Normalcy...I Think

691. An uneventful weekend. In our house, uneventful means that there were no tantrums. I didn't have to break up any fights. Chores were done without any meltdowns. Everyone went to bed without a fuss. We had two whole days and nights of uneventful!
692. For the renewed strength and energy I had starting this week. It's amazing how refreshing uneventful is...
693. A good (hard) conversation with Snapper this morning, discussing appropriate responses for when her sisters harass her.
694. That Snapper so badly wants Christ to lead her and to help her make good decisions
695. A new level of normal in our home
696. Getting to see one of Snapper's best friends play the role of the Baker in Into the Woods Junior last night. So much fun!
697. The anticipation of our trip to the West Coast this summer to visit friends and family!
698. Sunny's desire to learn how to write her ABCs. Until yesterday, she was not interested at all.
699. Yet again, I thank God for my crock pot. It makes my life SO much easier.
700. This photo of Pepper--one of my favorites ever--which is on this month's calendar page on my wall.

Doctor Friday and Quiet Saturday

681. That Bubbles' sleep study was normal
682. A proactive doctor who tested her for allergies right then to see if allergies are causing the big tonsils
683. That the allergy tests--all 40 of them--were negative!
684. A referral to an ENT so we can get Bubbles' tonsils and adenoids out, since there is no explanation as to why they are so huge.
685. That Bubbles was very brave for all of the examining, testing, and blood draw today
686. The fun of eating ice cream for lunch together as a reward for her courage!
687. Some epic parenting teamwork that snapped Sunny out of a massive tantrum, got her regulated, and calmed her enough that she could go to sleep. It was very satisfying!
688. That today is Saturday, and the only thing on our agenda for the day is karate this morning!
689. Gluten Free Cinnamon Chex for breakfast!

690. Hearing Pepper working so hard on his extra credit challenges for Awana! For those of you who know Awana, Pepper completed his second year Sparks handbook in November. He did the whole handbook review in one club night! He took his time working through all the extra credit verses, and finished the extra credit book on Wednesday. Now he has three challenges to complete before moving on to the next thing, (which I think is memorizing Psalm 1). His challenges right now:
1. Recite the Sparks Code word perfect, without a single prompt. (S is for Savior, 1 John 4:14; P is for Power, Psalm 147:5; A is for According to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:3; R is for Raised, 1 Corinthians 15:4; K is for Keep, James 2:10; S is for Saved, Acts 16:31).
2. Recite the books of the Bible, word perfect, no prompts.
3. Recite Psalm 23, word perfect, no prompts.
Right now he's ready to go with the Sparks Code and the New Testament books. We're working on pronunciation of a couple of Old Testament books (transition from Ecclesiastes to Song of Solomon, and transition from Habakkuk to Zephaniah). He's almost perfect on Psalm 23...just need to practice it a few more times. I love his determination, and his enthusiasm for hiding God's Word in his heart!

Team Barfy

671. A brave little girl who was willing to bare her soul at therapy yesterday
672. Positive steps on the journey toward healing from the trauma she experienced with her birth family
673. That we live 1,000 miles away from those people...so I can honestly reassure the girls that they are safe.
674. An A+ on a math test for Snapper. What an awesome confidence builder for her, as she is in the most advanced math class the elementary school offers!
675. Bubbles zipping through a chapter book that was on a lower reading level...a book that she couldn't handle just three months ago!
676. Two playdate invitations for Piper! It's so much fun to see her developing good friendships.
677. This one is going to sound awful...but I am extremely thankful that when Sunny got sick tonight, she barfed on Matt and not on me. Vomit makes me vomit. Matt handles is better than I do.
678. For our high capacity washer and dryer, which are working overtime because Sunny refuses to barf in a bowl or in the toilet
679. For the $5 shampoo attachment Matt got for our vacuum at a rummage sale...we need it today.
680. The sweet drawing Bubbles just made for me. It's a picture of Matt and me holding hands and smiling. It says "I love you Mom and Dad" on the top. She also included close-ups of our faces, in which I am smiling, and Matt has a goatee. I love it!!! She's home from school with a fever, by the way. Ugh. I'm praying she doesn't join the barf gang...