Random Thoughts

Well, I don't have much to report or really anything to gripe about. :-) Which is a great thing. I delved into the world of caramel corn for the first time in my baking career. And I must say, it turned out pretty darn good. Tastes much better than the stuff you buy in a bag, and almost rivals that of gourmet popcorn places I've been to, like Garrett's, etc. I'm making more for Halloween and I'm going to venture out and add cashews to one batch and see how that works. So we'll see. I've also begun the process of cleaning out Caroline's RIDICULOUS amount of toys that we have. Geez, Louise. And to make matters worse (for me, not her) her sweet little cousins keep giving her hand-me-down toys that she loves, like My Little Pony stuff (for daaaayyyssssss) and a Bitty Baby Pram. It's freakin' huge. She's almost too short to push it around. But she thinks it's the greatest thing EVER. And she has played with those ponies EVERY day since she got them. I have absolutely no clue what Santa is going to bring this year.... she literally has almost everything, and we're going to Disney the week before Christmas. Which is partially her Christmas, but she can't have nothing on Christmas morning... she's way too young to understand "early gifting." So.... any suggestions? Santa might have to bring clothes and shoes and books and other boring stuff this year. She doesn't even have a "wish list." I'm not complaining.... at least she's not greedy. But I don't even have a clue what to get because she doesn't want for anything. And I don't mean to make it sound like we're materialistic. We're definitely not. But with the way the child's family dynamics play out - 3 separate sets of grandparents, and 2 different great-grandparents - her birthdays and Christmases are abundant to say the least. Not to mention friends and other family who fall into the mix. And the cleaning out part is SO hard for me. Because she really does play with most of it. So I've just had to box up "baby" toys that she won't miss and throw out random little things, like kid's meal toys from restaurants and little trinkets from goodie bags, etc. That junk really piles up quick and makes a lot more room in the toy bin when it's gone. So I've cleared out an entire drawer so far, plus cleared a whole shelf on the bookshelf - I'm doing good. I have to do it gradually, too, or she notices. I promise, the kid doesn't forget anything..... in a week she'll say "Mommy, where's my green spinny top I got at Chuck E Cheese? (6 months ago.....)" It kills me. Her memory is phenomenal. Luckily she accepts my lame answer of "I don't know, maybe it's in the playroom. You'll have to look for it..." and she moves on to something else. But for now I'm safe. She hasn't noticed yet, but it's only been 1 day. We shall see.......
On a different note, Jack got a good report at his last appointment. All the doctors said nothing had changed and the other weird issues he's having are fixable or non-issues, so that's great! We can continue on for 3 more months in peace..... And if the next round goes just as well, they might be moving him up to 6 month checks and lowering his seizure meds! Woo Hoo! He really is doing great, and it's all because of the prayers and faith and hope of all of those out there who are lifting him up every single day. And for that, we couldn't be any more grateful.... you have no idea. I laid by Caroline last night after she fell asleep, crying, and praying that my sister never has to feel the way Brandie feels right now. I pray that no one in my family has to feel that pain, ever. Whether it be for Jack or any other child. I pray that Brandie's pain lessens every day and she can move one step closer to a "normal" life. I pray for my friend who only got to hold her baby boy for 3 months before he was taken away forever. I pray for my friend who has felt that pain for 20 years. I can see it in her eyes, and I know it never goes away. Not really. So I especially pray that we never have to know that pain. That we never have to live a forever-altered existence. "For this child I have prayed." And prayed. And prayed. And prayed......