Spoiling them rotten

After the trauma of hearing that we had to put Molly under GA....Mommy got an insatiable urge to buy something wonderful for her girls! Meet the newest member of the Nilsen family:

His name is "Jack" and he really is the sweetest little bunny! We love him!

Success!

The "operation" was a success! I stayed with Molly as she was put under for the procedure...I have seen plenty of kids go under, so I knew what to expect...a struggle...panic...and then peace. Molly looked up at me from behind the mask, and let a few tears fall from her big blue eyes, no struggle, just the peace. I was happy with that. I had just barely found my way back to the waiting room when the doc came out to say they were done. Molly was such a drama queen in the recovery room, they told us to get out of there after just 10 minutes (originally we were told we would be there for at least a half an hour!). They even told us to just keep the gown, don't bother trying to change her clothes! But after a long nap, she seems to be recovering well!

Tubes

Tomorrow Molly goes under GA to have tubes placed in her ears. We are hoping it will restore some of the hearing she has lost, but more importantly, we want her to be out of any pain she may be experiencing. I have heard so many parents say that after their child had this procedure, it was like having a new child...suddenly they were less fussy, their speech took off, they weren't sick so often. I hope this helps her to feel better. Your prayers are GREATLY appreciated!

Like a Child...

"Why is the sky pink?" Ava asked the other night while driving home from work/daycare.

"Because God paints us a new sunset every day." I replied.

"And He knows pink is my favorite color, so He picked pink today to tell me He loves me." She reported with all the confidence in the world.

A few days later, we were driving home at sunset once again. "Mommy, God painted the sky yellow today!"

"Yes, Honey...that's right!" I was so proud that she understood that this was one of the gifts that God gives us everyday.

She was silent for a while, and I had assumed she was over the sunset topic. In a very loud voice she yelled, "GOD!" I was shocked...we don't use the Lord's name in vain...where did she hear that?!? Than again, even louder, "GOD!!" I was about to explain to her that we don't use His name that way...when she surprised me yet again..."THANK YOU!!!! MY NEW FAVORITE COLOR IS YELLOW!!!!" I love her so much!

Prayer Changes Things!

Resposibility-Lord grant that my children would learn to be responsible, for each one should carry her own load. (Galations 6:5)
Contentment-Father, teach my children the secret of being content in every situation, through Him who gives them strength. (Philippians 4:12-13)
Faith-Lord, help my children to fight the good fight of faith, taking hold of the eternal life to which they were called. (1 Timothy 6:12)
A Servant's Heart-God, help my children develop servents' hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly. (Ephesians 6:7)
Hope-God of hope, grant that my children may overflow with the hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Thank you so much for all the prayers! I am so happy to share these with all of you!

Dance Party

What a fun party! Ava's friend Claire had her fourth birthday party at the Colorado School of Dance Studio last weekend. It was hosted by "The Sugar Plum Fairy", straight out of The Nutcracker! Ava was in her element...make-up, ballet, dress-up...it was great!

Molly had a great time, too! She didn't "participate" in the party, but she loves a giant mirror and a tutu!

Push

Please say you can relate! I have been SO frustrated with Ava for the past week or so. I feel like a bad mom...when I wake her up in the mornings, she wants to test her limits ("I don't want to wear that...you can't make me...I don't want to go, I want to stay home..."). So I feel like we get off to a bad start. Then, I leave her at daycare for 10 hours, and when I pick her up she yells and screams and cries at me for every little thing ("I don't want to sit in my car seat...Molly is looking at me...I want to go to McDonald's"). I know that these are hard times of the day for her, she is a bear when she is tired or hungry...but it doesn't seem to end there...over the weekend, she exploded in tears and screams because I asked her to pick up 4 of the toys that she had left out on the floor. We just seem to be butting heads right now. I feel like the times when she is most susceptible to melting down, is the same time that I am, in the morning...when I feel like we need to rush to get out of the house on time, and after I have had a long day at work and battled traffic to make it to daycare on time. She is three, so it is appropriate for her to throw a fit when her basic needs aren't being met...but what about me? I just want to plug my ears and yell "LA LA LA LA LA" when she starts melting down...but I can't. I have to be the adult.

As frustrated as I have been the past week, she always finds a way to remind me of the many reasons I love her and could never live without her! At the store yesterday she started singing (very loudly) "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so" I bet God knows my frustration all too well. I AM like a three year old! I push and push, but He never stoops to battle me...His patience stretches beyond my understanding. Praise God!