Man, that title could really cover a lot of things, couldn't it!? LOL

And what a beautiful young lady she's turning out to be!

I'll never forget how tiny, and welcoming, and open she was upon joining our family at 3 1/2.

She still has the biggest smile I've ever seen.

And the personality to pull it off.

She helps out, and tries hard, and cares more than most.

I love that on her birthday trip, her most favorite part was simply riding in a taxi!

I love how she didn't complain one bit about walking non-stop for three days,

just so mom could make sure she saw as MUCH of NYC as possible.

I love her heart.

I love her naivete that she still carries with her.

I love her generous spirit.

I love her compassion.

Yep, I've become one of "those" for our second summer now! :)

Two summers ago we tried soccer for the first time. Olivia was a natural and LOVED it. Braeden was a five year old who ran after the ball and day dreamed as parachuters flew by overhead. It was fun!

Last summer our FL vacation cut into soccer season by a month so we were out of luck, but this summer we've picked it up again, this time with THREE players... or so we thought.

Braeden made it through one and a half practices. Period.

When they were doing things in practice he enjoyed, he was all over it...

But when they were doing more "practice" than "fun"... well, let's just say it was a different story...

A "fun" Sharks and Minnows game... sure!...

Team talks... not so much...

Needless to say it was not JUST him laying around at times, he had some angry times too, times when he wasn't up to par in HIS OWN MIND. He gets SO very angry. And I finally talked with him. I explained soccer was work, but it was also fun, and he had CHOSEN to be a part of it, so he could CHOOSE not to just as easily. But it wasn't worth the anger and frustration. And he made a good choice, and he decided to quit. Some parents may not agree. Some parents may think that once a child has started something, made a commitment, etc, that it needs to be carried through. That they can't just "quit." But I know Braeden and for him, I think that this was a strong decision. And he's not just "getting away" with quitting. He is repaying me for signing him up with his allowance, and he knew that before making the decision. And money means a lot to him right now. So ... I'm proud of his decision! Do I wish I could see him follow through on something like this and be successful, YES! BUT, I know what this decision was to him and for that I'm proud!

Olivia and Liam are still playing though, and yesterday was their first day of games.

Olivia's team is a strong contender this season I think.

They did amazing and won fairly easily.

I say watch out for Team Dair.y Queen! :)

And Liam... well Liam's five... and five year olds are just a different breed of soccer player anyway. :) But Liam is fairly clueless about the whole thing and it just cracks me up!

His buddy "A" was on the OPPOSING team and Liam was showing him how to throw in the ball! It was SO CUTE!

There were a few times in the game that he really went after the ball and got "into" the game.

But for the most part... not so much... yet.

"Hey, yes I know you're playing a game OVER THERE. But I'm OVER HERE talking to my mom on the sidelines!"

And I'm also proud at the spectator Braeden has become! He was cheering on both his brother and sister. He stayed by me unless asking to go somewhere else. He sat and entertained himself without complaining... I think my little one is starting to grow up a bit! :)

Welcome Soccer Season!

I can't believe that in just two and a half SHORT weeks this little guy will be off to kindergarten...

Along with dilation...

And a well check (since he was up to date on immunizations). One finger poke for a lead/hemoglobin test, and he was good to go!

We did find out he's low on vitamin D, but it's due to his seizure meds, so he's now on vitamin D tabs and should be doing fine.

August 23... here we come... I hope you're ready for my sensitive, sweet boy! I know he's ready for you!

Monday morning I awoke to Liam having another seizure. A full on shaking, very scary, seizure. We had JUST been to Univ. of Chicago for an EEG and MRI on Friday. 911 was called and he was brought in to our local hospital. He isn't always brought in, but I'm very glad he was this time, because within the hour he had another while we were there. He was given medicine to stop him from having any more, and once the doctors here spoke with his neurology team, it was decided he would need to be admitted to U of C for an overnight EEG to try to get answers.

These are the times in my life right now where I love face*book more than ever. This network of friends, prayer warriors, and family... who can see with the click of a button that something is amiss and prayer is needed. Friends who can reach out over the internet, where cell phones don't always work in hospitals, to offer to take your other kids so you can go to the hospital with your youngest. Friends who can lend support from hundreds of miles away. Friends who can take your dog while you're gone. Within the hours we spent at the hospital here, making decisions and figuring things out, I had friends offering wonderful support. I had someone who knows Braeden well offer to take both he and Olivia for the night. They had a BLAST. I had another family offer to take Percy. He did great. I had MANY who were praying, commenting, supporting. It was so needed.

Liam did great in the hospital. He was quite ornery, but I'm glad we were there. We had a wonderful neuro doctor, who is actually going to be following the kids' care now since ours is leaving at the end of the month. She said all the things we already knew. He has seizure activity. It's always there. Always spiking up and down. And his current meds, which are usually the first choice for his type of seizures, just aren't doing the job. So we are reducing his dose, while still keeping him on those meds, and adding in an additional med now as well.

Our second day there, yesterday, just happened to be the annual day that Umps Care comes through. MLB umpires who have teamed up with Build a Bear, come to the hospital to hand out bears and Southpaw, the White Sox mascot joins them and spends time with the kids. What a TREAT for Liam! He had so much fun!!!

You can read the full article (pretty short actually!) HERE... be sure to check the photo gallery to see pics of Liam... I mean Lima! (They spelled his name wrong!) :)

This is one of those times I'm glad I carry my camera around with me! :)

Southpaw took his hat off to show Liam that he had curly hair on top too, just like Liam! :)

They allowed Liam to choose an animal (He picked a puppy, go figure!) and then an outfit. They had a karate outfit, a White Sox uniform, and a Cubs uniform. Now my dad is a HUGE Cubs fan, but I don't think Liam knows this. And it cracked me up when he chose the Cubs outfit, since Southpaw was right there! Southpaw didn't think it was so funny though, and grabbed the White Sox outfit to give Liam too... so he ended up with both baseball uniforms! :)

Southpaw shared his hat...

And the umps got in for a picture as well...

Umps Care seems like a wonderful organization! They are supposed to have pics from this event up on their page in a few days and I can't wait to see them! :) Thanks Umps Care... you made a little boy who had been through an awful lot... smile a whole bunch!