A Few Likes

They're not a lot, but just a few of my likes right now.

1. Spring is here! Well, in SC, Sprummer is here. Which is soon to be followed by Summer!

2. Krystian makes sure we say our prayer before every meal. Sometimes he forgets and then reminds us. He then says it with a mouth full of food. (It is also nice that Aydyn attempts to say the blessing with Krystian 99% of the time.)

3. Aydyn's favorite words/phrases: Alright, See you soon, and Uh.

4. My husband loves me and supports me in his own unique way..mainly silence, but I guess support is support.

5. I can finally feel like a good mom. Not because of people telling me that I am, but because our pastor has told us that Krystian is one of the happiest children he has ever met! To me, that means we are doing something right.

6. Reading other people's blogs. They inspire me even though I feel like I could never be as good as them.

7. Can't wait for the SplashPad this summer!

What are some of yours?

Negative Nancy

I love Sundays. Church refreshes me! After the past couple of weeks, I could use some refreshing of my spirit. Depression runs in my family, and I too have a tendency to get depressed. However, I enjoyed my Sunday even though I forgot to set my clock ahead an hour (and missed church because of it).

I spent most of the morning thinking about how my friends who blog are excellent and their lives seem almost perfect. Perfect husbands, almost perfect kids, friends, and hobbies. Then Krystian wanted to go outside. I spent the better part of the late morning outside with my children and my husband. God gave me this Sunday off from church so that I could enjoy the beautiful weather and family that he has provided me. While the boys played outside, I made a pizza and cut up some strawberries. I surprised them with a picnic lunch outside. Krystian LOVED it. We have planned a picnic for next Saturday with Grandma Eve :).

While my troubles are not even close to being gone, I did enjoy a gorgeous grace-filled day with my husband and children. My day that started out as a Negative Nancy day ended up to be pretty perfect.

As Krystian's grace from school says, "Thank you Lord for happy hearts, rain and sunny weather. Thank you Lord for this our food and that we are together. AMEN!"

Struggles

I know..who doesn't have them?! I am having usual Mommy struggles. I just am not used to them because I have never had a 4 year old and almost 2 year old before. Most of my struggles are with Aydyn, my more complex (a.k.a difficult) child. Although Krystian has had his moments.

Krystian's struggle for the entire year has been to learn to ride his bike. We got it for him really early like 2 years ago. He would ride it with someone pushing him, but then we quit pushing so he quit riding. Jake and I (mostly me) decided to dust it off and give it a go again. My dear sweet baby boy has become lazy. My in-laws have gotten each of my boys (against my wishes) a four-wheeler. Krystian knows that he can go to Grandpa's house and ride a four-wheeler that doesn't require any pedaling. Why does he need a bike?

Well, I am proud to say that after a few weeks and revelation from Lyn that he is outgrowing his bike, Krystian has learned to partially ride his bike. He only likes to do it in the drive way which is sloped. The road is too flat and still requires too much work. How did I do it? I found his weakness...FOOD! Haha! That's right I said food. Krystian said, "Mommy, I want a snack." I said, "You can have a snack if you try to ride your bike." After a second of thought, he said, "Ok." I got out the bike and helped him get on. He tried to pedal and the seat fell off. Jake didn't tighten it all the way the last time he raised the seat. I had to fix the seat and yes, I tightened it. Then Krystian got on and pedaled all the way down the drive way (almost hitting my car at the end). His reward were gummies for a snack. (Yes I use food as a reward when it works!)

Aydyn's struggles are a little more complicated. For starters, he is a picky eater. He would rather have junk food than anything healthy (except for carrots). Jake and I are of the belief that he will eat when he gets hungry, especially after talking to our pediatrician at his 20 month visit. However, my loving in-laws are of the idea let him eat what he wants when he wants. They kept my boys Saturday night. On Sunday Aydyn had the following: sausage and eggs (offered, but not eaten); Krispy Kreme donut (eaten); Cheese Nips (eaten); ribs, mac & cheese, lima beans, biscuit (offered, but not eaten); pork chops, scalloped potatoes, peas (offered, but not eaten). Thats right folks on Sunday all my son ate was a Krispy Kreme donut & Cheese Nips at church with my in-laws. I was not around. Monday was no better. He ate only the morning and afternoon snack at daycare. They had soup for lunch, and Aydyn doesn't eat soup...He had corn bread. He refused to eat dinner that night as well. My son went 48 hours without eating ANYTHING NUTRITIOUS! I am a HORRIBLE mother. I made the mistake of going to eat with my in-laws tonight because we fight every meal about how to feed Aydyn. Tonight was no exception.

My other struggle with Aydyn is more of Mommy Guilt. For Krystian's birthday, we bought 3 tickets to go see Monster Jam Monster Trucks in Jacksonville, Florida. Here it is Wednesday, we leave Friday, & I am totally hating the fact that I have to leave my precious baby boy for 3 days. I am going out of state and leaving him. I feel guilty! I know that I need to spend time with each of them, but I have not been away from him for more than 24 hours at a time since his birth. I feel like no one else can handle him the way that I would especially with this whole food issue. We will survive, but I had to vent.

Worst Check Up Ever!

When I had Aydyn, I realized that I would end up having two check up appointments to manage. I also decided to try to make as many as possible together. Today was one of those two children check up days. Krystian had to go in for his four year old check up, and Aydyn had to go in for his 20 month check up.

Aydyn's check up was not so bad. He weights 26 pounds and is just over 34 inches tall. He couldn't get his regular vaccines today because he hadn't been exactly 6 months, so he just got a flu shot (I know its late, but better late than never.).

Krystian's check up was fantastic until the shots. Lisa, the nurse (who is awesome), snuck in the hemoglobin test. He didn't realize what she was doing until she pricked his finger. He LOVES Dr. Mike! After Dr. Mike came in and checked him which he did well with, Lisa came back in with the shots. Krystian had to have 5 shots. It went a little something like this...Lisa holding Krystian's legs and giving shots; Jake at Krystian's head holding his hands; and me in the middle holding his stomach and watching his poor, poor pitiful face. I have never seen my baby boy cry like he did today getting his shots. Four years old is horrible! They know exactly what is coming and they HATE it. Yes, I cried when Krystian was a baby and got his first set of shots, but this was TEN TIMES WORSE! His face was red, the tears flowed like a river, and he screamed at the top of his lungs. At one point, Dr. Spence walked in to see if we needed assistance.

After today's experience, I have vowed NOT to take Aydyn for his four year old check up. That is all up to Jake. I cannot handle that pain any more.

The good news is that both boys are healthy and right on track. Aydyn is in the 90th percentile for his height. He's going to be tall and skinny like his daddy. Krystian will be short and dumpy like his mommy, but that is ok because I love them both with all of my heart.

Birthdays

We celebrate the usual holidays like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and mild Valentine's Days, but my favorite days are birthdays for my boys. Ever since Krystian's first birthday, Jake has used his computer talent to make a movie of the year from birthday to birthday. I cry every year, and I sit here and watch him make it.

Tomorrow Krystian turns four. It is amazing to think that four years ago tomorrow, I was lying in a hospital bed strapped to pitocin (spelling, I know) so drugged up on pain medicine that I barely remember anything. I remember Dr. Rainwater saying that he wasn't dropping and that we would do a c-section. I remember Dr. Rainwater saying he was out and showing him to me. His cord was wrapped around his neck, and that is why he didn't drop. They suctioned him, and then handed him to Jake. Jake had the beautiful privilege of carrying Krystian to the nursery where they cleaned him up. The anesthesiologist tried talking to be, but the drugs were making me so sleepy I remember thinking that I just wanted to sleep. My mom who had come to see me early in the morning, but had to go back to work, ended up coming back to see me on her lunch break while I was in the recovery room. I got to nurse for the first time in the recovery room, and then we got to go back to our own room. Krystian was great at nursing. I just ate sausage biscuits every morning that I was in the hospital and it gave him gas. We were in the hospital for 5 LONG days. Jake had taken a week of vacation the week that Krystian was born, and we spent almost all of it in the hospital.

It is very hard to imagine that my little boy will be 4 tomorrow. I am excited, happy, sad, and nervous all at the same time! He was such a good baby. I could count on him to be calm and happy almost always. I had to fight Jake's family to accept the fact that I was breastfeeding, but they got used it. Krystian has taught me a lot over these four years, and my education continues! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KRYSTIAN! :)

Guilty Feelings

I have been blessed with two beautiful boys. However, I am reminded daily, well actually nightly, how VERY different they are. Krystian is kind, loving, and will usually cuddle with you. Krystian loves to read and learn new things. We got him a Leapster Explorer for Christmas. He love his "game system."
Aydyn is the COMPLETE opposite. I call Aydyn my SourPatch kid...first he is sour, then he is sweet. Aydyn screams his head off when he doesn't get his way. Monday night he fought for an hour not to go to sleep. Then he got up at midnight and stayed up screaming and opening and slamming his door for an hour. I got 4 hours of sleep before work the next morning. I took Aydyn to Bi-Lo today to visit Jake and to order Krystian's birthday cake. The Pepsi guy called Aydyn "a sweet, little angel." I couldn't help but laugh (Jake did too so don't think I am heartless).

I feel guilty because God blessed me with Aydyn (and Krystian), and I get so anxious and frustrated with him. You know the saying, "Your children are payback for what you did to your parents." Was I really this bad?! Aydyn will get mad and if I am holding him, he will knock my glasses off my face. Or he will hit and scratch me. Bed time and nap time are always a fight. Meals are not as bad, but he can be picky. (Don't give him soup even if you drain the broth. If you call it soup, he refuses to eat it.) He has been known to throw dirty diapers off of the couch on to the floor. I pray every night for patience or some insight into how to deal with my child. I don't think it is good that I have started telling him not to call me when he gets arrested because my rule is that you spend one night in jail before I bail you out. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know! I am willing to try anything. If you know of a good book, please fill me in.

Before I end this entry, I want to point out three very positive traits about Aydyn: 1. Independent. He will do ANYTHING on his own. 2. Leader. Aydyn does everything in his own time. He won't do it a minute before he is ready. 3. Smart. We joke because his initials are APT, but he really is APT. I love my little SourPatch kid!

Exercise Day 1

I did it! I got my jello out there and walked/ran for 30 minutes plus a 10 minute warm up. I read a book about being a beginner runner. It has a 13 week program to get anyone to the point that they can run a 10K. Today's workout was supposed to be 1 minute running then 2 minutes walking (repeat 12 times). I was almost there. I had done 7 of these sets when two things happened: 1. 2 creepy guys started riding their bikes at the park where I was and 2. I realized the jello I would LOVE to get rid of couldn't be felt any more. So I gave up and left.

On one hand I am proud of myself for getting out there (It was 32 degrees with a wind chill of 27), but on the other hand, I should have stuck it out for the last 5 sets. Wednesday will be my next day on the track. I will do that one after work before picking up children. Hopefully it will be warmer.

First visit to the ER

Friday night seemed like it was going to be an ordinary night. Jake and I put the boys to bed, then settled on the couch while he watched tv and I read. About 10:00, I heard a sound that can only be described as a barking seal. I thought it was the dog choking on the bone that he'd been eating earlier. Nope, the dog was okay. I settled back down on the couch, but heard it again. Maybe it is Krystian. He has been sick lately and ended up crying himself to sleep, maybe he's coughing. The third time, Jake and I looked at each other and RAN to Aydyn's room. My poor baby couldn't breathe and literally sounded like a seal. Can we say FREAK OUT?!

I pick up my baby and tell Jake to call the pediatrician. I checked his mouth just to double check that he had not choked on anything. Well, that made him mad and he refused to come to me. Jake throws me the cell phone and picks up Aydyn. The operator for the answering service has patched us through to the doctor on call, which is not our usual doctor :(. I explain to the doctor that my 19 month old cannot breath and sounds like a barking seal. He apparently is not freaked out and only tells me to sit in the bathroom with hot water running. The doctor doesn't tell me what it could be ("Sometimes this happens to children." is what he said) nor does he tell me to bring him into the office on Saturday morning. I was very upset. Who can blame me? (He didn't tell me who he was either.)

Jake called his parents who came over while I was sitting in the bathroom with Aydyn (he finally came back to me). While his breathing was getting better, he still sounded bad so Jake and I took him to McLeod ER. Before we left, Jake's dad said, "It sounds like the croup. But take him just in case." We got to the ER at about 10:30. FYI: If you live in Florence, they are doing construction in the ER so the waiting room is 3/4 smaller than normal. After we describe Aydyn's symptoms, the nurse at check in says its croup. We sit for 20 minutes. They call him to take his vitals. Sit for another 20 minutes, they take him back for an x-ray. Jake got to enjoy that fun. They had to do 3 x-rays in total because they didn't realize that his onsie had metal buttons on it when they did the first x-ray. After the x-ray we wait another 10 to 20 minutes, and get taken back to a room. The nurse comes in says the doctor will be in in a few minutes. About 5 or 10 minutes later, the doctor walks in says it is croup. We can do a nebulizer or we can do an inhaler. Knowing that Aydyn won't sit still for long, I opted for the inhaler which is only if he gets bad again. We're sent home after a dose of steriods with a prescription for the inhaler and for more prednisone. All in all we were only in the ER for 2 hours.

I went from being scared and frustrated (with the pediatrician) to being completely calm and collected at the ER. This is not usually the case. We got home, and the 3 of us slept until almost 9 am on Saturday. Aydyn is much better now, but you can tell that his poor little body is fighting something. Even though it wasn't a bad trip to the ER, I am praying that it is my last one for a LONG time.

New Year's Resolution(s)

I am not usually a person who makes New Year's Resolutions. However, this year is different. I have discovered through reading other blogs and talking to colleagues at work, I am severely lacking in the time for myself department. I like to blame it on Jake's schedule, but for my health, I cannot afford to do that any longer. Below are my resolutions. Hopefully by writing them down, I will be more likely to achieve my goals.

1. Become a runner by the end of the year. This gives me a long time frame, but I plan to start tomorrow. So I am staying up late typing this...Not a good way to start. :o

2. Read more. I have always loved reading, but after having children, I fell off the reading wagon. Jake got me a Nook and I plan to use it!

3. Spend more time outside with my children. My parents so wonderfully got my children a playset for Christmas. Jake's dad so wonderfully put it up for us while we were in Virginia.

4.Spend more time with Jake. We don't carve enough "us" time out. Our children and other family come first.

I would like to say that I will definitely be better about standing up for myself, but that is really difficult for me. I am not very good with words. Tact is not something that God blessed me with. However, I am slowly becoming better. Maybe next year's resolution. Now, I am heading to bed so that I can get up and start on my first resolution. Good night, all!

Christmas 2010

I know that I am late posting, but our Christmas Day was BUSY! We woke up at 6 am for "Santa" presents. Then we had to finish packing my parents' van for our trip to Virginia. At 8 am, we went to my parents' house for Christmas with my parents/family and Jake's parents/family. It has been a tradition since Jake and I got married to do breakfast on Christmas Day with both sets of our parents at the same time. It gets a little frustrating. In fact, I almost blew up on Christmas Day. After Christmas presents and breakfast, we waited around until lunchtime. What is special about lunchtime? My dad, Jake, our boys, and I took off for 5 days in Warrenton, Virginia with my sister and her family.
As a side note, Jake drove through his first snow storm this Christmas Day. He did very well considering it was about 2 hours that he had to drive in it.
Jake was very good to me this Christmas. I always tell him that he isn't listening to me, but he heard every word that I said. I received a Nook (because I am addicted to reading), a wagon (so I can walk the dog and 2 boys around the neighborhood), and a gift card to get a new pair of running shoes.
Merry Late Christmas!

Book recommendations

Although I have not done a whole lot in the past 4 years, I LOVE reading! Occasionally, I have taken recommendations from students. They are sixth graders though, and sometimes not always a good read. I do like to keep up with what they are reading though. A week ago, my mom gave me a book. The only reason it took me a week to read it is because I have children and wifely duties that I must eventually tend to. The name of the book is A Thousand Splendid Thousand Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It is a story about Afghanistan and normal people living there. It goes through the lives of 2 women over a period of 20- 30 years. Mr. Hosseini has another book that I MUST pick up and try. It has been so long since I have been in love with a book like this.
This book gave me a whole new appreciation for our freedoms as Americans, my freedoms as a woman. We take so many things for granted these days. Things we don't even think about: anesthesia for c-sections, electricity, being able to read and watch whatever we please. It was a very good book to read right now at Christmas. I am thankful for the right to worship God in the way that I want in public without being condemned for it.
The book also gave me a wonderful appreciation for the people of Afghanistan who have endured a troubled history. For decades, they have lived in a country that is stricken by war and poverty. It made me want to go rescue every innocent Afghan and bring them home to America to experience our freedoms.
So if you are a reader in need of an adult book, please consider this one. I am also including a link to Khaled Hosseini's website. http://www.khaledhosseini.com/

Doggie Troubles

I will be the first to tell you that I am sucker for a four-legged animal with a sweet face. Jake and I have a black lab named Tipper. We have had him since the summer after my sophomore year of college. That was a tough time. I had just put my dalmatian to sleep because of a bulging disc in her neck that caused her immense pain and left her unable to walk or control her bladder. I wasn't looking for a new dog that summer, but Tipper was found under my dad's truck. Like I said, I am sucker. As much as I tried to ignore the puppy, he stuck to me like glue. He spent the next two school years outside. When I came home on breaks and during the summer, I retrained him to be a house dog.

Off and on, we have had our trouble with Tipper. He likes to go in the trash can and take food off of tables. For some odd reason, he knows not to go on the counters. You can leave your plate of food on the dining room table, and it will get gobbled up. You move it 3 feet to the counter, and it is in the "safe zone." When I lived at my parents' house, Tipper would walk into the bathroom and jump in the shower with you. He won't go near the bathroom at our house unless it is a really HOT summer night. Since we have moved into our house (4 years ago), Tipper has dug through the bottom of a cage straight through my carpet. (There was a plastic tray on the bottom and he was trying to get out.) He chews on our window sills in the dining room. (We have really LOW windows...almost to the floor.) However, lately, my dear puppy has taken to digging up the carpet in my dining room. He isn't in a cage any more. Jake and I are completely baffled by this. We're not gone more than usual. We do have two kids now, but they LOVE him more than Jake and I ever could. My thought, though, is that he is still craving attention. So even with my stuffy nose, my goal is to get up at 4:30 am tomorrow morning and walk the dog. Wish me luck!

Our other doggie trouble :( has to do with my next door neighbors' dog. He likes anyone in the world except for a member of my family. :( I love and ADORE my neighbors. They are some of my closest friends. The last time he got out, my neighbor told me she was going to get rid of him. When I read that email, I cried. I read it in the parking lot at school, and I cried. I know that that dog is as much a member of their family as Tipper is a part of ours. I am praying that something changes so that they will not have to get rid of their dog. I do not want bad blood between us.

Whirlwind Wednesday

I am used to my Wednesdays being pretty tame and mild. However, today was not usual. 5th grade had a field trip so most of their students were car riders this morning. That meant that I had extra kids in the gym, which I don't mind. Except when most of them did not have an AR book. I'm not mad; it was just exhausting to think of a solution so early this morning. (I love the McCumber team!) Each of my science classes had a quiz which I read aloud. I am trying to accommodate IEPs, but my kids didn't do so hot. They had a week --- one WEEK--- to study! That was disappointing. Social Studies quizzes were just as disappointing, if not more. One teacher out for the day on our team, and another left right at the beginning of dismissal. Worth The Wait meeting for parents to view the curriculum. One teacher from each team needs to be there. Pick up boys then home for 2 hours in which time I want to play with them and they needed baths. Put Aydyn to bed, and then choir practice. After choir practice, we need dog food so I run to Bi-Lo with Papa (my step-dad, Brian) to get some groceries. Now I am sitting at home and instead of working on Krystian's Indian vest for Friday, I am playing on Facebook and blogging.

Today has made me even more thankful for my bed! Now if only I could warm it up before I get in!

Another day to be Thankful

Today I was very thankful for the ability to laugh as I needed it very early this morning. I usually get Aydyn up at 6:15 because I have to get him dressed and cuddle with him before I take him to daycare. Jake usually takes Krystian to school. However, this morning when I walked in Aydyn's room. This is what I found (Sorry the picture quality is not so hot without a flash.). Now, what would you think if you saw this in your child's room?! I thought, "Oh, God! He's under that blanket. Aren't they at risk for crib death (SIDS) until 2? He's only 18 months!" When I got the courage to move the blanket, I found only his turtle and monkey that he sleeps with. Are you really freaking out now?! Because I sure was! I just had to look a little further.

He had climbed over the safety rail onto the floor. Tonight he is sleeping in the toddler bed sans safety rail. I figure that if he is climbing over it then it is more of a safety hazard than a safety rail. I almost screamed for Jake, but then common sense kicked in and picked up my camera instead.

I am also thankful for colleagues who are also good friends with good advice. Sometimes it takes someone with an outside perspective to give the words that you need. I hope that you had a Thankful Monday as well.

Small Group

Tonight was the last night of our small group, Better Together. Something was said that really hit home with me...I only wish it had been said to me at the beginning of this weekend. It was this (or close to it. I'm not good at exact quotes.) "We are the picture of God that our children see. How do you want your children to see God?" A friend went to the Women of Faith conference and it was said, maybe not in those exact words, but it was said there.

How do you want your children to see God?

Counting the days/hours

I don't know if you have a favorite cousin or two, but I do. Some of my cousins I just get along better with. One of my favorites is coming home Thursday night, exactly one week from Thanksgiving. Now, granted because I have a family and school (mostly school), I will not see him until Friday. I am so excited though! I have missed having someone my age who thinks along the same lines as me. It will also be nice to have a friend my age who isn't too busy with their own life to talk to me. I know that I am not perfect about staying in touch. I HATE talking on the phone. I didn't like it as a giddy, teenage girl and I certainly do not like it now. Two screaming boys running around will get ANYONE off the phone quickly. Sometimes I wonder if the fact that I don't have many close friends is because I don't drink alcohol. A couple of sips in college (Thanks, Saran), and a couple of sips during the festivities of Jamie and Matt's wedding, but not more than that. I have also thought about maybe it is because my husband is very shy and doesn't like to talk to anyone. The only reason I know what he is thinking 99% of the time is because I can read his mind. That happens when you have been with a person for 12 1/2 years. None of this matters though, because Josh is coming home this Thursday. Did I mention from Alaska?! A place I have always wanted to go. Less than 99 hours until he is home and just over 100 before I get to hug him! I owe a big thanks to God for giving me one of my favorites back! I also owe Josh a big thanks for serving our in country's military while in Alaska! :)

Thankfulness

So I am ignoring the fact that I haven't blogged in a long time! I am spurred by a high school classmate who has been doing 30 days of thankfulness (Thanks, Jessica).

I am thankful to my first principal in Florence School District One, Barbara Hood. She was willing to hire me when I was pregnant with my first child. When I wasn't allowed out of my nightmarish contract, she didn't forget me. I am glad that she had such a good memory because I don't think it is my superior skills that she remembered. I taught for another 2 years in my unfortunate first job. (loved the people I worked with, but the higher ups were clueless) When my husband and I finally got the courage for me to leave that job (and not sign a contract), Hood saw my name on the list and called me. It was the Monday before Florence School District One's Teacher Expo. I, luckily, did not have to go that Saturday. I had a job at Moore Intermediate School. This is my 3rd year at Moore, and I love it! We have an awesome group of teachers who are led by awesome "higher ups." Tuesday afternoon, we got the shocks of lives. Hood is retiring at the end of this year. It took every ounce of me not to cry. She doesn't want gifts or money. "Economic times are tough." I am not going to give her a gift or money; I will respect her wishes. I will give her something more lasting: a thank you on the internet. (It doesn't get erased!) I am thankful for Barbara Hood!

God doesn't give us more than we can handle with HIS help!

The title of this post has been my mantra for yesterday and today.

Yesterday was the first day of school for students. Teachers had to be there by 7:10 to help direct students and parents. That's fine. I was up at 5 am, and out the door by 6:20 with both boys dressed and ready to go! Good Job! Both boys were dropped off where they were supposed to be on time and without a major battle. I got to school at 7 am, open my classroom door, and all but 3 posters had fallen off of my walls. (Note: I needed a ladder, not a step stool, a ladder, to put them up!) I am late to car line duty. What a fantastic way to start the school year! My class numbers started off yesterday with 26, added a new one yesterday, and I left with a total of 27.

After school, I picked Aydyn up, and ran by Wal-mart, which seemed really dead for the first day of school. I must have gone early. Then my wonderful parents cooked dinner for me :) It was really a nice time. Krystian got to play with Uncle Matt. It is really funny to see a 6+ foot tall man play soccer with a child who is barely 3 foot tall, but they both LOVED it. Then I had to bring the boys home so that my brother-in-law could baby sit them. 2 uncles in one night! I went to play softball with the church. Yes, we lost, and today I found out that I teach a child whose dad plays for the team that STOMPED us. (Fantastic) On the way to the softball game, my husband (who is in Greenville) calls and says that his grandmother is in the hospital and they think she had a mini-stroke. I play the game -- like I said, we lost.

The phone call from my husband was just the beginning. I came home and stayed up late like a good teacher does getting things ready for the next day. I laid down about 11 pm and fell asleep. 11:24 Krystian comes in, "Mommy, I throw up on my bed," and cries his little heart out. I change the child and put the sheets and Gorilla in the washer to wash over night. I put Krystian in bed with me, calm him down, set the sleep timer on the tv, turn on cartoons so he will relax, and fall back asleep. If you are a parent, you know that you don't sleep as heavy after the throw-up as you did before the throw-up. Every little cough or move Krystian made, I was awake touching and checking him. 12:24 am: He throws up again. This time in my bed (but on Jake's side & pillow thankfully!). A little secret: I HATE the smell of vomit. It has gotten worse since I was pregnant with Aydyn. Anyway! We are both completely out of my bed. We fall asleep on the couch bed. That was a wise investment for a family even though our excuse was that it was for visitors. We don't get those. Finally, we sleep through the night until 5:30 am.

That brings me to today. It went a little something like this:

• 4 hours of sleep
• Krystian didn't want to wake up (of course)
• Aydyn poops as soon as we walk out of the house
• Get 2 new students (that makes 29)
• Call the pediatrician about Krystian who says bring him in(That's right I had to leave work early on the second day of school :()
• Get to my dad's to get Krystian & he's had an accident--glad I packed extra :)
• Doctor says it seems to be a virus, but that he is on call this weekend if we need anything.
• Remind the doctor that we are supposed to see him Thursday afternoon for Aydyn & he says, "I won't be here. Lisa will check on it and we'll call you." (We go Friday at the same time! I love our pediatrician!)
• Parents volunteer to watch the boys while I go to the laundry mat to wash our comforter and 3 pillows that won't fit in our washer.
• Lock myself out of the house.
• Forget laundry detergent.
• Spend $10 and an hour and a half washing 3 pillows and a comforter while praying that we don't have the same problem.

Yes, God doesn't give us more than we can handle with HIS help, but if this keeps up, I am going to need to sleep at the church for a few nights!

Chinese Food

My parents do A LOT for me. I have worked 3 days this week, and they have watched my boys 3 afternoons this week. Monday night I had a softball game. Tuesday afternoon I had a migraine. Wednesday afternoon I worked late so that I could get most of my classroom straightened. Now, I know that most normal people have babysitters that they pay with money. I am very blessed to say that I do not know what the going rate is for a babysitter. I personally pay with food. Monday night I cooked pork chops, green beans, and stuffing to pay my parents for their services. Tuesday night there was no payment, but Wednesday was paid right! I paid with Chinese food from Hong Kong on Irby Street. I know that it doesn't seem like a lot, but I love Chinese food (& so does my mom)! So if you are ever in the market for a babysitting job that pays with food and not money, I am your girl. I will cook or pick up almost anything :) And a HUGE THANKS to MY PARENTS!

Day 1 & Day 2 with no husband

The past two days have been some of the toughest for me. I can't imagine (or remember) how I made it through 4 years of college without being in the same town as Jake. Here is a snip-it of how the past two days have gone.

Day #1 (Friday): Jake left at 6:11 am to go to Greenville. Being the awesome dad that he is, Jake kissed both boys, waking Aydyn up. He brought Aydyn to my bed and told him to go back to sleep. However, Aydyn did NOT want Daddy to go. I thought for sure that Aydyn would not understand what was going on, but he did and he did not like it. After Jake left, Aydyn calmed down, but would not go back to sleep of course. I was not ready to get up so, I was a horrible mother and put Aydyn back in his room for an hour. After we finally got up, Krystian helped me clean up the mess from the day before. (Daddy spent all day with the boys on Thursday. The result was complete chaos in my living room.) The boys and I went to Bi-Lo to get something for lunches for the next week. It was a long day, but my parents came over for dinner and to play with Krystian and Aydyn. That helped distract us all. My mom does what she always does when she comes over. It was all monster trucks and baths! That is why I love her! After they left, it was time for boys to go to bed. I talked to Jake for a few minutes, watched a movie, and then fell asleep.

Day #2: Today began with Aydyn climbing out of bed for the second time in a week. I knew that this day would come, and to be honest, I thought it would come a lot sooner. This doesn't still the fear in my heart that I have about him falling and breaking an arm. Aydyn is a climber. I believe that he will be in and out of trees very soon. Anyway! My in-laws came this morning to take the boys. That took all of my distraction away. I went to Target for diapers and new ear buds. Then I went to walk around McLeod Health & Fitness. I should've stayed out there and walked longer. It is kind of depressing to come home to an empty house. When I called to ask my in-laws 1. if they were feeding my boys dinner (the answer was yes), and 2. when they were bringing them home, they said, "I don't know." My parents (I really do love them!) took me out to dinner at Longhorn because I was so depressed and lonely. Shortly after getting home, my father-in-law brought the boys home. They were bathed and put to bed. I can say that we have survived the first 2 days. Let's pray that we make it the rest of the week until Jake gets home for just a weekend before going back.