Welcome Derme

Last Friday our family welcomed Derme, an au pair here on a cultural exchange program. She came all the way from South Africa and will be living with us for a year. She will be taking classes, helping with the kids and learning about American culture. We have had so much fun already in such a short time. We know God hand picked Derme for our family. Here are a few pictures of Derme with the kids.

Recovery

Grant is out of surgery and is experiencing a "normal" recovery (alternating between crying and sleeping). Below is a verse God spoke to me yesterday when I was praying for Grant:

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. Oh Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" Psalm 30:11-12

We are so thankful for God's provision.

Surgery

Tomorrow morning at 9am Grant has surgery for his hernia. We have been preparing him for several days now by pretending to do surgery on his doll, Lucy. He loves hearing the little skit that I do with Lucy and the doctor and often says, "more surgery!" when I finish. Please pray for his surgery tomorow, and for peace for me too. It's funny because my child has had open heart surgery and this surgery is no big deal compared to that. But still, the word surgery still brings back painful memories at this point. Thanks for your prayers and support.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Grant:
food: sausage patties. Precooked and frozen.
activity: hiding in bathrooms and closets when I'm not looking.
toy: blocks. He loves to build tunnels and towers and put his little people in them
book: The Little Engine that Could.
person: daddy. He can't get enough. Today dad put him on a raft and let him slide down the stairs. I played a counting game with him. I don't have a chance. :)
Phrase: "Grant do it. All by self!"
Least favorite thing to do: Drink milk at meals.
Favorite dessert: cookies and M & M's. Yesterday when he woke up I asked him what he was dreaming about and he said, "cookies and M & M's."

Kate:
food: sweet potatoes. The only solid she'll eat.
toy: anything of Grant's
person: Grant. She laughs when he jumps, she laughs when he laughs, she even laughs when he takes her toys away. She is totally captivated by him.
activity: eating books. Bedtime stories have been taken to a whole new level.
dislikes: loud noises and loud people. She cries when people talk loudly.
bedtime: 7:30pm
waketime: 5:30am. It was 7:15 until this week. Not sure what is happening but I'm not a fan.

The Inchworm

Kate is a little inch worm. She has not mastered crawling yet, but she is determined to get across the room. So, she moves by thrusting her butt up in the air and then flinging herself forward. It is really quite a sight. I don't think it will be long before she is crawling because she already wants everything that Grant has. Grant's favorite line is, "no Baby Kate! Grant's!" :) Welcome to life with a two year old.

Actually, I think Grant is pretty sweet for a two year old. He always reminds us not to slip when we leave the house and says "God Bless you," whenever we sneeze. The other day we pulled into our driveway and I realized that Grant couldn't walk into the house because he didn't have shoes on. (Long story) So, I told him he had to stay in his carseat while I quickly ran baby Kate into the house. I said, "By the time you count to 10 I'll be back." I sprinted Kate in to the house and when I came back out to get Grant I asked him, "Did you count to 10?" He looked at me with a totally straight face and said, "No, forty." How does he even know the number 40? Was he trying to be funny? I get a kick out of everything that comes out of his mouth. Okay, almost everything.

Florida Pictures