The Man-Killers

Hollis was rummaging through my manicure basket awhile ago and pulled out my manicure scissors.

She holds them up and says, " Look Mama, I just found your Man Killer Scissors."
To which I sweetly replied, "Yes buddy, put those right back where you found them. Mama might need those when your Daddy refuses to share the remote or pick up dog poop in the back yard."

A Love Affair

Warning: This post is going to be random and goofy because life has just been too dag gum serious lately.

I know you are saying "Awwwwww" right now.
No, we didn't get a new puppy.
Even better, our neighbors got one.

I bet my neighbor thought I was one big fat weirdo asking to take pictures of her new puppy.

But that is ok.

I can see him through my kitchen window every morning.

And he can make me smile even when I empty the dishwasher. Now that is saying a lot.

And they called it puppy love...

Have you ever gotten so excited you forgot to breathe?

That is how I felt when I saw these babies at an antique store a couple of months ago.

They had me from hello.

$15 and twenty minutes later they were on my feet.

Jason said,"Wow. You are going to make a fashion statement in Zionsville."

That was his nice way of telling me never to wear them around him.

Hollis loves it when I put them on and belt out

"These boots are made for walkin....."

She giggles and giggles and begs for more.

At least someone appreciates my exquisite taste in used shoes.

Now, if I could just score some tickets to that Brad Paisley concert,I'd be one happy camper.

And last, but not least, Hollis got her haircut.

I love it but can't help but think she resembles Ramona the Pest.
See? I told you today was going to be goofy and random.
Happy Tuesday all!

Good News

Hello all.
I wanted to share Hollis' prognosis with you all.
I'm sorry it's late and I am so tired but I felt it was the least I could do since everyone has been so kind to check in on us the past 48 hours.
I took her to the Childrens Hospital today  to have some blood work done.
2 hours later, the Dr.s office called with the best news I have heard in a long long time.
She has severe allergies.
Not leukemia or any blood disorder that was mentioned in our appt. on Monday.
Thank you, God.
I wanted to thank you for all your phone calls, texts and prayers we have received this past week.
I feel a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
I am looking forward to getting back to our "normal" life now.
And I  never knew "normal" felt so darn good.

Yuck.

Please excuse my lack of posting lately.
I have been surrounded by sickness.
Hollis has had terrible allergies this week.
By terrible, I mean up to 6-7 nosebleeds a day.
And the middle of the night.
She also has an yucky cough that will not go away.
And when I didn't think I could stand the fun any longer, we were visited by a stomach bug on Sat night.
Double yuck.
We took her to the Dr. today, so I am hoping there is some relief in sight.
I hate it when she is sick.
I feel like my whole world is out of kilter.
And I allow my mind to entertain  the darkest worse case scenarios.
I am sleeping with one eye open and one foot on the ground.

I am taking her to the hospital on Wed  for some testing.
They want to be sure there is not a more serious underlying problem that we need to address.
A teeny tiny slight chance, but a chance all the same.

When you lay your head on your pillow tonight, will you please lift up a prayer for our sweet Hollis?
Prayer moves moutains.
And we may have some mountains to move in the coming days.

Roundup time

Hollis has Kindergarten Round Up today.
That's a fancy way of saying today is the day I register Hollis for kindergarten.
I wish I could say I was really, really excited, but I'm not.
I know I should be, but I'm not.
I'm really sad.
This "letting go" thing stinks.
I don't think I am very good at it.

The school she attends now, she learns about God and Jesus and patience and kindness and grace and forgiveness and goodness and love.
I love that.
Her teachers hug her and tell her they love her and that she is perfect just the way she is.
The only major dilemma in her day usually comes at playtime when she has to choose between picking  dandelion bouquets or playing with her friends in the sandbox.
I wish life was like that for all God's children.
But I know it's not.

Homeschooling her has crossed my mind a time or two.
Oh, we would have great fun critiquing Starbucks newest blend and dancing along with Ellen on the "Ellen Show."
Deciding which park to picnic would be priority for the day.
Bubble contests and tea parties and sidewalk chalk  would fill our time.
Academically productive?
Hmmmm, probably not so much.

Don't get me wrong, Hollis is over the moon at the thought of going to kindergarten.
She is rip roaring ready. Letters and numbers and all.
It is time to let her fly.

The other day, I was explaining to her that she will go to school everyday next year, that our leisurely easy breezy days won't come as often anymore.
To that thought she replied, "That's ok Mom. We can still see each other when we ride around in the car."
Gulp.
I am happy that one of us is ok with this "letting go" thing.
And I will learn to work on it.
Just promise to take it easy on this poor mama's heart till then, ok Hollis?

A project

Jason and I are not yard people.
But yesterday we figured we might as well catch up on some projects we have been avoiding the past 6 years.
We ain't gettin any younger.
We went to Lowes to buy some supplies for this project and there was talk of buying a wheelbarrow.
Hollis breaks into song and dance at this thought.
"A wheelbarrow!!! I've always wanted a wheelbarrow!! I've wanted a wheelbarrow for a looooong time."
Who knew?
And to think, for 5 years we've been buying her toys.

I'm not sure what's going on in this picture. I was afraid to ask.
This kid is such a goofball.
I love her to death.
There is not one day that goes by that she doesn't make me laugh from the inside out.
She can drive me crazy over wardrobe changes 500 times a day, but I love her.
And that's all I have to say about that.

Hollis-isms

A couple of things Hollis has said the past couple of weeks that have made me break out into a big smile:

I was worried that our fish Popcorn Ice-cream was sick. She wasn't swimming around in her bowl as usual and was not making the "happy bubbles" she makes when she is content(I know. It is pathetic that I moniter the moods of our fish). Anyway, I kinda wanted to prepare Hollis for the worst case scenario and told her I think Popcorn is really really sick. After the fourth time I told her she says

" Mama, I think Popcorn has a tummy ache. Maybe we should just rub her tummy for her."

Last night I was getting ready for bed and noticed a massive zit on my cheek. Hollis noticed it 6 feet away.

"Oh you poor little fing. You got bit by a mosquito."
So much for no one noticing. At least she didn't get me an ice pack for it like last time

We have been having "issues" with Hollis' hair for awhile now. She has fine, tangly hair like her Mama so it is a bear to brush it everyday. She screams like she is being exorcised of demons when you approach her with a hairbrush and then runs as fast as she can to her room. She also is the worlds 2nd  most messiest eater( I am the1st according to my husband) so particles of food always find their way in her hair when she eats. I have now gotten to the point that I just cut them out of her hair rather than have her pull a Linda Blair on me when I brush. Not some of my finer Mommy moments, but true.
Her Daddy said it was time for a haircut yesterday. He took her to the most overpriced childrens salon where they bribe them with ballons and videos and indoor slides. I think he realized he had lost the battle when she refused to get out of the car and said to him,

"I am NEVER getting my hair cut. Not even when I'm dead."

Hmmm...How do you even begin to argue with that?

Happy Friday!

Spring

We have been spending a lot of time outdoors this week.
We would be crazy not to with weather like this.
But I have lived in Indiana long enough to know-
Nothing this good lasts long enough.

But that's true about a lot of things in life, isn't it?

Easter Stuff

Things I have been doing besides blogging...

 I took Hollis to an Easter Egg Hunt on Sat.

Unlike the Zionsville one we attended last year, she didn't get pushed down and she actually found an egg to put in her basket.

So we had that going for us.

But it did rain.

And it was cold.

Hmmm, is this egg basket worthy?

What kid examines eggs like that?She did that to all of them.

Just put it in your basket and GO!

Maybe she didn't realize it was raining and cold.

She scored a bubble wand.

I witnessed an Easter miracle this year. Really, I did.

Hollis and I actually agreed on what dress she wore to church.

Hope your Easter was blessed and filled with wonder and joy of the ultimate gift that was paid in full.

He is RISEN!