{at least your tongue isn't bleeding}

Before Callie was "officially" evaluated today my parents were told that she would remain another week. She is working really hard on her walking skills. It could be a ways out before she is back in the groove entirely but she definitely knows what she needs to do and knows that she WANTS to do it! She is off her meds, off her feed tube and more alert and stable every single day. She is doing absolutely amazing!

Tomorrow I am heading down to the valley with my boys, Amber and Brinley. Plus a car load of garage sale items for Callie's benefit yard sale in a few weeks. I can't wait to see her and hopefully get to join in on some of her therapy sessions. I have not seen the little warrior woman in over two weeks and SO much has changed since then. So yay!

Brinley has stayed with us the last couple of days. Bossy Pants is really diggin' the play pal idea! This morning when he woke up he came into my room, dragged me by the arm to his room and pointed at sleeping Brinley, with a 100 watt smile, "Winnie!" It was just like Christmas morning as he realized he was one good hair pulling away from having someone to play cars with ALL morning long! It will be so fun when Baby Boy is old enough to keep up with the energetic, sometimes crazy, big brother!

Today we decided to whip out the mixer and make some

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies! My little helpers were great and I couldn't help but smile when both of them had eyes bulging out of their heads as I dumped in the chocolate chips. Oh the joys of childhood! They turned out super delish! We went ahead and walked a plate over to the new neighbors. I told Matt my plans, and he told me I should have lived in Mayburry. Well honestly, Mayburry would suit me just fine. Bossy Pants out in his overalls, no shirt at all. Coming home with a frog in his pocket and his homemade fishin' pole. Yup. I think that would be just fine. But back to my story.

After taking cookies to the neighbors {who were very friendly by the way} Bossy Pants and Winnie decided to take the Rhino out for a spin. {The Gage sized Rhino of course} Well Bossy Pants drove for a while and became entirely frustrated by his lack of understanding of all the gears and knobs and pedals so he hopped in back and let Winnie take the wheel. They were having a grand old time. Bossy Pants held that bossy little finger out in front of Winnie and led the way. As a loving and faithful auntie, she of course did his bidding. About 20 minutes into their excursion, tragedy struck in the form of a "bit tongue". Apparently Bossy Pants was not prepared for one of Winnie's abrupt stops and he chomped right down on it! It was bleeding pretty good so I grabbed him up and took him inside to get a cloth. Bossy Pants is sitting in the sink nursing his wounds, I'm of course being super mom, and Winnie is looking up at him with a face of pure concern.

Winnie: "Is he going to be okay?"

Me: "Yes he will be fine. His tongue is just bleeding."

Winnie: "Oh. At least Callie didn't bite her tongue."

Me: "Yeah that is good for Callie."

Winnie: "Yeah. Poor Gage. And poor Callie, but at least her tongue isn't bleeding."

I guess a bleeding tongue would have really just been too much! ha ha It reminded me of Pollyanna and her 'Glad Game'. I think maybe I should play that game more often....

My back is sore, my legs are achy and my eyelids weigh 10 pounds each. But I am glad, I mean REALLY GLAD, that my day has been spent playing with, loving on, bouncing and chasing around the sweetest men there ever were!

I have a sign in my house that says There is always, always, always something to be thankful for. Yes there is indeed!

So if your day has been rough and your feeling a little downer...at least your tongue isn't bleeding!

{Lots of Love. Ash}

Tuesday, October 21st

11:36 p.m.