Wednesday, December 21, 2011

jesus take the wheel


JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL...mama needs a break!

This is how I feel..ok so maybe it's a little dramatic!  I am working on 2 hours of unconsecutive sleep and lots of caffeine.  I quit drinking sodas in the summer but stress had let me straight back to a nasty habit.  As I type, I have a cherry coke zero in the freezer...so wrong!  Chris is chugging a quart of boiled custard...yes literally just drinking that nastiness out of the bottle. 

We have 2 children with RSV...2 children getting breathing treatments every 4 hours...are you familiar with albuterol??
HYPER-CITY
Have I mentioned our house is only 1600 square feet? Hyper-city is not pretty when you can't go outside!
It is almost comical (not right at this moment) how out of character it (albuterol) makes the boys.  Don't get me wrong, they are very busy but this is like someone pulled the self-control right our from under them...think spastic and impulsive 24/7.  Sam has been coming up and licking us all day and poor Tanner is going so hard that he literally has an emotional meltdown or a crash! Sam and I slept on the couch last night...after taking him back to his bed at least 15 times, we finally just landed on the couch.  At 3a.m., he was literally jumping on the couch...all I could do was cover my head with the pillow. 

LOL...By the way both boys were pooting in the doctor's office visit, while the doctor was in there and I couldn't help but bust out laughing. Yes...it was very loud. Thank goodness the doctor we saw has boys...she laughed with us.



Tuesday, December 20, 2011

applesauce&cinnamon ornaments

Cinnamon and Applesauce Ornaments

INGREDIENTS
Big jar of cinnamon(target)
Big jar of applesauce
Pour cinnamon into a bowl first.
Slowly add applesauce and mix as you pour.
It will seem like you don't have enough applesauce
but the cinnamon really soaks up the applesauce. 
 If you add too much applesauce it will be too sticky to roll.
Roll.
Cut.
Dry.
Hang.
Really fun. Really easy. Really yummy smelling.
Ours from last year are still in great shape!




quite the scare

Samuel James gave us quite the scare last night really this morning.  He came meandering into our room around 11. As he walked in, I could hear a little wheeze. I woke up Chris and we gave him a breathing treatment...perfect...now to get some sleep.  At 4:45 he came back to our room, with a wheeze so loud I sat straight up in my bed, yelled at Chris to wake up and get the machine.  We loaded 2 abuterols into the machine.  At this point, he was taking a gasping breath after every 2-3 words. I called the pediatricians office. It was 15-20 minutes before they called back and the abuterol had not seemed to kick in.  He was retracting at the bottom of his throat(this is his typical m.o.) and in his chest(he never does this). Chris said what do you want me to do, "Just pray and don't stop until he's breathing ok again".  The nurse at the pediatrician said "do not put him in your car...call 911".  At that moment I felt like a terrible parent, should I have called 20 minutes ago?








Our paramedics were great, the nurses were great and the ER doctor was hilarious, so refreshing.  Sam is much better...he got another treatment and a big dose of steroids.  I called my parents to come and get Tanner, they didn't even ask why they just got in the car and came right when I needed them.  I am so grateful to have my family here.  When Chris called his boss, he was like been there done that...so grateful for understanding because I really needed Chris there.
We are at home now and I have napped and I'm working on drinking my coffee before I go on a quick run and go to the doctor for myself but I'm really thinking about what a big job being a parent is.  I'll be honest sometimes my 1st instinct is still to pick up the phone and call my parents to ask the harder questions, to get advice or to get confirmation we made the right choice.  This morning there wasn't time for that...it actually didn't even cross my mind.  Making big decisions, like how to care my boys can be really scary but I it is so refreshing knowing my Heavenly Father is always with me in my decisions.

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

a long post

This week has been a very big week for all of us. 

     Tanner has been going to Taekwondo everynight (for 2 weeks...whew), working on testing for his YELLOW belt.  Friday night, my parents watched Sam while we took Tanner to the testing results program.  Pure joy was oozing from Tanner while he waited for his named to be called. He was first, which I know thrilled him!  We stayed the whole time, over an hour, while he sat on the loor watching without ever moving an inch.  When we got in the car, he talked about what he had to do to get his next belt...Tanner is one focused little boy! A few years ago, I did not see the word "focused" in our future but here I am using "Tanner and focused" in the same sentence.

     Sam got his first black eye, to accompany the knot on his head and the giant busted lip! Sorry no photo.

    



The emotional roller coaster...thank you for all of your sweet words over the last month.
     Chris' work has been a little slow. After he finished the zoo and the U of M in mid-November...there was not another project for him to supervise. I was a nervous wreck...dividing our savings mentally in my head to see how long we could last, calculating tuitions for next year, considering working extra hours, you get the picture! Chris was really calm, we spent a lot of time praying about the plans for our family and considering the change that might occur. We canceled a planned vacation, shaved our Christmas budget and went back to living. Within a few days of "no job", I had 2 flat tires (at the same time), it literally "rained" in our house during a hard rain (new roof...coming) and my faborite jeans finally "bit the dust". Ok God...ok God...ok God...I know you have a plan.
     The boys and I loved having Chris around a little more. I have to come clean though...I have come to realize that our house is definitely "my domain" from 7am-4pm...does that sound crazy?? I mean the first few days, I was like this is so fun Daddy is home but then I realized I am very TYPE A about "how we roll" all day. A FUNNY...one day we dropped Tanner off at EUMK. The plan was to run by the bank and the post office and then head to Pinocchio's for story time. Chris passed 3 of our banks and 2 post offices to head to the ones past our house...WHAT...seeing as we then had to go back for story time...I was so confused but took a deep breath...thanked God for a day with Chris and Sam...and told myself to GET IN THE DRIVERS SEAT when we left the bookstore!!! See...really TYPE A! A happy note...I will say, Chris took note of the work done in the hours he is absent.  On date night, he took the time to say that he did not say thank you enough for all the work it takes to get everything done...noting that since he doesn't see it all, he never thought about it! Love a little appreciation:)


An answered prayer...
     Chris was called this week and given 2 projects...a church and more at the U of M. The best part of all of it...the U of M job will last at least a year...WOO-HOO!!
     Our pantry door is covered in chalkboard paint...It always has a scripture on it. When the job uncertainty began, I wrote Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Tonight, at the dinner table Tanner was reading it. It the brief uncertainty of Chris job, we really re-evaluated what needs are. My list of wants is long but even in this stressful season of our lives, there are so many people who can not meet the basic needs of their family. I am very greatful that for a husband who saves and has created a "no debt" policy in our home.
     So in the end...I am thankful for a faithful God who provides, a husband who is willing to wait on God's timing (a struggle for me), great communication about our finance and children who are so resilient....they just love the little bits of life. 










Saturday, December 10, 2011

a favorite tradition

ALPINE VILLAGE

This is one of our favorite
Christmas traditions.  A sweet little church has this amazing Christmas Village evey year.  You can see Santa, a puppet show, a nativity play and go through these adorable houses making different Christmasy things.

Waiting to make ornaments.


Always silly...our little "elf".


Christmas cards...I can't believe Sam was big enough to do most of the houses himself.


Tanner really takes his time making his "things"...Sam took a nano second...so we had to work on "waiting"...FUN!


Cookies...the helper made it and he licked his fingers:)


Tops!


Candy at 7:30...awesome!


Santa...this is a little classier than our Bass Pro shot.


Rarely happens.
Christmas program, taekwondo testing, and Alpine village...busy day


This always happens...Sam has learned the art of a cat nap while attempting to forgo the long afternoon nap...Mommy is not so thrilled.

"wise men"

 "We have been following His star."

This was Tanner's line in his Kindergarten Christmas musical. He was one of the Wise Men. It was more precious than I expected.  How can 14 Kindergarteners re-inacting the Christmas story and singing not be?  I can not believe my BABY is 1/2 way through Kindergarten:(
When we picked him up from school, he was reminding us that the Shepards were the first ones the Angel told the good news of the Jesus' birth. It was such a great opportunity to talk about how God choose ordinary Shepards to hear the Good News first not someone with riches, fancy cars or the best toys. We talked about how in our relationship with Christ, He is the Shepard and he watches after HIs flock(us). It is amazing to me how much a 5 year old can comprehend about God's unconditional love for us. Praying that the Holy Spirit will continue to work on his little heart. I love these moments when I can share God's love with the boys:)


 

Sunday, December 4, 2011

gingerbread houses



We make Gingerbread Houses every year.
 It is one of my favorite traditions...maybe it's the candy and the icing! This is it went along with our ADVENT.  Tonight we talked about how Jesus is our "Rock" when we trust and obey him. Since we talking about "building" a solid rock with our faith, tonight was the perfect night to build our Gingerbread Houses. 
Chris was on "SAM PATROL". His job was to monitor Sams candy intake...it's a big job! Tanner built a village not just a house. He spent alot of time...over an 1 1/2 on his.  He laid nerds 1 by 1 on the sides, and pez 1 by1 on the roofs.

Advent reading Matthew 4:24-27

To make these EASY Gingerbread Houses you NEED:
a glue gun
graham crakers(generic works best)
your husband's candy stash
icing

...Hot glue graham crackers 1/2's (when you get the one big sheet break it...this is my 1/2) in PAIRS
...hold up for a few seconds when glueing to get right angle
...glue 2 pairs to make square for house
...add a pair on top for the roof




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