Happy Mother's Day!

I don't have a really super heartfelt post (mostly because my brain is not working at 100% yet, following a really silly fall and an even sillier trip to the ER resulting in the most silly of concussions!) Anywhoo...I did want to say HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to my mom, Diane.

Dan asked me today to share with the kids what lesson I will take from my mom.  I thought for a long time, I think the two things I most appreciate about her was her fierce loyalty and protection over her family, and her completely amazing ability to work hard to accomplish something!  If she wants to do it, watch out, it's getting done!  I love you mom!

The kids made me handmade cards and gifts (my fave) and took me out to breakfast.  Then we walked around a big Garden Center and looked at the plants.  We came to an area with those garden stones you can buy to remember a loved one who is deceased.  Elly said, "Oh this is the place they put the plants that die."

Elly's Eyes

Elly's doctor appointment was pretty good news-- the doc said her neurological exam showed nothing to be concerned about.  She does has a small "beat" in her eyes when he shone the light in there.  He said that was not that uncommon.  He didn't say we had to go to the opthamalogist right away but I told him I'd rather be safe especially since he didn't see the nystagmus that she usually reports to me, the kind that is an acute incident- not the "beat" he saw.  So we will go see the specialist on the 14th.  I love the pediatrics clinic we go to, because the nurse set up the appointment with the optham. and said to me, "It's February 14th-- her Valentine's Day party is in the afternoon right?  So I set it for first thing in the morning!"  I love it.  They are really really good there!  They also tested her vision and she was 20/40 so she's probably on the path of her parents...we both need glasses or contacts or we can't function.  No need for them for Elly yet, however.

Eden has also had her own mysterious ailments recently, nothing major, but it does make me scratch my head!  Every month or so, she breaks out in little hives, usually on her chest, legs, or face.  The hives are itchy.  She IS super-sensitive to poison ivy, and we know when she gets that it is terrible.  But something about this isn't the same-- and plus the fact that she hasn't been outside in an area we would consider at risk.  So I took pics of it today because usually by the time we get in to the doctor the rash is not as bad as it usually is.  Oh, children!  Though it is not lost on me that these are small small issues and nothing to be worried or upset about!  I am super thankful for the health of my children!

My kids are funny.

I just have to document some of the funny things that are said around here.  I admit, I am not as good at recording them as I once was, three kids will do that to a person.

The other day Dan and Eden were going to see "Hugo" at the theatre, so I told Elly that we would try to find a babysitter for Esias and I would take her to the movies.  I said, "It'll be you and me, mano y mano."  She said, "What about Esias?  If we can't find a babysitter?"  I said, "Well, it will you and me, and Esias."  She replied, "Mano y mano...y mano."

*****


Right before Christmas I was having quite a time with vertigo.  Elly typically doesn't pay much attention to my spinning epidsodes.  At this time, Brynn was over and we were getting all our kids into the car but Elly is my slow poke and she was still in the house with just Brynn and I.  I sat down and was having a doozy of vertigo, where my eyes move back and forth really quickly (called nystagmus).  Elly looked and me, looked at Brynn, and said, "Wow...I look at things fast but I don't look at things that fast!"

Oh, Elly.

Elly Lyn. She's one of those happy-go-lucky types that you might be tempted to assume is not as smart as her dear sister, because she says things like this:

"Esias' tears are shooting out of his tear guns!"

But then, THEN she hits you with one of these:

"Mom did you know one side of you brain can talk to the other side of your brain with these little electrics? And the more stuff you learn, the more electrics you get!" Granted, she's talking about synapses, not "electrics" but dude, she's talking about synapses! I love her...even if she still can't say "cinnamon."

Back to School, Back to School...(sung like Adam Sandler)

Today was the big day! THREE Grimes children packed their little character backpacks and trekked off to school! A preschooler, a kindergartener, and a third grader walked into a bar...oh wait, that's not what happened.

Anywhoo...all the kids went to school and Momma survived! I did some very quiet shopping. Alone. By myself. It was...weird.

Esias went on the bus at 8:01am without a hitch. I was shocked! I was anticipating clinging, crying, fit-throwing. And I thought Esias would have trouble, too.

Elly walked hand-in-hand with Eden up the street to our neighborhood school. She looked back at me once, right before she got into the line, and then she was off and had no worries.

Eden, of course, was fine. She did say the night before that she was nervous. But the nerves gave way to the excitement once morning came and the new sequined tennies were on her feet.

I came home from dropping Dan off at work and ate some chocolate covered strawberries (a gift from a very thoughtful husband who knew I'd be a wreck).

And three hours later, I picked up Esias. He looked up at me and said, "Muuuuuhm!" and came a-runnin'. Precious! Wait, before that. I did stalk him. I drove by the playgroud at recess time. He was playing so adorably. No tears whatsoever. And Esias was fine too.

Distract-a-mundo

Elly is easily distracted. This is nothing new to anyone who has spent time with her. Getting dressed is particularly difficult for her because of all the fun things in her room that catch her eye and the mundane-ness of the task. This morning, she ate her breakfast and I told both the girls to go get dressed. A few minutes later, Eden walked by the door of my room (where I was) dressed. Several minutes later, Elly walked by toward the bathroom STILL IN HER PJs. I said, "Elly, you are not dressed! What do you need?" She looked at me and simply answered, "Lip gloss."

As I was praying with the girls tonight, this was Elly's prayer:

"Lord, oh Lord...Happy Birthday to Jaren tomorrow. Can we set some cake on the ground and you give it to him? Can you? Can you see how he digest-es-es? Can you?"

Not sure what the Lord, oh Lord part was, but it cracked me up.

Elly Grimes, Marine Biologist

Elly loves animals and water...and animals in water. This day she asked if she could have a bowl of water and one of Esias' feeding syringes. I found her feeding this poor ailing dolphin :) I really think she might become a veterinarian. She LOVES animals.

Parlez vous francais?

Elly said, "I thought those shoes were for Eden, but their are for armoire!"

Questions!

Elly likes to ask questions. Lots of them. Here are just a few questions I get asked during the day:

Mom, what stains? (like list everything that stains)
What do whales eat?
Do sharks have ears?
Why is it called a Living Room?
What does vocabulary mean?


She also loves to play a game where we makes her guess which animal we are thinking of. We play this often while she waits for natural to run its course in the bathroom. She may be a future quiz show contestant...

Quite Ellyquent, Part 20

Dan gave Eden 2 Flintstone vitamins and Elly 1 Flintstone vitamin. (this is starting to sound like a word problem from 4th grade math) They both looked down at their hands and Eden said, "I have Pebbles and Dino!" Elly piped up, "I have eczema and Dino!"

The other day, Elly was on my lap. Scratch that, every day Elly is on my lap. This particular day she was kissing me and kissing me and kissing me. I said, "Wow, you're a kisser today" or something like that, and she said, "Yeah, I'm the Bachelor."

Bed Sharing...*sigh*

Co-sleeping, bedsharing, pulling a little foot out of your crack at 3am...whatever you call it, it's controversial among doctors and parents to say the least. With Eden, we rarely co-slept, believing it to be the first step in our demise as parents. Surely she would grow up to be a mass murderer if we didn't get things under control by her 2 week birthday. We occasionally fell asleep together after an early morning feeding...thus this adorable picture above. Now I read this is not recommended due to an increased SIDS risk. Had I known that, I would have lain fearfully awake every second Eden was in my bed. I spent most of the time raising my first child in a state of panic and terror :)

Now, enter child numero dos. My precious Elly Lyn. She has always marched to the beat of a different, um, parade of sheep. You know the ones you're suppose to count to fall asleep. Ok, bad metaphor, but you get the idea.

Elly started sleeping through the night at 6 months, which we thought was a little late, but no biggie. She slept blissfully through the night, going to sleep on her own from the age of 6 months to 18 months. Then, she decided she was lonely. She began creeping out of her bed and into ours in the middle of the night and has been ever since. Now, this post is not a plea for help and advice, because we've tried different things (gate, rewards, threats, I mean, consequences) and to be honest, we're just not committed. And I know why. There is something sort of special about it. She wants to be near us (read: me). She is a light sleeper and hears everything going on in our small living space, so when someone moves or snores or breathes, she hears it and comes a-calling. We call her our "heat seeking missle" because she finds you wherever you may be. She is a toucher, a hugger, a lovey-type. She comes into our room and snuggles up to me as close as she can. Sometimes I notice (when her foot literally goes down my pants) and sometimes I don't (when I wake up and see her smiling face right there in mine). If I fall asleep on the couch, she finds me. When Dan is gone on business trips, she knows she will be welcomed into the bed even earlier than on a regular night. She loves sleeping with us.

There are many, many reasons why we shouldn't co-sleep with Elly...it doesn't teach her how to sleep alone, it interrupts our sleep, yadda yadda yadda. But this morning, I realized why we let it continue (and continue, and continue...). This morning, I was still sleeping rather hard and I rolled over and turned toward Elly, but with my eyes still closed. Elly said to me in the most adorable and sweet voice ever, "You look so beautiful!" I mean, seriously. Isn't that so worth it? Her childhood will be over in a blink. So I'm choosing my instincts over good sleep :)

Elly's Preschool Program

Elly's class had its annual Christmas program this week. She did great, and so did all the other kids. It was so fun to watch. She loves singing and has been practicing these songs at home daily! My favorite line: "ha-lay-loo-lah Jesus was born today!"

First Day of Preschool

I had forgotten these first day of school pics were on our older camera. Here is our traditional-in-front-of-the-tree pose! Elly Lyn's first day of Preschool!

Of course, Dan, the son of the photog, has to give them poses...

Esias was NOT into the group shot.

Sissy is so proud!

Tomorrow- Big Day

Tomorrow is Elly's first day of preschool (M-W-F mornings) and after we drop her off, Dan and I head straight to the U for more tests on Esias. His breathing has become more labored again (not as bad as when we first got to him, but not as good as it has been) and he is choking more and more on his foods. Yesterday and today he has been choking on his solids even, which is a new symptom. We are trying to catch his choking episodes on our video camera because they are hard to describe. He'll just be drinking along, and then suddenly it sounds like he sucks milk down the wrong pipe. Then he coughs and gags and gasps for air (which makes him cry, which makes him gag and cough harder) and it sounds like he can barely get any air down. After a couple minutes or more, he calms down and then is mad because we have set the bottle down :) Last night, he choked so hard he actually threw up and then fell promptly to sleep from sheer exhaustion. The feeding issues are starting to get to me, I am frustrated that he is not able to eat normally and feel relaxed. Eating is such a good part of our bonding time, but it gets jolted to a stop when he starts choking. I realized his health could be worse and that all in all he is doing SO well, but as his mom I just want him to have a :normal: day. :)


Elly seems more excited about preschool than she was a month ago. We had a orientation last week and then a playdate with some of her future classmates and a one on one playdate with Grace who is also in her class. So at least when she gets there, she'll know a few kids. Not to mention the Ramsey kids- Luke and Hannah- who just live a few doors down. I hope she doesn't throw a fit because, like I said, I will be at the U and I can't come back for her! If you have room on your prayer list, throw up a couple for Elly and Esias!

Elly

Elly is in a great phase right now. Yes, she still throws the occassional fit and sometimes sleeps in the van right at 6pm and then won't go to bed til after 10pm...but still, she's in that adorable preschooler age that I adore.

Case in point: Today we were reading a Blue's Clues storybook together and Blue said, "Do you like these cupcakes? I put the icing on myself!" Elly looked amused, so I told her "Icing is the same thing as frosting." "OH!" she exclaimed. "Then why did he put it on him?"

And the other day, she said, "Esias loves his cloth diapers. They are so soft on his bum." And I said, "And they are good for the Earth." To which she replied, "How can they be good for the Earth? The Earth doesn't wear diapers!"

A few nights ago, she was playing with Noah's Ark and yelling to herself, "We're all gonna die!"

She's got me in stitches most of the time!

Happy Fourth Birthday, Elly Belly Button!

I can't believe my baby girl is four. Seriously. I remember that day she was born...I went into the hospital around 9am to be induced (the doctor feared she was too big to deliver). The doctor greeted us and said, "Let's have a baby today! September first is a great birthday!" We agreed. I was excited and nervous. I called my mom and Liz to tell them we were being admitted (Liz had Eden). Things started a little slow, but once they got moving, they moved along and at 1:31pm Elly Lyn Grimes, a delightfully pudgy 7 and a half pounder came bellowing into the world. I remember her lips distinctly. She was perfect and beautiful to me. Dan and I cried tears of sorrow and joy, and we grieved the grandmother who had just gone home 6 weeks prior. Oh, how Dian Lyn would have loved Elly Lyn.

That day I felt terrific. This whole labor and delivery thing? Piece of cake :) (Ask me after I get home and get the post-epidural neck pain!). Dan and I hung out in the room with our snoozing newborn and Dan flipped on the T.V. News of Hurricane Katrina hitting the Gulf Coast had already been reported two days earlier, but since we were preparing for a baby we weren't watching much television. Now, I laid in my clean hospital bed cradling my new baby girl, crying at the footage CNN was streaming. A woman who looked to be about 9 months along stood in the aftermath. I remember thinking, "Why, Lord, am I here safe in this hospital, my child is healthy...why do some suffer while others can go on as if nothing happened?" It was so difficult to process the two things- the miracle of our new daughter with the tragic suffering that was being endured by the people of New Orleans. It just broke my heart. I can not separate the two events, even now.



Oh, my sweet Elly Lyn. You are so lovely. You are YOU one-hundred percent of the time. Even if that means throwing a fit in Sunday School. You are energetic, spirited, hilarious, and beautiful. Many, many people tell me you are gorgeous. I say, let them get to know you and you become even moreso! I love you, sweet daughter. No matter how tired I am at the end of the day from your stream of questions! You are precious to me and Daddy!

True to your name, you are Light and Beauty!

Wow, we are camera happy folks.

This is Esias' favorite pose...he did this the first day we had him in Ethiopia!

Little Man is trying to pull up!

Snuggle with daddy!

We went outside tonight (it was SO hot today, like 96, and even tonight was 90) and played ball and on the swing set. Esias loved watching the girls and got in on a little action when the ball hit him in the head ;)

He thought it was pretty hilarious.

Whose cute kids are these? Oh, that's right! Ours!

Little gymnast in training...

Drama...

Wow, Dan. I am so lucky.

Love it!! He's a handful.

A handful of awesomeness!!