Who needs training wheels!

While we were camping with friends they said they had the same bike as Macy except in pink.  Their daughter has since outgrown it so it was just in their barn.  I told them I wanted to buy it.  She brought it over yesterday.  Leah was busy transferring training wheels to Brooke's new bike, my friend Missi and I were standing outside talking and Macy goes cruising by, on Brooke's old bike, no training wheels.  WHAT!!!!  No troubles, no questions, no "HOLD ONTO ME!"  It was like, "see ya!"  So fun!   So of course at night we had to go to Grandpa and Grandma Koemans to show off the new talent and borrow their huge driveway. 

When Brooke was in the hospital, Steve called me once because Ash had learned to ride a 2 wheeler.  He took tons of pictures and sent them to me.  Being selfish, I cried.  "How could she learn to do this without me?"   Sounds silly I know but I like seeing the 1st.  It's such a huge milestone.  So of course, I was super excited to see Macy flying around. (and I mean flying.  On one of the videos I took you can hear grandma in the background, "slow down little girl"  hehe)
When Steve saw her, he said he knew she could, but he didn't want to take them off and then Brooke would think she had to try.  Brooke heard us and said, "NO WAY  I'm NEVER taking my training wheels off!"  There was that question answered. 

Way to Go MACY!!!!

 These are just a couple random pics.  The twins still enjoy the sleepy Burley ride.  I like it too :)  They are counting the sleeps til they go to school!!!  Oh boy!!!  So excited!!
The two below found every puddle at grandpa and grandma's house.  At one point they were laying in the puddles.  Really?!?!  Aren't any prissy girls around here.  I'm happy that grandpa and grandma are such good sports with all these kids. 

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

It's like summer never happened!  We got up yesterday and fell right back into routine.  No squabbles, no bumps, nothing.  Strange!!!  The girls were excited.  A new year, new teachers.  Who knows what the future holds.  As a mom, it was ok.  It's about time I got my butt out of bed before 7:30 :)  I will miss my girls.  But no one wants me to home school them.  So here we go.

The twins don't start school til next week.  So that helps.  That could hurt a little :(  The first day I get to go with them.  After, I'm not invited.  But they are excited and its the next step in life. 

The twins are enjoying this week of getting to play with whatever they want, going away with just mom, hanging out with grandma.  It's like a little vacation.  Every night they say, "what are we doing tomorrow mom?"  Too fun!

 

Brooke's been to a couple specialists so far.  We went to the surgeon and discussed her feeding tube.  It seems to cause her pain.  She'll be walking, playing, having a great time and then she'll double over, grab her feeding tube and cry, "my button, my button." It obviously hurts.  Then MD said, "those are unusual symptoms, never had that before."  Go figure.  We put in a different feeding tube and we'll see if that's more comfortable.  If not, we'll have it taken out. Wait and see.

Then we went to G.I. (stomach MD).  She still has the diarrhea problem.  From what we read about SCIDS it could just be part of her.  With a low immune system that effects your GI track.  They ran all the stool studies and all looked good.   That helps us, because we can now give her meds as we need to and not worry we are messing up her system.  I'm planning to try some probiotics.  If that doesn't help we can always use Imodium. 

So far that's all for the specialists.  We have 4 more appointments coming up.  Excited to see her progress in life. 

Confessions of a working mother

This morning I did my devotions and it was like reading about me.  It was about a working mom, and every time someone asked her why she worked, or felt "sorry" for her she would make an excuse as to why she worked. In the end she explained that she liked to work, but for some reason, working moms feel a need to justify themselves. 
I honestly laughed. 1st, we just had a sermon Sunday about being honest.  Oh be careful little tongue what you say.  And I know for a fact after church I made an excuse again as to why I work.  When I was  younger, most of my friends stayed home.  I again chose to work.  So it became easier for us to "justify" why I worked.  It became a habit. Today as I drove to work I was honest with myself.  I enjoy working. I like what I do. I enjoy helping others.  It gives me balance. It gives me satisfaction.  At times would I rather be home with my kids? Yes.  But sometimes I'm home and would rather be a work :)  It's all about balance. 
Many years ago, 20 years ago this month.  My "boyfriend" at the time, went to my parents and asked if he could marry me.  After, what Steve describes, as a L O N G grueling pause, they said yes.  BUT, SHE MUST FINISH COLLEGE!  And we did!  Steve and I got married and we finished college together.  He spend almost as much time as I did studying with me.   And when money was beyond tight and I would even mention working more and less school.  He would never hear of it. 
So when I tell people I "work for insurance" that is only a perk of me working.  I could quit.  We would manage, we always have.  We know what it's like to "live off love."  But Steve and I worked hard, together, to get my nursing degree.  And I like it. 
I pray whatever you do in life, you enjoy it, and do it for the Lord. 

Colossians 3:23  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.

"I'm taking a break!"

We use to have a toy, that if you didn't play with it for awhile it'd say, "I'm taking a break!"  And shut off.  That was what I did Friday!  After an amazing camping trip with the family and friends (which we didn't really want to come home) we had a rough transition back home.  It's hard to "de -program" my children sometimes.  When late nights, junk food, loudness, take over, it's hard to transition back to reality.  Steve and I had plans Friday night and 3 girls were suppose to stay overnight at my parents, 2 girls were off babysitting.  I contemplated telling my younger 3 they had to stay home and go to bed at 7p but I remembered someone once telling me, "don't give your kids a punishment that will punish you."  And I so wanted a "night off."  So our girls were off, our plans got cancelled and it was just the two of us.  AHHHHHHHHHH, relief!  We went out to eat and watched a movie.  We laughed and laughed and I remembered again why I love this man!  I don't want to rush time, but I'm excited to grow old with him. (Brooke tells me I'm already an old lady!)  I'm pretty sure we could even make the nursing home a fun place to be. 
                             SILVER LAKE PICS!

The kids playing is a puddle in the dunes!

 My happy camper!  It was cooler weather.  Perfect for Steve and camp fires :)

 The girls convinced they're dad to go up test hill!   OHHH BOY were they excited!!  Steve seemed pretty happy too :)

 Saturday morning came and Steve wanted the girls already at 9am, because it was "antique plow days."  So we rounded them up and were off to the field.  We found great grandpa there.  How fun!!  He hung out with the girls and rode in the gator with them. 

 Saturday night, we were off to the Whitecaps.  We usually go in June and sit in the bleacher seats.  However, Grandpa ad Grandma Koeman spoiled us all by getting a skybox for the night.  Oh boy!!  Our children are never going to want and the bleachers again.  It was lots of fun!!

And now back to reality again, kind of.  We have 2 more weeks before school starts.  NOOOOOOOO!!  So we are going to try and make the most of these 2 weeks.  We have 1 more camping weekend planned and we'll see what else we can come up with.  Happy Summer!

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy! Psalm 126:3