A Great Gift

I have to admit that I'm a little ashamed at the fact that I let my kids open the only gift that was under our tree. That we got yesterday. But, if you know me, you know that I bust at the seams every year to open gifts. After a while of William asking and Lily just pretending she doesn't hear me and opening it anyway, I caved. Which, also if you know me, you know I'm a huge push over.

So, they open the gift bag to find these treasures from my sweet almost 94 year old Grandmother.

It's a Santa that has candy - and $20 that the crazy kids couldn't care less about - in the tummy. Grandmother taped over the plastic tummy cover so that the candy wouldn't fall out. Here's where the fun comes.

William and Lily tried and tried and tried to get the tape off to get to the wonderful double bubble gum that was trapped in Santa's stomach. Picking and picking. Pulling and pulling. Shaking and shaking.

Finally they gave in and let me help them. I picked the edge of the tape off so that they could pull it better and then they were open spreading the smell of sweet bubble gum through our apartment. William picked up his $20 and tossed it on the couch in Lily's direction. Lily picked it up and gave it right back to him. They both opened a piece of gum and started chewing.

I couldn't help but sit back and think of the twenty minutes of peace and quiet that I just had. So, here's to Grandmother, who unknowingly gave me one of the greatest gifts a worn out mom could ask for.

Further Proof...

...that my children are practically twins.

Will's Green Cast

I just thought that I would post up pictures of William in his cool green cast. This was before everyone signed it and it became the crazy mess it is now. William loves that people can sign his cast. And he mostly wants people to write "Will" on it. I think it's the one positive thing about him breaking his arm. We have an appointment to have it taken off a week from today (December 15) where they will saw it off his arm and "pull" the pins out of his elbow. I threw up in my mouth a little bit when the doctor told me that. My heart went out to William too. I have a feeling that next Tuesday will be no picnic in the park for him. The saw will scare him and the pulling of the pins will more than likely hurt him. I'll have to do some severe damage control.
I'll take more pictures of his cast before we get it taken off.

A Pinch of Salt

Recently, it seems like everyone is either expecting or just had a baby. Three of my sisters-in-law, a cousin, LOTS of friends, even the characters on the shows I watch regularly are expecting. Am I so happy for these great women? Of course I am. Having a baby is such a blessing!
Which is why every time I hear that someone else is expecting, my aura gets a darker shade of green! Not like the Hulk, but the other green monster called ENVY. Not to mention that every new baby is like a mini dagger to my uterus.
Yes, yes, I am finally coming out of the baby hungry closet.
Although Matthew and I have both talked and prayed about this extensively and have decided to wait a while longer, it's difficult to not want one NOW when others are expecting. When I'm feeling like this, I think I can relate to Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory -the classic with Gene Wilder. You know, "I want it NOW!" Do I want a Golden Egg? Sure! Preferably one with a baby inside.
After a little pity party, and a conversation with my Heavenly Father, I come back to reality. And honestly feel a little foolish. There is always something to learn in life. Heavenly Father loves us and He knows what is best for His children. Through this experience, I am learning to trust in the Lord. There's a time and place for everything and I need to have faith that I will be able to have the thing I want, in the Lord's time.

Side note: For all of you who are expecting, I AM sincerely happy for you! I just can't wait to be among the Sisterhood of the Pregnancy Pants.

A First Time for Everything

This past little bit has been pretty rough. William fell off the bed and broke his humerus bone - right above the elbow. Matthew and I took him to the hospital, thinking that it would be a minor fracture, maybe severely bruised, but the doctor came back with the x-rays saying that he needed surgery and as soon as possible. My heart stopped. It's a pretty crucial bone for little ones while they're growing, I have now found out. Since William is left handed and he broke his left arm, it was even more so needed. The doctor was saying things that would happen if we didn't get it done now. There are possibilities of his left arm being longer that his right. I don't really remember. I was still concentrating on the fact that my son needed surgery.

( William and his name tag. He was so excited to have a bracelet - made anklet- with his name on it.)

Now, I know that there are children out there with worse things happening. Parents who have children that need more care than William. But, for me, a broken arm was enough. We were transferred up to Primary Children's Hospital - without the ambulance we were offered - where we waited and waited from 1:00 am until 7:45 pm for a surgical room to be open. Those had to be some of the most difficult hours of my life.
As moms, I believe we were made to be ready to help our children. Usually first and foremost. This was the first time in my life that I felt completely helpless. My 3 year old had a broken arm, was starving, thirsty, and bored out of his mind. And I couldn't really do a thing to help. Yeah, I got him ice packs and told the nurse when he needed more Tylenol. Or tried to keep him occupied by watching movies or reading books. Mostly we just cuddled, which was my favorite part. But, I couldn't truly take the pain away.

As if that was bad enough, when it was finally our turn for Will's surgery, it hit me hard that I couldn't be there. I had no control over what happened to my son. My sleepless night and mom hormones kicked in as they wheeled him away - awake - and William realized we weren't coming with him.
On a positive note, William's surgery only took about a half hour. It went smoothly. It was all done by x-ray, so no incision was made, except for the two pins that were stuck into his arm. We were able to leave the hospital at 10:00 that night, which was a blessing!
William was such a brave boy. We are going in to get his hard cast next week! Until then, we are taking things slowly and carefully. And sometimes restlessly.

Belated Hallowen Pics

I can't believe that Halloween had already come and gone! It's crazy to me how fast this year has flown by! Halloween was a busy busy day, but it was fun. William dressed up as Thomas the Tank Engine. We got the costume from Carrie's sister in law. Will absolutely loved it. Lily dressed up as Tinkerbell. Carrie and I made the majority of her costume because I wasn't really satisfied with anything that was in my price range in the stores. I had so much fun with this project and I'm sort of sad that it's over. In case you haven't noticed, Carrie was a huge part of our Halloween costumes! I couldn't have had these awesome costumes without her. Thank you Carrie for everything!

Carrie brought Raven and Tessa over to take pictures before we both went to grandparent's houses for trick or treating. We had fun taking a lot of pictures. These kids are so hilarious together.

Then we went to Grandma Townsend's house for trick or treating. It was a fun year for us because William had a blast running from house to house. It brought back memories of being a kid and being so excited to go trick or treating, getting a huge pillowcase full of candy, and then bringing it home to sort through. Will was so excited and it's the first year he would go up to the door by himself. When did he get so independent??

Lily was excited to get candy, but she got so tired easily. About halfway through the neighborhood, she started riding on Matthew's shoulders. I think she had fun though. It was great to go trick or treating with the Townsend's. With so many couples and children, we had a huge party walking around the neighborhood. It was great. Happy Belated Halloween!!

Imitation

Last night, the kid's bedroom was a wreck. Usually, we try to have William and Lily pick up their toys before they go to bed. Matthew was going to change Lily's pull up before he enforced our usual rule and he sat down on a piece of Will's train tracks. Not just a little piece of a track. It resembles a huge block with plastic fences on the top of it (it's meant for a bridge). "OUCH!" he shrieked. Matthew pulled the thing out from under him and tossed it to the side.

William thought that this was hilarious. So, he proceeded to imitate Matthew. He kept sitting -carefully, I might add- on the track and yelling/laughing "OUCH!" and then he would laugh hysterically. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take pictures. I was laughing so hard at Will doing this!