Stress-induced explosion

The kids and I have been sick for about a week. Nothing major, but just enough to be a little extra fussy, cranky, whiny and go through several boxes of kleenex. On top of that, it was a very busy week with Grady's doctor's appointment, Elle's dental appointment, and I had an appointment too. I guess it wasn't quite enough because on Wednesday morning I wake up and my face has exploded. Steven gets these massive fever blisters/cold sores (or whatever you want to call them) every now and then but I have never had one. As I wake up on Wednesday morning, my nose is itching just a bit, probably because I've blown it about 95 times in the past few days, so I scratch it. And then the explosion occured. The little patch of skin just below my right nostril on my upper lip was on fire. It progressively got worse all day. If you've gotten these things then you know what I'm talking about. It itched and buzzed and vibrated and hurt and irritated. My dear old husband has some tried and true remedies for making these things go away fast. That night I turn to him for help. Being the semi-medical person I am, I generally like to dispose of medications when they have expired. I'm willing to use it if it's an emergency (like this) say if it's only been a couple of months or even a year. The tube of medicine my dear husband brings out expired in 1999. At this point, I am a little discouraged that my upper lip will be disfigured indefinitely. I am able to use the other medicine (on which I could find no expiration date) and it seemed to help some. To add to the excitement, the lymph node on the right side under my jaw is now so huge you can actually see it bulging under my chin. So today, two days in to the explosion, I have a dime-sized incredibly icky red crusty scab on my face and a big swollen lymph node chin. As much as I'd like to post a picture, I think I will leave it to your imaginations.

"Gubble Bum" toothpaste

Elle had her very first trip to the dentist on Wednesday. She did awesome! The hygenist would come out and call a kid back. Every time, Elle would say, "Is it my turn yet?". As soon as the lady came out and called her, she ran (literally) back there. They take them back by themselves and after they do the exam, call the parents back. She loved it and has wanted to brush her teeth after every meal and in between. The best was she got some bubble gum toothpaste, but it has turned in to "Gubble Bum". She just goes around repeating that with a big smile on her face. The ladies there were very sweet and even sent Elle a letter in the mail today. It definitely couldn't have gone any better and I hope our future trips are just as pleasant. This is a picture of the polaroid they took of Elle. I have to add that Grady was with us and he did wonderful too. He even got his own toothbrush just for being so cute.

6 Months

I took Grady to the doctor for his 6 month check-up yesterday. He weighed in at 15 pounds 6 ounces and measured 26 3/4 inches. The doctor says he's doing great. He's started eating cereal every morning. I made some sweet potatoes yesterday with my new food processor so he'll be starting those soon (as soon as his seat comes that I ordered from Wal-Mart?!). He is getting up on all fours and mostly lunges forward and does face plants, but it makes him happy. He's sitting for very, very brief periods before he topples over. We've started the weaning process from nursing to the bottle. And like the laid back thing he is, this has not been a problem at all. He doesn't care what bottle, what temperature, who gives it to him, nothing. He has affectionately been nicknamed "Gradikins" as well as "Spud Bud". I love to hear Elle call him these names. It's hard to believe it's already been six months...

The Key to Avoiding Parent Burnout

I'm reading this book called The Mother of All Toddler Books. In a section labeled, "Avoiding Parent Burnout" the following suggestion was given:

Find creative ways to recharge your batteries. Alyson, a 37-year-old mother of two, has found that acting zany helps her to get through those less-than-wonderful days as a parent.

What? Did you just say that what I need to get through those hard days is to "act zany"? No wonder I've been having a little trouble lately. I haven't been acting zany. Problems solved. The book really does have some great stuff in it, but I thought this was a little bit hilarious.

This one goes out to the ones I love

I love the way Elle walks everywhere on her tip toes. I love the way she clears her throat before she gets ready to "read" or tell a story. I love how she baby talks to Grady in a sweet, high-pitched voice. I love that she is a great eater, loves fruits and vegetables and is not picky. I love how she reminds me to take joy in and get excited about the little things, like all the Valentine balloons at Wal-Mart. I love that she makes me laugh every day with the funny things she says. I love to see how much fun she has playing with Steven. I love it when she says "you're my best mommy".




I love it when Grady smiles when he hears my voice. I love it when he puts his mouth on my shoulder and makes a blowing sound. I love that he calms down when I hold him. I love it when he sleeps past 6:30 AM. I love how his face lights up when Elle talks to him. I love our late night and morning nursing sessions when it's just the two of us in his calm, quiet room. I love that I have been blessed to be a mommy to two amazingly beautiful children. And I thank my best Valentine for starting it all. I love you, Steven, Elle and Grady!

A Fun Night

We went to Matt and Carrie's for dinner last night. Our friend Chris Teague, who was on our team in Kazakhstan, was in town for the weekend. We haven't seen him in a little over a year. He and his family live and work in Puerto Rico now (ILDP). Whenever I think of Chris I think of a guy who genuinely loves the Lord and loves people. I am always encouraged after seeing him. They are an amazing family. But the amazing thing about them is that they are living life walking with the Lord. They are real, honest, and full of hope in the gospel. It was great to see him. We would have loved to see Emily and the kids though. Maybe we'll skip on down to Puerto Rico sometime and visit... Grady really did have fun too. We took this picture right before leaving and he was just a bit tired. That's why I'm smiling so big, because he was screaming so loud! Lucy and Elle played so well together. They stayed upstairs the whole time except to come down for dinner and then for Valentine sugar cookies. Thanks for inviting us Allens. It was a great night.

Gradini

I wish I had a picture but the camera batteries are dead. Hopefully, you can just visualize this. When I went in to get Grady this morning, this was what I found: Grady on his back, his sleep sack open with the top still snapped at his neck, one sock on and one sock off. The boy had kicked so hard he busted the zipper on his sleep sack?! We've already banned footed pajamas that snap, because he will totally kick out of those too. The only thing left to try are footed zipped pajamas. If he can bust out of those, I guess we might just have to turn the heat up and let him sleep in a diaper. Do they make straight jackets in a size 6-9 months?

Help in our time of need

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." -Hebrews 4:15-16

I met another mom at pre-school story time at the library back in May. She was about to have a little boy and she had a little girl a month older than Elle. We talked and exchanged numbers, but in another few weeks, she had her little boy. And then I had Grady and eight months have passed since I've seen her. I decided to go to the park with the kids this morning since it was so warm and she was there with her two children. I won't go in to much detail, but I have really been having a hard time lately with some things. I really believe the Lord sent me to the park this morning to see her and talk to her. He used her to let me know that I was not the only one who struggled with these things and that I wasn't alone in my thoughts and feelings. I left the park and just said, "Thank you Lord, that you do understand and you do sympathize with me and thank you that she was here and we were able to talk." We exchanged numbers again (because we both had no idea what we did with them the last time) and I do hope to get to know her a little more. Our kids are basically the same ages and she stays at home too. I just wanted you to know I was encouraged today and that the Lord really is good... not just good, but gracious and compassionate with His children.

Happy Anniversary Carrie & Matt

In honor of my friend Carrie's anniversary, because she's my friend and I love her, I will respond to her "tag" to list Six non-important things/habits/quirks about me. Hope you guys have a great day! We wish you many more happy and blessed years together!

1. Since Grady's birth, I have craved pretzel sticks and chocolate chips. I do realize they make actual chocolate covered pretzels, but who wants those. I fill up a nice Gerber baby bowl of pretzels and then just enough semi-sweet chocolate chips for the perfect night cap. Some have their nightly cocktails--I have pretzels and chocolate chips.

2. I delete most email forwards without even reading them. (Sorry all you who send them to me?!). If you REALLY want me to read it, then you should take the "Fwd:" off the subject line. I see that and my immediate reflex is the delete button.

3. I LOVE the show Lost. If you should need me for the next few months on a Thursday night between 8:00-9:00, I will be laying on my couch (probably with a bowl of pretzels and chocolate chips) watching LOST!

4. I really don't like eggs. I ate them a lot while in Kazakhstan (out of necessity), but also threw them up a lot while in Kazakhstan. I don't think I've eaten a scrambled egg since 2004.

5. I listen to The Backyardigans even when Elle's not in the car with me... and sing along.

6. I can still do a round off back handspring (on the ground) and a full twisting back flip on the trampoline.