The Family Parrot

I am starting to see that as much as children hate to turn into their parents, parents cringe when they start to see some of their behaviors showing up in their offspring. Perhaps it has more to do with realizing you, yourself have behaviors that you wish were a little more friendly. Have you ever noticed your actions change slightly when your stuck in front of a mirror? Not sure what I'm talking about? Let me give you an example...

While I'm in here checking emails and reading friends' blogs, my son Corban just yelled, "Mom! You get back in here and clean this up!" A saying that is surely one of mine. What mess he thinks is mine, I still haven't gone to check.

Or how 'bout the time I had some neighbors visiting and Corban grabs me by the chin to turn my head to look at him and says, "Look at my eye. I'm serious, okay! I. Am. Hungry!" ...So, I guess when I'm serious I must feel like I need their undivided attention. (I have to admit, it was a little hard to not giggle when he told me to look at his eye.)

The worst is when your three year old reveals your ways of discipline. In front of friends. You know; the things you say when you're trying to stop a fight, or trying to make sure they understand that their behavior is out of line? The key phrases that Corban so willingly uses on his own siblings, OR Brandon and me are, "You want me do dat t'you?" "D'you like it?" and to always make sure things are clear, "D'you unnerstand?!?"

Our family parrot is working diligently to keep me in check. Not only for sparing unkind things said to my kids, but also for my own security of less public humiliation.

Mental Mix-ups

My brain hasn't been in full function since early last week. We're not talking simply mixing up one child's name for another. I'm doing outright crazy things lately! I have found Corban's shoes in Kellan's cubby along with other misplaced things like cereal in the fridge. I've made wrong turns to destinations I could normally drive to with my eyes closed (not that I really drive while closing my eyes), I put eyeshadow on as if it were blush, and I say nonsensical things constantly. Here's an example:

Corban: Mom, can I have a drink?

Me: Only if you start eating your noodles.

Makade: Mom, can I have a drink?

Me: Only if you eat your noodles.

Makade: But mom, I don't have noodles.

Me: Makade. If you don't eat your noodles, you can't have a drink. That's only fair to treat you the same as Corban.

Makade: Getting upset... Mom! How can I eat my noodles if I don't have any?

Me: Coming out of Absent Minded Land... Oh. Well, I guess you can have a drink.


See! I'm loosing it! If you have some suggestions for help, I'd appreciate it!

A thought...

If you only travel on sunny days,

you will never reach your destination.

*Buddhist quote

What a great reminder that life goes on and we should too.

Aunt Gayla, you and your wonderful outlook on life will be missed.

12/52

Really, I've got 2 weeks of catching up to do, but this is MY project, so instead of getting 2 pitiful photos that mean nothing to me, I'd rather accept my behindedness (nice word!) and start movin' on from here. Here is my official picture of week 12/52 with the newest member of our family, Canon.

Happy Sixth Months Day!

Today, as mentioned before, we had reason to celebrate! Corban has made it SIX months without a seizure! We are so happy that we've found a medication that can keep the seizures at bay and yet allow us to still keep Corban's sweet personality. This within itself is a true blessing. I know of too many stories where parents are forced to accept the medication with major side-effects and also still continue to have sporadic relapses. We are truly blessed beyond measure.

With Brandon being sick, we simply celebrated with a cake. A big, red, hairy lookin' Elmo cake! Why Elmo looks scared, you say? I'd have to say I'd be scared to have candles in the top of my head and knowing I was going to be eaten would damper the moment as well. (At least that's what I told the kids.) The baker was surprised when I didn't give orders for a "Happy Birthday" on such a cake, but accepted our strange request for a "Yay Corban!" to be added. We purchased crayon replica candles instead of traditional ones, and were ready for a celebration.
The tricky part was coming up with a song to sing before Corban blew out his 6 candles. I thought of "For he's a jolly good fellow," but then realized the kids didn't know that oldy. We thought of various others, some that didn't have anything to do with why we were having cake. None of them would do. So we changed the "Happy birthday" song into, "Happy six months to you!" and Corban was thrilled. Afterward, because ALL of us have endured through this trial, each of the kids got to take a turn blowing out the candles. What a fun evening, although the only one who was daring enough to try all that frosting was Tarryn. Here's to another six months!

We start anew

I wont make this post about MY opinion on who I wanted for president. I'm not here to cast views on arguments that have already been decided. No matter who won, there were fears and trepidations toward each candidate for me. I'll quote myself saying, "I can't believe that, of all the good Americans, these are the best two our country can come up with."

Mr President Obama, I address this to you. You are one man with many behind you. America chose you because of many promises you have made. America made a decision late this evening to share their ideal dreams of this beautiful country with YOU. There is 'change' that our Country needs, but a country also needs stability. When making decisions regarding our Homeland, please, search your heart before taking action. Please, for my family and my loved ones, remember that as President of the United States, YOU ARE SERVING US. We, as a nation, are who you answer to. You have the potential to either do a great many things, or great terrible things in your position. I want it clear, if you choose the latter, we will not take it sitting down.

Fellow Americans, we as a nation, when standing as one, are strong. Through casting votes, majority rules. No matter your race, your religion, your status in life, there were things that the bulk of the United States saw within this man that caught our attention. The charisma and the promises have sounded great to most. Please, let us remember that we, as a nation, voted this man to be in OUR service. Even though elections are over, WE STILL HAVE A VOICE. Let us make certain we let our President hear what we have to say. Let us re-unite these states. Become one. We are stronger and can share the load better. ...And if Mr. Obama tries anything out of line, we are there, together, to stand our ground.

Congratulations, Mr President. America is waiting and watching.

A week to celebrate...

Today is a day of remembrance for me. I'm not going to make it a day of sadness, I plan on using this day as a cause to celebrate all of my sweet children and enjoy each one of them and reflect how much they mean to me.



This very day last year was, hands down, the most frightening day of my life. November 3rd, 2007, Corban had his first seizure. I could go on about the events of the day, because, just as the events of 9/11 seems to be embedded into everyone's mind, this day is just as tragic in my heart. In fact, for every seizure that would happen after this point, inwardly I would feel upset that life was continuing on. Because our inner world was coming to a halt, I felt all other's should do the same. I'm glad the world didn't listen to my heart or my feelings; for stopping the world wouldn't have helped the situation and it taught me lessons that I needed.



So instead of relaying the events of this day 1 year ago, I'm going to reflect on the joys these sweet children bring me. I will forget the small nuisances of picking up after them or the frustrations of them not obeying, and replace it with making them smile and watching them laugh. I will focus on indulging myself in the fun and interesting personalities that each one of my angels have. For a year ago today, I was in fear of losing one of them; and if I re-live and center my feelings regarding, I'll be missing the message of enjoying all the good that I am surrounded by.



Thank you Corban, for willingly going through this so that your Mother and Father could learn lessons in this life that we would never have been able to comprehend without you.


Ironically, two accolades regarding Corban's seizures happen within the same week. On Thursday it will be 6 months (26 weeks to be exact) since Corban's last seizure. This is thrilling news to us since it means that he will most likely outgrow them. We are truly blessed beyond measure. If you need a reason to make a cake, eat it, and not count calories; Thursday is your day. Calories don't count when it comes to great celebrations!

A thing of beauty...

Isn't it beautiful? Fantastic? Awe inspiring? This stunning black gadget is my wildest dreams coming true. Have I been kissed by an angel? Have the stars aligned? No; I simply have the sweetest in-laws any girl could wish for.

This little device will be used as an outlet, a story-telling apparatus, a memory catcher, and a window to the way I see the world. Thank you Gil and Lynda, for handing over the old while replacing with the new. Thank you for thinking of me. Thank you for always opening your hearts and making me feel so accepted. I truly love you both.

I hope I get over the fear of using such a remarkable contraption soon.