Sophie

Last post was a praise report - now a prayer request.
Thursday of last week, it was a lovely 68 degree day. I had all the windows and doors open and we were enjoying the cool air. Sophie was wearing a onesie and pants, as is usual. I was changing her diaper when I noticed that she was trembling. I looked closer and saw that her teeth were chattering and her lips were turning blue, as were her fingernails. She's naturally pale, but her skin was porcelain white. She seemed dazed and listless, although she never blacked out or stopped breathing.
I bundled her in about 18 layers and carried her around for awhile. When I put her down, she crawled a bit, although somewhat sluggishly. Eventually, it seemed to wear off, her cheeks pinked up again and she went back to her bright, happy, alert self.
Erich was home to see this, and asked me to call the doctor. I did so, feeling rather like a paranoid over-protective mommy, but the doctor was concerned enough to have me bring her in, even though she hasn't had any repeat episodes.
Best case scenario: it was just a febrile seizure, a once-off thing and it won't happen again.
Worst case: she has a heart disrhythmia or epilepsy, and this is the first sign of that.
He didn't hear any irregularities in her heartbeats, but he's referred me to a pediatric neurologist to be safe. The PN will probably do an EEG, which will require a visit to Fort Worth and Cook Children's Medical up there (where she spent a week when first born, as a matter of fact).
So at this point, we're not getting hysterical and frightened. We're trusting the Lord to keep our Sophie-bird healthy, but we're covering all our bases and making sure there's nothing wrong with her that we need to catch early. This is especially important because my sister and niece have a history of blackouts and apnea, so it runs in the family.
Your prayers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Update on Erich

I feel I really must protest Mum and Dad moving out to the farm. It means that I am unable to call and talk to Mum seventeen times a day (on average), and what AM I going to do with myself if I can't do that?
Wait...maybe that's WHY they're moving...

Nah. Couldn't be.

Moving on! I heard from Erich tonight, and he sounded really great. He's got only about 8 more pounds to lose, and looks fantastic. I can't describe how my heart lifts when I hear him sounding so happy and confident. The first two weeks were so hard; he really struggled with the physical aspect (especially the running) and wasn't sure he was going to make it. And now, 5th week into the academy, he ran eight laps tonight 14 seconds faster than he ran seven laps when he first started! It's doing wonders for his confidence levels, and I can really hear the peace and pride in his voice, which does wonders for my STRESS levels! :o)
Also, he's part of an impromptu Bible study with a group of other guys from his class. It's not every night, but just when they find themselves with a little free time, and it's so good for him. There are a lot of men there that are involved with the church; in fact, the most recent drop-out was a young man who decided to join the ministry instead. (Erich told me that he said, "I don't know why he did that; there's plenty of ways he could have ministered as a state trooper. He could have "ministered" a blood alcohol test, he could have "ministered" a roadside sobriety test, etc., etc." ;o)
Oh, and my almost-Yankee husband has the best Spanish accent in his class! He says some of the guys murder Spanish the way he intentionally mangles French - it's painful to hear. When he comes home, he starts spouting off long phrases, and now I'm finding HIM teaching ME words! Oh, the embarrassment.
Back to the physical thing: today was the second testing of physical aptitude. Of course the tests keep getting harder, but Erich said he scored high on everything and he was surprised at how EASY it was.
So please don't stop praying, because we're always in need of it (especially that his back will stay strong and not go out on him), but he's really settling in and getting a feel for this, and every time I talk to him, he sounds better. :o)

Wearing the fingerless glove I made him.

He loves to stand at my screen door and look out, so he thought he'd try it at Nanay's too. He'd just gotten a bath and was wearing his 17 year old niece's t-shirt.

Sophie the puppy dog!

Zoe's 3rd birthday

is coming up fast! My mother was asking me what I thought she'd like for her birthday, so I thought I'd put some ideas here.
She loves dressing up. Long skirts or dresses that fly out are her favorites - she's not so keen on the straight skirts. Also, she adores tights, and I think she would be completely thrilled to get some funky-colored tights, maybe with bright stripes or something. Every day she asks me to help her put on tights, and every evening she protests when I take them off.
Otherwise...books are great, as are stuffed animals - she loves those. Please no noisy toys or mechanical whingdings - she's not too interested in those.
November 7th is creeping ever closer! :o)

What's funny to a 4 year old

Last night I cuddled with Gabby and sang to her, which she thoroughly enjoyed. When it was over, she flumped down on her pillow, which is at the end closest to the fan, and I said, “Are you sure you want to be on that end?” “Yes!” she said, “I want to be HERE!” “Okay,” sez I, “But don’t blame me if I trip over you in the night and squash you like a bug.”

You should have seen the look on her face. Shock that something like that might happen. Then dawning laughter as she realized I was teasing. And finally an eruption of the giggles. Apparently being squashed like a bug is the pinnacle of humor to a 4 year old.

Because I know you're all dying to buy us stuff

And since we all have birthdays (and Christmas!) coming up, I thought I'd make it easy for everyone.

Gabby

Loves ballet and long skirts/dresses that fly out when she spins. She wants a picture of a ballerina for her room. Wears size 6 right now. She still wears the silk scarves her grandfather gave her two years ago - anything "dress-up" will be a hit. Just no midriff-baring tops or miniskirts, please.

Zoe

Loves whatever Gabby loves. ;o) Doesn't have the defined interests like her big sister, but she adores stuffed animals and sleeps with so many her bed overflows with them.
Both girls have a box of Duplo that they play with a lot, and an addition to their set would be greeted with shrieks of enthusiasm, I'm sure.

Deet and Sophie

Please, NO noisy electronic toys for them. Deet is in desperate need of new clothes; Sophie wears hand-me-downs, but Deet's not big on dresses and frilly stuff, for some reason. Deet is almost in 18 month clothing; Sophie is about to be in 12 month. They really don't need much, beyond clothing. Oh - some wall art would be nice. Like little press on cutouts.

Halcyon

Yarn. Any that’s soft and easy to work with; I don’t mind acrylic, as long as it’s not rough and ugly, like Red Heart’s cheapest stuff. If you get yarn, make sure to get at least three skeins, so I’ll be able to actually make something with it. (One skein is usually only good for a baby hat.) Favorite colors are dark purple and lavender. Least favorite colors are teal, royal purple and bright red.

A gift certificate to Gevalia coffee. www.gevalia.com

A nice sharp bread knife that doesn't go dull after the first week of use.

A gift certificate to www.lionbrand.com or www.modadea.com. Moda Dea especially; I've always wanted to try their yarns but never had the chance (aka money).

For that matter, a gift certificate to www.kingarthurflour.com. ;o)

Erich

http://www.sigarms.com/SigStore/ShowProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=29&productid=90

P229 barrel in .357 Sig.

http://www.sigarms.com/SigStore/ShowProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=29&productid=97

P229 Night Sights

Single motherhood

My first full day of it was today (Monday). Gabby, the twins and I dropped Erich off at the academy in Austin Sunday afternoon. She and I both held it together until he was gone and we were driving away, but then Gabby said, "I'm going to be wifout a daddy for a bery yong time." and burst into tears. :o( She's still quite sad, but she's also taken to heart the talk her daddy had with her before he left, about being my helper, and she's been picking up diapers, putting dishes in the sink, and helping me clean very sweetly and happily.
I don't expect to hear from Erich for some time, since he has no cell phone and no calling card at the moment. His days are going to be rather packed, in any case, and he won't have much time for talking!
In the meantime, here are some cute twinlet pictures to cheer me up. You can enjoy them too. ;o)

Whut?

Gabby's not the only one that loves this Pony! (That's a tutu she's wearing, btw.)

Whassup?

I love the "matching" outfits here.

Deet says, "My Nanay is funny!" Sophie says, "Am I getting out of here in the foreseeable future?"

Hey, 'Lista! Look familiar?

Hey, 'Lista, take two! She loves her Miss Kitty (a present from her great-Aunt Doris), but she also sleeps with the beautiful blanket her honorary Aunt Calista crocheted her.

Right now, they're both in the kitchen. Deet is sitting on Sophie's leg - she's not complaining at all. They're inspecting each other's faces; Sophie's playing with a little toy car and Deet is trying to get something he shouldn't eat out from under the cupboard. Oh, and Sophie is playing an experimental drum rhythm on Deet's head with the car.