happy birthday little bear

22 october 2009

Once upon a time, there was this little bear who lived with his mama and papa. he loved anything electric. his first words were light and fan. everywhere he went, as a toddler, he would look for electronics, and try to play with them. he could sit for hours playing with an unplugged telephone, or a mouse, or a keyboard. as he grew, he started to take things apart and fix them. Once, he took a digital camera apart to see why it wouldn't work anymore. he got an electronic set for his 8th birthday and made lots of simple circuits with them, but soon he started taking laptop computers apart (with a little help) to fix them. he had become so enamored with electronics, that he decided that one day he'd get a job with apple computers as a design technician or engineer. he just loved computers so much that he wanted to use them all the time. he did anything to be able to play on the computer. now, this little bear was such a good bear. he always did what he was told and always tried to help his mama with anything he could. he'd mow the grass and take out the trash, wash the dishes and feed the fishes, clean his room and even use the broom...anything for his mama...always secretly hoping she'd let him play on the computer. So finally it was his birthday and she let him play all the computer games he wanted to, but instead he chose to play with his little sister. what a nice little bear!
the end!

Well, it is your 11th birthday and you are sweeter than ever! I Love you, little bear! (i promise i will stop calling you that when you turn 12!)

thank you for:

• making me laugh!
• making me so grateful to be your mother!
• helping me when i need it!
• helping even when i don't need it!
• being kind to your brothers and sisters!
• being a good sport!
• doing your best in everything you do!
• keeping me company when i'm sad or lonely!
• being easy to teach!
  
• loving math and reading!
• being good and helpful at school!
• singing and playing the piano so nicely!
• always smiling!
• being honest and true!
• loving Jesus and His gospel!
• being a good example!
  
• being patient!
• being you!

getting physical

i had the pleasure of going to a physical therapist today. i didn't really know what my doctor was thinking sending me to PT even though we have determined the reason for all my pain is extreme ANEMIA!!!! he doesn't know what is causing the anemia, but i have been taking LOTS of tests to figure it out. so far, we have ruled out: lupus, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. still on the list: ms, three different dysplasias, cancer, and celiac's sprue, which is IN the family. (I'm pulling for the CELIAC'S SPRUE, personally) so, with my current diagnosis, i am on 325 mg of ferrous sulfate three times daily.

WHAT A JOY!

as for the Physical Therapy, what a great idea!! it was nice to have someone tell me:
-that my core muscle strength is the equivalent of a sixty year old (just call me granny)
-that sometimes moms lose their pregnancy weight, but don't strengthen their core muscles (wonder how this happens?)
-that if i didn't get in-shape, the pain will only get worse
-that my posture is poor and need to improve it
-that "for having five kids, [i] wasn't that bad" (i think this was supposed to be a compliment)
-that buying some$250 sneakers might be the best answer to my problem (who does she really work for?)

i am so excited to have someone tell me how to get in shape. really, it isn't that bad, considering if i do my part, i will soon be more comfortable and pain-free. plus, i would rather get in-shape now, rather than wait until i can't move at all.

monkey dreams

A conversation I just had with Ben.

B: Mama, how did Mogli (he watched the Jungle Book last night) get to where he could jump from way up high like that?
Me: He was raised by wild animals and he became really strong, and had to be quick to stay alive...(then I remembered who I was talking to. Ben thinks he can do anything). Weeeell, Actually that was just a movie and he had ropes attached to him to keep him safe when he jumped.
B: Well, I still think I could learn to jump from way up high. Can we bring the ladder inside?
Me: No, little kids actually break arms and legs by jumping from way up high.
B: But I will start low and work up.
Me: naugh, maybe you ought to stick to cart wheels.
B: (with a very wistful look) Well, maybe I'll start looking for a monkey village. I want to meet a bunch of monkeys. (then he started jumping up and down, screeching like a monkey and clapping hands)

son of my right hand

Benjamin in Hebrew means son of my right hand. And this kid lives up to that definition. He is constantly by my side telling me all sorts of funny and serious things. He is always on the look-out for ways to help me. He is such a funny kid. One thing I really like about him is he puts his heart into everything he does. He won't even stop to pull up his pants if he is busy building sand castles. {He will probably be upset with me in ten years for posting this...right now, he could care less}






Another thing I like about him is his willingness to share anything and everything he has. He has given countless "treasures" to friends and cousins. All without asking anything in return. Just today, he gave a hard earned penguin trinket to a friend that was visiting us today. He ran extra laps at running club to earn this special piece of prized plastic and he gave it away. He has given his favorite Thomas the tank engine back pack to his cousin, his candies from school to his siblings, he even tried to give another cousin his favorite toy (space shuttle) that he plays with daily. He likes things, but he tells me he likes to share with people more.






Another thing: This guy sings ALL THE TIME! He has a lower tenor voice and has vibrato (at the right spots) and can really belt it when he wants to. I absolutely LOVE listening to him. His favorite songs to sing are Bella Noche, I can't wait to be King, and any of the primary songs. Plus he makes up little songs too. Yesterday he sang a song he made up and it was so precious. After he sang it he said, "Mama, do you like the song I pulled out of my head?"







He is my dreamer, too. He has dreams every night and loves to tell them to me each morning. I'll never forget the night he dreamt about a large snake that was trying to gobble him up...it was SO real to him. Lately, he has been dreaming about our house being on fire. What is so sweet is he always comes to rescue Sarah. (he is so gentle and patient with her {most of the time}).





His birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I can't help but remember when I was pregnant with him, the doctors told me he wouldn't make it. That I was so sick that he would most likely spontaneously abort. That if he did survive the pregnancy, he would be severely handicapped and retarded. They thought I ought to end the pregnancy for my health and safety. And can I say that I'm so glad I didn't listen to them! What do doctors know? He is neither handicapped nor retarded. He's a normal boy {which means we have our normal allotment of mishaps associated with being a boy}

I am so grateful for Ben, my little blessing!