Time Flies

So today I realized I am not really a "young" mom anymore. I guess you could call me a "school-aged mom". Meaning my kids (at least one of them) are of school age. I also realized that things that used to really stress me out about being a mom are now just common place. Take last night for example; Bridger woke up areound 3:30 a.m. with diahrrea in his diaper and a huge nasty rash. I got him cleaned up and put to bed. While washing my hands after the ordeal I realized that the whole process just seemed normal, no big deal, commonplace, ordinary. Back in the day, when Phoenix was Bridger's age, I probably would have felt stressed, overwhelmed, why me? type of attitude. But now, I just feel like it's all part of being a mommy. I think being a mom has taught me more than anything else has in my life, to be patient, loving, kind, and most of all to endure. Heavenly Father has blessed me with a loving husband and three beautiful children and I can never thank Him enough for it. And yes I still do get stressed out with mommying, but I've had to learn to endure. Having Dave working 80+ hours a week, I've had to learn to do everything on my on. I used to wait for him to get home to take my break, let him fix it/deal with whatever drama is going on with the kids. Now, I have to find a way to get a break without him. Don't get me wrong, he still helps when he can, but I can't always count on hime being here when I need him.
I was reading in my journal the other night from a few years ago. Dave was going to be on call at the hospital overnight and I was so nervous about speding the night alone. Now, I do it all the time without even thinking about it. I think whatever situation we're put we just find a way to adapt. I used to get really nervous about the future, wondering how I would survive with three little kids and a husband hardly ever around, but now I realize that we can, with the help of our Heavenly Father, find a way to do it and do it well.

Texas, our Texas

We went to Texas last week to visit my Mom in the hospital. We also went to Galveston and Spring to visit the Bues' and Chris and Lorena. My computer is giving me problems with picture downloading so this post will be black and white. I had some funny pics. too. We went to the candy shop on the Strand with the Bues' and I have three different pictures of three different kids with the same huge rainbow colored butterfly sucker in their mouths. We had a great time in Galveston. It's funny because I was so excited to move away from from Galveston and now I find myself really missing it. I don't miss the heat, mosquitos, or fire ants, but I do do miss old friends. Tulsa is fun too, we just got home from the zoo today, but I guess you get attached to places after awhile.
Mom is making slow improvements. I think they are actually pretty fast improvements but it still feels slow when you are trying to walk and talk again. She went from barely moving her right hand to eating with it by the time we left. She's a strong woman and I know she'll be able to make a full recovery.

Last day of pre-K

I thought I would catch everyone up from the last month. So here goes:
We visited Bella in Lubbock. (And Andrea and Malachi.)
Phoenix and Dave got drug off to jail in Uncle Nick's police car.
Phoenix's last day of school.
The teacher's gift I made for Phoenix's teacher.
I thought I would post a picture from his first day of school.
Sequoia and Bridger on the last day of school.
Phoenix is ready for his last day of pre-k.
Phoenix and his teacher, Mrs. McHenry.
Phoenix and Miss Vickie.
Phoenix really did love pre-k and he has grown so much. Not just physically but emotionally and mentally. He's learning to read and sound out letters, he's learned how to count forwards and backwards, how to count objects, how to color in the lines, how to use scissors properly, and a whole score of other things. He's learned to not depend on Mommy for everything which I think has boosted his self-confidence. Pre-school really was good for him. I'm glad we live right next door to a wonderful school.
I'm writing this after finding out on Sunday that my mom suffered a stroke during church. She is currently in ICU but is progressing well. She is weaker on the right side but can move it, she can speak but is having trouble finding words, she can eat now and actually walked today. It's all been very nerve-wracking and a total shock and surprise. She has always been very healthy and it is hard for me to think of my mom in the hospital. I'm hopeful that she will make a full recovery and I thank Heavenly Father for the wonderful mother he has blessed me with. I would be nothing without her. It reminds me of the quote, "All that I am I owe to my mother."