Evie the Extra

There is just no doubt about it Evie Frances is a giant.  Sure, shes only 50 pounds soaking wet, but she is so big, so spicy, so EXTRA.  Everything about her is big and we have got all of our hands, feet, and hearts full embracing the enormous task of parenting her. Without doubt, she will do great things.....

as long as she doesn't burn the house down......which her curiosity almost did at our buddy's house.  She found matches and while in the bathroom lit several and put them "out" in the trash.  She then proceeded to lie about it......and there we were....in a parenting pickle.

Here's the thing.....extra kids, require extra creativity. Hard immediate "I'm the Mom" discipline rarely works. Curiosity isn't the problem, and isnt something worth disciplining....now lying?  That was the one.

After some prayer and thought I went to ACE and picked up a matchbox of 300 matches.  I then proceeded to make her sit out in the 115 degree heat and light every single one of them.  Once finished, we watched Youtube videos on fire experiments and fire safety.

Then we let our little pyro........play with some fire.

You see Evie is a hands on kid, she is curious and that curiosity isn't satiated by an explanation. She needs to know it.....through doing.  It gets her in a lot of trouble, but the kid does.  No fear.

Remote learning has been darn near a train wreck.  Its not at all suited to Evie's self, and we have now moved into full time homeschooling.  In an effort to help this little tiger we have invested in glasses......

And are also pursuing some gut health, brain health, and everything else that contributes to her extra, EXTRA ness.  It all shouldn't be THIS hard.

Bee, you are you, and there is no one else better suited to the task.  You fill up every space and are simply extra in all the ways.  You fill up our homes, our lives, and our world Bee you are awesome and amazing.

You are purposed for greatness.  Be curious and bold, ask questions, and be a challenger.  Let your empathy run and find yourself in the right races for justice.  Follow Jesus with all of your Extra.  Shine your light.

You are magic, and sunshine, and lighting, and fire.  

And we love all of the extra you!

 

Puppy Down

This blog is such a special place for our family.  Lily has recently really tuned into it and loves telling people all about it.  I have been far less than on top of it this year as our lives have been turned upside down on a regular occasion.  Its so hard to find routine in story telling with life right now.  There is so much to say and yet all the things are so different.  But I digress.

2020 has brought to light so many challenges not just in our family, but in everyones.  I suppose it stands to reason, when you are faced with daily obstacles, and changes that it just makes everything seem bigger, harder, and more difficult.  Death by ducks is what Bob and I always say.  

Last month our sweet puppy Ellie decided to chase a bunny right into the side of a moving car.  She ricocheted off the car, knocked herself out, and ended up breaking her hip.  After an examination at the best pet clinic around (Blue Ridge Pet Clinic), the vet determined that she needed an FHO operation to repair the leg.  Long story short the hip socket broke causing the hip to remain unlocated.  The surgery required that the femoral head be cut off so that the bone would sit flush in the hip and a new "joint" would heal as a result of muscle and scar tissue.  

The surgery was going to cost around 1500 per the vet in the mountains and I would have to wait a couple of days.  Wanting to get the puppy home, I drove up to get her and found a surgical center down here in Peoria that would do the surgery the next day. We woke up and arrived at the surgical center the next day only be be given a quote of 4500 for the surgery.  Bob and I made the tough call to take our puppy back, cancel the surgery and call for a better quote.  After an hour of phone calls we contacted the Blue Ridge Pet Clinic and Dr. Norman who, even though we had left, offered to come in on his day off to do the surgery.....for under 2000.  It was a no brainer, so the girls and I packed up again and headed back to the mountains with our little puppy.

The day of the surgery I took Ellie in, met the doctor, and left her in capable hands.  I went running and got a call from the Doctor that all had gone well and that we could pick Ellie up at the end of the day.

Ellie did amazing and thanks to our amazing vet, our bill was 1645......not 4500.  I will forever be grateful for Dr. Norman.

Ellie came home very subdued but well.  Our first night was rough as she was navigating a sore hip and having to wear a cone.  The next morning Memaw and I made the call to see if she would get a long all right without the cone, and she did.  That thing is a pain in the butt.

.  After that first night she did so great.

And just spent her first days of recovery sleeping in her favorite spot under the bed.

The girls and I had a wonderful few days enjoying the cool mountains, hiking, and getting out of the heat.

Ellie is such a little fighter and we are so hopeful that she will make a recovery.  One thing is for sure, keeping her down and convincing her to rest has been a hard task (no wonder she is my spirit animal).

Evie had a super blast up in the mountains because she met a new friend who had not only a bunny, but a pony, and a trampoline!

Our little puppy is down, but certainly not out.  Over the past month she has made great strides and is no into physical therapy and swimming (she is so much drama) but every time she cries and wags her tail I remind her that there are so many trails to run!

If there is one thing my little pup has taught me through this is to continue being resilient.  Her spirit has not wavered once and she doesnt see herself as crippled.  What happened that day, has not shaken her joy. She has picked up 3 legged life without pause and keeps looking at me with those big blue eyes.  Ellie lives wholly right now, she doesn't look back, just continually moves forward.  

I am so grateful for her and the smile she always puts on my face. 

2nd Grade

Dear Bee,Girlfriend, you are spicy!  There is a whole lot of power and light and bigness inside of you, and darling, Dad and I feel a little bit like we may have a tiger by the tail.  

You are in 2nd grade this year and while remote learning is not what I would have wanted for you, here we are.  And lets be honest, our first week together was a hot mess!  Everyone was frustrated and frankly kiddo, I don't blame you for feeling all the things.  I wanted to rage quit too!

But like always, we Longmires get through it because WE CAN DO HARD THINGS right?  Girlie, you are so big.  Your personality, your emotions, your love, your attitude, its so big.  

You are so special little girl.  You are so strong.  Your strength is not just in your physicality and ability to do headstands, but in your strength of self.  You are just not afraid to be you.  You fight hard for the things that matter to you and its been a great challenge for us to help you learn that you do not have to die on every hill.  That strength is so GOOD Bee, it is, and God is going to use it mightily, but dang girlie, your fight has got spice!

Bee, your Daddy and I love you so much and I won't lie, the first week of school hurt our hearts a lot.  I know, yours was hurting too.  What a rough time, but we are moving forward and trusting that the Lord is going to bring us through the other side of this pandemic with more grace, compassion, and character than we would otherwise have had.

I am so excited to see how you  are going to grow and change and learn during this weird time of COVID.  Be bold and hopeful for what you will do and how you will grow.  I am so grateful for you Evie Bee and love you far more than you know.

Love Mom.