Preschool

We enrolled Will for preschool in July at St. Mark's Preschool. I met his teacher, Mrs. Janet, a few times and think he is really gonna love her. He was so excited for his first day. He walked right in and pretty much told me bye at the door. I was pretty sure he'd be fine, but a little stunned at how easy and non eventful it was for him, but happy it was that way though. Jack did not handle it so well. He was not happy about leaving his brother. He shed a few tears and was pretty pouty about not being able to stay with Will. I was a little lost without him that first day; I wasn't quite sure what I should be doing. When I picked him up from school he told me all about his day and seems to really love it so far. He goes on Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30-12:30. So relieved he is loving it! Such a big milestone.

Dino Trek

Mom wanted to take the boys to do something special after Camp Nonnanee. We found out that the Nashville Zoo had a dinosaur exhibit going on and we thought that would be a fun thing to do and Kyndal was lucky enough to get to do both. :) It was a VERY hot day but we all had fun. The dinosaur exhibit was neat Jack loved carrying around a map but was a little apprehensive about the dinosaurs. Mom had to hold his hand several times in order to get him to walk past the dinosaurs. After the dinosaurs the kids enjoyed feeding the birds, riding on the carousel, and seeing lots of animals, bugs, and reptiles.

 

 

 

Dinner and a Show

Patrick took the boys and me on a date tonight. We started with dinner at Cracker Barrel and then went to the movies to watch Brave. The movie was pretty good, but more for kids 6 and up, I think. Will was pretty antsy for most of it and Jack stayed pretty interested as long as he was holding the popcorn bag. :) I loved watching him keep both his hands in the bag. I wanted to make a special note about some of the things Jack said. He ate almost the whole large bag by himself, and by the end of the movie was understandably not feeling so good. I was holding him and he kept belching. I was really hoping he didn't throw up on me. He said, "I wanna go home." When we got home the boys played outside for a little bit before coming in and getting ready for bed. When I took Jack's shirt off he said, sadly, "oh, I fink I ate too much popcoin." He was trying to suck in his tummy and got really sad when he couldn't--I can relate. He sadly said, "I can't suck my tummy in." Oh, he makes me smile.

Father's Day

These boys are so lucky to have such a great guy to call "Daddy." A guy who plays on hands and knees with them, who pitches balls to them, who leads our home by his great example of what a good man ought to be. And I'm so blessed to have such a great guy helping me raise men.

Grandma Miller's:

the best place to take a nap,

 

where you'll hear, "you're special," said by one of the most special ladies ever, 

 

and where when your visit is over, she'll insist on walking you out the door to sit on the front porch all so she can wave to you as you drive away leaving you to worry if she'll make it back in the house ok.

 

Grandma Miller's: a little piece of Heaven on Earth.

Strawberry Fields

I had heard about a strawberry farm at church one day and really wanted to go. We finally found a time that would work for us although it was towards the end of the strawberry season. We picked a few baskets as it started to get really warm. When we were done we snacked on some of their delicious strawberry popsicles--seriously so good! They were worth the trip alone. The strawberries were ok but not as good as I was expecting, but that could have had something to do with how late in the season it was.

These Are My Jewels

Motherhood

is a choice you make everyday to put

someone else's happiness and well being

ahead of your own, to teach the hard

lessons, to do the right thing even when

you're not sure what the right thing is...

and to forgive yourself over and over

again for doing everything wrong.

--Donna Bell



Pensacola Beach

We went on our first family vacation that didn't involve seeing other family the first week of May. We had such a great time getting away and enjoying being together. The boys loved seeing the ocean and loved all the sand. It's so fun seeing things through the eyes of children.

While we were there we were able to see the Blue Angels practice. Its pretty amazing to see the way they can maneuver those jets at such high speeds and how incredibly close they are to each other. Some of the tricks they would do they would only be 12 inches apart. CRAZY. They must have nerves of steel.

On a rainy day we visited the National Naval Aviation Museum. That was really a neat place. The boys, Patrick included, :) loved climbing in and out of the cockpits of different aircraft on display and pretending to be pilots. They had all kinds of neat stuff to see. We definitely will go back there if given the chance.

We were so very thankful that both boys made the trip there and back so well. Will adjusted pretty easily and thankfully only had a couple seizures, mostly due to disruptions in his schedule.

The night before we left there was the most beautiful moon out. Patrick and I stayed out on the patio and listened to the ocean and could easily watch its movement due to the brilliant light the moon was giving. We just had the best time! When the time came to come home we weren't ready which is really weird for me because I'm ALWAYS ready to get back home and into our routine again. So thankful we had this little moment together as a family.

Happy Easter

I love Easter, and love these happy faces.

No More Cast!

Jack finally got the cast off his leg today. We have been anxiously awaiting this day for awhile! His leg was SO stinky when they removed it. I couldn't wait to get him home and submerge him in water. He has had his arm in a brace for a little while but got to get rid of that today too. His leg will remain in a brace for 3 more weeks and then hopefully we will be able to ditch that too. Jack was SO excited to finally take a bath which is one of his favorite things to do. He really missed it. I took the cutest video of him in the bath tub, but then deleted it on accident. I am SO mad at myself about that. He spent about an hour in the tub, and when he got out, he had some of the cutest wrinkly feet I've ever seen. He now has to learn how to walk in the brace which is a bit tricky cause his leg is bent at a different angle. But I'm sure he'll get the hang of it, and soon enough I'll be chasing after him again.

Fun Day on the Farm

 Me and the boys went for a visit to Grandma and Papa's. They got to watch Papa on the tractor, play on the tractors and the bulldozers, and go check on the cows with Aunt Terry. After a yummy lunch that included some of Grandma's delicious fried chicken, the boys had fun hangin' out with Papa in the recliner, and listening to him make different animal sounds. Fun day with good memories.

 

Another EMU Visit

Will's seizures started to increase in January, and despite changes in medication and adding different medicines/steroids, we haven't had any decreases. He has been having several in his sleep on most nights. He typically has 4-10 a night. They aren't very long or noticeable (most of the time), unless you're a paranoid Momma.

Will and I returned to Vanderbilt this afternoon for him to be admitted for a one night stay in their Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, EMU. We are here to make sure he doesn't have electrical status epilepticus during slow wave sleep, ESESS. That basically means that even though his body is able to rest his brain is not. This can result in cognitive impairments. Will always amazes me with how well he takes all the poking and prodding in stride. He is generally very patient and really tries his hardest to cooperate, but at the same time isn't shy about letting you know if he doesn't like something. He's a good mix of stubborn and agreeable. He has already fallen asleep and had a few seizures so I'm hopeful will know in the morning. So thankful to have a wonderful hospital so close to home.

Childs Prayer Round 2

I made soup and sandwiches for dinner the other night and when we called the boys to the table, Jack was really pouting about having to stop playing to eat. Patrick asked who would like to offer the prayer. Jack quickly and little too eagerly volunteered. His prayer?

"Dear Heav'ly Father, I don't like my sooup

I don't like my sanwich! It's goss!

Amen." 

Such a stinker...

Can't Keep a Good Cowboy Down

Jack got his splints changed for casts today. They cut the one off his wrist before X-raying it but left the leg one on. He was so excited saying, "It's all betta!" he was utterly disappointed when it was confirmed that there was a break in the wrist, and it would need to be put in a cast. Then he was devastated that picking "out colors" meant for his cast and not for a treat...Oops! I guess I should have been more specific. He had a morning full of disappointments, poor guy. So following, his appointment we had to do something about all that disappointment and picked up the only weapon I know that really helps in times like these; a chocolate milkshake. He forgave me.