This one's for my dad

(Wherein I fully embrace my mommy-blogger-ness and put words to the task of describing my children's every toot. Or the equally pedestrian topics of potty-training and pacifiers. :)

Jackson is back in pull-ups overnight right now. This seems to work for him and saves me the hassle of (nearly) daily sheet-washing. I put him in pull-ups at night last month for a week straight, and he never had an accident even once. So we quit that for a while, but he cycled back into bed-wetting again last week. This, like everything else, is a do-what-works-for-us-in-this-moment kind of venture. So, we'll just roll with it.

Cooper is no longer taking a pacifier, though I'm making it sound like HE made that decision or something. While he was outside yesterday, I cut the tips off his two remaining paci's per the pediatrician's advice. When Cooper asked for "my ba-ci" at nap time, I brought one to him saying that it was broken. Sap that I am, I almost cried when he asked in his sweet innocent voice, "It boken, Mom?" He, however, took it in stride and after inspecting it closely and deciding that it was indeed broken, he even said goodbye as he threw it in the trashcan himself. (It took every thing I had in me not to dig it out later for pictures.) I put him back in his crib, and he again asked for a paci. I grabbed the remaining "broken" one, and we went through the whole process again. He has asked for them since, but he remembers right away that they are in the trash. I think this is easier than just having them disappear all of a sudden. I hope it is, anyway. It does seem to take him longer to fall asleep right now; not that he's sad per se, just that he doesn't have the sucking of a paci as a trigger for sleep anymore. Here's hoping he finds new ways to self-soothe soon. I did find a third pacifier in the diaper bag today, but I think I'll spare us the trouble and just throw it out without his knowledge this time.

Ella and I are both full-blown sick, Cooper's not far behind us, and even Jackson has a persistent cough right now. My mother-in-law, bless her, came to our house this afternoon to be with my boys while I took the girl and myself to our respective appointments. Whereas I was miserable, chilling, and extremely weak all morning, I somehow rallied enough this afternoon to get out and about. It turns out that I have a sinus infection and am now on a course of antibiotics. Baby girl is wheezing mildly and will have albuterol inhaler treatments every four to six hours for the next four days. No other meds are needed to treat what the doctor thinks is something viral, so that's good.

More concerning than her virus, though, Ella has been having what I describe as "staring spells" since Monday afternoon. She had two episodes on Monday, none until after Chris got home yesterday evening, and then several more this morning. During the episodes, she gets tense--especially in her arms, has rapid & shallow breathing, and her eyes are fixed to the side and vacant. Each one lasts only seconds at a time, but they began to come one right after another this morning. With one exception, they have all happened right after nursing, but she is not spitting up much if at all so I don't think it is reflux. After sharing this history with the pediatrician and a full exam, the plan is to follow up with a pediatric neurologist and an EEG. Those appointments are in the process of being scheduled with the understanding that if Ella has no further symptoms then we can cancel them. I thought about trying to capture one of her episodes on video, but I haven't had the opportunity since then. As of now, she has had no episodes since this morning, so I am cautiously optimistic that this will pass.

I am trying to keep things in perspective; we don't know that ANYthing is wrong or permanent or life-altering yet, so I am working hard not to let my thoughts go there.

Please pray for my girl and my fragile mommy heart. I will update when I have news.

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Recent Pictures, volume XIV or so. The On the Farm edition

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love it when they put themselves to sleep.



"Here, chicken, chicken, chicken. . ."



Great-grandpa and his boys



Babes near a pond



"It's this button right here, Momma."



I heart BabyLegs. And yes, she DOES like to smile (zoom in on the wording on her onesie).

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simplify, simplify

I decided last night that I needed to be off of twitter and facebook for a little while. I also cutback the number of blogs in my feed reader.

(If none of this makes sense to you, than you are far better off than I :)

Today was a great first day of this experiment. I checked my email a couple of times but was otherwise not on the computer much at all until now. And I wasn't even tempted either. For one thing, instead of feeding the baby in front of the computer (how I normally get sucked in), I sat on the floor or the couch with the boys as she nursed. And I found other projects to occupy my time--finally threw out all the old magazines piling up that were never going to get read and just made me feel burdened.

It's probably no coincidence how productive I was today. In addition to tossing the magazines, we got to spend the afternoon swimming with dear friends (with four out of our five combined children in the water, all 4 and under!), my kitchen is as clean as it's been in months, I've washed several loads of laundry (all three of my children managed to soil their sheets last night somehow), and I rocked the bedtime routine.

(I've been really trying to be more purposeful about a set bedtime--late nights had become the rule instead of the exception though there always seemed to be valid reasons--and found that a routine is key to cutting down the protests and getting the boys on board.)

So, yeah, it's been a pretty good day.

Now, if I could just decide whether to sell off some clutter on Craig's list, to hold a garage sale, or to just donate it to our church's new thrift store venture, I'd be feeling pretty spectacular. It's time to pare down, I think.

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A Day for Mom

Yesterday, I decided to wear a skirt for Mother's Day.

Two weeks ago, I came across my dress clothes box for the first time since we moved (in October!), so you can imagine how infrequently I've seen a need to dress up.

Apparently, Jackson noticed the difference. I came out of my bedroom in my skirt, and in the hustle and bustle of trying to get everyone to church on time I almost blew right past him.

What he said stopped me in my tracks.

In his most excited, sweet, and high-pitched voice, with a huge squinty smile, "Wow, Mom! Where did you get such beautiful things? That's so beautiful, Mommy!"

Thank you, son, you made my day!

I wonder what he'd say if I ever put make-up on?

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Yesterday was also the day we dedicated Ella at church. It was a special time, and I'm glad it was on Mother's Day. I am thankful for this little girl and so proud of her. We read Proverbs 4:23 over her: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Quite appropriate, especially for girls I think.

After church, we rushed off to Josh and Margo's farm for a yummy meal with our family. The boys got to see several of the animals, which they continued to talk about the rest of the day. A lovely afternoon!

We then headed home to change our clothes and get some naps in before dinner at my parents' house with my side of the family (minus my Michigan sister, we missed you Aim!). Another great meal and fun time with the re-lates.

And as soon as we got home from there, bedtime for everybody! All-in-all, it was an amazing day.

Hope your Mother's Day was exactly what you needed it to be and that you were able to spend time with loved ones. My heart goes out to those who could not be with their moms or babies yesterday. May God be their comfort.

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Needy

I have been thinking a lot about my expectations of other people. Namely my close friends. But especially my husband.

You might be surprised to know how quickly I feel slighted or disrespected. Or maybe you won't. I certainly say the words "rude" and "inconsiderate" an awful lot.

In stepping back a little I am beginning to realize just how self-absorbed one must be to interpret so many otherwise (mostly) meaningless actions and interactions as intentional slights.

I wonder if I would let these people off the hook more if I just had more Jesus in my life? If I fully allowed my Savior to complete me in all those unfinished places, to fill the holes that are God-sized, would it matter to me where my husband puts his socks?

Yeah, I don't think so either.

What a refreshing blessing is the person who gives without expecting anything in return because he already has all that he needs.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
-- Joseph M. Scriven, 1855.

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Links and Pictures, the sick husband edition

Wow! I can't believe it's been a week since I posted anything. That's gotta be a recent record for me.

I can't really account for my time either. I mean, it's not like I've got the swine flu or anything. Though Chris might. Well not really. But he HAS been sick for a solid week now. And miserable. With no end in sight. Poor guy.

I have had a few post topics swimming around in my head, but I think I'll save them for another time. Quiet house (finally) = bedtime.

But, not wanting to leave you, well, wanting, I'd like to share the following:

If for some reason you need a good distraction, check this out. You can submit formal complaints for the loss of many hours of your life to my friend Shane for linking it on his Facebook and compelling me to do the same. :)

Speaking of distractions, I do want to include some recent kid pictures. 'Cause really, when it's all said and done, this blog is essentially an online baby book with a few diatribes and anecdotes thrown in.


Bring on the cuteness.



Look who found her toes!



Lord, help us all (and save my walls), they've begun wrestling.

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