Dinosaurs, Dragons, and Thumbelina's--Oh My!

More than a month has passed since Halloween, but better late than never! Halloween festivities were a little crazy given the changes in our home. We tried to make sure the kids had their usual favorite activity: pumpkin carving.

Unfortunately we could not find our camera, so we resorted to using Mark's cell camera for pictures. The best shot we got of the three oldest digging into their pumpkins is blurry, but I'll post it anyway. At first we were going to carve on the kitchen table, but then Mark suggested we carve in the foyer so Sean could get in on the action. Sean had a great time. Even Brandon sat nearby for a little while.

I was the designated "pumpkin artist", drawing the pumpkin faces according to specifications. Ira's pumpkin was to have "evil eyes" and "vampire teeth". Emma wanted "pretty eyes" and a "happy mouth with teeth". I kind of winged it when it came to my niece's pumpkin since she doesn't talk much yet.





Ira was able to wear his Halloween costume to school for a Halloween parade. I also sprayed his hair green and spiked it. He LOVED the green hair (don't go getting any crazy ideas, my son!). I put him in a green shirt under his costume, and I think he loved the fact that his hair matched his shirt. Fun times!


As far as costumes go, Ira was a dinosaur. Emma and my niece were Thumbelina. Sean was a dragon. I went far and wide to get Ira's costume. We actually lucked out when I found it in Mission Viejo on our little vacation the beginning of October. It had sold out online and in the local stores (Children's Place). I had all but given up hope of finding it.

For Halloween, we attended the annual "Trunk or Treat" at the church building. If you are not familiar with "trunk or treat" it is when you walk from car trunk to car trunk collecting treats from those with their trunk open. Some trunks are even decked out Halloween style. I usually decorate our trunk, but not this year. Mark had to work so it was a little crazy. The kids got a boat load of candy and everyone was happy. Even my niece warmed up to the idea when she realized people were giving her candy. Ira and Emma really enjoyed the "reading tent". Inside a man was reading children Halloween stories. I think they could have stayed there all night listening!

Times They Are A'Changin'

A lot has happened since my last post. I never got around to writing about the Discovery shuttle landing or Ira and Emma's fun with soccer. I also need to post pictures of our last vacation to San Diego and Mission Viejo, Sean's first birthday, and Halloween. I will try to get to those postings very soon.

But life has fundamentally changed for our little family. We have grown by 2 persons. My niece and nephew have come to stay with us. We do not know how long this stay will be. I am the first to admit that this has been the roughest 3 weeks of my life. My niece is 2 and nephew 7 mos. Add to my children, ages 5, 3, and 1, and you get some major crazy! All the children have had to make major adjustments--especially my little niece. This has not been an easy transition for her.

But every time things get hard someone or something comes to my rescue and things are made bearable again. I have to thank my dear friends and family for their impromptu visits and meals. Just today, I was pulling out my cookbook to get a recipe for dinner tonight when my mother-in-law called to say she was bringing over dinner if I hadn't started something yet.

The roughest night was the day after we picked up the kids. Ira and Emma had a stomach bug that week. I thought I was managing okay. I took care of the four youngest while my mom took Ira to soccer practice. I bathed the little ones and had them dressed for bed by the time Ira and my mom returned home a little after 7pm. As Ira and my mother were eating, my niece who had been laying on a recliner suddenly sat up and started to throw up. Being two, she got up and started to throw up on the floor, around the sofa table and then on me while I was nursing Sean. My little bubble of thinking, "hey I have the hang of this" completely burst.

Mark was at work. I called him sobbing and told him I didn't think I could handle another night. He was far from the office and it would take at least an hour before he could come home. I got off the phone dejected. And then I got to work. Took off my soaked pants. Got out the vacuum, mop, and vinegar spray. I cleaned the couch I was on, the tile floor by the sofa table, and vacuumed the "chunks" in the carpet and on the recliner before I had to stop and finish Sean's nursing.

As I was sitting there, feeling awful and wondering how in the world I could have agreed to this arrangement, the doorbell rang. There were two angels there ready to help! They cleared the dinner dishes and swept the kitchen floor. They were awesome.

Then another angel appeared and gave my niece another bath and held her for quite awhile. Taking care of her when she got sick again and again.

My own little angel, Ira, got towels out when my niece first got sick and then laid towels on her bed in case she got sick again (without being asked).

And she did get sick again--several times over. As I was talking to one of my friends I realized that I didn't feel so good. I ran to the sink and started my night of vomiting too. Mark got home about 2 hours after I first called him so he stayed up the night with my niece and I was able to get some sleep (interrupted a few times by the vomiting).

Thankfully we haven't had too many nights as bad as that one. And the bad nights we have had, I've been able to cope fairly well. I studied mathematics in college. I like order. Mathematics is all about order (and logic). I've been searching for the order in the chaos that is our new life and have found it in varying degrees. It will be a continual process as things will undoubtedly change with time. I feel the Lord is helping me every step of the way. He is strengthening my weaknesses. I am ever grateful to Him and to my dear angels he has placed here to help me along this journey.