Wow... WHAT a day!

I sit here in the quiet house.  No noise but the clicking of the keyboard and the fish tank running, still trying to un-wind from the day.  It started out fairly normal.  I went to work.  We had a jury trial begin today, but nothing terribly exciting.  Then with a phone call everything changed.  Kim was to have an emergency C-section in Oklahoma City.  I arranged for a co-worker to fill in for me and I went out the door like a flash.  My Bear needed me... People often gig me about the way I drive.  I have been referred to as Mario Andretti (like another family member).  Well, let me tell you, there's benefits some times to that style of driving.  I made it to OKC in well, let's say record time.  I parked the car and ran in the hospital.  Found my way to Kim's room and she wasn't there.  They had already taken her into the operating room.  After going through two clerks at the desk (long story - one almost was assaulted) I found out it wasn't too late for me to go into surgery with Kim.  Justin was on his way, but wasn't going to make it in time.  I didn't want her to be alone so I dropped my purse, shucked my suit jacket, put on my bonnet, put the little paper suit on - backwards, mask on and booties on over my high hills and said "lets go".  God blessed me with the opportunity to sit and hold my Bear's hand and carress her face (AND scratch her nose) while the doctors and the nurses helped to bring my precious little nephew into this world.  What an amazing experience to hear his first little cries. The delivery was a little difficult, but he made it and they wisked him away to the NICU - auntie in tow.  I was able to witness this amazing little man demand so many people's attention as they tended to his needs.  WOW!  I am speechless.

I must admit, as I sat here tonight at home, holding my almost 5 year old baby boy, who weighs 33 pounds, I felt a little guilty.  I was holding my baby in my arms when my poor Bear hasn't even seen her baby much less had a chance to hold him. All in God's time.

God, give them both strength and THANK YOU for blessing me so richly with this day... AMEN

The Flash

As a parent, there are days when you are so proud of your child, and then there are days when you are, well, not so much.  Just imagine when you are watching a football or baseball game and the game is interrupted by an animal (or person) running wildly throught the field with the umpires, ushers and some players trying to catch him.  Now picture Sunday morning worship service at church.  Okay, I think I have the foundation for this story established.  Today was my day to teach children's church during worship.  Danny and a lady name Linda were my helpers.  We were all busy helping the children with their craft projects when Flash aka Grant bolted out the door.  I looked up in time to see a pink flash (Linda - she was wearing a pink dress) go out the door after him.  Grant was running down the hall with Linda on his heels.  I kept helping the rest of the kids oblivious to what chaos  my son was creating.  You see, he ran down the hallway to the sanctuary, across the stage, all the way through the sactuary to the office in the back DURING THE MIDDLE OF PREACHING!  Danny went outside and around to the front doors to get to Grant in the office, but by the time he got there, Flash was on the run again.  Back through the sanctuary, up on stage and through the back door - all the while, Brother David is still doing his best to keep everyone's attention.  Oh Flash wasn't happy with just running through and interrupting preaching TWICE but upon his exit he had to make sure EVERYONE knew he was there so he started making some kind of noise and racket just outside the sanctuary door which caused for yet another adult to get involved.  End of story - the wild Flash was contained and promptly put in time out.  Oh that boy... It sure is a good thing God made him so cute!

Bubba Grant

I am afraid that my child has inherited my grace (more like the lack thereof).  When I was young, my poor mother and I made more trips to the emergency room than I am sure she cares to tell you about.  I was hoping (and praying) that Grant would not follow in my footsteps.  Yesterday, Danny and I were in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher.  I had the dishwasher door open and Grant came running in (insert cringe here).  He, in all his grace, tripped and fell raking his face down the dishwasher door before hitting the floor.  I picked him up and Danny said the magic words "Ooooh blood"  There were two deep gashes on the inside of Grant's lip from his 2 top front teeth.  Luckily they didn't go all the way through but were still pretty deep.  I sent a picture of the wound to his former pediatrician and she suggested taking him to be looked at.  She thought he might need a stitch or two. (insert panic here). Off to urgent care we go!  While in the exam room waiting to be seen by the doctor, Danny and I were discussing the possibility of the stitches and how this was going to take place.  He gets woosey at the sight of needles.  I got woosey looking at Grant's wounds.  His palms were sweating.  I felt faint.  How on earth were we going to help hold this child (who is strong as an ox) while his lip was being stitched up.  Dr. Grover came in, looked at Grant's lip and said the following WONDERFUL words, "I would do more damage than good stitching the lip."  PRAISE THE LORD!  If the great doctor would have only known he was about to have 3 patients instead of one, he would be singing praises too!  Today, Grant's lip is all swollen and he looks kind of like Bubba Gump!  Oh that boy!

Pee!

Praise the Lord, I think we FINALLY have Grant potty trained (#1 anyway, #2 is still a work in progress).  I give the praise, honor and glory to God because it is only by His grace that I have survived potty training.  This last week I took Grant to his Angie's house (his sitter).  Poor Angie is having her house remodeled and it has been an ongoing process for some time now.  Bless her heart, the remodel is a blog all in itself.  Anyhow, that day, the contractor was working on her bathroom and he had the toilet sitting out in the front yard.  (Kinda made me think about Hillie's house on The Help).  We walked passed the toilet, and I wasn't sure if Grant had even noticed it sitting there.  I left and went to work.  When I went to pick him up that evening, Angie said that shortly after I left Grant was playing and all of a sudden he stopped, grabbed himself and yelled "PEE!" Then he ran to the front door and was trying to open it.  Angie couldn't for the life of her figure out what he was doing until she looked out the window and saw the toilet.  At least he knows where the pee goes... Oh that boy!

Infectious Fred

Grant recently came down with hand foot and mouth virus.  For those of you who are not familiar with it #1 No, it is not the same as hoof and mouth like the cows get; #2 It can be dangerous and #3It is highly contagious for a while.  Grant broke out first with a rash on his hands and feet, which then turned to blisters and then scabs,  He developed them on and in his mouth as well.  Juggling sitters during this time and keeping him from infecting other kids was and adventure as well, but we made it.  During the time that he was contagious, I lovingly referred to him as Infectious Fred.  Poor kid!  Mommy loves you!

zzzzzzzzz......

I know it is a little late to be talking about Christmas but was telling this story the other day and realized I hadn't blogged about it.  On Christmas day, we all went to church with Kim and Justin at Lone Grove.  Grant was sitting in my lap.  When Brother Artie started to close in prayer, we all bowed our heads and closed our eyes.  Brother Artie started to pray and Grant started to snore!  He was not asleep.  I guess he thought we were all playing like we were sleeping so, he was too!  It took all I had not to laugh out loud.  I also knew better than to look at my mom or my sister because we all would have busted out in laughter.  Oh that boy!

Potty Training Woes...

Need I say more than the title?  Oh my stubborn little boy.  He is doing better with potty training, but there are days... I know just be patient, mommy.  It will happen.  I just hope and pray it happens before he turns 5 so that he can go to school.  He can hold it for a while.  He knows he is supposed to pee pee in the potty.  He just won't tell us when he has to potty so it is up to us to make sure to take him often.  Recently, he was playing in my car while wearing just his underwear.  He had just gone potty, so I wasn't too concerned.  Never underestimate a toddler in underwear!  When he came walking out to me, he gave me reason to be concerned.  Yep, whet underwear.  My next thought was "Oh my.  I hope he didn't pee in my seat."  Well, a wet seat would have been easier than where he actually went.  Evidently he was sitting (or standing) on top of my center console when the dam broke.  There was pee down both sides of the console, in the console and under my seat.  Yet again, the joys of motherhood.  AND then, when you think he can't top that, you get a message like the following....

Larenda says:

I can top your son peeing in your console ---

shelley says:
uh oh....

Larenda says:
thought I had a pic to send you, but I didn't save it ...

shelley says:
dang

Larenda says:
was looking for him as I was backing back to the kitchen from the front door - thought he was in the chair wanting choo choo on the computer...

Larenda says:
but not there, turned around & found him standig in the fridge - thought that was funny till i went to help him down & saw pee all down the front of the fridge and on the floor...

shelley says:
IN the fridge?

Larenda says:
so, he PEED IN THE FRIDGE...

shelley says:
Oh my stars!

Larenda says:
ON TOP OF THE FREEZER DOOR & DOWN THE FRONT OF FREEZER

Larenda says:
big puddle on the floor and I had to clean out the rubber gasket in the freezer door

shelley says:
Oh mom!

Larenda says:
and standing up there eating cherry tomatoes the whole time

shelley says:
that child of mine.

Larenda says:
talk about kissing up now - i've gotten all sorts of kisses and loves. I told him no choochoo today and if he peed in his pants again, I was going to spank him. I told him I was upsaet with him cause he peed in my fridge!

shelley says:
ROFL!

Larenda says:
And he was doing so good - went in there all by himself and went when I told him to earlier - no help from me...

shelley says:
Well the little turkey!

Larenda says:
I just put pic on facebook