Unplanned Hiatus

Well, hello, there!  Seems I have taken somewhat of an unplanned hiatus from my little blog.  I won't bore you with all the details of what we've been up to the past 5 weeks, but I will share some high lights with pictures.  I'll try not to let so much time go by before I post again!

Marleigh got her new glasses.  She looks so grown up now!

We had a beautiful purple fairy for Halloween!

Bubba the boxer!  He had adorable boxing gloves, but refused to keep them on.

These two have really clicked in the last month or so.  They interactively play together so well.

Of course there has been all sorts of bath time fun!

Our little ballerina is loving dance.
The improvement in her coordination is awesome!

While the little siblings were napping,
Marleigh and Luke made sugar cookies
on Thanksgiving!

They had been doing a little quality control on the cookies!

Sugar cookies were Bubba approved! 

This little guy got into some serious trouble for biting
big sister.  So far it is an isolated event.
Cross your fingers!

Marleigh is growing like crazy!  She has already outgrown
some of her winter clothes, so she got a new outfit.
She LOVED all her bling!  

Eye Doctor

Monday, was another trip to the eye doctor in Wichita.  This time, Kade had a check up as well.  Since Marleigh's condition is genetic, we wanted to be sure to keep a close eye on him.

We arrived around 1:00 for our appointments, and waited.  And waited.  After twenty minutes, they finally took us back.  They did Marleigh's vision test, which took about ten minutes, then dilated the kids' eyes.  We were sent back to the waiting area for what was supposed to be thirty minutes, but quickly turned into forty-five.  They called us back into a room where we sat and waited an additional ten minutes for the doctor to come in.  Kade was just a wreck by that point.  When he gets tired, he can't stop moving or touching things. I'm pretty sure both Marc and I's sanity was barely hanging on when the doctor came in for their exams.

We have been patching Marleigh's good eye for two hours a day for the past couple of months.  It appears that for now, this will be our maintenance level, which we will continue for a few months,.  Hopefully, we will decrease the amount of time we patch sometime within the next year.  It was also Marleigh's annual appointment to check the prescription of her glasses.  I had just figured we would need a more powerful prescription.  I was pleasantly surprised that both of her eyes had improved!  Her new glasses are going to be less powerful than her old ones!  Yay for unexpected blessings!  Granted, it might just be a fluke thing, but we'll take it!  Marleigh picked out some cute, new frames, so I'll post some pictures are soon as we get them in!

Kade's exam was last.  He actually sat and did fairly well for it.  The doctor said while he still sees some slight amblyopia, it is very minimal.  We can wait two years for another check up unless we notice any vision problems.  Woo hoo!

Great news all around!  We couldn't ask for a much more!

KSU Game

It was an absolute gorgeous day last Saturday.  Perfect for some tailgating and KSU football.  Marleigh had such a great time.  I'm sure it helped that Aunt Monica and Aunt Myra were there!  

Aunt Moni and Marleigh
(Picture by Aunt Monica)

Marleigh and Auntie Myra
(Picture by Aunt Monica)

Tailgating with Daddy.  

The KSU cheerleaders just happened to be walking by.
Marleigh was super excited to get her picture taken with
"real live cheerleaders"!  

Even though the Cats lost, we had a great day.  I love that Marleigh is getting old enough that she enjoys going to the games with us.  She was such a trooper for the entire drive there, 4 hours of tailgating, game, and drive home.  Love you, sweet girl!

There are no words...

I have been extremely lucky up until today. I can honestly say that I have never had a child cause a scene in a department store. Apparently, my son thought it was high time for me to join the ranks of the rest of the 99.9% of mothers in the world today.

I'm not exactly sure how we got so lucky with Marleigh. She has always just been very well behaved in public. Notice I say lucky. I fully realize it has absolutely zero to do with us and our parenting. Not once has she ever ran through a store or had a melt down at a restaurant.  To be fair, Kade has always been pretty well behaved, too.  I have knocked on wood, many, many times knowing how blessed we were. That all changed today.

Today, after dance, I took the kids to JC Penneys. Lindsey had said they had some great deals, and Marc was needing a new dress shirt for an upcoming event we are attending. That's where my lucky streak ended.

We walked in, and there were some adorable sweaters right inside the door. I let go of Kade's hand for a split second to check the price tag and he was gone. For a bigger kid, he sure is quick!  I chased him. He found a door that stated "Employees Only", threw open the door and ran. It just happened to be the front window display. I had picked up the kids right after work, so I was still in my high heels and dress clothes. What else could I do but run after him?  I really had never realized how long that window display is. Let's just say I was out of breath.  I'm sure anyone that was driving or walking by got a good chuckle from us. You're welcome.

I decided at that point, there was not a chance of browsing. So we rode the escalator upstairs to menswear. My new game plan: get in and get out.  I was looking for Marc's shirt and once again, made the mistake of letting go of Kade's hand. He was off. I chased him down, and asked Marleigh to hold his hand while I looked at shirts. Next thing I know, Marleigh was on the floor, yelling, and Kade was dragging her off.

We regrouped. I explained to Kade how important it was that he stay right by Mommy. I was frantically trying to find Marc's shirt size and guess what?  Bubba went AWOL again. This time, I hear Marleigh in a panic yelling, " He's getting in the beds!!!  He's in the covers!"  So I removed a small child from the mini-display bed, then fixed the display and returned to men's shirts.

I again, am quickly searching for the correct size shirt  and he takes off again.  There is another door labeled "Employees Only" so of course he goes right in,  there are mannequins everywhere. I quickly escort my precious little boy back out.

Back to my mission. Curses to you white dress shirts!!!!  Neck size, sleeve length, why can't you just come in small, medium, and large?!?

Just as I've FINALLY found the correct size, Kade spots a KSU shirt across the store and in Duck Dynasty lingo, "He gone."  He only managed to rip down two shirts before I got to him.

We head to check out, which is right beside the escalator. I reiterate again, how important it is he stay close by while I pay.  My plea goes ignored, again. He almost took a header off the escalator. Cue overreaction from overprotective big sister. Seriously. I can't get out fast enough.

I received numerous dirty looks during our little excursion.  The cashier was almost rude, even though I apologized profusely.

To all mothers out there:  If I have EVER given you a dirty look while a child was acting up, I am sooooooo sorry. You have my sympathies.  I should have said, "Hang in there.  We've ALL been there."

To my son:  Thank you for tossing me in to the deep end without a life jacket. At the time, I was completely mortified, but I can find the humor now. I appreciate your curious nature and love you for it. But let's not make a habit out of it.  ;)

More Moments with the Munchkins

A few weeks ago we were in the pick up.  Marleigh has really gotten into phonics, and trying to spell things.  So, we were working on that.  I'd spell something, and she'd sound it out.

Me:  "M-a-r-l-e-i-g-h"
Marleigh:  "That's easy!  Marleigh!"
Me:  "K-a-d-e"
Marleigh:  "Kade!"
Me:  "D-a-d-d-y"
Marleigh:  "Daddy!"

Then Daddy jumped into the game.

Marc:  "M-o-m-m-y"
Marleigh: "Cow!"

Um, thanks, dear!  ;)

~~

Marleigh and Marc have father/daughter popcorn & movie nights where just the two of them pop a bag of popcorn and go into the basement to watch tv.  Marleigh loves her one on one time with her Dad.  Last night, they were snuggling on the couch.  Marc said Marleigh was laying on him with her head on his chest.  A Bubble Guppie episode came on (Kade's favorite show), and Marleigh popped her little head up, put one finger to her lips, and said, "Shhhh....don't tell Bubba!"  She didn't want little brother interrupting her QT with her Daddy!

~~

Kade has been saying, "Love you"  or "Love you, too" as a reply for a while now.  For the first time a few days ago, he walked up to me, gave me a great big hug and said, "Love you, Mommy."  My heart melted.

The other day, Marleigh was playing, and Kade walked up to her, squeezed her around her neck and said, "I love you, Sissy", and kissed her on her forehead.    Quite possibly the sweetest thing I have ever seen.  He was so gentle while hugging her.

~~

Marleigh is a member of the Junior Wildcats club offered through KSU.  She was so excited a few weeks ago, because the Junior Wildcats were to walk around the football field before a game.  But, the morning of the game, she woke up throwing up at 3:00am.  She was completely crushed that she wouldn't be able to go.  When it was finally morning, and Marc woke up, she crawled over (her tummy hurt too bad to walk) to sit on his lap and told him, "Daddy, I'm so sorry, but I'm afraid I'm too sick to go to the KSU game today.  I'm sorry we won't be able to walk around the football field."  She was more concerned with disappointing her Daddy than anything else.  I just love her heart.

Little miss is SO excited.  We are taking her to the game on Saturday.  She won't get to walk around the field, but I'm hoping she will still have fun.  This morning while getting dressed, we could hear her singing, "K-S-U- Wildcats!" over and over.  Go cats!

2013 Family Pictures

Once again, we had the amazing Brooke Jantz take our family pictures.  Kade was in rare form the day of the pictures.  He did not want his picture taken.  Not one bit.  That is why there isn't very many of him.  But, Brooke did manage to get a few good ones of him, and many of Miss Marleigh!

Veggie Tales

We are huge Veggie Tales fans at the Johnson house.  When I saw they were coming to Dodge City, which is only an hour away, I was thrilled.  We had awesome seats on the first row of the bowl.  

This was before the show.  There was a movie screen that they were showing Veggie Tales on.  

 Kade could not take his eyes off the screen.  He was locked in!

Veggies!

This picture makes me melt.  

It was soooo cold in the arena.  Daddy ran out and got Sissy a blanket!  

I was pleasantly surprised by Kade.  I wasn't sure if he would sit still for the entire show.  But he did!  He was mesmerized!  

When the show first began, both kids' eyes lit up, and mine teared up.  I couldn't help it.  There is something so incredible about seeing your children overcome with happiness and excitement.  Simply put, there is no better feeling in the world.  

Before we went to the show, someone mentioned to me that the kids would never remember going to the show years down the road, so "what is the point"?  They quite possibly may not.  But for an hour and a half, I witnessed them both, together, having the time of their lives.  So what if they don't remember ten years down the road?  This mama will!  

Today

Before I share what is weighing on me today, please don't misconstrue  my sentiments.  I am not condoning wallowing in despair for days on end.  I have not sunken into the depths of depression.  These are just the feelings of a woman who has lost her child.  A woman that deals daily with that immense loss.  The waves of sadness tend to come and go.  Today, is a pretty intense day.

~~

Today, over four and a half years after losing our sweet baby Natalie, my heart aches deeply.  It is just one of those days that despite my best efforts, the pain can not be masked.  It is still very much an open wound.  Today, the horrific pain is just as fresh as it was four and a half years ago.  So vivid and intense.  The feelings of anger and jealousy have healed with time and comfort from above.  But the hurt that runs deep is still there.  It will remain, as long as I am on this side of heaven, for one never truly gets over a loss of this magnitude.

There have been miracles and goodness that have stemmed from this tragic loss. Natalie's story has touched many.  We have experienced tremendous outpouring of love.  There is a permanent tribute to our daughter that brings so much joy to all the children who play at the splash pad.  I am grateful for these things.

But today, I am just a mother that is broken and hurting.  And so today, I embrace my pain.  Today, I fall to the floor surrendering it all.  Today, I am weak.  I acknowledge that I am nothing without my Lord and Savior.  Today, His grace is sufficient.

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

2 Corinthians 12:9

State Fair: 2013

Marc had to been in California the entire week the State Fair was going on, and then we were all headed to the KSU game over the weekend, so Papa and Gigi went to the fair with us on Friday.  It was an overcast day, and just about perfect.  

First stop is always the animals!  This sign was right outside the petting zoo.  

Somehow, riding a camel has become a fair tradition.  Kade was happy because he finally got to ride this year!

We were a little disappointed with John Deere this year.  No combines!  :(  The kids still had fun in the Gator!

Last year, I was shocked that Marleigh wanted to go down the big yellow slide.  As soon as she saw it this year, she had to go down it again.  And Kade thought he needed to go, too. I carried Kade all the way up the stairs to the top!  Talk about a workout!!!  Neither Papa, nor myself are really crazy about big slides or fair rides, but for the kids we did them anyway.  Both of them squealed the whole way down.  As soon as we stood up, Bubba was clapping and yelling, "Gen!!!  Gen!!!!"  

Kade loved the train ride.  He smiled and "Choo-choo-ed"  the entire ride.  

We were thrown some popcorn on our train ride, so we took a break to eat some.  

What trip to the fair would be complete without Cotton Candy?!?

First fair ride ever!  

Marleigh riding with Papa

This one was in heaven.  He got to be up high, didn't have to climb to get up there, and didn't get in trouble for being up somewhere he shouldn't be!  ;) 

Kade loved riding "Bumbo"!   

We somehow didn't get any pictures of Gigi.  :(  She and Papa took turns riding with Marleigh on the rides, and we never got a picture.  So sorry, Gigi!  

All in all, we had a wonderful day at the fair.  Thank you so much for going, Papa and Gigi.  There is no way I could have taken them both by myself.  The only thing that could have made it better was if Daddy would have been there, too.