Christmas!

We knew Caden would do anything asked and expected where Mira was concerned.  From the second he realized that we were telling him that the dog in the picture was going to be his, we knew that he would do anything.  When he was telling the kids all about her, we all kind of knew that Mira was his first, ours second, so we had all of the kids sign a paper of things they promised to do for her in the times they just didn't feel like they wanted to.  Among "I will brush her when asked," and "I will feed her when asked," right at the top, number one, was "I will pick up her poop when asked."  We knew that that one would be the hardest, most hated job of all.  In the excitement of the moment, each kid anxiously and gladly signed their name to poop duty.  We have referenced this signed-with-their-life contract a few times in the last 19 months.

Friday night, Randy told the kids that it was Poop Day the next day.  This entails each kid getting a pair of latex gloves and a grocery bag and just picking up the poop from her spot.  We do it about every two weeks, so there is a fair amount, but it still only takes the four kids about 10 minutes, or so, after all of their arguing.  Saturday morning, Keilie surprised the kids (and us) by doing it all before any of us had awakened for the day-- something she has never done, and always complained vehemently about.  We have noticed a great maturing in her over the past month.  She has been doing things without asking, she's been helping out a lot more, and where Mira is concerned, she gladly does it all.  Like Caden when he was diagnosed, harsh reality makes kids grow within the blink of an eye.

We've been playing games pretty much every second since Sunday.  Settlers of Catan has become our go-to with the kids.  While I was picking up Shelby, Brennon and Tyson from school yesterday, Randy and Keilie played a quick game, just the two of them, before we got home.  As soon as they were done, Brennon and Tyson joined a new game.  It can sometimes get pretty heated, with words spoken that enrage more than one person (we are still as competitive as ever over here), but it is more happiness than anger most games.  Thankfully, since I've been known to swipe games off the table in the heat of angered  rage passion childish brattiness.

As Randy was resetting the board for the boys to join, Keilie said, "This feels like Christmas."

There have been heavy moments over the past month.  But there have also been some wonderful, sweet, happy moments too.  We are so much happier when we are together.