First Texan room design!

Don't get too excited. It's just a small study nook for the big girls. And, it only took me 3 months to complete. But, hey. It's a step. :)

Tonight, we start on the big girls bedroom. It's much smaller than the room they came from- so we need major reorganization. But who can reorganize a STERILE, FLAT WHITE PAINTED ROOM? Not me. We are sticking with neutrals, but neutrals can be warm (or cool!), and inviting. AND you should be able to wipe off sticky finger marks, or the occasional pencil drawing. ;) But before I start on that..... here's this project (mainly done!). See you in 3 more months!! :D

I'm completely, and totally, into blues. Any shade. This is one of my favorite shades!

Find some of those personal frames laying around, and add a few..... Leah, and her shoes.

Add some sayings you want your kids to live by.

Go to TJ Maxx's clearance section for adorable accessories! Love these pillows (less than $7 per). I've had great luck with Overstock's furniture pieces this year. Perfect chairs!

Hobby Lobby clearance! "Happiness is not a destination, it is a way of life." VERY important words for me, AND my kids.

Jenna and Daddy.

Leah and Daddy.

Thanks for looking!!

From small town Indiana....

.... to the 4th largest city in the US. But we DID it!

We've been here for 5 weeks. We made it in just days before the big girls started school- K, and 2nd. They are pretty well settled in-- making new friends, getting invited to dance classes, playing nearly every day with our neighbors-- and although a BIG adjustment from private to public, no major problems yet.

I certainly miss the Christian aspect of school back home (can I say 'home' when this is... 'home' now?), and we are still trying to find a church home. We found one that has an amazing kids area, and great music, but the message (and deliverance) has just been 'ok.' We have a couple more to try, and thankfully, the kids don't mind the bouncing around.

The boy sits 6th on a waiting list for the preschool we want him to attend. Not bad-- but I'm ready, and he certainly is ready. There is only so much car-playing, and a little decorating, we can do in a day.  Plus, I desperately need some one on one time with Norah. In the meantime, he's obsessed with the iPad, and PBS kids. I caught him trying to ride a scooter down the slide yesterday.....

We did join a MOMs group, and that's fun! They have tons of planned activities-- sometimes I'm gung-ho for GPS'ing AND mapquest'ing and, inevitably, getting lost trying to find these places-- and other times I just want to hang out at home and get the house in order. I'm generally a home-body, and one of my greatest passions is decorating.... so that has been winning most days!

Some things that are different here: It's HOT. It's a short 5 minute walk to/from school. We don't have a mailbox in front of the house, it's around the corner with everyone else's. It's HOT. Garbage picks up twice a week, and they walk the can back up to the garage. Driving is different- the expressway exits are different, the stoplights are different, there are a MILLION interstates, with a SQUILLION cars on them. Did I mention that it's HOT?!

We survived Jason's first international trip while here..... barely, but we survived.

Back to decorating.... I think I'm going to blog some of that as I get the rooms done. I love it, simply. I have a nice, empty palette in my new, pretty house. THE WORLD IS MY OYSTER! Pics to come. :)

To my children....

I didn't write it, but I cried reading it. Thank you, God, for my blessings.

May you be blessed with all things good.

May your joys, like the stars at night, be too numerous to count.

May your victories be more abundant than all the grains of sand

on all the beaches on all the oceans in all the world.

May lack and struggle be always absent from your life

and may beauty order and abundance be your constant companions.

May every pathway you choose lead to

that which is pure and good and lovely.

May every doubt and fear be replaced by a deep abiding trust

as you behold evidence of a Higher Power all around you.

And when there is only darkness and the storms of life are closing in

May the light at the core of your being illuminate the world.

May you always be aware you are loved beyond measure

and may you be willing to love unconditionally in return.

May you always feel protected and cradled in the arms of God,

like the cherished child you are.

And when you are tempted to judge may you be reminded

that we are all ONE and that every thought you think reverberates

across the universe, touching everyone and everything.

And when you are tempted to hold back,

may you remember that love flows best when it flows freely

and it is in giving that we receive the greatest gift.

May you always have music and laughter

and may a rainbow follow every storm.

May gladness wash away every disappointment.

May joy dissolve every sorrow and my love ease every pain.

May every wound bring wisdom and every trial bring triumph

and with each passing day may you live

more abundantly than the day before.

May you be blessed

And may others be blessed by you.

This is my heartfelt wish for you.

By Kate Nowak

Precious 3 year old prayers....

*** From March.... I couldn't get the audio to upload until now ***

First, this is what you need to know:

A neighboring town, just a few miles away, was devastated by deadly tornadoes just a month ago.

"TOMATO" = tornado.

The boy has had tremendous trouble with his ear. (His butt?? Not sure about that one. :D)

Jenna had just hurt her neck a couple of days before.

"BITCH" = fish. (I swear I don't make him ask people "if they're his fish." Bahahahahahaha!)

His monster truck book is one of his prized possessions.

Papa has a motorcycle, which Mitchell prays is "covered" up at night. :)

Now, on to one of the sweetest prayers you'll ever hear......

Well, life won.

I miss blogging! But who has the time? I feel like I spend enough time on my computer and iphone as it is, but I've decided that this blog is special to me, and something I truly enjoy. So, I'm back. :) Who knows how often I'll post, but I hope it's semi-regularly. I just need approximately 10 more hours in a day.

What's going on around here?

The 'baby' just turned ONE. Somehow that first, sweet year, gets faster and faster. And faster. Norah is a precious, feisty little angel. She loves her Momma... and Dada, and her brother and sisters. She loves crackers, and hot dogs, and bath time. She loves for me to put bows and clips in her hair, but could do without diaper changes. She still sleeps 12-13 hours at night. AND takes 1-2 naps. Sleep training education, anyone? :)

Mitchell is a turd. I blame it on his chronic ear infections (just had his 3rd ear surgery in the past few months).... but it may be his personality. Or the fact that he's 3. He is SO much fun, but he doesn't take crap from anybody! He just got a big boy bed, and he loves it. No problems at night or naptime. Thank goodness! He has always fit into the family in that way- we all LOVE our sleep. He is currently obsessed with monster trucks, and is finding a love for baseball. I love watching him, left handedly, hit the ball. Can't wait for the summer!! His best little friend in preschool is a girl, and he adores her. :)

Jenna is finishing preK.... and is so, overly excited to start kindergarten! Her writing is improving quickly, and she's interested in learning to read. Her friends are still her WORLD. Including a new little neighbor friend that isn't so nice. She had to learn a hard lesson, at a young age, that family comes first. And if someone treats our brother or sisters bad, they're really not a friend. Oh, and she LOVES reading the Bible. I love this kid. Even if she does cry. ALOT. :)

Leah has grown up tremendously. Sometimes I think I still treat her like she's a baby.... because in my heart, she IS. Then I see her big ol' feet! That's truly what does it for me. She's all grown up.... 6.5, going on 20, still. She's way too big for her britches. She has had a WONDERFUL winter healthwise. I could NOT be happier about that. She is growing her hair long to donate it to Locks of Love. I love this kid's heart. Lastly, I mastered french braiding.... so now I'm awesome. :)

Our house is still on the market. I feel like we are getting somewhere with final details from the company.... and hope that the timing of it all works out smoothly. We'll be finishing the school year here, no matter what, and if our house sells, hopefully settling quickly there so as to start school on time. I don't consider myself a high-stress person, but I've found something to prove me wrong. My OCD (which peaks in my house cleanliness) gets me every time we have a showing. My kids will, without a doubt, seek therapy in 20 years or so.... telling the therapist "I just keep hearing my mom say 'don't mess that up, we have a showing;' 'who made this mess?'" I'm ready to just be a family on the weekends, and to let my kids play like kids. Sigh.

I love my life. Not every minute of every day- but at the end of the day, I know I'm right where I should be. We don't know what the next few months will hold for us, but wherever we will be, we will be a family..... hopefully, with more time to just sit and enjoy that. It's all going by too, too fast.

I'm blessed, and extremely thankful. One of my favorite reminders: "What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday? What would you have?"

They certainly pick up quick.

We're not doing anything, Mom.

But we sure are cute.

"Hey Norah, do 'dis......"

What?! I have one, too?!....  

THERE IT IS!!

I could eat her.

**Sophie is our funny giraffe friend.....

Do you have a hard time....

..... tossing stuff like this, too?

Leah's writing. The day we brought Norah home. I asked her if she wanted to help me keep up with nursing and diaper change times on our new baby.

LOVE.

Counting. In a wife-beater.

Sweet little Norah Jane.

"You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need." -Rolling Stones.

I'm ONLY quoting this song because it was part of church sermon last weekend.... yes, church! And ALL I could think of was my sweet, perfect baby Norah.

I wanted another boy so bad. Oh..... SO BAD. And, I just knew she was one. My pregnancy with her was very similar to that of Mitchell's- way worse- but similar. I told the ultrasound tech to "find the parts, and let me tell her what I was having." I knew I could spot a kickstand. But, no kickstand. Then I saw the "cheeseburger" and I said "IS IT A GIRL?"

"Oh, it's definitely a girl," I was told.

HUH.

I was sad- heck, I was SO sure of a boy, I had purchased things (dumb, I know)- and then I was mad at myself for being so childish.

Leah, however, wanted a girl SO BAD, and she was SO THRILLED, I got over it. Yep- thanks to the 5 year old! And, of course, because I know how fragile life can be, and that it's a miracle anyone ever has a healthy baby. Here I was, being blessed with my FOURTH healthy baby. Yep, I got over it. And other than occasionally teasing Norah that she was supposed to be Nolan, I got over it, and became VERY thankful.

So, I dropped my Nolan Andrew thoughts, and traded them in for Norah Jane. I fought for Norah Beth, but I promised Jason we could use Jane if he'd only go for ONE MORE. Oh.... let's back up.

Jason wanted to schedule his big V after Mitchell. I talked him into waiting until Mitchell was 18 months old. During that time, I got my game face on.... and around Mitchell's first birthday, I convinced Jason that we would try for ONLY one month over the summer. "Let's leave it up to fate," I said. Plus, since I'm a repeat c-section, I offered to have a tubal, so he could skip the snip.

Summer came..... he thought I'd forget. And, he thought I was out of my mind. He quickly told me "Not one full month- just ONCE. ONE TIME." Ok. I can totally work with that.

BAM.... Meet Norah.

This child of mine.... oh my, she's precious. Possibly, the happiest baby we've EVER had. And, with the exception of Jenna (lol), they were all happy! She smiles first with her eyes, just one millisecond before she breaks into a full smile. I have to sneak into her room- to give her a ninny, cover her up, start her mobile- quiet as a mouse. Then, I have to literally hide and try to do my business. If she sees a face, it's over. HUGE grin, little giggles, then she forgets it's time to go to sleep! She's even gotten smart over the past couple of weeks.... and she'll follow my arm up to my hiding face!

I love this kid. It's no secret that my calling, and the happiest times of my life, lie in getting to know my kids as newborns and infants. My heaven? It smells like my sweet, angelic babies as newborns.

- She thrives on attention. If she has it, she's happier than happy.

- If she doesn't have attention, you will know about it.

- She cries louder than any baby I've EVER heard. Her first night in our hospital room, I thought someone was abducting her. With a fish hook. Turns out it's just her cry.

- She looked just like Leah her first few months, but now I'm seeing a little switch to Jenna.

- She has a tiny head.

- She more than likely has Jenna's metabolism. We spend a lot of time together at 5 am.

- She hates carrots so far. ((that's as far as we've gotten))

- She did awesome at nursing in the hospital, but once home, she got her latch all wrong. It took me nearly 3 weeks, and lots of pain, to get it right. More so than all the other babies combined.

- I was so sick with her while pregnant, and all the other kids did their fair share to expose her to lots of other stuff. She should be pretty much immune to EVERYTHING.

- I can't believe she's coming up on 5 months. REALLY?!

- I have her birth announcements, but haven't sent a ONE. Sorry, sweetie.... you're number 4. What more can I say?

- She's my only child with a birthmark.

- She has two favorite blankets- made by a friend- that are wool. She webs her fingers and toes through them, and sleeps so wonderfully. It's gotta be hot under there, especially THIS summer!

- She makes me want more. Surprised??

I thought I knew what I wanted-- another boy. But I wasn't meant to have two boys.... I got what I needed. What WE needed. Sweet Norah Jane. We love you, baby girl.

My Mitchell Wade....

After having two girls, I didn't know what I was getting into with a boy.

Mitchell was our little souvenir brought home from a fabulous trip to Hawaii. I knew that I was pregnant with him within HOURS. No joke. It took what seemed like forever for a test to prove it-- but I had serious heartburn and craved donuts the next day. NO LIE. Jason thought I was nuts, and was annoyed with the mini fortune I spent on pregnancy tests. Had I not told a couple of girlfriends from that moment, no one would ever believe that story.

My pregnancy was TOTALLY different than with the girls, but I still fully expected to have another girl. It was all I knew. I was even a little sad to find out I was having a boy, with all the hype (in my head) about having 3 girls. 'She' would have been Ella.

But I was finally going to get my Mitchell Wade. I cared for a Mitchell my first year at Kosair, in 2000, who I grew to love- and loved the name even more. Wade is a family name, and I've always wanted to use it.

He was my favorite pregnancy. Even at nearly 39 weeks at Christmastime- with (c)ankles in equal diameter to the skirt around my Christmas tree. As a matter of fact, after our Christmas Eve party (hosted at our home), Jason got a lovely stomach bug, so I had to play Santa all alone (which in this house, is no small feat). After our Christmas morning festivities, I dragged the kids, alone, to the family Christmas, then home to rest.

December 26th was a shopping day, of course. The 27th, we rested, and played with Christmas gifts. Until late that night, when labor began. I was a scheduled C-section, for December 30th, but as with Jenna, I didn't make it.

Mitchell was born around 9:30 am on December 28th. I still didn't really believe he was a boy, until I met him as one. My most fond memory of his delivery? The "OOHS!" and "AAHS!" and even one "You've got you a big one!" He weighed in at 9 pounds, 4 ounces, and was absolutely content from his first breath.

My hospital stay flew by. We left without Mitchell passing his hearing screening, and needing bili lights, but we headed home to practice as a family of 5 on New Years Eve. We were asleep by 9.

It was cold outside- but inside, I was the happiest I have *EVER* been. The first few weeks of Mitchell's life was a dream. He was an awesome baby- nursing well, sleeping well- and he had two big sisters who ADORED him. It was the most perfect ending to my favorite holiday season, at a time when Jason was home with work-- and we were together as a family. I'll never forget how elated and blessed I felt.

The transition from two to three was by far the easiest for this growing family.

It's true what they say: boys and girls are COMPLETELY different. 'A baby is a baby,' I thought. Not so much. Little boys have the innate ability to turn anything into a "vroom vroom." Or, rest their hand down their diaper while riding in their carseat. And steal their Momma's hearts, even differently than girls. OH MY.

I'm gonna jump ahead: I've always wanted three kids. Until I had a son. Then, I knew I needed another. So, I begged for #4.

Back to Mitchell. Basically, in this house, he is a superstar. The girls dote over him constantly. They clap at everything he does. He gets 3.3 billion kisses a day. Leah is his other mother. Jenna is his playmate. At the ripe old age of 2.5, he gets her down in a headlock, she screams "Mom, I can't breathe!!," I have to locate them and save her life, he says "Sowwy, Jenna," and they're back at it again. Not much longer and he'll rule the house.

He finally passed his hearing tests after ear tubes, and speech was delayed until about now, and listening to him talk is simply awesome. He's a funny, funny kid. Using words like "wackumbackle" for motorcycle, and "airplane port" for airplane. Cars, trucks, trains and airplanes. The kid is OBSESSED. He can be heard shouting "take me out to the ball game" from his crib during nap time.

- He's generally lazy. Didn't walk until 16 months.

- Will sleep upwards of 14 hours at night if I don't wake him to start our day. AND he naps.

- His Papa and Papa Boone are his FAVORITE people.

- He's a Momma's boy, but loves to "hit-fight" with Daddy.

- Loves "dot dogs," but rarely eats any other meat.

- He lines his cars and trucks up and calls it "choo choo train cars."

- Calls semi trucks "choo choo train trucks."

- He loves to wear Leah's shoes.

- He loves to learn Jenna's tap dances, and does them with her.

- He wears his shoes on the wrong feet most of the time.

- He loves, loves, loves his baby sister. He gets mad at me when I put her to bed.

- He calls Norah "Baby Sissy."

- I think he's going to be a lefty like Leah.

- He begged me for a bat and ball at Meijer, so I bought it. He uses it like a golf club, and won't have it any other way.

- Like the girls, he has a Teddy Bear, and boy is it loved.

- He has three sisters, and two girl cousins. It's a special treat for him to play with boys!

- He loves his sisters, and generally goes with the flow, but is still sometimes tortured.

I thank God for all of my kids, everyday, but I give special thanks for sons. I didn't know what I was missing, and I'm so extremely thankful that I didn't miss out on the Mother-Son relationship that little Mitchell has brought me. Man, is my heart full of love for that boy.

Wordless Wednesday!

Oh, Jenna Ruby.....

Where do I start?!

After our pregnancy losses before Leah, and our deep, deep love of being parents, we were ready for #2 when #1 was barely sleeping through the night. Well, maybe should I speak for myself here..... not sure Jason was ready for that shocker (eh.... all FOUR of them gave him a mild heart attack, so whatev!). I was still working PRN at Kosair, Leah was somewhere between 7 and 8 months old, and I was DYING to quit and stay home with her. I was breastfeeding, but was one of the *lucky* ones (sarcasm, people), who got my cycle back right away, regularly, and was late. Tested..... got a +.

I RAN to the other bathroom, where J was showering, threw the test in with him, and asked "NOW can I quit my job?" After a couple minutes silence, a "Holy crap" mumble, he said yes. I called and quit that day. March 16th, 2006 to be exact.


Pretty easy 8 months, considering my twice daily shots for the length of the pregnancy (it became a second breath to me), and the little turkey came early at 37 weeks and a couple of days. She was a peanut.... 7 lbs 1 oz, but was the MOST BEAUTIFUL newborn I have ever, ever seen.

Day 3 of life, a Sunday, we are preparing to go home and adjust as a new family of 4. Leah is only 15 months old, but now a HOSS compared to this new little baby. Nurse comes in to assess us, and informs me she hears a murmur in Jenna. Oh great.

Cardiology is called in, and upon further assessment, they think she has spina bifida, so neurology is also called in. Somewhere, someone warns me she may have a syndrome. If anyone remembers how emotional I am after delivery, OMG. I lost my marbles.


She did, in fact, have a heart defect..... her spine is funny, but no spina bifida, and certainly no syndrome. We went home the next day, only on bili lights.

THEN IT STARTED. Jenna. Oh, Jenna- the baby who almost made me crazy. She cried. And cried. AND CRIED.

I weaned her from breastfeeding at 6 months, to start on medication that would allow me to deal with her. Oh, and the now 21 month old. Looking back, I had signs of PPD, and it was a very tough time for me. Thankfully, I never experienced that again.

Jenna Ruby is a VERY strong-willed, free spirit, chocolate-loving, ballerina who, to this day, is our biggest challenge. My all-time favorite sound? Her giggle. It makes me smile at my weakest moment. And she has grown to have the biggest heart of anyone- she has so much compassion for others, she hurts when they hurt. Oh, and she has to have a bandaid for boo-boos that don't exist.

- This kid has SO many nicknames. She was going to be named either Jenna, or Lucy. So, Lucy is a nickname. Also: Jenna-Roo, J-Roo, Roo, Ruby-Roo, Roo-bear, Roonie, Boonie. I'll stop there. If she becomes a rapper, she's set.

- She loves to swim, and is certainly a little fish. Graduated from arm floats this summer.

- She enjoys shopping, but rarely asks for anything.

- She is way tender-headed.

- She's super silly.

- She can pierce glass with her screeching.

- The kid can eat more than you, and me, and most grown adults. It's UNBELIEVABLE.

- She has an insane metabolism, and I'm jealous of her athletic body.

- She loves her toys. A new toy? She'll sleep with it.

- She really IS a ballerina. She's a very good dancer for her age.

- She's double jointed or something crazier. She does stuff with her arms that perplex me.

- She loves vacation! Just like her Momma.

- She has her own language. No one knows what the heck she's saying. It cracks me up!

- She just learned how to draw a star. I have stars drawn EVERYWHERE around the house.

- We're still dealing with weird spine stuff- going for another MRI next week.

- She loves to watch movies and listen to stories. Gives her undivided attention.

- She had a crazy sad reaction to penicillin once, right after her second birthday.

- She can make friends with ANYONE. She has lots of them, and they are VERY important to her. One of the things I love the most about her.

- Her very best friend is a boy, Drew. Their friendship is adorable!

- She's so skinny, her pants and skirts NEVER stay up. I tease her that God forgot to give her a butt. It makes her SO mad.

- She sheds more tears in a day than urine.

- She started out as a little tomboy, but is now quite girly.

- She looks EXACTLY like her Momma as a child.

- She starts with "I can't!," or "What if I can't?" when trying anything new. Drives me nuts.

- She lives for birthday parties. Is well into planning her 5th birthday party. In NOVEMBER.

To Jenna: there's no doubt you challenge us all, everyday, but you also keep us on our toes. We love your silly little personality, your love for your family and friends, and your beautiful smile. Our family wouldn't be the same without you're ever-so-strong presence!! :-)

More proof....

Next post up..... Jenna Ruby. Promise!

The most perfect first born.

Oh, my little Leah Kate. Thanks to her, I (finally) became a Mom. And she fits the mold as the first born to a T.  She's soon to turn 6. No, 16. One of the two, I'm not sure.

She was the MOST perfect baby. She slept through the night (10-12 hours, exclusively breastfed) at 8weeks.  By 9 weeks, I was ready for baby #2 because I was so madly in love with her. And because she was so easy.

She was amazingly healthy until nearly her 3rd birthday. Then, she developed a cough that we couldn't rid of for anything, and after months and months, she was considered to have reactive airway disease (asthma). She also developed one ear infection after another. The poor child has been hospitalized twice with asthma/pneumonia, and seems to pick up every viral or bacterial infection sent her way. Including, this past year, pertussis. Yes, whooping cough. Yes, she's vaccinated.  And lots and lots of strep (reminding myself to have her tested to she if she happens to be a carrier).

Anyhow, when she gets sick- she gets SICK. The poor thing has been through so many steroid treatments. It's pitiful. She is so used to being sick, it breaks my heart. But she just battles through. She was recently tested for cystic fibrosis. It was negative.

Then, at age 4, she was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder called Selective Mutism. Basically, she went a FULL YEAR in preschool without ever speaking, and rarely using the restroom while away from home. Everyday is a struggle, but she works SO HARD to overcome this. It's a tough world for her, but she is VERY brave.

Despite all of this- Leah is my mature, trustworthy, bossy, intelligent, majorly observant child who helps me run the house. Tell her something once- she'll never forget. This, I have to be careful with. She has been obsessed with clothes and shoes since the age of 18 months. She picks out her clothes, AND all her siblings' clothes daily- and most days gets them all dressed. She changes diapers, wipes noses, cleans up messes, and most recently- makes waffles for breakfast.

Here's more of what I love about her. And what drives me crazy.

- She's serious, yet a major giggle box.
- Although she's messy, she loves to clean.
- She's obsessed with braids. I can't do any fancy braiding. She's not happy about that.
- She can fall asleep faster than her Daddy, and that is quite a feat.
- She's the biggest chicken! She won't go upstairs, or down, without a sibling by her side.
- She thinks our family should be all together, all the time.
- She doesn't want Mommy and Daddy to stop at 4 babies. She's got room in her heart for more.
- She recently failed a vision screening, but did not need glasses. Wouldn't stop until she got "fake" ones.

- She's a beach bunny, loves summer, and doesn't want to come in from the outdoors.
- She's scared to death of cats. And a lot of other animals, at that.
- She's unbelievably sassy.
- She's an artist. Just ask her.

- When she grows up, she wants to be a doctor and a pilot and a mommy.
- She loves, loves, loves gore (just like her Mommy). If she's not in the medical field, I'll be sad.
- If someone needs prayer, she stops right then and there to pray. "In her head," quietly.
- She breastfeeds her babies, and has for as long as I can remember.

- She's sneaky.
- She has a lot of compassion for others.
- She loves to eat out, possibly more so than Mommy.
- She's a complete Daddy's girl.

- She eats anything and everything. Fruits and veggies, and fruit roll ups, are among her favorites.
- Her Uncle Patrick is one of her favorite people ever.
- She's thrilled to be going into 1st grade.
- All she wants to do is grow up. She just wants to be "big."

Just on vacation a couple of weeks ago, as her and Jenna were swimming, it started to rain. As we took the babies, stroller, etc., around the corner under cover, we slipped out of their sight for a brief second. Next thing we know, Leah takes Jenna by the hand, finds a pool worker, and tells him that they lost their parents. She makes me SO, SO proud. She's responsible, nurturing. The best big sister, the most perfect first born, my Leah Kate.