So Far, So Good

This summer has presented some unique challenges for me and my world.

The summer started out much cooler than normal.  Then it felt like Ohio got moved into a rain forest during the super-rainy season.  (Seriously, at one point we received 5" of rain in 10 days!)  Now, we are in the middle of our HOT season.  Today the temperature is supposed to be 92F (or 33.3C for those of you outside the US).  Yesterday, the Heat Index was 102F (38.8C).  I was outside for a whopping 10 minutes total and had problems breathing last night.  Today, I'm staying safely inside in my nicely air conditioned house. 

Most people with asthma breathe much better in cold dry air.  Most people with osteo-arthritis experience less pain in warm moist air.  I have both.  My body is never all happy at the same time!

When my pain levels and/or breathing issues take over my day, I get very little done.  When these things happen while I have grandchildren, it becomes a highly-skilled balancing act.  (How much pain/How little wheezing do I want to endure versus how much supervision do the kids need.?)  When David Riley is here with me, the balance definitely falls in my favor! 

DR has always been a good big brother!  He's also becoming a really good big cousin!  Eva adores her brother. Shanna is learning the fun of having a "big boy" around.  He supervises games.  He will start movies when I give them the okay.  He keeps an eye on the girls when they play outside.  He's teaching them how to get along with other kids by showing them how he gets along with the neighborhood kids.  He helps them settle down for quiet time/nap time by settling in for some himself.  It's hard to believe he's almost 12, but I really love the young man he is becoming.

Eva is quite the rambunctious 4 yr old now.  She has questions about everything.  She's recently started naming all of her stuffed animals and must always have at least one with her.  (My problem is remembering all of the names!)  She climbs on anything and everything.  She's not afraid of any type of bug (Thank you very much, DR!) or snake.  She's more than willing to chase anyone with any bug/spider that she can get her hands on.  Eva's mostly mastered her ABCs and we are working with sounding out little words.  She loves to help read books, and she's really good at figuring out stories based on pictures.

Shanna is a very typical 3 yr old.  She's curious about everything around her, but a little timid about meeting new people.  She has a temper and is not afraid to show it.  She is still not at all interested in potty training.  She talks when she wants to, and ONLY when she wants to.  She loves to sing and bounce around to music.  Her favorite toys are Little People toys and her favorite movies are Little People movies.  Veggie Tales are a good second.  She's learning to play WITH other kids instead of just around them, but she still prefers to play by herself the most.  She LOVES to be read to.  I can get my daily Bible reading done and keep her quiet if I just read it out loud to her.  She brings me books randomly to read.  (Usually when I'm busy trying to do something else.)  Sometimes we read them, sometimes I tell her to sit and look at the book by herself.

Last week, Liz and family came for a few days' visit.  It was so much fun watching her kids interacting with the 3 that I have most often.  DR was definitely the Pied Piper character!  Where ever he went, there was usually a line of littles following him.  Eva and Zach get along really well.  Shanna and Gracie played around each other.  Gracie is the MOST adventurous and MOST likely to disappear.  (She gave us a little scare when she decided to follow DR and one of his "big boy" friends around the block.  They didn't realize she was following and she got "lost" somewhere between the corner and the alley.  She was quickly located and sternly told not to leave the yard again.)  Gabe is just the easiest baby/toddler to be around.  He finds something to play with or have fun with where ever he is!  He loves his food and could be easily distracted from mischief with a cracker or cookie.

I still haven't gotten my sewing room cleaned out and rearranged, but it will happen.  I am learning to pace myself and have learned that when I have grandkids here, in depth cleaning has to be put aside.  It's hard enough to keep up with the basics.

I hope you all are enjoying your summer!