Surgery

I had surgery almost 2 weeks ago; just a hysterectomy no big deal. The unfortunate part about the surgery is the recovering time. A whole six weeks of doing pretty much nothing. Lucky for me I have had a lot of help. Umma was here one week, Kim the next and Dan one week. The kids have responded well to the surgery.
After I got home from the hospital (I stayed 2 nights) Amelia and Jack ran out to see me. They were pretty surprised to see me moving so slow. Jack wanted to see me incision, I showed him and Amelia. Jack immediately blurted out, "That looks like it hurts!"
Over the next day or so the boys kept coming in the room to check on me. I was sleeping quite a bit but would stir when they came in. The first day I was there Jack thought I was dead. He insisted that Dada come check to see if I was breathing. I was laying half sitting up with my mouth wide open, I know pretty picture, but I am sure I reminded him of what Grampa looked like the last time the kids saw him.
Jacob was real nervous when I came home. He didn't come and see me.. He didn't want to see my incision. He was pretty caution around me and unsure of the situation. Of course that translated into him being a bit of a pill. After a couple days of that I told him I was going to be fine so he could stop acting that way because he will always get in trouble because it is the same as usual. He just smiled and said ok. Since then he as been better.
I think the kids are ready for me to be well already (me too). Jack asked me yesterday to take a walk with him down the road. I told him I'm sorry but my owie wasn't healed yet. I could see in his face he was trying to figure out how to get around that. Now the kids just kinda float in and out of my bedroom updating me on things going on in the house. Jacob came up to inform me that Jack counted to 100 and at first Jack wouldn't do his work but now he has a good attitude, poor Dada. A little while later Jack came up for a high five, hug, kiss and "I'm proud of you" for his accomplishment.
Amelia seems content with the whole situation. She has her mom very stationary to give her attention and to play ponies with her. She hasn't even minded not being carried. She gets in and out of the car pretty good. As of now she has her personal Sherpa Dada so things may change next week.

Jacob

Before Christmas as a family we were driving in the car when Jacob asked us a series of questions. He wanted to know if you had to believe in Santa, Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit and angles to get a present from Santa. I told him no you didn't have to believe in Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit and angels to get a present. I pointed out that Maysen and Mackenzie didn't believe in that but they still get presents. I could  visually see that this perplexed Jacob.
He then asked us if Santa was real. I countered with my usual question back, "Do you think he is real?" He said he didn't believe in Santa. He said he believed in Jesus. I told him that was ok because Santa was for fun, that he doesn't really matter. Jacob seemed more at ease with this answer.
I did ask Jacob if someone told him Santa was not real. Jacob told me no, so I am not sure where he came up with these questions. I find it interesting that he thinks so deeply about his beliefs this young.

Jacob

Jacob had his first run in with school yard bullies today. His friend from the bus was being "bullied" so Jacob said he helped him out. I am not sure how he helped but he did. Jacob said the other boys couldn't catch him because he was so fast. He did mention that he got caught once and then "slammed down." He said the other boys needed to learn respect and that he showed his friend he cared for him by helping.
I have to say he is one of the sweetest little boys I know. He is always trying to do the right thing; it makes me very proud of him.
As Jacob was recounting this encounter to me I was trying to play the real cool mom but geez I was a little worried about it. I don't want older boys slamming me little guy in the ground! I hope I communicated to him enough that if he needs help I can help him or his teacher. As of now he said him, Ryan (the kid being picked on) and Shea (some other boy) could handle it.

Amelia

Amelia has now realized she can get out of bed in the night! Almost every night for the last week I hear little footsteps in the night and then, "in bed?" She comes up right next to my face and asked to get in. Of course it is the cutest thing opening my eyes seeing her in her little jammies, her hair all messed up and her little sleepy face looking at me. We tried letting her get into bed with us but that didn't work. One because she thinks its party time in the bed. She would roll, sing, talk, "snuggle" and not go to sleep for hours. Second she kicks! The covers are too hot for her so she tries to kick her way out of the covers, along with us. So now she goes right back to her bed, which she doesn't like. Our compromise so far is that she can get into bed once Dada leaves for work. That seems to placate her for now.

"Play ponies?"

Amelia is obsessed with My Little Ponies right now. For Christmas Umma and Uppa got her a My Little Ponies princess castle and a handful of My Pretty Ponies. Amelia keeps all the ponies in a old purse of Umma's. She drags her pony castle around with one hand (it is not a small castle!) and her bag of ponies around asking everyone, "Play ponies?" She goes in order from me, to Dada, to Jacob and finally Jack. She is very excited when someone actually plays with her and of course brought to tears if someone says no. I am hoping she will eventually play by herself. Until then I am allotted a couple ponies to fly around.