FORTS

I have become an expert fort maker. Now grant it, there are better fort builders but given my limited time, budget and materials and the demanding clientele I think I am doing a good job. So tonight we made a big fort and had our flashlights, sleeping bags, baby dolls, cars, and we all curled up and read books. Lots of fun. Its one of those activities we could do everyday, they never get tired of it.

Here's a shot of the outside of our fort. Jack wanted us to be camouflaged so no one would enter it!!! ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Jack wearing my glasses. Nothing is sacred around him. If my bag is on the counter he is digging in it taking anything that interests him. Today it was my glasses.

Ella's Funny

Jack has this sweet raspy voice and whenever he says Ella's funny it makes me laugh. She says things all time that make John and I laugh. Jack will then say Ella's funny. Well today I was in the shower and thats a magnet for the 3 of them before I can get the water warm there is normally 3 small naked children rushing into the bathroom. Ella says to me "Mommy why do you have hair on your legs. I say well when you are older you will have that too. She looks perplexed and says "Does it fall off my head and stick to my legs?" Good question! I mean it is really confusing for little kids all this growing up stuff.

Another example of Funny Ella: John took Ella to walmart to get some soymilk, when they were getting out of the car Ella reached for her coat. John says are you going to put it on? "No Daddy, I am just bringing incase we go by the yogurts. I don't want to get cold." She plans ahead. What a catch!

HOME

Home sweet home... Yeah. Christopher and I are off to bed in a few minutes since we are completely sleep deprieved. I just wanted everyone to know we are home.... Hopefully for good.

A little Pick me Up

If you can't go home then bring home to you. This is exactly what we did. I had felt pretty confident that we were going to be able to go home yesterday but unfortunately that was not the case. So to help a very disappointment Lynnette and devasted Christopher cope, John went home to got our much needed family... It was the greatest thing, Christopher and I were waiting by the elevators when they arrived and they just started hugging and kissing and laughing. Jack kept yelling (since he's not very quiet) "I missed you Istober, I missed you Istober" It was pretty cute and drew quite a bit of attention.

Christoper wanted to show the kids the amazing train display. You can press the buttons and make the trains go and there is all kinds of animated things that go a long with it. Its quite impressive. This is where Christopher wants to spend his time. After the trains we got some food and it was so great to see Christoper so happy. There was massive improvement in his mood. What a great pick me up.

Ella and Jack weren't so sure about the bed that moves. Christopher was excited to show them but they didn't seem as eager to try it out. This is how Christopher and I entertain ourselves. He puts the bed up high and I hang toys over to edge and talk to him, a weird sort of puppet show...

Lisa had sent some crafts which was great. Here they are painting.

John and I knew the emotional risk we were taking by bringing the kids to us. However we thought the reward outwayed the risk. So when it was time to leave we walked them to the car and Christopher climbed into Johns car and said "where's my seat?" I said Christopher you and Mommy have to stay at the hospital and Ella and Jack will come back to visit us soon. WELL - in unison all 3 starting crying and calling for each other, as we were walking away Christopher was crying for Ella, "Ella and Jack come my room, Ella stay doctors, SOB SOB Ella, Ella then he started with I WANT MY DADDY " SOB SOB... Oh it was so sad and it took a good amount of will to hold back my tears. In the end though having them here was such a benefit to Christopher. Everyone got to see him perk up and run around laughing and smiling for the first time this week. Hopefully the doctors took note!

UPDATE

Christopher is doing really well and improving so we are excited at the thought that this will most likely be our last night at Texas Childrens. We are just waiting the results of his cat scan but everyone expects it to be clear based on his physical improvements. He wants to eat and drink and his fever is gone. So I will let you know the results when we get them. They don't hurry much here so I have given up on expecting news quickly.

AMBULANCE RIDE #2

Christopher was wanting to experience some of Texas finest - so yesterday we got a ride in an ambulance. My sweet boy had not been feeling well and I took him in on Friday for a stiff neck but he had no other symptoms so we left if with "must be an injury" I mean it was more than possible since my kids jump on their heads on purpose... Well he wasn't getting better and he got a fever and was just sick.. so we went to the hospital who discovered from a cat scan that he had 2 abscesses in his throat and neck. We then got transported to Texas Children's Hospital AKA THE MOTHERSHIP as I like to call it. I mean this place is huge. So now we are being given the BIG GUN antibiotics (the drs words not mine) and steroids. He will be sedated tomorrow for more tests. He is finally sleeping without any interruptions... YEAH. we know that hospitals are not restful. He is such a trooper and we are hoping to have him home in a couple days...
I am giving a big shout out to Texas Children's WIFI and my lovely new laptop (thanks John) so I am able to give updates...
Thanks for all the prayers and thanks to Alexia and Erin who swooped in (as they do in a crisis) and cleaned house, watched kids, put out garbage and even took the dog out. That is a huge thanks to Alexia who as we know is the biggest dog fan. I am so grateful girls... I owe you one and hopefully I can just give you a pedicure gift certificate vs having to do the same for you!!!!!

My Girl

Ella was asked by our amazing photographer to have some photos done for a website that sells tutus. Well the pictures are amazing courtesy of Shannon and Ella is so gorgeous. She loved the camera and showed us how she could pose. There is a photo of her in the red with her feet to the side and that is her showing us her moves. Here are some of the pictures...

MISS PRISS TUTUS

SNEAKY

We came home from church and were having a nice lunch and Ella asked me for something and I said when you're done your sandwich. So lunch continues and we are laughing at Christopher being silly, well Ella was being unusually quiet so I look over and she looked so guilty. I take a second to realize what she was doing and I say "Ella, I know exactly what your doing, I grew up with a dog too. And trust me honey, even though he is eating your sandwich, he will not eat brussel sprouts." I know that from first hand experience. Ella, being sweet Ella felt bad and stopped feeding Sam, much to his dismay and finished her lunch. She is so cute. I just can't stand it that she's growing up so fast...

Playdough

This has been such a busy week as usual. The kids went back to preschool and Ella had a stomach bug so on Friday we didn't make any plans we just enjoyed being home together playing. Here are the kids playdough creations. Jack made a dolphin and Ella and Christopher both made people. I have to get back taking pictures. They are growing so fast.

This morning we all rode our bikes (the boys in the bike trailer) to the donut shop. We figured we burned off the donuts with the bike ride. When we came home I turned into Arnold Schwarzenegger. Apparently his kids say that if they don't put things away he throws them out. So they might be missing shoes and toys and stuff. Well I have asked the kids to clean up their craft table over and over and today Christopher was fussing that he had no space to color so I took everything off the table and into the garbage. Hopefully the lesson hasn't fallen on deaf ears. I think the kids and John were taken back but maybe it will be lesson learned.

POLAR EXPRESS

I forgot to put our pictures of our Polar Express trip so I made a video of our jaunt. It was so much fun and I made the video specifically for the kids since they love the song and looking at photos of themselves. The Polar Express train left from Palestine Texas and took us to the North Pole where we got to see Santa Claus. He came on the train and Ella and Katrina received the first gift of Christmas. The boys thought being on the train was awesome and Ella who has seen the movie enjoyed every minute. We got hot chocolate and cookies. The sang Christmas songs, the conductor even punched the tickets with the letter B for "believe". The kids got a bell from Santa.... Oh it was fun. I had so much fun watching them have fun.

These days in our house we spend a lot of time looking at past pictures and movies. I recently read the book The Last Lecture and if you are not familiar its about a professor who finds out he has terminal cancer. He does his last lecture for Carnegie Mellon University and imparts his final thoughts on life and some wisdom to his students. Well in the book it says that he actually wrote his lecture for his children so they would know him after he's gone. Anyways its a nice read and I thought how I started the blog for John when he was travelling, but now it seems the blog is for the kids. Helping them remember their childhood. So I hope you like the video... Its for my kids!!!

Town Green

We took the kids to Town Green on Saturday for a picnic. They had so much fun running around kicking the ball and chasing each other and of course going through the little maze. They are at such a great age and I am really enjoying them. Everyday they say something amazing and its so interesting to see their 3 very unique personalities emerge and interact with each other. On that note today Jack was being too rough and someone got hit so John put Jack in a needed TIME OUT. Well after the timer goes off John goes to Jack and tells
Jack that he was in Time Out for hitting and thats not nice etc. So then John says "Now Jack what do you say?" The anticipated response was Sorry Daddy but instead, sweet Jack says "May I be excused Daddy?" Thats my boy, using his manners!

Happy New Year

I can't believe it's 2009. I wanted the kids to participate in ringing in the new year but I didn't want them staying up to midnight (the babysitter wouldn't want that either I'm sure). So we had a countdown till noon party. At 12 noon the kids got to countdown and do a balloon stomp and have cupcakes and it was so fun - I enjoyed it at least. The kids decorated the house with streamers - and confetti. We looked pretty festive. I have quite a few pictures that I will put in my year in review video but here are a couple to give you the idea... John and I with Alexia, Brian, David, and Erin rang in the New Year at Main Event. It was fun and no Mandy we were

not the oldest people there!!!!