Little Brownie turns 4...

Today at 3:07a, my Little Brownie is officially 4 years old.  He is our little blessing.  He is full of life and energy...enough to make a person tired just watching him.  His favorite toys are his dinosaurs.  He loves to play Skylanders and Donkey Kong on the Wii and loves to sing Christmas songs year round.  He still enjoys playing with trucks and trains.  He LOVES animals of all kinds.  His favorite books are anything Dinosaur, Curious George and anything written by Dr. Seuss...although Sam and The Firefly is the most requested.  He is a full on Mama's boy and I love every minute of it.  He is currently being homeschooled by yours truly and attends a tutorial once a week.  He really enjoys learning and I see his wheels turning especially when he furrows his brow in concentration.  At the age of 4, he is learning to read 3 letter words and follows his Big Brother around usually dressed up in costumes.  He is definitely an outdoors kind of guy.  Chocolate is a great modivator in his life.  When we have a backyard bonfire, he wants a hot dog no bun and a s'more with no graham cracker and no marshmellow.  He speaks his mind and gives the best hugs and kisses of any child I know.  His hug and kiss melts my heart every time.  

On this day 4 years ago, I was blessed to bring a human into the world the old fashion way...with no medical support.  On the way to the hospital, he was bound and determined to not wait for our official birthing plan.  I tried my best not to push. I tried my best to stay calm.  I tried my best to keep him in for 7 more minutes.  But alas, he decided it was time and I thank the Good Lord every single day that he was born healthy and safe.  We are truly blessed to have this little light in our life.  And he is a light.  He reminds me everyday that the miracles are in the everyday things we do, not just being born on the side of the road.  He speaks with clear wisdom and always knows when I need a hug or when a piggy back ride is just what we need to make our day gleen brighter.  The last 4 years have gone by in a blink of an eye.  It pains my heart to know that he is growing so fast that I try my best not to blink or miss a single moment of wonder and awe.  We love you Little Brownie and thank you for being our son.  You have taught us as much as we have tried to teach you.  You will always be my baby, even when you are a 30 something, 6 foot something young man.  I pray many blessings over you and pray that God is already preparing your future love in life.  Happy Birthday Little Brownie...it's going to be a good one!

You can read his story that I posted back in 2009 here. 

Preparations, Fire Drills & Fireflies

Well, the whole house has been under the weather since our return from Atlanta last week.  I think we are finally all on the mend.  This week has been busy with preparing for homeschool and getting ready for tutorial to gear up next week.  My mind and body have been kicked into high gear with new chore charts, homeschool planning, getting the playroom ready for a real educational environment.  Curriculum has been ordered and the weight of my future educational responsibilities have come down across my shoulders.  I take it in stride and try not to allow it to overwhelm me.

  

We opened our ABC Scriptures cards I printed from here and our verse for the day was 1 Thessalonians 5:11"Be kind to one another and build each other up."  So today I decided we would just have a low key fun day...and boy was it needed by all.  We brought out the water slide, I mowed the grass and we ate about 50 popsicles.  I mean what is life if you can't take a moment to enjoy the laughter, the creativity and the love?  

I try not to watch the news, especially since I don't want the Brownies exposed to murder, rape and kidnapping stories so openly and widely discussed in graphic detail most of the time.  However, with the Olympics, the television has been on for our competitive enjoyment.  The boys always root for the "Americans" and if there isn't an American team competing, they chose a team and we pretend to be from that country.  In between the Olympic airing, the local news has ran a few stories about kidnappings and fires.  I have been talking to the boys for several months about "what if" situations.  For example, I ask the Brownies..."If someone offers you candy and you don't know who they are and/or Mom and Dad are not there, what do you do?"  The favorite response from the boys is, "I tell them their candy stinks like my booty and a run!"  Or what if someone is stealing your brother what do your do...the reply is "I yell for help, bite their hand and give them a spin-jitzu drop kick!"  We also talk about other things like when is it ok to take your clothes off and if someone touches them inappropriately.  These are all things that I want to prepare them for, just in case they are in a situation and don't know what to do.  I want them to know they can talk to me and Daddy Brown about anything and that nothing is off limits.  Little Brownie being 3 years old and Big Brownie now 5 years old, I don't think it is to early to talk to them, in age appropriate terms of course, about being prepared.  

So along the lines of preparedness, tonight we had our first ever fire drill.  At Mother's Day Out last year, the boys were given a basic set of guidelines from the official fireman that came to the church....stop, drop and roll, etc.  I have been talking to the boys about what to do if there were a fire in our home.  Until tonight, they had never heard the fire alarms activated in our home.  So after dinner, I told them we would have an official fire drill.  With wide eyed anticipation, they both ran upstairs to their beds.  I hit the test button and the whole house began to alarm.  The boys did a great job crawling out of their beds, assessing which exit to get out, crawling down the stairs, exiting through a door and running to our neighbors flag pole as our family meeting spot.  We drilled from the bedrooms, we drilled from the playroom and we drilled from the living room.  However, the most challenging drill came by exiting the back door.  We have a fence that only opens from the outside.  The boys are both too short to reach the latch, so tonight, I taught them how to climb the fence and jump to freedom.  Big Brownie said, "This was the most exciting drill in the history of the world".  Little Brownie was not so keen.  He got shaky at the top and almost lost his composure.  He wanted to grab me, but I assured him I would not let him fall.  I explained that in a real fire, I might not be there to get him out and he had to learn to jump off the fence to save his life.  I kept reiterating this..."We can replace everything in our home but you.  You are the most important treasure we have.  Do not go into the burning house looking for Mommy, Daddy, your brother or your dog.  You have to get yourself out safe!"  I plan to do a few impromptu and unscheduled fire drills with the boys soon to make sure they really get the idea.  I plan on using caution tape to mark off areas that are "on fire" so they have to make quick and possibly lifesaving decisions.  For it being the first time, the boys did amazing and I was very proud of them!

So after our adventurous drills and as we walked back from our neighbors yard, dusk was upon us.  Big Brownie started chasing fireflies in the front yard.  Little Brownie followed and before you knew it, they had amassed quite a collection of fireflies.  I ran inside to get a jar and my camera.  As night fell, I enjoyed sitting on the porch step, watching them run and giggle and laugh with each other.  It is truly amazing the gift that God has given us in these two boys.  I cannot imagine my life more fulfilled and enriched.  After we took baths, read books and sang songs, I reached down to kiss Little Brownie.  He reached up with his arms and said, "This was an awesome day Mama...thank you!  I will love you forever and always!"  My heart swelled to almost tears.  I gave him an eskimo kiss and said, "This was the best day of my life, because I got to spend it with you and I love you forever and always".  (The boys love for me to read the book, Love you Forever by Robert Munsch.)  When I went to tuck Big Brownie in, he was drifting off to sleep.  He said, "Mama, can we have another fire drill tomorrow?"  I replied, "We'll see".  He said, "I'm so glad you are my Mama and I love you forever and always."  I kissed him on the head as tears whelped up in my eyes and said, "I will love you forever and always too...now get some sleep."  Today has been an amazing day.  Quite possibly one of my favorite days...until tomorrow.  There will hopefully be more fireflies to catch and more fun to be had, but most importantly, I pray we will always have one another to be kind to and the ability to build each other up.  

Angels in the Outfield of life...

I love the movie, "Angels in the Outfield".  I have always found comfort in the knowledge that Angels abide beside us in our daily lives.  I had my own real life "Angels" appear seemingly out of thin air this past weekend.  We made a trip to Atlanta this past weekend with Tutu Nani as she was attending a conference.  We took the opportunity to take a few days to visit Legoland Discovery Center, Georgia Aquarium and well...Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite Hospital.

We had an amazing time at Legoland.  I understand the Discovery Center is a postage stamp in comparison to the theme park versions in Florida and California, however, it was the perfect afternoon. The Brownies had the most amazing time and I seriously would drive another 5 hours at this very moment to take them again.  It will be one of those magical memories for me to see the excitement in their eyes.  On day 2, we made plans to visit the Georgia Aquarium.  This place was awesome.  The animals were huge and so close that the boys eyes wondered from one to another area to another area with anxious anticipation of what can they see next.  They would say, "Look mom, a whale shark...oh oh oh, look there is a manta ray."  There were so many people though that I was a bit claustrophobic.  My mom was with us and my sister was back at the hotel sick, and we had her 3 kids with us.  Saying the place was packed, would be an understatement.  I was constantly counting heads and looking for my mom.  It was a bit unnerving for me.  

As we found a spot to rest for a minute, the kids climbed onto a rock.  Little Brownie bumped his head as he was climbing.  I picked him up off the floor and held him to comfort his boo-boo.  As I was doing so, I heard a huge thump behind me.  As I turned around, Big Brownie was flat on his back, legs in the air and he was screaming.  He had fallen about 3 feet backward off the rock and hit the floor like a ton of bricks.  I tossed Little Brownie to my mom and grabbed Big Brownie into my arms.  I consoled him and tried to comfort him.  He finally stopped crying long enough for me to get some tylenol out of my first aid kit and give him some juice.  Once he calmed, I carried him through the aquarium.  Not allowing him to fall asleep, I tried my best to peak his interest back into the wildlife around us.  However, he seemed disoriented.  All at once, he began to cry...the "I'm about the blow chunks" kind of cry.  I get him to a trash can and he begins to vomit.  Although I tried my best to remain calm, this made me worry even more.  

As I continued to carry him, I went to get him a new shirt and drink from the gift shop.  I put his new shirt on and I checked his pupils with my keychain mag light and they responded as they should.  I gave him a drink and asked him to walk for me.  After a few steps, he began to vomit again.  I became more and more worried with each passing minute.  As we sat on the steps of the cafe, I called our pediatrician back home.  After speaking to the nurse, I put Big Brownie through a series questions looking for basic responses.  "How many fingers am I holding up?  Follow my finger with your eyes.  When you look at that chair is it clear or fuzzy?"  When I asked him to walk a short distance, he stumbled 3 times.  That was it, I decided we were going to the hospital.  I called my insurance to find out what hospitals were in our network and I began to lose it.  My voice began to crack as I nervously wrote down the name, address and number of hospitals, all the while, I'm holding Big Brownie and trying to keep him awake.  Thankfully, my mom had Little Brownie and my sisters kids as she is following me out of the venue. 

As we reached the van, Big Brownie begins to vomit again and I'm on the verge of panic mode.  We get everybody in the van, start the van and I ask my mom to pull up the hospitals on her GPS....and then the van dies.  As I'm trying to keep it together, I turn the key over again and the van will not start.  I take a deep breath and look up.  As I look over the steering wheel of the van a sense of desperation comes over me and I see a gentleman walking by himself in the parking lot.  I open the door and as I'm about to call out to him, my mom yells, "Sir, we need help!  Can you please help us?"  He approaches our van and asks how he can help.  My mom explains that our van died and we need to get to the hospital.  

Without a shred of fear, I begin unhooking Big Brownie from his seat and I begin to cry.  I hand him my slip of paper listing the hospitals that I had collected from my insurance and ask, "Can you please take me and my son to the hospital...he fell and hit his head, he is vomiting and I need help?"  This sweet kind individual that I did not know, agreed and drove me and Big Brownie to the hospital.  I left my mom with the van and the kids and put Big Brownie in this strangers car.  As it turns out, even though he currently lives in Georgia, he went to school just 40 minutes from our little town back home.  His name was Cameron and he did his best to keep me calm and distracted as I cried in his passenger seat.  Big Brownie vomited in his very nice, very new, top of the line Lexus and it didn't bother him a bit.  He had a few napkins and some water so I could try and clean Big Brownie up.  He drove us 20 minutes to the hospital.  He was on his way back to work, which happened to be in the hospital right across the street from the Children's Hospital we were going.  As he dropped us off, I gave him the biggest hug and thanked him.  What do you say to someone that has helped you so unconditionally?  He is an angel in my outfield.  

Big Brownie and I got the Emergency Room and a nurse named Lidia saw me enter.  She saw how distraught I was and that I was alone.  She decided she would intake us, triage us and treat us from the moment we arrived to the moment we left.  She is an angel in my outfield.  Big Brownie had a CT Scan and they gave him an anti-nausea medication.  He was officially diagnosed with a concussion.  After being there for 5 hours, my mom picked us up from the hospital and we headed back to the hotel, Big Brownie was back to his old self again.  We decided to stay another night in Atlanta because I was too exhausted and mentally drained to drive home.  I have been on my hands and knees thanking Jesus for allowing believers to step in to help me and my Big Brownie in our time of need.  It was not lost on me that they both referenced God and his healing powers for my Big Brownie.  Even in my time of despair, God was with me and Big Brownie.  It was the most comforting feeling and I will be forever grateful for the genuine kindness of these angels in the outfield of our life.  

A good buzz and learning to swim...

I'm happy to report my nephew mentioned in the previous post is home from surgery and recovering well.  He is on restricted activity for the next 6 weeks.  As you can imagine, that will be a challenge as he gets to feeling better and better.  Thank you very much for all the prayers that have been lifted for our family.

In anticipation of his return, Daddy Brown and I have been talking to the Brownies about what was happening and what to expect when they get to visit our recovering cousin.  We told the boys that his hair had been shaved and made illustrations of the incision on Daddy Brown's bald head.  The boys decided it would be a good idea to shave their heads.  This is so their cousin would have other kids that look like him and would not feel singled out.  So, with clippers in hand and excitement all around, Daddy Brown helped Big Brownie shave his head using a No 2 guard.  After clipping half of his head, I reached over and mentioned to Daddy Brown, "Do you think it's short enough?"  Big Brownie whipped around and said, "Is this not as short as it needs to be?"  We looked at each other and said, "No, your cousins hair is shorter."  Big Brownie said, "I need my hair to look just like his so he doesn't feel bad."  So, with that, we changed the guard to No.1 and finished him right up...all the while, we hear Little Brownie say, "Me too, I want my hair just as short too".  So, we now have 2 head buzzed boys.  It's a great change of pace for the summer months.  With tick season upon us and their abundance, this will help with inspection time for sure.

We are a very "age driven" household.  The Brownies know they can't drive until they are 16, they know they can't chew gum until they are 4, but most recently, Big Brownie wanted to learn how to swim.  So, we decided that 5 was an appropriate age to take swimming lessons.  Big Brownie will be 5 on Friday, so we started lessons this week.  He was so overjoyed and excited.  We arrived with both Brownies to our instructors home and he took to it like a fish in the ocean.  Little Brownie was cool as a cucumber until he noticed swim lessons for Big Brownie seems pretty cool.  Then, he began to pout...that turned into begging.  He said, "Please Mama, can I take swim lessons?  I promise to be a good listener and not drown in the water!"  As it stands at this moment, we are going to stick to the 5 year old rule, however, if the instructor is willing to take a 3.5 year old, we may allow him to try ONE lesson to see if he can handle the hour long instruction....but we will see!

Prayers...

When I think of summer closing in on our calendar, I always think about the joys of sleeping in, relaxed schedules, water slides and good friend play dates...too name a few.  Even though it's technically still Spring, we have busted out the water slide, bounce house, kiddie pool, sand table and just about anything else that might bring joy to our day.

Last week, we invited our cousin to come and play.  It was a special time because this sweet, precious 6 year old suffered an unexplained brain hemorrhage back in January.  After a routine follow up angiogram mid-May, the reason was finally revealed.  He has an abnormal blood vessel in his brain.  A vessel that needs repair immediately.  Because recovery will take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, he will likely not have a chance until late summer to enjoy the normal summer adventures that all young kids enjoy. 

After the water play concluded, I captured the boys having some "boy conversation" outside.  I could hear him explaining his surgery to Big Brownie.  He said, "Yeah, they are going to open my head, remove some bone, put 2 clips in and then I'll wake up."  There were many giggles and carefree, relaxed laughter.  It was a great afternoon.  Tomorrow, May 31st at 7:30a, he will indeed have brain surgery.  I praise Jesus that 2 leading neurosurgeons are right here in our area...a point that is not lost on me.  I pray knowing that God's hand will be covering every aspect of his procedure and recovery.  If you have a moment, please lift our family in prayer.  I am ever thankful for the support and love that surrounds this sweet boy.

Say What Wednesday...

The other day I heard a new word as the boys were playing.  I came into the room and asked, "What's a 'Fuscle'?"  Little Brownie crouches in his best ninja stances and yells, "Mom freeze!  Don't move a Fuscle or the bad guy is going to get you!"

We were in the store last week and Little Brownie asks Big Brownie, "What does a baboon look like?"  Big Brownie says at the top of his lungs, "Well, I think it is gray all over with a Big Pink Booooty!"  Laughter busts out all around us, which made them say it about 100 more times.

I can't remember if I have shared this one or not.  A couple of weeks ago, Big Brownie was talking to Daddy Brown.  He said, "Dad, when I grow up I'm going to Las Vegas to find me a pretty wife."  As I walk around the corner containing my giggles, I said, "Oh really and are you going to live in Las Vegas too?"  He said, "After I get my pretty wife to marry me, we are going to move to Jerusalem to do God's work."  Daddy Brown and I giggle as we agreed that if he finds a wife in Las Vegas, God's work in Jerusalem might be just the ticket for some redemption.

Big Brownie is really wanting us to have another baby.  He wants a sister so bad.  He told my mom, "I am praying that God puts that special seed in moms belly."  This after informing her and a few other people that I'm expecting a baby...which I am NOT!

We have started visiting a nearby church over the last month or so.  The boys LOVE going.  The gathering is held in a local elementary school and of course, it's called "Bible School" by the boys.  When we get ready to go they ask, "Mom, is this the Bible school that we have to take a nap or just have so much fun?"  I explain they do not have to take nap.  To that I hear, "Praise Jesus! That is the best place in the whole wide world!"  


This past Saturday after driving into town to run some errands, we stopped by to check out the new Riverwalk.  We found a family of geese walking as well.  Big Brownie said, "Why does that sign say no?"  I read the sign aloud and they both look at me and said, "But Mom, what did the geese do that they can't swim in the water...did they break the law?"  I grinned and explained that the sign is only for people.  Little Brownie says with a sigh of relief, "Whew, I was afraid we would have to bring them home to swim in our water slide!"

Nueve de Mayo...

It's been a rough couple of days with the Brownies I'll admit.  The previous statement isn't a true barometer of what my boys are compared to other boys, but how they normally behave in our every day life.  With Big Brownie about to turn 5 and Little Brownie hitting his 3 1/2 year stride, I believe that we are in the season of action and reaction.  I believe they want and need to test the waters.  I also believe and know that Daddy Brown and I, as their parents, are called to react and discipline accordingly.

A perfect example of the trials that I'm facing...Well, after repeatedly asking Little Brownie to wash his hands yesterday afternoon before dinner, I hear Big Brownie giggling at him just outside the bathroom door.  When I walk over to see what is so funny, Little Brownie is washing his hands...IN THE TOILET.  Yep, I turned green, wanted to scream...and I may have even thrown up a little bit in my mouth.  What on the planet earth, made him think that was an acceptable thing to do?  And then this morning, after asking him to brush his teeth, I found him using his expensive toothbrush to clean the sink.  I walked past Daddy Brown shaking my head and said, "Can you please take this one for me?"  I walk upstairs to take some deep breathes.  Upon returning to the seen of infraction, Daddy Brown is shaking his head at me.  He said, "I just experienced "Parent Fail'!  I told him that if he used his toothbrush for something other than brushing his teeth, we would throw his cool transformer toothbrush away and get him a plain toothbrush."  As Little Brownie thought about this ultimatum, he replied, "What kind of plain toothbrush?"  Daddy Brown shows him my plain Oral-B toothbrush and says, "You'll get a plain toothbrush just like Mommy's".  Little Brownie says, "Oh that is just the kind of toothbrush I wanted!" 

So, after an emergency conference with my mom this morning for some reinforcing advice, I pulled Little Brownie aside this afternoon.  I wanted him to know that this behavior is a choice and if he continued to make these choices, he needed to understand what the consequences would be.  So I asked him to sit with me on the couch and I recalled these and a few other events.  As I began, his first response was, "Mom, I don't want a consequence.  I'm so very sorry and I won't do it again"...as he musters up his best give me a hug face.  But I resisted this tactic!  I simply said, "The toilet is a place to go pee pee and poo poo.  The next time you decide you need to wash your hands in the toilet, I'm going to invite your brother to come in and pee on your hands."  His eyes got a little wider and the hug me face when to...I can't believe my ears.  I further explained, "And, if you choose to clean the sink with your toothbrush, I'll be happy to add cleaning the sink with a toothbrush to your daily responsibility chart".  He looked at me with utter disbelief and said, "I don't want brother to pee on my hands, and I don't want to clean the sink every day with my toothbrush!  I'm sorry and please forgive me."

As the night progressed, I talked with Big Brownie about his outbursts when he gets a small boo-boo or when his feelings get hurt.  I explained that when he turns 5 next month, comes a different way of doing things.  We talked about taking responsibility for his actions and trying to soothe himself when he is hurt as opposed to crying.  To do a self assessment of his injury to determine if it is critical enough to even warrant coming to me.  He seems to understand although I know it will take a while to catch on completely.  One of the big things we talked about was just being a responsible member of our family.  That he is getting to the age that I should not have to tell him to do certain things.  He should just know and understand what his responsibilities to our family and home are.  One of them being a good example for his younger brother.  For him, when speaking to Little Brownie and even teaching Little Brownie to make certain it is in a respectful way.

As I was getting ready to prepare supper tonight, Big Brownie comes in and says, "Mom, can I help you make dinner?"  I said, "Sure, as a matter a fact, I'd like for you to go into the refrigerator and decide what we are going to have."  His face lit up and he said, "Can I make dinner for our family tonight?"  With a few stipulations that included, no use of the oven or stove, I agreed.  Little Brownie came running in and said, "I want to help!"  Big Brownie looked at me...wanting, even willing me to say no.  I said, "Well, I tell you what, your brother is going to make supper tonight, but you can be his assistant.  You have to follow his directions or you cannot participate.  Do you agree to these terms?" Little Brownie looked at me and with a swift answer, "YES MA'AM!"  So with the limitation of basically the microwave, they discussed some options.  Finally they decided on a Mexican meal.  Microwave Cheese Quesadilla.  After assembling all the ingredients and a LONG fearful discussion about microwave safety, the boys went to work.  I have to say, Microwave Cheese Quesadilla's from my boys was the best 5 star meal I've had in a while.  Well, I wouldn't go quite that far, however, they worked well together.  They both planned, they both listened and reacted, and they both implemented.  It turned out to be a blissful evening.  

So...Happy Nueve de Mayo!