olivia And The Slide

We spent the afternoon with Shelley and Izzy. Olivia LOVES playing at their house! One of her favorites is the slide, but she usually slides down it feet first on her tummy. She worked up the nerve to actually sit down and slide today and once she did. . .there was no stopping her. I bet she did this continuously for 30 minutes. Good thing we asked Santa to bring her one for Christmas.

Saturday, November 22, 2009 - Update

Mer-wey Kissmas. . .Ho Ho Ho!

That's what I learned to say today.

And I got a singing Frosty the snowman!

Oh, and have you seen my turkey book?

The Case of the Missing Turkey Book

This might look like an ordinary collection of farm animal books, but it's not. It's one of the greatest toys of all time. . .well, according to Olivia. My parents gave them to Olivia on her first Christmas and they've been sitting on her bookshelf, collecting dust, for almost two years. Then, a few weeks ago. . .she found them and fell in love. It's the first thing she talks about when she wakes up. She takes the books out and counts them. . .1, 2, 3, FIVE! (That's her favorite number.) She tells you what each animal is and what sound they make. She carries them one by one to the couch, then to the floor, then to her room. She is crazy about them! Well, when I put the books up last night, I noticed that one was missing. Uh oh! I didn't know which one, but Olivia quickly noticed this morning that turkey was gone. We looked all over the house for the turkey book. Olivia kept saying "Turkey book? Weh are you? Gobble Gobble!" It just broke my heart and I wish I could find it for her, but it's nowhere to be seen. I find it interesting that the turkey is the one missing, ya know, with Thanksgiving around the corner.

Saturday, November 21, 2009 - Update

Our little tornado. . .Even when sick, she can destroy a room in 5 seconds flat.

I have been determined to help Olivia gain weight. I had started her on Pediasure to help bulk her up, but then she got sick and threw up. She always throws up when taking Pediasure and I never know if is truly the Pediasure or just a coincidence. There always seems to be another possible reason. So, I stopped it earlier this week. When I weighed her tonight, she was 20.3 lbs. So, she lost weight. I'm starting to worry that she has some growth hormone deficiencies. I just want her to be 23-24 lbs or at least be in the 5th percentile because she just isn't growing. She's very active, however, and learning new things every day so that tells me I shouldn't be TOO worried. Anyway, I'm thrilled to have my husband back home! He's thrilled to be home (and never wants to be sick while out of town again.) I just wish Olivia and I were feeling better. . .

Weighted Stuffed Animal

Our sunshine

Okay, so I started looking for weighted stuffed animals and found this one for only $19.99. I'm thinking about trying it because 1) it's a giraffe and 2) if it doesn't provide much benefit, it can be just a cute stuffed animal and 3) it's a giraffe. Olivia is seen by an OT, but not very often. I'm not sure why because that is the area that she is most behind in. Her speech pathologist is wonderful, however, and has a lot of insight. We had to reschedule due to our illnesses, but that is something I will ask her about. Thanks for your insight. Well, now I'm off to do a bit of online Christmas shopping. I have had awful sinus pressure, but I took one of those "behind the counter" Sudafeds and I feel great right now. Better hurry before it wears off. . .

Weighted Blankets

I have been researching weighted blankets and lap pads for children with sensory processing disorders. I think it would really help soothe Olivia during eye exams, hair cuts, nail trimmings, etc. I'm thinking it would also help Olivia sit and focus better. I actually think it would be very soothing to even me as I love the feel of a heavy blanket on me (or those weighted vests they put on you at the dentist for your x-ray. . .is that weird?) Anyway, just wanted some input on them. Do they work? Have you seen improvement with them? I've noticed that they are very expensive. Would I (with minimal sewing knowledge) be able to make them? I see great benefits for Olivia and would love to have one for her. I thought the lap ones (or about the size of a pillow case) would work well to take with us to appointments and such. Could I make one out of a pillow case? Lots of questions. . .please let me know if you have experience with them.

Thursday, November 19, 2009 - Update

Sorry that I haven't written lately. Olivia is sick, I am sick and Ryan (who is out of town in a hotel room) is sick. At least we're not throwing up like Ryan. I just have a really bad sore throat and Olivia still has a low grade fever and lots of snot. :) Poor thing is running around saying "nose, nose." We're doing okay. . my mom and Shelley are taking care of us. Autumn is taking good care of me also. She was cuddled up by my side all night. She's more comforting to me than a teddy bear is to a child. I just wish Olivia would sit in bed with me and watch a movie or something. . .She is just as active when sick as she is when well.

Hope all of you are staying well!

Outside Fun

Olivia LOVES to be outside.

She still pretends that she is falling into leaves.

Look at Izzy's beautiful blue eyes!

Olivia and Aunt Shelley

A Girl And Her Kitty

Monday, November 16, 2009 - Update

What? I needed a tissue!

Don't get mad mommy. . .I don't feel good.

But, my Elmo jammies make me feel some better.

Well, Olivia is sick. Last night, she threw up and then woke up this morning with a runny nose, congestion and fever. Hopefully, it's just another upper respiratory infection that doesn't turn into anything else.

Favorite Christmas Song?

After Thanksgiving, I'm going to play some Christmas songs on the blog. If you have a favorite, let me know. Please leave me the title and artist (if applicable) and I'll try to get it on here.

Workin the runway

I Think I Need A Vacation

Did you hear what else my mommy did?

My mind is turning to mush. The same day that I caused a fire in the microwave (it still smells in our house, by the way) I accidentally shut Autumn in a room. We looked all over for her last night. Then, Ryan heard meowing from below our bathroom. We found her in the old guinea pig room with the door shut. I nteresting thing was. . . .I NEVER went in that room yesterday or opened the door, so how did she get in there? We figured out that she must have snuck in the storage room when I went in to get something, climbed through the trusses in the ceiling, over the bathroom and into the guinea pig room where she was shut in for over 6 hours. Either that or my cat knows how to open doors, but I guess if she did she would have let herself out. Poor kitty. . .I felt so bad and I'm usually very observant about where Autumn is. The first thing that she did was run to her litter box. . .she held it that entire time. . .and she really had to go! Needless to say, she has been very spoiled since and slept in my arms all night last night. After all that, Autumn needs lots of cuddles and I need a vacation!