pirate trey

We visited the Evansville Children's museum and had LoTs of fun! As we were getting in the car to go home, trey says...."Ya know what kinda pirate I am?"
"No, what kind?" I asked.
"An airline pirate"
"An airline pirate?! What's that?" I wanted to know.
"You know....they're the people who fly airplanes. "

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According to Kayelynn...

This is what a jungle fairy looks like.

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Trey and K-isms

1. Kayelynn continues her "robot phase". She recently walked stiff legged through walmart repeating "I am a wobot" in her monatone "robot voice". And when I say repeating, I mean she did this for at least 15 minutes.

2. Out of nowhere Trey asked me, "Mommy, when I grow up, do I have to marry Sister?". I laughed and said " no, no Buddy, it doesn't work that way." Trey seemed relieved. "You're sure?" He asked. "Positive" I replied. A few minutes later he asks, "well, if I don't marry Sister, who will I marry?" I have no idea where all of the marriage worry came from. "Don't worry about it right now. You'll meet someone one day". Trey seemed frustrated, "well where am I gonna meet someone around here?" I could only shake my head at that.

3. At bedtime I always collect hugs and kisses from the kids. During a big "squeezer" hug, I always tell Kayelynn, "I love you sooo much" to which Kayelynn began to reply, "I love you too much.". Now we always say, "I love you too much" before going to bed.
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New Furry Friends

Trey named his kitty Yow Yow ( from one of his favorite books). We helped K name her kitty,Martin, after our neighbors who gave us these cute little furballs.
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Trey and K-isms

1. Trey was supposed to have a spring program and graduate from preschool Sunday. Unfortunately he had the stomach flu. Upon hearing Rex and I saying graduation was off, Trey announced weakly from the couch "I can go and take my bucket (puke bucket) with me".

2. Trey told me he watched the news at the babysitter's house. I asked what was on the news. His reply: "tornadoes all over the world but not at our house". "Well, I guess that's good for us" I said. "Yeah," Trey replied "but we better watch our local news to be sure".

3. Kayelynn came walking into my room with stiff arms and legs. "What's wrong with you?" I asked. She replied in a monotone voice, "I - a - ro-bot"

4. Trey was holding an ice pack on his knee after getting a rug burn. "Mommy! Check this out! My knee is as cold as Antarctica!"

5. Getting hugs and kisses at bedtime....K whispers to me. " Wuv ewe much"
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A lesson about Jesus

A few weeks ago another little goat was born.  Actually 3 little goats were born.  We were in the middle of a very cold snap and I grumbled to myself a little as I drug out a bale of hay to use as bedding for the new little members of the farm.  Mommy goat was not real sociable and didn't particularly want me messing with her babies.  I did what I could to dry the little ones and make them a warm bed for the night.  I even crawled out of bed in the middle of the night to go peek at the little critters and make sure they were doing alright.
All was well, as far as I could tell.  But by the time morning rolled around, I was disheartened to find only one little goat alive, and he was barely alive.  I took the poor little animal up under my coat and rushed home with him.  I have started to develop quite a "sophisticated" goat ER in my kitchen.  Upon returning home with a half frozen baby goat here's what you need to do:
1. Gather all old towels and rags you have and throw them in the dryer.  Turn dryer on to highest setting.  Let run for 5 minutes or so while holding baby goat under your shirt to keep warm with your body temperature.
2.  Open dryer, if warm and toasty, lay little goat inside.  Cover up with warm towels.
3.  Mix small amount of molasses and corn syrup together and finger feed to goat for a quick sugar boost and hopeful return to consciousness.
4. When dryer begins to cool, wrap goat tightly in warm towel, remove said goat from dryer and start over with step 1.
Those are my official steps so far.  I'm 4 for 4 for rewarming with this technique.  Unfortunately, those steps seem to be the easy part....
My kids were elated to find a new baby in the house.  (much more so than I was)  Trey decided on the name Patrick and Kayelynn insisted that Patrick was her goat baby.  I have to admit, I was down about the thought of having to bottle feed this little guy around the clock when I still had 2 other goats on the bottle.  But watching the kids faces light up when they saw the little goat changed my perspective quite a bit.
It is a challenge to keep the kids from over-handling the new little goats.  They have no concept of how stressful their "hugs" can be to a weak little animal.  I tried to limit the "loving" from the kids.
I set my alarm for every 3 hours during the night to care for our new little Patrick.  I became more and more disheartened as the night went on.  I didn't see the improvements I was hoping for.  The little guy wasn't responding like my other goat babies had.  On top of that he began to scour. (that seems to be the nice way to say he had a really bad case of diarrhea)
The next day Patrick grew even worse.  I tried to get an electrolyte solution in him but he was too weak.  I dripped small amounts of the fluid into his little mouth as often as I could.  Trey noticed the decline in Patrick.
"Mommy, Patrick still looks sick."
"He is.  He's very sick" I replied.
"Why isn't he getting better?"
Oh the tough questions!  I answered Trey's questions the best I could and tried to prepare him for Patrick's death.  Trey seemed to be following me and reluctantly accepting what was happening to Patrick.  He sat quietly beside Patrick for a long time.  Then he looked up with bright shining eyes, " Lets say a prayer to Jesus for Patrick."
I agreed.  Trey wanted me to pray and he would repeat the words after me the way the kids did at church.  I did.  We said a simple prayer asking God to help Patrick.  We said "amen" together but then Trey started again, " Patrick has diarrhea God.  Please fix his diarrhea."  I laughed a little to myself that Trey  had felt it was important to specify Patrick's main ailment.But, with that said Trey got up and headed for the living room.  "Ok, he's gonna get better now!" Trey added excitedly as he headed off to play. I sighed.  I looked at the sad little goat and had serious doubts that he was going to get better.
I approached Trey again later about the goat's decline.  "Trey," I said. "I'm not sure Patrick is going to get better."  Trey's little face wrinkled up with this news.
"Why?" was the question again.
"Sometimes, we do all that we can do but we still can't make an animal get better."
"But I don't want Patrick to die" Trey said.  I noticed the little quiver starting in his lips.  I struggled for a good explanation that he would understand.  I remembered a conversation Trey and I had had a few days ago about who was the boss of who.  He was very curious about who Daddy was the boss of, who Mommy was the boss of, who Grandma was the boss of, etc.
"Jesus is the boss of everybody"  I told Trey.  This caught his attention.  His wide eyes told me he was listening.  I went on, "Jesus is the boss of you and me and all of the animals in the world too.  He knows what is best for all of us, and the animals too.  So, if Jesus thinks it is best for Patrick to go to Goat Heaven, we have to try to go along with that and remember that Jesus is the boss.  He knows things that we don't know about that helps him make all of these important decisions about sick goats and things like that."
"I still don't want Patrick to die"
"Neither do I."  I agreed.

A few hours later I knew God's answer to Trey's prayer was "not this time".  I did all I knew to do and gave the little goat the best chance at survival I could.  But in the end, our little Patrick died.
When Trey saw that the laundry basket (Patrick's bed) was empty.  He looked at me with teary eyes and said, "he died, didn't he."  I nodded.  I tried giving a happy image of Patrick frolicking with his siblings up in goat heaven.  It didn't seem to matter much.  Trey was already distracted by Kayelynn who was wandering through the house calling for "goat baby Patrick".  I heard the distress in her voice as she searched more and more places.  I followed her to my room where she was peeking under the bed.  "Paaaatwickkk"  she called out.  I started to intervene but then noticed Trey sitting beside his sister patting her back.
"Sister, let me tell you a lesson about Jesus.  He is the boss of everybody......"
A smile crossed my lips.
I wish it was as easy for me to remember as it was for Trey to accept that Jesus knows best.  This is part of the reason I adore my children.  They help me remember the simple lessons that make life more bearable.  I can think of many terrible things that have happened in my life.  I have called out to God more than once "Why me?" or "Why this?"  With time (and an occasional reminder from my children) I can understand why certain bad things had to come to pass.  Bad things are always hard to swallow but it helps me to remember that there is a reason for all things.  " To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven."

My Little Tom Wilson

Kayelynn feeding Hooper

Trey and Hooper

Where I've Been

I am alive.  I have heard there is some doubt about that.  I made a promise to myself that I would not get caught up in the holiday hustle and bustle.  Although I did enjoy the holidays with my family, I can't honestly say that I didn't get caught up in things.  I spent most of December running around like a crazy woman.
Thanksgiving went well.  I hosted my first official Stroud thanksgiving.  Everything went without a hitch.  The turkey was a picture perfect golden brown.  I'm wondering now why I didn't take a picture of it as it was a real thing of beauty!  The turkey was also super moist.  So, I was a happy cook.  My biggest fear was that it would be as dry as shoe leather.  As is tradition, there was more food than humanly possible to consume.  We all gained a few pounds and felt sufficiently stuffed at the end of the day.
December brought lots of excitement to our household.  Trey turned 5 on Dec. 2nd.  He was super pumped about that.  He will explain to you that being 5 means you get to go to kindergarten.  Right now, he thinks that sounds great.  I hope it stays that way.
Also on Dec. 2, we had twin goats born sometime during the night.  I found one looking rather lifeless the next day.  My motherly/nursing instincts kicked in and the little goat was brought into our house to get warmed up and to get round the clock "finger feedings".  After about 24 hours, my little goat was looking much better and had learned to suck from a bottle.  Rex named him Hooper.  (rex seems to be the animal namer in our house)
Dec. 5th was Trey's birthday party.  Hooper was one of the main attractions of the party.  My sister and her husband had been on a long round trip to Missouri to pick up a Blue Heeler pup (Bella), who was also in attendance at the birthday bash.  Everyone got a kick out of the little animals in diapers.
A week later Tom Wilson came to live with us.  He was the runt of triplets born on one of the coldest days we had in December.  Being the runt, he didn't have the energy to fight for his food.  He also got a ticket into our house for feeding lessons.  Wilson didn't thrive as Hooper had and I was very worried about him.  Rex and I finally diagnosed him with pneumonia (have I mentioned how handy a medical background is around the farm?)  He was weak for quite awhile but is now (finally) about ready to go out and join his buddy Hooper in the barn.
Hooper and Wilson are my success stories as of late.  But, unfortunately we lost both of our bulls and a cow during these last few months.  Rex says that's just how farm life goes.  But, I was upset about the whole situation, especially the cow which I had been giving extra attention to for several days before she died.
Mid December brought the birth of the full time jail nurse's son.  This meant I had to pick up some slack at the jail.  I spent a few extra days seeing sick inmates or inmates who thought they were sick.  Going to jail wasn't near the trouble as all of the paperwork that followed.  I wondered how I'd get cookies baked, presents wrapped and cards mailed out while messing with jail patients and feeding goats every 4 hours!  Somehow I managed.  Cards got mailed a few days before Christmas, cookies were delivered on time, and presents got wrapped the day before they were given.
I have meant to blog so many things this past month but I never found the time.  I wish life wasn't that way, but it is. I feel bad that my blog has not been up to date.  But, I feel good knowing that I spent my limited free time playing with my kids or relaxing with my husband.  That is a new year's resolution of sorts for me....focus on those most precious and let the little things go without feeling stressed over it.

Thankful for beaters to lick

Thankful For Countdown

Today I am thankful for my husband. He is by no means perfect and its unlikely he could take an ideal husband award. But he is mine. I know that he loves me and our children. We have grown up together. He's been my best friend since I was 15. He is the one who gets my jokes, makes me smile., makes me laugh. He's my shoulder to cry on. He is the one I can tell my secrets to. He understands me better than I understand myself. (Usually) *smile*
I have no doubt that God made him especially for me. For that, I am thankful.
Who are you thankful for?

Thankful for Countdown

I am only three days into my countdown and already have missed a post!  I have lots of excuses.....I had to clean the kitchen for the big thanksgiving feast next week, (which I am already seeing was pointless because there is no way we will keep it clean for a week), I had to clean Oxley's tank (which is an hour long process), I had to make my pre-thanksgiving grocery list, I had to keep the kids from hurting each other (which took all day and I was only semi-sucessful at), I had to prepare my piano music for church, I had to take pictures of and help with the deer my husband 'had' to kill during my already busy Saturday, and I had to take a nap (review list to see why I was tired).
Hence, today I am ever so thankful for quiet moments.  I love quiet moments more now than I ever have in my life.  I am always thankful for the few minutes I can get to myself to think quietly or to sit quietly without thinking. Either is nice at times.
What are you thankful for today?

Thankful For Countdown

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. I am hosting the Stroud family at my house this year. That means there is lots to do! Life doesn't stop just because the holidays are coming. If you are like me, it can be hard enough to keep up with day to day life. Throw in extra cleaning, pie baking and first time turkey- maker fear and things start to feel a bit daunting.
Each day I will need to stop and take a deep breath. I need to stop and remember why I am doing the things I'm doing. I am going to try to take time out each day to list one thing I am thankful for until Thanksgiving arrives.
Today I am thankful for my children. I say this even as Trey is whining for candy and Kayelynn is climbing in and out of her crib instead of taking her nap. I have days when I want to sell them to the highest bidder. In reality I know that I couldn't live without them. They are sweet and adorable. I love them. They are my future and the light of my life. They have no idea how much they are loved. I have thanked God for them over and over since he gave them to me. So today, as my sweet offspring challenges my last ounce of patience, I remember how thankful I am for them both and how empty my life would seem without them.
What are you thankful for?

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My Silly Kayelynn

I believe the things that are said about sibling rivalry are true. The younger sibling does seem to strive to have and do anything and everything that the elder sibling has or does. Here is a prime example from our dinner table.
Trey was in a foul mood and was being scolded every minute or two. Finally Daddy took Trey and put him in a time out. Kayelynn began whining, "I wan out!"(translation: "I want a time out")
Even after Trey returned to the table he was still misbehaving. Daddy declared that Trey must go to bed. While Daddy was taking Trey to his room, Kayelynn started crying softly. "What's wrong,Baby?" I asked her.
"I want bed" she sobbed.
I had to laugh. Kids really do want what the other has!

A Gift

I have fallen victim to my own stress. I have spent the past week being self absorbed, worrying over life's problems. I found myself asking "why do things have to be so complicated?" several times this week. Why can't I just get my way. The way I see it, if everything would just bend to my will, life could be so simple. But its just not that way, is it.
It is Sunday. I got up early to pick out the music I would play for church. I usually try to do this towards the middle of the week. Lately though, the beginning, middle and end of the week all run together. So, at 7am I was sitting at my keyboard rubbing the sleep from my eyes, trying to decide what I could play today. I hate it when playing the piano feels like a job.
While I was struggling with my piano music, Rex came dragging in. He had just gotten off a night shift and looked exhausted. We exchanged hellos and went over how both our nights had been. I could hear Kayelynn calling from her bed, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" I sighed. I had hoped she'd sleep longer.
I fed the kids and got Rex off to bed. I got the kids dressed and still had ample time to get myself ready. Trey and Kayelynn sense when I am running ahead of schedule. They take that opportunity to start aggravating each other. Every 5 minutes I broke up a screaming match and reminded them that Daddy was trying to sleep.
After preventing Kayelynn from feeding the turtle a whole bottle of food, getting Trey out (literally "out") of the kitchen cabinet, and then chasing Kayelynn through the house to retrieve a tube of lipstick, I returned to the bathroom to try for the fifteenth time to put my make up on. Kayelynn hung off my leg crying "bips, bips". (This means she wants lipstick on her lips)
I looked at my reflection and sighed. "Sunday....day of rest. That's a joke." I thought. I tried to shrug off my negative attitude.
Several struggles, fights, and hair pullings later, I had all of us in the car ready to head to church. We headed off on our two mile trek to church. I always make it a point to drive the gravel roads to our church. The kids and I both enjoy our leisurely Sunday morning drives.
This morning Trey announces: "It is a beautiful day!" I glanced at him and had to smile at his exuberance. This is the attitude I need, I thought. It is a beautiful day, such a beautiful day its like a gift. I felt my negative attitude start to dissolve. I didn't know that there were more gifts in store for me.
A woman at church had brought with her a box of jewelry. She was offering pieces to all the ladies in the congregation. She explained to me after the service that she had acquired the jewelry at an auction but then hadn't worn it much. I looked at what she offered and felt blessed. I found a gold necklace that caught my eye. The necklace was plain, a gold rope chain. But it something that I needed. Just that morning while getting ready, I had wished for a necklace just like the one I now held in my hand. I looked at the woman and thanked her. She gave me a smile that said "think nothing of it". It was a gift. A gift of kindness that again helped me find happiness in the simple things.
For the rest of the day, my eyes were opened to the simple joys of my life: the sounds of my children playing together while I cleaned out our old farrowing house, an unexpected hug from Trey, Kayelynn holding still long enough for me to braid a flower into her hair, a stolen moment alone with my husband. All are gifts to me.
I am most thankful for the act of kindness from that friend at church. Without that act of kindness, I might have missed all the other gifts waiting on me today. I put that necklace on before I ever left the church. Each time I felt it or saw it around my neck I was reminded of how a simple gift can change a person's whole outlook on life.
~thanks beverly~

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Kitchen Help

I haven't had a post for a loooooong time. But this is part of the reason. Its canning season. Both kids love to help with tomato juice production!

What Trey's saying now (aka Treyisms)

1.  I was thrilled to find a preschool version of the Little House books.  I enjoyed reading Laura Ingalls Wilder as a young girl and have always known that I wanted to share her pioneer world with my own children.  Trey was instantly absorbed in the story as I read to him.  This book we were reading mentioned Pa working hard all summer to gather and chop firewood for winter.  I took a moment to talk with Trey about how important that job was and how time consuming and physically hard it was to do.  Trey processed this and said, " Well, maybe Pa should use a chainsaw like Daddy does."

2.  The sink in our bathroom is taller than most.  I usually lift Trey up to sit on the counter when he brushes his teeth.   One evening he twisted too much trying to reach something and he almost fell off of the counter.  I caught him and lifted him up close too me.  "Mom," he said, touching my face, "you are like a super hero!"

3.  Trey often will ride the four wheeler with me through the pasture.  We check all the cows and look for any new calves that may have been born.  Some of our cows have names. (Bessie, Frosty, Mary Lynn, Custard, Snowball, etc.)   We recently had a pretty little, tan colored calf born that we named Butterscotch.  We make a game out of seeing who can spot which cow first. This particular night, Trey called out excitedly "Mom! Look!  I spy Hopscotch Butter!"

A Confession

Sometimes I go to a baby store for no reason but to touch the tiny clothes.

Bugtime Bonding

     Tonight Trey and I caught lightening bugs.

      I, quite possibly, had more fun than he did.  I have vivid memories of doing this same thing when I was a kid.  I didn't have the fancy bug cage that Trey's bugs have.  My bug container was a glass Miracle Whip jar with holes punched through the metal lid.  My sister, Erica, would have her own jar too.  We'd do our best to fill our jars.  I don't remember this as being a competitive sport.  We were very cooperative with these endeavors and would help each other to make sure we got the most lightening bugs possible. Then we would get to take the bug jars to our room at bedtime and watch the glow as we fell asleep.

     Trey and I had the same mission tonight as my sister and I had 25 years ago.  (small pause, because I feel really old after that last sentence.)  The mission started when I revealed to him my Dollar Store Bug Motel find.  Trey was very excited with his new gift and began searching for lightening bugs at about 5pm.  Finally, around 8, I spotted a lightening bug as I was working in the garden.  Trey ran for his Bug Motel as fast as his little legs would carry him.  The hunt was on!  As Erica and I would do so long ago, Trey and I began to run about the yard barefooted.  I'm not sure why lightening bug hunting became a barefooted past time.  I think it has something to do with how nice the grass feels to your feet in the evenings.  It is soft and cool and just the slightest bit damp.  Evening barefoot walking is like a refresher for your tired feet.  That feeling of the blades of grass between my toes is directly linked to memories of night searches for little glowing bugs.
     Some things about lightening bug hunting were different for Trey than they were for me.  Trey's  bug hunt took place in the daylight.  I remember running and stumbling through the yard as dusky skies turned dark.  The low lighting made the hunt all that more exciting to us kids.  I feel sad that because of the time differences now, Trey won't really experience playing like that in the dark.  Despite the amount of sunlight, Trey and I had a wonderful time running and laughing together, trying to catch lightening bugs as they began to flit around the yard.

     I know the Bug Motel looks empty but we did find about a dozen lightening bugs.  Trey put a leaf in with the bugs (in case they get hungry).  He told them each goodnight with the promise of freedom (to find their families) in the morning.  I positioned the Bug Motel on Trey's bedside table.  I tucked him in and kissed him goodnight.  The best part of the night was seeing Trey roll to his side and stare at the bug container with anticipation lighting up his face.
     This is his first night sleeping with bedside bugs.  If I close my eyes, I can almost see myself as a girl, rolling to my side, after being put to bed, to catch a glimpse of the lightening bugs' glow.