Things I did today that were exciting...

*Went to a preschool meeting without my preschoolers
*Sat in the parking lot of McDonald's drinking my $1 coke and filled out medical forms...all while listening to the radio station of MY choice
*Had an uninterrupted meeting at the church where I was actually able to have more than one thought on any topic we chose
*Looked at two catalogs and wished I could buy lots of clothes
*Dropped of ALL of my girls at "school"






I loved doing all of those things. Today was really a celebration of sorts for me. I feel like it's another way that we've "made it" through another hurdle of parenting multiples.

I have to admit, though, that what I loved even more than doing those things was picking all three of them up today. Zoe and Tori told me all about their day (who was in their class, that they played and ate grapes...though I'm not sure about the grapes). And even though Maggie is a big time first grader she still runs off the bus and straight to me to give me a hug. I just love it.



Sweet Nonnie called me from Toys R' Us yesterday and said that she read my blog about small backpacks for the twins. She said that she walked in the store and prayed, asking the Lord to help her find tiny backpacks (especially for Tori), and if they could have Dora on them then that would just be icing on the cake. Well, as you can see, she found the last two tiny Dora backpacks...in pink, nonetheless. I just love it when the Big Guy is in the details. It's these little things that keep me encouraged, knowing that He is looking out for my "Little Thing".

Let's go, GNO...

Well, more like a GWO. Maggie and I spent the weekend here in Columbia together while Ian and his mom took the twins to Columbia. Ian had a guys weekend planned at my parents' lake place so Sandy and my parents watched the twins for the weekend. Maggie had "meet the teacher" day on Friday so we needed to stay here for that. And let me tell you that we had a blast. It was soo good and so fun to get to spend time with just Maggie. I mean, we get to spend a good amount of time together and do a lot of special things, but this was just really fun. I don't know that I'll ever get that kind of time with the twins individually, but this weekend with Maggie made me want to make one on one time a priority.

We still had all our normal arguments and drama ("Mom, why can't I have an ICEE", "Mom, WHEN is my supper going to be ready?", "Mom, I don't WANT to go to bed"). The attitude is in full effect and requires constant attention and whip cracking. But other than that, our time together was a blast. We went shoe shopping, painted pottery, went to the pool, played puzzles, ate popcorn for dinner and watched the Hannah Montana movie and "Princess Protection Program" ad nauseam. Getting ready for church was such a breeze, too. Took me back to the old days.

But I have to say that I really miss Z and T and CANNOT wait for them to waddle in the door here in a few minutes. I have really loved watching the two of them lately; the way they interact with each other and with Maggie. In so many ways I am ready for school to start tomorrow, but I have also really enjoyed watching my girls bond. They play like sisters and get each other giggling so hard they can't stop. I still believe it's the sweetest sound there is.

All that being said, school does start tomorrow for Maggie and then Zoe and Tori start Mother's Morning Out on Tuesday. As hard as it is to believe that Maggie is starting first grade, it is equally as hard to believe that I will be dropping the twins off at "school" twice a week, lunchboxes in hand. I think they're ready - they talk about it all the time. And I know I'm ready for them to go, but is it really time?! I mean, please picture those two getting out of my van THEMSELVES, walking into a church preschool with their teacher, and me just waving goodbye and driving off. Now picture a 15 pound child dragging a lunch box to class. I did a google search today for "tiny backpacks" but nothing is really tiny enough. Little T. Once again I can see the Lord's hand in giving her a twin sister to help her out and spur her on. I am so glad they're a team. It makes it easier for me to let them go, too.

Bottom line of this post is watch out Starbucks...Buffy's got 6 hours a week to herself!!!

Waaaah, waaaah

I have been thinking about my last post and feeling pretty guilty. Yes, it's been a rough weekend (well, couple years) in the health category of our lives, but we just have so many things to be thankful for.

This morning I checked my inbox to find my daily email from the Chromosome Disorder group we joined. The email each morning is basically a chat between parents or family of kids with different disorders. They post questions, fears, proud moments and problems. I am not able to go into detail here about the comments included in the emails because of a privacy clause, but I have to say that I stared at the screen stunned and amazed at what some parents deal with every day. Ian and I just sat here together and breathed deep.

I know pain and problems are all relative, but it is good to get things in perspective sometimes.

Thank you Lord for my sweet girls, for my husband who loves me, and for the doctors who take care of us on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis. I am grateful today for health insurance, for Nonnie living a few miles away and being able to pop in, for Mom and Dad who support me and adore the girls, for Granny Franny who showers my kids with love. Thank you for my family - brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins. Sometimes it feels like trying to take a sip from a fire hydrant...You have blessed me with so much family and they all pour out Your love on us. And my sweet friends who support me, pray for me, keep my children, and bring me dinners (no pressure here, ladies).

And thank You, Lord for my house. For my neighborhood, for air conditioning, for toys to play with. Thank you for food on our table, for chocolate ice cream, and really good coffee.

Thank You, Lord, for You. Thank You for promising that You will never leave me...

Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again...
Rejoice!
Let you gentleness be evident to all,
The Lord is NEAR

Phil. 4

Not the inspiration I was hoping for...

They say that adversity is the springboard of creativity (I don't know who "they" are and I don't think that's a saying...maybe I am "they" and I just made up a slammin quote). Either way, I think I could have done without this burst of drama that is catapulting me toward my computer.

We have the flu.

"Type A" flu.

What does that mean? Normal flu? Plain old run of the mill flu? Or...wait for it...

The dreaded Swine?

No clue. All they said was that we have the flu and we need to stay home for a few days. So, all of us are on Tamiflu, all of us are cranky, and all of us are moping around, bumping into each other, refereeing fights and eating chicken soup.

And if I see "Hotel for Dogs" one more time I'm going to have to take a jackhammer to the side of the Redbox video up the street.

It's really not that bad. We don't feel terrible. Just kinda puny. Oh and then there's the fact that Zoe is cutting two molars, which makes her act more like a frantic rabid screeching owl than a sweet and cuddly Zo-Zo. But it could be worse. I know that full well. Just wanted to vent a little.

I tell you, though, it may not get much worse for my sweet friends who have been over here the past couple days with their kids. Beth and the girls were over on Friday swimming in the red neck pool and slippin' slide in the yard. Then my friend Stephanie was here Thursday night with her three kiddos and we were all holed up in the house because of the rain. And Jen came by with her two girls to drop off a birthday invitation and they came in for a while. I can't decide who has it worse so I'll just let you vote...

Beth and her family are going on vacation today and they are taking their 13 y.o. to a Jonas Brothers concert. I can only imagine the dissapointment/despair that will run rampant through Caitlyn's veins if they get sick and can't go.

Stephanie and her family are also going on vacation this week. On a Disney Cruise. So I'm sure that will be fun if we've given them the flu and they are not only sick on a boat hundreds of miles off shore, but they infect the entire ship with Smith disease. It's a Magical Day at Disney.

Or Jen and her kiddos who don't have any major plans this week, but just got back from a family vacation in Hawaii...wait a minute, they shouldn't be in the running for this. Hawaii?! No fair. Still, I hope they don't get sick.

It is only fitting that we get this dreaded flu. After all, we have literally had every sickness known to preschoolers in the past 12 months. Need I list them again?

*Hand/foot/mouth virus (Not hoof and mouth, people)
*Numerous ear infections (Tori may have to get tubes)
*Violent throw up virus that ran through the house
*Zoe to the E.R. with Viral Meningitis...yeah, that really happened
*Strep throat for Maggie
*Zoe cracked her head open on the concrete when she was throwing a fit
*Swimmer's ear
*Goopie eye (that required drops)
*RSV (breathing treatments and steroids)
*Various diarrhea viruses that seemed to come and go all spring
*Oh my geez, the teething. Seriously, this might be the worst.
*And, lest we all forget, casts on both Tori's legs for three straight weeks

I'm pretty sure there's more, but that's all I can stand right now.

So don't I win some kind of award for surviving all these illnesses with my kids? Some kind of flexible spending account lottery or something?

Or maybe I just thank my lucky stars (and my sweet Lord) that we have made it this far without anyone keeling over and my marriage still in tact. Yeah, I'll take it.

Slacker...again

Hey. I know I haven't written in a while. It's not that I don't want to...it's just that I haven't been inspired. And I have quite a few things on my plate coming up for fall that require all of my "free time". And by "free" I mean trying to think while tuning out Playhouse Disney on TV, or sitting down during naptime to think only to wake up an hour later having not moved a muscle. Sorry guys. I'll get inspired soon.

Knock Knock

My nephew, Sam, is just about the sweetest thing on earth right now. Especially because he loves his "Aunt Buff" and he tells everyone just this by incorporating me into each and every knock knock joke he tells. It's hysterical. Keep in mind that he's not even two years old, yet he talks like a three year old.

So before you watch this video, let me interpret for you. This is how the jokes go...

*Knock Knock

*Who's there?

*Aunt Buffy

*Aunt Buffy Who?

*Tori! (Or Zoe or Maggie, but usually Tori)

We don't know why, but he always tells knock knock jokes, and he tells them the same way every time! Enjoy...

Country roads, take me home...

Last week the kids and I were in Columbia, as I've already shared with you, and we had such a blast. I have so much to post about it, but I'll start with this video from our visit to Papa's house. My kids LOVE going over there because they get these little snack packs that Papa fixes for them. Nana used to do it, but now Papa fills them up with sugar wafers (really is there any better cookie? have you had one lately?) and M&M's. The big kids get Mike & Ike's too.

Aaaaaanyway, my kids run in the door at Papa's house and then straight into the kitchen. Then they just stand there awaiting their treats. It's really cute. I caught the snack time on video and I have to tell you three things I love about it...

1. Papa's laugh toward the beginning of the video. It's just a classic laugh that we all try to mimic but we can't...it's just HIS laugh and it's awesome.

2. The way that my voice and my mom's voice turn ultra-Southern as soon as we walk into that house. Like when my mom says, "Oh Daddy, it's deeliiishous. Where'd you get that watermelon? At the market?".

3. The way Maggie interprets Tori's unintelligible sentence toward the end of the video. Thanks Mag. And watch how Maggie rolls her eyes and shakes her head at all of us. That's straight from me. Awesome.



In the back yard of Papa's there's an ANCIENT playset that the kids just love. I'm talking a "man I hope my kids are up to date on their tetanus shots" kind of playset. It's a blast, though, and Zoe and Tori were cackling while they played on it with Maggie. It's so fun to watch them all really become sisters. Enjoy the pics! Oh, and by the way, the last pic is of Zoe holding a picture of her real twin, my mom!