Here's a Random Friday Post

Today was our first "normal" Friday in a long time and with some good news about Mack this week, I was ready for a day home with my babies!

 

I really love my time home with them and to make the day better we had a friend come over to play.  The kids played and Rachel and got to catch up, but then they left...

and total craziness started! 

 

 Lincoln had a major accident and as I was cleaning him up and about to put him in the bath, his siblings were playing nicely in Avery's room.  I didn't realize this entailed taking every clothing item out of her drawers and every shoe out of the closet and EVERY toy out of the boxes!!!  I stopped and brought Lincoln (naked) into the room to clean that mess up.  Then he peed on the floor and I heard giggling from the bathroom.  The other two escaped the mess in the room only to make a bigger mess in the bathroom by "playing" with the baking soda that was about to go in Lincoln's bath!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

I am so happy to be home with my babies, but this is what I felt like afterwards:

 

Haha!  What a day-do you see all the stains on my shirt?  It's what it's all about right? I just have to remember all the days we couldn't be at home and how blessed we are to be here and not in the hospital.  Happy weekend everyone-and happy spring break to the people that live around here.

Making It Work

I love my work schedule.  I am only away from the kids two full days and two half days (when their napping) with Fridays off.  This gives me time to be at home with them, but also keeps me connected to my love...teaching.  Some ask, "how can you be part time as a teacher?" 

Our school is very unique-we are a laboratory school on a college campus.  This lets me mentor college students, teach college classes and work in the classroom.  I love it!  At first I felt like I wasn't able to do both perfect (let me be clear...neither will EVER be perfect because life is not perfect. I got over that!) but since Lincoln is getting older it's all falling into place.  I was still going back and forth between wanting to be home full time.  Now, I know why I need that time out of the house!  Plus, it's easy to go somewhere when the people are my family-they have seen me get married, have babies and everything else in between.  When Mack got sick they were there for our family a lot!

Avery comes with me two days a week.  We get to spend time in the morning while she eats her breakfast in my classroom.  Then, I walk her over to her school and get to pop my head in every once in awhile-plus they have observation booths, so I get to watch her sometimes.  The preschool is amazing and Avery loves her teachers (special wink to Miss Taylor-she loves you)-plus I feel they give my baby extra attention.  More than most places would.  Next year Mack will be joining her and they will go full time...I hope.

We took a break while Mack was sick to help with keeping our house germ free, but it didn't seem to matter.  Since we have been back in our schedule, there has been no crying and she has even made a new friend.  Last Thursday she came home and wanted to practice writing her name.

I'm not sure why this year seems to be working better.  Maybe because I'm finally not pregnant and we have a better routine.  Or one of our Christmas gifts was a cleaning person!! Or our MeMe is amazing with our kids and they are happy.  Who knows, but we're making it work.

 Last week on Monday and Wednesday we started swim lessons-this has been a nice way to get Mack out of the house.  They both cried the first day, but the second day went well (not going to lie here, I had to bribe them with suckers:)).  I have to leave the pool area in order for them to focus and if everything keeps looking up for Mack, I hope to keep these up until the summer.

Since everything with Mack, we have also calmed down.  He is still getting blood work weekly because his white blood cells are dropping, but we are slowly getting of the steroids.  I can't wait for these to be gone!

My point of this post is, life gets crazy but when there is a Friday in January and it's going to be 60+ degrees...we get to go to the park with friends.  I have come to peace with my balance of work and mommyhood and we make it work for our family.

  

A New Kind of Thankful

It's true...you don't know what you've got till its gone!

Here we were-raising healthy babies....

The night before it all happened.  We taught them how to roast marshmallows

 and out of no where BOOM!

We were in the ICU

 

Recently there was a sick child here in our town that almost died-I knew the family through friends.  They would write updates on Facebook.  The mother wrote about never taking your children for granted. Since that happened, I realized when my children asked for one last kiss and it was time for bed-I gave it to them. You never know when the last snuggle will be!  I thought I realized that before this happened.

I am the first to complain about my kid's actions or how tired I am, but I have changed.  Nothing puts things in perspective like taking care of a sick child.  I truly believe you can't know that until something like this happens and I pray and hope this NEVER happens to ANYONE!

This experience has shown us how blessed we are! Not only do we have three perfect children, we have this amazing community surrounding us. That doesn't mean people who live close to us, it means people from all over. The outreach of prayers has been hard to believe. We didn't know so many people cared! We have had emails, comments here on the blog, phone calls, text messages, churches all over adding him to prayer list...it goes on and on.

This has been hard to comprehend. We have come home to food in our freezer from our sister-in-law, food in the fridge from Nanny, our house was cleaned by our neighbor, and food in the fridge from all my beautiful work family!  Mark and I thank everyone and without each and every one of you, we couldn't have gotten though the last week.  We especially thank my parents for taking our other two kids so we had nothing to worry about at home.  My brother and sister-in-law also helped make that possible so all our attention was able to be on Macklin (plus Avery had a blast with her cousins-this made it a little easier on her).  They did more than we could ever thank them for-family is an amazing thing!  We also have to thank Mark's brother and new wife for taking care of our Cooper dog-I never knew how much I loved him until he's been gone.  Both Mark's brothers also cared for Mama-thank you! 

One thing we have learned is, our united front as parents has been stronger than ever! We have stuck together and made every decision together!

This post may seem random, but there is so much to be said about this experience.  I want Macklin to be able to look back and see how strong he was.  We won't have all the answers for about 6 months, but we learned today how close he was to losing his life.  He is still not out of those woods.  He has to stay away from as many sick people as we can.  This doesn't change too much in his little life except running around town.  His liver is healing and we hope the answers we get will be better than an autoimmune hepatitis-this will require years if not life adjustments-there's even talk about a liver transplant.  Here are some pictures of his journey:

This was his first night in the hospital



Avery and Lincoln got to visit

He got lots of toys to play with

I hate Halloween, but it was very emotional not to let our kids participate in anything.  He did get to put his bag out of his room and the whole hospital came by with treats!

On Halloween night we moved to St. Louis.  This is the ambulance ride.

He didn't have an appetite, so when he wanted strawberries we got him strawberries!  This was after he woke up from the biopsy

The Troness family sent this box of toys-thank you!  Thank goodness for that!

I would bring Avery up in the morning and she spent time with us

The Tripp family sent balloons!  Thank you-they were very entertaining.

Avery loved the bed!

Monday night November 5th-we got released to come home!

These two were so happy!  It's been really hard on Avery

Your first bath since it began

Papa and Mum loved having this time with our babies-they embraced every second...even when they trashed their house, threw up in their new car, and ate ALL their food!

Mum and Papa cancelled their trip to Hawaii, instead Mum got a 60th birthday celebration with ALL her grand babies! And Aunt Sarah made a delicious cake.

From the bottom of hearts- we thank everyone!

A Day of NEED

We have been too busy! This is a crazy time of our lives-we love all the excitement, but it can get to you at times. I work part time and have the privilege of being with my babies a lot.  Lately, I have been spending my time cleaning the house or getting ready for other things...not being the mom I should be! On Friday, the day before our friend's wedding, I stopped and needed a day that was completely devoted to my babies!

This day was spent making beds on the floor...

Making home made popcorn from our organic popcorn kernels...

Unfortunately, we were too busy having fun on Friday and I didn't get any pictures of Lincoln when he was awake.  It was such a great day with my babies and a day I need to remember.  When life gets this crazy, I have to remember they are what matters-Mark and I are what matters!!!!  It's so hard to get wrapped up in life.  This is why I work part time-not to clean the house and get "chores" done.  I will never get these days back and I haven't realized it until I have been this busy.

Hugging My Babies Tight

We have had a very busy couple of weeks with a family reunion and a best friend from high school coming to visit (which will be another post)!  My kids are completely wore down and are needing some time at home.  This will be a week where we do little and snuggle a lot.

There has been something else that has been weighing heavy on my heart.  There was a report on the 4th of July that two kids swimming at the Lake of the Ozarks were electrocuted.  This was awful to hear and my heart went out to that family.  The next day a friend informed me that it was past students of ours...

I had these two sweet kids as my students for many years and still have some of their work.  Even writing this I can't keep a dry eye.  These parents have lost two of their three children in such a tragic way!  Once again I am reminded to hold my babies more, not stress about the house, feed Lincoln even if it not "time", and not get mad when two of my three kids want to wake up at 5:45 this morning.  I have them to hold!  Tonight will be very hard going to the visitation, but I feel it's a good thing to let the family know we care.

Off of here so I can hug my babies tight!

Literacy

Because I have finally had time to stop and be with my kids, I have realized the lack of reading done in our house. I am a teacher and work in a classroom that cherishes books and reading all the time. My book collection is out of control as well as our collection at home. When I was a kid, I hated to read! My mom would do anything to get me to love reading. She and my dad read all the time in the evenings and would let me buy books whenever I wanted, but it never really set in with me.

Then in college I found my passion for reading. I haven't stopped since! I read adult books when I have time, but children's books really give me my drive for teaching. So with this being said-I couldn't believe my own children weren't spending more time reading. We always read before bedtime and naps and they are always looking through books at different times during the day, but I (or any adult) wasn't sitting down with them more frequently during the day and reading to them. This made me sad because we have amazing books scattered everywhere in our house. Since I have made more time for this, I am happy to see they really do care/have a passion/enjoy reading. Even my little Lincoln loves to hear my voice and look at the pictures!

If you haven't heard it enough...reading is so important to children!!!! I WISH I hadn't fought my parents so much about reading-there is so much I missed out on.  My hope is I can give my passion as an adult to them about books.

I Owe, I Owe, It's Off To Work I Go!

Last week marked the first week back to work after having my little Lincoln.  It was hard to imagine leaving him as well as the other two (I am sure I am saying the exact thing I said after having Macklin).  It was even more challenging to imagine leaving them all alone with someone else.  I know how much work they are-would someone else be able to give them the time and patience?

When Monday rolled around I knew it was time to find out!  All my worries were quickly resolved.

I only work part time so I got to stay home until lunch, then Emily only had lunch and naps (plus all of Lincoln's needs).  We also added an extra hour on to the day so Mark and I can go running every Monday and Wednesday.  We decided to start this with everything else, so when we got home I was anxious to hear how it went.

Well...our nanny is pretty much amazing because everything went GREAT!  You want to know what else?  She LOVES my schedule!  She liked to know when to get Lincoln's bottle made and when to put him down for a nap.  And that my friends is why we have to have a schedule for all our kids-we can easily predict what comes next. 

At first I thought I was going to die from exhaustion, but by Thursday I really felt great and was happy to be back with my friends and students.  I also feel great from running!  Then this Friday was even more exciting because I had the day off (which I have off every Friday).  I conquered one HUGE task-taking them all out of the house by myself.  It was refreshing to know we CAN do it.  I got a coffee and took them to the park.  We all had fun playing on the equipment and running through the sand.  Then it was home for baths (because of the sand) and everyone got a nap (yep, even me)! 

I am not trying to say everything is perfect-far from it (as stated in the previous post), but I am trying to have a positive outlook on what is happening.  I could let myself become depressed from what is happening-there is NO time for myself.  Instead I have to look at what we can do and that everyone is happy and having fun.

A few other things have happened this week that made me realize how important it is to Cherish every moment, but how do we do that?  When life feels like a whirlwind?  That is why I love this blog, I can keep tract of all these special memories. 

Acid Reflux

Lincoln is seven weeks tomorrow and has been growing like a weed.  I took him into the doctor on Friday after much debate about his eating and sleeping patterns.  When Avery was a baby she was put on medicine at 2 weeks old for acid reflux.  She would spit up like crazy and go through multiple burp clothes at one feeding.  It was painful for her and luckily my mom told me to ask the doctor about acid reflux.  The medicine helped right away with her and she was sleeping through the night at about 7 weeks old.  Then, I thought maybe Mack had it too, but now looking back and comparing him to Lincoln and Avery there is no way. 

Lincoln is a great baby!  He is so sweet and as time has gone on his time awake has been spent crying and screaming with his stomach cramped up.  I knew he was probably suffering like Avery, but was a little more reluctant to put him on medicine after talking to our doctor-he wasn't as willing to start medicine at such a young age.

I had a few minutes to talk to one of my best friends who is going through the same thing (it's nice to have someone understand this).  She had taken her daughter in and started medicine-this kind of gave me the will to call our doctor.  Our wonderful nurse said if it has gotten to the point of interfering with his sleep, (yep he was waking up every two hours to nurse because it was soothing him) his play (yep, he couldn't enjoy any time on his back because it was burning him) and our everyday life (yep, poor guy couldn't go into his car seat for too long either).  So I knew it was the right thing to do!

At the doctor he weighed in at 11 LBS!  I guess eating every two hours caused that.  Our doctor asked about what was happening and agreed it was time to try some zantac.  I gave it to him and that day he took a two hour nap!

I was beginning to feel really overwhelmed.  After every feeding (even at night) we had to hold him up for 30 minutes or longer to make sure his food was settled (we still do this).  So, by the time I got him down I would only get about an hour and a half of sleep. With only getting a few hours of sleep every night I wasn't sure how we were going to survive and go back to work. 

Last night he slept from 8:30 until 1:30 and then until 6:00-I couldn't be happier.  It really is making a difference. Poor little man was in pain!  

  With a happier baby and some sleep we can do this!

Who needs a schedule!?!

Life with three is crazy and unpredictable.  I didn't think of the little things, like when the heck I was planning on having time to breast feed Lincoln while entertaining the other two!  Yes, we do have help from family and our nanny still comes part time, but I will be going back to work soon and then have the summer with these three munchkins so, who needs a schedule?  I DO!!!!  If you know me I don't like it when things don't go as they should and love to have a plan.  Now that is even more apparent.  What the @#$% would I do with out having some kind of order at our house.  I'm pretty sure there would be a lot more screaming happening (not just from the kids). 

This past week I read up on some books I had been meaning to read-one being Toddlerwise.  I know Babywise has a lot of controversy, but some of it really worked for us.  I am not saying we followed it directly and I'm not saying any book is going to give me answers, but between Mack throwing objects in the air and Avery trying to grow as a two year old we needed something.

This book gave me great ideas!  We have started a new schedule with Avery and Mack so that I can give Lincoln the time he needs as well.  I also think this will make life easier when I leave them to go to work.  Before, Avery would get up about 7:30 and come downstairs to watch some T.V. and Mack would sleep in until 9:30 or so...

But now:

6:30-7:00 Lincoln eats and has one on one time with me.
8:00 is time to get up and put our P.J's in the hamper to start our day!  Then it's downstairs for breakfast at the table (this used to happen closer to 10:00.)  I am able to get Lincoln back down for a morning nap by this time.
8:30 is free play time in the living room while I clean up breakfast and then it's on the ground with them!
9:00 is craft time at the table.  They both sit in their high chairs (or at the island) to participate in some kind of activity.  This might be cooking, drawing, or anything I have on the shelves.
9:30-10:30 is outside time or movement upstairs. I feed Lincoln around this time.
10:30-11:00 is independent time in their rooms while sitting on a blanket.  Avery loves this time and Mack is beginning to enjoy it (in small amounts).  This is a time I can get some stuff done upstairs while they play.  Lincoln also goes back to sleep.
11:00 is more free play
11:30 is time to watch a little T.V. while I prepare lunch
12:00 is time to eat!
12:30 we spread a blanket out and they read books until it's time for naps. I then have time to feed Lincoln again.
1:00-4:00 Everybody naps (on a good day)
4:00 they both have a drink and play upstairs or if it's nice we are back outside.  I feed Lincoln again!
5:00 craft time!
5:30 continue crafts or watch a little T.V while dinner is made. Here is when we hope Lincoln sleeps.
Then baths and bedtime by 8:00. (plus three more feedings with Lincoln until the morning)

This has only been implemented a few times-mostly when I am by myself with all three.  Granted there are days we have people over, Little Gyms, Library or go to a friends house so this schedule doesn't exist.  Weekends are also a different story-they get to stay in their P.J's which Avery LOVES!

Making Smoothies

Rice Crispy Treats

Free Drawing

Some people may think this is obsessive (I know you are thinking that) and to that I say, "everyone is different!" We all have to do what works and in order for me to give my all to these precious babies I need a little order:)

So who needs a schedule?!? 

Nail Polish...Friend or Foe?

When I was little nail polish was an issue with my mom and I. I tended to not listen to her-EVER- and would get it everywhere. Not only the nail polish, but the remover. I think I have ruined two or three of their kitchen tables and other counter tops. Yet I never learned! Even today I still am careless with it...for example: Today Mark took Mack to the doctor to figure out why he is SO cranky (it was an ear infection). Since Avery and I had some alone time I asked if she wanted her nails painted.

Of course she said yes! She is so good and sits the whole time-she is even careful afterwards to let them dry. This means she is getting closer to getting pedicures with me-YES!!!!

Then I left the nail polish in reaching distance with the lid off...

You would think at 30 years old and two kids later that I would have learned-NOPE! I came around the corner to find her bent over her toes repainting them. YIKES! I quickly stopped her and told her no...but it was too late. Look closely...

Closer...

So, my question is-is this KARMA? Nail polish...Friend or Foe?

Sorry Mom!