Dedicated to those that I am praying for...

I was in the shower the other day (nope, haven't had one since) just thinking about life. I'm having trouble deciding how exactly to express my feelings that I had in those moments. So here goes:

We know a lot of people. Each of us has met/been friends with/acquaintances with someone that has had something significant happen to them. It makes me realize how important life is when I hear of someone that has had a traumatic or life changing event happen to them. I by no means mean to diminish the things that happen to each and every person in their life, because the things that happen to a single person or family are significant to them at that moment. I realize that every day. It's just that sometimes I don't understand what our plan is, why things happen to people, and what the real purpose for our time here on earth is. And I wonder how much one person can handle.

So, today, I am sending my prayers to those people that I have been thinking about lately, and have shed many tears for in the last few weeks. I am constantly thinking and praying for those that I have met in my life, close friends, people I haven't heard from in ages, people that I've reconnected with recently and new friends I've made. But, I feel like the past couple of weeks I've been doing even extra thinking and praying! I'm just so amazed at the strength and courage of many of my friends and family.

So, to the following people, know that I am praying extra hard for you and hope that I can have as much strength and courage and heart that each of you possesses.

Dad - your strength amazes me. I miss Mom too.
Alli, Dan, and Jack Lenmark - I am amazed by your courage. My heart goes out to you.
Smiths- May you have an exciting new adventure ahead of you!
Hjelseths - Because our boys are the same age, and you had one heck of a delivery!
Bensons - Praying that both your dads are doing well.
Mahars - I miss you Allison, and I hope that your new little one is letting you rest and you are so very happy.
Grandma - Even though I KNOW you don't read this, I am praying for you.

If any of you would rather me not express how much you have impacted me in the last few weeks, please let me know, I will take your name off my post. Being the people pleaser I am, I wouldn't want to offend any one, or hurt their feelings by drawing attention to them. But, then again, maybe no one will see this, since I have no idea who reads it!

I hope in my life so far I have made an impact, I have touched a soul and if I haven't yet, I hope to do it in the future.

Because no one takes our picture...

Porter: Mommmyyyy, Jack ate those two beads!

Me: What two beads?

Porter: Those two green beads from my bracelet.

Me: Really? Jack where are those two green beads?

Jack: (Opens mouth and points down throat, nearly gagging.) In my mouf.

Me: Great.

Enough to make your day...

This morning Jack fell off our bed. He's fine. Although the thump from his head hitting the floor was enough to set off the fire alarm and send eight handsome firefighters to our house....no, not really, but it was loud! Here's the good part: Upon seeing Jack fall off the bed and hearing the shriek and terror in his voice as I tried to comfort him, Porter climbed down from the bed in the middle of his favorite kid show, ran down the hall and within two seconds was back with Jack's blankie. He gave it to him, patted him on the back and said, "You okay, Jack?" Jack then said, "Uhuh. Tank you, Porter." (without the h).

After the last three horrific days I've had with them, this was a much needed realization that even though I raise my voice at them once in awhile, because the constant bickering and not listening is enough to send Ghandi to the nut house, they are good kids, and they are learning empathy and that is what really matters.

One more great thing Porter says: Whenever I get back from a run or when Tom gets home from work, he says, "How was yours run?" or "How was yours day?" (with the extra s attached.)

Porter can now spell his name, and can recognize many letters, he's in love with the neighbor, Amelia, who will be in his preschool class this fall - did I say preschool - wow. I can't believe it. What will I do with myself when they are all in school????

Jack is still two. Really. He is challenging us in every single way. Except, it is so hard to be angry with him when he looks at you and smiles and he has that one dimple! He is doing pretty well on the potty training. Although try rationalizing with a two year old about why it is not okay to poop in your pants while you are busy playing....yikes. He love, love, loves to pee outside. One benefit to having all boys!

Gus, oh Gus, you angel from above! He is a dream baby. He just started smiling - little smiles, if you didn't know his every day face you would miss the smiles. He has consistently been sleeping between 6 and 8 hours a night and he already eats six ounces during some feedings. He looks just like Porter did as a newborn. Although his hair is already starting to turn blond. He even has a double chin. Love it. Here's what I don't get. He eats the same exact thing for EVERY MEAL, EVERY SINGLE DAY. First - boring! Second - why oh why does his poop change every time! Sara, I know you love it when parents tell poop stories!

Getting ready to go to the cabin next weekend. Then start planning the trip to Fargo and Bismarck. I'm getting excited for that trip. I hope we survive!

xoxoxo

What?

Gus had another hearing screening today. This time it was at the hospital with an Audiologist. Guster failed his first 15 screenings of his left ear only(that's right, we checked him 15 times) in the hospital the first few days after he was born. Then he went for another one the following week and he failed two more again. After sitting in the nursing room (that's where they did the test) and crying for several minutes, I pulled my postpartum self together and thought about trying to teach the boys sign language and how we were going to become a part of the Deaf Community. Having worked at Sullivan School, the only program in Minneapolis Public Schools that has a Deaf/HH program, I knew it was a community I could be a part of and had lots of resources. And it most certainly wasn't the end of the world for my most perfect little baby.

Of course, this wasn't the end of the world for him or us! As a parent you just never want your child to have some sort of challenge or something wrong. I wanted to be pprepared so I did some research and thought of all the things we could do or should do. Tom of course didn't think about it much at all. Tom thinks I exaggerate and take things to an extreme, I like to think that I like to be prepared for everything...

After visiting with our pediatrician I found out that lots of babies born early have amniotic fluid in their ears for a little while and that babies that have "referred" hearing screenings in one ear are rarely deaf/hh. There are generally family members that have hearing loss, a deformity on the outside of the ear to indicate something is wrong on the inside, or the child referred in both ears. Of course the nurses at the hospital don't tell you these things, they just say he referred and give you a brochure, "Hearing Loss And Your Newborn." Really.

So we had to go to Children's Hospital today. A place we know because of Porter's tonsillectomy. We went there one morning and because I had both Porter and Jack with me I really wasn't thinking about what would happen if Gus didn't pass his screening again. I just wanted to keep the other two boys in line and out of trouble! Porter actually remembered the place and said he knew he had been there before to get his tonsils out - amazing what kids remember!

Well, the boys were fantastic. They were rewarded by the Audiologist for their fantastic behavior (thank God!) and well, Gus is a fully hearing child. They did the same test as before and he passed within seconds.

No need to worry, fret or freak.