Gone Country – Go Home!
Posted: April 23, 2008 at 5:03 pm
So day 3 wasn’t quite as fun. I was a little tired of the green worms, a little irritated with an exhausted 4 year old and in a big need of a change in scenery.
We took Carter to an exotic zoo place where we went on a “safari”. He was in hog heaven but I felt sorry for hte animals who didn’t look all that great. He was in awe of feeding the camels and other animals from his hands.
I found out that fishing and ADHD are not a good mix. Not. At. All.
I’m more and more anxious about the caseworker coming on Saturday for the homestudy. Last time, we didn’t have our parenting skills put under a microscope but this time we will. I absolutely HATE having the state so involved in our lives but it’s a price I’m willing to pay. I was reminded again on this trip of God’s infinite wisdom and power. Sitting high on a hill overlooking the beautiful Texas Hill Country was breathtaking. The thought that jumped into my head was that if God can create everything as far as my eyes can see, He can surely take care of the details of this adoption. Once again, we’re going on faith and praying for wisdom. Afterall, if He wants this baby to join our family, it will be up to HIm to get all the details to fall into place.
I miss my little princess. I talked to her on the phone every day and Granny told me that she would hug the phone. I think she’ll be happy to see us and I’m a little worried that she’ll be attached to my hip for a week. Granny also said that she walked around the house looking for Carter and the second day we were gone she climbed into his bed and layed down. Poor baby. At least I know she is having fun with Granny and being spoiled rotten.
Tomorrow, it’s back to business as usual as we all get back to work. I wish there were more opportunities for long weekends away. I think I’d like to live in a camper and roam the country. But definitely not with preschoolers.
tags: Travels 2 comments
Gone Country – Day 2
Posted: April 22, 2008 at 3:51 am
Today wasn’t as exciting as yesterday… adrenaline wise, anyway. We had a great day riding the ATVs and watching the animals. The buffalo were watched from afar this time.
Carter got to open his new Spiderman fishing pole and had a blast practicing his casting all over the yard. 
He also found some catepillars and enjoyed letting them crawl all over his hands. It was difficult for him to understand why the catepillar would most likely die if it landed on mommy, but he was very careful not to get to close to me with it. Smart boy.
Dangling from most of the trees around here are these little green worms that spin webs kinda like spiders but not exactly. As you drive under and through the trees, you are bound to get some of the worms on you. I do not like this part of the trip. I DO NOT like worms. Especially little green ones that can crawl on you for who knows how long before you see them. Carter was great at knocking them off of me but when I flicked one off of him, he said, “Mommy! Boys like worms!”
Some friends drove up from San Antonio to have dinner with us and we enjoyed our visit. Carter had fun telling them all about the animals around here.
I was so intent to write about the Buffalo yesterday, I forgot to mention Carter’s biology lesson. We drove up to a fence next to some Longhorns and were watching one and not paying too much attention to the others. Until the bull decided to mount the cow and we all got an eyeful. It was quite a display. SPeedy didn’t say anything immediately, but he did later say, “daddy, that bull just stuck something in that cow’s butt.” Oh dear. Today, he said something about it again and I just said, “Carter, that’s how baby cows are made.” I waited to see if he would comment further, but he didn’t.
Part of me is afraid of what our family dog my face if Carter ever decides he wants a puppy, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I don’t think he knew what the bull was sticking in the cow so at least I don’t have to worry about that.
Oh, dear. There’s always something to learn around here.
Gone Country – Day 1
Posted: April 21, 2008 at 1:15 am
We arrived on the ranch just before 11pm and went straight to bed. What a surprise when we awoke to an unbelievalbe sight – deer feeding in the pasture; buffalo roaming and longhorns spread throughout. The rolling hills of the Texas Hill Country is just breathtaking.
After running into town to get supplies, we spent about 3 hours on the 4-wheelers, just exploring the 450 acre ranch and all the wildlife. Needless to say, Carter was in hog heaven. I am certain his face is sore from all the smiling. He does very well driving the four wheelers – don’t worry, he’s not on them by himself.
An interesting thing happened with the buffalo. Did you know that Buffalo are not like cows? They don’t get spooked when people are close? Carter and I were on the four wheeler and we zoomed by daddyo and heard him saying something and waving, but laughed and kept going. Afterall, the universal sign for “STOP” is not a hand waving, it is one hand extended.
I did stop when I saw a montrous buffalo stand up and turn towards us. It slowly started walking our direction and I got a little spooked. I put the four wheeler in reverse and it started moving faster. I got a lot spooked. I threw the thing into high gear, grabbed a hold of Carter and took off like lightening. Carter was screaming (though he wasn’t sure why) and I looked back to see a freakin’ herd of buffalo chasing behind us. Daddyo stopped and flagged us by him – as I flew past him I hoped he’d be okay and wouldn’t get trampled but at the same time I was grateful for his sacrifice. It never occurred to me to try and help him. By the time I looked back again, the coast was clear and daddyo looked like he was going to pee in his pants he was laughing so hard.
Evidently, the danger wasn’t severe and what he told me when he finally caught up was, “I yelled and told you not to go too fast and stir the buffalo all up. I was waving my hand to stop.” That’s when I explained about the universal sign for stop.
AS it turns out, the buffalo probably thought we were coming to feed them as that is one of the attractions on the ranch.
A quiet retreat with the family – $500
Gas for four wheelers – $50
New pair underpants – $10
Adrenaline rush – priceless
tags: Travels 2 comments
Weekly Update and Random Thoughts
Tags: Adoption
Posted: April 15, 2008 at 4:39 am
I don’t seem to find/make the time to update very much anymore. I blog several times a week in my head, but fail to get my thoughts to my fingers. Which is really irritating since I do hope to someday write a book.
Whatever.
Hmmm… now I forgot what I wanted to say. Sigh.
The kids are amazing. Growing more and more independent every day which is FABULOUS for mommy and daddy. Sad, but fabulous. Daddyo and I are leaving for four nights and as the trip gets closer, we are seriously considering taking Carter with us. He’d have so much fun and we just know he would LOVE the alone time with mommy and daddy. I think it would be really good for him to spend that time with us. We haven’t decided yet for sure.
Then there’s the whole baby thing. Maybe yes. Maybe no. Who knows? I’m still walking the fence. I can see myself carting a newborn around with Carter and Gracey, though. I can see and I love it. I can also see things staying the way they are now and I love that, too. We are truly happy with whatever God gives to us.
I am a little irritated these days, though. I know. You’re just overwhelmed with surprise that this chick is irritated at anything. When you get over the shock of that, you’ll unerstand. Maybe. I know there are people who don’t think I can handle three kids. It’s not the words that come out of their mouths but more what they don’t say. More what their tone says or their eyes. And I want to slap them. Really, really slap them. Because one, DUH! Who knows what they can or can’t handle it until it’s in their lap. And two, because not handling it will not be an option if it happens, you just do it. and three, because if I can handle a excessively hyper 2 year old and a newborn preemie with minor issues, I can handle adding another baby to my clan. I’ve had two years with Carter and Gracey. Adding a third will not be harder than starting with two the way we did. And if it is harder, it can’t be too much harder.
So give me a break. Have some faith in me. I may not do things the way you would do them. I may not do things the way you think they should be done. But that doesn’t mean I do things the wrong way. I have my struggles, sure, just like the next person. But I face them head on instead of pretending they aren’t there. I admit I need help when I need it. And boy do I sometimes need it. But that’s okay. It’s part of who I am. Admitting I have challenges doesn’t make me weaker. It makes me stronger. I am strong. I am capable. And most of all, I have God’s Grace to stand on.
I joke about having three kids and about how much it will suck to start all over again. I laugh about the torture we may be putting ourselves through. But you want to know my deep, dark secret truth? I’m delighted. I’m thrilled. I really hope we get to do it all over again. I’m not at all worried about the logistics of three kids. I’m not worried about how I’ll survive each day. We will do more than survive. There is room in my heart for one more and part of me is afraid that room will become a hollow place if it isn’t filled.
His will. Not mine.
In other news, I learned this week that there was very recently a case here in our area where CPS placed a newborn into a family different from the one who had the siblings. CPS knew the other family wanted to adopt the baby, but chose deliberately to place the baby in a different home. Unless there are some serious extinuating circumstances, that is an outrage to me.
Please pray that God will put the right people in the right places at the right times so we can bring our baby home.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phillipians 4:6
Father, please protect our littlest child and keep him/her safe. Make a way for him to come home to us and thank you for the beautiful gift of this child.
tags: Adoption, Gratitude, Parenting, Travels 9 comments
Vacation Photos
Posted: September 6, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Alright, here are random photos from vacation. We made it back Sunday and I still feel like I’m catching up.
tags: Photos, Travels 4 comments
On the road again…..or not
Posted: September 2, 2007 at 2:22 am
So yesterday was officially our last day of vacation and today was reserved for the long drive home. We anticipated driving all the way home today and having all day Sunday and Monday to recover and get back into a routine with the kids.
Funny thing about plans………they don’t always work they way you think they will.
We decided we’d have breakfast on the road and were looking for a doughnut shop. We weren’t having much luck on the main highway so we headed back towards the coast and thought we’d surely find a shop along the scenic route. I know what you’re thinking right about now…..you’re thinking we got lost along this “scenic route” but you’re wrong, we didn’t get lost.
We found this quaint little community with no high-rise condos and lots of vacation homes and beach cottages. It was really sweet. I wondered aloud what the beach looked like here (and later in the day came to realize this was stupid because we were only about 30 miles from where we vacationed. I mean, really, how much different could it have been?) We turned onto a road that dead-ended onto a beach and daddyo noticed lots of trucks and boats parked along the shore.
Why not?
I’ll tell you why not. Because we don’t have a four-wheel drive truck, that’s why not. Because it hasn’t rained in a long time on that beach and the sand was very fine, that’s why not. Because we don’t have a winch, that’s why not. Because people there aren’t as friendly and eager to help as Texans, that’s why not.
Needless to say, we didn’t make it very far in the sand, though the second most popular phrase we heard was, “wow, you made it A LOT farther than most people do with a two wheel drive truck”. When the wheels started to spin and the sand was flying, my stomach was sinking just a bit. And I couldn’t help but laugh.
Daddyo started digging the sand out around the tires while I tried to be helpful: ie: taking pictures with my phone while he wan’t looking and sending them to our family so they’d know we’d be home late:
We got stuck somewhere between 8:30am and 9am. Although it was a huge pain in the butt, we weren’t all too concerned and assumed we’d just be delayed an hour or so. Right. Here’s what we heard and experienced soon after getting stuck:
- oh man, that sucks. I’ve been there before. as he waves and keeps walking
- hey man, you stuck? no, we’re not stuck. We were just afraid the truck might continue to roll forward so we dug a three foot hole around the tires. this was the most popular response we got
- you need some help? yes, please No problem, man, I can pull you out. You got a chain? um, no Oooh! neither do I.
- hey, man, I can pull you out. we’d appreciate that You have four wheel drive? no eeeewwwww, yeah, I’m not gonna be able to get you out.
- you stuck? see my mental response above I have a four wheel drive with a big winch and a 30 foot chain….I could get you out with no problem…..our faces light up and we are suddenly hopeful that we’ll actually get to leave but my truck’s in the shop then why the heck did you even stop? To taunt us? To torture us?
- you stuck? I have a four wheel drive and could get you out….but my truck’s in the shop. yeah, we’ve heard that about ten times now and I just don’t believe it anymore. shut up.
And from the tow truck driver we finally got to come out:
- No way, man. I’m not driving out there and I don’t have a long enough chain to pull you out from the pavement. Sorry, dude.
Mind you, I had called about ten towing services and this was one of two who even agreed to pull us off the beach. Unfortunately, we just made it too far, most people get stuck right at the begining, just ten feet or so from the pavement. Not us. We’re from TEXAS. When we do something, we do it BIG. We got stuck about 300 feet from the pavement.
After about an hour or so, daddyo asked me to take a picture and even posed for the shot:
I love daddyo so much and couldn’t be blessed with a better husband. Most men would have been simply unbearable after just getting stuck. Daddyo kept smiling and laughing about it and just rolling with the punches. Even after four hours of no luck.
The only time he got even a little bit perturbed was when I gently suggested that he keep his pants pulled up so that the people walking by would quit laughing at his plumber’s butt crack. I also suggested that maybe someone would be more willing to stop and help if they weren’t looking at his crack on the walk over. As much fun as it is to laugh at other people’s husbands when their butt crack is showing, it’s embarrassing when the crack belongs to your husband. Daddyo could have cared less. Needless to say, daddyo’s crack is probably all over the internet by now.
Finally, one of the local fishermen came back and he had the biggest, baddest truck with a winch on the beach. Daddyo went and talked with him, and the guy said his truck wouldn’t be able to pull him out. Now, those of you who know daddyo IRL know what a talker he is and how good he is at making friends out of strangers. This guy was a grouchy old local and wanted no part of helping us. Daddyo even played the, “we’ve got two kids who’ve been stuck out here with us for FOUR hours”. The guy was a jerk. It was only after another local, who was extremely kind, talked to him and pressured him a little that he decided to help us out. It took him like less than a minute to get us out – his truck had no problem moving us at all. So FIVE HOURS and $100 bucks later, we were on the road again. 2:30pm.
Ironically, we found four doughnut shops within 15 miles of that God forsaken little town.
We’re in Mississippi tonight and hope to make it home tomorrow. I have to say that the kids were awesome throughout the whole thing. I took them to a little restaurant and we had lunch but mostly they were in the truck with intermittent air conditioning. There was a decent breeze blowing off the Gulf so it wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t always comfortable either. The kids never got fussy or cranky.
By the way, after we got out we stopped at a gas station to put more air back in the tires and while doing that daddyo stepped on gum. barefoot. And poor guy is soooo sunburned.
tags: Redneck humor, Travels 6 comments
Day 3 – the day of the Shark
Posted: August 29, 2007 at 5:26 pm
I think the title says it all. Do you know how many freakin’ sharks there are off the coast of Panama City Beach? We were IN THE WATER this morning when we noticed several people out on their balconies pointing towards the same spot in the water. That’s all it took for me to walk on water with Gracey and get the heck out of dodge.
There were FIVE large sharks in the water. We were about knee deep when I saw one swim by about 15 feet from us. I know that most of the time they are harmless, but come on. I ain’t swimming with them. Once we were up on the beach, we saw another one swim by in the same spot.
One of the rental guys jumped on a jet ski to go take a look (IDIOT) and I think he just pissed them all off because they were swimming fast up and down the beach. It was kind of funny to watch him slow down near a lady who was still clueless and then to watch her fly through the water to get to dry land. I’m sure that’s about how I looked.
They are still some swimming around out there – we can see them from the balcony. And a tour helicopter just flew around circles over the water where there were a few sharks swimming.
Where are the dolphins? I miss the dolphins.
Later today, we’re taking Carter to ride go-carts around a really cool track. He’s going to be thrilled. We ate a “pirate ship” restaurant last night where he and Gracey both got pirate hats and had a great time.
tags: Travels 5 comments
Carter the exhibitionist
Posted: August 28, 2007 at 12:26 am
While Carter and I were in the pool, I was floating on a tube and he had his floaties on. He said, “i just want these off,” and I told him he had to leave the floaties on. I didn’t, however, say anything about his bathing suit which is was he was obviously talking about. Seconds after saying that, he proudly presented his swim trunks to me as he free-balled it through the water. (pardon the pun) Thankfully, no one was around so I quickly got his swim trunks back on him but I realized too late that I had both legs through one hole on the inside part.
Looking around to make sure no one was watching (there still wasn’t anyone in that pool) I quickly brought Carter to the steps where I removed his trunks and them put them back on the right way. Now I’m wondering, which is worse? The 3 year old who really doesn’t know any better removing his suit or his 33 year old mom who does know better.
On a different topic, you know that kid who’s always peeing in the kiddie pool? I mean, most kids do that, but I’m talking about the one who whips it right out and pees in front of God and everyone right into the water and anyone who happens to get in the way. Geez, I sure wish his parents would teach him to not pee in public. While they’re at it, they could also teach him to not pee in the shower.
You guessed it. The kid pulling his trunks down just enough to let Mr. Winkie out so he could pee in the pool right in the FREAKING MIDDLE of it, that’s my kid. Good ole Carter. So let me tell you a thing or two about this kids parents. They were mortified when he peed in the pool where everyone could see. I mean, at least be a little discreet, you know what I mean? But seriously, I’m dying and I’m also doing everything I can to not crack up laughing and pee on myself in the process. I grab Carter and carry him out of the kiddie pool and we go up for the night. (it was time, anyway) All the way up, I give Carter a crash course on why it isn’t okay to pee in the pool and why if he is going to have an accident he should at the very least KEEP IT IN HIS PANTS!
He knew he needed to pee. We were right there. He knew enough ahead of time that he had plenty of time to whip it out. So why in the world couldn’t he have gone to the restroom that was only about 20 feet away?
So you want to know something else about the kid’s who pees in the pool parents? They secretly think it is hysterical that their three year old did that and the hope your all-too-perfect-would-never-do-that-kid got in the direct path of his stream.
You know that kid in the pool who’s always peeing in the water?
Day 1
Posted: August 26, 2007 at 9:50 pm
The day started with a bang, watching the dolphins as we had our breakfast. Then we headed down to the beach where we found the water nice and warm and very calm. Carter and Gracey both wore their lifejackets and thank God for whoever invented them because they both would have drowned without them.
Those kids are FEARLESS! Carter takes off and jumps into the surf and giggles like a fool as the waves crash over him. Gracey took a little more convincing but once she got used to it, she was almost asleep floating on the waves. I taught her a new word today, “Chillin’” !!!! That’s what she said when she and I got in a tube and floated around the lazy river. I assumed the typical tube formation (but through center) and she leaned against my legs and looked like a Diva with her leopard swimsuit and floppy hat.
We started at the beach, then went to the pool and then Gracey crashed. She and Daddyo headed up while Carter and I went to investigate the other swimming pools.
Speaking of, did you know that Carter can swim? Yeah, I didn’t know it either but evidently he can. Sort of. Unfortunately, he can’t swim enough to get his face out of the water, but he can get from point A to point B easily enough. He got in major trouble twice today for attempting to make that swim without waiting for mommy or daddy to say we were ready for him to go. I’m glad he does so well, but I wish he were at least a little afraid. Of anything.
After lunch everyone napped a bit and then Gracey and I went down to the lazy river and splash pad while Daddyo and Carter went to get a few floats. We all met up in the lazy river and played for another hour or two before calling it a day.
Here it is only 4:30pm and I think we’re probably done for the day. Maybe a walk on the beach after dinner since Gracey is taking her SECOND nap of the day now. She’s got it made if you think about it. She wakes up, eats, plays in the water and then starts the routine all over again!
The balcony on our condo is huge and we’ve been eating all our meals out there watching the sharks. Yes, I said sharks. There are 4 or so who hang out around this area of the beach. Nice, huh? How sad is it that daddyo comes running in here all excited telling me to look out the window – “look at that shark, he’s only about 10 feet away from those people right there!” Now, if he were alarmed when he said this, it would be one thing. But he’s not. He’s thrilled. I’m not so thrilled to think sharks may be swimming 10 feet away from me or my kids. Needless to say, we don’t go out very far.
Finally, Carter is learning so much on this trip. He’s learning about swimming, about fish, about sharks and about peeing in the shower. Yep, he and daddyo were in the big shower getting all the sand off of them and this is the conversation I overheard:
Daddyo: Carter! DO NOT pee on me. If you’re gonna pee in the shower, pee down the drain!
Carter: Sorry, daddy. I’ll pee down the drain.
long pause
Carter: DADDY! DO NOT fart in the shower! It’s stinky!
later this afternoon.
Me: Carter, go pee pee on the potty and then come back and play.
Carter: Sure, mom. Okay, mom.
walks into the bathroom
Carter (to himself): I’m just going to pee pee down the drain in the shower.
Me: SPEEDY! DO NOT pee in the shower! Go to the potty.
We’re having a blast.