I'm not a very good friend right now. I'm definitely not fun, or funny, and probably wouldn't be a very good listener. And for SOME reason I have the SWEETEST friends that have thought to make me dinner, send me messages, facebook emails, calls, sweet cards and even gift cards to get snacks at some of my favorite stops. I don't know why God cares about such little things, but apparently He does. Which is so amazing.
So, just wanted to say THANK YOU to my oh-so-sweet friends who have reached out to me over the last couple weeks. I can whole-heartedly say MARCH 2011 has been one of the hardest months of. my. life. For a gazillion different things that probably isn't appropriate for a general audience going out to who knows where. But, God has met so many needs in so many ways and I'm thankful that he cares, and that He's there and oh-so-thankful for friends.
I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Happy Post
Happy Post... Because I needed to change it up a little. I have gotten wayyy too much love after my last post and in case anyone was worried I was planning on packing my bags I wanted to clear the air. ;)
So to do that ... I give you a lunch of Taco Bueno.
Last night we spent the night with my mom because she loves me and said she would keep all my little chickens while I went to my bible study brunch this morning. It was a great morning and I loved my little break for a couple hours. I came back to her house, packed up my crew and started the longer-than-I-would-like trek back to Bryant.
Of COURSE Avery and Dalton fell asleep and since they had already had lunch I spent the 30 minute drive deciding where I would run through to get something for myself. I decided Taco Bueno. Because I'm in to healthy. Fat free. Organic cuisine. Obviously.
I brought in all three babies to put them night night and settled in to catch up on the last episode of Parenthood. It didn't take long before my kids sniffed out my food and came in to pile on the couch with me. For some reason I thought it was beyond cute. So, I snapped a pic. Here they are. Eating their veggies ... Or tacos and muchachos. :)
See, I like them. :)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
So to do that ... I give you a lunch of Taco Bueno.
Last night we spent the night with my mom because she loves me and said she would keep all my little chickens while I went to my bible study brunch this morning. It was a great morning and I loved my little break for a couple hours. I came back to her house, packed up my crew and started the longer-than-I-would-like trek back to Bryant.
Of COURSE Avery and Dalton fell asleep and since they had already had lunch I spent the 30 minute drive deciding where I would run through to get something for myself. I decided Taco Bueno. Because I'm in to healthy. Fat free. Organic cuisine. Obviously.
I brought in all three babies to put them night night and settled in to catch up on the last episode of Parenthood. It didn't take long before my kids sniffed out my food and came in to pile on the couch with me. For some reason I thought it was beyond cute. So, I snapped a pic. Here they are. Eating their veggies ... Or tacos and muchachos. :)
See, I like them. :)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Cue the Violins ...
I have a wonderful family, a hard working hubby, I get to stay at home with my cute babies, I have great friends, I have an overall loverly life. I'm blessed. And I'm thankful.
I felt the need to say all that before I cue the violins. Remember last week when I showed the pic of Avery's poison ivy?? Well ... It wasn't poison ivy. Friday afternoon I took A back to the doctor because I noticed in our parent's handbook for the pediatric clinic, that if the rash was spreading or getting more severe, the child should be seen. So, I made a late afternoon appt; Aaron's mom came and watched my other two yayhoots, and off to the doctor we went ... Again. The front desk girl, Dallas and I are getting pretty close. She really doesn't even need to ask my name anymore. I felt the need to tell her that when we were there Wednesday, I should have brought Avery too, but just couldn't bring all three by myself. I went on to tell her, I was sure it wasn't a big deal ... She probably just needed a steroid shot. (Because Dallas doesn't have enough crazy mommas throwing out crazy info.)
We get in to the waiting room, show the nurse our itchies and wait for the doctor to come in. She does and I start to take off Avery's shirt to show her the poison ivy. As soon as I do, this conversation follows:
Dr. E: Umm ... This is not poison ivy.
RB: What do you mean? What is it? Poison oak?
Dr. E: No, I think this is shingles.
RB: Shut up. Shut up.
Dr. E: We rarely see this in children, let me get my partner to confirm.
RB: Dr. E, I have been in here at LEAST weekly for about two months. If you tell me my 3 year old has shingles, I WILL have an emotional breakdown before leaving. I am not a bad mom!!!! I promise!!! (At this point I begin to cry and start blubbering about how I am taking care of my kids and why are they all staying so sick and catching every virus living in the state of AR.)
FYI: Shingles is a form of the chicken pox. You can ONLY get shingles if you've had the chicken pox before. After you get over the chicken pox the disease lays dormant and can come back later as shingles. One out of every two people over the age of 60 gets shingles, but in children it's very rare. When my mimi had it in her 50's a couple years ago they kept telling her how rare it was for HER to have it ... In her 50's ... Much less at 3. Heck, the pharmacist hardly believed me when I told them my three year old had it. So ... Where did A get it? MY personal, uneducated (but online researched) opinion is she got it from the chicken pox vaccine she received at 1 year old. I wont go off on it because it won't do any good, but my theory is she got the vaccine, which is a tiny bit of the actual live virus and it laid dormit until now. So it came back as Shingles. Shingles themselves are not contagious, so she can't give anyone else shingles- but, if you've never had the chicken pox (or the vaccine) she can give you those. Shingles only come after someone has actually had the chicken pox.
ANYWAY- Dr. E brings in Dr. W who confirms that yes, yes it's shingles (Of course it is). I sniffle some more, but try to pull myself together. She explains to me how contagious it is, how Avery can't give Dalton and Sawyer shingles, but she can give them Chicken Pox. Sawyer is too young for the chicken pox vaccine and if he gets it, it would be very, very bad. She went on to say that Avery needed to keep her arm wrapped in gauze, wear long sleeved clothing and wear a glove to keep from spreading the virus... Yeah, that'll happen. And my medicine-hating daughter is supposed to take two teaspoons 3 times a day of an anti-viral medication. That's going well too.
I can't really remember anything else the doctor said while we were there. It all went in one infected ear and out the other. I was having a major pity party ... Which is a little narcissistic considering it's sweet Avery with the shingles, not me. But, I just can't help but feel like it's my fault they're all sick!
Let me also say that in the past few years my Mimi and father-in-law, Ricky, have had shingles and I have heard them say over and over it was the most painful thing they've ever experienced. Which explains why Avery kept telling me it hurt all week, instead of itching all the time. However, I never thought anything about her not itching it ... Mom of the year. (More tears.)
We left and went to Wal-Mart to get gauze, bandaids, gloves, some new jammies (because that always makes us feel better), movies, and an ice cream cake. Because thats what she wanted. :)
Here she is in her new jammies
eating her ice cream cake ...
Here she is after our doctor appt. The shingles also go up her back- but never cross her spine, which is characteristic of Shingles.
And let me just say ... Those are looking wayyy better than earlier this week.
Saturday morning I took Dalton to get a chickon pox vaccine booster in hopes he won't catch it. Afterward, we went to get donuts because he was such a big boy about his shots.
I was planning on just going through the drive-thru, but he was beggging, "Momma, take me INSIDE!" So, I did.
We brought some home for the patient ...
She's getting good at playing the pitiful card ...
And I'm fine with that. Because it's one of the most pitiful things I've ever seen.
Then we drove out to Hot Springs because Aaron was umping and I wanted to waller in my pity party some more with his mom. I've cried and cried about it. Like totally grieved it. I told the nurse giving Dalton his booster on Saturday I had kinda felt like they'd said she had cancer- that it was just the worst thing ever. I think it's the culmination of ALLLL the sick bugs we've had lately. The straw that broke the camel's back, I guess. Again, like I said before, I'm thankful these truely are little things, we are overall very blessed. I think it's that my kiddos, my family, my home- well, this is my whole world! So, having it so upside down is really depressing ... Tear.
Aghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry ... I needed a moment.
Ok. I feel better. Not a lot better, but maybe a little better.
If you're a prayer, will you tuck my kids in your prayer requests?!?! I am so ready for them to feel better!! It has been a really hard winter. :(
Group Hug.
I felt the need to say all that before I cue the violins. Remember last week when I showed the pic of Avery's poison ivy?? Well ... It wasn't poison ivy. Friday afternoon I took A back to the doctor because I noticed in our parent's handbook for the pediatric clinic, that if the rash was spreading or getting more severe, the child should be seen. So, I made a late afternoon appt; Aaron's mom came and watched my other two yayhoots, and off to the doctor we went ... Again. The front desk girl, Dallas and I are getting pretty close. She really doesn't even need to ask my name anymore. I felt the need to tell her that when we were there Wednesday, I should have brought Avery too, but just couldn't bring all three by myself. I went on to tell her, I was sure it wasn't a big deal ... She probably just needed a steroid shot. (Because Dallas doesn't have enough crazy mommas throwing out crazy info.)
We get in to the waiting room, show the nurse our itchies and wait for the doctor to come in. She does and I start to take off Avery's shirt to show her the poison ivy. As soon as I do, this conversation follows:
Dr. E: Umm ... This is not poison ivy.
RB: What do you mean? What is it? Poison oak?
Dr. E: No, I think this is shingles.
RB: Shut up. Shut up.
Dr. E: We rarely see this in children, let me get my partner to confirm.
RB: Dr. E, I have been in here at LEAST weekly for about two months. If you tell me my 3 year old has shingles, I WILL have an emotional breakdown before leaving. I am not a bad mom!!!! I promise!!! (At this point I begin to cry and start blubbering about how I am taking care of my kids and why are they all staying so sick and catching every virus living in the state of AR.)
FYI: Shingles is a form of the chicken pox. You can ONLY get shingles if you've had the chicken pox before. After you get over the chicken pox the disease lays dormant and can come back later as shingles. One out of every two people over the age of 60 gets shingles, but in children it's very rare. When my mimi had it in her 50's a couple years ago they kept telling her how rare it was for HER to have it ... In her 50's ... Much less at 3. Heck, the pharmacist hardly believed me when I told them my three year old had it. So ... Where did A get it? MY personal, uneducated (but online researched) opinion is she got it from the chicken pox vaccine she received at 1 year old. I wont go off on it because it won't do any good, but my theory is she got the vaccine, which is a tiny bit of the actual live virus and it laid dormit until now. So it came back as Shingles. Shingles themselves are not contagious, so she can't give anyone else shingles- but, if you've never had the chicken pox (or the vaccine) she can give you those. Shingles only come after someone has actually had the chicken pox.
ANYWAY- Dr. E brings in Dr. W who confirms that yes, yes it's shingles (Of course it is). I sniffle some more, but try to pull myself together. She explains to me how contagious it is, how Avery can't give Dalton and Sawyer shingles, but she can give them Chicken Pox. Sawyer is too young for the chicken pox vaccine and if he gets it, it would be very, very bad. She went on to say that Avery needed to keep her arm wrapped in gauze, wear long sleeved clothing and wear a glove to keep from spreading the virus... Yeah, that'll happen. And my medicine-hating daughter is supposed to take two teaspoons 3 times a day of an anti-viral medication. That's going well too.
I can't really remember anything else the doctor said while we were there. It all went in one infected ear and out the other. I was having a major pity party ... Which is a little narcissistic considering it's sweet Avery with the shingles, not me. But, I just can't help but feel like it's my fault they're all sick!
Let me also say that in the past few years my Mimi and father-in-law, Ricky, have had shingles and I have heard them say over and over it was the most painful thing they've ever experienced. Which explains why Avery kept telling me it hurt all week, instead of itching all the time. However, I never thought anything about her not itching it ... Mom of the year. (More tears.)
We left and went to Wal-Mart to get gauze, bandaids, gloves, some new jammies (because that always makes us feel better), movies, and an ice cream cake. Because thats what she wanted. :)
Here she is in her new jammies
eating her ice cream cake ...
Here she is after our doctor appt. The shingles also go up her back- but never cross her spine, which is characteristic of Shingles.
And let me just say ... Those are looking wayyy better than earlier this week.
Saturday morning I took Dalton to get a chickon pox vaccine booster in hopes he won't catch it. Afterward, we went to get donuts because he was such a big boy about his shots.
I was planning on just going through the drive-thru, but he was beggging, "Momma, take me INSIDE!" So, I did.
We brought some home for the patient ...
She's getting good at playing the pitiful card ...
And I'm fine with that. Because it's one of the most pitiful things I've ever seen.
Then we drove out to Hot Springs because Aaron was umping and I wanted to waller in my pity party some more with his mom. I've cried and cried about it. Like totally grieved it. I told the nurse giving Dalton his booster on Saturday I had kinda felt like they'd said she had cancer- that it was just the worst thing ever. I think it's the culmination of ALLLL the sick bugs we've had lately. The straw that broke the camel's back, I guess. Again, like I said before, I'm thankful these truely are little things, we are overall very blessed. I think it's that my kiddos, my family, my home- well, this is my whole world! So, having it so upside down is really depressing ... Tear.
Aghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry ... I needed a moment.
Ok. I feel better. Not a lot better, but maybe a little better.
If you're a prayer, will you tuck my kids in your prayer requests?!?! I am so ready for them to feel better!! It has been a really hard winter. :(
Group Hug.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Sawyer's Future ...
Here is a pic of a 5yr old AaronBoone at the beach ... Looks just like another Boone kiddo I know ...
If you can't tell, Aaron has a wee bit of Indian in him ... Feather not dot ... Obviously.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
If you can't tell, Aaron has a wee bit of Indian in him ... Feather not dot ... Obviously.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, March 25, 2011
Unforgettable Friday
This week hasn't been very funny. Or fun. Or forgettable. It's really just been b.a.d. Am I starting to sound like a broken record? It's just not a good time over here right now. All the kids are "ailin'," (Avery: poison ivy; Dalton: Bronchitis; Sawyer: Ear infection + allergies + beginnings of bronchitis + imboundanddeterminedtogivemymommagrayhairat25), Aaron and I barely get to talk, all three kids have woken up with plans to destroy me at 3am for 4 out of the last 5 nights ... I'm kinda understanding why moms run away from home. Just keepin' it real.
BUT, I'm going to keep reading my Bible (or licking it or something so I can get the words in me, bc I don't even have time to sit down and read it) and I'm going to try to keep breathing ... And other things to get me through these impossible days!!!!! Aghhhhh!!!
I did write down a few cute happenings this week ... Here ya go:
-Every time Dalton takes a bite of something yummy this week he says, "Mmm ... Momma, that's my Fay-Wit (favorite)"
-The other night Avery and I were laying down in her bed and she started saying her prayers and in the middle broke into, "God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for ... " then she looked up at me and said, "wait, is that just for food? I think I should start over."
-We went to my mom's house to play Monday and their dog , Russell had just gotten a haircut ...
He's a wire-haired Jack Russell Terrier that usually has long wirey hair, but when they cut it his skin is exposed and you see he is all speckled! When Russell got home from the vet I said, "Look Dalton, Russell got a haircut! What's all over him?" He screamed, "Sprinkles!!!!"
-Avery has started finishing every question with, "or what?" examples:
A: "Are you gonna take me to Sonic, or what?"
A: "Are you gonna make Sawyer stop screaming, or what?"
A: "Are you gonna spank Dalton, or what?"
-This is probably TMI ... But oh well. The other night D was in the bath tub and I had to tinkle ... So being in the bathroom I went ahead and went. D jumped up and started clapping, "Yay Mommy!!" Bahahaha
I'll end with some pics from this week. They're wild, crazy, and driving me nuts- but at least they're cute.
Tomorrow, I'm bound and determined to write a wedding post from Rachy and Ben's big day! Here's their 15 seconds of fame from the High Profile section of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. It was such a fun weekend!!
I think tonight I'm going to make some comfort food ... and a bottle, I mean a glass of wine. I'm going to do some grilled cheese fancy schmancy sandwiches and The Pioneer Woman's Sherried Tomato Soup ... Have you had it?? Because it's dee-wish-uss!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
BUT, I'm going to keep reading my Bible (or licking it or something so I can get the words in me, bc I don't even have time to sit down and read it) and I'm going to try to keep breathing ... And other things to get me through these impossible days!!!!! Aghhhhh!!!
I did write down a few cute happenings this week ... Here ya go:
-Every time Dalton takes a bite of something yummy this week he says, "Mmm ... Momma, that's my Fay-Wit (favorite)"
-The other night Avery and I were laying down in her bed and she started saying her prayers and in the middle broke into, "God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for ... " then she looked up at me and said, "wait, is that just for food? I think I should start over."
-We went to my mom's house to play Monday and their dog , Russell had just gotten a haircut ...
He's a wire-haired Jack Russell Terrier that usually has long wirey hair, but when they cut it his skin is exposed and you see he is all speckled! When Russell got home from the vet I said, "Look Dalton, Russell got a haircut! What's all over him?" He screamed, "Sprinkles!!!!"
-Avery has started finishing every question with, "or what?" examples:
A: "Are you gonna take me to Sonic, or what?"
A: "Are you gonna make Sawyer stop screaming, or what?"
A: "Are you gonna spank Dalton, or what?"
-This is probably TMI ... But oh well. The other night D was in the bath tub and I had to tinkle ... So being in the bathroom I went ahead and went. D jumped up and started clapping, "Yay Mommy!!" Bahahaha
I'll end with some pics from this week. They're wild, crazy, and driving me nuts- but at least they're cute.
Tomorrow, I'm bound and determined to write a wedding post from Rachy and Ben's big day! Here's their 15 seconds of fame from the High Profile section of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. It was such a fun weekend!!
I think tonight I'm going to make some comfort food ... and a bottle, I mean a glass of wine. I'm going to do some grilled cheese fancy schmancy sandwiches and The Pioneer Woman's Sherried Tomato Soup ... Have you had it?? Because it's dee-wish-uss!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Here we go again ...
We went to the doctor AGAIN today. Dalton has bronchitis and Sawyer has a pretty bad cough, plus the beginnings of another ear infection. I kinda want to cry. And I was kinda embarrassed to be back at the doctor. She said that their allergy symptoms probably turned into bacterial infections. Sad, sad, sad. Last night Dalton came coughing and hacking in my room about 3am with 101 fever ... A few minutes later Sawyer woke up crying. Sawyer was up from 3 until after 5. I kinda feel like I'm going crazy. Or maybe just becoming more crazy.
I did have a fun little break today when I went to go meet all The Swap Shoppe customers to give them their purchases. I swung by and grabbed a Large Vanilla Coke and chilled out listening to my Kari Jobe station on Pandora. It was like a mini-vacay for sure! It was a WELCOMED break for sure!
Well, back to reality ...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I did have a fun little break today when I went to go meet all The Swap Shoppe customers to give them their purchases. I swung by and grabbed a Large Vanilla Coke and chilled out listening to my Kari Jobe station on Pandora. It was like a mini-vacay for sure! It was a WELCOMED break for sure!
Well, back to reality ...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Poison
Poison Ivy has gotten Avery. Itchy, itchy, itchy. However it does give me a reason to give her Benadryl meaning she might sleep alot today ... Score.
Kidding ........ ;)
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Friday, March 18, 2011
Unforgettable Fridays!!
This week Avery had her first friend over. This is her little best friend at Mothers Day Out, Addi. They had the best time dressing up, playing outside, and of course running from Dalton. Have you seen Max and Ruby? If so just think of Avery and Addi as Ruby and Louise; and Dalton as Max. That was pretty much how the day went.
Aaron doesn't know it yet, but D may be wearing a few jon jons this summer. I'm not sure where- maybe the beach or if we go frolic in a field or something. But after trying this on him the other day I'm pretty sure his jon jon days aren't over.
My wittle lamby. Even though almost all sleep deprivation, constant baby holding, and general feelings of "icantgetamomenttomyself-itus" is due to this little guy, he is just the most presh thing I've ever laid my eyes on. He had a pretty bad week ... Or 6 weeks really. But, he's so cute and sweet and snuggly that I don't even care. Love this boy!!
I feel like I could have a reality show filled with quotes from the week of funny things the kids have said or done. Some are mildly inappropriate, some are probably just funny to me, and some are so silly, they're sweet. Multiple times through out the day I have to bite the sides of my cheek to keep from laughing at them. So. Stinking. Funny.
I don't want to forget all these funny, precious, cute things they say and do! So, I'm going to start documenting on Fridays all our "unforgettable" moments that week.
Here are some faves from this week ...
-A few nights ago we were saying our prayers and I asked Dalton what he was thankful for, he said "Jesus." Sweetest little thing I've ever heard!!
- Avery loves to say all the time, "We're mommies, so we ..." she'll fill in the blank with "we read books, we go potty, we play on our computers." Then when she's really lovey she throws her arms around me and says "best fwiends foredder." Oh, I love her. She also uses this against me, like if I'm getting on to her she can yell, "you're not my best friend anymore!" and go running off. She has a flare for the dramatics- I don't know where she gets it.
- Avery has recently become obsessed with Disneyworld. Anytime Aaron takes Dalton somewhere without her she asks if while they're gone we can go to Disneyworld. Or she'll wake up in the morning and say, "Mommy, on this day, can we go to Disneyworld." sweet baby.
-Dalton is very confused with some opposites: on/off; does does not- like if I'm wiping his nose he'll scream, "that doesn't hurt me!" thinking he's telling me it does hurt. Makes me laugh.
-Dalton just loves. his. mama. Like, a lot. He always begs me to sit by him on the couch, hold him, if he's laying down for naps he begs me to "lay down by me and get under the cudders." He just melts my heart. Some nights he comes and gets in our bed and he climbs in, put both hands around my neck and says, "I gotcha, I gotcha." And then I let him stay because I'm co-dependent and because I think they're only little for a little while.
-Dalton has started doing this new thing where when he comes
out of his room for the 547th time after we've put him to bed and prefaces his arrival into the living room with "wait, wait,wait Daddy!!" with his little hands out so we wont get mad he's up ... Again! It works- We laugh every time.
-if in the strange event D is getting in trouble ;) Avery will run after him yelling over her shoulder, "I got this, mommy!" Like she'll take care of disciplining him. So funny.
-this week I've noticed Dalton is getting a southern drawl like Avery. I love it so much!
-the other night Avery was laying in my bed and we were saying prayer and she started on one of her forever and a day long stories that has no beginning, middle, or end- just blabber, but in there she said something about how Facebook was in the bible. I stopped her and said, "Avery, Facebook isn't in the bible." She thought I was kidding and died laughing saying, "YES! Yes it is!"
Whoops.
Of course the MOST unforgettable thing that happened this week was Rachel and Ben getting married!! Eekk!! It was a beautiful wedding and such a special weekend and I of course took tons of pics, but they aren't on my phone meaning I have to blog from my computer. BUT, it will happen soon- just not tonight. :)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The Grand Years
"Those were the salad days, the halcyon years! The sleepless nights, the wailing babies; the days the interior of the house looked like it had been hit by a hurricane; the times i had five kids, a chimpanzee, and a wife in bed with fever. Even when the fourth glass of milk got spilled in a single night, or the shrill screeching threatened to split my skull, or when I was bailing out some son or other...from a minor predicament at the police station, they were good years, grand years.
But it all zipped by. One minute my wife and I were in it up to our eyeballs, and next thing we knew the kids were borrowing the car and fleeing the coop for college. And now, here I am. In my nineties and alone."
Water for Elephants, by Sarah Gruen
I just finished reading this book ... it only took me a couple days, it was excellent. Now, there were definitely parts I had to skip through that made my face turn bright red, but all-in-all it was an amazing book. I became totally immersed in the characters, era, and story line of the novel. I used to be a big reader, I love, love to read. But now I just don't have time. And after Dalton broke my Kindle last night, I'm kinda over it for a while. I ended up downloading the book and finished reading it on my iPhone. ANYWAY, this quote obviously caught my attention. I'm so there. I'm right in the middle of the sleepless nights, ear piercing screaming, messy house, whiny toddlers and just loooonngg days. I'm exhausted. I'm overwhelmed. And I'm in over my head. True story. We've been inside for the last six weeks with a variety of illnesses. I'm so over it. Today's dreary downpour couldn't be more appropriate. We didn't get out of our pajamas, I've had four cups of coffee, and we've been watching tv all day long. Stellar. My whole family is overwhelmed right now with the upcoming wedding this weekend. Everyone has a full plate, so all of my aid's hands are full. This makes for an emotional breakdown- So, I've had a couple ... just keepin' it real.
As hard as these days are, I don't want to wish them away. I don't want to miss out on all the special parts, because the monotony of it all, I'm supposed to be teaching these little ones all the important things in life. Not physics, and algebra, and the history of western civilizations. But, love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, thankfulness, and self-control. Sadly, this is only learned by example. And I'm the main example.
A few weeks ago, I saw an episode of Oprah. This in and of it's self was extremely rare, because I almost never watch TV that hasn't been DVR'ed (with the exception of The Today Show). It was a family that had sextuplets (that's six right?? They had six. I just hyperventilated thinking about it again). A camera crew went in and recorded a normal day. My mouth hung open as she talked about their daily routine. Every minute of the day was accounted for. And her house was totally orderly, organized and under control. I couldn't believe it. I justify my messy house often because of all these little people, but she had twice as many and hers was in perfect order. (I will say she had like three volunteers a day coming to help her, but still.) That got my butt in gear. I'm totally Type B- down to my marrow. I'm impulsive, laid back, easy going, high mercy, and it takes a lot to ruffle my feathers. I also suffer from an extreme case of optimism, so I just always believe everything is going to be OK and work out in our favor. Aaron is the complete opposite- it's one of the MANY ways we're opposite. ;)
However, I heard her say if she didn't have her day planned out and orderly then she would go crazy, which is right where I was heading: straight to crazy town. So,I drew up a little schedule for every day at home- our meals, naps, TV, play, "school" and one-on-one time is all in there. (Today we veered off our norm ... but you catch my drift.) I also try my darndest to stay off my computer and phone while they're awake. They LOVE our little school time. We color, count, work on letters, and memorize bible verses. Dalton doesn't catch on as well as Avery with the verses, but he does the hand motions and mumbles along. The first week we learned Genesis 1:1, and last week we learned Psalm 121:1-2. Makes my heart swell. Even Baby Sawyer sits on the table in his Bumbo and soaks it all in.
A song on the radio right now by Francesca Batistelli, called This is The Stuff reminds me that "In the Middle of my Little Mess, I Forget How Big I'm Blessed," and "I've Gotta Trust [He] Knows Exactly What [He's] Doing." And, I do. I know God is teaching me big things in these long days. A wise, wonderful lady at our church, Camille Richardson, says "God gave me a husband so I could see I was selfish, and God gave me children to show me I was angry." I love that she says she "was," like she's cured now. I'm so with her, and I'm so ready to be cured! It's so easy to get mad and not die to myself in these long days. I'm praying God shows me how to do it better. I know I've been blessed, and I know He know's what He's doing ... I just hope I can live every day like I believe that!
But it all zipped by. One minute my wife and I were in it up to our eyeballs, and next thing we knew the kids were borrowing the car and fleeing the coop for college. And now, here I am. In my nineties and alone."
Water for Elephants, by Sarah Gruen
I just finished reading this book ... it only took me a couple days, it was excellent. Now, there were definitely parts I had to skip through that made my face turn bright red, but all-in-all it was an amazing book. I became totally immersed in the characters, era, and story line of the novel. I used to be a big reader, I love, love to read. But now I just don't have time. And after Dalton broke my Kindle last night, I'm kinda over it for a while. I ended up downloading the book and finished reading it on my iPhone. ANYWAY, this quote obviously caught my attention. I'm so there. I'm right in the middle of the sleepless nights, ear piercing screaming, messy house, whiny toddlers and just loooonngg days. I'm exhausted. I'm overwhelmed. And I'm in over my head. True story. We've been inside for the last six weeks with a variety of illnesses. I'm so over it. Today's dreary downpour couldn't be more appropriate. We didn't get out of our pajamas, I've had four cups of coffee, and we've been watching tv all day long. Stellar. My whole family is overwhelmed right now with the upcoming wedding this weekend. Everyone has a full plate, so all of my aid's hands are full. This makes for an emotional breakdown- So, I've had a couple ... just keepin' it real.
As hard as these days are, I don't want to wish them away. I don't want to miss out on all the special parts, because the monotony of it all, I'm supposed to be teaching these little ones all the important things in life. Not physics, and algebra, and the history of western civilizations. But, love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, thankfulness, and self-control. Sadly, this is only learned by example. And I'm the main example.
A few weeks ago, I saw an episode of Oprah. This in and of it's self was extremely rare, because I almost never watch TV that hasn't been DVR'ed (with the exception of The Today Show). It was a family that had sextuplets (that's six right?? They had six. I just hyperventilated thinking about it again). A camera crew went in and recorded a normal day. My mouth hung open as she talked about their daily routine. Every minute of the day was accounted for. And her house was totally orderly, organized and under control. I couldn't believe it. I justify my messy house often because of all these little people, but she had twice as many and hers was in perfect order. (I will say she had like three volunteers a day coming to help her, but still.) That got my butt in gear. I'm totally Type B- down to my marrow. I'm impulsive, laid back, easy going, high mercy, and it takes a lot to ruffle my feathers. I also suffer from an extreme case of optimism, so I just always believe everything is going to be OK and work out in our favor. Aaron is the complete opposite- it's one of the MANY ways we're opposite. ;)
However, I heard her say if she didn't have her day planned out and orderly then she would go crazy, which is right where I was heading: straight to crazy town. So,I drew up a little schedule for every day at home- our meals, naps, TV, play, "school" and one-on-one time is all in there. (Today we veered off our norm ... but you catch my drift.) I also try my darndest to stay off my computer and phone while they're awake. They LOVE our little school time. We color, count, work on letters, and memorize bible verses. Dalton doesn't catch on as well as Avery with the verses, but he does the hand motions and mumbles along. The first week we learned Genesis 1:1, and last week we learned Psalm 121:1-2. Makes my heart swell. Even Baby Sawyer sits on the table in his Bumbo and soaks it all in.
A song on the radio right now by Francesca Batistelli, called This is The Stuff reminds me that "In the Middle of my Little Mess, I Forget How Big I'm Blessed," and "I've Gotta Trust [He] Knows Exactly What [He's] Doing." And, I do. I know God is teaching me big things in these long days. A wise, wonderful lady at our church, Camille Richardson, says "God gave me a husband so I could see I was selfish, and God gave me children to show me I was angry." I love that she says she "was," like she's cured now. I'm so with her, and I'm so ready to be cured! It's so easy to get mad and not die to myself in these long days. I'm praying God shows me how to do it better. I know I've been blessed, and I know He know's what He's doing ... I just hope I can live every day like I believe that!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Cooties
I am SO over all the bugs at our house. I think we have been sick for over a month now. It's gone through everyone in our family but just LINGERS on the babies, especially Sawyer. It's pitiful. He's had an ear infection for 3 weeks, been on 3 different antibiotics and yesterday we found out his little ear is still infected and he now has RSV. I just knew that's what it was immediately when he woke up with a terrible cough Sunday Morning when he woke up with that cough. It's going around, several of my friends kids have it and it just seemed inevitable. I took him in yesterday morning. Dr. Rhodes decided to start him on 3 days of Rocephin (sp??) shots for his ear and wanted him to get an inhaler for breathing treatments, which he is less than thrilled about. It is very stressful watching and listening all the time to make sure he isn't wheezing, breathing hard, or in any kind of distress throughout the day. The doctor said it could go from bad to worse quickly, and if so to rush to the ER, which is pretty much my worst nightmare.
Here he is waiting on his little shot. Could he be any more pitiful? He's not nearly as interested in his bottle but will suck down some pedialyte!
We finally came home and he napped late in the afternoon and then didn't go back to sleep until 11. He slept straight through to 8am. Sweet boy. We went this morning for his 2nd shot and then he came home and took a
short nap. It's hard to get much sleep around here when Avery and Dalton think we live in a bounce house and they need to climb the walls, screaming the whole way. My sweet mother-in-law took them home with her last night so we did have several hours of peace and quiet before they arrived home this morning. It was lovely.
This was when we got home from the DR this morning ... Avery insisted on being in the picture.
I feel WORN out! It's exhausting constantly worrying about sicklings on top of everything else. Not to mention being so out of our normal routine.
PRAYING that God will heal Baby Sawyer soon ...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Here he is waiting on his little shot. Could he be any more pitiful? He's not nearly as interested in his bottle but will suck down some pedialyte!
We finally came home and he napped late in the afternoon and then didn't go back to sleep until 11. He slept straight through to 8am. Sweet boy. We went this morning for his 2nd shot and then he came home and took a
short nap. It's hard to get much sleep around here when Avery and Dalton think we live in a bounce house and they need to climb the walls, screaming the whole way. My sweet mother-in-law took them home with her last night so we did have several hours of peace and quiet before they arrived home this morning. It was lovely.
This was when we got home from the DR this morning ... Avery insisted on being in the picture.
I feel WORN out! It's exhausting constantly worrying about sicklings on top of everything else. Not to mention being so out of our normal routine.
PRAYING that God will heal Baby Sawyer soon ...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone