Sorry I am long winded tonight!

Still loving my Roomba! :) It has given me a new surge of wanting to keep things tidy so it can clean :) Positive for me and my family and my Roomba! My girlfriend feels sorry for it--she says don't you feel sad that it has to work all day long without a break. Paul's response was that it does exactly what we do, it eats, sleeps, works, and even poops (well and has someone change it). He does agree that Spottie might need a friend sometime in the near future. But he must grow up a little bit first!

Tonight, I printed out invitations for Brendan's 10th Birthday party--which will be Sunday at the Bowling Alley. He is inviting 4 friends from school, Josh and Kaylin, as well as a number of adult friends. He is so jazzed! I was jazzed because we have never had a color printer before in our own home and about 2 months ago Paul bought one for his office. So now I can use it! It scans, prints, and even copies.

I never dreamed that I would have a robotic vacuum, and a color copier in my own home. For that matter I never dreamed that I would have a 10 year old son, a 7 year old daughter, and a 5 year old son. God has blessed my life more than I could ever imagine or dream. Back to I can't believe my baby is going to be 10. It seems like yesterday that I thought I would never have a child--and now I have 3 wonderful children who are growing up so fast.

I wanted to share a little bit about the kids. Bren is doing well, some highs, some lows, but overall he is doing well again. Back on an even keel once again. We are still hoping that when we go on May 13th that he will have a change of heart about the insulin pump and give it a try, but we are not very hopeful. He is so sure he does not want one. :( He loves to play basketball and is doing great on the team he is on. This will be his second season--he opted for another basketball season instead of baseball. He likes basketball better. He is hoping to do the basketball camp that Landon does in the summer. :)

We seem to have come to a new chapter with Jenny. It has occurred to me that she was also waiting to find out what was wrong with her--and probably worrying about it as well. So last week when the CAT scan came back normal she and I had a discussion. "Jenny, Dr. Dunn called today he said that your CAT scan came back normal. He says that there is nothing that he can do for you and your pain will go away. He wants you to keep a journal and to write down every time you feel pain. We are going to keep on living, keep on going to school, keep on doing PE and recess, keep on eating our dinner and breakfast, and keep on playing. Sometimes you will feel bad and that is okay. If you feel real bad you can rest for a little while, write it in your journal, and then keep going, okay?" She replied, "so momma, it is just growing pains? I am not sick?" I said "That's right, the doctor is sure that nothing is wrong inside your body and that it is functioning normally, but sometimes that normal function is causing you pain." She replied, "I'm glad momma. Can I go play now." :) She has complained several times a day since that time she has recorded the time in her journal (she has one at home and one at school), but after she writes the time down she runs off to continue what she was doing. Last night at bedtime, she said "momma I am feeling sick again, I need to write it down" so she did and then got back into bed and went to sleep. I think that knowing she is okay has helped a whole lot. I also think that being validated by getting to write down each time she feels bad it huge for her. Whatever the case I feel hopeful. She is not well yet, but I do see improvement--mainly in her attitude. We still have a counseling appointment on April 23rd and will still do that--at least for a little while. The last year has been hard on all of us and she is not excluded from that--we all just have handled the stress differently. :(

Ryan is a mess! We have his is he ready for kindergarten conference on Friday and his Kindergarten Round up at Kelly Creek tomorrow. He is sure he is going on. So is his daddy. I am not so sure. Not that I want to hold him back, but he doesn't know his letters, doesn't like to write, draw or do anything with a pencil, pen, crayon, etc.... I know so much of that is boy and the rest of it is probably 3rd child--but I am getting a little on the stressed side :( We are taking him back to Headstart for more speech screening on May 1st. We are hopeful that they can start some Speech Path work before school starts and get him caught up with his speech. He sounds cute, but he is a bit behind where he should be. My cousin once said "I know you have to get his voice fixed, but it is so cute". At the time I wasn't sure it needed fixing and thought he might grow out of it himself--now I am quite sure he needs help. So off we go.

Sammy and Kodi are still breathing, eating, and doing the other unmentionable (too much for that matter). They play well and Sammy is without question moving along in his training.

Paul is doing well with work--although he would love a day or two off to breathe a little bit--he has been going so hard for so long. He has been reading a lot lately and is really enjoying that time. He is also working on moving our garden boxes and planning great things for our back yard. Can't wait for you to come see all the wonderful and exciting changes--have no fear I will keep you updated!

We did our taxes on our regular time 2 days before they are due. But we are rejoicing at a big refund and are looking forward to paying off some debt!

I am good, busy as ever. A little transcription, a little bookkeeping, a little volunteer coordinator, a little children's ministry, a little fellowship support person, a lot of taxi driver, a lot of housekeeper, cook, gardening, supporting and loving my husband and my kids--and then also quite a bit of time for God. I have found the last year that I can't do much without Him. I think often of scriptures, songs, that remind me how close He is to me, how important He is in my life. I am so thankful and blessed. My most peaceful time with Him seems to be with my flowers. While I am weeding, pruning, watering, planting, etc... I feel Him so close--I think that is why I love being out there so much. Peace