We're with pics!

I tried to go back and add photos to past entries but I'm not quite figuring out how to do it. So we'll have to start from this point forward. This picture was from a couple weeks ago when I walked into the kids' room to find Lydia in her crib playing with toys, her feet tucked into the two smallest cups she could find. I guess she likes her feet cozy. She definitely likes her shoes. Yesterday I asked her if she could go get her shoes because we were going out, and sure enough, she came back with a matching pair. I have no idea where she found them!

She's been feeling rough the last couple days... definitely teething. But she's been super cuddly, so that's been fun. I hope she's doing better by tomorrow, though, because that's when our family leaves for five days in California. We have a student conference over the weekend, followed by staff meetings for staff in AZ and CA. Other kids will be there too, so I hope ours have fun playing with them.

As for Simeon, he got a haircut not too long ago and has been looking quite handsome. He has a "date" tonight with one of our students so Bryce and I can go out. Yesterday Krista was here when he woke up from his nap and I asked him if he wanted to say goodbye before he left. He was heartbroken when he realized she couldn't stay. "But I want a date with her!" he wailed, lip quivering. I don't know any other 3-year-old who will call women on the phone, ask for a date, and get an immediate yes! The girls are great with him, and he loves the attention. So far, he hasn't noticed (or seemed to mind) that Lydia's usually there as a chaperone.

We hope everyone is doing well!

Susan

Glad to be together

I made a last-minute trip to Phoenix with one of our staff on Friday because she had a close family friend who died. I was gone just a day, but real thankful to be able to share that time with her, then thankful to once again be with my family. Her friend was like a second mother to her, and she left behind three children -- two in college and one in high school. It's made me glad for life and for this time that I share with my own kids and husband.

Simeon is enjoying increasing independence. We haven't had to change a dirty diaper from him in months because he's going so well on the potty. But we still have to use pull-ups because he forgets and wets through his underwear. He can take off his sleepers, put on his own pants and socks, and get his arms through his shirt by himself. He loves going to the park with daddy and kicking balls.

Lydia is walking so well now. She and Simmy play together by the hour, inventing games that mystify onlookers. One recent game was both falling onto a sleeping bag that was laying in the living room. They would bonk heads as they fell, both laughing, and gingerly rubbing heads as they prepared for their next dive. Another game was Lydia standing behind Simeon and holding his middle. Then he would walk too fast for her to keep up and she would fall face-first onto the carpet. They did it over and over and thought it was hilarious.

Lydia's still eating twice (or three times) as much as Simeon most days.... until those random meals of oatmeal, or tomato soup, where Sims makes up for 3 days-worth of eating in one setting. They're sleeping fairly well in the same room. And we usually get to sleep until 7:30 in the mornings. That's glorious.

We had a workday on Saturday for the students to earn money for spring break and winter conference costs. We hired a few students of our own and finished filling the dirt into the raised flower beds. It looks great!

I've got two crying kids to deal with. More later.

Susan

Baby Frankenstein

Well, as of yesterday, Lydia's walking pretty much everywhere. Slowly. She lifts each leg with measured concentration, feet turned out, arms held ready for some imaginary ballroom partner, and manages to get to each room just as folks are leaving for the next place. Usually when she sees Sims coming toward her, she sits down as a preventative measure, as he usually ends up knocking her down. It's fun to see our baby turning into a little girl.

I've been easing off the cortizone that the doctor had me on to boost my adrenal function. I felt like it was helping, but the problem was that I was also not sleeping well. As I'm lowering the dosage, I'm getting better sleep, but I'm also more tired during the day. I have a few more days of finishing the cortizone, then am starting a new supplement that I will only have to take once a day, as compared to four times daily. We'll see how the new stuff works.

Saturday, Bryce went down to the mountains about an hour away with some of his guys and took Sims along. They had a great day of hiking and eating junk food and using all the woods as their toilet. Simmy had a blast and when he came home, wanted immediately to go back outside.

Lydia is communicating more these days. When she wants her ski hat, she pats her head. When she wants her sunglasses, she pats her eyes. When she wants her pacifier, she says, "Bah!" And then there's always the bloodcurdling shriek that lets us know that she is not okay with the present situation. She used to say "Yeah!" to any question you might ask but now likes to change it up with a "Noooh", or the more uncertain "Yoh." This morning when the staff team was here for breakfast, she pulled out a "Yoh" when we asked her something and Simmy pondered for a moment. "Did she mean yes, or no?" he asked. Good question. But he still likes to interpret what she wants, and usually his diagnosis sounds right on track. It's nice to have someone that remembers how to speak baby.

I keep meaning to post photos, so keep checking back. But for now, I'm signing off.

(Happy Birthday Kathy!)

Susan