Mini-Marathon

My training is in full-swing. It's a bit consuming right now but I feel good.

Three cheers for ibuprofen, a great running partner, and a supportive husband!

Family Time

We enjoyed our Sunday at the park:

Friends

We enjoyed a Saturday with our friends, the Ulicznys.

My favorite picture of the day-- Eliza with her clown sundae:

Mistaken Identity

Check out this site--

Look at the video of Matt Lauer with Chuck Lofton, a weatherman in Indianapolis. Watch the whole thing. It's very good.

Mike and I started the book today. It's emotional, engaging and answers so many questions.

Our Little Ladybug

My mom just took this adorable picture:

Books

I subscribe to a magazine called Cookie that I actually don't like. It's very "New York" and is filled with over-the-top children's clothing, furniture, toys, etc. There was a recent article, though, that I enjoyed entitled "The Unheralded Classics: The 33 Best Children's Books You're Probably Not Reading. Yet."

I get tired of the same books so I thought I would pass along their suggestions to you. Maybe you can take this list to the library on your next visit:

Ages 2-4
Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack (1932)
Little Pea by Amy Krouse (2005)
Round is a Mooncake by Roseanne Thong (2000)
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh (1989)
Little 1 by Ann and Paul Rand (1962)
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (1942)
Jenny's Birthday Book by Esther Averill (1954)
The Backward Day by Ruth Krauss (1950)

Ages 4-6
Crictor by Tomi Ungerer (1958)
Amos and Boris by William Steig (1971)
The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord (1972)
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson (1999)
Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber (1972)
Nimby by Jasper Tomkins (1982)
Mole Music by David McPhail (1999)
The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller (1998)
That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell adn Neal Layton (2007)
Miss Esta Maude's Secret by W. T. Cummings (1961)
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long (2003)

Ages 6-8
The Raft by Jim LaMarche (2000)
Animus by Seonna Hong (2005)
The Wonderful Flight of the Mushroom Planet by Elenor Cameron (1954)
No Flying in thh House by Betty Brock (1970)

Core Problems

What do the Wal-Mart cashier, the bus driver, the Schwan's Man, and the admissions secretary all have in common?

I'll give you one guess....

****

They've all thought I was pregnant.

I was on the treadmill a few nights ago. I was in a groove. I was running eight minute miles. I was feeling great.

The admissions secretary touches my stomach and says, "What's this?"

"Leftovers," I admit.

"Oh, that isn't leftover. You're daughter is almost two, isn't she? Isn't it about time for another baby?"

I'm training for this 13 mile race. I'm feeling great. My training is going well. And they still have to ask if I'm pregnant?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Tyson and Leslie

I know a lot of my friends are aware, but for those family members that read Troy's blog last week about his roommate, Tyson, please check out their blog for an update on Leslie's surgery... and then pray, pray, pray.

Pudding

It was her first pudding treat--

and it was so good!

Today

A brief conversation this morning:

Jonah: Mom, can I play the computer or watch TV?

Me: No.

Jonah: But Mom, I need computer skills and TV-watching skills.

*****

Oh, gee.

In Praise of Yo Gabba Gabba

It'll probably only happen once. I thanked God today for "Yo Gabba Gabba," a ridiculously wild show on Nick Jr.

We went to the mall this morning. I fell on the ice while carrying Lydia and landed on top of her. I was crying, she was crying, and Jonah was choosing to disobey my commands to get back in the car while I tried to regroup. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad morning.

We returned home. I turned on the television, looking for a moment to breathe. Lydia retrieved our plastic tablecloth from a bottom drawer, desiring a "picnic" in the living room. I set up the tablecloth, started making lunch, and heard the song on the TV.

I literally said, "Thank you, Jesus." (What can I say, it was a rough morning.)

My kids were happy. They devoured their lunches-- green beans, carrots, etc.

We'll be singing it for the next four days.

Beware: You will too.

The Blogger Trap

I don't intend to just post pictures. I really do like writing on my blog, but I don't know what to write anymore.

Here's my problem: As an English teacher, I would talk to students about writing to their audiences. I don't know how to write to my parents, old friends, great uncle, cousins, childhood friend's mom, strangers, grandmother, and best friends, and find something interesting to say to everyone-- or something that I'm willing to share with everyone.

So I'm stuck.

Scavenger Hunt

We were bored one night last week and decided to be creative. We planned a scavenger hunt around campus for the kids.


Jonah had to take a picture of the new prayer chapel. I thought some of you would like to see it:

Grammy

We enjoyed fun times with Grammy last week. I think we were all sad when she left!

The Poopin' Cowboy

Proof

We had a good family day yesterday-- sleeping late, cleaning the garage, riding bikes, relaxing in front of the television, etc. So we attempted to go to a basketball game on campus yesterday afternoon.

Jonah can articulate how he's feeling now so after standing on the sidelines for about five minutes, he sloppily ran out the door and said he didn't want to go back to the game because his "ears hurt." We waited until the game was over and ventured back in the gym so he could play with the kids. We weren't there long. We left immediately when we saw him wrestling unsuspecting kids to the floor.

He never recovered last night. Our calm whispers, positive attitudes, and peaceful house didn't help at all. We were AMAZED at how 30 minutes in a gym environment could send him into such a downward spiral. He was asleep by 7 p.m.-- much earlier than usual.

There's been a little talk in the news recently about Sensory Processing Disorder. An article in Time Magazine in December sums it up:

"My doctor doesn't believe in SPD; teachers can't handle it; insurance won't pay for therapy. There's good reason for that. SPD is not listed in medical texts or in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM), the bible of psychiatric disorders. Doctors acknowledge sensory issues as a common feature of autism and a frequent feature of ADHD but not as a stand-alone disorder. Lucy Jane Miller, a former protégé of Ayres and head of the STAR Center, is spearheading a campaign to change that. She has organized a national effort to have SPD added to the next edition of the DSM, the fifth, due out in 2012. Earning a spot in the DSM V would make it easier for researchers to win grants, kids to get accommodations at school and families to be reimbursed for a course of treatment, which, at the STAR Center, often costs $4,000.

To receive recognition, advocates must provide persuasive evidence that 'this is not just part of autism or ADHD, that it's a better definition of what these kids are experiencing,' says Dr. Darrel Regier, director of research for the American Psychiatric Association and vice chair of the DSM V task force."

Our house yesterday evening would have given them some "persuasive evidence."

And to see my boy this afternoon at home-- calm, in control, sweetly singing to himself-- the difference is unbelievable.

Bubble Beards

She's Not a Baby Anymore

Jacob Alexander

Tricia delivered our nephew last night at 5:59 p.m.
We're so thankful for his safe arrival.

Something to Read

Every once in a while you find a blog that grips you. A friend told me about this one. I smiled, I prayed, I cried.

I wanted to tell you about it too.

5:40 a.m.

It used to be my favorite part of the day. I was single, living alone, and had nothing better to do so I was in the workout room in the early morning hours with a good friend, a few old men, and the rest of the day ahead of me.

I recently committed myself to running the mini-marathon. I want to do well. It's been six years since I've trained seriously for a race so I'm trying the ol' early morning workout again. It feels good. It feels good to have accomplished something by 6:30 a.m. It feels good to use weights again. It feels good to know that I'm doing something for myself.

I dream of running another marathon next year. We'll see how this goes...

Lydia Ray

Lydia turned 18 months on Saturday. She is definitely not a baby anymore. Here's the latest:

- She loves to climb. She likes to climb on the toilet with the seat down and dance around in a circle. She likes to climb on the coffee table and dance around in a circle. She likes to climb on the kid table in our playroom and dance around in a circle. She's attempted to climb on the top of the dining room table (to dance around in a circle, no doubt) before I intervened.

- She speaks in vowels. Besides "mama" and "dada," every person, place, and thing is a vowel sound.

- She giggles when Mike walks through the door. She adores her daddy.

- She loves to play dress-up. She'll point to a coat in the closet that she wants to wear. If I ignore her, she'll stand at the closet door and SCREAM. She can often be seen wearing Jonah's fireman raincoat or Mike's fleece vests. She also loves to try on every shoe in the house. We have shoes scattered everywhere!

- She's currently obsessed with toilet paper.

- She loves to play hide and seek. She even covers her eyes. She hasn't quite mastered the concept of HIDING.

- I used to think that she was going to be a quiet, sweet, gentle-natured girl. I don't really think that anymore! She definitely has some spunk.

Obsession

The truth must be told. I've slacked on housework. I've slacked on blogging. I've slacked on emailing. I've slacked on organizing.

I've become obsessed with scrapbooking again. A friend introduced me to Heritage Makers, an online sight that allows me to make "storybooks." It's really just like walking into a scrapbook store and having every piece of paper, sticker, ribbon, brad, corner rounder, tag, marker, stencil, etc. available to me. I've had so much fun creating a book for Jonah. You pay per month to have full access to the site so I have a deadline-- the end of this month.

Pardon me, I must get back to work!

Disgusting

I recently drove past the house where I was raised. It made me sick to my stomach. My parents moved out of the house in 2000. A young family from an unpleasant part of Columbus bought it, and I remember my parents being excited for them to have a nice home in a nice neighborhood.

It's arguably the nastiest house in the neighborhood now.

Can you believe it?


The best part? They removed the landscaping around the front door and windows and replaced it with a doghouse... dirt and a doghouse. Lovely.

Wedding

After an event filled Christmas vacation, we just returned to our home, refreshed and thankful for such wonderful family and friends.

Mike and I travelled to Virginia for my friend's wedding. Jana was a beautiful bride. She was relaxed, organized, and SO HAPPY! It was a wonderful celebration. We laughed, we danced, and we ate...then we laughed some more and ate some more. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the weekend:

Song of the Day

Cousins

A Chicken Strip

Jonah received a dollar in the mail yesterday from his Pop and Grammy. I asked him on the way home from the library last night if he wanted to get something special with his dollar.

"I'm hungry. I want chicken," he replied.

So we turned into the nearest KFC as Jonah giggled excitedly in the seat, anxious for the chicken treat he could buy with his very own dollar.

Mike asked for one chicken strip. The total came to $1.32 with tax.

Mike and I had no money; Jonah had his dollar.

We had a credit card, which I certainly would have felt free to use, but Mike, ignorant of the car behind us in line, decided that he would rather find $.32 in our car.

We look around our seats...a penny, another penny, a dime, a nickel. I dig through the glove compartment, through the center console...

I can't find any more money but Mike refuses to give up. This is a game for him. I'm getting embarrassed. I'm giggling. I start to shrink in my seat. Mike turns on the dome lights in the car (HELLO WORLD, LOOK AT US!). He was determined. He finds more pennies.

I'm convulsing now from trying to hold in my nervous laughter. I delicately mention to Mike that he COULD use the credit card.

A few "minutes" later, we have $1.29. We need three cents. Mike looks the employee right in the eyes, "Is that good enough?"

DID HE JUST SAY THAT????????

The employee motions for us to move forward.

They give us the chicken strip.

It's a lonely chicken strip in a large KFC box.

I'm so embarrassed.

Square Dance Partner and Seymour Viewers:

Make yourselves known.

A Conversation

A recent conversation with a local teenager:

Teenager: Are you guys from [that college I live near]?

My Friend: No, we're 31. [I decided not to tell my age!]

Teenager: OMG, you're as old as my mom. You look so much younger than her though. I mean, really I thought you were from [that college]. Gee, you guys just look younger. What is it about you?

My Friend: Well, we're in our sweats with no makeup.

Teenager: Yeah, I don't know. I mean, my mom just looks older, you know. She doesn't do drugs or anything. She just looks older. OMG, I can't believe you're, like, my mom's age!

*****

So was I supposed to be flattered? Hmmm, I'm not sure.

Today

Someone wants to be just like her big brother...

Our Visit with Santa

Cooking

I have "fond" memories of stopping at Kroger on our way home from school about every day of the week when I was younger. My dad was/is a believer in the "cooking what sounds good tonight" concept, making it rather hard for my mom to plan menus or make large trips to the grocery store. So we made our daily trips to Kroger and bought the needed ingredients for the evening meal.

But I tried something new this weekend in an effort to save both time and money at the grocery store. I tried the "once a month cooking" concept. I'd always been curious. I took a huge trip to the store on Friday night (quite different from our express lane trips I remember as a kid) and cooked most of the day on Saturday.

By Saturday evening, I could barely stand, I had the beginnings of a migraine, and I was tired of looking at food.

This afternoon I felt differently. I loved serving my family a nice meal that required no effort from me today.

I think I'm going to like it.

One miserable day leads to 29 good days. I can handle that.

I Know, I Know

I've heard from far too many of you. You're obviously sick of seeing my post about a ticket and wondering if I'm okay. I'm fine. I have many stories to tell; I just haven't sat at my computer long enough to write anything.

In the meantime, check out what my little girl wants to wear around the house these days:

Ticket

I had a perfect driving record until yesterday. I was driving the mini-van, Mike was reading in the front seat, and the kids were quiet in their car seats. We were travelling to eat dinner with many of Mike's parents' friends.

The policeman asked me if there was a reason I was speeding. I told him I was "zoning." I really was. He asked me how fast I thought I was travelling. I had no idea.

I have more of a lead foot since living in Michigan. Seventy-five miles an hour just feels normal! Yeah, that's not too good when the speed limit is 55.

Oops.

I have to pay $110 this holiday season.

Ouch.

You won't hear me bragging about my perfect driving record anymore.

A Wedding Shower

We celebrated my friend, Jana, today. She's getting married on December 30. Congratulations, Jana!

Even Helio Can't Change His Mind

Mike and I took ballroom dance classes when I was pregnant with Jonah. I loved the class; Mike hated the class. I was in my element. Mike was far removed from his--

I was reminiscing about our class on Monday while watching Dancing with the Stars. I love the show. Mike hates the show.

Do you see a pattern?

I have a favorite couple this season: Helio and Julianne.

I thought Helio could lure Mike into the show. Mike has a family history of attending the Indianapolis 500. He loves the race, he loves the traditions associated with the race, and we were at the brickyard when Helio won both of his Indy 500 championships.

"That doesn't matter," he says.

Bummer.

Our Harmonica Band

Animal Sounds

Lydia is learning her animal sounds so, naturally, we spend a lot of time saying the sounds out loud.

But what sound does a rabbit make?

I say "ribbit" almost every time.

Ra-bit
Ri-bit

It makes sense to me.

Why?

It has begun.

"Jonah, we need to wash your blanket."

"Why?"

"Because it's dirty"

"Why?"

"Because you sleep with it every night."

"Why?"

"Because it brings you great comfort and helps you relax."

"Why?

"According to my research, the growth and change you're experiencing can give you a sense of mental chaos and uneasiness, and your blanket can be comforting...."

*********

What did he want me to say?

All in a Day's Work

I worked yesterday. I enjoyed myself.

I was overwhelmed while interviewing a 17 year old boy with a brain tumor. It's benign, but he's had two brain surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy and sat in the office telling me all about it.

He's partially paralyzed on his right side as a result.

So much of what I normally discuss in an interview seemed trivial. What's his potential for leadership, academic success, etc.? While his peers have been involving themselves in activities to fatten their college applications, he's been in physical/occupational therapy sessions, learning to walk again.

We had a good conversation about the ways he's been able to see God at work, but he was slow at answering my questions due to his brain's inability to process information quickly, and I wanted to be sensitive to the effort it took him to have a conversation.

Interviews like this remind me of why I love working in admissions. I felt challenged to live life with a positive attitude, I felt intense love for my own children, and I felt so thankful that I have a healthy family...all in a day's work.

Farmer Steve

A man named Steve farms the land surrounding our new subdivision. Mike asked Farmer Steve if Jonah could have a ride in his combine. They took about a 45 minute trip. What a great experience in our front yard!

Nightmare

I'm a little late in telling this story...

It was Halloween night. Jonah was having a nightmare. I rushed to his side, cuddled with him for a bit, and returned to my bed. I lied in bed thinking, "Did they talk about something in reference to Halloween at school?...should we rethink our family's decision to participate in trick or treat?...I hate that I can't shelter him more." The next morning I asked him about it.

Traci: You had a nightmare last night, Buddy. Do you remember what it was about?

Jonah: Little People


Oh, what trauma!

This May Not Look Like Much to You...

...but it's a big deal to me!

Jonah has been playing outside with our new neighbors. They have three boys, and he gets so excited to spend time outdoors with them. He's constantly asking if he can go outside and play with Dawson, their four year old.

I've been waiting for the day when he would want to explore our "backyard."

They were marching with weeds in their hands and "fishing" in a small puddle.

I'm not accustomed to him playing apart from me. It's a wonderful thing.

Old Navy Disaster

Jonah's head got pinned under a cart at Old Navy this morning. I saw it happen. While I waited in the check-out line, he walked over to a cart and tried to stand on its side. The cart was empty and fell over, knocking him down with his head stuck under it.

His nose bled, and he cried hard for about.... 10 seconds.

The manager wanted to fill out an accident report. I said it wasn't necessary.

I asked if he wanted to stay at the mall or go home. He wanted to stay at the mall.

He's a tough kid.