Wordful Wednesday


V:

• I'm an angel. I'm not an angel, I'm Veronica.
• Are you happy Thomas? Are you happy now Thomas?
• This is my honky-honky. (pronounced hoan-key, points to nose)

T:

• I want to be a Polar Bear when I grow up.
• When I'm a Mommy, I'll play with ribbon.

Wordful Wednesday

V:

• The kids are a little frightened of the abominable snowman in Rudolph. They wanted to watch it this morning while I was taking a shower, but I told her it was something Mommy or Daddy had to watch with them so we could hold them. Veronica's response, "We can watch it, and I can hold onto Thomas like this." She stretched her arm up and around like he was right next to her.

T:

• On the way down to North Vernon this past weekend, Thomas started whispering, "Shhh... The coach is coming!" Judson reminded me that was from Rudolph - which we'd only just shown them that morning!

Both:

They've been taking care of each other. For example, this morning they wanted to watch Rudolph, but they are a little frightened of the abominable snowmonster (ABOVE).

Today Veronica really scraped herself on a chair at the State House while we lunched with Daddy. She had some pretty sad and painful tears. Thomas tore a piece of his bun off and handed to her. "Here, Sissy. This will make you feel better."

Post Party Paradigm

Today has given us a variety of coincidences to make their extra-thoughful gifts even more exciting. (Disclaimer: We don't always watch this much TV. Mommy & Daddy were exhausted, so we used the TV as a tool to rest.)

• We awoke to watch Sid the Science Kid. Sid was learning how to use a magnifying glass, so we broke out the magnifying glasses Uncle Thad and Aunt Paula gave them so they could learn along side Sid. I texted Uncle Thad to let him know. Thad was just made aware earlier this morning while listening to NPR.


• We played with our new Memory games (Spiderman & Princess themed) from Madeline & Julia. Then, while the games were still out we watched Caillou play Memory!


• Veronica pulled out the mittens Aunt Peggy made for her (and Thomas), specifically to play in the snow. We awoke to snow for this first time this season.

All the gifts we received yesterday were SO thoughtful. It is amazing how much those we love care for us and are interested in the interests of our children. We are so blessed.

Wordful Wednesday

V:

• Rolling paper = wrapping paper - guess because it comes in a roll!
• "I'm a girl; you're a girl; Grandma's a girl... Thomas is a boy; Daddy's a boy; and Pa is a boy!" Says each with a grin. So proud to be a part of the fairer sex!
• "Ma- sha- sheen." machine? We think it's the carts at Meijer that have cars with a Dora DVD player in them.
• Loves to help. She is such a Mommy at heart. "I'm a Mommy just like you." Grandma said that she took them to the bathroom at church last weekend and Veronica so wanted to help Thomas. "I'll hold him on the potty." She got some toilet paper for him too.
• At nap time I hear the yelling through the window to the neighbors, "Richard and Paula, we're sleeping again!"

T:

• "We're (or "not" at times) sitting in a circle!" The update at every meal as to if we fill the table (circle or oval) all the way around.
• "Panana" = banana.
• Grandma took them to the park the other day. They were swinging in ellipses on the tire swing. He asked to get off. The explanation: "It makes my neck kiwi."
• Overheard talking to himself in the backseat:"That was a lot of fun. For more fun go to pbskids.org." Hmm....
• Has to bless "Spiderman and Superman" at every prayer now. In my head, I see them as our troops.

Both:

• Fruit Lips = Fruit Loops ( Treat we eat on weekends when Daddy's home for breakfast)
• Conversation heard upon waking... T: I have two Spiderman books in my bed. V: When I'm a boy, I'll have FIVE Spiderman books in my bed.
• They are amazingly good at following the rules of English. They've both said "mine's" for a long time, just as you would say, "This is Veronica's." The new word is "dooze"... in place of does.
• Song being sung quietly loudly from the nursery now at nap time: "I've got underwear. I play the guitar!"
• They've been including Julianne and David a lot... After the Nov 9 visit to the cemetery, Veronica said, "I want Julianne and David to catch up with us." On the way to church one day, Thomas said the same thing. Thomas shows me things and says, "This one is for Sissy, this one is for Julianne and David, and this one is for Thomas.

National Prematurity Awareness Day

I committed myself to blog today through this site... http://www.bloggersunite.org/

It's such a great idea. However I've been thinking too much about preemies lately, so I'm too tired to blog about my history with prematurity. I live with the life and loss of prematurity every day, every minute.

Some people who don't know me well all too easily protect themselves when others ask me how many children I have. They answer for me, "Let's just say 2." Hmmm... I'm not comparing raising two children to raising four. But, let's compare having four children to raising four children...

• I'm sure it's physically exhausting to chase after four children every day. Every day I miss two children while at the same time be present for the two I have in the room with me every moment. Every day I wonder what I could have done differently so that I could raise four children. Every day I try to keep Julianne and David a living part of our family - despite those who choose to make them a distant memory. It's exhausting.
• Every day I work at becoming stronger - even three years later - because of the toll two premature pregnancies took on my body.
• Every night I can't go to sleep (and sometimes can't go back to sleep) until I physically make sure my earthly children are breathing.
• Someone with four children has to budget their time to get each child to their activities. I use my energy to try not to think about what activities my deceased children would be participating in now.
• Every day most mothers of four get to hug and kiss their four children. Every day, I give extra hugs to the ones I am lucky enough to hold and and I spend time sending love up to those I don't.
• Every day I am thankful for all four of my children. Every one. Every day.

Today I have another preemie to be thankful for. A close friend was beside us for the births, deaths, fear, grief and celebrations associated with all our children. She has suffered the lonely and heartbreaking road of infertility. Saturday, a mother selflessly put a preemie in her arms for adoption - one for her to call her own. Today is the first whole day she will have her new daughter at her home.

Birth and life are amazing... no matter how it occurs, no matter how early, no matter how short or how long. It is all precious.

Wordful Wednesday

V:

"I want to go where I was born." (When we mentioned visiting the nurses at the hospital then found out we couldn't due to H1N1)

"You need a maggot. This is my maggot." (Magnet)

Veronica does a lot of baby talk now - she likes to pretend she's a baby.

T:

"I've been working on the railroad, all the children come." (singing I've been Working on the Railroad.')

"You're so snugly. I'm snugly. You're comfy."

He often tells me how pretty sissy is. Sometimes he compares her things to his: "Sissy's is pretty. Mine's is cool."

"You've got a beard on your leg!" (After touching my unshaven legs.)

Both:

"I'm getting very busy!" (dizzy - when spinning around)

"It's not working!" or "It's working!" This is in reference to whether or not they can pee when they sit on the toilet. Veronica's got it just about down minus sleeping and holding BMs in. She doesn't even need us to be in the room with her - she even washes her hands independently. Thomas is making grand progress.

Like me to "act like a baby" (their own command). Then, they tell me to cry. If I won't they tell me, "Daddy's not home." I guess this is very upsetting because it makes me cry. Then, they tickle me to make me happy.

WordfFUL Wednesday

I've noticed a lot of bloggers do a "Wordless Wednesday" where they post a picture. I'm always posting pictures, so I thought I'd change it up a bit. I'm going to do the occasional "Wordful Wednesday" and use it for the little tid bits that don't make up a full story blog...

Veronica:

• Calls nightgown, "nightengale."
• She's constantly telling us what she can do when she's big. "When I'm big, I can..." drink my own coke, wear underwear all the time, use an open cup with one hand...
• Now she's also into what she's too big for - like bottles or clothes that she's out grown. "When I'm little, I can wear this!"

Thomas:

• Often says, "It's kinda like ____, but it is ___." Example: It's kinda like it's blue, but it is blue.
• Is excited about things being scary - unless they really scare him - because he understands they are not real. "Spiderman's scary, but he's not real."
• Sings the line from Chim-Chimney, "A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be," but lucky usually comes out "yucky."

Both kids:

• Use the phrase "sounds like" when they mean "looks like." That sounds like a house.
• Still use one of my favorite phrases when they want to be held, "I want to hold you."