Something Happy!!

Tomorrow I am meeting Pam in Fort Wayne...minus the kiddos! WooHoo!!! I love my girlies, but every mama needs a getaway now and then. We're going to shop (without spending money, because I don't have any) and eat at a grown-up restaurant :) Yay for friends! Talk to you all later!

Lessons Learned

This morning I attended the funeral of my cousin's baby girl. Marissa Marie went to be with Jesus on Thursday, January 22nd. I had never experienced a child's funeral before, and for that I am thankful. Seeing sweet baby M in her casket was heart-wrenching. She looked like a gorgeous little porcelain doll. I found myself wanting to just scoop her up...her chubby little legs and fingers looked so perfect. It was hard to look at her and not wonder why she is gone. We still don't know the cause of her death, and probably won't for a couple of weeks. I had a chance last night at the viewing to spend some time with M's older sister. Madi is 5 and was looking a little sad, so I called her over to sit with me. I was asking her if she was ready for things to be normal again, and she said, "Yeah. I want people to stop bringing food. We have enough food at our house."

This is my last post about M's death...because it's time to move on. She is toddling along the streets of Heaven, with no heart troubles to slow her down. She finally got to meet her Great Grandma who passed away 3 weeks after M was born.

And this experience has taught me to hold tightly to the ones I love, because they could have years, months, or only a day left. I don't want to have regrets about something I said to someone if that turned out to be the last thing I ever said to them. 

And I want to savor every single moment of my children's lives. The good, the bad, and the ugly :) God has given them to me, and while I hope they're here for the long haul, I don't know that. Every day is a gift. We would all do well to remember that (even while I'm typing this and my 2 yr old is screaming at the top of her lungs from her bedroom...it's still a gift!)

Jodi

You're Gonna Miss This...Moment #6

                              

 

This blog carnival was created by Pam at You're Gonna Miss This. A chance to look at our lives and think about what we are going to miss, or already do miss. To play along click on the above link and read the rules. You'll also find many more great moments.

Well, from my most recent post, it's obvious that it hasn't been an easy week. On top of Marissa's death, my 8 yr old nephew (who was diagnosed with Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy at age 2) was fitted for his first wheelchair. We knew the day was coming, but boy did it sneak up on us. The years have seemed to fly by. Little by little it has been obvious that he is getting weaker. He doesn't need the chair yet, but it's only a matter of time.

I am really going to miss seeing Kyle amble his way down the hall, with his cute little out-turned toes gait. He is such a persistent little guy and no matter how many times he falls down or stumbles, he gets right back up and tries again. I am praying that being in a wheelchair doesn't steal his determination or change his fun outlook on life.

 

And to be honest, I really miss when life was easy. You know, like back when I was 4. :)

 

   Kyle, age 6        Kyle, age 8

Marissa

I've been struggling with this post all day...knowing I should write something, and wanting to write something...but also not knowing what to write. My mom called me this morning to tell me that my cousin's 11 month old baby girl had passed away. When Marissa was born she had open heart surgery, but was doing really well. We don't have all the details of her death, but it kind of sounds like it was her heart. I found this on a friend's blog and with her permission I have posted it here. I read it when she posted it, and then read it again today. It took on a whole new meaning to me in light of what my cousin is going through right now.

 

Do you ever quietly slip into your child’s room hours after you kissed him goodnight?

Do you ever sit by the side of his crib, your face pressed against the slats, noticing the way his mouth looks when he is asleep?

Do you ever watch the almost imperceptible rise and fall of his chest while he breathes in and out peacefully?

Do you ever try to breathe in the same rhythm wanting to connect on a far deeper level than the intake and output of breath?

Do you ever look at the way his hair falls on his head, how it swirls in one direction, or curls around his ear?

Do you ever get so close you can feel his warm, sweet breath on your cheek?

Do you ever so slightly touch his open palm savoring the silkiness of skin yet calloused?

Do you ever try to memorize the way his body looked when sleep finally overcame him, legs and arms in different directions, bottom in the air?

Do you ever startle in amazement at how much he has grown without you noticing?

Do you ever wish you could scoop him up without disturbing him so you could hold him close to your chest and absorb his warmth into your body?

Do you ever wonder how you lived, actually fully lived without this child filling your minutes, your hours, your days?

Do you ever breathe a prayer of gratefulness for this life, so complex and challenging, so energetic, so able to inspire a love that overwhelms you?

Do you ever?

Or is it just me?

 

Please keep the  Squadrito family in your prayers. There are 4 other children in the family who have lots and lots of questions, and I'm sure no one really has the answers right now. Thanks. Oh, and thank God for the gift of your children...no matter how frustrated you may get with them at times.

 

              We'll miss you Marissa Girl. Enjoy being loved on by Grandma Great!

 

Jodi

Laughter Lives!

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

 

 

 

I saw this fun blog carnival on MckMama's blog, and decided to head on over to the Riggs Family Blog to see what it was all about. And it is so much fun! So I'm gonna participate :) And you can too if you go to the link above.

 

So the other night we were just finishing up our supper, and it was obviously not one of my children's favorites (or apparently my husbands, either!). Abbie (my 5 year old) looks at me very seriously and says:  "Mama?"

Me: "What, honey?"

Abbie: "Umm, Mama, I really think that Jesus can probably cook better than you can."

My husband (from the living room): "Yeah, Abbie, I would have to agree."

and that is the last meal i have cooked for them :)

Hop on over to the Riggs Family Blog to read more funny stories, and leave me a comment to let me know what you thought of mine :)

Jodi

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Here we are again...the day when we get to come completely clean about all of the things we did not do throughout the week. It is hosted by MckMama over at My Charming Kids. Head on over there (after you comment on mine, of course!) and check out lots more mom confessions. And feel free to play along! You'll find all of the rules and details at the link above.

So this week it was not below zero most of the week, and I did not decide on the coldest day (Friday, -19) that we absolutely had to get out of the house before we all went crazy and did or said things we shouldn't. And that decision did not result in this poor baby's bright red cheeks (they're fine now!)...

And quite possibly not this as well. (but I sure hope not, because I will feel really guilty if it did!)

I was not texting my friend Pam while I was driving to my mom's house the other day. That's just dangerous! I am much smarter than that...ummm...yeah.

I did not get to go on a date with my very cute husband on Saturday night...and we did not have a great time :) Thanks Mom and Dad for not keeping the girlies for us!!!

And right now I am not typing my "Not Me's" while my 5 yr old is whining at me to make her another pb&j. And I am not totally ignoring her so I can get this finished before MckMama puts up Mr. Linky. I'm a very attentive mommy...I never ignore my kids...

`And just for the record...this is not my adorable nephew!

Please leave me a comment -- I love comments!!!

Jodi

You're Gonna Miss This Moment #5

                                     

 

 

As usual, I'm behind on getting my moment posted, but I have had this specific post in my head for about a week. Ever since I did this in Natalie's room.

Yep...we started taking down the baby bed. I was going to set up her toddler bed, and then decided to just take off the side rail of her crib instead. She was climbing out of it every single night, so I thought it would be a lot safer to just take it down. But I didn't realize how emotional I would be about it! Knowing she is my last baby, and therefore the last baby of mine to sleep in this crib is killing me! She has adjusted well to her "big girl bed" (if you call venturing down the stairs 10 times every night before she finally falls asleep adjusting well!). However, the first night when Adam put her to bed she asked him to "put the fence back up". And this is where I found her when I got home from work:

       This is obviously AFTER she dumped out all the cards to the Mad Gab game. :)

 

Oh, and I have to post this picture...this is what I found under her crib:

We were thinking the kitchen cupboard stash was getting low!

 

If you want to play along, visit my friend Pam's blog for all the details. And you'll find lots more great moments there, too.

 

                          Jodi

Awesome video

 

A friend of mine posted this video on her blog and I absolutely love it! This song makes me cry...especially since going to Kenya. My heart still aches for those sweet babies at AGC Baby Center.  By the way, get your Kleenex ready :)  And think about what you are going to do to help all the orphans of the world.

 

I Heart Faces!

 Have you seen this new blog? It's so much fun...click on the button above to check it out. They are having weekly contests and I entered! Here is the picture I decided to enter.                             Jodi

Yippee...New Fonts!

 This is too much fun!! Pam helped me out by showing me Windows Live Writer.......  and now I can use fun fonts in my blog!! I love it! But let me know if you can't read this. I'm planning on trying out lots of different ones.

Jodi

 

Is She Cute Or What?!?!?!?

So I have to admit...I'm addicted to taking pictures of my sweet sweet girl :) She is just so darn photogenic!

She totally has her Daddy's eyes. She's just a little goofy...

And I wouldn't trade her for anything (most of the time!)

I love you, Della Ruby!!

Not Me Monday #3

It's Monday!!!! Go here for the details if you want to play along.

This was a trying week to say the least :) I did not totally lose it with my children on more than one occasion because they absolutely would not listen to me.

I did not let my kids play "baseball" in the house because I just wanted to lay on the couch and not have them bugging me. Nope, not me!

And I most definitely did not hear my 4 year old tell me to "close the freakin' door" this afternoon. Oops :)

But it did not get better! We did not meet a new friend on Friday, and it was not Pam from You're Gonna Miss This! We did not have a ton of fun and are definitely not looking forward to meeting up again sometime soon.

Well, MOST of us did not have fun :) Poor Abbie was upset because we were at McDonald's and not swimming at the hotel.

However, Jadon and Adelle did not get along fabulously (until Jadon started messing with her "house"!) , and Adelle has not not stopped talking about him since we came home. (wow, that was confusing to type!)

And this little girl is not a complete doll :)

Tonight we did not spend 3 hours sledding at a friends house and my 3 girlies are not sound asleep in their beds. That's sure not how I like it :)

Have a great week and be sure to check out MckMama's blog for more great NMM posts.

You're Gonna Miss This Moment #4

I'm feeling very nostalgic today, as my baby girl has moved into size 2T clothes. No more "months" sizes! I know, not really a big deal, but when she's the last baby...it's difficult for this mama! So this is my "YGMT...moment".

Thanks to Pam (who I had lunch with on Friday :) More on that in another post) over at You're Gonna Miss This for hosting this awesome carnival. Click here for full instructions.

Tired Claire

Tired Claire
Originally uploaded by JodiPolhemus

I absolutely love this picture of my best friend's baby. I took this one day when we were at McDonalds. The older girls were playing and we had been there for almost 2 hours! There is something so sweet about a yawning baby!

Wordless Wednesday (with a couple words)

Think she has a future in cheering? I think she's definitely cute enough :)

A New Bible Study and a Prayer Request

So I started this new Bible study at church this morning...Discerning The Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer. I have to say, I just got my book this morning and I am already so excited about the next 6-7 weeks of it! It is incredibly awesome and has really made me think. How often do I just sit and listen to God? I can answer that pretty quickly! With 3 noisy little girls running around, not very often. And something I have learned already from this study is that I need to be expecting to hear God. I honestly don't know if I have ever approached Him expecting Him to answer me. I mean, I know He answers prayers, but have I ever actually anticipated hearing His voice? I'm not sure...

I think that I will be blogging about my experience with this study as I dig deeper and learn more.

We could use some prayers. It looks like our household is going to be affected by the economy after all. Well, I mean in the job aspect. For a while we were thinking we might actually be all right, as Adam's job was looking pretty safe. However, they have decided to bleed the line dry, and then shut down until they get more orders. This means that he will be working for about 4 more weeks, and then be off for who knows how long. Scary! I know that God will provide and I know it's not a coincidence that I just started this new study this morning! So please, pray for us. Our marriage is already kind of struggling, and it really doesn't need this on top of everything else! Thanks!

Not Me Monday #2

It's Monday...which means it's time for "Not Me Monday" again. This wonderful free therapy is hosted by MckMama. You can get all the rules and details by clicking here...and feel free to play along!

I did not allow my children to watch Follow That Bird 2 times in a row, just because I didn't want to listen to them whine, and it was easier to give in. Because it's not an 80 minute long movie. That would just be ridiculous!

I did not buy yet another game for the Leapfrog baby system, because it was not an awesome price ($5.99) when I went grocery shopping. No, these kids absolutely do not need anymore toys!

I did not just sit and laugh to myself at my 4 year old trying to squeeze glue onto a piece of paper, all the while being very overly dramatic and acting like she's killing herself trying to get it out. No, I jumped right up to help her....

I did not take Abbie's yarn braids out and then silently curse myself while trying to comb out her hair this morning before school. I mean, come on...I really enjoy combing her hair and listening to her scream and cry ;)

I hope you all have a great day! Please leave me comments!