A short trip to the farm

Elle missed school Tuesday. She didn't go to swimming lessons Wednesday. The doctor said Elle could go on her school field trip to a farm on Thursday. She woke up yesterday morning and literally coughed for 30 minutes. I told her I didn't think we should go. Crying ensued. She did seem to be better as the morning progressed and she had not run fever in two days. Steven's parents were on their way up to stay with Grady. We head off about 8:15. Long story short, after about 10 minutes at the farm, she was saying she wanted to go home. I kept trying to convince her to stay. She didn't care about the hayride. I almost got her with eating lunch in the loft in the barn, but even that wasn't enough. As soon as we got home, she was dancing, jumping, laughing and having a good time. I was able to go get my haircut since I had some great babysitters here and the kids enjoyed their time with Grammy and Gran Gran. Thanks for coming up!

Whirlwind

I cannot write about all that has gone on in the last few weeks. We've had some highlights and some definite low lights. But that's life, right? Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world which means bad, sad and terrible things happen along with the great and glorious. I love that I get time here, and I certainly don't want it cut short, but I do long for the day when all the tears are wiped away and there is no more pain or suffering. We are blessed and I am truly thankful for all the Lord has given our family and how He sustains us. I won't depress you with the low lights, but I hope you will enjoy the pictures and highlights:

Elle's school Easter party

(I got there a little late and only got pictures of going home!)

Making Easter Story cookies the night before Easter. Thanks for the idea, Darby. We plan to make it an Easter tradition.

A little over two weeks ago, Grady developed an ear infection and pink eye in both eyes. The first round of antibiotics didn't get it, so we began round two last Thursday. I had just been bragging about how long it had been since Elle had been sick. I should know not to do that. She started swimming lessons last week and started coughing a little but I was hoping it was just the cool pool water (although the lessons are inside in the heated pool at the YMCA). Fever broke out on Friday and is still running. The doc this morning diagnosed as "walking pneumonia" which to me, sounds sort of worse than it is. She also had a little infection in one ear (the first ever!) and in to her sinuses and eyes. So... she is also on an antibiotic for ten days and her trusty inhaler every four hours. She has been miserable to say the least. We've certainly watched our fair share of movies though. Guess this is kind of a "low light", but like I said, I'm not complaining and I'm thankful because it could always be worse. But with all this sickness, we didn't get to go to any of the Easter festivities over the weekend, but we did our share of rejoicing here with our kids that He is Risen.

In other happenings around the household, I did manage to barely scrape by on my blood sugar test. The reading should be less than 140. Mine was 140. Thankfully, the doctor said that was okay and even let me skip my 30 week appointment. Probably should be going easy on the sweets though. Next Tuesday will be my 32 week check-up.

We went ahead and changed Elle's room around to be "their" room", although Grady doesn't get to start bunking for probably 2-3 more months. I guess sooner if he starts climbing out of the crib. For some reason, I envision his transition to a big bed to be a little rockier than Elle's. Maybe his spunky personality? There's so much more room in there now. I love it! And Elle likes it too. Just a few more touches (mostly on the wall) and I'll put up some pictures. I also managed to sew curtains for baby's room and have been sewing for our master bedroom make over! I am SO excited about this I cannot stand it! We are going to feel like we're at the beach all the time...

That's all for now. The kids are sleeping and I need to do the same. I hope all you know that I do read your blogs. I just don't always take the time to comment, but I'm there and reading and interested so keep me posted on your lives.

A New Heart

Last Friday, as we were eating dinner:

E-"Mommy, I have a new heart."
M-"You do? What do you mean?"
E-"My old heart was full of sin."
M-"Oh yeah. Who gave you a new heart?"
E-Pointing to the sky with a big grin on her face, "Jesus."


"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh... They will be my people, and I will be their God." -Ezekiel 11:19-20

Happy Monday

I had good intentions of posting every couple of days in March. For those few faithful readers, you know that has not happened. And there are three good reasons why. The first one here, delights in helping Mommy develop consistency in discipline, over and over and over again every day.

The second one is really my saving grace and such a huge help most days, but likes to have my attention and to have me "doing" something with her at every waking moment.

The last one has not made his debut yet, but is still growing, making his presence known by sharp jabs to the ribs in my moments of peace and quiet.


I had my 28 week, blood sugar, Rho-gam shot, forever appointment this morning. Long story short, I had to take both kids with me. I did not get anything in to this big belly of mine for breakfast because I was getting both kids dressed, ready, packed and fed to be out of the door by 7:45. My sweet little boy obviously did not wake up on the right side of the crib, and he was not happy. I drink the wonderful fruit punch cocktail when I get there and we get all the other necessary elements out of the way (blood pressure, urine specimen, listen to baby's heart, see doctor). We are waiting in the lobby for the rest of the hour to pass before I can get my finger pricked. The terrible feeling hits and I leave my children there and sprint for the bathroom to throw up. Grady is screaming as a nurse tries to be with them. Good news was it didn't last long. Bad news is now I have to go back for round two. Can't do the test when you puke. I was able to end with the shot in the hiney before heading out with one screaming child. They are both asleep now and I am going to eat some of these leftovers from the grill last night. They were delicious! And then I'm going to lay down and let baby brother practice his karate.

I Heart Spring

We spent Saturday in Greenville with Steven's parents. It was another glorious day and the kids enjoyed much outside play time. Elle even "caught" her first fish. As always with the Salters, there was enough food to feed an army and we came home with about 3 pounds of hamburger meat, leftover steak and ribs, a ton of sliced cheese, bananas and other assorted fruit, apple juice and a huge box of frozen chicken breasts. Really. That definitely helped our grocery bill on Sunday be a little cheaper. Thanks for the food Gran Gran and Grammy!



Because of our abundance of ground beef, we had the neighbors over for some hamburgers Sunday. It was another wonderful day spent entirely outside. I don't know about you, but when my kids get good outside play time, all the moons in the universe line up and things seem to go so so smoothly. I heart Spring! Our other neighbors came over earlier for some bubble fun and "balls in the baby pool" fun.

A Day at the Park

Only in Alabama could you have 5 inches of snow and in less than a week have a gorgeous 75 degree day like today. It has been absolutely beautiful! The kids and I ventured to a new park today to meet some friends and it was so great. The playground is wonderful, it wasn't too crowded, and there is tons of land and space. Because there weren't many big kids there, Grady was able to manuver around most of the playground without intervention from me. Or maybe it's just because he's getting big enough to do that?! I threw a bunch of stuff in the cooler before we left and we were able to have a nice, but windy, picnic lunch before heading home for naps.

Check out that determined look!

Say cheese!

**I just heard Elle in the kitchen rustling around--she just got up from her nap--and she came back here with her band aids proudly on her thumb! That was also the first thing she did when she got up this morning. Thanks for your ideas. I have promised a new play kitchen or sandbox if she can do it this whole month and I am letting her have the precious thumb for both nap time and at night.

Operation No Thumb

We are in official "stop sucking the thumb" mode. Elle had a dental check-up yesterday. This is the third time she has been, but this was the first time the dentist mentioned there was a possibility for a nice, long relationship with an orthodontist in our future. He asked Elle if she wanted to stop sucking her thumb, to which she replied, "yes" (yeah right!). He went on to tell her the way to stop her "baby brain" from thinking she needed to suck her thumb was by putting two special band aids around her thumb. We've done this for two days and I stocked up on Dora and Hello Kitty band aids today. She has really done well with it. It's such a habit, she doesn't even realize how much she does it. The band aids are great reminders. We are taking them off at night, which may or may not be a bad thing. I wasn't sure if she could really go cold turkey. Any of you have recovered thumb suckers? Feel free to share any pointers. I always said I wasn't going to worry about it and she would stop when she was ready, but I also don't want her to have messed up teeth. We're giving it a shot.