More Edenisms.

Yesterday was an eventful day around here, starting of course with the discovery of our poor deceased feline. Then we went on to go to church and out for Mexican food afterwards (it was Father's Day, afterall, so we had to celebrate a little). On the way out of church, we had to part ways with dear Marcus who historically is not a fan of saying goodbye to the girls and Esias. He was crying in his car when we pulled away. Eden said the following:

"Mom, I wish we could just take Marcus home with us so Aunt Brynnie could just relax." (she is 9 mos. preggo)

I said, "Well, honey, it is Father's Day so he needs to be with his daddy."
Eden replied, "Yeah and the tragic death of our cat doesn't make our house very welcoming."

Pumpkin Kitty Grimes 1998-2011

Pumpkin died this week after a few months of looking not so good. She was 13 years old, a decent age for a cat. She was my first baby, I got her after moving to Omaha on my own at 20 years old. She lived in an apartment with my cousin Sara and I. She was a crazy, crazy kitten who terrorized our toes at night. She would scratch me all night and bite my bright and early to get fed. She calmed down though and went to live with my parents in our old house when I moved back to IC and lived in an apartment. After Dan and I bought this house in 2002, we brought her back to live with us and she'd been here ever since. She was a good kitty. After the kids were born we spent less time adoring her of course, but she always came to snuggle us, visit us in the bathroom (!) and sleep at the foot of our bed at night. I woke up in the night to use the bathroom and when she didn't nearly trip me, I realized again that she is really gone. I am very sad, I loved her lots. Pets are really fun to have except for this part ;(

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."

Lots to Catch up on!

Wow, the summer is off and running and I have become a blog slacker! June is already half over, how can that be?

Here's what's been up with the Grimey Kids.

-Esias' TWO YEAR Famiversary was June 9th! We first met him on June 9, 2009 and then united him with the girls on the 12th (I think) so there are lots of fun dates to celebrate (referral day, birthday, etc) but I like to remember the day we met. His birthday is for him and the "gotcha" day is for me and Dan :) What a surreal moment it was to walk into that dark, closed up room and see this tiny infant who appeared to be about 3 months old (and in reality was 11.5 months) and was SICK. Scary sick. But we were so hopeful and just so so glad to be there and have him in our arms. And now, two years later, some things are not what I expected them to be but I would not change a single minute, a single challenge. Esias is an ornery, active, loving, sweet, messy beautiful child who has every part of me wrapped around his little finger. I love you Esias!!! So blessed to be your mommy. The anniversary of his arrival at our house also means writing his post placement report. It gets sent to Grand Rapids (to our agency) and also to Ethiopia where the identifying information is removed and the report is there for viewing by any relatives and also so the government there can make sure the children are receiving good care and continue the program. I struggled writing it, it is hard to express just how amazing Esias is doing and how much he has overcome. But in my page and a half, I think I conveyed it. The fun part is that we have to include pictures of all of us and I think his smile says it all.

-Eden finished out the last month of school with her typical fervor, bringing home LOADS and LOADS of papers and drawings and journals for me to see...and she is now enjoying her down time and leading Elly in all sorts of shenanigans here at home. It is nice to have all three of them home together. She's been in the tree alot, her favorite spot to get away since the sibs can't get up there yet ;)

-Elly is showing me just how very READY she is for school this fall. Her vocabulary is amazing and she told me today while we were very low on gas and searching for a gas station, "Mom, you are going really fast." I said, "I know, I am trying to get to the gas station before we run out of gas." She replied, "Well, Mom, the faster you go the more you use up your gas. Except if we are going downhill." So funny. Then she told me she wants to be an engineer on Sundays and a veterinarian on Tuesdays.

-Esias started private feeding therapy today and it was great! He is working with a PhD at the U who thought his case was interesting enough to take him on, apparently! I am so glad. I am trying not to be regretful that we didn't do this long ago, but I know that this is all God's timing and it has taken me this long to really accept E-man's slow progress with feeding and realize he has a disability. And this is a good time to have a commitment like this, we can all get there easily and it is not as hectic as the school year. Now if we can just win the lottery (you know the one where you don't have to buy a ticket) we will be able to afford it! Ha!

Well, that's it for now. I need to get some more pics uploaded. Someday soon!

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.

More from the Eldest...

This afternoon, Elly wanted to eat some ice cream and she found a half-eaten ice cream cone re-frozen in the freezer. She licked it and said, "This is gross!" and set it on the counter and then left. So I tossed it in the trash. A few minutes later, I was rocking Esias on the couch and the girls emerge with the previously trashed ice-cream cone. Eden was licking it and said, "We got this out of the trash...I swear nothing was touching it...it's fine...so we're eating it...we're a couple of nasty monkeys."

Nature Girl Elly.

Today Elly said, "Mom, I want to be a nature girl, and like eat leaves, and say to other humans, 'what's a computer?'"

More Edenisms.

I thought that once Eden became a kid and not so much a toddler, all the funny things she said would go away too. Not so.

Today she told me that tomorrow is "International Hide from Your Siblings Day."

Yesterday, we were getting ready to head home from Clarinda (we were there for our twin nieces graduation party) and Dan took Elly in to the gas station with him to get her something to eat since she had not eaten anything at the party. Eden said, "Dang...too bad I just ate like a pig." I laughed and said, "Oh Eden, you got that from your momma." She said, "Yeah, it's a blessing and a curse."

What's Shakin'?

I have not been able to blog much...has something to do with the two ornery, er, active two-year old boys that occupy my house most days. I do want to write down a few things though, so here goes.

Eden- Eden is almost done with SECOND grade! She's had a fabulous year. What i love about her is that she is extremely intelligent but without the perfectionist baggage. Love that. She regularly misses spelling words that SHE KNOWS HOW TO SPELL because she is a daydreamer and a spontaneous person who doesn't go back and check her work. You might think that would disappoint me, but I actually love it. Sure, I talk to her about slowing down and doing her best work, but I love that she doesn't draw her self-worth from her performance. I know someone who did that and it hasn't served me, ahem, her well. Her teacher, Mrs. Schroeder is amazing and I will miss her so much. I love knowing that Eden is in good hands all day.

Elly- This gal is non-stop chatter. She talks for hours on end. People in public notice. She goes to school in the fall and I think she is more than ready. I hope she can socialize with other children and not just adults!

Esias- His speech is making improvement! We hear sentences! Albeit hard to understand, they are sentences. He says, "I want Papa" "I want pizza" "I don't want more" it sounds more like "ah-ahnt-papa" but we can understand it! Unfortunately, his feeding is not going as well. He is regressing on his desire to eat. When he came to us, he had a strong desire to eat. Sometimes kids who are tube fed lose their desire to mouth-feed. Esias didn't and it was a blessing and answer to prayer! Then we were able to stop most of the tube feeding and work on his chewing and swallowing. Unfortunately over the past few months, I see him struggle to eat things that other children eat without issue and he gets tired of trying. If it gets on his pallet or at the back of his tongue, his tongue doesn't know what to do with it and he sort of freaks out. He gags and spews and usually ends up needing his mouth swept out. Soemtimes he can sweep it out himself but usually he asks for help. And then, he is done. Like wipe my mouth, unbuckle me from the booster, I'm outta here. Even if that was his first bite. Ug! So we are quite sure he will need more feeding support than we are able to give him for the next several years. We are doing Bolus feeds (or just giving him pediasure orally) to make sure his cals are sufficient.

Gotta go- crying and carrying on in the basement!!

More Edenisms. And it's not even 8am.

This morning Eden is on a roll. She's already had us in stitches before breakfast.

She was going to wear a dress today, so when I found her in her room wearing something else she felt the need to explain herself:

"Mom, we had a bit of a wardrobe mix up. I was going to wear this dress, but then I remembered I am riding my bike to school and there is a 98% chance that my dress would get caught in the chain."

and at breakfast...

"Elly you have too much dimples. That means that you are so cute you should be locked up in a secret laboratory."

I might agree with her on that one!

When your brother is trying to learn oral motor skills...

Last night we were at Target and Elly found a pinwheel.

Elly: MOM! This would make a GREAT therapy toy!

Eden's Been Sick!

Last week (Friday) Eden woke up and got ready for school as usual. Just before she was set to leave, I took a good look at her and noticed her left eye was swollen and pink. Of course my first thought was pink eye! I made a call to the doctor's office we usually go to and they were so backed up no one called me back until 5:30 to tell me "She'll need to be seen." Nevermind that they are closed and not open on Saturdays! Ug. So Saturday we ran some errands and then decided to go ahead and take Eden in to Quick Care. Dan was laying the new floor in our house so I had all three kids and it was becoming more and more apparent that Eden was miserable. Her eyes were so sensitive to light and she was buring up--102.5 at the doctor's! This doctor was not my favorite, she told me she could have about 3 different things (pink eye, influeza, and strep...despite the fact that she tested negative to the last two on that list) and sent me home with Zithromax for the eye. (But seriously, has pink eye ever caused a fever? And there was no matter in it whatsoever!) Anyway, by yesterday, her eye was still swollen and pink and she had had a fever every night even up to 101 again! At the advice of my sister and the school nurse I took her yesterday to Pediatric Associates. Because one of Eden's symptoms was blurred vision, this doctor really was concerned. She ended up consulting with an infectious disease specialist and then called me back right away to say it was probably Preseptal Cellulitis. Basically an infection in her eye that the Zithromax would not cover and that needs to be treated right away. So after three doses of Augmentin Eden's eye seems to be on the mend! Yay. She actually went back to school today after missing Friday through Wednesday! Her fever is gone for good I hope. She was a trooper but wow, that girl does need some stimulation and school is just the place for her ;) Yesterday we went to the library (after the doc cleared her to go back to school) and here are the books she checked out (PURE Eden!) :
1. 1000 Inventions and Discoveries
2. Eyewitness Books: Future
3. Eyewitness Science: Medicine
4. How to Be a Genius

So hilarious! Brynn said, "Shadley, you might as well start building the apartment over the garage!" Hahahah~~

Cuteness Abounds.

Somedays I can't believe I get to be the mom
of these crazy ones.

Elly is getting ready for Kindergarten in the fall! I have to go to the parent's meeting tonight. She's already registered...round up in next week I think. Can't believe it! Though in a lot of ways we are both very ready...

This one has been sick all week...starting Friday she woke up with a weird looking eye. Not really like pink eye per se but pink for sure. No goo in it though. Then Saturday she woke up with a fever. Sunday night fever was back. Same thing Monday night! We got antibx for the "pink eye" but I am pretty sure that's not what it was. Maybe a flu strain? We got our shots but I guess this can happen. Hopefully she's fever free tonight and can rejoin her classmates tomorrow! It has been nice having her home though.


This little dude gave me a run for my money today! Thank goodness for naptime. Can I get an amen? His little buns have spent much time in time out today! And then he's had to move on to being alone in his room because time outs are just so hilarious when you're two apparently! Sheesh. Love this kid to bits. Somehow, even his naughtiness is endearing.

Wow, I am a blog slacker.

I have had trouble finding the time to update this blog lately! I wonder why :)

Here's the quick update, pictures will have to wait. We have some cute ones but they are not loaded onto the computer yet, so next time!

Eden: We had Eden's last second grade conference of the year. She is doing awesome. Reading way above grade level, very interested in math and history and continues to make us proud with her behavior toward others in her class. She is often called upon to help kids who might have a little more trouble sitting still and doing their work, since she is one who can stay on task (at least she can at school!). Mrs. Schroeder is a great teacher who we love very much and we are going to miss having her next year. Eden was blessed to have her two years in a row, even with the move to a new school!

I love this girl so much. She is (currently) sitting outside at the patio table with a bowl of SunChips and a pen and paper. She loves her alone time and being outside with her thoughts.

Elly: She has been a joy to have around this year, don't get me wrong, but I am very convinced she is ready for school! She is bored :( I registered her for school March 1 and she will be a kindergartener at Garner in the fall! We went to the school one day this winter to watch Eden's class perform their music and while we were walking down the hallway, the kindergarteners of this year came through on their way to the same place. Elly was about a head taller than many of them, except, well maybe 1 or 2. So, that's about right, she's taller than 95% of kids her age according to her plot on the growth chart! She's a giant. Very, very cuddly still and misses her mommy. She might struggle a little with being away from me next year!

Esias: He is one crazy kid. This boy is rough and tumble. He is all trucks and tractors. He is eating well, at least if we feed him things that are easy for him. We are supplementing with Pediasure again for extra calories. He still is not able to move food to the side of his mouth and chew on a consistent basis, but our weekly feeding therapy sessions have helped. Next week we meet with all of our therapists and the Special Education (preschool) director for the schools so that we can finalize where he will attend school next year. He will only be three, but in IA (and most states, I believe), Early Access/Intervention programs stop at 3 and then they are moved to the school setting. I am bummed that I will not have the one on one time with him that I was able to have with the girls, but at the same time, I want him to learn and grow and develop in all the ways he needs to to be healthy and meet his potential. His speech therapist always tell me how smart he is, and how we need to push him to achieve because he does have some delays but we don't want him to think he cannot learn or achieve. He will work with therapists at school daily and have a special education teacher. Most likely his classroom will be a special education classroom at the school Eden used to attend, just down the road.

So what on earth will I do when all my kids are in school? I have no idea. I would love to volunteer in their rooms or paint...but I am going to start by just trying to have supper on the table when they all get home :) Baby steps.

Esias...tube feeding take two!

Esias had a follow up appt. at the GI doctor today to see his tube. I was afraid I would have to convince them to leave the tube in because we are unsure if he will need his tonsils out, and if he does, tube feeding would be helpful. But instead, we came home with order for 2 bolus feeds per day! Dang. He has not gained weight in 9 months. Though to me, he looks healthy and normal, skinny but not overly skinny...he has never really had a growth "curve" because he came to us malnourished and one year old, then he gained a ton when were were doing only tube feeding...then when he was able to eat orally again he lost some...we were hoping that as his chewing and swallowing caught up, he'd be able to consume enough calories. But he's a typical two year old that wants to run and jump and burn a lot of calories a day. So back to the old feeding schedule. Bolus feeds are different for us because we won't use the pump this time, basically we will just do feeds with a big syringe and hold it about him so that gravity will get it into his tummy. Maybe that doesn't makes sense but it will be easier than using the pump I hope.

Other than that E-man is doing awesome. He slept in his bed all night last night and never came out! He typically "visits" us at least once in the night, just because he can. His car bed allows his easy exiting :) We like to call him the Midnight Ninja because he is so silent when he leaves his room. He even has to open his door and never makes a peep!