They Said They Were Playing "Tornado"

This continues to the left of this photo for about eight more feet,
plus little snips of paper contributed from my newest scissors-wielding toddler

Lunch Menu Rut

I need some ideas for healthy, easy, but still reasonably-priced lunches for kids. That isn't asking much, right? :)

I'm stuck in a rut, bored, uninspired by what I have in the house... We've been eating peanut butter and honey, peanut butter and jelly, salami and cheese, and grilled cheese sandwiches; and sometimes boxed macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, or taquitos. I don't prefer to serve ready-made foods that you simply reheat; although they sure are convenient, they don't seem as healthy.

For myself, I usually try to eat leftovers from dinner the night before, but with more mouths and growing appetites, this is happening less frequently. I also like to avoid actually cooking things for lunch, though I don't mind microwaving things or boiling eggs ahead for egg salad sandwiches.

What do you do for lunch at your house?

Spring Break Fun

In the last two weeks, we've visited the Children's Museum, a local history museum, and a science museum, and we've played at the park and fed the ducks. It's been great to get out and have some fun. We're all so excited that spring is here.

He looks so unconcerned, doesn't he?

Apparently Sam will only smile if I get in the photo with him.

Happy Birthday Anna!

Our beautiful birthday girl before she burned her lip
trying to blow out the candles.*Note to self: place candles
in an easy-to-reach place on cakes for small children.

Mamaw, Aunt Wendy, and Aunt Lindsay stayed up til 1am
making this beautiful castle cake

Elli gave Anna her current favorite Disney movie, Pocahontas.
Anna waltzes through the house singing "Just Around the Riverbend"
and "Colors of the Wind" every day.

I Shouldn't Be Surprised

I've read other blogs and talked to other moms who've taken trips by themselves. I've heard about the way things go at home while they're gone. But I was still surprised when I returned yesterday from a 2 1/2 day business trip. (I was privileged to present at the "Excellence Through Innovation: Seventh Annual Forum for Improving Children's Healthcare" in Miami, Florida.)

The kids did just fine. Moms like to think of ourselves as indispensable. But while the kids (and my husband) missed me, they did really well and enjoyed their time with the parade of people who helped watch them.

I didn't sleep very well. I thought for sure that, knowing I would get zero interruptions by any child, I'd sleep like a baby. What I forgot is how mentally stimulating conferences can be, and how hard it would be to stop my brain from churning over all the new ideas! I also missed my pillow and my husband -- the bed just doesn't feel right without him.

No-one else does laundry in my house. I stayed up late and got up early doing six loads of laundry before I left in a determined effort to take care of my family, even from 1000 miles away. I managed to fold half of it, leaving it neatly in baskets in the middle of the family room. A load of underwear and pajamas were dry, in the dryer, since I knew that Sam in particular goes through pajamas like a chain-smoker goes through cigarettes. When I returned, the laundry was untouched, still stacked neatly in baskets, though this time in the dining room (?). The underwear/pajama load was still in the dryer. The unfolded laundry was still unfolded. I'm still trying to decide what I think about this. On one hand, it's nice to know that you are an essential part of the family; on the other hand, it seems pretty simple to put clean, folded clothes away, especially since I had already washed, dried, folded, and sorted them by child and bedroom! I do not want the family helpless without me. I've never liked being needed -- makes me feel trapped and claustrophobic.

Never underestimate the encouragement of learning you aren't alone. I met about 15 other mothers of children with special needs and/or complex medical needs. They are walking this difficult road too and we were able to share ideas, struggles, and victories over the two days we were together. I can't tell you how amazing it was to laugh and think and share meals with women of all ages from all across the country. We had never met before this week, but we were instantly close because of our shared experiences.

Every children's hospital has parking problems. And many hospitals have worse situations than we do. At least our parking is free and we may have found a big part of the problem this week -- employees parking in the spaces designated for families and visitors.

I can read a lot given uninterrupted time. I read half of the book "How Doctors Think" by Dr. Jerome Groopman on the 3-hour flight home. It was recommended at the conference, and is quite a fascinating read. I wonder how long it will take me to finish it now that I'm home?

Knitting on an airplane is a great conversation starter. I had to change planes on the way down to Florida, and on the second plane, I finished reviewing my presentation and had some time to knit. The two women sitting in my row were intrigued, and when the flight attendant asked me what I was making, it started a conversation that lasted until we touched down in Florida. And yes, you can bring knitting needles onto a plane -- just not scissors to cut the yarn.

God Sometimes Says "No"

About 2 weeks ago, I found the blog of a Angie, young Christian mother. She has twin girls, another younger girl, and is expecting a fourth baby girl in the next couple of weeks. This baby's body has not developed in a way to support her once she is born, partially due to a lack of amniotic fluid. The parents found out about their daughter's (Audrey) condition in January and have been wrestling ever since with the searing pain of knowing their daughter's birth will be both hello and good-bye.

The testimony of faith in God even through the fear and the pain and the uncertainty has been such an encouragement to me. Angie is very candid about how difficult it is to pray for and desire a miracle, but know that God very well may say "no" and take Audrey back as soon as she is born. I've been there, hearing doctors predict a dismal outcome, wanting to prepare myself to lose my child, yet earnestly seeking and hoping and desiring God to perform a miracle. It sometimes felt like my soul was being ripped in two.

Today she wrote an amazing post about why God may not answer her prayer the way she wants... and why that's OK. I pray that it will touch your heart as it touched mine.

Heart Surgery Anniversary

I suddenly realized this morning that this is the 8th anniversary of Elli's first open-heart surgery. How far we've come since that terrifying day!

Today is a beautiful day. The kids are playing in what's left of the blizzard we got last week, but they are out without coats because the air is so warm. Little Boy is jabbering and trying his best to crawl. And Elli is participating in a soccer clinic run by Special Olympics in our county! I praise God for sustaining her in such an amazing way through what the experts believed was impossible surgery. We never dreamed that she'd reach her 8th birthday and be so actively involved in school and fun activities.



Look at the joy in her face! This is her successfully participating in her second grade music concert! What a ground-breaking evening for her. She has always loved music, but live concerts were too overwhelming for her. Until this year... when she finally enjoyed it. She played bells with assistance from the girl standing next to her in two songs and did so well. And something I thought was especially sweet -- one of her friends who also happens to need a wheelchair sat and cheered her on from the back of the gym! We were so proud of our big girl and so thrilled to see her maturing.

It Isn't Vaccines

A report released in January finds a genetic link to autism. U.S. News & World Report summarizes the findings of the research and also the results of many studies both in the U.S. and abroad that find no correlation between vaccination and autism.

"Earlier this week, researchers at the California Department of Public Health reported that the rates of autism in children born from 1989 through 2003 has risen, despite the fact that the preservative thimerosal, which contains toxic mercury, was largely phased out of vaccines during that time. It echoes studies in five other countries, including Canada in 2007, that failed to find a link between the use of vaccines or thimerosal and autism.

Some parents and autism activists argue that vaccines, or the thimerosal in them, is responsible for autism. [Peter Hotez, president of the Sabin Vaccine Institute and father of a 15-year-old daughter with autism] says: 'It doesn't make sense that mercury would cause autism, because we know what mercury does cause' —horrible diseases like Minamata, in which children are born with deformed limbs."

Sitting Pretty

He's so proud of himself, isn't he?

When God Doesn't Heal

This morning I found this testimony of God's faithfulness through a prolonged incurable illness and wanted to share it. What encouragement to press on no matter what! Praise God for carrying this woman along through her trial so that she might share her testimony and spur others on who similarly have been ordained to carry their burden over a long road.

Praise to God in the midst of suffering surely is greater and more glorifying to Him than praise during comfortable. How easy it is to trust Him when the way is easy. How much more impressive He is when He carries us through difficulties.

I pray that God will be gracious to me and to each member of my family, that He would enable each of us to likewise persevere with joy through our circumstances and praise to His great name.

May we all cling to the knowledge that:

“Unerring wisdom ordained your lot, and selected for you the safest and best condition. . . Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there . . . ” - Charles Spurgeon

Pepper Spice

An old friend from college put her "spice" personality up yesterday and I thought it would be fun to see how I come out. So, such as it is with a 5-question survey based totally on my own totally subjective answers...

You Are Cayenne Pepper

You are very over the top and a bit overwhelming. You have a fiery personality, and you can give anyone a good jolt. You can easily take things up a couple notches, no matter what crowd you're running with.

What Spice Are You?

certainly explains why I'm constantly trying to keep my lid on!