Storming

We were all okay, but as the thoughts turned over in my mind, I was reminded... it only takes seconds for everything to change. Everything.

The day after that last post began a couple of the hardest, stormiest weeks I've ever had as a mother. Without going into many details, we have been pretty concerned for the health of our big girls. Hope appears to be better, so we're just watching her now to be sure certain things stay on track. Alysse is healthy but it's worth it to note that she has turned that age where she is just so... so busy, so funny, so fun, so stubborn to do everything like her sisters, so sweet, so opinionated, and so fast. I blink and she's climbed the stairs or run down to the neighbors to ask for a cup of sugar or something.

That last one was not an exaggeration. This is not our house.

Getting out and about by myself with them has truly taken on a new meaning with three who are completely mobile.

And our Maddie. She still has at least one more specialist appointment to go before we can rest easier on a matter dealing with her little heart.

But I tell you this happy news: PopPop and Nana came to town. Though PopPop could only stay for the weekend, Nana got to stay for a week and a half. What a wonderful distraction, providing us with lots of little bits to love.

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My dish washing view made that much sweeter:

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She helped with all the things going on and threw in the bonuses like only Nana's can do. Which meant she played hard with the kids:

And then stayed up late with me, watching movies and trying out things I've been wanting to do. Making laundry soap, getting that gifted bread maker working, sorting through all the tubs that are {sigh} the next size up. Ever notice that all it takes sometimes is a good friend to help you get so much accomplished?
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Baking until the kitchen smelled homey and warm {and fattening} and delicious:

Another photo from Hope's vantage point

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Picnics rerouted to the front porch when the rain started to pour:

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Some thrifting around town. Dollar dishes and quarter punch cups with a special purpose coming soonish, an old scale, frames that were spray painted in bright reds and blues to finish the big blank wall in the playroom/guest room/Alysse's temporary nighttime sleeping spot/school room:

All kinds of lovely, FREE vintage art and such from here.
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Not to mention some cold weather clothes thrifting at lots of little spots I've been wanting to peek in without taking up half the store with my stroller and caravan of enthusiastic mini shoppers.

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Fish sitting for our neighbors. They are empty nesters and let the girls name four of these fishies. Giving Rapunzel, Dory, Flynn, and Marlin their evening meals was quite the event each evening:

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On one of my Mom's last nights Joe read me like he can do, and my heart was feeling ho-hum and borderline really worried. We slipped away to the market and picked up ingredients for a special dinner. Mom took the girls for a walk while Joe manned the grill and I mashed the potatoes, cut up the watermelon, lit candles and poured everyone's favorite drinks-- which basically meant Maddie got her own small glass of sweet tea while Hope drowned in some local strawberry milk. While Chris Tomlin's "How Great is Our God" played softly in the background I breathed deeply.

Kind of like how I'm doing right now.

I needed to stop and carefully count out my blessings tonight in a way that only writing can do for me. Waiting out what is hopefully the last of this storm, facing each day as it comes, and asking for lots of patience, wisdom, and puddle jumping along the way.

~Katrina