They are idols of hearts and of households!

They are angels of God in disguise;

The sunlight still sleeps in their tresses,

His glory still gleams in their eyes;

These truants from home and from Heaven,

They have made me more gentle and mild;

And I know now how Jesus could liken

The kingdom of God to a child.

-Charles M. Dickinson

Beemer and the Real Girl

For those of you who have wondered if Hannah is real or if Beemer made her up...

Beemer and Hannah have been friends since the moment they met. They both love all things pink, princesses, playing dress-up, and they are forever devoted to each other!

A, You're Adorable

Much to my chagrin, Beemer has recently developed an attachment to Dora the Explorer. So, when we were singing one day, it didn't surprise me when she suddenly exclaimed, "Mommy, the word adorable has Dora's name in it!" The rest of the conversation still has me laughing:

Me: Yes, it does. Good listening. Is Dora aDORAble?

Beemer: Yes.

Me: Does that make you aBEEMERble?

Beemer (laughing hysterically): Yes! Abeemerble, abeemerble. (short pause) Actually, Mommy, I think I'm aBEEMERpig!

A Fair

Today was the Saint Louis Community College Children's Fair. I got a flyer in the mail and in a moment of complete nostalgia for MASA decided we had to go. So we took the girls and Hannah (Beemer's best friend) and her parents joined us. There was a juggling act, face painting, various educational tables and presentations and, probably Beemer's favorite, a petting zoo.

P.S. For my former RAs reading this post, your Safety Fair totally rocked this one (with the one possible exception of the camel)!

Smiles and Stories

Moments

When Beemer was one month old, I took her for her first portraits. While we were there, the photographer took this shot of the two of us. I didn't think much of it at the time, but I did order a copy for Ahenobarbus and my mom. Since then, MANY people have commented on this picture (my mom still has it in her living room) and I have come to cherish the moment this picture captured.

So, when my mom asked me to recreate the picture with Audi, it only made sense. When I got to the studio though, the picture turned out just a bit different, which worked for me. Different girls, different pictures, similar moments, special memories.

A Trip (or two) to the ER

Friday afternoon, Beemer's fever got high enough (103.5) that I called our pediatrician. After hearing how long the fever had persisted, she recommended that I take Beemer to the ER. (Luckily, I was able to leave Audi with a neighbor as Ahenobarbus was still in Madison - see previous post). Beemer was such a trooper, even though she was so sick. She didn't want to leave my lap, but she did everything the doctors and nurses asked her to do and didn't cry once until they put in her IV.

In her gown with tigers, holding her tiger, right after the IV.

After five hours, a urine sample, chest X-Rays, and blood work, they gave her antibiotics in her IV and sent us home with instructions to come back today. We got home around midnight and I was able to get both girls settled down and in bed by 1:30. Beemer was so peaceful when she finally slept.

She woke up once at 5:30 with her fever high again, but after another dose of Tylenol, she was able to sleep until 10:00 a.m. When we went back to the ER this afternoon, we were told that her test results were all normal (a good thing), which meant that she just has a viral infection. I am relieved to know that I can just let the fever do it's job and run it's course. Beemer seems to be doing better tonight. She isn't back to normal, but she is moving around a bit and smiling occasionally, and I think that is a step in the right direction.

Earthquake

People nearly 900 miles away felt a magnitude-5.2 earthquake that shook southern Illinois early Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of major damage after the predawn quake, which struck at 4:36 a.m. (5:36 a.m. ET).
The epicenter of the earthquake -- the strongest in the region in 40 years -- was about seven miles below ground and 38 miles north-northwest of Evansville, Indiana, the USGS said. Nearly 10,000 people had sent reports of shaking to the USGS Web site by 9 a.m. ET. People as far away as Niceville, Florida, 891 miles away, reported to the USGS Web site that they had felt the quake. Reports also came in from such distant places as West Virginia, Alabama and Kansas.
"Pretty typically for these eastern-central U.S. earthquakes, they're felt over a very broad area," said Dave Applegate, USGS senior science adviser, adding that quakes in California tend to be more localized. The Earth's crust is older and less fractured in the Midwest than in California, and the region's deep sediment "shakes a lot," Applegate said. "Older crust, when you have an earthquake, it rings like a bell," he said. The USGS said the largest historical earthquake in the region -- magnitude 5.4 -- shook southern Illinois in 1968. The earthquake occurred in the Wabash Valley fault system, adjacent to the New Madrid Seismic Zone, Applegate said.
That zone, named for the town of New Madrid, Missouri, was the site of a series of huge tremors in 1811 and 1812. -CNN.com

Apparently, I had to move from Utah to the midwest to be awoken by an earthquake. Ahenobarbus left around 4 am this morning to go to Madison to pick up our second car, so I was alone with the girls when I woke up to the apartment shaking (we are about 150 miles from the epicenter). Windows, doors, and closets were all rattling. I was so out of it that I didn't know what was going on at first. Then, I wasn't sure if it was a tornado or an earthquake (an earthquake was so unexpected here). After the shaking stopped, I almost wondered if I had imagined it. Both girls slept right through it and Ahenobarbus missed it because of the shaking of the train. Since then, I have felt at least one aftershock. I am relieved no one was injured. Interesting morning!

One note: Today is the 102nd anniversary of the San Fransisco earthquake.

Sick

Both of our girls have colds. Beemer got sick 2 weeks ago and after a few days seemed to start getting better. Then Audi got it - her first cold. She had a runny nose, cough and slight fever. She was so miserable, it was sad. Luckily, I think she is on the mend. Unluckily, before Audi got well, Beemer's cough intensified at night. She coughed so hard that she got sick everytime she fell asleep for three days (even when she was propped up). Then Beemer started with a fever - it has come and gone since Thursday. She is still sniffling and coughing too. I am not usually a mother that worries about colds, but with Audi so little and Beemer's cold lingering, I am REALLY ready for this illness to pass!

Studious Beauty

Beemer got these glasses in a goody bag from Sophia's birthday party. We couldn't make the party, but the Zebarth's were kind enough to send the bag along in a package. So Beemer woke up from her nap today to a wonderful surprise - she was so excited, you would have thought it was her birthday. She loved all of the princess goodies and is thrilled to have PINK HEART glasses. (The size of the glasses reminds me of a pair I had in highschool. I can't believe how huge they were or that they were ever even close to cool.)

The New Face of SLU

This is the newest publication from the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Saint Louis University. It highlights their programs in order to solicit donations. It will also give you a few more details about Ahenobarbus' program here.

Now, notice the students pictured.

With Ahenobarbus is our friend Erin.

My favorite part of the brochure is the quote "Saint Louis University attracts some of the best students in the world who come to work on Medieval and Renaissance Studies."

I couldn't agree more!

Intentions

Since Audi was born Beemer has adopted little annoying habits to turn my attention to her when I am feeding Audi, especially when Ahenobarbus is gone. Yesterday, I sat Beemer down and attempted to explain that she doesn't need to torment us for attention. If she wants our attention, she should just ask for it. I thought that I had made some sense to her three year old brain when she immediately went to find Ahenobarbus and promptly asked for his attention. Today, while Ahenobarbus was at school and I was feeding Audi, I found out just how much of our conversation Beemer understood.

Me (as Beemer once again pulled Audi's socks off): Beemer, remember, if you want my attention, please ask for it.

Beemer (patting her chest): But Mom, I already have Dad’s intention.

Me: Dad's gone, don't you want my attention now?

Beemer: Well, I have Daddy’s intention, and Daddy has my intention. But you can give Audi your intention and Audi can give you her intention, if you want her to.

Mommy's Little Helper

For those of you who may not be aware (although I am not sure how you wouldn't be), I have an amazing husband! Although he is busy and doesn't get enough sleep as it is, he willingly takes the nighttime feeding a few times a week so that I can get a bit of extra sleep.

One night in his groggyiness, he left the empty bottle on the floor and Beemer found it the next morning. She immediately requested to feed Audi herself later that day. Beemer did a great job. She was so grown up and even insisted on using the Boppy!

Too Cute for Words

Thanks to Wildbound for taking these adorable shots of our girls!