So I’m talking with my sister about the latest work-out video that I’m doing. Our discussion turns to the different areas of the body that this video focuses on. Whether it works saddle bags, muffin tops, love handles. Then we start discussing exactly what is a saddle bag, muffin top or love handle.
Eli, who was sitting nearby but being ever so quiet, says, “It’s just fat. That’s all it is: fat.”
So true.
Logan and Camden were down playing in the basement. After awhile, Camden came upstairs kind of whimpering and saying, “Wet….wet, mama….wet.” I looked at him and sure enough, his shirt sleeve is all wet. I pick him up and discover the top of his head is all wet too.
“How did you get wet?"
“Wet” is all I get from Camden.
Hmm……how did he get wet in the basement???
Logan comes up soon after this and says, “Mom, if you think it was me who spit juice on Camden’s head, it wasn’t.”
Uh, yep, I think I figured out what happened.
Did you ever hear the story about the mom whose little boy was drowning and she rushed in, gave him CPR and saved his life? Or how about the mother whose little girl was choking and she stepped up to the plate and saved her life?
I am always amazed by those stories because I think *panic* would overtake me and I wouldn’t know what to do if my child was drowning or choking. I certainly do not think I could stay calm and think clearly because, clearly, that’s what these moms do. Calm and collected. I do not feel that’s me.
Well, last night presented one of these challenges to me. And although it never came to me having to give CPR, to which I am very thankful, I do feel more confident in how I would respond.
See, earlier in the evening Camden had smashed his finger in the corner cabinet. Dad gave him an ice cube to put on his finger, “to help it feel better.” Camden carried this little ice cube around on a paper towel for quite some time. He kept saying, “Ow, my finger, my ice,” and then he’d put his finger on the ice. I think it helped him to “think'” it was helping his hurting finger.
A bit later I was listening to Eli read on my bed. Camden was laying with us when he suddenly decided he needed his piece of ice. I remember thinking in my head, “That ice has got to be melted by now.” Off he ran to get his ice.
Meanwhile, Logan entered the bedroom.
Camden came back with his ice, set it on the bed and spit on it. Not sure why, but he did. Logan, being funny, said, “Yum,” and took the ice and stuck it in his mouth.
After that everything is kind of fuzzy. I know the piece of ice was in his mouth for less than 3 seconds before I heard a weird sound and looked to see Logan’s eyes panicking. The ice was stuck in his throat!
It was all of maybe 10 seconds, but I will tell you that as of right now, it was the longest 10 seconds of my life. Logan could not get a breath. All I could think of was to call on the name of Jesus. I yelled, “Oh, Jesus, help…please help us.” By the time I rushed over to where Logan was on the bed, I heard a gagging sound and the ice cube flew out of his mouth!
Thank you, Jesus!
Logan was quite shaken and upset and was telling me his throat hurt. I held him close and just kept saying, “Thank you, Jesus….thank you…..thank you.”
You see, I may not have had to do CPR, but I felt I was able to do something much more powerful. I learned that when I am confronted with an emergency, I did the best thing I could: I called on Jesus to come and save my son! His name is so powerful. He saw my situation, He heard my cries, He came and saved Logan. He protected us.
I think of how powerful and strong a mother’s love is. I love my boys so much and I want to protect them from so much of this world. But unfortunately, hard as I try, I can’t.
There is One who can though. It is so important to pray daily for our families, for our kids, for our homes, for our finances, for our direction. If we seek Him, He will answer.
And I can tell you firsthand: If you call on His name, He will answer!
Blessings to you today.
I know I am especially thankful for the little things today, like this little boy:
1. I have a case of the Monday morning blahs. Not sure why. I’m trying my hardest to fight it. Thankfully, Eli (my least-enthusiastic boy about school) got started right away. Whew, that’s one less thing to fight on Monday morning!
He probably even had more motivation than Mom today!
And here’s all I can get of Isaac these days….glances:
For some reason, he hides from the camera. I’m sure it’s just some phase though.
2. I thought I’d perk up my Monday by making some blueberry millet muffins. And do you even need to ask? Of course, they’re allergen-free. These were SO yummy!!! They’ll be gone by the end of the day, for sure.
3. We went bowling this last weekend….again. It was in celebration of Joshua’s birthday with his family. He did well—whew—and was pleased. We ended by going out to his favorite restaurant for pizza. Thanks, Aunt M and Uncle D, for a yummy dinner!
4. One big project completed: the switching around of beds.
When I was due with Camden, Logan was still sleeping in the only crib we owned. I wasn’t ready to move him out. He wasn’t even two yet, not climbing out of the crib and a great sleeper. I wasn’t about to disturb all that! Plus, I didn’t want to be up with a newborn AND a toddler! So a gracious friend offered us her crib. Camden has been sleeping in this crib and now this gracious friend is pregnant herself and due in a few short months, therefore, needing this crib back.
Logan’s crib is a convertible crib. He’s been sleeping in it converted into a toddler bed. So, we converted the toddler bed back into a crib and moved Camden into that. Then Josh found a really cute lil’ bed for Logan. It is exactly what we needed for him, just for a year or so, until he’s big enough for a top bunk bed.
Check it out:
Does anybody recognize this cute lil’ bed????? 10 points to whoever does! :)
And this is Camden’s “new” bed:
(Yes, that’s my 9 year old in the crib w/ Camden.)
So this is their “new” little room:
They love it! Logan was a bit afraid he might fall out the first night, but he’s done just fine. Camden really wants us to take the side off his bed so it’s a big boy bed, but I’m just not quite ready for that yet. He seems to get this burst of energy right before bedtime and I’d rather be able to put him in his crib and know he’s stuck there. :)
5. We had BEAUTIFUL weather last week and then Sunday came. Rain, sleet, snow, freezing rain, sleet, rain….blah! Thankfully, where we are, we didn’t get a foot of snow. Just slightly north they did. But our roads were covered with a nice layer of ice this morning. Not fun!
6. My other project: the basement.
I spent most of Sunday down in the basement cleaning, organizing, throwing stuff away. I accomplished a lot. I even got rid of all my maternity and baby clothes. *gasp!* Yes, it’s true.
(Well, technically, I didn’t get RID of them. They’re still sitting downstairs. But they’re in the Goodwill pile and I moved them from bines to garbage bags. So it’s a step.)
7. My next project: I and E’s room.
I told them to agree on a color and I’d paint their room. That was two months ago. They were having a hard time AGREEING on one color. So I told them they could choose two colors and we’d paint two walls one color and the other two walls a different color. Guess what they picked AND agreed upon??? Green and Gold!
Have a blessed Monday! My break is over with. Back to work. :)
We had school to get done. I had a job deadline. But we put things in perspective and spent the morning making birthday cards, posters, wrapping presents and making a birthday cake! After all, Dad is way more important than school and work. :)
Nothing’s better than homemade birthday cards:
And then the presents….
Logan made Dad a party chicken. Camden made Dad a party cow.
Eli gave Dad an Aaron Rodgers card, a Mike McCarthy card and an Eli Hart card (that last guy is the new and upcoming guy in soccer…supposed to be really good.:)
Isaac gave Dad a Super Bowl Champion shirt.
I got him this scale, which, believe it or not, he really wanted. And NOT digital. Well, needless to say, both of us aren’t too fond of this scale anymore. It’s really off. Maybe I should return it….
And, of course, no birthday is complete without cake!
The boys were excited because we got the “trick” candles for Dad. The trick candles were a huge disappointment though. They did not perform any tricks.
All the boys enjoyed the cake. Yes, it was an allergen-free cake. It was very yummy! Unfortunately, Josh was too full from his Texas Roadhouse dinner to eat his cake. But the boys were happy to eat it.
Chocolate cake with dark chocolate frosting.
Happy Birthday, Dad!
I had to add these in of Camden. He’s turning into quite the little ham for the camera. Should I expect any less than that though?!?!? :)
Today is my hubby’s birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Here are the top reasons I love my husband:
1. He works hard. He gets up and goes into work every day so his family can have a better life. He knows how important it is to have his kids at home and allows me to be a stay-at-home mom.
2. He finds the humor in most situations. I don’t have to worry about where to go if I need a good laugh. In fact, back in high school when we started dating, this was one of the qualities that attracted me to him. I have my own build-in comedian right at home. And I think he’s passing this trait on to some of his children too, which some days is nice and some days, not so much.
3. Despite how tired he is, he will stay up late and listen to me talk and talk and talk and talk and talk.
4. He always takes the time for his boys. He can be tired, exhausted, sore, hurting, etc. from work, but if his boys ask him to play them in a basketball game or go see the cows, he’ll do it.
5. He’s willing to do a Jillian Michaels workout with me(shhhh…..don’t tell him I told you that). :)
6. Saving money is important to him but so is having fun. He seems to find the right balance between the two for our family.
7. He has nicknames for each of our boys.
8. He’ll do something he doesn’t necessarily want to just because it’s important to me.
9. He knows I hate to fry fish so he takes over in the kitchen on fish fry nights.
10. He loves me despite my faults.
Five facts about my husband:
1. He is a meat-and-potato type of guy. Don’t try and get all fancy with cooking or make a bunch of casseroles. He won’t be impressed! Simple is best.
2. Even though simple is best with cooking, the same is not true with baking.
3. He loves hunting, mainly bow and arrow.
4. He has to wear socks with sandals (I know, dorky, but we’re working on it).
5. He sleeps on his back, almost like he’s dead.
Five ways I’m completely opposite from my husband:
1. I have to sleep with socks on; he can’t stand having socks on in bed.
2. He’s very opinionated and not too shy to let it be known. Me? I may be opinionated on things, but I’ll keep it to myself. (I’m working on it.)
3. He doesn’t like reading. I’m an avid reader.
4. He stays away from computers. I use one every day, multiple times a day.
5. He showers at night. I shower in the morning.
He’s a GREAT dad and a TERRIFIC husband and I am so thankful God brought him into my life.
Happy Birthday, honey. I look forward to growing old with you….the best is yet to be!
1. Packers won the Super Bowl! Woo hoo!!!!!!!!
My hubby and I had team spirit:
I cannot NOT get into football when I live in a house full of boys. I never thought I’d be watching football, let alone cheering, but you know what they say, never say never. :)
And it’s so much more fun if you join them.
2. I am making my own vanilla. What made me want to do this? Well, in an effort to make Camden better and eliminate another possible allergen food (corn), I must do this. It’s really quite simple. Vodka and vanilla beans. But the vodka must be potato vodka because other vodka is derived from corn.
Downside: It takes about six to eight weeks until the vanilla is ready.
Upside: I will have an abundance of vanilla when it’s ready.
This picture is from the end of week one. Yep, a s-l-o-w process.
3. My boys are currently outside in 15-degree weather building a fort. 15 degrees!!! And by Sunday it’s supposed to be in the 40s and that fort will be melting away. I didn’t have the heart to tell them that.
4. This morning I made pumpkin muffins allergen-free pumpkin muffins. And when I say that, I mean free from dairy, soy, wheat, gluten, egg, and yes, now corn too. But they are so yummy!!! I love that I’m finally discovering the secret to allergen-free baking! It’s a tricky one, but once you get it, it’s so rewarding.
5. Camden is now 100% potty trained!
Remember how he got “it” with undies on but not with pants on??? Well, Friday night we went bowling and for some reason, he finally got it. He told me every time when he had to go potty and he made it to the bathroom every time. Then he did the same thing Saturday at Eli’s soccer tournament. Then again Sunday at church (even in Sunday School where he is so quiet and I am not there). Woo hoo! I am so happy!
6. Speaking of bowling…..yes, we went last weekend. It’s always fun when the whole family goes. We usually lose Logan and Camden halfway through. Josh always insists on two games and they can only handle one game. But they have fun just playing around while we play then. I scored my highest ever: 144! Josh got 140. :)
7. I just have to say that this year we have been unusually healthy. I am very thankful for our health—very. But it also makes me think of what we’re doing differently this year than previous years. I honestly can’t say I’ve been faithful with the kids’ vitamins. Or even my own. So what is it? My sister pointed out that this is the first year that our whole family is going to the chiropractor. Hmmm…..true. I’ve been told that regular adjustments help with your immunity and staying healthy. I think I believe it!
8. I know I usually only do 7 Quick Takes, but today I have a very special reason to add in #8:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little sister, BECKY!!!!!!!
I love you and I hope you have the best birthday!
Have a blessed week.
Eli’s 3v3 soccer tournament was this weekend. They didn’t win, but they played hard, gave it their all and had fun (minus the injury to his elbow). And that’s what counts. Great job, Eli! I’m proud of you!
