Landon's Last Day at the Clinic!

Yesterday was Landon's last day at the clinic, which was a bitter sweet day. The whole ordeal was really hard on all the kids, and fairly exhausting for this momma as well, but it was worth it. We made friends with families just like our own and grew close to the SIRRI staff. It was a place where we felt safe, because there was not one ounce of room for anyone to judge each other. In one way or another, we were all in the same boat.

Landon made leaps and bounds during this program, especially with his vocabulary. He went from mumbling and barely putting two and three words together to using full-on five-word sentences!

We are now in phase two of the program, where we do light therapy at home for 20 minutes, twice a day for 18 days. School starts in just over a week for the kiddo where he will be attending an all-day kindergarten and will likely be working with a speech therapist. It will be so strange to have the little guy gone all day, but he is ready. He is eager to learn and seems to absorb e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g!

Here's some pictures of the whole ordeal:

As soon as we got out of the car, it was a race to push the button on the elevator...

...just to push the button again.

Then it was takeoff! All the way up to the second floor! (Hey, doing this everyday, you have to find humor in the small things!)

Of course, as soon as we got out of the elevator, Landon had to go and push the button again. Just. Because. (I almost lost a straggler baby who ran to catch the elevator twice because of this. Hey, I never claimed to be mom of the year.)

Landon made sure he opened his own door. Every. Time. It didn't matter if the other door was held open for him, he had to open his own door. This is something that Kaden caught on to. Hey, at least I could walk through with a wiggly baby in my arms that I just fetched out of the elevator!

Then we made our way down this hallway. It was a longer journey than it looks. Especially with two kiddos needing a nap right about now.

Yes, that is Kaden giving up about half way through and laying down to take a nap right there on the spot.

You thought I was exaggerating, didn't you!

As soon as we got there, Landon would say hi to the fish...

...Kaden would say hi to Mr. Potato Head...

...and Myla would say hi to Nicholas...

Yes, they did seem to have a certain fondness of eachother...but they also picked on each other just as well.

Then Landon would go in for his treatment, and the rest of us would wait...and wait...and wait.

Then we would go for lunch and do the whole thing all over again. It was a long two weeks, but a small price to pay!

Wanted

BREAKING NEWS: Be on the look out for this baby! She is armed and dangerous! She can be sweet and charming. DO NOT BE FOOLED! This face means mischief. The sweeter it is, the worse trouble she is in!

She has already struck one household in Maricopa, AZ.

Statements were taken by one of her victims, the identity of which is confidential to protect the innocent.  

"I woke up this morning to this baby girl greeting me with sweet little kisses. The next thing I know she is in my lap with the T.V. remote in her hands. I mean, who does that? I was watching the news! I know now that it was a distraction.

"Anyway, she looked at me with these big, innocent brown eyes and a partially toothy grin, so I caved and settled in to watch morning cartoons with her.

"Then it became time to get ready for the day. I got her and my two other kids dressed, and prepared a lunch for each of them. While they were eating lunch, I thought I would slip away and take a quick shower. When I came out I was met with this:

"It's the most heinous thing I'd ever seen! I was only able to snap a couple of quick pictures before she took off running!"

So there you have it. The whereabouts of this baby are unknown, though she was last seen in Tempe. We expect that she will return to Maricopa. Please be on the lookout, and call authorities if you see this baby. If you do cross paths, do not engage!

Here are her most recent mugshots:

We're relying on you! With your help, we can catch this baby and make this country a safer place!

Chew on This!

Talk about the things that make you go "Ugh!"

This little guy (haha! I said "little!" He is anything BUT little!) was waiting outside under the garbage can for Jim when he went to take out the trash the other day... Jim came rushing in shuddering during a spell of minor convulsions after he saw this guy. Two days later, he was still there, so we decided to get a few pictures.

Isn't he gross? Just look at how big he is next to the quarter! He's the size of my cell phone! Oh, and apologies for the name of this post, I had my brother in law in mind. He has this crazy desire to eat a  scorpion. I got somethin' better for ya, my friend!  Bon Apetite Bro!

So, if you live outside AZ, sleep well tonight. These are only pictures and this guy can no way get you. If you live in the same hot, baron abyss we do, lock your doors! You never know what crazy things lurk out here!

Do They Know You Love Them?

Howdy everyone! I hope you had a wonderful and adventurous weekend!

We survived our weekend, which was filled with long travels, frustration and tears...and mom and dad aren't doin so hot either! Without diving into too much personal detail, I feel it's enough to say that we have felt a flood of emotions this weekend. There are certain inevitibilities that we have had to come to accept (it has nothing to do with Landon, by the way, he is doing great) and it has been a definite struggle for us. Which leads to today's topic.

Just over two years ago, an uncle of mine passed away. All my grandparents died either before I was born or while I was really young, so this was really my first exposure to mortality. During his funeral, something was said that really made me think about life. The heavy weight of mortality sank in as I considered how often I wasted time being frustrated because I was trying to get in the last word, or I was fighting to be right with any number of people in my life.

I especially considered this with my husband and the occasions he left for work frustrated because of a confrontation we had. I truly don't believe that there is an innocent side to any confrontation, but what if he left the house that day and got into a car accident and the last thing he felt was irritation with me? What if I missed a chance to tell him I loved him and I never saw him in this life again? Was the fight worth it? Was it worth a small victory, when in the end I would loose one of the most important people in my life?

What about my kids? What if I chose not to kiss them good night and something happened? Perhaps these are horrific things to consider, however, I would dare say that there are plenty of widowed mothers and fathers out there that would give anything to be able to say those last words, as well as parents who suffer the pain every day because they didn't take the time to kiss their child goodbye. A prime example of this is Mrs. Dugard when she didn't see her child again for 18 years.  

What I realized was that I was taking my family and the opportunity that I had to love them for granted, and this weekend was a manifest to that, which is the cause of this heavy topic today.

All I ask is that whoever reads this really takes a look at their loved ones, and take the time to show them you love them. They may or may not be here tomorrow, and in the event that they are not, do they truly  know how you feel? 

As for me, I want to dedicate this post to a very special woman in my life. I want to let her know just how much I appreciate her and everything she has done on our behalf. She has been such a blessing in my life, as she has given me an opportunity to have a grandmother...something that I've never had. I am grateful for the time and opportunity I have had to be able to love her.

We love you, Ri, so much. Thank you for all our memories and for being such an inspiration to us! You are always in our hearts and in our prayers!

T.G.I.F!!!

This week has been tough for the whole family. Landon is doing great with treatments, but we're starting to see the treatments work. He's making progress in his efforts, but he's often tired, and quite a bit more irritable and frustrated. This is completely normal, and is a sign that his brain is exercising, similar to being sore the day after a good workout.

Kaden is especially having a hard time with all this activity. I don't think it's necessarily that he feels Landon is getting all the attention, I think being out of his schedule is really messing with him. He has a hard time when Landon is taken to the back, especially if we need to go to the car for a diaper change. It seems he's always afraid we're going to leave Landon behind and it puts him in an inconsolable fit.

Myla decided to grow up this week as well. We toyed with the idea of putting her in a toddler bed earlier, and before I knew it, she was sleeping like a big girl! Then, when she decided she didn't  need a sippy cup any more yesterday, my heart broke a little. I know that girl is destined for great things, I just wish I could keep her small a little bit longer.

As for me and Jim...we have definitely looked better. I think the word "frazzled" would be a good description. Constantly feeling like we're forgetting something is a feeling we're becoming used to. I suppose it's just good that we've managed to keep track of all three kids so far. (I only have three, right?)

I think this Saturday we'll just take it easy. We'll go to the park and feed the ducks and let the kids take a breather. Just one more week and we can resume a fairly normal schedule at home! (Landon will do another 18 days of treatment at home).

My Quest

When I was young (I am still young, mind you) my dad was my hero. There wasn't anything that he didn't know or couldn't fix.  I used to walk hand in hand with him every Sunday evening; we would sing songs and he would tell me great stories like the "Wide Mouthed Frog," complete with vocal exaggeration and facial animation. I used to carry a bag on these walks of ours, the inscription on front read, "Interesting Things," which I would fill with knack-knacks and doo-dads that fascinated my seven-year-old mind. He was never so busy that I couldn't talk to him, and when I did, I knew I had his full attention. He picked me up when I was down, often times I left his shoulder soaked with tears. There wasn't anything that he didn't understand and couldn't help me understand. There still isn't.

I grew up along side my brother. We fought, as all siblings do, but I always knew he cared about me. He used to take me everywhere with him. Granted, this was before he could drive...so he would fold up a towel and position it on the cross bar of his bike (not the handlebars) and have me straddle it with my legs propped up so they didn't get in the way of his pedaling (yes, this was definitely not the most comfortable position in the world). We would ride around for hours like this. I don't even remember where we went. I just remember feeling completely safe with him (though, perhaps in this situation I probably should not have...) He was my big, tough brother, and despite our differences, I knew he would never let anything happen to me.

When I got older, I finally got the opportunity to get to know my oldest brother (something that is hard to do from 800 miles away, especially with a little sister who had the attention span of a sparrow). He is literally my twin; the fact that he is the oldest and I am the youngest has nothing to do with the matter. No one else gets me the way he does. He was my positive reinforcement growing up, always loving me for just exactly who I was, no more no less. He probably doesn't know how much it still means to me when he tells me he loves me and he is proud of me.

I remember the day my sister fell in love. At first I wasn't really thrilled that my soon-to-be brother in law was taking my sister away from me...but it wasn't long before I came around. It was hard to ignore that he adored my sister. He loved the quirky things that made her who she was (there are many of these things, and she won't deny any of them, which is one of the things I love about her). He treated me like his little sister, razzing me and giving me a hard time, but at the same time he took care to let me know that there was always a place for me in their home.  I remember the way his face would light up when he made my sister laugh, which would make him laugh harder. I have a deep respect for him and their marriage. They probably have no idea how closely I watched them, or how much I would model my own marriage after theirs.

Between these four men in my life, I had a check list of what I wanted in a husband: I wanted someone like my dad who would put me back together when I fell apart, who would always take the time to create memories with me. I wanted someone like my brother who always made me feel safe, and like my other brother who was never shy about letting me know he loved me and how proud he was of me. I wanted someone like my brother in law who would adore me, who would do anything to hear me laugh. More than anything else, I wanted someone who would do all of this not only for me, but for our children.

It was no easy task finding someone who fit the bill, but then I met Jim.

I don't get sappy about our relationship very often. It's not because I don't believe that Jim is my knight in shining armor...I just sort of have a reverence about him and our relationship, and for that reason I don't feel the need to publicize it very often. Today, however, I want to.

I remember the day I met Jim  at work, which is a story I'll dive into more detail at a later time. I had dated all types of guys up till then, but he was different. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get him out of my head. So I nurtured a close friendship with him. We used to live across the parking lot from each other, and I remember passively looking out the window to see if his car was in it's spot, always kicking myself later for even caring. I remember one time his car hadn't come home all night (as though he wasn't in it..haha!) and it was 2 o'clock in the morning. Panic ran through me as I tried to sleep that night, so much that I tossed and turned all night. I hated that I cared, but no matter how much I tried not to, I cared that much more. His car did come home at some point, by the way, and I can only assume it brought him with it.

I remember the day I realized he cared for me the same way. It happened so naturally that it barely seems like it happened at all. It was the usual phone call, "Hey, do you want to grab some Chinese Food with me?" That was the first night he took my hand in his. I remember because mine fit so perfectly in his. I realized he was everything I ever wanted, he was a little piece of all of the men in my life. We've been inseparable since. Six years of marriage and three kids later, the rest is history.

I won't say that marriage has been all peaches and roses. In fact, sometimes I wouldn't even give it the credit of lemons and dandelions. We've both come a long way in these 6 years, but one thing has always stayed the same. At the end of the day, and no matter how irritated we get with one another, I remember that his hand is the only one that mine fits perfectly in.

P.S. Leave Comments! How did you know that your significant other was "the one?"

Brazilian Lemonade

Picture Courtesy of
"Our Best Bites"

I don't normally blog about recipes. I mean, there are about a thousand and a half recipe blogs out there, and I won't ever pretend to be one. However, there is a recipe that I HAVE to share, because it is insanely good. Brazilian Lemonade (though I would call it a Brazilian Limeade seeing as there is not an ounce of lemon in it).

I got the recipe off of the "Our Best Bites" blog. If you want to check out their specific how-to's, click here.

Otherwise, go now! Don't wait till tonight! Call in sick if you must! You'll thank me later!






Brazilian Lemonade

4 juicy limes (try and find ones with thin, smooth skins; they’re the juiciest and the thin skin cuts down on the chance of your drink being bitter)
1 c. sugar
6 c. cold water
6 Tbsp. sweetened condensed milk

Mix cold water and sugar very well and chill until ready to use. This step can be done ahead of time.

Wash limes thoroughly with soap (I just use hand-dishwashing soap or regular hand soap); you need the soap to get the wax and pesticides off of the limes because you’re using the WHOLE lime, baby. Cut the ends off the limes and then cut each lime into 8ths.

Place 1/2 of the limes in your blender.

Add 1/2 of the sugar water, place the lid on your blender, and pulse 5 times. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher (the one you’ll serve the lemonade in) and pour the blended mixture through the strainer and into the pitcher. Use a spoon to press the rest of the liquid into the pitcher. Dump the pulp and stuff in the strainer into the trash. Repeat with remaining limes and sugar water. Add sweetened condensed milk; DO NOT leave this step out unless you will die of a horrible sweetened condensed milk allergy because this is the secret ingredient! You may want to taste test it at this point; I used giant, thick-skinned limes tonight and didn’t test it and it came out a little bitter. If it’s bitter, just add some more sugar and maybe a little more milk.

Serve immediately over lots of ice. This does not keep well, so don’t make this in advance (although you can cut the limes, mix the sugar water, and measure the sweetened condensed milk in advance). Serves 4, although I can pretty much guarantee you that people will want more; I usually plan on 1 1/2 servings at LEAST per person.