I didn't even proofread this

No time for contemplation about word choice or even punctuation. If I want to post a blog, which I desperately do, I am going to have to make it snappy. Problem is, there's alot I'd like to say. I have been unable to be on the computer while any child is awake therefore, I am never on the computer because somebody is always awake! Thank goodness for the ipod touch which allows me to "stay connected" but it is not so user friendly for endeavors such as emails of length or publishing a blog. But enough blah blahing, I'd better get on with it.

1. Our home life has improved so much it's ridiculous. I am pouring my heart out in thanks to Heavenly Father for answered prayers. Things are still very hard and challenging for me with these three hudlums, but we are now back in the realm of what I would consider "normal".
Ava was having such a rough time and the severity of her tantrums was beyond description, truly. It had me on the edge of my sanity just dealing with them, anticipating them, and I was consumed with worry over her because she was obviously very stressed out.

I believe that it was a combination of things that unfortunately overlapped all at the same time. Namely, stress over school, Max being born, and a developmental growth period. As something I had dreamed up and then found scientific reference to, way back in the terrible two's, many professionals agree that during times of developmental growth in a child, they enter a stage of chaos internally, and then as they reach that next developmental stage, they re-organize themselves only this time with newly acquired skills. They happen about every six months. These re-organizations are evident in some children more than others. I have witnessed this in Ava time and time again. In any case, Ava is back. And the improvement is immense. She is a wonderful child. And I mean wonderful and full of wonder. I could write about her, analyze her til the cows come home.

2. We went to a "tea party" put on by a local performing arts center. There were young girls dressed up as The Princesses. And all were invited to dress up in their finery and have punch and cookies while they performed. Ava was in heaven. I was a little surprised to see how young the princesses were (maybe jr. high or high school) and I thought it was so funny how none of the little girls in attendance batted an eye at the fact that more than half of them had smiles full of braces.


Later though, as we got home and looked through our pictures, Ava let me know that she wasn't fooled. She asked me, "What's her name when she's not being Sleeping Beauty?" I guess it wasn't that she didn't notice, more that she just didn't care.







And oh yes,
3. I cut my hair. My sister Chandra came to visit my parents last month and due to SNOW



in Dallas, her plane landed in Houston. So I got to keep her for a night and then we all drove up to my parents. I was so ready for a hair change so Chandra cut it for me. I really love it. At first I wanted to be able to pull it back so that on days I couldn't "do it" (maybe everyday?) it wouldn't be huge and ridiculous. But what I have found instead is that I don't have to do it! I just get out of the shower, put a little sticky stuff in it and that's it!
But that was not the best part of her visit. Just being with her was the best and also, seeing her with my kids. They've never gotten to have her to themselves before and for the first time, Ava was very sweet with her, Luke loved and kissed on her, and Max was thrilled to have a second Mommy. I just love Chandra so much.

4. Luke has been a slow talker. I kept waiting and waiting for him to really get going, kind of like Ava did, but it just didn't seem like it was happening. So I called ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) and they came to do an evaluation. It was eye opening to say the least, though I am not sure it was completely accurate (that would be my fault). What they found was that he was delayed in speech as suspected but also delayed in a few other areas. I was a bit shocked.

The evaluation consisted mostly of them asking me questions about his abilities. Unfortunately I having been barely keeping my head above water lately, let alone not paying much attention to the way Luke holds his crayon or his ability to line up objects by size. Anyways, I could not answer all of their questions with surety and that somewhat skewed the results. However, he will be receiving speech and developmental services weekly. I don't know why this has been a little bit of a struggle for me. Have you seen the Office episode where Holly thinks that Kevin is retarded? If you haven't you should cause it's really funny. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, nevermind. But it almost seemed like they looked at Luke with retarded-colored glasses. But I am over it. This past week, even before they have come, Luke's speech has picked up tremendously. I know that what they provide will only help so I am saying, "Bring it on!"

5. We moved Max to his own room (the former office) in his own crib. I am now the proud owner of three cribs. What is wrong with me? I think I have a problem. But Luke is still in his and Ava's old crib is conveniently located at my parents. So what's one more? He has been doing so much better now that he has his own space and since I paid a visit to my old friend, The Baby Whisperer. He is still not very regular as far as times go, but the order of his patterns is so much more clear and predictable. I do not love waking up multiple times in the night to walk down to his room to put the paci back in his mouth or pat him back to sleep but I think (I hope!) it will get better soon.


Max is such a smiley little guy. I love him so much. Really, he's the best surprise of my life.

6. Because of this move, we had to relocate the computer and my sewing stuff. It all landed in the master bedroom. Then we got the wild idea that if we got rid of Sophie, we could in turn get rid of the litter box in the laundry room, where there would be plenty of space to put a desk and the computer. We think that Max's location is temporary but we're not sure how temporary.

So Dan listed Sophie on the classified through his work. A nice lady emailed the next day saying she wanted Sophie. It was like a dream come true! She only had a teenage daughter (Yea for no little kids!) but she did have another cat. Another cat in fact, that made Sophie look like a most uncharismatic specimen. I am sure the moment they met Sophie was insanely jealous and felt she would always be the ugly step sister. So they came on Wednesday night, and just like that we shoved Sophie's fat butt right into the cage and they took her away! Forever!

Psych! As they left, the woman said, "we'll let you know if we have any problems", and I knew in my heart right at that moment that this was not "goodbye", merely a "see you later".

Sunday, without warning or decorum, they dropped her off saying, "Things didn't work out...she didn't get along with our cat....she's forgotten she's litter box trained!" And they dumped her fat butt right back into our foyer.

Where she left pee soaked footprinnts in a trail all the way down the hall and under our bed.

And that's all I've got time for today.