Sunday Workout

Since Jesse and I are not hosting a Thanksgiving meal this year, we thought today sounded like a good day to make our own meal, prior to the holiday. So that means lots of kitchen time for myself. I decided to make turkey, sour cream and scallion mashed red potatoes, green beans, rolls, and a pumpkin cheesecake. And yes all of this food is just for us (and my mother who will be joining us for Sunday dinner as she is back to watch Bella for another week). So while I was slaving away in the kitchen, Bella was watching me in her jumper. Normally she just sits in there and will chew on her hands. Occasionally she will play with the toys. And very rarely we get to actually see her use her legs and propel herself upward. So here is Bella caught in action actually using her legs!!

Did you think I meant jumping and having them actually leave the ground.....no not Bella, we are just happy if she bears some weight on them!!

Inspiration

I have been meaning to post this poem for quite some time. It pretty much makes me tear up every time I read it. Enjoy


How Mothers of Handicapped Children are Chosen

Erma Bombeck, 1980

This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes."Armstrong, Beth; son; patron saint, Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie; daughter; patron saint, Cecilia. Finally he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy.""Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who does not know laughter?""But has she patience?" asks the angel."I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."God smiles, "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect.She has just enough selfishness."The angel gasps, "Selfishness?God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, there is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word. She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Mama' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see - ignorance, cruelty, prejudice - and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life."

"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel.God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

Happy Halloween from 'Stinkerhead'. That's right we were a skunk. And luck would have it that we are also getting our first tooth (finally)!! So we weren't having the greatest of days. But we did manage to finally get her in the costume and go out around our cul-de-sac.

I think it's time for bed!!

Halloween Eve

Not to be confused with 'Old Hallows Eve' which is tomorrow. I finally finished my Halloween sugar cookies tonight, it only took me two weeks to decorate all of them. Mostly finding time was my biggest problem. Here is a picture of Bella in her under costume....I think it looks like a cute burglar. Now I'm sure you can't wait to see what her actual costume is....stay tuned for this weekend. Or if you live close you might actually get to see the real thing!!

And here is the picture taken after we picked up our pumpkins. Hopefully we can get another shot this weekend with the nice weather, and one where we can actually see her face.

Have a Happy Halloween everyone!!

No pictures of fall

It's fall and I love fall. I was excited to do a bunch of activities - visit a pumpkin patch, go trick-or-treating, make apple pie. Well I guess this year with Jesse's busy schedule, and Bella's not able to do much yet, I will have to give up my dreams for a perfect fall.
We went to a church near our house that sold pumpkins for charity, we picked out a couple, and I had wanted to take a family picture of us. Well that didn't work out, Jesse will have to admit that he was a little bit crabby. I do have some cute ones of Bella (granted she wouldn't lift her head up), I will post them as soon as we get our internet turned back on at home.
We will also get to bring Bella to my work for trick-or-treating and maybe drive around to a couple of friends so that we can show off her costume. But I still really wish I was taking around my toddler that could walk. I don't know what it is about certain activities, but most days go by and although we think about the things she can't do, we don't let it bother us. Other days I get really sad, like how she still can't sit or even hold her head up for pictures. So really this halloween won't look any different than last halloween, except she will be a little bigger and wearing a different costume.
But I guess I can still make that apple pie!

Our First Family Vacation - Hawaii

Bella's first vacation, airplane ride, etc. And boy was this trip a long one. Jesse was really dreading the travelling, and I was a little worried, but Bella did wonderful. That's not to say we weren't up in the back of the plane walking around with her, during hour 12 of a 14 hour travel day. But that was pretty minor in comparison to what could have happened. Plus magically, Bella was able to make the 5 hour time difference adjustment like a champ, which made the vacation that much better.
These next two pictures you could almost call child abuse, with the amount of sand we had to clean off Bella after they were taken. But they still crack us up every time we look at them. Jesse made the turtle sand creature for Bella, and below I wanted a picture of Bella on the beach that would let everyone know where we were.

This is Bella on North Shore. We joked she was our little travelling gnome as we took her everywhere with us and would plop her down for a photo op!!

And the funniest moment of the whole trip has to be on our trip back to the beach house after our afternoon at North Shore. My parents accompanied us, we were actually in Hawaii for my aunt's wedding, so my dad's family was all there and that is how we were able to stay in such a great location, for a decent price.

But back to the funny story. We stopped at a grocery store on our way back to the house to pick up some essentials (to give an idea of prices a 12 pack of pop was going for $8) and my dad stayed in the car with Bella who was beginning to get a little fussy. Well as Jesse, my mom, and I got back to the vehicle my dad was walking away saying he needed to wash he hands. Low and behold Bella had a poopy diaper, and my dad, who hasn't changed a diaper since my little sister was a baby (now 23) decided he would see how wet the diaper was and stuck his finger into it. He was unpleasantly surprised when it came out warm and stinky!! Needless to say he managed to change her diaper without knowing where the wipes were and did the best job he could. Way to go for changing the diaper.....and we will NEVER forget the look on your face as you made a hasty exit to wash up!!

Here is Bella (along with us) at Pearl Harbor. This was the only big disappointment of the trip, as Bella was ready for a nap and decided she would not be quiet and make it on the boat trip to the actual monument. Luckily my dad had seen it before, so he took Bella out to the vehicle so she could lay down. Thanks dad for doing that!!

Jesse and I enjoyed one morning together doing hikes. We tackled Diamond Head first, which was a challenge, but honestly didn't have the greatest views. Then we did Manoa Falls, pictured above. It was the best hike we did, going up the mountain in the rain forest to a small waterfall, with great scenery all around.

Here is Bella during the wedding ceremony, she was definitely ready for bed and actually quite fussy. Luckily she was able to fall asleep in her car seat and sat in her stroller throughout the whole reception.

We took a day to visit a couple different beaches, this is how Bella enjoyed it all, from her little tent that did it's best to block the sun and sand from her.

Our last full day in Hawaii we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center for a Luau and evening show with my parents. It was quite a beautiful place and I must admit it was probably the best pulled pork I have ever eaten.

And finally a quick picture from the balcony of the beach house, just to give you an idea exactly just how close to the water we were. It was a great experience and I don't think we could have planned a better vacation............but we will certainly try.....for next year!!

Hectic Days

Ahhhh....to be back on the beach in Hawaii.

I am long overdue to post our Hawaii pictures....I will try and get to it soon. Problem is, those pictures are mostly uploaded at home, and I don't ever seem to have time.

A lot has happened since we got back from vacation. First my job has been crazy busy, and I can't ever seem to get enough time there to finish everything. Secondly, Jesse is busy studying for his test, which is basically making me a single mother for the next month. And lastly...the biggest change....we pulled Bella out of daycare.

First I want to say that I don't think Bella was in any harm during her stay at daycare, but Jesse and I just starting questioning a bunch of things that were happening. And I think we are learning even more as time goes on. We have suspecions that Bella was left in her carseat or a swing for the majority of the day. We also think she wasn't getting as much to eat as was told to us. Plus little things that I had requested (as in let her lay around on the floor and play with toys) weren't being done. I don't know any of this for sure, but like I said, we have our suspecions.

So my mother has graciously agreed to come down from Nebraska each week and watch Bella (we are paying her). And actually Jesse's mom is helping out this week, so my mom can get everything in order at home before she is down here all the time. In just the past couple of weeks we spent with Bella in Hawaii, or she has spent with her grandmothers we are noticing improvements. In both her weight gain/eating amount and in her trying to hold her head up more, and rolling around more. I don't think we are going to find any immediate success in her development, but even seeing these little changes are encouraging.