Our goings and comings

READER ALERT: Lengthy post!

It's hard to believe, but school is O-U-T! I'm glad, too. Our last 8 weeks have been crazy busy. With two kids in soccer our Saturdays were eaten away with watching tough little Jake's and gazelle Caleb's soccer games. Lots of fun but very busy. It's nice that soccer and school is over so no drop off or pick up to worry about. Caleb will continue with piano and I decided to enroll him and Jake in an art class this summer. One of our neighbors is offering killer deals on art classes and we just couldn't pass up the opportunity.


Jacob has done well in preschool and soccer this year. He still remains our cute cuddly monkey. He is such a good kid and quietly observes that I don't realize how much he knows and understands until one day he just pops out with stuff. Like writing his name. His preschool teacher had been working with him, but he would never write for me at home. But one day, he pulled out a piece of paper and wrote it. Lately, he's been drawing our family. His latest rendition was with all of us holding light sabers. Not surprised.

Michaela and I have begun to find a new rhythm or cadence, if you will. She has her own mind and that tends to present some interesting challenges between us. For example, cleaning up is her least favorite thing, but it is the one thing that would make me jump over the moon if she would decide to do it happily and quickly. But the two antonyms to those words is what she chooses instead. However, I have found that she loves to be my big helper (most of the time) and when I praise her and cuddle with her more she tends to be more compliant. Wouldn't it be nice if each child was sent with his/her own instruction manual? Because this trial and error thing with each child is very difficult!

All three older children have been taking swimming lessons, too. We decided to do private lessons and we have a great instructor named Jamie. She's very good with the kids. Caleb and Michaela are a little more cautious, but Jamie has been patient and encouraging and it seems to be paying off. Jacob doesn't need encouraging. You have to constantly watch him because the child has no fear--he plunges, he splashes, he dives. I worry most about him because he insists he doesn't need a life jacket when the water is five feet deep. I still scratch my head that he is the one with epilepsy! He has reached the year anniversary without any seizures, by-the-way. Wonderful!

Emily is growing like a weed in spite of still showing some allergic type reaction to her formula. Her stools (pardon the too much information) are runny and mucousy, but contain no blood. The doctor suggested we just keep her on her current formula unless blood reappears and/or she becomes fussy. She is drinking a lot of formula and if she didn't have allergy issues I would normally start her on baby cereal to keep up with her hunger, but the doctor asked me to wait for a while.

The biggest accomplishment for me and her is she is sleeping 10-11 hours straight at night. GLORY HALLELUJAH! Considering all the other kids were six months old before they did this, this is amazing. I am ever so grateful. This last week she seems to be getting frustrated and discontent with just laying on her back to play. She is rolling to the side and arching her back, just so close to rolling over. Then it will be crawling. She is quite active, a lot like Jake was. He was miraculously crawling before he learned how to sit up, and I would not be surprised if Emily is that way, too.

Mike is still working extremely hard. It seems I say this every post, but I could not ask for a better husband. He takes his role as provider very seriously and I am ever so grateful for him. He is the man of my dreams and my best friend. He is my rock. He is my balancing steady force. I love it when he comes home. We all miss him when he leaves, but we always feel his presence and the security he provides to all of us.

Chewy is loving our warmer weather. He has worn pathways in our yard as he has to see what everyone is doing in the yards next to us. I paid for some dog behavior training this next month--I was told Chewy could be taught to stop digging in our yard! If the trainer can work that miracle, he is my Moses. Look for our June post to see how well it has gone....In spite of his little shortcomings, I do love him. There are nights when I can't sleep and Mike is gone, that I curl up next to Chewy and it seems everything is okay because he just lets me lay my head on him and go to sleep. I wasn't ever sure if he would be the type of dog to be very loyal--he is just so friendly to everyone. But this last year as he has grown and matured, he has become very obedient to me and Mike. Whenever I leave, he waits by the door. When Mike comes home in the mornings, and Chewy has been outside for his morning pit stop, he anxiously waits by the door, scratching so gently, but urgently wanting to let Mike know he's glad he is home. When I open the door, Chewy rushes to Mike, wiggling all over, nudging Mike's hand, "Hello! Hello! I am so glad to see you!" he seems to say. Whenever the fence gate is left open, he doesn't leave. He really is the perfect dog and we are so glad we found him.

In upcoming news:

We are excited this summer to go to Lake Havasu again. We love it there and love to be with Mike's family.

Caleb will be having surgery to fix his umbilical hernia on Tuesday. He seems to be less worried about it than he was last December. Time has allowed him to ask a lot of questions which has helped him to relax. He attended a children's surgery class and I was impressed with how well thought out it was.

Next school year may be a little crazy. Our elementary school does a Spanish Immersion program. This is where the students are spoken to only in Spanish by their teacher 50% of the time and in English the other 50%. I wasn't sure if I wanted to enroll Caleb, but after a lot of consideration, I decided to. It is a much more rigorous program than the traditional curriculum. But Caleb needs to challenged. The idea is that he should be able to speak pretty well in Spanish by 6th grade and take advanced language classes throughout junior high and high school and even college level courses before he graduates. The principal stated that research shows students in these types of programs tend to do better in school because their brains have been more challenged. The students are taught how to work harder. That work ethic alone makes the program worth it to me. It was very frustrating as a junior high teacher to have to "dumb down" my curriculum because students didn't know how to study or complete homework. And then as a college instructor, having students still struggle with assignment completion. Having a good work ethic will help Caleb succeed in all areas of his life, not just academically. I'm excited for this opportunity for him. It will be an adjustment at first, but I think it will be worth it.

I've been asked to teach the 14 and 15 year old Sunday School class in our church. I am excited for the opportunity--a little worried about how I am going to manage on the Sundays having Emily with me when Mike is working, but my mom is always a great help whenever I need her, and my students will probably love to hold her and keep her entertained during class.

Phew, I didn't realize how much has happened in the last month with our family! If you have made it to the end of this post, congratulations! We are truly blessed as a family and love our austere little life. We do have our challenges, but we have our faith, our friends and our family that help us get through them. And really what more do you need?