Insta-Monday

It's Monday and I don't feel like writing anything.
So...you get pictures.  Lots of them. 

Baby, You're a Firework.

Let's just *pretend* it's still July, shall we?
This post is a stretch, but I couldn't let these pictures get lost in the abyss of iPhoto without sharing them first.

The Fourth of July landed on a Wednesday this year, which made it awkward to take an excursion to the lake for the weekend.  So, we spent the Fourth in good ol' West Fargo, and invited some friends to join us for some holiday fun.  I reminisced about our block parties as a child as I waved to neighbors outside barbequing- our neighborhood has a very family-oriented feel to it. 

It was sweltering hot, so we set up a pool for the kiddos (by kiddos, I mean OTHER kids since our kid wouldn't touch the water).  Chris threw some meat on the grill, we cracked open a bottle of wine, and enjoyed our time with friends.  Unfortunately, at that time, Carter still freaked about the outdoors (I'm happy to report that it has improved a GREAT deal!) so we switched off staying inside with him. 

After the sun went down, we heard the pyrotechnics starting, so we ventured out the driveway where we got QUITE the surprise!  No need to ever leave our house on the fourth- we had a 360-degree fireworks show!  So, we parked ourselves on the lawn and enjoyed the glittery sky for almost an hour.

 

I think by this point in the evening, Kendall was done :)

5 Things To Do Today That Don't Involve an iPhone

1.  Make pancakes for breakfast.  (Blueberries for me, sprinkles for the Buggins)

2.  Plant flowers in our garden.

3.  Read a new book with Kendall.

4.  Enjoy a pasta dinner with fresh vegetables from the Farmer's Market.

5.  Think of something to blog tomorrow.  :)

I Used To Lead Stuff.

There was a time in my life that I didn't read for recreation...I read for purpose.
Purpose in the form of John Maxwell's Laws of Leadership and Covey's Seven Habits of a Highly Effective Leader.  I could fill an entire bookshelf with books about leadership.

I'm pretty sure I sold them all at a garage sale.

I used to attend conferences.  Conferences on Worship Leading.  Conferences on Church Leadership.  Conferences on Education.  These events were little bursts of momentum, pushing me toward my career goals and refining my leadership skills. 

This week, I cleaned play-dough off our kitchen floor.

I used to have my own classroom, directed school programs, approved school curriculum.
I used to direct my own worship team(s), plan services alongside the pastors, teach a Bible study.
I've led Sunday Schools, Summer Programs, and taught Piano Lessons.
I've instructed college courses, counseled students getting though their degrees, and coordinated leadership events at the State Capitol of California with the State Superintendent of Schools.
Heck, I even started a Master's Degree in Education and ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP.

I used to lead things.  

And that's not to say being a Stay-At-Home Mommy isn't a leadership role.  It definitely is (don't jump on me with your Mommy flags- I know it's the most important job in the world!).  But, I've gone through a major identity crisis in the last couple of years that I'm still trying to navigate.  God has given me more than my fair share of leadership opportunities in the past.  And I'm sure there will be more in the future.  I'm just floundering a little bit in the "now".

So, with an open mind, I attended the Global Leadership Summit simulcast after it was offered to me at our church.  In the past, I would have jumped excitedly at the opportunity.  I'd be lying if I didn't have a "how does this apply to me" attitude this time around.  I listened attentively to the excellent cast of speakers, and tried to extract as much as I could to put into practice in my currently tiny sphere of influence.  I sat there listening to Condoleezza Rice and thought that my life is pretty much the polar opposite of hers.

My major take-away is that I've been privileged to be a leader in my lifetime.  I'm thankful that God wired me this way.  Not everyone is capable of such responsibility.  And I'm even more thankful for the 'hiatus' He's planned.  It's awkward, at times,  to not have specific career goals driving me on a daily basis.  My KIDS are driving me (crazy, most of the time).  But I suspect that, in the future, I'll be in positions of leadership again and I will long to be home, playing with my babies again. 

Thank you, Lord, for the ability and opportunity to lead my children, up close and personal, as they grow during these formative years.  I can't think of anyone more qualified for this most important role.

Swingin'

Most people have been enjoying the outdoors for months now.
We have to tread lightly in that area because Carter haaaaaates the sun.
Yesterday, we had a rare treat....a pleasantly overcast day!
So overcast, in fact, that Carter didn't mind venturing into the backyard with us!

We thank the Lord for small blessings, like seeing our kids swing side by side, and being outside as a family.

Yep...that's a smile!

When God Heals...

When God heals someone, it often leaves medical professionals dumbfounded.

Our surgeon sat down with us and exhaled deeply.
"We didn't have to do surgery.  I thought for sure we would have to do surgery.
I had the entire room prepped to operate!"
Chris and I did a happy dance on the inside.
In the OR, she had checked his pressure in each eye....normal.
She checked each eye again....normal.
(Normal is 10-20.  Before his first surgery, he was near 70.  Friday, he measured 12/13!)

Not JUST normal, like barely normal...SUPER normal!

What an answer to prayer in this journey.
He is no longer considered a "Glaucoma" patient!
We will monitor his pressure levels locally in a couple of months, then again in the cities in 4 months.
Praying now that his pressures will stay consistently normal, and we can put this whole mess behind us!

Residual damage still lingers, however, in the form of photosensitivity.
He is still extremely sensitive to light, and has conditioned himself to clamp down on my shoulder- often shuddering- whenever we head outside or under bright lighting. 
This is due to the cracks on his corneas that occurred when his pressures were sky high.
The surgical team took some pictures to show us their current condition:

Those lines you see are all cracks.  Both eyes have similar damage.

Because these can feel like hair in your eyes, his discomfort is understandable!  We have begun a series of drops that will make the cornea smaller, theoretically causing less pressure on the cracks themselves.  Otherwise, we have to wait it out as new tissue grows over.



Hopefully, one day in the NEAR future, Carter will know what it is like to have eyes that don't hurt him.  We are confident that God will faithfully complete the good work He has started! 

Here We Go Again!

Today we head down to St. Paul once again.
Carter's next procedure is tomorrow (Friday).
We are optimistic, based on his last surgery, that he won't need surgery this time around.
However, we won't know what is necessary until he is again examined under anesthesia.

Amplatz Children's Hospital has been an outstanding host to us.
It is a comfortable place to wait out the tense hours away from our baby.
The staff has been incredibly supportive, even offering me equipment and space to pump.
We are so grateful to not only be in the hands of a very capable surgeon, but in a place that knows exactly how to comfort and equip anxious parents as their children undergo surgery.
Thank you, Jesus, for your provisions!

Please join us in praying for LOW PRESSURE READINGS in BOTH eyes.  

This will eliminate the need for further invasive surgery tomorrow.

We thank you for believing with us, and Carter thanks you, too!

Baking Up Memories

Hi!  My name is Kendall!  I'd like to teach you how to make one of my favorite treats, o-tay?  
Here we go!

First you get the table nice and messy!  It's o-tay, though.  We are getting the pie crust ready to roll!

After you put some white sprinkles on the dough, you roll it out!  Like THIS!  Seeeee!???
  It's FUN!!

After we cut out rectangles, Mommy helps me drop a teaspoon of purple (blackberry) jelly on them.  Eww, sticky!

Then we take a fork and make the edges pretty.  Like THIS!!  Seeeee!??

They are starting to look very yummy!  Time to go in the oven!  It's HOT!

Almost time for SPRINKLES!!!!  We have to wait 'til they cool off, first.  Aww, man!

Paint, paint, paint!  A little powdered sugar and milk makes nummy frosting!

Don't forget to sneak a taste of the frosting.  Mmmmm!

SPRINKLE TIME!  Fast, fast, before the frosting dries!

And there you have it...my favorite POP TARTS!

That's what's for breakfast!  Ta da!

 Thanks for the idea, DIY Edible crafts! 

Mommy's Little Helper

Washing dishes.

Her absolute favorite pastime.  

There will be a day when this will no longer be fun.

Until then, I'm enjoying the "help".

Wash, girl, wash!

Caffeinated Confessions

I'm going to type something in a few moments that I've never typed before.
It's a confession that may shock you.
And, for as much as I pimp St. Arbucks, I'm a little embarrassed to admit it.

{deep breath}
I don't like coffee all that much.

There.  I said it.
I like the foofy milk-shaky blended concoctions.  Or a sugared up mocha on a cold day.
At home, with a little lot of creamer, I make it drinkable.

It's become a staple of comfort, like a fireplace during the snowy winter.
Putting my "mommy mug" under the Tassimo has become the mental start to my day- something I can enjoy for myself as I serve up my kids' breakfast and endure another episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
Having my mom here to enjoy a cup with me makes it even more special.

Sadly, coffee has gone from a luxury to a necessity as I try to avoid horrible headaches in the absence of caffeine.  Darn.  I'm more addicted than I thought.

A few days ago, our coffee maker broke.  BROKE. 
{Stunned silence as my mom and I stare at each other in the kitchen...}

We took this opportunity to jump ship (much like Starbucks did recently) from the sinking Tassimo to the thriving KEURIG, something I've wanted to do for a while but couldn't justify the frivolous expense.  Walk into Bed, Bath & Beyond and look at the behemoth wall of Keurig coffee options.  Then look at the endcap to your left and see the sad selection of Tassimo drinks.  (wah wahhhhhh)  Or, just find some K-cups at the local grocery store, a luxury I've never had.  (#firstworldproblems)

Thank you, Tassimo, for essentially breaking up with me first.  I just couldn't find the heart to kick a perfectly good coffee maker to the curb. 

SO, out with the old, in with the new.
We now own the Buzz Lightyear of coffee makers.  And it brews a good cup of joe.

The newest member of our family.  Who needs a dog??  This smells much better!

Insta-Weekend.

Yipes.  I am fully aware of how long it's been since I've blogged.  Oy.  And I'm not proud of it. 
Unfortunately, I'm a little rusty now.  So, to ease back into it, I'm throwing a random assortment of pictures up for ya.  You know, while I get my fingers back in to shape :)  In no particular order:

Grandma Donna arrived, and Kendall has been enjoying the extra attention!  The wagon is being used frequently, and we have perfect walking trails at a nearby park along the river to enjoy.

We are in potty training mode, in the most casual sense.  Kendall can usually be coerced to sit on the potty with a book or iPhone to look at...just like Daddy :)

A new favorite spot...the piano bench!  I'm loving having my childhood piano in our home now!

Hot days call for cool treats!  A little Frozen Yogurt hit the spot!

Exploring the pier at Madsen's Resort this summer.

All tuckered out, and battling a fever, the day after our 4th of July celebration.

Brother love...Kendall has really warmed up to him recently, and Carter GIGGLES when he hears his sissy!

Getting adventurous at our family reunion!  Wouldn't touch the water, but getting in the boat was a big step!

Look who is sitting up so big and sturdy now! 

Kendall continues to mimic everything I do...in this case, she wanted Carter OUT of my Bjorn so that she could practice being a Mommy :)

Nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby.