Teasing only goes so far

Little Brother was doing what 12 year old boys do best...annoy their sisters. He was repeating everything Little Sister said and she was getting more and more frustrated. She started saying things like,"I am getting angry." and "You need to stop that."

Since she wasn't getting anywhere with those, she went a very different route and said, "I am a pretty, little princess." There was a short pause and then Little Brother said, "Not gonna happen."

I'm thankful for

I am thankful for many things and after a not so great day yesterday I need to turn my eyes to what I have to be thankful for:

I am thankful for a God who loves me and His Son who was willing to die for me and that He gives me opportunities to share that.

I am thankful for my canary. For those that don't know, a canary is a bird who is very sensitive to changes in the air, especially carbon monoxide. So they would keep a canary in the mines and if the carbon monoxide (a deadly, colorless, odorless gas) started to build up in the mine the bird would die and the miners knew it wasn't safe to stay in the mine. One of my kids is the canary for my family. He is more sensitive to when things aren't as they should be and reacts in a way we can't help but notice.

I am thankful for friends who listen even when I am ranting and complaining. I am also thankful that those friends come along side to help. I am truly blessed to know many of these women.

I am thankful for my best friend. He stands by me even when the world is falling apart around us. I am blessed that God gave him to me.

I am thankful that God knows what I need even when I don't. He takes me where I am and deals with me. When I don't read His Word, He speaks to me where I am. I am thankful that even though He has no reason to love me, He does.

A life changing event

Seventeen years ago my life changed in an amazing way. That day a 7 pound 8 ounce miracle was born and part of my heart was now traveling in someone else's body. Before he was born I knew him. He was a quiet baby who would let me know he was around when I needed him to. He put me through the most intense pain I had ever felt, but gave me more joy than I could ever imagine.

It is hard to believe how quickly the years have flown by and how that tiny baby is almost ready to leave the nest.

Though he will be a man in just one short year, he will always be that toothless little face that I met 17 years ago today.

New templates

Since all the kids except #1 daughter (aka: Big Sister) is out and about this weekend, we decided to change the template for this blog. Please let us know what you think. We want to find something that will be expressive without being obnoxious.

Thought I had seen it all

Well there was a new one on me today. Big Sister would figure out any way she could to get out of doing math. She would do all kinds of things, but I don't remember her ever pulling her own teeth (thankfully it was already a little loose). Yes you read that right. Little Brother (who hate math more than Big Sister) wiggled his own tooth so long then finally pulled it out. Please understand that we have been at the same math page for 9 hours...yes 9 hours. I gave birth to him in a shorter time than that. The most obnoxious thing is that it is something he understands. He can do them independently and just won't. It is days like this that drive me crazy. Doesn't help that the weather is humid and I am not feeling too good.

Little Brother isn't a rock

Well we have proven once and for all that Little Brother is not a rock and that anyone, even someone as skinny as he is, is buoyant. He has been convinced that he would sink in the water so he would never go in for fear of sinking. While we were at the lake yesterday we convinced him to try floating. He was very nervous and wouldn't relax which didn't help with the floating. So how did we finally get him to relax enough to float? Pure capitalism. If he floated all on his own he could have a toy which cost up to $5. It was amazing how fast he was able to float after that. We have a contract for more floating including in water over his head well on his way to actually swimming.

What is a teenager?

Big Brother summed up what teenagers and kids on the spectrum perfectly the other day.

DH took the doors off the Jeep and asked Big Brother if he wanted to ride to the activities we had around town that day. Big Brother wanted nothing to do with it. Later in the day we talked about the boys driving up to the racetrack the next day and that DH wanted to take the Jeep with the doors still off. Big Brother was all excited about it. I asked him why he wouldn't ride in the Jeep around town going no more than 40 mph, but can't wait to ride in the Jeep going 60+ on the highway.

His answer:

"I am a world of contradictions".

Yes he is, as are all teenagers.