I have....

So today we started our morning with some errands.   I went to the office for an hour, Andrew had violin lessons, and then we headed to Walmart to get picnic stuff for a picnic at the beach with my sis and her kids.   In the car the kids were having their usual "discussion" about something or another and Andrew responded to Courtney in a peculiar manner.   Courtney stopped and asked Andrew why he would say that.   I interupted the conversation and said "Andrew sometimes says things differently because his brain works differently."   Then Andrew said in  quiet voice, "Yeah, I have Autism."

This is the first time I have ever heard Andrew say anything about his Autism or even acknowledge why he may do something different than others.    Just another reason why my little boy is no longer so little.   He's growing into a young man and I am so proud of him and all the hard work he has put into helping himself succeed.   10 - the big birthday into double digets this year.  Crazy how time flies.

Summer 2010

Since I usually really dislike school photos of the kids....I decided last year to start taking them myself in the fall.   Here is this years best.   The only bummer is not one of the like 75 I took of the both of them turned out nice......try try again I guess.

Things I learned about Eric thru the kids....

These are some things I have learned about Eric since we had children.

1.  He had absolutly terrible eyes as a child.....and unfortunatly passed that onto our 2 beautiful babies.

2.  He had large sickly tonsils removed at age 4....also passed on to Courtney!

3.  Apparently quoting favorite movie lines in everyday conversation is genetic.....

4.  Sleeping spread eagle is also genetic...he...he...

5.  He is an amazing father!

So tired.....

Well its 12:20am and I've just had another battle with Ms Courtney over her medication.    I finally lost it tonight.  This every 4 hour - waking her up - to take stuff she hates - with all the insuing crying and drama has left me in a rather broken place.   I've had 5 months with no more than 3 hours at a time of sleep and the last 7 nights with virtually no sleep whatsoever - and what that has created is an emotional basketcase who is wishing for all this to be over RIGHT NOW!   I can't stop crying because it feels at this moment like this is never going to end.....     I know that this is a culmination of hormones, no sleep and maybe even PrePartum depression but I just want to be an understanding, patient and caring mother and right now I am none of those.

Lord, give me the patience to be the support Courtney needs right now - to be loving and gentle and slow to anger and please grant me some desperatly needed sleep.  I cannot continue in these circumstances on my own - for I am failing and making this a more tramatic experience for her.   Please give me a giant dose of peace and grace and as I accept your help may it overflow to every tough interaction I have yet to come with her.  Please bring healing to her body quickly and draw us both closer to you as we realize what little control we truly possess.   Amen

Courtney's full of big things!

Well we are still waiting for our little munchkin to wake up from her surgery.   We started with her tonsils and adnoids.   Dr Cox came in about 20 minutes after he started and said everthing went great and that he took out some big huge tonsils.   We both chuckled and said thank you.   Then we waited another hour and Dr Feltis joined us to say her gallbladder came out just fine and didn't forsee any complications - but also that her gallbladder was large.   Again I chuckled - sounds like she's full of extra large parts.  

Then he went on to show us a picture he took of the rest of her abdominal cavity showing us a larger hernia on her right side and  a smaller hernia on her left.   Apparently it isn't super uncommon, but we decided since she was already out and going to be in the hospital for a time to have them repaired today at the same time.   So, off he went to repair her hernias.   Apparently the right one would have become symptomatic within a year and have needed to be fixed soon anyway, and the other one would likely have become symptomatic before she was a teenager.  

We are so thankful for all the prayers and support we have recieved and Courtney would love to have any visitors who wish to come hang out at Children's in St Paul while she is here.   Depending on her pain situation - she will be here till tomorrow afternoon or possibly Thursday.    It has been a stressful day....but we are greatful to have had such skillful surgeons and look forward to Courtney being able to enjoy life without stomach pain and sleep better without the big huge tonsils!