A Virus and a Video-conference

Yes, that about sums up what is going on in our little world right now. Perhaps I should elaborate a tad...

A Virus
Sadly, so sadly, the kids have yet another virus of some sort. We just got over one not even a week ago. That one was with us since New Year's Eve and caused us to miss three weeks of church. Now there's another virus circulating and we missed another day of church. We've been to church exactly once during the month of January. I am most worried about Joseph right now since he has been waking himself up with a croupy cough and all that comes with it, like trouble catching his breath. I find it so scary. I have a humidifier running in his room and I am ready to take him out in the cold if need be, but I'm hoping it doesn't get worse than that. Melody had croup really bad once and we had to take her to the ER for meds. Please pray for my little guy tonight.

A Video-conference
This one is a biggie. Many of you know that Larry has been applying and interviewing for jobs for several years (he still has his job; he's just been looking for a change). He's also been taking classes toward another master's degree to help his endeavors. Long story short, he's put a lot into this process and gotten close several times. He even traveled to interviews twice in the past year, only to have the job go to someone else. Well, he has another interview tomorrow and it seems like the most promising of all by far. He has already had EIGHT interviews with this company (yes, 8!), all on the phone since the job is not local. Tomorrow he is going to their offices in our city to have a video interview with 3 of the same people he's already spoken to on the phone. We are all on pins and needles to see what comes of this. If he gets the job, it would mean a major move for our family, but it would take us within 1.5 hours of my mother, who has still not met Joseph (I am an only child, so my kids are the only grandkids). I would love for my kids to have my mom in their lives, and I would love for her to have us in her life. We would also be within a day's drive of my aunt and grandmother (who is going to be 100 this summer, and has not met Melody or Joseph.). Still, it would be a big deal and we need to know that God is leading us in this direction. If not, so be it. Prayers for clarity and wisdom would be much appreciated. I will keep you all posted as I know more!

And now, for good measure, here's a picture from December that I keep meaning to share! Sled boy!

Lost and Found (Maybe)

Joseph is at that adorable age where he delights in putting things inside of other things. Sounds innocent enough, right? But, don't forget to account for his toddler sense of humor and curiosity. That makes everything much more interesting! For example, are you looking for the missing puzzle piece to the girls' puzzle? Why, look in Daddy's slipper, of course! Need Joseph's other shoe to put on his foot? Silly...look in the kitchen towel drawer! Mommy's wool hat? The recycle bin makes a nice home for it! Julie's shoe? The clothes hamper. Bath toys? The hallway garbage can. His prized Blue Bear? Getting dunked in the toilet before Melody had a chance to flush, eeeeewwwwww! Okay, so that last example is a bit different, but you get my point! The best part is when he grins and claps for himself after depositing an item into whatever receptacle he's chosen at the moment. I love to watch his little mind work! Just remind me not to let him get a hold of my car keys or else we might be stuck in the house until spring cleaning reveals their hiding place (if I even get to spring cleaning; we might be housebound permanently!).

School!

Yesterday was a big day around here. Melody started pre-school! Today was another big day as she rode the bus to school for the first time. Although she cried for a few minutes at drop-off yesterday, there were nothing but smiles today. I think she is really enjoying it!

Yesterday, sporting the same backpack that Julie used for pre-school.

Waiting to be dropped-off.

Today, on the bus for the first time.

Waving as the bus pulled away.


As much as my Mommy heart aches to see her go, I believe this is a good thing for her. After she aged out of Early Intervention at age 3, we met with the school and set up an IEP that gave Melody speech therapy twice a week for 30 minutes. I took her there for several months before we all realized it just wasn't going to meet her needs. So, we met with the school again and changed her program. Melody is now in a small class of students with a lot of adult support. She has the same teacher and speech therapist that Julie had for the last quarter of last year, which is wonderful. We love the school and we love these particular teachers. I am hopeful that Melody will make a lot of progress there. For now, we're all settling into the new routine and adjusting to the fact that Melody is gone all morning and Julie is gone all afternoon, leaving them much less time together than before. Technically, I now have two kids in school! How did that happen? At least I still have one who can't fit into a backpack (although I'm sure he'd love to try...did I mention that he has figured out how to push the kitchen chairs around to get them where he wants them so that he can climb up and reach various things like, oh, say, the STOVE?!? But I digress...). They just grow up so fast!