Tazzie

He was the first of a new generation.

 He was the first after the original pack of 5 that brought Hubby and myself together.

He was our gentle giant...

our self proclaimed "nanny" dog who took on the job of keeping up with the kiddos and making certain they were OK - always...

In his prime, he slept with them upstairs and would not come down in the morning until the last child, sleepily made their way down.

He would swim with them while they were in my Mom's pool or would run around the pool so much while they swam, that his pads would bleed and we would have to put him inside.

If the kids started to get loud or rambunctious, he would spin and chase his tail as his nervousness for them grew.

Most of all though, he was an ever present, unobtrusive, sweet, protective, loving pup and and we had to say good-bye to this sweet spirit a few weeks ago.

As Tazzie grew older, it was harder for him to make it up and down the stairs, harder for him to chase his tail, harder for him to run around the pool...

but every night, he would venture down to our neighborhood dock with Hubby and one of our other doggies, Goose.

 There, they would enjoy the stars and the quiet and Tazzie could relax while he was "off duty".

It is never easy to say good-bye but this good-bye seemed to come too soon, too fast and we were just not ready...

I think Tazzie was, but we were - just - not.

It is funny how easy it is to love these beautiful creatures who use your carpet as a potty, tear up everything from toilet paper to your expensive shoes and who leave huge clumps of  hair floating around the house the size of soccer balls...

but ya do cause they are always there, waiting to be loved and to love...

humbly, forgivingly, therapeutically and unconditionally.

We miss you sweet Tazzie.

Rest in knowing that you helped to raise some really good kiddos, whose childhood memories will forever be sprinkled with the presence their ever constant, always vigilant "nanny dog".

Bad "A" Mom

So, a couple months back a new, sweet friend described me as a Bad "A" Mom.

I have to say that I have never considered myself a Bad "A" anything but I am coming to understand that most Moms of special needs kiddos are Bad "A" Moms.

*grin*

Ever since the girls came home, it has been a battle over one thing or another.

I have battled with hospitals and doctors and billing departments and insurance (a biggie)...

and school...

a big biggie...

I have to start here by saying that I love Maggie and Lucy's teachers.

I love the therapists that they have at school...

and I love, love, love the office staff who are always so helpful and happy to see my girls.

However...

there has been one particular administrative person that I have had to "battle".

This person insisted that the girls had to be mainstreamed at lunch, recess and special area with children who are the same age as the girls' "official" China dates of birth makes them.

Which means that my girls were eating lunch, going to recess and participating in special area with 4th and 5th graders.

I have to wonder if this person had spent any time at all with my girls.

Sigh

The children were sweet and helpful but the age and developmental gap was far too large for the girls to be able to connect and to make friends.

Even after I told the administration that we had started the legal process to change the girls' ages, this person still insisted that there was nothing they could do...

even if I contacted the district office... 

soooo...

I contacted the district office...

and what did they do?

Well, after speaking to the girls' doctor, they placed the girls with 1st and 2nd graders!

BOOM!

And after the first day back from break, Maggie came home all excited...

BECAUSE SHE HAD MADE A FRIEND!

Double Boom!

She told me that her friend was the same age that she was...

SEVEN...

and that her new friend went to our church!

And then my sweet girl said, "Mom, she knows God!"

How awesome is that?

So, yep, I am owning the title of Bad "A" Mom and claiming it for all Moms of special needs kiddos everywhere, not because we are all that...

but because the Lord calls and when He calls, He equips.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

I think I am liking this!

*grin*

Christmas 2014

So...

Apparently having the flu on Christmas is just not the thing to do!

Yep, who would have thought that the flu and Christmas just don't mix!

Go figure!

And when Momma has the flu on Christmas, well then, things just don't get done...

like the traditional kids and pets Christmas picture.

You know the one, where all the kids smile perfectly, the pets behave perfectly and the picture shows, well, the "perfect" family!

From Christmas 2013

Bwhahahaha

Yeah, that picture!

Well, we are far from perfect and I think the out takes of this annual event are always my favorite part, only this year...

Momma was sick!

Darn that flu!

We did manage to grab a pic of Lizzie placing the Angel on the top of the tree...

and of our annual Reindeer food making mess fest...

 a few shots of Christmas morning...

 the ride up to visit our NC clan...

don't ask - hehe...

and the festivities there...

always an interesting...

and sometimes little scary...

*snicker*

but always fun time!

We love going up there but don't get to visit as much as we would like to.

One of the harder parts of  having 7 kids, 4 dogs and 2 crazy cats.

So, here I sit with the remnants of a yucky cough, thankful to have made it through Christmas...

and Lucy's surgery...

trying my best to keep this sweet girl comfortable

trusting that 2015 will be just as busy, just as crazy, just as full of challenges and blessings as it's predecessor was.

gulp

However, no matter how busy, how crazy and how challenging the days are...

the blessings are always there...

always ready to remind us that, many times, it is through the business, the craziness and the challenges...

 
that He reveals His glory to us and through us.

It is through seasons like this that His presence and His power and His grace are most evident.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18 

and this is the biggest blessing of all...

"the glory which shall be revealed in us" 

"in us" y'all

I try to remind myself of this on the days that are the most busy, most crazy and most challenging.

So this year, as the therapy and medical appointments are already piling up...

there will be no resolutions other than the constant reminder that it is not through my super "mom" powers that any of this gets done...

it is through His grace alone.

Are there things that I need to work on and change?

Um, YES...

but I trust that it is through the "tough" days that He is able to do His best work within my heart.

So 2015...

bring it on!