Fireproof…the movie

Larry and I ventured out on Friday night and saw the new movie “Fireproof”.  I can’t tell you the last movie that Larry and I saw together, as a couple, without the kids.  We much prefer to wait till it comes out on DVD, and snuggle on our couch, after the kids go to bed.  But I am so thankful that we braved the movie theater (where DO all these pre-teens come from?!?!  And where are their parents?!?!) 

Anyway, we were both impressed with this movie.  The issues that it addressed are very familiar to most any couple that has been married any length of time.  Mixed in with the true to life issues of a trouble marriage was just the right amount of humor.  Several times Larry and I were both laughing out loud… and within a few minutes I was crying tears.  A real “chick” movie, for sure.  Laughter, tears, and a true to life story line.  The most surprising part, to me, was that Larry enjoyed it as much as I did.  We both learned something about ourselves, our marriage, and the way we NEED to treat one another.  This is one movie that you NEED to see…so don’t put it off, go on, run right out and buy tickets.  You WON’T regret it.  Trust me.

Larry is travelling for work this week.  He’s now been gone 29 hours and 45minutes….give or take.  Jonah and Levi got the chance to talk to him tonight.  They were both excited, and just hearing his voice made them both feel better.  Immediately after talking to him, Jonah was ready for bed.  He didn’t let me read his nightly Bob the Builder book, but he DID let me pray with him.  Hey, I’ll take what I can get!  Larry will be home on Friday night…just in time to catch Sarah in the school play.  I hope.  Please God, don’t let him be late and miss Sarah’s performance…she would be devastated.  Larry, if you’re reading this, you NEED to be here on Friday night.  Really…so leave a bit early, OK?

Jacob’s foot is bothering him again.  He has been benched for this week, with no practice or game time.  His coach is concerned that he could really mess his foot up, and be out for the season.  He doesn’t want that for Jacob any more than Jacob does.  Hopefully this week of rest will do the trick for Jacob…

I am gearing up to tackle Jonah’s room.  Fresh paint.  New tile flooring (we got rid of the carpet years ago due to his allergies) and a MAJOR Bob the Builder theme.  With a few horses thrown in.  Cause he loves horses, and I can do that…cause I’m the decorator.  I know, they don’t “match” per-se….but Jonah will love it!  I spent the day cleaning his room, purging his mega-collection of Happy Meal Toys, and am pleasantly surprised by how much room he now has.  Who knew?!?!

What’s on your agenda for the week?  I’ve got parent-teacher conferences, Medicaid social worker appointments, church, ball practice pick-ups (Jake IS going to lift weights, just nothing else), drama practice pick-ups, Sarah’s play, church, an IEP meeting at Levi’s school, some AWANA stuff to do….whew.  Maybe I won’t get around to Jonah’s room until NEXT week!  So do tell…what are YOUR plans for the week?

Only in my family….

OK.  I have spent the day with Jacob, my oldest son.  Yes, he should be in school.  No, he isn’t.  We have been in the doctor’s office….again.  I swear, football is going to be the death of this child….or me, whichever comes first.

So, Jacob comes in from practice last night limping.  He said, and I quote “Mom, I think I’ve got a blister on my foot.  Will you look at it after my shower?”  I, being a good Mom, overcame my revulsion at the thought of looking at and/or touching his very sweaty, man-sized feet, and responded “Of course I will.  After you wash your feet about 5 times….”

So, Jacob comes out of the shower, limping even worse, and says “I think it’s kind of bad.”  Kind of bad was a gross understatement….Jacob somehow developed a 2nd degree blister on the ball of his foot, right under his big toe.  It is approximately the size of a silver dollar.  The doctor cleaned the area, and removed the dead skin…to reveal this hideously red, raw looking area.  Shudder….it was gross, and I was clear across the room, wincing with every snip of the scissors.  It sounded like he was cutting shoe leather….

So, Jacob has been on bed rest today, trying to keep pressure off of this foot.  The doctor really, really wants him to stay off of it completely for a few days.  But tomorrow brings THE football game of the year… against Jacob’s school’s rivals.  And he is pretty adamant that he IS playing in the biggest game of the year.  We are soaking it, padding it, letting it air, and following the doctor’s orders to the letter.  The down side to this plan is that IF Jacob can get his shoe on tomorrow (no luck yet) and IF he feels like he can play….we have to ensure that it absolutely does not become infected…since we’ve removed the dead skin covering it.  We also have to provide enough padding to prevent him developing ANOTHER blister over this one (how many layers of skin do we have again?!?!) or Jacob could be out for the rest of the season.  An infection and/or another blister will entail lots of painful, gross stuff…a few visits to the Wound Healing Center, I’m certain, and will mean that Jacob is out of practice AND games…for the season.  Quite a big risk to take in my opinion…but I am trying to help Jacob make the best decision that he can.  Sigh….it’s never easy is it?

But, on a positive note, Jonah will now be adequately clothed this winter!  I arrived at Wal-Mart right after they finished restocking the elusive, elastic waist jeans.  And we’re now stocked up for the winter.  Thank God for small favors…

After Jake’s doctor’s appointment this morning, I told him that I needed to run a few errands.  We made a quick stop in Target, to return the jeans that DIDN’T work for Jonah.  We made a quick stop in Wal-Mart, where I was blessed to find the jeans that WILL work for Jonah.  I stopped in Kroger to pick up a few items.  Popped into the post office.  Jacob was exhausted, and just wanted to go home.  And wondered if “this is what you do all day long while we’re in school?”  Tee hee hee…and then he had to carry the groceries in for me.  I figure a little walking is good for the blister…toughen it up a bit, right?

Levi’s progress report came home earlier this week.  I was pleased to read that he is doing VERY well academically.  Not so pleased to read that he “has pulled a few attention getting stunts” which will be discussed in greater detail at next week’s parent-teacher conference.  Sigh…good grief.  What has he done now?  I’m almost afraid to find out.  But do believe that if it had been too terribly bad…I would have heard about it by now.  Right?  Makes sense, right?  RIGHT?!?!?

We’re gearing up for a busy end of the week.  Larry leaves to go out of town for a week on Sunday afternoon.  Football practices and play practices and church choir and youth group and Awanas and church missions….whew.  I know what I’ll be doing next week…without Larry being here to help out.  I’ll be living on the road.  I’m packing the cooler with drinks and snacks, and the poor kids might not get a decent meal all week….

Have a great weekend.  We intend to.  I HAVE to tackle the weeds in my rock garden…or I’ll have to change the theme to a “botanical” garden….hmmm….that idea has potential.  What’s on your calendar for the weekend?

Anji

The great mystery….

Yesterday found me pondering one of life’s greatest mysteries.  As I was working my way through the mountain of laundry that my family produced in just 4 short days, I discovered that I really, really needed to clean off the top of my dryer.  So that I didn’t have to contort my body into unnatural poses to be able to reach the start button on the dryer.  So, I began sorting through the piles of accumulated “stuff” that somehow lands on my dryer.  That’s a mystery in itself (used bandaids, candy wrappers and a hopelessly distorted, melted wax crayon was among the bounty I found yesterday), but that’s not the mystery I am talking about.  I have a nice basket sitting on top of my dryer.  Carefully chosen to coordinate with the drab khaki colored walls, it sits there week after week, faithfully holding the socks whose mates have been forever lost.  Where in the WORLD do all the extra socks go?  I’ve yet to come up with an explanation, but yesterday I sorted through the basket and came up with four pairs of socks that somewhat matched, and then threw away FORTY ONE socks.  FORTY ONE socks have lost their mates to my dryer since the last basket cleansing.  My basket was running over, and had to be purged.  And sadly, forty one socks are now forever lost in the bowels of my dryer.  Or something like that….

As I was sorting the socks, I was reminded of something.  Christian Family Radio has been announcing for a few weeks now their “Soles for Souls” project.  You take your kids old shoes, wash them, tie the strings together and drop them off at Shoe Stop.  This is a wonderful project, and yesterday found me wondering if they needed socks too…. but I digress.  So come on, clean out the old shoes (we all have them lying around if we have kids) run them through the wash and drop them off at Shoe Stop this weekend.  Part of this shipment will be going to Haiti this year.  And God knows those kids could use some shoes…they’ve been devastated recently with hurricanes and tropical storms.  And I for one am glad to know that my kids gently used shoes will be going to a child who will appreciate them greatly, and has such a great need for them.

We are gearing up for fall weather at the Edge household.  I have spent untold hours and waaaay too much money trying to find jeans for Jonah this year.  He is not able to manipulate buttons or snaps yet, so he needs elastic waist jeans.  He is totally independent in toileting himself, as long as he doesn’t have to fasten the waist.  I’m fairly certain his teacher appreciates my efforts to find jeans that he can manipulate himself, as she really doesn’t want to hear one of Jonah’s classmates announcing that “Jonah’s pants are unbuttoned” after he uses the restroom.  Jonah doesn’t care, and doesn’t understand that OTHER people care, if his pants are undone.  But in the interest of helping him conform to at least part of society’s expectations, I am killing myself trying to find elastic waist jeans in a size 8.  Target has been my lifeline for several years now, selling full elastic waist pants in larger sizes.  This year, however, I assume they decided that elastic was no longer “cool” and did away with that line of pants.  So, I’ve been scouring the ‘net, have visited every store in Owensboro, and have yet to find a pair of jeans for Jonah.  I am getting closer.  Wal-Mart has them, just not in his size.  And no, they can’t tell me when they might be getting more, and no, they don’t sell them on their website.  So, I am making daily trips to Wal-Mart, praying each day that I find jeans for Jonah.  Soon it will be too cold for his shorts….and since he refuses to wear athletic pants…it could be a cold winter for the little guy.

Jacob’s football season is in full swing.  He is enjoying it.  I’m exhausted just thinking about his schedule.  The dedication these kids show is amazing to me.  He gets up, goes to school, goes to practice and/or a game, comes home, showers, eats, does homework and goes to bed.  Every day.  Not much time left in the day after he crams all that stuff in….but he is happy, and so far, his grades are holding steady.  Although I still don’t understand how he can be getting a better grade in Spanish than he is in English….but there it is.  Maybe he’ll turn out to be bilingual.  I understand that’s very desirable in today’s job market….

Jonah is still feeling the effects of the head cold he is hanging onto.  This morning found me begging, pleading, cajoling, bribing, and finally I’d had it.  I ripped the covers back, pulled his butt out of bed, and marched him to the bathroom.  Where he proceeded to be a zombie, and was too uncoordinated to be much help in his morning routine.  I stuffed him into his clothes and half dragged him to the van, and got him off to school.  Good thing Mrs. Emma, his principal, was waiting out back for him.  She helped him out of the van and led him into the school.  He was still in zombie mode.  Poor little guy…it really is sad to see how tired he is these days.  I know part of it is the medication…but part of it is just his sleep issues.  He’s just tired, and it doesn’t matter how long he sleeps…he’s still tired.  But, he gets on with his day, and enjoys himself.  So that’s good enough for me.

So tell me, are there any “great mysteries” in your household?  Like how the empty cereal box always ends up back in the cabinet when everyone in the house swears that they didn’t put it there?  Or how a load of freshly laundered clothes end up in the hamper on the next laundry day, even though they’ve never been worn?  Mysteries abound in the Edge household….how ’bout yours?

Anji

Just another day in paradise….

Days like today are a screaming advertisement for birth control.  5:00 am found me in the bathroom with Levi, who was sitting on the toilet, doubled over and crying with stomach pains, headache, and the allergies I’ve been treating?  They’ve morphed into a full blown head cold, complete with lots of snot.  Levi is currently lying on the couch, in the fetal position, and screaming at me every time I try to speak to him, comfort him, touch him to gauge his temperature….sigh, is it really cold and flu season already?

This morning also brought grumpy, overly tired Jacob.  Who lost his football game last night….badly.  And proceeded to grump around the house until he mercifully went to bed…after eating enough to choke a horse and totally trashing the bathroom that I had spent 2 hours cleaning yesterday.  Yessirree….that’s my boy.

As if that weren’t enough…I arrived home from dropping Jonah at school, half carrying Levi into the house (since I can’t just scoop him up anymore) and got him settled with some juice, his blankie, and a good movie.  I entered MY bathroom, which Jacob had not molested, and couldn’t believe my eyes.  We have been working very hard on Jonah becoming a bit more independent.  This morning, as I was dealing with Levi’s tears, and Jacob’s grumpiness, I decided to test out Jonah’s abilities.  I sent him to my bathroom with instructions to wash his hands and face, and brush his teeth.  And he did.  With no help from me.  And also spritzed himself with Dad’s cologne.  I smelled him long before he came out of the bathroom…but I digress.  So, I enter my bathroom to deal with the mess that I was certain Jonah would have left….and discovered that he brushed his teeth with athlete’s foot cream. 

After reading the label with the bold face type mandate to contact Posion Control immediately if ingested, I proceeded to call the school, explain the situation (through Michelle’s laughter, by the way) and Jonah was promptly brought to the nurse’s office for a visual inspsection.  He seemed fine, with a bit of redness around his mouth.  So, I then called Poison Control and explained the situation (through HER laughter, by the way) and was assured that the only ill-effects Jonah should suffer would be possibly vomiting, and a bit of irritation around his mouth.  And all of this happened well before 8:00 am.  I’m exhausted.  I need a nap.  And may just crawl up on the couch by Levi and take one….

Yep.  THIS is definitely the reason I signed on to have children.  Never a dull moment, and all that….

Jonah did get to ride Jimbo last night.  He was BEYOND thrilled.  I wish you could have seen him.  He fed handsful of grass to Tumble, while waiting for Jimbo to be saddled.  There was a time that he was too scared to do that….but the laughter and giggles and screaming last night, as the horse’s hairy lips tickled his palm….was beautiful to hear.  After his ride, he was tasked with helping put away the tack.  He absolutely LOVES that part, too.  Then, he got a special treat, and he and buddy Mike proceeded to brush Jimbo.  Jimbo thought he’d died and gone to equine heaven.  Jonah was pretty happy about it too….

We are gearing up for a lazy weekend here.  Praying that gas prices don’t rise so drastically that we’re forced to become hermits…because we can’t afford to leave our house!  And also praying that the rain Ike is sending our direction is not too awfully bad.  Rain during the week is good.  Rain on the weekend is pretty much a pain in the gumpy.

I’m sorry I’ve not posted in a while.  Life sometimes is exhausting.  And things get in the way.  But,  I am back…and have lots more photos to share!

We’re planning to spend the weekend lazing around, trying to stay dry.  I hope YOUR weekend is just as relaxing….so tell me.  What are YOUR plans for the weekend?  Anything exciting?  I’d love to hear….

Anji

Baseball

Swinging all the way through...

I love baseball.  Little boys, big boys, men….it doesn’t matter.  There’s just something about baseball… and this year, THIS was my favorite baseball player….. and he was working very hard on swinging all the way through, rather than “chopping” at the ball.  Larry worked with him all season, to try and get him to extend his arms (rather than trying to keep his elbows plastered to his side) and to SWING at the ball…. and Levi made great strides in doing just that.  Just look at that form….elbows extended, arms straight, toe pointed…BEAUTIFUL form…

 

Isn’t he handsome?

He had to let that one go…it wasn’t in the “sweet” spot….

Ooopsss….struck out again.  Next year, he and Larry are going to work on actually making contact with the ball…. but isn’t he handsome?  Doesn’t matter that he can’t hit the ball…he’s so cute, he doesn’t HAVE to play well!!!

And here he is in his catcher’s gear.  Levi has decided that he doesn’t like to catch.  Even though he does a good job of it, and isn’t afraid to stand on homeplate and just dare some kid to try and get past him.  And he enjoys talking to the umpires…and to the batters….and to the people standing behind home plate fence…and anyone else who crosses his path.  Baseball…it’s a social sport, right?

Family Reunion

Saturday brought lots of sunshine, food and family.  We had our first family get-together since Grandma’s death.  Her absence was VERY noticeable….but we enjoyed the time spent with family and friends.  And the weather was perfect…

This is my cousin’s little girl, Ashley, and her shirt says it all!  I guarantee that she was the cause of many smiles on Saturday.  Check out those eyes….

This is Ashley’s big sister, Sydney.  And she is also responsible for lots of smiles and laughter.  She is a camera hog, and I believe I got about 3 dozen shots of her…. ; )

Levi got the chance to be the “big” brother for the day.  Alex latched onto him, and wanted Levi to play with him all day long.  Levi got fed up with the big brother thing pretty quickly though…and spent the rest of the day trying to avoid poor Alex.  Alex is a ham, too.  And his most adorable phrases right now are him calling his Dad by his first name “Tony”, and his fit throwing phrase of “I CAN’T WANT TO….” when he is being asked to do something that he doesn’t want to do….ahhh….two year olds.  They’re certainly cute and funny…when they belong to someone else!! Today I’m thankful we’re past that toddler stage.  Alex wore me out, and I was just WATCHING him!!

This is Alex’s dad Tony.  And he was our cook for the day.  Tony’s biggest phrase of the day was “Hope ya’ll like your ‘dogs burnt….”  And he meant it when he said it, too.  But I would NEVER heap criticism on Tony’s head…since he was nice enough to cook for about a hundred people.  And Tony….I hope the hairs on your arm grow back soon….really, it doesn’t look THAT bad….truly.  And the eyebrows?  They should grow back quickly.  Honest.  And Tony?  Did I say thank you for cooking for us?  No?  Well, thank you for cooking for us, sacrificing your body hair and dignity to ensure that our crazy family could eat…..and we’ve already decided that NEXT year….you should cook again.  I’m fairly certain all your body hair should be regrown by then, so it’s all good.  Right?  Right, Tony?

And the gentleman in the blue fisherman’s hat?  That’s uncle Charles.  He’s deaf as a doorknob.  Really.  He knows it too, so he doesn’t mind if I share that with you.  And he’s getting up in years, so his memory just ain’t what it used to be….he asked me THREE different times if I was Judy’s daughter, Anji.  I told him THREE different times that yes, I was Judy’s daughter, Anji.  And then I heard him asking someone ELSE who I was….Uncle Charles….buddy….it was good to see you again.  Even though you will probably have no recollection of me, and I’m not certain that you heard ANYTHING I said….even though we chatted for a good while. 

And this is Aunt Helen, Uncle Charles’ wife.  She’s ALMOST as hard of hearing as he is….and my best memories of her are that she always offered us Cokes in those teeny, tiny glass bottles.  Remember those?  I’ll bet I could walk into her kitchen today, and find a case of those babies cooling in the ‘fridge.  Isn’t it strange the things that we remember, and the things that stick with us?  SHE knew who I was, since I see her more frequently than I do Uncle Charles.  And she hollered at Uncle Charles, really, really, LOUDLY, that he had JUST asked her who I was, and was he losing his mind, too?!?!  Jeez, she had JUST told him who I was, and he asked again.  She was disgusted, and really, really loud about it too….

Sigh…family reunions.  It was a time to catch up with family that I only see at weddings and funerals.  It was an opportunity to see how the kids are growing, changing, and maturing.  I always enjoy getting together with family….even if it means hard of hearing uncles, great weenie fires, and giggling, laughing, crying, screaming kids.  I’m already looking forward to NEXT year’s reunion….