Singing some more

Another one to make you smile and miss Christmas! I promise she wears something besides pj's but lately we've enjoyed a few pj days.

Singing

Just in case you are missing Christmas here's a little something to cheer you up

Two daughters' hearts

LUCY -
We have been waiting to make some decisions about Lucy's heart for awhile. From birth she has had
1. VSD (hole between her bottom two chambers in her heart),
2. PFO (a hole between the top two chambers of her heart that usually closes after the first few days of life but Lucy's didn't close until she was 3) and
3. PDA (a hole in the vessel just outside the heart that usually closes within the first few days of life but Lucy's is still open).

Therefore, we have been waiting to make some decisions about whether to have surgery or look into other options. Today I spoke with Lucy's cardiologist and we made the decision to NOT have surgery at this time and keep watching her heart and treat her with some medication. So far there are no long term changes to her heart because of the PDA and there is no need to rush to make a final decision. There are lots more details but this is the short version. We're grateful for this news!

BUTTERFLY KITTY -
Today we also met with the perinatologist about Butterfly Kitty's heart. The doctor performed an Echocardiogram on our littlest one and said she has a healthy little heart - no congenital abnormalities seem to be present. She is about 2 pounds and growing right on track. We were so excited to see her little face and hear her consistent heart beat that has been 157-158 every time we've heard it. Thankful, Thankful!!

Here is a pic of Lucy waiting at the doctor's office with Jeremy and me before Butterfly Kitty's Echo

Play Dough Wonderland

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Lucy got several play dough accessories for Christmas and has been enjoying them on our winter days inside. She is so sweet to listen to as she plays. She talks and narrates her play in such sweet ways. Her play dough animals go to ballet and sing songs. She is so sweet to listen to.

Several days ago she played for over an hour with her play dough and while she waited for me to finish cleaning so that I could create with her. We had a wonderful time making snow men and other creations. Here's her little "toeman".

Table Manners

Meal times together as a family have always been high on my priority list. Even from a young age I wanted our children to eat with us and enjoy being together - isn't that how we celebrate in so many ways - by eating? Isn't it where adult life and kids life collide in so many ways?

Even though I have this desire, I have to admit that since Samuel started eating baby food around 8 months I have not been so fond of dinner time. As a mom, I usually don't get to serve the food and just sit. I'm usually up and down several times a meal, I usually clean up twice as much mess as before and then all of the other concerns with meals, the cooking, the cleaning, the meal budgeting, the grocery shopping and the choosing to be grateful for what we have make this necessary part of our day a "non-relaxing" part of homemaking some days. Add to this the frustration with children at different stages - getting them to eat out of a spoon, teaching them to not make such a mess, teaching them/ modeling for them to be grateful and not complain, encouraging them to eat their veggies and fruits, teaching self-control to sit at the table while others eat, patience to wait until all have seated to say the blessing, and then table manners - I'm tired just thinking about it.

I don't mind most of the time but some days its all just a chore and I was trying to figure out how to make it the enjoyable experience I know it can be and that it is most of the time. My children for the most part are good eaters and will gladly eat their veggies and fruits and try a bite of anything - once. But the table manners were harder to teach. Samuel and Lucy both smacked and talked with food in their mouths - my pet peeve - and I just couldn't get them to realize it when they did it. I was beginning to think it was anatomically not possible.

I see manners as a way to respect others and not be selfish and that is how I wanted them to think. The next part was motivation. Is smacking something they should get spanked for? No, I thought, but how to motivate? We've tried everything but I thought something tangible and immediate would be best. Something that would be worth the struggle to overcome bad habits and instill good ones. Something that was easy to remember.

I came up with the stone jars. It is simple. When Jeremy or I catch the children doing something at the table that is praiseworthy they get a stone in their jar and if they are caught exhibiting a poor behavior they get a stone taken away. When their jar is full they get their reward. For their reward they get to stay up 30-45 minutes after bed time and do whatever they want with Mama or Daddy. Well, this was just the motivation they needed. What a success!

We have only a few simple rules for table manners 1. Do not smack or talk with food in your mouth 2. Sit in your seat unless you ask to be excused 3. No complaining (about food, etc.) 4. Use the proper utensil - no eating mac and cheese with your fingers 5. ***BONUS points*** Be helpful (set table, take plate to the kitchen, clear table, vacuum after meal, get drinks, etc)

Some of these things they already did but not consistently but out of these simple rules we've seen more spontaneous "good" spring forth. For example, Lucy usually says, "Mama, this meal is so yummy" when she is eating. And Samuel when we went to a friend's house at Christmas went up to her and said "Thank you, for my meal" when he was finished. Also, they ask how they can help get ready for dinner and willingly clean up their plates at the end of dinner. We're grateful for this.

Also, I don't hear the complaints about food or trying things. And they have come up with some grown up suggestions. Samuel one night said, "Mama, would it be all right if I ate the leftover brussel sprouts in the refrigerator rather than this spinach?" I thought it was a reasonable request and a good compromise so I let him. He wasn't complaining but asking for a good exchange. I was surprised and pleased. I see them trying so much more and our conversations have been pleasant. We don't have to remind them of their manners as much so we can have better conversations about our day, about stories or about whatever pops into their minds...and let me tell you anything can pop into a 3 or 5 year-olds mind at anytime.

About their rewards - Lucy's first night she got to stay up, she wanted to make clothes for her zu-zu pets, drink hot chocolate and do P90X with Daddy...and we did. Tonight she got her second stay up late night and wanted hot cocoa and to play a game of Cooties with Mama. It's the simple things folks, simple things. And its a win, win for all - more time with my kiddos. Hopefully we can use this motivation in other areas later on and for now we'll be grateful for their sweet hearts as they learn to "not smack at the table!"

Mama and Lucy with her hot cocoa mustache - staying up late and enjoying each other!



Next lesson - how to be excited for my sibling when they get to stay up and I have to go to bed on time...choosing not to be jealous but to rejoice with those who rejoice.

Number games

Breakfast is serious business for Lucy. She's actually more like a hobbit in regards to eating than you would think. She likes first breakfast, then second breakfast and elevensies...etc. Usually we don't allow toys at the table but this morning she asked if she could play her number game while she ate. I am never one to spoil learning or creativity so I let her have her electronic number game (AKA. the calculator) at the table. She and Samuel often like to play with the calculator and make up games with it. Her favorite button this week it the pi button.
"See mama, you push this one button and it says 3.14159.....isn't that t[c]ool, Mama!"
"So cool, Lucy, so cool!"

Pregnancy Brain

With each pregnancy my brain seems to dwindle more and more. I'm more forgetful, more scatter-brained and just can't really seem to get it together at times. Hopefully, I can blame this on pregnancy! I mentioned this to Samuel the other day, something along the lines of 'having to write something down so I wouldn't forget because I think Butterfly Kitty was using my brain at the time' and he remembered. SO, several days later when I forgot something he said, "Mama, when you have another baby you won't have any brain left because we will have taken all of it." I'm beginning to think it's the truth.

Here is the craziest thing so far - Sunday night I looked out at the car and noticed the light was on in the Honda and it had been on all day (I actually didn't leave it on). I walked out to see if the car would crank and it barely cranked after some cajoling. I decided to leave it running for a while so that it would recharge the battery. Well, the next morning I was looking for my keys to crank the car and warm it up before heading to jury duty. I could not find my keys - anywhere. And then it hit me...the keys were still in the car and the car was still on. Yep, 8 hours later the car was still on in the driveway with the car nice and warm for my morning commute to jury duty. I couldn't believe it was still running.

Well, I turned the car off and went back inside for 20 minutes to finish getting dressed and then realized I probably wouldn't get it cranked again because there was no gas left. I knocked the car into neutral and rolled it into the street to try and shake the gas around. It cranked and we headed for the nearest gas station. While I was pumping the 11.8 gallons into my 12 gallon tank the gas started spewing from the car, Samuel started laughing from inside the car and I just had to laugh at my crazy morning while I ventured inside to clean the gas off of me. I dropped Samuel off at school safe and sound and headed to jury duty where I left my coffee at the security scanner and headed into the Men's bathroom (I caught myself before embarrassing myself too much). Yippee for Monday's with a pregnancy brain.

PS - I have seemed to be able to do my job at the hospital without much problem and have seemed to care for my children without permanent harm. I even served on a jury that Monday morning and came to the same conclusion as the other jurors - so I haven't lost all brain cells. There are even times of clarity but some days are just Mondays.

Quotes

Phrases I don't expect to hear from my kiddos once they get older but these are actual quotes from this weekend and last
___________________________

Lucy: "Oh, Mommy, I LOVE cleaning up! You get to find all the things you lost!"

(So you know - she doesn't usually clean up without repeated reminders and a little incentive - you will have to clean during reading time and miss it tonight if your room is not cleaned up - AND her standards of cleaning are not mine but we aren't looking for perfection yet - just participation and habits)

___________________________
Mama: "OK, today we're going to need to clean the bathrooms."
Samuel: "I want to clean the toilet!"
Lucy: "NO, I want to clean the toilet."
Samuel: "But, you got to clean it last time - I want to clean the toilet!"
Lucy: "Mama, Brother won't let me clean the toilet."
Mama: "OK, I have a solution - one of you can clean my bathroom and one can clean y'alls bathroom."
S and L: "YEAH!!!!"

They do actually like helping clean the bathrooms - hopefully this will remain a desire!

It's Official

I took Georgia State Nursing Boards (NCLEX) this past Thursday and found out this morning I passed. It's over (or is it just beginning?)!! Now I can now officially sign my name with a little RN after it (Registered Nurse) to add to my BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing).

Sincerely,
Kelly K. Noonan RN, BSN

Reusing and Recycling

In our search for inside entertainment my children have enjoyed raiding the recycling bin. I'm grateful for their creativity but I'll have to watch what they save! Samuel built a space station out of boxes and used egg cartons to make 'escape pods' for his guys and put pipe cleaners in them for the seat belts. We got an idea from Family Fun magazine about making a soldier carrier out of agg cartons and we made this one. Yes, those are Civil War soldiers in the space carrier.
Here is Samuel making seat belts for the escape pods.
Lucy entertaining herself with our collection of plastic lids. They ended up being used as water and feed troughs for her ponies and stacked high to make towers. Loads of entertainment right in our recycling bin.
Hope your winter days are full of cozy creative fun!

Building Fun

We weren't able to build snowmen or forts in the ice outside but we were able to build a palatial snow fort in our living room. Samuel said they were scientists living in the snow and he was an archaeologist (makes Mama proud). He and his assistant/'princess snow fairy' were on the look out for the snow monster/dragon that would take people to its cave (down the hallway) and eat them. The monster (aka. Daddy after he got finished with work) carried off the beautiful princess and was rescued just in time to wash hands and get ready for dinner. We had fun in our snow fort...and stayed warm too.

These Days

We have been up to some serious playing/creating around our house lately...and a little studying. Here is a glimpse into our world on Snow Days #4 and #5 and the long weekend after.

Some serious battles between Samuel's army and Daddy's army - with the help of some secret weapons

My study partner..helping me study by filling the room with beauty and art.

Next: Snow Day #3

Well, we are in for Snow Day #3 tomorrow and the temperature isn't supposed to get above freezing. I'm actually excited about the time at home. I know some people are going stir crazy - not me, I'm really totally fine being at home all week if we need to be. I do like getting outside to play but I'm just fine being at home, knowing that we are all safe and sound and cozy. Are you going crazy? How are you handling the forced time at home with all family members?

There are a few things I have learned in the forced resourcefulness of snow days.

1. The mail man must not go by the slogan "rain, sleet or snow" anymore - it must be a myth - we haven't seen him all week.
2. A cookie sheet works well for sleds, cardboard boxes too.
3. There are hidden treasures in my pantry that can be turned into meals even without that one missing ingredient.
4. I can play with Littlest Pet Shops for more than 20 minutes straight as long as the Pet Shops sing the Hokey Pokey, Father Abraham and other songs that need to be acted out and then read a story to the other Pet Shops like the three little pigs and then the Pet Shops act out the play and then....
5. Reading for several hours is a great way to pass time on snow days - We've almost made it through the Hobbit - what do we read next?
6. My house would be cleaner if we watched more TV and played, read, crafted and cooked less - but would it be as fun?
7. Ice can be vicious - little Lucy has the busted lip and scratched cheek to prove it.
8. We can survive all day with the thermostat on 61 and no one complain - we forgot to turn it up today and no complaints (maybe we'll save on electricity).
9. If I needed to get out I could catch a ride with one of my neighbors from up north - they can drive in this stuff - its the rest of us they are worried about.
10. Hot chocolate warms the soul and marshpillows make it happy.

Kinsey Christmas

I realized I didn't have any good shots of time at Kinsey Farms for Christmas but got some from Erin and Mama to share. We spent time with Grandma and Papa, I got to see Mema and Papa (Thanks for a great visit - I loved spending time with y'all) and Granny and Grandpa and we played with cousin Wyatt. It was a good visit but there never seems to be enough time to enjoy just sitting - I guess it's just a stage and one day that porch swing will be ready for me.

Here are some HILARIOUS pics Aunt Erin sent of Casey and me with our kiddos...this captures the joy and busy-ness of the time. That Wyatt is too cute and his Daddy is pretty funny too! These pictures look like a good commercial for the Cloud.

Snow Day #2 - sledding

Jordan, Connor, Mrs. Jessica and Mr. Kyle joined us for some sledding down the hill on cookie sheets and cardboard. We had some record slides, only one bleeding casualty and lots of fun before the numbness set in. Samuel made it from the top of the hill all the way to the road in the front yard (he was stopped by the electrical box in the way), Connor was our extreme sport guy (usually going down backwards, on his tummy or some other pose) and Jordan was a great at the two man bobsled. Jeremy even made it down the hill into the front yard once.
Jordan and Samuel on the two man bobsled
Samuel the triumphant
Cool dude, Connor
Jordan attempting the bare tummy slide

Snow Day #2

Today is another day of ice and snow in middle Georgia and we just made it in from another round of sledding down the hill and playing in the falling snow - yes, more snow is falling and I'm beginning to think with no sun we might have snow day #3 (I wouldn't mind at all!)

Lucy and Mrs. Jessica trying to catch snowflakes with their tongues

She couldn't make snow angels in the hard ice but she's enough of an angel for me.
Lucy did attempt some cardboard sledding for a few feet and enjoyed it but the free popsicles were her favorite.

Snow Day activities

Other than our sledding adventures we stayed warm and cozy all day playing board games, making super heroes out of popsicle sticks, playing tigers, reading several chapters from the Hobbit cozy on the couch, and cleaning out closets. We closed the evening by the fire drinking hot chocolate and listening to Jeremy read the Adventures of Robin Hood on his Kindle (it is in Old English and a good thing the Kindle has a dictionary for those crazy English words we don't know or would just skip over except one particular little boy must know exactly how much money a farthing is or what kind of weapon a cudgel is). I didn't miss getting out at all and loved the day in my cozy house with my favorite people.

The Great Ice of 2011

As we start day two of snow/ice day here at home I wanted to share some of our adventures yesterday in the snow/ice. There was about a 3 inch thick sheet of crunchy ice covering our yard so we decided to sled first. We bundled up to head to the hill in the back and sled but before I made it out the door with my jacket on Jeremy brought Lucy back with a bloody lip. She had slipped and hit her lip on the sled, AKA. cookie sheet. I cleaned her up and headed to the back to watch Jeremy and Samuel sled down the hill. Samuel almost hit the house several times it was so icy. Lucy tried to sled a little but felt off and cut her check on the ice - we gave up on her Olympic luge aspiration and just stomped around. Too icy for snowmen or snow angels but great for sledding...if you can make it across the slippery stuff.

Colonoscopy: Take 2

Lucy's long awaited colonoscopy was today and she made it through fine. The findings for the colonoscopy are that she had atleast one polyp that was removed and was probably causing all the problems. The biopsy will be back by next week but the doctor thinks everything is fine. Hopefully this will resolve her intestinal issues and we won't be back at the pediatric gastroenterologist any time soon. Thank you Children's Healthcare!

Yesterday's bowel prep was still a bit draining...ha,ha,ha...but Lucy perservered and was even pleasant up until the enema she had to have last night. Unfortunately, having to go through this whole process less than a month ago made the unpleasant memories fresh and the fear a little more real. We finally survived and she fell asleep finally after 10pm.

I got her up around 4:30am and we headed to Scottish Rite in Atlanta and we were home by 2:00pm. Lucy had such a great attitude and was so brave to answer questions, say thank you even after she got the bad tasting medicine, told me she would save some of her popsicle for Butterfly Kitty and asked politely "Can I have something, I think I'm going to f-row up" when she returned from the procedure. She was very disappointed that we weren't going to eat breakfast after her procedure - the only time she really started to cry all day, "but, Mama, I didn't have breakfast, I can't have lunch!"

Other than being painfully reminded that I am indeed pregnant (carrying a 3 year old and all our accesories, holding 3 year old in my shrinking lap and deciding who got to go to the bathroom first when the time came...seriously, I think I would be more emotionally scarred to have a bathroom accident than my three year old so I won the toss most of the time - sad, I know.) I think it was a good day. As good as I could hope for...and a reminder of how blessed I am to have children who are relatively healthy. There are so many children who are so sick and their lives are dramatically different because of their sickness. Thank you, LORD, for your provision, daily for our health.

Christmas snow

It was a white Christmas for us!

Christmas

Christmas this year was a slow day at home in our pj's waiting for the snow and enjoying one another. When the kids woke up they decided they didn't want to open all of their presents that morning but wanted to wait until later in the day for some. Jeremy and I were surprised with their decision but were on board with their wishes. We read the last of our Advent book, ate monkey bread, played with our new toys and even took a little nap on the couch in the middle of all of the excitement. What a wonderful way to spend the day reminded of HIS good and perfect gifts for us!

Samuel putting together his lego police station
My two cuties

Monkey bread and OJ - yummy!

Stockings!Nap time


When I was at my Mom's for Christmas I realized I could only vividly remember one of my Christmas presents as a child - a homemade cabbage patch doll with red hair that I named Katie (for my birthday I got her little sisters Sally and Betsy). Christmas was a wonderful time as a child and I know I received tons of presents but I couldn't remember the actual present - as I said it wasn't for want of presents but I just don't remember (I can blame it on my advancing age!). I was trying to remember what toys I played with but most of my toy memories revolve around playing outside with hotwheels, climbing trees and our forts, doing arts and crafts, and board games. Christmas is not about the gifts but the gifts remind us of the abundance of what we've been given and the extravagance of God's love - something I remember from my childhood - an abundance of love and joy.

This year my children enjoyed their gifts. For Lucy - a baby Belle babydoll, a play horse stable, electric toothbrush and play dough accessories. For Samuel - police station legos, a magic set, an electric toothbrush and some Egyptian Playmobil characters. For them both - two board games - Zingo (love it b/c they can play together without me!) and a counting game. For Jeremy - a Kindle (I've saved up most of the year and used swagbucks to be able to get it and I think the gift was a hit - he loved it and I'm not sure who liked their toy more - the kids or Jeremy. So glad I could surprise him with something he really wanted and will use) What a great Christmas and great time to spend with my sweet family. What a blessing to be able to share gifts with one another!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a day to celebrate with Jeremy's family and enjoy the beautiful weather outside before the snow set in. Uncle Jonathan, Aunt Stephanie, Ellie (the princess dog), Aunt Amanda, Grandpa Noonan and Joanna came to spend the day sharing gifts, eating snacks and playing a mean game of baseball - boys vs. girls. It was a beautiful day to be outside and we enjoying the time with family. Thanks for coming and sharing the day. Here are some pics from Grandpa Noonan.

Grandpa Noonan got Samuel his first remote control monster truck...it was hit, especially with Ellie.
Samuel with his monster truck
Sweet Lucy
Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Stephanie. Hope to see you again soon!
Our presents from Grandpa Noonan
The Noonan kids - Aunt Jackie. We missed you Aunt Jackie and family.
The whole crew.