How bout 4 stitches and a lollipop? YA!

It's that time again. Every year, it seems, around Elijah's birthday he takes a trip to get some laceration glued back together. Not to be out done by the previous year, for his third birthday he got four stitches on his upper lip. We aren't sure how it exactly happened but we do know dancing not only leads to sex but when mixed with a coffee table it leads to stitches.

Like his other facial wound, we were all nice and bloody, but after a few tears he said he was "feeling better now, mom". We decided to forgo the ER in favor of our doctor. We had some more clarity this time. So rather than rushing to the ER, we decided to call our clinic. We think he is pretty comfortable there...he often asks to go to the doctor, not necessarily for the Dr. We've figured him out, it's for those dang lollipops! Heck, we are their best customers.

They got us an appointment an hour and a half later at 1:30. I took him in and Mariah stayed with the girls at home. He was ready to go though, he had his back pack in hand and we said a little prayer or two before we walked out the door. When we got there we played our trains and spelt words until it was time to stitch him up. I had explained to him how it was going to go down. He layed down on the table, closed his eyes and let the doc stitch him with out a tear or much movement for that matter. In fact, he cared about getting his stitches so much that he fell asleep half way through.

When everything was done I picked him up, he woke up, then he asked for his lollipop. We got the lollipop, of course, and went home smiling.

Thank you Lord for lollipops!

more lollipops, PLEASE!

Really, the time we have had with Fiamma has flown by,she is already 18 months old.It's crazy for me to think about. It feels like yesterday she was just a few months old captivating us with her giggles and coo's. Now she's on to bigger and better!
We had her check up last week, we all went, which I am not sure we will do again. But aside from that, Fiamma is now 29 lbs, and 33 inches long. She's quite the talker too. She told me yesterday in the car to "hold this mamma". Wow, I'm only used to hearing Elijah speak to me in sentences, now Fiamma. It's pretty crazy...
Not to mention that Gratia will be 8 weeks tomorrow and Elijah is 3 in just a few weeks. I am blessed. We are blessed ( I will include Tim for I know he feels the same..)
I praise God for what he has blessed us with. I am a tremendously lucky momma to have the 3 kids that I do and a wonderful husband who will pile into the car with me and sit in the smallest room known to man for a checkup for his baby girl. With chaos all around, Dr's and nurses asking questions and poking at Fiamma, we were able to stay calm and get out of there in one piece.

It does help to have a basket full of lollipops to eat while waiting.

News Flash! soccer, sleep and Starbucks

Soccer! Yes, Elijah is now enrolled at Arena sports, as a "cottontail". He loves it. He refers to it as "I'm going to play a soccer game!" He and Tim have a blast, it has been fun hearing about it when he gets home and his stories of "red light, green light".

Last night was the 3rd night, yes 3 in a row, that Gratia slept for 7.5 hours straight!! Hip Hip Hoorah for Gratia! I can sure tell a difference when I have more than 3 hours of sleep at night. It's actually the best thing since sliced bread!!

And lastly but not least, Tim may have landed himself a new job. I believe it is official but still on the down low...shhh! But here are the stats: a bigger store in Bellevue. That's what I got.

OTAY!

Yes, it is a word. Fiamma's newest word. Otay. Can you guess what she is trying to say?
Ok I'll tell you...it's her word for "Okay". The reason I share this news is because it's pretty darn cute when she says it. Like you want her to keep saying it so you can get a good giggle and a squeeze in. I'm just a proud mamma. Love it. Love her.

Here is Elijah both saying the Fruits of the Spirit and reciting his catechism. He of course needs to do this while hammering on the barn... we call it "working on the barn"



if the player isn't working click http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4253384058338313385&pr=goog-sl

My first week solo with Gratia..hehehee

Ok, so this was my first week after Tim went back to work. I admit, I am fine and I never thought I wouldn't be able to handle it, but when you have your side kick with you for 5 weeks you get a little spoiled and come accustomed to the finer things of life. It was wonderful having Tim home. But this week I learned a lot about myself, my son and my daughters. Mostly about my relationship with Elijah.
I have never parented a 2.5 yr old boy. Nothing to compare it to. I feel like I get stuck. In a place of no return. To put it lightly this week was probably hardest week I have ever faced with Elijah. I will blame it on the weather. True it was a very cold, windy and rainy week, which means that most people are inside all day. Especially with the little ones. There are the lack of walks, tball games. poo sticks, riding bikes ect.
Basically what it led to was a child who on more than one occasion trying to show off his wrestling moves with his younger sister, and a mom, that's me, realizing that just because he isn't listening doesn't mean I need to talk louder (yell) so that he can hear me better. I am not proud of those moments. God definitely grabs me. I repent. Not only to Him but to my son as well.
In spite of myself God somehow takes those horrible moments and turns them around. I find when I repent to Elijah and ask his forgiveness and vice versa it tightens our relationship. God is truly amazing.
This will always be an ongoing tension, discpline and finding out what works, but as of now what I know to be true and need to remember, and continue, is to daily renew my mind with His Word, to pray pray pray, and be ok with a day of horsey rides, even if I don't get the toilets cleaned.

John Owen

A quote from one of my favorite theologians. I am currently reading his book on the atonement. It is great! Here is John Owen's heart in his own words.

"I will not judge a person to be spiritually dead whom I have judged formerly to have had spiritual life, though I see him at present in a swoon (faint)as to all evidences of the spiritual life. And the reason why I will not judge him so is this -- because if you judge a person dead, you neglect him, you leave him; but if you judge him in a swoon,(faint) though never so dangerous, you use all means for the retrieving of his life. "

John Owen


--
Tim