We’ve been pretty busy around here lately.
We’ve added some garden beds to our yard… thanks dad!
Continue reading “Critters, coops, and check ups”
Critters, coops, and check ups
Category: Life
A ‘Can-Do’ attitude
This morning at the breakfast table I was awed by something remarkable. It was a shift in outlook that has occurred in our home without us noticing.
When we received the news that our youngest would have Down Syndrome along with Dandy Walker Malformation we were shocked , scared, worried, and confused. It was overwhelming because we didn’t know what her future would hold or even if she would have a future as her prognosis was very grim.
I spent a good part of my pregnancy in a semi-depressed state. The pregnancy was extremely difficult and there were times that I wasn’t so sure if either of us were going to survive but I did and so did she! This stress and anxiety was increased by the fact that we were in the midst of a world wide pandemic as well which meant that I went to the majority of my appointments alone.
After she was born we were relieved because she proved that she was a fighter. As we waited for her blood test to confirm the Down Syndrome we weren’t as anxious anymore. Her Dandy Walker was confirmed the day after she was born and it didn’t seem to feel as awful as it had just a few days before. Part of this was due to her wonderful neurosurgeon who helped us understand it better.
There were so many times that it felt like we just couldn’t go on. There were times that we felt she couldn’t go on. We were proven wrong time and time again and I’ve never been so thrilled about about being wrong!
As time goes on we have continued to face challenges like open feeding issues, heart surgery, and leukemia but she continues to show her warrior spirit and faces every challenge with a smile on her face. We could all learn some lessons from this little girl.
During our pregnancy there had been so much focus on the things she would not be able to do but very little on the things she would be able to achieve in her life. We knew that everything they said wasn’t true as our older son with Down Syndrome is able to do a wide variety of tasks but hearing an ‘expert’ say it just seems to make it seem more like a fact than the opinion it was.
I have really tried to never say that either our son our daughter can’t do something. Instead we try to say that they can’t do it that way so we’ll have to show them a different way that they can do it. we always try to help them find a way that they can do things … hence, her #thelittlegirlwhocould.
This morning I noticed that one of the older girls was trying to teach Shyanne to do something. Shyanne wasn’t getting the hang of it and one fo the girls said ‘she can’t do that’. Big sissy wasn’t giving up and she showed her a different way to do it and she caught right on. Her little face beamed and so did her sister’s… it was like magic.
We need to remember that we can overcome whatever challenge or obstacle is in our path … maybe we can’t get their by the conventional route but we can find another way to get past it. We also need to remember to keep a smile on our faces and a good attitude because we are children of the God who can do all things and He wants to help us achieve our goals.
Whatever you are facing right now is not so big that God can’t help you get through it so please just ask Him for help.
God bless you and your family!
Banana-less Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
You’ve heard of milk-less and egg-less recipes, right? Well, this one is nothing like those but I’m sure you could make this one pretty easy.
You need to make sure you didn’t get a good sleep the night before and don’t drink your coffee before you get started… let it sit and get cold on the counter.
Clutter scavenger hunt for kids
I’ve been trying to get the kids involved in helping to declutter the house so I have to get creative sometimes.
Lately, we’ve been playing this little game in the morning before we start our schooling. It’s pretty simple although you do need to provide a little supervision so that the little guys don’t throw away anything important.
I’ve been having each kiddo participate and I give them a number of items and a task to complete with those items. One day I might say I need 5 items to throw away, or another day might be I need 3 items to donate, or 4 items to put away, etc. I might even have them bring me one item per year of their age… I try to change it up to keep it interesting.
They bring the items to the kitchen island and deposit them. Then we complete the task of throwing them in the garbage, putting in the donation bin/bag, or putting them away in their proper places.
This doesn’t take very long to complete but it does make quite a difference… plus if the kids are complaining they are bored I can use this as a way to get them motivated to find something to keep themselves entertained.
You could even offer a ‘reward’ for the first kiddo to bring you the items… or offer them all a reward or snack when they complete their task. When we have 10-12 hands versus just my 2 hands picking up items we are able to clean/declutter a little bit faster… most of the time.
When we make the not-so-fun tasks a little bit more fun then they seem to get completed quicker. Who knows, maybe I could even come up with a Clutter Bingo?
Making Good Choices in Your Home
I love this and this is so true! We. as parents, must be vigilant about what we allow in our homes and around our children! Everything they are exposed to is shaping them into the adults they will become.
You are the books you read,
the films you watch
the music you listen too
the people you spend time with
and the conversations you engage in
choose wisely
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