Flash Back Friday- 2008

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My Flash back is to August 2008.  Now it doesn't seem like that was all that long ago. Date wise, but when you check it out by what is in a photo, it show's a lot more.  Lilly my youngest is now 3 1/2 years old and when you see this photo, she was 3 days old.  

She was in the NICU for the first few days of her life, and I didn't get to hold her for a good couple of days. Which killed me by the way, since my other children were born without any complications and nobody told me about what you might feel when you don't get to hold your baby right away, or might have breathing problems.   Her whole story is HERE. She was so cute, her cute little chubby(raw from the nose canula stickers) cheeks and her little quaint look, I fell in love with her right away.  How could you not?!   I had a new found respect for NICU nurses, and at the time there was another little girl in the room with her. We were so fortunate that we were able to take Lilly home only after a few days.  The other little girl was born many weeks early, and was half of Lilly's 7 lbs.  She did finally go home, a few months later, but still I was thanking God for the gift of our daughter going home.  I remember it feeling so empty at our house without her there.  There was a definite puzzle piece from our family puzzle  missing until she came home.   Lately, she's doing better of course, and is learning what preschool is all about, but Lilly is what was on my mind this week.

Flash Back Friday- 2008

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My girl's are all growing up! It was only 2008 in this photo and Emma was 2 years old! She is now 5 and 1/2! I love this photo because she was so innocent here. It was summer time, and she was wearing her favorite little dress. She loved just running around in the grass.

Her hair cracks me up. It's always been really unruly. Especially after a nap. Which this photo had to of been taken after a nap. You can tell by her eyes being so puffy. Her hair is still pretty stubborn. But I at least know how to tame it a little more now.

She had such huge cheeks then too.  Since then she's grown into her cheeks. Though, they are super cute and I loved kissing them. Now she's not so open to me kissing them all the time, haha, but she loves hugs and kisses all the same.  Thank goodness she's learned how to smile now. Haha! Her poor "smile mama" smile, although cute, would not cut it today!

Order or not in order...

How do you get organized, or a new routine down? Are you a throw it all down on a list and check it off as you go? Or are ya a place for everything and everything in it's place type? Or maybe you're a labeler/boxer-upper type.

Well whichever one of those fits your style, it's a sure sign of how easier your days flow, from the start of the day headed out the door, to the end of the day when you're all crawling into bed. If you're a mom like me, I like my mornings to not be rushed, and flow easy going. It usually helps when you have multiple kids, to get the older ones involved with doing things for themselves. It's always a teaching/learning experience at the beginning of the school year for us. Making sure that all bus schedules match up in some sort of order, that we all get out the door with the right bags, coats and paperwork. We had a routine going at the beginning of the year. Then Lilly started school and she goes to school on the bus now.

That means I wake up at 6:45am to get her up and dressed then, me up and dressed, and looking semi presentable to the bus driver. Yea, it's rough some mornings. I at least try the night before to get the coats, bags, and shoes near the door. And have the older two daughters to pick out some of their clothes. It helps. But there are some mornings where I just feel like 15 extra mins of laying there, in bed, not moving is my better situation.

I don't know how many mornings, I've spent searching for something I just put on the counter, to only find that one of my small little humans have took it upon themselves to move it to a whole another room. So I try to clip anything important up high, on the fridge, and announce that if they touch it, they might lose a limb.

Another idea so that our family can function pretty easy, has been The Calendar. I even get abnoxious about it and buy the HUGE one that you usually keep on your desk. I learned the hard way, that if you want your husband to be in the know, it usually has to be in BOLD so I write everything down. It's not all color coordinated or anything like that but it's definitely filled up. It's a life saver and it keeps the husband and I talking about our days.

So what is your favorite thing that keeps your life organized? Share with me!!! =]

Flash Back Friday 2003-2012

So This is my 2nd Flash Back Friday!  Come join the fun!

So  this week is also for Hannah, my oldest. Only because her birthday was on Tuesday. She's Nine now!  So much has happened over the course of 9 years!  We have found out that she has a mild(for lack of a better word) case of Hemihypertrophy. She's got a natural heart murmur(which isn't hindering her at all), and a whole bunch of fabulous other things that make her HER!

Hannah has turned into a loving, compassionate, silly, beautiful, sister, creative, smart, friend of Jesus, apathetic friend to others and a wonderful daughter. Eric and I, are so blessed with her in our lives.  <3

Keep Asking!

My husband Eric had been out of a job since October 27th of last year.  It's been a hard time, having to tell our children "No, not right now." or " We don't have the extra money for that right now." It was hard, but necessary. I had said a lot of, "Be grateful for what God has already given you.", "You know there are other children who don't have any toys." and "We are really blessed because people care about us, and God has put them in our lives."  I felt like a broken record.

My oldest was really upset about it, and very worried about us not having a place to live, or stay.  Although, that was never a topic, she just assumed the absolute worst. I was so heartbroken for her. I continued to tell her to talk to Jesus about it, and to know that we wouldn't be on the street. To continue to ask Jesus to bring Daddy to the right job. Also to continue to ask him to continue blessing us and others.

My middle daughter, she just has the optimistic attitude that maybe next time she'll get it. It was hard to tell her no a lot too, because the things she wanted was little things. But the little things add up, and I always felt that she wasn't going to understand, but then she started to realize that " No" didn't mean never.  Thankfully.
She asked when Daddy was going to get a new job.  A lot of the time, I said in my head, "Lord I hope you bring him one soon." , but I always told her I didn't know but to please pray for Jesus to lead him to the right one.
My youngest Lilly, she's 3 and 1/2. She's completely unaware that Daddy isn't leaving the house like he used to.  She just likes playing with him while he is home.

Me, I just kept praying everyday, asking him to continue to bless us.  Thanking him for the ways he works, and how he has continued to supply us with the things we needed. Each night, it was different, but the same.  I continued to place my faith in God, and continued to ask and praise and a day came when my husband got a phone call.

He had been told that they wanted to hire him for a job. He went in interview went well and he came home to  tell me that it was between him and 3 other people.  There we sat waiting for the call. I dunno about you, but waiting for a call is torture. It's like the time moves slower.   But the next day the lady called back and said that they chose someone else. BUT.    Now.. there's always a but.   She had one more place that she would pass his resume to, and get back to him.   My husband was disappointed. He thought for sure that it was the one for him.

The waiting continued and they wanted to meet for an interview.   He went to the location, and from the very start, everything was messed up.  They said he was there on the wrong day. Although, he was actually there on the right day. They rushed him through the interview. Never let him ask any questions.  Told him it was for the wrong shift, wrong rate of pay, even wrong position.   He left really upset about the whole thing.  He was feeling very nervous and unsure of what was going on.   He was even contemplating to NOT take the job. I told him that maybe we should just wait over night and sleep on it.  I asked God that night to show him the right thing to do. We went to bed nervous, but open to see what God wanted.

The next morning, I felt compelled to tell my husband that he should take the job. I was so tired of seeing him just hang out at the house, like he was lost and not sure what he was going to be doing.  So I just said, "I think you need to take the job."   He of course was like, " Huh?"   But then I said, "Maybe we just need to wait this out a little bit more, and see if God works further?"  

That's just what he did!  Day 1 of training Eric comes home, and has a funny smirk on his face.  I ask him what's so funny??  Well, turned out that he went in and trained for a few hours with the lady who he would be working with. He got pulled outside for a few minute to talk to the manager, and they told him,  "Well Congrats you are new 1st Shift Shipping and Receiving Clerk."    What?!   Turned out the lady who was training him lied on her application, and they had to let her go.  First, of course, I was so excited for him. It was exactly what he wanted!   Then I felt bad, since someone had to lose their job in order for Eric to get in there. So, I said prayers for that lady. And  I praised God for working in our lives.  I just had to continue to ask, and ask and ask.  God heard my prayers. He even answered. He gave me 3 different answers in that time.  Wait. Nope not this one, and Yes!   It was hard to see it while it was going on but it definitely showed.

Flash Back Friday- 2007

I came across a super cute blog hop/topic over at Melissa Nevaeh Jiedyn , which is a new blog I now follow and she has Flash Back Friday's.  Where you pick an old photo and blog about it. :)  Here's mine.

This is my daughter Hannah. She's my oldest. In this photo, she had gone to a Toledo Mudhens game with her Daddy, as a father/daughter fun day. It was in 2007, she had been a big sister for a total of a year and wanted some special time with Daddy. She had a blast at the game. Daddy spoiled her with Popcorn and soda. Had a chance to visit with Muddy and Muddonna, who is the Toledo Mudhen's Mascots. Everyone loves them!

Hannah is turning 9 on this coming Tuesday. When I took this photo, I couldn't believe that my little girl, was growing up way too fast. She had her cute little hair all swept up, pinned back, and flashed her, "Haha! I'm growing up and you don't know it" smile! Great memories. I am so happy and my heart is filled with love for her because of how she has turned into a wonderful girl. She's compassionate, loving, and thoughtful. She tries her best at all things, and wants for others to succeed. She's wonderful. This photo makes my heart so happy. :)

Making Friends

With those who have children, making friends usually comes easy, you share a pencil, toy or other random object, fireworks happen the bond is made and you're now friends.  Usually.  Now I know that many children who have special needs, this isn't always the case.  This is the case for our youngest.  She's usually friendly with all children.  Though she doesn't lock arms with a special friend, until she is finally learning social cues, and remembering them. It's really hard for a parent of both children who have special needs and kids who do not have special needs, to remember some times that they won't be on the same levels on many things. While hoping your child does surprise you and show you new things.

Lilly has had a lot of new things happening in her life.  She had went without OT for a month. Started a new school routine, starting from never being in school to even riding the bus all by herself to and from school.  She's learning a new routine throughout the day. Which is hard with a child who thrives on routine, let alone a child who is 3 years old.  She's learning that she is able to do somethings by herself, and tells me so.  (Yay for independence!!!) She's finally learning that things are okay to do without Mom and Dad right near by. Coping skills are going through the roof.

We had been asking Lilly about children at school. If she had any friends at school.  She's been going for about 3 weeks, and thought, " Okay she should have at least a friend that she likes the most out of all the kids in her class."  At first, she would become real shy and not say anything when we would bring up school and friends.   She and I laid down the other day for a nap,  hoping to spend a little quiet time before she actually went to sleep.  I had to work at it, but after having her talk about her favorite toys at school, I popped the question.  "Do you have a favorite friend at school?"   Lilly started to smile, "Yes...."   "You do?! What is their name?"    Lilly whispered, "Izzy".     In my head, I shouted, " FINALLLLLLLLLLLY!!!" and did a happy dance.  Ha ha.  I finally got her to open up to me, and tell me with her own words, who was a friend to her.  She continued that they like to play in the kitchen area together.    

Her SPD and anxiety has caused her to not be the touchy type, and that's okay. I'm sure that she will learn to cope with hugs and such from other people, since she has already learned that it's okay with us, her family.   She has a friend and has become comfortable with her. That is such a huge thing for Lilly, and I celebrate that for her, and with her.  In her own ways.  Just being able to get her to convey that she has a friend verbally, is fantastic! She's learning to verbally express herself, slowly but surely. A pace, that might not be what "regular" kids might be at, but she's progressing and that's all I ask of her.