Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Jammin' with my Homeboy

Yesterday I did something I have never done before. I went on a date with a man other than my husband. Yes, I know, not exactly the kind of activity a pastor's wife should participate in. My date was tall, blond haired, blue-eyed, and very talkative. The exact opposite of my husband. OK, I'll confess, before Phil is asked to turn over his pastor's license. It was Timmy. He is tall, 3ft. 10 to be exact, and has blond hair, and blue eyes. As I've mentioned before I've been trying to spend more quality time with him, especially since we've had so much going on with Aaron. Last night I wanted to go to Overland Park to see my friend Raquel and her new baby girl. I took Timmy with me, and we made a date out of it. On our way to the hospital, we stopped and got chocolate chip cookies, and a drink. Those happen to be his favorite treats. We spent a few hours visiting with Raq and her sister, admiring the baby. Her name is Jaclyn and she's got the most amazing black hair you have ever seen. It's long enough to put in pigtails already. I can feel myself rambling, so I'll hurry along.

On our way home, we were thirsty again, and got another drink, then got on the topic of real estate. How many hospitals did Mom own. He thought that every time I went to the hospital to have a baby, it was mine. Then the topic drifted over to music; who was the best singer, Bob, Larry, or Mr. Nezzer. (For all you uncultured people, they are from Veggie Tales.) After a while, we stopped talking, and I was listening to the radio. I love talk radio, and Sean Hanity (Hannity?) was on. Timmy leaned over and asked,"Mommy, could I listen to Veggie Tales?" We turned it on, and the song "I'm Gonna Take a Trip on the Good Ol' Gospel Ship" came on. We cranked up the bass, and started nodding our heads in time to the music, and singing on the top of our lungs. It might not have been a beautiful noise, but it was sure a joyful noise. Then "Father Abraham" came on. We just HAD to do the motions to it. It was quite interesting trying to do all the motions while I was driving. We had some of the weirdest looks given to us, but we were having fun. People probably thought we were nuts, but who cares!! I am, and I know it, and I was going to have fun with my little boy. 20 years from now, he'll be all grown up, and not want to hang out with his mom, so while he still thinks I"m cool, I'm going to hang with my homeboy.

My Future Chef

Timmy loves cooking, baking, and anything pertaining to eating. I think he's going to be a chef when he grows up. That would be wonderful because his mother greatly dislikes cooking. I do it only out of necessity. The day we could all survive without eating will be a glorious day in my book. Anyway.... Yesterday I asked Timmy to help me fix dinner. We had bacon, lettuce, and cheese sandwiches. He fixed the toast, and put the bacon in the microwave. It was the precooked kind so all Timmy had to do was stick it on aplate and put papertowels over it. He was so happy, that he had to tell his Daddy right away. It took a little longer to fix the meal, and a LOT longer cleaning up afterwards, but I wouldn't have traded it for the world. The happy memories will long outlast the cleaning time.

The Three Stooges


Here is a picture of Luke, Timmy, and my nephew Zachary. Zachary is two weeks older than Timmy. While we were in Michigan visiting Phil's family, they became great friends. Timmy would tell me that Zachary wasn't his best friend, but his best cousin. I guess that's even better. Friends sometimes lose touch with each other, but family is always there. Besides, his best friend is Mark Winkler, and he'll take you down if you say otherwise.

Monday, July 2, 2007

The Flood



This is a picture of the levees at the north end of town. As you can tell the water is only a couple feet from the top of the levee. The gravel road is actually the top. You can see the flooding on the town side too. A lot of homes are flooded up to their roofs. We live three miles from here.

Timmy

I just realized that I haven't written anything about Timmy. He turns five in December, so he won't be able to start kindergarten this year. He's still so bashful, that he definetely needs anothe year before he starts school. We are thinking of putting him in preschool this year, so he can get speech therapy, and to help him with his shyness. He's never been around kids his own age, so he prefers to play by himself, or his brothers most of the time. His "best friend" at church is a little boy named Mark. Mark is three, and is only about half as tall as Timmy. Timmy doesn't like loud noises. One night we were watching a movie and it got a little loud, and even though it was a John Wayne movie (Our family favorite) he leaned over to me and whispered, "Mommy, I don't especially like this movie, because it is especially loud." I wanted to ask him how does a 4 year old know what especially mean. He is so tall for his age I sometimes forget he is only four and not older like the twins. He has grown up so much, but not that much. He also has been acting very clingy and whiney since Aaron's been born, and at times I get so annoyed by it. I keep forgetting that his world has changed dramatically, and I need to spend quality time with him. He gets lost in the shuffle, and I'm to blame on that. Lately I've been having him help me load and unload the dishwasher. He complains about it, but we have some meaningful conversations as we're working. He loves to run the can opener too, so maybe I have a future chef on my hands. As much as he loves sweets, I wouldn't be surprised.

Luke's Laughable Moments

I think I should start writing a weekly article about Luke and his antics. Maybe I could get national syndication!!


On Friday as I said before it was pouring down rain. I was exhausted from a week of VBS and Aaron's Dr. visits, so I decided to take the boys to McD's for dinner. I rounded up the older three kids and was trying to get them buckled into the van, as well as put Aaron in, and somehow Luke got away from me. I looked up in time to see a little blond head running toward the church at top speed. Now those of you who have been to our church knows that it has several low areas where water pools, thus making gigantic puddles. That was exactly where Luke was headed. I yelled, "Luke, no!" But it was a little too late. He had already jumped feet first into the puddle. By the time I reached him he was soaked to the knees. I grabbed his hand and said, "Luke, look at you! How did you get so wet?" (I know, obviously dumb question.) He looked up at me with those huge brown eyes, took me by the hand and led me over to the deep end of the puddle, and said, "Here, and here, and here." point out the exact spots he had jumped. I had to laugh. How can you be mad when he had an explanation for my question, and had to show me exactly where it happened?

Noah's Flood

We certainly got more than our share of rain this past week. It's kind of funny. At VBS we studied about Noah's Ark, and it rained for three days solid. I don't know how Noah stood it for forty days. Especially with all his animals. My five are going crazy the way it is!!! There are two rivers that surround Osawatomie, and they are flooded. We are about a mile from one of them, so the water is getting close. We live up on a hill so it shouldn't reach our house, but we could get "watered in."
I thought I was being a good girl by not telling people how close we were to the flooding and I got a couple of phone calls from certain people who just happened to turn on the Weather Channel and caught the story, or read the Associated Press, and saw the article. I guess the Bible does say something about your sins finding you out. I just never thought it would take me so literally. Little tiny Oswatomie never makes national news, and the time I wanted to keep eveyone from worrying, we go national. So I'm sorry Daddy, Lele, and everyone else who DIDN"T call!!
Also, Mom Avery, I do keep trying to post pictures, but your son's lovely computer keeps kicking me off!!!! I think I should go throw it in the river!!

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Luke's Pearls of Wisdom

Like you could tell from my earlier post, I was feeling prettydown this morning. I was sitting here blogging, and Steven poked his head in the door and said, "Mom, aren't you coming to VBS? It's starting!" Brilliant me thought it started at 10:30, but it didn't. It started at 9:30. Some pastor's wife!!! So I hurry up and get the two little guys dressed and we head over to the church. I was supposed to help with the songs, but by the time we made it over there, singing was over. Dee had started the Bible story about Balim and the Talking Donkey, and Luke insists he has to go to the bathroom. He gets back there, and sits down. I want him to hurry, so I can listen to the story. I know. I've never grown up. Luke just sits there and sits there, taking his sweet old time. A two year old is never in a hurry! Finally, I say, "Luke, you have to hurry. Mommy has to go help." He looks up at me with his huge brown eyes, and says so innocently,"Mommy, I can't. It just keeps coming and coming." I had to laugh. God knew I needed that!! We'll see what happens tomorrow. The story is about Jonah, so we'll have a "whale" of a story!! (I can almost hear the groans on that one. I can't help it. When you live with 5 boys, everything is corny.)

Aaron

We found out a few days ago that Aaron has severe to moderate hearing loss. We knew there was something wrong because he wasn't responding to sounds the way a "normal" baby would have. You could yell in his ears, and he would not startle at all. Even though I knew something was wrong, I guess I was still hoping it was just my imagination. I haven't been dealing with it all that well. The hearing loss, as well as everything else that's going on with this little guy has left me feeling pretty lost and out of touch with my "Normal" world. I know that God is there, but sometimes I have just exist and not go much on feelings. Please pray for me. It's a lot easier to type this out, instead of talking about it face to face. I know God will pull us through, but it always takes me time to work through each new diagnosis. When we found out about his heart defect I was the same way.

Aaron goes to the Endocrinologist this Thursday. We'll probably be finding out more about his Hypothyroidism. His pediatrician said he would have to go on medication soon, so maybe they'll tell us more about that when we go. I have to go by myself this time, and I have to go to the downtown Kansas City Children's Hospital. Not fun!! Usually Phil goes with me to all his appointments, but he couldn't get off work.

We go back to the Cardiologist July 6. Hopefully they'll give us a date for the open heart surgery. I just want to get that over with. I want a "fat" little baby. Aaron is still only 11 pounds, and he's four months now. Timmy weighed more than that at birth!! The Dr. said he would start gaining faster as soon as his heart is fixed.

So, we are barely recovered from vacation, and it's back to the whirlwind of specialists visits. I sure hope we don't discover any more of our boys has Di George Syndrome, (oops, the Genetic specialist wants us to call it 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. I think Di George is a lot easier.) I keep telling Aaron we aren't going to any more drs. All we ever get is bad news!!

I'm Back!!

I'm finding out that it takes me forever to upload pictures for my blog. Does anyone else have this problem? Anyway....
Well, today starts our church's Vacation Bible School. I'm not in charge of it this year. YaHOO!!!!!!!! A friend of mine, Dee Winkler, is this year. Last night we spent several hours setting up. It looks like it's going to be pretty fun for the kids. I know that mine are excited. This is the biggest event of the summer for them. They get to win prizes!!! Just what they need, more stuff that will end up on the bottom of the toy box.
I'm sure some of you have noticed, (I got quite a few complaints) that I haven't updated my blog in a very long time. We were on vacation. The boys and I spent two weeks in Indiana with my parents, and two weeks in Michigan with Phil's parents. We had a wondeful time. The last weekend Phil flew in to Detroit and then we went to Zanesville, Ohio to his grandmother's house. I only wish we could have spent more time with her. She's an awesome lady, and we miss her. The kids had a great time playing with cousins, and a certain neighbor of Grandma Avery's, but we are glad to have Phil back. I'm not sure who missed him more, them or me!!!!
This is my wonderful, testosterone-driven family. (excluding me, of course) Jason is in front, Steven is sitting beside his dad, Luke is sitting on Daddy's lap, Aaron on my lap, and Timmy beside me. We were in Zanesville, OH for Phil's annual family reunion. There was only around 180 people. Pretty small!!!

Friday, May 11, 2007


Here are Jason and Steven. Jason is on the left. We spent the day at Kansas City Science City, and this was one of the exhibits. Jason and Steven are 7 years old, and are genetically identical twins. They are the best of friends, and if one of them gets picked on, the other is right there to stick up for him. At home, they fight like all brothers. They are a huge help around the house. They love taking care of Aaron, and are a huge blessing to our home. If anyone has any advice on how to put an end to competition between boys, please let me know. They're even competitive on who takes the longest shower!!!

All about Me

My wonderful Mother-in-law told me I should start a blog, so here it goes. I love reading blogs, but I'm not quite sure how to start my own. I'll just pretend I'm sitting here talking to my mom, or best friend.
I have twin sons, Jason and Steven, who are finishing up their first grade year at a "real" school. Last year I homeschooled them. They have 5 days left, and can't wait. Steven wakes up moaning that he has to go to school AGAIN!!!! I told him he had 12 years left, so he better get used to it. I got an extremely dirty look at that. Jason, on the other hand, loves school. I think it has more to do with a certain little girl who goes there. I won't mention names, but he's turning out just like his Mom. I've liked boys since I was in Kindergarten. I guess that's why God saw fit to give me five of them.
Timmy is starting speech. He is a little delayed in his speech, like the twins, so we are targeting it pretty intensively here at home. He's got another year before he starts school, and we definetely need all the time we can get. He's a little heart breaker too. Especially his mom's. Last night he came up to me, grabbed my hand, and said, "Mommy, I want to hold your hand forever." I just about melted. He's pretty ornery at times, but comments like that make my heart melt.
Luke is 2, and that says it all!!!!!!!! He's potty training right now, and doing really well. The biggest challenge is he doesn't want you to help him. Talk about a headache!!! He's my independent one, and very strong willed. I guess God thought I needed to work on my patiences because Luke tries them everyday!

Luke and Grandma


Well, I'm not sure how I uploaded this picture of my two youngest sons, but here it is. This is Luke and his new baby brother Aaron. Of course he has to have a little assistance from Grandma. Luke is 2, and Aaron was born on February 26.