Short and Warty

These juicy, little, tart gems are actual pomegranate seeds (my husband says they are arils). We eat them, seeds and all, by the handful just like you see here. I didn't like them very much in the beginning, but now I love them! Andrew likes them now too! Good thing, because we have a ton.


Andrew has what appears to be warts inside his nose. I am not sure what to do. If I take him to the doctor they will probably want to freeze them, which he is totally against. I think I may try that duct tape suggestion when he sleeps at night, yet I am a bit worried that he may have trouble breathing. I wonder if salicylic acid would work?

I bet you don't envy our little problem, do you? (smiling)

Speaking of problems, I got some very disappointing news today. We got the call that Anna's growth hormone treatment is ready to be shipped and all we have to pay is $1554 which is our 30% portion. I nearly choked when they repeated the cost of a three month supply. There is just no way I can pay that in good conscience in this horrible economy especially when it is not medically necessary for her health. I am disappointed needless to say. I have already called the manufacturer back to see if they can help us out, and I have called the doctor to see if there is a less expensive alternative....... maybe a generic brand.

I have thought about this all day, and I have put myself through the ringer trying to rationalize this decision. Maybe if we didn't have so many kids, I wouldn't mind paying this outrageous price for this medicine, but honestly, I don't think this is the case. I knew from the beginning that this treatment was costly, but I never in a thousand years assumed it would be this expensive. I feel duped by the doctor's office who I told from the very beginning that I didn't want to pursue this if it would cost a lot of money, and they said that we shouldn't worry about it because our insurance would cover it. I know I might get some negative comments about how I could possibly deprive my short daughter this drug...... this opportunity to grow an extra few inches, but as mother who is responsible for the well being of all my children, I have to use common sense and budget the money that we have which doesn't include this expensive treatment that may or may not work. Sigh......... I am going to look into some other options....... perhaps there is a mega vitamin I can give her.

If you don't mind, please pray for this situation. If Anna is to have this medicine, then God will open a door........ but as of now, I think we need to close the door and move on.


Today, I got a sneak peak at Dennis' eye as I cut away the dirty part of his bandage and retaped it. It looks totally different, but not necessarily in a good way. I am disappointed and concerned, yet I know that this is only temporary. The scar tissue which was the banding that went vertically down his eye is gone and now his lower eyelid sags---- which for the time being looks kind of freaky but in the long run is a good thing because it has enough give to be pulled up so that it could be sewn shut. The bandage comes off this Thursday, and a big consult with the plastic surgeon is on the 18th.

Tonight, after getting Dennis ready for bed, I asked him to come down stairs with me. I told him to turn around and slide down and he wasn't interested in listening to me so I scooped him up and laid him down in the big boy bed. I told him that he had to listen to me and that since he didn't want to do what I told him, he had to go to bed now. I kissed him and left the room with him a little pouty. I stood at the door to see what would happen and my good little boy stayed put. I went back in and laid down next to him and rubbed noses "forever" with him. I pulled away when I thought he was asleep and saw him look right into my eyes.

"Kiss Mama, please Dennis," I asked him and without hesitation he leaned forward and touched his lips to mine. He can't actually pucker up and kiss, but I know that this is his way of kissing and oh how adorable it is!

Big sigh........... I wish it was this easy with all of the kids. I wish I felt this lovey dovey all the time with all of my children even when they choose to disobey. I mean that it is just so easy to love a baby.... at least it comes naturally to me, compared to a child who loves to argue, do the opposite of what you ask, and complain about the injustice that surrounds only them. Loving them becomes work--- work that I would never want to give up doing, but nonetheless work. Sometimes, my older children can be so hard to be around let alone want to rub noses with.

Okay, enough beating around the bush, I am speaking about one particular daughter who has just been really challenging lately------ maybe all the time, but more so now than before at least in my opinion and I had a bit of a wakeup call yesterday--- which is what really opened my eyes.
As I was talking to my son Adam, my one daughter comes up complaining again about something being unfair and in his midsentence, I turn my attention to her. A minute later, I went back to him as he was walking into his room and I said, "You were saying...."

"Never mind Mom, you always give her your attention first."

This is a problem. Not his problem, not her problem, but my problem as a parent, and I need to find a way to fix this problem. As I got to thinking, this is not a problem resulting from having 11 children because after really paying it some attention, I realized that all of my kids immediately get put on the back burner when my one daughter has an issue. (Very hard to admit) None of my other kids consume so much of my time----- none of my kids are as hard to get through too. Another big sigh, this is living proof, my parenting has not yet been perfected.

I am forever committed to my daughter, and to all of my children....... I just want to make sure that I learn how to spend equal time with all them, or at least not cut them off when another child tries to come and interrupt. My desire is to have the time that I spend with my children be a time where they are sharing about their day, their interests.... maybe we are playing a game, or cooking something together, or shopping, or talking about life. If my one daughter wants a huge chunk of her time to be spent on discussing how she can make better choices that is her decision----- but as of now, I am going to make a valiant effort to stop the lecturing.