Quotes of the day

"If you live in a material universe where acquiring things is very important to you, then family is an absolute deterrent to maintaining that sort of a world, because family involves values like affection, and sympathy, and passion, and types of pleasure that lead nowhere in a material sense."
--John Taylor Gatto, in Alternatives in Education

"The Bible calls debt a curse and children a blessing; but in our culture, we apply for a curse and reject blessings. Something is wrong with this picture." -- Doug Phillips

Two straws

This is one of Logan’s favorite drinks:

Notice the cinnamon sticks on the carton picture.

Logan says:  I need two straws because that’s how you’re supposed to drink it.  See?  (pointing to picture)

This was followed by asking for more once he finished his first cup. I said no because he wouldn't have room for his fish dinner. Logan replied, "No, Mom, I'll have room right here (making more room on the table instead of in his tummy).

Owl spotting

Eli spotted this while being stuck inside sick.  He was just staring out the window.

Two sick little boys….

It was another rough night.  Can you tell?

At present, Eli is improving.  Isaac is 95%.  Logan is no longer able to fight off the sickness.  And Camden is going downhill.  He’s had a fever of 104 all day and extremely cranky.  Oy.

My two sickies.

Three sick little boys….

Three out of four boys are sick.  ‘Twas a l-o-n-g night!

Cough, sore throat, fever, just miserable feeling.  It seems to be the same bug that their cousins have had and they were really only down and out for one day, so I pray the same is true for us.  Today seems to be our “bad” day. 

Poor Eli didn’t sleep more than two hours last night because his throat was hurting him so bad.  Camden woke up crying at 1:30 a.m. and he was burning up.  He was coughing so hard when I first put him to bed that he almost threw up.  Awful.

Logan is the rock so far.  He’s bummed we’re staying home today ‘cause he was supposed to go to Grandma’s house while mom went to the outlets shopping with a friend.  Hmm…..maybe I should still send him to Grandma’s so he can avoid the germ-infested house.

VII Quick Takes

I.  Our house is suffering from a serious case of winter stir craziness.  Oh, Spring, where art thou?  You can’t come fast enough!

II.  In lieu of the stir craziness, we are scheduling play dates, field trips, Mom’s day out.  Not that it seems to be making a difference.  I like my days at home and I don’t like to be gone all the time.  So I’m forcing the boys outside once a day….regardless of the weather.

III.  Our oldest son pulled his first all-nighter.  He went to a boys’ night with his cousin (though Awana) which included going out for pizza, a hockey game and then going back to the church for a night of games.  He did that Friday night and then Saturday night  Grandpa was babysitting and he was up until 10:30 p.m.!  And no nap was taken during the day.  Needless to say, he slept until 12 noon on  Sunday.  Yes, I let him skip church because he also seems to be suffering from some sort of stomach bug.  I felt he needed his sleep.  And I’m glad I did that because he was up ‘til midnight last night with stomach “issues.”

IV. I am busy researching digital cameras.  I am in desperate need of a new one.  I am looking at Canon, but I am overwhelmed.  I’m not sure whether I’m going to go with a point and shoot or SLR yet.  I thought a point and shoot, but Josh thought I should challenge myself and go for the SLR.  I am going to be taking a photography class this spring.  The winter class filled up so I have to wait—unless I find something else sooner.  I am very excited, but first I need to find a camera that fits me.  Any suggestions?

V.  Logan is suffering from a case of diarrhea and stomach pain again.  I’m sorry to say that it’s a direct relation to what we fed him, but I now know, without any doubt, that he cannot eat wheat.  It hurts his stomach, he’s bent over in  pain, he’s pale, he gets diarrhea and he spends all day on the toilet.  Poor guy.  He’s having a hard time being told no to his foods he could always have.  Every time he accidently (or purposely when we give in to his whining) eats something, his reaction gets worse.   I hate it, but at the same time I’m happy we know so he doesn’t have to suffer.

VI.  We went out with some friends Saturday night to celebrate some February birthdays.  Josh being one of them.  We went to the Texas Roadhouse (which I do not recommend going to on a Saturday night during prime dinner time) and he rode the saddle while they announced his birthday.  He was thrilled to do this—as you can imagine!  Then we went to Starbucks (for a venti white chocolate mocha—yum!) and then bowling.  It was a late night for us old folks as we didn’t even start bowling until after nine.  And Josh can never just bowl one game. 

VII.  I'm at #7 and feel I should go out with a bang....but I've got nothing. So have a great week. May God bless you richly!

A boy’s imagination

Logan:  Grampa H is getting a spaceship so he can go to outer space.

Mom:  He is? 

Logan:  Yep.  And when he’s all done with it, he’s going to give it to us and we can go to outer space then too.

Mom:  Grampa H is getting a space ship?

(I had to say it one more time to make sure I heard it correctly.)

Logan:  Uh-huh.  So he can go to outer space, Mom.

Mom:  Who told you this?  Did Grampa H tell you this?

Logan:  No, I just know it.

 

(See, Grampa H, the boys have not forgotten you!)

Trust big brother

Logan was throwing an all-out temper tantrum today.  It began because he wanted juice.   I had to make more juice and he just didn’t want to wait.  Keep in mind, this was very close to naptime.  The crying from no juice ended up with him in bed.  He came out when he was all done crying and said he was better.  That only lasted a little bit.  A few seconds later he wanted his pants buttoned and I couldn’t do it because my hands were all wet.  I told him to hang on a second.  Well, that did it!  The screaming and crying began again.  He went back to his bed and was going on and on about wanting to be bigger so he could button his pants.

“I want to be bigger.  I asked God to make me bigger and he didn’t do it.  I want to be bigger so I can button my pants.  I want to be bigger so my tummy doesn’t hurt anymore.  God didn’t make me bigger!  Why did God make me little?”

Eli overheard him and took sympathy on him and went in to help calm him down.

I stayed outside the door and listened.

Eli:  Logan, everyone starts off little.  I was little.  Isaac was little.  Even Mommy was little.  You’ll get bigger some day.  But when you get bigger, then you have to get a job and wash the dishes.

Logan:  All by myself?

Eli:  All by yourself. 

Logan:  But I just want to be bigger so I can button my pants.

Eli:  I bet Mom wishes she was little so then she could play with toys and stuff.  But she’s bigger so then she has to wash the dishes, do the laundry, and a bunch of work.  When you’re little, you can just play, so you’re lucky.

Logan:  I don’t want to be little!

Eli:  Trust me,  Logan.  Some day you’ll be bigger and you’ll wish you were little.

Joshua’s birthday

Happy Birthday to my wonderful hubby.  He works so very hard to provide for his family.  He sacrifices so much for his family.  We are so thankful and appreciate all he does for us.

As I said before, one of Joshua’s gifts was the blessing of fish.  From God, of course.

Another blessing on his birthday was finally getting off of work early.  He took this time with the boys to discover the simply things in life, like a giant icicle that was growing off our back deck.

It was almost as tall as Isaac!

Camden couldn’t stop touching it.  He thought it was pretty neat, even saying “Whoa!” the first time he touched it.

During the day while he was at work, the boys took time making him birthday posters:

DAD = Dependable Awesome Dude

The yellow spot is a lion with the chicken pox made especially by Logan.

Then the boys each wrapped up their presents for him.  This Dependable Awesome Dude of a Dad received candy and an eraser from Logan; a fish decal for his truck from Eli; and a special handwritten message from Isaac.  I got him a new winter jacket, which he so desperately needed. 

 

And we made him chocolate cake with cocoa frosting and toffee bits.  Mmmm……..

And HE bought me flowers to tell me how much he loved me.  How sweet.  On HIS birthday.

(Blurry!  Errr……I need a new camera!)

(Yep, definitely need a new camera.)

Logan helped him blow out the candles.

Happy Birthday, honey!  I look forward to sharing more with you and our blessings!

Red frosting thief

It’s Monday morning and I find a trail of red spots—bright red spots!—on the carpeting.  After following the trail which led me from the great room carpeting to the kitchen, I discover what the bright red spots are. There, right up on the stove, is the birthday cake sent home with us last night from Cousin H’s party with bright red frosting.  Hmm…..who did this? 

I search for the culprit.  Who decided to sneak a lick of frosting this morning?  Ah ha!  I find him.  He has bright red marks on his underwear where he tried to wipe off his fingers and when he smiles, yes, bright red teeth.  Mystery solved! 

Off I go to clean the carpets on this Monday morning….

Can you guess who the culprit is? Hint: it's not the obvious.

Fish fry!

So Josh went ice fishing this weekend and God gave him a birthday present of fish. 

This was from Saturday.  We were able to enjoy a fish fry AND have leftovers to save for another time. That doesn’t happen very often because our boys LOVE fish. 

Eli was eating and eating the fish and finally turned to us and said, “I can’t do it…I can’t finish….I’m so full.”  This was after about his third helping of fish.

Sunday morning Josh went out with a friend to a different lake and ended up catching this bass:

What a great weekend of fishing for him!  Like I said, I think it was God’s gift to Joshua for his birthday. 

We ended the weekend yesterday with bowling for Josh’s  birthday and then going to Cousin H’s birthday party.  Good times.

Bath time

These pictures were taken awhile back.  It was a night Logan and  Camden took a bath together in our big bathtub with the jets.  The jets going created lots more bubbles than usual.   We were laughing our heads off at Camden because he was so mesmerized by the bubbles on his hands.  But then he would get water in his eyes and go to wipe off the water with his bubbled-covered hands and the bubbles would get in his eyes.  It was a never ending ordeal that had us laughing pretty hard.  (I know, Josh and I are terrible parents to laugh at our little boy with soap all over his face!)  Don’t worry, Logan helped him out!  :)

Time to go

Today toward the end of our shopping trip, Camden started to fuss.  He wanted something that, naturally, he couldn’t have.  Logan looked up at me and said, “Mom, it’s time to go.  Bamden is starting to freak out.”

Waterpark

Yesterday I made the daring journey to a waterpark, just me and the  kids.  Well, kind of.

We were invited to go with the church’s school.  They were going on a field trip.  Originally, Josh was going to go because he has off of work on Fridays, but the snowstorm on Tuesday threw everything off and he had to work Friday.  I am happy to say that I survived!   And the boys had lots of fun.

Isaac and Eli took off the second we walked in, running to find their friends.  Logan played in the kiddie area, along with Camden.  And when Logan wanted to venture out (mainly because he wanted to know where his brothers were), my friends helped me out.  It was a good day and we were all asleep by 9:30 last night.  Exhausted!

I know I’ve been terrible with pictures, but it’s mainly because my hands are too busy with kids!  I will try to be better.  No promises though.

Girls night

Tonight I am going out with some friends.  Girls night out.  I was thinking how girls night out in my 30s has changed from the girls night out in my 20s.  It’s good change though.  Right now nothing sounds better than meeting some friends at Starbucks to sit with coffee, talk and relax for a couple hours.  Yes, bliss….

And I should add that coming home to a house with kids all sleeping just adds to the overall wonderful picture.

Humility

Nothing like a three year old to bring you humility.

Last week I was walking out of the bathroom at Monkey Joe’s with  Camden in my arms and Logan following behind me.  I get halfway through the place and turn to make sure Logan is behind me.  He’s not.  Where is he?  Standing right in front of the doorways, also in front of a crowd of people, with his pants down around his ankles.  He had JUST finished pulling up his underwear.

Oh, jeez.

I run up and try to help him, but by the time I get there, he’s all good.

Me:  Logan, what were you doing?!?

Logan:  Mom, my underwear felt funny.

There was a dad sitting there with his son laughing his head off.  Just you wait, I thought, your day will come too.

********************************************************

Fast forward to today:

We’re  checking out at Wal-Mart.  Isaac and Eli have to go to the bathroom so I tell them they can go together.  I finish checking out and I’m pushing the cart over to the bathroom when suddenly I hear a little voice saying, “I have to go potty too.”

“No, you don’t,” I say, knowing he really doesn’t have to go—he just went at our last stop.

“Yes, I do,” Logan says as he starts walking towards the men’s bathroom.

“Just wait,” I plead.

Nope, into the men’s bathroom Logan disappears.  Yikes.  In I go until halfway in I remember my two oldest are in there.  I scream (literally), “help Logan!”

This is why God reminds us to humble ourselves like little children.

What’s going on?

Camden is going through some issues.  We’ve had some rough nights of sleep….or lack of sleep I should say.  I took him to the chiropractor on  Monday (after a terrible Sunday night).  He was really “off” and she said in the area that was troubling it could indicate food allergy, reflux or a virus. 

Camden’s had a cold for weeks now and  was just getting better, but yesterday he woke up terribly congested and coughing..again.  Seriously?!?!?!  He’s also had diarrhea and a bad yeast infection.  He’s been low on energy for weeks and taking  three, sometimes four-hour naps.

The chiro said it sounds like he has some leaky gut issues.  We’re doing a lot now to deal with that, but once he turns two, there’s a lot more we can do with supplementals.   It’s not really safe to do it before two because of so much development going on…and we do not want to mess with that!

I am frustrated because I feel like we’re going down a lot of the same roads.  But I guess this may just be our life now….and deal with it, hey?!??!

Bob

Last year when I took the boys to school there would always be a reflection of light in the car.  Isaac and  Eli started referring to this reflection as “Bob.”  It became a ritual to look for Bob on our car ride to school.  Logan grew especially fond of this little game.  There would be times in the house that he’d say to me, “Mom, there’s Bob.”  It always made me smile. 

The boys haven’t played this game for months.  The other day after church I was asking Logan if he had a fun time at church.   He told me, “Yes, Mom, and guess what?  Bob was even in church.  I saw him up in front.”

Super Bowl

We had our annual Super Bowl party last night, which we have concluded was the lamest party yet.  It seems everyone ditched us (two were sick with the flu so they’re excused) and the ones who did come, ate and then left at half time.  We have pizza leftovers for a week!  Next year our guest list is definitely going to be different!

However, we made the best and had fun.  Smiley’s family stayed through the game.  Logan had fun playing with Natalie and Smiley helped Eli cheer on the Colts since Josh and Isaac were cheering for the Saints. 

The boys each made T-shirts for the team they were cheering for.  I will attach those photos later.  Even the dog had a Colts T-shirt.  :)

Character Trait

Be Submissive.

“Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you  may become blameless and pure.”  Philippians 2:14

Once again….

Another Wednesday night, another night of Awana and another asthma attack that we couldn’t stop.

I think we’re going to need to see the doctor before this natural stuff can start working.

Poor Isaac.  He said through his tears last night, “I don’t want to go to Awana anymore.”

Seven Quick Takes

1.  It is 5 p.m. and I am writing while waiting for chocolate chip cookies to come out of the oven.  The three older boys are outside playing in the freshly fallen snow waiting for Josh to come home from work.

2.  Camden has been sleeping since 1:30.  He has been very tired the past three days.  This cold seems to be wiping him out.  He fell asleep in my mom’s arms yesterday—something he just doesn’t do!

I was able to go shopping and out to lunch yesterday with another homeschooling friend of mine.  It was a wonderful, relaxed time (that went by way too fast).

3.  Josh is putting in piers this week and next….AND his hours are increased.  Yes, it is February 2nd and I just said he is installing piers.  Amazing how God blesses us through his work.

4.  I have been reading The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage and Love and Respect.  I highly recommend both of these books.  I hope to attend a marriage conference on Love and Respect this spring with Josh.  My eyes have been opened and I am learning so much.  I have a whole long post on marriage that is brewing in my head.  I just need the time to type it out.

5. I joined the women’s Bible study at our church.  We’re studying the book of Colossians.  I am thoroughly enjoying it and I recommend to any woman out there who is contemplating joining a Bible study, do it!!!!  You will be blessed.  It’s so cool to have women from all walks of life and all different ages sharing, encouraging and praying for one another. 

6.  I am fighting a cold.  The elderberry seems to be holding it off for the time being. 

7.  We eliminated wheat out of Logan’s diet as of last week.   He had been suffering from terrible stomach aches that were putting him in bed numerous times a day and frequent diarrhea.  Both of our families know that he is a stinky guy, also known as “Stinky Winky” to some. 

Since eliminating the wheat/gluten from his diet, the stomach aches and diarrhea have almost completely stopped.  It took until about last Thursday before I noticed improvement.

Yesterday morning he accidently had a bowl of cereal with wheat in it.  The tummy aches, awful gas and diarrhea came back.  He also complained of a headache.  I thought maybe it was just a tummy bug, but he’s fine today.  I do believe it was the wheat.  

Although I’m thankful to know what it is, I am not the least bit happy about it.  It’s hard to tell a carb-loving three year old that he can no longer eat the bread and bagels he once loved.  

I am going to “test” the wheat again in a couple days, JUST TO BE SURE.