This should be a contest.

 I toss up pictures of Brenda's latest creations and you give me a title and/or caption.  Most clever entry wins ...something.  Something stupendous!!  (Ummm...)

So.  Here's the first challenge...

Your guess is as good as mine!

And Garret says 'hello'.  

teehee

The first two were easy...

"Heck yes, I'm having LOTS of kids!"

But when faced with the thought of having a third I struggled.  One day I'd say no.  But the next day...

Questions like, "What if we have another who needs lifelong care?",  or "What if there's an entirely new set of challenges with number three?" taunted me for years.

Lots of prayers left me with a feeling of peace but not the 'YES.  Do it!' sort of answer I was wanting.

Never mind the fact that I also HATE being pregnant.

Mike never wavered.  He knew our family should be bigger.  Grander.

Finally (and obviously) I decided 'OK'.

And never has an 'OK' lead to a better result...

Often I'm asked, "So how is Suzie doing?".  I know the question really means, "So, do you have a third autistic child?"  (It's OK guys.  You can ask!) 

The answer is a solid NO.  Some may say that it's still too early to be certain.  But this little doll just turned 2 and if she is- well, she is one great con artist.  (Possible.  She is pretty brilliant...)

Suzie is an animal lover.  a dancer.  a prankster.  a snuggler.  a squealer.  ...and a rotten snitch. 

(She took my fudgesicle!) 

If you gently massage her forehead- she melts in your arms. 

If you ask her to pray- she expects an applause.

Yup.

Just like 1 and 2 - 3 was a good decision.
 

Happy birthday Suzanna!

Brenda (inspire by the yellow brick road)-

  I think someone was caught "celling" and driving.  Uh oh...

Oh they know who they are

For the annual youth Christmas party we took the girls ice-skating. 

I wowed them all with my ice-princess skills.

LOOK!  ONE LEG!!

I'd love to 'wow' you with pictures of my fellow leaders as they displayed their equally awe-inspiring moves but I'm afraid they'd kill me.  They're just waiting for an excuse...

After skating our blessed little booties off we had dinner at Red Robin (yumm) where I let it slip that somebody was having a birthday soon.  Somebody hates attention.   And somebody gave me the look of death as she was festively surrounded by clapping and singing Red Robin-ites.  You'd think that somebody would let it slide as she enjoyed her free birthday ice-cream...

 That was weeks ago and thankfully I've been spared...

Tonight, as I drove home from this week's youth activity, I marveled at somebody's dance skills, (another) somebody's magnificent pound cake, (yet another) somebody's expertise of all things lovely, and wondered what my bumbling, scattered, loud and frizzy presence could be contributing.  I mean, I think I'm pretty cool, but to be surrounded by such stupendous somebodies will inevitably, I guess, make or break you.  I think I'm toggling back and forth...

...and loving every minute of it!!

P.S. This is no fishing-for-compliments post.  Just a loving shout-out to somebody.

We never really grow up...

....we only learn how to act in public.

*()*()*()*()*()*

"I have to lay off dairy though. That's what my doctor threw in. As I was leaving his office, "Oh, and uh, leave off dairy." What kind of blanket sweep is that? "And no more happiness! Away with you!"  -Brian Regan

 *()*()*()*()*()*

Remember this post?  Well, I didn't explain about Garret's stimming and how it comes and goes in quirky  phases...

What's stimming?  -It's the repetitive motions to stimulate the senses (like rocking, bouncing, hand-flapping).  Very common in the wild world of autism.  

When he was little he used to hit himself.  (Luckily, being little, he didn't have enough muscle to do any damage...)  And over the years, as he does all the regular stimming, he always seems to have a favorite.  Like, jumping, throwing anything that'll make a loud crash, waving strings/ropes/socks, chewing on his collar, and stomping.  Well, his current favorite is his dramatic breathing.  Clench your teeth.  Smile.  And take quick, powerful breaths.  Hey!  You look kinda silly!  He does this almost constantly.

So, to explain the funny Brian Regan quote, we're thinking of putting him back on the GFCF diet.  In past trials it hasn't helped his development, but it has subdued his stimming somewhat.  So we're thinking...

*()*()*()*()*()*

Also, any food that Suzie is in the mood for she refers to as 'cookie'.  

And do you think Brenda's looking forward to summer? 

scurrying suckers

I just watched my cat eat a piece of plastic wrapper, have a few awkward moments, and gag it up.  He then seemed to consider eating it again...  What we have here is a wild weekend.

I've had a great weekend, actually.  Yesterday it was two fun photo shoots, a couple decent movies, and one sick boy.  We welcomed the new year with 'Neverending Story' enhanced by chips and cheesy salsa.  Garret slept off his puking fatigue but the girls kept good spirits into the evening.  We didn't bother watching the ball drop 'cause it's always lame.  (humbug?)  Today we scurried (I like that word) down south to an extended-family, Christmas/NewYears party.  It was a delightful couple of hours of good food, good company, and good entertainment.  Everyone was a good sport as we blockaded the entrances with chairs and ropes so my children wouldn't end up dead in the streets.  Talk about a fire hazard.  But thanks guys.  Unfortunately our visit was cut short when Suzie announced her official arrival into the terrible twos.  Yeah, yeah, she was tired from the night before, but come on!  There ought to be exceptions on holidays.  So I scurried (I like that word) the kids home and left Mike to rendezvous (another good one) with his roots.  They all had a lovely time without us for which I cannot forgive.  (Well, maybe if they had sent some dessert over)  (too bad...)

(Mike intercepted to inform me that they offered and he declined.  Sleep with one eye open, my darling.)

And tonight, after baths and bedtimes, Mike and I watched yet another movie- 'Flipped'.  Oh, it's cute.  I highly recommend it, and you know what a critic I am.  My only criticism is that there wasn't enough.  It all felt like a small story within a much larger one.  Perhaps there's a book...  A-HA!  I just googled it and yes, a book.   See you suckers at the library...