around here.

this has been our life the last two days.  

we *think* it has passed...and we will spend today building them back up with all they can eat applesauce, bananas, rice and toast.  

i am suddenly way more thankful for all the times my husband is home while the boys are sick...it's been a whole different ball game without him here.

i am thankful that God never gives us more than we can handle. 

i am thankful that this is the worst we have to deal with in terms of sickness...when my boys are sick like this it makes me remember and pray for those who deal with things far worse than a stomach flu.

i am thankful that my job is AT HOME.  and i never have to worry about calling in sick to stay home to take care of my boys when they need me. 

i am thankful for a washing machine, nick jr and pixar. 

i am thankful for all the changes occurring in my life right now.  whether i understand them or not...i know that they are God's plan for us...and THAT is something to be excited about.   and i can't wait to share them all with you here...when the time is right.

i am thankful for a slow, cozy weekend. 

xo

i am so thankful.

moses has an ear infection.
and it reminds me to be thankful.
weird? maybe.
or not so much.

we had to take him into the doctors yesterday. it was only the third time he has ever had to go for a non-well baby visit.
only the third time.
ever.
i am thankful for that. so thankful.
how many children have to go three times a week?
or to multiple doctors a day?
my boys have always been healthy and huge.
i don't think Moses has ever dipped below the 80th percentiles for height and weight.
at Aaron's 2 month check up this week he was 98th for height and 90th for weight.
i am SO thankful for that.
i am thankful for my healthy babies.
Moses having an ear infection reminds me that there are mommies who deal with so much more and if they can handle that...we can handle an ear infection and all it brings.
i love how God uses our "rough patch" to bring me to a place of thankfulness.
All for the Glory of God.
makes sense to me today.

happy friday to you!
xo

Pitiful Man Baby

Poor little man baby. He is over the fever today but yesterday he was so out of it that he kept falling asleep wherever he was. He slept on my lap like this for a little while before Doug took him up to his bed. :)

Ugh-sickness...

Well we are all sick now, thankfully, so far I seem to have a much milder version of it. I have been taking Oscillocoxinum (sp) since I started having symptoms and that seems to be fighting it off pretty well. Thankfully this is not the an illness with stomach issues...more of a sleep it off sort of thing and Moses is being great about telling me when he is ready to go back to bed. The most pitiful thing is that he keeps telling me that he is "all done"...as in "Mom, I am all done feeling bad, please fix it"...I think that defines helplessness for me.
The question from the winner of the contest was "What will I tell Moses' wife someday?"...I have been thinking of this answer for days and the only thing I can think of is, "Welcome, I love you and I have been praying for you since before Moses was ever born. :) I am here if you need me, but far enough away that I don't crowd you, I want to help but know that I have raised a good man, who knows right from wrong and how to treat a lady". :)
Some other questions I can answer with a short answer...
What will I name my next child? Not completely sure but we do want Moses to have a brother named Aaron someday.
What would I do with 100k? Pay of my churches building and and debt that they have, build them an awesome building for kids, pay off my own debt, pay for my children's college. :)
Am I really that organized or do I clean up for pics? Yep, I am...I don't have time to clean up for pics and I get a little kooky if things aren't just so. (Except for my desk). :)
Questions for Jesus...
I have a long list...why do babies/children suffer...ever? Why do some people have children like rabbits and treat them like crap but deserving couples struggle for years and may never be successful in having children? How are some people so blind to You? Are the calories listed on packs of gum for if you chew and spit out or chew and swallow? Why do You love me so much? There are more...but those are the ones that regularly circulate.
One moment to live over and over? The days we spent in the hospital after having Moses and the two weeks that Doug was home with us afterward. Best. Days. Ever. Labor? That is another stories, full of lies people tell you and lack of drugs. Wanna hear?
Do I think Moses is cuter in daddy's mismatched jammies? Yes, but not why you may think...I think it is precious that he has a daddy that will be there every night to put him in jammies.
There were more questions that I will try to answer at some point because they were all really good.
Has anyone really read this far?
Encouraging things that have happened lately...We recently had a friend give us a new washer and dryer. We were willing to buy it from her but after our disappointing tax return, she decided to just give it to us. Awesome.
Discouraging-I had someone give me a heads up in a private email today that they wouldn't buy from my etsy shop because my avatar didn't match my banner and that my shop was too scattered. :(

Love and the WINNER!!!!!

Doug and I aren't huge celebrators of Valentines Day. We do love a good excuse to buy each other a gift (for both of us, a primary love language is gifts). But we are showing love to each other on a daily and regular basis so Valentines isn't that big a deal. To us, if you wait that long to show love then.... I did get Doug this cute plate (shown above). It reads "I Love You" in Norwegian. And he got me the movie "Becoming Jane". My favorite kind of movie. :) I also made some yummy festive cupcakes. :)
But I think our celebration ends there. Doug came home early from work today and went straight to bed (Doug is not the kind to do this lightly). Noooooooooooo!!!!! I hate and dread sickness in the house...it is exhausting, and gross and so not fun...AND I am the only one in the house who does not get a sick day. :( Please be praying that somehow Moses and I are spared this illness and that Doug gets better quickly. :)

Ok, more happy stuff. Just because I know you are wondering...I love Jesus, my Doug, my Moses, cable knit sweaters, ketchup on my scrambled eggs, sweet AND salty snacks, good coffee (instant coffee is not coffee), funky socks, little birds, red birds, blue birds, black birds, nests, acorns, dishes, bowls, big things, little things, tank tops, sunshine, flip-flops, black and white photos, the beach, walking on the beach, being a mom, being a wife, hugs, friends and good family moments. :)

And the WINNER of the goody bag is Amybell!! Her question was:

"For the mother in us, what is one thing you will tell Moses's wife someday?"

I had a hard time being unbiased in choosing a winner so I had a third party choose for me. :) I will have to think on this answer so stay tuned...

Please send me your address so I can get your goodies in the mail to you. :)

Ahhhhh.....

God is too good to me. :) FINALLY we all seem to be on the mend, even I feel 85% better than I did yesterday. Moses is back to normal and to top it off God has been showing me lessons from the last week. Most of it has to do with patience. I am not the most patient person but I am so growing and stretching in that area. The song above has been in my head and playing on my iPod a lot today. I LOVE the lyrics...sweet and with an awesome reminder..."I will know my Savior by the mark, where the nails have been, by the sign upon His Precious skin". When I really stop to think about it it really takes my breath away and brings tears to my eyes...I will know Jesus when I see him by the mark...

The video below that is just a mellow song that I love. It is so peaceful,romantic and calming. And yes, my music taste does range from blue grass gospel to Damien Rice and beyond. :)

I even managed to come out ahead of the sicknesses in the house. I have most of Moses' items piled up and ready to pack and have started making list of things to pack and do the day before we leave. I have my custom orders ready and listed also. :)

It feels good to be back to normal. :)

Ambition...POTD

So, here is my latest crush...this Amy Butler book/kit I bought a couple of weeks ago. I promised myself that I would not buy ANY(more) fabric until I completed the project that they provide the materials for...a hip little tissue box cover...bet you never thought you would hear those words together. :) I have somehow found myself buying fabric when I don't really sew...do I have a sewing machine?...yes but it has never seen more than a straight line. So as if I needed one more project to take up time with, I am throwing sewing onto the pile.
On the home front...I am once again optimistic that Moses is on the mend, even though he did throw up twice during his dinner last night...a couple of things are making me hopeful-he made it through the night without throwing up or exploding his diaper, he is asking for snacks again AND his poop has resumed "normal" color and smell (can you believe I am typing that??? I am such a mom...typing about poop). So keep praying that he is on the mend. :) We fly out to Florida next Wednesday morning and I really need a well baby. :)

Look what we got...

Yay!! We got some snow today! :) In a couple of these pics you can see my resident cardinal, who happens to be a bully. :)

Also, Moses has eaten two FULL meals today and has not thrown up yet!!!!!! This is the most he has eaten and days and the longest he has gone without puking. I am hopeful that despite the rough night and morning, we are on our way to recovery. :)

Thoughts and things...

So Moses is still making himself puke and still has diarehea. Today I plan on not offering him any foods with texture (which seems to make him gag) and to get through the day with NO VOMIT, which will hopefully help the pooing problem. Last night I went in to check on him before I went to bed at 10 and found him snoring away....in a pile of his own vomit (we had heard him cough and gag minutes before) and his diaper filled with poo. Please pray for this boy to get better!

I am also reading an amazing book called "This Beautiful Mess". It's all about how to experience the kingdom of God here and now. It also talks about how there are NO levels in Christianity, and how our pursuing of levels is actually toxic...you become more concerned about reaching the next level as if "you will get a gold star at the end". God has been doing amazing things in my life these last few months, growing and stretching me in ways that I never would have volunteered for. Some people talk about becoming a "student of life" and I just want to be a student of God. Part of what made me so defensive with my stalker is that she assumed to know just what kind of life I was living and what my relationship with Christ is like, stating how much better hers was, regularly doling out her prescription for my life...a real "holier than thou" type. I never want to appear that way. Each persons journey is their own and no path is created the same. If non-Christians are reading my blog, I want my words to be edifying to Christ and I want them to wonder where that joy and light come from, you know? I don't want to be another one of those Christians who try to squeeze you into a predefined path towards Christ or makes you feel less than worthy because I am so busy bragging on myself and how perfect I have it. My sister in law said it well when she said "my life is just as hard and blessed as the next guy's".

Coming later on today...my first "wonderful people: Etsy edition". :)