June 2011 Recap

I can't believe we are at the end of July.  It just doesn't seem possible how quickly time is going and I know that the fall will be even more insane.  So here's a brief overview of June:

Playdates:
We had several playdates... a pool party at Christy's, the park with Sharon (which was a complete disaster!!!! Finley just wasn't in the mood to play which was CRAZY and kind of embarrassing!), and the Omniplex with Laura.  I feel like we had some other ones as well, but I think these were the main ones.

Bible Studies:
I started Beth Moore's Daniel on Wednesday nights with some girls from BSF.  I'm absolutely loving it!!!!  Daniel was an amazing example of how to be in the world and not be worldly.  Hoping to learn so much for this study!  I also started a Wednesday morning Beth Moore study called Wising Up that I'm doing with my moms group.  It is also soooo good.  The Word of God never ceases to convict me!

Swim Lessons:
Finley and I took a Mommy and Me swim lesson together at the YMCA.  It was really fun and even though there wasn't a ton of actual swimming involved.  Finley is sooooo much more comfortable in the water!  I loved being able to do something together like this!

(Picture of foot taken over a week after injury!)

The "Boot":
Devin started playing softball with our church in May and was having so much fun until one night when he came home and complained that his leg hurt a bit.  The next morning he emailed me to say it was really hurting.  I about died when I finally saw his foot.  He had a HUGE bump that stuck out probably a good inch from his leg and then his whole foot was purple.  He continued to walk on it for a week before getting x-rays.  They confirmed nothing was broken and sent him on his way.  Then they ended up calling back saying that they had send his x-rays off for further consultation and thought he needed to go to an orthopedist.  In the end, they diagnosed him with a severe sprain and put him in a boot!

New MDO:
For the summer, we decided to put Finley in a different MDO program.  Her fall/spring MDO program was only in June and I was looking for something that would allow me to have some time with just Jude throughout the whole summer.  She seems to be enjoying it and it has been nice for me to be able to run some errands with one child instead of two! =)

Brooks' Birthday Party:
Brooks' birthday party was at a local gym and it ended up being a really fun time.  We have been to birthday parties at Gymboree, Bouncin' Craze, and another gym so I wasn't sure what to expect from this party, but it was a fun combination of all of the above.  Finley had a blast and I just love Brooks' family so it was fun to celbrate with them!

Whitney and Patrick's Wedding:
Our friends Whitney and Patrick got married!  They are so sweet and I was able to help decorate the reception site for them!  It was beautiful!  Patrick is a pilot so the History Museum was the perfect spot.  I loved watching them dance under the huge plane.  It was first time we left Jude so it was a great date night for me and Devin!

I think that's a good overview of our month!  We also spent quite a bit of time planning our Chicago trip!

She's BAAAACK!

It has been a rough few weeks around the C household!  After returning from Chicago, I was sure my sweet little girl was gone forever.  It has been heart breaking and incredibly challenging.  Every day, Devin and I would have a new theory:  terrible 2's, separation anxiety, teething, delayed jealousy over Jude, and even fears of molestation or abuse.  When we came home to a stranger, we were desperate for answers and reasons why things changed.  We were also desperate for immediate solutions!

I am thankful that despite the tears, tantrums, timeouts, spankings, extreme emotional rollercoaster, grumpiness, anxiety, constant fit throwing, and oh, so much more that each day, she seemed to get just a tiny bit better.  Every once in awhile I would get a very rare glimpse into my sweet Finley again and that slight bit of encouragement would keep me hanging on when I seriously felt at the end of my rope.

Only God knows how many times I called out to Him in desperation.  I had more than one heart to heart talk that let Him know that I couldn't take much more, but the last few days have been so wonderful.  She's back!  Our little girl is finally back.  Maybe only 95% back, but she is back!

And I have missed her greatly!  I told Devin that maybe these last few weeks were what I needed to appreciate her more!  I find myself downright giddy when I see her dancing up a storm to her Elmo Potty video, when she starts singing in the car, when she runs to give me unexpected hugs, when she laughs so hard she's crying, when she declares the person closest to her to be "SOOOO silly!", when she barrell rolls down the hallway, and when the light in her eye that had been missing is clearly in view.

After the first few days we were back, Devin looked at me and said "I can't even look at her anymore.  She looks so miserable and I can't handle it."  So for us to see that smile, hear that laugh, and hold our loveable girl again has been amazing.

She still has some lingering separation anxiety when being left at church, MDO, or Bible Study and naps and bedtimes have become a nightmare.  We've never had problems getting her to go to sleep, but now it is an ordeal.  She still also has freak-outs if she can't immediately find one of us, but for the most part, our darling little one is back and we are beyond thankful!

She Left Proof-- July 2011

 What I love....

A quick picture before church with my two cooperative children.... That never happens!

What I love even more...

The fact that 90% of the pictures we took were of Jude totally enthralled with his big sister!


What I don't love... The fact that I JUST had my hair colored and my roots look terrible already and that when I upload my pictures they do not look as good as they do in iphoto. =)

I have a rough life, huh?