random happenings...

We've had lots going on around the Ruff house the past few weeks! Owen finished his second year of preschool - four year olds, here he comes! Lyla is busy trying to grab anything in site - she successfully grabbed, then spilled my large glass of iced tea all over the dining room rug last week. Both kids are loving the warm weather - Lyla loves the breeze in the stroller and Owen has taken an extra liking to the mud puddles after each rain. I think I rinse him and the tub three times a day right now. Somehow he too has mananged to leave his mark on the dining room rug - and the white rug in his room - and the carpet down the stairs. We have a no shoes in the house rule, but the warm air has gone to his head I think!

Below are some random photos. Before you think we've put Lyla in the torture chamber, allow me to explain. In order to build the cranial band she'll be sporting next week, an exact replica of her cutie head has to be created. They put a stocking on her head to assist in getting the precise photos needed. It lasted all of a few minutes. Needless to say, she wasn't thrilled.

Owen had costume day for the last day of preschool.


Looks like she's going to rob Babies R Us...





Here's our happy camper once more! Daddy makes everything better. =)

Owen's got a new ride...

Well, it's a little early, but Owen got his birthday bike! After the brakes failed down a hill while riding his 12 inch bike and he had to jump off to avoid the road, Kevin and I figured better safe than sorry. So YES, he got his gift a month early, but I'm sure he won't be without other gifts come the big day.

it wasn't five thousand, but...

I just have to tell you this. God uses us when we least expect it, and it really is such an amazing feeling to know that the Almighty allows us to be part of his work!

Two of our very best friends, Brian and Lori (and their adorable ball of one year old sunshine Camryn) moved into the house kitty-corner from us over the weekend. It's a beautiful 1920s bungalow similar to ours (just a little side note because I love the style so much).

I had my cousin Carla and her cute family visiting for the weekend - and let's just say with four kids, the house was busy. Carla and I prepared spaghetti for our two families, along with some bread and brownies (we're southern girls, so no meal is complete without sweets at the end). As we were finishing dinner, I was just about to put the leftovers away when the phone rang. It was Lori. The conversation follows(paraphrased)...

(ring, ring...)

Sandy: Do you have dinner?
Lori: That's weird, I was just calling to...
Sandy (interrupting of course): I have dinner for you. We have all this spaghetti.
Lori: Are you serious? I have a lot of people.
Sandy: Yes, please take it.
Lori: I'll be right down.

She was technically just calling to see if I could suggest a carryout place. When she said a lot of people, let me clarify - 11 or 12. We had six. That pot of spaghetti was 2lbs of meat, 2 jars of sauce and 2 boxes of spaghetti. You do the math. 18 people and there were leftovers.

While Prego I'm sure would like to take credit, I'm not giving them the chance. This was God.

One of my very favorite passages in the bible is when Jesus feeds five thousand people with a couple of loaves of bread and a few fish. He got them from a young boy who was just willing to share. I know he had no idea how Jesus was going to do such a miracle with them. And you know he certainly never forgot.

And I won't either. The lesson for me was that God takes what we offer and uses as only He can. Some had time, some muscles, some food.

So I say we all put some water on to boil tonight and see what happens.

On second thought...

Well, little Lyla's head isn't getting better, but in fact worse. Looks like she's going to be wearing a DOC Band, used to treat positional plagiocephaly. Basically, she has a flat spot on the right side of her head behind her ear. It's somehow pushing the right ear and forehead forward, creating moderate facial asymmetry. It's our understanding that if left untreated, she will have significant asymmetry later in life, beginning in the grade school years. One side of her face would likely be larger and more dominant. So, since it's fixable, we're electing not to take chances.

I'm including her initial photos and will post later ones as she progresses. We're waiting for the insurance preapproval and then her head will be digitally recreated for a custom fit band. For those who are confused and/or interested in learning more about plagiocephaly, you can go to www.cranialtech.com. You'll see examples of other children's cases and progress.

Lyla's case is considered moderate - not nearly as severe as those pictured. If you look closely at her photos (particularly the second page of them), you'll notice it better. You'll also notice how incredibly adorable she is. =)