Happy Birthday Lindsey 12

Twelve is a big birthday around here.

So to make it special and mark the year we decided to do

a complete redo of Lindsey's room. The hard part... without out her knowing!

A couple months ago I helped redo a girls room in my neighborhood who had been in a serious ski accident. All the wonderful women I live near came together and made the perfect room. I wouldn't have had half the good ideas they had. I am now convinced that working in a group like this is the way to go. Way more fun and its amazing what different people bring to the table. I feel lucky to have been a part of it, even if only a little! Service is an amazing thing it bonds you and it feels amazing.

Anyway I knew this was the room I wanted for Lindsey (I can't take credit). It had the teen look without the teen look, ha ha. Plus I knew she LOVED it which was helpful because it was a surprise. I began by forcing her to clean out her room which really meant me spending hours in her room throwing almost everything away. My Mom and I had spent the weeks prior shopping getting everything together. This was the fun part! My Mom also gave her the quilt, sham, and the mirror for her birthday.
Then the day of her birthday, the very minute I took her to school we started. Painting. Time was limited because school got out early on her Birthday! Thank you to my husband who worked from home and helped, My sister in law who came to paint, My Mom helped pick everything out,who cared for the twins and brought the birthday girl her special lunch at school while I was busy and all my many friends who shared their ideas and opinions. We finished five minutes before she arrived home. To say she was happy was an understatement. It was such a fun surprise!

 At this stage the color was scaring me a bit but I had copied it so I knew it dried darker.

Lindsey's broken finger...

The other day Lindsey was outside playing and came in claiming she broke her finger. She is a bit of a drama queen so the first claim was not taken seriously until Alan saw the finger and it was bent very strangely. So I popped in the car and headed over to the pediatricians office hoping to avoid the E.R. After an x-ray it was determined that finger tip broke and then completely rotated so we were sent to the Children's hospital where a specialist could set the bone correctly. 

I forgot my little camera so these are cell phone photos.  Here she is during x-ray. She was hurting.

Here is the x-ray you can see the finger tip is bent.

Here they are numbing her up.  You can really see how bent the fingertip was.  Yuck. He told me it was one of the worse finger breaks he has seen.

Amazingly we had to visit the finger specialist once a week and then every other week making four times total. I like to tease Lindsey and say..." leave it Lindsey to make breaking your finger drama"!

* By the way the injury occurred during a game of Capture the flag. She grabbed a boys shirt and he hit her finger pretty hard and twisted it in the process.  Now I know it was an accident but his complete lack of sympathy when she got hurt disturbed me a bit. Hopefully he didn't know what he had done.

Weekend wrap up....

Last weekend...

We had a slumber party celebrating Lindsey's birthday.

The girls went to see UP...
In the morning Jacob had a birthday party for his cousin. And the little girls went swimming.

Later we had soccer...

where Jacob stopped the soccer ball with his face.



After almost ten minutes of gushing and certainly a few tears. He was back out in the game...

Ten...

Lindsey turned ten last week.

Lindsey's top ten
1- Club Penguin
2- Reading (this is a new thing).
3- Swimming.
4-Friends.
5-Music- Jonas Brothers
6-Mexican food.
7-Webkins.
8-Movies and popcorn.
9- Making crafts.
10-wii fit.


My top ten things I love about Lindsey...
1-She is friendly and social.
2-She is smart.
3- She is a good leader.
4- She is confident.
5- She is strong spirited.
6- She is very creative.
7- She has a great imagination.
8- She is a good example and choose right.
9- She is fun.
10- She is funny.

Lindsey you are the child who challenges me most. You are so smart and strong willed. I can see that you will do great things with your determination and strong will. Keep choosing the right.

I love you so much!

Wordy Wednesday- Making the team

In the beginning of September Lindsey tried out for the local pre-comp swim team. She was thrilled to learn she made it on the team. It's a big time commitment because they practice three times a week. Lindsey has amazed me with her willingness to go to practice and swim laps for an hour straight. It's great to find an activity that she is good at and enjoys.




Here is what she wrote about on her blog...
Have you ever heard about the Dimple Dell Devil Rays or The Dimple Dell Dolphins? I am on one of them! The Dimple Dell Dolphins! We are in 6th Place in the whole country! I love being on the team with my cousin Andrew! (check the blog Our Family Chaos.)We love it, it keeps me fit and I am happy too!

It makes me so happy to see her feeling good about herself through success.


For more wordy wednesday's visit

Advance day tickets...

Look what I just bought...

Thank you for your purchase.
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3
Playing at 7:10 PM on 10/24
Rating: G
Length: 2 hours 2 minutes
Reserved Seats: H9, H8

Who knew it was almost sold out already? Well actually I did that is why I bought them. Can't wait to take Lindsey!

Fourth Grade

It's no secret that Lindsey is a social girl. So it surprised me that for the first time ever she was NOT ready for school to start. I can't say I blame her. Summer is a lot better than homework, early bed times etc...



When I took Lindsey on our school shopping date it was pretty clear that she wasn't the same girl I took last year. Just walking in Gymboree gave her the chills (she claimed). It was all about Limited too and Justice although she did compromise on a few Gap items.

Lindsey I can't believe you are entering fourth grade. You are still social and happy and excited about meeting new people. Lindsey has never met a person she did not think was a friend. What a great quality to have. I know you will have a great year! I can't believe you turn 10 in the spring. WOW!

Girl scout camp...

On Wednesday I dropped Lindsey off at Girl Scout camp. It was a horse themed camp where for 3 days they got to learn about horses etc... She doesn't go with a troop you sign up individually. Lindsey was so excited to go. One of the things I love and admire about Lindsey is her outgoing nature. She isn't shy or afraid to try new things. She goes in with a good attitude. This quality is a great one to have.
Here she is when I was dropping her off...


She could not call home or anything during her time away so I was dying to know how it went. I just talked to her on the phone. She was going straight to another camp out with Alan so I did not get to pick her up. She was so thrilled with every thing she did and had a great time. I love that she is so brave and happy. She said she made tons of friends. I don't doubt it. Lindsey has never met a person she thought was a stranger.

Adventures in baby-sitting...

The other day I was chatting with a mom of older teen girls I was asking her about baby sitting etc... She suggested I start having Lindsey "baby sit" for me while I was at home and needed to get things done. This way I would be there to help in an emergency (and it would be legal ha ha). Obviously I would not leave a 9 yrd old babysitting alone. I had never thought about having her be in charge while I was home and it occurred to me that not only would she like it but she could use that experience. So being a busy week and me having a messy house I hired her for a morning. First I took her to get craft supplies etc... She began watching the kids outside. She helped them make visors, let them run through the sprinklers etc... After 1.5 hrs I had not been bothered at all. At that point she came upstairs and told me Sydney was crying to come inside and that I needed to help. I reminded her that she was in charge and that she should change activities and bring her inside (no brainer huh). So she brought them all inside, turned on a video and popped popcorn. Later she made them pb&j for lunch too. After I put them down for their naps I noticed a terrible mess in the kitchen. I had to remind her that part of baby sitting was cleaning it up. So she cleaned too. I got my entire house clean for $5. L I will absolutely try this again. Jacob helped too and earned $2.50. Lindsey was not in charge of Jacob (that would NEVER work).

Not so leaping lizard...

Dylan the lizard has died. The children are upset. I am a mean mom because the hot sun was just too much (remember my outside rule). Lindsey is a bit of a drama queen and has posted this on her blog. It made me smile. It a private blog but this just made me laugh (after I paid my respects of course).

From Lindsey's blog...
Dylan died 6/21/08. He fell in love June 18th 2008. With a lizard named Sarah. after 3 days of marriage he died in the hot sun. On Monday his funeral will be held in the Reese Home. His viewing will not happen unless someone will pick him up.Invitations go to Reese family,Emily and her family,and Kara and if she wants to bring Ashley.Leave comments on my post for a response to come.
There are also hand made funeral programs for all who attend with a hand drawn portrait of Dylan, listed pall bearers, prayers, talks, and where to bring the flowers.

I have a feeling this is not the only lizard I will own...

The day I became a mother...

Dear Lindsey,
You were due on April 29th the day came and went. Days past but you were happy right where you were. Mom and Dad were getting impatient. At nearly a week late we were getting mighty frustrated. I woke up Wednesday morning May 5th feeling like I had the flue. I was having a lot of braxton hicks contractions and they were close but not painful. I really was feeling awful. This continued all day at about 11 pm I thought I felt hot so I had Daddy take my temperature. I had a 103 fever! I immediately called labor and delivery and they told me just to take two Tylenol and not to worry. Well about a half-hour later the contractions came and they were long and close together. At 1am we headed for the hospital. When I got there they hooked me up and told me things were progressing, but that my urin sample indicated I was severely dehydrated. After checking me she told I was STILL only a one and was now 70 percent effaced. I thought I might die because I was in major pain and making what seemed like no progress. They monitored me while making me drink sprite and rehydrate myself and then told me they wanted to give me a pain shot because I was showing signs of being really sick. They said if it was real labor they would seem me soon. Just as I stood up I threw up everything they tried to give me. The pain shot helped a lot and about three in the morning I was sent home. Now I wonder why I was sent home at 41 weeks like this but I was naive. I slept yet I was still aware that contractions were coming. About 8am the pain was awful so we headed to the hospital again finally this time they admitted me and told me that my contractions were strong and hard and that I could have the epidural anytime. I said NOW! They broke my water and discovered severe meconnium. Which had me then very worried about you. At that point I got my epidural and felt wonderful seconds after. . Anyway as labor progressed it was clear that you were not doing well. Several times they told me they were preparing for an emergency c-section. Somehow every time they were about to whisk me away you recovered. It was VERY scary! We decided I should have a blessing. Your Daddy and your Great Uncle Layton said a prayer for you, we prayed everything would be o.k. The things the Doctors had told us were very serious complications. Even now I do not think we ever knew how bad it really was. The prayer helped a lot because right after the blessing things started to improve. Your heart rate began to return to normal and you were responding very well. They decided giving me stuff to slow things down and now they gave me stuff to get it all going again. About two hours later they told me it was time to push. Now this was hard work. On May 6th you my sweet Lindsey were born healthy with a full head of hair. You scored 8 and 9 on the Apgar and none of the major risks they had warned us about came to pass. I remember looking over at you and being amazed that you were mine. I have never ever felt that kind of love. I could not wait to hold you but the Doctors were still trying to make sure everything was out of your lungs. They brought you over to me and handed you to me. As I held you I knew that nothing in life was better than this. Nothing was better than loving you my sweet baby. Welcome welcome sweetheart. I love you!
Love,
Mommy

As I read this letter I wrote Lindsey as a young mother, just delivering my first child. I marvel at who I was at the time. I have gone on to have three more children each pregnancy and delivery harder than the next. Little did I know that day what was ahead of me. What a life changing thing becoming a mother would be. What having a really sick baby would be like? I am glad I did not know. Over time I become a stronger more capable person and mother. Delivering my second child (Jacob) via emergency c-section seemed scary and unbearable at the time. Yet I never imagined what was still ahead in my life. Finding out I was having twins. I suffered daily hoping the twins would be born at all. Delivering them at 32 weeks, knowing they were too small and not quite ready. Watching them on ventilators struggling to breath, weeks in incubators growing still receiving oxygen. 29 days in a hospital my arms empty. Yes I am glad life often prepares us for what is ahead that I did not walk this challenges alone. I am so grateful to be a mother. To have four healthy beautiful children. That these experiences are now in the past.

I have been a mother for 9 yrs. Amazing really. I am different. I am stronger. I know love like I never imagined.

A pro's and cons list...

Grandpa got tickets for Lindsey to see the 3D movie of Hannah Montana in concert. He bought two, one for her and a parent. This was purchased in December (all showings are sold out already now) All along I thought it would be who would take her to the movie. I can admit I like Hannah Montana (or Han tanna as the twins call her). Besides we could use some mother and daughter positive time together. So tonight Alan tells her he would be happy to take her. She is suddenly in a quandary and does not want to hurt either of us. No matter how much we both reassured her that it was o.k. to choose the other she seemed worried. So she did what only Lindsey likes to do she made a good ol pro/con list. Here is how it read...
Mom
Not
1.She might get hyper.
2.If I said no she'll get sad.
3.She won't let me eat a lot of popcorn

Yes
1.She needs a break.
2.She might like to take me.
3.She was the one invited.

Dad
Not
1.Dad takes me to movies all the time.
2.It is a girl movie.
3.He might not like it.

Yes
1.He lets me eat lots of popcorn.
2.He lets me choose my drink (I don't let her have soda much).
3.He is super funny.

After the list was presented I figured I lost out. Until she pulled out the second list- she collected votes from her siblings.

Votes for Mom
Jake
Syd

Votes for Dad
Hailey

I got a huge laugh over all this. Wish us luck tomorrow!