May Days

The month of May brought great chaos and wonderful memories for our family. May typically brings a change in seasons and in activity. As the month ended so did school.

Trenton has end of the year parties at Community Bible Study and at Parents Dy Out. He is going to miss his friends this summer. I'd be surprised if they recognize each other when they return to school. They will grow and change so much over the summer.

He was quite the trooper as we drug him to games and practices and activities that he was just too small to participate in just yet. He does love "ball base" and has quite an arm on him too!

Addison participated in cheer camp again this year, had an end of the year splash day, and a field trip or two. She absolutely loved going to Pre-K this year and really did quite well.

She also went to Austin with me and was such as big help as we hosted Aunt Heidi's baby shower. After the shower, we went downtown to the Pecan Street Festival where Addison got to ride this life-sized rocking horse. Her favorite part was wearing the cowgirl hat with the feathers and a tiara on top.

Preston is our kindergarten graduate this year. At their graduation ceremony, they announced the child, the parents and then what the child wants to be when they grow up. Preston wants to be a Race Car Driver... others said things like, a ninja, a first grader, and bull fighter. It was nice to laugh, even though we were misty eyed. They just grow up so fast.

Right before graduation, Preston lost his first tooth. He was thrilled and even pulled it himself. Our tooth puller is also quite a ball player. He received two game ball awards from his teeball coach for making great plays.

Clayton's last week of school was full of awards and field trips for good behavior and reading success. He even got to drive go-karts for making the Pony Pride list every six weeks all year long.

His baseball team ended out the season 6-6 and he played positions from catcher to short stop and outfield. The boys on the team sure did learn about baseball and life this season.

We're going to have a third grader next year. I can't belive it. As I type they are all in the boys room for a "sleep over" laughing and just enjoying staying up late and being together. Even though it's late, we so enjoy the sound of their laughter I think that we'll let it continue for awhile.

Weekend Update

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

The Joy of Cooking

I really wish I got as excited as Addy about learning new things or even trying new things. It seems too often anymore when I'm asked to do something out of my comfort zone or something that I just plain don't want to/don't know how to do - I resist - a lot.

But what joy and excitement comes with a little change of attitude.

Last Week was a Month Long

Monday was our 7 year anniversary. we are used to being busy, it's true. Seven years and our oldest is 6. We are expecting our 4th - we are used to being busy.

Monday...well, we should start with last Friday because that is the day that Preston had his tonsils out. Makes for a long weekend. But we went to the movies to keep everyone entertained and we played game at home. Sunday, Preston looked at us like we were crazy when we asked him if he'd just like to stay at home and cuddle. "No, it's church day," he said. So we went. Then we had a small group meal together that night.

Monday Billy ran to the office, we got Clay off to school, Addy to Parents Day Out and with Preston in tow, I caught up to Billy for a "romantic" Anniversary Breakfast - can anything be romantic over grits, really? Billy dropped Preston off with my grandparents, recently back in the States from a European Cruise down the Danube for their anniversary and I rushed to the OBY/GN office for our sonogram appointment.

Billy got there a few minutes before we were called back and as I was laying there trying to look an images of our new little one, Billy and the sonographer talk shop - science, genetics, game boys even. Guess if you talk to chicks all day you make the most of a conversation with a man anytime you can.

After we learned that #4 is a boy and realized we better get to thinking of some boy names, Billy head out to El Paso for the week and I went to love on my Preston, look at my grandmothers trip photos and eat chicken nuggets with my granddad.

That night we got a last minute call to come eat with my ex-uncle, I guess that what he is. So I ate enchiladas, tried to help Preston find something he could eat, corral Addison and chat with Clay about his day and visit with my family. Billy went to Outback Steakhouse in El Paso by himself - how romantic - what an anniversary!

The week went on with pain medication every 4 hours -and all night long too - an antibiotic twice a day...and Popsicles and new bunk beds and laundry and dishes and homework....

Thursday we had a luncheon at work. I was running about an hour late that morning. Couldn't get a hold of Billy. I was bringing a side dish and a turkey. I forgot the turkey at home and had to go back to get it. On the way I got a call from George, Billy's boss.

"Billy's fine," he starts...
no, he's not or you would be calling me, I'm thinking. And a million horrible things run through my head. I knew we didn't have enough life insurance!
"There's been a car accident."
Ha, I knew he wasn't fine. And even if he is, he's not going to be!

I still couldn't get a hold of him. I called Ann at the church to ask our church family to pray. I didn't know much about what had happened, but I know prayer works. When I did get a hold of Billy he was on the way to the ER and told me the car was totaled. Someone pulled out in front of him. They t-boned. Air bags went off. He was sick to his stomach. Shoulders hurt. I was too far away. Helpless.

I told a few people, a few emailed after they got the prayer request via email, but I really couldn't talk about it. The possibilities were just too real. All the what if's crowded my thoughts. I cried at my desk hoping no one came in my office. But I didn't want to leave. What else would I do all day? At least I was occupied.

Before we could even talk about options, George sent someone down to help Billy so that they could finish the job and then come back to Lubbock together. Finish the job? I want him home now!

Finally when Billy walked through the door on Friday night, anniversary grits and sleepless nights of tonsil medicines didn't seem to be that big of a deal anymore. He was home and that was ok.

Almost in Stitches

I left for a meeting Saturday night and got a call when I was only about 10 minutes down the road. Preston fell off the zip line at the park behind my mom's house, busted his chin, and was bleeding - he was being tough, didn't cry much and was ready for the next thing.

I suggested that if Billy was in doubt about whether or not he needed stitches, he might want to take Preston to someone who knew for sure.

They went to the Children's Clinic where the doctor held his chin together and a resident put glue on it. Preston was so tough. Clayton was trying to help him stay calm and even got to play with the residence stethoscope.

Later, Preston told Billy that the nurses at the hospital were "hot."

Log this as the Medley's first injury related trip to the ER

Adults with Braces

I am turning 32 on Sunday and I have braces.

Recently changing job, insurance and dentists, it was recommended that I have some wisdom teeth pulled. After he did pull them, and while I was on the drugs, I might add, he asked if I would like braces. I have braces. They didn’t work, but it was certainly no big deal. As a matter of fact, it was a bit of a novelty as I remembered.I was excited about the possibility of having braces again as I went for the consultation.

I loved the office staff. I really loved the before and after photos. I loved the plan. I walked out with spacers. Four hours later I was in pain and regretting my initial excitement.

I was chicken and skipped my first appointment to have the braces “installed.” I got my braces on 2 days before my daughters first birthday. I had a house full of people to feed, a huge party to throw, and I hurt so badly, I couldn’t think straight. I called the orthodontist on his cell phone. They were at the airport, going on a trip for the Easter holiday. I told him that I could sleep, eat, think. My nose was numb. My chin was numb. It felt as if I’d had all my teeth pulled. He was sympathetic and said that he would call me in something.

I was thinking something like codeine would be nice.I went to see my uncle, the pharmacist, and asked him how long it would take this to kick in and there was a long pause. “Heather this is just a mouthwash,” he replied with pity in his voice. Do I swishe the stupid mouthwash and continued taking 4 or 5 Tylenol at a time, despite the solemn warnings of the Tylenol employees on their commercials?

My kids were intrigued and wanted to touch my braces. I am in charge of a little information radio station and have to find other people to record, because it that difficult to understand me at times. I miss caramel popcorn. People at the office frequently as my to say, “sufferin’ succotash” for laughs. My husband calls me 16. And I have probably swallowed 20 pounds of wax.

The braces took some getting used to, to say the least.The novelty of having braces wore off quickly. But in just weeks, we could notice dramatic results. I won’t get my braces off until my oldest child is in the first grade. It seems like it will take forever.

But I know that the end result will be worth it – Now all I need are perky breasts and a little red Mustang!

Starting a Family

After church one Sunday morning Billy called me over to meet people who had invited us to the park where their home group was going to meet. The home group leaders were married, had kids, and just were not in our demographic. She was pregnant and we were barely dating. But Billy assured them we would love to meet them as the park.

We did and it was actually fun. We got the third degree about how we met and where we were from. And Billy, who has never met a stranger was in his element. Chatting with them like old folks at the coffee shop.

A few weeks later we met the home group gang at the leaders home for a game night. Their daughter, still in diapers, decided that Billy was her type of guy. Billy had never been around little kids. Even though he was a teacher, he wasn't sure what to do with her - she was just little. Without warning, she clawled up into his lap. He flashed me a look of distress so I moved his hand around his new little friends back to help brace her on his lap.

She was his shadow the entire evening. He loosened up a bit and she never let him out of her line of vision.