Before and After

Before...

After....


Isn't it amazing what some new screws and a little paint can do?

Divine Providence

God is such a generous, abundant God. He wants to bless us. He is a wonderful father and wants so much to provide for his children. Sometimes you just have to be willing to look. In the past few weeks I have had wood floors donated, food, toys, services and generous friends stop by to help. His love and provision is everywhere I turn. This morning was no exception. I dropped the kids off and was driving through my favorite neighborhood on my way home. I spotted this. Only my heavenly father would know that I was wanting to fix up my back yard for my kids and leave this for me. They were throwing it away. I can't wait to sand and repaint it. I am going to do something bright and cheery:-)

Attachment Parenting

I am getting more lax as I get older with the kids. Something I SWORE I would not do! Anyway, with the older three we had a pretty steadfast rule of no sleeping with us. The only exception was when we had a newborn and I was breastfeeding. We had a co-sleeper and it was pretty convenient. Landon started crawling out of his crib around two. He would wander around upstairs and try and wake up his brothers and sisters. Not cool, since Chris and I function in a state of chronic sleep deprivation. We tried the twin bed in Alex's room but he would wake up in the middle of the night disoriented and terrified. Screaming. Loud. Very, very, loud. The other three would follow his lead. We would spend 30 minutes to and hour trying to console him (and his siblings) and get him back to bed. He wound up in bed with us. He's been there ever since. We have a nightly routine. He wants both of us to lay down with him and he goes RIGHT TO BED. We usually fall asleep before putting him in "his" bed upstairs. We both know that he will probably be our last baby so we are being indulgent. For now. Until then, I will have lots of cute pictures like these...

A picture thought I'm sharing

Wheres' Willow?
In here...

I let Willow put on the jets in my tub. The tub was overrun with bubbles! I think these are some of the cutest pictures I have ever taken of her. The fact she smiled at the camera is magical. I am going to make a slide show when I get the time.

Kind Conversation

Kind Conversation is a social network for Catholic moms. I started a group for Special Needs parents. Please join us...
http://kindconversation.ning.com/

My top ten for copeing

Okay, I am reading TONS of posts about how stressful raising families with special needs kids is. What do you do to decompress? I can tell you what I do and when I DON'T do it my world falls apart. Here is my top 10:
1. Pray.
2. Exercise and spend time alone AWAY from family.
3. Make a date night with my spouse
4. Call a good girlfriend and have a good sob. Don't laugh...it works!
5. Get a hobby or something I am working on that gives me pleasure.
6. Make sure that the other kids get time alone too.
7. Keep the house and order and keep my routine. Special needs kids thrive on it!
8. Do not allow my kids to miss therapy. At all.
9. Have my Mom come over or call her daily. Enough said.
10. Read, read, read. Knowledge is power.

Guardian Angels

This week has been a tough one. Willow got out from the house again and this time she was gone for over 30 minutes. We had to call the police. I really can't describe how terrifying this is. It is just something you have to experience for yourself. All you do is drive around and pray that when you find her she is not hurt, molested...or dead. As terrifying as these experiences are, they are Grace filled. You can see Gods face in every person you encounter. Her rescues are a miracle every time. Thankfully, it was a beautiful day when she got out. There were tons of people out playing in their yards and in the street. When they heard my panicked cries for Willow it soon drew a crowd and we started sweeping the neighborhood. I had 15-20 people out looking for her on foot, bicycles, and cars! I was flagged down by my neighbor Amy and she told me they had found her and she was safe. I let myself break down. She was in one of my neighbors backyards bouncing on the trampoline completely oblivious to the scene around her. In her own happy little world. The police showed up and I went out to greet him. I walked through the gate with Willow on my hip and all 15-20 people were gathered there, cheering and clapping! It was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. My community completely came together to help us find our daughter. I also knew God had his hand in protecting her when officer Baul showed up with a Saint Michael tattoo on his arm. My patron Saint for Willow. They are building a data base at the Tulsa Police. They took all of Willow's vital information, a picture, and where she usually goes. We have a case number and if we call they will automatically respond to seal the area. The Tulsa Autism Center is also working with the police to help get tracking software for these kids. We are also buying this in order to help track her. We are also looking into the possibility of getting a search and rescue dog for her. Anyway, keep her in your prayers that God keeps her safe.