baby’s big boo-boo

January 30, 2015 | Stacy

I saw it unfold before my eyes and couldn’t do anything to stop it

running after Hanny, Katriel tripped and started to go down

just inches ahead of where I could reach and falling far faster than my legs could cover the distance down she went

and before her head ever hit the wall I knew –just knew- she was too close

her head hit the corner and snapped back, me encircling her mid section as she went down

I scooper her up, with her still facing out from me, and I backed up, opened the freezer and grabbed a handful of ice – calling for my big kids

she didn’t cry but struggled to catch her breath in the shock – I was afraid to look. I’d seen what a corner of the cabinet did to Marie’s head once

as the boys arrived just seconds after the impact I commanded them to look for me. I just couldn’t. I pulled the ice away and they both recoiled. They quickly found their voices and said, “It’s not bleeding.”

THANK YOU GOD.

it’s amazing how fast our minds work. I was already trying to figure out how I’d get her to urgent care and wondering how they’d stitch her head

she started to cry and protest the ice – the shock having worn off some. Nigel held her arms down as I maintained the ice.

siblings sang to her and I wondered for the umpteenth time if I have what it takes to be a mom and Praised God for His protection

When I finally gave up on icing…

The point of impact…

Later that evening…

Three days later…

Johanna’s art work

January 30, 2015 | Stacy

Johanna joined the bigger girls and me for science today. We were reading about bees and how the pioneers found honey. As the bigger girls made a table with bee facts, I asked Johanna to draw me a picture of a bee.

She’s goooooooooooood. ♥

Once bitten, twice blessed.

January 23, 2015 | Stacy

Marie needed a tooth extraction for some time. After a false start with a whack-a-doo dentist back in December, and an accidentally missed appointment in early January, we finally met our new dentist, and she had these teeth extracted.

It was a difficult extraction. But God’s hand was in this situation so clearly. Although our first dentist had gone absolutely bonkers on us, and we left his office in shock and dismay, we can now see that the whole strange and ugly situation was for GOOD. This new dentist is a born-again Christian. He shared his testimony with me, no less! He and his assistant were so loving and gentle. Marie had a hard time with the procedure. But as we drove home and as she retold the story to friends and family, she kept saying that the doctor and helper were, “so kind.”

Do you see the size of those things?

Yowsers.

Ducky’s first haircut

January 21, 2015 | Stacy

Okay – truth be told I took some scissors to Katriel’s hair once or twice in the fall. But as I was preparing to have her photos taken for her second upcoming second birthday, I went ahead and took her in to have her hair cut properly. Thankfully, our friend Maggie is a stylist in a salon close by and I knew just where we’d go.

When we got there, Katriel had oodles of attention from two of Maggie’s co-workers as we waited for Maggie to finish with a customer. Properly warmed up, we head over to Maggie’s station for the big event.

Stewart cracks up at how stiff-legged she was. Although very out-going with her siblings, she really doesn’t get out much, and I often forget to imagine things from her point of view. She didn’t fuss, but for sure she had no idea what was going on.

The first thing to go was a little curly pig-tail-thingy she’d been growing since birth. *sigh*

I think she looks a little uncomfortable. Stewart thinks her mind is on other things, like, “I wonder what is for lunch tomorrow.”

When all was done, Maggie’s friend put this pouf in her hair and Maggie gave her a certificate. Pretty fancy stuff for number 6!

Princess Marie

January 12, 2015 | Stacy

YUM!

Master Chef?

January 7, 2015 | Stacy

Taught our Hungry Alligator how to make chicken parmesan. He did a great job.

Settling…

January 6, 2015 | Stacy

When we moved into our house in 2007, we were aghast over the electric blue carpet in our master bedroom. We sought to have it replaced, but the young man we had come to the house from Christian Floorz was honest with us and said we’d be crazy to get rid of it. It was obviously very new and was in excellent condition. He also added that is was a high quality carpet.

Drats.

So – I sorrowfully tucked my beautiful bedspread from our first house into the closet whispering a promise that we would see one another again “some day”.

As 2014 meandered on, it was our plan to replace the rug, some 7+ years after moving in. I worked extra shifts, and we expected to replace the carpet late fall.

Then John uttered some simple words that would steal all extra money… “Do you think we should tackle the stove before it dies on us?”

So – we had to find a plan B.

See – the current bedspread that I had gotten at Target in 2007 (a bed-in-a-bag for $75) to go with the bright blue carpet was in shambles. First, it started to tear at the seams on the front of the quilt.

So – about 6 months ago we switched it to the tan side… and that started splitting.

So – oddly enough… I prayed about it. What God would have me do. I asked Him to take the longing out of my heart to fix our bedroom.

And, lo and behold, He did. On 12/23 I woke with the sharp notion to find a new bedspread and let go of the update idea. So I spent about an hour online before the kids got up. I looked at Macy’s, JCP, Target, and others. But Target came through for us again. $60!

It took over TWO WEEKS to deliver. (Amazon Prime they are not…)

But it goes well with our bright blue rug, burgundy curtains, tan walls, and light blue skirt. You can’t say that about much. AND it is super warm!

I haven’t given up all hope of retrieving my old comforter from it’s snug place in the closet. But I’m glad for our $60 “band-aid” and am ever more glad for a feeling of contentment.

1 Timothy 6:6-8
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Second half of the school year commences

January 5, 2015 | Stacy

After two weeks off of school, I had a bit of trepidation about heading back to our rigorous schedule. Had we taken too long a break? Would we have to relearn how to manage our responsibilities? Would we crash and burn by lunch?

I’m happy to report we gave the day a 10 out of 10! The kids ROCKED!
And Johanna and I TIED in this massive game of Frozen memory.

New Year’s Eve 2014

January 1, 2015 | Stacy

We had a double feature, and a LOT of food.
We cast our spread in the basement around 6PM and endeavored to watch Alice in Wonderland. I lost interest very early and texted my friend most of that time. Hanny, however, told me as I tucked her in bed around 8PM that she loooooved Alice’s flowers and wanted to dance like them. Ahhh – to be almost-5 again.

Then at 8PM the older crew watch 102 Dalmatians. Which we enjoyed very much.