Signing!

Markus's therapist suggested I start teaching Markus a few "signs" to help him communicate until he learns to speak.  So I have been diligent about signing, although my family makes fun of me.  I say "eat", "drink", "more" and "all done".  And guess what?!  Markus has started signing "more"!!!   The family that has made fun of me is now impressed!  We rock Markus!!

CONTRACTS

We have had a problem over the break with Reagan waking up her siblings before they are ready. She is an early riser and gets bored.  In fact, this morning she came into my room where Markus and I were already awake and "talking" in my bed.  I told her very clearly "DO NOT WAKE KARRIGAN UP".  Karrigan had slept on the couch.  I guess I wasn't clear enough because Reagan DID wake Karrigan up.  Reagan said she was just trying to get the dog (who was sleeping under Karrigan's blanket).  On her own, Karrigan made a "contract" tonight and had Reagan sign it.  Below is the contract, exactly how it is written.

Contract

I Reagan Mills  shall not wake Karrigan up in the morning.  If I do, there will be a charge of $20 or rub Karrigan's feet for one hour.  If I wake her up, She has the right to yell & say "GO BACK TO BED YOU DIMWIT!!"

initials RM                                                                                   signature Reagan 

      I guess Nolan thought this was a terrific idea, so he made up his own contract.  His buddy Caleb is spending the night.  Here is Nolan's  contract (that Nolan forged).

                          CONTRACT                                                                                     

This contract clearly states that        CT          will give me his every birthday present his gets from anyone*.

*Even his most prized possesions.

(in)

           CT          

That is some funny stuff!!  Caleb was obsessed with tearing up the contract Nolan made.  They are soooo funny, to think it means anything! lol  I love my kids, their wit and sense of humor!

Growing

Do you know what's more fun than watching your kids, with barely containable anticipation, rip open their gifts Christmas morning?   It's digging through the big, outside trash cans and recycling bins, looking for a toy your kid is sure got thrown away.  Then bagging it all back up, not finding the small toy.  That is fun!  Motherhood is super great!  Everyone should do it.  Just in case you're wondering...I later found that little stupid toy in the couch cushion!

It's amazing how LITTLE time I have for computer, tv and phone these days.  Having all 5 kids here allllll day is a lot of work! lol  I'm not ready to say I want them to go back to school.  But I'm not going to say I'd mind either. 

We had a great Christmas holiday!  The kids got everything (I think) they asked for.  We spent time with lots of family and friends.  I will try to get some pictures up soon. 

We are making some big changes to the house.  We had our formal dining room closed in (with a lot of help from some friends) to make a bedroom.  It needs cosmetic work done still, but it's really close and all of the kids want the new room.   We are very excited!  We haven't decided who will go where, but I think all of the kids will be changing rooms.  Anyone want to help me paint??

Markus cut a new tooth.  Nolan lost a tooth. 

We won a contest to have free family photos taken.  That should be interesting!

We will be spending NYE with friends, having game night.  Game Night is always loud and fun.  And one of my friends always cheats. :D  Randy has the next 4 days off work (Lord have mercy).  But he will be gone for two days for a friend's bachelor party (don't get crazy ideas!). 

Everyone in the Carpenter family is doing great!  We are all growing and learning.  It has been a very blessed year for us!  When I think back and remember everything that we have been given....I am humbled and in awe!  It's hard to believe 2011 could be any better...but somehow I know it will be! 

New ride!

Kennedy got a new ride today.  We spent the day at Scottish Rite and left with a new wheelchair.   The color is "candy apple" and the fit is perfect!  The kids were great, considering the several hours we were at the hospital.  Donna (Reagan's gma) came to the hospital on her lunch break and let the older kids play on the playground.  Here are some photos from today. 

Old chair

New chair

The difference is hard to spot but trust me, she looks much better in the new chair.  I didn't know it myself until I saw it.

Reagan at Scottish Rite.

Scottish Rite Christmas Tree.

Markus, he was soooo good today!

Playing

Pulling up!  Go Markus!

Karrigan

Reagan and her beloved coat!

Could he be any cuter in that sweater?  I think NOT.

Calm, patient Nolan.

Pictures

Some pictures taken by my father in law on 12-19-10. 

Not sure what we thought was so funny!

Grandpa helping Reagan get her puppy out of the box, she cared about nothing else!

Markus

Nolan got the games he wanted.

Handsome Randy.



One down!

Sunday my Grandpa's church had a "Remembrance Service" to honor   loved ones who died this year.  I didn't know what to expect, but it was a beautiful service and I was sorry I did not bring my family along.  There were lots of tears shed, but it's nice once in a while to allow yourself to just be sad!  I was actually "forced" to speak because my Grandpa, uncle and aunt were too emotional.  It was very nice and I am so glad to went!

Later Sunday evening we had a Christmas dinner  and exchanged gifts with Randy's parents, since they leave for Florida on Tuesday.  My Grandpa joined us as well.  Here are a few pictures.

Gpa had just opened our gift (a new pair of shoes).  I think he was a little embarrassed.  He would never have bought these for himself!! 

Christine (Randy's mom) and Markus.  Markus is playing with his eyes in the light. 

This is NOT a random shot.  Reagan was WIRED!!!  Look at Markus in the background, playing with his eyes. 

This picture was hard to get!!!  The kids were not cooperating.  And as you can see... none of them cared about their hair or clothes.  I FORCED them to get dressed!

Karrigan on her new bike.

Nolan on his new bike.

Today was the official first day of Christmas break. One down, many more to go! We survived and no one got hurt! :) It was a beautiful day here in the Dallas area. For much of the day the temp was around 75. Karrigan, Nolan, Reagan and our little friend Shayli rode bikes and played outside much of the day. We even went to the park and played for a while. Randy didn't get home until after 7:00. He has been very busy at work. Here are a few pictures taken at the park.

Markus

Beautiful boy

Reagan and Markus.  Markus looks worried. lol 

Angel

Karrigan and Shayli pushing Markus on the swing.

I am looking forward to a week with no schedules!  We do have a couple of appointments we have to keep, but no getting up while it's still dark! :)  Kennedy is getting a new wheelchair on Wednesday!!  That will be awesome for her!  And Reagan has her weekly therapy session on Thursday.  Other than that we will be taking it easy, playing with friends, watching movies and whatever else we come up with. 

Last weekend before Christmas!

Hide from the malls!! lol  I can honestly say I have not done any Christmas shopping in a mall this year.  I can honestly say I haven't missed it either. :)  I like walking around a mall.  But not fighting my way through one.  Randy's parents are leaving for Florida next week to spend the holiday with his sister.  So we are getting together with them tomorrow.  The kids will are excited to "cheat" and get gifts early. 

Yesterday my family received TWO very thoughtful and extremely generous gifts.  One of them from someone we have never met!  They didn't even sign the card.  What a blessing and an honor, for someone to think so much of you without ever having met you.  To both of our "gifters", we humbly thank you!

My plan for today was to have a cleaning party.  So far I'm the only guest at the party. lol  Here in a few minutes it's going to turn from a party into a torture chamber, if someone doesn't start cleaning!  Speaking of.... I'd better get off the computer and go give people the stink eye! 

Have a great day!!



Author

I just finished a book called "What we keep" by Elizabeth Berg.  I have never followed an author before.  I usually just read whatever I stumble on,  something a friend recommends or a book I hear about.  But I simply LOVE Elizabeth Berg.  I have probably read 5-6 books of hers.  I am getting worried that soon I will run out of new ones to read! lol 

"What we keep" is a book about a woman, remembering her childhood.  A mostly happy one, growing up with her sister.  But it is also about how differently you see and feel things as a child, compared to how you see and feel things as an adult.  Maya Angelou said "You did then what you knew how to do.  And when you knew better, you did better".  I took that saying and held it in my heart the first time I heard it.  It's amazing how hard we (I) are on ourselves for past mistakes.  When  God has already forgiven us (me), we refuse to forgive ourselves!  Most of the time the people we have hurt have also forgiven us (me), whether or not we have even asked!!  I guess it's just easier for me to forgive myself for terrible mistakes and also little ones, when I can say "I did what I knew how to do at that time".  Forgiving YOURSELF, loving who you are and HOW YOU GOT TO BE WHO YOU ARE is a wonderful thing!   


Karrigan has the most precious  spirit!!  I hate that she is afraid to show her sensitive, caring side proudly!  Kennedy drinks a high calorie drink every morning, because she rarely eats breakfast.  On the way to school, out of the blue Karrigan said "I want to take one of Kennedy's drinks to school but I don't know if I'm allowed".  I asked why (they are gross).   She went on to tell me about a girl who refuses to eat the school food.  The teachers try everything to get her to eat but she refuses.  Karrigan said the girl tries to eat but always takes the food back out of her mouth.  I asked why the girl doesn't pack a lunch.  Karrigan answered that she doesn't have money.  I asked how she knows that.  She said the girl TOLD her they don't have money/food and she gets free lunch from school.  She went on to say that the girl only speaks to the kids when they speak to her first,  that she is terribly shy.  I told Karrigan to casually ask the girl if she likes peanut butter and jelly.  How easy would it be to send a sandwich every day??  I love Karrigan and that she notices things like this.  Not only that she notices, but that she wants to DO something about it!!!  I do that as well, it's both a blessing and a burden.  A burden when you can do nothing but want to do everything. 

Have a great day!!

Super Star

Ok so.... you need to know that my son, Nolan Carpenter, is playing basketball!!!  Basketball!!  On a team.  Running.  Sweating.   A sport!  Hello.  His first practice was yesterday.  He was a little lost but he did great!  I am so excited for the upcoming season!  GO NUMBER 2!!!  Markus and Reagan were at his practice.  Reagan had fun, playing with little friends.  Markus was so cute, clapping at the boys practicing!  He has no doubt paid attention to us at Karrigan's basketball games.  I clap and yell the entire time! :)  It may be a little premature for Nolan, but I can't help but think..... college scholarship! lol  He is a super star!! 

Markus is getting sooo big!!  Sometimes he looks more like a little boy and not as much like a baby.  Which is both exciting and sad.  He can get anywhere he chooses in a flash!  He is pulling up on his knees all the time now.  He is holding his bottle and cup now.  He mostly sleeps through the night, but there are times when he wakes up, mostly for a "sassy".  We rarely need to give him a bottle during the night.  He is so darn cute!!!  He is irresistible to everyone!  He is so loved.

Tomorrow the kids get out of school early and then don't go for 2 weeks.  School breaks are a blessing and a curse to me.  I love, love not getting up by alarm!  I love getting to do whatever we want, planning fun outings and having pajama days!  But... the kids eat ALL day, they expect to be entertained, and they fight!  This is our first long break since Markus came to us.  It will be interesting to say the least!  I have high hopes.

Randy has been working a lot.  He is tired.  But it sure helps this time of year.  I am so grateful for his job and his dedication. 

Markus and I had breakfast with Grandpa on Wednesday.  During breakfast he mentioned that both his computer AND tv were not working.  I know this is not true, it's HIM and not the electronics.  But, more than anything I want to help him and for him to be happy.  So after breakfast we went to his apartment and I gave him step by step instructions (AGAIN) for his email and his tivo.   I left, feeling satisfied that I had helped him and him feeling grateful for my "expertise".  I did not make it home before Grandpa called me.  He was having trouble printing a Whataburger coupon.  I told him I would call when I got home and could look at it myself.  So... I called when I got home and we spent another 20 minutes on the phone, trying to get the free chicken sandwich at Whataburger printed out.  lol  I am not exaggerating....that man would walk through fire, soaked in gasoline or swim through shark infested waters for anything free... but especially food!!  I love that man!!! 

The kids are super excited for Christmas.  Randy is excited too. lol 

Bummed

I'm feeling sad and frustrated today.  I'm not happy with the current status of my marriage.  That's right, I said it.  People are always afraid to say the truth, as if people finding out you are HUMAN may change their opinion of you.  Guess what?  I don't care! lol  If you are reading this, you have been less than satisfied in your marriage at some point.  How do I know that?  Because you are human!  And I don't think any less of you. lol  I don't hate Randy.  I am not ready to fire him!  I'm just disappointed right now, that's all.  I also feel very sad that our family doesn't have more support.  How much different would my marriage be if Randy and I had MONTHLY dates??  Forget weekly.... my brain can't even wrap around that! lol 

I'm also very frustrated with some of my children.  They are not behaving how I would like them to.  I am going to enforce some tough love this week.  I'm not at all looking forward to it!!  But I feel it has to be done.  I am exhausted just thinking about how hard it going to be on all of us. 

I have so much to be grateful for!  I have so many blessings.  I hate when I feel like complaining more than praising.  But I suppose that is also part of being human.  And it will pass. 

Romans 4-

4 -5If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.

Kennedy is 14!

Kennedy is 14 today!  It's hard to imagine that 14 years have gone by since the day she entered the world!  It's hard to grasp how much she has changed and how much she has changed me.  Kennedy is an amazing girl, full of life and love!  She is such a wonderful  blessing to me and to everyone that knows her.  She makes me want to change the world, for her and for kids like her!  Happy Birthday sweet girl!!

Birthday hair cut

Getting makeup done

All done!  Isn't she beautiful?

This picture is hilarious!! He is eating a lemon at Kennedy's birthday dinner.

Lasting effects of lemon

Kennedy and her precious friend Marrissa

Nolan, who looks like he is fresh from jail. 

He was doing this all night.  We say "HALLELUJAH!".

 Mimi and Papa brought her a cake today, on her actual birthday!

The camera always turns to Markus!  Doesn't he look sweet in his overalls?

Finally got his name on his stocking

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.....
We gotta get a bigger chimney!!

The last of the "Thankful Posts"

I am thankful for my Scott and Sarah Watters, the adoptive parents of my nephew and nieces. They took on the challenge of 3 older children and allowed me to remain their "Aunt Candy".




I am thankful for Randy's job. It has ups and downs ...but he enjoys his work and they always seem to take care of him.



I am thankful for my Grandparents. They took 3 small children into their home at a time when they should have been planning for retirement! I am so thankful for their love and FORGIVENESS. I miss Grandma dearly and I enjoy my time with Grandpa.



I am thankful for my sweet dog Bella, yep, a dog! She makes me smile and she loves me like mad, no matter what!!
 
Candice Carpenter has a second "thankful post". I am thankful for asian women who are not afraid of my feet!!! I had the BEST pedi tonight.
 
Today I am thankful I can hear! So often we take for granted the joy that hearing brings us. I woke up to the sound of baby jabber this morning. What a blessing!!





Today I am thankful for #2. Karrigan, that is! That girl is the biggest pain in the butt! But she is also funny, smart, caring and HELPFUL. She has been such a blessing to me, helping with Markus. I ♥ Karrigan.


Today I am thankful for my washer and dryer! Can't imagine life without them!

Fake Cop

I should never doubt Nolan's heart!  The other day he said something like "We should buy a white car and get it painted exactly like a police car.  Then we can trick people!!  When they see our car, they will think we are the police and they will buckle their seat belt".  

Nolan's paper

I found this paper in Nolan's backpack and had promised to post it.  It went missing but here it is, exactly as he wrote it...

                                                                                                   November 11,2010

Dear Mom and Dad,

                     Mom,  I always say I hate you.

                 Every single time I said that one

                 statement, you know I didn't mean

                 it.  If I was a big ball of fire, about

                 5 ft 5, I would not go ahead and

                 spear you in the stomach, because

                 I love you!  So does God!

                     Dad,  even if you cheat, even if

                  you had two broken arms, you

                  still deserve to the the Christian

                 Wrestling Federation's heavy weight

                 champion.  If you get real hurt, I still

                 love that you do what you do.

                 You are getting about 50 people

                 getting interisted in CWF.  CWF

                 is all about teaching the fans

                 about God.  God loves everyone.

                 Even you I love you, too!  Remember,

                 God loves you!

                 

                                   Love,

                                          Nolan

I'm busy!

I've been a bad blogger lately, but I'm busy! :)  Everyone is great!  The weather is turning colder, getting the kids excited for Christmas and Christmas break from school.  Their break starts the 17th and I think they have like 2 weeks off.  That will be great!!

Kennedy's birthday is right around the corner, hard to believe she will be 14!!  Where has the time gone?  I wish I could have relaxed  more when Kennedy was a baby, just relaxed and knew how great she would turn out to be.  I have that peace with Markus now, because of Kennedy!  I won't worry myself sick over every little thing he isn't doing or lose sleep wondering if he will walk, etc. 

Karrigan and I had our first basketball game of the season.  We only have 7 players on our team and 2 of them didn't make the game!  So the 5 girls had to play the entire game with no relief!  But.... we won, 28 to 2!!  I'm pretty sure it was my coaching abilities that won the game! lol  Honestly, we have a great group of girls this year.  I'm excited about the season. 
The kitchen is finally textured and painted!!!  But.... I don't think I like the color. :(  I was THINKING "honey".  What I GOT was more "orange". lol  I may as well learn to love it, cause it's staying!!!

Here are some random pictures.

Kennedy doesn't usually volunteer to give Markus a bottle, so this was sweet!

This is Karrigan and Nolan imitating Markus.  He thought they were hilarious!

This is the puffy sticker that was wedged in the roof of Markus's mouth, resulting in a quick trip to the ER to remove it with tiny surgical tools.

This is Markus, looking a his books.  He loves to clear the shelf of his books, and then only look at one or two.  I remember when Karrigan was 5 or 6 years old she said "I think we should buy more books so people won't think we watch too much tv". lol  The fact was that she did watch too much tv, she was just covering her tracks! 

12 month check up

Markus had his 12 month check up today.  It was a loooong ordeal, but I will spare you the details!   He got 5 shots and a finger prick.  That boy is a bleeder!  He weighs 21.2 pounds and is 76 cm tall.  Markus has thrush and a yeast diaper rash.  He will take oral meds for his mouth and use a cream for the rash.  I haven't decided if we will continue with the doctor we saw today.  The office was...um... lacking.  We'll see.  I have been mildly concerned about his head size.  I will update after I hear from Scottish Rite.  The pediatrician was going to fax the info from today to Scottish Rite.

  Markus and I had breakfast with Grandpa.  I haven't seen him since he got back from Branson.  He loves that place and enjoyed telling me about everything he did and saw. 

Tonight is basketball for Karrigan and I.  Tomorrow is our first game.  It will be very interesting with our very SMALL team! lol  Karrigan is going to be tired!! 

I found someone to paint the kitchen.  But I think the guy is a flake.  Or maybe on crack.  He  primered half of one wall and "ran out" of primer so he left.  Now he can't come today but will come tomorrow.  Maybe if I pay him in drugs, he will come back and finish. lol  

I got the Christmas tree up and decorated.  I'm not thrilled with it.  I guess it will do.

Randy and I started watching "Cinderella Man" last night.  It was really good but I had to go to bed.  I am going to finish it today.  

It is going to be 70 here in the Dallas area today.  It's hard for people to imagine but us Texans are use to it.  I can't stand the cold, so I like the mild temps.   

Today

I can only please one person a day.  Today is not your day, tomorrow doesn't look good either!