Let's Make a Deal

Aliza: When are you going to buy me 6 new blue jean skirts?
Me: I don't think I will buy you 6 blue jean skirts.
Aliza: 7?
Me: Maybe 2.
Aliza: 3?

She knows more about wheeling and dealing at 6, than I did at 20 when we bought our first new car.

Lost

I had a terrible dream.  We were all at this HUGE Discovery Center on  multiple levels and Adalyn got seperated from us.  As we were frantically trying to find her, the others got seperated from us.  We went up to a desk and reported our missing, and they made an announcement over the intercom and walky-talkies, but it was so loud and full of kiddos and parents, that no one seemed to hear the news.  We looked in nooks, crannies, under staircases, in little play houses, down twisty slides, and tunnels.  Feeling hopeful that they couldn't get outside and we were bound to find them eventually, we then discovered water slide tunnels on every level that went out from the building down to the very bottom.  There were so many water slides and ladders, it reminded me of the game Chutes and Ladders. We kept looking, and searching. We started shouting their names.  Parents started helping us.  After being inside started making me panic in fear that they had gotten out by way of the water slide, a new fear came. What if Adalyn got out and went down the slide and drowned?  So, out we both went down water slides. As I rode down the twisty slide, I looked out at the stairs leading back to the top.

I woke up hearing Alivia squirming. But I had to find my girls. I fell back asleep and the search was on again. 

I was imagining them not even realizing they were lost.  Just bouncing around from one slide to another, from one playhouse to another.  They would be having the time of their lives and have no clue that they were being sought after.  There were all these dangers going through my head as we searched.  They could fall, get taken, they could drown. Maybe they were aware that we weren't with them, and they were walking around crying, "Mama.  Daddy."

I went down a slide and passed Louis walking up a set of steps.  I didn't want to lose him. At least I had my cell phone.  I'm on the water slide- it won't work now.  I need to find my girls.

I woke.  They're here.
I fell fast asleep.  I need to find them. 
I can't find them.

Then Alivia.
They're here.
They're here.
It's just a dream.  A bad dream.

Of Mice and Moles

Last year sometime, our girls were REALLY wanting a dog.  Okay, let me rephrase that.  For a few years now, our girls have REALLY been wanting a dog.  My biggest counter to that, has been they shed and they chew.  Our girls leave toys, shoes, and small things around the house daily.  'Nuff said. 

Well, about a month before Alivia was due, Louis came to me in a whisper and told me to "Come here".  We live in a house that's surrounded by woods on two sides, and a horse pasture on the other side.  He's said those exact words when showing me creatures that have made their way to our yard (or deck).  Ya know: opossums, deer, turkeys, raccoons, foxes, and snakes.  So my heart always starts racing a bit when I wonder what it could be.  I followed him out the back door to our deck and he brings me this black kitten.

You can imagine my response.  Well, maybe you can't if you're an avid animal lover.  We are very busy between church and homeschooling activities/field trips.    There's not a lot of time or energy I have to care for a pet right now.  Maybe in the future, I will be convinced, but not at that moment.   (8 months pregnant, slap worn out, and could hardly bend, let alone to clean a litter box- which I shouldn't be doing anyway.)  Why would Louis be approaching me with such a daunting proposal? Plus- I thought he was a dog lover!

His confession:
A man met Louis at the end of our driveway with this little black kitten.  His case was legitimate, it really was.  The ole' tail (yes, that's a pun) of "We have a litter of kittens and need to get rid of them because we can't feed them anymore" got Louis' emotions stirred up a little. 

My confession:
Don't ever get a bowl of milk for a starving kitty.  It thinks it belongs.

We spent the next two days under the impression it was a he.  Then I looked at his belly and saw little nipples, so thought our "he" was a "she".  SO, the girls changed his name.  (I can't remember to what).  Then we had friends come over, and the girls introduced them to _____, and said it was a "she".  After affectionate observation on their part, our friends told us, it's a HE....so then her name reverted back to his name of "Rascal".  It's still Rascal to this day, thankfully.  I had a hard enough time remembering to do simple things like unload the van of groceries and remember what I went in a room to do, let alone trying to keep up with the current name change of the new outdoor kitten. 

The poor cat should have left the moment he arrived but I guess he didn't know what was good for him.  When Adalyn met Rascal, there became a relentless attachment that couldn't be reckoned with. Afterall, she is two.  And terrible is an understatement.  I do love her though! 

She has choked him, dragged him out from under the van by his tail, and has thrown him from higher places.  I wish I could have kept count of the times we said "Easy, Adalyn".  That month with that kitten before Alivia arrived, kept me more stressed out than you could imagine.  Everytime we went outside to load up in the van, the girls went looking for Rascal.  And a holler from the driveway can't be heard if you're in the backyard.  Or at least that's their defense.  So pregnant Momma Hen would have to traipse all over the yard collecting little chicks.  And you KNOW how clumsy you become when you're THAT pregnant.  Twigs, leaves, hillside.  'Nuff said. 

Of course, when we were indoors, you'd think there'd be no problems.  But Adalyn loved sneaking out of the house to play with Rascal.  Well, they all did at first.  I'd be downstairs doing laundry or schooling one of them, then return upstairs to find a missing child. The adrenaline rush of having a missing child is pretty intense and you would think it was enough to send me into labor at any moment.  But it didn't; I went a week overdue.

The good that came from Rascal's arrival:
Adalyn got a crash course in learning how to handle something delicate.  By the time Alivia was born, she knew what "Easy, Adalyn" meant.  Knock on wood- she has not choked Alivia, carried her upside down, pulled her off of something by a leg, or pulled her ear.  Now, if we can just keep her from trying to put food in Alivia's mouth, we'll be doing good. 

It's also been fun watching Rascal earn his keep.  He catches critters!!!!  Hallelujah!!  We are surrounded by woods on two sides, and a horse pasture on one side.  'Nuff said.  It's been fun watching Rascal play with a mole he's caught, or throw a mouse up in the air by its tail.  Even lizards are eliminated!

Yesterday, we needed to be at CBS (Community Bible Study) earlier than normal, because I was helping in the Children's Department.  We NEEDED to be there NO LATER than 9:15.  Getting 5 girls ready to go someplace is no easy task, but it might go smoother because one was staying home.  While our older girls help out a ton, which I am very thankful for, there's still the occasional drama between them.  Anyway, we were doing super well with time yesterday.  Everyone rose on time, got dressed on time.  No catastrophe with outfit selections.  No spilled milk at breakfast.  No poopy blowouts with Alivia.  Backpacks were ready.  The girls were politely quizzing each other on their bible verses. Smooth sailing. 

Our older girls will often go ahead and open the front door to take things out to the van for me while I finish getting ready.

The discovery:
A dead bird on our front step. 

The sound:
Shrilling squeals.

I run quietly from our bathroom (Louis is laying in bed with Aliza, who we don't want to wake because she's sick and won't be gong to CBS) to find out what's going on. 

The prediction:
"He must have flown into the door and died".

It's never enough to discover something on your own.  You MUST go tell ALL your sisters in a beaming voice.  Even the sick and sleeping one has to know.  It's also never enough to just observe something from behind a window.  You MUST step over the thing, freak yourself out because it moves, then repeatedly scream, "It's STILL ALIVE" and wake up the neighbors while you're at it.  Then the toddler sister HAS to be out there too, because she feels left out.   

So I'm yelling through the storm door window, "Don't touch it, come inside", while keeping a screaming toddler at bay and from escaping.  So, the older two finally burst in and run to tell their daddy...who already is well aware of the situation because he can hear the chaos.  And guess who is woken up also?  And guess who wants to go to CBS?  And guess what she does when she finds out she can't go?  And guess who was doing good on time, but now is not?

It wasn't a huge setback, yet.  With everyone back inside again and Abigail guarding the front door,  I ran back to the bathroom to finish getting ready.  Aliza is crying heavily at this point and Louis is trying to calm her down.  Tick-tock, tick-tock...I hear the clock in my head because I know that minutes count.  After I bust up my gums from the fastest teethbrushing ever, I stop by our bed to calm down Aliza and love on her for a quick sec.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh nooooooooooooooo", I hear.  It's Anna now who's screaming and crying uncontrollably.  I run back out to the foyer to investigate.  Alivia is now crying because she got scared.  Adalyn is crying because Abigail is holding her away from the front door because she keeps trying to run out. 

Anna is crying because the cat ran off with the half-dead bird. 

Trying to stay calm, rather unsuccessfully I might add, I'm scooping up Alivia who's thankfully already in her carseat, grabbing my keys and suggesting we leave.  Abigail never wants to be late (and neither do I) so she's getting upset because she senses we are running late AND SHE'S RIGHT!  I get Alivia loaded and the pressure builds.  I realize I left my phone in the house!!!  So, I dart passed Anna and Adalyn on the porch to go track down my phone.  I shouldn't look at the clock, but I do.

Fretting more, I find my phone.  I run through the house slamming down light switches on my way to the door.  I jump up into my seat in the van, and do a roll call, "Everyone buckled?"  Abigail says no. "Get buckled".  She says she is.  "Okay?"  I turn around to discover two kiddos are missing in action.  "WHERE ARE YOUR SISTERS?"  Abigail, just as frustrated as I am, replies that they are out in the yard looking for Rascal.  Seriously?

It's 9 a.m.  It takes me 25-30 minutes to get from our driveway to the perfect spot at Community Bible Study.  The spot I always choose is just a little wider than the rest of the parking spots.  It accommodates our big van very nicely without having to do a million reparks.  Then it takes me a couple minutes for us to unload and get everyone to their classes.  I'm not forgetting that I have to be in the library at 9:15 to be assigned to a children's class in which to help. 

It's 9 a.m.
And two kiddos are in the yard. 
Somewhere. 
Looking for a cat. 
Who got the bird.
That nearly killed himself while flying into our storm door glass.
Who caused so much commotion at our house.
Which caused us to be late. 
All because of a cat named Rascal.  WHO IS INDEED A RASCAL.
Who was delivered to us 2 months ago.
Who was kept because Of Mice and Moles.

The delegates

2 weeks before my due date:

• Louis programmed his cell phone number into the cordless phone at home.
•  He delegated responsibilities to Abigail, Anna, and Aliza for the time I either went into labor or my water broke. 
• Abigail was in charge of calling Daddy to tell him to get home.
• Anna was in charge of getting me to the blue van to wait.
• Aliza was in charge of collecting things from the house I asked for.

For 3 weeks he rehearsed the drill with the girls before he left the house. Part of me is sad that the girls didn't get to fulfill their jobs. They really took pride in having their delegated responsibilities.

Dream results in some action!

About 3 weeks ago, I had this dream that I went in to labor and we weren't ready. So I made myself a "To-Do" list of about 5 things:

1. Clean out the deep freezer, then stock it with easy meals for when Alivia arrives.
2. Pack the diaper bag and our hospital bag.
3. Have groceries available here for our girls and their caretakers while we are in the hospital.
4. Clean the van.
5. Do some deep cleaning of the house and get all the laundry caught up.

• The first thing we did, was got the diaper bag all packed. There's nothing more fun than washing clothing for the one that's not here yet. It stays clean!!! Then we packed our hospital bag. I originally packed a summer dress to come home in.  then I changed my mind,  have you ever tried to nurse while wearing a dress?  It's been about 7 months since I've had to think about that.   So we bought me a pair of drawstring capris because I couldn't pack up a pair of maternity pants and not have use of them for so long. Both bags, and the car seat have been in Louis' van for 2 weeks.
• We then hit the grocery store. Twice. One night for dry goods as we passed through Albany to Somerset to go to Bob Evans to eat. We always forget they are an hour ahead of us. We pulled in the parking lot 15 minutes before they closed at 9 (their time) and you should have seen the looks I got from the employees when I walked in to ask their closing time. We drove all that way for Bob Evans, and by goodness, we were gonna eat at Bob Evans. Louis' comment made me change my mind, and so we headed to find another place. I was sure Frisch's wouldn't spit in our food because they closed an hour later.
• The next day, I had to pick up donuts, and so I hit Save-A-Lot in Albany again for all the cold stuff. It helped my legs to break up the shopping like that. And pyschologically, it felt like I spent less. My receipt total was $77 for the first night and $140 the next day. Not bad. (I would have felt bad if I saw the total at $217.00). Hehe.
• As we unloaded all the groceries, I had to kind of rearrange cabinets to accomodate everything.  I made special food baskets for the girls that has been off limits until Alivia is born.  For a few days they were saying, "I can't wait til Alivia is born so I can eat that food".  It's fun kid food like ravioli, spaghetti-os, fruit snacks, pudding cups, and pop-tarts.  Not stuff we generally buy, but stuff that would be easy for someone to get out for them.  I have no worries, that Abigail and Anna will go for that as soon as we head to the hospital. 
• Then I had a cook day (that lasted 2 days because I ran out of energy).  Abigail and Anna helped me clean out both freezers.
• After spending two days in the kitchen, I turned around to notice our house was turned upside down.  So when Monday rolled around we spent about 3 hours cleaning.  I made out a game board for them that had tasks written out above circles that led to a Game Over box at the bottom.  Once they completed their tasks, they could color in the circles that were below the written tasks.  They loved that game.  Then when they all got to the Game Over, they got to eat popsicles outside and play for 30 minutes,  Then I painted all their nails after their baths.  At the end of the day, we had our clean house again.
• A few days later, we had a "Sure" Day (where I just said "sure" to the girls' requests.  One of their requests was to wash the van in their bathing suits.  Cool...it'd check off part of my list. 



Below the microwave are the 2 red food baskets.   Our older 3 girls are very proud of them and super protective of them.  Adalyn discovered them Thursday and helped herself to some of the fruit snacks.  You've never seen more upset sisters! 

So it took about a week to check off the 5 things.  But it felt good.  I felt like THEN we could go in to the hospital and have a baby because all of that was done!  The fridge and freezer were stocked, the bags and carseat loaded, the house was clean and the laundry was caught up.  These days, I feel like we're gonna eat through our stock and by the time we finally have this girl, the house will be a wreck and the laundry will be piled high. 

Slumber party

...with no slumbering. 

Parting gifts

We told the girls yesterday morning that I would be going on a short trip. I would be heading with a friend from church to a Women's Christian Mission Study in Murfreesboro for two nights.  There were wimpers, pleads for me not to go, and lots of hugs. That SURE does a momma's heart mighty good to be loved on so much all at once!

    They all gathered things to "remember them by" and brought them to me last night for my suitcase.  The notes say "Rember all of us" and "I love you Mama", which was Adalyn's message to that Anna wrote out for me to take along too. 

Anna ran off to gather my slippers.  Abigail brought me her glass candle holder she made.  I hated to tell her I shouldn't take it because it might get broken. 

Then Aliza asked me if I would be eating there and offered to pack my "handitizer" for me. 

Got a long hug from Aliza, whose tears just broke my heart, as everyone was getting ready for bed.  Times like these make you really feel loved!!!

In the line of defense

2-year old with water hose.

Pre-schooler defends herself.

Pre-schooler flees.

Our 4 sweet little Butterfly Fairies....
...and yes, we were late to Bible Study the next day because their make-up wore off and I had to re-do it. 

Just a driving

While driving a sibling pair home after church tonight, Aliza says to me, "Mommy- I want to be a mommy when I grow up". She must know that being a mommy is the best job there is!

My girls, the bookworms

We rely on the library pretty heavily for enjoyment around here! We have gone at least once a week for the year we've been here, so far. We love storytime on Thursdays and getting to do a craft that goes along with the story for that day. The deal we've made is that if Abigail and Anna sit quietly during storytime, then they each get to check out a movie. They love this tradition, and LOVE picking out 5 books a piece each week. Anna's favorite is "The Jolly Postman" where there are envelopes glued to pages with postcards, letters, etc. We've had that one at least 5 times...Anna can ALWAYS find it among the many shelves!! Now that Aliza is more mobile, she has gotten into the habit of pulling books off the shelves by the dozen! All my girls are bookworms! The summer reading program started Thursday, and they are SO excited! We read books everyday together, but now have to record them in their Reading Log for prizes each week. Abigail and Anna were "reading" the other day while I was cooking supper, and shouted, "Where's my Reading Log? We read our books". So if you see us out in the yard on a blanket, look closely...there might be a book in our hands! We've had to stop having our picnic lunches in the yard because the ants terrorize us!! Maybe they'll leave us alone if we are only reading!

Roses are Red, violets are blue...All things fun can cause injury, too

The first arrangement (2 red roses, 3 white lillies) is one that was on the alter at church in honor of my birthday from Louis and the girls. The second arrangement of a dozen roses was delivered Tuesday during Core Group time at Community Bible Study. One of my friends told the delivery guy, "Mari is the one whose face is all red". Louis was so thoughtful!! He managed to clean house, grill out, help the girls make me a birthday cake in between church meetings, and a function at church that night! Such a good husband, he is and I feel blessed!

Anna put Aliza in here "to keep her out of the kitchen cabinets", she said.

Pay no attention to Abigail's wardrobe choice, hehe!! She's enjoying our yard!!

Abigail and her new bike.

Here's Anna sporting her swelled face and bruise (notice the right side looking at her) from a mouth and nose injury 2 weeks ago. She was running and tripped hitting her mouth and nose on the kitchen step. Her inner lip was torn from her top gum line pretty badly, and though there was a tooth hemorrhage, she walked away with all her teeth and NO stitches! 2 hours upon returning from the doc, she fell off her bike busting her knee. So we played inside for a while, after I picked her up by the shoulders yelling, "Please stop hurting yourself, you are scaring your MAMA!"

A birthday party for a not so happy 1-year old

Aliza Beth (12 days old)

It's long overdue, but busyness got the best of me. It's hard to believe Aliza's First Birthday has come and gone! She doesn't look happy in her party pictures because she wasn't feeling very well. She had double ear infections and an upper respiratory infection the week of her birthday...I wish we had her party to do over again. We got a ladybug ice cream cake from DQ and what she got to dive in was a star brownie covered in whipped cream. She really wasn't into unwrapping gifts, socializing, or touching her brownie cake. She just sat there and stared at it uninterested. My sister put her hand in the icing to encourage her to make a mess and Aliza just cried. I wish we had her party to do over again, but this will be a memory for sure. Maybe her second party will be better for her! Now she's back to her happy, sweet self of course!

Aliza began this life at 5:37 pm on December 11, 2007 weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces and measured 18 1/2 inches in length. At 1 year, she weighs 20 pounds, but is still a shortie! She is trying soooo hard to walk, but is still Miss Spaghetti Legs. She talks to us alot....she says Mama, Da-Da, bye-bye, and will say hi with a wave (it's more like an indian's "How" with one hand raise in the air...but we'll take that). She kisses her sisters, will make kiss noises, and will blow her nose if you hand her a wipe or a tissue. She has 6 teeth and two more poking out of the gums barely. She sings in church, reads books by humming and touching the pages, and tries to talk over her daddy while he is preaching. She has given us so many laughs and has been easily entertained by her sisters as well. She is an all around "Mama's girl" but is slowly adapting to family and friends easier and more quickly. The tough time in the hospital is all but a distant memory but a reminder to us of the power of prayer and the awesomeness of God!! We are SO blessed by Aliza Beth!

Forget Cheerios...she wants an oatmeal cookie!

Aliza went to the pediatrician Wednesday for a check-up and the second part of her flu shot. She cried very little, Anna was so proud that Aliza got to have a Dora band-aid on her thigh! Aliza weighs 19 pounds and measures 28 1/4 inches long. For her age she is right under the 50% group for weight and height! Her doctor discussed several things with us this visit, among the topics was starting her on table/finger foods. He said, Cheerios were a good thing to start her on. (She's already had several finger food things- like those veggie puffs, etc.) That night at church we found Aliza just chomping away at a homemade oatmeal cookie that Anna left on the kids' table- which was right at her level in the walker. We then watched her as pieces just crumbled perfectly into her mouth. She handled it well, and didn't take bites until she finished chewing what was in her mouth- OUR BIG GIRL.