An update on everyone

The summer has been busy with projects, preparing and some fun of course. My brain and emotions have been pulled in many different directions, but I can't complain- at least I won't.

Baby girl and I are doing well and hit 24 weeks this week. She is growing and very active and taking a lot of energy out of me. She is getting a lot stronger, and her kicks are packing a bigger punch. Today we were all watching a movie, and she started to really move. I put Pauly's arm on my belly; he not only felt her kick, but Elizabeth saw his arm bounce up from it. Elizabeth was the first to catch one of her kicks; Paul is notoriously unlucky at catching our babies' kick. The lack of energy can be a bit frustrating that I can't do everything I would like in a timely fashion, but bit by bit I am getting the "to do list" done and learning some lessons in humility and limitations. I love having babies, but my body is not in agreement with me. I go in next Monday for a follow up ultrasound and am hoping for a better picture that I can post. We'll see if she cooperates.

Paul is doing well. Summers are always extra busy for him at work, but in typical Paul fashion- he doesn't complain. I've kept him busy with projects especially things that are hard for me to do myself. He still really enjoys a good buy, and this cabbage was not only a good buy, but it was rather amusing as well. It was enormous and made for delicious galumkis (aka cabbage rolls). Pretty geeky I know, but I love him.

Elizabeth and Olivia are keeping very busy this summer doing a lot of playing and some traveling. They went to Itasca State Park with my parents and got to explore the Headwaters of the Mississippi. They are pretty adventurous and thought he Indian grave sites were pretty cool. We've heard a lot of stories and factoids from them since they returned.

School will start Sept. 8th. Elizabeth will be in 5th grade and Olivia in 4th-yikes. The two of them will be trying something new this year- dance. I found a wonderful teacher with a studio called Dancing for Jesus. A couple of their girl friends also go there, so they are super excited. I'm excited because the teacher is Christian, so all the dances are choreographed to Christian songs, the costumes and dance moves are modest and appropriate, and she prays with the girls and teaches them scripture and other Bible lessons during their time together. They will be in a group of all homeschooler which will be neat for them to know they're not alone in this lifestyle. We've got their shoes ordered and just bought their dancing outfits, now we just need it to be here. They will continue with piano lessons again this year but with a new teacher who is also a homeschooling mother. I think she will be a great mentor and motivator for them. They are counting down the days for both the dance and piano, not so much the school starting, but I think they're ready to get back to more of a routine and the structure.

Pauly will be in first grade this year. It was a tough decision, but we have decided to put him in school half days, so he can get special ed. services and more social interaction, but he will continue to home school with me on the core subjects. He is very excited and is counting down the days for school to start; he likes the structure and routine.

There has been a lot to do and think about since his diagnosis of Autism; it's been a lesson in patience and trust for sure. We applied for and were approved for a special form of medical assistance that is disability based. This will not only provide us with financial assistance and will make any therapy and option for Pauly, but it also gives him a status with the state that will last him for life, meaning if down the road he would need employment assistance or job training, etc. he will already have the qualifications for what he needs. We also applied for a county case manager and were approved, so we know have a wonderful social worker who helps us sift through options and fill out paperwork, resources, and provides us with a lot of support practically and emotionally; she is an answer to prayer for sure. One of the resources she has already connected us with is an in home behavior therapist- something that was not an option for us without the medical assistance. We met with her last week to give her a summary of life with Pauly and come up with some goals for him and the family as a whole. She will work with Pauly and us weekly and may even see him in office for a social skills group. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the help, and there is so much peace in my heart. Behavior therapy was a recommendation of the psychiatrist I took Pauly to. In her opinion she agreed with the diagnosis given by the psychologist and thought he had a lot of strengths and will greatly benefit from behavior therapy and more social and independent living skills training. He was also reevaluated by his occupational therapist and should hopefully be resuming sessions with her. We're looking forward to what lies ahead for him and all of us.

Taking "5" after all their hard work planing trees.

Gabriella is doing well enjoying being 3 which of course includes having an intense desire for independence and her way in other words she's having some tantrums, but thank goodness she fills us with her cuteness the rest of the time. I think her love language is words of affirmation. She is always saying things like, "I'm so proud of you" or "Thank you so much." Paul's personal favorite is "Keep your chin up Dad." Not sure where she got that from, but it's pretty darn funny coming from a 3 year old.

She joined the big girls the other day for a trip to the dentist. This was her first time seeing the dentist. She did awesome; the best of all the kids so far. Even the dentist commented that she was the least "quirky" so far. With Olivia he had to come in on his rolling chair because she was afraid of how tall he was; Elizabeth was rigid, and well, Pauly was Pauly. I laughed through most of her cleaning. She was all eyes watching. She did great. After, I took the girls out for lunch and some shopping; good girl time.

And finally, there's George. What can I say about George that can't be summed up in a word- CUTE. He is such a little clown and full of antics. He is always making us laugh, and I think he is our biggest cuddlers. He provides great comic relief. One of his new favorite things to play is cooking. He goes to the cupboard to get some pans, points for a spoon, pushes the chair in front of the stove and plays chef. One day I caught him on top of the stove because he wanted the salt and pepper shaker. Tell me I don't always need to be on my guard.Hope you enjoyed the update. Jesus, we trust in You.

11 Wonderful Years

Yesterday was our 11th wedding anniversary. We were married on a Friday. It was a beautiful day. I still remember how excited I was. I had hardly slept the night before, and couldn't wait to get going on decorating for the reception. I remember feeling like the day had finally arrived; I mean really I had been waiting my whole life- all of 20 I was. We had a great time setting up, and then I headed home to get ready. I remember sitting in my room at my vanity having my girl friends attempt to give me a fancy updo- they did pretty well. I remember packing myself and my big dress into the car to be taken to the church to finish up. My changing room was the nursery- pretty appropriate for shadowing don't you think? I remember putting on my dress and my sisters trying to get my buttons buttoned up my back; I don't know if it was the heat or what but it had fit me perfectly at my fitting. FYI, the buttons didn't last; every time I took a took a deep breath during Mass another button undid itself. I couldn't be bothered with that since I was way too excited to be marrying my man. I remember putting the final touches on my make up, so I would look just perfect for Paul. I remember holding his hand with him hidden behind the door while the priest prayed with us before Mass.

And then the blessed moment finally came when my dad and I stood at the entrance of the sanctuary, and I was couldn't wait to see Paul face to face and hold his hand. Our life together, our family was about to begin. I was love struck. I tried desperatly to pay attention, but it was difficult. It was a beautiful Mass. We were married, and then it was time to go celebrate, and celebrate we did.

I wouldn't change a thing. I am more in love today than I was that day. We've had dreams come true, some dreams shattered, and experienced blessings far beyond our dreams. God has been good to us.

Last night we got a chance to go out to dinner- alone. My sister and her husband watched all 5 kids, so we could celebrate our anniversary. We had a wonderful time talking to each other without being interrupted, being waited on, and eating warm food. We had a nice time. I'm still love struck.

Thank you Lord for our marriage, our family, and our life together. Please continue to guide us and lead us in Your ways. Jesus, we trust in You.

The Allegory of the Beautiful Teacup

As usual, I found this after the fact, but I think it is worth sharing. This story is especially special to me because it was told to me during a retreat in March. I was having an especially difficult time with my body image and the whole eating disorder thing and was in general struggling under the weight of everything going on; I had a lot of hurt I wanted to get rid of. I went into this retreat with an attitude of I'm done with it Lord; I wanted to love myself and truly let myself feel His love and mercy; I wanted to get out of the way and trust in Him alone and have a restored sense of peace. Never underestimate the Lord; when you give Him an inch He will give you an endless amount of love. He always has a plan, and the struggles are part of it to bring us strength and closer to Him. The women He brought into my life that weekend were truly Heaven picked and sent; they were so full of love, and I just knew it was the Lord loving me through them. I found so much freedom that weekend. Lord, I DO trust in You. I hope you feel God's love through this story as much as I did. God bless.

Taken from Barbara Johnson's Book

The Beautiful Teacup

A couple in England passed a china shop, which had a lovely teacup displayeda in the window. They went inside to see it more clearly, but suddenly the teacup spoke! " You don't undrstand, I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was a lump of red clay. My Master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over. I screamed for Him to stop, to leave me alone. But He continued to mold me, and answered. "Not Yet!"

Then, I was placed on a wheel and spun around and around. It made me dizzy, spinning on and on like that. But He didn't stop when I was begging Him to take me off the wheel. He continued shaping and molding and then put me in the oven. I had never felt such intense heat. I wondered if He wanted me to burn up. And I screamed and beat on the door to get out. I could see the Master through the opening. And I read His lips, as He said, "Not Yet!"

Finally, the door did open. He put me up on the shelf and I began to cool. That felt better. Then, suddelnly, He brushed me, and painted me all over. The fumes were terrible. I thought I would surely choke to death. I was gasping for air and hurting inside from the heat, and choking fumes.

Soon, He put me into another oven. It wasn't like the first one, it was twice as hot. I knew for sure that this time I would suffocate. I begged my Master to stop. All the time I could see Him shaking His head, and saying, "Not Yet!" I felt there was no help. I knew I could never make it. I was ready to give up. But just then the door opened. He took me out, and I could see that He was pleased with His work. He handed me a mirror and told me to look at myself. I did, and I said, "That's not me. It couldn't be me. I am so shiny and beautiful."

Then He said to me, "I want you to know that I had to roll and pat you to shape your. If I had left you, then you would have dried up. And I know the wheel made you dizzy and sick, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt and was hot and dsagreeable in the baking oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed you and then painted you all over, but you see if I hadn't don that, you would never have hardened. And, if I hadn't put you in the second oven, you would not have survived for very long, you would have been brittle. NOW YOU ARE A FINISHED PRODUCT! YOU ARE WHAT I HAD IN MIND WHEN I FIRST BEGAN WITH YOU AS A LUMP OF CLAY."

Tea Anyone?

Saturday, I had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful MN blogging mommies. I was honored to be included on the invite list for the 3rd annual Blogger's Tea. The morning was a little challenging, but I was able to meet up with Kristina, and we headed to the famous Mad Hatter's Tea Room.

I know my fellow bloggers have already posted some very creative and funny entries, but this pregnant mama doesn't seem to have it in her; I want to link you to them, but unfortunately I haven't learned how yet (I know it's probably easy, but my brain is on overload getting ready for the new school year).

We had a wonderful time. It was a pleasure to meet such faith filled dedicated mothers and all homeschoolers too. The conversation went all over the place; there is never a dull moment when like minded women get together with no children (ok, there was one beautiful baby boy there, but I'm talking energy laced toddlers). I'm not sure if I will be able to forgive Margaret for not bringing her beautiful Anthony, but I'll try. Fusspot or not, I really wanted to hold the little guy I prayed so hard for- God is so good- always keep hope.

From right to left... Pregnant Me in the teal- yes I got my hair chopped and felt less than dainty
Sarah- With A Hopeful Heart
Jamie- Lord, Make Me A Saint
Josefa- My Farm & Home
Margaret- Minnesota Mom
Tracy- Pinewood Castle
Kristina- Sweet Mercies
May God bless you and your families. Good luck with your new school year.

It just so happened that Gabriella and George decided to have their own tea party- a favorite around here. It's hard to pass up the opportunity to catch them using their imagination and playing together. Aren't they cute?