little bit of this, little bit of that

I keep waiting to write a new post because I'm wanting photos to accompany that I'm writing...
and the photos are elusive.

So tidbits is what you get!

Luke home (undiscernably) sick today quickly followed by Jeb with another migraine.  That boy is growing!   Jeb, being that boy.  All that makes Emmacakes gleeful.  She's happiest with her "people" surrounding her!

Emma had her second week of swimming lessons.  Total rockstar!  There were two other kids in her class and she spent the time encouraging them and telling them "good job"!  She swam underwater with confidence and emerged in full-fledged glory of smiles and glow.  Water girl.

"Raffi", aka Giraffe, otherwise known as Cooper received his new moniker earlier this week after the unpteenth upturned plate, this time spaghetti.  On the dining room rug.  All over said rug.  (I was calm.  It was too late to freak out!).  It does not rival the Great Spaghetti Incident of his 14thish month, wherein he flung an entire bowl of spaghetti from one end of the dining room to the other, through the living room and onto the couch and window all the way over that long way!

Raffi was sure he was wrongly named, until a wise and sage mother smilingly reminded him of the cereal, the milk, the chips, etc, etc.  And then gently shared one of the glories of growing by leaps and bounds is...ungainliness.  He is our little big giraffe.  And I hope our home survives it all.

His father, however, is now nicknamed by Raffi, "Old Yeller".  I leave that to your imagination.  It was hilarious when Jim received the nickname after teasing Coop for all his "Raffiness".

I'm not sure if you are still even following me or if your eyes are glazing over now.

It's January.  Glazed eyes are part of the territory.  Right?

Okay.  Tidbits.

Emma's surgery is REscheduled for February 14th.  She will only be having her palate repaired.  This is totally the Lord's catch, and His complete provision.  A "chance" conversation with a nurse resulted in the Lord unraveling some confusing aspects of who was doing the surgery, where and why.  The end result being that we now have the surgeon we want doing the palate repair.  This is a huge praise!  AND the doctor who is doing her hands and feet wants to do those repairs separate from the palate, so that is scheduled for April.

My mom is flying out to help us in that first week.  What a blessing.  It will make such a difference to have her to shuttle the elementary kids to school while Emma can stay home with me.  And knowing the grocery runs can be covered and I will easily be able to keep all things liquid in stock for the recovering patient is wonderful.  I know she will also be a great companion for house-bound me.  We can Florence Nightingale together!

There are numerous surgeries ahead of us, so I think I will create a sidebar where I can list them and it will make it easier for people (Nana, Papa, Gogo, Pa, KZ, Christine, Kathleen etc) to follow.  You can add your name to those parenthesis if you want!  I have no idea if anyone else even reads this blog! :)

Other tidbits.

We are waiting on school notifications for next year.  If God brings us to mind, please pray for us that His very best be done and we rest in where we land.  I have my hopes, but am trying not to pin them too firmly on one place, even though really at heart I have.  I will share more when we know.

January has been long and cold.  I'm really ready for February's arrival.  Only a northern girl greets February with joy.  It seems it is always one of my more productive months as I am so mentally ready for spring.

I FINALLY finished painting the kitchen cabinets!  Really and truly.  Done!  Now I've got all the trim primed and hope to complete it by this weekend.  Jim still hasn't noticed that the family room is also painted.  The fingerprints on the walls were not washing off, and five kids makes for lots of wear and tear.  A beautiful fresh coat of paint worked wonders!  And it is a different color.  It is a beautiful soft mossy green with tan and gold undertones (and my description of it does it no justice whatsoever).

That's all the news from Lake Woebegone.  I mean, Meadowbrook.

No photos, rambling paragraphs and all!

The quiet is a blessed hush.  And we are grateful for a peaceful January.