Insights

This week with no t.v. and VERY limited Internet has been insightful.

I've missed reading blogs and catching up on what people are doing on Facebook, though. Our laptop sits on a desk in our family room, so it's accessible and convenient. In order to ensure that I stay away from it, each morning (after I've checked e-mails and briefly checked in on my regular Web sites and such) I close the laptop and leave it that way until the girls are sleeping in the afternoon. I then pop it back open, quickly check e-mails, and do any Internet research that I need to get done, and close it back up until Superman gets home.

I've realized what a habit it was for me to just "pop on" the computer throughout the day. Because it is so convenient right here in the family room, I would check e-mails all day, check in on Facebook, and randomly search for answers on Google. Not having the computer readily available has forced me to engage with our kids when I would otherwise just let them continue on about their business. We did three jigsaw puzzles this week. And in doing that, I discovered that M-Dog is quite the little puzzle master! I never knew he was capable of doing actual jigsaw puzzles. Kind of sad.

Speaking of M-Dog, he turned 5 yesterday! I can't believe it's already been two years since he and N came to us. He has come so far in that time. His language has progressed leaps and bounds, even though he is still far from where he needs to be. As a matter of fact, his speech therapist just assessed him last week, and he is still ranking very very low compared to where he needs to be. On a scale of 1 to a 100 of where other 5-year-olds are verbally, he is at a 4. Yes, you read that right. But, that's ok. I know where he was, and I know where he will be. It's just a matter of time. Here he is on his new Hot Wheels bike:

The other morning, I sat on the couch, gazing through the steam of my coffee to the beautiful day outside. The sun glimmered through the trees and the freshly sprouted green leaves seemed to scream, "SPRING!" It made me thankful to have the t.v. gone, and the computer closed. My life has seemed so simple this week. And even though I miss reading people's blogs every day, I feel like a better mom.

Now I'm off to catch up on everyone's blogs...Monday is, afterall, blogging day!