Together

Whew, the last month has flown by and its just been incredible!

Its found our family growing as a whole unit- growing closer- working on our differences and making some positive changes; its found us sick- incredibly sick- a few times since the end of October; not just one of us, but all of us together.

Even though I am not always the bravest *voicing* my problems or concerns, I did find it in me to be brave enough to write down my feelings, imploring change.

Changing it is. And, its slow, but its sure and steady. I am so thankful for that!

As for our health, I've become slightly worried for Maren; of all of us, she's been sick the most- and the most severely of us all. What began with an ear infection/flu bug on Halloween, turned into a cold the middle of this month, and has now turned back to the flu. What concerns me is the amount she's thrown up this last month. Last Sunday, she threw up just for the heck of it. We were gearing up to go to a craft sale, and after she was all dressed up for the cold weather, she lost her breakfast and juice she'd drank. No fever, no tummy ache (though I found it odd that she wasn't too interested in breakfast...), and nothing again after that. And, the poor girl suffered so much through this most recent flu to afflict our home. Husband and I just had it coming from the south end; she had it coming from both ends. I thought she was over it, but apparently not. Its still coming from her south end. :(

Just strange.

Either, she's inherited her daddy's weak tummy or its something else.

At the very least, I've concluded that she has a weak immune system, if nothing else.

And, now that I'm beginning to feel more like myself, its just in time to pack us up and prepare for a trip into Edmonton for the weekend. Since we're leaving Friday, I've only got tomorrow to pack and straighten up two days' worth of mess before leaving.

I think I can, I think I can...get it all done, that is :)

So, even though we've had differences and we're working on changing it- changing things so we're on the same page- together- the first thing we did together, as a family: get sick!

say WHAT?!

~ 232 ~ warm ovens

~ 233 ~ craft sales!

~ 234 ~ finding out that he gets to keep the day he scheduled off OFF (after thinking he had to go to work anyways)

~ 235 ~ the way she nods her head vigorously when you ask her questions

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She shocked my booties off late this afternoon, after climbing up the stairs from the basement to check up on what her mama was doing in the kitchen; I said hi to her, and she responded with her own hi. (That, in itself was a surprise, because I don't think I've heard her say hi yet. I know her sister does; she says it all the time). I asked her how she was doing, and she said- casually- like she's been saying it forever- 'good'.

Did she *actually* say it, or was I just hearing things?!

WOW

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~ 236 ~ Christmas lights, trees, and decorations

~ 237 ~ home made Christmas gifts (I need to do this more often, I think!!)

~ 238 ~ the way she says hi and waves her sweet, pudgy hand

~ 239 ~ the way she holds both hands up, says 'all done' and in the very next breath, 'bye bye'

Oops

A little snippet of our typical daily life:

You know your husband isn't home very often when you're in the kitchen, doing the dishes, and he's stuck in the bathroom- toilet paperless- and the only way he can get your attention is to text you- repeatedly- until you dry your hands off, pick up your cell phone, and see who it is that's pestering you.

Oops.

Slightly.

Apparently, the banging *I* heard, wasn't the kids hurting themselves (I even stopped what I was doing, and patiently waited for crying to ensue), it was husband stomping his feet on the floor to get my attention.

O.O.P.S.

Ah- it was good for a laugh anyway

Curiosity and Mischief

Her sister, after rummaging through my blue bag of recycling, wound up cutting her finger on an open can, and I didn't notice until she'd crawled around on the floor some, spreading her red life-giving goodness in various places on it; I dashed to the bathroom to grab band aids for her, but left the door open, knowing full well that curiosity and mischief is going to get the better of her.

Well...it did.

This is how I found her after her sister was all bandaged up:

{Insert an emphatic "teeth, teeth"! here}

I hope it makes your day like it made mine!



...and how happy it makes my heart...

~ 221 ~ watching as her bravery and courage grows with every cautious step she's learning to take on her own- and how happy it makes my heart!

~ 222 ~ discovering that days with no naps means she'll be falling asleep on the couch beside you at 6:50 pm

~ 223 ~ finally hearing his voice, after 7 long hours- and then two more torturous hours beyond that

~ 224 ~ the sweet Great Dane named Pumpkin (and she lives up to the name, too!)

~ 225 ~ adoptions

~ 226 ~ beautiful, once again unseasonal weather, for late November

~ 227 ~ my crock pot

~ 228 ~ comfy pink comforters and beautiful home made quilts hanging over sides of cribs

~ 229 ~ flannel sheets surrounding cold bodies as they lie down to sleep for the night

~ 230 ~ basil pesto

~ 231 ~ the moment of solitude after the kids finally settle to sleep after crying and fighting it

Winter Boots

~ 211 ~ birthdays

~ 213 ~ willow tree figurines

~ 214 ~ growth

~ 215 ~ unexpected (and always welcome) dinner guests

~ 216 ~ cozy, warm winter boots for sweet, kissable not-so-baby-anymore-feet

~ 217 ~ the chance to scrapbook yesterday, even though it felt like it was only for two minutes

~ 218 ~ raiding her little closet and bringing home new-to-her clothes for Miss Addison that no longer fit her

~ 219 ~ an evening out with husband this coming weekend

~ 220 ~ her new, phony laugh

Checking Out The Sights

 I was cleaning up the kitchen after baking a quick batch of cookies for our play date later this afternoon and feeding the twinlets their lunch, when I turned around to see her carrying her pink adirondak chair from their bedroom right up to my feet at the kitchen counter. Well, I should mention that we took a quick break when we reached the lino and accidentally set the chair down on our sensitive toes, so we had a quick cry, then cheered up when the calendar hanging on the wall caught our attention and amusement. After setting her back down on the floor after hugging her, she carried her chair right up to the counter and sat down to watch the amusement show.

That is, her mommy wiping down the counter. I asked her a few times if she was ready for nappy time, and she told me no, but went off in search of kiki (her blankie). When she returned, this is what I found her doing:

She was taking kiki for a walk!

I guess its time to find a dolly carriage for their babies (and kiki's!!)