Glass Children

A few weeks ago, in our Sunday School class, another member shared a documentary that a high school student had made about his daughter, Sophia. She is the older sister of Eli (who's story you can read at Pray for Eli), an extraordinary little guy who has already faced a huge number of challenges in his little 5 years and continues to face many more as he grows, but he does it all with God-infused love and devotion from his family.

The documentary about Eli's sister is called The Glass Child, and it is about siblings of children with special needs and how they often grow up feeling as though they must over compensate for their sibling, by achieving more, doing more, entertaining more, helping more, etc, as well as being more compassionate and understanding. As we watched the video, I couldn't help but think of my husband's struggles that he faced early in life by being born with a cleft palate, and how his older brother must have been effected by that. An older brother who, by any and all observations, is extremely successful and has achieved a lot for himself and his family. To say he is driven is, to me, an understatement. Does his drive originate from nowhere other than his own determination? Is it from birth order, and he is just another example of an over-achieving first born? Or is it a product of overcompensating for a younger brother who struggled through multiple surgeries and other difficulties during his childhood? As someone who has only been in the picture for a little over a decade, it's impossible for me to actually specify the point of origin for my brother-in-law's resolve, but after witnessing for 11 years the love and devotion and admiration between the two of them, I'd say that he was monumentally impacted by his younger brother's start in life.

A few days later, as I was driving home from work, an old memory surfaced. Our middle son's teacher is acquainted with my brother in law, and had remarked at one time in the past that Pot Pie is very much like his uncle. I shrugged it off as being a comment that Pot Pie is a ham and loves to make people laugh and capture their attention, but as I drove home that day, the memory came back to me, and I realized how much deeper her comment goes.

Pot Pie was just 15 months old when Pumpkin Pie was born 4 months early. At a time when I should have been at home, cuddling a very much still little baby Pot Pie up to my ever growing pregnant belly, I was at the hospital, watching and praying and crying over his struggling little brother who was born too soon. From Pot Pie's age of 15 months to 19 months, I was absent, perhaps at times even when I was right beside him, my heart and head, if not my actual physical body, planted in the NICU at the hospital. From 19 months to 4 years of Pot Pie's life after Pumpkin Pie was discharged from the hospital, we spent so much time going through surgeries and rehabs and dealing with breathing difficulties, and Pot Pie was just the easy child to deal with, who rarely complained about anything. Even from 4 years to just recently, my thoughts and plans were being motivated by Pumpkin Pie's future and what he has in store for him should his vision get as bad as the doctors say it might. This, coupled with the fact that Pot Pie's older brother struggles with ADHD, Pot Pie has been the child I have rarely worried about because everything seems to come so easy to him. In fact, I've told people that I wish he did have some kind of struggle, just so he would know how to overcome it. I am in tears as I write this because it is hitting me full force now that I realize just what he has overcome to be who he is today. He is so smart, and incredibly intuitive. His powers of deduction astound me. He is the child who will get up earlier than anyone else, get ready for school without being asked, grab his breakfast of yogurt because he wants to eat something healthy, and then sit down and turn on the news because he likes knowing what's going on in the world and what the weather is doing so he can help his little brother get ready for school and dress appropriately when he gets up. Many mornings, he will make our bed just because he wants to help out. He goes above and beyond when we ask him to do something. To say he is a people pleaser just doesn't cut it. He is compassionate and caring and hilarious and so talented. I hope and pray that this realization I've come to will help me to support him even better as he grows up. Above all else, I will not overlook him anymore, and I will never take him for granted again.

Wishing my little Pot Pie a very Happy 8th Birthday this week!

Speaking Of Baptism...

Tonight at dinner, it was me and the 2 younger pies. We sat at our favorite restaurant and had a wonderful discussion about whatever crossed their minds.

Pot Pie: "When can I get baptized?"

Knowing that in their church camp and VBS this is something that is discussed a lot, it didn't surprise me that this is what they decided to talk about.

Me: Anytime you want. You just have to proclaim that Jesus is your Lord and Savior and believe it with all your heart.

Pot Pie: And you have to know one thing about Jesus...like....Jesus died for our sins!

Pumpkin Pie: Well...(if you have never heard Pumpkin Pie say well, you must...he drags it out with a little baby Southern drawl. It sounds like "whaaaaale"...it's hilariously precious)... He can touch power lines. That is one thing I know about Jesus.

Me: Well, Nothing is impossible for Jesus...this is true...

Pot Pie: Who will baptize us?

Me: Our Pastor, Deron. You know, Seth's dad. Or Ethan's dad, Brian. He is a pastor.

Pumpkin Pie: (in complete shock) He passed away!?!?!

Me: NO! No, he didn't pass away. He's a PAST-OR! He's the pastor at Center Cross.

This led into an entirely different and much more somber discussion about heaven. I wish I knew all the answers to their questions. Pot Pie wants to go to heaven, but he is very concerned because he knows (barring some tragic accident) we won't all go to heaven at the same time and he doesn't want to be separated from mommy and daddy. I try to reassure him that being separated is something he won't have to worry about for a long time, but his tears brought tears of my own. Praying and searching for guidance are high on the to do list now.

Spit Take!

In our house, with our three sons, we deal with quite a few conversations about private parts, especially about the appropriate terms to use when speaking of such areas. I try to answer the kids' questions as honestly and appropriately as possible, with as vague and undetailed answers as I can possibly get away with.

Today while riding in the car, all was quiet until Pot Pie asked a question.

Pot Pie: "Mom, what is another name for private parts?"

Me: "Just, in general? Besides just calling them private parts?"

Pot Pie : Nodding yes.

Me: "Hmm...well, genitalia is another name."

Pot Pie: "Genitalia? What language is that?"

Me: "Its the medical term. If your doctor is charting about your body parts, he or she may call your private parts genitalia."

Pot Pie: "Does everyone know this word?"

Me: "Yes. Its a common term."

Pot Pie: "Even the French? Do they know this term?"

Cutie Pie: "Yes, of course they do. It even sounds like a French word!"

Pot Pie: "Well, my genitalia is HUUUUUGE!"

And that, folks, is what caused me to spit my drink all over the steering wheel.

End of the School Year

Today marked the last day of the school year for our children. I know they have learned so much this year, and they've grown so much, physically and emotionally. We are very blessed to have three awesome sons. I love watching them experience life and I'm looking forward to a summer of fun with them!

Our Cutie Pie... Here he is on the first day of school.

And here he is today, leaving the building for the last time as a third grader. (Ignore the holey towel...it was water day...)

And here he is with his student of the month award that he was awarded with yesterday for trying his personal best and being most improved! We are so proud of him!

Here is our Pot Pie at the beginning of the school year...

And here he is leaving the building for the last time as a first grader!

Here is our Pumpkin Pie at the beginning of the school year!

And here he is, leaving the building for the last time as a kindergartener!

Perfect Pairings - Pot Pie

My little Pot Pie is growing so big! It doesn't seem like it is possible that the little baby we brought home back in 2004 will be turning 7 years old this week! He's such a hilarious little guy, and very smart and so fun to be around. I look forward to whatever God has laid out for him in the future. The bible verses I picked are the ones he was given when he was dedicated at our church.

Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, of good report, any virtue, or praise, think on these things. -- Phillipians 4:8

The God of peace...make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight. -- Hebrews 13:20-21

If I Had a Dollar for Every Piece of Chicken...

Tonight at dinner, Pot Pie proudly told us about learning about half dollars at school today.

Pot Pie: Did you know that half dollaws awe fifty cents? (Yup, still speaks with a Jersey accent.)

Me: Yes, I did know that. If you have 2 half dollars, how much do you have?

Pot Pie: Hmm...fifty one cents?

Me: No.....

Pot Pie: Hmmm...sixty cents?

Me: No...If you have two half dollars, that are each worth 50 cents, then in total, you have one dollar, because two half dollars make one whole dollar.

Pot Pie: *Blank Stare*

Me: Look here, at my piece of chicken. Right now, I have one piece of chicken, but if I cut it in half, I have two halves of chicken. If I put it back together, I have....

Pot Pie: A dollaw?

No, son, I haven't found a way to make chicken turn into money.

Heading for Home

The first of the month is always stressful with my job. Everyone wants their statistics RIGHTNOW. But I love my job, so I really can't complain too much...

Why am I telling you this? Well, on the first of the month, I'm always ready to come home, and today was no exception. But as I pulled out of the parking garage and onto Utica for the ride home, my husband called, sounding rather frantic. He stammered, "Pot Pie needs to go to urgent care. He needs stitches in his head." For once, I was the calm one. I told him I'd be home in a few moments. When I came in the house, Pot Pie had a towel on the back of his head, and when I say it was covered in blood, this is not an understatement. I quickly got the run down of how this injury took place. Apparently, Pot Pie had been running while carrying an exercise ball through the house. A collision occurred when he ran into Cutie Pie, which caused him to ricochet backwards and hit his head on the corner of the wall, creating a large gash on the back of his head. Pot Pie and I climbed back in the van, and back to the hospital that I was so eager to get away from earlier. He sat patiently while we waited for the doctor, and he was a trooper, even when they gave him shots to numb the area. After it was numb, the doctor put staples in to close the laceration, and he was excited to get his head wrapped in a bandage, or as he put it, "It looks like I just got out of battle!"

After we left Urgent Care, we went for dinner, and then came home, where he ran around the neighborhood taking pictures for potential entries into the Tulsa State Fair, and of course this includes snapping a photo of our crazy neighbor, Mr. Habib!
All in all, what could have been a headache (pun intended) was just another crazy night at the Ryan house!

Hello Again

Wow. Its been a long time. Since the beginning of the year, things have been extremely busy. I feel like we've been in survival mode for the past 8 months, due to a really super strenuous time for me at work. But, I have started a new position at the hospital, and things are definitely starting to feel normal around here again. :)


Speaking of back to normal, SCHOOL STARTED TODAY! WHOO-HOO! And the moms and dads rejoice. HALLELUJAH!


Here is my biggest boy, CUTIE PIE! He started 3rd grade today. He's looking forward to a year of standardized testing, multiplication tables, and maybe some long division.

Here's POT PIE! He started 1st Grade today! He was so excited to start school today, and he is definitely ready for some homework.

And last, but certainly not least, is PUMPKIN PIE! He's a great big KINDERGARTENER! He had a super fun day!

Here's all of our big boys together, ready to start another great year at school!

IN OTHER NEWS, my sweet hubby has taken up the hobby of photography. Coincidentally, I have taken up the hobby of editing photos in Photoshop. Here's a photo he took of me last week.

And here's a photo I took of him. ISN'T HE HOT!

All in all, things are going pretty well around these here parts. I hope to get back to more active blogging soon. Take care, ya'll!

The Rational Child

Today on the way home from church, Pot Pie asked this question:

"Why are the birds (pronounced "buhds") sitting on the wires?"

Then I, being the silly mother I am, the kind of mother who relishes in preserving my children's juvenile, cartoony visions of the world for as long as I can, replied with:

"They are sitting up there, looking down on us humans thinking to themselves 'Boy, do we have it easy. We just get to sit up here on the wires, watching over everything, eating seeds whenever we want, and taking a dip in a bird bath whenever we feel like it. We don't have any worries or troubles.'"

Pot Pie seemed to accept this answer, but Cutie Pie contemplated it for a moment and then said matter-of-factly:

"Unless they get shot. Then they have worries. And, boy, do they have troubles!"

So much for preserving their childhood innocence...

Extracurriculars

I could sit for hours and watch my kids do anything...as long as they are having a good time, and are benefiting either mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, creatively, etc...I will make time to take them to and from any activity they are interested in. So, when Cutie Pie asked to start taking Hip Hop lessons, we were all for it! He's having a blast and he learned so much over the summer...its really making him come out of his shell. He's already enrolled in classes through the school year, and he also asked for voice lessons, so we'll see what happens! We may have a future boy band member on our hands. HA!

This is a video from his last summer dance class...



And speaking of extracurricular activities...for 2 years now, Pot Pie has been taking gymnastics (except for the six months he had to take off when he broke his arm...) He is determined to start competing so that he can win trophies, and he has already informed us that one day he will be at the Olympics. I don't know where the summer Olympics is going to be in 2020 (Wikipedia says a local group is trying to get it set right here in T-Town!), but, whatever city it is in better watch out! Team USA has Pot Pie, and he's going to wipe the mat with them!
Okay, maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself...
This is a video of him on the parallel bars, which currently is his favorite in class. However, last week he started private lessons with his coach, so in December he'll start competing, and he's already decided he wants to master the rings.


Now we just have to figure out what activity can keep Pumpkin Pie's interest...we're thinking along the lines of another dance class...perhaps tap and ballet? He loves to dance, but he mainly only seems interested in contemporary dance, and nobody offers that for 4 year olds...

Back to School

I've been meaning to write about this, but like everything else I try to get done in a day, it falls to the wayside. Here are some pictures of the boys' first day of school.

Cutie Pie's 1st Day of 2nd Grade...geez, I feel old

Pot Pie's 1st Day of Kindergarten...he's developed a little bit of a sarcastic attitude over the summer...Don't know WHERE he gets that from...hopefully it won't get him into a ton of trouble this year...DRUM ROLL PLEASE! This year also marks our littlest one's entrance into public school education. Pumpkin Pie started Pre-K this year, and, for those of you keeping score, you'll notice that means I no longer have any kids in daycare!!! Throw the confetti now. Hip, Hip, Hooray!

While this may seem like I am completely and utterly blissful about this, I actually am crying a little inside. Never again will I send another of my babies to their very first day of big boy school. That hits me a little hard...not that I regret us making the choice to end our days of baby making for fear of a repeat of son number 3's entrance into the world, because I don't regret it. I'm enjoying the freedom of having 3 Mini Clint's around who can completely entertain themselves...

The boys all enjoy going to school, and thankfully they have teachers that we already know and love. We're looking forward to a FANTABULOUS year!!!!

Rescue Mission

Tonight started out like any other night. After dinner, we took a family walk like we do every night. When we got back, Clint started watering the garden and the boys were playing in the back of the truck. What began as joyful frolicking soon turned into a dire situation.

Beau was playing with his Batman on the top of the truck when suddenly, it slipped out of his hands, in between the truck bed and the back window. Batman did not fall through to the bottom. He appeared to be lost forever.
But wait! Dad came to the rescue! He climbed under the truck, and reached into the dark crevice, searching into places no one else would dare put their own hands.

And just when we though Batman was lost forever (or at least until the next time I got going pretty fast down the road), Dad found him!

Beau inspected Batman thoroughly. He made sure that Batman didn't have any scratches. Batman had a wet cape, so Beau sniffed it, and proclaimed that it was okay, but that it smelled like "Poop water", to which Jack said "Let me smell!" and he concurred with Beau's previous statement by shouting "EW!".

Afterwards, the victorious father started to scoot out of from under the truck, and all three of his grateful sons came to help, or so it seemed. As Luke and Beau got by each arm to help pull him out, Jack took this opportunity to exact revenge for some previous occurence on Dad, by slapping him in the face. Not shaken, Dad emerged from under the truck and all was once again well with the world.

Catching Up

I meant to do this on Beau's birthday in February, but I can hardly fit anything else in right now. I can't believe Beau turned 5 years old! My little Beau Bear, one of four keepers of my heart, so loveable, so entertaining...his laugh can make me smile even on the worst of days...his eyes twinkle with joy and mischief...he can always be counted on to ask for a sucker or two for his brothers when he gets one at gymnastics or the doctor's office. On Fridays when he gets popcorn at school, he won't open it until he gets home so that he can share it with Jackson. He's famous for his favorite word, "Chicken"...so much so that I nicknamed him Pot Pie. I love his smile, his little Jersey accent, his soft blond hair, his little blue eyes, his carefree outlook...He's my little Pot Pie, and I love him more than he could ever know.

It's the Little Things...

Last night, the boys and I were sitting on the couch, just before bedtime, playing a game of "Telephone". You know the game, where one person whispers something in another's ear, and when it gets to the last person its the never the way it started. Sweetie Pie walked in and joined our fun little game.

Sweetie Pie whispered in Cutie Pie's ear: "I am in love with mommy."

Cutie Pie giggled, and whispered in Pot Pie's ear: "I am in love with mommy."

Pot Pie rolled his eyes and said in my ear: "Luke is in love with you."

It was the cutest thing ever!

Broken Beau, 'Round the Table, and Family Dominoes

I don't think I have blogged about this as of yet, but Beau has a broken arm. It was such a freak occurance. He happened to fall on it at just the right angle, and after a conversation with the medical director of the urgent care physicians, I learned that the initial x-ray just barely missed the fracture, by mere millimeters. With the missed fracture, Beau walked around for 6 days with a broken arm...falling on it at gymnastics, attempting to use it at the request of my husband and I who thought that if he used it after what we thought was just a contusion he would get better, and favoring it so that it wouldn't hurt, never really letting us know how bad it was hurting him. He's healing well, says the orthopedist. We keep him in the sling for a few more weeks, and then he should be back to normal.

I hate to admit it, but to keep my blogging integrity, I must. Beau has gas...constantly. I swear, he could probably fart on command. Today was no exception. I was playing with Beau and Jack while Clint and Luke were at Tae Kwon Do, and amidst the fun, Beau let out a very stinky poot. And then another. Perhaps a more proper mother would have thought before she spoke, but I, for some reason, couldn't stop myself, and I called him a...

Fart bucket!

You would have thought I was the headliner on a comedy tour. Beau practically had tears coming from his eyes from laughing so hard at this new word I introduced into his vocabulary today. Sorry, Mrs. Davis...

A short time after I thought the moment had been forgotten, we were sitting at dinner. As we quietly ate, Beau, again, passed gas. This time, Clint commented on his gas, to which Beau replied, "I know! I'm a fart bucket!"

The look I got from my husband was one of bewilderment and shock. Perhaps he had never heard the word uttered before this evening, and certainly not from one of our children. I quickly stuffed my mouth full of smothered chicken and green beans, so that when my husband asked me where he could have possibly heard that word, I was able to just shake my head and, with a mouthful, mumble an inaudible "Idunno..." Of course, Beau gave me up, and Clint just shook his head at me. Oh well, there are worse phrases in the world.

After dinner and some homework, we played a fun game of dominoes as a family. It was hilarious to watch the boys and their fun competitiveness. Luke loves games of all kinds, and Beau loves to play dominoes, especially if he can have the double blank. Jack just likes to steal the dominoes...but fun was had by all!

A Totally Different Kid...

We've had a hard time finding an activity that Luke has really liked. We've tried baseball, flag football, soccer, gymnastics...he has gotten bored with each one and wanted to quit halfway through. Tonight, we tried a new activity. Tae Kwon Do...



At first I wasn't totally sold on the idea, but I figured we'd try it and see what happens. Clint said when he first started the class, he was crying because he couldn't keep up with any of the other students during warm up. Luke is so hard on himself and he gets frustrated with himself so easily...Clint told him he'd just have to suck it up and pay attention, if this was something he really wanted to do. And that's just what he did. He had a one-on-one lesson with the co-instructor to get caught up with the rest of the class and very quickly realized that these teachers are not playing around. This is serious stuff and if you don't pay attention or take it seriously, you are going to get hurt.

To say the least, Luke loved it. Looks like we'll be heading to martial arts class two nights a week from now on...

And, in a crazy turn of events, the moment he walked in the door after class, he seemed like a totally different boy. He wasn't jumping around or being his usual, sometimes slightly obnoxious, self. After he finished eating dinner, he asked if he could clear the table and do the dishes. I've never turned down help! He did a great job rinsing and scrubbing the food off the dishes (better than me, even!) And he placed them all expertly in the dishwasher, added the soap and started it up. I was very impressed. I think I'm going to like this!

On Wednesday, Beau starts a new gymnastics class with the Tulsa Parks team coach to start training to join the team. Because their competition season starts next month, he won't be ready to compete until next year, which is fine, because it will give him a lot of time to work on his routines. He's so excited, and so are we!

Boo HAHA

Today was a super fun day. Actually for two reasons...one being that it was the first day I have left the house since Wednesday, considering I haven't been able to sit up without puking. You see, I had a very minor dental procedure on Wednesday that left me feeling a little dizzy Wednesday night, followed by a night of said hurling, followed by an entire Thursday of not eating for fear of hurling, another night of sleepless migraine-induced dizziness, a Friday spent in bed, finally braving dinner that evening, and waking up Saturday morning, not feeling entirely 100% better but picking myself up by my boot-straps because my Indiana Jones needed his jacket. Which brings us to the second reason it was a fun day. It was BooHAHA on Brookside, the annual prequel to the big show (aka Halloween Night Trick or Treating), where all of the businesses on Brookside hand out candy to hundreds of Trick or Treaters. We don't necessarily go out for the candy. In fact, there are so many Trick or Treaters that its really not too fun to attempt to get candy. We prefer browsing the other costumes to standing in lines. We didn't see very many Indiana Jones costumes today, but Luke got quite a few compliments about his, and I beamed every time. Of the homemade costumes, I think Luke's was in the top 2...the only reason I don't say his was the top is because someone had an absolutely fantastic Wall-E costume. Check it out for yourself! (Ignore the mess in the background...gimme break...I've been super sick) He fits the part, don't you think?

Beau and Jack were also super cute today, even though I can't take credit for their costumes besides finding the Transformer online and the Dinosaur (yes, I know its really a dragon...just don't tell Jack) on sale at Old Navy.

After BooHAHA, Beau attended his first classmate party! His friend, Victoria, had an awesome Halloween Party at her house, and Beau obviously likes her a lot. They were attached at the hip most of the party, either jumping in the Jupiter Jump or playing in the backyard. It was so cute to watch them! I had a blast meeting his friends and their parents. Beau is already talking about his 5th birthday party and inviting all of his friends. Too much fun! Here's Jack wearing one of Beau's party favors...

Jack's new favorite thing to say... "Are you kidding me?!?"

Saturday Brunch

Kilkenny's is by far one of our favorite restaurants. Today, we went there for Saturday brunch. The kids love everything Irish...in fact, we think that's what the new theme is going to be in their room. Here's a pic of Luke and Beau, knocking back a few (root) beers.

The Birds and Bees (Preschool Version)

Yesterday, my little sister gave birth to her daughter, Dallie Marie. Our family of five made the three hour trek to see her for the first time, and the time in the car allowed for an interesting question and answer period.


Luke: Did Aunt Kalee get married?


Me: No...(dreading the next question)


Luke: Then how did she get pregnant?


Me: Uhhh...(thinking fast) Well...hmm...(look at Clint, who just smiles and shakes his head, then I give up) She just did, sweetie...(Praying he'll drop it and ask me anything else!!!)


Luke: What is her name?


Me: (Thank you, God!) Her name is Dallie.


Beau: I've never heard that name before.


Luke: When is her birthday?


Me: Today!


Luke: Today? Why is today her birthday?


Me: Because this is the day she was birthed.


Luke: Birthed? (Sounds like Burfed)


Beau: Barfed?


Me: Yes, Aunt Kalee gave birth to her today.


Beau: Aunt Kalee barfed her?!?!? GROSS!!!


Jackson: Ew, YUCK!


Nevertheless, it was a fun trip, and here are some pics of my new niece. The first one is of my future sister-in-law, Andrea, holding the baby. The second one is of Luke looking at the baby as Kalee's future mother-in-law holds the baby, with my little sister Diamond next to her. The last picture is of Dallie. She looks just like our cousin Chelsea, who is the daughter of Aunt Billie Jean and everyone always says Kalee looks like she could be Aunt BJ's daughter!

Beau's 1st Field Trip

Beau's class went to the Pumpkin Patch today!

According to Clint, who chaperoned, he had a great time, but he was a little pooped afterward...