Shortly after my last post, I had to run Doodle Bug into the doctor to get stitches on her back. Somehow she managed to fall backwards off of Little Man's toddler bed and hit an open dresser drawer behind her. The doctor could have put in stitches, but said because of how her skin split he'd have to split it even more to get a nice edge on the outside of her cut (it was a long cut with the last 1/2 - 3/4 inch making an oval). Instead, they gave her steri strips. She has a deep scar, but after a few days it stopped hurting and thankfully didn't do any worse damage. The doctor was concerned that she hit her kidney, but test results look good (I wouldn't even have thought about the kidneys).
Also, my school semester ended and I managed to pull out an A in my class (yay!). I think it's mostly due to a teacher that grades VERY easily and hands out lots of assignments - good way to build up the grade. :)
The kids have one more week of school left for this semester and I can't believe it. Lulu has already finished her phonic's book for the entire year - she loved it so much she asked to do it daily instead of 3/week. So in January we'll start her on the 1st grade level. Doodle has learned to multiple and has caught on so quickly! That's one thing that amazes me - how quickly she grasps concepts. In the same light, however, she doesn't deal well with frustration. She is more used to things coming naturally to her, so freaks out when something comes that she can't figure out. I used to be the same way. If something came that I didn't fully understand, I'd just barely get by instead of putting it "all in" like I did with things I enjoyed.
Little Man is doing well in his schooling as well. We're working on number recognition now and will start him learning to write his letters. He already knows what the letters look like and most of their sounds. It's amazing how quickly the younger ones catch on when they have older ones to look up to.
Buddy's now 15 months old and is getting into everything. He's a very curious little one, but it sure does get exhausting making sure he's not being TOO curious, or even cleaning up after he's been curious various places. :) Boys - so different!
Ryan's doing well. He's been playing a lot of board games, as usual, and is so excited for Christmas. He thoroughly enjoys giving out presents, so this makes Christmastime one of his favorite holidays.
I'm looking forward to 2 weeks off a work and a semester off of school. I feel like I can breathe a little bit. :)
This Bible verse has been laying on my heart a lot recently, sometimes I feel it was written just for busy wives and mothers: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." -Matt. 11:28
As days get busier and more chaotic, often times I feel like I can't do it all. Other times I'm so physically and mentally spent, that I feel like I can't keep going. Then I hear a little whisper in my ear that says "You don't have to. That's why you have Me." and I remember that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil.)" It's nice to have a Father that can whisper things to your heart, just at the right moment.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Full of Thanks
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. My kids, husband, and I enjoyed a nice lunch of ham, potato pancakes, corn casserole, green beans, and rolls. It's a meal we have probably once a month - so it didn't feel very special, but it was good food, easy to make, and filled our bellies - all things to be thankful for. Later that night we had the REAL Thanksgiving food - turkey, coca cola salad, green bean casserole, squash casserole, sweet potatoes, spinach casserole, rolls, and deviled eggs (may be forgetting something). My brother's new girlfriend joined us for dinner and she seems to be very sweet. The kids enjoyed the food - especially the deviled eggs, we'll need to make 2 dozen next year instead of 1 dozen :)
The following day my in-law's dropped by to give me an early birthday present - an iPod Nano!! Now, I'm not one to get the latest and greatest techno gadget, in face, this is the first MP3 player I've ever owned. It is so cool! It shoots video, allows me to listen to the radio, has a pedometer on it and more. I'm having so much fun with it! I'm hoping to download some of my favorite pastor's pod casts soon. Yay!
The rest of the weekend was pretty lazy. We went to a local women's basketball game and had so much fun!! Little Man was learning how to cheer for the team and Lulu leaned over to me at the start of the game and said "Mama, tell me when to clap, ok?" Now these kids love watching me watch football because I'm a very active watcher--I scream and yell at the TV (all good things though) and have a grand time. They had a blast cheering with me during the game - and our team won - woohoo!
After that we didn't really have a schedule to adhere to and just did what we felt like. The kids played outside for hours each day - something they haven't been able to do for the past two weeks for various reasons. They'd come inside, exhausted, take a bath, sit down to play or watch a movie and conk out - it was great!!
My wonderful hubby bought me a sewing machine probably 6 months ago. I tried to work with it unsuccessfully three times. All the mending I needed to do was either done by hand, or shoved in the corner. Well on Saturday I decided to bring it back out (partly because my husband said he wasn't putting up the Christmas tree until our front window curtains were fixed and partly because I was in a good mood --- ok, really it was the Christmas tree incentive). My mom helped me correctly thread the bobbin and away I sewed! It took me about 90 minutes to get the curtains fixed, mostly due to user error, but I got it done!
A friend of mine from work gave me some fabric she purchased for her grandkids but never used and Ryan had claimed one fabric for a pillow. Well, we just started giving Buddy a pillow (or "low" as he calls it) at night and it had a really pretty white case with pink flowers on it. I loved it, but it's not very "boyish". So I used Ryan's fabric and actually made a mini pillow case for Buddy's pillow. I was so excited!! The first seam wasn't very good, but the other seam and the hemming looks beautiful. I gave him the pillow and he put it on the ground and laid on it three different times - so adorable. Now, I'm ready for my next project.. probably a big European style pillow for Buddy with the leftover fabric (to be used when he's older). After that, who kwows. I may venture outside the curtain/pillow realm (ie-my comfort zone).
On a completely different note, I'm reading through Exodus now and the first few chapters are full of notes I've written over the years and it's amazing. Some of the insight God has given me is incredible, unfortunately over half of it I don't remember at all and feel like it's all new.. But that's why I need to continue reading daily, over the years maybe some of this wonderful wisdom He's trying to hard to impart in me will actually take. Who knows, maybe I'll actually be able to hand it down to my children one day (I pray this is so).
The following day my in-law's dropped by to give me an early birthday present - an iPod Nano!! Now, I'm not one to get the latest and greatest techno gadget, in face, this is the first MP3 player I've ever owned. It is so cool! It shoots video, allows me to listen to the radio, has a pedometer on it and more. I'm having so much fun with it! I'm hoping to download some of my favorite pastor's pod casts soon. Yay!
The rest of the weekend was pretty lazy. We went to a local women's basketball game and had so much fun!! Little Man was learning how to cheer for the team and Lulu leaned over to me at the start of the game and said "Mama, tell me when to clap, ok?" Now these kids love watching me watch football because I'm a very active watcher--I scream and yell at the TV (all good things though) and have a grand time. They had a blast cheering with me during the game - and our team won - woohoo!
After that we didn't really have a schedule to adhere to and just did what we felt like. The kids played outside for hours each day - something they haven't been able to do for the past two weeks for various reasons. They'd come inside, exhausted, take a bath, sit down to play or watch a movie and conk out - it was great!!
My wonderful hubby bought me a sewing machine probably 6 months ago. I tried to work with it unsuccessfully three times. All the mending I needed to do was either done by hand, or shoved in the corner. Well on Saturday I decided to bring it back out (partly because my husband said he wasn't putting up the Christmas tree until our front window curtains were fixed and partly because I was in a good mood --- ok, really it was the Christmas tree incentive). My mom helped me correctly thread the bobbin and away I sewed! It took me about 90 minutes to get the curtains fixed, mostly due to user error, but I got it done!
A friend of mine from work gave me some fabric she purchased for her grandkids but never used and Ryan had claimed one fabric for a pillow. Well, we just started giving Buddy a pillow (or "low" as he calls it) at night and it had a really pretty white case with pink flowers on it. I loved it, but it's not very "boyish". So I used Ryan's fabric and actually made a mini pillow case for Buddy's pillow. I was so excited!! The first seam wasn't very good, but the other seam and the hemming looks beautiful. I gave him the pillow and he put it on the ground and laid on it three different times - so adorable. Now, I'm ready for my next project.. probably a big European style pillow for Buddy with the leftover fabric (to be used when he's older). After that, who kwows. I may venture outside the curtain/pillow realm (ie-my comfort zone).
On a completely different note, I'm reading through Exodus now and the first few chapters are full of notes I've written over the years and it's amazing. Some of the insight God has given me is incredible, unfortunately over half of it I don't remember at all and feel like it's all new.. But that's why I need to continue reading daily, over the years maybe some of this wonderful wisdom He's trying to hard to impart in me will actually take. Who knows, maybe I'll actually be able to hand it down to my children one day (I pray this is so).
Friday, November 20, 2009
Pharyn-what-is
So Gavin and I finally succumbed to the "bug" the other three children have had over the past 6 weeks.. yep, 6 weeks. Every other Friday someone in the family has come down with it and it lasts for about 7 days.. giving us a one week reprieve before symptoms return in someone elses body.
I thought it was allergies - you know that little tickle in your throat and the throbbing pain above your eyebrow? Little did I know it would be accompanied by a massive sore throat, low fever, body aches, and horrendous cough. Gavin had the worst of it though. Aside from Hadassah having Kawasaki when she was 2 - this is the sickest any of my children has been, and it was scary. He'd wake up in the middle of the night choking because he was coughing so hard. His fever was getting up to 102 and 103 - temperatures we've only seen before in our sick little two year old before she admitted to the hospital.
On Monday morning, almost unable to get out of bed myself, I took Gavin into the doctor. I've only seen a doctor concerned about one of my children one other time - you guessed it, with Kawasaki. His fever was 102.7 and between crying fits and coughing spells he would give into exhaustion and sleep in any position he was being held. After rapid flu and strep throat tests came back negative we received a tentative diagnosis: pharyngitis (inflamed wind pipe - aka sore throat) or H1N1. Since his fever and symptoms started on Saturday, it was too late to start him on Tamiflu if it was the flu. So we were sent home, told to give him plenty of fluids and keep him on Tylenol and bring him back in two days if he's not better.
He seemed to take to Popsicles and thankfully we had a freezer full (we keep pops, Gatorade, and Tylenol in stock during flu season - heck, we keep them in stock year round now a days). His temperature went down and he seemed to be doing a bit better.
Tuesday I noticed I only changed his diaper once - this boy is a pee machine. Even inutero he could really let loose (as evident in the amount of amnio fluid I had while pregnant and how much overflowed on the operating table). He wasn't interested in his Popsicles or any other foods or drinks anymore, only mother's milk. Thankfully I hadn't fully weaned him yet, so nursing away I went (good thing I was home sick or he wouldn't have had any to drink). So on Wednesday, we were back at the doctor. The diagnosis, a little touch of croup. He was prescribed a steroid and told to continue the Tylenol and the fluids. He finally slept for more than 45 minutes in one stretch and wasn't as horrible when he coughed.
Now it's Friday, his medicine is finished and his cough sounds better - still horrible, but at least he's not about to choke himself while he coughs. His appetite is up a little bit and he's drinking cow's milk again. I'm hoping he'll be even better by this weekend. It's hard seeing little one's sick like this. He doesn't understand why it hurts so bad when he coughs or swallows or why he just can't seem to get comfortable.
It's times like this I'm reminded how lucky I am to have access to health care, medicine, and remedies to try at home. A lot of people are not this lucky and I can only imagine the worrying they do while enduring this, even if it is a "simple virus."
It's times like this I'm also reminded of the Heavenly Father's Love. All through this last week I've felt His arms wrapped around us, soothing, comforting, and healing. Knowing He, too, is experiencing this rush of emotion. I may love my son with all that I am, but He loves us with all that He is - which is WAY more than we are.. And I am left humbled and grateful.
I thought it was allergies - you know that little tickle in your throat and the throbbing pain above your eyebrow? Little did I know it would be accompanied by a massive sore throat, low fever, body aches, and horrendous cough. Gavin had the worst of it though. Aside from Hadassah having Kawasaki when she was 2 - this is the sickest any of my children has been, and it was scary. He'd wake up in the middle of the night choking because he was coughing so hard. His fever was getting up to 102 and 103 - temperatures we've only seen before in our sick little two year old before she admitted to the hospital.
On Monday morning, almost unable to get out of bed myself, I took Gavin into the doctor. I've only seen a doctor concerned about one of my children one other time - you guessed it, with Kawasaki. His fever was 102.7 and between crying fits and coughing spells he would give into exhaustion and sleep in any position he was being held. After rapid flu and strep throat tests came back negative we received a tentative diagnosis: pharyngitis (inflamed wind pipe - aka sore throat) or H1N1. Since his fever and symptoms started on Saturday, it was too late to start him on Tamiflu if it was the flu. So we were sent home, told to give him plenty of fluids and keep him on Tylenol and bring him back in two days if he's not better.
He seemed to take to Popsicles and thankfully we had a freezer full (we keep pops, Gatorade, and Tylenol in stock during flu season - heck, we keep them in stock year round now a days). His temperature went down and he seemed to be doing a bit better.
Tuesday I noticed I only changed his diaper once - this boy is a pee machine. Even inutero he could really let loose (as evident in the amount of amnio fluid I had while pregnant and how much overflowed on the operating table). He wasn't interested in his Popsicles or any other foods or drinks anymore, only mother's milk. Thankfully I hadn't fully weaned him yet, so nursing away I went (good thing I was home sick or he wouldn't have had any to drink). So on Wednesday, we were back at the doctor. The diagnosis, a little touch of croup. He was prescribed a steroid and told to continue the Tylenol and the fluids. He finally slept for more than 45 minutes in one stretch and wasn't as horrible when he coughed.
Now it's Friday, his medicine is finished and his cough sounds better - still horrible, but at least he's not about to choke himself while he coughs. His appetite is up a little bit and he's drinking cow's milk again. I'm hoping he'll be even better by this weekend. It's hard seeing little one's sick like this. He doesn't understand why it hurts so bad when he coughs or swallows or why he just can't seem to get comfortable.
It's times like this I'm reminded how lucky I am to have access to health care, medicine, and remedies to try at home. A lot of people are not this lucky and I can only imagine the worrying they do while enduring this, even if it is a "simple virus."
It's times like this I'm also reminded of the Heavenly Father's Love. All through this last week I've felt His arms wrapped around us, soothing, comforting, and healing. Knowing He, too, is experiencing this rush of emotion. I may love my son with all that I am, but He loves us with all that He is - which is WAY more than we are.. And I am left humbled and grateful.
Friday, November 13, 2009
A Boy Weekend
So my in-laws took the girls to see Mickey last weekend. They left Saturday morning and didn't return until late Monday morning. Thus leaving me with three boys (well, two boys technically and one handsome man). Little Man came down with a fever on Friday morning (same virus the girls had two and three weeks before) so we decided to just have a very low key weekend. By lunch time on Saturday Little Man was feeling MUCH better. So instead of lounge around and watch cartoons, movies, etc. we played blocks. Buddy Boy can actually put together megablocks now instead of just knocking down his brothers beloved creations. We built robots, sky scrapers, and houses. It was so much fun! Papa surprised us with Burger King and Buddy ended up eating almost an entire kids meal - he's only 14 months old! Doodle Bug was like that as a baby - what an appetite.
Sunday I took the boys to early church and then we went to visit the new Toys R Us. I think I like it. It's different than before, but still they have great stuff. After a few more errands, Gareth went downhill. He got pale and really tired, so we cut our running around short and went home.
I really enjoyed my "boy weekend" and need to remember that parenting boys is MUCH different than girls. Little boys are going to be rambunctious, they're going to push physical limits ("Look what I can do!") and it's going to scare me - but God has this. He SOOO has this under control. I just need to make sure I give that control TO Him instead of coddling it in my mind and heart.
Sunday I took the boys to early church and then we went to visit the new Toys R Us. I think I like it. It's different than before, but still they have great stuff. After a few more errands, Gareth went downhill. He got pale and really tired, so we cut our running around short and went home.
I really enjoyed my "boy weekend" and need to remember that parenting boys is MUCH different than girls. Little boys are going to be rambunctious, they're going to push physical limits ("Look what I can do!") and it's going to scare me - but God has this. He SOOO has this under control. I just need to make sure I give that control TO Him instead of coddling it in my mind and heart.
Friday, November 6, 2009
It's Fall!
Gavin has been saying more and more words lately. In addition to his vocabulary of "I love you" (I lulu), "what" (wud), and "hi" he is now saying "why", "snap" (na), and buddy (bu-ee). It's so cute! The other night Ryan called "Gavin, come here, please." to which Gavin replied "Whyeeee." We weren't quite sure whether or not we should be shocked or laugh.
The girls are now coming upon their second two week break. Although this break will be filled with a few math and reading lessons. Taking a complete break wasn't great for Zoe - she started writing her numbers backwards.
We're learning about dinosaur's right now and have been thrilled to read lots of wonderful information from www.answersingenesis.org We've had LOTS of different discussions about what evidence we have for the various theories of how the dino's became extinct and will be looking even further as to what the Bible has to say about them. It's been a lot of fun!
The kids also learned about Joseph, bats, Peanuts characters, and other things that seem to have escaped my mind..
We have a lot of things coming up this month: the fair, the dinosaur exhibit at the downtown museum, Thanksgiving, and a trip to the State Museum at the library downtown. PLUS - my inlaws are taking the girls to Disney for a surprise trip this weekend. They're going to have so much fun! I'm going to miss their smiling faces and wonderful giggles this weekend - but I know they're going to have a blast. :)
Gareth has now turned 4 and is such a little man. Every day he wants to do more and more "big things" like help set the table, take out the trash, button his own jammies. He's such an awesome little boy. I'm so thankful for the blessings God has given me.
The girls are now coming upon their second two week break. Although this break will be filled with a few math and reading lessons. Taking a complete break wasn't great for Zoe - she started writing her numbers backwards.
We're learning about dinosaur's right now and have been thrilled to read lots of wonderful information from www.answersingenesis.org We've had LOTS of different discussions about what evidence we have for the various theories of how the dino's became extinct and will be looking even further as to what the Bible has to say about them. It's been a lot of fun!
The kids also learned about Joseph, bats, Peanuts characters, and other things that seem to have escaped my mind..
We have a lot of things coming up this month: the fair, the dinosaur exhibit at the downtown museum, Thanksgiving, and a trip to the State Museum at the library downtown. PLUS - my inlaws are taking the girls to Disney for a surprise trip this weekend. They're going to have so much fun! I'm going to miss their smiling faces and wonderful giggles this weekend - but I know they're going to have a blast. :)
Gareth has now turned 4 and is such a little man. Every day he wants to do more and more "big things" like help set the table, take out the trash, button his own jammies. He's such an awesome little boy. I'm so thankful for the blessings God has given me.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Busy, Busy, Busy
It's been over a month since I updated--wow!
Doodle and Buddy had great birthday's parties last month. Still can't beleive they're 7 and 1!
Buddy's personality is budding, and he's getting into everything--and I mean everything. We used to keep an ice chest in the hallway near the kitchen, well he quickly realized he could scoot it to the counter tops, climb on top and then reach anything on the counters. We have since moved the ice chest to the locked laundry room. He's keeping us on our toes :) He's also immitating the older kids more and more. This morning at breakfast Little Man was making a "mad smiley face" where he smiles, growls, then pushes his cheeks in with his index fingers. It didn't take Buddy long before he started trying to do the same thing--so cute.
The girls two week break from school is now over. We realized it wasn't too great for Zoe, she's writing some of her letters and numbers backwards again. Next break time we'll have to keep doing just a little bit with her daily.
Work has been crazy. Well no, that's an understatement. I had training the end of August, then the first of September one of my employees fell and broke her foot. She's been out of the office (doing very well thankfully and had a sucessful surgery) but trying to manage her duties with mine has almost been overwhelming. Tack ontop of that all the dentist and doctor's appointments the kids have had and my school, too and September has been a blur. Ryan has also been very sick. I took him to the doctor on Tuesday, they've run a bunch of tests and we'll get the results back this afternoon. Hopefully good results.
I'm reading through Genesis right now and man I love this book! I skipped it when I started reading straight through the Bible because I had just read it previously, but man--there's so much I had forgotten. Ryan and I are going through Jon Courson's sermons on Revelation twice a week and I don't think we've even gotten into chapter 2 yet. So much richness!
Well, now that things are quieting down, hopefully I can update this more frequently again.
Doodle and Buddy had great birthday's parties last month. Still can't beleive they're 7 and 1!
Buddy's personality is budding, and he's getting into everything--and I mean everything. We used to keep an ice chest in the hallway near the kitchen, well he quickly realized he could scoot it to the counter tops, climb on top and then reach anything on the counters. We have since moved the ice chest to the locked laundry room. He's keeping us on our toes :) He's also immitating the older kids more and more. This morning at breakfast Little Man was making a "mad smiley face" where he smiles, growls, then pushes his cheeks in with his index fingers. It didn't take Buddy long before he started trying to do the same thing--so cute.
The girls two week break from school is now over. We realized it wasn't too great for Zoe, she's writing some of her letters and numbers backwards again. Next break time we'll have to keep doing just a little bit with her daily.
Work has been crazy. Well no, that's an understatement. I had training the end of August, then the first of September one of my employees fell and broke her foot. She's been out of the office (doing very well thankfully and had a sucessful surgery) but trying to manage her duties with mine has almost been overwhelming. Tack ontop of that all the dentist and doctor's appointments the kids have had and my school, too and September has been a blur. Ryan has also been very sick. I took him to the doctor on Tuesday, they've run a bunch of tests and we'll get the results back this afternoon. Hopefully good results.
I'm reading through Genesis right now and man I love this book! I skipped it when I started reading straight through the Bible because I had just read it previously, but man--there's so much I had forgotten. Ryan and I are going through Jon Courson's sermons on Revelation twice a week and I don't think we've even gotten into chapter 2 yet. So much richness!
Well, now that things are quieting down, hopefully I can update this more frequently again.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Hello, Love
It's been a few weeks since I updated this, so I figure I'm due for a post.
Things are going well. The girls (and Ryan) have eased into their homeschool routine and I've fielded tons of questions from friends, co-workers, etc. on how to homeschool, requirements, and the never-ending socialization questions. :) It's amazing how people react to homeschooling, some people just turn and walk away while I mention we homeschool our kids and others are fascinated with it. I remember growing up and thinking that all homeschoolers were weird-only knowing about 2 and basing my assumptions on them. Now looking at it I feel so blessed to actually be able to do it. There's almost nothing more satisfying than being able to see your children learn and grow, knowing that you've had a big hand in teaching them things. I can only imagine how God feels when He sees us "getting" things He's been trying to teach us over and over.
Our big excitement this weekend is that Doodle has a birthday party to go to on Saturday. It's for a girl she's been friends with for three years now and they are such sweet girls when they get together. We were afraid we missed her party because we hadn't been to church much in July (when her birthday is) due to illnesses. Last Sunday when she got the invitation she came running up to me and said "Look Mama! An invitation to Megan's party!!!" Wow, she was super excited. I'm hoping we can have her over to play soon. We don't have people over very often, but maybe we can change that.
We're getting ready for Doodle and Buddy's birthdays next week and week after. Can't believe they'll be 7 and 1.. My how the time flies!
Work is really busy. I'll be in training three days next week and hope my brain can contain all the information without exploding or oozing over.
My school starts Monday and as usual, I'm not ready for it.. but I only have five classes left.. I can make it.. I can make it...
Other than that it's life as usual at the Sanders' house; busy, chaotic, and wonderful.
Things are going well. The girls (and Ryan) have eased into their homeschool routine and I've fielded tons of questions from friends, co-workers, etc. on how to homeschool, requirements, and the never-ending socialization questions. :) It's amazing how people react to homeschooling, some people just turn and walk away while I mention we homeschool our kids and others are fascinated with it. I remember growing up and thinking that all homeschoolers were weird-only knowing about 2 and basing my assumptions on them. Now looking at it I feel so blessed to actually be able to do it. There's almost nothing more satisfying than being able to see your children learn and grow, knowing that you've had a big hand in teaching them things. I can only imagine how God feels when He sees us "getting" things He's been trying to teach us over and over.
Our big excitement this weekend is that Doodle has a birthday party to go to on Saturday. It's for a girl she's been friends with for three years now and they are such sweet girls when they get together. We were afraid we missed her party because we hadn't been to church much in July (when her birthday is) due to illnesses. Last Sunday when she got the invitation she came running up to me and said "Look Mama! An invitation to Megan's party!!!" Wow, she was super excited. I'm hoping we can have her over to play soon. We don't have people over very often, but maybe we can change that.
We're getting ready for Doodle and Buddy's birthdays next week and week after. Can't believe they'll be 7 and 1.. My how the time flies!
Work is really busy. I'll be in training three days next week and hope my brain can contain all the information without exploding or oozing over.
My school starts Monday and as usual, I'm not ready for it.. but I only have five classes left.. I can make it.. I can make it...
Other than that it's life as usual at the Sanders' house; busy, chaotic, and wonderful.
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