The girls and I are having a quiet day on the home front today. We've been having some big bedtime issues and I am just worn out as are they. We were really surprised at how well Peanut was handling the accident. For the first few days we were at Gigi's so he could help out with the girls since Daddy and I could hardly move. Then the girls and I headed to SC for a week and half. Upon returning things seemed to be going ok but then vehicle shopping commenced and things went downhill fast. Taking Peanut to the car lots brought on MANY questions about the "fire crash" as she calls it and her memories of the accident. She is pretty skiddish in the car. If we brake too fast or swerve at all, she immediately asks if the car is on fire.
On the way home from SC we passed an area where someone was having a fire. She smelled the smoke and asked if our car was on fire. She is also terrified of a lion getting her at night after having had a friendly, imaginary lion friend for a couple of years. We have told her that lions do not live near our home and that she is completely safe. We even showed her on a map where wild lions live and how far away they are.
Pumpkin has had a hard time readjusting to going to bed in her crib so she has a time of tears after I lay her down. This has never bothered Peanut before until now. It has her completely freaked out. My theory is that Pumpkin's crying and screaming reminds Peanut of the way Pumpkin was in the accident. I don't know but I have a hunch that might be it as it never bothered her before.
The minute Pumpkin starts crying, Peanut starts screaming at the top of her lungs and crying. There is no reasoning with her when she has hit this point even if we have talked all day about how to handle it, how she is safe at bedtime, how Pumpkin will fall asleep but not with Peanut screaming. So I have made a compromise. I am now sitting in their room on the floor by the door until they fall asleep. I am hoping that this does the trick and after a week or so, we can get back to our regular bedtime. I don't know...maybe I am making things worse but I had to do something especially since we have neighbor on the other side of the wall.
We did have a good Father's Day. Peanut and I made Daddy pancakes for breakfast and had an easy day. Later in the evening we took the girls to a new splash pad in town. It was so fun and they had a BALL running through the different sprinklers and fountains.
Their different personalities come blazing through at things like this. Peanut is cautious, checking it all out and giddy with excitement by just a few splashes of water on her. Pumpkin...well, she just runs right into the action giggling with delight as water pours over her face.
We ended our evening at Steak and Shake per Peanut's request. These girls LOVE their Daddy so much!
Thanks to a new friend here in town, we were able to go out on Tuesday childless and shop for a new vehicle. This was a very stressful day for me but we really do feel like we found a great vehicle for a good deal (compared to the other vehicles on our list). We were debating on whether to make the jump from a car family to a mini-van family. We made the jump with a Kia Sedona. We really like our new vehicle as do the girls! Yeah! It feels like we've had it forever already.
We had been renting a red Dodge Charger. That was ALOT of fun to drive around town. Sorry for the weird picture. The lens must have fogged up because it was so hot outside. Oops!
Now we wait for the closing on our house up north. That was supposed to happen on Monday but has been delayed as some things aren't done for the second inspection. We are really anxious for this to just be done. The whole thing has been a roller coaster for us. Somedays it seemed like it was sold and others it seemed like it was falling through. Continue to be in prayer that things fall into place and the closing does take place this week. We really need to close this chapter and move on.
Daddy and I are pretty well healed up now. I still have some pain when I lift my arms over my head but that seems to be about it. I think I will have a scar on my chest where the seat belt got me, but I really don't care about that. In a way it is a reminder to me of what God spared us from. I haven't been able to go back and look at the pictures of the car at all. They make me feel sick to my stomach so I just avoid them. I had to drive past where the accident took place the other day by myself and that was difficult. I was flooded with the memories of that night but again so thankful for how God took care of each one of us.
Please continue to pray for Peanut especially as she continues to deal with her fear and anxiety. Pray for us to have wisdom as to how best to handle each question, memory or fear. It really does make you rethink getting frustrated about silly things and remember how grateful we are that we are all ok and still here together.
Now we will move ahead to birthday preparations for Peanut's 4th birthday on July 28. I have to really wrap my head around the idea of having a 4 year old. How did that happen?
The above picture is like a "Where's Pumpkin?" picture. This is what I found one morning after running upstairs to change my clothes. Pumpkin had fallen asleep on the floor and was hiding amidst the toys that Peanut had dumped all around her. Nice!
