every captive thought

Adding to the aforementioned chaos that is our life...we got Isabella early.  We hadn't planned on getting her until we were in the new house.  Things change, so we adapt.  The breeders delivered her to us yesterday morning.  James is in puppy heaven.  Jude is in puppy hell.  I'm somewhere in between.  Would that be puppy purgatory???  Not sure how all that works. Jude (and Perry) are skeptical Isabella is a VERY sweet dog.  As far as dogs go...she's sort of perfect.  She loves to cuddle with me.  She loves to play with James.  She pretty much has the potty training thing down. She's super cute with lots of extra skin.  She is not so perfect in that she is LOUD when we make her go in her crate.  In the long run, it will all be worth it. Here's the problem.  I love all things baby.  If you show me a baby anything, it's highly unlikely that I am going to say no to it.  I have to avert my eyes when...

So here is a rundown of our lives right now: Packing our house to move. Closing on new house in 2 weeks. Renovations for 1 week. Movers come in 3 weeks. Clean, repair, and get this house ready to sell. New puppy comes home Friday (2 weeks earlier than expected). Plan and make reservations for Jude's oncology appointment in Dallas. Katy Jane is still having her spasms. James is having major issues at school. School is being unhelpful in resolving these issues. And today James tested positive for the flu. After I got back from taking James to the doctor this afternoon, I sat down at the table with Brad and we just shrugged our shoulders.  He said, "Life is chaotic.  We can handle it."  All I know is that if the Lord brings it to us, He will enable us to get through it.  And from every trying, difficult time in our lives...and there have been more than a few...our faith, love for the Lord, and love for each other has grown.  This time will be no different. ...

It's amazing how quickly things can change. A couple of weeks ago Brad and I started noticing Katy Jane doing a funny little movement.   It started out only a couple of times a day and has increased.   Now it is up to several times an hour.   She scrunches up her eyes, purses her lips, stretches out her arms, her hands tremble, she kicks out her legs, and then squeals.   That happens several times, every hour, all day long.   Friday I sent a video of it to Dr. Honey.   She had me come on up to the office.   (In my experience, never a good sign).   She had spoken to the pediatric neurologist in Lubbock and we were immediately admitted to the hospital for seizures.   Katy Jane was hooked up to a 1 hour video EEG.   Then she got an IV and had several labs drawn.   The next morning she had an MRI.   Both the EEG and MRI came back normal as well as the labs.   During EEG Hooked up to all of her machines ...

Since it was so snowy today we decided to keep James home from school. It was a good day to stay in, get some packing done, and of course...play in the snow.   James hiding from Daddy during the snowball fight   Brother snow ball fight   I sure do love these guys!

About 8 or 9 years ago my entire family went to the mountains together.  Around the dinner table one night something came up about flamingos.  I have no idea what or how though. I made a comment about how they are just yard art.  I sincerely thought they were just a funny decoration people stuck in their yards to be quirky.  I genuinely had no idea that they were real birds.  Surely something so pink and cute could not be real!  Much to my sisters delight, they were able to inform me that flamingos are indeed real and the teasing ensued.  I deserved it.  "Have you never been to a zoo?!?!?" they mocked. Since that fateful day nearly a decade ago, I have been the lucky recipient of many flaming-themed gifts...pj's, shoes, plates, baby clothes, a handbag, cards, and today...the pièce de résistance...FLAMINGO MUFF MUFFS!  Be still my heart.  My niece Madison found them. The boys fought over them for about an hour. GIDDY with excite...

Look!  It's a big pile of my favorite boys.  I'm so blessed.

After extensive searching, a few delays, a couple of cases of cold feet, and MUCH prayer...we have FINALLY found our house!  We are so excited and grateful.  We hope to close at the beginning of March, do a few renovations before moving in, and be in our new house to enjoy the spring. Packing presents a bit of a dilemma with 3 kids so I got the boys busy "helping" me by coloring the boxes.  They worked at it like it was their job. It allowed me to get a lot of packing done. It is amazing how productive you can be when you know your time is limited. Katy Jane watched while they worked.  She is getting to be such a big girl sitting up by herself.

This morning the breeder of our puppy sent us a couple of new pictures of Isabella.  We were so happy to see her!  She's getting cuter and cuter.   We had the pleasure of having Zintha over after school.  I think it made James' entire year. After school James likes to build a "cubby" to have a snack and watch a cartoon.  Before he went to school, he was very specific about what he wanted me to fix for his and Zintha's snack.  He wanted a little bag of chips, a cookie, and a cutie orange.  He also told me to vacuum the floor before they got home.  For reals.  After Z left he said, "Did you remember to vacuum the floor?" When I picked them up from school, his teacher told me he had a rough day.  I will spare you the details as Brad and I are still trying to sort it out from the cryptic 4 year old descriptions we get sporadically when he feels like talking about it and when he clams up.  Regardless, it won him a spot besid...

When James got home from school yesterday I went through his backpack and found this little gem. I think I'm offended.

Tonight I was folding some laundry while the boys played in the bath.  James said to me, "Mommy, do all people love Jesus?"  A heavy question for a 4 year old.  I knew this demanded 100 % of my attention so I quickly prayed for wisdom and went and sat to talk with him.  I said, "Well, Jesus wants all people to love Him and ask Him to come live in their hearts.  That makes Jesus happy."  He thoughtfully closed his eyes and sweetly said, "Jesus, I want you to come live in my heart."  I said, "James, that makes Jesus very happy that you asked Him to live in your heart.  It makes Mommy happy too.  When Jesus lives in your heart, you have to do things that make Him happy...like being kind and helpful, being sweet to Jude and Katy Jane, obeying Mommy and Daddy.  It's not always easy.  Mommy messes up a lot and I have to ask Jesus to forgive me and try to do better the next time."  He said, "Like when I ask you to forgive me when I me...

Because Mom lets you fall asleep in your bouncy while everyone else is eating lunch. We felt so badly.  Poor baby.