Look!

The past several years the eye doctor has said that Lamb 1 would probably need glasses the next year. Today was the day. He is just like his Mama in that one eye is much stronger than the other one. His brain is getting confused when he tries to play his new video game and he gets a headache. Since he is homeschooled we could have waited on glasses. We chose to do it now so he can play his game without a headache and it will also improve his being able to watch Jeopardy on TV. He won't need to wear them all the time, just when he needs them for reading or watching TV etc.

I had no idea how to choose glasses for a pre-teen because the child glasses were too small and the adult glasses were too big. We ended up deciding regular glasses would be fine, he didn't need heavy duty ones because he won't be wearing them all the time. His favorite color is blue so he chose these. We praise God that insurance paid for the glasses and his exam completely. He is looking forward to picking up his glasses in a week partly because he knows they give chocolate with a purchase, but he also knows these will help him.

The eye doctor is amazed that so far Ram's bad eyesight has not been passed down to any of our Lambs. He would have expected by now especially Lamb 3 to start showing similar. Lamb 1 looks a lot like I did as a child and here's one more example of him being like me. We both have one strong eye and one weak eye. The combination makes me legal to drive without glasses, but it is easier for me to watch TV and drive with them.

The eye doctor also recommended that if the glasses don't help enough we might consider some vision therapy for Lamb 1. (Vision therapy is done with a different doctor than our regular eye doctor.) I think the glasses will be enough. But it is an interesting thought that another one of our Lambs might need vision therapy too. Vision therapy is not cheap both financially and for time commitment. But we saw with Lamb 2 that it really works. So Lamb 1 will also do vision therapy if it is necessary. 

No thank you

We finally got the Lamb with a rash in to the dermatologist. The prescription cream cost $2.94 which will be reimbursed to us from our Health Savings Account. The over the counter drug recommended cost $46 for a month supply after a $4 off coupon. Because it is not a prescription it will not be reimbursed to us from our Health Savings Account. I also had to buy recommended soap and lotion over the counter for a total of $21 after coupons. Thank goodness I went online to get some coupons for these.

Whose bright idea was it to make some prescriptions over the counter? I really hope all these creams and lotions solve the itchiness and rash for our Lamb!

My collection

My friend had an accident with her collection of Willow Tree figurines. I commented about them and she wondered which ones I have. So this post is to answer her question.

The Lambs (with Ram's help) started my collection when we lived in MN. It took a couple of years worth of birthdays and Mother's Day to get my collection. Then it took a couple more birthdays to replace the ones that got broken. In MN we had them on top of our china cupboard in our living room. This was too fragile of a location with 3 young Lambs. They look like they are wood, but they are actually quite breakable. They are like dominoes when one gets knocked you will probably have 2 or more broken ones in the end!

When we moved into our house in ID, I knew exactly where to put this collection. I put it in the master bathroom by the bathtub. Even when the Lambs use my bathroom, this location is protected from them. We haven't had any break since we moved here.

On the faucet end of the bathtub. Left to right these represent:
Ram before he got married (he still loves reading!); 
Ram and Ewe married;
Ram with a newborn; and Ram with an older son.

When we first moved in a friend wondered which picture I would hang in these "cubbies" in the master bathroom. I never did figure out which pictures to hang there, but I did put my figurines on the shelves. I like the "blank" space above them.

On the other end of the bathtub. Left to right these represent:
Ewe with an older Lamb (Lamb 1); Ewe with a toddler (Lamb 2); Ewe with a baby (Lamb 3); and pregnant Ewe (to represent our miscarried Lambs). When these were purchased for me, the Lambs were those ages. 

I don't make time to take a bath nearly enough, but when I do I always smile looking at my collection. I don't desire to add to my collection, but I like the meaning behind these that I have.

Lamb 3's birthday

It's difficult for me to believe that my youngest is 8! Ram's parents came to celebrate Lamb 3's birthday for two days. The first day we went to a wildlife refuge to walk around in the beautiful weather and then we went out for pizza. The second day the boys went to a park/walk along the river while the girls (Ewe and Ram's mom) went to a coffee shop. When the boys got hot and tired we went to a restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner. After eating the boys went back to the park for awhile before we all went back to our house. The weather was beautiful last weekend and their visit went quickly.

We had Lamb 3's birthday menu over a couple of days after his birthday.
Breakfast: Monkey Bread
Lunch: Grilled Cheese
Snack: Chicago Mix Popcorn and Orange Floats (used orange pop instead of root beer)
Supper: Pizza and Pop
Dessert: Chocolate Cake with Green Frosting
Drink: Chocolate Milk
(Can you tell from the menu that we don't have dairy, bread, or sugary drinks/treats often?)

Lamb 3's birthday wish list was very simple-he wanted Lego lightsabers to go with his other Star Wars Legos. So his big present was a little larger than a ring box! He received 24 lightsabers in 4 different colors. He also received walkie talkies to share with his brothers. Lamb 2 and 3 have been asking for walkie talkies for a long time. They love the walkie talkies!

It's great to be 8!

I'm ready to stop this trend...

Our family attended another funeral today. Our Lambs were well behaved. This was a long time friend of Ram's family. His mom asked us to attend if possible to represent our family since it was in our area.

Although it was not a Lutheran funeral, it was a beautiful service. Everyone that spoke reminded us that not only was she a kind woman, but she was able to do what she did in her life because of Jesus. On her deathbed she was naming people she knew that were not Christians and encouraged her family to keep working on them so she can see them in heaven some day. Many shared stories of how wonderful she was, but the overall theme of the funeral was To God Alone Be the Glory. We only sang one hymn, Be Still My Soul fit very well.

During the reception the family and friends that talked to us knew Ram and some also knew me (probably from Christmas card photos) and also they knew Lamb 1's name because he is named after his uncle. Then we had to introduce Lamb 2 and Lamb 3.

I did not want to attend funerals two Thursdays in a row and the Lambs wanted to attend even less. But I knew that it was important for our family to go to both funerals. It was a great reminder with Holy Week in the middle. We don't know when our last days on earth are. We praise God that we know that we will see our loved ones in heaven again.

S.D.G.

Blessed Easter!

Now no more can death appall,

Now no more the grave enthrall,

You have opened paradise,

And Your saints in You shall rise.

Alleluia!

 LSB 633:6