So,Ariel’s bed was delivered today! She has done awesome with it so far! This afternoon for her nap, she went to sleep and she stayed in bed for almost 3 hours! She’s asleep right now. I’ve given her two rules: 1. No jumping in the bed. 2. You may not leave the bed until Mommy or Daddy come and get you! so far. so good! so so so good. Here’s some pictures for you!

Testing!

Let me see if I like it while pretending to sleep and holding my Lil’ Bill.
So comfortable!


I love my bed!!!

Is there such a thing as an ordinary day? I’m starting to think the answer is no.

First, let me start off by telling you that tonight we boughtAriel a twin bed. I’m hyperventilating as I type this. okay, no I’m not. Her bed will arrive between 9am-12pm tomorrow. Her new quilt and sham have been washed along with the bed skirt and the sheets. We also purchased the waterproof mattress pad and the side rails. But are we ready? I felt like just yesterday, I was waddling around Babies r Us trying to find the perfect bedroom set that included a crib. Perfect meant not spending too much money, but trying to fulfill my fantasy of having the perfect baby girl’s bedroom. We did not buy a bed that converted into a twin bed, because we thought we would just have our subsequent children use the crib. (Little did we know, less than one year later we’d be buying another crib.) Anyway, tonight is the last night she’ll be in her crib. I am saddened and scared. Sad because she really is growing up so fast. Scared because she is such a great sleeper. Is this bed going to ruin it?? I hope not.

Today I was given the gift of sleep. Lately, once Brian wakes up and showers, I have had trouble falling back to sleep. So, from 6:45am until 8:30am, when the kids wake up, I would lie in bed counting sheep or praying to the sleep God to please let me fall back to sleep. PLEASE! (I know 6:45am sounds like an okay time to wake up, but friends, please remember I’m up past midnight every damn night.) Well, today I slept. I woke up only briefly as Brian left late at 7:37am, I continued to sleep until 8:40am. It was wonderful! I woke up, brushed my teeth, took my pills, made my coffee and made my bed. While I was brushing my teeth, my phone rang, a number that looked familiar, but one that I did not recognize. I opted not to answer it, because I was brushing my teeth. Something I will regret. I checked my messages and heard a message from my friend Kacy, telling me that her nephew, Nick, had passed away this morning. I instantly called her back. She had little information, as she had really just found out herself. The only thing she knew, and the only thing I knew was that her world was emptier today.

In August of 2004, my friend Lynette and I started a Mommy’s Group. It stemmed from the fact that after I had a baby, I felt like everytime I met another mommy, I had made another connection with someone. The first time I can recall feeling this was whenAriel was 9 weeks old. We had to take her to the doctor on a Saturday because she had an eye infection. We were in the waiting room with another couple who had a 3 day old baby boy. I felt like an “old soul” who had been bearing children for years compared to this young mum. We started talking and this poor, emotional, sleep deprived new mom was crying to me in the waiting room. I kept saying “it will get better, I promise!!” But, I knew that meant little to her at that point. Most of her tears came from the fact that all she was doing was nursing and they had just given the baby formula and she was feeling tremondous guilt. (oh, so common!) Anyway, I felt so connected with this girl. I didn’t want to leave her side. But, I did. We parted and we never met again. This happened over and over. Mainly in waiting rooms. I always talked to other moms and wanted to know about their experiences, I was very interested. So, with that I decided to try to create a Mommy’s Group. With Lynette, we came up with some friends of hers and some friends of mine and it began in August.

In January of 2005, I was sharing the store of Allie Scott and my involvement with Friends of Allie with my Mommy’s Group, which meets monthly. At that point, one of the mommies, Kacy, shared with us that her nephew was diagnosed with Pontine Glioma, in June of 2004. He was 10 at the point of diagnosis, he was told he would not see his 11th Birthday. We were so fortunate that Kacy had brought along a picture of Nick to share with us. This was coincidental, as Kacy had not planned on sharing Nick with us that night. Over the course of the year, I’ve said many prayers for Kacy, Nick and Nick’s family. Kacy is one of those people that you want to help because she is so kind. She’s so friendly, giving and most certainly not greedy. She’s a real good person.

Nick walked with my Friends of Allie team this past September. We walked in honor of him. Truly what an honor it was. I was so proud to have him and his mother walk with us. I continued to follow Nick and his health over the past year through their care page and everything seemed to be going well. Nick saw his 11th birthday and I was certain he was going to see his 12th. Until that phone call this morning. I am still so stunned, as I know his family is. Pontine Glioma is an inoperable brain tumor, which means their is no cure. So, yes, we knew this day would come, but nobody knew it would be today. I’m so sorry that it was today. His death, although everyone knew it would happen, was just as tragic, sudden and heart wretching as a car accident. Except this boy endured so much. Chemo, steroids, dialysis and so much more than we’ll ever know.

Please pray with me. Pray for strength and peace for his amazing family. Pray that Nick is consoling Kacy and his mother, his brothers and sisters, his father and all who knew him.
Pray for a cure.

Nick asked for our banner from our walk, his Mom said he wanted to put it on his bedroom wall. I am humbled by him.

Although there my be no ordinary days, I will say that every day is extraordinary in it’s own way. We just have to open our eyes to see just how extraordinary each day really is.

I leave you with a picture of Nick, holding our banner.

Yesterday, we celebratedAriel andRacecar’s 2nd Annual Joint Birthday party! We had such a great time, we are so grateful for all the people who came and celebrated with us. My sister Sarah, her husband and her 10 month old son, Ethan, traveled from Louisville. Brian’s sister, Michelle and her daugher Megan, who is 6 months old, traveled from Indianapolis and my sister, Amy and her two children, traveled from central Michigan. How incredible! We appreciate every mile that was driven, we really do. The party went by so quickly. You know, you plan and plan and plan. And clean and cook and decorate and before you know it, you’re cleaning up after everyone leaves. And you’re exhausted. Oh man, we were so tired! I couldn’t even post last night. I tried, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open. After everyone left,Ariel had a meltdown. She was hysterical. We’re still not sure why, but it lasted until 11pm. We think she was soooo tired and overwhelmed and it got the best of her.Racecar fell right to sleep.

Before the party, my sisters Amy and Sarah came over to help! THANK GOODNESS! Otherwise, I’m not sure what we would have done! We ran and bought more decorations and then came back and got busy!

This morning we did not go to church or sunday school because of the late, dramatic evening. The kids slept until 9am, they really needed to sleep in!! We went to my Mom’s for my neice’s, birthday party, she turned five on Friday. We came home and put the kids to bed. At that point Brian and I took the toys out of the boxes and set them up! (then I took a 30 minute nap!)

So, why did I name this entry something about bogarting toys? Because the kids will not share and we are going CRAZY, it’s particularly obvious with the new toys.Ariel received lots of Dora toys andRacecar received lots of trains and cars and trucks. So, here is the situation that would take place tonight:Ariel would be playing with her new Dora’s Talking House,Racecar would be busy with something else and see what she was doing, he would join her playing with the talking house, then she would just leave and go play with his new GeoTrax Train set and he would go ballistic. BALLISTIC. It happened over and over. It was ridiculous. So, I felt they needed a much need break from each other. The poor kids are with eachother non stop.
So, we picked up pizza and thenAriel and I went to Target together. This is rare. It usually all of us or none of us. It went really well. We had so much fun. She got a new pair of shoes and she picked out some Sweet Streets with her birthday money. It was so cute, she even wanted to get something forRacecar. Anyway, it seemed to work. We came back, bathed them and they only fought 2 or 3 times! Quite an update, but that’s all I have for now! Enjoy the pictures!

I am shocked that one of my readers sent me hate mail, or shall I say “left a hate comment.” Amy A. can you hear me?? I am posting out of fear now! just kidding.

So, I am really too tired to post. but just a few things:

First. My Breakfast with Oprah episode is due to aire next Wednesday, 2/1.

Second. Tonight I had my worst Pampered Chef show ever. Show #89 will go down in the record books.

Third. I have read A Million Little Pieces. I have shared with many people that I love the book and I urged many to read it. I still do. I think it’s crappy that he altered his story, but it’s still a fantastic book.

Fourth. Tomorrow isAriel andRacecar’s joint Birthday party. We have over 25 scheduled guests to come over. I have 4 days worth of stuff to do in a few hours. Lord help me.

Fifth. President Bush just signed a bill that acknowledges the problem of trafficking very young girls for prostitution. This bill has designated millions of dollars to stop the problem and raise awareness. I think this is great news. So, why don’t we see this on the news?

Sixth. I am tired. The kids went to their Grandma Fletcher’s house today. She picked them up at 10 and dropped them off at 2:30pm. Someday, I’ll take that time by myself and lay on the couch.

Here isAriel testing out her new quilt for her big girl bed that we are hoping to get next week!

I could stare at this picture for hours!

Life was good at this point. We were barely through the doors at Chuck E. Cheese and they already at balloons. We could have left and they would have been thrilled!

I love it!