A funny

Today Cade's friend from down the street was visiting him. Bauer (age 8) asks me, "How do you know Alaina's a girl?" I couldn't help but smile. Cade pipes up, "Because she's wearing pink."

Isn't that great!?!

Another funny...I would love to post the picture I took of the following but it totally would not be appropriate...
Liam came out of the bathroom today after going potty by himself, including pulling up his pants on his own. Cade and I glance up at him and his boy parts are sticking up out of his pants. We start laughing so hard that we couldn't even talk...

Just a couple...

Alaina has gotten into sticking her sweet little tongue out...all the time!
Cade with baby toy...earrings!

Just some random thoughts...

Things in the Johnson home are going well. We have three healthy children, two happy parents, and PRAISE GOD the weather seems to be getting a bit (very little bit) warmer...do I dare say, even the days seems a bit longer too!?! Our rental house is set to close sale on March 1...it will be a relief when that it all done.

I am feeling blessed beyond measure. The last couple of weeks I have been stressed with dealing with everything that I do daily. I have been feeling so rushed and spread thin...ineffective and worn out. The feeling of doing so much, but only being able to do it with part of me, instead of giving it my all. Sort of like there is so much to do, so many people to tend to, so much to accomplish, that it's impossible to give everything my all...I feel like, in the end, I have just given everyone just a small piece of me...of my time...when everyone deserves so much more. Then, I have nothing left to give myself...or my God.

I think, though, I just needed some sleep, and prayer. I am feeling much better about things. Honestly, I don't give myself the credit that I deserve. Mark is forever telling me to stop being so hard on myself and I totally think...finally...that he's is right. Life is so much more complicated with an infant. In reality, I am doing a pretty good job keeping it all together. You might not think so by looking at the shape of my home, but listening to Cade read to his daddy tonight reminded me that a clean home is totally overrated.

Just had to share...

Okay Friends, I admit, there are times that I feel like we are accomplishing NOTHING while schooling at home. I know that's not true as Cade is obviously gaining proficiency in reading and writing. Here's a story from tonight that really impressed me...

I was reading to the boys before bed. Richard Scarry's What People Do All Day. I pointed out that Mama Pig made a mess with the eggs as she made breakfast. Cade looks at what I pointed to and reads, "Eggs." He says, "That isn't how Eggs is really spelled though. AA-ggs is how we say it." I said, "No. That's how it's spelled, but sometimes people get into bad habits and we say things wrong. We should be saying Eehhggs, right?" You could just see his mind working. I told him that when he hears us say "Aggs" he can correct us by saying, "How do you spell eggs?"

I am very proud of his phonetic awareness...

No accidents!

Okay, this post is for those out there that have listened to my cries of frustration AND those that have dealt with the same thing (but too afraid to admit it!)
Liam seems to have mastered the toilet! He has gone all day without one accident. He is one smart boy but it sure has been a trip with potty training...yes, he'll be 4 year old next month. :)

Alaina is 5 months old!

To the readers of my blog

I have been very sentimental of late...

Last year on this very date, I was in the hospital with Liam. I remember being quite ill with morning sickness and even more ill watching my son endure seizure upon seizure with no idea of what the future would hold for him. I held his beautiful little body and we walked up and down the hallways with his head upon my shoulder. We watched hours and hours of Wall-E and we prayed...and prayed.

I visited the chapel at St. Mary's as a broken vessel seeking the presence of the One who I knew could provide it. I heard over and over again that still small voice whisper to me at the times I needed it most, "Calm down, My child. Trust Me. I am taking care of Liam." I heard it and felt it every day.

While I knew Liam was in good hands, I was still terrified and so very, very sad. And, then, a modern day miracle....

Today while taking a shower with Alaina in her bouncy seat and Liam on a step stool playing with his cars in the sink (where is my peace!), I said to him through the curtain, "Liam, this time last year we were in the hospital, you and me. You were having lots of seizures." For a moment there was silence, then he replies, "I NOT have a shot, Mom! Yah-na (Alaina) have a shot!"

"Thank you, Lord, for performing a miracle in Liam's life. For being there for us. For listening to us. For protecting our boy. Words alone cannot express our gratitude. I am humbled and honored to call you my God."