Please Say That Did NOT Just Happen!!

I had the lovely experience last week of dismantling and cleaning my piano key by key...because a student threw up on it. She was my first student of the week, and it happened about 5 minutes into her lesson. She sat there a bit bewildered for a second, then it happened again! At that point I saw she wasn't going to move on her own, so I quickly guided her towards the bathroom. She threw up in the entry way en route, and again on the bathroom floor (at which point I opened the toilet lid for her!). Poor little thing, she was obviously feeling horrible, but I sure wish she had reacted a little differently at first...like turning her head away from the piano! Ah well. I called her mom to come get her, cancelled the rest of my lessons, then broke out my cleaning supplies, including my steamer, and cleaned/disinfected everything as well as possible. I didn't dare steam the piano, but used Clorox wipes on every surface I could get to. One helpful fact was that everything that needed cleaning was green--she had been enjoying St. Paddy's Day treats that day. Then I called a piano tuner and got step-by-step instructions on how to take it apart to the point where I could get every individual key as well as all affected surfaces inside the piano. While I was at it I vacuumed out all the dust bunnies, too. The next time it gets such a good cleaning, I just hope it's under different circumstances.

Brandon helped me take everything out as well as get it all back together, and I had my piano tuner come two days later to check it all out (it worked out well because it needed a little tuning, anyway). And now the next time one of my kids drops a paper clip, pencil, or who knows what in, I am confident I can get it out myself!

Definitely one of my more memorable lessons. Do you think I can instill fear into my students by telling them I once made a student throw up?!

Remembering Gracie

I had the privilege today of attending the funeral of Gracie Gledhill. At just 11 months old, she touched and captured the hearts of many around the world. She was born with a severe congenital heart defect (HLHS, or hypoplastic left heart syndrome), and had open heart surgery at just 4 days old. She needed a second surgery last fall, but her heart wasn't ready for it. Last month they determined that her only hope would be a heart transplant. A miracle occurred, and she received a heart after just 3 days of being on the transplant list. Unfortunately, the heart never worked for Gracie. She came out of surgery on life support, and her parents said goodbye to her this past Monday.

I remember the first conversation I had with Michele after hearing that their ultrasound had shown a problem. I was her visiting teacher at the time, and we were both pregnant with due dates just weeks apart. It was heart breaking to think about, but Michele was preparing by finding as much information as she could, much of it from blogs. Michele started a blog to document their own journey. It turned into a way for family, friends, neighbors, and ultimately thousands around the world, to connect with little Gracie.

Over the past year, Gracie and her family have been very much in our family's thoughts. Here are just a few things I have learned along the way:

The power of prayer. Tom, Gracie's dad, spoke at the funeral and mentioned that they really feel like Gracie was being called home when she was 4 days old and crashed after her first surgery. However, she was allowed to stay here on earth a little longer through the faith and prayers of many, especially children. In their blog they also wrote about how they could literally feel the power of prayers lifting them up and sustaining them. From the day she was born, Andrew prayed daily that "Gracie's heart could be healed the rest of the way." I tried to explain to him that it may not happen like that, but he was undaunted. When we heard about her heart transplant, it seemed like his prayers would be answered fully. While it wasn't the case for her on this earth, we know that her heart truly is healed "the rest of the way" now. As for me, I have prayed more fervently over the past few weeks than I have in a long time.

Be more patient, enjoy the journey more. Often as I hold Logan, I think of sweet Gracie. When he makes a mess out of the lid drawer for the 10th time in one day, I am thankful that he is energetic and full of curiosity. When he gets up in the night, I am just thankful that he is here.

Give of ourselves. So many people have been touched by Gracie's story. This wouldn't have happened if Michele and Tom hadn't been willing to share it. Paul Cardall, a gifted musician who himself is waiting for a heart transplant, played one of the musical numbers at the funeral. On his blog just a few days ago, he mentioned that he had never met the Gledhills in person, though he felt a closeness with them. He also was willing to give a gift today to this family who played his music to Gracie since her birth.

The Plan of Salvation is real. Jesus Christ is our Savior, and families can be together forever. My testimony of this has grown tremendously. Tom and Michele's faith in this is also evident. Singing the words to "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" and "Families Can Be Together Forever" packed more punch for me today. Almost every line seemed tailored for the circumstances.

Gracie was only here a short time, but she lives on and will be remembered always.

Going Public!!

I haven't been a great blogger lately (or ever, for that matter). Since I know it can be frustrating to go to someone's private blog and repeatedly find that nothing has changed, I'm going public for a trial run. This will allow you to add our blog to your feed reader and not have to check back here all the time only to be disappointed (because I know you are!!). I, personally, am a great fan of my Google reader. Hopefully it will also make it easier for some of our older family members to check in without having to remember all that silly log-in stuff, too!

We just ask that if you post a link to our blog, PLEASE DON'T USE OUR LAST NAME. Trying to maintain a little internet safety still...

Let me know if you enjoy the "public" mode or not. Thanks for reading!!

One Year Old and All BOY!

Logan dove right into his very own cupcake (we opted not to give him a full cake).

He ate the WHOLE thing, not just the frosting (if only I could say as much for all his brothers).

My mom made a beautiful, yummy cake that was enjoyed by the grown-ups.

Ready to play video games with his brothers.

Sir Logan on his gallant steed, sword at the ready!

Books Have Saved Me!!

We have had some gorgeous weather over the past few days. The boys have been able to get outside and jump on the trampoline and ride bikes. However, the winter weeks leading up to this were rough. The boys have been (literally at times) bouncing off the walls. And the noise. The noise! Do you know how loud five little boys can be when they're all playing and wrestling at the same time? Logan has already learned that he has to be very loud to get any attention. The thing that has saved my sanity at times has been books. Both Liam and Andrew love to read, Colin is becoming a very good little reader, Aidan loves to look at picture books, and Logan loves to chew on them. So when things get too crazy, I holler, "Go read something!" In a few minutes, blissful silence...for awhile.

Last week: Brandon and Colin are listening to Harry Potter together, while Andrew and Liam enjoy their own books. Ah, sweet silence!

Elf Disco!

Andrew's Big Day

Andrew was BAPTIZED yesterday!

We are so grateful that he chose to take this important step in his life.

We rounded everyone up for a quick photo after. It wasn't easy!

(Note Brandon's improvement from his beard.)

Here are also a few pictures from some recent events in Andrew's life:

He had a rock-climbing birthday party last month, and scrambled up the walls over and over just like a spider!

I also made him a Pokemon birthday cake. Anyone who knows him right now knows he is what we call, "Pokemon loco!"

(I was quite pleased with the cake. Makes me feel like a regular Martha Stewart--anyone who knows me can just say ha ha!)

On November 23 he lost a front tooth. The other one is now very loose, so he will soon be singing, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!"

Our kids lose teeth really late. Yes, he is 8, and he's only lost 3 teeth.

He had me pull his tooth out, which was the first time I'd done that for one of my kids.