They understand more than we give them credit for...

Background to the story...In November of last year we had a good friend and our respite care worker pass away suddenly. With my daughters autism I wasn't sure she understood the concept of death. However both my 7 & 5 yr old seemed to be ok with the answer, "she went to heaven and is with Jesus now." Anytime they would ask where she was we would reply that she couldn't come see them right now b/c she was in heaven with Jesus.

My girls have also been going to Sunday School where they have been learning of Jesus miracles. Recently I guess they learned about Jesus raising Jarius' daughter from the dead.

Just the other day...I really wasn't paying much attention to what they were playing since for once they were all playing nicely together and not screaming at each other. After about 30-45 min I realized they were re-enacting that sunday school story...however they kept saying, "ok, you be Jesus and I'll be Mary". I heard them saying this and kept correcting them saying, "No, not Mary his mother, Jarius' daughter" IT wasn't til JUST yesterday riding along in the car while we were discussing the Easter story and how Jesus rose from the dead and is in heaven...and my 5 yr old said, "with Mary too, right mommy?" When I automatically answered yes...it dawned on me....they were NOT meaning Jesus MOTHER Mary when they were playing...they meant OUR Mary. In a way I am glad that they understand that Jesus did powerful miracles and can do anything...but it also made my heart break that her death affected them way more than I thought it had. It also made me feel bad that here I was "correcting" them when they KNEW what they were talking about...it was mommy who didn't get it.

100 Years

So...I was on my way to gymnastics this evening with my girls. My 3yo asked me where daddy was, to which I replied, "He's on a trip, remember?" (He's gone for 3 wks of training)To which my 5yo replied, "I KNOW!! He's been gone FOR-EV-ER!!!! Like 100 YEARS!!!" Mommy-"Umm, sweetie? He's been gone for a week and a half." rofl

Sympathy/Empathy

I think,as mom's, we know that when our little sweethearts have ear infections that yes, they are miserable and grumpy...we sympathize...we generally haven't had an ear infection OURSELVES since childhood and I think we forget how TRUELY miserable and in pain they are...my 3 yr old to the point of ear tubes b/c fluid had turned to jelly behind her eardrums. Today...OH how I sympathize AND empathize with her! I haven't had an ear infection since I was like 12ish...I forgot how EXCRUCIATING every yawn, hiccup, cough, nose blowing can be...I don't know how those little ones can suffer so long before we realize what is bothering them...I shudder now to think of the times where I thought she just had a bad cold and was sucking snot out of her nose with that blue bulb thing...when her ears were probably just KILLING her... :( I feel you pain, baby girl...literally.

Orders

Well, we finaly have "unofficial" orders. Daddy is going to Iwakuni, Japan for 2 yrs unaccompanied. Because Abby is a level 4 EFMP status it limits me and the girls to the CONUS. So he has to go alone. I know this is what I wanted...for the girls not to leave a place where we are settled, we have therapy, church, school...everything is set here. I guess maybe its just knowing how LITTLE time we have left with him before he has to report...the "oh so wonderful" part of getting order waaaaay later than anyone else....less time to prepare. I guess its good that he has spring OFEC coming up next week. He will be gone from 3/21 to 4/8. Yeah...he's gonna miss Easter. It will give Abby a taste of what will happen when he leaves for Japan...she's the one who is just gonna FREAK about him being gone. I'm a little nervous...I KNOW I can do this. I have done it before...its just that its been 2 and a half years since the last time he was gone for a long time.

OYE!!!

Have mercy...if this is a precurser to what having 3 moody teenagers on their periods is gonna be like....take me to the funny farm NOW. I am so at a loss with this child...the speech/developmental issues make it SO difficult to understand her. Times like tonight I just want to sit and cry. I don't know what to do about discipline with her anymore...right now we are starting a new thing. She is having to write sentences regarding her bad attitude and actions as punishment...needless to say...she is peeved at me tonight.

Patience

Abby did her 1st on stage skit for the 1st time in 2 years. She actually had lines in this one. I was so proud of her...she did SO good and...I just can't say how proud I was of her today...she has come SO far!

WHERE has the time gone??

Sigh...how did my babies get SO big??? I know time has passed, and I watch them grow every day...but I look at photos from only 2 years ago...and see a baby girl with barely any hair on her head and then I see this BIG girl with LONG red hair and so smart that she passes her what her sisters knew at this age already. I am floored, and a little nostalgic knowing that she is my last little bird in the nest. Sniff...