What's up????

That is the million dollar question! A lot is up! This summer has been totally amazing and I am sad that it is winding down. I am not looking forward to alarm clocks, schedules, and homework. I AM looking forward to routine again. We have just been going with the flow this summer. As a family I feel like we have grown. Must have been 2 weeks traveling...stuck in a car and hotel rooms together. We also had a few weeks where the kids had NO electronics at all. They actually played together! Caleb has learned how to use his imagination AND play independently! That is a big step for him because he always wants someone with him. As I write this he has a bunch of army men set out, a big alligator, and he is flying Iron Man over them making noises only a boy can make. He also had a dentist appointment recently and get this...he has NO cavities!!!!! That is a big thing since in December I spent nearly $1000 on his mouth for fillings and a root canal. Yes, my 6 year old had a root canal. Now before you go thinking my kid doesn't brush his teeth, he does! He just didn't floss...all the cavities were between his teeth. The dentist also said it was because he was a grazer when it comes to eating AND we eat lots of fruit. Who knew fruit had a downside. We made changes and he is good. Then again, I don't think there were any teeth left to fill.

What else is going on? Right now I am sitting here enjoying a cup of coffee while I wait for my protein shake to digest enough for me to run. Hannah is running around me looking for her princess panties. She is sooooo into princesses!!! She took scissors to her beautiful hair last week. Luckily it was only a small piece, but it is right in the front. Honestly, it is not really noticeable unless I put her hair up. that part falls down because it is about 3 inches shorter than the rest of her hair. I am just not ready to cut the rest of her hair to match because I LOVE her long hair!!! She also did great at the dentist, but it is time for us to work harder on not sucking her "baby thumb." I know it will come in time, just like it did for Samantha and her favorite fingers.

Josh is currently getting ready to go to the camp that is put on by the American Academy of Dermatology. He is excited because he LOVES going. His eczema is doing really really good. Sometimes it looks like he never had it. It makes me so happy I could cry. We are still trying to get Caleb there, but I have hope that one day he will also be healed! I can't believe he is going into 6th grade...Josh, not Caleb! In the last month he has gotten about 3 inches taller....maybe more. I am always getting compliments on what an amazing child he is. I am just super proud!

Samantha....my mini me. Do I need to explain further? I love my "baby" girl so much. She is a GREAT big sister. She was mad at me yesterday because I ok'ed the dentist to fill all FIVE of her cavities at once. I told him it was her penalty for fighting me on taking care of her teeth daily. Again, they were between the teeth. She has gotten to do some new things this summer. She got to go to church camp for 3rd graders and had gotten to play with her friend a few times. It is good for her to branch out and do older things...without her 3 siblings. It is hard for me because she is still my "baby girl."

As for me, I am struggling with waiting. Waiting on God's perfect timing for things. I am trusting that he has a perfect plan, I just want it now!!! Of course the want it now attitude is why we are having to wait! I am excited to say that on paper we will be debt free--except the house and new car by the end of the year. This is a long process that we started in February 2008. We have hit some snags along the way. Most recently we lost focus a little. As I sat Sunday wallowing in the "I wants" and when am I going to get there, I realized we had lost focus. We have buckled back down and have the budget for the rest of the year on paper. Of course it is rough since Marc is on commission, but it is a plan! Have you ever heard the saying, "you are only a medical emergency away from bankruptcy"? That is such a true statement!!! I remember way back when Josh was at his worst. We were spending over $700 per month on prescription drugs and doctors appointments. We have dug out of that! We have worked our way though Marc's 2008 health crisis. We are still working on Marc's Dec 2009 thing. It will all come in time!

This summer I have had some time to do things I like. My high school choir teacher started the Alumni Family choir. It has been so much fun, I just wish I had one of those beautiful voices it seems like everyone else there has. They are planning a concert during homecoming week. I hope it is something I will be able to participate in, but I just don't know how the kids afterschool schedule will be. As of right now we are having a hard time getting music lessons at a time that works for us. I am excited for church activities to start back up. I am truly missing my friends.

Marc has had a good summer too...I hope! LOL He has taken Josh fishing in the bay a few times. They enjoy it. He even cooks at least once a week. I am thinking of leaving the kids with him today so I can peacefully finish school supply shopping. That sounds like a good plan!!!!

I guess that is it for now. My coffee is gone and I think my protein shake is good. I need to get a run in before it gets too hot! I have slacked on my training this summer and have a long road ahead to get ready for the marathon in November.

If you still follow my forgotten blog and read this far, have a blessed day!