Another August Birthday(s)

Sophia with her new Scooby lunchbox (Holly & Hope in background)

 

 

I couldn't let 2 very important birthdays pass too far into history without acknowledging them here. On Aug. 16th my niece, Sophia, turned the big 5! She's almost too big for her britches but adorable, sweet, and endlessly funny. She had a Fancy Nancy birthday (like her big cousin Keliah) in the community garden where they live. So cool...and green! She also just started kindergarten on her actual birthday so she's having new adventures every day. (So is my sister who is struggling just a little bit with the schedule change - I love you!) Happy Birthday, Sophia, we are so proud of you & pray many blessings over you!
Also, last Saturday, the 21st was Holly's birthday; she's 30something which means I am 30somethingplus. Scary how the years just keep piling up. Anyway, happy birthday, Holly! We love you so much & want you to know how much we miss you. I pray God's peace over you and many blessings of abundance!

Update on Baby Hope

I want to thank you all for responding to my prayer request for my little 6-month-old niece, Hope.

Here is the "official Mommy report" on the surgery taken from my sister, Holly's blog "Dear Blank":

Hope’s surgery went relatively well. The two little bumps are history, as is the cartilage root that was hidden beneath one of them. Her stitches are already out, and her skin is healing wonderfully. She barely even needed the painkillers the surgeon prescribed. So, yay, God!

On the less great front, prior to the surgery, she developed a serious ear infection in her “good” ear, so they couldn’t do the hearing test. So we still don’t know if she has hearing in her right ear. Which was the whole reason for having the general anesthesia in the first place.

Grf.

She just finished up a course of antibiotics, and on Monday we’ll see if the infection has cleared up. If it has, we’ll reschedule the hearing test, which will mean another half-day at the hospital, more (but milder) general anesthesia, and more medical bills.

For further Hope news and a funny blog on Mommy-hood, food, and other interesting tidbits, please visit Holly over on Wordpress. I always get a kick out of her point of view and news of the precocious Sophia.

Again, your prayers are so much appreciated. We are still believing for a creative miracle in Hope's right ear. She goes in for the hearing test on Jan. 19th, I believe. Press in with us and claim perfection in Hope's ear in the name of Jesus!

Sorry I don't have a new picture to share with you all of the cutie fuzz-head with her new little tooth. Gotta start claiming my Auntie rights, I guess.

Missing the Kiddos

Well, it's true. I'm missing my 4 oldest kids who have been "away" on vacation to the Midwest for the last (almost) 3 weeks. True, I did get to fly out with them and spend time with Cecelia and Keliah while I was in Omaha, but I'm a bit "kidsick" (i.e. homesick). Antonio and Rocky went to Oklahoma almost right away to stay on the farm with my Aunt and Uncle. They'd already had adventures with horses, fireworks, fishing and a coyote-mauled kitten by the time I flew home. Plus, they got to examine Uncle Rodney's collection of rattles from the snakes he's killed so far this summer. Joy. The girls went to Oklahoma with my parents, my sister and her family a couple days after I left. They got some farm time in and visited all my grandparents that week. Now, the boys are in Lincoln with Nick's parents and his grandma for a fun-filled week. The girls have already managed a sleep-over at Aunt Holly and Uncle Michael's house with Sophia and little Hope. Today, they're having a Fancy Nancy party at Granny's house to be thoroughly girly and frou-frou. Soon, it will be their turn to stay at Grandma and Grandpa's and the boys will finally get to relax at Granny and Papa's house. Although, they've had this summer vacation planned so full, I bet there's not much time allowed for resting. My dad may think that would be a good idea, but if I know my mom she's got lots of interesting possibilities lined up already. Maybe a return trip to the zoo? Movie night? Activity time at the Library?
I just wish they'd write me a letter.

True, I've gotten to talk to all of them on the phone, but a letter is something special. I better write one to them today!

They'll be home in a week and 2 days. My parents are flying with them to have a vacation of their own here in Florida. It's been almost 7 months since they saw Carlo, Luca and Sabina, and I know my mom is dying to teach the word "Granny" to Sabina. I've been trying to tutor her a little. So far, though, all I've gotten out of her is "Yeh-yeh" the name for Grandpa on "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan" on Nick Jr. The bilingual Chinese-American adorably kawaii show is totally addictive and I think my 3 youngest love it as much as lollipops. It's certainly as sugary. (I have not been paid for or asked to mention this show.)

Anyway, as I was saying, I'm missing my big kids a bit. Yesterday, I resorted to Antonio's favorite exclamation: "OH! Dis!" It was slightly nostalgic and made me giggle. I better get on the ball and get the clean sheets on and restore their rooms to temporary tidyness. The next week and 2 days is going to fly by and then we will be restored to normal chaos.

On Vacation...

I feel bad about not posting for a week! It's been a crazy time, though. We had a houseguest from Kansas last week and then I flew out on Wednesday afternoon with our 4 oldest kids for Omaha. They get to have lots of fun visiting with grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins - not to mention long-time family friends in the midwest during the whole month of July. I flew up here for the week to visit with my parents and especially my sister, Holly, and her family. Her new baby girl, Hope, is 2 weeks old today! She is a doll and is good at sleeping and eating! Her big sister, Sophia, loves to tell everyone that they have a new baby girl. She also likes to be just a tiny bit bossy about how to act around Hope. But, hey, that's big-sister perogative, I think. I will have to post pics of them after I get home on Wednesday night because I forgot to bring my camera cord.

I'm packing in as much fun as possible over the next couple days, so you probably won't hear from me till Thursday or Friday. Tomorrow's schedule includes: a short sight-seeing flight with my dad who happens to be the pilot and my 2 big girls, a call-in meeting for OHOP, spending the afternoon with Holly and Hope, and possibly eating out and watching Monsters VS. Aliens. My time here is flying by, but I miss Nick and my 3 munchkins. It will be good to see their little faces again. In the meantime, I'm really not missing the mountains of laundry, dishes, and messy diapers. Please pray for Nick as he is doing a great job with them on his own. Thank you!