Daily Manna

"Abram fell face down, and God said to him, 'As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.'" Genesis 17:3-8 NIV

Caffeine Withdrawal

The past few months I've gotten back into the morning (and sometimes afternoon) coffee habit. At first it was just because it tasted so good to me each morning. I felt good and I was able to skip my afternoon cat nap,. But lately, I haven't been able to really wake up without my cup o' Joe. In the past 10 days or so I've also started having a little tremor in my eye that told me that I needed to cut back on the caffeine.

So yesterday I took the plunge and skipped my morning cup o' Joe. By the time we got home from swimming 3 hours later I had a slight headache and felt a tiny bit nauseous. I took an alka-seltzer tablet and laid down for a bit. As the afternoon wore on I felt worse and worse with headache, throwing up, and cold sweats. However since I'd already had an aspirin based product I couldn't take my Imitrex (which is an extremely effective migraine medication). So the headache, cold sweats and nausea continued. I finally had to call Matt to come home from work to care for Katie and Caleb because I needed to get in bed. Devoted husband that he is, he was home in a flash and sent me off to bed at 4:00pm. I spent the next 8 hours moaning, groaning, throwing up and slipping in and out of sleep. I woke up a couple of times completely disoriented about where I was. I felt like a wet rag being rung out I was so weak. But by midnight I felt much better and I was able to sleep all the way until 7:00am this morning. Blechhhhh! I don't want to repeat THAT situation again. So, it's off the caffeine for me for a long while at least.

I'm grateful that this only took one day. I have a new appreciation for people who are trying to kick the nicotine habit or other addictive substances. This crappy experience makes me realize how toxic this build up of caffeine has been in my body. I'm glad to be rid of it and I hope I don't get ensnared by it again. The upside of these headaches is that I usually a few pounds and my body seems to get a renewal in wanting to eat light and healthy. So far so good today.

Do you have any caffeine withdrawal stories to share?

The Funniest Thing I Heard Today

Occasionally Katie will call me Kathie instead of Mom. When she's introducing me to someone that's fine, otherwise I really don't like it. Today she said to Auntie Chris that when the Madagascar 2 movie comes out she wants Auntie Chris and Kathie to go with her. I said, "Katie, you need to call me Mommy, not Kathie." To which Katie responded "Maaa-uhmmmm, I'm ten years old now, I can do whatever I want!" Auntie Chris and I burst out to laughing! So much for the wonder years of childhood.

Katie Hits the Big 10

Well, today Katie turned 10 years old. What a journey it has been. Ten years ago we were overwhelmed by having a baby with a life-threatening heart defect who also had Down syndrome. Now ten years later she is a happy, healthy, capable young girl. She has amazed me with all she has learned to do and accomplish in these 10 years. I really have no doubts that she will be able to accomplish anything that she sets her mind to. But mostly, she has taught me that the true value of a person lies in the fact that they are a human being created in the image of God. That truly is enough. Accomplishments, successes, abilities and all the rest are just extras on the top.

Katie is a complete joy and blessing to our family and I really can't imagine life without her. She is full of love and joy and she is one of the friendliest people you will ever meet. She truly lights up a room when she enters. Katie is quite easy to please and her preferences in life are very simple. Going out to eat, watching a movie, listening to Adventures in Odyssey, drinking water with 2 ice cubes in it, wearing her made-by-Mom Supergirl nightgown, playing Mario Cart Double Dash, wearing her favorite dresses. She is a joyful, loving, and comforting person to have around. We are indeed blessed by her presence.

I completely indulged her today and let her watch movies, eat bagels and play video games most of the day. I made her favorite pasta with meatballs and garlic bread for dinner. Afterwards we opened presents and had cake and ice cream with our neighbors. Katie is now watching her Underdog movie that Josh gave her. It's been a good day. On Saturday she was invited to go for a girls' day out with her Auntie Chris. She loves to go out for special days with her family; especially when it's no boys invited!! Next weekend Katie and I will travel to Green Bay--just us girls--for a girls' weekend at Grammy Jane's apartment. Grammy wants to celebrate Katie's birthday in Green Bay. Katie is very excited about that.

Below are just a few pictures of our Supergirl from the past 10 years. I hope you enjoy them.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Kit Kittredge Movie Review

This afternoon Katie and her best friend, Katie K., and her mom all went out to see the movie "Kit Kittredge--American Girl." It was the story of a girl and her family and their struggle to keep their lives afloat during the early years of the Great Depression. It was set in 1934 in Cincinnati, OH. It was a very good movie but quite serious. Thirty minutes in to the movie I thought maybe Katie and her friend would be bored and want to leave. But both the girls enjoyed it. It was very G rated as far as the content but the subject matter--financial loss, foreclosures, poverty--was quite serious. So although it is marketed as a kids movie I think any adult who has an interest in period movies would like it. I would not take an under 9 year old child to this movie as they would probably find it boring. There were two boy main characters so this movie could appeal to pre-teen boys as well as girls. I may take Josh to see it, but probably not Caleb. I'm sure that many senior citizens would enjoy this movie too as either a journey back to their own childhood or a glimpse in to the lives of their parents. The costumes and set decoration were charming and authentic. The children in the movie were quite good. It has a good message about believing in yourself, holding fast to your dreams, and believing the best of others. With all the foreclosure signs I see up in our town every day the movie really seemed quite contemporary, not dated. And in fact, it made me feel a bit uneasy. You could take the same story line and just move it into the present day and it could almost be a documentary on the U.S. 's current economic situation (in MY opinion). But, it is a charming movie and well worth seeing with or without kids along.



After the movie we went out to dinner at Katie's favorite restaurant, Applebee's. We had a very nice girls night out. It felt so great to do such a "normal" activity with another mom and daughter. Both of our girls have developmental disabilities but they are perfectly capable of enjoying these kind of typical fun activities. Today was a good day. I feel so blessed.

Vacation Memories

Well, we've been back from vacation for only a day now but it seems longer. We had such a good time at Bugbee Hive Resort. In fact, we booked a cabin for next year already. I fully recommend it if you are looking for a low key, simple, affordable family vacation spot. It's not fancy or upscale but has modern facilities and some fun amenities. The staff are very warm and welcoming. It's a family run business and that shows in a good way. This is a good fit for our family. Below are some photos of our week. Things I didn't take pictures of, but should have, include daily Farkel games between Matt and Katie and Caleb; daily movie times in our cabin; Matt cooking dinner every night; late night card games with Josh and Matt; and late night movies for Matt, Josh and I.

The resort offered some simple but fun activities every day with the theme of "Olympics." We each received a neck chain at the beginning of the week and we earned a medal for every activity that we participated in. At the end of the week we could turn in our medals to earn prizes. Josh earned a beanie baby lobster, Katie a pink poodle dog purse, Caleb a water gun. Every morning Matt took Katie and Caleb to the lodge to make the daily craft while I slept in--until 10:30!!! Isn't that naughty?

We had a fully equipped kitchen with a coffee maker so we were able to have all our meals in our cabin. Matt grilled out each night and we went out for pizza one night. We did tons of swimming every day--lake and pool. We also took a boat ride to one of the Lake Koronis islands and climbed and hiked around. It was hard for Katie but she was a trooper! Some of our other activities for the week included: water-tubing behind a ski boat, horse back riding, go-carting, mini-golf, bumper boats, making s'mores around a bonfire with other families, cheering for our resort in the championship volley ball tournament, playing lots of card games and dice games with the kids, reading some books, napping, relaxing.

On Thursday night the resort made a big bonfire and had a guitar player/singer for us to enjoy. He sang a lot of country music songs, Johnny Cash, Elvis and folk songs. I was amused to see that Matt knew the words to just about every song. I guess you can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy!!! Yes, he's still a hick at heart! Josh gave up his spot by the fire so Matt could come back after putting the little kids to bed. It was very pleasant to sit by the bonfire holding hands and listening the singer.

We also had fun watching the synchronized swim competition on Friday. Some of the routines that folks came up with were hilarious! Matt tried to talk us into doing it, but I was too shy. Next year I'll do it if they offer that activity again.

I also had the joy of meeting another family with a child with DS. Their little girl, Candace, is three and just a doll. We all had fun playing with her in the pool--especially Josh. The mom and dad were encouraged to see all the things that Katie did that week. I think it was good for them to see an older kid with DS. I had a chance to have a long talk with this mom. They are already doing some great advocacy work for their daughter and really have their act together. It was a blessing to me to be able to make a connection like this. I truly enjoy encouraging other moms with young kids.

Anyway, in my opinion, this was probably the best family vacation we've ever had. The kids all want to go back next year, so, God willing, we will.

The biggest surprise was that our family won the "Spirit Award" for the family that participated in the most activities and cheered for the other guests. That award earned us a $50 credit toward next year's stay.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We're Back

We just got back from our week long vacation an hour ago. We've completely unpacked the car, I've read and handled all my 53 email messages, I've read over my fav blogs and now I'm just going to put my second load of dirty laundry in the machine. It is good to be home. After posting this I'm off for a nap. The kids flew to the Gamecube and computer--that's okay. We had a fabulous time which I will elaborate on later with some pics.

Outta Here!

Adventures in Homemakerland will be on vacation until next Sunday, July 13. Have a good week!

Over 4,000

A day or so ago my blog counter rolled over to 4,000 hits. This is cool to me. When I check my sitemeter report I see that I get hits from all over the world--Italy, Germany, Philippines Islands, Guatemala, Australia, Iran, Africa and anywhere else you can think of. By far my biggest article that brings people in is "Josh's Wacky Hair Day" post. I guess lots of other kids have a wacky hair day at their school too and parents want ideas of how to do a new do. My second biggest draw is my Amazing Grace movie review. I'm assuming that this movie has just been released in other countries in the last 5 months or so.

Thanks to all my other faithful readers for sending me over the 4,000 mark. Blog to you after we get back from vacation.

Daily Manna

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall." Isaiah 40:28-30 NIV

Getting Ready to Get Ready

We'll be leaving on vacation in a few days and I am now in the getting ready to get ready mode. Yesterday I did 8 loads of laundry--still have two more to do today. Today we will also get the car washed and speed detailed and check the fluid levels. I need to return some landscaping items to Menard's before they get ruined and are unreturnable. The kids will clean up the family room and their bedrooms today. Tomorrow Matt and I will spread the remaining mulch in our driveway and clear a space in the garage to park our little car. I'll pack the kids' items Friday afternoon then we'll have a cookout on our patio for the 4th and finally, go see fireworks Friday night. I'll do my packing Saturday morning and the last details. I had hoped to get the bathrooms cleaned before we left but at this point that will probably not happen. The place we are going is only two hours away so we're not a huge time rush to leave at some given time on Saturday morning. All the kids have been told where we're going and they are all excited. Matt and I are really looking forward to relaxing and just playing with the kids.

The Working Life

Matt is in great need of a vacation. He practically killed himself getting our backyard project done and then he's been working many extra hours at the office due to poor deadline management of his manager. Below are two remixed clips from one of Matt's favorite movies "Office Space" and they are good examples of what's been going on at his office.



But, Matt's keeping his nose to the grindstone and just "getting it done."