Saturday, February 26, 2011

toothless Sam


Samuel finally lost his 2 front teeth! He was excited!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

buzz light year....space ranger

Some battles are just not worth fighting. Over the years I have developed a philosophy that says if they are happy, compliant, respectful and not hurting themselves or others then its not a battle to fight.
Zephan HATES going to the store, to the doctor, just about anywhere. He is a home body and likes it that way. At 3 years old I cant say that I blame him. The screaming and tantrums that often occur while dragging him to such places are unbelievable. Much of it is beyond his control....he has some issues with sensory integration and honestly places such as WalMart are offensive to his senses and he is unable to process the input and keep control. He is getting better and the doctors have ordered some specialized therapy so things are looking better. WHEW.
Some days though these errands are unavoidable like yesterday. We had to take Isaiah to school, Madison to school, then stop at the family dollar store where he found BUZZ. a costume. he carried that thing all around the store, it was on clearance so I bought it. He promptly took off his coat and began to remove his clothing right there in the check out line so he could be BUZZ. I managed to get him into the van before he was naked in the parking lot. ;0) We got him changed into his costume. He was a happy boy!
We went to the doctor to get his ear checked out because he cried all morning that it hurt. Some people in the waiting room looked at me as if I was a nut to allow my little monster to walk around in public as Buzz. Some people got a kick out of him reenacting the movie scenes.
It came his time and the nurse called "Buzz Light Year" To his delight he jumped off a chair and hollered THAT'S ME!! and obediently followed the nurse, no crying, no kicking, pinching, bititng, screaming....What a difference a costume made!!
The doctor came into he room and said Good morning Zephan....Zephan said...I am not Zephan I am Buzz Light Year....SPACE RANGER!! To which the doctor chuckled and said to me Well Mrs. Light Year what brings Buzz in to see me this morning??
After we were done at the doctor we had to make a trip to Wal Mart, the true test! We had the most successful trip ever! From now on whenever he has to go somewhere he has troubles going I think I may transform him into Buzz Light Year Space Ranger. Because Buzz was not only pleasant to be around all morning but he was entertaining and awfully cute!!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

compassionate heart

I think some people are born with their hearts filled to the top with compassion already. I believe Dominique was born that way.
This morning I was driving under the overpass downtown I was driving in complete silence, one of my favorite things about having to drive into town every day is the silent ride home. No chatter, no fighting, no loud music just the sound fo the tires rolling down the road. I was looking out the window when suddenly I was flooded by a memory and taken back in time to a day when it was just Dominique and I driving that same road he was 8 years old. As we drove along he stared out the window as was his usual car routine. When we were stopped in traffic he was looking up under the overpass and for the first time in his young life he noticed a homeless man tucked way up at the top where the overhang meets the underside. It was cold out that afternoon. Dominique asked me what seemed like a million questions about that man who was sleeping under the overpass. I am quite sure my answers were inadequate. soon we were riding in silence once again. I thought he was just consumed with his imaginary cloud game or liscense plate search he always played.
We arrived home. I busied myself with whatever chores I had to do when I heard Dominique banging around in his room and down the hall. Finally I went to see what all the noise was about. My little boy had push his twin sixed mattress off his bed and shoved it out of his room down the hall and wedged it up against the front door. Sitting next to the mattress on the floor was his sleeping bag and pillow.
I remember squatting down next to him and asking what he was doing. He looked at me square in the eyes and in a very determined voice he informed me that he needed me to put his mattress in the car. When I asked him where we were taking it, his sincere reply was: to the man who was sleeping under the highway Mommy. I tried to explain to my son that we could not take his bed to the man under the overpass. He began to cry. After we had put his mattress back on his bed we carried his sleeping bag and pillow to the car and drove in silence back to the overpass only to find the man was no longer there.
I had forgotten about that day.
As I drove home today memory after memory of Dominique showing compassion to others came back to me. I am so thankful that God allowed me to remember these things today. I have to admit I have been caught up lately in the things I wanted Dominique to be and do with his life at this time. Today I was reminded of the little boy he was and realized that the young man he is today is just a more compassionate version of that little boy.  By the time I drove up the drive today I was at peace and knew Dominique is going to great things in his life. The journey he is on now is necessary for what ever lies ahead.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Saturday, February 19, 2011

ugh!!!!

I had 3 updates all ready to publish on here. Dumb photos gave me a fit!! So I had to save the updates in the draft file until I can figure out what the deal is with the photos..
I hate that!