Hot Wheels

Catherine is always up for a challenge, so today I got her some training wheels. Now she can ride like her big sisters, sort of.

If only she could see!!!

She is very serious about practicing!

Anastasia got a new helmet too, which Francesca wasn't impressed with.

Francesca is really making great progress with bonding. I was worried at first. She had all the signs of not attaching. Lately, though, her face just lights up when I come in the room. She actually hugs me!

The doctors said kids with cleft palates can't babble much, but Francesca must be the exception. She rattles on and on, quite loudly, all day long. She knows what she is talking about and hopefully someday I will too!

Victoria's new night hand splints have made a huge difference. Two months ago her fingers were so tight, I couldn't pry them open with a crowbar. She also hated to have her hands touched at all.

Since for almost two years she only used one finger. It's been hard habit to break, but now if I say "open" she will open up her other fingers. Now she can actually grab my hand! Her left hand is much stronger, so I am hoping to finally have a leftie like me! I tickled her palm today and she actually laughed!

She will be getting night feet splints soon and also leg braces. She's going to look so cool!

Where the Wild Things Are

I felt like we were getting in kind of a rut. You know, wake up, eat breakfast, change lots of poopy diapers, collapse on the couch. So I decided we would be wild today.

Catherine wanted to watch a video on youtube at breakfast. I am kind of anti-tv with my kids, but in keeping with my "be wild" theme, I decided to let her choose a video.

She chose brain surgery. Then, she picked knee surgery. She was totally entranced. The sound of the saw on the bone was quite the appetite suppressment for me.

Then, we read a million books to off-set the loss of brain cells from the tv. I know, I am weird about tv!


Since it wasn't 100 degrees here today, we decided to go to the park to have a picnic. It was only about 9 in the morning and I was getting a little nervous about how I was going to keep up the wild day theme all day.

You won't see any pictures of Francesca in the sand. She adamently refused to even dip her toe in.

Francesca and Catherine are starting, slowly and cautiously, to form a bond. I think it's going to be a long journey for them.

The interesting thing is, both of them are totally tolerant of Victoria. Victoria can take a toy from them, fall on them and they are peachy keen about it. But if Francesca and Victoria get near each other, the nightmare screaming commences.

After spending two and a half hours in the car picking up my various off-spring from schools that are in the opposite directions, we played in the front yard. (I don't venture in the backyard too much, what with the three big dog's presents lying around).

I love this one of Francesca.

See, we don't need to spend the money on a trampoline! The green electric box works just fine.

You may have noticed that Victoria is not sporting her fancy NG tube lately. I made an executive decision and decided to take a break. She was always yanking it out, the tape made a rash on her skin and it leaked everywhere. So far she s eating really well and doesn't appear to be starving, but I feel like I should be measuring out exactly what she is eating and recording it to show the doctors.


This is Victorias determined face. She always sticks out her tongue.

Catherine was so good today that I gave her a gumdrop after lunch. Three hours later, she proudly handed me a tiny, sticky lump. She had that gumdrop in her mouth all that time. She looked up at me hopefully and all I could think of to say was, "Good job honey!" My dentist will love us.

I think "wild day" was a success!

Deep Thoughts

Well, not really.....I'm not sure I am even capable of profound reasoning anymore, though maybe I never was.......hmmmmmm


I did learn something this week that sadly most people already know how to do - texting. My Dad had to teach me. Maybe someday I'll learn how to use the tv remote.


I finally got Isabella and Anastasia's school situation figured out. They are going to a hybrid type of school for two days a week. Tuesday was their first day.

The other days I will homeschool them. I kind of missed them. It is really weird for me not to have them home on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but it will give me more time with little Catherine, Francesca and Victoria. Though I seemed to have lost my ability to be as creative as I remember being with Elliot. He was an only child for 8 1/2 years and I remember playing with him for hours. Back then, I couldn't even imagine how I could find the time to have another child. Now, I hate to say it, but I am the tiniest bit bored with stacking blocks and making playdough snakes.


I taught Catherine how to use scissors and she made Anastasia a bookmark. Catherine was really, really good with the scissors, which kind of scares me.

I am really proud of Anastasia. She is on her 7th book of a series called "Charlie Bone." I think the books are for older kids, but she is really persevering with it.

Carol came by today. She should know better than to ever wear good clothes over to my house.

The kids think she is a jungle gym.

I really wish I could be more creative and inspiring like some other blogs I read, but, most days I am lucky to be in an up-right position. As my mom said today, as if she suddenly had an epiphany, "You really have a lot of kids."

You know how you can think that you know that something is going to be hard, but then, it turns out that it's really much harder than you could have imagined? That's me, not imagining anymore. But, like someone said to me the other day, "you wanted this", which is certainly true, though I wonder when I am going to get it all together?

One idea I have considered to save time, is that all the toys I find on the floor everyday should be stapled high up on the wall.

Also, maybe I'll get a megaphone.

Anyone have any other ideas?

Food

This weekend has centered all around food and family and friends. I really enjoyed relaxing and taking a break from worrying about all the decisions I have to make soon about surgeries and schools and life!

Yesterday we went to Theresa's for grilling out on a real fire pit - no charcoal!

Catherine gave everyone a scare when she put this big fluffy thing in the fire. It burst into flames and Theresa's husband, Christian, had to grab it and stomp on it. Catherine was so freaked out she almost couldn't eat smores, but she managed to recover. Never a dull moment with Catherine.

Everything was delicious, except I didn't like the baby octopus! I just couldn't eat something that had been speared through it's tiny little head. Though, of course, Francesca ate it!

Today was my mom's birthday. She requested that I cook. I enjoy cooking about as much as scrubbing the kitchen floor with a toothbrush, but, for my mom, I did it. I even made meatballs!

Now I have to decide what to do about the girls' surgeries. The doctor who did little Catherine's skull surgery is in Texas. He is the best. The doctor's here in Atlanta are supposed to be good, but I just don't have full confidence in them. For example, the doctor here in Atlanta ordered a CT of Francesca's head, even though he said it wasn't really necessary since they already know which sutures are fused in her head (which is why her head is so mis-shapen). CT's have a lot of radiation in them, which is not very good to be exposed to. The doctor in Texas advises against it. So what do I do? Do I go with my gut, and go to Texas or go with what is easier and the more "normal" course?

As far as Victoria goes, the doctors here want to do surgery on her hands and feet and cut the muscles in her legs. A doctor in Philidelphia who specializes in Arthrgryposis does casting, which is much less invasive. But how the heck do I go to Philadelphia every week for casts?

So, now that I have stressed myself out, I am going to bed! Any advice or ideas would be great!!!

Super Saturday

We had a really great day today. My dad came to visit from South Carolina.

Francesca took her first steps alone!!! I am so glad she has a family to encourage her and be there with her.

We just hung around together chilling out.

Sharing is caring.

Francesca has the prettiest hair and it is getting so long!

Oh no! Don't put me on the grass, anything but the grass!

The girls had a sleep-over. Catherine was so tired she actually asked me if she could go to bed.

If you can't find anything to do, you can always have fun throwing little pieces of paper around!

Hope everyone else had a great day too!

Ahhhh-Chooooo

I am still battling with a cold, so I have been using lots and lots of tissues. Victoria, with her NG tube, is also snarfling everywhere. I could really make a career out of sitting around all day and wiping her nose. Or I could just buy stock in Kleenex.


Today as I was hurrying to do the dishes, put hair in pigtails and clean the kitchen floor simultaneously , I felt a huge sneeze coming on. I reached out and grabbed for a tissue and wiped my nose with it. But, oh, the horror! Someone had already used the tissue and had stuck it back in the box! I was totally slimed! I was just like the guy in Ghostbusters. I grabbed for a towel and mopped my face. The towel felt a bit sticky, but that's nothing new around here, so I went on with my exciting life. But Anastasia kept looking at me funny, like she was trying to figure out some complex equation.
"Do you need something?" I finally asked her.
"You have dog hair all over your face. Are you trying to make a disguise?" she asked earnestly.

Upon closer inspection, the towel had been dipped in syrup and rubbed on the dog.

Always keep your eyes wide open at my house and don't ever sneeze.

Newsworthy

There was a surprise waiting in my mailbox this afternoon - my new keyboard for my netbook! Sadly, this is exciting news for me. It really doesn't take much to thrill me. I held my breath while my husband connected it. I was sure it wasn't going to work, but it did! Anastasia was about to ask if she could use it, but my glare must have scared her away.

Victoria has to go back to the physical therapist tomorrow because her handsplints are giving her bleeding sores. Poor baby. Poor me. The appointment is early, so I have to drag myself out of bed. I am NOT a morning person.

Victoria also has learned how to yank out her NG tube at night. It's such a joy to find her sheets soaking wet with the expensive formula that was supposed to go in her tummy, not all over her hair.


I have been trying, unsuccessfully to learn Spanish, but I did learn something new today. My son taught me how to "waterfall" Gatoraide, because, God forbid, I should actually put my germy lips on the rim of HIS drink. He assured me he wouldn't spill a drop on me. So, while we sat at a red light, he attempted to the pour the sticky blue liquid into my open mouth from great heights. I think about a teaspoon actually made it to my mouth, while I was bathed in the rest of it for the long ride home. My son thought this was quite hysterical. Children are such little jewels, aren't they?!

Well, I have caught a cold from another little jewel. I just downed some sleepy medicine, so good night everyone!

Did anyone else learn anything interesting today?