This week we got to pick up Joe's orthotics. The first day he only wore them for a couple of hours. Then every day we increase the ammount of time that he wears them until he ends up wearing them every waking hour. Thank goodness he is so good natured, he doesn't seem to mind being strapped into them. I think I'd be irritated like crazy to have to wear those things all the time. I imagine it feels kind of like wearing ski boots - I hated ski boots. So far they are bulky and cumbersome and I'm trying to remind myself that they will help him and it'll be worth all the hassle in the long run. Right?
This is my TA DA slideshow for the week. As you can see in the pictures I used sketches alot this week. They've been really helpful lately. I've really been pleased with seeing my skills develop as a scrapper. I enjoy learning from other more experienced scrapbookers. If you want to check out the other Sunday Scrappers click HERE!!
Our family is big on movies. But I know its hard to find good movies to watch together as a family. When I was growing up there was a 15 year spread between me (oldest) and my brother (youngest) - talk about hard to please everyone's movie taste! Feature Films for Families is a great company that puts out family friendly movies for all ages and tastes. They're goal is to "strengthen traditional values through entertainment". They're even offering a Free DVD so you can try them out and see if you like what they have to offer. They even have discussion questions to help you teach your children to think critically about media and what they watch. A couple of my favorite Feature Films for Families movies that I grew up watching are(now forgive me, these are from a long time ago!): A Little Princess ~ This one is good for younger kids (girls), full of imagination. You may have heard of the Shirley Temple version. Girl of Limber Lost ~ This is reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables or Little House on the Prairie - and its based in Indiana which I liked. City Boy ~ One of the first movies that I had a crush on the actor in! Good story too, about choosing between right and wrong. Rigoletto ~ This is a musical and I can still sing the songs to it! Its kind of a mix between Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera. But still pretty kid friendly.
I try to give good gifts. Sometimes it works and I suppose sometimes it doesn't. But one gift that I gave recently that I think is pretty good was for a bridal shower. I actually stole the idea from my friend Jules who did it better but I'll blame it on her having more free time than me. Anyway, the gist of it is a dinner date kit. My friend Jules did a spaghetti dinner basket. She got plates and glasses from the dollar store and then etched the couple's monogram onto the dinnerware with etching cream from her local craft store. Mine was a little simpler and it included the following: two dish towels, a box of pasta, a jar of pesto, a box of garlic breadsticks, a bottle of sparkling lemonade (I wasn't sure if they were drinkers or else I might have gotten some inexpensive wine), and two wine glasses (from the dollar store). I fluffed it all up with tissue paper in a nice basket. You could easily change it up to make a different meal, match the season or whatever you want. And that Works For Me!
Joe had alot going on last week. Tuesday he worked really hard during Occupational Therapy. He sat for 5min on his own and again for 8min. Then later that night he sat unassisted for sixteen minutes. That was really exciting. Not alot of people understand how big a deal that is for him and for us. His progress seems so slow to me sometimes. It does my heart good to see a milestone like this come along. He's been working really hard in therapy. Wednesday we went downtown and he got fitted for his orthotics. They took a mold of both his feet and they will make the inserts from those. We'll get them back next week. They are plastic inserts that will help keep his ankles from turning in when he stands. We went as a family to this appointment. Nate helped pick out the design. It was fun to have him be involved in the process. Thursday we spent a few hours at Riley while Joe got an MRI of his head and spine. Children his age have to be sedated for them to lie still enough for the doctors to get a good picture. It was so sad to see him hooked up to oxygen and being put into that huge machine. But he was a trooper and did really well with the whole thing. I was really glad when it was finally over and I could hold my little guy close again. Friday I took Joe to IU Hospital for an EMG. They tested both his nerves and his muscles. It is kind of complicated and I'm not sure I really understand it well. The first part wasn't so bad, they used a couple of sensors to test how well his nerves send messages. Then the second part he was stuck with a very small needle and then probed around listening to his muscle movement. He was not a big fan of that part, but did really well despite his discomfort. This did not take nearly as long as the MRI - thank goodness. Well... it was a long, draining week. We will not really know what the results of the tests mean until we see the next doctor (a genetic neurologist) in November. I have stressed alot over these procedures. I am tired from worrying and tired from running back and forth to doctors' appointments. I'm glad that we won't have anything big coming up for awhile. Thank you for your continued prayers.
Here is my Scrapping Sunday post. Even though it was a busy week I got some good pages done. Check them out!
Oh yeah... here are two pages that I forgot to put on the slideshow. These are my boys' ultrasound pages. I wanted them similar but different so I used some of the same papers. What do ya think?
Something I love but don't get to enjoy very often is the theater. Not movies... but real, live actors on stages... I mean really, who doesn't love a good play!?! Well, I just found an interesting link on MoneySavingMom.com about an upcoming event. Its called Free Night of Theater and its being held in cities all over the US. Participating theaters are offering special performances to the public for FREE!! Can't beat that! Check it out - see if there is some drama happening near you!
My IRL scrappin' sistah Toni gave me this award! In turn, I'm going to share some of my favorite blogs with you as I pass this award on. Recipients, here are your guidelines:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog. 2. Link to the person you received your award from. 3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs. 4. Put links of those blogs on yours. 5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated
Anne at My Life as a Newlywed And all the blogs that regularly participate in Sunday Scrappin'! I love checking out your layouts and other paper crafts!
I don't know about your family, but ours is big on cuddling. Whether its first thing in the morning before we get out of bed and start our day, or while watching a movie... we like to be close. Here are a few articles that help explain the benefits of such cuddling. Lifelong Benefits of Cuddling Your Baby
I've had my patience tested on more than one (dozen) occasions today. I really am bummed that I'm not going to be attending Hearts at Home this weekend. I feel a genuine need to get some time away, some solitude, some peace and quiet... but even though that is not going to happen anytime soon I have been encouraged today. While blog browsing today I came across a video on motherhood. I think I've heard this story before but watching this video I found on My Semblance of Sanity today brought me to tears.
Then, while checking my email I got a forward from a friend from my care group. This is it:
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
Devotion:
Good Mom? Bad Mom? Good Mom? Bad Mom?
Do you ever feel as though you are the ping-pong ball in a heated match bouncing constantly between feeling like a good mom to a bad mom?
One minute I have a great discussion where my child finally gets it... GOOD MOM!
The next I get an e-mail from a teacher that lists the three parents who have yet to turn in that permission slip and I am on the list for all the world to see... BAD MOM!
I calmly handle the stresses of the morning routine... GOOD MOM!
But then during the afternoon homework session, my child's irresponsibility over a last minute project just about sends me over the edge. I find my neck muscles tensing and my voice rising... BAD MOM!
I make sure they pack something healthy for lunch... GOOD MOM!
The schedule falls apart in the late afternoon and I wind up feeding them sugar cereal for dinner... BAD MOM!
Sometimes I feel like that ping-pong ball mom bouncing from feeling good to bad. Yesterday morning I sat down at the kitchen table after getting everyone where they needed to be and cried. Sometimes having kids is the greatest thing that has ever happened in my life. Other days I feel like the task of parenting little people is driving me to the brink of craziness.
Just the other day I was processing some recent family things with my friend, Renee, over the phone. Suddenly a strange theme seemed to arise. I just started laughing. I told Renee that so many of my days seemed to tell the same kind of story... I was on the verge of a breakdown and then I spent time with Jesus and He made things better.
Renee quipped back to me, "Well, isn't that where most of us live every day?"
Not that we are on the edge of a breakdown, but we live in a place of utter dependence on God. I know as a mom, I live in constant need of His love, encouragement, wisdom, perspective, strength, patience, and grace.
Anything I do right as a mom is because of my constant dialogs with God.
Anything I do wrong as a mom is because of trying to do things in my own strength and slap wearing myself out.
That's where grace steps in. And I need lots of grace. God's grace steps in and says, “Lysa, you are doing better than you think. Stop bouncing from feeling good to bad to good to bad. In the good times, rejoice and thank me. In the not so good times, call out to me quickly."
And suddenly it occurred to me; with God I'm never a bad mom. I might be having a bad moment... or two... or seventeen. But a few bad moments do not define me as a bad mom.
God's grace is there to cover me. Teach me. And even in the middle of a bad moment, interrupt me, redirect me, and change me.
Forgiveness is there. Love is there. A second chance is there.
You are a good mom my friend even if, like me, you’ve had a few bad moments... you is the exact mom God knew your children needed. Let's live in that truth today.
Dear Lord, being a mom is a great privilege but one that can be so challenging at times. Teach me how to lean on You with every action and every reaction. And when I mess up, please help me to not define myself by my mommy failures. Help me to only be defined by Your love that assures me and Your grace that covers me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Find a verse today that could help redirect an angry or frustrated response with your kids. There are some good ones listed below in the power verses. Or you can search out one that specifically applies to your unique struggles. When you feel your temper about to flare, have this verse handy and quote it out loud. In that moment ask God to give you a wiser response than your natural feelings.
Reflections:
Do you ever struggle with being defined by your mistakes rather than by the truth of God? Spend some time in prayer today asking God to give you His loving perspective of how He sees you. Rest in his lavish love. If you need to ask for forgiveness for some of your actions, do this and then let these things go.
Power Verses:
Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (NIV)
James 1:5-6, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (NIV- emphasis mine)
I have been on (and am still working on) a quest to manage and organize my time better. As a part of that journey I have tried lots of different calendars - especially free printable calendars that I've found online. I've tried many, but I've really only found one that I've stuck with. I downloaded my favorite one and modified it in Word to make it fit our lifestyle just a bit better. Check out Calendars That Work and see for yourself. Check out some other Works For Me Wednesday posts!!
This week we got to pick up Joe's orthotics. The first day he only wore them for a couple of hours. Then every day we increase the ammount of time that he wears them until he ends up wearing them every waking hour. Thank goodness he is so good natured, he doesn't seem to mind 
being strapped into them. I think I'd be irritated like crazy to have to wear those things all the time. I imagine it feels kind of like wearing ski boots - I hated ski boots. So far they are bulky and cumbersome and I'm trying to remind myself that they will help him and it'll be worth all the hassle in the long run. Right?
