12 Days of Christmas

There's much to write about, but today, I'll just post our Christmas family movie.  We had originally planned on Frosty the Snowman.  Callie picked it and was pretty excited.  Then came the flu.  For all of us.  And it was miserable.  It cut into our filming time quite a bit.  So, on Christmas Eve eve, when we began recording, after only trying to do one shot, I said, "We're doing something else."  And something else we did.

I'm not really a fan of the Twelve Days of Christmas.  It's too long, too repetitive, too...long.  But, I thought it would be easy to create.  And it was, for the most part.

So, here's to Christmas 2012.

3 Months Old

Three months and wearing 6 month clothing!  Ok, not all the time, but I've packed away most of his 3 month clothes because they just don't fit anymore.  He'll fit into some 3-6 month things.  He's growing growing growing...and discovering his hands.  It's so cute to see him look at his hands.  What a confusing world this must be for him.

Micah is getting strong too.  He can almost push himself up all the way when he's on his tummy and he's trying to sit up on his own.  He's a great sleeper -- going for 6-7 hour stretches at night -- and is generally super happy and talkative.  He's experiencing his first cold but is fighting it like a man.  Way to go Micah.  We love you!

Sammy, Seizures, and Sadness

Today I received a phone call from Samantha's classroom.  She was having a seizure.  I was talking to a friend who was over, and so I didn't hear my phone ringing in my bedroom.  They finally called on the home line, and that's when I heard, "Jenny, Sammy's having a seizure.  They had to call 911 and they'll be taking her to the hospital.  I'll call you back when there are more details."  It was the school nurse.

My mind went into action mode.  Everything else went out of my mind other than, "Must get to the hospital." My friend took Callie.  Peggy kept Micah.  And I headed to the emergency room.  I was sure that I'd be pulled over on the way, and I cried as I imagined the scenario of telling a cop that I was trying to get to my daughter.  I was actually quite a mess.

I really hate seizures.

I got to the hospital before the ambulance did.  And there, I waited.  It was horrible waiting.  When they arrived, they let me come in right away, and she was sitting up, being wheeled in, smiling.  That girl!  Here I am completely frantic and she's smiling.  When we got into the room, she curled up against me, I put her blanket over her (I grabbed her blanket on the way out the door so she'd have something familiar to cuddle with -- besides me), and she fell asleep.

Only about an hour or so later we were discharged.  They increased her Trileptal dose and sent us on our way.  We are to have some follow-up appointments and we'll go from there.

The seizure was bad.  They were outside on the playground when they saw her throw her arms up.  Then, immediately, they recognized it was a seizure.  It came on fast and hard.  Her teacher ran inside and got ready to call 911.  Sammy stopped breathing pretty early on and was convulsing hard. The seizure lasted just over 7 minutes.

These seizures make me sad.  It's just sad.  Why does her brain have to do that?  Why can't it just be fine?  All. Fine.  I love her and love all she has taught us.  But, I hate the idea of her losing all control of her body...having it shut down on her to the point she can't even breathe.  And, it makes me worry.

She is home, happy, and sleeping.  She had a very playful bath and will spend the day with me, Callie, and Micah tomorrow.

I hate seizures.

But I really love her.

My Fireball

My dear Callie,

The past few weeks, I have been thinking a lot about you.  All day long, I think about you.  I wonder how to be the best mom for your personality.  You are tender and gentle, sensitive and kind, and also so full of fire!  You are pure energy...and I love that.  I love that you are so curious.  I love that no matter where you go, you make new friends.  I love that you notice others and think of their feelings often.  I love that even though you sometimes make choices that aren't always "good," you seem to be learning from them.  I love seeing you develop into yourself.

We've just had Thanksgiving.  It was really nice.  And though there are millions of things that I'm thankful for, you are on my mind, once again.  You, sweetheart, make my heart happy.  I am so thankful for you.  Tonight we were able to spend some time together.  Sammy and Micah were occupied and so, before Sammy went to bed, we played in your room with your La La Loopsies.  I'm not sure what was so funny, but you were laughing so hard, and I just joined in.  Your laugh, that hearty one you do...when your eyebrows go up and your entire face totally and completely lights up...is so contagious.  We had such a great time.

Tonight we read books in my bed.  I love reading books in my bed with you.  I remember the day when I first discovered that I could read on my own.  I was in Grandma and Grandpa's bed back in Michigan.  I remember feeling so proud of myself.  Anyway, as we read, you thought things were so funny...things we have read over and over all of a sudden took on new life for you, and you were cracking up.  I love that about you.  You can see the old and make it new.

And tonight, when I tucked you in...like I always do, I laid down beside you, scratched your back, and kissed you goodnight.  But this time, you asked me not to leave.  "Callie, I have to get up."  You didn't say a word, and I decided to stay with you longer.  We held hands as you dozed off, and I laid next to you.

Callie, I hope you understand how much I love you and how much joy you bring to my life.  I'm not sure what life would be like without you.  Today, and everyday, I'm thankful for your smile, spirit, and strength.  I'm so grateful to be your mommy.

I love you Sweetie.

Mommy

Now I Can video

Now I Can sent me this video of Sammy at her last session and I keep forgetting to post it.  Go to the LINK to see her in all her therapeutic glory!

Lost Tooth

Only days later, Sammy loses her first tooth!  This picture, to me, is actually kind of gross because it's right after the tooth came out.  Now it's just a gap and it doesn't look so red and -- gross.

That morning, my friend Amy did a mini photo shoot with Samantha.  She's a hard one to photograph, so I was grateful for Amy's patience, and we actually got a few super cute ones (those will be coming).  During the photo shoot, I saw her playing with the loose tooth with her finger.  By the time we got home, there was blood, which was to be expected.  When I looked at her mouth, the tooth was gone!  What?!  "Marcus!  Sammy lost her tooth!"  And then, horror.  Did Sammy just swallow her tooth?  Not that it really matters, but I wanted to see it.  Luckily, it was sitting there, under her arm, on the tray of the high chair.  Listen, I know this picture looks gross, but I have never seen a cuter toothless little girl.

Two Months

Our little man.  He's just so handsome.  Here's to 2 months.

Growing Up

Ok.  I admit, it's hard to tell in this picture.  Well, do you see some swollen gums and a crocked tooth?  Sammy doesn't really have crooked teeth, but now she does.  Yes, Sammy has her first loose tooth!  I'm excited because that's a big girl thing.  But something about it makes me want to cry too.  She's growing up.  Her first loose tooth!  And, she'll probably just swallow it during the middle of the night or something.  I want that tooth...I mean, the Tooth Fairy wants it.  Anyway.  Here's to our big girl.

Bath Time Fun

Someone (Micah) is starting to really enjoy baths.  It only took him 7 weeks...sheesh.  But now he's officially a fan of bath time.

And after the bath, there's no shame in wrapping up in a pink fleece blanket.  

That's right Micah.  No shame.

Movie Star

Tonight we had a little Family Movie Night.

Ice Age

And, we've said it since he was a wee newborn, but Micah sure looks like that little baby on Ice Age.  Tonight we kept referring to the no-named baby on the movie as "Micah."  It works.  The pictures below aren't the best comparisons, but if you've seen the movie, you got to admit Micah looks like a little Ice Aged kid.

Shoot!  That's what he should have been for Halloween.  Missed opportunities already.  Not off to a great start here kiddo.  Oh well.  He sure was a cute pilot.

Make You Melt

Halloween

Starring...

Sammy as Merida.

Callie, as a La La Loopsy doll.

And Micah as the our local fighter pilot.

And I'm sorry, I just have to put all these pictures in because they make me laugh.  If there was ONE good picture, maybe I'd just put that in.  But seeing the whole series is much more satisfying.

Happy Halloween!

One Month

Callie is such a great big sister.

That's my boy and his...toupee(?)...mid sneeze.  

This big boy...1 month pictures

4 weeks

I can't believe it's already been 4 weeks.  For only 4 weeks this little guy has been with us in our home.  It feels like it's been so much longer.  It feels like he's always been with us.  I guess it was just meant to be.

We Are Family

All we wanted was a picture of the kids....

The first one never works, right?

And Micah was freaked out by the ponies 

"Dude," says Callie, "why don't you like the ponies?"

Sammy wasn't terribly interested in holding her baby brother.

As much as he wanted her to hold him, she remained indifferent.

Callie's all smiles, Sammy's unsure how much longer this will take, and Micah's already pulling the funny faces when we're trying to take a good picture.

Yep.  

It's a keeper.

Be looking for this beauty in our 2013 Christmas card!

My Favorites

Our Lil Man

Remembering Wholeness by Carol Tuttle

Wow.  After a discussion with a friend, she handed me this book to read.  She thought I'd be interested in what Carol Tuttle had to say and so...I took the book and I read it.  I'm so glad I did.

There are some books that we read that are entertaining.  Some give us insight into other worlds and allow our creativity to soar.  It's invigorating and exciting.  Some books give us information that we've been looking for and tap into our logical minds.  And some, some books can do both.  This book did both for me.  Not because what she said is ficitional, but because it opened up my mind to a completely different world...a world that is right here, but a world that I haven't spent too much time reflecting and thinking about.  hmmm  This is confusing I'm sure.

Remembering Wholeness explores the spiritual realm of Energy.  Tuttle talks about how we are creators...born creators...on Earth here to create and learn how to create.  And through some of the things she explains and teaches, she encourages us all to create the life we want through our thoughts -- through energy.  Some of this, I admit, I thought was a little crazy at first.  Yet at the same time, it rang true.  There's a vernacular used with energy work.  Phrases like "Living your truth" and such are often used and then overused by society.  Talking about having our energy flow properly and things or the sort...connecting our energy with others...and if you are new to the topic, it can seem too much.  Strange.  Really out there.  But, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are certain doctrines that we recognize as truths.  We are all born with the light of Christ in us for one.  And as I read her book, I found I had been subconsciously substituting "energy" words with my own "religious" words.  So, when she would talk about energy, or connecting our energy with others...to me it made complete sense.  If we all have the light of Christ in us, perhaps that's the energy I can focus on.  It is light.  It is energy.  It is the power to create happiness.  Right?  (As a side note: Carol Tuttle, herself, is a very active of the LDS church.)

All I can say is that I have found more peace in my life, more calm and more happiness, as I have tried to implement just a little bit of what she talks about.  It's an interesting book to read and one that I think we can all take pieces from.  Did I agree with or accept everything she says ~ no.  But overall, I really enjoyed reading it.  If anything, I felt empowered when I was reminded that I am in control of more things than I think, while being humbled remembering that I have a Father in Heaven who is in control of it all...so when things don't turn out the way I'd like, there's a reason.  And most likely a really good reason.

The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

While I was in Utah doing therapy with Samantha, I wanted to read some books.  I also wanted to write a book...but that's another story.  I started reading Gone With the Wind but as much as I loved it (and am still loving it), I felt a deep desire to finish a book while I was gone, and I knew at the rate I was going, I wouldn't do it.  I really had this deep desire to finish something...and this book fell into my lap.

It was at the BYU sidewalk sale for only $2.00.  I bought it, read it, and it was finished in only a couple nights.  It was a perfect book for what I was looking for.

It was fast.  And it was overall happy.

The book revolves around the relationship of Jack and Laurel Cooper.  In the first chapter of the book, you are made very aware of how deep their love for each other is and the rest of the book is a reflection on their lives together -- how their romance began and evolved over their married life.  Their children read letters that Jack wrote Laurel every Wednesday during their life together.  I actually did that one year for Marcus for Christmas...but they were Sunday Letters.  And I'll tell you what, that is a commitment!  But it was really fun to do.  For one year I wrote him every Sunday and at Christmas, I printed them off and bound them in a book.  It was a fun project.  Anyway...back to the book.

What I liked about the book is that I was actually surprised.  I thought it would be very predictable but it wasn't all of the time.  I enjoyed that.  And, at the end, I had the self satisfaction I was looking for of completing a book on that trip as well as feel hopeful and happy about life.  It's a good book to read one time.  I enjoyed it.

Callie's School Pictures

Ah, sweet Callie.  Recently I've been looking through old pictures, and seeing her as a tiny baby I realize how much she has changed and matured.  But, looking at this school picture, I see that same little baby with the beautiful almond shaped eyes, golden brown skin, and big 'ole smile.  Ah, she just makes my heart melt.  I can't believe my baby will be 5 in January!!!  What a sweetheart.

The 4 year old class.

The whole preschool...3 and 4 year olds.