I think we did TOO much yesterday.  I was so tired at the end of the day there was NO blogging for me.

Yesterday's was Jessica's Sweet 16 Birthday Party.  You can see all the pictures here.  I have discovered that the older my kids get, the easier the parties get.  At this point, all they need is a place and food and they do the rest.  I got up yesterday morning, cleaned the kitchen, made the food for the party and re-cleaned the kitchen.  When Marty got up, he wrote to his father, "She Got more done this morning than we did all week"  I felt like it.  I had gotten a lot done by 7:30.

I was to have gone to work yesterday morning. One Saturday a month we have a meeting from 7:30-9:30.  Yesterday was that corporate meeting. However when Marty got up, it was obvious that he did not want me to leave him.  I decided I have worked plenty of extra Saturdays and I would skip this one (Sorry Teddie and Diana). 

Marty's mother asked Marty what he wanted for breakfast.  He wrote, "Chicken Fried steak, eggs, Bisguts & Gravy Hash Brns."  I told him it sounded like we needed to go out to breakfast.  He shook his head no and just smiled.  He loves to tease his mother.  We will be sad to see them leave on Wednesday.  It's been nice and a lot of fun having them here.

Marty's sense of humor really has stayed very strong.  Even though he has his hard days, laughter helps to ease some of the tense moments.  Yesterday was a day of one liners.  Here are a few:

• "It would go faster if she didn't Have to listen to the Penut Gallery" - When Marty's dad was asking his mom if breakfast was ready yet
• "I think the Drgree she Wants is A MRS anyway" when discussing what college Addyson should attend
• "Birds, Squirls, Deer - I'm going to need a lot of Ammo" when asking him if we should put feeders out back so he can watch the animals more
• "Should we Stay and Sun tan" when Jessica and friends got out of the icy lake (more on that later)
• "Do I have time to Get Drunk Before people come over" Marty doesn't drink but was anticipating the noise of a party - we already had plans to get him out of the house
• "Dad and I should go make Some money off the kids In pool" when he heard some of the kids playing pool downstairs
• "Can you make me a Sign that says - You Don't Have To GO Home But You Need to Get the Hell Out of Here" he wrote this with a big grin on his face.  Marty's doesn't usually swear, so this was unusual.  He wrote this when the party was supposed to be over, but some of the kids hadn't left yet.
• "needs Decaf" when referring to one of Jess's hyper friends

I am thankful that Marty doesn't take everything seriously.  He really can be just like a big kid.

Jessica got up yesterday morning with a plan to go jump in the lake with her friends.  It has been on her bucket list.  It's been a little cold the last few days.  The shores of the lake still had patches of snow on it.  I insisted that the girls wear life jackets, even though they thought they were good swimmers.  When we got to the lake the air temperature was 40 degrees and the sun was just peaking over the hills.  I'm sure the water temperature was in the 30's.  Here's the video.  I show it for two reasons. 

1. I love Jessica's love for life.  She has an amazing list of things she wants to accomplish in her life (her bucket list).  She is not afraid to do things and try things.  She does everything 100%.
2. Marty's right side is slowly but surely getting stronger.  Watch him work to help these girls out of the water.

In order to warm these girls up, we took them right home.  Thankfully we have three showers and two hot water heaters so they were all able to shower at the same time.  While they cleaned up Marty, his parents and I all headed to Sam's club to pick up some necessities.  Why is it that you always run out of EVERYTHING at the same time.  Toilet paper, paper towel, soap, deodorants, water, tons of really expensive things.  That Sam's trip was a bear!

Something that we have noticed with Marty that didn't happen before is he sweats if he hasn't eaten.  After his list of all the things he wanted for breakfast, he didn't end up eating anything.  By the time we got to Sam's he was drenched in sweat on that cold morning.  Thankfully Sam's cafe was open and serving fresh food.  After a hot dog and Mr Pibb, he felt much better.

One of Jessica's friend's Brendan has been coming over nearly every day to read to Marty.  He came over a little before the party in order to have time to read to Marty.  When he walked in he had two presents.  He mentioned one was for Jess and one was for Marty.  He went down stairs and a few minutes later returned with Jessica and her friends.  Before we knew it, they were spraying Marty with Silly String (Brendan's present for Marty)


I wish I'd gotten an after picture.  He was almost completely encased.  However the fumes of all the silly string were intoxicating so I was focused on airing out the house, not on taking pictures.  Jessica was super excited to pay back her dad after he woke her up with Silly String last Sunday.



For dinner last night we decided as adults to just go out.  Jessica was on her first date.  Tucker was the lucky guy with that distinction.  Wish I'd taken a picture of them, but I think they would have thought that was creepy.  Addyson was out with friends.  Rylee was going to babysit, but that got cancelled.  So Rylee stayed home to play on the computer and we went out to dinner.

Marty LOVES pizza.  We have an excellent Chicago style pizza place here in Bella Vista.  I asked him if he thought he'd be up to the crowd's.  He said he'd give it a try.  I told him if it gets too loud or difficult, we'd box it all up and come home.  He did pretty good.  He watches people.  We were seated in the bar area with the TV's on playing the 49'ers vs Saints game.  He just kept looking around the room, occasionally glancing at the TV.  I don't believe he understands or can follow football yet.  His reactions were not consistent to the way he used to watch football.  He was VERY calm.

During dinner our discussion turned to reading.  Marty wrote:

"I can Read the Baby Book people Have given us.  But I Don't Want to.  I want to Read My Books"

"I have lots and lots of Books.  I want to Read My Books"

My family pitched in and bought an IPAD for Marty thinking that this may help to give him another avenue to communicate with people, learn to read better, stimulate his mind, etc.  It arrived yesterday.  Marty quickly pulled it out and started playing with it.  It is amazing to me that he is able to use it so easily.  The regular computer frustrates him.  He can't figure out how to type and how to use the mouse.  However, touch is something he can do.  Marty has yet to read his scriptures since the stroke.  However yesterday he was able to get a font large enough for him to easily read and was even able to search for a scripture.  The scripture he searched and was proud to show us, Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

What a tender mercy to be able to study the scriptures again.  Marty used to spend hours a day studying.  It was great for him to be able to spend a few minutes yesterday.  Thank you so much to my brothers, sister and parents for this gift.

After dinner last night we went to Walmart to buy a cover and screen protector for the IPAD.  When we walked by the case of IPADs Marty noticed the price on them.  He was visibly upset and motioned to return it.  He no longer wanted it.  It took all of us reassuring him that my family wanted to help and this was the only way they knew to help.  I think this morning he's okay with it, as he's already used it to read a scripture on it.  He is so overwhelmed by everyone's generosity.  He doesn't understand why our family and friends are all being so kind.  Every time he walks into the kitchen and notices another plate of goodies that have been brought over he asks why.  I just tell him that everyone loves him.  I know that I can say this for many people.

Marty, I love you!