You know your family plays too much poker when you hear your children, who a playing with dominoes, ask each other if all the blinds are in!

man crush

Have you ever heard the term "man crush"? This is when a grown man just talks and talks about another grown man (friend or not) envying his stuff, lifestyle, whatever...I have seen men have these "crushes" on other men but never have seen it in children. Until today....

Ryker has a friend in his class named Ryken (yep that's right, Ryken). Maybe it is the closeness in name that creates this bond between my son and his new friend. I am pretty sure Ryker has a "boy crush" on Ryken. He is constantly talking about him and how cool he is. He tells me all about Ryken's house (even though he has never been there) and all of the cool things that Ryken has. So far Ryken has a transformer house and a car that turns into a tree house. I learned today that Ryken has the largest bathtub in the world that will fit all of the kids so that they all can bath together. I just feel bad for Ryken's mom, having to wash all that hair!

I am amazed at Ryker's imagination about the things that Ryken has and am a little worried that Ryker is so concerned with material things at such a young age.

As for now, I will just listen to all the stories about Ryken and his coolness.

Update on HaLee

HaLee is doing much better and may be coming home from the hospital soon (if not today). She is tracking things with her eyes but we really won't know the extent of visual damage until she can "say" what she is seeing. Being only 13 months old she can't really tell us what she sees but she tracks objects so that is good. She has been happy and smiling and laughing. Seems to be bouncing back really well.

Looks like the daycare provider will be arrested for this incident and so the court proceeding shall begin. The media has been notified and will release the story as soon as the daycare provider has been arrested and charged with the crime.

Not so cheery post

I am just writing a quick note about my nephew, Steve's, daughter. I am simply writing this because I am disgusted, infuriated, and saddened by the light of recent events.

On Friday my nephew's girlfriend, Shandee, picked up their daughter, HaLee, from the babysitter where she was promptly told that the baby had fallen during the day and hit her head. As a result she was fussy and had not had a nap. Shandee didn't think anything of it until during the ride home when HaLee's eyes went blank and she started throwing up. Shandee immediately pulled over to assist her daughter and called and ambulance. They took HaLee to IMC where she was immediately life flighted to Primary Children's hospital in critical condition. Her brain was bleeding. After several test and MRI scans they have other older brain bleeds and also bleeding behind her eyes. They have diagnosed it as shaken baby.

As it stands right now they are not pointing fingers at the parents (who have been interviewed several times by DCFS and the police) but now have turned to the day care provider. The day care provider has refused speaking to anyone without her attorney present. So far all signs point to her.

Now, they are not sure the entire damage that has been done and probably won't know the extent of it for quite some time as her brain heals. They have determined that she is blind although she has identified some objects but they are not sure what she is actually seeing but know that there is severe damage to her retinas. They are doing another MRI tomorrow to find out if the bleeding has stopped and if there are other injuries. The doctors will have a better action plan when those results are in.

I guess I don't understand what kind of person can do that to a child and that is why I am so furious about this situation. What a monster...

HaLee will have lifelong effects from someone's stupid decisions. Not to mention her parents having to deal with the results of these injuries for the rest of HaLee's life. Their dreams of what their daughter was supposed to grow up to be like have been officially shattered. I understand that you can take the positive side and look at what she can be and utilize her strengths to amplify her talents but no matter how you look at it, it is still a sad situation.

It just goes to show that life can change in the blink of an eye so be grateful for what you have.

Also, PLEASE don't text and drive.

I haven't been on here for a couple of weeks so I thought I better at least write something.

We have been having a crazy time here in the household where the domestic goddess reigns. The thing mostly on the agenda has been talk of moving to Nashville. We still don't have all the information we need to make a permanent decision but it is very clear that both Joe and I would like for it to work out. And we are both not sure why. It is like we are excited about something we don't know anything about. Change maybe?

We attended a shotgun wedding this past Saturday which I deemed weird. I guess it is hard to get excited about a wedding that is planned in a week and that is only happening so that the bride and groom can live with the bride's mother who forbids fornicating in her house. I am not sure what message they are sending there but it seems like they are saying that it is ok to enter into the holy constitute of marriage just so they can have sex (which they have been doing for years) just for it to end in divorce later. Who knows, maybe it will work out...(Our gift, a pack of condoms to prevent further unplanned pregnancies which they have had 2 of already and some mixing bowls.)

Seth is still rockin' at reading. He has moved up another level and is considered on a mid year 1st grade reading level. So that puts him a year ahead when it comes to reading. It is fun to listen to him figure things out. Ryker is following suit and is trying to sound things out too which just makes us laugh...it is so cute.

Kamryn is not walking on her feet yet. Her new thing is walking around on her knees. She barely crawls anymore and just walks around on her knees. I am sure I should get her knee pads but for now I am just using a lot of stain remover on all of her pants. It is driving us crazy. If only she knew how much easier it is to just walk on her feet.

Baby #4 seems to be coming along nicely. I am measuring right on and gaining weight appropriately (whatever that means). We do the 20 week ultrasound next week on Feb 16.

That's all for news....wish I had something more entertaining but I don't.

Peace out!