its about to get busy...

I'm holding on for dear life to no schedule and no where to go... b/c its gonna be our busiest fall.  It could be busier, there could be a baby arriving, but I'm loving this relative calm and wanting to hang on.  We reached our insurance's visit limit about a month ago so we haven't been to OT or PT in a month (I've love, love, LOVED it!... did I say I've loved it?!?!) but we appealed it and our insurance approved more... so that's a great thing but I've also loved this break!  And Peter gets his tonsils and adenoids out on 9/6 then preschool starts up the next week.  He'll be in 3 mornings a week plus Wellspring on Tuesdays so that's 4 "early" mornings out plus at least 3 therapies per week.  (i know its not that early and Mike reminded me that he goes out 5 mornings a week but he goes out alone not with 2 littles who are often kicking and screaming... yes, Lily is now t-w-o).  At the end of last summer, I was so excited for the routine ahead but this year, I am wishing I could hang onto summer and the slower schedule a little longer... this summer has gone too, too fast... 

Mike's Birthday

Mike's Birthday was fun for both of us!  His mom came over to watch our kids that morning and I headed downtown to meet him for an appt.  Then we walked to lunch at his favorite restaurant downtown, La Grotta!  I came home after the kids were already napping.  :)

His birthday dinner request was pizza and beer.  Done.

His parents and the Andrews family came over to join us.

 Part of his birthday present from his parents was the copy of Where the Sidewalk Ends that his grandparents had given him as a boy... so that he can read it with Peter.

birthday bedtime hugs

his day!

Happy Birthday to my husband!  I love you, Michael!

and I'm so glad you were born on this day, 34 years ago!

Here are some flashbacks... 

I found this pic of Mike that I've always loved... 

he's strong and gentle

 he's been so good TO me and FOR me!

 he loves to swim... 

he is swimming in the freezing Mediterranean in Jan '06, 

while big, strong George is cowering on the shore (G did go in!)

he's an amazing father!

(and the kids ADORE him.. for good reason!)

Happy Birthday to my favorite person!

(and soberly remembering these days last year)

this is my life!!

Does it get any better than the long days of summer (this side of heaven)?!

they just go tooooo fast!

(Our camera is dead so enjoy these cell pics!)

Sprinkler "tickles" in a tu-tu!

Seriously, this is my life?!.... I love it!!

This doll (and her doll) live in my house!

(giving her a bottle)

(then going for a stroll)

 my exciting craigslist score... 

a new coffee maker for $25... 

to replace our leaky old one!

 Are they beautiful or what?!

look at his frog legs!

This boy has learned to do jigsaw puzzles this summer

and he is an addict!

 We had our annual summer date to the movies and CFA!

 meeting back up with "Goo" and Lily

 we've worked on some canvases for Gram but I did their hand and foot prints wrong 

so we need to re-do them

Peter even helped Lily finish hers... big progress!

 And the girl in this new hand-me-down skirt--- TOO CUTE!

I love them!

Goo's Birthday

Dinner at Gram's house

(leftovers from a party that she'd hosted on her birthday!)

delicious chicken salad and veggies/fruit

 then homemade ice cream pie!

 and lunch at Panera after church :)

Breakfast of Champions

Peter got to have chocolate cake for breakfast this morning!  He completed his sleep study last night (to check for sleep apnea secondary to enlarged adenoids- we get the results next week) and cake was his treat!  (More specifically, it was his treat if he went back to sleep after we got home at 5:50am this morning and HE DID!)  Hooray!  I'm celebrating that its done and praising God that we've crossed that hurdle!  

I think our selling point of "getting a tail" (the idea he came up with for his EEG leads at his admission in March) is officially no longer appealing.  We were a family of horses last night... a boy colt, a stallion and a mare ;)!!  He was so happy to "get his tail off"!  

Peter's been doing VBS this week and I just love this song they've been learning!  Its been good for both of us (maybe more for ME!) to learn and have our mind and heart oriented as we continue to walk down this road!  We are SO thankful for ALL God has done for us!!

We have been even more mindful of this as we approach Peter's 4th Birthday!  We have A LOT to celebrate!!  Its been a BIG year and ALL that we have to be thankful for is in the forefront of our mind, all of the many  hurdles since January, one of the most scary being that dreadful night in February when I thought I had handed him to Him.  We are SO thankful that Peter is with us and doing SO well and even for all that God is doing in our life thru this.  Thank you, Jesus!  We hope his life glorifies YOU! 


ps- I took Lily to the "opening ceremony"  (at a new church!) on the first day of VBS 
in a dress WITHOUT any underpants!!  yep.