Rain, Rain Go Away!

So yesterday I went to pick up the kids from our babysitter's house in Spring. When I left work I almost went home to use the restroom real quick and to get some sippy cups for the kids. But for some reason, I turned around and decided to head on and get them. At the time it was barely sprinkling. So I get them and we start to head home about 5:00. I went south on the Hardy Toll Road, exited at Beltway 8 and stayed on the feeder until after JFK. I decided not to get on the Beltway yet because it was so backed up. The weather was a little bad at this time. It just started lightening and thundering, but nothing too serious. So I finally got on the Beltway and as I reached the ramp to get onto 59, I freaked! It was raining so hard I could barely see. I was hydroplaning all over the place. As I am exiting, I am seeing cars on the feeder going through a ridiculous amount of water. I'm even more nervous now. I can barely see where to go and I find myself in the super high water. So I get to Rankin and turn right. I notice a few cars in front of me have on their flashers. One car is just sitting there. I start to back up to go under the over pass and "wait" it out, but there were cars behind me and I could barely see. So I decide to keep going straight. The water was sooooo high. I am following another car and at this point my hands are shaking. The car in front of me stops. I am yelling (like they could hear me) for the car to move. I don't know if it was in my head or if it was really like this, but I felt like my car was lighter and on the edge of floating. I was just waiting for water to come in my car. All I can think about is the kids and wanting to keep them safe. I finally make it to the railroad tracks and see cars struggling to get much further. I turn into a neighborhood and then quickly turn into some stranger's driveway. The car that was behind me kept going straight through the neighborhood and stalled. I am watching car after car try to get through this water. The water was halfway or more up these trucks. My car NEVER would have made it. I had no idea what the bayou looked like and was scared to even attempt to keep going. I sat there for 2 hours. Wade couldn't get to us because our neighborhood was flooded and really his car is almost as low as mine. The house next to ours had water in the garage and two houses down the road had water up to their houses. It was crazy. So speaking of crazy, I talk to my dad and he decides to come get us. I did not want him getting out in the mess. I'm sure he was thinking I was crazy because he said it was barely sprinkling at their house. We wait patiently. The kids did pretty good under the cirumstances. Thank goodness Kaden loves lightening. Reagan was a little antsy towards the end. They both drank a water bottle that I had from work. Of course they both wet their diapers. The lightening and thunder got a little ridiculous though. It would strike and then instantly thunder.

So Dad, Mom and Casey call and say they are there. They had to park way away from us and walk to us. As they are walking to us, a car turned and began driving down the sidewalk. It was crazy. So Dad takes Reagan to the truck and then comes back for Kaden. Reagan acted a little strange and unsure of things and Kaden was just Kaden. Mom said as they were sitting there, a van opened up its doors and water poured out! So sad! We finally made it home! I know Wade was relieved to see us. I'm glad it was us stuck and not him with the kids. I would have been a nervous wreck. I'm also so glad that he came home from work early. He was supposed to go back that night but obviously he could not get out.

Remember how I said I almost turned to wait it out under the overpass? Well, I am so thankful I didn't go that way. On the 10:00 news they showed that exact spot and all of the cars that were on an "island". I wouldn't doubt it if water got up there too.

So, we are safe and sound and that's what counts. I am thankful my babies made it home safe to their daddy and that my parents came to save us.

Going Bananas

It's been a little while since I've written. Since then, I went back to work. The kids were surprisingly wonderful. It was as if they didn't miss a day. Of course now they're back in the swing of things. They just really like to talk. Now I have this one kid...God love him...he usually brings his lunch. However, all of the kids have been given free lunch for 10 days after the hurricane and he bought lunch for the first time. Now, anything out of routine for him can be a challenge in itself. But he did good. He got more food on his tray than any kid I've ever seen go through that line. One of the things was a banana. The kids love the bananas but sometimes have a hard time peeling them. Well, apparently for my little friend he wasn't going to let it slow him down. He took a bite right out of the middle...peel and all. Yummy huh? I figured maybe he would have spit it out, but when it was nowhere to be found, I asked him if he swallowed it. Of course his answer was yes! Interesting I know.

As far as me, I'm just exhuasted and so ready for the weekend. I'm very thankful though. This morning Wade took the kids to the sitter. Well, he was going to. When he got on the Beltway, there was a fatality wreck and he was already running late. Because his mom works right there, she said she'd take the kids (it takes about 30 minutes on a good day to get to Ms. Sharons). So Wade took the kids to her. When he got there, he was tickling Reagan, she was upside down laughing and he saw something on the back of her tooth. It was apparently a very big gray spot. It was as if she had a dead tooth. His mom saw it too. Of course he calls to tell me about it. A couple of weeks ago, Reagan did fall and hit her tooth. Her mouth was full of blood. So I just knew it was from this. It was all I could think about it. It worried me all day long. Wade called the pedatric dentist and they said it was possible that it was a bleed or something to do with the roots. However, it would be nothing permanant because it's just her baby teeth. But, visions of her future pictures and starting kindergarten with a black tooth was just killing me. I don't mean it to sound like I'm worried about my kids looks and that's all that matters. I just don't want her to hurt or worry about something like that. So long story short (is it too late for that?), when I picked up the kids, it was the first thing I wanted to see. And praise God, it was gone! Must of been something stuck. Wade swears it was something more. Who knows? Her tooth is perfectly white!!!! I can only pray for my babies to be healthy. I know God holds them in the palm of His hand and He takes care of them and loves them more than I will ever know.

So, the weekend is almost here. Fall has arrived and my goodness how I love it. I love to roll down the windows and breathe in the smell of burning leaves as I drive. Is there any better smell (besides that sweet baby smell)? There's something so peaceful and calming about fall. It's going to be a good holiday season. I feel it!

Home Sweet Home

Oh how I love our home and our fluffy, comfy bed. We just got power back Sunday evening. We stayed with Wade's family for a week and stayed this past weekend with my parents. We are so thankful we had a place to go. Wade's parents didn't get power back until we did so when we stayed with them there was no power. They had a generator with an ac unit so it was better than having nothing. We were there, his parents, and his sister's family was there. It was a little packed. At the in-law's house, two of the bedrooms are next the pool outside. When the wind blew, it blew the water into those two bedrooms. The carpet was wet about a foot from the wall. So everything was removed from the rooms as well as the carpet. So, we all slept in the living room. Well, all but Wade's parents. It was very interesting. But having the cool front was such a blessing. We tried to get out with the kids as much as possible. We of course went to our house to check out the damage the Sunday after the storm. We were extremely blessed that our house did not suffer from the heavy wind and rain. When we pulled into the neighborhood, we saw trees and limbs everywhere. It's amazing the strength of this storm. I mean it literally blew HUGE roots right out of the ground. Hundred year old trees were completely out of the ground and even on many houses. Our neighborhood is full of giant trees so I was a little worried. When we pulled into our driveway, it was completely covered with leaves and tree limbs. Miraculously, the only thing that happened was parts of our fence broke from the limbs. The next day, which was an unbelievably cool day (for us anyways) me, Wade and my dad cleaned up the yard. The kids played outside all day. It took about 5 hours to clean up. It was great just go be at home. We opened the windows and let the kids take naps in their own beds. Plus we got a little rest as well.

We were out as much as possible. There was no way we could keep the kids inside. The weather was way too nice anyway. We loved being outside. One day I took the kids to a place where you can watch the airplanes land. Oh my gosh...Kaden loved it!!! He loves airplanes anyway but to see them that close was a whole new thing for him. Now Reagan on the other hand was a little terrified. She would not let me put her down. Here's a video of Kaden watching the planes. Sorry for the quality, it was on my phone. It is hysterical!



So I go back to work tomorrow. I'm a little sad to go back, but my kids at school are desperately needing to be there. We have lost so much instruction. I just hope it won't be like starting all over. Tomorrow is a work day for teachers and the kids come back Thursday. It would have been nice had the power been on a lot sooner. It could have been like a little vacation. But it wasn't it and that's okay. We are very fortunate that our family and friends are safe and sound and everybody made it through Ike. We could not thank our families enough for taking such good care of us and putting up with us. It's not an easy task I'm sure of it. I hope and pray that Galveston and other surrounding areas pull through this. I pray that the families there find peace as they continue to fight the aftermath of Ike.

Hurricane Ike

We are now preparing for this lovely storm that is heading straight for us. It's all that is on the TV. It's a little annoying. I can't help but wonder if when we wake up it will have made a shift away from us. That was what happened with Rita. Of course I am all for having off a day of work. However, I can't imagine the electricity going off with two little ones running around. Plus the heat alone can drive somebody crazy. We're going to stay with Wade's parents. Our roof is not the best and we have some big pine trees as well as many other trees all around (maybe the wind will knock the darn squirrels out of the trees so they will stop leaving their left over pine cone pieces all over the ground!). Wade's mom has a generator so that will be nice. It's just so crazy how this storm seems to have taken over everything...gas, sanity at the stores, TV, work (though that one's not bad) and so much more.

The most important thing to me is that my precious little babies are protected. I pray for the safety of everybody through this storm. That's the main thing. Objects can be replaced.

Random Pictures of Reagan

We always have so many pictures of Kaden, but when Kaden sneaks away, we managed to snap a few of just her for once. Here are a few...
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Beautiful

A beautiful day yesterday morning with my beautiful babies. They spent most of the day outside. They are so cute together. Kaden walked up to Reagan and said in the most adorable voice, "You're so sweet". Here are some pictures of them from yesterday.


















After Kaden kissed Reagan, she put her hand to heart and said "Pitter, Patter".

One More Down

So, week 2 is officially over. It feels like it's been months. Here's a conversation I had with a kid today...

Girl: (squeezing glue) Mrs. Baker, does glue come from cows?
Me: (trying hard not to laugh out loud) What makes you say that?
Girl: Well, it looks like it would. It doesn't taste like it though.
Me: Honey, we don't eat glue.

Here's another...

Girl: Mrs. Baker, do you like "Skrimp" (aka shrimp).
Me: (again, laughing on the inside) Skrimp?
Girl: Yeah, you know, like fish and "skrimp"?
Me: Oh, yes, I love SHRIMP!

A magic trick was performed in class today. He thought he was a real magician...

He puts some coins in both hands and shakes his hands. He then takes the coins in one hand and makes a fist. The other hand is out straight like I'm going to give him a five. He says, "The money has disappeared" (note that I am hearing the money clinking together in his other hand). So I act surprised. "Oh my gosh, where did it go?" He says "it's gone!" Then, he puts his hands back together and he says, "here is is". That sweet baby really thought he was doing some magic. In his mind, he was!!

I really need to write down more of what they say. They are so funny! I'm so excited about my group right now. I have 15 kids and they are all so different. I have some that are already writing. I have a smart little group! I can't wait to see where the year takes us.

As far as my family, Kaden has been pee peeing in the potty often. The other night, he went 9 times!!!! 9 times in like 3 hours. Oh yes, it was a fun night! He went a Ms. Sharons's 4 times that day so it was a busy day for him.

Wade is doing great. He did go to do bloodwork the other day and went to ask when he could get his little port in his chest out. They told him they will probably want to leave it in because he may do more chemo. That sucks! I know he's exhausted and was really hoping that last time would be the last. We'll just keep praying about it.