Pray for Stellan....

Okay dear readers, I must confess.....I blurk. What does that mean, you ask? It means that I lurk and read other's blog. While I realize this isn't a bad thing.....I felt I must confess it before my next request.

If you believe that God is in control. If you believe that God is the ultimate healer. If you believe that all things, anything can be done through Christ.....then, I need you to pray for a baby boy named Stellan.

I have only met Stellan from a distance, never personally. However, this baby boy is a miracle. His parents were told that he wouldn't survive birth and yet he did. And now, this precious baby boy is battling for his life once more.

I found out about Stellan from my friend Gina's blog. I started following his story and praying for him. Then one day, his mom and other siblings were at McDonald's near our home. I didn't introduce myself or intrude on their lunch, but it was really neat to see a miracle in person.

Isn't it a small world? A baby I prayed for because of my friend from GA's blog....lives near me in the frozen tundra.

Right now my heart goes out for his family...waiting to see what will happen.....waiting to see what miracles God will perform this time.....or waiting to see what God's timing will be. Please join me and literally thousands of others as they lift up this child of God.

You can read about his family and journey if you click on McMama's blog link (My Charming Kids) to the left of this post.

I know he is mine......

.....but surely don't always understand how he got be "SAM".

Okay so I get that statement doesn't make a whole a lot of sense. I realize he became Sam when we named him Sam. When we (read Wade....I was a little out of it after the whole pushing a baby out thing) wrote his name, Samuel Reeves Sheek, on the birth certificate he became our Sam.

Oh my darling precious snuggle baby boy was once a sweet toddler named Sam.

Then, Sam turned three. He went to sleep one night my snugly baby boy Sam and he woke up an independent three year old, SAM.

What, you can't tell the difference? Oh, when I write in all caps......it means I am, ahem, yelling. I could have lied and said that I was saying it with great enthusiasm. Or that I was just enunciating every syllable. But, I am an honest open book. So, I let you know the truth.

But, I must explain yelling. Yelling is not something you do out of anger or because you are mad. That would be screaming. Yelling isn't something you do when you are being mean. That would be telling someone off. Yelling is something you do to get over your child's voice as he zooms around the room....as Buzz, of course. Yelling is something you do to get over your child's voice as he is making sword sounds and repeating "aye matey" over and over.

You see, SAM is not longer Sam. He has to be someone else all the time. His favorites are Buzz "Yightyear (Lightyear)" and Capt'n Hook.

Lovely.

When he isn't being someone other than himself, he shocking us the darnest things. You know like whopping his sister upside the head just "cause".

Or he is crossing his arms and telling the nurse at the ENT that he wouldn't clap at the beeps cause he was "dumpy" (grumpy). Granted, clapping your hands at a heard beep to get a battery operated dog to bark is a little corny. But still

Or, my favorite, stomping his feet.....while telling me he was "tomping him footed"...just in case I hadn't noticed when he doesn't get his way.

Simply Lovely.

SAM has spent way more time in time out that Maddie ever did. And SAM has spent more time out at random places than Maddie ever did. Church, yep time out there (never by the workers there...on no, he is only SAM when he is with me). The mall...um, check. The park, check check (and I am sure you realize we have only been there twice since Sam turned into SAM)

Wade says, it's just my imagination and that I am not remembering my quiet, book loving, always drawing, little girl correctly. Well, maybe. But she sure never pushed a child down at a play area simply because she needed "somes body to walk the fank (plank)" - any guesses who he was that day?

Wade took SAM and Maddie to school this morning. I had the stomach flu yesterday and have been completely of commission....the point that SAM actually turned to Sam and explained to me that, "Mommy's not fee-wing soes well."

When I picked up SAM I asked his teachers (as I always do with a big smile on my face apprehension in my heart....but bless their hearts they love him for who he is....and he is actually really good for other people) how he was. I was informed that after Wade dropped him off, they asked Sam if that was his Daddy. Did my son answer as most would, oh no. My son shrugged his shoulders and said "him not know who dat was".

Oh yes he did.

Luckily the preschool figured it must have been his daddy....cause what kidnapper would actually take the child to school? Actually I think, with a child like SAM, they would probably return him real quick like.

Sigh.

But, I love SAM for who is his. Whether he is Sam, SAM, Buzz, or Capt'n Hook. He is mine. God granted me this little all boy, boy to be in my care and I will do all I can to teach him about God's love, keep him safe, and play with him.

Speaking of which SAM has returned to Sam and just came to ask me to "snuggle" with him....so off I go to enjoy Sam for the few minutes I have him before he becomes SAM, who I love just as much.

We will survive.....

I can't believe we have been here just a couple months short of a year. I can't believe that last March, my babies and I were enjoying the warmth of southern Georgia sun. We didn't have a clue where God would lead us on this incredible adventure. We certainly didn't plan on spending the next winter in the "Artic Circle."

But here we are. Winter has slowly come and gone....and we have made it.

I really can't believe that it has been 5 months since we were last at a park. 5 months is a long time ("wong time," as Sam says) for a 5 year old and a 3 year old to be couped up in a house. 5 months is a long time for me to be couped up in a house. Just when I didn't know if we would make it....spring came.

Just like that. It warmed up.

Please don't misunderstand....it Minnesota warmed up....not southern warmed up.

It warmed up to the upper 40s...plenty warm enough for an afternoon at the park.

Here are some pictures from our first trip to a park since October. You may notice that yes, there was still snow on the ground. But we didn't mind....it was warm to us!!

This is a picture of Maddie and Sam in front of the still frozen lake. People were still walking on the lake and before we left, we saw a truck driving on the lake. That, my friends....I will never understand.

Do you remember this lifeguard stand? I have pictures of the kids on it in October. When the air was nippy and the colors vibrant....and we were excited about the adventures winter would bring.....before we knew how long and how cold it would actually be.



Here is Lake Riley, "ice-in". I would have never thought that it would seem warm enough to play at the park while a lake was still frozen solid. Funny how your perspective changes with your life experiences..

Girls Night Out......

On Saturday night, Maddie and I left Wade and Sam at home for a girls night out. We met up with Salli and Natalie for an evening of Perkins Restaurant and a showing of the "Music Man" put on by a community theater.

The girls got all "gussied up" and had a really nice time being "grown up". Though the musical was lacking talent, Maddie and Natalie thought it was great.

Poor Maddie, she was plum tuckered out after her big night out on the town. We didn't get home until after 10pm....that is very very late for her. She fell asleep about the time we pulled out of Salli's driveway. Bless her heart.

Sunny Zoo Day and "Icicles"

Today was a "warm" Minnesota day (it was around 33). So, Salli and I loaded up the big ol' van and off we went. Word to the wise, don't trust Map Quest directions to Como Zoo...you end up in the 'hood.

First stop at the zoo was the Tropical display.

I was so excited to see flowers...even though they weren't blooming outside or near my house...they were still flowers.

This is a sloth. This sloth was on a tree in the room without a cage. Luckily (thanks to Diego) I know that sloth's eat veggies and are very shy and slow. So, it wasn't too scary to have a lose animal around the kids.

Sleeping sloth.

Here are the kids before going in the primate area. And yes, that is snow in the picture...you see snow is very common in Minnesota in March.

Here is a baby spider monkey riding on the mommy spider monkey. Apparently it was grooming time in the primate area. We were so lucky to see all species of monkeys pulling things off each other (and out of each other's nose) and eating them. We just hoped the kids didn't notice and start following suit!

The orangutans. Sam's favorite.

Like Mommy, like daughter. Here is Maddie and her camera. She has become quite fond of taking it on trips.....just like I always have my camera on hand.

And of course, the giraffe. What is Maddie doing, you ask? Why holding her nose of course. Wouldn't you like to know how stinky a building with 3 giraffes and zebra is. My daughter, was so obsessed with holding her nose and exclaiming how "stinky" it was that she missed all the animals.

The seals were very active....

We spent quite a bit of time watching them frolic (thanks for the wording Natalie) and play.

Of course we had to see the Penguins. Maddie loves penguins. She is close to being obsessed by them.

Here are my monkeys getting their picture made with the penguin!

Just as we were able to leave the aquatic animal area, the seal trainers came out. Of course we had to watch the seals do their tricks and get fed fish.

Don't worry Granddaddy....they even brush the seals' teeth!



We had a wonderful trip to the Como Zoo. Of course having friends to go with us made it all that much better!







Sam's first "icicle".....

Sam and Maddie have both been sick. Luckily, this is our first sickness since moving here. Going 9 months without a sick visit to the doctor is unheard of in our family. Of course, fevers and sore throats call for Popsicles. Or in Sam's case, icicles.

Sam first started off by licking the "icicle". Knowing it was close to bedtime and that it would forever to lick a Popsicle, I suggested that he put it in his mouth and suck on it.

Yummy! He wanted the green "icicle" and luckily there was such a thing in the box. I am not a lime fan, but apparently Sam is. When he was asked what it tasted like he replied, "wike ba-ba and pooh". "Ba-Ba" is his paci and "pooh" his pooh blanket that he sleeps with. Side note, the next day Maddie chose the green Popsicle since she wanted to know that "ba-ba" and "pooh" taste like.

The bad thing about sucking on an "icicle" is that sometimes they break off in your mouth...

And, as we all know...."icicles" are very very cold....especially with a large bite in your mouth.

And what are you suppose to do with a mouth full of frozen "icicle"? Why, you ask if you can spit it on your plate, of course. What can I say, all manners go out the door when you try and eat a Popsicle indoors!

Catch Up

Dear Readers-

I am so sorry that I have, once again, fallen behind in my posting. I really meant to keep on top of the happenings in our lives....but alas, life got in the way once more. We have had a busy few weeks here, in the Artic North. To catch you up, I am going to start with the most recent and work my way backward. I hope you enjoy!!




New Friends, Familiar Places.....

On Thursday, Feb. 26th, we went to the Children's Museum in St. Paul. As you know from this blog, we frequent the museum...even in -20 degree weather. This time, however, we went with our lovely new friends Salli, Natalie and Jack. I must say, Salli has been a lifesaver for me. She is a recent transplant from the East Coast (Rochester, New York). Yeah for another East Coaster!! Her kids are close in age to my kids and of course they hit it off right away.
Maddie and Natalie at the Children's Museum. Maddie was so excited to find another girl that wore, "will-wee pretty bows" just like her.

All four of the kids, Maddie, Natalie, Sam and Jack.

The new exhibit at the museum is "Clifford". Here, Sam is driving the "ferry boat". He claimed it was just like Granddaddy's boat. However, I am certain it doesn't go as fast.

Maddie all prepared to ride on the ferry with Sam.

Ms. Salli and Maddie riding in the truck while Natalie was driving.

Maddie hanging out with Emily Elizabeth. That is Clifford in the background.

Jack and his choo-choo on Clifford's foot.

The girls in the truck.

Sam loves T-Bone. I think they suit each other.

Maddie, Sam and Natalie playing in the water with frogs. This was after I reassured Ms. Sallie that the frogs weren't real!

And of course, Sam found his favorite "ma-tar" to "juke" with. Look at that expression!

Sam and Maddie "juking" together.

Sorry it's blurry...but that is what happens when you catch "juking" in action.

Serious Sam on the "ma-tar".

Saying Good Bye to Old Friends.....

On Friday, Feb 27th, our friends Micah, Kim and their boys Collin and Shawn moved to Wisconsin. If you remember, I met Kim when I first moved here. She has been my saving grace through this whole transition time. Though we know it is for the best, we are going to miss them!!

To have one last "hurrah" with Kim and the boys we went to Toddler Tuesday at the Mall of America. This one was filled with Care Bear fun. The kids even got to meet Bedtime Bear. Our friend Cindy and her girls, Kayla and Lydia went as well.

After Toddler Tuesday, we went to Chuck E. Cheese. Kim had some great coupons and it wasn't crowded at all on a Tuesday morning. It was a great way to spend some last minute time with them before they left.

Kayla and Collin

Collin and Maddie in their PJs.

Cindy, Kayla, Lydia and Bedtime Bear.

Collin hugging Bedtime Bear.

Maddie and a not so excited Sam.

Listening to a story.

The four at Chuck E. Cheese.

Water Park of America

On Sunday, Feb 21st we were able to go to the Water Park of America. The church that we attend, Grace, rented it out for all the workers in the children's ministry. Since I teach in the AWANA program on Wednesday nights we were able to go. The kids had a great time. I had a hard time getting over the fact that I was walking into a water park wearing a winter parka. But we are so thankful we had the opportunity.

Sam in the water park.

Maddie wanted Daddy to go down the slide with her the first time.

Then, she was able to go down all by herself.

Sam kept fairly close to me and the shallow water.

Look at me with my Nemo swim trunks.

Sam playing in the water fountain.

Maddie wasn't too sure about the slide at first.

Then she found out how much fun it was.