01/30/2009 Ice Storm and more

Well, life has been eventful for us. An ice storm swept across our state on Tuesday night and some snow on top. Snow is ok - we can survive snow - but the ice storm lasted so long that power lines have snapped all over as well as fallen trees and limbs. Needless to say so many people have been without for three days now and they think it may be over a week or more to get us all back with power. We have had no heat OR hot water. No TV, no internet access, no nothing. John finally went out to get a generator. So we will have limited heat but still no hot water. Makes for one cold shower (if one would be brave enough to take a cold shower.) I have a friend with no heat but does have hot water so she is not doing much better - it is freezing to step out of the shower. Temps here have been below freezing most days and nights. (For those in more northern states - please hear that we are not complaining of cold weather or snow - it is the ice storm that has affected many people in our area to be living in very extreme cold situations. )

I got to see a pine tree uproot and fall over on our power lines snapping them and also breaking two telephone poles in two. It was interesting. We were trapped in our street for a day or two. A kind neighbor who was caught on the "other side" took us to my moms. We only had to walk through the power lines - a little nerve racking but worth it once we got warm. An electrician said it would be more than a week to get us back up and running - replacing the telephone poles and the two transformers.

Anyway - Lacie, Paul and Euitag and I have stayed at my mothers the past two nights. We will go home tomorrow afternoon. Euitag may stay another night with mom - she spoils him like one of her own and it is much more quiet here than our house. My mom and step dad have been so generous.

To top it off Paul has had a week long virus - he would have been out of school anyway. He did not eat for three days and drank very little. He finally began to eat yesterday. Yea! He can go back to school on Monday if school is open.

Euitag has been out of school all week. I guess he will make it up at the end of the school year. We will have to see.

Pray for peace of mind for me as we head home tomorrow (Saturday). I know others in our city and state have it much worse than us. I worry about everything. Please also pray for Lacie and Euitag that they do not get the virus Paul has had. When reading on line it seems that only smaller kids are at higher risk. I am personally not worried about getting it. I think it is more of a childhood illness.

I will be off line for a few or more days. But may be able to check email and any comments sporadically.

Love to all and we hope to have lots to report within a week.

Vonda

1/25/2009 First Snow (a week ago)

I am really trying to get current. I still have so much to share about our two week holiday - maybe I can do it all in one post - later. May have to be after we take care of taxes.

Anyway - the written will be short - but here are some pics and then a slide show/video mix. While Paul has very few spoken words, he is firm with his "no's."

The CUTE hats they are wearing were gifts from Euitag's mom from Korea. Aren't they too cute? Thanks for the beautiful scarves and hats Euitag's mom!




Blessings to all!
Vonda and fam -

01/19/2009 "your stuffing is coming out"

I hope to get a pic or two on this post, but it may have to come later. If I do not share this story, I will forget it.

Lacie was on the potty as I was getting both ready for a bath tonight. Paul and I sat on the edge of the tub and I took off his socks. He had on new socks so there was a lot of fuzz in-between his toes. I began to get the fuzz out of his toes and Lacie was watching with amazement. She then asked me, "what are you doing?"
I said, "getting the fuzz out of Paul's toes."
Lacie said, "Does he have holes in his toes?"
I was then the amazed one . . .
She thought that there was a hole in Paul's toes and I was pulling the "fuzz" out of his foot.

So, I told my mom and she reminded me that when we were little, once my dad had some "fuzz" in his belly button. Mom does not remember which one of us it was, but one of us said, "daddy, your stuffing is coming out."

Ahhh - kids are so awesome.

Blessings!



Messy but sweet!

1/7/2009 "I wish my mom were an elephant"

Lacie's favorite show is called "Wonder Pets." There is a guinea pig, duckling and turtle who work together as a team to save other baby animals. At the end of each show, the rescued baby animals are always reunited with their parents. Sometimes Lacie is so endeared to those reunions that she will say, "I wish my mom were a ___________." So, tonight she said, "I wish my mom were an elephant."

When we were watching the movie "Madagascar II" the Lion, Alex finds his parents. Lacie said, "I did not know Alex had a mommy." Then she said, "I wish my mommy were a Lion." As long as she never says, "my mommy looks like an elephant, or hippo" I think I can handle it.


HEARING TEST:
Paul had a hearing test today. He gets his speech evaluation on Friday and I guess we then begin speech next week or so. His hearing test came back perfect - but I expected as much. He has no problem with hearing or responding to spoken words - his receptive language is awesome. But, his spoken language is still a bit down. Paul had a fun day with MawMaw today. She took him to her house and they played all day long. He has never had MawMaw time by himself. He always has to share with Lacie. He enjoyed the life of a prince today.


Blessings!

01/05/2009 Such A Helper!

Have I said Happy New Year yet? So sorry - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

The kids and I have been off work and school now for two weeks. It has been wonderful. We have enjoyed our Christmas break and also enjoyed having friends over to play and visit.

Today we all went back to school and work. Getting up this morning was very difficult except for Paul who was up and wanting to play very early.

When I picked up the kids today I got a note from Lacie's teacher:

"Such a Helper! I have so missed Lacie! Her favorite center is books and they've just been a mess since the holidays. They're nice and tidy now that she's back!"

I am so proud of her. One day I got a note home that said, "Lacie was caught caring for her friend today when her friend got hurt."

Now the boy is different - Paul's notes home are like this: "Paul was rough with his friends today." or "Paul hit his friends." Etc. John's response to this it, "That's my boy!" Tee Hee! Great thing is that while researching on line I found that aggressiveness in preverbal kids is very normal. YIPEE!

Have a great week and know that I do remember that I owe a slideshow entry of our Christmases.

Blessings!
Vonda

Love to all -