Mom Remembers

With two big brothers (one of whom is very competitive), Sven doesn't get to win very many games.  He is usually good natured about it.  But that doesn't mean he wasn't extremely excited to win Uno at family home evening this week.  Even though he doesn't know how to hold his cards close yet and was pretty much playing face up, he still played all his cards before anyone else in the family.  He beat Soren and Carl.  He beat Mom and Dad.  He was so proud of himself.  He says that this is the first time he has ever won anything.  I think he is probably right.

Tonight at dinner, Leif (with sticky hands and a dirt beard) asked me, "Why did the frog cross the street?"  When I responded, "Why?" he triumphantly announced, "Because!" Pleased by my amusement, he went on to perform a dozen permutations: Why did the milk cross the road?  Why did the fork cross the street?  Why did the red frog cross the street?  Why did the cup cross the road?  Why did the skeleton cross the road? And the answer was always: Because! It didn't get old, mostly because his proud, delighted face was so adorable.

1. Starting from the end of the week: Scott's trach was removed this morning!  He no longer needs any assistance to breathe and can speak normally. 2. OK, going backwards: My sister and her husband were here over the weekend.  Brianna was so helpful at the hospital, making sure that Scott was getting adequate care and prodding the process along.  And Collin was an angel at home, playing with the boys and keeping them entertained.  They taught Mom and I to play a game called "One Night", which is a spin-off from "Werewolf" that was actually pretty fun.  Watching Brianna and Collin interact was bitter-sweet for me; they are so cute together.  I am so glad that my sister is happily married. 3. The Scott-highlight from Sunday was that he got off the ventilator!  At first, they gave him supplemental oxygen through a little mask over his trach but gradually that was weened away until he was able to breathe without any support. 4. Monday, Scott got out of ...

1. Church on Sunday was so refreshing.  I've never felt so desperate for the spiritual nourishment of the gospel--or so relieved to receive it.  The hymns, especially, were a great source of comfort. 2. Asa and Sara, from our ward, came to visit me on Sunday afternoon.  We had a lovely conversation and then they took Toby away for a dog vacation.  They are planning to help me train Toby as a potential service dog--or at least a helpful dog for Scott.  Asa also says that he will help get the attic finished for Scott before he comes home from the hospital.  I am so grateful for their friendship. 3. When I went to visit Scott Sunday night, he had his eyes open.  He was moving the hand that I held and opened his eyes really wide whenever I left his field of vision.  I was so happy to see him awake--and every day he got a little more alert. 4. Monday, the kids and I went back to our normal routine.  We still have a bit of homeschool to finish u...

This week, my husband Scott fell off a ladder while getting ready to put the storm windows up on our house.  He fell and hit his head on our driveway, damaging his brain.  He has been sedated in the hospital all week and we are just coming to grips with the fact that he will not be home for a long time.  It seemed like a good time to start writing and about remembering that good things that are happening in our lives, in the hopes that someday we can tell him what happened while he was sleeping/recovering. So, even though this was the most painful week of my life, here are a few favorites: 1. Everything the morning of the accident was perfect.  Clinging to those happy memories has been such a comfort to me.  Scott and I didn't have to attend foster parenting classes for the first time in three weeks.  We stayed in bed until eight, made the biggest pancake breakfast with the kids--with an overkill of delicious toppings--and then got started on Saturday j...

Carl came downstairs this morning with a playsilk and asked me tie him a cape.  Then he announced: CARL:  I've been thinking about parachuting. ME:  You mean you want to go sky-diving? CARL:  Yeah. ME:  You should ask your Uncle Tim about it.  He has gone sky-diving before. CARL:  Really? MADDY:   (enters the room)   What are you talking about? CARL:  My Uncle Tim!  Mom says he's gone sky-diving, which is another word for parachuting.  And he's  still alive!  I know!  I've seen him.

These are Soren's responses from a worksheet he did in primary on Mother's Day. All About My Mom My Mom's name is   Carolyn  She is   30   years old. Mom and I like to   play games  Mom likes to say, "  clean that up!  " My mom really loves   the family  She likes to eat   leftovers  She likes to drink   water  My Mom's job is   housekeeper  If she had time, she would lie to   work  Mom is really good at   making the funniest out of every ansswer  If I could go anywhere in the world with her, we'd go   to Poland.  I love my Mom because   she's great 

These are Carl's responses from a worksheet he did in primary on Mother's Day. All About My Mom My Mom's name is  Momy  She is  30   years old. Mom and I like to  wash dishes  Mom likes to say, " I love you Carl " My mom really loves  sleeping with Dad  She likes to eat  chikin  She likes to drink  milk  My Mom's job is  work at home  If she had time, she would lie to  write her book  Mom is really good at  writing  If I could go anywhere in the world with her, we'd go  camping  I love my Mom because  she is awsum 

Sven is four!  Here's what we did to celebrate: 1. He opened a present from Carl first thing in the morning: a new LEGO set.  Since Sven is four, he is now old enough to play with the real LEGOs in the basement (instead of just the duplos in the nursery).  He has been looking forward to this milestone for months and Carl wanted to help him greet the new age with an age-appropriate gift.  He helped Sven to put it together and then they went to the basement to clear out a bin that Sven could keep his creations in. 2. My mom came to visit--and she brought plenty of party with her.  When she arrived in the morning, we drove to Rockford where we spent the morning at the Children's museum. 3. Of course, we stopped at Taco Bell on the way home.  Whenever we go out for food, the kids want to go to Taco Bell and get quesadillas.  Sven and Leif likes theirs with the spicy jalepeno sauce.  They love spicy, just like their dad.  Since it was a ...

Our youngest is now two.  Those baby years just flew by!  I think that each child grows faster than the last.  But even though it has passed in the blink of an eye, the past year with Leif has been delightful.  He has really come out of his shell, opening up to more than just his Mom and his Nan as his abilities have grown. We didn't do much to celebrate (two-year-olds have low expectations), but he was thrilled.  He has seen a lot of birthdays lately and loved that it was finally his turn.  Here's what we did to celebrate: 1. Carl helped him get out of bed in the morning and he toddled into my room for a "good morning".  He was excited to get a "happy birthday!" instead.   2. He did well unwrapping his presents--again probably because he's had a lot of examples lately.   3. Grandma bought him a little red wagon and Carl bought him a cell phone.  He was pretty happy, sitting in the wagon, talking on his cell phone.  I...

Before a year : Mama, Dada Before 15 months : yeah, please Before 18 months : no, bye, hot, ow, shoes, cheerios, hello, door, cracker, more, socks, go, down, dog, gum, up, Leif Before 21 months : cat, out, book, wee-wee (like what the fifth little piggy says), teeth, popcorn, stairs, truck, duck, drink, phone, bowl, Carl, Sven, milk, woof, brush, smoothie, bread, dump, Nan, breakfast, let's, Soren, hug, Daddy's office, bonk, yogurt, blanket, stop, Rachel, pumpkin, corn, get, page, prayer, amen, done, ok, jacket, house, hand Before 2 years : diaper, poopy, Maddy, cereal, thank you, clap, tap, goodbye, bunny, tape, chocolate, again, eye, turkey, bucket, cup, more, water, watch, salt, pepper, pjs, Nate, high chair, Poppy, wait, taco, rabbit, cookie, Ash, poke, eye, sticker, nose, eye, fingers, mine, bowl, plate, cup, spoon, mac, cooking, and more! (I stopped keeping track of new words sometime before Christmas, when he started copying everything that everyone said.)