I started my day off by scrubbing my bathtub, cleaning the toilet, and mopping every single mop-able (is that a word?) surface in my house. Whew! That being done, I moved on to the laundry and dishes. There's nothing like a ton of housework to get your birthday started off right! At 12 (lunchtime) we had to take the kids to a birthday party at the park. I tried to tell the momma throwing this party that it really was going to be too hot to have Delaney out as sick as she's been, but she seemed so hurt that I had planned on not bringing the girls, so I agreed to bring them and warned her that we wouldn't be staying long. Two hours later we finally left. Thankfully it didn't get as hot as the weather predicted and we were surrounded by shade trees. Delaney did just fine at the party, but was a little cranky and not very playful. I tried to keep her away from the other party goers. Lord knows the child doesn't need any more exposure to germs than necessary. After leaving the park, we came home and started planning for my birthday dinner. I decided to have a cookout for my birthday this year. We (hubby & I) never celebrate my birthday or our anniversary so I thought a cookout would be a good Bday thing...and easy to plan! My parents & sister came over to the house and we had a nice time just sitting around watching the kids play, eating, talking, and laughing. The bad thing about throwing a party at your home? You have to clean up the mess! Believe me, between 5 adults and 4 kids, there's bound to be a lot of mess. Luckily, we used disposable dishes. We just had to haul out a ton of garbage. Birthday finally ended (sigh of relief) and I went to bed. LONG day finally over! I also wanted to finally get to posting about the girls' graduations. Paisley finished up Kindergarten and Destiny finished 2nd grade.
Where did the time go? Seems like only yesterday that I was sending them off on the first day! I really enjoy having my girls home with me for the summer, but I sure have learned that it's harder to handle Laney's many appointments with the sisters around to distract her. She just doesn't want to participate in therapy with them around. *sigh* There really isn't a lot to tell about the graduations. They were pretty much what you would expect from a graduation at an elementary school. Both nights, the gymnasium was crowded, hot, and stuffy. My girls were the prettiest ones (does that seem bias?) in their graduating classes. I got lots of pictures and we had a really good time. I hardly cried at all! I was so proud to see them both get their diploma. Paisley got a reading award for reading 399 books this year and Destiny got one for reading 75 chapter books this year. I'm hoping my girls will grow up loving to read....just like their momma! I wanted to update about something I've mentioned in the past. I have been trying to get healthier and lose some of this extra weight I gained since having the girls. Almost my entire adult life I've struggled with my weight. Seemed like I gained a pound every time I went on a diet! In January, I decided to change my shopping habits. Less junk food bought = fewer pounds gained. I also started eating smaller portions. I lost 15 pounds between my first weight check and my next weight check (month later). I was thrilled to see that scale at a smaller number, but I wanted an even smaller number...still do actually. I am happy to report that I have now lost a total of 48 pounds. I even had to go shopping for some new summer shorts & Capri's because mine were falling off! It was so much fun shopping this time around because I got to shop in a whole different part of the store! No plus size shorts for me this summer! I still have about 40 pounds more to lose, but I'm taking it slow. I'll get there eventually. Delaney is doing well in therapy. We are still doing aqua therapy, OT, and PT. She LOVES her occupational therapist, Debbie. 
Her aquatic therapy is REALLY helping alot. She's been doing all of her therapy at the Blount Memorial Rehab. Center and they have an indoor pool. Before she started therapy, I hated to put her in the bathtub! She screamed from the time we went into the bathroom until the last little hair on her head was dry. It was such an ordeal! After playing in the pool at the rehab center, Delaney LOVES water and tries to climb into the tub every time she gets into the bathroom. You should see her look out the window at our swimming pool! Or better yet, you should see her in the pool! 
I'm going to really have to watch her about playing outside now. Especially now that she's... 
WALKING!!! She'll be climbing the sides of the pool like a little spider-girl! Home life has been better lately. I've learned to let all the drama go. I stay away from the my in-laws and they stay away from me. It's much nicer that way. We are still looking in to moving. I hate to pull the kids away from the only home they've ever known. I think we are more focused on staying in this town now. i really like the schools here and Destiny wasn't very happy about leaving her friends behind and moving so far away. To be honest though, we really have another HUGE reason for staying in this town. 
Her name is Krysta. She is 5 years old and she has lived with her grandmother since she was a week old. She is Paisley's best friend and all 3 of my girls just LOVE her. We all do. Her grandmother is an older lady and doesn't get around very good anymore. Krysta spends alot of time at our house. Krysta's grandma worries about Krysta having a happy childhood. She told me that Krysta wishes we were her momma & daddy. She wants parents more than anything-siblings too. I was thrilled that Krysta loves us so much and quickly told her grandma that "I wish Krysta WAS my little girl. If you ever decide to let her go, send her our way! I'd take her in a heartbeat!" That's how the discussion got started for us to possibly make Krysta a permanent member of our family! There are legalities involved, of course, and we still have a lot of discussion and decision making ahead of us, but it's a very real possibility that Krysta will finally get the momma & daddy that she wants so badly...US!!!! I promised Krysta's grandmother that she would always have a place in her life. I could NEVER keep Krysta away from her grandmother. I know the idea of letting Krysta be a part of our family hurts her more than she lets on. She told me one time that Krysta is her heart. She just wants a better life for Krysta, with young parents and other kids to play with. Krysta slips sometimes and calls my hubby "daddy" and you should see how his heart melts. We want what's best for her and her happiness. I trust that God will lead us all to the right path in this. Either way, that little girl has totally stolen all of our hearts. I had planned to talk about a few more things, but this post is turning into a novel, so I'll end it here and try to tuck the rest of my updates away for another post on another day. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer so far.
